Episodes

  • Ep 38: The Heartbreaking Murder of Ajike "AJ" Owens

    Ep 38: The Heartbreaking Murder of Ajike "AJ" Owens
    Jan 13 2026

    James and I take a wild ride through the murder of Ajike AJ Owens, a mother who just wanted to protect her child, and their neighbor, Susan Lorincz. A senseless murder with dangerous undertones that sparked a huge debate about Florida laws. This is one of my favorite episodes yet. DONATE TO THE STANDING IN THE GAP FUND.

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    46 mins
  • Ep. 37: The Slenderman Stabbing

    Ep. 37: The Slenderman Stabbing
    Jan 6 2026

    Ever heard of Slenderman? Ever heard of the girls who stabbed their friend because Slendy told them to? No? Give this episode a listen- it's wild. I'm joined by my anonymous bestie (or Gov. Rick Perry, as they have dubbed themselves). Such a fun yet heartbreaking episode.

    Follow us on Instagram @friendswhocrime!
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    56 mins
  • Ep. 36: The Austin Yogurt Shop Murders (Part 3)

    Ep. 36: The Austin Yogurt Shop Murders (Part 3)
    Dec 9 2025

    We've come to the end of FWC's first multi-part series on the Austin Yogurt Shop Murders. This episode focuses on the theories, the whodunnit's, and the wacky things people came up with before the case was finally solved in September 2025. Turns out the killer wasn't even on the radar. Thank you to Cortney for jumping into this case with me! Enjoy!
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    39 mins
  • Ep. 35: The Austin Yogurt Shop Murders (Part 2)

    Ep. 35: The Austin Yogurt Shop Murders (Part 2)
    Nov 19 2025

    Cortney and I dive back into the Austin Yogurt Shop murder case. Part 2! This episode focuses on the suspects, their "evidence", and their trials. Why were they arrested? Who knows! Part 3 coming next week.
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    37 mins
  • Ep. 34: The Austin Yogurt Shop Murders (Part 1)

    Ep. 34: The Austin Yogurt Shop Murders (Part 1)
    Nov 11 2025
    In 1991, four teenage girls were brutally murdered inside an Austin yogurt shop, and the building was set ablaze to cover the crime. This shocking case shook the community to its core and left investigators with one of the most haunting crime scenes in Texas history. In this first episode, Cortney & I walk through that December night step by step, from the girls’ last moments together to the devastating discovery by firefighters. It’s the beginning of a mystery that would stretch on for decades. The podcast's first multi-part series! Sources “DNA evidence links a dead man to the 1991 killings of 4 girls at Texas yogurt shop.” AP News, 27 Sept. 2025, https://apnews.com/article/1bc45a19a8fe021bde015794de9a5865. “Break in 1991 Texas yoghurt shop murders sparks hope for cold cases: ‘There are other victims out there.’” The Guardian, 3 Oct. 