Deadly Devotion

Ashley Nicole
  • 5.0 (4)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Weekly

A true crime podcast that looks at relationships that turned deadly. We look at the psychological patterns in relationships, how it escalates over time, and the warning signs to look for.

Episodes

  1. 2d ago

    9 - A Mother's Legacy - The Cherica Adams Story

    Thank you for your patience while I navigated some unexpected travel challenges—this has been a long-awaited episode, and I'm so grateful to finally share it with you. In this episode of Deadly Devotion, we examine the heartbreaking case of Cherica Adams, a young mother-to-be whose life was forever changed by jealousy, control, and violence. What should have been a joyful new chapter became a tragedy that shocked the world and left an innocent child fighting for survival. Together, we'll explore the events leading up to Cherica's murder, the warning signs that often go unnoticed, and the lasting impact her story continues to have today. As always, our goal is not to sensationalize tragedy, but to honor victims, raise awareness, and learn from the patterns that can turn devotion into something deadly. If you enjoy the podcast, please consider following, rating, and reviewing Deadly Devotion. Your support helps us continue sharing these important stories and keeping victims' memories alive. Sources & Further Reading Charlotte Observer – "Murder, Miracles and Rae Carruth: 25 Years Later" (2024) https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article295035034.html Charlotte Observer – "Rae Carruth Case: Timeline of One of Charlotte's Most Notorious Murders" (2024) https://www.charlotteobserver.com/sports/nfl/carolina-panthers/article295297719.html ABC News – "Gunman Describes Cherica Adams' Killing" https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/story?id=100048&page=1 ESPN – "Carruth Guilty of Conspiracy, Lesser Charges" https://www.espn.com/nfl/playoffs00/news/2001/0119/1026558.html Charlotte Magazine – "Cherica Adams Is Murdered" https://www.charlottemagazine.com/cherica-adams-is-murdered/ For a more in-depth examination of the case and its lasting impact, listeners may also wish to explore The Charlotte Observer's award-winning "Carruth" podcast series. Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of domestic violence, homicide, and violence against a pregnant woman. Listener discretion is advised.

    29 min

  2. Jun 2

    8 - Faith Unforgotten - The Story of Faith Hedgepeth

    Faith Hedgepeth was just 22 years old when her life was brutally cut short in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. A proud member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, Faith was a college student with dreams, close friendships, and a future full of possibilities. But after a night out with friends in September 2012, she was found murdered in her apartment, leaving investigators, her family, and the public searching for answers. For nearly nine years, the case remained unsolved. A mysterious voicemail, conflicting timelines, public speculation, and countless theories kept Faith's name in the headlines. Yet behind the mystery was a grieving family determined to ensure their daughter would never be forgotten. In this episode of Deadly Devotion, we explore Faith's life, the investigation that captivated the nation, the DNA breakthrough that finally led to an arrest, and the legacy her family built in her honor. We also discuss the broader issue of violence against Indigenous women and why so many families continue fighting for visibility, justice, and answers. This episode contains discussions of violence, homicide, and sexual assault that may be disturbing to some listeners. Resources: National Indigenous Women's Resource Centerhttps://www.niwrc.org National Domestic Violence Hotlinehttps://www.thehotline.orgCall or Text: 800-799-7233 StrongHearts Native Helplinehttps://strongheartshelpline.orgCall or Text: 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483) Sources for this Episode: Justice for Faith Official Website — Faith’s family website dedicated to preserving her memory and sharing updates on the case. Killing of Faith Hedgepeth Overview — Timeline, investigation details, DNA evidence, arrest information, and court developments. ABC11 Coverage of the Arrest and Family Reactions — Interviews with family members, tribal leaders, scholarship recipients, and discussion of Faith's legacy. The Daily Tar Heel Coverage Archive — Local reporting and timeline coverage surrounding the case. 💙 Faith's Smile Memorial ScholarshipFaith's Smile Scholarship InformationCreated in honor of Faith Danielle Hedgepeth, this scholarship supports Native American young women pursuing higher education. 💙 Justice for FaithJustice for Faith Memorial WebsiteA website created by Faith's family to preserve her memory, share updates, and continue advocating for justice. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow, rate, and review Deadly Devotion. Your support helps us continue honoring victims, raising awareness, and telling stories that deserve to be remembered.

