Sirens: Southern True Crime

FEED DROP from DREADFULLY YOURS PODCAST:

What happens when a journalist returns to the Ozarks to investigate a murder that has haunted a small Arkansas community for more than a decade—and discovers that finding answers may be far more dangerous than she imagined?

In this episode of Dreadfully Yours, Raven Rollins sits down with journalist, licensed private investigator, and host of the hit true-crime podcasts Hell and Gone and Red Collar, Catherine Townsend, to discuss the investigation that changed the course of her career.

In September 2004, twenty-two-year-old Rebekah Gould disappeared near Guion, Ar...

When Virginia Ridley was found dead inside her Georgia home in 1997, suspicion quickly fell on her husband, Alvin—a reclusive television repairman whose unusual behavior and eccentric reputation had made him an outsider in his own community.

Charged with his wife's murder, Alvin faced a criminal justice system that struggled to understand him. But attorney McCracken Poston Jr. would discover that behind the rumors, the locked doors, and the troubling circumstances of Virginia's death was a far more complicated story.

In this episode of Dreadfully Yours, I sit down with McCracken Poston Jr., criminal defense at...

A special announcement from Raven Rollins introducing Dreadfully Yours: Conversations with Dark Storytellers — a brand new companion-ish podcast dedicated to conversations with authors, filmmakers, journalists, podcasters, musicians, and the minds behind the stories that linger long after the final page.

🎙️ Now streaming wherever you get your podcasts.

From chilling novels and psychological thrillers to horror, film, true crime, and the art of storytelling itself, Dreadfully Yours is a podcast that invites listeners into conversations with the minds behind the stories that stay with us.

Hosted by author, audiobook narrator, and podcaster Raven Rollins, each ch...

Seven-year-old Athena Strand should have been safe at home.

Instead, on November 30, 2022, she vanished from outside her father’s property in Paradise, Texas after a FedEx delivery driver came to the home. What followed became one of the most haunting child murder cases in recent memory — a case that would ultimately lead to the arrest, conviction, and death sentence of Tanner Horner.

In this episode, I walk through the timeline of Athena’s disappearance, the search efforts that gripped the community, the disturbing evidence shown during the capital murder sentencing trial, and the heartbreaking testimony from t...

In this episode, I'm joined by Kathy Reichs, one of the most respected voices in forensic science and crime fiction. A practicing forensic anthropologist and the author behind the Temperance Brennan series (Bones), Reichs brings a rare dual perspective—working real cases involving unidentified remains while also translating that science into compelling narrative.

Our conversation moves beyond pop-culture portrayals of forensic work and into the reality of what bones can—and cannot—tell us. We talk about skeletal trauma, time since death, identification challenges, and the responsibility that comes with speaking for the dead. Reichs also reflects on how...

In this episode of Sirens, I’m joined by Rachel Corbett, journalist, academic, and author of The Monsters We Make, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about crime, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves about evil.

Rachel shares how her own childhood experiences—and the moments that shaped her understanding of violence and fear—ultimately led her down the path of researching crime, criminal behavior, and the FBI’s approach to criminal profiling. What began as personal curiosity evolved into years of research that challenge some of the most widely accepted assumptions in true crime.

We talk...

Hosted by Raven Rollins

Tulsa’s infamous Hex House wasn’t just a haunted legend—it was real. Beneath the surface of an ordinary duplex at 10 East 21st Street lay a story of control, psychological manipulation, and hidden abuse that gripped the city in the 1940s. Two women were found living in a cold, dark basement—isolated, exploited, and convinced they were earning salvation under the direction of a woman named Carol Ann Smith.

In this episode, Raven unearths the true history behind the Hex House. It’s a story of power, belief, and the dangerous...

In this Sirens exclusive episode, I sit down with brothers Brian and Cameron Santana, co-authors of A Murder on Campus: The Professor, The Cop, and North Carolina’s Most Notorious Cold Case. We talk about the brutal, unsolved 1973 murder of Virginia Marie Olson, a 19-year-old college student whose body was discovered near the campus of UNC-Asheville.

