Missing Magnolias Scarlett Davis

Research has shown that homicide is the second-leading cause of pregnancy related-deaths.

This episode sheds light on a troubling rate of homicides involving the pregnant and postpartum population in the United States, with a particular spike in 2020. Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, a board-certified OBGYN, joins the discussion to unpack the findings of her research. Some of those key findings showcase the disproportionate impact on Black women and girls, the prevalence of firearms in these homicides, and the alarming fact that pregnant and postpartum women face a 35% greater risk of homicide than their non-pregnant counterparts. Also touched upon is the potential role of intimate partner violence and why better reporting can result in better outcomes for all.


Guest Expert:
Dr. Veronica Gillispie-Bell, Board Certified OBGYN, Section Head of Women's Services at Oschner Medical Center, Director for the Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative and Pregnancy Associated Mortality Review

Additional Research:


PAMR report
Louisiana Perinatal Quality Collaborative
CDC Hear HER Campaign

In 1948 in Mississippi, socialite Ruth Dickins is convicted of savagely attacking her mother with gardening shears (150 stab wounds!) but makes an unfounded claim that a Black intruder is to blame. Despite inconsistencies in her story, she's sentenced to life, only to be released after 6 years. Joining us to dissect this case of matricide, race, and privilege is author Beverly Lowry, who explores the crime in her book, Deer Creek Drive: A Reckoning of Memory and Murder in the Mississippi Delta. Unpacking the murky details, we'll delve into the role of white privilege, media portrayals of women, and lingering questions that still haunt the South and our justice system.



Be sure to purchase your copy of the book here.

Ever wondered how a simple leaf or a speck of pollen can crack a case? Dr. David Gibson, a forensic botanist, professor, and author of Planting Clues: How Plants Solve Crimes teaches us to how to combat 'plant blindness:' the idea that plants are all just the same thing.

Dr. David Gibson reveals:

The secret language of plants: How seemingly unremarkable botanical evidence can link suspects to crime scenes, pinpoint the location of a crime, and even identify victims.

Real-life detective work: How in the infamous Ted Bundy case plant evidence played a crucial role in bringing him to justice, as well as court cases involving expert testimony like renowned botanist, Dr. Jane Bock, who offered her expertise on the 'leaf litter' from the body dumping site.

Beyond the naked eye: How the microscopic world of plant forensics, where pollen, fungal spores, and diatoms hold hidden clues invisible to the untrained eye.

The science behind the sleuthing: How plant DNA analysis is revolutionizing the field, with applications ranging from identifying illegal plant trafficking to aiding farmers and conservation efforts.

Plants as silent witnesses: We delve into the dark side of botany, exploring the history of plant poisons used in crimes and the challenges of detecting them in toxicology reports.



Be sure to follow David Gibson on his website and Instagram.



You can purchase Planting Clues here.

Ramona Emerson, joins us to discuss Shutter which was longlisted for the 2022 National Book Award for Fiction, whose central character, Rita, works as a crime scene photographer with the unique ability to communicate with the dead, which poses some challenges as a Navajo person. Inspired by Ramona's own experience working with the police department in Albuquerque, New Mexico for 16 years, we learn about the challenges in working crime scenes as a forensic photographer and the imperative to capture and catalogue all of the details for the families. Naturally in talking about death, we discuss what it means be haunted, literally and figuratively, what it means to grieve, and ultimately what determines justice for those who have lost.



Be sure to follow Ramona, author and filmmaker, on her website



And be sure to purchase your copy of Shutter at any major bookseller

Our minisodes are a break from true crime and for this one gather around the campfire! We are joined by special guest and Michelle's dad, John Bedford Jeanis, to discuss the secret but yes, well-documented, family legend of their ancestor, Jean Jeanis, who is believed by the folks of Pointe Noire to shift into a 'mangy dog' at will otherwise known as the Chien de Lune or the Rougarou. Naturally, we also touched upon the feu follet, haunted cemeteries, the lost art of the boucherie, pirates, finding foots in odd places, and John's experience at the ill-fated Louisiana Woodstock of 71' in McCrea, Louisiana. Also in the midst is Michelle's origin story to becoming our country's lead expert in missing persons' cases, which may or may not have started with young Michelle hiding from her family in clothing racks at the mall...

It's a rare privilege and point of pride to speak with our families and to inherit their stories of working from sunup to sundown or their memories of freshly baked cornbread on hot summer days and of course there's always a werewolf story or two if you're lucky.

Dr. Lauren Pharr Parks, a forensic anthropologist, joins us to discuss how studying vultures' scavenging habits can affect crime scenes and solve cases.



Be sure to watch her TED Talk !