    26 min

  3. May 26

    7 - Stolen Light : The Selena Story

    On this episode of Deadly Devotion, we explore the heartbreaking story of Selena Quintanilla-Pérez — the beloved Queen of Tejano music whose talent, warmth, creativity, and infectious spirit changed music forever. Long before her life was tragically cut short, Selena was more than a rising star. She was a daughter, a wife, a sister, a designer, and a young woman with enormous dreams and a deep love for her fans. Her charisma lit up every room she entered, and her music continues to connect generations decades later. In this episode, we look beyond the headlines to explore Selena’s rise to fame, her close-knit family, the pressure of success, and the complicated relationship that would ultimately lead to tragedy. We also examine the warning signs, blurred boundaries, emotional dependence, and misplaced trust that quietly unfolded behind the scenes. This is not just a story about celebrity. It’s a story about loyalty, admiration, obsession, and the devastating consequences that can happen when trust falls into the wrong hands. Join me as we honor Selena’s life and legacy with compassion while unpacking one of the most shocking tragedies in music history. Sources & Resources: • Selena Official Websitehttps://selenaqofficial.com • Biography.com – Selena Quintanilla Biographyhttps://www.biography.com/musicians/selena-quintanilla • Texas Monthly – Selena’s Legacy & Storyhttps://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/selena-texas-legacy/ • Corpus Christi Caller-Timeshttps://www.caller.com • IMDb – Selena (1997 Film)https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120094/ • Netflix – Selena: The Serieshttps://www.netflix.com/title/81022733 • Grammy – Selena Artist Profilehttps://www.grammy.com/artists/selena/6499

    26 min

  4. May 19

    6 - The House of Make Believe - Gypsy Rose Blanchard

    In Episode 6 of Deadly Devotion, we explore the shocking and deeply disturbing case of Gypsy Rose Blanchard — a story that begins with a devoted mother caring for her chronically ill daughter and ends in murder. For years, the world believed Gypsy was suffering from leukemia, muscular dystrophy, seizures, and countless other medical conditions. Friends, neighbors, charities, and even doctors saw Dee Dee Blanchard as a selfless mother sacrificing everything to care for her sick child. But behind the walls of their pink Missouri home, a far more sinister reality was unfolding. As investigators would later uncover, many of Gypsy’s illnesses had been fabricated or exaggerated by the person meant to protect her most. In this episode, we examine medical child abuse, coercive control, infantilization, identity manipulation, trauma, and the devastating psychological effects of being raised inside a life built entirely on deception. Because sometimes the most dangerous prisons are not built with locks or chains… but with dependency, fear, and the illusion of love. Sources & Resources: https://www.hulu.com/series/the-act https://people.com/crime/gypsy-rose-blanchard-mother-dee-dee-killing-everything-to-know/ https://www.biography.com/crime/gypsy-rose-blanchard https://abcnews.go.com/US/gypsy-rose-blanchard-release-prison-life-now/story?id=106051979 https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/what-is-munchausen-by-proxy-understanding-the-disorder-at-the-center-of-gypsy-rose-blanchards-case https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/michelledean/dee-dee-wanted-her-daughter-to-be-sick-gypsy-wanted-her-mom https://people.com/gypsy-rose-blanchard-parole-ending-a-whole-new-world-is-about-to-open-up-exclusive-11682102 https://www.lifetime.tv/shows/gypsy-rose-life-after-lock-up

    21 min

  5. May 12

    5 - Brainwashed or Broken - Patty Hearst

    In Episode 5 of Deadly Devotion, we explore one of the most controversial and psychologically haunting cases in American history — the story of Patty Hearst. In 1974, nineteen-year-old Patty Hearst, granddaughter of newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst, was kidnapped from her California apartment by a radical militant group known as the Symbionese Liberation Army. But what began as a horrifying abduction quickly transformed into something far more disturbing. Weeks after her kidnapping, Patty’s voice surfaced on audio recordings denouncing her family and pledging loyalty to the very people holding her captive. Then came the surveillance footage that shocked the nation: Patty Hearst holding a rifle during a bank robbery. Was she brainwashed?Manipulated?Terrified?Or had fear slowly rewritten her identity? In this episode, we dive into trauma bonding, psychological coercion, survival, media frenzy, and the unsettling question that still divides people decades later:At what point does survival begin to look like loyalty? Sources: FBI History – Patty Hearst Kidnappinghttps://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/patty-hearstBritannica – Patty Hearsthttps://www.britannica.com/biography/Patty-HearstHistory Channel – Patty Hearst Kidnappinghttps://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/patty-hearst-kidnappedBiography.com – Patty Hearsthttps://www.biography.com/crime/patty-hearstPBS – American Experience: Patty Hearsthttps://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/films/hearst/FBI Vault Documentshttps://vault.fbi.gov/patty-hearstSmithsonian Magazine – Patty Hearst and Stockholm Syndrome Discussionshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/patty-hearst-trial-stockholm-syndrome-180972387/The New York Times Archives (Patty Hearst Coverage)https://www.nytimes.com/topic/person/patricia-hearst

    17 min

  6. May 10

    4 - Breaking Point - Kiranjit Ahluwalia

    In Episode 4 of Deadly Devotion, we examine the landmark case of Kiranjit Ahluwalia — a woman whose story would ultimately reshape conversations around domestic abuse, trauma, and the legal system in the United Kingdom. After moving from India to England through an arranged marriage, Kiranjit found herself navigating cultural expectations, isolation, motherhood, and a relationship that was becoming increasingly difficult behind closed doors. What followed became one of the most widely discussed domestic violence cases in British legal history. In this episode, we explore the realities of coercive control, the hidden psychological impact of long-term abuse, and the unique pressures many immigrant and minority women face when trying to survive abusive relationships. We also look at how one woman’s case challenged long-standing legal assumptions and sparked broader conversations about fear, endurance, and what society often fails to recognize until it’s too late. This episode contains discussions of domestic violence and abuse. Because sometimes survival doesn’t look the way people expect it to. Primary and supporting sources include: BBC News — Background on Kiranjit Ahluwalia’s case, abuse history, legal impact, and public significanceJustice for Women — Legal history of the appeal, advocacy surrounding the case, and analysis of the legal breakthrough involving domestic abuse survivorsJSTOR – Academic Analysis of the Ahluwalia Case — Scholarly discussion of provocation, domestic violence, race, gender, and legal reform connected to the caseSouthall Black Sisters — Historical context on advocacy for minority women experiencing domestic abuse and the organization’s role in raising awareness around the caseThe Guardian — Historical reporting and commentary on domestic violence law reform and Kiranjit Ahluwalia’s caseThe Independent — Reporting on the appeal and broader cultural significance of the caseWikipedia – Kiranjit Ahluwalia — Supplemental timeline verification, references to legal proceedings, memoir publication, and film adaptationCircle of Light by Kiranjit Ahluwalia and Rahila Gupta — Memoir detailing Kiranjit’s life, abuse, imprisonment, and eventual release

    30 min

  7. May 8

    3 - The Fall - The Story of Susan Sills

    In Episode 3 of Deadly Devotion, we explore the mysterious death of Susan Sills — a successful businesswoman, mother of twins, and co-founder of a Southern California fertility clinic whose death was initially believed to be a tragic accident. When Susan was found at the bottom of a staircase inside her San Clemente home in 2016, her husband, fertility doctor Eric Scott Sills, told investigators she had fallen during the night while suffering from a migraine. At first, the explanation seemed possible. But as investigators looked closer, troubling questions began to emerge. Blood evidence found throughout the home… injuries that raised forensic concerns… a marriage reportedly filled with growing tension behind closed doors… and a scene prosecutors later argued had been carefully staged. In this episode, we examine the investigation, the courtroom battle between accident and homicide, the emotional toll on Susan’s children and family, and the hidden dynamics that can exist inside relationships that appear successful from the outside. We also discuss the realities of domestic violence, coercive control, and why leaving unhealthy relationships is often far more complicated than people realize. Most importantly, we remember Susan Sills for who she was beyond the headlines — a mother, a woman with ambition and intelligence, and someone deeply loved by the people closest to her. Because at the center of every case… is a life that mattered. Sources for Episode 3 — The Story of Susan Sills NBC News www.nbcnews.comLos Angeles Times — Coverage of the Susan Sills murder trial and conviction www.latimes.comCBS News / 48 Hours — Did the dogs play a role or was the scene staged to cover a murder? www.cbsnews.com www.paramountpressexpress.com/cbs-news-and-stations/shows/48-hours/releases/?view=109829-the-wife-of-a-fertility-doctor-is-found-dead-did-her-dogs-play-a-role-or-was-the-scene-staged-to-cover-a-murderFox News — Reporting on the conviction of fertility doctor Eric Scott Sills www.foxnews.comCrimeOnline — Coverage of the investigation, arrest, and sentencing www.crimeonline.comCourt records and publicly available trial reporting related to the conviction of Eric Scott Sills in Orange County, CaliforniaAdditional background reporting and timeline verification from: www.people.comwww.oxygen.comwww.abcnews.go.comIf you or someone you know may be experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. The National Domestic Violence Hotline provides free, confidential support 24/7. Call: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) Text “START” to 88788 Website: The Hotline You are not alone, and support is available whenever you’re ready.

