True Crime with Kendall Rae

In January 2018, 19-year-old University of Pennsylvania student Blaze Bernstein disappeared while visiting his family in California. Days later, his body was discovered, and the investigation led authorities to a former high school classmate. What unfolded was a heartbreaking case of betrayal, hatred, and a young life cut tragically short. This episode remembers Blaze, his life, and the devastating consequences of hate.

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In June 2021, 42-year-old Ryan Cooper was found shot to death inside his family home in rural Iowa. His wife, Karina, called 911, claiming someone had broken into their home and killed her husband while he slept. But what initially appeared to be a home invasion would soon unravel into a far more complicated story of secrets, betrayal and deception.

Huge thanks to StayAwake Crime & Psychology. 
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In February 2026, 37-year-old Ashley Flynn was found shot to death inside her home in Tipp City, Ohio, after her husband, Caleb, called 911 claiming an intruder had broken in. But months later, Caleb was standing trial for Ashley’s murder. Over several days of testimony, jurors heard about a secret affair, thousands of text messages, a missing gun and evidence prosecutors said showed the supposed break-in had been staged. Now, a jury has found Caleb guilty of murdering his wife. In this episode, we take a deep dive into the evidence presented at trial, the arguments from both sides and th...

On May 26th, 2012, 23-year-old Lisa Techel was found shot to death in her bed at her home in rural Iowa. Lisa was 17 weeks pregnant with her first child, and suspicion immediately fell on a neighbour who had been involved in an ongoing dispute with her and her husband. But as investigators dug deeper, they uncovered secret relationships, intimate text messages and a missing shotgun. What followed was a complicated case that would take three trials and two hung juries before Lisa and her family finally got answers.

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In September 2022, 25-year-old Arelie Garcia left her home in Salinas, California, early one morning. Just before 7am, she sent her sister a familiar “good morning” text... but she never arrived at work and was never seen again. Later that day, her car was found more than an hour away in Big Sur, with her phone, wallet and keys still inside. 

Bring Arelie Home
GoFundMe
Instagram: @bringareliehome_

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For years, Daejon Love allegedly convinced women he met online that he was a wealthy NFL player for the San Francisco 49ers. With luxury cars, an impressive social media presence and investment opportunities that promised huge returns, authorities say Love built an elaborate persona that helped him gain the trust of women across multiple states. But behind the lifestyle was allegedly a sprawling romance and investment scam that saw multiple women lose a combined $1.3 million. In this episode, we unravel how the alleged scheme worked and share the experiences of some of the women who have since come forward.<...

In October 2018, 44-year-old Angela Bledsoe was found shot to death inside the New Jersey home she shared with her longtime partner and their young daughter. But by the time Angela was discovered, her murderer was already on the run, setting off an international manhunt that would eventually lead authorities to Cuba. And when the suspect was finally returned to the US, investigators discovered something remarkable among his belongings – an 18-page handwritten journal detailing his version of Angela’s murder and his life on the run.

Domestic Violence Resources: 

National Domestic Violence Hotline  Phone: 1-800-799-SAFE...

In December 2022, the dismembered remains of an unidentified woman were discovered by hunters in a remote area of Georgia. It would take five months and the help of genetic genealogy to finally give her a name, 40-year-old Mindi Kassotis. Mindi’s husband Nicholas was arrested for her murder. But his explanation for what had happened would lead to one of the most bizarre murder trials imaginable, involving false identities, a life on the run, and a mysterious man with alleged ties to the FBI.

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In April 2021, Dee Warner disappeared from her home in Lenawee County, Michigan. Her sudden disappearance immediately concerned her family, who refused to believe she had simply walked away from her life. For more than three years, they fought for answers... until Dee’s remains were finally discovered hidden inside a sealed tank on property belonging to her husband. What followed brought long-awaited answers about what happened to Dee and ultimately led to a murder conviction.

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In April 2015, 28-year-old mother Heather Bogle vanished after finishing an overnight shift at a Whirlpool factory in Clyde, Ohio. The following day, Heather was found murdered and left in the trunk of her own car. But the investigation into her death would soon become a disturbing story of its own, as the lead detective focused on three innocent people while crucial evidence was overlooked.

