Murder In The Black

Steph and M.D.
  • 4.5 (490)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Weekly

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. 2d ago • Subscribers Only

    Raven Joy Campbell: The body found inside the wall

    Steph tells the haunting story of Raven Joy Campbell, a 31-year-old mother and sister who vanished from her apartment in 2009 and was not found until 2015, hidden inside a wall behind a closet. The episode follows the six-year search, the anonymous tip that led investigators to her remains, and the conflicting accounts that complicated the case all the way through a mistrial and plea deal.In this episode, Steph focuses on Raven’s life, the family detail that first raised alarm, and the disturbing question of how someone could remain concealed in the same home for so long. The case also raises bigger issues around vulnerability, delayed justice, and the gap between what prosecutors can prove and what a family believes is justice. TimeStamps: 0:00- Six years later, an anonymous call points to the wall 02:28 - Raven Joy Campbell’s age, background, and vulnerability 03:54 - The move to Harbour Hills and the apartment living arrangement 05:21 - The purse left behind and why Raven’s family knew something was wrong 07:18 - Why the public record leaves major investigative gaps 08:41 - Nicholas grows up during 2,197 days of uncertainty 09:34 - The bad smell, the missing person case, and the 2015 tip 10:32 - Cadaver dogs, patched drywall, and the discovery in the wall 11:28 - Cause of death and the case shifts to homicide 12:25 - Randolph Garbut becomes the focus of investigators 13:22 - Garbut’s explanation of an accident, then choking Raven 16:26 - Myesha Smith’s testimony about the hammer attack 17:59 - Hiding the body, masking the smell, and moving her twice 18:56 - Smith’s immunity and the defense strategy 21:09 - The mistrial and the unresolved trial complications 22:18 - The no contest plea to voluntary manslaughter 24:12 - Raven’s family speaks at sentencing 25:08 - Three questions the episode keeps returning to 27:10 - Remembering Raven as a person, not just the wallNotable quotesCopy“Her family knew she would not have left it behind, and they were right.Somebody knew something.Whatever else we remember about this case, the wall, the anonymous phone call, the conflicting stories, the mistrial, the plea deal, I think we should remember her name first.”

    Raven Joy Campbell: The body found inside the wall

  2. 5d ago

    What They Came Back For: The Murder of Ashlea Harris

    On the morning after Thanksgiving in 2014, firefighters responded to a blaze inside a Fort Worth apartment. There, they discovered 31-year-old Ashlea Harris bound and murdered. Ashlea was a hardworking store manager who had recently helped police identify two former employees suspected of robbing the American Eagle store where she worked. Months later, those same former employees—Carter Cervantez and Clarence “David” Mallory—were accused of entering Ashlea’s home and carrying out a brutal act of revenge. But what were they looking for inside her apartment—and why did they believe Ashlea had it? In this episode of Murder in the Black, Steph examines the events leading to Ashlea’s murder, the evidence connecting Cervantez and Mallory to the crime, and the investigation that uncovered what they came back for. Follow Murder in the Black: Instagram: @murderintheblackFacebook: Murder in the Black PodcastSteph’s Instagram: @stepher_Email: murderintheblackpodcast36@gmail.com Follow the podcast wherever you listen, leave a five-star review, and share this episode with someone who loves true crime. You can also become a paid subscriber and start your three-day free trial for access to weekly bonus episodes.

  3. Sep 7 • Subscribers Only

    They Searched—His Family Found Him: The Murder of Alonzo Brooks

    Twenty-three-year-old Alonzo Brooks attended a crowded farmhouse party outside La Cygne, Kansas, on April 3, 2004. He depended on his friends for a ride home—but as the night went on, they left in separate vehicles, each reportedly believing someone else would bring Alonzo back. The following morning, Alonzo was missing. Local, state, and federal authorities searched the area surrounding the farmhouse without finding him. Twenty-seven days later, Alonzo’s family organized its own search. In less than one hour, they discovered his body in Middle Creek, only a short distance from the house. For years, Alonzo’s cause of death remained undetermined. Then, following a renewed federal investigation and the exhumation of his remains, a second forensic examination concluded that his death was a homicide. In this paid episode of Murder in the Black, Steph examines the failed ride home, allegations of racial hostility at the party, the troubling search history, the second autopsy, and the silence that has surrounded Alonzo’s murder for more than two decades. Someone at that party knows what happened. Why has no one been held responsible? The FBI continues to offer a reward of up to $100,000 for information leading to an arrest, prosecution, and conviction. Anyone with information can contact the FBI’s Kansas City Field Office at 816-512-8200 or submit a tip at tips.fbi.gov. Please do not contact or harass anyone discussed in connection with this case. Send credible information directly to law enforcement. Follow Murder in the Black, leave a five-star review, share the podcast, and follow us on social media.