2025, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/oct/03/texas-yoghurt-shop-murders-dna-testing. Lamm, Charles. “Coerced confessions: How Austin police got the yogurt shop murders wrong.” Austin American-Statesman, 28 Sept. 2025, https://www.statesman.com/news/local/article/false-confessions-austin-yogurt-shop-murders-21074122.php. Mazziotta, Julie. “How a ‘Yogurt Shop Murders’ Victim’s Final Struggle Led Police to a Serial Killer Suspect 34 Years Later.” People Magazine, 28 Sept. 2025, https://people.com/yogurt-shop-murders-victim-helped-identify-suspected-killer-11823320. Zorthian, Julia. “How Investigators Identified a New Suspect in the Yogurt Shop Murders Case.” Time, 30 Sept. 2025, https://time.com/7321492/yogurt-shop-murders-suspect/. “Austin Police Department: Significant Breakthrough in 1991 I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt Murders.” City of Austin, 27 Sept. 2025, https://www.austintexas.gov/news/significant-breakthrough-made-1991-i-cant-believe-its-yogurt-murders. “Austin police identify suspect in the 1991 yogurt shop murders.” CBS News, 27 Sept. 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/austin-cold-case-yogurt-shop-murders-suspect/. “DNA helps solve ‘haunting’ yogurt shop quadruple killings more than 3 decades later.” ABC News, 27 Sept. 2025, https://abcnews.go.com/US/haunting-yogurt-shop-quadruple-killings-solved-3-decades/story?id=126035260. McGlinchy, Audrey. “Suspect identified in Austin’s infamous yogurt shop murders.” KUT 90.5, 26 Sept. 2025, https://www.kut.org/austin/2025-09-26/yogurt-shop-murders-austin-robert-eugene-brashers. “Families of yogurt shop murder victims find closure as DNA links suspect 34 years later.” CBS Austin, 27 Sept. 2025, https://cbsaustin.com/news/local/families-of-yogurt-shop-murder-victims-find-closure-as-dna-links-suspect-34-years-later. Ray, Michael. “The Yogurt Shop Murders Have Been Cold for 34 Years — but Police May Have Just Solved the Case.” Biography.com, 29 Sept. 2025, https://www.biography.com/crime/a68118001/yogurt-store-murders-case-and-suspects/. “DNA Unmasks Yogurt Shop Murders Suspect After Over 30 Years.” The Daily Beast, 27 Sept. 2025, https://www.thedailybeast.com/dna-unmasks-yogurt-shop-murders-suspect-robert-eugene-brashers-after-over-30-years/. “’Unreal’: True crime junkies react to Yogurt Shop Murders breakthrough.” MySanAntonio, 28 Sept. 2025, https://www.mysanantonio.com/news/austin/article/yogurt-shop-murders-solved-reactions-21072996.php. “DNA testing links dead man to Texas yogurt shop killings.” Washington Post, 27 Sept. 2025, https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2025/09/27/robert-eugene-brashers-yogurt-shop-murders/. “Why Were the Yogurt Shop Murders Unsolved for 34 Years?” People Magazine, 25 Sept. 2025, https://people.com/why-are-the-yogurt-shop-murders-unsolved-11785825.
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    26 mins
  • Ep. 33: The Furnace Girl

