True Crime Unwind

Kinsley & Mercedes

True Crime Unwind is your weekly escape into the world of lesser-known true crime stories, hosted by Kinsley and Mercedes. Every True Crime Tuesday, the two friends gather over a glass of wine to unravel a fresh case—stories you’ve never heard of, from small towns you’ve never visited, with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Whether it’s a chilling mystery or a bizarre crime, Kinsley and Mercedes dive deep into each case, sharing details that will surprise even the most seasoned true crime enthusiasts. So pour yourself a drink, get comfy, and unwind with True Crime Unwind—new episodes every Tuesday!

  1. Malaiyah Wickerson & Ashton Mitchell - Berkeley, MO | Cults, Murder & the Missing Six

    2d ago

    Malaiyah Wickerson & Ashton Mitchell - Berkeley, MO | Cults, Murder & the Missing Six

    Episode 63: Malaiyah Wickerson & Ashton Mitchell - Berkeley, MO | Cults, Murder & the Missing Six What started as a missing child flyer at the bottom of a grocery store mailer turned into one of the strangest cases we’ve covered yet. Two mothers. Two small children. Two separate families. The same “spiritual journey.” The same house in Berkeley, Missouri. And then… they all disappeared. Episode Summary Today, we’re covering the disappearance of Malaiyah Wickerson and Ashton Mitchell, two little kids who vanished alongside four adults in a case that somehow spirals into allegations of cult influence, complete isolation from loved ones, and a mystery that still has more questions than answers. In late 2022, 24-year-old Ma’Kayla Wickerson moved from St. Louis to Berkeley, Missouri, with her young daughter, Malaiyah, describing the move as a spiritual journey. Her family immediately felt something wasn’t right. Communication became less frequent… until eventually it stopped completely. Then months later, another mother made an eerily similar choice. Twenty-seven-year-old Gerrielle German left Mississippi with her 3-year-old son, Ashton, and moved into the same house, also calling it a spiritual journey. Both women cut off contact with family. Both disappeared. And neither child has been seen since. When investigators searched the Berkeley home, they found signs suggesting the group may have abruptly abandoned everything behind. IDs left inside. Evidence of isolation. Journals. Strange behavior reported by neighbors. Investigators later began looking into possible ties to the online group known as the University of Cosmic Intelligence (UCI), a controversial movement whose teachings centered around detachment from family, rejecting modern life, and preparing for spiritual ascension. The last confirmed sightings happened in August of 2023. Since then, no verified digital activity. No financial trail. No confirmed sightings. No answers. Years later, investigators continue following leads across state and international lines, including a possible 2026 lead connected to social media that remains unconfirmed. Today, Malaiyah would be 5 years old. Ashton would be 6. And their families are still waiting. Cases like this are why we tell stories that don’t always make national headlines, because somebody, somewhere, may hold the missing piece. If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Ashton Mitchell or Malaiyah Wickerson, please contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1 (800) 843-5678 or the Berkeley Police Department at (314) 524-3311. Share this episode. Share their faces. Keep their names in circulation. Click here to check out our new merch! A percentage of all proceeds is donated to Safe Passage, Charlotte. Connect With Us: • Instagram: @TrueCrimeUnwind • TikTok: @TrueCrimeUnwind • Facebook @TrueCrimeUnwind Support the Show: • Rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify • Share with fellow true crime fans • Tag us while you listen and let us know your theories!

    31 min
  2. Michael Gilman - Paradise Valley, AZ | Murder in Paradise, who killed Michael Gilman?

    Jun 23

    Michael Gilman - Paradise Valley, AZ | Murder in Paradise, who killed Michael Gilman?

    Episode 62: Michael Gilman - Paradise Valley, AZ | Murder in Paradise, who killed Michael Gilman? Michael Gilman was found stabbed nearly 50 times inside his Paradise Valley home. His BMW was stolen, set on fire, and abandoned just miles away. More than a decade later, Arizona investigators are still searching for answers. Episode Summary Michael Gilman was a 68-year-old businessman living in an exclusive gated community in Paradise Valley, Arizona. Friends described him as generous, successful, and someone who enjoyed helping others achieve their goals. On April 29, 2014, that quiet life came to a violent end when Gilman was found murdered inside his home. According to investigators, Gilman suffered approximately 50 stab wounds in an attack so brutal that many believe it was personal. After the murder, his silver BMW SUV was stolen from the residence. Surveillance cameras later captured the vehicle traveling through Scottsdale, followed closely by a red Dodge Intrepid believed to be connected to the crime. Roughly twenty minutes later, Gilman's BMW was discovered abandoned and engulfed in flames. Despite years of investigation, forensic testing, surveillance evidence, and public appeals, no suspect has ever been identified. Detectives believe someone knows what happened that day, but the answers remain elusive. In this episode, we examine Michael's life, the timeline of the murder, the evidence investigators uncovered, the theories surrounding the case, and why one of Arizona's safest communities is still searching for answers more than a decade later. A reward of up to $20,000 remains available for information leading to an arrest. Anyone with information is asked to contact Silent Witness Arizona at (480) 948-6377 or the Paradise Valley Police Department at (480) 948-7410 Click here to check out our new merch! A percentage of all proceeds is donated to Safe Passage, Charlotte. Connect With Us: • Instagram: @TrueCrimeUnwind • TikTok: @TrueCrimeUnwind • Facebook @TrueCrimeUnwind Support the Show: • Rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify • Share with fellow true crime fans • Tag us while you listen and let us know your theories!

