Never Light Up A Room Podcast

Never Light Up A Room Podcast

We all know the cliche "they lit up a room". On this true crime podcast, we will explain why you should stay safe and never "light up a room"! We aim to shine a light on the well known cases as well as the overlooked or forgotten stories. Join us each week as we cover a new investigation and illuminate the darkness that surrounds us.

  1. MAR 25

    Episode Re-release: The Disappearance of Maura Murray

    With Megs and Wally being a little busy this week they didn't want to rush an episode. That being said we are rereleasing Episode 034 which has to do with the disappearance of Maura Murray. So enjoy! On the evening of February 9th 2004, 21 year old college student Maura Murray would be involved in a car accident when her car came off the road and crashed into a tree in Haverhill New Hampshire. Police were called and arrived within 10 minutes but Maura was no where to be found. Tune in this week to learn more about what may have happened to Maura Murray. Sources   The Charlie Project, “Maura Murray”, The Charlie Project, Published October 12 2004, https://charleyproject.org/case/maura-murray, Accessed  11-02-2024    Jessica Trufant, “What happened to Maura Murray? Family still seeks answers 20 years after her disappearance”, Patriot Ledger, Published February 3 2024, https://www.yahoo.com/news/happened-maura-murray-family-still-094608529.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuYmluZy5jb20v&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAC4o0p5JlsTjBF65uhnakfi-0tD_Yu90fsPWkeiKWF6xxP-sNQpJJbsTgW3QHe2UjasgqNd9SvMmgRjhYyEk_kl8Vp5wJkm4bQvPDa8me7JEAVZ2FSVx7JJda2qmkQE0zS06IXKeYfixWUyiLfdAIXOViSfa3mU1aNmcbQ6oiq7Z, Accessed 11-02-2024    Katie Serena, “The Mysterious Disappearance Of Maura Murray, The Nursing Student Who Vanished Without A Trace”, All things interesting, Published November 24th 2021, https://allthatsinteresting.com/maura-murray, Accessed 11-02-2024    Corin Cesaric, “It’s Been 20 Years Since Maura Murray Vanished. Will Her Sister's New Podcast Help Find Her?” People.com, Published February 9th 2024, https://people.com/maura-murray-vanished-twenty-years-ago-sister-podcast-media-pressure-8567768, Accessed 11-02-2024

    56 min
  2. MAR 18

    Episode 102: The Death of Rey Rivera

    On a spring afternoon in 2006, Rey Rivera rushed out of his Baltimore home after a sudden phone call and was never seen alive again. Days later, he was found inside the historic Belvedere Hotel, in circumstances that left investigators with more questions than answers. What initially appeared straightforward quickly unraveled into a mystery filled with strange evidence, conflicting theories, and unsettling details. In this episode, we explore the moments leading up to Rey’s disappearance and the puzzle that still hasn’t been solved. Sources: Igoe, Katherine, “What Did Rey Rivera's Mysterious Note Actually Mean?”. Marie Claire, July 4, 2020, https://www.marieclaire.com/culture/a33074957/rey-rivera-note-unsolved-mysteries/, Accessed March 16th, 2026 Mehrotra, Kriti, “Rey Rivera’s Death: How Did He Die? Who Killed Him?”, The Cinemaholic, June 30, 2020, https://thecinemaholic.com/rey-rivera/, Accessed March 16th, 2026 Kabra, Prathamesh, “Rey Rivera Took a Call and Vanished. What Happened After Still Makes No Sense.”, Thar Tribune, July 11, 2025, https://thartribune.com/rey-rivera-took-a-call-and-vanished-what-happened-after-still-makes-no-sense/, Accessed March 16th, 2026 Ishak, Natasha, “Why Police Said Rey Rivera’s Death Was A Suicide — And Why The Puzzling Evidence Says Otherwise”, All Thats Interesting, July 19, 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/rey-rivera, Accessed March 16th, 2026 Sidnell, Katherine, “Unsolved Mysteries: What happened to Rey Rivera and has the case been solved?”, Woman and Home, August 2, 2024, https://www.womanandhome.com/life/news-entertainment/unsolved-mysteries-what-happened-to-rey-rivera/, Accessed March 16th, 2026

    53 min
  3. MAR 11

    Episode 101: The Disappearance of Daniel Morcombe

    On December 7, 2003, 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe left home to catch a bus on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, expecting a normal afternoon of Christmas shopping, but he never arrived. His disappearance sparked the largest police investigation in Queensland’s history, gripping a nation and leaving a family and community searching for answers. As years passed, the case followed a winding path marked by missed connections, resurfacing names, and investigative risks. This episode explores the moments before Daniel vanished and the long road that followed, without revealing where it ultimately led.    Sources:  https://danielmorcombe.com.au/, Accessed March 3rd, 2026    Day, Bek, “Detective reveals the subtle clue that gave away Daniel Morcombe’s killer Brett Cowan immediately”, News, July 19th 2025, https://www.news.com.au/national/crime/detective-reveals-the-subtle-clue-that-gave-away-daniel-morcombes-killer-brett-cowan-immediately/news-story/8e3600ca2562c9d007dd421f99feaf2c, Accessed March 3rd, 2026    Acosta, Nicole, “A Teen Waited at a Bus Stop, Then Vanished Forever. 8 Years Later, an Undercover Sting Finally Revealed What Happened to Him”, People, February 8th, 2025, https://people.com/daniel-morcombe-case-australia-killed-by-brett-peter-cowan-8788148, Accessed March 3rd, 2026    Gokhale, Stuti, “Daniel Morcombe Murder: Where is Brett Peter Cowan Now?”, The Cinemaholic, October 19th, 2022, https://thecinemaholic.com/daniel-morcombe-murder-where-is-brett-peter-cowan-now/, Accessed March 3rd, 2026     Morgan, Amber, “The Tragic Story Of Daniel Morcombe, The 13-Year-Old Australian Boy Who Was Kidnapped From A Bus Stop”, All That’s Interesting, October 7th, 2025, https://allthatsinteresting.com/daniel-morcombe, Accessed March 3rd, 2026

    48 min
  4. MAR 4

    Episode 100: The Murder of Tara Grinstead

    In this episode, we dive into the haunting disappearance of Tara Grinstead, a beloved high school teacher and former beauty queen who vanished from her small Georgia town without a trace. What begins as a quiet weekend quickly turns into a mystery filled with unsettling clues, unanswered questions, and a community desperate for answers. As years pass with no resolution, an unexpected development brings renewed attention to a case many feared would never be solved. Join us as we explore who Tara was, the strange details left behind, and how one modern investigation reignited a long-cold case.    Sources:    CBS/AP, “Acquitted of Georgia teacher Tara Grinstead's murder, Ryan Duke sentenced to 10 years for hiding her body”, CBS NEWS, May 24, 2022, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tara-grinstead-murder-ryan-duke-sentenced-hiding-body/, Accessed March 1st, 2026     Deron, Bernadette, “How The Unexplained Disappearance Of Tara Grinstead Was Finally Solved After 12 Years”, All That’s Interesting, March 8, 2022, https://allthatsinteresting.com/tara-grinstead, Accessed March 1st, 2026    Legal Clarity Team, “Tara Grinstead Case: The Trials and Verdicts”, Legal Clarity, January 26, 2026, https://legalclarity.org/tara-grinstead-case-the-trials-and-verdicts/, Accessed March 1st, 2026    Carr, Erica, “Twenty years after her death, Tara Grinstead's memory still impacts Ocilla”, MSN, October 24th, 2025, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/twenty-years-after-her-death-tara-grinsteads-memory-still-impacts-ocilla/ar-AA1P8rib, Accessed March 1st, 2026     AP, “Appeals court throws out pending charges for men convicted of hiding Georgia teacher’s death”, City News, February 28th, 2025, https://halifax.citynews.ca/2025/02/28/appeals-court-throws-out-pending-charges-for-men-convicted-of-hiding-georgia-teachers-death/, Accessed March 1st, 2026

    57 min
  5. MAR 2

    Leave the Light On February 2026

    We're back with our twenty fourth Leave the Light On episode where we recap the cases covered in the previous month, discuss true crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peak at what is coming up in the next month. If we know! References:    Shapiro, Emily; “Nancy Guthrie abduction: The full timeline”; Good Morning America; Feb 24, 2026; https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/news/story/nancy-guthrie-abduction-timeline-mysterious-disappearance-savannah-guthries-129848673; accessed Feb 24, 2026.    The Canadian Press, “Here’s what we know about the Tumbler Ridge mass shooting investigation”, Global News, February 16, 2026, https://globalnews.ca/news/11669587/tumbler-ridge-shooting-so-far/ , Accessed February 27, 2026     CBC News, “What we know about B.C. mass shooting: Students, educator, shooter's family among victims”, CBC, February 13, 2026,  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/school-shooting-ten-dead-british-columbia-9.7084222, Accessed February 27, 2026     Kruesi, Kimberlee, Casey, Michael, Whittle, Patrick, “Shooter killed ex-wife and a son in Rhode Island ice rink attack, police say”, AP News, February 17, 2026, https://apnews.com/article/pawtucket-hockey-rink-shooting-rhode-island-4e9c9df9c3a2b0a524f0e9bdd0908d45, Accessed February 27th 2026     Associated Press, “Third victim dies from wounds suffered in Rhode Island hockey arena shooting, police say”, CBC, February 26, 2026, https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/third-victim-rhode-island-hockey-arena-shooting-9.7106536, Accessed February 27th, 2026

