Dark Dialogue: Distilled

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  • TRUE CRIME

The essence of true crime. The heart of every case. Dark Dialogue: Distilled is the short-form companion to the critically acclaimed Dark Dialogue podcast series. These condensed episodes cut through the noise, delivering the most vital details, key theories, and unforgettable moments from the original long-form investigations — all in under an hour. Hosted by investigative expert John and co-host Angela, Distilled offers a focused, high-impact experience for listeners who crave clarity, not clutter. Whether you’re revisiting a case or diving in for the first time, this series brings you closer to the truth — one sharpened story at a time. 📌 Perfect for: True crime fans short on time First-time listeners seeking a gateway to the full Dark Dialogue series Repeat listeners looking for powerful refreshers Subscribe now. Discover the core. And keep the dialogue alive. 🔗 Full episodes available at: darkdialogue.com 💬 Support the show: patreon.com/darkdialogue | ko-fi.com/darkdialogue 📰 Join the newsletter: darkdialogue.substack.com 📥 Contact: info@darkdialogue.com

Episodes

  1. Holly Bobo — Distilled: When the Evidence Refuses to Fit

    FEB 5

    Holly Bobo — Distilled: When the Evidence Refuses to Fit

    In April 2011, Holly Bobo was abducted from her family’s home in rural Tennessee. Years later, Zach Adams was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. But even after a jury verdict, appellate review, and years of public certainty, the evidence has never settled cleanly. In this episode of Dark Dialogue: Distilled, John McColl steps away from courtroom narrative and emotional momentum to examine what still doesn’t add up. This is not a retelling of the case. It’s a focused discussion of what’s happening now—as Zach Adams’ post-conviction challenge remains under judicial review—and why the physical evidence, eyewitness description, cell-phone data, timelines, and witness testimony continue to conflict with the official story. Topics covered include: Eyewitness description mismatches The absence of physical evidence tying the convicted men to the crime Cell-phone tower data that contradicts the prosecution’s timeline Testimony that collapses under timing analysis Recanted statements and coercion claims Why former investigators questioned the state’s theory The broader implications of wrongful convictions and public safety This episode does not claim to solve the case. It asks a simpler, harder question: does the explanation we were given actually hold up? A companion video series is currently in production, where the evidence discussed here will be shown visually—route by route, timeline by timeline—for listeners who want to see why these discrepancies matter. Listener discretion advised. Once it’s been distilled… the truth is what remains.   🔍 GET INVOLVED & SUPPORT THE WORK If you believe in victim-centered, fact-driven storytelling, here are ways to support and engage with the Dark Dialogue Network: 🥾 Dark Dialogue Collective Our volunteer, boots-on-the-ground program. Help with research, records requests, transcription, and case advocacy. (Not a donation tier.) 🕯️ Adopt-A-Victim Program Learn more at www.darkdialogue.com We commit sustained attention and advocacy to individual cases that risk being forgotten. 📰 Victim Blog Posts Long-form, researched victim write-ups available at www.darkdialogue.com ❤️ Support the Network Patreon (recurring): https://patreon.com/DarkDialoguepod Ko-fi (one-time): https://ko-fi.com/darkdialogue ✍️ Written Analysis & Updates Subscribe to our Substack: 👉 https://darkdialoguecrime.substack.com 📧 Contact Have information or questions? Email us at info@darkdialogue.com 🎧 EXPLORE THE DARK DIALOGUE NETWORK Rocky Mountain Reckoning Dark Dialogue: Main Show Dark Dialogue: Unraveled Truths Dark Dialogue: Gallows & Gunfights Dark Dialogue: Shadow Chat Sessions   If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or another platform — follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode. If you’re watching on YouTube — like, subscribe, and ring the bell so you don’t miss future episodes. Your engagement helps keep these stories visible — and keeps the reckoning alive.

