From reversing a vasectomy in secret, to exploiting Western Union loopholes, to fleeing to Eastern Europe, this case proves that the truth is often stranger than fiction. We unpack the devastating financial reality of community property laws, the psychological toll of marital waste, and how a father's desperate fight-or-flight response sparked a viral international manhunt.

Ryan Borgwardt, a local cabinet maker living in Wisconsin with his wife and three kids, chooses to stage an accidental death like it’s a movie set and flee the country. His travels take him by child-sized inflatable raft, to a hidden e-bike, to a Greyhound bus, and finally onto an international flight to meet a distant connection he fell for online. Will his grand illusion work, or will his family be left absolutely devastated and heartbroken to discover he’s actually not at the bottom of Green Lake but has been planning a cowardly escape route right under their noses? Debt. Lust. Greed.

In this bizarre true crime investigation, we dive deep into the chilling timeline of the Green Lake missing kayaker. When an empty kayak and a floating life jacket trigger a massive 58-day underwater sonar search by first responders and Bruce's Legacy, a grieving community believes the worst. But a cracked laptop, a secret second passport, a $375,000 life insurance policy, and a staggering $200,000 in hidden marital debt soon reveal a mind-blowing twist.

Need Help? You are not alone.

If you or someone you know is feeling overwhelmed, trapped, or struggling with financial anxiety, there are free, confidential resources available 24/7:

• Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988
• Crisis Text Line: Text CONNECT to 741741
• Community Assistance (bills, housing, etc.): Dial 2-1-1 to find local resources.

Interesting links:

Interrogation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZQQOVSmlq4

Viral Video: https://youtube.com/shorts/fwiC5uldAYY?si=fpmx0Xl6vL938Eo4

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How does a body go missing from a funeral home? After defying the odds and battling cystic fibrosis for 25 years, Julie Mott passed away, only for her remains to be stolen from a San Antonio funeral home in broad daylight just hours after her service. In this episode, we explore the bizarre timeline at Mission Park Funeral Chapels, an obsessive ex-boyfriend, theories of a massive corporate cover-up, and the heartbreaking legal battle that followed.

Where is Julie Mott?

Case Resources & Tips: If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Julie Mott on August 15, 2015, please contact the San Antonio Police Department tip line at 210-225-TIPS (210-225-8477).

Donate in Julie's Honor: Help accelerate the fight for a cure and support life-changing research by donating to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation here: cff.org/donate

Thank you for supporting Crime Salad!

• Merch: Grab our latest gear at crimesaladpodcast.com
• Socials: Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @CrimeSaladPodcast

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a quiet Sunday morning in March 2012, a jogger on Utah’s Jordan River Trail made a gruesome discovery: pools of blood on a pedestrian bridge and a single red sneaker discarded near the water. Hours later, the lifeless body of 15-year-old Annie Kasprzak was pulled from the river.

Just the night before, Annie had vanished from her home, leaving behind a runaway note and a shocking confession. As investigators frantically pieced together her final hours, they were dragged into a chaotic web of deception. From rumors of a teenage pregnancy to a phantom gang member named "LJ," and a revenge-seeking witness who derailed the case for an entire year—nothing in this investigation was what it seemed.

When detectives finally traced the digital footprint of the blocked numbers calling Annie’s phone, the truth proved to be far more chilling than anyone could have imagined.

Join Richard and Ashley this week as they unravel the fabricated alibis, the stunning digital evidence, and the devastating reality behind the murder of Annie Kasprzak.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What happens when a highly trained, elite narcotics detective realizes the bad guys are having way more fun than the cops? He starts a multi-million-dollar cartel, of course.

This week on Crime Salad, Ashley and Ricky are diving headfirst into an 80s action movie. Andrew Thornton II wasn’t just a cop; he was a wealthy Kentucky blue-blood, a paratrooper, and a licensed lawyer who threw it all away to become the mastermind of a massive international drug pipeline known as "The Company." But Thornton's massive ego and extreme paranoia eventually lead to a fateful, pitch-black flight over the Georgia woods.

