Black Girl Gone: A True Crime Podcast

On July 25, 2021, Shawtyeria Waites was celebrating her 20th birthday with friends in Houston, Texas. But after meeting a man at a nightclub and accompanying him to an apartment complex, Shawtyeria suddenly vanished. Her friends searched for her, but her phone went straight to voicemail, and no one could explain where she had gone. That same night, a neighbor reported hearing a woman screaming inside an apartment, prompting a police response that would later raise troubling questions. As Shawtyeria's family desperately searched for answers, investigators began uncovering disturbing evidence that revealed what happened to her on the night she disappeared. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A conviction brought accountability, but Stepha Henry’s family is still waiting to bring her home. On this episode of Afterthoughts, Amara and Jason discuss the seventeen-year wait for trial, the sacrifices her parents made to keep searching, and the loss her younger sister, Shola, carried into adulthood. We also reflect on what justice means when the man convicted of murder refuses to reveal where his victim’s remains are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In May 2007, 22-year-old Stepha Henry traveled from Brooklyn to South Florida to celebrate her younger sister’s sixteenth birthday. After days of shopping, family visits, and a reggae concert, Stepha went out for one final night before heading home. She never returned. As her family searched desperately, investigators uncovered disturbing evidence inside the car that had taken her to the nightclub. But an arrest was only the beginning of a seventeen-year wait for justice. This week on Black Girl Gone, we share Stepha’s story, her family’s relentless fight for answers, and the painful question a murder conviction still could not resolve: Where is Stepha? SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Earnin Download Earnin in the App Store or Google Play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For seven years, they called her “Baby Bones.” In March 2005, a hunter discovered a little girl’s remains in the woods of Upper Freehold Township, New Jersey. Investigators had no name, no confirmed cause of death, and no missing-child report that led them to her identity. Someone had tried to destroy her remains—but who was she, and why hadn’t anyone reported her missing? In 2012, her older sister came forward. The child was nine-year-old Jon-Niece Jones, and the account her sister shared would reveal a devastating story of abuse, secrecy, and the adults who concealed her death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Twenty years after Tiesha Sargeant was murdered inside her Brooklyn apartment, her family is still waiting for justice. On this episode of Afterthoughts, Amara and Jason discuss the unanswered questions surrounding her boyfriend’s account, the concerns expressed by those closest to Tiesha, and how reporting about drug activity overshadowed her life and death. We also reflect on the media attention her case lost—and the devastating cost of two decades without answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Mother’s Day in 2006, 26-year-old Tiesha Sargeant was murdered inside her Brooklyn apartment. Her boyfriend told police that masked gunmen had broken in and tied them together—but only Tiesha was shot. He survived unharmed. On this episode of Black Girl Gone, I tell Tiesha’s story and explore the unanswered questions surrounding a murder that remains unsolved twenty years later. Sponsor: Bilt joinbilt.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In January 2010, Sony Millbrook disappeared after dropping her five children off at school and daycare. Her family immediately knew something was wrong, but weeks passed without answers. Then, a foul odor inside the Memphis motel room where Sony had been staying led to a horrifying discovery revealing not only what happened to her, but a series of missed opportunities that allowed the truth to remain hidden. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Earnin Download in the App Store or Google Play Shopify Shopify.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On June 26, 2010, seventeen-year-old Tarasha “Pooh” Benjamin left her home in Selma, Alabama, for a routine Saturday trip to the local flea market. Hours later, the SUV she had been driving was found abandoned and damaged—but Tarasha was nowhere to be found. More than sixteen years later, her disappearance remains unsolved, and her family is still waiting for answers. SUPPORT OUT SPONSOR Earnin Download Earnin in the App Store or Google Play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Afterthoughts, Amara and Jason discuss the murders of Brandi Peters and her three children, Tamiyah, Taniyah and JaVante. They talk about the haunting details left behind inside the family’s home, the evidence that complicated the investigation, and how two juries could hear the same murder case and come to very different conclusions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In November 2010, 27-year-old Brandi Peters and her three young children, six-year-old twins Tamiyah and Taniyah and three-year-old JaVante, were found murdered inside their Tallahassee, Florida home. With no obvious signs of forced entry, investigators began looking closely at the people in Brandi’s life. What followed was a years-long investigation filled with lies, unexpected evidence, competing theories, and a case that would ultimately require two trials before Brandi and her children finally received justice. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BetterHelp BetterHelp.com/girlgone Shopify Shopify.com/girlgone Bilt joinbilt.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On April 11, 2023, 35-year-old mother and teacher Rachel King was shot and killed while sitting in her car in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania. The seemingly random attack left investigators searching for a motive, but surveillance footage, a suspicious vehicle, and a complicated relationship would eventually uncover a calculated murder-for-hire plot driven by jealousy. Support Our Sponsors Shopify Visit www.Shopify.com/girlgone Earnin Download the Earnin App in App Store or Google Play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Afterthoughts, Amara and Jason discuss the abduction and murder of 28-year-old Ahrea’l Smith, who was taken after closing the convenience store where she worked in January 2022. They discuss the frightening circumstances of her abduction, the unanswered questions surrounding her connection to Tyrone Samuel, and how quickly investigators were able to identify the man responsible Sponsor: Download the Bilt app and join the membership for where you live at joinbilt.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

28 year-old Ahrea’l Smith disappeared on January 12, 2022, after closing the convenience store where she worked in Claraville, Virginia. The next morning, her car was found still running in the parking lot with her belongings inside. Surveillance footage captured Ahrea’l’s final movement but what happened just beyond the cameras would lead investigators to the man responsible for her disappearance. Support Our Sponsors Shopify Visit www.Shopify.com/girlgone Earnin Download the Earnin App in App Store or Google Play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the spring of 2004, twenty-four-year-old Tamika Huston disappeared from Spartanburg, South Carolina. At first, her family hoped she had simply left town. But as days turned into weeks, and weeks into months, it became clear that something was terribly wrong. An abandoned car, a mysterious ring of keys, and a series of unexpected investigative breakthroughs would ultimately lead detectives to the truth about what happened to Tamika—and expose a calculated effort to conceal her murder. On this episode of Black Girl Gone, I tell the story of Tamika Huston, the fifteen-month investigation that finally brought her home, and the family who refused to let her be forgotten. Support Our Sponsors BetterHelp betterhelp.com/girlgone Bilt joinbilt.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Afterthoughts, Jason and I revisit the murder of Tee Swims and the heartbreaking decisions that led to her death. We discuss the warning signs in the relationship, the evidence that contradicted the killer's story, and why this case is a powerful reminder of how domestic violence can escalate behind closed doors Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In June 2021, 35-year-old Anteeatta "Tee" Swims was preparing for a fresh start. After years of trying to save her marriage, she had made the difficult decision to leave her husband and begin a new chapter. But before she had the chance, Tee disappeared. For two days, her family received strange text messages they knew she hadn't written. Then the truth came to light. On this episode of Black Girl Gone, I tell the story of Tee Swims, the life she built as a beloved educator, the relationship she fought to save, and the devastating events that ended her life just as she was preparing to walk away. Sponsor: shopify.com/girlgone - start your free trial today Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On January 19, 2008, sixteen-year-old Marlisa Wells was murdered inside the Austell, Georgia home she shared with her grandparents. Just hours earlier, Marlisa had been making plans for her future. But behind the scenes, she was navigating a secret relationship and what she believed was a life-changing pregnancy. As investigators reconstructed her final hours, they uncovered the evidence that led them to her killer. In this episode of Black Girl Gone, we tell the story of Marlisa Wells and the devastating tragedy that forever changed her family. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS EARNIN Download in the App Store of Google Play BILT JoinBIlt.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After hearing the story of Karitha Carroll and her daughter, Jamaya, join Jason and me as we unpack one of the most frustrating aspects of this case the investigation. We talk about the crime scene, the failed confession, the murder-suicide theory, and the questions that still remain almost 17 years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In September 2009, 31-year-old Karitha Carroll and her three-year-old daughter, Jamaya, were found murdered inside their home in Cary, Mississippi. What followed was an investigation marked by conflicting theories, controversial decisions, arrests, and a confession that ultimately fell apart. Nearly seventeen years later, no one has been held accountable for their murders. In this episode of Black Girl Gone, I tell the story of Karitha and Jamaya, and the long search for answers in a case that remains unsolved. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BetterHelp BetterHelp.com/girlgone Shopify Shopify.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Six women disappeared into a basement in Philadelphia. In this episode of Black Girl Gone, I tell the story of the women Gary Heidnik kidnapped and imprisoned for months inside his North Philadelphia home and the courageous survivor whose escape finally brought the nightmare to an end. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Shopify Shopify.com/girlgone Kikoff Kikoff.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On May 16, 2014, 9-year-old Felecia Williams left home to spend the afternoon with someone her family trusted. Less than twenty-four hours later, her body was found in the waters of Tampa Bay. As investigators searched for answers, they uncovered a web of lies, conflicting stories, and evidence that pointed to the man who had been alone with Felecia during the final hours of her life. In this episode of Black Girl Gone, we tell the story of Felecia Williams, a little girl known as "Sugarplum," whose life was stolen by someone she should never have been left alone with. SUPPORT PUR SPONSORS Earnin Download EarnIn on the App Store or Google Play Shopify Shopify.com/girlgone Bilt joinbilt.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On February 20, 2023, 23-year-old Tyeasha Starks went to pick up her young son in Jackson, Tennessee. What should have been a routine custody exchange ended with Tyeasha being shot and killed. Tyeasha was a devoted mother and college student whose family says she was trying to navigate an increasingly strained co-parenting relationship. In the years since her death, no criminal charges have been filed, and her loved ones continue to seek answers. On this episode of Black Girl Gone, I tell the story of Tyeasha Starks and the circumstances surrounding her murder. Support Our Sponsors BetterHelp Get 10% off you first month at BetterHelp.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Afterthoughts, Jason and I discuss the murders of Angela Clay and her daughters, Latoya and Lakeisha. We talk about the warning signs that preceded the murders, the investigation that ultimately connected the case to Byron Lewis Black, and the piece of evidence that may have changed everything. We also discuss the decades of appeals that followed and what justice looked like for the Clay family more than 37 years later. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On March 28, 1988, police responding to a Nashville apartment made a horrifying discovery. Inside the home, Angela Clay and her two young daughters, 9-year-old Latoya and 6-year-old Lakeisha, had been murdered. As investigators pieced together the family’s final hours, they uncovered a history of escalating tension, violence, and threats that would eventually lead them to a man Angela once trusted. On this episode of Black Girl Gone, I tell the story of the Clay family murders and the investigation that followed. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS EARNIN- Download in the in App Store Or Google Play shopify.com/girlgone - start your $1 per month trial today getkikoff.com/girlgone - get your first month for as little as $1 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When Trukita Scott disappeared in June 2014, her family immediately suspected they knew who was responsible. But despite years of questions, investigators never made an arrest, and Trukita remained missing. For more than a decade, her loved ones searched for answers. Then, in May 2026, a major break in the case finally revealed what happened to the young mother who never came home. In this revisited episode, we examine Trukita's disappearance, the suspicions that followed for years, and the discovery that brought Trukita's family long-awaited answers after nearly twelve years of uncertainty. Support Our Sponsors BILT Visit JoinBilt.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August 1987, 26-year-old Selonia Reed disappeared after leaving her home in Hammond, Louisiana, for what was supposed to be a simple night out. Within hours, she was found brutally murdered inside her car. As investigators searched for answers, a troubling picture of Selonia’s marriage began to emerge, but despite growing suspicions, the case remained unsolved for decades. In this episode of Black Girl Gone, we examine the murder of Selonia Reed and the long road to justice that followed. Sponsor: Download EarnIn on the App Store or Google Play. Type in BlackGirlGone under Podcast when you sign up Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When 16-year-old Iyana Sawyer walked out of school and vanished, her family knew something wasn’t right. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a hidden relationship, a pregnancy, and a devastating betrayal. This is the story of what happened to Iyana Sawyer—and the truth that came to light after she disappeared. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Afterthoughts, we reflect on the murder of Nia Wilson—a case that still leaves more questions than answers. We talk about the impact of random violence, the fear it creates, and what it means when there’s no clear motive behind a crime. We also discuss the conversations around mental illness, accountability, and why this case continues to stay with so many people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nia Wilson was just 18 years old when her life was taken in a sudden, unprovoked attack at a BART station in Oakland, California. What began as a normal night—heading home with her sisters—ended in unimaginable violence. In this episode of Black Girl Gone, we tell Nia’s story—who she was, what happened that night, and the impact her murder had on her family and community. Even after an arrest and conviction, one question still lingers… Why? SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Shopify Visit⁠ shopify.com.com/girlgone⁠ Kikoff Visit ⁠getkikoff.