Floodlights

Laura Frater
Floodlights

From the creator of The Vanishing Point, Floodlights is a weekly true crime show covering major crimes impacting Tribal nations. From the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, to scandals and conspiracies created by an unfair legal system, Floodlights investigates the stories America needs to hear now. Hosted by investigative journalist, Laura Frater. Follow Laura @lauraelizabethfrater. Follow Floodlights at @floodlightspod. 

  1. SCANDAL: Medicaid Fraud Scheme

    DEC 11

    SCANDAL: Medicaid Fraud Scheme

    In the summer of 2024, an investigator reached out to Floodlights to warn us about a Medicaid fraud scheme targeting people on reservations. Today, that investigator is interviewed under the name of "Liza." In this episode, Liza explains how organized groups are actively working to trick vulnerable people on reservations who want to get sober. The scheme, which essentially defrauds Medicaid for millions if not billions of dollars, offers fake sober living facilities to people who are suffering from addiction. Liza walks us through how the fraud scheme works and the warning signs that people should look for if they're approached by "representatives" claiming to work for sober living facilities. She also touches upon the reservation system at large, human trafficking and the potential correlation between this Medicaid fraud scheme and missing people cases. JOIN US IN THE FLOOD ROOM Today, we're launching the Flood Room which is our interactive true crime platform. In the Flood Room, you’ll be able to watch new and extended interviews, see maps, case documents, discuss theories, go behind the scenes for each episode and join community calls with investigators and the rest of our Floodlights team. We're been working on this for a while and we've designed the most interactive true crime experience -- we'd love you to join. It's free to enter and we're going to be letting in our first 1000 founding members in (until spots fill). To join for free, head over to station.page/floodlights. We can't wait to get to know you. CONNECT WITH FLOODLIGHTS You can follow Laura @lauraelizabethfrater. You can follow On Native Ground @onnativegroundmedia. You can follow Blue Thistle Media @bluethistlepodcasts. For a full list of episode sources, please reach out to bluethistlemedia@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    48 min
  2. UNSOLVED MURDERS: The East Bay Three

    DEC 3

    UNSOLVED MURDERS: The East Bay Three

    What are the chances that, in the same area just a few months apart, three young women all go missing and are all found murdered? In this episode, we take you to the East Bay near San Francisco where Elaine Davis, Leona Roberts and Cosette Ellison were all kidnapped from their homes. But what we also ask in this episode is why American suburbia seems safer to so many of us even when these types of crimes take place. And why is it that Tribal reservations have such a reputation for "danger," when brutal crimes take place in the "safest" parts of the US too? JOIN US IN THE FLOOD ROOM Today, we're launching the Flood Room which is our interactive true crime platform. In the Flood Room, you’ll be able to watch new and extended interviews, see maps, case documents, discuss theories, go behind the scenes for each episode and join community calls with investigators and the rest of our Floodlights team. We're been working on this for a while and we've designed the most interactive true crime experience -- we'd love you to join. It's free to enter and we're going to be letting in our first 1000 founding members in (until spots fill). To join for free, head over to station.page/floodlights. We can't wait to get to know you. CONNECT WITH FLOODLIGHTS You can follow Laura @lauraelizabethfrater. You can follow On Native Ground @onnativegroundmedia. You can follow Blue Thistle Media @bluethistlepodcasts. For a full list of episode sources, please reach out to bluethistlemedia@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    32 min
  3. MISSING: Melissa Montoya

    NOV 26

    MISSING: Melissa Montoya

    After attending a celebration at a local bar in Dulce, New Mexico, Melissa Montoya walked towards the back of the bar and was never seen again. More than two decades later, questions continue to swirl about the events of that night and the aftermath. From disturbing stories about her former boyfriend, to his mysterious death after her disappearance, Melissa's story has been overlooked for too long. So, where does Melissa Montoya's case stand today? And is it really possible that law enforcement are close to a breakthrough? JOIN US IN THE FLOOD ROOM Today, we're launching the Flood Room which is our interactive true crime platform. In the Flood Room, you’ll be able to watch new and extended interviews, see maps, case documents, discuss theories, go behind the scenes for each episode and join community calls with investigators and the rest of our Floodlights team. We're been working on this for a while and we've designed the most interactive true crime experience -- we'd love you to join. It's free to enter and we're going to be letting in our first 1000 founding members in (until spots fill). To join for free, head over to station.page/floodlights. We can't wait to get to know you. CONNECT WITH FLOODLIGHTS You can follow Laura @lauraelizabethfrater. You can follow On Native Ground @onnativegroundmedia. You can follow Blue Thistle Media @bluethistlepodcasts. For a full list of episode sources, please reach out to bluethistlemedia@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    39 min
  4. UPDATES: Daniel Robinson | MISSING

    NOV 18

    UPDATES: Daniel Robinson | MISSING

    Daniel Robinson was last seen leaving his job site in Buckeye, Arizona on June 23rd, 2021. The 24 year old hydro-geologist reportedly began driving westward in his Jeep before vanishing. His family have not seen or heard from him since that day. Earlier this year, we interviewed Daniel's father, David Robinson, who broke down the timeline of his son's case. In this UPDATES episode, we provide you with six key updates which came from our follow up interview with David in September 2024. If you missed the first interview with David, we've included it after the updates. CONNECT WITH FLOODLIGHTS You can follow Laura @lauraelizabethfrater. You can follow On Native Ground @onnativegroundmedia. You can follow Blue Thistle Media @bluethistlepodcasts. For a full list of episode sources, please reach out to bluethistlemedia@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    41 min
  5. MYSTERIOUS DEATHS & DISAPPEARANCES: Nick, Virgil, Trey, Cole, & Noah

    NOV 11

    MYSTERIOUS DEATHS & DISAPPEARANCES: Nick, Virgil, Trey, Cole, & Noah

    You may have heard the phrase “missing and murdered indigenous women.” It’s movement that’s gained a lot of traction largely thanks to Native populations speaking up.  But, in reality, Indigenous men are also at risk of violence. Sometimes, I think we forget that.  Native people are roughly 10 times more likely to experience violence compared to the rest of the population. So, in this episode, we’re telling the stories of five men who either went missing or ended up dead on Tribal lands. These stories are from the archives.  Please share this episode with your loved ones and across social media to help the families of Nick, Virgil, Trey, Cole, and Noah. Do you have a story you'd like to see covered on Floodlights? Follow us on Instagram @floodlightspod and send us a message. CONNECT WITH FLOODLIGHTS! You can follow Laura @lauraelizabethfrater. You can follow On Native Ground @onnativegroundmedia. You can follow Blue Thistle Media @bluethistlepodcasts. For a full list of episode sources, please reach out to bluethistlemedia@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    57 min
  6. UNSOLVED MURDERS: The Oklahoma Girl Scouts

    NOV 4

    UNSOLVED MURDERS: The Oklahoma Girl Scouts

    When three young girls are brutally murdered in 1977 at girl scout camp, law enforcement set their sights on one person from the beginning: a Cherokee man called Gene Leroy Hart. At the centre of this story is, of course, the three victims: Lori Lee Farmer, Doris Denise Milner and Michele Heather Guse. These girls are still waiting for justice. But what many people still ask, all these years later, is how exactly did law enforcement come upon Gene? And did his Native American heritage, along with his criminal past, play a fair role in the investigation? Do you have a story you'd like to see covered on Floodlights? Follow us on Instagram @floodlightspod and send us a message. CONNECT WITH FLOODLIGHTS! You can follow Laura @lauraelizabethfrater You can follow On Native Ground @onnativegroundmedia You can follow Blue Thistle Media @bluethistlepodcasts For a full list of episode sources, please reach out to bluethistlemedia@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    47 min
  7. INTERVIEW: Darlene Gomez

    OCT 28

    INTERVIEW: Darlene Gomez

    42-year-old Melissa Montoya endured years of abuse at the hands of her partner. But in 2001, she vanished during a night out with friends in Dulce, New Mexico. In this episode, we interview Darlene Gomez, a relative, friend and lawyer who is fighting to find out what happened to Melissa -- and many other Indigenous people who are missing on Tribal lands. Do you have a story you'd like to see covered on Floodlights? Follow us on Instagram @floodlightspod and send us a message. CONNECT WITH FLOODLIGHTS! You can follow Laura @lauraelizabethfrater You can follow On Native Ground @onnativegroundmedia You can follow Blue Thistle Media @bluethistlepodcasts For a full list of episode sources, please reach out to bluethistlemedia@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    34 min
  8. UNSOLVED MURDER: Barbara Jean McNeil (Hoopa)

    OCT 20

    UNSOLVED MURDER: Barbara Jean McNeil (Hoopa)

    Ask anyone in Hoopa, California, about Hoopa Tribal member Barbara Jean McNeil and they'll tell you the same thing: She was the sweetest woman. So, what exactly happened on the night she was beaten to death? What drove a person to murder her in such a violent way? And is the person responsible still walking around Hoopa to this day? Do you have a story you'd like to see covered on Floodlights? Follow us on Instagram @floodlightspod and send us a message. CONNECT WITH FLOODLIGHTS! You can follow Laura @lauraelizabethfrater You can follow On Native Ground @onnativegroundmedia You can follow Blue Thistle Media @bluethistlepodcasts For a full list of episode sources, please reach out to bluethistlemedia@gmail.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    35 min
See All (27)

Trailer

4.3
out of 5
26 Ratings

About

From the creator of The Vanishing Point, Floodlights is a weekly true crime show covering major crimes impacting Tribal nations. From the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, to scandals and conspiracies created by an unfair legal system, Floodlights investigates the stories America needs to hear now. Hosted by investigative journalist, Laura Frater. Follow Laura @lauraelizabethfrater. Follow Floodlights at @floodlightspod. 

Information

  • Creator
    Laura Frater
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    27
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2024. Laura Frater: Creator, Writer and Host of Floodlights. All rights reserved.

You Might Also Like

To listen to explicit episodes, sign in.

Stay up to date with this show

Sign in or sign up to follow shows, save episodes, and get the latest updates.
Select a country or region

Africa, Middle East, and India

Asia Pacific

Europe

Latin America and the Caribbean

The United States and Canada