LOVE MURDER

Latest Episodes:

Dancing with Death: The Love Triangle Murder of Catherine Woods Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

When a talented and beautiful young woman is murdered in her Upper East Side apartment the week after Thanksgiving 2005, the police take a close look at her complicated love life.

Sources:

1. LaRosa, Paul, and Erin Moriarty. Death of a Dream. Simon and Schuster, 2008.

2. “Catherine Elizabeth Woods (1984-2005) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/19349287/catherine_elizabeth-woods. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

3. “Jon Woods Obituary - Columbus, OH.” Dignity Memorial, https://www.dignitymemorial.com/obituaries/columbus-oh/jon-woods-10675839. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

4. “Paul Cortez — New Yorkers for Clemency.” New Yorkers for Clemency, https://newyorkersforclemency.com/paul-cortez. Accessed 1 Nov. 2025.

5. Smith, Benjamin H. “Paul Cortez Kills Aspiring Dancer Catherine Woods In NYC.” Oxygen, Oxygen, 6 Feb. 2022, https://www.oxygen.com/new-york-homicide/crime-news/paul-cortez-kills-aspiring-dancer-catherine-woods-in-nyc.

6. Tygard, Judy. 48 Hours. 1988.

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Credits: Love Murder is hosted by Jessie Pray and Andie Cassette, researched by Sarah Lynn Robinson and researched and written by Jessie Pray, produced by Nathaniel Whittemore and edited by Kyle Barbour-Hoffman

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Case Updates: Brian Walshe Plea Shift and New Suspect Status for D4vd [Current Affairs] Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

This Love Murder Current Affairs episode breaks down two significant developments in cases previously covered on the show: Brian Walshe’s unexpected guilty pleas on charges related to misleading police and disposing of his wife Ana Walshe’s remains, even as he maintains a not-guilty plea on first-degree murder; and the troubling update in the death of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez, whose dismembered body was found in a Tesla registered to singer D4vd, now described by law-enforcement sources as a suspect in the ongoing investigation.

Sources:

https://www.masslive.com/news/2025/11/without-a-body-brian-walshe-murder-trial-hinges-on-circumstantial-evidence-experts-say.html

https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/18/us/brian-walshe-trial-case-charges

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/celeste-rivas-d4vd-tesla-body-refrigerated-1235471062/

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Undone by Greed: Julie and Ed Post Nov 19, 2025

Show notes

A marriage that begins with a chance encounter in the 1960s spans two decades of ambition, volatility, and mounting strain, before a sudden death in a hotel room during a work trip is ruled an accident and quietly put to rest—until inconsistencies, private fears, and unresolved conflicts begin to surface, forcing a reckoning with what was really happening inside a relationship that looked perfect from the outside.

Sources:

1. McLellan, Bill. Evidence of Murder. 1993.

2. Dowling, Paul. Forensic Files. 1996.

3. “Julie Eileen Thigpen Post (1946-1986) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/75827566/julie_eileen-post. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

4. American Justice. 1992.

5. The State of Missouri vs. Edward Post. https://law.justia.com/cases/missouri/court-of-appeals/1995/61971-1.html. Accessed 20 Oct. 2025.

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Sextortion, Secrets, and the Murder of Mary Hill Nov 18, 2025

Show notes

A shocking case out of Upper Arlington, Ohio has left a community reeling. Retired Ohio State professor James S. Hill, 76, is accused of fatally stabbing his wife, Mary Hill, after falling victim to a sextortion scam that demanded $15,000 to keep his explicit photos private. Police say Hill believed he had no way out and attempted to kill both his wife and himself in a desperate bid to escape exposure. Jessie and Andie walk through the harrowing details, from the fatal attack to the 911 call, the attempted cover-up, Hill’s confession from his hospital bed, and the stunned reaction from the Ohio State community.

Sources:

https://www.cleveland.com/news/2025/11/sextortion-plot-led-to-murder-of-wife-retired-ohio-state-professor-claims.html

https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/upper-arlington-murder-attempted-suicide-170000943.html

https://abc6onyourside.com/news/local/upper-arlington-james-mary-hill-nude-naked-pics-pictures-photos-dating-app-charged-wife-murder-sextortion-crime-columbus-ohio

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Catfish Conspiracy: The Murders of Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan Nov 12, 2025

Show notes

When a husband walks in on a stranger attacking his wife, he responds with lethal force. The police immediately respond to the bizarre but seemingly straightforward scene, however after some things don’t add up, the investigators take a closer look at all of those who lived in the house — and the secrets they were keeping.

