Murder In The Black

Steph and M.D.

M.D. and STEPH are sisters who share a passion for true crime. ​They are committed to highlighting stories within the black community that often do not receive the attention they deserve. This has led them to create a platform where these stories can be shared on a weekly basis through their podcast. Drawing on her legal expertise, M.D. provides the legal context of each case, while Steph delves into the details concerning the victims and occasionally the perpetrators. By tuning in weekly, listeners can expect to learn about lesser-known crime cases and gain a deeper understanding of the cases

MURDER IN THE BLACK

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  1. 3 days ago

    The Child Everybody Saw: The Life and Death of Emani Moss

    Emani Gabrielle Moss was ten years old. Her family called her “Angelface.” She loved reading, dancing, and cooking, and her fourth-grade teacher remembered a child with a beautiful smile who always wanted to help people. But behind that smile, Emani was trying to survive. She went to school bruised and afraid. She disclosed abuse. She ran away. Teachers, relatives, police, and child-protection workers encountered pieces of her story—and still, she was returned to the home where she was being harmed. In this deeply difficult episode of Murder in the Black, Steph examines the warnings that came before Emani’s death, the adults and systems that had opportunities to intervene, and the family members who fought to protect her. Most importantly, this episode remembers Emani as a child: bright, helpful, loved, and deserving of the chance to grow up. CONTENT WARNING This episode discusses prolonged child abuse, neglect, starvation, domestic violence, the death of a child, and an attempt to conceal and destroy a child’s remains. The material is deeply distressing. Please take care of yourself while listening, and pause or skip this episode if needed. LISTENER CALL TO ACTION If this episode moved you, follow Murder in the Black on whatever podcast platform you use and leave a five-star review. Share Emani’s story—not because of how she died, but because of who she was. And if you know or suspect that a child is being harmed, do not assume someone else will act. Report the concern to the appropriate child-protection agency and contact emergency services if the danger is immediate.

  2. 23 Jul

    Asia Adams: She Never Came Back Through the Door

    In this Thursday episode of Murder in the Black, we cover the murder of 21-year-old Asia Adams, a West Chester University student whose life was taken inside her mother’s Germantown home in November 2004. What first looked like a house fire quickly became something else. Investigators found Asia’s body in an upstairs bedroom, but the fire was not the beginning of the story. It was the cover-up. This episode follows the investigation from the neighbor who heard the door, to the missing bank cards, the ATM withdrawals, the nickname “Napoleon,” Asia’s dorm room, the witness statements, and the courtroom testimony that led to convictions for Thomas Strode and Simeon Bozic. We also talk about Asia’s life before the crime, her mother Shelah Harper’s fight for justice, and the work that came afterward through the Asia Adams Save Our Children Foundation. At the end of the episode, we close with a True Crime in Current News segment covering recent updates in the D4vd/Celeste Rivas Hernandez preliminary hearing and the independent autopsy update in the Nolan Xavier Wells case. Cases discussed: Asia AdamsThomas StrodeSimeon BozicCeleste Rivas HernandezNolan Xavier Wells Listen with care. This episode discusses domestic violence, murder, arson, sexual assault allegations, violence against a young woman, and the death of a teenager.

  3. 20 Jul • Subscribers Only

    The Elevator, the Rooftop, and the Stairwell

    The Man in the Elevator In January 1991, 13-year-old Paola Illera disappeared after entering her East Harlem apartment building. Over the next several years, two more young women—Johalis Castro and Rasheeda Washington—were murdered in the same neighborhood. At first, the cases appeared unrelated. But survivor testimony, DNA, phone records, forensic evidence, and years of investigative work revealed they were connected by one man: Arohn Malik Kee. In this episode, we examine how detectives uncovered the pattern, the evidence that finally identified Kee, and the lasting impact these crimes had on the victims' families and the East Harlem community. Content Warning: This episode discusses murder, sexual assault, violence against minors, and forensic evidence. Victims: Paola Illera (13)Johalis Castro (19)Rasheeda Washington (18) Their stories deserve to be remembered.