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In April 2026, doctoral students Zamil Limon and Nahida Bristy were reported missing in Florida. When the pair could no longer be reached, friends and loved ones feared the worst. As police pieced together their final movements, the search for answers sent shockwaves through the University of South Florida community and left many questions that are still being answered today.

Support for the families link here. 

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The Case of Barbara Kendhammer follows the investigation into the 2016 death of Barbara Kendhammer, a Wisconsin woman who suffered fatal injuries after her husband claimed a metal pipe flew off a passing truck and struck her through the windshield. As investigators scrutinized the evidence, they uncovered inconsistencies that challenged his account, leading to allegations that Barbara's death was the result of murder rather than a freak accident. The case explores forensic science, investigative techniques, and the pursuit of the truth behind a seemingly impossible story.

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In October 2024, 38-year-old Christa Gilley was found unresponsive inside the Houston home she shared with her husband after he called 911. Christa, who was eight weeks pregnant, later died in hospital, but an autopsy would tell a very different story to what her husband shared. Days later, he was arrested and charged with the murders of Christa and their unborn child. In this episode, we explore Christa's life, the investigation into her death, and the latest developments after her husband fled to Italy while awaiting trial.

Justice For Christa Facebook Page
GoFundMe
Instagram: justiceforchrista
Justice...

In November 2018, Carla Stefaniak travelled to Costa Rica to celebrate her birthday with family. After extending her trip by one night, Carla was last heard from after dropping her sister-in-law at San José Airport. But when she failed to board her flight home the following morning, her loved ones knew something was wrong. What followed would uncover the truth behind Carla's final night in Costa Rica.

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On February 16th, 2026, 37-year-old Ashley Flynn was found shot to death inside her home in Tipp City, Ohio, after her husband called 911 to report that an intruder had broken in while their children slept. As first responders arrived at the scene, questions quickly began to emerge about what had happened inside the house that morning. Days later, Ashley's husband was arrested and charged with her murder.  

With the case still making its way through the courts, many questions remain unanswered. In this episode, we take a look at the events that unfolded from that 911 call and bring y...

In January 2026, 17-year-old Hailey Buzbee disappeared after leaving her home in Fishers, Indiana, in the middle of the night. When she failed to return, her family launched a desperate search to find her. As investigators retraced Hailey's final movements, they uncovered a trail of online messages and hidden communications that would ultimately lead them across state lines in pursuit of the truth.

Hailey's Law PDF
GoFundMe
Facebook Page
Hailey's Army For Children
Change Petition
Resources Via Child Rescue Coalition
NCMEC's Online Safety Tools

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In late April 2017, 20-year-old Halee Rathgeber was found murdered in the parking lot of a soccer field in Warrick County, Indiana. Friends described Halee as kind, ambitious, and devoted to those she loved, making her death all the more difficult to comprehend. As investigators pieced together her final movements, the search for her killer led them deep into her inner circle, where questions of trust and betrayal quickly came to the surface.

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In 2025, reality TV star Aaron Goodwin thought he was happily married to his wife, Victoria. But behind the scenes, investigators say Victoria had been leading a double life… one that allegedly involved secret relationships, thousands of text messages, and a chilling plot to have Aaron killed. What emerged was a story of betrayal, deception, and a marriage that was far different from what it appeared to be.

Check out the Lights Out episode on Grant Amato here. 

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In August 2003, 19-year-old Sonya Ivanoff left a friend’s house in Nome, Alaska. When she never made it back, her loved ones immediately knew something was wrong. Days later, Sonya’s body was discovered outside of town, and investigators began searching for answers. What followed would raise troubling questions about trust, accountability, and whether the person who took Sonya’s life had been hiding in plain sight all along.

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20-year-old Megan Clarke thought she had found her fairytale romance when she fell for a charming aristocrat calling himself “Lord Bertie Underwood.” Their whirlwind relationship quickly escalated, with luxury gifts, a lavish home, and even a proposal. But just weeks before their wedding, Megan began noticing strange inconsistencies in the life they had built together...

