True Crime in Real Estate™

Sandi Lyn
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Education

So you passed the exam, bought the lockbox, and found a blazer that makes you look trustworthy. Nobody in pre-license brought up Beverly Carter, who went to show a house outside Little Rock in 2014 and never came home. Or Ashley Okland, shot inside a model home in West Des Moines in 2011. That’s the side of real estate this show covers. We get into agents hurt on the job, vacant houses that turned into crime scenes, brokers who disappeared with everyone’s earnest money, and wire fraud that drains a family’s down payment right before closing. Then the bigger picture, honestly, like redlining, Cabrini-Green, Pruitt-Igoe, slumlords who own entire ZIP codes, and cartels parking cash in luxury condos. Some of it is history and some of it is still happening right now. True Crime in Real Estate™ is made for agents. If you’re just here for the true crime and want to know why your REALTOR® won’t meet you alone at a vacant house after dark, this is why.

Episodes

  1. 5h ago

    Ep 8: Fraudulent Instinct - The $20mil Real Estate Scam That Happened BEFORE "Maternal Instinct"

    The episode examines the case of Taylor Parker through the lens of real estate fraud rather than focusing solely on the widely publicized murder. Before killing 21-year-old Reagan Simmons Hancock and abducting her unborn child, Parker spent more than a year posing as an heiress with a completely fabricated $8 million inheritance while building an elaborate web of fake identities, invented attorneys, forged financial documents, and nonexistent funding sources. She pursued more than $20 million in real estate purchases, centering on a multi-million-dollar ranch in Northeast Texas, while convincing her fiancé, Wade Griffin, that enormous wealth was just around the corner. When the promised inheritance never materialized, the collapsing land deal became the catalyst for an even larger deception: a made-up pregnancy that ultimately ended in murder. The transcript explores how Parker manipulated real estate professionals for months by constantly changing the story behind her financing. Each failed explanation (inheritance, oil and gas royalties, wealthy relatives, or pending wire transfers) was replaced with another faux authority figure or forged document to keep transactions alive. Experienced professionals eventually uncovered inconsistencies after verifying leases, questioning proof of funds, and independently checking the people involved in the deal. Sandi Lyn argues this illustrates a common fraud pattern: urgency, charisma, and the promise of a lucrative commission can cause professionals to delay basic verification steps that would otherwise expose a buyer's inability to perform. The show concludes by connecting Parker's financial fraud directly to the motive for the murder. As her phantom fortune unraveled, the fake pregnancy became the next lie needed to preserve her relationship, eventually culminating in the murder of Reagan Simmons Hancock and her infant. The episode also covers Parker's escalating attempts to obstruct justice after her arrest, including an elaborate scheme to frame another inmate, before reviewing her conviction, death sentence, and unsuccessful appeals. Sandi Lyn closes by emphasizing practical lessons for real estate professionals: always verify proof of funds, independently confirm third-party participants in a transaction, and scrutinize the most attractive deals even more carefully, because sophisticated fraud often looks like the perfect client until it collapses. 00:00 Introduction and the Failed Land Deal02:30 Taylor Parker's Fake Fortune05:10 The $20 Million Real Estate Con08:15 How the Fraud Unraveled11:45 Lessons for Real Estate Agents15:20 The Murder Plot and Misdirection18:30 Jailhouse Schemes and Appeals21:20 Final Lessons and Closing Remarks Want to send us a juicy true crime story to cover? Follow and DM us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeinrealestate/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeinRealEstate

  2. 15h ago

    Ep 7: Building a Case - The Bricks & Minifigs LEGO Controversy and Reckless Ben's Battle for Justice

    An 83-year-old Oregon collector consigned one of the world's largest private Star Wars LEGO collection (worth more than $200,000) to a Bricks & Minifigs franchise, with a contract stating the family retained ownership until each set sold. After corporate repossessed the franchise in 2024, approximately $100,000–$125,000 worth of inventory allegedly remained in the store, but the family was unable to recover it despite providing contracts and inventory records. Police repeatedly classified the dispute as a civil matter, while the family says corporate responded by encouraging them to sue, prompting Brian Mansell to seek help from YouTuber Benjamin "Reckless Ben" Schneider after traditional avenues failed. Ben launched a series of increasingly creative publicity stunts to pressure the company into returning the property, including raffles, mock businesses, coordinated small claims lawsuits, and viral demonstrations that transformed a local consignment dispute into a national story. His campaign eventually led to default judgments after store representatives failed to appear in court. As the battle shifted to Utah, where the new store owners lived, Ben documented repeated police encounters while attempting to serve legal papers. The situation escalated into traffic stops, searches, raids, arrests for stalking and trespassing, and conflicting claims between Ben and the American Fork Police Department regarding the legality and necessity of those actions. The controversy exploded after Ben's documentary surpassed three million views, prompting corporate statements, a court order seeking removal of his videos, and public support from Patreon CEO Jack Conte, who declined to remove Ben's page. Bricks & Minifigs later announced the Salem store's closure and said it had contacted the Mansell family about resolving the matter, while lawsuits and criminal cases remain ongoing. Sandi Lyn concludes that the story is fundamentally about property rights, emphasizing that possession does not equal ownership and that businesses inheriting assets also inherit the legal obligation to safeguard property held on behalf of others. The episode frames the case as a cautionary lesson for real estate professionals and anyone entrusted with another person's property or finances. 00:00 Introduction and the Consignment Contract 04:15 The Collection Changes Hands 08:45 Police Call It a Civil Matter 13:10 Reckless Ben Takes the Case 18:00 Public Stunts and Legal Strategy 24:30 Default Judgments and Viral Attention 29:45 Utah, Police, and Criminal Charges 36:15 Corporate Response and Internet Backlash 40:30 Real Estate Lessons and Final Takeaways Want to send us a juicy true crime story to cover? Follow and DM us: Instagram https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeinrealestate/ YouTube https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeinRealEstate

  3. 1d ago

    Ep 6: When Cops Fail, Rangers Lead the Way. The 1989 Ash Street Shootout #TrueCrime

    Bill Foulk, an Army Ranger stationed near Tacoma, Washington, purchased a condemned home in the Hilltop neighborhood in 1987 for $10,000, believing the area was poised for revitalization. Instead, the crack epidemic and expanding gang activity transformed the neighborhood into one of the state's most dangerous areas. After repeated calls to police brought little response, Foulk and his neighbors began documenting drug activity themselves. When it escalated to threats against him personally, Foulk invited fellow Rangers to a neighborhood barbecue, and suggested *maybe* they should come armed. On September 23, 1989, tensions erupted into the infamous Ash Street Shootout. Following hours of anticipation, gunfire broke out between roughly a dozen Army Rangers defending Foulk's home and around 20 suspected gang members. Between 100 and 300 rounds were fired during the exchange, yet remarkably there were no fatalities or even injuries officially documented. Investigations never definitively established who fired first, and both sides maintained conflicting accounts. Police initially detained the Rangers but ultimately filed no charges against them, while two gang members with outstanding warrants were arrested, and only one was convicted on unrelated assault charges. The confrontation drew national media attention and exposed Tacoma's inability to control escalating gang violence. The episode concludes by examining the lasting real estate impact of the shootout. Public outrage forced Tacoma to invest in community policing, establish dedicated anti-drug units, and support neighborhood organizations that helped transform Hilltop over the following decades. Foulk's $10,000 investment ultimately became a home worth hundreds of thousands of dollars, but only after years of violence and decades of reform. Sandi Lyn uses the story to highlight an important lesson for real estate professionals: while agents cannot steer buyers, they can encourage meaningful due diligence about neighborhoods, crime history, and local conditions so clients understand the full risks behind a property's purchase price. 00:00 The Bullet Hole on Ash Street 02:10 Bill Foulk Buys Into 1987 Hilltop 05:20 Crime Escalates and Neighbors Fight Back 08:05 Preparing for the Confrontation 11:15 The Ash Street Shootout 16:10 Police Response and Investigation 19:30 Legal Aftermath and Military Consequences 21:45 Tacoma's Reforms and Hilltop's Recovery 24:00 Real Estate Lessons and Final Takeaways Want to send us a juicy true crime story to cover? Follow and DM us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeinrealestate/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeinRealEstate

  4. Jun 3

    Ep 5: Inspiration for "Candyman" - The Violent History of Cabrini-Green

    Sandi Lyn starts this episode with a deeply personal childhood story recalling growing up near violent housing towers in Rockford, Illinois, with the larger-scale history of Chicago’s Cabrini-Green projects as a backdrop. She uses her experience witnessing normalized street-level violence, drug activity, and gang presence as a framework to introduce Cabrini-Green as an amplified version of the same systemic conditions. The episode immediately establishes its central thesis: Cabrini-Green was not an isolated anomaly, but an extreme expression of long-running urban policy failures, concentrated poverty, and housing segregation. The narrative then traces Cabrini-Green’s full historical arc, beginning with its origins as a succession of immigrant neighborhoods (German, Irish, Swedish, and Sicilian communities) that eventually became “Little Sicily,” an area defined by extreme poverty, overcrowding, and organized crime. It explains how the Chicago Housing Authority later built the Cabrini-Green housing complex on this land, which gradually transitioned from white ethnic residents to predominantly Black residents due to housing patterns and segregation policies. The episode highlights escalating violence over decades, including the 1970 ambush killing of two police officers in Cabrini-Green, the 1992 murder of seven-year-old Dantrell Davis, the brutal sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl named “Girl X” to protect her identity, and other high-profile crimes that turned the complex into a national symbol of urban decay and danger. The final portion focuses on the collapse and redevelopment of Cabrini-Green through Chicago’s $1 billion “Plan for Transformation,” which led to the demolition of the high-rises and displacement of thousands of families, with very few returning despite promises of “right of return.” It also connects Cabrini-Green’s legacy to pop culture (notably Candyman) and modern real estate redevelopment, arguing that the land itself, now transformed into high-value property, represents one of the largest wealth transfers in Chicago history. The episode closes by broadening the lens, suggesting that Cabrini-Green’s story is not unique but part of a recurring national pattern where disinvestment, violence, displacement, and redevelopment cycle through urban neighborhoods. 00:00 Warning & Childhood in a Violent City 03:00 Rockford’s Rising Homicide Crisis 06:30 Cabrini-Green as the “Scaled-Up Version” 10:00 Origins: Immigrant Poverty to “Little Sicily” 15:30 “Death Corner” & Early Organized Crime 20:00 Creation of Cabrini-Green Housing Projects 25:00 1970 Police Ambush 28:30 Mayor Jane Byrne’s 1981 Publicity Stunt 31:30 Ruthie Mae McCoy & Candyman Mythology 35:00 Dantrell Davis & Police Misconduct Allegations 38:00 Collapse, Demolition & Displacement 41:00 Redevelopment, Wealth Transfer & Modern Cabrini Site 44:00 Final Reflections: A National Pattern Want to send us a juicy true crime story to cover? Follow and DM us: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeinrealestate/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TrueCrimeinRealEstate

