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In May 1983, Diane Downs told police that a stranger had approached her car and shot her and her three children on a rural road outside Springfield, Oregon. But as investigators looked closer, inconsistencies began to emerge, and the case took a turn that shocked the community. One child, Cheryl, did not survive. Christie and Danny lived, but their injuries changed their lives forever. As detectives investigated Diane’s account, physical evidence, witness statements, and testimony from her surviving daughter became central to the case. In this episode of Under The Tape, we follow the investigation, examine the evidence presented at trial, and explore the case that led to Diane Downs’s conviction. PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/UnderTheTapePodcast INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/underthetapepod/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@under.the.tape.pod Sources Downs v. Hoyt — Ninth Circuit Court of AppealsThe Washington Post — trial coverage and reporting on the caseABC News — reporting on the investigation and convictionAnn Rule, Small Sacrifices

Teresita Basa: The Voice from the Grave Chicago, Illinois | February 21, 1977 When Teresa Basa was found murdered inside her Chicago apartment, investigators had few leads and a case that seemed to have reached a dead end. Months later, a tip brought police to an unexpected name—and the information behind it came with a story that challenged everything they thought they knew about the investigation. In this episode of Under The Tape, we look at Teresita’s life, the hours leading up to her death, the evidence investigators uncovered, and the unusual testimony that eventually led them to a suspect. We also examine the confession, the courtroom battle that followed, and the questions surrounding one of the most unusual murder investigations in Chicago history. Was the story of a voice from beyond the grave simply an extraordinary claim—or was it the beginning of a case that could finally be solved? PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/UnderTheTapePodcast INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/underthetapepod/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@under.the.tape.pod Sources The Washington Post — Rob Warden, “‘Voice From the Grave’ Evokes a Murder Trial” (September 17, 1978)Chicago Tribune — John O’Brien, “‘Voice From Grave’ Case a Mistrial” (1979)Ebony — John O’Brien and Edward Baumann, “Accused of Murder By a Voice From The Grave” (1978)Morbid — “The Murder of Teresita Basa”The Greatest True Crime Stories Ever Told — “Teresita Basa: Stretching the Boundaries of Belief”This Is Monsters — “From Beyond the Grave: Allan Showery”MrBallen — “Ghost Story”

On August 30, 2013, 19-year-old college student Bryce Laspisa disappeared after a series of unusual events during a trip home to Southern California. His SUV was eventually found overturned near Castaic Lake, but Bryce was nowhere to be found. His belongings were still inside the vehicle, and despite extensive searches and years of reported sightings and tips, Bryce has never been found. In this episode of Under The Tape, we walk through the hours and days leading up to Bryce’s disappearance, the strange behavior that concerned the people closest to him, and what happened after his vehicle was discovered. PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/UnderTheTapePodcast INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/underthetapepod/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@under.the.tape.pod Sources: California Department of Justice — Missing Person: Bryce David LaspisaLos Angeles County Sheriff’s DepartmentCrime Junkie — “MISSING: Bryce Laspisa”Morbid — Episode 109: “The Mysterious Disappearance of Bryce Laspisa”The Charley Project — Bryce LaspisaDisappeared — “Road to Nowhere”r

On June 20, 2001, Andrea Yates drowned her five young children in a Houston bathtub—a tragedy that shocked the nation. Beyond the sensational headlines lay a severe medical history, unheeded psychiatric warnings, and a catastrophic breakdown of healthcare systems. This episode explores Andrea’s battle with severe postpartum psychosis, the religious delusions that warped her reality, and the landmark 2006 retrial that resulted in a verdict of Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity. PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/UnderTheTapePodcast INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/underthetapepod/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@under.the.tape.pod Sources Yates v. State (Tex. App. 2005): The official Texas Court of Appeals ruling that overturned Andrea Yates’ 2002 capital murder conviction. This document outlines her full medical timeline, expert testimonies, and the false Law & Order episode claims by prosecution expert Dr. Park Dietz.Harris County District Court Records (2002 & 2006): Transcripts, police audio confessions, medical charts, and trial exhibits from her initial 2002 capital trial and her 2006 retrial, where she was found Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity.Are You There Alone? The Unspoken Tragedy of Andrea Yates by Suzanne O’Malley Breaking Point by Suzy SpencerMedical Journal Analysis & Forensic Reviews "The Andrea Yates Case: Insanity on Trial" (Cleveland State Law Review) by Dr. Phillip J. Resnick: Written by the primary forensic psychiatrist for Andrea’s defense team, breaking down her schizoaffective disorder, religious delusions, and M’Naghten insanity defense criteria."Mental Health and Justice: The Case of Andrea Yates" (The Lancet): A medical and legal analysis examining the breakdown of psychiatric care, postpartum psychosis risk factors, and systemic failures leading up to the tragedy. Resources & Support Services If you or someone you know is struggling with perinatal mental health or postpartum psychosis, help is available: Postpartum Support International (PSI): Call or text 1-800-944-4773 or visit postpartum.net.National Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 (Available 24/7).Maternal Mental Health Hotline: Call or text 1-833-TLC-MAMA (1-833-852-6262).

