The Unlovely Truth

Season 2, Episode 49: The Many Murders of Robeson County: Who is Killing its Indigenous People?

We all have some stress at the holidays, but nobody more than families with murdered or missing loved ones. This December, I’m going to share with you what I’m calling the 12 Cases of Christmas - unsolved homicides and disappearances that haven’t gotten enough attention to get solved. I think that, together, we can change that.
This week, all three of our cases come from the same county in North Carolina. I will warn you right now - this episode will make you sad, and make you want to go kick some butt. At the end of the episode I’ll share some small action steps that you can take to make a significant impact.
Sitting along the South Carolina border, in the swamps of southeastern North Carolina, Robeson County has a population of over 100,000 people. You can get to the beach in an hour and a half, or the mountains in about 3 hours. You can visit the Museum of the Southeast American Indian to learn about tribal Lumbee Indian life. With more than 55,000 members, it is the largest Native population east of the Mississippi River.
Even with all of its natural beauty and historic significance, there’s a dark side to the area. When I approached the FaceBook group Shattering the Silence for permission to post a link to this episode, I was overwhelmed by the number of people who responded that they had a murdered or missing loved one from Robeson County. The problem goes much deeper than the three cases featured in today’s episode. Please check out the links below for more information on the problem.
If you have any information on any Robeson county homicide or missing person’s case, you can contact the FBI at 704-672-6100, or the Robeson County Sheriff's Office at 910-671-3100.
Article from spectrumlocalnews.com
Robeson no longer tops North Carolina crime stats
"There's a sickness in Robeson"
New evidence article
Scalawag Magazine article
themurdersquad.com article
Inside Edition story on YouTube
Shattering the Silence FaceBook group
Red Justice podcast
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Season 2, Episode 48: Was an Innocent Man Executed? A Private Investigator Takes a Fresh Look

Like me, Ellen McGarrahan never set out to be a private investigator. She had a great career as a reporter until the day she witnessed an execution. Then people started talking about the possibility that out of the three perpetrators in a heinous crime, the one who was executed might have been innocent.
She had to know, so she became a P.I. and spent years tracking down witnesses, documents, and anything she could find that might help her sleep at night. Was Jesse Tafero actually an innocent man?
Join me and my guest, private investigator Matt Budjenska, to talk about what it’s really like to be a P.I. and how easy it can be to become obsessed with a case.
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Check out the Wish List and support Isaiah 117 House (remember I may get a small commission from your purchase so you’re supporting the podcast at the same time!)

Season 2, Episode 47: Celebrating the 100th Episode of the Podcast for True Crime Junkies who Love Jesus

There are SO MANY true crime podcasts that you could be listening to so I really want to say thank you for making time in your busy schedule to listen to me. I hope that you’ve learned some things you didn’t know, wrestled with topics you hadn’t thought much about, and reached out to help someone in need.
As believers, we all have a calling to be a PI - a person of impact. Let’s dive in and see how each one of us has the ability to make a positive difference in the true crime world. Today we’re going to look back at some of my favorite moments from the last 99 episodes. It was a real struggle to whittle so many great moments and guests down to fit into this episode, so if I missed any of YOUR favorite moments, please let me know!
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Season 2, Episode 46: In the Name of the Children, Part 3: Solving the Cold Case Murder of Danny Hohenstein

Danny Hohenstein would probably have benefitted from some time in a more structured environment than his alcoholic mom was giving him. She once lost track of him for three days, forgetting that she’d left him at a friend’s house. On the day he disappeared, she was eagerly looking for him because she wanted to drop him off with his father. She called police when she still couldn’t find him after an hour of searching on her own.
There are too many children out there like Danny. Often, the best option is for them to live in a foster home until their biological parents can give them a safe and nurturing environment to return to. But leaving your home behind can be scary for kids. That’s where Isaiah 117 House steps in. They care for kids who are out of their homes and waiting on their foster placement. As you can imagine, it’s a huge undertaking - but you can help. Below is a link to an Amazon wish list that will allow you to buy any of 12 items that are desperately needed to serve these children well. Please join me in helping this amazing organization, and kids like Danny.
Amazon wish list for Isaiah 117 House
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Enter the 100th episode giveaway!

Season 2, Episode 45: In the Name of the Children, Part 2

Yosemite National Park attracts millions of visitors to its breathtaking views that are sure to make for memorable family vacations. It also attracts workers who want - or need - to live off the grid. Tragedy erupted in Yosemite in February 1999 when Carol Sund, her teenage daughter Juli, and their friend Silvina Pelosso crossed paths with Cary Staynor, a handyman at Yosemite’s Cedar Lodge motel. The FBI arrested who they thought was the three women’s killer, and that mistake cost Yosemite Institute worker Joie Armstrong her life.
As we dive back into “In the Name of the Children” we’re going to talk again with pastor Lori Prather about the fact that while our past can certainly influence us, we don’t have to let it define us. We need to be defined by what the Word says about us. Depending on the choices we’ve made and the circumstances we’ve been born into, any one of us could be a victim or even an offender. Like King David though, no matter what our past is we can still be a person “after God’s own heart”.
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Listen to other episodes with Lori Prather:
Season 1, Episode 4: The Hot One
Season 1, Episode 30: The Less People Know About Us
Season 1, Episode 47: The Silent Sisters
Season 1, Episode 50: The Murder Room
Season 2, Episode 12: Obsession and Manipulation in the Deep South: Everything She Ever Wanted by Ann Rule
Season 2, Episode 30: Blending In: "The Demon Next Door" by Bryan Burrough
Season 2, Episode 44: Is Empathy an FBI Interrogation Technique? "In the Name of the Children" by Jeffrey Rinek and Marilee Strong

Season 2, Episode 44: Is Empathy an FBI Interrogation Technique? ”In the Name of the Children” by Jeffrey Rinek and Marilee Strong

On this episode of The Unlovely Truth I interview our Unlovely Truth Tribe Chaplain, Lori Prather. Lori has many years of experience wrestling with the dark issues of faith that true crime stories present. We had an interesting conversation about why many Christians deliberately choose to work in dark fields, discussed how things aren’t always as they seem, and the interesting concept of Servant Evangelism.
If you want to help The Unlovely Truth continue to grow and serve more people, please visit my website and share your favorite episode or blogpost with a friend.
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Season 2, Episode 43: Can FaceBook be Fatal? The Death of Ashleigh Hall

Internet predators are a parent’s worst nightmare. The FaceBook whistleblower, Frances Haugen, has been everywhere on the news lately saying that she has proof FaceBook chose to prioritize profit over people. Did this alleged lack of appropriate online safeguards contribute to the death of 17-year-old Ashleigh Hall in England in 2009? Is the same thing happening to more of our kids even today? The number of kids who say they've had an online sexual interaction online with someone who they thought was an adult is staggering. Let’s talk about why children’s online safety should be important to all of us and find ways we can make a difference.
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The Guardian article about Ashleigh's murder
FaceBook's statement about Ashleigh’s murder
Newsweek article on social media
National Center For Missing and Exploited Children website
FBI works with NCMEC
Listen to Social Media Monsters

Season 2, Episode 42: Five Secrets of a Mafia Madman

On this episode of The Unlovely Truth, I interview former mafia madman Robert Borelli. Robert has fascinating tales of his time in a notorious crime family, but his best story is the day that he cried out to God to change him.
Robert craved what a lot of young people do: respect, admiration, and the acceptance of family. But most young people don’t look for these things in the mafia. When he got a shot at a new life through the witness protection program, he realized how God had also wiped his slate clean and given him a new start.
Through the example of faithful men who served him through a prison ministry, Robert found a way to serve another group of society’s outcasts. In Robert’s story, I found 5 key secrets that helped him get through his struggles. I believe they can help all of us.
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Season 2, Episode 41: The Redemption of Bobby Love: A Story of Faith, Family, and Justice

North Carolina native Walter Curtis Miller escaped from prison and was born again as Bobby Love. Bobby’s wife Cheryl had no idea who her husband really was until police knocked on their door over three decades later. I had a fascinating conversation with Bobby and Cheryl about bad choices, secrets, redemption, and how we know who we truly are. We also talked about what it took for Cheryl to make sense of everything and decide whether faith alone was going to be enough to keep her family together.
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People Magazine article about Bobby and Cheryl
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Season 2, Episode 40: Race and the Media: Why You Know Gabby Petito but Not Rajah McQueen or Paige Coffey

On this episode of the Unlovely Truth we’re going to talk about what drives the disparity in the media’s treatment of missing persons of color versus missing persons who are white. You’ll hear the stories of Rajah McQueen and Paige Coffey as we discuss why these missing women didn’t get the same amount of media attention that Gabby Petito did.
We teach our children that Jesus loves them all, “...red and yellow, black and white, they are precious in His sight.” Shouldn’t everyone then be precious in our sight as well? If they are, then let’s jump in and do what we can to help Paige and Rajah’s families find out what happened to their missing loved one.
If you have information about Paige Coffey, please call 216-622-6842.
If you have information about Rajah McQueen, please call police at 216-348-4232 or contact detectives at 216-623-3138.
Georgia Lee Moses Episode
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Families of missing Black women call for same attention as Gabby Petito case
Article about Rajah McQueen
Rajah McQueen missing person information
Article about Paige Coffey
Paige Coffey missing person information
Statistics on missing persons of color