Over 50 years, the case would haunt three generations of investigators and the entire Asheville community, marked by dead ends, disturbing parallels, and whispers of notorious suspects. Brian, a veteran cop, and Cameron, a college professor, teamed up to tell this story wi...

In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker and composer Dan Brown Jr., the creator of the true crime documentary Girl Forgotten: What Happened to Brianna Wells? and founder of Crime Sonics.

On December 29, 2014, 17-year-old Brianna Wells was found murdered and abandoned in a South Phoenix alley. Nearly a decade later, her case remains unsolved and largely forgotten—until now.

Dan shares the emotional and investigative journey behind Girl Forgotten, a film four years in the making that follows grassroots advocate Gina as she digs into Brianna’s story, uncovers disturbing truths, and exposes failures with...

Remastered and featuring updated content, Raven reconnects with Holly Archer to discuss the heartbreaking cold case of Britney Tiger Gomez from Ada, Oklahoma. Originally recorded in 2020, the episode now includes new developments that came to light in 2023, leading to an arrest, though not the kind anyone had hoped for.

The MMIW crisis refers to the staggering and disproportionate number of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit individuals who go missing or are murdered across the United States and Canada, often with little to no media coverage or resolution. Systemic failures, jurisdictional gaps, and historical trauma have left families...

🎙In this episode, Raven sits down in the studio with retired Tulsa Homicide Sergeant Mike Huff, one of the most respected voices in cold case investigations, with guest co-hosts Tiff and Jess from Curious Cousins OK Podcast.

With almost 40 years in law enforcement—and three decades in the Homicide Unit—Huff shares his insights on one of Oklahoma’s most notorious murder cases—the infamous Roger Wheeler / Whitey Bulger investigation—from his new book Killing My Father: The Inside Story of The Biggest FBI Corruption Scandal In History, which he wrote with Roger's son, David Wheeler, and historian Lau...

On July 16, 1978, one of Oklahoma’s most haunting mass murders unfolded just before midnight at the Sirloin Stockade restaurant in Oklahoma City. Located near SW 74th and Pennsylvania Avenue, the family steakhouse became the site of unimaginable horror when three armed intruders forced six teenage and adult employees into the walk-in freezer during closing hours, where they were gunned down.

Five of the employees died on the spot. A sixth died en route to the hospital. The victims included: David Lindsey (17), David Salsman (16), Anthony Tew (17), Terri Horst (15), Louis Zacarias (43), Isaac Freeman (56)

Oklahoma City was stunned. An...

This remastered episode of Sirens revisits the chilling case of William Boudrie, murdered by his ex-wife, Judie Hansen. The crime went unsolved for three decades—hidden in plain sight—until Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Gary Perkinson stepped in and changed everything.

The episode features remastered audio from our original release, along with personal phone conversations I had with Gary while writing Allegedly: True Crime from Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, where this case is also featured.

Gary, who wrote the foreword and afterword of Allegedly, takes us through his investigation and the work...

In this gripping episode, I sit down with journalist and author Tony Adame, the mind behind Chase the Devil: Murder and Obsession on Florida’s Gulf Coast and the award-winning podcast The Sheriff: Murder, Lies & Revenge in Okaloosa County.

We dive into the real-life case that inspired his debut true crime book—a haunting story of manipulation, obsession, and murder set against the backdrop of coastal Florida. The story of Tonya Ethridge McKinley.

Tony shares what it was like to research such an emotionally complex story, how living on the Gulf Coast gave him a uniq...

I was honored to go on a live radio broadcast show recently called The Opperman Report with host Ed Opperman. We had a great discussion about my true crime books, Allegedly and Sins of the South, and also this podcast! Listen in here or go find his podcast today!

Find my books and the companion episodes to them here: https://linktr.ee/RavenRollins

Mentioned in this episode:

Allegedly: True Crime

30 Cases. 1 County. 0 Justice? For readers of The Innocent Man. Same town, same authorities, more stories. Get Allegedly on Kindle Unlimited, Kindle...