The Lasley Sisters — Salt Lake City, Utah, 2015 On September 23, 2015, sisters Breann “Bre” Lasley, 27, and Kayli Lasley, 22, were inside their Salt Lake City home when 48-year-old Robert Richard Berger climbed through Bre's bedroom window. Berger, who had a lengthy criminal history and had been released from prison just eight days earlier, attacked the sisters as they fought to get him out of their home. The sisters made multiple 911 calls during the attack, Bre was stabbed repeatedly, and Kayli eventually escaped the house and ran outside screaming for help. What happened next involved a nearby officer, an earlier attempted break-in, and a confrontation that ended with Berger being shot and killed. Years later, Bre filed a lawsuit questioning why the sisters' 911 calls had not resulted in police being dispatched to their home. This episode looks closely at the attack, the sisters' fight to survive, the investigation into the shooting, and the later questions surrounding the emergency response. PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/UnderTheTapePodcast INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/underthetapepod/ TIKTOK: https://www.tiktok.com/@under.the.tape.pod Sources KSL — 911 calls depict 2 sisters' desperate pleas during attackKSL — Woman stabbed by intruder recalls harrowing ordealABC News — 911 Calls Reflect Utah Sisters' Fear During AttackSalt Lake Tribune — D.A.: 'Heroic' Utah police officer justified in shooting man who stabbed womanDeseret News — Salt Lake officer cleared in fatal shooting, praised as hero for saving 2 womenSalt Lake City Police Civilian Review Board — official review of the September 2015 officer-involved shootingKSL — 'They failed us that night': Survivor of attack sues after her 911 calls failed to summon helpKSL — 911 software company denies blame after police weren’t dispatched to Utah woman fending off attackerDeseret News — coverage of the 2019 lawsuit and competing accounts of the 911 response

In Part 2, we follow the fatal climax and complex legal aftermath of the Gypsy Rose Blanchard case. We trace the events of June 10, 2015, when Nicholas Godejohn traveled to Springfield, Missouri, to carry out the murder of Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard. From the infamous Facebook status updates that alerted authorities to the high-stakes law enforcement raid in Big Bend, Wisconsin, we examine how the facade of Gypsy’s life collapsed. Finally, we break down the stark legal divergence between Gypsy’s 10-year plea deal and Godejohn’s trial, culminating in Gypsy’s December 2023 prison release and her transition into a public media figure. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UnderTheTapePodcast Sources: Greene County Circuit Court Records (State of Missouri): Dockets, plea agreements, and sentencing filings for State of Missouri v. Gypsy R. Blanchard (2016), as well as full trial transcripts, evidence exhibits, and jury verdicts for State of Missouri v. Nicholas P. Godejohn (2018).Greene County Sheriff’s Office: Official case files, search warrants, incident reports, and press conference statements from Sheriff Jim Arnott (June 2015).Missouri Department of Corrections: Public offender records, status updates, and official terms of parole from Chillicothe Correctional Center.BuzzFeed News ("Dee Dee Wanted Her Daughter To Be Sick, Gypsy Wanted Her Mom Murdered"): The seminal 2016 investigative piece by Michelle Dean that first exposed the extensive medical paper trail and brought national attention to the case.My Time to Stand: A Memoir (2024): Co-authored by Gypsy Rose Blanchard, detailing her lived experience, childhood medical abuse, incarceration, and perspective on the legal process.

Gypsy Rose Blanchard was born on July 27, 1991, in Golden Meadow, Louisiana, to Clauddine "Dee Dee" Blanchard and Rod Blanchard, but she quickly became the victim of extreme medical deception when her mother began fabricating endless severe illnesses. She subjected her daughter to unnecessary medical procedures, forced her to use a wheelchair, inserted a feeding tube, and regularly shaved her head. Trapped under intense isolation, Gypsy secretly accessed the internet at night under pseudonyms and met 23-year-old Nicholas Godejohn of Big Bend, Wisconsin, in 2012, initiating a two year covert digital relationship that culminated in their very first in-person meeting in March 2015 at a Springfield movie theater during a screening of Disney's Cinderella. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UnderTheTapePodcast Sources: Greene County Circuit Court Records (Missouri): Official court dockets, charging documents, plea agreements (State of Missouri v. Gypsy R. Blanchard, 2016), and trial transcripts/verdicts (State of Missouri v. Nicholas P. Godejohn, 2018).Missouri Department of Corrections: Public offender records, institutional status, and official conditions of parole for Gypsy Rose Blanchard (Chillicothe Correctional Center).Greene County Sheriff’s Office: Official press conference recordings, incident reports, and initial arrest statements released by Sheriff Jim Arnott (June 2015).BuzzFeed News ("Dee Dee Wanted Her Daughter To Be Sick, Gypsy Wanted Her Mother Murdered")Mommy Dead and Dearest: Directed by Erin Lee Carr; features direct prison interviews with Gypsy Rose, Nicholas Godejohn, police interrogation footage, and medical file reviews.

August 4, 1892. Fall River, Massachusetts. Andrew and Abby Borden were found brutally murdered inside their own home, and the person at the center of the investigation was someone who was already there. Lizzie Borden was the Bordens' 32 year old daughter, and what followed became one of the most infamous murder investigations in American history. There were family tensions, money, conflicting stories, a mysterious morning timeline, and evidence that left investigators asking more questions than they could answer. As the case unfolded, suspicion fell heavily on Lizzie, but the evidence wasn't nearly as straightforward as you might expect. Was the answer inside the Borden home all along? Or was someone else responsible? This episode takes a closer look at the people, evidence, theories, and unanswered questions surrounding the murders that gave America one of its most enduring true-crime mysteries. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/UnderTheTapePodcast Sources: Library of Congress — Chronicling America: Lizzie BordenFall River Historical Society — Borden Collections & Knowlton PapersFall River Historical Society — Parallel Lives by Michael Martins & Dennis A. BinetteSurviving Borden inquest, trial, and witness records

In this episode of Under The Tape, we break down “The Com,” short for “The Community,” a loose and constantly changing online ecosystem connected to cybercrime, hacking, extortion, doxxing, swatting, violence, child exploitation, and extremist activity. We look at how these communities developed, how 764 and related networks intersect with The Com, and how predators use gaming, social media, and private messaging platforms to find and manipulate vulnerable young people. We’ll also cover grooming, sextortion, self-harm coercion, the victim-to-perpetrator cycle, why these groups continually rebrand and move platforms, what law enforcement knows, what remains difficult to track, and the warning signs parents should know to help keep their kids safe online. https://www.patreon.com/cw/UnderTheTapePodcast Sources: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/online-groups-pressuring-youth-self-harm-1.7107885 https://raisingteenstoday.com/764-group-what-is-it-and-why-parents-need-to-know-about-it/ https://abc7ny.com/post/fbi-online-group-764-preying-children/16339805/ https://gnet-research.org/2024/01/19/764-the-intersection-of-terrorism-violent-extremism-and-child-sexual-exploitation/ https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/member-violent-764-terror-network-sentenced-30-years-prison-sexually-exploiting-child https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/764-extremist-group-member-sentenced-77-years-prison-production-child-sexual-abuse-material

Mike Malloy: “Mike the Durable” Meet Mike Malloy, the Depression-era New Yorker who somehow survived an absolutely ridiculous number of attempts on his life. A group of men took out life insurance policies on Mike and decided to make some easy money by killing him. The problem? Mike just would not die. Poisoned drinks? Nope. Extreme cold? Still alive. Getting hit by a car? Somehow, still alive. Eventually, the men known as the “Murder Trust” changed tactics and finally succeeded in killing Mike in February 1933. Their insurance scam was eventually uncovered, leading to multiple arrests and executions. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/UnderTheTapePodcast Sources The New Yorker; Smithsonian Magazine; historical records and reporting on the Murder Trust and Michael Malloy.

In October 2020, thirteen-year-old Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend, Owen McKenny, were the "golden couple" of Beal City, Michigan. But their world was turned upside down when a sudden wave of anonymous text messages began targeting their relationship. After a year-long silence, the cyberbullying campaign returned in September 2021 with terrifying velocity—surpassing 50 graphic, abusive messages a day. For over fifteen months, a mysterious predator weaponized private hallway conversations, isolated Lauryn from her peers, framed innocent classmates like Khloe Wilson, and drove the small agricultural community of Isabella County into extreme paranoia. But when the FBI stepped in to break through a complex digital maze of VPNs and burner apps, a single operational mistake unmasked a horrifying truth: the predator wasn't a classmate or a stranger. It was sitting right inside Lauryn's own home. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/underthetapepodcast Sources: Unknown Number: The High School Catfish (Netflix Documentary)Who Was Cyberbullying Kendra Licari's Teen Daughter? by The Cut / New York Magazinehttps://medium.com/case-by-case/cybercrime-child-abuse-and-only-60-days-the-outrage-of-the-kendra-licari-case-cfc1e38fb963https://abcnews.com/GMA/News/mother-facing-charges-after-allegedly-cyberbullying-daughter/story?id=95519770https://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/columnist/2025/09/12/netflix-unknown-number-mom-cyberbullying/86047605007/https://www.today.com/popculture/lauryn-licari-now-rcna229882

In this episode of Under the Tape, we examine the case of Cary Stayner, the former Cedar Lodge maintenance worker who murdered four women near Yosemite National Park in 1999. We cover Stayner's upbringing in Merced, California, the impact of his brother Steven Stayner's widely publicized kidnapping and return, and the events leading up to the disappearances of Carole Sund (42), her daughter Juli Sund (15), and their family friend Silvina Pelosso (16) after they visited Yosemite in February 1999. We also examine the murder of Joie Ruth Armstrong (26), a Yosemite National Park employee killed in July 1999, and how investigators connected both cases to Stayner through forensic evidence, witness interviews, and his eventual confession. Finally, we discuss the federal and state prosecutions, the sentences he received, and where the case stands today. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/underthetapepodcast

On this episode of Under the Tape, we examine the kidnapping of Steven Stayner, one of the most well-known child abduction cases in American history. On December 4, 1972, seven-year-old Steven was abducted while walking home from school in Merced, California, by Kenneth Parnell, who falsely claimed he had been sent by a church to take Steven to his parents. Parnell kept Steven hidden for more than seven years, moving between locations throughout Northern California and raising him under the name "Dennis Gregory Parnell." Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/underthetapepodcast

Phoebe Handsjuk was a 24-year-old woman whose death inside the Balencea Apartments in Melbourne, Australia, on December 2, 2010, remains one of the country's most debated cases. She was found at the bottom of a garbage chute after falling from the 12th floor. Investigators concluded that her death was the result of a tragic accident after determining she had entered the chute herself while under the influence of alcohol and prescription medication. However, her family has long disputed that conclusion, pointing to unanswered questions surrounding the investigation, the physical evidence, and the circumstances leading up to her death. Over the years, multiple coronial reviews, extensive media investigations, and public scrutiny have kept Phoebe's case in the spotlight, making it one of Australia's most controversial unexplained deaths. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/underthetapepodcast

In this episode of Under the Tape, we examine the kidnapping of Jaycee Dugard, who was abducted on June 10, 1991, at the age of 11 while walking to her school bus stop in Meyers, California, near South Lake Tahoe. Her stepfather, Carl Probyn, witnessed the abduction and chased the kidnapper's vehicle, but Phillip Craig Garrido and his wife, Nancy Garrido, escaped. For the next 18 years, Jaycee was held captive at the Garridos' home in Antioch, California, while law enforcement and her mother, Terry Probyn, never stopped searching for her. The case took a dramatic turn in August 2009, when Garrido's suspicious behavior at the University of California, Berkeley prompted a parole investigation that led authorities to identify Jaycee and reunite her with her family. We cover the timeline of the investigation, Garrido's prior kidnapping conviction, the parole failures that allowed him to remain free, the discovery of the hidden backyard compound, the criminal case that followed, and how Jaycee rebuilt her life after one of the longest known stranger kidnappings in U.S. history. Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/underthetapepodcast Sources: A Stolen Life by Jaycee Dugard.Freedom: My Book of Firsts by Jaycee Dugard.California Office of the Inspector General's report on Phillip Garrido's parole supervision.Contra Costa County Superior Court records.ABC News' Diane Sawyer interview.Reporting from the Los Angeles Times, The Sacramento Bee, San Francisco Chronicle, and the Associated Press.FBI materials and interviews with Special Agent Chris Campion.