    The Elevator, the Rooftop, and the Stairwell

  4. 16 Jul

    The Boy Without a Name: The William DaShawn Hamilton Case

    In this episode of Murder in the Black, we examine the heartbreaking case of William Deshaun Hamilton, a six-year-old boy whose skeletal remains were discovered in the woods of DeKalb County, Georgia, in 1999. Despite years of investigation, forensic testing, and national attention, William remained unidentified until 2022. We trace the investigation from the discovery of his remains to the courtroom nearly 25 years later, exploring how advances in forensic science, facial reconstruction, and one woman's unwavering determination helped restore William's identity. We also discuss the trial of Teresa Ann Bailey Black, the verdict, and the questions that remain unanswered. William's story is a reminder that even when decades pass, every child deserves to have their name restored—and their story told. The discovery of William's remains in DeKalb County, GeorgiaThe early investigative clues—and why they led nowhereHow forensic science evolved over two decadesThe role of facial reconstructions in identifying unidentified childrenAva McNeil's determination to uncover the truthHow a single tip finally identified "Clifton John Doe"The arrest and trial of Teresa Ann Bailey BlackThe verdict, sentencing, and unanswered questions surrounding William's deathTimeLine 00:05 – The evening that changed everything 00:35 – A devastating discovery in DeKalb County 01:16 – The first clues investigators uncovered 02:21 – Why the cause of death remains unknown 03:57 – The decades-long search for William's identity 05:09 – Buried as "Clifton John Doe" 06:15 – Forensic evidence and overlooked clues 07:58 – Why investigators believed William had been abandoned 09:41 – DNA testing and the limitations of the late 1990s 10:55 – The importance of forensic facial reconstructions 13:32 – Ava McNeil's recognition and relentless search for answers 15:28 – The reconstruction that reignited the investigation 16:52 – William's life before he disappeared 17:53 – Leaving Charlotte and William's disappearance 20:47 – The tip that finally solved the mystery 22:37 – Giving William his name back 23:48 – The trial of Teresa Ann Bailey Black 36:31 – The verdict and sentencing 41:57 – William's legacy and the search for justice Sources FOX 5 Atlanta. "Boy's remains found in cemetery still not identified 20 years later." Published February 27, 2019.FOX 5 Atlanta. "Teresa Ann Black murder trial: Old friend testifies against mother accused of murdering son in Atlanta." Published January 3, 2024.FOX 5 Atlanta. "Teresa Ann Black Trial: Mother accused of murdering 6-year-old son waives last chance to testify." Published January 8, 2024.FOX 5 Atlanta. "Teresa Black trial: Mother sentenced to 10 years for concealing son's death." Updated January 12, 2024.A&E Crime + Investigation. "A Decades-Old Cold Case Ends With the ID of a Young Boy, and His Mother Charged With Murder." Published December 16, 2022; updated August 27, 2025.Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) press releases and case information.DeKalb County Medical Examiner records and publicly reported court proceedings.Public court reporting and news coverage reviewed to verify the investigation timeline, trial proceedings, verdict, and sentencing.

  5. 13 Jul • Subscribers Only

    What I Didn't See | Finale Recap: After the Finale — What Remains

    In this bonus finale recap, Steph looks back at What I Didn’t See and breaks down the ending of Christina’s story. We’ll talk through the major themes of the series, including love, grief, respectability, emotional avoidance, and the danger of confusing stability with truth. This episode also explores Christina’s final choice, Samson’s role as a tragic figure, James as the conscience of the story, and why the ending leaves certain questions unresolved. Steph also shares behind-the-scenes notes on building the finale, adding Christina’s journal entries, shaping the story into a literary psychological thriller, and choosing a quiet, ambiguous ending instead of a traditional twist. In this episode: Christina’s final arc Samson as more than a villain James as the story’s conscience The meaning of the journal Why the hit-and-run remains unresolved Major themes from the full series Behind-the-scenes story development Listener questions and interpretations Content notes: grief, death, relationship conflict, emotional avoidance, guilt, and discussion of a hit-and-run. Thank you for listening to Murder in the Black Presents: What I Didn’t See.

