Casefile True Crime

On August 19 1990, the tiny mountain town of Camp Nelson, California was stunned when the owner of the Camp Nelson Lodge, Bonnie Hood, was found shot to death in her private cabin. Her handyman, Rudy Manuel, was also shot in the head during the attack. While various suspects and theories emerged, it wasn’t until a separate shooting took place a little over a year later that the truth unravelled behind what some have called the strangest murder case in California's history.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Hugo Henry
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn
A special thanks to Dave Kehlet for certain information provided in this episode

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For all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-298-bonnie-hood

It’s been four years since I first learned about the disappearance of Niamh Maye, an 18-year-old who went missing from the small New South Wales town of Batlow back in 2002. I don’t know if it’s because Niamh and I finished high school in the same year, or we shared a similar taste in music, but I felt instinctively drawn to her story. At the time of her disappearance, Niahm was just a young woman, setting out on an adventure with friends and testing the waters of life, like so many 18-year-olds do. But unlike the rest of us, something pulled Niamh under.

As I learned more about Niamh’s story, the revelations that unfolded left me in shock. I spent four years speaking with family, friends, witnesses and members of law enforcement to try and get some answers. The result is Missing Niamh, the latest 12 part series from Casefile Presents. Researched and hosted by me, the series features exclusive interviews with key players, who help us dive into the details of Niamh’s case as we go back to Batlow to try and make sense of what really happened.

The entire 12-part series is available now. Be sure to download and follow Missing Niamh, wherever you get your podcasts.

https://missingniamh.com

*** Content warnings: Mass murder, suicide ***
When the crew of an oil tanker discover a man lost at sea on November 13 1961, he tells them a harrowing tale. His name is Captain Julian Harvey, and he’s the sole survivor of a yachting disaster: his wife Mary and the Duperraults, a family of five who had chartered the yacht, were all lost when their boat, the Bluebelle, caught on fire and sank. But several days later, another survivor, 11-year-old Terry Jo Duperrault, is found… and she has a very different story to tell.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn
A special thanks to Dave Kehlet for certain information provided in this episode

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For all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-297-bluebelle

*** Content warnings: Child abuse, sexual assault ***
On an early morning in March 1994, two strange men entered 16-year-old Aaron Bacon’s bedroom and told him they were there to take him away. Aaron’s parents had signed him up for a 63-day wilderness therapy program called North Star Expeditions in the hopes that some time following a disciplined routine in the natural world would help Aaron kick his drug habit and regain his focus. But none of them had any idea what lay in store…

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn
A special thanks to Dave Kehlet for certain information provided in this episode

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For all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-296-aaron-bacon

*** Content warnings: Suicide, self-harm, pregnancy loss ***
When retired schoolteacher Celia Blay stumbled across an online forum where suicidal individuals shared their innermost thoughts, she had no idea that she was about to encounter a serial predator. Li Dao was a young nurse who trawled the forum, looking for people to push over the edge. She encouraged other posters to take their own lives and gave explicit instructions. As members of the forum started to disappear, Celia Blay became determined to uncover Li Dao’s true identity and put a stop to her crimes. But nothing about Li Dao was as it seemed…

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn
A special thanks to Dave Kehlet for certain information provided in this episode

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For all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-295-nadia-kajouji-mark-drybrough

When married couple Ray and Jennie Kehlet went on a prospecting trip to the Western Australian outback in March 2015, they had one thing on their minds and that was to find gold. But when the couple suddenly disappeared without a trace, one of the biggest searches in WA history ensued, prompting the question – were Ray and Jennie lost or had they fallen victim to foul play?

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Elsha McGill
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn
A special thanks to Dave Kehlet for certain information provided in this episode

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For all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-294-ray-jennie-kehlet

[Part 2 of 2]
After arresting Darrin Lopez for the murder of Jamie Faith, detectives were confident they had solved the case – but the biggest revelation was yet to come.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Milly Raso
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

Sign up for Casefile Premium:

For all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-293-jamie-faith-part-2

[Part 1 of 2]
Married couple Jamie and Jennifer Faith lived a comfortable and happy life together in Oak Cliff, Texas. That all changed on the morning of Friday, October 9 2020, when a masked assailant confronted the couple as they took their dog on her daily walk.