Megan's Instagram: lifeofmeg_c  
Podcast w/ Megan: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HbMWtPgPJbU&t=320s 
Janelle's Instagram: janelle_fields_  

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On December 13th, 2023, Kristil Krug was found murdered inside her home after months of terrifying stalking messages, emails, and threats sent by someone she believed was watching her every move. The harassment had become so intense that Kristil kept a detailed “stalker log” and feared for her safety daily. As police began piecing together Kristil’s final movements, attention quickly turned to the people closest to her…

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On February 16th, 2011, police officers arrived at an elementary school in Irvine, California, demanding to speak with PTA president and school volunteer Kelli Peters after receiving an anonymous tip claiming she had been driving erratically around the school and had drugs in her car. Officers searched Kelli’s vehicle and discovered marijuana, a pipe, and prescription pills inside. Kelli insisted they weren’t hers and pleaded with the officers, who agreed the circumstances seemed suspicious. But no one could have prepared for the truth that would eventually come to light.

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In 2016, Michelle Hadley was arrested and accused of staging a bizarre kidnapping plot and framing her ex’s new fiancée through a series of disturbing online messages. Investigators believed the threats, which described a violent abduction fantasy, were part of an elaborate hoax created by Michelle herself. She was jailed and faced serious charges… until the case began to unravel. As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered evidence pointing to a far more complex scheme than anyone initially believed.

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On July 23rd, 2013, Tiffany Mead agreed to meet her estranged husband, Kristopher Ertmann, at a park in Davis County, Utah to collect a child support payment. Instead, prosecutors say he ambushed her, slitting her throat and forcing her to tell 911 she had tried to harm herself. Miraculously, Tiffany survived -and once she was able to speak, she told investigators what really happened that day. But as the case moved forward, authorities would uncover an even more disturbing plan that suggested the danger was far from over.

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On July 24th, 2011, just days before her 18th birthday, 17-year-old Ne’Keisha “Keisha” Hodges-Hawkins was at a party in Krueger Memorial Park in Michigan City, Indiana, when gunfire broke out in a crowd of more than 100 people. Keisha was struck and killed, and despite the number of witnesses, no one initially came forward with information. For years, the case remained unsolved… until Keisha’s father began searching for answers himself, turning to social media to push for justice and uncover the truth about what happened that night.

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In February 2018, 25-year-old Patrick De La Cerda was at home when he fell victim to an ambush-style shooting. His fiancée Jessica Devnani’s jealous ex-boyfriend, Gregory Bender, had been sending harassing messages to the couple for months. After a judge had issued a restraining order, the threats stopped… until the morning of the murder. Police followed a tip to check Bender’s home, where they came across a hand drawn map of De La Cerda’s house and notes that Bender himself made on how to carry out the murder. And if that wasn’t enough, he left out ammunit...

On October 16, 2014, 21-year-old Skylar Nemetz shot and killed his wife, 19-year-old Danielle Nemetz. Neighbors who heard the shot were the ones to report the shooting, as Skylar was making no attempt to seek help for his wife. He then seemed to be all over the place in his questioning with the police–from upset and crying, to being combative with officers, to claiming he couldn’t remember what happened, to defending his actions.

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On April 10, 2018, 16-year-old Kyle Plush got trapped in the back of his minivan, and was being crushed by the 3rd row of seats. He was able to call 911 two separate times using his phone's voice assistant, but through a series of missteps by the 911 operator and police sent to look for the car, Plush wasn't discovered until much later, when it was too late, by his father.

Kyle Plush Answer The Call Foundation: https://kyleplushanswerthecall.org/
Settlement Agreement Report: https://www.scribd.com/document/53382...
Investigation Summary Report: https://www.scribd.com/document/37919...
Smart911: https...

In October 2023, 21-year-old student Lillie James was killed by her ex-boyfriend, Paul Thijssen. He couldn't bear with the fact that she had just broken up with him, and he wanted revenge. Security cameras captured James going into their school bathroom with Thijssen following behind shortly after. She was never seen alive again, and Thijssen disposed of a hammer in a nearby garbage can.

Domestic Violence Hotline: https://www.thehotline.org/
Celeste Manno's case

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In 2018, an Australian woman decided to begin faking a late-stage ovarian cancer diagnosis to get attention. She went as far as shaving her head and losing weight to really sell the whole thing. Worst of all, she got her partner to put all of his savings into her “treatments” and accepted money from her giving community for a GoFundMe.

