Off The Record-Podcast

Brandy and Crystal
  • 5.0 (2)
  • True Crime
  • Weekly

Off the Record is true crime with an investigator in the room and a best friend who has questions. A former detective (Brandy) takes each case apart like it just landed on her desk, following the evidence, breaking down investigative decisions, and explaining what really happens behind the scenes. Crystal brings the civilian perspective, the reactions, and the questions everyone is yelling at their headphones: Why would they do that? Why DIDN’T they do that? And how did nobody catch this?! Two best friends. Two very different perspectives. One case at a time. True crime. Real perspective.

Episodes

  1. 17h ago

    Episode 6: The Woolfolk Family Massacre

    On August 6, 1887, nine members of the Woolfolk family were found murdered inside their rural farmhouse outside Macon, Georgia. The victims ranged from 84-year-old Temperance West to 18-month-old Mattie Woolfolk. The only person to walk out of the house alive was 27-year-old Tom Woolfolk. Tom claimed he woke to the sounds of his father being attacked, discovered the carnage, escaped through a window, and ran barefoot in his nightclothes to neighbor Green Lockett for help. But investigators quickly began questioning his story. Blood was observed on Tom, a bloodied axe was found inside the house, and clothing the prosecution claimed belonged to Tom was later recovered from the family well. Tom’s defense disputed ownership of those clothes, leaving one question that still stands out: if the clothes in the well were not Tom’s, where were the nightclothes Green saw him wearing? The investigation also produced alternate suspects, conflicting witness accounts, a mysterious bloodied hat recovered from the well, allegations of threats against the family, and a possible jailhouse admission. Tom was convicted twice after his first conviction was overturned by the Georgia Supreme Court because of serious problems with the original trial. In this episode, we look at what investigators actually had available to them in 1887, how a murder case was built before DNA and modern forensic science, and whether the evidence truly pointed to Tom Woolfolk. SOURCES: • Supreme Court of Georgia, Woolfolk v. State, 81 Ga. 551, 8 S.E. 724 (1889). • Supreme Court of Georgia, Woolfolk v. State, 85 Ga. 69, 11 S.E. 814 (1890). • New Georgia Encyclopedia, Donald E. Wilkes Jr., “Woolfolk Murder Case.” • Digital Library of Georgia, Georgia Historic Newspapers. • The Macon Telegraph, contemporary coverage of the Woolfolk murders, investigation, trials, and execution, 1887–1890. • Union Recorder, August 9, 1887. • The Oglethorpe Echo, August 12, 1887. • Georgia Enterprise, September 30, 1887. • Morning News (Savannah), November 22, 1887, and additional contemporary coverage. • Georgia Attorney General Clifford Anderson, Biennial Report covering the Woolfolk prosecution and appellate proceedings. • E. Merton Coulter, “The Woolfolk Murder,” Georgia Historical Quarterly, Vol. 49, June 1965, pp. 115–156. • Carolyn DeLoach, The Woolfolk Tragedy (1996). • Carolyn DeLoach, Shadow Chasers: The Woolfolk Tragedy Revisited (2000). Later historical works were used primarily for background and competing theories. Where later retellings conflict with surviving court records or contemporary primary sources, greater weight was given to the Georgia Supreme Court opinions and period reporting.

