Kat Has Questions: True Crime and Unsolved Mysteries

Kat Chesnut

Kat Has Questions is a true crime and unsolved mysteries podcast that dives into the real stories that sound made up — from strange history and psychology to unsolved mysteries, true crime, urban legends, and the weird corners of the internet. Thoughtful, funny, and just the right amount of unhinged.

  1. 6d ago

    40 - The Disappearance of Maura Murray (Part 2): America's Most Baffling Missing Person Mystery

    On February 9, 2004, twenty-one-year-old nursing student Maura Murray packed a bag, withdrew nearly all the money from her bank account, emailed her professors saying there had been a death in the family, and drove north from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Just hours later, her black Saturn crashed on a quiet road in Haverhill, New Hampshire. A local bus driver stopped to help. Maura told him she had already called AAA. He knew she couldn't have. He drove home to call police. When officers arrived just minutes later, Maura was gone. More than twenty years later, she has never been found. In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we examine the complete timeline of Maura Murray's disappearance—from the strange events leading up to her final drive to the witness accounts, the massive search efforts, and the leading theories that continue to divide investigators and armchair detectives alike. Did Maura succumb to the elements? Did she accept a ride from the wrong person? Was foul play involved? Or did something happen that no one has considered? Join me as we explore one of the most debated and enduring missing person cases in American history. ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Support the Show Please consider following on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leaving a rating or review. It helps more people discover these stories and supports independent creators like me. Support the show (Patreon): ⁠https://patreon.com/KatHasQuestions?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink⁠ Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Primary Sources New Hampshire Department of Justice – Cold Case Unit (Maura Murray):⁠ https://www.doj.nh.gov/bureaus/cold-case-unit/victim-list/maura-murray⁠ New Hampshire State Police FBI ViCAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program) News & Reporting WMUR News The Boston Globe NBC News ABC News CBS News CNN New Hampshire Union Leader Books True Crime Addict: How I Lost Myself in the Mysterious Disappearance of Maura Murray by James Renner Podcasts & Documentary Research Missing Maura Murray Podcast Media Pressure (hosted by Julie Murray) Oxygen – The Disappearance of Maura Murray ID Discovery Specials Additional References MauraMurrayMissing.org Charley Project NAMUS Missing Person Case #MP10179 Wikipedia (used only for cross-referencing publicly available timelines) 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 ⁠kathasquestionspod@gmail.com⁠ Instagram: @KatHasQuestions

  2. Jul 15

    39 - The Disappearance of Maura Murray (Part 1): America's Most Baffling Missing Person Mystery

    On February 9, 2004, twenty-one-year-old nursing student Maura Murray packed a bag, withdrew nearly all the money from her bank account, emailed her professors saying there had been a death in the family, and drove north from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Just hours later, her black Saturn crashed on a quiet road in Haverhill, New Hampshire. A local bus driver stopped to help. Maura told him she had already called AAA. He knew she couldn't have. He drove home to call police. When officers arrived just minutes later, Maura was gone. More than twenty years later, she has never been found. In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we examine the complete timeline of Maura Murray's disappearance—from the strange events leading up to her final drive to the witness accounts, the massive search efforts, and the leading theories that continue to divide investigators and armchair detectives alike. Did Maura succumb to the elements? Did she accept a ride from the wrong person? Was foul play involved? Or did something happen that no one has considered? Join me as we explore one of the most debated and enduring missing person cases in American history. ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Support the Show Please consider following on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and leaving a rating or review. It helps more people discover these stories and supports independent creators like me. Support the show (Patreon): https://patreon.com/KatHasQuestions?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Primary Sources New Hampshire Department of Justice – Cold Case Unit (Maura Murray): https://www.doj.nh.gov/bureaus/cold-case-unit/victim-list/maura-murray New Hampshire State Police FBI ViCAP (Violent Criminal Apprehension Program) News & Reporting WMUR News The Boston Globe NBC News ABC News CBS News CNN New Hampshire Union Leader Books True Crime Addict: How I Lost Myself in the Mysterious Disappearance of Maura Murray by James Renner Podcasts & Documentary Research Missing Maura Murray Podcast Media Pressure (hosted by Julie Murray) Oxygen – The Disappearance of Maura Murray ID Discovery Specials Additional References MauraMurrayMissing.org Charley Project NAMUS Missing Person Case #MP10179 Wikipedia (used only for cross-referencing publicly available timelines) 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions

  3. Jul 8

    38 - Illinois Unsolved: The Lake Mattoon Case Explained | What the Court Documents Reveal

    The discovery of a human arm floating in Lake Mattoon shocked Central Illinois—but that was only the beginning. When boaters first spotted what they believed was a dead fish drifting across the water, they had no idea they had stumbled upon one of Illinois' most disturbing criminal investigations in recent memory. In this episode, we break down the entire Lake Mattoon murder case using court documents, investigative records, and official law enforcement information to reconstruct what investigators allege happened. You'll hear how detectives: identified 38-year-old Dalewayne Turner using tattoos and jewelry, traced the investigation from Lake Mattoon to a home nearly 180 miles away in Plainfield, Illinois, uncovered surveillance footage, license plate reader evidence, Google searches, text messages, and search warrant findings, and ultimately arrested James Adams and Robin Turner. We'll also explain what investigators know, what prosecutors allege, and the many questions that still remain unanswered as this case moves through the court system. Please note: The allegations discussed in this episode come from publicly filed court documents and investigative records. James Adams and Robin Turner are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court. ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next. Support the show here! (Patreon) ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Primary Court Documents Petition to Deny Pretrial Release – People of the State of Illinois v. James E. Adams, Case No. 2026-CF-1161 (Circuit Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Will County, Illinois). Petition to Deny Pretrial Release – People of the State of Illinois v. Robin L. Turner, Case No. 2026-CF-1162 (Circuit Court of the Twelfth Judicial Circuit, Will County, Illinois). Law Enforcement Illinois State Police News Release: Illinois State Police Arrest Suspects in Lake Mattoon Death Investigation News Reporting WCIA 3 WAND News ABC 7 Chicago CBS Chicago NBC Chicago WGN-TV Journal Gazette & Times-Courier The News-Gazette Additional Research Publicly available court records Public statements released by family members during the investigation Disclaimer: This episode is based on publicly available court records, law enforcement statements, and contemporaneous news reporting available at the time of recording. Court filings describe allegations made by prosecutors. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions

    38 - Illinois Unsolved: The Lake Mattoon Case Explained | What the Court Documents Reveal

  4. Jul 1

    37 - Elisa Lam: The Cecil Hotel Mystery, Elevator Video & What Really Happened

    In 2013, 21-year-old Canadian student Elisa Lam disappeared while staying at Los Angeles' infamous Cecil Hotel. Weeks later, her body was discovered inside a rooftop water tank, shocking the world and fueling one of the internet's most enduring mysteries. The release of Elisa's unsettling elevator video sparked countless theories involving murder, paranormal activity, conspiracies, and cover-ups. But what did investigators actually find? In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we examine the timeline of Elisa Lam's disappearance, the viral elevator footage, the investigation, autopsy findings, her history of bipolar disorder, and why the case continues to fascinate people more than a decade later. Was this a mystery with hidden answers—or a tragedy transformed into internet mythology? ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next. Support the show (Patreon): https://patreon.com/KatHasQuestions?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw ⸻ Sources & Further Reading Wikipedia contributors. "Death of Elisa Lam." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Elisa_Lam Wikipedia contributors. "Cecil Hotel (Los Angeles)." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Hotel_(Los_Angeles) Los Angeles Police Department Missing Person Investigation Records Los Angeles County Department of Medical Examiner-Coroner Report: Elisa Lam CNN. "Body Found in Water Tank Identified as Missing Student Elisa Lam." NBC News. "Elisa Lam Case Continues to Fascinate Years Later." CBS News Coverage of Elisa Lam Investigation Netflix Documentary: "Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel" (2021) 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions

  5. Jun 24

    36 - The Cecil Hotel: Elisa Lam, Serial Killers, and Haunted Legends

    The Cecil Hotel in downtown Los Angeles has become one of the most infamous hotels in the world. Over nearly a century, the hotel became associated with dozens of deaths, violence, suicides, serial killers, urban legends, and paranormal claims. It was home to long-term residents, linked to notorious figures like Richard Ramirez and Jack Unterweger, and eventually became the center of global internet obsession after the 2013 death of Elisa Lam. But is the Cecil Hotel truly haunted? Or did decades of tragedy, media attention, internet conspiracy culture, and human psychology slowly transform a building into mythology? In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we explore the dark history of the Cecil Hotel, the Elisa Lam case, the serial killer connections, paranormal lore, and the unsettling question at the center of it all: At what point does a place stop being a location… and become a legend? ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next. Support the show (Patreon): https://patreon.com/KatHasQuestions?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw ⸻ Sources & Further Reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cecil_Hotel_(Los_Angeles) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Elisa_Lam https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ramirez https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Unterweger https://www.history.com/news/cecils-hotel-los-angeles-history https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2021/02/cecil-hotel-docuseries-netflix-night-stalker-elisa-lam https://www.netflix.com/title/81183727 https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-02-23/netflix-crime-scene-the-vanishing-at-the-cecil-hotel-review https://allthatsinteresting.com/cecil-hotel https://www.thereallosangelestours.com/crime-seen-the-hotel-cecil/ https://www.biography.com/crime/richard-ramirez-night-stalker https://www.thecrimewire.com/true-crime/The-Cecil-Hotel https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/cecil-hotel 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions

  6. Jun 17

    35 - Brian Shaffer: The Missing Med Student Seen Entering a Bar… But Never Leaving

    A night out near Ohio State University turned into one of the strangest missing persons cases in modern true crime. In 2006, 27-year-old medical student Brian Shaffer was seen on surveillance footage entering the Ugly Tuna Saloona in Columbus, Ohio. Friends saw him inside the bar. Witnesses spoke with him throughout the night. But when investigators later reviewed the surveillance footage… they could not clearly identify Brian ever leaving. No confirmed sightings.No body.No clear explanation. Nearly twenty years later, the disappearance of Brian Shaffer remains one of the internet’s most debated unsolved mysteries. In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we break down the timeline, the surveillance contradictions, the theories, and the haunting question at the center of the case: How does someone disappear from a crowded bar district without anyone seeing what happened next? ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next. Support the show (Patreon): https://patreon.com/KatHasQuestions?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw ⸻ Sources & Further Reading https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Brian_Shaffer⁠ ⁠https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/brian-randall-shaffer⁠ ⁠https://charleyproject.org/case/brian-randall-shaffer⁠ ⁠https://www.nbc4i.com/news/local-news/columbus/brian-shaffer-case-what-happened-to-the-ohio-state-medical-student/⁠ ⁠https://www.dispatch.com/story/news/crime/2021/04/01/brian-shaffer-missing-15-years-later-columbus-police-still-searching-answers/7013237002/⁠ ⁠https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/various_brian_shaffer_threads/⁠ ⁠https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OWNo7AajBBg⁠ ⁠https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/4408dmoh.html⁠ ADD SOURCES 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions

  7. Jun 10

    34 - Illinois Unsolved: Three Crimes. One DNA Profile. No Suspect. | The Linda Smith Case

