True Crime Recaps

The Cindy Wanner Case: A 35 Year Cold Case Finally Breaks Open

In November 1991, Cindy Wanner disappeared from her sister’s home in Granite Bay, California, leaving behind her 11 month old daughter, her shoes, her coat, and her car. Her missing purse and a later ATM transaction were among the few clues investigators had to work with. Nineteen days later, Cindy was found in a remote area of the Sierra Nevada foothills. Investigators determined she had been held for nearly two weeks before her death, turning the disappearance into a murder investigation that would remain unsolved for decades. For 35 years, detectives revisited the evidence without finding a suspect. Then in 2026, new DNA testing pointed investigators toward James Lawhead Jr., a man with a prior violent criminal history who had spent years living under different identities. Investigators eventually located him in Arizona and arrested him in April 2026. Lawhead now faces a murder charge with additional special circumstances connected to the case. The arrest marks a major breakthrough, but for Cindy’s family, the search for justice after more than three decades is not over. Follow True Crime Recaps for weekly cases examining real investigations, cold cases, and the justice system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jean Stevens: She Kept Her Husband and Twin Sister at Home for Years

For more than ten years, Jean Stevens kept the remains of her husband at her Pennsylvania home. After her twin sister died in 2009, Jean brought her remains inside too. What makes the story even stranger is that several people around her reportedly knew what was happening. James Stevens had died in 1999, but Jean eventually had his remains exhumed and brought back to her property. She kept him in the garage, while her sister June was placed inside the house. Jean dressed and cared for them and continued spending time with them, explaining that she could not accept the finality of losing the people she loved. When social workers discovered the remains in 2010, police became involved. Investigators learned that other people had reportedly helped Jean move the remains, while neighbors and relatives had apparently been aware of the situation for years. Jean herself was never charged, although one neighbor faced misdemeanor charges related to moving June's remains. But the strangest question came years later. Jean died in 2012, and her family was reportedly placed in an above ground vault. Later, questions emerged over whether the remains were actually inside the vault, leaving the final resting place of Jean, James, and June uncertain. Follow True Crime Recaps for weekly cases examining unusual investigations, unexplained mysteries, and the justice system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lewis Lent: The Cases That Still Have Unanswered Questions

For years, Lewis Lent lived and worked in communities across New York and Massachusetts while investigators remained unaware of the full extent of his actions. His name would eventually become connected to several investigations involving young people, including Sara Anne Wood, Becky Savarese and Jamie Lusher. But decades later, significant questions remain, particularly surrounding cases in which families are still waiting for answers. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the investigation into Lewis Lent, the evidence that connected him to known cases, his changing accounts to investigators, and the questions authorities have continued to examine over the years. We also look at the disappearance of Sara Anne Wood, whose remains have never been recovered, and why investigators have explored whether Lent could be connected to additional cases. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Kelsey Smith: The Surveillance Footage That Changed the Investigation

Eighteen-year-old Kelsey Smith stopped at a Target store in Overland Park, Kansas, before meeting her boyfriend for a date. When she didn't return, investigators began trying to piece together what had happened. Surveillance footage from inside the store and its parking lot became a crucial part of the investigation. By reconstructing Kelsey's movements, detectives were able to establish a detailed timeline and identify a man who appeared repeatedly in the footage. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine Kelsey's final trip to the store, the surveillance evidence investigators relied upon, how Edwin Hall was identified, and the investigation that followed. We also look at the lasting impact of Kelsey's case and how her family's advocacy helped inspire Kelsey's Law, aimed at helping law enforcement obtain mobile phone location information more quickly during emergencies. Follow True Crime Recaps for new true crime episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nancy Guthrie: The Ransom Emails and the Investigation

Nancy Guthrie disappeared from her Arizona home in a case investigators believe involved a planned kidnapping. In the days that followed, her family received ransom emails demanding millions of dollars in Bitcoin. Investigators have since released the messages publicly, hoping someone may recognise the language, phrasing or writing style. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine Nancy's disappearance, the ransom communications, the evidence investigators have made public and where the case currently stands. This remains an active investigation. Anyone with information should contact the FBI. Follow True Crime Recaps for new episodes every week. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices