Dog Days of Murder

Paula Quintana
  • 5.0 (14)
  • True Crime

 Dog Days of Murder is a true crime podcast where the animals aren’t just part of the story — they help solve it. Hosted by Paula Quintana and cohosted by Ein the corgi, each episode explores real cases where animals played a role in uncovering the truth. 

  1. 6d ago

    Episode 7 - Blood Will Tell

    Send us Fan Mail When 22-year-old Raquel Rivera and her boyfriend, Jay Johnson, are murdered inside their South Park home in Seattle, their six-month-old puppy, Chief, is found gravely wounded nearby. Police soon identify suspects, but an unusual piece of evidence raises a question investigators have never faced before: Can the blood of a dog help identify a killer? What follows will put Chief at the center of a groundbreaking forensic investigation—and make his case part of criminal justice history. Sources:  Darrell Glover, “Man Gets 26 Years in Murder Case Using Dog’s DNA,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, December 9, 1998.  Elaine Porterfield, “Life Term for Convicted Killer in Dog DNA Case — Not ‘Drop of Remorse,’ Judge Says of Leuluaialii,” Seattle Post-Intelligencer, October 3, 1998.  Elaine Porterfield, “Dog DNA Helps Convict 2 in Murder of Couple, Pet,” Deseret News / Seattle Post-Intelligencer, September 17, 1998. “Dog’s DNA Helps Convict 2 of Murders,” Los Angeles Times, September 17, 1998.  Florangela Davila, “2 Life Terms in South Park Murders,” The Seattle Times, October 3, 1998. “Court Disallows Use of Dog DNA,” The Seattle Times, October 14, 2003. State v. Leuluaialii / State v. Tuilefano, Washington Court of Appeals, Division One, Nos. 43507-8-I & 43769-1-I, decided October 13, 2003. Forensic Files, Season 7, Episode 17, “Chief Evidence.” Joy Halverson and Christopher Basten, “A PCR Multiplex and Database for Forensic DNA Identification of Dogs,” Journal of Forensic Sciences (2005).  National Institute of Justice, Animal DNA / Non-Human DNA forensic training materials. Find a Grave memorials for Chief Johnson, Raquel Eloise Rivera, and Jay Dedric Johnson. The Chief memorial also supplied some biographical detail about him. Follow along and stay connected: 📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder 📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com TikTok: @dog.days.of.murde If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:  ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder www.dogdaysofmurder.com coming soon! Music by Vibe Depot and Mircea Iancu

  2. Aug 17

    Episode 6 - Paw & Order

    Send us Fan Mail When Davenport police begin investigating suspected drug activity at an apartment complex, two K9s—Kurly and Dawn—are called in to put their noses to work. What follows becomes much more complicated than a narcotics investigation. The dogs' work raises a Fourth Amendment question that makes its way through the federal courts, forcing judges to consider where the protections of a home begin when that home is an apartment. This week on Dog Days of Murder, we're following two very different police dogs, the investigation that brought their paths together, and a legal fight where even the hallway matters. Sources United States v. Donell Hines, No. 21-2477, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit, opinion filed March 10, 2023. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Iowa — “Davenport Man Sentenced to Federal Prison for Drug Charge,” June 30, 2021. U.S. Attorney's Office, Southern District of Iowa — federal sentencing information concerning Donell Hines's subsequent drug conviction and 2026 sentence. Davenport Police Department — K9 Kurly memorial/retirement information and community responses, Facebook. Davenport Police Department — K9 Dawn retirement announcement and career information, Facebook. City of Davenport, Iowa — community and city background. Florida v. Jardines, 569 U.S. 1 (2013). United States v. Scott, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (2010). United States v. Hopkins, Eighth Circuit Court of Appeals (2017). United States v. Leon, 468 U.S. 897 (1984). Franks v. Delaware, 438 U.S. 154 (1978). National Institutes of Health / National Library of Medicine — research on canine olfaction and the biology of the canine nose. Follow along and stay connected: 📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder 📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com TikTok: @dog.days.of.murde If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:  ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder www.dogdaysofmurder.com coming soon! Music by Vibe Depot and Mircea Iancu

