Investigation: Homicide

Episode #60 ~ Her Honor: Justice Court Judge talks hometown court

Every courtroom tells a story, but rarely do we hear it straight from the bench.
 
This week, Nicole Kral and Therese Apel sit down with Justice Court Judge Marsha Weems Stacey for a candid conversation about what it really looks like to dispense justice at the community level. Judge Stacey pulls back the curtain on cases that have moved through her courtroom: the ones that stay with you, the ones that challenge you, and the ones that reveal something true about the people we live alongside every day.
It’s a conversation about law, yes, but more than that, it’s about the relationship between a judge and the community she serves, and how each one quietly shapes the other in ways most of us never see.
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #59 ~ The Last Shift: The 1996 Jackson Firehouse Massacre

 On April 24, 1996, an ordinary shift at Jackson Fire Department headquarters turned into one of the deadliest days in the department's history. Firefighter Kenneth Tornes walked the halls of the station he knew well, moving from office to office with deadly intent — targeting the men who wore the same uniform he did, the supervisors who had dedicated their lives to protecting others. When it was over, four members of the command staff were dead: Captain Merideth Moree, District Chief Dwight Craft, Captain Stan Adams, and District Chief Rick Robbins.
 
For retired Jackson Police Department Crime Scene Investigator Charlie Smith, this wasn't just another case. These were men he knew — colleagues he had worked alongside for years, responding to the same scenes, in the same city, all of them bound by the same mission to serve and protect. Processing a crime scene is already one of the most demanding things a first responder can be asked to do. Doing it where your friends fell is something else entirely.
On this episode of Investigation: Homicide, hosts Therese Apel and Amanda Johansson sit down with Charlie Smith to revisit a case that shook Jackson's first responder community to its core. Nearly three decades later, the weight of that day hasn't faded — and neither has Charlie's commitment to making sure the men who died that morning are not forgotten.
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #58 – The Goon Squad: At the defense table

When a defense attorney steps into a case that has captured national attention, the stakes couldn’t be higher. On this episode of Investigation: Homicide, Jackson-based attorney Aafram Sellers joins Therese Apel and Nicole Kral for an in-depth conversation about representing Brett McAlpin, the alleged ringleader in Mississippi’s infamous “Goon Squad” case. Sellers offers a rare look at the legal strategy, public scrutiny, and ethical complexities that come with defending a client at the center of one of the most talked-about law enforcement scandals in recent memory.
Throughout the episode, Sellers discusses what it’s like to navigate a case that has drawn widespread outrage, intense media coverage, and federal attention. He breaks down the realities of high-profile criminal defense work, the importance of due process, and how attorneys balance public perception with their obligation to advocate for their clients. The conversation also explores the broader implications of the case for Mississippi’s justice system and the community at large.
The “Goon Squad” case refers to a group of former Rankin County sheriff’s deputies accused of carrying out a pattern of violent, unlawful acts, including the torture and abuse of suspects. The case gained national prominence after federal charges were filed, detailing a series of incidents that exposed deep concerns about misconduct, accountability, and civil rights violations within a local law enforcement unit. The allegations and subsequent prosecutions have sparked ongoing conversations about policing practices and oversight across the country.
Don’t miss this compelling and candid discussion that pulls back the curtain on a case that continues to make headlines nationwide.
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #57 — Until they all come home: Updating the Alex Easterling case

Tonight on Investigation: Homicide, we revisit the case of Alex Easterling, a missing man from Pickens whose disappearance continues to raise questions for his family and community.
 
Joining us is his mother, Ashley Martin, who shares the latest developments in her son’s case and the ongoing search for answers. She also discusses new efforts she’s leading to support other families facing the heartbreak of missing loved ones, turning her personal tragedy into a mission to help others.
 
As the investigation continues, Martin speaks candidly about the challenges, the unanswered questions, and why she believes the truth is still out there.
 
Anyone with information about Robert “Alex” Easterling’s disappearance is urged to contact Crime Stoppers at (888) 827-4637.
 
This episode is sponsored by Southern Connection Police Supplies, protecting and serving those who protect and servce. We are produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #56 - The last ride: Justice for Sonja

A woman's body is found in the road in Rankin County. No one knows how she got there. Was it a hit-and-run? An accident? Investigators are left with more questions than answers — until the phone rings.
Tonight, hosts Therese Apel and Sara Perkins sit down with Rankin County Coroner David Ruth, who worked the case as a Brandon Police officer, to talk about the night Sonja Stapleton was found and the investigation that followed. What started as a mystery on a dark Mississippi road would eventually lead somewhere no one expected.
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode #55 - Malice in Monroe: What happened to Mandy Hsiao?

Tonight on Investigation: Homicide, Therese Apel breaks down the latest developments in the murder trial of Ming Chen Hsiao.
The case centers on Quinton Tellis, also known as the primary suspect in the Jessica Chambers case, as the first week of testimony wrapped Friday in a bench trial that has already raised serious questions.
Joining the conversation tonight is defense attorney Lance Mixon of Stewart and Associates, offering a defense attorney’s perspective on what we’ve seen so far and what it could mean moving forward.
With court now awaiting a date to resume proceedings, what happens next? And more importantly, how strong is the case against Tellis, really?
Therese is joined by co-host Amanda Johansson to walk through the most critical moments from the courtroom, break down the evidence and testimony, and take your questions live.
Join the conversation, tune in tonight and come ready with questions.
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions. 

