The Fall Line: True Crime

80-year-old Rose Goodman was a fixture of her Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood—a mother and grandmother who'd been a leader in the church and community, and who'd volunteered with the schools her three children attended. Her close-knit block on Broomall Street looked after one another, and lived quietly in the bustling city—so it was shocking when in September of 2023, Rose was found shot in the home she'd lived in for 50 years. 

If you have any information in the unsolved homicide of Rose Goodman, please reach out to the Philadelphia Police Department at 215-686-TIPS. There is a 30,000-doll...

For 30 years, a young woman found in an Albuquerque motel room in 1991 was known only as Albuquerque Jane Doe, and later as Becca Doe. Her death was ruled a suicide, yet a photo-booth picture and a locked door kept online sleuths asking questions for decades. In March 2026, Ramapo College's genetic genealogists identified her as 18-year-old Becca Mallekoote.

Maxine Spellman, a civilian researcher and host of The Butterfly Effect, joins us to discuss the case and her involvement, her deep dive into records and investigative work she undertook, and the FIGG that restored Becca's identity. We also dive...

We continue our coverage of the ways in which Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogists (AIGG) C are approaching the massive changes in the field of  Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG/IGG) following the update in the language of Ancestry.com's TOS regarding access to historical records and family trees. In this episode, we speak with Tracie Boyle, a longstanding and talented AIGG whose experience includes work with DNA Doe Project and at Ramapo College. Tracie's new program, TreeScope, looks to help close the gaps, and to provide researchers with a tool that will make identifying John and Jane Does and s...

Lavern "Vern" Chupp was a well-known figure in St Joseph County, Michigan, where his Old Order Amish family had deep roots, and his skill at construction and carpentry meant he'd worked with just about everyone in the various townships surrounding his home. A devoted father, grandfather, and great-grandfather, Lavern was a popular man--but like anyone else, he had difficult business dealings and personal conflict. He lived alone, and his family sometimes worried that he was on his own; however, they never expected that he'd face violence at the hands of an unknown attacker. 

Rula patients typically pay $15 p...

We continue our coverage of the unsolved murder of Opelika, Alabama mother Sylvia Lou Dowdell, whose remains were discovered in Tuskegee just after Mother's Day 1998. Her daughter, Precious, still has questions--especially about the insurance police taken out on her mother before her death. 

Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/fallline  #rulapod

Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to Quince.com.fallline  for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. 

A...

We continue our coverage of the unsolved murder of Opelika, Alabama mother Sylvia Lou Dowdell, whose remains were discovered in Tuskegee just after Mother's Day 1998. This episode, we examine the crime scene, the forensic evidence, and the investigation. 

Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/fallline  #rulapod

Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to Quince.com.fallline  for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. 

Anyone with information regarding Sylv...

In 1998, a 38-year-old mother of seven, Sylvia Lou Dowdell, was murdered in Tuskegee, Alabama. Her body was left under a bridge, and her family in her hometown of Opelika waited to hear word of an arrest in her case. After all, a history of violence against Sylvia indicated what might have happened. But nearly 30 years later, her homicide remains unsolved, and two of her adult children, Precious and Steve, are heading up a renewed push for answers. 

Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in y...

In October of 1988, the remains of a homicide victim were found in a rural area of Grays Harbor County, just outside Elma, Washington. A dedicated detective worked her case for years—first in his role with the sheriff's office, and then as coroner. Even now, in his retirement, he's followed the case.

Despite thousands of hours of investigation, her identity remained elusive; but then, in 2018, forensic investigative genetic genealogy became a possibility, and The DNA Doe Project took on the case of the Grays Harbor Jane Doe. But her case has proved incredibly difficult, and genealogists and in...

We continue our coverage of the disappearance of Melissa Ann Montoya. On St. Patrick's Day 2001, 42-year-old Melissa Montoya joined her loved ones at the Apache House of Liquor in Dulce, New Mexico—a town located in the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation. It was the last time that her friends and family ever saw her. Since then, lawyer and  advocate Darlene Gomez has been fighting alongside her family for justice for Melissa--and for resolution in her case. 