    What I Didn't See | Finale Recap: After the Finale — What Remains

  6. 13 Jul • Subscribers Only

    What I Didn't See | Finale Recap: After the Finale — What Remains

    In this bonus finale recap, Steph looks back at What I Didn’t See and breaks down the ending of Christina’s story. We’ll talk through the major themes of the series, including love, grief, respectability, emotional avoidance, and the danger of confusing stability with truth. This episode also explores Christina’s final choice, Samson’s role as a tragic figure, James as the conscience of the story, and why the ending leaves certain questions unresolved. Steph also shares behind-the-scenes notes on building the finale, adding Christina’s journal entries, shaping the story into a literary psychological thriller, and choosing a quiet, ambiguous ending instead of a traditional twist. In this episode: Christina’s final arcSamson as more than a villainJames as the story’s conscienceThe meaning of the journalWhy the hit-and-run remains unresolvedMajor themes from the full seriesBehind-the-scenes story developmentListener questions and interpretations Content notes: grief, death, relationship conflict, emotional avoidance, guilt, and discussion of a hit-and-run. Thank you for listening to Murder in the Black Presents: What I Didn’t See.

    What I Didn't See | Finale Recap: After the Finale — What Remains

  7. 13 Jul • Subscribers Only

    What I Didn’t See: Complete Series

    In this complete edition of What I Didn’t See, the full story of Christina, Samson, and James unfolds in one immersive psychological thriller. Christina thought she understood the life she was building: a steady relationship, a respectable future, and a love that made sense on paper. But as her wedding approaches, old doubts return, difficult questions surface, and Samson’s closest friend James begins to notice what everyone else has been avoiding. Across all eight episodes, Christina looks back on the choices, silences, and missed warnings that shaped one terrible night. What begins as a story about love and loyalty becomes a deeper exploration of grief, respectability, emotional avoidance, and the truths we often recognize too late. This collected version includes the full narrative arc from Christina’s first meeting with James through the unraveling of her engagement, the journal reflections, and the ambiguous finale. In this episode: Christina’s childhood loss and relationship with her grandmother Her relationship with Samson and the first broken engagement James’s arrival as a question, not a simple temptation The tension between stability, love, and self-erasure The journal entries that complicate Christina’s memory The final collapse of the wedding plans James’s missed call and the hit-and-run The unresolved question of what Christina truly didn’t see Content notes: grief, parental death, relationship conflict, emotional avoidance, guilt, death, hit-and-run, and unresolved ambiguity. Thank you for listening to Murder in the Black Presents: What I Didn’t See.

    What I Didn’t See: Complete Series

  8. 9 Jul

    LaVena Johnson: The Soldier, the Tent, and the Questions That Never Went Away

    Private First Class LaVena Johnson was just 19 years old when she died while serving in Iraq in 2005. The U.S. Army ruled her death a suicide, but her family—led by her father, John Johnson—has spent nearly two decades questioning that conclusion. In this episode, we examine the official investigation, the inconsistencies that continue to fuel public debate, and why LaVena's death remains one of the military's most discussed unresolved cases. We carefully separate documented facts from allegations and explore the competing theories surrounding her death, including the family's belief that critical questions were never answered. We also discuss the broader conversation about military accountability, violence against women in the armed forces, and what families face when they challenge official findings. In True Crime in Current News, we provide updates on the disappearance of Nolan Wells and the ongoing custody case involving Alicia Brown and her missing daughter, Aaliyah. In this episode: The life and military service of LaVena JohnsonThe Army's official ruling and the evidence citedThe Johnson family's unanswered questionsCompeting theories surrounding her deathMilitary accountability and transparencyNolan Wells case updateAlicia Brown custody and missing child updateIf you enjoy Murder in the Black, please follow the show, leave a five-star review, and share this episode with someone who values thoughtful true crime storytelling.

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About

M.D. and STEPH are sisters who share a passion for true crime. ​They are committed to highlighting stories within the black community that often do not receive the attention they deserve. This has led them to create a platform where these stories can be shared on a weekly basis through their podcast. Drawing on her legal expertise, M.D. provides the legal context of each case, while Steph delves into the details concerning the victims and occasionally the perpetrators. By tuning in weekly, listeners can expect to learn about lesser-known crime cases and gain a deeper understanding of the cases

Information

  • Creator
    Steph and M.D.
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    321
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Steph and M.D.
  • Show Website
    Murder In The Black
  • Provider

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