Morbidology the Podcast – 233: Maddy Middleton By Emily G. Thompson Santa Cruz, California, is renowned for its secure, laid-back beach atmosphere. Boasting white sandy beaches and a charming boardwalk, it remains a favoured destination for tourists. It was the peak of summer season in 2015. The city was abuzz with holiday makers, while residential neighbourhoods were filled with children off school for the holidays. On the 25th of July, everything changed, as the entire city’s focus shifted to the search for a missing girl. Dec 4, 2023 • 4 min read
Anna Brackett: Broken Innocence & a Tragic Murder By Emily G. Thompson On 14 June 1983, 85-year-old Anna Brackett was found stabbed to death in her home in Auburn, California. According to neighbours, two teenage girls had been knocking on doors the afternoon before, asking to use a telephone. Nov 12, 2023 • 6 min read
Morbidology the Podcast – 221: Anthony Avalos By Emily G. Thompson Numerous safeguards are established to protect vulnerable individuals, particularly children. In an ideal world, these systems work the way they are supposed to. Unfortunately, however, the child protection system is infallible, and when it fails, children are the ones left to pay the ultimate price. Sep 11, 2023 • 5 min read
Morbidology the Podcast – 217: Joanne Witt By Emily G. Thompson On Friday the 11th of June, 2009, Joanne Witt’s co-workers were concerned when she failed to show up for work. Over the weekend, they routinely checked at her home. The air conditioning was switched on, but nobody answered the door. By Monday, their concern had escalated so much that they promptly reported her missing. Aug 14, 2023 • 4 min read
Morbidology the Podcast – 215: Evelyn & Alex Hernandez By Emily G. Thompson It is widely acknowledged that disparities exist in missing person cases. When a victim fits the mold of an all-American, girl-next-door from an affluent family, their case tends to garner significantly more national attention. This reality was evident in two remarkably similar cases involving pregnant mothers that occurred in California in 2002. The divergent treatment and media coverage of these cases showed that not all victims are equal. Jul 31, 2023 • 2 min read
Morbidology the Podcast – BONUS: Kiely Rodni By Emily G. Thompson On the 5th of August, 2022, 16-year-old Kiely Rodini vanished from a party near the Prosser Family Campground within the Tahoe National Forest in California. According to reports, the party was attended by hundreds of teenagers and young people, many who had come from all across the state. This is an ongoing case, and Kiely still remains missing. Aug 13, 2022 • 3 min read
The Satanic Sacrifice of Elyse Pahler By Emily G. Thompson It was 1995 when 15-year-old Elyse Pahler was lured from her home in Arroyo Grande, California. Unbeknownst to Elyse, three teenage boys believed they had made a pact with Satan. Mar 24, 2022 • 4 min read
Morbidology the Podcast – 136: Lisa Marie Naegle By Emily G. Thompson Lisa Marie Naegle had always dreamed of becoming a reality star. In 2010, she hoped these dreams would materialize when she was selected to compete in the controversial reality show, Bridalplasty. The show, however, was hit with much criticism and Lisa would return home to California and continue with her average life. In 2016, however, […] Jan 24, 2022 • 4 min read
Money, Murder and Manipulation – The Bizarre Case of the Brown Family By Emily G. Thompson In 1985, 14-year-old Cinnamon Brown was convicted of killing her step-mother. Years later, however, she would confess that it had been in fact her father who ordered her to carry out the murder. Nov 25, 2021 • 6 min read
The Disturbing Death of Mirabelle Thao-Lo By Emily G. Thompson In 2011, six-week-old Mirabelle Thao-Lo was discovered inside her mother's home, suffering from third-degree burns and deep tissue burns that were consistent with being placed inside a microwave. Oct 21, 2021 • 4 min read
