In August 2020, 33-year-old Kassanndra Cantrell vanished from her home in Tacoma, Washington. She was excited about her first ultrasound appointment, but she never arrived. Her sudden disappearance left her family and friends desperate for answers.

Through meticulous investigation, authorities uncovered a trail of digital evidence pointing to her ex-boyfriend, Colin Dudley. Surveillance footage, cellphone data, and vehicle records revealed a chilling sequence of events leading to Kassanndra's tragic death. Dudley ultimately pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and was sentenced to over 26 years in prison.

On Mother's Day 2015, 42-year-old Christine Santurri, a mother of three from East Providence, Rhode Island, was brutally murdered in her own home. Her ex-boyfriend, Yuland Stanfield, violated a restraining order and stabbed her multiple times, all in front of her 21-year-old daughter. Just days before, Christine had reported Stanfield's threatening behavior to the police, but despite her efforts to seek protection, the system failed her.

Stanfield was later apprehended and pleaded guilty to first-degree murder and violating the restraining order. He was sentenced to life in prison. This case highlights the devastating consequences of domestic violence and the critical importance of enforcing protective orders.

In April 2017, 19-year-old Serena McKay, an Indigenous high school student from Sagkeeng First Nation, Manitoba, was brutally beaten by two teenage classmates after a house party. The assault was recorded and shared on social media, remaining online for hours before being removed. Serena's body was discovered the next day; she had succumbed to her injuries and hypothermia.

The two teenage girls, aged 16 and 17 at the time, were arrested and charged. Both pleaded guilty—one to manslaughter and the other to second-degree murder—and received the maximum youth sentences under Canadian law. The leniency of these sentences sparked outrage among Serena's family and the broader community, highlighting concerns about the justice system's handling of crimes involving Indigenous victims.

This episode explores the circumstances surrounding Serena's death, the legal proceedings that followed, and the broader issues of justice and accountability in cases involving Indigenous victims.

In July 2016, 14-year-old Grace Packer vanished from her home in Abington Township, Pennsylvania. For months, there were no answers—until her dismembered remains were discovered in a remote part of Luzerne County. What came next would horrify even seasoned investigators.

Grace hadn’t just been failed—she had been betrayed by the very people who were supposed to protect her. Her adoptive mother, Sara Packer, and Sara’s boyfriend, Jacob Sullivan, had planned and carried out Grace’s assault and murder as part of a disturbing and premeditated fantasy.

This case exposes deep cracks in the foster care and adoption systems, and the horrifying consequences when red flags are ignored. It’s a story of manipulation, cruelty, and a justice system trying to make sense of a senseless act.

In October 2012, 43-year-old Janette Tovar, a transgender woman and beloved bar promoter in Dallas, Texas, was found unresponsive in her home. Earlier that day, her partner, Jonathan Stuart Kenney, had violently assaulted her—slamming her head into concrete and continuing the attack behind closed doors.

Despite confessing to the crime, Kenney received a plea deal that resulted in just 10 years of probation. The sentence shocked many and raised urgent questions about how the justice system treats cases involving transgender victims.

In this episode, I take a closer look at what really happened to Janette, the failures that followed, and why her story still matters today.

In the summer of 1993, 15-year-old Becky Stowe disappeared from her hometown of Niles, Michigan. What began as a missing person case quickly turned tragic when her body was discovered weeks later, buried in a remote wooded area.

Becky had been lured there by her boyfriend, 16-year-old Robert Leamon, who later confessed to killing her. The motive? Becky was pregnant—and Robert didn’t want anyone to find out.

The case shocked the community and raised disturbing questions about secrecy, teen relationships, and the devastating consequences of fear and denial.

In January 1995, Mary Catherine Edwards, a 31-year-old beloved middle school teacher in Beaumont, Texas, was found murdered in her home. The crime scene was chilling—Mary had been sexually assaulted and drowned in her own bathtub. Despite a thorough investigation, the case went cold for over two decades.

It wasn’t until 2020, thanks to advancements in DNA genealogy, that investigators linked the crime to Clayton Bernard Foreman—a former high school acquaintance of Mary’s who had left behind a hidden trace of himself at the scene. His arrest and eventual conviction brought long-awaited justice to a family that had spent 25 years waiting for answers.

In November 1988, 17-year-old Junko Furuta disappeared while walking home from school in Tokyo. Her case would become one of the most haunting and disturbing crimes in Japan’s history.

Junko was held captive for 44 days and subjected to prolonged abuse at the hands of four teenage boys. The crime took place inside a residential home—unseen, unreported, and ignored by those who might have intervened.

When her body was finally discovered, hidden in a concrete drum, the details of the case sent shockwaves throughout the nation. Public outrage intensified when her killers received remarkably lenient sentences, sparking ongoing debate about justice, accountability, and the protection of victims.

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains references to extreme violence, abuse, and the suffering of a minor. Sensitive listeners and younger audiences are strongly advised to proceed with caution.