    Ep. 33: The Furnace Girl
    Oct 7 2025
    Get ready to sizzle with our spookiest yet sassiest episode so far! Brynn is joined by true crime fan Spooky Kim to unravel the case of Elfrieda Knaak – a 1928 mystery that’s equal parts gruesome and bizarre. We’ll dig into how this Sunday-school teacher ended up burned beyond recognition in a village hall furnace, while spouting wild “spirit love” theories that had reporters and police raising eyebrows. Toss in a 1920s love triangle, her married instructor-cum-police officer and his jealous admirer—and it’s a recipe for suspicion (and maybe a few ghost sightings). Prepare for laughter and goosebumps as we blur the line between murder, suicide, and supernatural mischief in this totally unpredictable tale. Sources Flowers, Ashley, and Brit Prawat. “Mysterious Death of: Elfrieda Knaak.” Crime Junkie, 21 Oct. 2024.Potash, Larry. “Death of Elfrieda Knaak still haunts Lake Bluff residents, 90 years later.” WGN-TV, 7 Feb. 2019.Potash, Larry. “Death of the ‘Furnace Girl’ Elfrieda Knaak.” Backstory with Larry Potash, 7 Feb. 2019.Moreland, Kraig W., and Toby Jones. The Furnace Girl: The Mysterious Case of Elfrieda Knaak. Across the Lake Publishing Company, 2018.Franklin, Shaffer. “The Girl in the Furnace.” The Forest Scout, 29 Oct. 2018.Grossman, Ron. “Who really killed Elfrieda Knaak?” Chicago Tribune, 27 Nov. 2016.Radin, Edward. “Mystery of the flaming beauty.” Tampa Bay Times, 13 Mar. 1949.Lake Bluff History Museum. “Suicide or murder: The death of Elfrieda Knaak.” YouTube, 2018.Associated Press. “Woman near death from self-inflicted burns to prove faith in spirit love.” Taylorville Daily Breeze-Courier, 31 Oct. 1928.Associated Press. “Self torture by fire, woman’s idea of faith.” Sterling Standard, 31 Oct. 1928.Associated Press. “Woman near death in fire ritual case.” Rock Island Argus, 1 Nov. 1928.Associated Press. “Secret of girl’s self inflicted torture mystery.” Alton Evening Telegraph, 2 Nov. 1928.International News Service. “Hitchcock tells of power over burning victim.” Waukegan News-Sun, 31 Oct. 1928.International News Service. “Army deserter confesses to furnace death.” Belleville News-Democrat, 29 Nov. 1928.International News Service. “No faith in man’s story.” Belleville News-Democrat, 30 Nov. 1928.International News Service. “Murderer of teacher tried to end lie.” Belleville News-Democrat, 7 Dec. 1928.United Press. “Girl burns in furnace.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 31 Oct. 1928.United Press. “Case still is puzzle.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 1 Nov. 1928.United Press. “Knaak girl fails to shed light on furnace case.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 2 Nov. 1928.United Press. “Will examine brain of dead tortured girl.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 6 Nov. 1928.United Press. “Girl’s story told today.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 10 Nov. 1928.United Press. “Suicide says jury verdict in Knaak case.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 12 Nov. 1928.United Press. “Think case was murder.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 5 Nov. 1928.United Press. “Police chief at Lake Bluff is discharged.” Daily Chronicle (DeKalb, Ill.), 28 Nov. 1928.United Press. “Girl attempts to kill herself by jumping in fire.” Belleville News-Democrat, 16 Feb. 1929.United Press. “Hitchcock of ‘furnace’ fame is arrested.” Belleville News-Democrat, 14 Aug. 1929.United Press. “Knaak case is reopened for investigation.” Belleville News-Democrat, 15 Aug. 1929.“Ex-coed is near death; quiz film actor cop.” Chicago Tribune, 31 Oct. 1928.“Girl burned in Lake Bluff furnace dies.” Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 1928.“Burned girl held victim of self hypnosis.” Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 1928.“Family refuses to believe Miss Knaak tortured self.” Chicago Tribune, 1 Nov. 1928.“Mystery clings to furnace case after girl dies.” Chicago Tribune, 3 Nov. 1928.“Relatives start own inquiry of furnace death.” Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 1928.“Crowds fail to get glimpse of death furnace.” Chicago Tribune, 5 Nov. 1928.“Put burned girl in death trance, mystic asserts.” Chicago Tribune, 7 Nov. 1928.“Details of affairs are shrouded in mystery.” Waukegan News-Sun, 30 Oct. 1928.“Girl, dying, takes all blame.” Waukegan News-Sun, 31 Oct. 1928.“Steadfast in a dying refusal to name mate.” Waukegan News-Sun, 1 Nov. 1928.“Suicide is held to be illogical solution.” Waukegan News-Sun, 2 Nov. 1928.“Physicians think girl inflicted own burns.” Waukegan News-Sun, 3 Nov. 1928.“Knaak case solution is sought by state.” Waukegan News-Sun, 5 Nov. 1928.“Probe new clue in Knaak case at Lake Bluff.” Waukegan News-Sun, 6 Nov. 1928.“Thirty called to testify in Knaak inquest Sat.” Waukegan News-Sun, 8 Nov. 1928.“Witnesses may throw light on tragedy.” Waukegan News-Sun, 9 Nov. 1928.“Knaak case inquest is being held here today.” Waukegan News-Sun, 10 Nov. 1928.“Continue probe of ...
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    58 mins
  • Ep. 32: The Balloon Boy Hoax