    In the early morning hours of September 22, 2001, firefighters responded to a house fire on Paul Avenue in Champaign, Illinois. Inside the home, they found 59-year-old Linda Smith. At first, it appeared to be a tragic residential fire. But investigators quickly discovered something far more disturbing. Linda Smith had been sexually assaulted before the fire was set, transforming what looked like an accidental fire into a homicide investigation. Then came an even stranger discovery. DNA recovered from the scene didn't point investigators to a suspect. Instead, it connected Linda Smith's murder to two other sexual assaults — one in Carbondale, Illinois and another in Silver Spring, Maryland. More than two decades later, investigators still have the DNA profile. They still have the connections. But they still don't know who it belongs to. This is the first episode of Illinois Unsolved, a special series within Kat Has Questions exploring unresolved cases throughout Illinois. If you have information regarding the Linda Smith case, contact the Champaign County Sheriff's Office at 217-384-1213 or Crime Stoppers anonymously at 217-373-8477. ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next. Support the show (Patreon): https://patreon.com/KatHasQuestions?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw ⸻ Sources & Further Reading • Carol Vorel, News-Gazette (2018)"2001 cold-case murder of Linda Smith"https://www.news-gazette.com/news/2001-cold-case-murder-of-linda-smith/article_aff09750-95d1-58ca-b186-d67b392d3dea.html • Champaign County Crime Stoppers – Linda Smith Cold Casehttps://373tips.com • Champaign County Sheriff's Office • Public statements by Lt. Curt Apperson, Champaign County Sheriff's Office, as reported by the News-Gazette • Additional reporting and archival research from News-Gazette archives regarding the Linda Smith homicide investigation 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions

    34 - Illinois Unsolved: Three Crimes. One DNA Profile. No Suspect. | The Linda Smith Case

  8. Jun 3

    33 - The Disappearance of Sherri Papini

    In 2016, Sherri Papini vanished while out jogging near her home in Redding, California. Her phone and earbuds were found abandoned on the side of the road, and for 22 days, her family and the nation searched for answers. Then, on Thanksgiving morning, Sherri reappeared — bruised, restrained, and claiming she had been kidnapped by two armed women. For years, the public viewed the case as a horrifying abduction and survival story. But behind the scenes, investigators were uncovering inconsistencies that would eventually unravel the entire narrative. In this episode of Kat Has Questions, we break down: Sherri’s disappearance and dramatic return the media frenzy surrounding the case the DNA evidence that changed everything the federal investigation and guilty plea the conflicting claims presented in recent documentaries and why people still debate what truly happened during those 22 days Was it a kidnapping? A hoax? Or something far more complicated? ⸻ About the show Kat Has Questions is a curiosity-driven podcast about real stories that sound unreal — from unsolved crimes and strange history to the quietly weird corners of human behavior. New episodes every week. ⸻ Support the Show If you’re enjoying Kat Has Questions, follow the podcast, leave a review, or send in a weird historical mystery you want me to dig into next. Support the show (Patreon): https://patreon.com/KatHasQuestions?utm_medium=unknown&utm_source=join_link&utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator&utm_content=copyLink Support the show & buy me a coffee: buymeacoffee.com/kathasquesw ⸻ Sources & Further Reading -FBI affidavit and federal court documents related to the Sherri Papini investigation -CNN coverage of the Sherri Papini case -ABC News reporting on Sherri Papini -NBC News reporting on the investigation and guilty plea -People Magazine coverage of the 2025 documentary claims -Rolling Stone coverage of the docuseries and public reaction -Hulu documentary: Perfect Wife: The Mysterious Disappearance of Sherri Papini -Investigation Discovery docuseries: Sherri Papini: Caught in the Lie -Wikipedia overview of the Sherri Papini case 🎵 Music: “Scrunchy” by Night Drift Licensed by Uppbeat License code: CAHWZR9T33BFXDNY ⸻ Contact 📩 kathasquestionspod@gmail.com Instagram: @KatHasQuestions

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5
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About

Kat Has Questions is a true crime and unsolved mysteries podcast that dives into the real stories that sound made up — from strange history and psychology to unsolved mysteries, true crime, urban legends, and the weird corners of the internet. Thoughtful, funny, and just the right amount of unhinged.

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