Get the ultimate briefing on the 10 most shocking and complex true crime trials unfolding in early 2026. From the Kouri Richins fentanyl murder case to the "no-body" trial of Larry Millete, we break down the allegations, evidence, and what to expect in the courtroom.

In 1996, Anne Marie Fahey, an aide to the Delaware Governor, vanished. This true crime case uncovers a secret affair with a prominent attorney, Thomas Capano, and a murder that he thought he could get away with. Discover the full story on the Moms and Mysteries podcast.

Christine Banfield was killed by her husband. Joseph Ryan was lured to his death. Now the au pair who helped is testifying against her lover in a shocking Virginia murder trial. We break down the first week of testimony, the staged crime scene, and the Netflix deal.

A 20-year cold case is solved using genetic genealogy. Learn about the 1999 murders of teens J.B. Beasley and Tracie Hawlett in Ozark, Alabama, and the trial of their killer.

Andreen McDonald was a Jamaican immigrant who built a multi-million dollar assisted living business by age 22. She was a fitness champion and devoted mother living in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband, Air Force Major Andre McDonald. But behind their perfect facade was a marriage marked by violence and control. On March 1st, 2019, Andreen vanished. Her young daughter told investigators: "Daddy hurt Mommy." After a massive search, Andreen's burned remains were found on their property. Andre McDonald was convicted of manslaughter and tampering with evidence, receiving 25 years in prison.

A double murder in a quiet Georgia town. A 5-year-old discovers her parents shot in their bed. No forced entry, no weapon. The prime suspect? Their 16-year-old daughter. This week we investigate the shocking case of Sarah Grace Patrick and the digital trail that led to her arrest.

On February 27, 1995, the gilded world of Memphis high society was violently overturned. Emily Fisher, a 52-year-old philanthropist known for her generosity and dedication to the arts, was found brutally murdered in her stately Central Gardens home. She had been stabbed more than 50 times in an attack so savage it stunned the city. What began as a suspected home invasion quickly unraveled into a tragic saga of family dysfunction, denial, and the devastating impact of drug addiction.

This week, we are revisiting our most downloaded episode of the year: the heartbreaking case of Lauren Burk. In March 2008, the brutal murder of this 18-year-old Auburn University student shattered a community and left a family searching for answers in a case that is as tragic as it is controversial.

In 1931 Liverpool, a mysterious phone call about a business opportunity sent William Herbert Wallace to a non-existent address. He returned home to find his wife, Julia, murdered inside their locked house. With no forced entry and a timeline that baffled investigators, police zeroed in on William, believing the call was a fabricated alibi. He was convicted of murder, but in a stunning reversal, the verdict was overturned, leaving the case unsolved. This is the story of one of Britain’s most enduring and debated locked-room mysteries, a puzzle that continues to fascinate armchair detectives nearly a century later.

In 1999, 17-year-old Nicole Sanchez was a bright, talented young woman with her whole life ahead of her. When she tried to end her controlling four-month relationship with her older boyfriend, Lionel Villarreal, he murdered her in a brutal act of violence. He was convicted of second-degree murder and given a "life" sentence that could see him walk free after just 20 years. This is the story of Nicole's tragic death and her sister's unwavering fight to keep a violent predator behind bars and to prevent him from harming another woman.

When 29-year-old Kelsey Berreth disappeared on Thanksgiving Day 2018, her family refused to believe she had willingly left her 1-year-old daughter. Her fiancé, Patrick Frazee, claimed she left on her own, but the discovery of her phone pinging 800 miles away in Idaho suggested otherwise. The investigation unraveled a horrifying plot involving a secret lover, a brutal murder, and a calculated cover-up. This is the story of how a holiday celebration turned into a crime scene and a family’s fight for justice revealed a killer hiding in plain sight.

Daniel Brophy was a beloved chef and culinary instructor in Portland, Oregon. On June 2, 2018, he was found shot to death inside his classroom at the Oregon Culinary Institute. The investigation led to his wife, Nancy Crampton Brophy, a romance novelist who had once written an essay titled "How to Murder Your Husband." Evidence included gun parts purchased online, life insurance policies, and surveillance footage. In May 2022, Nancy was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. This case proves that sometimes, truth is stranger than fiction.

When Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain vanished in May 2024, her husband Tyler publicly pleaded for her safe return. At a March 2025 press conference, Tyler stood next to Nikki's sisters and FBI agents, asking for help to find her. But in August 2025, Tyler was arrested and charged with Nikki's murder. Prosecutors allege he had a motive to silence her—one involving a disturbing history. Nikki is still missing. A $30,000 reward is offered for information.

In 1969, Jane Mixer, a 23-year-old University of Michigan law student, was found shot and strangled in a cemetery. For 30 years, her case was unsolved. In 2001, DNA testing pointed to Gary Leiterman, who was convicted in 2005. But the conviction was controversial—three scientists later argued the DNA was likely lab contamination. Gary maintained his innocence until his death in prison in 2019. Was he truly guilty, or was Jane's real killer never caught?

