True Crime with Dani Southern Files

Danielle Johnson

Welcome to Southern Files with Dani, where true crime meets Southern storytelling. I cover real cases from Georgia and beyond — from high-profile kidnappings to the quiet disappearances that never made national news. Some cases connect to my own life. Others are stories that simply deserve to be told right. This isn’t just crime. It’s context. It’s community. It’s the truth behind what happened after the sirens stopped. If you love long-form, immersive, Southern-style true crime… you’re home.

  1. The night the Devil showed up in Georgia

    Apr 25

    The night the Devil showed up in Georgia

    On a quiet road in Cartersville, a spring night in 1990 turned into something unthinkable. Robert “Monty” Woody and his wife, Patricia “Ann” Woody were known for their kindness—the kind of people who would open their door to anyone in need. But on April 25, 1990, that same kindness may have led danger straight into their home. What happened inside that house on Rudy York Road was brutal, personal, and has remained unsolved for decades. In this episode, Dani takes you deep into the lives of Monty and Ann, the events leading up to that night, and the haunting details left behind—including a mysterious handwritten note, unanswered questions, and a case that many believe is closer to being solved than ever before. This isn’t just a story about murder. It’s a story about love, trust… and the devastating cost of letting the wrong person in.

    21 min
  2. Bonus about April Cold Case

    Apr 24 ·  Bonus

    Bonus about April Cold Case

    Bonus update on what I have been working on and why I haven’t drop any new episodes

    2 min
  3. Bonus Edition Susana Morales

    Mar 24 ·  Bonus

    Bonus Edition Susana Morales

    Bonus for Susana Morales episodes

    6 min
  4. 🎙️ kidnapped and Betrayed by the Blue” the story of Susana Morales

    Mar 24

    🎙️ kidnapped and Betrayed by the Blue” the story of Susana Morales

    For months, the case of Susana Morales remained a painful mystery. Until a name surfaced… one no one expected. In Part Two, we uncover the investigation that led authorities to Miles Bryant—a man with ties to law enforcement and a past that raises disturbing questions. As evidence begins to surface, a clearer—and more unsettling—picture emerges. How did someone so close to the system avoid suspicion for so long? What really happened in the time between Susana’s disappearance and the discovery that changed everything? This episode dives deep into the investigation, the shocking connections, and the truth that finally came to light. Because sometimes, the person hiding the darkest secrets… is the one you’d least expect

    14 min
  5. Kidnapped “Betrayed by the Blue” the story of Susan

    Mar 24

    Kidnapped “Betrayed by the Blue” the story of Susan

    Sixteen year-old Susana Morales should have made it home that night. Instead, she vanished—leaving behind a chilling mystery that would haunt her family and shake an entire Georgia community. In Part One, we walk through Susana’s final known moments… a quiet evening, a familiar route, and a sudden disappearance that made no sense. As hours turned into days, desperation grew. Search efforts intensified. Flyers spread. And a family was left clinging to hope while fearing the worst. But beneath the surface, something darker was already unfolding. Who took Susana Morales—and why? This is the story of the night she disappeared… and the questions that refused to stay buried.

    13 min
  6. Bonus update on Heather Turner podcast progress

    Mar 24 ·  Bonus

    Bonus update on Heather Turner podcast progress

    Update on progress for Heather Turner Podcast episode

    1 min
  7. Buried Alive 83 hrs in the Dark the kidnapping of Barbara Jane Mackle. Part 3

    Mar 17

    Buried Alive 83 hrs in the Dark the kidnapping of Barbara Jane Mackle. Part 3

    In December 1968, a 20-year-old college student vanished from a motel room in the middle of the night... But this wasn't just a kidnapping. This was something far more terrifying. Barbara Jane Mackle was taken by strangers who had planned every detail-right down to the unthinkable. She wasn't held in a house... or moved from place to place... She was buried alive. Locked inside a box beneath the ground with only a limited supply of air, water, and time. As her family scrambled to meet the kidnappers' demands, a desperate race against the clock began. The ransom was set. The instructions were clear. But when e V ything went wrong during the drop... the stakes became even higher. With law enforcement agencies clashing, media pressure building, and a father willing to do anything to save his daughter, this case would become one of the most chilling kidnappings in American history. And through it all... one question remained: Would they find her before it was too late? This is the story of fear, survival, and a young woman who refused to give up—even when she was buried beneath the earth. Listen now... and experience the case that shocked the nation.

    17 min
  8. Buried Alive 83 hrs in the Dark the kidnapping of Barbara Jane Mackle. Part 2

    Mar 17

    Buried Alive 83 hrs in the Dark the kidnapping of Barbara Jane Mackle. Part 2

    In December 1968, a 20-year-old college student vanished from a motel room in the middle of the night... But this wasn't just a kidnapping. This was something far more terrifying. Barbara Jane Mackle was taken by strangers who had planned every detail-right down to the unthinkable. She wasn't held in a house... or moved from place to place... She was buried alive. Locked inside a box beneath the ground with only a limited supply of air, water, and time. As her family scrambled to meet the kidnappers' demands, a desperate race against the clock began. The ransom was set. The instructions were clear. But when e V ything went wrong during the drop... the stakes became even higher. With law enforcement agencies clashing, media pressure building, and a father willing to do anything to save his daughter, this case would become one of the most chilling kidnappings in American history. And through it all... one question remained: Would they find her before it was too late? This is the story of fear, survival, and a young woman who refused to give up—even when she was buried beneath the earth. Listen now... and experience the case that shocked the nation.

    9 min
See All (13)

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Southern Files with Dani, where true crime meets Southern storytelling. I cover real cases from Georgia and beyond — from high-profile kidnappings to the quiet disappearances that never made national news. Some cases connect to my own life. Others are stories that simply deserve to be told right. This isn’t just crime. It’s context. It’s community. It’s the truth behind what happened after the sirens stopped. If you love long-form, immersive, Southern-style true crime… you’re home.

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