Hot Justice Podcast

Minute Files: He Faked a Livestream to Hide Murder | Stephen McCullagh Case

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 08 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Stephen McCullagh tried to use a fake YouTube livestream as his alibi — but investigators uncovered the truth. In this Hot Justice Short, we break down the chilling case of Natalie McNally, who was 15 weeks pregnant when she was murdered in Lurgan, Northern Ireland. McCullagh was later convicted and sentenced to life with a minimum of 31 years.

#StephenMcCullagh #NatalieMcNally #TrueCrime #TrueCrimeShorts #HotJusticePodcast #JusticeForNatalieMcNally #CrimeCase #YouTubeShorts #DomesticViolenceAwareness #TrueCrimeCommunity

Sam Nordquist Case Part 2: The Crime, Patty’s Lodge & The 7 Accused

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 01 Jun 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In Part 2 of our deep dive into the murder of Sam Nordquist, we focus on the crime itself, the disturbing allegations surrounding Patty’s Lodge, and the backgrounds of the seven people accused in connection with Sam’s death.

This episode looks closer at what investigators say happened, who the defendants are, and why this case has shocked so many people following it.

No one featured as accused in this case has been convicted unless stated otherwise. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in court.

Viewer discretion is strongly advised. The details of this case are extremely disturbing. All defendants discussed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Thank you to Linda and Kayla Nordquist for sharing Sam’s story, memories, and love with us.

Link to purchase Justice for Sam merchandise:
https://www.bonfire.com/store/justice-for-sam-nordquist/

Gofundme:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-help-to-locate-sam-nordquist

Hashtags:
#SamNordquist #TrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #HotJustice #PattysLodge #CrimeCase #MurderCase #TrueCrimeCommunity #JusticeForSamNordquist #YouTubeTrueCrime #TrueCrimeStories #PodcastEpisode

Minute Files: D4vd Case Part 2: The Night Celeste Disappeared

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Wed, 27 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

In Part 2 of our Minute Files series, we continue breaking down the case involving David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, and Celeste Rivas Hernandez.

According to the People’s Brief, investigators allege that Celeste spent significant time with David throughout 2024, including trips and weekends at his Hollywood Hills home. The filing also claims that messages between the two became central to the investigation, especially in the days before Celeste’s death.

This episode focuses on the alleged events of April 22 and April 23, 2025 — the argument, the Uber ride, the messages sent afterward, and why prosecutors believe those details matter.

No one has been convicted in Celeste’s death. All suspects are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

#D4vd #DavidAnthonyBurke #CelesteRivasHernandez #CelesteRivas #TrueCrime #TrueCrimeShorts #CourtCase #CrimeUpdate #TheMinuteFiles #HotJustice

Minute Files: D4vd Case Update: Prosecutors Reveal Chilling New Claims

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 25 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

New court documents in the case against David Anthony Burke, known professionally as D4vd, lay out disturbing allegations about the death of 14-year-old Celeste R.

In this Minute Files update, we break down what prosecutors claim happened, why the Tesla is central to the investigation, and the evidence they say will be presented in court.

Burke is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.

#D4vd #DavidAnthonyBurke #CelesteR #TrueCrime #TrueCrimeShorts #CourtUpdate #TheMinuteFiles #HotJustice #YouTubeShorts

Makayla Settles Trial has a GUILTY verdict but it's not enough and here's why

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Wed, 20 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Stephen Vincent Chavez of Moorpark has pleaded guilty to felony incest and providing alcohol to a minor in connection with his daughter, Makayla Renee Settles. He was immediately remanded into custody and now faces up to three years in state prison, along with a 20-year sex offender registration requirement.

But for many who loved Makayla and have followed this case, this outcome does not feel like justice. Three years is not enough time for the harm caused, the betrayal of trust, and the pain left behind.

This update follows the tragic death of Makayla in December 2025. Her family and supporters continue to push for accountability, awareness, and a justice system that treats crimes like this with the seriousness they deserve.

If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 or visit 988lifeline.org for immediate support.

#MakaylaSettles #JusticeForMakayla #TrueCrimeUpdate #VenturaCounty #Moorpark #HotJusticePodcast #TrueCrimeCommunity #JusticeForVictims #CourtUpdate #YouTubeShorts

The Murder of Sam Nordquist: The Online Romance That Became a Nightmare | Sweet Sam Part 1

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 18 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Sam Nordquist was a sweet, sensitive 24-year-old trans man from Oakdale, Minnesota who traveled to Upstate New York in September 2024 to meet someone he believed could be the love of his life. Instead, Sam’s trip to the Canandaigua/Hopewell area became the beginning of a nightmare.

