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Moms and Mysteries: A True Crime Podcast

Moms and Mysteries Podcast

Two Florida moms, hundreds of mysteries, and one obsession: 'How did this happen?' Mandy and Melissa bring you twice-a-week deep dives into true crime—from Florida's most bizarre cases to infamous mysteries worldwide—all with the warmth, wit, and dark humor of two friends who've been hooked on mysteries since childhood. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

  1. Heaven's Gate: The UFO Cult That Ended in a Mansion in Rancho Santa Fe

    21h ago

    Heaven's Gate: The UFO Cult That Ended in a Mansion in Rancho Santa Fe

    On March 26, 1997, deputies responding to an anonymous tip entered a luxury mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, California, and found 39 people dead. They were all dressed in matching black clothing and brand-new Nike sneakers, with purple shrouds placed carefully over their faces. The house was immaculate. The trash had been taken out. And every single person inside had died willingly, convinced they were boarding a spacecraft hidden behind the Hale-Bopp comet. This week, we are covering the full story of Heaven's Gate, from the very beginning. We trace the origins of the group through its two founders: Marshall Applewhite, a charismatic former music professor from Texas, and Bonnie Nettles, a Houston nurse with a deep interest in astrology and the occult. Together, they spent years building a belief system that blended UFO mythology, biblical prophecy, and New Age spirituality into something entirely their own. We talk about how they recruited hundreds of followers across the country, the strict rules that governed every aspect of daily life inside the group, and how Bonnie's death from cancer in 1985 forced Marshall to completely reinterpret everything the movement had been built on. We also get into the final days of Heaven's Gate, the farewell videos members recorded, and the chilling, methodical way the group carried out their plan over the course of three days. This one is a deep one, and it is a story that still feels impossible to fully understand almost thirty years later. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Text MOMS to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. Download Cash App Today: https://click.cash.app/ui6m/vwn13ren #CashAppPod. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Cash App Visa® Debit Flex Cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC, and The Bancorp Bank, N.A., pursuant to a license from Visa U.S.A. Inc. See terms and conditions for the Sutton prepaid card, Sutton debit flex card, and Bancorp debit flex card.  Savings provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 6m
  2. UPDATED: Bonus Episode: Neighbors "Patch of Grass" from the Patreon Vault

    4d ago

    UPDATED: Bonus Episode: Neighbors "Patch of Grass" from the Patreon Vault

    It seemed we missed some (ALL) edits on the last post. Thanks everyone who took the time to let us know! We are giving you a little gift this week. This episode originally aired on our Patreon several months ago, and we loved it so much that we wanted to share it with everyone. Consider this a peek behind the paywall! And if silly isn't for you, don't worry, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week! This week we are covering the HBO Max show Neighbors and the episode titled "Patch of Grass." If you have not seen this show yet, please stop what you are doing and get yourself a Max subscription, because this one is something else entirely. We have two stories out of Florida, which should tell you everything you need to know. In Palm Bay, we meet Johnny and Andy, two neighbors who have been locked in a full-blown war since the year 2000 over St. Augustine grass. There are death threats, acid-throwing promises, a very decorated vehicle, and a man who used to go by the Italian Stallion. In West Palm Beach, we meet Victoria and Melissa, two women who were perfectly good neighbors for 16 years until a one-foot-wide strip of grass came between them. There are guns, Zoom court, a chain-smoking Victoria, a mediator who also sells firearms, and a son named Jack who wants absolutely no part of any of this. If you want more bonus episodes like this one, you can find them over on our ⁠Patreon⁠. We release content there regularly that never makes it to the main feed (plus our regular episodes without ads), and we would love to have you over there. Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support. It means everything to us. Patreon: ⁠Patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    49 min
  3. A Toxic Web in Zanesville: The Murder of Jayla Wyatt

    5d ago

    A Toxic Web in Zanesville: The Murder of Jayla Wyatt

    On April 27, 2021, the quiet community of Zanesville, Ohio, was shattered when 23-year-old Jayla Wyatt was found shot to death in the entryway of a local apartment. She had been shot six times, including a devastating direct shot to the face. The apartment belonged to Patrick Downes, a man significantly older than Jayla with whom she had recently started staying. When investigators began looking into who could have targeted Jayla, they quickly uncovered a toxic web of addiction, obsession, and volatile relationships. The trail led directly to 20-year-old Tristaney Baker and her 23-year-old boyfriend, Devin McKnelly. Driven by a deep, drug-fueled jealousy over Patrick, Tristaney had planned the execution, while Devin provided both the firearm and the getaway vehicle. Within twenty-four hours of the crime, police used emergency cellphone tracking to locate the couple in Columbus, Ohio, bringing an end to their short-lived flight from justice. In this episode, we discuss the heartbreaking details of Jayla's life, the explosive and dangerous dynamic between her killers, and the rapid police investigation that brought them both to justice. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Sleep cooler this summer with Boll & Branch during their Annual Summer Event! For a limited time, get 20% off sitewide at BollandBranch.com/moms with code moms. Exclusions apply. Elevate your summer wardrobe. Go to Quince.com/moms for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    42 min
  4. SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: "Squatters: Get the F*** Out of My House"- How to Hijack a House

    6d ago • Subscribers Only

    SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: "Squatters: Get the F*** Out of My House"- How to Hijack a House

    Picture a family home in Queens, New York. A house full of decades of memories, beautiful Italian furnishings, and everything a mother spent a lifetime building. Sounds nice, right? Now, picture a complete stranger changing the front door, moving in, subletting rooms to other strangers, and telling the actual owner that she is going to have to take him to court if she wants back into her own house. It all started when Adele moved out of her family home to care for her mother and get the house ready to sell. Within weeks, a man named Brian Rodriguez had broken in, replaced the locks, and set himself up as the landlord, collecting rent from tenants he had no legal right to house. When Adele called the police, they told her there was nothing they could do. When she called again, they told her to stop calling. And when she finally walked into her own home with the property deed in hand and a news crew behind her, she was the one who got arrested. What followed was one of the most infuriating legal nightmares imaginable. Brian had no lease, no ownership, and no claim to anything, but he had audacity in spades, screaming at police that Adele was harassing him, demanding she pay him out of a lease that did not exist, and watching calmly as officers walked the actual homeowner to a squad car in handcuffs. Meanwhile, the house was being stripped of copper wiring, doors were being kicked off their frames, and her mother's chandelier was sold and replaced with a cheap light fixture. The story went viral, the DA launched an investigation, and Brian was eventually charged and sentenced to two years in prison. Even better, New York passed a new law clarifying that squatters are not tenants, making it easier for police to remove them on the spot. It is an episode that will have you screaming at your phone, marveling at one tiny woman in earmuffs who refused to back down, and seriously reconsidering whether you ever want to leave your house unattended again.

    33 min
  5. The System Failed Yana Huss: The Murder on Rickover Street

    Jun 9

    The System Failed Yana Huss: The Murder on Rickover Street

    For years, local authorities in Charlotte County, Florida, were called to the home of Scott Lee Huss and Yana Huss. There were restraining orders, allegations of child abuse, threats, arrests, and repeated warnings from neighbors, teachers, and deputies that the situation was spiraling out of control. Yet, despite nineteen police visits in less than a year and multiple domestic violence charges, the system repeatedly failed to protect Yana. On the morning of April 25, 2007, the violence reached a tragic and predictable end when Scott stabbed Yana to death inside their Port Charlotte home, forcing her eight year old son, Petir Huss, to witness the horrific attack and help cover it up. In this episode, we discuss the devastating details of Yana's life, the cycle of abuse that kept her trapped, and the catastrophic failures of the justice system that allowed a dangerous man to remain free. We also look at the aftermath of the crime, including Scott's bizarre 12 page manifesto, his wild claims of a Russian mafia conspiracy, and the custody battle fought by Yana's mother, Elena Kuchinskaya, to bring her grandchildren to safety. Thank you to this week's sponsors! For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit Nutrafol.com and enter promo code MOMS. Start taking supplements your body can actually absorb. Go to absorbmore.com and enter MOMS at check out for up to 35% off your first order. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    1h 28m
  6. Rachel Nickell: The Case Behind the Netflix Documentary

    Jun 4

    Rachel Nickell: The Case Behind the Netflix Documentary

    Netflix is dropping a documentary today called "The Murder of Rachel Nickell," and if you want the full story before you watch, you are in the right place. On a warm morning in July of 1992, a young mother named Rachel Nickell was walking with her two-year-old son, Alex Hanscombe, on Wimbledon Common in southwest London. In broad daylight, an attacker emerged and brutally murdered Rachel. Little Alex was left alone in the woods, clinging to his mother and trying to wake her. The crime shocked the United Kingdom and put immense pressure on the Metropolitan Police to find the killer.What followed became one of the most controversial investigations in British history. Desperate for a lead, detectives focused entirely on an innocent local man named Colin Stagg and launched a manipulative undercover sting known as Operation Edzell to trap him into confessing. Meanwhile, the real killer, Robert Napper, remained free to commit more violent crimes, including the tragic murders of Samantha Bisset and her daughter, Jazmine Bisset. In this episode, we cover the devastating details of the attack, the police failures that led to a massive miscarriage of justice, and the long road to healing for Rachel's family. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Text MOMS to 64000 to get 20% off all IQBAR products, plus FREE shipping. Message and data rates may apply. To grab your PAKA hoodie, go to www.PakaApparel.com. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    50 min
  7. SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: My Strange Arrest: Napping Burglar

    Jun 3 • Subscribers Only

    SUBSCRIBERS ONLY: My Strange Arrest: Napping Burglar

    Picture a closed pizza shop, late at night, completely empty. Sounds peaceful, right? Now, picture a burglar breaking in, putting on food safety gloves, kneading dough, tossing it in the air, and attempting to make himself a deep dish pizza before realizing he can't find a pan and deciding to steal the delivery car instead. It all started when 25-year-old Oscar broke into Big Slice Pizza in California with what appeared to be a very specific agenda. He rifled through the kitchen, worked the dough like he'd done it a hundred times, and only abandoned his culinary adventure when he found the restaurant's car keys. The delivery vehicle was spotted the very next day, and Oscar was arrested at home looking genuinely shocked to see the police at his door. But the strange arrests don't stop there. This episode is packed with people making truly baffling decisions. We're talking about a man at the Jersey Shore who jumped through the roof of a porta potty for internet clout, then helpfully commented on the viral video himself, making it very easy for police to find him. Then there's a Vermont family that took "protect your kid at all costs" to a whole new level when dad jumped in an excavator and started swinging the bucket at police officers trying to arrest his son for assault. And just when you think you've heard it all, we meet a woman in California who beat up a fast food manager over missing ketchup, a man in Winter Park who spent 11 hours in jail because police mistook his Krispy Kreme donut glaze for crystal meth, and Deon, a burglar who broke into a stranger's home, reached for some jewelry, and promptly fell asleep on the bed, only to wake up in the back of a police cruiser. It's an episode full of questionable plans, zero follow-through, and at least one nap that genuinely changed a man's life for the better.

    29 min
  8. We Covered 10 Cases in January: Here's Where They Stand Now

    Jun 2

    We Covered 10 Cases in January: Here's Where They Stand Now

    Back in January, we laid out ten major true crime cases we were watching closely for the first half of 2026. Now that we are halfway through the year, the courtroom developments have been absolutely wild. In this episode, we are checking in on all ten cases to bring you the shocking verdicts, final sentences, and dramatic updates that have unfolded across the country. We cover the sentencing of Paul Caneiro in New Jersey, the disturbing family dynamics in the Kevin Ellis trial in Utah, and the stunning acquittal of former officer Kelsey Fitzsimmons. Plus, we have major updates on high profile cases like Kouri Richins, Courtney Clenney, Larry Millete, and the bizarre pregnancy fraud allegations against Laura Owens. Some of these outcomes will absolutely blow your mind, so join us as we break down where these cases stand today. Thank you to this week's sponsors! For 50% off your order, head to DailyLook.com and use code MOMS50.   Patio season is here and these deals won’t last! head to Wayfair.com right now to get your outdoor space ready for way less. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    51 min
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4.6
out of 5
8,583 Ratings

About

Two Florida moms, hundreds of mysteries, and one obsession: 'How did this happen?' Mandy and Melissa bring you twice-a-week deep dives into true crime—from Florida's most bizarre cases to infamous mysteries worldwide—all with the warmth, wit, and dark humor of two friends who've been hooked on mysteries since childhood. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday.

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