Melanin Mysteries

The New Era Sharon Patterson & Larketa Collier

Cousins... This week we are headed to Detroit, Michigan to talk about two teenagers who had plenty of options and somehow landed on murder. When 16-year-old Larketha Collier and her 17-year-old girlfriend Sharon Patterson were told they couldn't see each other unsupervised anymore, they came up with a plan so stupid I had to stop reading and stare at the wall a couple times. Instead of doing what normal teenagers do, these two decided that 64-year-old Bertha Atkins had to go. And if that wasn't enough foolishness, after murdering Grandma Bertha and setting the house on fire, these little hoodlums went to the movies to "get their minds off it." Girl... What?! Join me as we discuss teenage obsession, Grandma Bertha's tragic murder, the confession, the trial, the appeals, and the resentencing that would come years later. And as always, I need to know what y'all think because this case had me asking "WHY?" from beginning to end. 💜 If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a 5-star review wherever you're listening. It helps the podcast more than you know and helps new cousins find our little Black true crime corner of the internet. 📱 Follow Melanin Mysteries Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and all social media platforms for case updates, discussions, behind-the-scenes content, and all the foolishness. 📧 podcast@melaninmysteries.com [podcast@melaninmysteries.com] 🌐 MelaninMysteries.com Now tell me... Did these two have the worst plan we've covered all year? Remember cousins... Hearts break, but alibis don't. 💜

Introducing: Love Lies & Alibis: Quick Hit

🎙️ LOVE, LIES & ALIBIS: QUICK HIT "What's up, y'all? Welcome to the very first Love, Lies & Alibis Quick Hit. Now unlike our regular Love, Lies & Alibis discussions, these are gonna be short, sweet, and straight to the point. Just a few minutes of relationship talk, hot takes, and the kind of questions that'll have y'all arguing in the comments and texting your friends. So let's get into today's Quick Hit. I was watching that classic episode of A Different World where Dwayne Wayne stops Whitley's wedding to Byron, and it got me thinking... Why do we think wedding protests are so romantic? Because baby, if I'm standing at the altar and somebody comes running through the doors talking about, 'Wait! I love you!' We already got a problem. But if my fiancé actually leaves me standing there after I done spent all this damn money? Somebody getting introduced to this bouquet personally. 💐😒 Now don't get me wrong, Dwayne and Whitley got their happy ending, but can we talk about Byron? Because that man got embarrassed in front of his family, her family, and everybody else who showed up for the free food. So I want to know... Are wedding protests romantic? Or are they selfish and completely out of line? Drop your thoughts in the comments, and I'll see y'all on the next Love, Lies & Alibis Quick Hit."

The New Era Nadiyah Venable & ShaRon Moens

A love triangle. A jealous rage. A pregnant 20-year-old. And four children whose lives would never be the same. This week on Melanin Mysteries, we're heading to Newark, New Jersey, to discuss the tragic case of Sha-Ron Moens and Nadiyah Venable. What started as a messy relationship involving a much older man, his estranged partner, and his young girlfriend quickly spiraled into a deadly confrontation that would leave one woman dead, another facing life in prison, and multiple children caught in the crossfire. We'll break down the complicated relationship between Sha-Ron, Nadiyah, and Ken Jones, the events leading up to the attack, the heartbreaking testimony from a 13-year-old girl forced to relive the worst day of her life, and the questions that still surround Nadiyah's mysterious death in prison just one year after her conviction. Cousins... this case had me talking to my microphone. Grab your wine, your sweet tea, your edible, or whatever gets you through listening to people make terrible life choices, because this one is messy, heartbreaking, and completely avoidable. ⚠️ Listener Discretion Advised: This episode contains discussions of murder, domestic violence, graphic violence, and crimes involving children that may be disturbing to some listeners. #TrueCrime #BlackTrueCrime #MelaninMysteries #ShaRonMoens #NadiyahVenable

One Bad Night: Wrestling With Death

Cousins...this one is gonna have y'all arguing in the comments. In 1999, six-year-old Tiffany Eunick was left in the care of a trusted family friend. Hours later, she was dead from catastrophic injuries that medical experts compared to those seen in serious car accidents. The person responsible? Twelve-year-old Lionel Tate. What followed was one of the most controversial criminal cases in modern American history. Prosecutors said Lionel's obsession with professional wrestling led to a brutal attack that killed Tiffany. His defense argued he was a child who didn't understand the consequences of his actions. A life sentence.National outrage.Appeals.Al Sharpton rallies.The Rock getting dragged into court.And a second chance that left many people shaking their heads. This week, we're unpacking the case of Lionel Tate, the first child in modern U.S. history sentenced to life in prison without parole, and asking the question people are still debating decades later: Was this a tragic accident? Or did Lionel know exactly what he was doing? Grab your wine, your tea, your emotional support snack, and let's talk about it. 💜 Follow, rate, and review Melanin Mysteries wherever you're listening. Every rating, review, share, and comment helps more cousins find the show and keeps these stories reaching a wider audience.

The New Era Curtis Kyles & Chicwanda Forbes

🚨 NEW EPISODE ALERT 🚨 Cousins... What would YOU do if somebody sold you a food stamp card and then something went wrong at the register? Would you... A. Figure it out later B. Call them C. Move on with your life Or... D. Completely lose your damn mind and ruin multiple lives? 👀 This week we're talking about Chicwanda Forbes & Curtis Kyles, and baby... this story is MESSY. What starts as a simple trip to the grocery store quickly spirals into violence, kidnapping, murder, a multi-agency manhunt, and one of the most ridiculous motives I've ever covered on Melanin Mysteries. And when y'all find out what REALLY happened? I promise you're gonna be sitting there looking at your phone like... 🤨 Now let me give the disclaimer for the new cousins: This is NOT First 48. I am not a monotone narrator. I talk a little shit. We laugh. We kiki. We have opinions. But we ALWAYS respect the victims and their families. If that's your vibe, pull up a chair and join us. 🎙️ Listen now and don't forget to leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review! 📱 Follow Melanin Mysteries Podcast: Facebook Instagram TikTok 💻 Visit: MelaninMysteries.com 📧 Case suggestions, Cousin Confessions & business inquiries: podcast@melaninmysteries.com [podcast@melaninmysteries.com] 💜 Join the private Facebook group: Love, Lies & Alibis And cousins... This week's Vibe Check song is "Down Ass Bitch" by Ja Rule. Did it pass the vibe check? Drop a comment and let me know! #MelaninMysteries #BlackTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #PodcastCommunity #BlackPodcasters #CrimePodcast #MelaninMysteriesPodcast #LoveLiesAndAlibis