Tragedy - A True Crime Podcast
We are dedicated to sharing the stories of the victims and families that have experienced tragic losses or events. We want their stories heard by as many people as possible so as to never forget them and what they meant to the people in their lives.
If you have questions about an episode or would like us to consider a new case, please contact us through Facebook or email us at tragedyatruecrimepodcast@gmail.com
Episodes
71 episodes
S2E32 - Remembering Deanna: Barbara Sueoka's Story
More than three decades have passed since Deanna Merryfield disappeared from Killeen, Texas, but those who knew her have never forgotten the person behind the headlines.In this episode, Barbara Sueoka shares her memories of Deanna, offer...
S2E32 - Standing Beside the Search: Luke Twardowski on Loving Someone Who Won't Give Up
For more than three decades, the search for answers in Deanna Merryfield's disappearance has shaped the lives of everyone who loves her. But what is it like to marry into a family carrying that kind of heartbreak?In this episode, we sit ...
S2E31 - BONUS - The Best Defense: Staying Aware with Mark Fricke
In this episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, we sit down with Mark Fricke, a former law enforcement officer and personal safety trainer, to discuss the practical skills that can help keep you from becoming a victim. Drawing from d...
S2E30 - The Path to Answers: Investigator Steve Gelinske on the Deanna Merryfield Case
More than three decades after Deanna Merryfield disappeared from Killeen, Texas, the search for answers continues. In this special episode, we sit down with private investigator Steve Gelinske, who has devoted countless hours to reviewing the c...
S2E29 - Still Searching: Melissa Twardowski and the Fight for Deanna
More than three decades after the disappearance of Deanna Merryfield, her family continues to search for answers. In this episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, Michael and Alyssa sit down with Deanna’s youngest sister, Melissa Twar...
S2E28 - Finding Deanna Merryfield: Thirty-Five Years of Refusing to Forget
In July 1990, 13-year-old Deanna Merryfield disappeared from Killeen, Texas. Her case was quickly labeled a runaway, and like so many missing children of that era, the investigation faded while the years marched on. But for Deanna's family, esp...
S2E27 - The Final Chapter: Krystle Cook, CrimeCon 2026, and What Comes Next
In the final installment of our coverage of the Krystle Cook case, we take a step back to reflect on the journey that has brought us here. From the initial investigation and search for answers to the voices of family members, advocates, and tho...
S2E26 - A Love That Chose the Journey: Heather Cook's Story of Family, Loss, and Legacy
When Heather Cook entered Lee Cook's life, she stepped into a family forever changed by tragedy. In this deeply personal conversation, Heather shares what it was like joining a family still searching for answers about Krystle's disappearance an...
S2E25 - Pain into Purpose: Our Conversation with Lori Williams, Krystle Cook's Aunt
In this emotional and deeply personal episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, we sit down with Lori Williams, Krystle’s aunt, as she shares the painful reality of reliving trauma during the parole hearing process and the emotional toll that v...
S2E24 - BONUS - Beyond the Story: Checking In with Season One Guests
In this special bonus episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, we reconnect with three guests from Season One to hear what's happened since they first shared their stories with us.For many families affected by violent crime, mi...
S2E23 - Justice Beyond the Sentence: Hannah Mosbrucker Speaks for Krystle
In this emotional and deeply personal interview, Hannah Mosbrucker shares the lasting impact of losing her sister, Krystle Cook, and the painful reality of navigating life after tragedy. Hannah opens up about the nonprofit created in Krystle’s ...
S2E22 - Krystle Cook: A Father’s Fight for Justice - Part 2
In Part 2 of the Krystle Cook story, we continue our powerful conversation with Lee Cook, Krystle’s father, as he shares the ongoing realities of navigating grief, the legal system, and the long road toward justice. Lee opens up about the emoti...
S2E21 - Krystle Cook: A Father’s Fight for Justice – Part 1
In this powerful introduction to our series on the case of Krystle Cook, we begin examining the heartbreaking realities surrounding her story — the challenges of victim advocacy, the frustrations families often face within the legal system, and...
S2E20 - A Mother’s Voice: Thomasene Butler and the Fight for LaTonya
For years, LaTonya Thomas’s story has gone largely unheard. In this episode, we speak with her mother, Thomasene Butler, as she shares intimate details about her daughter’s life, the events surrounding the day she died, and the lasting emotiona...
S2E19 - She Deserves the Truth: Vicki Jenkins Speaks on LaTonya Thomas
In this powerful interview, we sit down with Vicki Jenkins to uncover the woman behind the case. Vicki shares deeply personal stories of who LaTonya was, the days leading up to her death, and what she understands about the day everything change...
S2E18 - The Last Days of LaTonya: Crystal Newkirk Speaks
In this deeply personal episode, we sit down with Crystal Newkirk—one of LaTonya’s closest friends—to hear a firsthand account of the days leading up to LaTonya’s death, the day everything changed, and the lasting impact left behind.Crys...
S2E17 - LaTonya Thomas: A Case Closed Too Soon
LaTonya Thomas’s case is one that truly defines what it means to be underserved—and overlooked.In this episode, we break down the facts uncovered through our FOIA request, examining the official records, timelines, and key details that p...
S2E16 - The Friend Who Stayed: Amanda Rowton on Hailey Athay, Family, and the Life Left Behind
In this episode, we sit down with Amanda Rowton, one of Hailey Athay’s closest friends, for a deeply personal and emotional conversation about who Hailey really is beyond the headlines.Amanda shares what it was like to know Hailey as a f...
S2E15 - Sister, Mother, Advocate: Ashley Griggs on Life After Hailey’s Disappearance
Ashley Griggs joins us to discuss the disappearance of her sister, Hailey Athay, and the details she believes matter most. From her perspective on the events of that day to the lingering questions that continue to haunt the case, Ashley provide...
S2E14 - BONUS! - The Hidden Weight of Every Case: Understanding Grief
Behind every missing persons case is something we don’t always talk about enough—grief.In this episode, we speak with Nick Gaylord, host of Grief Is Not a Dirty Word, about why grief deserves a louder voice and how his podcast i...
S2E13 - She Won’t Stop Looking: Nicole Brooks on Hailey Athay
When someone goes missing, the world moves on—but families don’t.In this episode, we speak with Nicole Brooks, the mother of Hailey Athay, who shares the reality of living in the unknown. Nicole walks us through the details she knows, th...
S2E12 - Celebrating Episode 50: Inside the Mind of an FBI Profiler with Julia Cowley
For our 50th episode milestone, we sit down with Julia Cowley, a former profiler from the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Analysis Unit and host of the podcast The Consult.In this conversation, we reflect on our first experi...
S2E11 - Still Searching for Hailey Athay: Shasta Ives Speaks
In this episode of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, we speak with Shasta Ives, a close friend of Hailey Athay and a passionate advocate in the ongoing search for answers surrounding Hailey’s disappearance.Hailey vanished while mus...
S2E10 - Lost in the Woods: The Disappearance of Hailey Athay
Hailey Athay went into the woods for a simple day of mushroom picking — and never came home.In this episode, we break down the known timeline of Hailey’s disappearance, the location where she was last seen, and the search efforts that fo...
S2E9 - BONUS! - Audrey Herron: Inside the Case — A Cold Case Collective Roundtable
In this special roundtable episode, we sit down with members of the Cold Case Collective to take a deep, collaborative look at the disappearance of Audrey Herron. Together, we walk through the known timeline, key details of the case, and the ev...
