Death X Southwest: True Crime

Latest Episodes:

BONUS: Turbulence, Toasts, and Tahoe Jul 07, 2025

Show notes

Happy (belated) Fourth of July, friends! 🎆 I know, I know—it’s been a minute, and if it feels like I ghosted you, that’s fair. But I’m back, slightly sunburned and running on caffeine, and I just wanted to take a moment to catch up. This bonus episode has zero true crime, so if you're here strictly for the murder—hang tight, because a brand-new case drops tomorrow.

Today, though, I’m easing back into the podcast groove and sharing a little about our trip to Lake Tahoe with Mark, Michael, and Jenna. (Spoiler: There was a lake. And drinks.)

Mostly, this episode is just me saying hi, I missed you, and thank you for sticking with me through this up-and-down podcast journey of chaos, crime, and occasional emotional spirals. Love you all.

So grab a coffee (or a cocktail—no judgment), and let’s get reacquainted. 💀❤️

xoxo,

Margot 💀✨😘

Come for the true crime, stick around for the life updates, and—of course—enjoy the chaos🌵🩷

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media @DeathXSouthwest for all the behind-the-scenes fun.

My AMAZING therapist’s IG (bc we can all benefit from a little therapy!): @wholeselflindsay (Lindsay Christianson)

Want more DXSW?

Leave us a voicemail: 520-302-5253
Email us: deathxsouthwest@gmail.com
Official DXSW Website
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Shop My Amazon Faves
Try Our Patreon - bonus content and more!
All Links Click Here!

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741

Follow DXSW | @deathxsouthwest:

DXSW is:

Hosted, Executive Produced, & Audio Edited by Margot Carmichael
Music from Soundstripe

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EPISODE 109 | The Brutal Murder of Candace Hiltz | COLORADO Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

In the remote high desert of Colorado, 17-year-old Candace Hiltz was a force of nature — brilliant, fierce, and fiercely protective of her mentally ill brother James. But her sharp tongue and sharper mind may have made her dangerous enemies. Just days after confronting a local sheriff's deputy and accusing him of taking bribes, Candace was found executed in her bedroom, shot seven times while her infant daughter cried nearby.

What followed was a masterclass in small-town corruption: botched investigations, missing evidence, and a web of lies that stretches from the crime scene to the courthouse. Despite overwhelming evidence pointing to law enforcement involvement, no one has ever been held accountable for Candace's murder.

Join us as we dissect one of Colorado's most infuriating cold cases — a story that will have you questioning everything you thought you knew about justice in rural America.

If you have any information about the murder of Candace Hiltz, or the mishandling of her case, contact the Colorado Bureau of Investigation at 303-239-4201.

Come for the true crime, stick around for the life updates, and—of course—enjoy the chaos🌵🩷
My AMAZING therapist’s IG (bc we can all benefit from a little therapy!): @wholeselflindsay (Lindsay Christianson)
Need a spray tan in Tucson? Book with Michelle Raybell for an amazing experience: ⁠⁠www.mibelleesthetics.com⁠⁠| IG: @mibelle_esthetics

Episode Highlights:

A Mind Beyond Her Years: Learn about Candace Hiltz, a sharp, witty teenager known for her intelligence and her deep devotion to her family, particularly her brother James, who lived in isolation behind their home.
The Dangerous Confrontation: Discover the critical incident just days before her murder, when Candace confronted a local sheriff's deputy, accusing him of taking bribes.
A Brutal Crime Scene: We detail the horrific discovery of Candace's body in her bedroom, shot seven times, with her baby nearby, and her body found under a comforter.
A Web of Corruption: Explore the systemic issues that plagued the investigation, including allegations of small-town law enforcement corruption, forensic blunders, and suspicious characters.
Unanswered Questions: Despite compelling clues, Candace's murder remains unsolved, leaving her family and the community demanding accountability.

Key Themes: Unsolved murder, cold case, police corruption, small-town crime, forensic failures, justice denied, family love, mental illness awareness.

Want more DXSW?

Leave us a voicemail: 520-302-5253
Email us: deathxsouthwest@gmail.com
⁠Official DXSW Website⁠
⁠Subscribe to our YouTube Channel⁠
⁠Shop My Amazon Faves⁠
⁠Try Our Patreon⁠ - bonus content and more!
⁠All Links Click Here!⁠

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741

Follow DXSW | @deathxsouthwest:

DXSW is:

Hosted, Executive Produced, & Audio Edited by Margot Carmichael
Music from Soundstripe

Don't forget to rate, review, and subscribe to Death X Southwest wherever you get your podcasts - and follow us on social media @DeathXSouthwest for all the behind-the-scenes fun.

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UPDATE: Hormonal, Emotional, and Mildly Annoyed (and an Amazon Rant!) Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

Hey, fellow true crime addicts and amazing listeners! Popping in for a quick update!

First off, I just wanted to send a massive, heartfelt thank you for all the incredible support, kind words, and understanding you've shown me this past week. Sharing my unexpected news felt vulnerable, but your responses made me feel so seen and supported. It truly means the world.

Speaking of that unexpected news, I have a newfound, immense respect for anyone who's ever been through pregnancy. Seriously, I've felt like a complete basket case all week, and I've only been in this state for like five minutes! My heart (and admiration) goes out to every woman who has or is navigating that journey.

Now, you know I planned to drop a new true crime episode this week - and believe me, I tried. I sat down to record it multiple times, but my heart and my head just aren’t in the right place to tell someone else’s story with the care it deserves. Their narratives deserve my full, clear focus, and right now, I just can't give it.

So, I'm asking for just a few more days of your patience as I give myself a tiny window of grace to get through this personal health situation (ahem), and I’ll be back next week with a fresh batch of true crime that I promise will make up for the wait.

Oh, and because I can't resist a good rant even when I'm a mess, I share a tiny pet peeve I have with Amazon and their shipping refund policy. Because, why not?

Thank you again for being the best listeners a podcaster could ask for. Your understanding means everything.

Content Warning: This episode includes a candid discussion about abortion, which may be sensitive for some listeners. Please listen with care.

Resources for anyone navigating a similar journey: www.plancpills.org

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BONUS: The Two Pink Lines Heard Round My Bathroom Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

Hold onto your headphones, folks, because this week's episode isn't about grisly mysteries or solved cases (don't worry, that is ALSO coming this week!).

Instead, we're taking a sharp left turn into the deeply personal and frankly, quite unexpected. This morning, I got some news that sent my life into a bit of a tailspin, and let's just say it wasn't exactly confetti and celebratory toasts.

So, I did what any podcaster facing down a completely unforeseen, life-altering event would do: I hit record (or…no? is that just me?). This episode is just me talking through the utterly wild revelation that I'm unexpectedly pregnant. Considering my long-held, very firm stance on not having kids, this is, shall we say, a development that requires some serious unpacking.

Join me as I navigate the emotions, the complications, and the frankly overwhelming decisions that come with news like this. It's not pretty, it's not polished, but it's real.

Content Warning: This episode includes a candid discussion about abortion, which may be sensitive for some listeners. Please listen with care.

#UnexpectedPregnancy #PregnancyDecision #PersonalStory #LifeUpdate #RawAndReal #DifficultDecisions #AbortionDiscussion #PodcastLifeUpdate #RealTalk

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BONUS: No Bodies, Just Baggage Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

This week’s victim: my sanity😬🔪.

This week on Death X Southwest, there’s no murder, no mystery, and not a single suspicious alibi—unless you count my own for why I’m in such a mood. Instead, you’re getting a raw, unfiltered update on my week, my career existential crisis, losing my job, and a delightful detour into the joys of perimenopause (spoiler: it’s not delightful).

Think of this episode as a true crime scene, except the only thing getting killed is my patience and possibly my last functioning brain cell. It’s a bitch-fest with a side of oversharing, some quality complaining, and the kind of sarcasm that could solve its own cold case.

Hey, sometimes you need true crime, sometimes you just need someone to validate that everything is, indeed, fucked. Today's your lucky day for option two.

#DeathBySouthwest #TrueCrimeNotTrueCrime #FckEverything #PerimenopauseProblems #PodcastRant #RealTalk #SarcasmQueen #MentalHealthMatters #NotSorry #PodcastLife

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Episode 108 | The Disappearance of Suzanne Simpson: Secrets in Olmos Park May 28, 2025

Show notes

Suzanne Simpson, a beloved mother and community member, vanished from Olmos Park, Texas, in October 2024—leaving behind chilling warnings, hidden secrets, and a family gripped by suspicion.

In Episode 108 of Death X Southwest, we investigate the true crime mystery that shocked San Antonio: from a public argument at The Argyle to Suzanne’s final phone calls and the digital evidence that unraveled her story.

What really happened the night Suzanne disappeared? Was her fate sealed by the secrets she tried to share? Join us as we break down the timeline, examine the red flags, and reveal how digital footprints and family dynamics became the keys to this unsolved case.

If you’re searching for true crime podcasts about missing women, Texas mysteries, or stories of warning signs ignored, this episode is a must-listen.

Keywords: Suzanne Simpson disappearance, Olmos Park, Texas true crime, missing woman podcast, Death X Southwest, Episode 108, Brad Simpson, family secrets, unsolved case, San Antonio mystery, domestic violence, true crime podcast

Show Notes:

Episode 108: The Disappearance of Suzanne Simpson

Case Overview:The mysterious disappearance of Suzanne Simpson from Olmos Park, Texas, in October 2024.
Key Topics:

True crime investigation
Missing persons in Texas
Domestic violence and warning signs
Digital evidence and forensic breakthroughs
Family secrets and community suspicion

Timeline of Events:

Public argument at The Argyle
Last seen at HEB grocery store
Suzanne’s final phone calls to a friend and her mother
Suspicious activity and evidence that followed

Investigation Highlights:

How digital footprints and surveillance footage shaped the case
Testimonies from neighbors and Suzanne’s daughter
The search for Suzanne’s remains and ongoing efforts

Current Status:

Updates on Brad Simpson’s charges and bail
Where the case stands as of May 2025

Resources & Support:

National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233
Olmos Park Police Department tip line: [insert number]

Connect with Death X Southwest:

Subscribe and leave a review to help more listeners discover true crime stories from the Southwest.
Follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook @DeathXSouthwest for updates and exclusive content.

If you have information about Suzanne Simpson’s disappearance, contact the Olmos Park Police Department.

For more true crime podcast episodes about missing persons and unsolved mysteries in Texas, follow Death X Southwest on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen.

Want more DXSW?

Leave us a voicemail: 520-302-5253
Email us: deathxsouthwest@gmail.com
Official DXSW Website
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Shop My Amazon Faves
Try Our Patreon - bonus content and more!
All Links Click Here!

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741

Follow DXSW | @deathxsouthwest:

DXSW is:

Hosted, Executive Produced, & Audio Edited by Margot Carmichael
Music from Soundstripe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Episode 107: The Disappearance of Michael Chambers May 21, 2025

Show notes

A retired firefighter. A loving grandfather. And a locked garage with blood on the floor.

On a quiet afternoon in 2017, Michael Glenn Chambers vanished from his property in Quinlan, Texas—leaving behind his phone, wallet, and a trail of questions that still haunt investigators and family today.

In this episode of Death X Southwest, we dive into one of Texas’ most haunting missing persons cases, unpacking every detail from this bizarre disappearance.

Could this have been foul play? A staged scene? Or something more mysterious?

Find out on today's all new episode!!

xoxo,

Margot 💀✨😘

Come for the true crime, stick around for the life updates, and—of course—enjoy the chaos🌵🩷

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media @DeathXSouthwest for all the behind-the-scenes fun.

My AMAZING therapist’s IG (bc we can all benefit from a little therapy!): @wholeselflindsay (Lindsay Christianson)

Want more DXSW?

Leave us a voicemail: 520-302-5253
Email us: deathxsouthwest@gmail.com
Official DXSW Website
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Shop My Amazon Faves
Try Our Patreon - bonus content and more!
All Links Click Here!

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741

Follow DXSW | @deathxsouthwest:

DXSW is:

Hosted, Executive Produced, & Audio Edited by Margot Carmichael
Music from Soundstripe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TRUE CRIME HEADLINES | Wk. 5/12 | AI Resurrections, Cold Cases on Fire & The Cop with a Secret | BONUS May 16, 2025

Show notes

This week on True Crime Headlines, I’m diving straight in — no chitchat, no life updates up front. Just three wild stories from the last couple of years, each with a twist you won’t see coming.

🔪 Story 1: “AI Brought Him Back”
A man is gunned down in a road rage attack — but his voice is recreated using AI and played in court at his killer’s sentencing. Yes, really.

🔥 Story 2: “Cold No More”
A Navy vet is found stabbed 24 times, her house set on fire. Seventeen years pass with no answers… until a podcast and DNA blow the whole thing wide open.

🚲 Story 3: “The Cop. The Robber. The Bicycle.”
He was a cop. A firefighter. A survivalist. And secretly, a bank-robbing ghost on wheels for more than a decade — until forensic genealogy caught up with him.

And once we’ve made it through all that chaos, I do close things out with a little life update — including my thoughts on perimenopause, because… what the hell is happening to my body, and why is no one talking about it?

AND A SPECIAL THANK YOU IS INCLUDED TO ZEKAH, ERIC, AND DAVE🧡

Let’s go.
No fluff. Just murder, mystery, and midlife hormones.

XOXO,

Margot

Come for the true crime, stick around for the life updates, and—of course—enjoy the chaos🌵🩷

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media @DeathXSouthwest for all the behind-the-scenes fun.

My AMAZING therapist’s IG (bc we can all benefit from a little therapy!): @wholeselflindsay (Lindsay Christianson)

Want more DXSW?

Leave us a voicemail: 520-302-5253
Email us: deathxsouthwest@gmail.com
Official DXSW Website
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Shop My Amazon Faves
Try Our Patreon - bonus content and more!
All Links Click Here!

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741

Follow DXSW | @deathxsouthwest:

DXSW is:

Hosted, Executive Produced, & Audio Edited by Margot Carmichael
Music from Soundstripe

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

EP. 106 | The Mysterious Disappearance of Jennifer Pentilla May 14, 2025

Show notes

🚴‍♀️ An 18-year-old on a solo mission of faith vanishes in the New Mexico desert—leaving behind only questions.

In October 1991, Jennifer Pentilla, a determined and compassionate teenager from Montana, embarked on a solo bicycle journey from San Diego, California, intending to assist missionary work in Mexico. Her adventure took her through the arid landscapes of the Southwest, where she maintained regular contact with her mother, sharing updates about her travels.

On October 17, Jennifer made a final call from a Shell gas station in Deming, New Mexico, expressing concerns about traveling alone into Mexico and mentioning a change in plans to visit a friend in Minnesota. She promised to call back with more details but was never heard from again.

Nearly a year later, some of Jennifer's belongings—including her camping gear and journal—were discovered under a tarp in a remote area between Hatch and Deming, New Mexico. Her bicycle was never found, and no conclusive evidence has surfaced to explain her disappearance.

In this episode, we delve into the perplexing case of Jennifer Pentilla, exploring the timeline of her journey, the discovery of her belongings, and the enduring mystery that has left her family and investigators searching for answers for over three decades.

🎧 Hit play now for one of the most haunting, unsolved true crime cases you’ve never heard of…

xoxo,

Margot 💀✨😘

Come for the true crime, stick around for the life updates, and—of course—enjoy the chaos🌵🩷

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media @DeathXSouthwest for all the behind-the-scenes fun.

My AMAZING therapist’s IG (bc we can all benefit from a little therapy!): @wholeselflindsay (Lindsay Christianson)

Want more DXSW?

Leave us a voicemail: 520-302-5253
Email us: deathxsouthwest@gmail.com
Official DXSW Website
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Shop My Amazon Faves
Try Our Patreon - bonus content and more!
All Links Click Here!

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741

Follow DXSW | @deathxsouthwest:

DXSW is:

Hosted, Executive Produced, & Audio Edited by Margot Carmichael
Music from Soundstripe

#JenniferPentilla #DeathXSouthwest #UnsolvedMysteries #TrueCrimePodcast #MissingPersons #Montana #NewMexico #1991Disappearance #ColdCase #TrueCrime #BicycleJourney #MissionTrip #UnsolvedCase

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Episode 105: A Failed System - The Murder of Lauren McCluskey May 07, 2025

Show notes

She was smart, talented, beautiful—and just weeks away from graduation. Lauren McCluskey was a star track athlete at the University of Utah, beloved by everyone who knew her. But when she fell for a man who seemed too good to be true… it turned out he was.

He wasn’t who he said he was.
He was hiding a criminal past.
And when Lauren uncovered the truth and begged for help—
No one listened.

This is the horrifying story of a young woman who did everything right... and still wasn’t saved.

xoxo,

Margot 💀✨😘

Donate to the Lauren McCluskey Foundation: https://secure.qgiv.com/for/laurenmccluskeyfoundation

Come for the true crime, stick around for the life updates, and—of course—enjoy the chaos🌵🩷

Don't forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media @DeathXSouthwest for all the behind-the-scenes fun.

My AMAZING therapist’s IG (bc we can all benefit from a little therapy!): @wholeselflindsay (Lindsay Christianson)

Want more DXSW?

Leave us a voicemail: 520-302-5253
Email us: deathxsouthwest@gmail.com
Official DXSW Website
Subscribe to our YouTube Channel
Shop My Amazon Faves
Try Our Patreon - bonus content and more!
All Links Click Here!

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out:

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255
National Alliance on Mental Illness: 1-800-950-6264
National Sexual Assault Hotline (RAINN): 1-800-656-HOPE (4673)
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233)
Crisis Text Line: Within the US, text HOME to 741741

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