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Sources:

1. “Au Pair Killed Man on Employer’s Order, Attorney Says | Wusa9.Com.” Wusa9.Com, 4 AD, https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/au-pair-charged-murder-shot-man-in-home-on-orders-of-her-employer/65-f26e3592-71aa-4c17-963e-b06f36946b38.

2. Augenstein, Neal, and Abigail Constantino. “Fairfax Co. Au Pair Charged in Fetish Website Killing Visited Gun Range with Victim’s Husband, Prosecutors Say - WTOP News.” WTOP News, WTOP News, 1 Apr. 2024, https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2024/04/fairfax-co-au-pair-charged-in-fetish-website-killing-visited-gun-range-with-victims-husband-prosecutors-say/.

3. “Banfield Double Murder Trial Set for October amid Evidence Disputes | Articles | Fairfaxtimes.Com.” Fairfax County Times , https://www.facebook.com/FairfaxCountyTimes, 1 Aug. 2025, https://www.fairfaxtimes.com/articles/banfield-double-murder-trial-set-for-october-amid-evidence-disputes/article_07534e1d-c3e9-454d-8924-652fe7c82f26.html.

Big Shakeup in Cheating Husband’s Nanny Murder-for-Hire Case. YouTube, 30 July 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIda09pZBIQ.

“Christine Ann Banfield Obituary February 24, 2023 - Moloney Family Funeral Homes, Inc.” Moloney Family Funeral Homes, Inc., Moloney Family Funeral Homes, Inc., 2 Mar. 2023, https://www.moloneyfh.com/obituaries/christine-ann-banfield.
“Christine Ann Benson Banfield (1985-2023) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/250098758/christine-ann-banfield. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
“Defense in Fetish Sex Murder Case Challenges Catfish Theory – NBC4 Washington.” NBC4 Washington, NBC4 Washington, 11 July 2025, https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/defense-in-virginia-fetish-sex-murder-case-challenges-catfish-theory/3954723/.
Department, Fairfax County Police. FCPD Press Conference: Husband Charged in Reston Double Murder. YouTube, 16 Sept. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9FtB5IZ4kjM.
Diaz, Olivia. “Blood-Spatter Analysis Helped Investigation into Husband Charged with Killing Wife and Another Man | AP News.” AP News, AP News, 27 Sept. 2024, https://apnews.com/article/brendan-banfield-au-pair-double-murder-virginia-f4dc3fa2ac1975587991d0d0755e8f18.
“Fairfax County Prosecutor Taken off Au Pair Double Murder Case after Drinking Incident.” WJLA, https://wjla.com/news/local/fairfax-prosecutor-taken-off-au-pair-double-murder-case-after-drinking-incident-brendan-banfield-eric-clingan-commonwealths-attorney. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
“Former IRS Agent Charged in 2023 Deaths of Wife and Other Man, Officials Say.” Https://Www.Wsaz.Com, https://www.facebook.com/wsaz3/, 17 Sept. 2024, https://www.wsaz.com/2024/09/17/former-irs-agent-charged-2023-deaths-wife-other-man-officials-say/.
Grace, Nancy. GLAM AU PAIR, 23, PLOTS STAB DEATH OF LOVE-RAT-BOSS’ WIFE? YouTube, 25 Apr. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-Dii0e34y8.
Li, David K. “Wife’s Murder Connected to Elaborate Sex Fetish-Based Plot, According to Au Pair.” NBC News, NBC News, 27 Aug. 2025, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/wifes-murder-connected-sex-fetish-plot-rcna227473.
Madani, Doha. “Brazilian Au Pair Takes Plea Deal, Cooperates in Virginia Double-Murder Case against Former Boss.” NBC News, NBC News, 29 Oct. 2024, https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/brazilian-au-pair-takes-plea-deal-cooperates-virginia-double-murder-ca-rcna177847.
Moore, Jack. “Months after 2 Killed in Shooting-Stabbing in Fairfax Co., Family’s Au Pair Charged with Murder in 1 of the Slayings - WTOP News.” WTOP News, WTOP News, 19 Oct. 2023, https://wtop.com/fairfax-county/2023/10/months-after-2-killed-in-shooting-stabbing-in-fairfax-familys-au-pair-charged-with-murder-in-1-of-the-slayings/.
“Nanny Arrested in Herndon Double Murder That Left Woman, Man Dead | Wusa9.Com.” Wusa9.Com, 10 AD, https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/virginia/herndon-virginia-double-murder-arrest-au-pair/65-0bc9e39f-ff7e-4485-88cd-d4d8f9e564b0.
Reinstein, Julia. “Virginia Au Pair Juliana Peres Magalhaes Pleads Guilty to Manslaughter in Gruesome Double Murder of Christine Banfield, Joe Ryan - ABC7 New York.” ABC7 New York, 30 Oct. 2024, https://abc7ny.com/au-pair-pleads-guilty-in-gruesome-double-murder-in-virginia/15484909/.
Sanchez-Cruz, Rafael. “911 Audio Introduced as Evidence in the Herndon Double Homicide | Wusa9.Com.” Wusa9.Com, WUSA, 6 AD, https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/crime/911-audio-introduced-as-evidence-in-the-herndon-double-homicide-case-brendan-banfield-juliana-peres-magalhaes/65-8a3aa334-68ef-4a16-853c-76998297a7e7.
Serre, Jared. “Double Murder Trial for Herndon Man Postponed to next Year | FFXnow.” FFXnow | Fairfax County, Va. Breaking News and Local Happenings, https://www.facebook.com/ffxnow/, 16 Oct. 2025, https://www.ffxnow.com/2025/10/16/double-murder-trial-for-herndon-man-postponed-to-next-year/.

19. The Au Pair Affair Murder Alleged Murder Plot | Vinnie Politan Investigates. YouTube, 17 July 2025, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ssCuksMz3XQ.

20. Vinnie Politan Investigates: Husband & Au Pair Murder Trial. YouTube, 8 Oct. 2024, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y02p0BjDOt0.

Woolsey, Angela. “Reston Au Pair Charged with Murder in Fatal Shooting and Stabbing Case | FFXnow.” FFXnow | Fairfax County, Va. Breaking News and Local Happenings, https://www.facebook.com/ffxnow/, 19 Oct. 2023, https://www.ffxnow.com/2023/10/19/reston-au-pair-charged-with-murder-in-fatal-shooting-and-stabbing-case/.

22. New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/article/brendan-banfield-murder-wife-au-pair.html?unlocked_article_code=1.wU4.PTLq.V5QS0LJWhPK5&smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.

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Grace Millane: A Tragedy That Changed Laws Nov 05, 2025

Show notes

On December 1, 2018, 22-year-old backpacker Grace Millane met a man for a Tinder date in Auckland; within days she was missing, and soon a homicide investigation revealed CCTV trails, a calculated cleanup, and a killer who tried to hide behind the so-called “rough sex” defense. This episode traces Grace’s life and travels, the meticulous police work that unraveled the lie, the trial that led to a murder conviction, and the global backlash that helped spur legal reforms aimed at preventing abusers from blaming victims.

Sources:

The Lie: The Murder of Grace Millane (documentary) — https://tv.apple.com/us/movie/the-lie-the-murder-of-grace-millane/umc.cmc.25e1hupsruxwcfvbjnixz7mtr
Supreme Court of New Zealand, Jesse Shane Kempson v R (PDF) — https://www.courtsofnz.govt.nz/assets/cases/2021/2021-NZSC-74.pdf
RNZ, The Grace Millane case: A timeline — https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/410039/the-grace-millane-case-a-timeline
RNZ, Grace Millane’s killer named as Jesse Kempson after Supreme Court appeal denied — https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/433383/grace-millane-s-killer-named-as-jesse-kempson-after-supreme-court-appeal-denied
New Zealand Police, Update – Grace Millane investigation — https://www.police.govt.nz/news/release/update-grace-millane-investigation-1
UK Government, Domestic Abuse Act factsheet: Consent to serious harm for sexual gratification not a defence — https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-bill-2020-factsheets/consent-to-serious-harm-for-sexual-gratification-not-a-defence
UK Legislation, Domestic Abuse Act 2021, Section 72 — https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2021/17/section/72
NZ Herald, Grace Millane murder: Killer jailed for a minimum of 17 years — https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/grace-millane-murder-killer-jailed-for-a-minimum-of-17-years/P6RDWB4JUETPINBVWC5UH6HH6Y/
The Guardian, Grace Millane trial: jury shown CCTV of accused moving suitcase with body inside — https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/nov/13/grace-millane-trial-jury-shown-cctv-of-accused-transporting-suitcase-with-body-inside
TIME, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern Offers Emotional Apology to Family of Murdered British Tourist — https://time.com/5475149/jacinda-ardern-grace-millane-new-zealand-murder/

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The Birch Drive Tragedy [Current Affairs] Oct 31, 2025

Show notes

On an ordinary October evening in Fort Pierce, Florida, a missed call turned into a family’s worst nightmare. When 60-year-old Bonnie Tietgens finally reached her son, she confessed to killing his father, William Tietgens Jr. What followed was a chilling series of events—from the siblings’ desperate drive home to the discovery that confirmed their fears. Join Jessie Pray and Andie Cassette as they unpack the shocking case of Bonnie Tietgens, the evidence she tried to wash away, and the devastating impact on a family forever divided.