In Part 1 of Sweet Sam: The Sam Nordquist Story, we focus on who Sam was before the headlines: a beloved son, brother, uncle, friend, and deeply caring person. With insight from Sam’s mother Linda and sister Kayla, we walk through Sam’s life, his close bond with his family, his online relationship with Precious Arzuaga, his arrival at Patty’s Lodge, the warning signs his family noticed, and the desperate search that finally pushed authorities to take a closer look.

This episode covers the timeline leading up to Sam being reported missing, including welfare checks, troubling communication changes, social media activity, and his family’s fight to bring him home.

Part 2 will cover the alleged crime, the investigation, the discovery of Sam’s body, and the suspects charged in connection with his death.

Viewer discretion is strongly advised. The details of this case are extremely disturbing. All defendants discussed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.

Thank you to Linda and Kayla Nordquist for sharing Sam’s story, memories, and love with us.

Link to purchase Justice for Sam merchandise:
https://www.bonfire.com/store/justice-for-sam-nordquist/

Gofundme:
https://www.gofundme.com/f/urgent-help-to-locate-sam-nordquist

⏰Timestamps-
00:00:00 Sam Nordquist Story Begins
00:01:45 Local Case Context
00:02:25 Star Cider Visit
00:04:12 Book Recommendation
00:06:37 Meeting Sam’s Family
00:08:40 Part One Disclaimer
00:09:40 Sam’s Childhood
00:12:01 Sam’s Kind Heart
00:14:04 Sam As Uncle
00:14:46 Emily And Heartbreak
00:15:55 Meeting Precious Online
00:16:37 Precious Arzuaga Background
00:17:03 Patty’s Lodge Concerns
00:20:53 Precious’s Abuse History
00:22:13 Precious’s Criminal Background
00:24:09 Sam Arrives In New York
00:24:36 Welfare Checks Explained
00:28:02 First Welfare Check
00:31:19 Communication Becomes Sparse
00:32:30 Timeline After Welfare Check
00:35:05 DSS Escape Plan
00:37:45 Christmas And New Year’s
00:39:14 Linda’s Last Call
00:40:10 Second Welfare Check
00:41:14 BOLO Concerns
00:41:59 Missing Persons Flyer
00:43:24 Family Travels To Search
00:44:26 Online Dating Safety
00:45:13 Safe Words And Emojis
00:46:53 Love Bombing Red Flags
00:48:48 Location Sharing Check-Ins
00:49:47 Supporting Sam’s Family
00:50:57 Memorial Tree Updates
00:51:36 Closing And Part Two

#SamNordquist #JusticeForSamNordquist #SweetSam #TrueCrime #HotJusticePodcast #CanandaiguaNY #HopewellNY #PattysLodge #MissingPersonCase #OnlineDatingSafety #TrueCrimePodcast

Minute Files: The Cousin Affair That Turned Deadly | Jennifer Lieber Case

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 11 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

A toxic family affair inside a Minnesota mansion ended in murder. Jennifer Lieber began a relationship with her cousin, who was living in the pool house on the property — but when the relationship unraveled, the story took a deadly turn.

Watch this Hot Justice Minute File as we break down the shocking Jennifer Lieber case.
#JenniferLieber #TrueCrimeShorts #HotJusticePodcast #TrueCrime #CrimeStory #MurderCase #MinnesotaCrime #YouTubeShorts #MinuteFile

Sara Anne Wood: Lewis Lent and the Victims He Left Behind

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 04 May 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Sara Anne Wood was only 12 years old when she disappeared while riding her bike home from church in Sauquoit, New York. Convicted child killer Lewis Lent later admitted to murdering Sara, but he has never revealed where her body is.

In this episode, we center Sara’s story while also examining the other known victims connected to Lent, including James “Jimmy” Bernardo and James “Jamie” Lusher, along with the attempted abduction of Rebecca Savarese that helped lead investigators to him.

Lewis Lent’s crimes stretched across New York and Massachusetts, leaving families with grief, unanswered questions, and in Sara’s case, the painful reality that the truth is still being withheld.

This is the story of Sara Anne Wood, the other victims of Lewis Lent, and the secret he still refuses to give up.