On October 2, 2018, Cheryl Coker vanished from her Riverside, Ohio home. Her SUV was found in a Kroger parking lot with her purse and phone inside. Cheryl—a bubbly mom and grandmother—had not left voluntarily. For 18 months, her family searched desperately. In April 2020, her remains were found in a wooded area. Police believe she was murdered at home. The only person of interest is her husband, Bill Coker. Despite strong evidence, no charges have been filed. Cheryl's family is still waiting for justice.

In July 1988, Lieth Von Stein was brutally murdered in his Washington, North Carolina home while his wife Bonnie barely survived. The crime scene looked like a burglary, but nothing was taken. As detectives investigated, they uncovered a conspiracy involving Lieth's stepson Chris and his college friends who were obsessed with Dungeons & Dragons. The motive? A $2 million inheritance. This case explores how greed, entitlement, and fantasy role-playing led to one of North Carolina's most shocking family murders—a plot orchestrated by college kids who thought they could get away with it.

When a friend found 58-year-old Janie Ballard stabbed over 70 times in her Little Rock home, investigators immediately suspected her own daughter, Leslie, and Leslie's much older husband, Mike McCool. Leslie had grown up with every advantage, but after meeting Mike—a manipulative bodybuilder 22 years her senior with a violent past—she transformed completely. When Janie cut Leslie out of her will, the relationship turned deadly. This case explores how manipulation, greed, and toxic family dynamics led to one of Arkansas's most shocking matricides.

In the heart of Beverly Hills, just after a red-carpet movie premiere, the life of Ronni Chasen, one of Hollywood's most connected and beloved publicists, came to a violent and mysterious end. On November 16, 2010, the 64-year-old was gunned down in her Mercedes-Benz while stopped at a red light. The shocking murder of the woman who helped secure Oscar Gold for films like Driving Miss Daisy and The Hurt Locker instantly made national headlines.

Ronni's influential friends  quickly offered a combined $125,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. This massive reward signaled that her inner circle wasn't convinced the killing was a random act.

A tip to America's Most Wanted led police to Harold Martin Smith, a man with a lengthy criminal record living in a rundown apartment complex. When confronted by detectives, Smith ended his own life with a .38 caliber revolver.

The Beverly Hills Police Department officially closed the case in 2011, declaring Smith the sole killer and the motive of a random robbery gone wrong.

However, this "solved" status remains highly controversial due to several glaring contradictions:

• Ronni's purse was untouched and nothing was taken, contradicting the robbery motive.

• Police claimed Smith was on a bicycle, but her autopsy report suggests an unknown vehicle pulled up beside her car.

• The ballistic evidence was inconclusive; documents revealed the findings were "insufficient for an identification" to definitively match the bullet to Smith's gun.

• Law enforcement was criticized for failing to interview multiple residents and for poor evidence collection.

In the heart of Beverly Hills, just after a red-carpet movie premiere, the life of Ronni Chasen, one of Hollywood's most connected and beloved publicists, came to a violent and mysterious end. On November 16, 2010, the 64-year-old was gunned down in her Mercedes-Benz while stopped at a red light. The shocking murder of the woman who helped secure Oscar Gold for films like Driving Miss Daisy and The Hurt Locker instantly made national headlines.

Ronni's influential friends  quickly offered a combined $125,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. This massive reward signaled that her inner circle wasn't convinced the killing was a random act.

A tip to America's Most Wanted led police to Harold Martin Smith, a man with a lengthy criminal record living in a rundown apartment complex. When confronted by detectives, Smith ended his own life with a .38 caliber revolver.

The Beverly Hills Police Department officially closed the case in 2011, declaring Smith the sole killer and the motive of a random robbery gone wrong.

However, this "solved" status remains highly controversial due to several glaring contradictions:

• Ronni's purse was untouched and nothing was taken, contradicting the robbery motive.

• Police claimed Smith was on a bicycle, but her autopsy report suggests an unknown vehicle pulled up beside her car.

• The ballistic evidence was inconclusive; documents revealed the findings were "insufficient for an identification" to definitively match the bullet to Smith's gun.

• Law enforcement was criticized for failing to interview multiple residents and for poor evidence collection.

The entire country of Australia was held hostage by a desperate search after the Sydney double murder of Jesse Baird and Luke Davies. On this episode, we delve into the chilling case of the former NSW Police Officer, Beau Lamarre-Condon, whose deadly obsession and tragic relationship led to a shocking disappearance and a killer hiding in plain sight. Hear the details of the terrifying 000 call and the dramatic turns in the ongoing legal case, including Beau Lamarre-Condon's controversial not guilty plea. This stark reminder of lives taken and power abused has captivated the nation.