A quick conversation with experts on strangulation - how easy it is, the stats of domestic violence, and the long-lasting effects it can have.

Strangulation Experts include: Deb Campbell, SANE Nurse; Carrie White, Esquire.

Medical Experts include: Rick Rollins, Critical Care Paramedic; a quick PSA from Dr. Sarah Hull from YouTube.

If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, please seek help at:

National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233 or text "BEGIN" to 88788. Find the website here.

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate...

Remastered: Raven and Holly discuss the case of Jennifer Campbell, a domestic violence victim shot and killed by her husband in Ada, Oklahoma.

Find more about Jennifer in Raven's book "Allegedly: True Crime From Pontotoc County, Oklahoma." https://linktr.ee/RavenRollins

Resource Apps discussed for DV: One Love, Aspire News

#domesticviolenceawareness

Originally released on 3/15/2020

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears:

Rate, review, and share my...

Remastered: Raven and Holly take you back to 2002 Ada, Oklahoma to talk about the case of Rachel Woodall. Tyler "T.J." Mullins was arrested by Ada police after he led them to a body buried in rural Seminole County. The victim was his former girlfriend, Rachel Woodall, 21. Originally released 11/16/2019.

*Domestic Violence*

We also tell you about https://startbybelieving.org/.

Find more about Rachel in Raven's book "Allegedly: True Crime From Pontotoc County, Oklahoma." https://linktr.ee/RavenRollins

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are...

Raven speaks with author and psychotherapist Sagit Schwartz about her new thriller book, Since She's Been Gone. We had a great conversation that also included topics such as: eating disorders, mental health, book trigger warnings and disclaimers, grief, and even went off topic a bit about the romance genre.

Now featured on the podcast Dreadfully Yours, Raven Rollins.

Find Since She's Been Gone anywhere you get your books or on the Zon here: https://amzn.to/483gFui

Find Sagit here: https://sagitschwartz.com, https://www.instagram.com/sagitschwartz/

Advocacy. Investigation. Education...

Raven speaks with David McCloskey, a former CIA Analyst and author of "The Seventh Floor. " We discuss some myths surrounding the CIA - are polygraphs junk science? What actually is a CIA Agent? Is there burnout in the CIA?- as well as writing and his books.

Get "The Seventh Floor" at https://amzn.to/480SzAj

David's Facebook page David's Website

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears:

Rate, review...

Raven and guest co-host Professor Mandy McNeely speak with author Kathy Reichs about her latest Temperance Brennan book, Fire and Bones.

Get it wherever you get your books or here: https://amzn.to/3MP4Xtv

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears:

Rate, review, and share my podcast!

Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com

Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast

🎬 Binge you...

In the sultry haze of summer, when shadows stretch long and secrets simmer, we embark on a gripping journey into the heart of true crime. Our ensemble of remarkable true-crime podcasters has assembled—a collective of voices determined to unravel mysteries, chase justice, and ignite the cold embers of forgotten cases.

True crime isn’t just about facts; it’s about resilience. Families, investigators, and ordinary citizens refuse to let darkness prevail. Their determination fuels our narrative—a beacon against the night.

Picture crimes unfolding against a backdrop of scorching asphalt and sun-drenched streets. Tempers flare, a...

In the sultry haze of summer, when shadows stretch long and secrets simmer, we embark on a gripping journey into the heart of true crime. Our ensemble of remarkable true-crime podcasters has assembled—a collective of voices determined to unravel mysteries, chase justice, and ignite the cold embers of forgotten cases.

True crime isn’t just about facts; it’s about resilience. Families, investigators, and ordinary citizens refuse to let darkness prevail. Their determination fuels our narrative—a beacon against the night.

Picture crimes unfolding against a backdrop of scorching asphalt and sun-drenched streets. Tempers flare, a...

