Residue: A True Crime Podcast

Chrissy Champagne | BLACKCAT

Residue with Chrissy Champagne dives deep into the gritty world where true crime meets the movies. Each episode breaks down made-for-TV films and theatrical releases based on chilling real-life cases — exploring the facts behind the fiction, the victims behind the headlines, and the emotional residue these stories leave behind. The original episodes are still here, but now we’re turning the spotlight on the stories Hollywood couldn’t resist — because sometimes, the scariest scripts are the ones that actually happened. 

  1. 5d ago

    Cruel Doubt: The Murder of Leith Von Stein

    In July 1988, Washington, North Carolina businessman Leith Von Stein was fatally stabbed and bludgeoned in his bed while his wife, Bonnie, was severely injured. The violent crime was initially staged as a burglary but later exposed a twisted conspiracy motivated by a $2 million inheritance.The chilling true-crime story was famously chronicled in the 1991 bestselling book Cruel Doubt by Joe McGinniss. Cruel Doubt was adapted into a highly rated, two-part television miniseries that premiered on NBC in May 1992 starring Blythe Danner and Gwyneth Paltrow. Sources:Cruel Doubt by Joe McGuinessBlood Relatives: Death is in the Air https://finishedpages.com/from-patriarch-to-the-small-screen-the-north-carolina-murder-of-leigh-von-stein/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1991/11/17/two-very-different-tellings-of-the-same-crime/http://www.theescapist.com/archive-pritchard01.htmhttps://law.justia.com/cases/north-carolina/supreme-court/1992/89a90-0.html

    35 min

  2. May 19

    Song Sung Blue: The Mike and Claire Sardina Story

    We are taking a true crime break this week, but still focusing on a "based on a true story" movie. Mike and Claire Sardina were a real-life Milwaukee husband-and-wife musical duo who formed the popular Neil Diamond tribute act "Lightning & Thunder". Their remarkable true story of soaring success, devastating heartbreak, and perseverance inspired the acclaimed feature film Song Sung Blue (2025). The duo were also the subject of the 2008 documentary of the same name. A story that proves we should all dream big.  Sources:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YDukMQIz1ScSong Sung Blue the Documentary (2008) Song Sung Blue https://parade.com/movies/meet-the-real-life-couple-who-inspired-song-sung-bluehttps://ew.com/song-sung-blue-true-story-fact-vs-fiction-11876118https://shepherdexpress.com/film/i-hate-hollywood/lightning-thunder-story/https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/hugh-jackman-kate-hudson-face-backlash-real-family-behind-tribute-band-filmhttps://archive.jsonline.com/entertainment/musicandnightlife/35103989.html

    35 min

  3. May 12

    Abducted: The Carlina White Story

    In this episode, we explore the shocking true story behind the Lifetime film Abducted: The Carlina White Story. A case so unbelievable it sounds fictional, yet every major detail really happened. In 1987, 19-day-old Carlina White was kidnapped from Harlem Hospital in New York City by a woman later identified as Ann Pettway, who raised her under the name Nejdra “Netty” Nance for more than two decades. What makes this story extraordinary is that the case was ultimately solved not by investigators, but by Carlina herself. Sources:Beyond the Headlines: The Carlina White Story https://nymag.com/news/features/carlina-white-2011-10/Abducted: The Carlina White Story https://allthatsinteresting.com/carlina-white

    35 min

  4. May 5

    I Know My First Name Is Steven: PART 2, Cary Stayner the Yosemite Park Killer

    PART 2: While Steven Stayner became known for his extraordinary survival, his story reached millions through the made for TV film I Know My First Name Is Steven, and for a time the Stayner name was associated with resilience and hope. But that sense of closure did not last, and years later the same name would return to the national spotlight under far darker circumstances. In 1999, Cary Stayner carried out a series of murders in and around Yosemite National Park, killing Carole Sund, Juli Sund, Silvina Pelosso, and later Joie Armstrong. The case stunned the country not only for its brutality but for its connection to Steven’s story. The contrast is stark. Two brothers from the same family, one remembered for survival, the other for tragedy. Sources: Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story I Know My First Name Is Steven https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/20/there-was-a-lot-of-torment-the-family-who-endured-two-true-storieshttps://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/12/18/The-man-who-kidnapped-young-Steven-Stayner-alternated-sexual/8624377499600/https://time.com/archive/6883464/nation-escaping-dad/Wikihttps://people.com/carole-sund-teen-daughter-murdered-yosemite-serial-killer-1182569220/20: Evil In Eden

    45 min

  5. Apr 28

    I Know My First Name Is Steven: Part 1, Steven Stayner

    PART 1: The 1989 television miniseries I Know My First Name Is Steven is a dramatization of the real-life kidnapping of Steven Stayner, who was held captive for seven years before heroically escaping and rescuing another child. The film chronicles the abduction of seven-year-old Steven by Kenneth Parnell in 1972. Parnell brainwashes Steven into believing his parents no longer want him and renames him "Dennis Parnell". Over the next seven years, Steven endures severe physical and sexual abuse while living a transient life with his captor.  The story reaches its climax in 1980 when Parnell kidnaps five-year-old Timmy White. Determined to spare the young boy from the same fate, a 14-year-old Steven escapes with Timothy and brings him to a police station. The title comes from Steven's actual police statement: "I know my first name is Steven."  Sources:Captive Audience: A Real American Horror Story I Know My First Name Is Steven by Mike EcholsI Know My First Name Is Steven the movie https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/20/there-was-a-lot-of-torment-the-family-who-endured-two-true-storieshttps://www.upi.com/Archives/1981/12/18/The-man-who-kidnapped-young-Steven-Stayner-alternated-sexual/8624377499600/https://time.com/archive/6883464/nation-escaping-dad/Wiki

    1h 3m

  6. Apr 21

    Soldier's Girl: The Murder of Barry Winchell

    The 2003 film Soldier's Girl tells the true story of Barry Winchell, a young soldier stationed at Fort Campbell who becomes romantically involved with transgender performer Calpernia Addams. Their relationship develops quietly at first, but it becomes increasingly dangerous within the highly rigid and hostile environment of the military under the “don’t ask, don’t tell” era. As rumors about Winchell begin circulating among fellow soldiers, he becomes the target of escalating harassment and social pressure. That hostility is fueled in part by other soldiers, including Justin Fisher, who encourages and manipulates younger soldier Calvin Glover. The film builds toward the real-life tragedy where Winchell is attacked with a baseball bat while sleeping in his barracks, a violent act rooted in a toxic mix of rumor, prejudice, and peer pressure. Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NpanzTImkEhttps://inmagazine.ca/2024/07/flashback-soldier-barry-winchell-dies-after-anti-gay-hate-crime-july-6-1999/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2000/05/kentucky-murder-200005?srsltid=AfmBOoppbiKCRONCbuReee_d9LP_ImBd8uuuNkWew3BvLsttjmk1De7khttps://www.out.com/news/drag-race-barry-winchell-murderhttps://www.nytimes.com/1999/12/09/us/killer-s-trial-shows-gay-soldier-s-anguish.html#:~:text=But%20nothing%20came%20of%20their,factors%20in%20meting%20out%20sentences.&text=Articles%20yesterday%20about%20the%20conviction,the%20Army%20account%20for%20312.https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/library/magazine/home/20000528mag-calpernia.html

    35 min

  7. Apr 14

    Kidnapped: The Hannah Anderson Story

    In this episode, we examine the disturbing events surrounding the Kidnapping of Hannah Anderson, a case that shocked the nation in 2013. The story follows 16-year-old Hannah Anderson, who was abducted by family friend James DiMaggio after what initially seemed like a routine visit. What followed was a tragic chain of events, including the murders of Hannah’s mother, Christina Anderson, and her younger brother, Ethan Anderson, and a multi-state manhunt that gripped the country. Sources:Kidnapped: The Hannah Anderson Story https://abcnews.com/US/saving-hannah-anderson-inside-dramatic-fbi-rescue-kidnapped/story?id=29089347https://www.nbcnews.com/video/hannah-anderson-on-kidnap-i-couldnt-do-anything-53357123546?featureFlagAix=trueFBI True: Season 1, Epi 4https://www.cnn.com/2013/09/24/justice/hannah-anderson-family-autopsyhttps://fox5sandiego.com/news/20m-lawsuit-against-fbi-in-hannah-anderson-kidnap-case-can-move-forward-judge-rules/https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/0817/What-s-the-real-story-behind-Hannah-Anderson-s-abductionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OhIPIu3W4Tohttps://www.10news.com/news/hannah-anderson-blasts-credibility-of-lifetime-moviehttps://www.today.com/video/hannah-anderson-speaks-out-in-today-exclusive-44023363804

    53 min

  8. Apr 7

    Heavenly Creatures: The Murder of Honorah (Rieper) Parker

    This episode explores the chilling true story that inspired Heavenly Creatures, the 1997 film based on the infamous case of Pauline Parker and Juliette Hulme. In 1950s Christchurch, New Zealand, two teenage girls formed an intense and obsessive friendship after bonding over illness, isolation, and a shared love of fantasy. Together, they created an elaborate imaginary world where they ruled as powerful figures, blurring the line between imagination and reality. As their relationship deepened, they became increasingly detached from the outside world.  Sources:Anne Perry The Murder of the Century - by Peter Graham https://parkerhulme.wordpress.com/2016/08/13/the-relationship/https://www.adamabrams.com/hc/faq2/Section_7/7.4.3.htmlhttps://heavenly-creatures.com/phc_people_pauline.phphttps://medium.com/crimes-by-mr-o/this-best-selling-crime-author-was-actually-a-convicted-teenage-killer-true-crime-ee63e98d03c7wiki

    36 min
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4.9
out of 5
225 Ratings

About

Residue with Chrissy Champagne dives deep into the gritty world where true crime meets the movies. Each episode breaks down made-for-TV films and theatrical releases based on chilling real-life cases — exploring the facts behind the fiction, the victims behind the headlines, and the emotional residue these stories leave behind. The original episodes are still here, but now we’re turning the spotlight on the stories Hollywood couldn’t resist — because sometimes, the scariest scripts are the ones that actually happened. 

Information

  • Creator
    Chrissy Champagne | BLACKCAT
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    136
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Residue: A True Crime Podcast
  • Show Website
    Residue: A True Crime Podcast

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