    1h 24m
  6. FEB 25

    Episode 099: The Murder of Reeva Steenkamp

    This week, we are covering the life and tragic death of 29-year-old Reeva Steenkamp who was a model, law graduate, and passionate advocate for women facing abuse. Her promising future was cut short on Valentine’s Day 2013 when she was shot and killed by her boyfriend, Paralympic athlete 26-year-old Oscar Pistorius. What began as a highly publicized romance quickly became one of the most infamous criminal cases in modern history, sparking global debate over domestic violence, intent, and justice. Beyond the headlines and courtroom drama, we take a closer look at who Reeva was, the warning signs within the relationship, the trial that followed, and the legacy her family continues to uphold in her name.    Sources:     Sicetsha, Andile; “Barry Steenkamp, father of slain Reeva, dies: Cause of death, obituary, reactions”; Swisher Post; Sept 15, 2023; https://www.swisherpost.com/local/barry-steenkamp-reeva-dies-cause-of-death-obituary-reactions/; Accessed Feb 21, 2026.     Dray, Kayleigh; “Remembering Reeva Steenkamp: Her inspiring life and tragic death”; Closer; July 6, 2016; https://closeronline.co.uk/celebrity/news/remembering-reeva-steenkamp-inspiring-life-tragic-death/; accessed Feb 21, 2026.    “Reeva Steenkamp”; Biographs.org; https://biographs.org/reeva-steenkamp; accessed Feb 21, 2026.    Riley, Jowena; “Inside Oscar Pistorius and his murder victim Reeva Steenkamp's short-lived and 'fear-ridden' relationship as South Africa's fallen legend is released from prison after nine years”; Daily Mail; Jan 5, 2024; https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12929429/oscar-pistorius-murder-victim-reeva-steenkamp-fear-relationship.html; accessed Feb 21, 2026.    Lindstrom, Sieg; “Oscar Pistorius”; Britannica; https://www.britannica.com/biography/Oscar-Pistorius; accessed Feb 21, 2026.    Fielding, Sam; “Inside the Oscar Pistorius Murder Case: Lies, Evidence, and the Truth About Reeva Steenkamp’s Death”; Lawyer Monthly; July 8, 2025; https://www.lawyer-monthly.com/2025/07/oscar-pistorius-murder-trial-explained/; accessed Feb 21, 2026.    Imray, Gerald; “Oscar Pistorius and the Valentine’s killing of Reeva Steenkamp. What happened that night?”; AP News; Jan 7, 2024; https://apnews.com/article/oscar-pistorius-reeva-steenkamp-murder-killing-9294912233465de6f9000da2372d8663; Accessed Feb 21, 2026.    Dalton, Nia; Hagan, Rachel; “Reeva Steenkamp's heartbreaking final message before Oscar Pistorius shot her dead in bathroom”; Mirror; Nov, 24, 2023; https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/reeva-steenkamps-heartbreaking-final-message-31518515; accessed Feb 21, 2026.     Otway, Jack; “Reeva Steenkamp Foundation releases powerful statement 13 years after Oscar Pistorius killed model”; MSN.com; Feb 15, 2026; https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/reeva-steenkamp-foundation-releases-powerful-statement-13-years-after-oscar-pistorius-killed-model/ar-AA1Wpo9r; accessed Feb 21, 2026.    Kuta, Sarah; “Why Did Oscar Pistorius Kill His Girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp?”; A&E TV; May 1, 2025; https://www.aetv.com/articles/oscar-pistorius-murder; accessed Feb 21, 2026.    Imray, Gerald; “Barry Steenkamp, the father of the woman Oscar Pistorius fatally shot, has died at age 80”; AP News; Sept 15, 2023; https://apnews.com/article/barry-steenkamp-reeva-oscar-pistorius-0ae7bf369cf51b3ad3a10f4f5570326b; accessed Feb 21, 2026.

    43 min
5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

We all know the cliche "they lit up a room". On this true crime podcast, we will explain why you should stay safe and never "light up a room"! We aim to shine a light on the well known cases as well as the overlooked or forgotten stories. Join us each week as we cover a new investigation and illuminate the darkness that surrounds us.

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