Join us as we untangle a tri-state crime scene featuring 75 pounds of pure Colombian cocaine falling from the sky, a deadly cartel revenge plot, a dead man wearing night-vision goggles and Gucci loafers, and the ultimate winner of the story... a 175-pound black bear who went on to inspire a Hollywood movie.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

How far would you go to try to hide the consequences of your own greed?

We're not talking about hiding your cosmic brownies in a healthy cereal box...

This guy may hold some kind of record...

Marcus Schrenker had it all: private planes, luxury sports cars, and a massive French chateau. As a trusted financial advisor, he carved out a highly exclusive niche catering to the "cream of the crop," managing the retirement portfolios of commercial Delta Air Lines pilots. But behind the facade of luxury, Schrenker was secretly draining their life savings through deceptive financial schemes and a completely fabricated foreign currency fund.

This one is action-packed! Can't wait for you to listen!!

<3 Ashley & Ricky

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February 1991, a relaxing family vacation to Puerto Peñasco (Rocky Point), Mexico, transformed into a horrific nightmare. Trish Willoughby, a highly successful business owner from Phoenix, Arizona, was found brutally attacked inside a rental condominium at Las Conchas Beach.

Her husband, Daniel Willoughby, painted the picture of an open-and-shut tragedy, claiming a random local robbery had occurred while he was visiting a nearby museum with their three young children. But back across the border, the ultimate family-man facade was already beginning to crack.

Investigators quickly uncovered a twisted web of intense greed, an unraveling multi-million-dollar empire, and Dan's secret affair with his mistress, Ysenia Patino Gonzalez. What followed was an incredibly rare cross-border investigation that pushed the boundaries of international law. When Arizona investigators finally stepped into the crime scene, forensic evidence completely dismantled Dan’s alibi.

Trish Willoughby, Patricia Willoughby, Daniel Hayden Willoughby, Dan Willoughby murder, Ysenia Patino Gonzalez, Rocky Point, Mexico, murder, Puerto Peñasco crime scene, Las Conchas beach condo, Arizona Supreme Court, true crime podcast, Crime Salad, insurance fraud murder, and cross-border investigation.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This week, we are re-releasing an episode that has stuck with us deeply while we travel to cheer on our oldest son at his state championship track meet! Please make sure you stick around to the very end of this episode, as we have recorded a massive, brand-new segment covering explosive updates that just broke in early 2026. Coroner's findings as "fiction"?!

In May 2017, 35-year-old Heather Turner was found unresponsive in her bathroom with a gunshot wound to the head. The shower was still running, and her boyfriend Andy was the one who made the 911 call. Heather had allegedly been planning to leave the relationship the very next day. For nearly nine years, her death was officially labeled "undetermined" that is until February 2026, when the Paulding County Sheriff's Office held a press conference, abruptly closed the cold case, and ruled her death a suicide.

But for Heather's family, the official ruling only brought more questions. Thanks to Open Records Requests obtained by the family, a paper trail of unbelievable negligence has come to light. We break down the shocking 2026 updates, exploring an impossible 8-second 911 response timeline, blood-stained evidence left at a funeral home, digital evidence locking up in police custody, and internal police documents that literally label the on-scene

Support Heather's Family: Please read the Open Records documents for yourself, say her name, and help this family get the absolute transparency they deserve by visiting the Justice for Heather Turner Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/JusticeForHeatherNicoleTurner

Resources: If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, please know you're not alone. Help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text "START" to 88788. Free. Confidential. 24/7

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Imagine being at the height of your career when the FBI knocks on your door to deliver a terrifying message: someone has paid a dark web hitman to end your life. This week, we dive into the chilling, rapidly unfolding case involving pop singer Jack Avery of the band Why Don't We, and the mother of his child, TikTok influencer Gabbie Gonzalez.

In May 2026, Gabbie, her father (a wealthy Florida attorney), and her ex-boyfriend were all arrested in a coordinated takedown for allegedly orchestrating a $14,000 murder-for-hire plot. We break down the bitter custody battle that started it all, the undercover sting operation that intercepted the dark web hit, and the wild lengths a family allegedly went to in order to secure full custody.

Sources & Resources:

• unsealed affidavits
• Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office Press Release (May 19, 2026)
• If you or someone you know is navigating a high-conflict custody battle or experiencing domestic abuse, reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE or text "START" to 88788.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.