Murder on Songbird Road

iHeart True Crime

Murder on Songbird Road revisits the stabbing death of an 11-year-old girl in Southern Illinois and the subsequent arrest and conviction of her father’s fiancée for the crime. In this series, veteran true-crime host Lauren Bright Pacheco teams up with criminal defense attorney Bob Motta to investigate whether the case—one that tore apart a rural community, sparking controversy, corruption, and ongoing questions—was truly solved, or if an innocent woman remains wrongfully convicted.

Episodes

  1. 11. Closing Arguments

    06/03/2025

    11. Closing Arguments

    The final episode, subject to future updates, of Murder on Songbird Road invites listeners and former interviewees to reflect on their thoughts and opinions regarding the case against Julia Bevely. Additionally, Bevely's legal team provides an update on the current status of her appeal process. Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com.  CONTACTS: The Illinois Attorney General’s Conviction Integrity Unit (CIU) Office of the Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul Office of the Illinois Governor JB Pritzker    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min
  2. 10. Suspect

    27/02/2025

    10. Suspect

    Bob and Lauren return to Marion, knocking on doors once again. This time, however, they uncover crucial footage that reveals significant flaws in the investigation’s hasty rush to judgment. Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min
  3. 9. Judgement

    20/02/2025

    9. Judgement

    The infamous Huck’s footage exposes critical flaws in the prosecution’s theory, reinforced by a criminologist’s analysis of stabbing murders—setting the stage for Innocence activist Jason Flom to intervene and alter the course of Bevely’s legal battle. Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    46 min
  4. 8. The Evidence

    13/02/2025

    8. The Evidence

    The access to the interrogation video and the collection of Bevely’s DNA raise concerns about official protocol and the broader objectives of the investigation. Additionally, the prosecution’s influence on the case comes under scrutiny. Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min
  5. 7. Close Calls

    06/02/2025

    7. Close Calls

    The State’s Attorney claimed Bevely’s account of encountering an armed assailant was proven false within days of the murder but a closer look into call records raises questions about other possible suspects. Wrongful Conviction Podcast Episodes: Julie Rae Michelle Murphy Melissa Lucio Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    43 min
  6. 6. Observations

    30/01/2025

    6. Observations

    The family of Jade’s father share their remembrances of a life tragically ended and thoughts on the woman they believe took it. Speculation as to what could have motivated the murder takes an unlikely turn, leading to Salem, Massachusetts. Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    45 min
  7. 5. The Delivery

    23/01/2025

    5. The Delivery

    Weeks after she was arrested for the murder of her step-daughter, Julia Bevely realized she was expecting her fourth child. Her subsequent treatment during pregnancy, birth and postpartum as a pre-trial detainee remain, next to the murder, the most disturbing aspects of the case. Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    42 min
  8. 4. The Sentencing

    16/01/2025

    4. The Sentencing

    The day of the sentencing, Bob and Lauren retrace the route Julia Bevely claims to have taken the morning of the murder with surprising results. Her increasingly polarizing fate is then decided in a packed Marion courtroom filled with contrasting emotions. Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    41 min
  9. 3. The Timeline

    09/01/2025

    3. The Timeline

    Bob and Lauren connect in Marion, Illinois for Julia Bevely’s sentencing. Through a jailhouse visit with Bevely- and interviews with her family- a narrative emerges that is at odds with key elements of the prosecution theory in terms of the murder and the woman convicted of having committed it.  Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    38 min
  10. 2. The Arrest

    02/01/2025

    2. The Arrest

    Just days after the murder, the Williamson County State’s Attorney announced the death of Jade Beasley- and the arrest of Julia Bevely- in the same press conference. He claimed a thorough investigation had already been conducted, but glaring questions remain to this day.  Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    37 min
  11. 1. The Case

    02/01/2025

    1. The Case

    On December 5th of 2020, a blended family was ripped apart when police responded to a 911 call placed from a rural area in Marion, Illinois. At the scene, they would find an 11-year-old girl, brutally murdered and her hysterical 32-year old stepmother.  Email us with thoughts, suggestions or tips at investigatingmurder@iheartmedia.com. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    39 min
  12. Introducing: Murder on Songbird Road

    TRAILER

    Introducing: Murder on Songbird Road

    See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

    3 min

Trailer

Hosts & Guests

About

Murder on Songbird Road revisits the stabbing death of an 11-year-old girl in Southern Illinois and the subsequent arrest and conviction of her father’s fiancée for the crime. In this series, veteran true-crime host Lauren Bright Pacheco teams up with criminal defense attorney Bob Motta to investigate whether the case—one that tore apart a rural community, sparking controversy, corruption, and ongoing questions—was truly solved, or if an innocent woman remains wrongfully convicted.

Information

  • Channel
    iHeart True Crime
  • Creator
    iHeartPodcasts
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    12
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    2026 iHeartMedia, Inc. © Any use of this intellectual property for text and data mining or computational analysis including as training material for artificial intelligence systems is strictly prohibited without express written consent from iHeartMedia
  • Show Website
    Murder on Songbird Road

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