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25-year-old Keosha Gilmore was shot and killed while sitting in a car outside her home in Mattapan, Massachusetts. At first, the shooting raised more questions than answers especially when it became clear she was the only one targeted. As investigators worked to understand why, the case stalled, and for months, there were no clear leads. But a detail from Keosha’s past would eventually bring everything into focus, revealing a motive rooted in rejection, obsession, and a connection that had been overlooked. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BILT Visit: joinbilt.com/girlgone EARNIN Download the Earnin app in the App Store or Google play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The disappearance of Cajairah Jae Fraise raises more questions than answers. More than three years later, her case is still defined by limited information, conflicting accounts, and a lack of sustained attention. In this Afterthoughts episode, we unpack the early response, the differences between the family and police narratives, and why a case like this hasn’t received more visibility. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

22-year-old Cajairah Jae Fraise was 35 weeks pregnant when she disappeared from a drive-thru in Beaumont on February 23, 2023. Just weeks away from giving birth, she stepped out of a car and was never seen again. More than three years later, there are still no answers. With limited information, conflicting accounts, and little public attention, her family continues to search for the truth. What happened to Cajairah Fraise? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week on Afterthoughts, we’re unpacking the revisited case of Mitrice Richardson. After being released from police custody in the middle of the night, Mitrice vanished, and the questions surrounding what happened next have never gone away. We’re talking about the decision to release her, the failures that followed, and why this case still feels deeply unresolved. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Revisiting the case of Mitrice Richardson. Released from police custody just after midnight, she was left alone without her phone, car, or money. By morning, she was gone. Her case remains open—and the questions have never been answered. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BILT Visit JoinBilt.com/girlgone BetterHelp Visit BetterHelp.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

19-year-old Aniah Blanchard disappeared after a late-night stop just minutes from home in Auburn, Alabama. What followed was a multi-agency search that uncovered violence, raised serious questions, and led to the arrest of a man who never should have been free. In 2026, that man was convicted in connection to her death. Aniah’s story is one of loss, accountability, and the lasting impact that led to the creation of Aniah’s Law. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Shopify Visit Shopify.com.com/girlgone Kikoff Visit getkikoff.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Afterthoughts, we’re unpacking the disappearance of Ashley Elkins. From the moment that stood out in hindsight to the timeline that doesn’t quite add up, we’re talking through the details that stayed with us after the episode , and the questions that still remain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ashley Elkins was a mother of two who left her home one morning and never returned. In the days that followed, her family searched for answers as the details surrounding her disappearance raised more questions than clarity. As the investigation unfolded, it would point toward someone close to her — but Ashley has never been found. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Shopify www.Shopify.com/GirlGone EarnIn Download the EarnIn App in the App Store or Google Play Bilt www.Bilt.com/GirlGone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In February 2015, 29-year-old Samantha Dean, 6 months pregnant was found shot to death inside her car in Bastrop County, Texas. As investigators searched for answers, what first appeared to be a staged crime scene began to reveal a far more disturbing truth. The investigation would uncover a murder-for-hire plot involving burner phones, multiple conspirators, and the father of Samantha’s unborn child. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS BetterHelp Visit BetterHelp.com/girlgone for 10% Off Your First Month Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In December 1984, fourteen-year-old Gloria Pointer left her Cleveland home to walk to school. She never made it. Later that morning, Gloria was found at the bottom of a fire escape staircase. An investigation began immediately, and over the years, multiple suspects were considered. But it would take nearly three decades and advances in DNA technology for the truth to finally come to light. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS Shopify Visit Shopify.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After nearly 30 years, the murder of Robin Lawrence was finally solved through DNA and a chilling confession. In this Afterthoughts episode, we unpack the randomness of the crime, the lack of remorse shown by her killer, and what this case means for the many families still waiting for answers in cold cases. Because justice may be delayed but sometimes, it still arrives. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1994, 37-year-old Robin Lawrence was brutally murdered inside her Virginia home while her two-year-old daughter remained inside. For nearly three decades, the case went unsolved until advances in forensic genealogy led detectives to an unexpected suspect and a chilling confession. After 30 years of silence, Robin’s case was finally solved. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS HelloFresh HelloFresh.com/girlgone10fm BILT JoinBilt.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In honor of Black History Month, we’re revisiting the story of Alberta Jones — Louisville’s first Black woman prosecutor and a civil rights trailblazer. On August 4, 1965, Alberta left her home after a late-night phone call. Hours later, her body was found floating in the Ohio River. The investigation was marked by conflicting timelines, missing evidence, and suspects who were never charged. Decades later, police claimed they knew who was responsible — but said they couldn’t prosecute. Sixty years later, Alberta Jones’ murder remains unsolved. Her story deserves to be remembered. SUPPORT OUR SPONOR EARNIN Download today in the Apple App Store or Google Play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Afterthoughts conversation, we talk through what stayed with us after telling Carmen Sanders’ story. We reflect on the details that mattered most, the warning signs that were easy to miss in real time, and how proximity and familiarity played a role in what happened. This isn’t a rehash of the case. It’s a space to sit with the unanswered emotional weight, the choices Carmen was preparing to make, and the larger questions her story raises about access, trust, and safety especially when danger doesn’t come from the outside. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In January 2010, Carmen Sanders, a twenty-two-year-old woman living in Ridgeland, Mississippi, was murdered inside her apartment. The investigation moved quickly, resulting in an arrest, formal charges, and a guilty plea that led to a life sentence. Carmen’s story is told through the life she was living before her death a young woman balancing work, school, and plans to move forward and the circumstances that allowed violence to occur in a space that appeared ordinary and familiar. This Episode Was Sponsored By BetterHelp Go To BetterHelp.com/girlgone for 10% off Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On September 4, 1998, eight-year-old Shy’Kemmia Pate disappeared from her neighborhood in Unadilla, Georgia. She was last seen on a quiet Friday night, just steps from her home, as summer came to an end. By the time an official search began, the most critical hours were already gone. What followed was an investigation shaped by delays, limited timelines, and years of unanswered questions. Despite extensive searches, multiple persons of interest, and renewed attention decades later, Shy’Kemmia was never found. Her disappearance remains one of Unadilla’s most troubling unsolved cases a story defined not by what is known, but by what has never been explained. SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR BILT Visit JoinBilt.com/girlgone Shopify Visit Shopify.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In January of 2022, 17-year-old Zion Foster left her home in Eastpointe, Michigan, and never returned. What began as a desperate search for a missing teenager slowly became something else entirely. As police worked to retrace Zion’s final movements, her family pushed for answers, and a troubling timeline began to take shape — one built on phone data, surveillance footage, and statements that didn’t add up. Support Our Sponsors Shopify Visit Shopify.com/girlgone Hello Fresh Visit HelloFresh.com/girlgone10fm Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between the fall of 2012 and the summer of 2013, three women disappeared from Cleveland under very different circumstances. Shetisha Sheeley, Angela Deskins, and Shirellda Terry were not reported missing in the same way, and their cases were never linked while they were still alive. It wasn’t until July of 2013 — when three bodies were discovered within blocks of each other in East Cleveland — that investigators realized these were not isolated cases, but part of the same story. SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR Earnin Download the Earnin App in the App Store or Google Play Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this Afterthoughts episode, we unpack the case of Samira Watkins and talk through what stayed with us after telling her story. From the dangers of trusting the “safe” option, to the weight of circumstantial evidence, to the devastating impact Samira’s loss had on her family — especially her young son — we share our honest reactions, lingering questions, and the parts of this case that were hardest to shake. This conversation goes beyond the timeline to reflect on deception, double lives, and what justice really looks like when a case is built piece by piece. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2009, 25-year-old Samira Watkins disappeared in Pensacola, Florida, after leaving home to meet someone she trusted. As investigators worked to retrace her final movements, the case evolved from a missing person report into a murder investigation built largely on circumstantial evidence and digital records. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In May 2023, 29-year-old nurse and mother Patrice Wilson vanished after finishing an overnight shift at a Detroit hospital. What investigators uncovered would expose a targeted act of violence — and reopen questions tied to another woman who disappeared years earlier. This is the murder of Patrice Wilson. SUPPORT OUR SPONSOR Bilt Visit JoinBilt.com/girlgone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices