Death X Southwest: True Crime

Latest Episodes:

MINI-CRIME STORY | The Dardeen Family Massacre: A Nightmare in Small-Town Illinois Mar 14, 2025

Show notes

In this mini crime story, we’re diving straight into one of the most disturbing and baffling murder cases you've probably never heard of: the Dardeen family massacre. No long intro here—less than four minutes of my usual rambling before we get right to it.

Picture this: a quiet, small town in Illinois, the kind of place where doors are left unlocked and crime is practically unheard of. Until November 1987, when the Dardeen family—Keith, Elaine, and their young son Peter—were brutally slaughtered in their home. The crime scene was so horrifying that even hardened detectives struggled to comprehend the sheer savagery of the attack. And just when you think this case can’t get any more twisted…it does.

With no clear motive and an overwhelming level of brutality, the Dardeen case remains one of the most haunting and perplexing unsolved mysteries in true crime history.

Buckle up. This one’s dark.

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

Episode 97: The Murder of Alexis Rasmussen | UTAH Mar 11, 2025

Show notes

Today’s case… it’s a twisted one. And I know, I say that a lot—because, well, true crime is a dark, tangled web of human chaos. But this case? This one is unsettling for many reasons but one is because it starts off so… normal.

A teenage girl. A babysitting job. A late-night check-in with a friend. And then… nothing. She just…vanishes.

But what makes this case even more disturbing is who ends up being responsible for her disappearance and subsequent murder. Sadly, in Alexis Rasmussen’s case… the people she trusted the most were the ones who betrayed her in the worst way possible.

This is the story of Alexis Rasmussen.

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:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter

Facebook

DXSW is:

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

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

MINI-CRIME STORY | Murdered in Chapel Hill: Who Killed Faith Hedgepeth? Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

She had big dreams. A bright future. And in the early morning hours of September 7, 2012, that future was stolen from her in a way so brutal, so haunting, that it has left a community—and an entire nation—searching for justice. Today, we’re diving into the chilling case of Faith Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old college student found murdered in her Chapel Hill apartment. A crime so savage, yet so baffling, it took nearly a decade to get answers. But even with an arrest, does the truth really add up?

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

Mini-Crime Story | A Trail of Fear: The Case of Blair Adams (BONUS) Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

Imagine a man convinced he's being hunted, embarking on a frantic journey across countries. He traverses thousands of miles, carrying a fortune in cash and valuables, only to be found dead in a Tennessee parking lot, half-naked and surrounded by his own riches. No signs of robbery, no clear motive, just a trail of puzzling actions leading to an unsolved mystery. Join us as we unravel the perplexing case of Blair Adams, a man who couldn't escape the shadows he believed were closing in.

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!

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:

Instagram

TikTok

Twitter

Facebook

DXSW is:

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

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

BONUS: Flagstaff Adventures, Nordic Baths & Drunken Grocery Shopping Mar 06, 2025

Show notes

If you're here for murder and mystery... well, not today, friends! This bonus episode is a true crime free zone. Instead, I'm taking you on a deep dive into Mark and my recent trip to Flagstaff—Nordic baths, the Grand Canyon, Crumbl cookies, and a tipsy grocery shopping adventure that may or may not have ended in some questionable purchases. I also get into the ups and downs of weight loss, unexpectedly being contacted by a private investigator (because of course), and a handful of other random life things😊.

For those of you who love these episodes and enjoy my unfiltered ramblings, grab a drink & get comfy. And if you’re just here for the true crime, I totally get it—a brand-new mini crime story drops tomorrow! To all of you who continues to listen and support, THANK YOU + LOVE YOU❤️

xoxo,

Margot 💀✨😘

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)

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

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 96: The Disappearance of Tara Calico - A Case of Vanishing Clues Mar 05, 2025

Show notes

Some stories haunt you, and this is one of them. A girl goes for a bike ride… and simply never comes back. No evidence of a struggle. No witnesses stepping forward. No body. And then, nearly a year later, a chilling photograph surfaces in a parking lot almost 1,500 miles away. Was it her? Is she still alive? And why, after decades, do the pieces of this puzzle still not quite fit?

This is the story of Tara Calico.

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, Produced, & Edited by Margot Carmichael
Music from Soundstripe

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

BONUS: Quick Check-In! Feb 21, 2025

Show notes

Hey, friends! Just popping in with a little check-in—because I was hoping to have a bonus episode for you this week, but life had other plans. It’s been a wild one, and despite my best efforts, I just couldn’t squeeze it in. I hate missing an episode, and I truly appreciate you all for being so understanding.

But! In lieu of a new bonus episode, I am sharing a fun one I recorded with Branden over on our YouTube channel (will drop tonight at midnight!). If you haven’t watched our bonus episodes together yet, this is the perfect time to dive in. Just click the link below to check it out—along with all the other fun bonus episodes we’ve done together!

And for those who are interested—Mark and I will be recording a brand-new bonus episode this weekend in Flagstaff, so there’s more goodness coming your way very soon. Plus, our regularly scheduled crime episode will be out on Tuesday, as always.

Thank you all for being the absolute best. Your support means everything to me, and I appreciate you more than I can say. Love you, mean it—XOXO! 💛

The Devil Within on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-devil-within/id1569216112

Evio + The Devil Within YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@eviocreative

DXSW YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DeathXSouthwest

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

Episode 95: The Spreckels Mansion Mystery: What Really Happened to Rebecca Zahau? Feb 19, 2025

Show notes

In July of 2011, 32-year-old Rebecca Zahau was found dead at the historic Spreckels Mansion in Coronado, California—a massive, oceanfront estate owned by her boyfriend, pharmaceutical tycoon Jonah Shacknai. Rebecca’s body was discovered hanging from a balcony, bound at the wrists and ankles, a cryptic message scrawled on the bedroom door. Authorities ruled it a suicide… but did she really do this to herself? Or was something far more sinister at play?

From eerie last text messages to an investigation that left more questions than answers, this case is as twisty as they come. Suicide? Murder? Cover-up? We’re breaking it all down.

PLUS: A very special thank you to all the recent Apple reviews that called out my disgusting mouth noises and off-topic tangents—in this episode, I worked really hard to avoid saying “um,” to avoid making annoying mouth noises, and to avoid having off-topic rambles. But if you still catch any of this, PLEASE let me know! I will keep trying to improve and thank you for joining me on this journey of self-improvement and…murder💀🌵🩷

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!

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 94 | When the Lights Went Out in Silsbee: The Murder of Tristan Dilley Feb 12, 2025

Show notes

A quiet Texas town, a locked house, and a chilling crime that made no sense. When 14-year-old Tristan Dilley was found shot to death in her own home in 2017, the mystery seemed impossible—no sign of forced entry, no obvious suspects, and a timeline that left investigators baffled. But as they dug deeper, hidden truths began to surface, leading to a revelation that no one saw coming.

Who had access to Tristan that night? And what could possibly drive someone to commit such a brutal act?

Join me as we unravel the details of a case that shook a family, a town, and left lingering questions that demand answers.

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!

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

DEATH X MIDWEST: Michigan Mystery: The Tara Grant Story (Bonus Crime Story) Feb 06, 2025

Show notes

In this special mini-crime story, we take a brief detour from the Southwest and head straight into the heart of the Midwest—Michigan, to be exact. But before we dive into this chilling case, I spend the first six minutes talking about my dad (because I need advice!!).

Then, we shift gears and unravel the story of Tara Grant—a woman who seemingly had it all until her life took a dark and unexpected turn. What started as a picture-perfect marriage quickly spiraled into a tangled web of control, deceit, and ultimately, a gruesome crime that left an entire community stunned.

What really happened to Tara, and who was responsible? Tune in for all the twists and turns in this episode of Death by Southwest Midwest.

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!

Follow DXSW | @deathxsouthwest:

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

DXSW is:

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

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

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Death X Southwest: True Crime

Today’s case… it’s a twisted one. And I know, I say that a lot—because, well, true crime is a dark, tangled web of human chaos. But this case? This one is unsettling for many reasons but one is because it starts off so… normal.

A teenage girl. A babysitting job. A late-night check-in with a friend. And then… nothing. She just…vanishes.

But what makes this case even more disturbing is who ends up being responsible for her disappearance and subsequent murder. Sadly, in Alexis Rasmussen’s case… the people she trusted the most were the ones who betrayed her in the worst way possible.

This is the story of Alexis Rasmussen.

xoxo,

Margot 💀✨😘

xoxo,

Margot 💀✨😘

xoxo,

Margot 💀🌵😘

This is the story of Tara Calico.

xoxo,

Margot 💀✨😘

From eerie last text messages to an investigation that left more questions than answers, this case is as twisty as they come. Suicide? Murder? Cover-up? We’re breaking it all down.

xoxo,

Margot 💀🌵😘

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