    They Searched—His Family Found Him: The Murder of Alonzo Brooks

  4. Sep 3

    The Diggs Family Murders: Five Dead, No Arrests, Fifty Years of Silence

    On December 6, 1975, Wesley Diggs returned to his home in Teaneck, New Jersey, and discovered his wife, Jean, and their four children—Audrey, Allison, Wesley Jr., and five-year-old Roger—shot to death. There was no obvious forced entry. Nothing appeared to have been stolen. Neighbors reportedly heard nothing, despite more than twenty shots being fired. In this episode, Steph examines the crime scene, Wesley’s business connections, the Harlem leads, three potential suspects, an informant’s account, and the controversial theory that Jean may have killed the children. We also consider whether race affected the investigation and why, after fifty years, no one has been held responsible. Someone entered—or was allowed into—the Diggs home that night. The question is: who, and why? Content warning: This episode discusses the murder of children, family homicide, gun violence, and descriptions of a crime scene. Follow Murder in the Black, leave a five-star review, and share the episode. Paid subscribers receive additional cases and exclusive episodes, with a three-day free trial available. Follow the podcast on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and Facebook.

  5. Aug 31 • Subscribers Only

    Roberta Elder: The Atlanta arsenic case that became legend

    This episode examines the death of Reverend William Elder and the disturbing suspicions that followed inside his family’s Atlanta home. It also tracks the line between what was proven in court and what was only alleged in newspapers and police suspicion, especially around the deaths of Annie Pearl Elder and Fannie Mae Elder.We discuss the evidence, the limits of the record, and how race shaped both the investigation and the way this case was remembered. The result is part true crime, part historical correction, and part warning about how quickly sensational headlines can flatten real victims.

    Roberta Elder: The Atlanta arsenic case that became legend

  6. Aug 27

    Thirty-Six Wounds and an Unexplained Drive: What Happened to Jonathan Luna?

    On December 3, 2003, federal prosecutor Jonathan Luna left his Baltimore office shortly before midnight—but he never made it home. Hours later, his car was discovered beside a rural Pennsylvania creek, with Jonathan lying facedown beneath it. He had suffered 36 stab wounds and cuts before ultimately drowning. The local coroner ruled Jonathan’s death a homicide. However, federal investigators reportedly considered a dramatically different possibility: that Jonathan inflicted the wounds himself while attempting to stage an attack or disappearance. In this episode, Steph traces Jonathan’s unexplained interstate drive, the blood found throughout his vehicle, the professional pressures surrounding him, and the competing theories that have divided investigators for more than two decades. The recently unsealed autopsy confirms important details about his injuries—but does it bring us any closer to understanding what really happened? Also, before you go, check your feed for Steph’s special video interview with MD discussing the outcome of the Karmelo Anthony evidentiary hearing. Case discussed: Jonathan LunaContent warning: This episode discusses suicide, drowning, and sharp-force injuries. Follow Murder in the Black, leave a five-star review, and share the episode. For exclusive content, join the paid subscription on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and begin with a three-day free trial.

  7. Aug 26

    Did Karmelo Anthony Receive a Fair Trial? An Attorney Breaks Down the Evidentiary Hearing

    Steph sits down with MD to break down the Karmelo Anthony evidentiary hearing and what Judge Chitty was actually being asked to decide. This was not a new determination of guilt or innocence. Anthony’s appellate team was requesting a new trial based on alleged errors and constitutional violations connected to the original proceedings. Steph and MD discuss the alleged “gentleman’s agreement,” whether the defense relied on it when making critical trial decisions, and why the defense needed to prove that this reliance affected the outcome. They also examine the due-process arguments, Anthony’s right to present a complete defense, and the Waller test involving the right to a public trial. MD explains why appellate relief is difficult to obtain and why the public-trial claim may be the defense’s strongest argument. The episode closes with Steph and MD discussing why the trial can still raise serious fairness concerns—particularly regarding venue, jury selection, and public access. Timestamps 00:31 – Steph introduces MD02:22 – What Judge Chitty had to decide04:17 – The alleged gentleman’s agreement08:10 – Proving breach and prejudice09:10 – How the agreement may have shaped trial strategy17:54 – The constitutional arguments18:49 – Due process and fundamental fairness21:26 – The Waller test and public-trial issue28:28 – Why damaging information may be inadmissible33:14 – How appellate courts evaluate errors35:11 – The defense’s strongest appellate argument37:05 – Why MD believes the trial was unfair39:00 – Closing thoughts and listener feedback

  8. Aug 24 • Subscribers Only

    Did an Unwritten Agreement Cost Karmelo Anthony His Right to Testify?

    Judge Michael Chitty denied Karmelo Anthony’s motion for a new trial—but his brief order did not explain which defense arguments failed or why. In this paid-subscriber episode, Steph breaks down the evidentiary hearing, the unwritten “gentleman’s agreement” intended to keep inflammatory evidence away from the jury, and how the dispute over that agreement affected Karmelo’s decision not to testify. We also examine the public-trial argument, courtroom-access restrictions, jury instructions, the competing testimony from the attorneys, and what the denial means for Karmelo’s conviction, 35-year sentence, and appeal. Steph shares her personal conclusion about the fairness of the original trial, the mistakes she believes Karmelo’s defense team made, and why questioning the legal process does not diminish Austin Metcalf’s life or amount to declaring Karmelo innocent. Some information discussed consists of allegations and disputed testimony presented during the new-trial proceedings and should not be treated as independently proven. Follow Murder in the Black, leave a five-star review, share this episode, and follow us on social media.

    Did an Unwritten Agreement Cost Karmelo Anthony His Right to Testify?
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4.5
out of 5
490 Ratings

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
    335
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Steph and M.D.
  • Show Website
    Murder In The Black
  • Provider
    Stephenie Broden-Weaver

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