Jamie was gunned down, and Jennifer barely escaped with her life. Jamie Faith was well-liked in all areas of his life, so investigators were left wondering who would want this much-loved family man dead.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Milly Raso
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-293-jamie-faith-part-1

*** Content warnings: Child abuse, child victims, sexual assault ***
In the late 1970s, young girls along the Andes mountain range in Ecuador began to disappear. By 1980, the number of missing girls had reached national crisis proportions. Police feared the girls had been abducted by international child traffickers and sold into domestic and sexual slavery. That was until a vigilant market vendor spotted something out of the ordinary.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Holly Boyd
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-292-monster-of-the-andes

In October of 2011, an advertisement was posted on the website Craigslist. It read: Wanted: Caretaker For Farm. Simply watch over a 688 acre patch of hilly farmland and feed a few cows. You get 300 a week and a nice 2 bedroom trailer. Someone older and single preferred but will consider all. Relocation a must. You must have a clean record and be trustworthy—this is a permanent position.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-291-david-pauley-ralph-geiger-timothy-kern

** Content warnings: Child victims ***

When a Holden belonging to Glenroy man Elmer Crawford was found at the bottom of the Loch Ard Gorge in July 1970, immediate concerns were raised for the safety of Elmer, his wife Theresa and their three children, Katherine, James and Karen. But when rescue workers gained access to the vehicle, the true extent of the mystery really unfolded.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Vikki Petraitis
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-290-the-crawford-family

When Mersea Island couple Stephen and Carol Baxter were found dead in their favourite recliner chairs in April 2023, there were no visible injuries or an obvious cause of death. Their house was immaculate, and nothing appeared to be missing. The case was initially ruled “unexplained, but not suspicious” until a few unusual discoveries were made.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Milly Raso
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-289-stephen-carol-baxter

*** Content warnings: Domestic violence, suicide ***
Dutch national Mark van Dongen met South African Berlinah Wallace in 2010 in Bristol, England. After 5 years together, Mark decided he wanted to end the relationship. He finally broke it off in August 2015 when he met someone new. 

When Berlinah Wallace refused to accept Mark’s decision, she became so consumed with anger and jealousy that she did the unthinkable. Her actions lead to devastating consequences.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Holly Boyd
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-288-mark-van-dongen

When Half and Susanne Zantop were found brutally stabbed to death in their Etna, New Hampshire home, friends, colleagues and investigators were all at a loss to understand it.

The married couple were both beloved professors at Dartmouth College, and no one could think of a reason why someone would want to harm them. But a crucial clue left at the crime scene would lead investigators directly to some unlikely suspects: two high school students with a deadly plan…

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-287-half-susanne-zantop

After two planes struck New York City’s World Trade Center on September 11 2001, Tania Head was one of the lucky few who managed to escape from above the impact zone of the South Tower. Saved by lauded 9/11 hero Welles Crowther, Tania’s incredible and heartbreaking story of survival became an inspiration. Triumphing through trauma, she became the face of a support group called The Survivors’ Network. Yet, as Tania’s fame grew, she became uncharacteristically anxious. Was there more to her story?

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Milly Raso
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-286-the-survivors-network

*** Content warnings: Domestic violence ***

When freelance writer Louise Ellis disappeared after leaving her Ottawa home on April 22 1995, the person leading the search for her was her devoted partner, Brett Morgan. But Brett’s criminal background made investigators suspicious and he found himself feeling more like a suspect than a victim.

When he was approached by an aspiring private investigator named Marie Parent, the case suddenly took a very different turn…

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-285-louise-ellis

*** Content warnings: Animal cruelty, gun violence ***

43-year-old Graham Backhouse lived a peaceful life with his wife and children on Widden Hill Farm in Horton, England. But in 1984, a campaign of harassment directed at Graham left him fearing for his safety. 

When his wife Margaret Backhouse becomes the victim of a targeted attack, investigators consider who could have a motive to hurt the loving couple. The focus soon turns on a neighbour, Colyn Beadle-Taylor, but all is not what it seems.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Holly Boyd
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit https://casefilepodcast.com/case-284-widden-hill-farm

When Dutch friends Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon set out for a six-week adventure in Panama in 2014, they were ready for the trip of a lifetime. But after failing to show up for a planned tour in the mountain town of Boquete, search parties sprung into action.

Had the two young women gotten lost while hiking the popular Pianista trail, or was something more sinister at play?

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Elsha McGill
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-283-kris-kremers-lisanne-froon

*** Content warnings: Child victim, sexual assault ***

In 2004, several young girls around Fort Wayne, Indiana received handwritten letters threatening that they would be the next victim of a child killer.
Authorities were immediately concerned. DNA from the letters matched samples they had stored from an unsolved crime that was committed more than a decade earlier – the murder of eight-year-old April Tinsley.

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Milly Raso
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

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For all credits and sources, please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-282-april-tinsley

*** Content warnings: Racial violence, sexual assault ***

In June of 2020, London social worker Bibaa Henry decided to celebrate her 46th birthday with a picnic at scenic Fryent Country Park. Celebrations continued late into the night, until Bibaa and her younger sister Nicole Smallman were the only partygoers remaining. When both failed to return home the following day, their family was quick to raise the alarm. Their search would lead to a teenager who believed he’d made a deal with the Devil…

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Narration – Anonymous Host
Research & writing – Erin Munro
Creative direction – Milly Raso
Production and music – Mike Migas
Music – Andrew D.B. Joslyn

Sign up for Casefile Premium:

For all credits and sources, please visit casefilepodcast.com/case-281-bibaa-henry-nicole-smallman