In this episode, we examine the life and assassination of Colombian senator Manuel Cepeda Vargas, one of the most prominent leaders of the left-wing Patriotic Union (UP). During the height of Colombia's armed conflict and the U.S.-backed war on drugs, political violence engulfed the country as guerrillas, drug cartels, paramilitary groups, and elements of the state battled for power.We explore how the Patriotic Union became the target of a systematic campaign of violence that claimed thousands of lives. As one of the UP's last remaining elected senators, Manuel Cepeda spoke out against repression and advocated for a political solution to Colombia's conflict. On August 9, 1994, he was assassinated in Bogotá while traveling to Congress.The episode also examines the broader context of the Colombian drug war, the role of paramilitary groups, allegations of state involvement, and the long struggle for justice led by his family, including his son, Senator Iván Cepeda. We discuss how Cepeda's death became a symbol of political persecution and one of the most significant human rights cases in modern Colombian history.

In this episode of Strawberry Inc., we examine the 2021 shooting at Austin-East Magnet High School in Knoxville, Tennessee, that ended with the death of 17-year-old Anthony J. Thompson Jr. After school officials reported that a student may have brought a weapon onto campus, police responded and confronted Thompson in a school bathroom. What followed was a chaotic and controversial encounter that sparked protests, public debate, and questions about school safety, police procedures, and the events that led to the fatal shooting. Join us as we break down the timeline, the investigation, and the lasting impact this case had on the Knoxville community.

On August 30, 1990, Colombian journalist Diana Turbay was lured into what she believed would be an interview with a guerrilla leader, only to be kidnapped by operatives working for the Medellín Cartel under Pablo Escobar. Held hostage for nearly five months during Colombia’s brutal war against narcoterrorism, Turbay became one of several high-profile captives used to pressure the government into ending extradition policies. On January 25, 1991, a rescue operation near Medellín turned tragic when she was struck by gunfire during the raid. Despite being rushed to a hospital, she died from her injuries at age 40. Her death shocked Colombia and became one of the most heartbreaking episodes of Escobar’s campaign of violence, later chronicled in News of a Kidnapping.

Agnes Tirop was one of Kenya's brightest distance-running stars. A world championship medalist and Olympian, she had built a reputation as one of the fastest runners in the world and appeared destined for even greater success. But in October 2021, the 25-year-old athlete was found dead inside her home, sending shockwaves through the international running community.

In this episode of Strawberry Ink, we examine the life of Agnes Tirop, her rise to athletic stardom, the events leading up to her death, the investigation that followed, the arrest of the primary suspect, and the legal proceedings that emerged from one of the most heartbreaking cases in modern sports.

Join us as we explore the tragic death of a champion whose promising future was cut short far too soon.

#TrueCrime #StrawberryInk #AgnesTirop #Running #Olympics #Kenya #TrueCrimePodcast #CrimeDocumentary #Athletics #SportsCrime

On May 24, 2000, one of the deadliest mass murders in New York City history unfolded inside a Wendy's restaurant in Flushing, Queens. Former employee John Taylor and his accomplice Craig Godineaux entered the restaurant shortly before closing and carried out a carefully planned robbery. Seven employees were forced into a freezer, bound and gagged, and shot execution-style. Five workers lost their lives, while two miraculously survived their injuries and helped investigators bring the killers to justice.

In this episode of Strawberry Ink, we examine the events leading up to the Queens Wendy's Massacre, the victims whose lives were stolen, the investigation that identified the perpetrators within days, and the lengthy court proceedings that followed. We also explore the lasting impact the crime had on New York City and the families forever changed by one of the most shocking workplace massacres in American history.

The YSL RICO drama became one of the most controversial and longest criminal trials in Georgia history. Prosecutors alleged that YSL, known publicly as Young Stoner Life Records, also operated as a criminal street gang called Young Slime Life. The proceedings involved dozens of defendants, allegations of murder, racketeering, gang activity, firearms offenses, and drug crimes. The trial sparked national debate over the use of rap lyrics as evidence, prosecutorial conduct, witness credibility, and the criminal justice system itself. Ultimately, numerous defendants accepted plea deals, while others chose to fight the charges in court. Rapper Young Thug entered a non-negotiated plea in October 2024 and was released on probation after spending more than two years in jail. This finally concluded in December 2024, with some remaining defendants acquitted and others convicted on limited charges.

In this episode of Strawberry Ink, we examine the origins of the YSL investigation, the sweeping RICO indictment, the arrests, plea agreements, courtroom controversies, witness testimony, allegations of gang activity, the role of rap lyrics in criminal prosecutions, and the final outcomes for the defendants involved. This is the complete story of the YSL RICO case. 🍓🖤🎙️

This Cinco de Mayo, Strawberry Ink heads to Mexico to uncover the terrifying story of Juana Barraza — the woman the media would call La Mataviejitas… “The Little Old Lady Killer.”

Before the murders, Juana lived a life marked by poverty, violence, and trauma. Raised in the rural town of Epazoyucan, she would later become a professional luchadora, wrestling under colorful masks in the world of Mexican wrestling. But behind the wrestling persona was a woman whose rage would allegedly turn deadly.

Targeting elderly women across Mexico City, Juana gained the trust of victims by pretending to be a nurse, social worker, or government employee before attacking them inside their homes. For years, fear spread across the city as investigators struggled to stop the killings.

In this episode, we examine Juana’s disturbing childhood, her rise in wrestling, the murders, the investigation, her arrest in 2006, and the psychological questions that still surround the case today.

Listener discretion is strongly advised due to discussions of violence, abuse, and murder.

Lauren Spierer was a 20-year-old student at Indiana University whose disappearance became one of the most widely known missing person cases in the Midwest. She was described as petite, with bright blonde hair and a lively, outgoing personality that drew people to her. Originally from New York, Lauren was studying apparel merchandising and had a close circle of friends in Bloomington. On the night of June 2 into the early hours of June 3, 2011, she went out with friends, but after a series of events captured on surveillance cameras, she was seen walking unsteadily, barefoot, with dark residue visible on the soles of her feet, suggesting she had been moving around outside without shoes for some time. Shortly after, she vanished without a trace. Despite extensive searches and ongoing investigation, her disappearance remains unsolved, leaving her family and the public searching for answers.