Episode #54 - Forged in Fire: sheriff Tyree Jones talks about the murder of Lyneil Vaughn

This week on Investigation: Homicide, hosts Therese Apel and Nicole Kral sit down with Sheriff Tyree Jones, who takes us back to his days as a Jackson Police Department detective working the 2007 murder of Lyneil Deshun Vaughn.
Vaughn, who was disabled, was found burned and rolled up in a blanket — the tragic end to a horrific crime that began as a kidnapping. Three suspects were ultimately charged, but the case would test the resolve, instincts, and teamwork of the detectives who worked it.
It’s a story that not only reveals the dark side of human nature but also the strength of those who stand against it. The investigation into Lyneil Vaughn’s murder became a defining moment for a group of detectives who are now leaders across the Jackson metro area — including Sheriff Tyree Jones himself.
🎧 Join us as we revisit a case that still haunts those who worked it, and hear how it helped shape the future of law enforcement in Mississippi.
Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments!
 
This episode, like all our others, is brought to you by The Southern Connection Police Supplies, serving and protecting Mississippi first responders so they can serve and protect us.
 
#InvestigationHomicide #TrueCrimePodcast #JacksonMS #SheriffTyreeJones #LyneilVaughn #MississippiJustice #LawEnforcementStories #TrueCrime
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.
 

Episode #53: Protecting Mississippi's future and other legislative updates.

Mississippi’s fight over first responder retirement benefits is heating up at the Capitol — and tonight we’re breaking down what it means for the people on the front lines.
 
On this episode of Investigation: Homicide, hosts Therese Apel and Nicole Kral are joined by Southern States Police Benevolence Association President Andy Matuszewski, also known to many in law enforcement as “Ski.”
Matuszewski will discuss the progress of several bills currently moving through the Mississippi Legislature that could directly affect first responders across the state. One of the biggest debates centers around Tier 5 of the Public Employees’ Retirement System of Mississippi (PERS).
 
The changes placed many newer first responders into a 35-year retirement plan with reduced benefits, and law enforcement leaders say that shift is already affecting recruitment and retention in agencies across Mississippi. Matuszewski will explain why public safety organizations believe the system puts officers, deputies and other first responders at a disadvantage compared to previous tiers — and how a coalition of public safety groups has been working to push for reforms.
 
But the conversation doesn’t stop there.
 
Therese and Nicole will also talk with Matuszewski about other key public safety issues making their way through the Legislature, including the ongoing push to allow radar use for sheriff’s departmentsand how proposed laws could impact policing, staffing and community safety statewide.
 
If you want to understand what’s happening behind the scenes at the Capitol — and how those decisions affect the men and women protecting Mississippi communities — this is an episode you won’t want to miss.
 
This episode, like all our others, is brought to you by The Southern Connection Police Supplies, serving and protecting Mississippi first responders so they can serve and protect us.
 
New episodes of Investigation: Homicide drop wherever you listen to podcasts.
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions. 

Episode #52: Unjustifiable Homicide: The Jack Donald Cole Case.

On this episode of Investigation: Homicide, Therese Apel and Amanda Johansson sit down with Byron Swilley, sheriff of Copiah County, to take a deep dive into the case of Jack Donald Cole — a case that raises difficult questions about self-defense, property rights and the limits of Mississippi’s Castle Doctrine.
 
Jesse James Chapman knew someone had been slipping onto his property to steal catalytic converters. What he didn’t know was what would unfold the day he came face to face with suspected trespassers. Chapman walked away from that encounter — but weeks later, Cole was dead.
 
This story is about a shooting — was it justified? Or did it cross a legal line?
Sheriff Swilley walks listeners through the timeline of events, the evidence investigators uncovered and how Mississippi law applies when someone claims they were protecting their property. We break down what the Castle Doctrine actually says (and what it doesn’t) in a case that sits at the intersection of fear, firearms and the fine print of the law.
 
It’s a story about confrontation, consequences and the gray areas that can turn a property dispute into a homicide investigation.
 
Many thanks to The Southern Connection Police Supplies for making this important conversation possible.The Southern Connection is Mississippi’s Glock Distributor for law enforcement and specializes in the sale of firearms (new and used), custom vehicle graphics and lighting by an ASE Master Certified Automotive Technician, police supplies, SWAT gear, tactical uniforms, laser engraving, custom embroidery, apparel, patch and badge design, and more. They are Mississippi’s destination for law enforcement supplies and vehicle outfitting!
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.

Episode # 51 - Back To Back Murders: Inside the Rapid-Fire Investigation with Rankin County’s Tyler Burnell

August 2025: Two front doors kicked in. Two men shot multiple times inside their own homes. One suspect who would ultimately confess to both killings.
Tonight on Investigation: Homicide, Therese Apel and Nicole Kral Woods sit down with Rankin County Investigator Tyler Burnell to walk through the chilling case that stunned Rankin and Madison counties and ended with a rare courtroom moment: a double guilty plea to murder and capital murder just two months after the crimes were committed.
Investigator Burnell gives listeners an inside look at how the Rankin County Sheriff’s Department and the Brandon Police Department worked together with urgency and precision to build the case and ensure the families saw justice.
This episode is about coordination, confession, and swift closure. Join us as we take you inside the investigation.
This episode is brought to you by The Southern Connection Police Supplies
274 Commerce Park Dr, Ridgeland, MS 39157
www.thesouthernconnection.com
(601) 853-3106
 
#InvestigationHomicide #TrueCrimePodcast #MississippiCrime #RankinCounty #MadisonCountyMS #TrueCrimeCommunity #BehindTheInvestigation #LawEnforcement #JusticeServed #PodcastRelease
 
This episode is produced by Daniel Anderson at Audio Alchemy Productions.