    24 min
  3. Austin Kanuch - Cy-Fair Copperfield, TX | A bicycle ride that led to murder

    Jun 16

    Austin Kanuch - Cy-Fair Copperfield, TX | A bicycle ride that led to murder

    Episode 61: Austin Kanuch - Cy-Fair Copperfield, TX | A bicycle ride that led to murder A young father violently attacked in the middle of the night, a perpetrator caught on camera, and a family left shattered. Who killed Austin Kanuch? Episode Summary Austin Kanuch was a 39-year-old husband, father, and Houston native who had just purchased his family's "forever home" in the Cy-Fair Copperfield area. A graduate of Langham Creek High School and Sam Houston State University, Austin worked in luxury car sales and was known for his honesty, charisma, and devotion to his family. In the early morning hours of September 22, 2023, just hours after closing on their new home, Austin's wife, Mary, called 911, reporting an intruder inside the house. Austin was found critically injured and was pronounced dead at the scene. Investigators determined the attack involved forced entry and an edged weapon. Nothing appeared to be stolen, leading authorities to rule out robbery as a motive. Surveillance footage captured a lone individual on a bicycle entering and leaving the neighborhood around the time of the murder, suggesting the crime was targeted and premeditated. Despite widespread speculation, law enforcement has stated there is no evidence linking Austin's wife or ex-wife to the crime. Investigators have also said Austin had no known enemies or obvious motive for someone to target him. More than two years later, no arrests have been made, and no suspects have been publicly identified. In 2025, the reward for information was increased to $40,000. Austin's family, particularly his mother, Celene, continues to advocate for answers and keep his case in the public eye. If you have any information regarding the murder of Austin Kanuch, you can contact: Crime Stoppers of Houston at 1-800-252-TIPS (8477)Harris County Sheriff’s Office at (713) 755-6044. Please share Austin’s story and the picture of the assailant Click here to check out our new merch! A percentage of all proceeds is donated to Safe Passage, Charlotte. Connect With Us: • Instagram: @TrueCrimeUnwind • TikTok: @TrueCrimeUnwind • Facebook @TrueCrimeUnwind Support the Show: • Rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify • Share with fellow true crime fans • Tag us while you listen and let us know your theories!

    31 min
  4. Donald Allison - Lenado, CO | From John Doe to Donald Allison: Unmasking the Lenado Man

    Jun 9

    Donald Allison - Lenado, CO | From John Doe to Donald Allison: Unmasking the Lenado Man

    Episode 60: Donald Allison - Lenado, CO | From John Doe to Donald Allison: Unmasking the Lenado Man A man dumped in the Rocky Mountains, a pocketful of clues, and a name that was lost for decades. Who killed him, and why did nobody notice he was gone? Episode Summary On August 18, 1979, mushroom hunters exploring a remote forest road near Lenado, Colorado, discovered the body of an unidentified man hidden beneath tree branches down a steep embankment. He had been shot twice with a .22 caliber firearm and left in the wilderness. Investigators found maps, a wristwatch, a novel by Ernest Hemingway, and other personal belongings, but nothing that could tell them who he was. The victim became known simply as "Lenado Man." For years, investigators chased leads that went nowhere. A forensic sketch was distributed throughout Colorado. Detectives preserved fingerprints and evidence, hoping future technology would provide answers. Rumors circulated that the killing may have been drug-related or execution-style, but no suspects were ever identified, and the case eventually grew cold. Then, in 2012, everything changed. After 33 years, advances in technology and the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs) finally connected the unidentified victim to a missing man named Donald Theodore Allison. Fingerprint comparisons confirmed the match, giving investigators something they had lacked for decades: a name. But while Donald's identity was finally restored, his killer was never found. More than forty years after his murder, investigators still don't know who shot Donald Allison, why he was killed, whether he was murdered at the scene or dumped there afterward, or who may have been with him in the days leading up to his death. If you have any information regarding the murder of Donald Theodore Allison, please contact the Pitkin County Sheriff's Office at (970) 920-5300. Connect With Us: • Instagram: @TrueCrimeUnwind • TikTok: @TrueCrimeUnwind • Facebook @TrueCrimeUnwind Support the Show: • Rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify • Share with fellow true crime fans • Tag us while you listen and let us know your theories!

    30 min
  5. Jeff McQueen, Dante Crump, Kaireem Meeks, and Jonté Clark - Saugerties, NY | Before there was Mackenzie Shirilla, there was Meredith McSpirit

    Jun 2

    Jeff McQueen, Dante Crump, Kaireem Meeks, and Jonté Clark - Saugerties, NY | Before there was Mackenzie Shirilla, there was Meredith McSpirit

    Episode 59: Jeff McQueen, Dante Crump, Kaireem Meeks, and Jonté Clark - Saugerties, NY | Before there was Mackenzie Shirilla, there was Meredith McSpirit The Netflix documentary The Crash has reignited conversations about the controversial case of Mackenzie Shirilla. But years before that case made headlines, another devastating crash left four young men dead, one young woman alive, and a community searching for answers that never seemed to come. Episode Summary In August 2015, Jeff McQueen, Dante Crump, Kaireem Meeks Jr., and Jonté Clark were heading home from work at the Saugerties HITS Horse Show when tragedy struck. The car they were riding in left the roadway, traveled down a private dirt road, plunged down a 110-foot embankment, struck a house, and came to rest upside down. All four young men were killed. The driver, 19-year-old Meredith McSpirit, survived. What followed was a years-long controversy filled with conflicting statements, questions about possible impairment, rumors, lawsuits, and a grand jury decision that left many family members and community members outraged. Investigators found no evidence of mechanical failure and ultimately cleared McSpirit of criminal wrongdoing, but for many, that decision only created more questions than answers. This week, Kinsley and Mercedes take a deep dive into the lives of the four young men whose stories are too often overshadowed by the controversy surrounding the crash. We examine the investigation, Meredith McSpirit’s changing accounts of what happened, the evidence that was considered, and why this case continues to spark debate more than a decade later. Because before there was Mackenzie Shirilla, there was Meredith McSpirit. If you have any information, please contact the Saugerties Police Department at (845) 246-9800 To sign the Change.org petition for Meredith to receive harsher punishment, click here. Connect With Us: • Instagram: @TrueCrimeUnwind • TikTok: @TrueCrimeUnwind • Facebook @TrueCrimeUnwind Support the Show: • Rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify • Share with fellow true crime fans • Tag us while you listen and let us know your theories!

    46 min
  6. Jennifer Harris - Bonham, Texas | Missing evidence, a missing mother, and a murder that left a town with more questions than answers

    May 26

    Jennifer Harris - Bonham, Texas | Missing evidence, a missing mother, and a murder that left a town with more questions than answers

    Episode 58: Jennifer Harris - Bonham, Texas | Missing evidence, a missing mother, and a murder that left a town with more questions than answers A young mother vanishes after a night out. Days later, she’s found murdered. But as investigators begin putting the pieces together, questions start piling up. Missing evidence. Conflicting stories. Gaps in the investigation. More than twenty years later, Jennifer Harris’s case is still unsolved. Episode Summary: In 2002, 28-year-old Jennifer Harris disappeared from Bonham, Texas, after a night out. Days later, her body was discovered in a remote area, launching an investigation that would leave behind more questions than answers. Over the years, concerns surrounding missing evidence, investigative issues, complicated relationships, and shifting theories have continued to follow Jennifer’s case. Who was Jennifer beyond the headlines? What was happening in her life leading up to her murder? And how did a case with suspects, interviews, and potential leads still end without justice? This week, we take a closer look at Jennifer’s life, the events surrounding her death, the investigation that followed, and the unanswered questions that remain more than two decades later. Because Jennifer Harris was more than a case file. She was a daughter, a mother, and someone who deserved to come home. Connect With Us: • Instagram: @TrueCrimeUnwind • TikTok: @TrueCrimeUnwind • Facebook @TrueCrimeUnwind Support the Show: • Rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify • Share with fellow true crime fans • Tag us while you listen and let us know your theories!

    25 min
  7. MYSTERIOUS DEATH: Tom Brown - Canadian, TX

    May 19

    MYSTERIOUS DEATH: Tom Brown - Canadian, TX

    Episode 57: MYSTERIOUS DEATH: Tom Brown - Canadian, TX | Suicide, Murder or Cover up? The night before Thanksgiving in 2016, 18-year-old Tom Brown left to hang out with friends in the tiny town of Canadian, Texas, and never came home. What followed was a years-long mystery involving scattered evidence, investigative errors, shocking theories, and a case that raises more questions than it answers. Episode Summary Tom Brown was the kind of person everyone knew in Canadian, Texas. Funny, kind, and involved in football, theater, church, and student leadership, the 18-year-old senior had big plans for his future, including a dream of working in sports broadcasting. But on November 23, 2016, the night before Thanksgiving, Tom disappeared after leaving friends and stopping for gas on his way home. Hours later, his abandoned vehicle was discovered near a water treatment plant just miles from home, but Tom was gone. Over the next several years, investigators uncovered a baffling trail of evidence: a backpack found miles away, a cell phone discovered nearly a year later in suspicious condition, scattered belongings, conflicting witness statements, and partial remains eventually identified as Tom. Despite thousands of investigative hours, forensic testing, and years of scrutiny, officials initially could not determine whether Tom’s death was homicide, suicide, or an accident. Then came explosive claims, controversy surrounding the investigation, allegations of cover-ups, and later findings that shifted the direction of the case entirely. In this episode, Kinsley and Mercedes unravel the timeline, the investigation failures, competing theories, and the unsettling questions that continue to haunt one of Texas’s most perplexing mysteries. If you have any information, please contact the Texas Attorney General Criminal Investigation Division: (512) 463-2100 or Klein Investigations: (409) 729-8798 Encourage the Texas Attorney General to reopen Tom’s case and classify it as a homicide. The more noise we make, the harder it is to ignore. Connect With Us: • Instagram: @TrueCrimeUnwind • TikTok: @TrueCrimeUnwind • Facebook @TrueCrimeUnwind Support the Show: • Rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify • Share with fellow true crime fans • Tag us while you listen and let us know your theories!

    38 min
  8. MURDERED: Carlos Medina - Kodiak, AK

    May 19

    MURDERED: Carlos Medina - Kodiak, AK

    Episode 56: MURDERED: Carlos Medina - Kodiak, AK Kodiak, Alaska: A place where the American Dream turned into a nightmare. When beloved restaurateur and community leader Carlos Medina was found murdered on Pillar Mountain, it shocked the city’s growing immigrant community and left investigators with more questions than answers. 30 years later, the case remains unsolved. Dive into the mystery that refuses to rest and uncover why justice has yet to be served. Episode Summary In the spring of 1993, Carlos Medina was thriving in Kodiak, Alaska. An immigrant from the Philippines who arrived with little, he worked his way from the cannery floor to owning a popular restaurant and becoming a respected leader in the city’s large Filipino community. He was a husband, father of three, and poised to run for city council. Then, Carlos vanished. His bloodstained truck was found near Pillar Mountain, and searchers soon discovered his body, a brutal killing that remains the only unsolved homicide in Kodiak Police Department history. In this episode, we explore who Carlos was, what happened in the days leading up to his disappearance, why investigators have never solved the case, and how his death rocked a community where Filipinos made up a rapidly growing share of the population. We discuss the theories ranging from robbery to family involvement and the persistent efforts of his brother, Jerry, to find justice more than three decades later. If you have information about the murder of Carlos Medina, please contact the Kodiak Police Department or Alaska State Troopers at (907) 269‑5511. Even the smallest detail could help bring answers and closure. Connect With Us: • Instagram: @TrueCrimeUnwind • TikTok: @TrueCrimeUnwind • Facebook @TrueCrimeUnwind Support the Show: • Rate & review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify • Share with fellow true crime fans • Tag us while you listen and let us know your theories!

    26 min
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4.5
out of 5
41 Ratings

About

True Crime Unwind is your weekly escape into the world of lesser-known true crime stories, hosted by Kinsley and Mercedes. Every True Crime Tuesday, the two friends gather over a glass of wine to unravel a fresh case—stories you’ve never heard of, from small towns you’ve never visited, with twists and turns that will keep you on the edge of your seat. Whether it’s a chilling mystery or a bizarre crime, Kinsley and Mercedes dive deep into each case, sharing details that will surprise even the most seasoned true crime enthusiasts. So pour yourself a drink, get comfy, and unwind with True Crime Unwind—new episodes every Tuesday!

Information

  • Creator
    Kinsley & Mercedes
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    65
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Show Website
    True Crime Unwind

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