⏰Timestamps
00:00:00 Sarah Wood Case Introduction
00:01:20 Podcast Updates and Recommendations
00:05:31 Sarah Goes Missing
00:08:22 Becky Savory Escapes
00:10:58 Lewis Lent’s Dark Plan
00:11:47 Jimmy Bernardo Confession
00:13:42 Lent Confesses to Sarah
00:15:17 Trials, Pleas, and Sentencing
00:17:03 Sarah’s Body Remains Missing
00:19:36 Jamie Lusher Confession
00:20:20 Searches Continue Decades Later
00:21:53 Sarah’s Family Builds Legacy
00:24:03 Reflections on Child Abduction
00:25:00 Safety Lessons for Children
00:28:04 Final Thoughts and Outro

Minute Files: The Julie Rea Case: Framed for Her Son’s Murder?

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 27 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Julie Rea was convicted for the murder of her 10-year-old son, Joel Kirkpatrick, after a horrifying attack inside their Lawrenceville, Illinois home. But Julie always said an intruder killed her son — and years later, serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells confessed to the crime.

Was Julie Rea failed by the justice system? This is one of the most heartbreaking wrongful conviction cases we’ve covered.

Watch now and tell us: how does a mother lose her child, then get blamed for it?

#JulieRea #JoelKirkpatrick #TommyLynnSells #WrongfulConviction #TrueCrimeShorts #TrueCrimeCommunity #JusticeForJoel #HotJusticePodcast #TheMinuteFile #TrueCrime #InnocentBehindBars #SerialKillerConfession

Minute Files: Justice for Makalya Settles

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 16:02:30 -0400

Two days. That's how long it took. Makayla Settles had just moved in with her biological father, Steven Vincent Chavez, in Moorpark, California — and within two days, he allegedly raped her. She spoke up. She gave her statements. DNA evidence was collected. And then, five months later, Makayla ended her life.

April 21, 2026 — there is a hearing. The case must go forward. Makayla is not here to testify, but her words and the DNA don't disappear with her.

Email the Ventura County DA today: mailto:da.criminal@venturacounty.gov — tell them to pursue this case with everything they have.

Donate to support her family's fight for justice: https://gofund.me/5c3e33dcd

#JusticeForMakayla #MakaylaSettles #SpeakUp #SAsurvivors #TrueCrime #VenturaCounty #JusticeForVictims

The Genesee River Killer-Arthur Shawcross part 2

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Part 2 of our Arthur Shawcross series explores the making of the Genesee River Killer.

We examine Shawcross’s childhood, early life, and the nature vs. nurture question at the center of his story. This episode also covers his first murders, including Jack Blake and Karen Hill, as we look at the early violence that foreshadowed the crimes that would later make him infamous.

Apple Podcasts Hashtags
#TrueCrime #ArthurShawcross #GeneseeRiverKiller #SerialKiller #CrimePodcast #NatureVsNurture

Minute Files: He Walked In… But Never Walked Out - The Brian Shaffer Case

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 13 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

It was supposed to be a normal night out. On April 1, 2006, Ohio State medical student Brian Shaffer joined friends for drinks at the Ugly Tuna Saloona in Columbus, Ohio — and then vanished without a trace. Surveillance footage shows him entering the bar. It never shows him leaving. No remains were ever found. No suspect was ever named. Nearly two decades later, the case has never been solved.

In this episode of The Minute Files, we break down the chilling timeline, the blind spots in the investigation, and the questions that still haunt Brian's family to this day.

🔎 Cold cases. Unsolved mysteries. The truth in 2 minutes.

New episodes every week. Follow The Minute Files wherever you listen to podcasts.

#BrianShaffer #TrueCrime #ColdCase #UnsolvedMystery #MissingPerson #OhioState #ColumbusOhio #UglyTunaSaloona #Disappeared #TrueCrimeCommunity #TheMinuteFiles #TrueCrimeShorts #MissingPersons #UnsolvedCases #CrimePodcast #TrueCrimePodcast #MysteryCase #ColdCaseFiles #WhatHappened #NeverForget

The Genesee River Killer-Arthur Shawcross part 1

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 06 Apr 2026 00:00:00 -0400

He Was Just As Evil As Bundy & Dahmer. So Why Don't You Know His Name? Gacy. Dahmer. Bundy: Three names everyone knows but Arthur Shawcross, the Genesee River Killer from Rochester, NY was every bit as horrifying. Full episode Monday April 5th. Don't sleep on this one. 🎙️ #TrueCrime #ArthurShawcross #GeneseeRiverKiller #TrueCrimePodcast #SerialKiller

