Michelle Martinko: The Murder That Waited 39 Years

Death, Delays, and Doubt :The Death Penalty in America

Welcome back to Season 2 of Lauren's Little Murder Club!! Season 2 begins with the truth behind America’s death penalty—its history, its failures, and the lives caught in between.

It's a wrap!

Season 1 is done and my heart is full. Thank you for being part of this little murder club. Season 2 drops soon.

Al Kite — The Man Who Never Existed

In 2004, Al Kite—a kind, soft‑spoken landlord in Aurora, Colorado—was found murdered in his own home. The man who rented his basement vanished without a trace, leaving behind a trail of false identities and unanswered questions. Investigators discovered that “Robert Cooper,” the tenant, never existed. Lauren’s Little Murder Club dives into the chilling mystery of a killer who built an entire fake life just to commit one perfect crime—and disappear forever.

Michelle Martinko: The Murder That Waited 39 Years

In December 1979, 18‑year‑old Michelle Martinko was found murdered in her car outside a Cedar Rapids mall. For nearly four decades, the case haunted investigators—no witnesses, no suspects, no clear motive. Then, a single drop of blood and the rise of DNA genealogy cracked the silence. Lauren’s Little Murder Club revisits the chilling story of a young woman’s final night and the breakthrough that finally brought her killer to justice after 39 years.

The Murder of Brianna Ghey

What looked like an ordinary meetup between friends became one of the UK’s most shocking teen murder cases. This episode unpacks the chilling planning behind Brianna Ghey’s death, the suspects’ digital trail, their reactions when arrested, and the truth that emerged during the trial.