  2. Oct 29

    Episode 5: The Candy Man

    On Halloween night in 1974, eight-year-old Timothy O’Bryan went trick-or-treating with his father, sister, and family friends in the Houston area. Later that night, Timothy ate candy from a giant Pixy Stix and became violently ill. He died shortly afterward from cyanide poisoning. At first, investigators faced every parent’s Halloween nightmare: had someone handed poisoned candy to neighborhood children? But as police traced the candy, questioned witnesses, and reconstructed the trick-or-treat route, the story began pointing much closer to home. This week, Brandy and Crystal discuss the murder of Timothy O’Bryan, the investigation into his father Ronald Clark O’Bryan, the five poisoned Pixy Stix, suspicious life-insurance policies, Ronald’s pre-Halloween inquiries about cyanide, and the evidence that ultimately led to his capital-murder conviction. We also look at the case from an investigator’s perspective and separate the evidence documented in court from the Halloween legends that grew around the story. Trigger warning: This episode discusses the murder of a child, poisoning, cyanide, capital punishment, and other details some listeners may find disturbing. SOURCES: • O’Bryan v. State, 591 S.W.2d 464, Texas Court of Criminal Appeals (1979) — primary source for trial evidence, witness testimony, financial problems, life-insurance policies, cyanide inquiries, the trick-or-treat timeline, toxicology, physical evidence, conviction, and sentence. • Ronald Clark O’Bryan v. W.J. Estelle Jr., 714 F.2d 365, U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit (1983) — federal appellate history and summary of the case. • Texas Department of Criminal Justice — official execution records for Ronald Clark O’Bryan. • Houstonia Magazine, “The Man Who Killed Halloween” by John Lomax — retrospective reporting on Timothy’s murder, the investigation, prosecution, and the case’s lasting connection to Halloween. • Smithsonian Magazine, “Where Did the Fear of Poisoned Halloween Candy Come From?” — background on poisoned-candy fears and the cultural impact of the O’Bryan case. This episode is presented for educational and discussion purposes. Ronald O’Bryan maintained his innocence through his execution.

  3. Oct 22

    Episode 4: The Axeman of New Orleans 1918

    New Orleans, 1918. Families are being attacked inside their own homes while they sleep, axes are being left behind, and a disturbingly familiar method of entry begins appearing from one crime scene to the next. This week, Brandy and Crystal head into Spooky Season with one of New Orleans’ most infamous unsolved mysteries: the Axeman of New Orleans. We start where an investigation should—with the crime scenes—and work backward, peeling apart the victims, evidence, possible connections, questionable eyewitness identifications, and the strange pattern involving Italian grocers. Brandy looks at the investigation through a modern law-enforcement lens, comparing what investigators had available in 1918–1919 with what those same scenes could potentially reveal in 2026. Then things get weird. A letter supposedly written by the Axeman claims to come from Hell and threatens another attack—but promises to spare homes playing jazz. The city responds with music, and the case begins its transformation from an unsolved series of brutal crimes into New Orleans folklore. We also separate documented history from legend, including the Axeman portrayed in American Horror Story: Coven, the disputed Joseph Mumfre story, and the enduring question at the center of it all: was there really one Axeman responsible for every crime attributed to him? More than a century later, the legend remains. His identity does not. CONTENT WARNING This episode discusses murder, severe physical violence, attacks involving axes and other weapons, violence against a young child, and an attack on a pregnant woman. Listener discretion is advised. SOURCES & FURTHER READING • Davis, Miriam C. The Axeman of New Orleans: The True Story. Chicago Review Press, 2017.A detailed modern historical examination of the Axeman crimes, victims, contemporary investigations, disputed cases, and later legends surrounding the unidentified offender. • Library of Congress — Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers.Historical newspaper archive used for contemporary reporting and broader historical context surrounding New Orleans during the period of the Axeman attacks. • The Times-Picayune / historical New Orleans newspaper archives.Contemporary newspaper coverage of the Axeman investigation, individual attacks, public reaction, and the infamous March 1919 letter attributed to the Axeman. • The Historic New Orleans Collection.Historical resources concerning New Orleans history, culture, crime, immigration, and the social environment surrounding the Axeman period. • Smithsonian Magazine / Smithsonian Institution.Historical reporting and secondary-source material concerning the Axeman legend, New Orleans jazz, and the famous threat associated with the March 1919 letter. • Federal Bureau of Investigation — FBI History / Fingerprints and Identification.Background regarding the development of fingerprint identification and the evolution of forensic investigative techniques in the United States. • National Institute of Justice — Forensic Science Resources.Background regarding modern forensic evidence collection, DNA analysis, trace evidence, crime-scene processing, and other techniques discussed when comparing the 1918–1919 investigation with a modern investigation. • National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) — Forensic Science.Modern forensic-science information relevant to fingerprint examination, toolmark analysis and other forms of physical-evidence examination discussed during the episode. • Encyclopaedia Britannica — History of New Orleans and Jazz.Historical context concerning New Orleans and the development of jazz during the early twentieth century. • FX — American Horror Story: Coven.Reference for the fictionalized portrayal of the Axeman in Season 3 of American Horror Story, including “The Axeman Cometh” (Season 3, Episode 6).

  4. Oct 15

    Episode 3: Bill and Peggy Stephenson

    On May 29, 2011, 74-year-old high-school sweethearts Bill and Peggy Stephenson were found murdered inside the northern Kentucky condo where they had planned to spend their retirement. But this wasn't simply a double homicide. Their bodies had been moved. The home had been staged and partially cleaned. Objects and symbols appeared to have been deliberately arranged, and evidence suggested whoever was responsible remained inside the condo for hours after Bill and Peggy were already dead. For fifteen years, investigators have tried to determine what happened inside that home—and which parts of the bizarre scene were genuine clues versus a story the killer wanted police to believe. In this episode, Brandy and Crystal dig into Bill and Peggy's lives, the unusual crime scene, the unidentified man looking for Bill shortly before the murders, the nephew whose own later murder conviction forced detectives to take another look, unknown DNA recovered from the scene, and a partial fingerprint that finally produced a match more than a decade later. The murders remain unsolved, but the evidence hasn't stopped talking. SOURCES • Boone County Sheriff's Office — original press releases, case information and public statements regarding the May 29, 2011 murders of William "Bill" and Peggy Stephenson. • FOX19 — Sheriffs investigate elderly couple's death as double homicide, May 29, 2011. • FOX19 — Police seek person of interest in Florence couple's murder, June 22, 2011. • FOX19 — reporting concerning the identification and investigation of the man photographed at the TA Truck Stop in the weeks following the murders. • Northern Kentucky Tribune — Mark Hansel, Five years later, community, investigators still look for answers in killings of Bill and Peggy Stephenson, May 2016. • WCPO Cincinnati — Cold cases: DNA, but no suspect in Stephenson double murder in Florence. • WLWT Cincinnati — Mike Dardis, Lead investigator in bizarre NKY cold case has message for murderer, May 10, 2018. • WLWT Cincinnati — Brian Hamrick, $50,000 reward offered for info on bizarre, unsolved slaying of NKY couple, August 21, 2020. • FOX19 — Jessica Schmidt, Investigators revealing new information as 10-year anniversary of couple's murder approaches, May 27, 2021. • Catch My Killer, Episode 78: Bill and Peggy Stephenson, April 11, 2021. Includes interviews with Bill and Peggy's daughter Beth Stephenson-Victor and longtime lead investigator Detective Coy Cox. • Unsolved Mysteries Podcast, Condo Killings, June 22, 2022. Includes extensive interview material with Detective Coy Cox concerning the discovery of the victims, crime-scene staging, timeline, physical evidence and investigative theories. • Unresolved: A True Crime & Mystery Podcast, Bill & Peggy Stephenson, June 19, 2026. • WLWT Cincinnati — Brian Hamrick, 15 years later, Boone County couple's brutal and bizarre murder remains unsolved, May 19, 2026. Includes comments from newly assigned cold-case Detective Everett Stahl regarding the unusual nature of the scene and the continuing investigation. • Crime Junkie, MURDERED: Bill & Peggy Stephenson, August 10, 2026. Includes original reporting and updated interviews regarding the long-unidentified partial fingerprint, the 2023 fingerprint development, renewed comparison testing and other recent investigative developments. Additional information was reviewed through publicly available news archives, interviews, case coverage and historical reporting concerning the Stephenson investigation and the later murder conviction of Charles "Stevie" Stephenson. CASE STATUS The murders of Bill and Peggy Stephenson remain unsolved. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Boone County Sheriff's Office. The case tip line currently publicized for the Stephenson investigation is 859-334-8496.

  5. Oct 8

    Episode 2: Jessica Lunsford Part 2

    In Part 1, the search for nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford led investigators to registered sex offender John Couey—a man with a lengthy criminal history who had been staying just yards from Jessica’s home. In Part 2, investigators finally track Couey to Georgia, where an FBI polygraph and hours of questioning lead to a confession. Jessica is found, and the evidence begins to reveal what happened inside the nearby trailer. But what appears to be an open-and-shut case takes an unexpected legal turn when Couey’s confession is thrown out. We break down why the confession was suppressed, why Jessica’s body and the physical evidence were still admissible, the case prosecutors ultimately presented to the jury, Couey’s conviction and sentence, and how Jessica’s murder led to major changes in Florida law. Sources & References:Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); Florida Senate and Florida Legislature records, including the Jessica Lunsford Act; U.S. Department of Justice, OJJDP and AMBER Alert/CART materials; Florida court and case records; CBS News and Associated Press contemporaneous reporting; CNN reporting and transcripts; Tampa Bay Times archives; and other contemporaneous local and national reporting from 2005–2009. Sources were cross-referenced where possible. Commentary and discussion regarding investigative practices, interviews and legal procedures reflect the hosts’ analysis and perspective. Content Warning: This episode discusses the abduction, sexual assault and murder of a child. Some details may be difficult for listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

  6. Oct 1

    Episode 1: Jessica Lunsford Part 1

    In February 2005, nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford vanished from her bedroom in Homosassa, Florida. What followed was a massive search involving law enforcement, volunteers, registered sex-offender checks, and a newly trained Child Abduction Response Team. But as investigators chased thousands of leads, the answer was much closer to home than anyone realized. In Part 1, we walk through Jessica’s disappearance, the early investigation, the decisions made along the way, and the overlooked information that would eventually change everything. Sources & References:Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE); Florida Senate and Florida Legislature records; U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (OJJDP) and AMBER Alert/CART materials; Florida court and case records; CBS News and Associated Press contemporaneous reporting; CNN reporting and transcripts; Tampa Bay Times archives; and other contemporaneous local and national news coverage from 2005–2007. Sources were cross-referenced where possible. Commentary and discussion regarding investigative practices reflect the hosts’ analysis and perspective. Content Warning: This episode discusses the abduction of a child, sexual offenses involving children, and homicide. Listener discretion is advised.

  7. Season 1 Trailer

    Coming Soon Teaser

    Off the Record is going live on October 1, 2026. We will publish an episode a week, each Thursday. If we get a good following we have discussed doing bonus episodes where we will bring in law enforcement officers, command staff, and support and do a little Q & A. Starting in January 2027 we will start a Cold Case File as well where each month we will cover an active Cold Case and in some cases speak with the Detectives currently assigned to the case. Stay tuned, we have some things coming for this True Crime Podcast.

  • 1 Trailer
    6 Episodes

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

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out of 5
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About

Off the Record is true crime with an investigator in the room and a best friend who has questions. A former detective (Brandy) takes each case apart like it just landed on her desk, following the evidence, breaking down investigative decisions, and explaining what really happens behind the scenes. Crystal brings the civilian perspective, the reactions, and the questions everyone is yelling at their headphones: Why would they do that? Why DIDN’T they do that? And how did nobody catch this?! Two best friends. Two very different perspectives. One case at a time. True crime. Real perspective.

Information

  • Creator
    Brandy and Crystal
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    7
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Brandy and Crystal
  • Show Website
    Off The Record-Podcast