    Ep. 32: The Balloon Boy Hoax
    Sep 26 2025

    This is a CRAZY story. One of the first hoaxes to go absolutely viral. How did a little boy end up floating into the sky in a flying saucer? Well, he didn't. The Balloon Boy hoax has everything you want in a hoax story. And it's still true crime indeed!

    Sources

    “All That’s Interesting. The Balloon Boy Hoax And The True Story Behind It.” All That’s Interesting, 2019, https://allthatsinteresting.com/balloon-boy.

    “Balloon boy hoax.” Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balloon_boy_hoax.

    “Balloon Boy’s Parents to Plead Guilty to Lying, FAA Investigating.” ABC News, 13 Nov. 2009, https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/balloon-boy-parents-plead-guilty-faa-investigating/story?id=9073090.

    “Both balloon boy parents sentenced to jail time for hoax.” The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Dec. 2009, https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Justice/2009/1223/Both-balloon-boy-parents-sentenced-to-jail-time-for-hoax.

    “Couple behind 2009 'balloon boy' hoax in US granted pardons.” The Guardian, 24 Dec. 2020, https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/dec/24/couple-behind-2009-balloon-boy-hoax-in-us-granted-pardons.

    “’Balloon Boy’ parents sentenced in Colorado.” History.com, A&E Television Networks, 23 Dec. 2009, https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/december-23/balloon-boy-parents-sentenced-in-colorado.

    “Parents convicted in 2009 'balloon boy' hoax pardoned.” AP News, The Associated Press, 23 Dec. 2020, https://apnews.com/article/us-news-colorado-denver-fa2071fb9e5a32a668654919bc729eda.

    “Remembering the Balloon Boy Hoax That ‘Riveted the Nation’ and Ended in Controversy.” Oxygen True Crime, NBCUniversal, 11 Oct. 2019, https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/balloon-boy-hoax-heene-family-what-to-know.

    SFGate/AP. “Balloon boy’s parents sentenced: Both jail time.” SFGate, 23 Dec. 2009, https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Balloon-boy-s-parents-sentenced-Both-jail-time-3277601.php.

    “The Balloon Boy Hoax—Solved!” 5280 Magazine, 13 Oct. 2009, https://5280.com/the-balloon-boy-hoax-solved.

    Time Staff. “The True Story Behind Trainwreck: Balloon Boy.” Time, 29 Aug. 2024, https://time.com/7302213/trainwreck-balloon-boy-netflix/.

    Trull, Armando. “’Balloon Boy’ Family Denies Alleged Hoax, Says They’ve Been Misunderstood for 10 Years.” People, 16 Oct. 2019, https://people.com/balloon-boy-hoax-not-the-whole-story-family-says-maintain-innocence-in-florida-exclusive-11772382
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    26 mins
  • Ep. 31: Cari Farver

    Ep. 31: Cari Farver
    Sep 16 2025

    I’m joined by Isa to dive into the shocking disappearance of Cari Farver. What started as a simple dating triangle exploded into years of stalking, tens of thousands of harassing messages, arson, and a murder with no body ever found. Together, Isa and I break down how Shanna “Liz” Golyar spun a web of lies so twisted it took digital forensics and years of detective work to unravel. From the first red flags to the jaw-dropping courtroom finale, this episode is a wild ride through obsession, deception, and justice.

    Here are the sources used to research this episode of Friends Who Crime:

    • “48 Hours: What Happened to Cari Farver?” CBS News, 20 Apr. 2019, www.nytimes.com/2016/12/19/us/shanna-golyar-cari-farver.html.
    • Keating, Dan. “Inside the Bizarre Disappearance of Cari Farver.” People Magazine, 20 Apr. 2019, people.com/crime/cari-farver-bizarre-disappearance-shanna-golyar/.
    • Panella, Chris. “How a Woman Pretended to Be Her Boyfriend’s Ex for 3 Years, Sending Him 50,000 Texts and 15,000 Emails.” Business Insider, 18 Jan. 2023, www.businessinsider.com/true-crime-lover-stalker-killer-netflix-case-2023-1.
    • Supreme Court of Nebraska. State of Nebraska v. Shanna L. Golyar. 300 Neb. 213, 912 N.W.2d 890. 27 Apr. 2018. Nebraska Judicial Branch, www.nebraska.gov/apps-courts-epub/public/viewOpinion?docId=N00006309PUB.
    • Lover, Stalker, Killer. Directed by Sam Hobkinson, Netflix, 2023.

    If you want to dive deeper into this case, I highly recommend checking out the Netflix documentary Lover, Stalker, Killer. They go into even more detail about the investigation, trial, and the wild digital evidence that cracked the case.
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    40 mins