2026 Update: The unidentified person considered as a possible match for Melissa has been ruled out. However, law enforcement is seeking to spea...

On St. Patrick's Day 2001, 42-year-old Melissa Ann Montoya joined her loved ones at the Apache House of Liquor in Dulce, New Mexico—a town located in the Jicarilla Apache Nation Reservation. It was the last time that her friends and family ever saw her. Since then, lawyer and  advocate Darlene Gomez has been fighting alongside her family for justice for Melissa--and for resolution in her case. 

2026 Update: The unidentified person considered as a possible match for Melissa has been ruled out. However, law enforcement is seeking to speak with anyone who was with her on the night she...

In today's episode, we continue the story of Calvin Willie Martinez. 

Mothers Day 2019 was the last time Calvin Willie Martinez's family heard from him. After suffering an immense loss in 2014, Calvin had struggled with depression and alcohol dependence.  But he always stayed in contact with his loved ones—so when he called them from a truck stop in Albuquerque, NM, and promised he was heading home, they believed him. But Calvin never arrived. 

Ever since, his sister Becky Martinez has been advocating for her brother. And as she discovered in late 2023, that persistence was vital: other...

Mothers Day 2019 was the last time Calvin Willie Martinez's family heard from him. After suffering an immense loss in 2014, Calvin had struggled with depression and alcohol dependence.  But he always stayed in contact with his loved ones—so when he called them from a truck stop in Albuquerque, NM, and promised he was heading home, they believed him. But Calvin never arrived. 

Ever since, his sister Becky Martinez has been advocating for her brother. And as she discovered in late 2023, that persistence was vital: otherwise, his case would have remained erroneously closed. 

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We sit down with podcaster and author Nina Innsted to discuss her coverage of and investigation into Michigan's unsolved missing persons cases and unresolved homicides—many of which are detailed in her new true-crime book. 

Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/fallline  #rulapod

Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to Quince.com.fallline  for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. 

Order Nina's book now: Unsolved Michigan

The...

We continue our coverage of missing child Arden Pepion, and her family's reflections on what justice really means. 

 In April of 2021, three-year-old Arden Pepion was taken to a shooting range on the banks of the Two-Medicine River on the Blackfeet Nation reservation in Montana. She hasn't been seen since—and despite years of search efforts, her family still doesn't have an answer. What happened to Baby Arden? In the first of a two-part series, we cover her disappearance and the experiences of her paternal grandmother, cousin, and MMIP advocate Rhonda Grant Connelly. 

 Elevate your summer wardro...

In April of 2021, three-year-old Arden Pepion was taken to a shooting range on the banks of the Two-Medicine River on the Blackfeet Nation reservation in Montana. She hasn't been seen since—and despite years of search efforts, her family still doesn't have an answer. What happened to Baby Arden? In the first of a two-part series, we cover her disappearance and the experiences of her paternal grandmother, cousin, and MMIP advocate Rhonda Grant Connelly. 

Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to Quince.com/fallline  for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. 

For the family of Anastasia Ferriera, the search has been defined by obstacles: a detective they waited six months to meet, and tips that arrived too late or led nowhere. Her mother, Natalie, and grandmother Brenda have largely driven the investigation themselves, canvassing the International District, funding billboards and radio ads, and connecting with advocacy group Aunties for Justice.

 In this conclusion, we follow the leads that emerged after Anastasia's disappearance, including a search warrant executed at a southeast Albuquerque address, a missing persons flyer recovered from a stolen vehicle in Oklahoma, and a woman who appeared a...

Nineteen-year-old Anastasia Ferriera grew up close to her mother, Natalie Padilla, and her grandmother Brenda. Birthdays were always spent together, and texts flew back and forth throughout the day. In March 2023, that contact stopped. Anastasia was last seen in Albuquerque's International District, and her family has been searching ever since.

In this first episode of a two-part series, we trace Anastasia's life in Albuquerque's International District and the days leading up to her disappearance. Her family has never stopped searching. They hope someone out there knows something.

Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using...

Eleven-year-old Andrew Oliver Escobar was finally settling back in with his father in Albuquerque. Re-enrolled at his old elementary school, he was playing chess, learning . Then, on June 25, 2023, Andrew went to his mother's for a court-ordered weekend visit. He never came back.

In this first episode of our new season, we examine Andrew's disappearance and the painful reality facing families when a child is taken by a parent: that the system is rarely built for them. Andrew is now fourteen years old. His father has never stopped searching.

Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when...

This week we're sharing an episode from our friend Kristen Seavey, who creates and hosts Murder, She Told. Kristen is a credentialed victim's advocate and one of the best cold case researchers working in the field.

In 1963, Emil Martens, a Danish immigrant living in a one-room cabin in the woods of Aroostook County, Maine, was murdered. The case went cold. At some point, the Maine State Police told his family the files had been lost. His name does not appear on any unsolved case list in the state. Kristen tracked down records that had never been released...

Roycinda Alexander thought that justice would come swiftly for her son, Darren Gray, who was murdered in public, in a city park, during his own child's birthday party—but she soon discovered that the neighborhood she'd raised her family in began to feel like a land of strangers. 

On May 8th, 2010, 24-year-old Darren Gray attended his child's birthday party at a Norfolk-area public park; during the celebration, he was attacked by a group of men and endured a brutal beating that ended in his murder. Close to 13 years later, his mother and siblings have more questions than ans...

On May 8th, 2010, 24-year-old Darren Gray attended his child's birthday party at a Norfolk-area public park; during the celebration, he was attacked by a group of men and endured a brutal beating that ended in his murder. Close to 13 years later, his mother and siblings have more questions than answers, and though some suspects were identified—and eventually, convicted—of Darren's beating, his murderers remain at large.

If you have information in the unsolved murder of Darren Gray, you can submit an anonymous tip by calling 1-888-LOCK-U-UP (1-888-562-5887). We are sharing our two-part series on D...

For more than two years, we've continued our coverage of the Nashville, Tennessee Jane Doe formerly known as Vandy Jane Doe. In February 2026,  her identification was announced: she was Yadezia Jones, of Nashville, and had finally been reconnected with her identity through FIGG (forensic investigative genetic genealogy). In this episode, we speak with the current and retired detectives assigned to her case and the team of investigative genealogists who ultimately identified Yadezia—and discuss what comes next for the investigation into her death.

The Fall Line® is an investigative true crime podcast focused on cold cases...

For the family of Christian Boyle, the grief of his unsolved murder is compounded by a lack of transparency. While convictions were secured in the Birmingham murder of Terrell Guy Jr.—the crime Christian witnessed—his own case in Blount County has remained at a standstill for eight years.

In the conclusion of this series, we speak with Christian's twin Brandon about his transformation from grieving Marine to self-taught legal advocate. By studying Alabama legal code and filing persistent public records requests, Brandon is demanding proof the investigation is active. We explore the barriers families face when seek...

Today, we're sharing a preview of The Final Hours, a true crime podcast from Crime House, powered by PAVE Studios. 

Hosted by Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole, The Final Hours examines the moments just before a person disappears. The routines. The timelines. And the small details that often get overlooked,  until it's too late. 

Sarah is an advocate for missing and murdered victims whose sister disappeared in 2001. Kourtney is a true crime storyteller and investigator who witnessed firsthand how crime can change a family forever. Together, they bring lived experience into every case, looking not onl...

Eighteen-year-old Christian Boyle was a fixture in his small town of Cleveland, Alabama. A fraternal twin who was "smart as a whip," Christian spent his days working construction and helping his mother, Kerry, care for his quadriplegic father. But when he failed to show up for laundry and missed his usual goodnight text on December 12, 2017, his family knew something was wrong.

In the first episode of this two-part series, we detail the 13-day search across the rural backroads of Blount County and the systemic delays that left a family hunting for answers on their own. We examine...

This week we're sharing a special episode from Blood Will Tell, a gripping new podcast you won't want to miss.

When a birthday party in suburban San Jose turns deadly, 18-year-old identical twins Trung and Anh  are arrested for suspected murder. But when an eyewitness misidentifies the brothers in a lineup, one twin spends nearly two years in jail — and the wrong one. How could one brother let his twin take the fall? And why would the other sacrifice his freedom for a crime he didn't commit?

Listen to more episodes of Blood Will Tell at...

We continue our coverage of Bryan Vladek Hasel, a former United States Marine who disappeared from Orlando Florida near University of Central Florida on November 6, 2021. In interviews with The Fall Line, his mother and sister discuss the family's four-year search, including work with a private investigator to search for answers. They share theories about his state of mind and possible whereabouts. Bryan Vladek Hasel may be living in the unhoused community, has expressed interest in the Appalachian Trail, and has traveled to Texas, Florida, New Hampshire, California, and Michigan. He is known to frequent coffee shops and basketball courts.<...

Bryan Vladek Hasel disappeared near the University of Central Florida in Orlando, Florida on November 6, 2021. The 22-year-old former Marine was last seen on body camera footage leaving Foxtail Coffee after a trespass warning. Adopted from Russia, Vladek Hasel showed signs of mental health struggles before vanishing. This missing adult case highlights investigation challenges when no foul play is suspected.: Orlando missing persons cold case.

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The Fall Line® is an i...

We continue our coverage of the disappearance of Pepita Redhair, who was last seen at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Pepita Madelyn Redhair, a young woman who grew up in Crownpoint on the Navajo Nation reservation, longed for adventure. Still, she stayed incredibly close to her family, despite living 140 miles away in Albuquerque. When Pepita suddenly went silent on March 27, 2020, her mother Anita King knew something was terribly wrong. The response she received from law enforcement launched her family into a nearly six-year fight for answers that highlights  issues with investigation of IPV (intimate partner violence) an...

Pepita Madelyn Redhair, a young woman who grew up in  Crownpoint on the Navajo Nation reservation, longed for adventure. Still, she stayed incredibly close to her family, despite living 140 miles away in Albuquerque. When Pepita suddenly went silent on March 27, 2020, her mother Anita King knew something was terribly wrong. The response she received from law enforcement launched her family into a nearly six-year fight for answers that highlights  issues with investigation of IPV (intimate partner violence) and the broader crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women and relatives (MMIWR/MMIP)—and the systemic failures that leave families searching on thei...

Today, we're sharing the first episode of Safe to Drink, a new podcast series from the Pulitzer Prize-finalist Document team at New Hampshire Public Radio.

When residents of a New Hampshire town discover their drinking water is contaminated with PFAS, chemicals linked to serious health risks, they are told there is no cause for alarm. But as illnesses mount and questions go unanswered, families begin to push back.

Hosted by NHPR climate reporter Mara Hoplamazian, Safe to Drink investigates how environmental contamination is handled when the science is evolving, regulations lag behind, and responsibility is...

Regular guest and Accredited Investigative Genetic Genealogist (AIGG) Cairenn Binder speaks with us about a current event that has shaken up the world of Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (FIGG/IGG) world: an update in the language of Ancestry.com's TOS regarding access to historical records and family trees. 

Many investigators and genealogists feel this may have a major impact on cold cases, and on work already in progress to identify John and Jane Does/unidentified human remains and suspects in open homicide investigations. 

The Fall Line® is an investigative true crime podcast focused on cold case...

Danny Harris, a 55-year-old Air National Guard veteran, was murdered in his Tennessee apartment in 2007. Andrew Wayne Hayes, a man with an intellectual disability, confessed after a 27-hour interrogation and was sentenced to life in prison.

But podcaster Stephanie Tinsley believes the wrong person is in prison. Her investigation "Everything They Missed" has uncovered confession contradictions, untested DNA evidence, and investigative failures pointing to other suspects. Stephanie discusses her real-time investigation and her theory about who really killed Danny Harris, her introduction to the Tennessee Innocence Project, and the world of wrongful convictions.