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In December of 2015, 27-year-old Jessie Bardwell moved from Alabama to Texas to live with her boyfriend, 28-year-old Jason Lowe. Her friends and family knew this was a bad situation for her–Jason was abusive and controlling over every facet of her life. In May of 2016, Jessie disappeared, and her father Gary sprung into action. He traveled to Texas himself and got the police involved. He could just feel that she was dead, and even had a nightmare about her murder the night before her disappearance.

Gary's "Taken Away" Full Song: JESSIE4
National Domestic Violence Hotline: https://ww...

In October 2016, 22-year-old Cati Blauvelt went missing. Her family already had their suspicions on who could have caused her harm–her husband John, an ex-Army recruiter with anger issues who had lost his job, his identity... and blamed it all on her. In reality, John was partying with and supplying drugs and alcohol to minors. He had even allegedly pulled a gun on Cati during a domestic violence incident.

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One night in April 2008, Queena Phu–just days after her 18th birthday and days before the senior prom she was prepping for–was returning books at the library when she was brutally attacked. Thankfully, she survived, but not without sustaining severe brain damage and losing her vision and ability to speak. Her friends and family jumped into action, and local law enforcement knew they needed to bring her attacker off the streets and to justice.

Join Queena: https://joinqueena.com/

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On April 25, 2010, a panic-stricken 25-year-old Heidi Firkus called 911 to report a break-in in her and her husband Nick’s home. That’s when there was a gunshot and screaming. After this, Nick re-dialed 911, screaming that he and Heidi were shot by this intruder. After first responders arrived, Heidi was already dead at the scene, and Firkus was acting strange with police in re-telling his story. Time went on and Firkus remarried… but his second wife found out about the financial problems he was secretly having, and how similar their situation was becoming to his financial situation with his first wife...

Reagan Tokes was a 21-year-old college student about to graduate when she was abducted and killed one night. She was leaving her job and heading home, when she was spotted by Brian Golsby–a violent sexual offender who was at the time on parole and wearing an ankle monitor. This monitor should have prevented him from leaving the area he was confined to, but no one was watching him. He had been freely roaming the streets, violating his probation, and committing robberies freely.

The Reagan Delaney Tokes Memorial Foundation: https://rdtmf.com/

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In 2019, 21-year-old college student, Alexis Crawford, was found dead after she was reported missing. In the days before her murder, Alexis had filed a police report against her best friend, Jordyn Jones’ boyfriend, Barron Brantley, for sexual assault. It is believed that Jones and Brantley suffocated Alexis and left her body in a park in Atlanta.

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Case Update: Since filming, Michael McKee was extradited and is now being held in Franklin County, Ohio where he is facing charges. In a hearing on Friday, January 23rd, 2026, he pleaded not guilty. It has also come to light that on December 6th, video evidence shows Michael entering the Tepe's home while they were at the Big Ten Championship Football Game. Sources say Monique left the game at halftime and was reportedly "upset about something involving her ex-husband." 

GoFundMe to support the Tepe's children: https://www.gofundme.com/f/supporting...
Full Wedding Video: Monique + Spencer | January 30t...

On December 2, 2019, 43-year-old Christine Holloway was found dead in her home, her young baby Vanessa missing. Her boyfriend, 48-year-old Jose Morales was immediately under suspicion, as he was high, unhelpful with police, and just generally unconcerned for his dead girlfriend and missing baby. Further questioning and investigation led police to charging Morales with beating Christine to death and trying to clean the crime scene afterwards. Vanessa is still missing to this day.

Anonymous tips: https://tip411.com/tips/new?alert_gro... 
Facebook: / 477930012830043  

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On December 16, 2022, 32-year-old nurse Alex Pennig had been found dead in her bathroom at home, victim to an allegedly self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. But there were some serious inconsistencies with how she would have shot herself using her non-dominant hand, and why her hands were completely clean. Also in her apartment at the time was Matthew Ecker, a fellow nurse she was seeing who was supposedly just hanging out in the next room when she shot herself… with his gun.

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On August 19, 2020, 25-year-old nurse Sydney Sutherland went out on a jog around her home, when she disappeared. Her family got law enforcement involved immediately and they began a search of the area. Unfortunately, it was too late. 28-year-old Quake Lewellyn had struck down Sydney with his car for his own heinous reasons.

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