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Nightmare on Main Street: The Markle Family Murders Oct 29, 2025

Show notes

A stormy night, a black out and a mysterious phone call lead the police to an eerie house on a hill containing the bodies of an entire family. All of this, plus a connection to The Exorcist, feels like the setup to a particularly scary movie. Instead, it was a real life tragedy that took place in November 1987.

Sources:

1. Jones, Janie. “Murder Mystery: The Mask of Mercy - AY Magazine.” AY Magazine, https://www.facebook.com/ayisaboutyou/, 24 July 2018, https://aymag.com/murder-mystery-the-mask-of-mercy/.

2. “Murders on Main: 30 Years since Little Rock Businessman Killed His Family, Himself.” Arkansas Online, https://www.arkansasonline.com/murdersonmain/. Accessed 10 Oct. 2025.

3. “Mercedes McCambridge’s Son’s Note Exonerated Her - Los Angeles Times.” Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 17 Apr. 1989, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1989-04-17-mn-2098-story.html.

4. “Suicide Letter Blames Actress Mother - UPI Archives.” UPI, UPI, 18 Apr. 1989, https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/04/18/Suicide-letter-blames-actress-mother/7918608875200/.

5. The Friday the 13th Murders. 2025.

6. Batesville Guard, 7 Dec. 1987.

7. Baxter Bulletin, 5 Dec. 1987.

8. The Sun, 5 Dec. 1987.

9. The Log Cabin Democrat, 5 Oct. 1993.

10. The Sun, 19 Nov. 1987.

11. Batesville Guard, 20 Nov. 1987.

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Introducing BURIED: Inside the John Wayne Gacy Investigation Oct 28, 2025

Show notes

Jessie and Andie are thrilled to share a new podcast. BURIED: Inside the John Wayne Gacy Investigation is a true-crime podcast featuring never-before-heard recordings of John Wayne Gacy and new admissions from the detectives who investigated him. Hosted by criminal defense attorney Bob Motta, whose father defended Gacy at trial, the series re-examines the investigation that brought a serial killer to justice. Through exclusive interviews, thousands of pages of police files, and newly remastered audio, BURIED exposes what’s been hidden for over 40 years and reveals the shocking truth behind one of America’s most infamous cases.

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Major League Monster: Gary Spohr, Wendy Wood and Dan Serafini Oct 22, 2025

Show notes

When a senior married couple falls victim to a deadly home invasion, the police search for answers from the family - including an adult daughter in a complicated marriage to a former professional athlete.

Sources:

1. Bandur, Michelle. “Dan Serafini Tahoe Murder Trial Updates on June 24 | Defendant’s Wife Testifies.” KCRA, KCRA, 24 June 2025, https://www.kcra.com/article/dan-serafini-tahoe-murder-trial-updates-june-24/65172103.

2. Daniel Serafini's Wife Seeks Divorce After His Conviction for Her Dad’s Murder. PEOPLE, 21 Aug. 2025, https://people.com/daniel-serafini-divorce-wife-erin-spohr-11795450.

Longmire, Becca. “Ex-MLB Player Danny Serafini Found Guilty of Murdering Father-in-Law.” People.Com, PEOPLE, 15 July 2025, https://people.com/ex-mlb-player-danny-serafini-found-guilty-murdering-father-in-law-11772204.

3. Mitri, Lysée. “Sisters Sue Each Other over Inheritance of Tahoe-Area Parents after 2021 Murder.” KCRA, KCRA, 27 Oct. 2023, https://www.kcra.com/article/tahoe-2021-murders-sisters-sue-over-inheritance/45659191.

4. Neumann, Sean, and Chris Spargo. “Instead of Being Sentenced Today, Ex-MLB Player Daniel Serafini Might Get a New Trial.” People.Com, PEOPLE, 18 Aug. 2025, https://people.com/sentencing-delayed-mlb-player-daniel-serafini-new-trial-11792825.

5. Reed, Darrin. Bar Rescue. 2011.

6. “Robert Gary Spohr (1951-2021) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/282348876/robert_gary-spohr. Accessed 29 Sept. 2025.

7. SF Gate. https://www.sfgate.com/renotahoe/article/california-lake-house-fortune-mlb-player-murder-20302902.php. Accessed 27 Sept. 2025.

8. Spargo, Chris. “Daniel Serafini Landed in Prison Because of Babysitter Mistress’ Mistake.” People.Com, PEOPLE, 8 Aug. 2025, https://people.com/daniel-serafini-murder-mistress-samantha-scott-11787493.

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