  3. Aug 10

    Episode 5 - The Long Way Home

    Send us Fan Mail A respected California vice principal appears to have the perfect alibi after his wife, three young children and mother-in-law are found murdered in their Bakersfield home. As detectives begin pulling at loose threads, an unlikely clue emerges from insects crushed into the radiator of a rental car. What follows is one of the most unusual forensic investigations ever presented in a courtroom, proving that sometimes the smallest witnesses can help uncover the truth. Sources The Principle Suspect (Investigation Discovery) The New Detectives – "Written in Blood" Forensic Files – "Insect Clues" Bakersfield Californian (2003–2007) trial and investigation coverage Los Angeles Times coverage of the Vincent Brothers investigation and trial  Associated Press reporting  University of California, Davis – Bohart Museum of Entomology  Dr. Lynn Kimsey interviews and publications on forensic entomology, including The Case of the Red-Shanked Grasshopper Compiled newspaper archives, court records, and source documents used in researching this episodeFollow along and stay connected: 📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder 📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com TikTok: @dog.days.of.murde If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:  ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder www.dogdaysofmurder.com coming soon! Music by Vibe Depot and Mircea Iancu

  4. Aug 3

    Episode 4 - Who Was Sasha?

    Send us Fan Mail When a former boxer is abducted from his home and brutally murdered, detectives in West Yorkshire are left with a case built almost entirely on circumstantial evidence. Then they discover a few seemingly insignificant dog hairs on the victim's clothing. What follows is a groundbreaking investigation that stretches from England to California and changes forensic science forever. But just when the case appears to be over, one final twist brings one more question: Who Was Sasha? Sources BBC News. "Family dog 'helped solve murder.'" January 20, 2004.Crimewatch UK. BBC television broadcast and transcript covering the investigation into the murder of Brian Keating.The Birmingham Post. "Reunited – dog who helped solve murder." January 21, 2004.The Sun. "Dog-hairs DNA snares killers." January 21, 2004.The Times (London). Andrew Norfolk. "Hair of the dog sends killers to jail for life." January 21, 2004.Yorkshire Evening Post. "Boxer's murderer loses freedom bid." November 10, 2005.Follow along and stay connected: 📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder 📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com TikTok: @dog.days.of.murde If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:  ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder www.dogdaysofmurder.com coming soon! Music by Vibe Depot and Mircea Iancu

  5. Jul 27

    Episode 3 - All She Ever Wanted

    Send us Fan Mail  This week on Dog Days of Murder, a 19-year-old woman vanishes on her way to work, leaving behind more questions than answers. Investigators piece together a case using groundbreaking image enhancement, forensic entomology, and an unlikely source of evidence hidden in the trunk of a car. It's the story of Lori Auker—and how some of the smallest clues became impossible to ignore.  Sources Commonwealth v. Auker, 545 Pa. 521, 681 A.2d 1305 (Pa. 1996).  Jake Rossen, “How NASA Helped Solve a Murder,” Mental Floss, March 17, 2025.   George Pallas, “Old Crime Is New Again: The Murder of Lori Auker,” Old Crime Is New Again.   “NASA Helps Solve a Murder,” History.com, updated May 27, 2025.   Pennsylvania State Police laboratory testimony and forensic evidence discussed in Commonwealth v. Auker.   Forensic entomology testimony of Dr. K. C. Kim discussed in Commonwealth v. Auker.   Image-enhancement testimony of Al Tietjen and related trial evidence discussed in Commonwealth v. Auker and “How NASA Helped Solve a Murder.”  Forensic Files, “Cats, Flies and Snapshots,” Season 6, Episode 27. IF YOU NEED SUPPORT: If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, contact your local law enforcement agency. If you are in immediate danger, call 911. You can also find information, safety planning resources, and support through the Stalking Prevention, Awareness, & Resource Center (SPARC) at www.stalkingawareness.org. If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, help is available 24 hours a day through the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Call 1-800-799-SAFE (7233), text "START" to 88788, or visit www.thehotline.org to chat online with an advocate. Follow along and stay connected: 📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder 📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com TikTok: @dog.days.of.murde If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:  ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder www.dogdaysofmurder.com coming soon! Music by Vibe Depot and Mircea Iancu

  6. Jul 20

    Episode 2 - Where The Trail Ended

    Send us Fan Mail Episode Summary When six-year-old Kinzleigh Reeder vanished from rural Tennessee, hundreds of volunteers, law enforcement officers, helicopters, drones, and search teams spent days combing miles of rugged terrain with no sign of her. As hope began to fade, one decision changed everything. Sources  Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI)  DeKalb County Sheriff's Department  Rutherford County Sheriff's Office  WJLE Radio  NBC News  International Business Times (IBTimes)  WKRN News 2 Nashville  WSMV 4 Nashville  Fox 17 Nashville  Tennessee Department of Children's Services  Pea Ridge community historical resources  Public statements by Sheriff Patrick Ray  Public statements by Deputy Chris Tidwell Support If you suspect a child is being abused or neglected, help is available. Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline Call or text 800-4-A-CHILD (800-422-4453) Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in the United States.  If you know of a case where an animal helped solve a crime or save a life, I'd love to hear about it.  Follow along and stay connected: 📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder 📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com TikTok: @dog.days.of.murde If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:  ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder www.dogdaysofmurder.com coming soon! Music by Vibe Depot and Mircea Iancu

  7. Jul 13

    Episode 1 - One Strand of Truth

    Send us Fan Mail In September 1996, 23-year-old Karyn Slover left work expecting an ordinary Friday. She planned to pick up her young son, stop at the mall to shop for a dress, and celebrate a friend's upcoming wedding. She never made it. SOURCES Herald & Review (Decatur, Illinois) – contemporary reporting on Karyn Slover's disappearance, investigation, trial, and appeals. Journal Gazette (Mattoon, Illinois) • "Dog hair found on duct tape belongs to elder Slovers' dog: Expert" (May 2, 2002) News-Gazette (Champaign, Illinois) – trial coverage and case timeline. Associated Press – trial and appellate coverage. Illinois Appellate Court records – People v. Slover. Macon County Circuit Court records. Forensic Files – "Concrete Alibi" Cold Blood, Season 3, Episode 4 – "Ties That Bind" Davis Enterprise • "Snoopy Snoop: High-tech pet detective: Davis firm's DNA testing nabs those who run afowl" (August 8, 1999) Nancy Miller, Dead Sleep Podcast - Episode 107 “One Day You’ll Be Mine” Forensic Files Now Find a Grave Published scientific literature on canine DNA and animal forensic evidence. Public reporting regarding the 2026 CODIS ruling involving unidentified DNA profiles in the Slover case.  Intro/Outro music: "The Free Rock Trailer" by VibeDepot (Pixabay)  Additional music by SigmaMusicArt, courtesy of Pixabay.  Follow along and stay connected: 📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder 📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com TikTok: @dog.days.of.murde If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:  ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder www.dogdaysofmurder.com coming soon! Music by Vibe Depot and Mircea Iancu

  8. Jun 29

    The Calm in The Chaos

    Send us Fan Mail Bonus Episode When we think of first responders, we often picture the police officers, firefighters, or paramedics who arrive on scene. But before any of them get there, someone answers the phone. In this special episode of Dog Days of Murder, I'm joined by my friend, Joanne Wilson, a recently retired police dispatcher for a candid conversation about a profession most of us only encounter on the worst day of our lives. We talk about what it's really like to answer 911 calls, how technology has changed emergency response, the emotional weight dispatchers carry, and what they wish every caller knew. The first heroes are often the ones who simply pick up the phone. Whether you've ever needed to call 911 or simply want to better understand the people behind the headset, I hope you'll come away with a new appreciation for the calm voice on the other end of the line. Resources If you or someone you know is a first responder in need of support, or if you're looking for mental health resources, the following organizations may be helpful: First Responders Foundation – A Guide to First Responder Peer Support Groups https://firstrespondersfoundation.org/a-guide-to-first-responder-peer-support-groups/Peer Support Foundation https://peersupportfoundation.orgNational Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) https://nami.orgFollow along and stay connected: 📸 Instagram: @dog_days_of_murder 📧 Email: dogdaysofmurder@gmail.com TikTok: @dog.days.of.murde If you’d like to support the show—or treat Ein to a well-earned pup cup—you can do that here:  ☕ Buy Me a Coffee: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dogdaysofmurder www.dogdaysofmurder.com coming soon! Music by Vibe Depot and Mircea Iancu

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5
out of 5
14 Ratings

About

 Dog Days of Murder is a true crime podcast where the animals aren’t just part of the story — they help solve it. Hosted by Paula Quintana and cohosted by Ein the corgi, each episode explores real cases where animals played a role in uncovering the truth. 

Information

  • Creator
    Paula Quintana
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    18
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Dog Days of Murder
  • Show Website
    Dog Days of Murder

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