The Fall...

Mary Shotwell Little vanished from Lenox Square mall in Atlanta on October 14, 1965. The 25-year-old newlywed's car was found the next day with blood evidence and unexplained mileage, launching one of the city's most intensive searches.

Now, a decade-long investigation by civilian researchers has uncovered previously unseen FBI files and identified new leads in Mary's cold case. The new documentary THE VANISHING: The 60-Year Unsolved Disappearance of Mary Shotwell Little reveals their discoveries and explores fresh theories about what happened to the Atlanta bank secretary.

The Fall Line® is an investigative true crime podcast focused on c...

We continue our coverage of the cold case of Eric Nelams, and his family's fight for justice. Army veteran Eric Nelams was shot and killed outside his Phenix City, Alabama home in 2003, just days after refusing to take blame for an embezzlement scheme. His family believes the timing was no coincidence—and 22 years later, his homicide case remains cold.

Season 24 of The Fall Line covers missing persons, unsolved homicides, and unresolved deaths across the United States.

If you have information about Eric Nelams' murder: Call Crime Stoppers of Central Alabama at 334-215-STOP (7867). There is a...

Army veteran and father Eric Nelams, 32, was shot and killed outside his Phenix City, Alabama home on September 26, 2003. Multiple suspects ambushed Eric in his carport while he was leaving for work in what police believe was a planned attack.

Twenty-two years later, Eric's murder remains unsolved. His family believes someone in the interconnected communities of Phenix City, Columbus, and Atlanta knows what happened that morning and why Eric was targeted for killing—and they've worked for decades to finally get justice for Eric.

The Fall Line® is an investigative true crime podcast focused on cold cas...

The Toya family continues seeking answers after discovering evidence they believe was overlooked—including another woman's ID found in Shawna's car and missing rent money.

MMIWR/MMIP advocate Darlene Gomez discusses systemic issues in Indigenous victim investigations and cold case challenges. The family shares how they honor Shawna's memory while continuing their fight for justice in this unsolved death investigation.

The Fall Line® is an investigative true crime podcast focused on cold cases, unsolved murders, missing persons, and unidentified John and Jane Does in the United States. We deliver in-depth reporting and interviews with law enf...

Jemez Pueblo artist Shawna Toya was found unresponsive in her car at an Albuquerque, New Mexico park on August 1, 2021, and was pronounced dead at the scene. Her family discovered evidence—another person's ID in Shawna's vehicle, missing rent money, and undocumented trauma on her body—that they believe warrants further investigation.

Our coverage features interviews with Shawna's mother, renowned traditional potter Geraldine Toya, and MMIWR/MMIP advocate and lawyer Darlene Gomez as the family continues seeking answers about her death.

The Fall Line® is an investigative true crime podcast focused on cold cases, unsolved murders, missi...

Forensic anthropologists Dr. Amy Michael and Dr. Jen Bengtson reveal a critical gap in missing-persons databases and unidentified-remains cases. No-body homicide victims—those identified as murdered, but without recovered remains—may not appear in forensic identification databases, creating problems for cold-case investigations and forensic anthropology work.

Their research examines how missing persons cases, forensic databases, and unidentified human-remains investigations may be disconnected, which can in turn affect victim identification efforts nationwide.

The Fall Line® is an investigative true crime podcast focused on cold cases, unsolved murders, missing persons, and unidentified John and Jane Does in the U...

Part 2 of our re-release of our interview with Enzo Yaksic. Atypical Homicide researcher Enzo Yaksic shares his perspective on cultural myths regarding the "average" serial killer, what—and who—has skewed our perceptions of serial killers, and why it's so important that experts, law enforcement, and consumers begin to understand what serial murder is, and how serial murderers operate in the modern age. 

The Fall Line® is an investigative true crime podcast focused on cold cases, unsolved murders, missing persons, and unidentified John and Jane Does in the United States. We deliver in-depth reporting and interviews with law en...