In what's now Chapter Five on Dreadfully Yours, Raven speaks with fellow author J. C. Fuller, whose popularity sprouted from The Rockfish Island Mystery series, a murder mystery who-dun-it book series. J. C. can be found making cute videos on TikTok or you can find the series Facebook page and follow for the newest release details and updates at https://www.facebook.com/Blackbearalibi.

Black Bear Alibi (Book 1) Philip Russell, a U.S. Park Ranger on a remote Pacific Northwest island, stumbles upon a dead woman in the forest. The local sheriff, Lane, arrives to investigate. Loyal...

We have a feed drop for you from another true crime podcast, Unforbidden Truth, which interviews convicted killers. Before we introduce you, Raven discusses the case of Juli Busken from Oklahoma, which is the subject of this Unforbidden Truth Episode.

Busken, a 21-year-old ballerina from Benton, Arkansas, had just finished her final semester at the University of Oklahoma when she was abducted from her apartment in Norman on December 20, 1996. Her body was found near Lake Stanley Draper that evening. Authorities said she had been bound, sexually assaulted, and shot in the back of the head.

...

Raven and guest co-host Professor Mandy McNeely had a great conversation with Greg Overacker, the long-time family private investigator of the Brianna Maitland case, and now the author of the book about her, The Hunt for Brianna Maitland: The Relentless Pursuit of Answers to One of Vermont’s Biggest Mysteries.

This guy never gives up!

The Forward was written by Bruce Maitland, Brianna’s Father, who also founded and is the president of the nonprofit Private Investigations for the Missing, which seeks to, at no cost, fill the need for private investigation by providing families with...

Raven and guest co-host Professor Mandy McNeely interview Michelle Tooker, true crime podcast researcher and author of True Crime Trivia. We even play a couple of rounds of trivia from her newest book, True Crime Trivia 3, out now!

Books: True Crime Trivia 1: https://mybook.to/truecrimetrivia 2: https://mybook.to/truecrimetrivia2 3: https://mybook.to/truecrimetrivia3

Social media:

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@truecrimetrivia

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@truecrimetrivia

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/true.crime.trivia

Website: Sign up for Michelle's VIP reader group to receive occasional...

Have you been following the man who went viral on TikTok when a large influencer saw him at a grocery store with his book? Well, that's Shawn M. Warner, and his book Leigh Howard and the Ghosts of Simmons Pierce Manor, along with him, has moved into the Best Seller category! Join Raven as she speaks with him about the viral video, writing, and his books!

Find him at www.shawnwarner.com and on TikTok at @shawnwwrites.

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to...

We've been off the grid since Nov 2023 and wanted to give you all an update on what's going on with us and when to expect new episodes. We also give you some big news!

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you like my work, here are some ways to support me:

Rate, review, and share my podcast!

Find Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast

Get "Allegedly: True Crime From Pontotoc County, OK" (book) and/or "Sins of the South: A True Crime Case Collection To Advocate For"...

The second part of this collaboration will introduce you to several other amazing new true-crime podcasts that will quickly become your newest true-crime binges as we enter 2024 because, let’s face it, we know that’s exactly what you needed! With tons of episodes each, investigative curiosity, and a focus on advocacy, these podcasts will live up to the theme of our collaboration (“New Year, New Binge”) because you’ll soon find yourself falling in love with the podcasters included in these episodes. So, sit back, grab your detective caps, and let’s jump back in!

Be sure to foll...

The New Years holiday is a celebration of new beginnings. With that in mind, we know this collaboration will introduce you to several amazing new true-crime podcasts that will quickly become your newest true-crime binges as we enter 2024 because, let’s face it, we know that’s exactly what you needed! With tons of episodes each, investigative curiosity, and a focus on advocacy, these podcasts will live up to the theme of our collaboration (“New Year, New Binge”) because you’ll soon find yourself falling in love with the podcasters included in these episodes. So, sit back, grab your detective...