    24 min

  8. May 6

    2 - The Illusion of Perfect - Shanann Watts

    In this episode of Deadly Devotion, we tell the story of Shanann Watts—a 34-year-old mother, wife, and woman who lived her life with energy, determination, and love for her family. Shanann was someone who showed up fully. For her work, her home, and especially for her children. From the outside, her life reflected everything many people hope for—a growing family, a beautiful home, and a future that seemed full of possibility. But as this episode explores, what we see on the surface doesn’t always tell the full story. Through a careful and respectful lens, we look at the dynamics that can quietly develop within a relationship—where emotional distance, unspoken tension, and shifting connection can go unnoticed. This episode focuses on who Shanann was, the life she was building, and the importance of paying attention to what we feel… even when everything appears to be okay. Because sometimes the most important truths… are the ones we don’t immediately see. This episode was researched using publicly available reporting, court records, and verified case coverage, including: This episode was researched using publicly available reporting, investigative records, and verified coverage of the case of Shanann Watts and her family. People – Timeline of events, background on Shanann and her family, and details surrounding the investigation and aftermathABC News – Reporting on the initial disappearance, statements from friends including Nickole Atkinson, and early police responseCBS News – Coverage of the investigation, confession details, and legal proceedingsThe Denver Post – Local reporting on the case, community impact, and court updatesThe New York Times – National coverage and broader context surrounding the caseFBI – Official case documents, interview summaries, and investigative timelineCourt records and sentencing statements related to the conviction of Chris WattsPublicly available interviews and statements from family and friends for contextual understanding

    16 min

  9. May 5

    1 -The Last Red Flag - Ellie Gould

    In this first episode of Deadly Devotion, we begin with a story that invites us to look closer at what can happen behind the surface of a seemingly ordinary relationship. This episode explores the early stages of a teenage relationship that appeared familiar on the outside, but carried subtle emotional dynamics that would later become central to understanding what unfolded. Rather than focusing on shock or sensational details, this story takes a closer look at the human side—who she was, the world she lived in, and the quiet warning signs that are often easy to miss when emotions are involved. Through careful reflection, we begin to unpack patterns of connection, attachment, and emotional intensity that can sometimes go unrecognized until it’s too late. This episode is about awareness, understanding, and honoring a life that mattered. Because sometimes the most important stories are the ones that ask us to pay closer attention. Sources for this episode: The Guardian – Coverage of the case and court proceedingsBBC News – Reporting on the murder, sentencing, and family statementsSky News – Sentencing details and appeal coverageITV News – Ellie’s Law and family advocacy effortsThe Times (UK) – Interviews with Ellie’s parents and ongoing concerns about releasePublic court records and sentencing remarksGeneral case summary sources (e.g., Wikipedia for timeline cross-reference only)

    13 min
  • 9 Episodes

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

A true crime podcast that looks at relationships that turned deadly. We look at the psychological patterns in relationships, how it escalates over time, and the warning signs to look for.

Information

  • Creator
    Ashley Nicole
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    9
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Ashley Nicole
  • Show Website
    Deadly Devotion

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