  5. May 26

    Ep 4: The Davenport Building Collapse: Unanswered Questions

    The episode opens describing the moments leading up to the collapse of the historic Davenport Hotel apartment building at 324 Main St. on Memorial Day weekend in 2023. Residents were living normal lives when the building’s west wall suddenly failed, causing six stories to crumble. Three tenants were killed. Another resident survived after rescuers amputated her leg with her trapped under rubble. The tragedy immediately raised questions about ignored maintenance issues, failed inspections, and warnings that the building was structurally unsafe long before the collapse. Sandi Lyn traces the building’s history, where public records and investigative reports reveal repeated structural concerns dating back to 2020, including denied inspections, incomplete repair plans, water damage, and warnings that the building was unsafe. A masonry contractor claimed Wold rejected a $50,000 repair proposal, instead choosing much cheaper piecemeal repairs that weakened the structure further. After the collapse, investigators concluded the disaster resulted from an inadequately supported wall, combined with long-term structural deterioration. Despite those findings and the deaths, no criminal charges were filed related to the collapse, aside from a minor fine for maintenance neglect. The focus shifts to actions after the collapse, both financially and legally. According to allegations by victims’ families and survivors, Wold began selling off properties to shield assets from litigation. Sandi Lyn details approximately $4.8 million in property sales, including Wold’s riverfront mansion sold for $2.35 million to local real estate agent Kyle Robinson. Robinson listed several of Wold’s commercial properties, and plaintiffs later added both Robinson and QC Rental Group as defendants in the civil litigation, alleging questionable property-transfer arrangements. The host repeatedly states these are allegations of active lawsuits and not proven facts, but the events raise serious ethical and financial questions in the real estate industry. Last, we connect a 2026 drug arrest. Police execute a search warrant at the Bettendorf mansion Robinson purchased from Wold, and allegedly recovered large quantities of drugs and paraphernalia. Robinson was charged with multiple felony drug-distribution offenses, though he remains presumed innocent pending trial. The host criticizes what she describes as parts of the real estate industry culture that prioritizes production and profit over ethics and accountability. The episode closes by returning focus to the victims: the three men who died, Peach Berry who lost her leg, and the displaced tenants. 00:00 Collapse of 324 Main St 03:50 Davenport Building History 05:40 Structural Warnings, Failed Repairs 08:45 The Wall Comes Down 11:20 The Investigations Findings 13:05 No Criminal Charges 14:15 Civil Lawsuits and Asset Transfers 17:10 Bettendorf Mansion Sale 19:10 Kyle Robinson Added to Lawsuit 21:20 Andrew Wold Name Change 22:40 Drug Raid at the Mansion 25:15 Real Estate Ethical Concerns 28:00 Questions, and Closing Thoughts Listeners with corrections, additional documentation, or relevant information are invited to contact the show at solutions@myrealestateco.com. Instagram https://www.instagram.com/truecrimeinrealestate/ Sources: https://myrealestateco.notion.site/The-Davenport-Building-Sources-Public-Ref-36a02dfb79718066a258c9bb93aaa340

  6. May 22

    Ep 3: Alex Murdaugh Conviction Overturned, Brennan v Brian

    The murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh became one of the most infamous criminal cases in South Carolina history because of the Murdaugh family’s decades-long influence over the Lowcountry legal system. For nearly a century, the family held enormous legal and political power in South Carolina through the 14th Judicial Circuit and their law firm, PMPED, while building wealth through lawsuits, land holdings, hunting properties, and real estate investments across the region. On June 7, 2021, Maggie Murdaugh and her 22-year-old son Paul were found shot to death near the dog kennels on the family’s 1,772-acre estate in Colleton County. Paul was killed with a shotgun, while Maggie was shot with multiple rounds from a rifle. Alex Murdaugh, husband and father of the victims, called 911 to report finding the bodies. Prosecutors argued Alex Murdaugh killed his wife and son to distract from mounting financial crimes and public pressure tied to lawsuits from the 2019 boat crash that killed 19-year-old Mallory Beach. Prosecutors said Murdaugh had stolen roughly $12 million from clients and pointed to cellphone evidence placing him near the kennels shortly before the murders, contradicting earlier statements to investigators. The state also emphasized his changing timeline, missing clothing, vehicle data, and lies to police. The defense argued the case was entirely circumstantial: the murder weapons were never recovered, no DNA directly tied Alex to the killings, and investigators mishandled the crime scene. Defense attorneys also pointed to unknown DNA under Maggie’s fingernails, possible alternate suspects connected to threats against Paul, and the use of two separate firearms. Alex Murdaugh was convicted of murder in March 2023 and sentenced to two life terms without parole, but the verdict was later overturned because of misconduct allegations involving County Clerk Becky Hill. Defense attorneys accused Hill of improperly influencing jurors while promoting a book about the case. Jurors testified Hill encouraged them to closely watch Murdaugh’s body language. Hill eventually pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice, perjury, misuse of office, and sharing sealed evidence with a journalist. In May 2026, the South Carolina Supreme Court vacated Murdaugh’s murder convictions in a 5-0 ruling, finding Hill’s actions denied him a fair trial and that extensive testimony about his financial crimes may have unfairly prejudiced jurors. Murdaugh remains in prison on separate financial crime convictions while prosecutors prepare for a retrial. 00:00 Introduction and Overview of the Case 01:15 The Moselle Estate and the Murdaugh Family’s Power in South Carolina 03:05 The 2019 Boat Crash and Mallory Beach’s Death 04:40 Alex Murdaugh’s Extensive Financial Crimes 06:05 The Murders of Maggie and Paul Murdaugh 07:05 Investigation, Trial, and 2023 Murder Conviction 08:15 Becky Hill Allegations and Claims of Jury Influence 10:15 Becky Hill’s Guilty Plea and Court Findings 12:05 South Carolina Supreme Court Overturns the Verdict 14:10 Real Estate Fallout and Sale of the Moselle Property 18:21 Brian’s Argument for Reasonable Doubt 39:23 Brennan’s Argument Supporting a Guilty Verdict 55:06 Discussion of the Investigation and Retrial 56:17 Closing Summary and Current Status of Alex Murdaugh Have a topic you want us to discuss, or want to be a guest on our show? Follow and DM us: Instagram @myrealestateshow on Instagram LinkedIn My Real Estate Show on LinkedIn

  7. May 18

    Ep 1: Booked, Paid, Nowhere to Stay (STR Scams)

    True Crime in Real Estate™ is reported journalism. Every name, charge, and figure is sourced from federal court filings, public records, law enforcement statements, and verified reporting. Pending cases are treated as allegations and the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Nothing here is legal advice. Sources: Defendants: Shray Goel, 35 time of indictment, listed addresses Miami, Calabasas, & Milwaukee. Initially charged December 13, 2023, on a separate indictment. Shaunik Raheja, 34 at time of indictment, listed address in Denver. Added in the first superseding indictment, January 3, 2024. Business entities used in the scheme: Abbot Pacific LLC and multiple other host names and LLCs. Charges in the superseding indictment: Conspiracy to commit wire fraud, 13 counts of wire fraud. Goel additionally charged with two counts of aggravated identity theft. Wire fraud and conspiracy each carry a statutory maximum of 20 years federal. Pleas: Goel pleaded guilty to wire fraud. Raheja pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice and admitted lying to federal agents during the 2023 investigation. Sentencing scheduled for late summer 2026. Scheme dates: October 2017 through November 2019. Banned from Vrbo in 2015 prior to that for repeated cancellations and guest complaints, continued under fake host names. Scale: Nearly 100 properties across 10 states. Approximately 10,000 reservations. Approximately $8.5 million in revenue, with about $7 million from Airbnb and about $1.5 million from Vrbo. Plea agreement stipulates a $1.5 million loss figure tied to the wire fraud count. Jurisdiction: United States District Court, Central District of California, Los Angeles. Prosecuting office: United States Attorney's Office, Central District of California. Investigating agencies: FBI Los Angeles Field Office. Assisting: FDIC Office of Inspector General and Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General. Defense counsel of record at indictment: Michael G. Freedman, representing Shray Goel. Keri Curtis Axel, representing Shaunik Raheja. Reporting: NBC News, Pair indicted in alleged Airbnb, Vrbo rental property scam that netted $8.5 million, January 4, 2024. CBS News, 2 indicted in $8.5 million Airbnb, Vrbo scam linked to 10,000 reservations across 10 states. NBC 6 South Florida, Miami man indicted in $8.5M short-term rental scam with thousands of victims. The Real Deal, Two Indicted in $8.5 Million Nationwide Airbnb, Vrbo Scam, January 7, 2024. Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General First Superseding Indictment, United States v. Goel and Raheja, Central District of California. Direct verification: United States Attorney's Office, Central

  • 7 Episodes

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About

So you passed the exam, bought the lockbox, and found a blazer that makes you look trustworthy. Nobody in pre-license brought up Beverly Carter, who went to show a house outside Little Rock in 2014 and never came home. Or Ashley Okland, shot inside a model home in West Des Moines in 2011. That’s the side of real estate this show covers. We get into agents hurt on the job, vacant houses that turned into crime scenes, brokers who disappeared with everyone’s earnest money, and wire fraud that drains a family’s down payment right before closing. Then the bigger picture, honestly, like redlining, Cabrini-Green, Pruitt-Igoe, slumlords who own entire ZIP codes, and cartels parking cash in luxury condos. Some of it is history and some of it is still happening right now. True Crime in Real Estate™ is made for agents. If you’re just here for the true crime and want to know why your REALTOR® won’t meet you alone at a vacant house after dark, this is why.

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