    1h 29m

  2. 12/25/2025

    When Christmas Isn’t Safe: Domestic Violence Behind Holiday Traditions

    Christmas is supposed to be a refuge—a pause from the chaos, a promise of peace. But for many families, Christmas doesn’t calm the storm. It traps it. In this Dark Dialogue Distilled Christmas Special, John examines some of the most disturbing cases of domestic violence and family annihilation to occur on or around Christmas—not as isolated tragedies, but as part of a repeating and deeply uncomfortable pattern. From the 1929 Lawson family murders in North Carolina, to the unresolved mystery of the Sodder children, to the Carnation family massacre, the Covina Christmas Eve Santa-suit attack, and modern cases where violence unfolded quietly behind closed doors, this episode strips away holiday mythology and confronts the truth: Christmas doesn’t create abuse. It concentrates it. Alcohol, financial pressure, forced proximity, isolation, and the expectation that everything should “look fine” collide—often with devastating consequences. These crimes were not spontaneous. They were escalations of control, resentment, entitlement, and fear that already existed long before the tree went up. This episode is not about fear-mongering. It’s about honesty. It’s about recognizing that holidays can be a high-risk moment for those already living with domestic violence—and that silence, tradition, and appearances can be deadly. You’ll also hear a data-driven discussion that separates myth from reality: why December is not statistically the deadliest month overall, yet remains a documented danger window for escalation, emergency calls, and lethal outcomes. We close with a Christmas victim tribute, honoring the lives lost—not for how they died, but for how they lived—and a reminder that checking in, listening, and refusing to look away can matter more than any tradition. If this episode resonates with you, or raises concern for someone you love, please don’t ignore that feeling. Help is available. Reaching out is not weakness—it’s survival. Calls to Action (Integrated & Optimized) • Follow or subscribe to Dark Dialogue Distilled wherever you listen • Rate and review the show if your platform allows—it helps these stories reach the people who need them • Share this episode with someone who should hear it • Watch on YouTube, subscribe, and turn on notifications • Join us live on New Year’s night for the Dark Dialogue live show 👉 darkdialogue.com/live

    1h 3m

  3. 12/20/2025

    The Woman Who Cleaned a Murder — The Kelsey Berreth Case Through Krystal Lee’s Eyes

    On Thanksgiving 2018, Colorado mother Kelsey Berreth vanished without a trace. Her fiancé, Patrick Frazee, was later convicted of beating her to death and burning her remains. But this Distilled episode isn’t just about the murder — it’s about the woman who helped him cover it up. This is the story of Krystal Lee Kenney. A rodeo queen. A nurse. A mother. And the only witness who knew every step of Frazee’s plan. In this episode, we break down: The three failed “murder assignments” Frazee gave her The psychological grooming that kept her under his control The four-hour crime scene cleanup she performed alone The burning of Kelsey's remains that she stood by and watched Her deeply controversial plea deal and early release Why prosecutors called it “a deal with the devil” How her testimony secured Frazee’s life sentence The moral question: coerced… or complicit? You’ll hear a long-form tribute to Kelsey — not as a victim, but as a mother, daughter, pilot, and woman who deserved a lifetime of moments she never got to live. If you value the work: Follow, rate, review, and hit the bell — it truly helps the show reach more people. Support deeper investigations on Patreon, Ko-fi, and Substack, or send case suggestions to info@darkdialogue.com. This is Dark Dialogue: Distilled. Stay curious. Stay relentless… and don’t let the truth go silent.

    54 min

  4. 11/20/2025

    •Distilled: Reopened — Brookelynn Farthing: The Disappearance They Should Have Solved

    Distilled: Reopened — Episode 1 The Fire, The Lies, and the Vanishing of Brookelyn Farthing Welcome to the brand-new evolution of Distilled — a sharper, more uncompromising format where I take cases back off the shelf, strip away old assumptions, correct past mistakes, and confront the evidence without a rigid structure or a co-host filter. And today, we’re reopening one of the most infuriating unsolved disappearances I’ve ever covered: the 2013 disappearance of 18-year-old Brookelyn Farthing in Berea, Kentucky. This episode digs deep into the contradictions, the suspicious house fire, the abandoned personal belongings, the bizarre timeline, and the single person who had the opportunity, proximity, and motive to make Brookelyn vanish — yet has never faced a day of scrutiny in court. Inside this episode: A minute-by-minute breakdown of Brooke’s final known hours Why the cigarette-caused fire theory collapses under scientific reality The evidence left behind, and what it tells us about a forced disappearance The contradictions in Josh Hensley’s statements How later convictions revealed who he really was Why Kentucky’s homicide clearance rates matter — and how this case exemplifies systemic failure What likely happened to Brookelyn, based on evidence, behavior, and timeline What police could have done. What they should have done. And what they still can do. This isn’t the old Distilled. This is Distilled: Reopened — where cases come back under the light, without excuses, without restrictions, and without hesitation. If you know the case, you’re about to hear it in a way you’ve never heard before. If you don’t, you’re about to understand why so many people are furious it remains unsolved. CALLS TO ACTION If this episode matters to you, here’s how to support the work: 👍 Like, follow, and subscribe ⭐ Leave a review — it truly helps 🔔 Hit the bell so you never miss an episode 🕵️ Join the Dark Dialogue Collective, our boots-on-the-ground volunteer network for searches, advocacy, and victim support ❤️ Adopt-A-Victim — research, promote, and help keep a victim’s case alive 📬 Send tips, questions, or case suggestions: info@darkdialogue.com 🌐 Visit: www.darkdialogue.com 🤝 Support the show on Patreon, Ko-fi, or Substack

    1h 29m

  5. TRAILER

    Trailer – Dark Dialogue: Distilled

    Don’t have time for a full investigation? We get it. Dark Dialogue: Distilled gives you the same intense cases in short, fact-forward episodes. No filler, no speculation—just what you need to understand the case. It’s everything you expect from the main show—distilled down to its core. 🎧 Perfect for first-timers or true crime bingers 🌐 More at darkdialogue.com ☕ Support us on Patreon, Ko-fi, or Substack Same cases. Sharper cut. Tags/Keywords: short true crime episodes, condensed crime stories, fast crime podcast, Dark Dialogue short form, missing persons summary, distilled true crime, investigative podcast, fast listen

    1 min

  6. 07/14/2025

    Candace Hiltz: Murder, Cover-Up, and the Secrets of Prison Valley

    Brilliant. Outspoken. Just seventeen. Candace Hiltz was a prodigy, a single mother, and a future Supreme Court hopeful—until she was executed in her own home in Fremont County, Colorado. In this Dark Dialogue: Distilled episode, we cut through decades of misdirection and misconduct to focus on the critical facts. From the strange disappearance of the family dog to the bullet-riddled crime scene, from a storage unit filled with blood-soaked evidence to a local sheriff’s department drowning in corruption—this is a story of shattered trust and stolen justice. We examine how Candace’s accusations against a Fremont County deputy may have led to her death, the botched investigation that followed, and the chilling discovery of case evidence dumped in a Colorado landfill. With no arrests nearly two decades later, one question remains: was this the work of a killer—or a cover-up? This is not just a cold case. It’s a scandal. 🔍 Keywords: Candace Hiltz murder, Fremont County corruption, Colorado cold case, Robert Dodd evidence, Cold Justice, Prison Valley, Canon City murder, police cover-up, unsolved murder podcast, true crime Colorado — 🎙 Support the mission: Adopt-a-Victim: darkdialogue.com/adopt-a-victim Join the Collective: darkdialogue.com/dark-dialogue-collective-join-the-search-support-the-mission Patreon: patreon.com/DarkDialoguePod Ko-fi: ko-fi.com/darkdialogue Substack: substack.com/@darkdialogue1 📬 Send tips, critiques, or case suggestions to: info@darkdialogue.com 💡 Subscribe, rate, and review to help keep these stories alive—and keep the dialogue alive.

    1h 11m

  7. 06/23/2025

    Whispers of Fear: The Vanishing of Brookelyn Farthing

    Whispers of Fear: The Vanishing of Brookelyn Farthing | Dark Dialogue: Distilled On a warm Kentucky night in June 2013, 18-year-old Brookelyn Farthing vanished without a trace after accepting a ride from an acquaintance. What followed was a suspicious fire, a chilling final text, and over a decade of silence. In this Distilled version of the full-length Dark Dialogue episode, we cut straight to the critical details: Brooke’s final hours, the man she was last seen with, the haunting clues left behind, and the questions that still remain. This compressed true crime case summary brings you the facts, the theories, and the reason we still care—twelve years later. 🎧 What You'll Hear: Who was Brookelyn Farthing? What happened the night she disappeared? Who is Josh Hensley, and why was he never charged? Why does the timeline—and the fire—raise so many red flags? What can be done today to help bring Brooke home? 📌 Know Something? Say Something. If you have any information about the disappearance of Brookelyn Farthing, contact the Kentucky State Police at 859-623-2404 or 1-800-222-5555, or email https://www.darkdialogue.com 🎯 Keywords (for SEO): Brookelyn Farthing, Kentucky missing person, Berea Kentucky, Josh Hensley, unsolved disappearance, true crime podcast, Kentucky State Police, field party mystery, missing teen, unresolved case, couch fire case, 2013 cold case, Brookelyn Farthing theories, Dark Dialogue podcast, Dark Dialogue Distilled, crime documentary, Kentucky true crime 🕯️ Dark Dialogue: Distilled. Because every victim deserves to be heard—even in silence.

    1h 14m

  8. 06/22/2025

    Vanished in the Darkness: The Heather Elvis Case

    🎙 Dark Dialogue: Distilled – Vanished in the Darkness: The Heather Elvis Case A 20-year-old waitress. A secret affair. A remote boat landing in the dead of night. In this short-form edition of Dark Dialogue, we condense one of South Carolina’s most haunting true crime cases: the disappearance of Heather Elvis. On December 18, 2013, Heather’s car was found abandoned near Peachtree Landing. Her body has never been recovered. But behind the headlines is a tangled web of obsession, betrayal, and silence—from a jealous wife to a phone call from a payphone that changed everything. John and Angela strip the case down to its chilling essentials, examining the final hours of Heather’s life, the explosive trials of Sidney and Tammy Moorer, and the unanswered question that still haunts Myrtle Beach: where is Heather Elvis? 🎧 Whether you're short on time or just want the key details, Dark Dialogue: Distilled delivers the most gripping facts in under an hour—no filler, no fluff. 🔎 Keywords (SEO optimized) Heather Elvis, Myrtle Beach disappearance, Peachtree Landing, Sidney Moorer, Tammy Moorer, South Carolina true crime, 2013 cold case, waitress missing, Horry County mystery, Dark Dialogue podcast ❤️ If you or someone you know is experiencing stalking, harassment, or threats of violence: National Domestic Violence Hotline – 800-799-7233 RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) – 800-656-4673 Stalking Resource Center – victimsofcrime.org 📢 Support & Connect Support the show: Patreon | Ko-fi | Substack Join a case effort: Adopt-a-Victim Program Have a case suggestion or comment? Email us: info@darkdialogue.com Follow us on all platforms @DarkDialoguePod

    1h 14m

  9. 06/22/2025

    The Kindness That Killed

    The Murder of Lori Bray – Laurel, Montana | Short-Form Series She closed up the Cedar Ridge Casino, like she’d done countless nights before. But on October 1, 2019, Lori Bray’s kindness led her into the car with a stranger — and she never came home. This distilled episode of Dark Dialogue revisits the brutal murder that rocked the quiet town of Laurel, Montana. In under an hour, hosts John and Angela take you through: Lori Bray’s final night and the chilling crime scene The search and discovery that devastated her family The background of suspect Diego Hernandez — and the twisted story that unfolded in court The cautionary lessons this case leaves behind Lori Bray was a compassionate woman, a devoted mother, and a true friend. Her death was senseless — but her story deserves to be told. 🔍 Keywords (for discoverability): True Crime, Lori Bray, Montana Murder, Laurel Montana, Diego Hernandez, Women’s Safety, Cold Case, Casino Murder, Homicide Investigation, Victim Tribute, DNA Forensics, Courtroom Drama, Small Town Crime 📢 Calls to Action: 💔 If this case moved you, help us share Lori’s story. 🔁 Rate, follow, and review Dark Dialogue: Distilled wherever you listen. 🕵️‍♀️ For full-length deep dives, listen to the complete Dark Dialogue episode catalog. 🎧 Available now on: Spotify Apple Podcasts darkdialogue.com 📬 Support us on: Patreon Ko-fi 📰 Join the true crime conversation: darkdialogue.substack.com 📩 Have a case suggestion? Email: info@darkdialogue.com

    50 min

Trailer

About

The essence of true crime. The heart of every case. Dark Dialogue: Distilled is the short-form companion to the critically acclaimed Dark Dialogue podcast series. These condensed episodes cut through the noise, delivering the most vital details, key theories, and unforgettable moments from the original long-form investigations — all in under an hour. Hosted by investigative expert John and co-host Angela, Distilled offers a focused, high-impact experience for listeners who crave clarity, not clutter. Whether you’re revisiting a case or diving in for the first time, this series brings you closer to the truth — one sharpened story at a time. 📌 Perfect for: True crime fans short on time First-time listeners seeking a gateway to the full Dark Dialogue series Repeat listeners looking for powerful refreshers Subscribe now. Discover the core. And keep the dialogue alive. 🔗 Full episodes available at: darkdialogue.com 💬 Support the show: patreon.com/darkdialogue | ko-fi.com/darkdialogue 📰 Join the newsletter: darkdialogue.substack.com 📥 Contact: info@darkdialogue.com

Information

  • Creator
    darkdialoguedistilled
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2025 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    Dark Dialogue: Distilled