Minute Files: Virginia Tech football player charged with murder of gay man who catfished him

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 00:04:42 -0400

The killing of Jerry Smith shocked Blacksburg and put former Virginia Tech football player Isimemen Etute at the center of a case that quickly sparked national attention. In this Short, we break down what happened, why Etute was charged with second-degree murder, and how a self-defense argument led to his acquittal. This case still raises tough questions about fear, violence, and justice

#JerrySmith #IsimemenEtute #VirginiaTech #TrueCrime #MurderCase #CourtCase #CrimeNews #JusticeForJerry #Blacksburg #TrueCrimeShorts #HotJusticePodcast

The Murder of Nefertiti Harris: A Little Girl That Deserved so Much More

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 23 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

This week on Hot Justice Podcast, we examine the murder of 5-year-old Nefertiti “Neffy” Harris and the sentencing of her mother, Latasha Mott. We walk through the reported timeline, from Neffy’s death and the alleged concealment of her body to the investigation, plea, and final sentence.

We also discuss the disturbing gaps that allowed this case to go unchecked for weeks, the allegations involving Corrice Parks, and the powerful victim impact statements that brought Neffy’s story back to the center of the courtroom.
#HotJusticePodcast #TrueCrime #LatashaMott #NeffyHarris #SyracuseCrime #ChildHomicide #JusticeForNeffy #CrimePodcast

Minute Files: Michele Hundley Smith Found Alive After 24 Years

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:46:14 -0400

In this Minute Files episode, we cover the disappearance and reappearance of Michele Hundley Smith. After going missing in 2001, she was found alive in 2026, closing one mystery while opening up many more. We examine the timeline, the family’s reaction, and the unresolved questions still hanging over this extraordinary case.
#MicheleHundleySmith #MichelleHundleySmith #MissingPerson #TrueCrime #SolvedMystery #FoundAlive #TrueCrimePodcast

Lamon McKoy Update

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Sat, 14 Mar 2026 10:08:54 -0400

Justice served — again. 🚫 Lamon McKoy, convicted of the murders of Ashley Vincent and Monique McKoy in Geneva, NY, has been denied parole. A community fought. Families showed up. And the parole board listened. Ashley and Monique are not forgotten. 🕯️

#TrueCrime #ParoleDenied #NewYorkTrueCrime #Fingerlakes #TrueCrimePodcast

Did Tyler Mook Murder Shelley Mook? The Disappearance, the Drowning Case, and the Questions Left Behind

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 00:00:00 -0400

Shelley Mook disappeared after what should have been a routine custody exchange, and she has never been found. In this episode, we examine the case against the backdrop of later allegations involving her ex-husband, Tyler Mook, who was later convicted in Florida in a case involving the attempted drowning of a girlfriend. We explore why that later violence has shaped public suspicion, what is known about Shelley’s disappearance, and the questions that still have no answers.

The Final Threat The Disappearance of Christine Markey

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 23 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

On a quiet winter morning in 1993, the small city of Oneida, New York woke up to a mystery that would haunt the community for decades.

22-year-old Christine Markey vanished without a trace.

No solid leads. No confirmed sightings. Just silence… and whispers of jealousy, tension, and a toxic relationship she may have been trying to escape.

In this episode of The Hot Justice Podcast, Heather and Ciara examine the emotional layers behind Christine’s disappearance, the red flags that were overlooked, and the questions that still remain unanswered more than 30 years later.

Was this a tragic case of domestic violence?
A crime of rage?
Or something more calculated?

We remember Christine. We question the facts. And we continue seeking justice through storytelling.

⚠️ This episode contains themes of violence and may not be suitable for all listeners. Listener discretion is advised.
⏱️ Chapters

00:00 – The Winter Morning in 1993
06:15 – Who Was Christine Markey?
16:20 – The Relationship & Red Flags
18:15 – Jealousy, Tension & Motive
19:05 – The Disappearance
23:10 – Family Reactions & Theories
25:50 – What Still Doesn’t Add Up
27:25 – Final Thoughts & The Unanswered Questions

#TrueCrime #ColdCase #ChristineMarkey #UnsolvedMystery #MissingPersons #OneidaNY #TrueCrimePodcast #TheHotJusticePodcast

Burned Alive: The Murder of Jessica Lane Chambers

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 09 Feb 2026 00:00:00 -0500

On the night of December 6, 2014, 19-year-old Jessica Lane Chambers from Courtland, Mississippi was brutally assaulted and burned alive in what would become one of the most shocking and confounding murder investigations in recent American history. In this case, her final words became both a haunting clue and a legal minefield. They would divide juries, fuel reasonable doubt, and ultimately help prevent a conviction — even as prosecutors insisted the evidence told a clear story. In this episode we will review the crime, the evidence, and explore who Jessica was to her family and friends. Did the man who was tried twice for her murder kill her? Did her last words contradict the evidence? We will let you be the judge.

Death at Five Points

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

In this episode, we unpack a disturbing case from Five Points Correctional Facility in Romulus, New York. We explore the recent guilty plea and sentencing of 43-year-old Kevin Farley, who admitted to strangling his cellmate, 42-year-old Adam Lafferty. He strangled him to death inside their shared cell in December 2024. Farley used a homemade garrote with shoelaces and a metal device in the attack. Prosecutors secured an additional 25-year-to-life sentence on top of his existing 24-to-life term for a prior murder conviction. We discuss the facts of the case, the reaction from the victim’s family, the broader questions it raises about inmate safety and prison violence, and what this means for the justice system going forward.

If you would like to read the entire decision from Adam's petition, please click the link below.
Adam J. Lafferty v Barry Virts:

Geneva: The Senseless Murders of Ashley Vincent & Monique McKoy

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 00:00:00 -0500

Just after Christmas in 2003, Ashley Vincent was raped and murdered in the small city of Geneva, New York. Her remains were later found behind a dumpster just 40 feet from her home.
Three weeks later, another Geneva teenager was murdered under similarly horrifying circumstances.
This time, the victim was Monique McKoy, the cousin of the perpetrator, Lamon McKoy, who later set fire to her apartment in an attempt to destroy evidence of his crimes.
At just fifteen years old, Lamon McKoy demonstrated a level of violence that left the Geneva community living in fear for months, until his arrest in July of 2004.
In this episode, we discuss:
• The full timeline of the Geneva murders
• Patterns and recidivism rates among serial sexual offenders
• The devastating impact on the victims’ families
• The case’s relevance today, just days before Lamon McKoy’s upcoming parole hearing
⚠️ Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual violence and murder. Listener discretion is advised.
If you believe Lamon McKoy should be denied parole, please consider signing and sharing the petition below:
👉 https://www.change.org/p/deny-parole-for-lamon-mckoy-in-geneva-ny
#TrueCrime #GenevaNY #JusticeForAshleyAndMonique

The Golden State Killer Part 2

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 29 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this part two episode we’ll dive into details about who Joseph D’Angelo is, and how he was finally captured after decades of evading police.

The Golden State Killer: Caught by a shard of DNA Part 1

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 15 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

Between 1973 and 1986 a nameless shadow stalked California neighborhoods at night. In this part one of a two-part series, we dive into the horrific homicides that haunted California’s detectives for decades.

American Girl- The Unsolved Murder of Kristin O'Connell Part 2

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 01 Dec 2025 00:00:00 -0500

In this part 2 episode, we will discuss the investigation into Kristin's case over the decades. We will also introduce suspects and talk through theories about what may have happened to her, and why.

American Girl- The Unsolved Murder of Kristin O'Connell Part 1

Ciara Holden and Heather Caward — Mon, 17 Nov 2025 21:09:10 -0500

On the evening of August 14th, 1985, 20-year-old Minnesota native Kristin O’Connell went out for a walk in the small rural town of Ovid, New York. She would never be seen alive again. Two days later, her nude body was found in a nearby cornfield. She had been brutalized- stabbed and her throat slashed. It’s been 40 years, and Kristin’s murder remains unsolved. In this episode we’ll give you insight into who Kristin was, and share the story of how she ended up in Ovid that August night. The pool of suspects in this case is deep, but despite thousands of leads an arrest has never been made.

Welcome to HOT Justice!

Ciara and Heather — Sun, 09 Nov 2025 17:28:42 -0500

Please enjoy this introductory episode where you get to learn a little bit about the girls behind the mics.

Instagram: HotJusticePodcast
Email: hotjusticecpodcast@gmail.com
Website: www.hotjusticepodcast.com