Residue: A True Crime Podcast

Residue: A True Crime Podcast

Residue with Chrissy Champagne dives deep into the gritty world where true crime meets the movies. Each episode breaks down made-for-TV films and theatrical releases based on chilling real-life cases — exploring the facts behind the fiction, the victims behind the headlines, and the emotional residue these stories leave behind. The original episodes are still here, but now we’re turning the spotlight on the stories Hollywood couldn’t resist — because sometimes, the scariest scripts are the ones that actually happened. 

  1. FEB 10

    Jennifer's Body: The Murder of Elyse Pahler

    In this episode, we dig into the truth behind Jennifer’s Body the 2009 horror film that was initially dismissed and later reclaimed as a cult classic with feminist themes of female rage, power, and exploitation. While the movie is fictional, its central premise (a teenage girl sacrificed by a band seeking fame) echoes a disturbing real-life case that many viewers are unaware of. We examine the 1995 murder of Elyse Pahler, a 15-year-old girl from California who was killed by three teenage boys who claimed they were performing a ritual to help their own metal band succeed. This episode walks through what happened to Elyse, how the case unfolded, and how her parents later filed a lawsuit against the band Slayer, arguing that violent lyrics and imagery influenced the killers — a case that was ultimately dismissed on First Amendment grounds. We explore how Elyse’s story became entangled in broader conversations about satanic panic, media blame, and moral responsibility in the 1990s. By separating fact from fiction, this episode centers the real tragedy behind the parallels and highlights the lasting impact of Elyse Pahler’s case beyond the courtroom. Sources:In the Name of Satan by Wensley Clarkson A Killer Among Friends: episode 3 https://www.courthousenews.com/two-killers-from-shocking-satanic-teen-murder-case-paroled/Wikihttps://www.courthousenews.com/two-killers-from-shocking-satanic-teen-murder-case-paroled/

    39 min
  2. The Girl From Plainville: The Conrad Roy Story

    JAN 20

    The Girl From Plainville: The Conrad Roy Story

    The true story behind The Girl From Plainville, the chilling real-life case that sparked national debate about responsibility, mental health, and the power of words. In 2014, 18-year-old Conrad Roy III died by suicide in a Massachusetts parking lot. In the months leading up to his death, Roy had been in an intense, mostly digital relationship with 17-year-old Michelle Carter — a relationship later revealed through thousands of text messages. Prosecutors argued that Carter’s messages didn’t just witness Roy’s struggles, but actively encouraged his death, including a final phone call in which she told him to get back into his carbon-monoxide-filled truck. Carter’s eventual conviction for involuntary manslaughter raised unprecedented legal and ethical questions: Can someone be held criminally responsible for another person’s suicide? We explore the facts of the case, the court’s controversial ruling, and how this tragedy continues to shape conversations around mental health in the digital age. Sources: Dateline:Reckless  Michelle Carter: Love, Texts, and Death https://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a37499262/where-is-michelle-carter-now-texting-suicide/ https://www.masslive.com/politics/2022/03/conrads-law-bill-created-after-michelle-carter-texting-suicide-case-still-not-passed-case-gets-looked-at-through-new-lens-of-hulus-the-girl-from-plainville.html https://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Conrad_Roy

    51 min
4.9
out of 5
125 Ratings

About

Residue with Chrissy Champagne dives deep into the gritty world where true crime meets the movies. Each episode breaks down made-for-TV films and theatrical releases based on chilling real-life cases — exploring the facts behind the fiction, the victims behind the headlines, and the emotional residue these stories leave behind. The original episodes are still here, but now we’re turning the spotlight on the stories Hollywood couldn’t resist — because sometimes, the scariest scripts are the ones that actually happened. 

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