Raven speaks with author Marta McDowell about her new book, which takes a deep dive into how gardens and garden tools have influenced crime fiction books in her latest release, Gardening Can Be Murder: How Poisonous Poppies, Sinister Shovels, and Grim Gardens Have Inspired Mystery Writers.

Find the book on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or wherever you get your books.

Thanks to Marta for being on the show!

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach...

In the Season 4 finale, Raven and guest co-host Professor Mandy McNeely dive into the case of Karol Summerville Butt with her daughter, Brooke Nicole. Brooke (@bnicole324 on TikTok and Instagram) made waves with her TikTok series about her mother entitled "How my dad killed my mom and got away with it."

Here, we share Brooke's full-length, unabridged story about what she remembers of the horrific night her mother was found dead of an apparent suicide. But was it? Or was it something more sinister?

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I...

Raven and guest co-host Professor Mandy McNeely interview Ally Stephens, a survivor of domestic violence, on the anniversary of the attack that almost took her life. She tells her story unabridged.

We also speak with Rick Rollins, a Critical Care Paramedic; Deb Campbell, a SANE nurse, Domestic Violence Expert, and Strangulation Expert; and Carrie White, an Attorney and Domestic Violence Expert, on Strangulation. #DomesticViolenceAwarenessMonth

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears:

Rate...

Raven and guest co-host Professor Mandy McNeely speak with author and ghost tour guide Jeff Provine for Spooky Season, who shares a haunted Oklahoma story from the 1800s. We also discuss the afterlife and share some personal supernatural experiences.

Find Jeff, his books, and his tours at https://www.jeffprovine.com. You can also find his books in our Amazon Storefront spooky book rec section here. Make sure to follow him on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorJeffProvine.

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are a few...

Join Rick and Raven as they interview Karen Pierce on her new cookbook "Recipes for Murder: 66 Dishes That Celebrate the Mysteries of Agatha Christie."

They may have even made a dish or two from the book!

Get the cookbook here. Find Karen on Facebook and Instagram @recipesformurder.

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears:

Rate, review, and share my podcast!

Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com

Raven speaks with Marnie Vinge, author & podcaster, in this fun conversation. They talk about spooky season stuff, maneaters, ghosts, murder mysteries, "I Remember Everything," "For Rose," serial killers, true crime ethics, and so much more.

Get Marnie's books here. Listen to Eerie Okie wherever you get your podcasts. Get some signed copies of Marnie's books, sign up for her newsletter, and more at https://marniewritesthrillers.com/.

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears:

Follow along with some history of different Oklahoma State Fair abductions and murders, and get some safety pointers for attending public events like this one with Raven and guest co-host Professor Mandy McNeely.

Cases: September 26, 1981 disappearance of Cinda Pallett and Charlotte Kinsey, both 13; Cheryl Genzer (25) and her sister Lisa Pennington (16), sisters, abduction from the Oklahoma State Fair on September 23, 1987, found murdered; The disappearance of 19-year-old Carlene Brown and 19-year-old Christine “Christi” Ann Gross from Rawlins, Wyoming on July 4, 1974; The disappearance of Deborah Rae Meyer from Rawlins, Wyoming on August 4, 1974; The abduction and murder of 10-year-old Jayleen Dawn Bank...

In this episode, Raven Rollins sits down with bestselling true crime author Kathryn Casey to discuss “Deliver Us,” her haunting investigation into the infamous Texas Killing Fields cases — a stretch of desolate land tied to decades of disappearances, violence, and unanswered questions along the I-45 corridor.

The conversation explores the real stories behind the victims, the emotional weight of investigative true crime writing, and the lasting impact these cases have had on families and communities across Texas. Kathryn also discusses the adaptation of her work into the Netflix documentary series “Crime Scene: The Texas Killing Fields,” in which she...

Raven and guest co-host Professor Mandy McNeely speak with Kathy Reichs about her long-running Temperance Brennan series and show Bones with her newest edition, The Bone Hacker.

Get the book here: https://amzn.to/3P4w0Sb

Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling.

If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears:

Rate, review, and share my podcast!

Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com

Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast