The Man in the Road | The Death of Thomas Ruffen

The Man in the Road | The Death of Thomas Ruffen

In the early morning hours of September 1, 2022, 39-year-old Thomas James Ruffen left his home near Boston's Jackson Square. Minutes later, the respected father, mentor, and community leader was lying in the roadway. What happened next would transform what initially appeared to be a tragic pedestrian collision into one of Boston's most disturbing homicide cases. Prosecutors alleged that witnesses warned the driver that Thomas was lying directly in front of the vehicle. The driver maintained he never saw Thomas and never heard anyone yelling. One death. Two completely different versions of what happened. In this episode of Cigar & A Crime, Dr. Dee takes listeners beyond the headlines to examine not only the criminal investigation, but the remarkable life of Thomas Ruffen, a Boston Neighborhood Fellow, community organizer, founder of the Massachusetts Creating Community Power Association, and longtime leader with Union Capital Boston. Drawing from court records, investigative reporting, community tributes, and conversations with someone who knew Thomas personally, this episode explores the evidence, the unanswered questions, and the legacy of a man who spent his life helping others find their voices. Because before Thomas Ruffen became the subject of a homicide investigation... He was changing lives. In This Episode: • Thomas Ruffen's life and legacy • The events leading up to September 1, 2022 • The prosecution's murder allegations • The defense's response • Surveillance evidence and witness accounts • The unanswered questions that remain • Reflections on justice, community, and remembrance If you enjoyed this episode, please follow Cigar & A Crime, leave a review, and share this story. Every listen helps ensure that lives like Thomas Ruffen's are remembered-not simply for how they ended, but for the impact they made. Because the smoke never lies.

Behind Closed Doors – The Cerina Fairfax Story

On the surface, Cerina and Justin Fairfax appeared to have built the American dream. She was a respected dentist, devoted mother, and successful business owner. He was a rising political star who became Virginia's Lieutenant Governor and was once viewed as one of the most promising figures in American politics. But behind the public image, pressure was mounting. In this episode of Cigar & A Crime, Dr. Dee takes listeners beyond the headlines to examine the life of Cerina Fairfax, the rise and fall of Justin Fairfax, and the tragic events that unfolded inside their Annandale, Virginia home. From their beginnings at Duke University to the challenges that emerged during a highly publicized political career, this episode explores the people behind the story, the timeline of events, the investigation, and the broader lessons surrounding family, public image, and hidden struggles. This is not a political story. This is a human story. A story about loss, family, and the devastating consequences of what can happen when private pain remains hidden behind public success. In this episode: • The life and legacy of Cerina Fairfax • Justin Fairfax's rise in Virginia politics • Their relationship and family life • The timeline of events in Annandale, Virginia • Investigation details and media coverage • The broader conversation surrounding domestic violence and family trauma 🎙️ Follow Cigar & A Crime on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, and wherever you listen to podcasts. 🔥 The Smoke Never Lies.

Smoke Over Garfield Park: The Deaths of Barbara and Kaleb Deer

Chicago, Illinois… A city known for resilience. For culture. For community. But on April 14, 2026, tragedy entered a home on West Arthington Street and left an entire city searching for answers. In Episode 22 of Cigar & A Crime, Dr. Dee examines the heartbreaking deaths of Barbara Deer and her son, Kaleb Deer, the widow and son of former Cook County Commissioner Dennis Deer. Barbara Deer was known as a speech-language pathologist, community advocate, anti-violence organizer, and respected leader on Chicago’s West Side. Her son, Kaleb Deer, was a psychology graduate, mental-health counselor, entrepreneur, and young man with plans for the future. What began with an Apple Watch fall alert would soon lead police to a devastating scene inside the family home. Authorities later ruled the case a murder-suicide, but the emotional weight of this tragedy continues to ripple through Chicago communities, political circles, and conversations surrounding grief, mental health, family pressure, and hidden pain. In this episode, Dr. Dee explores: • The lives and legacy of Barbara and Kaleb Deer • The timeline leading up to the discovery • The official investigation and unanswered questions • The media narrative surrounding the case • The deeper conversations about Black mental health, grief, and community trauma This episode is not about sensationalism. It is about humanity. It is about loss. And it is about remembering the people behind the headlines. 🎙️ Welcome to the Lounge of Truth. Because the smoke never lies. #CigarAndACrime #BarbaraDeer #KalebDeer #Chicago #TrueCrimePodcast #BlackMentalHealth #ChicagoStories #Podcast

Bear Force One: The Unsolved Murder of De’Runnya Wilson

He was built like a nightmare for defenders. Six-foot-five. Over 220 pounds.  A playmaker who helped lead Mississippi State to the #1 ranking in the nation. They called him Bear. But on January 21st, 2020… De’Runnya “Bear” Wilson wasn’t on a football field. He was inside a home in Birmingham, Alabama-  where his life was taken in a case that, years later, still has no answers. In this episode of Cigar & A Crime, Dr. Dee takes you beyond the highlight reels and headlines to uncover the deeper story: *  The rise of a multi-sport phenom from Wenonah High School  *  His impact at Mississippi State alongside Dak Prescott  *  The transition from college stardom to life after football  *  The tragic day his mother, Tamika Wilson, found him unresponsive  *  The investigation that quickly turned into a homicide… and then went quiet  *  And the questions that still remain unanswered  De’Runnya Wilson wasn’t just an athlete. He was a father to four daughters and one son- five children now growing up without him. And while his stats were widely reported… his case has not received the same attention. This episode also confronts a larger truth: Why do some stories fade faster than others?  Why do we know more about what he did on the field… than what happened to him off of it? And what does justice look like… when silence replaces answers? If you have any information related to this case, please contact: 📞 Birmingham Police Department: 205-254-1764  📞 Crime Stoppers: 205-254-7777 Anonymous tips matter. 🎧 Listen now and step into the Lounge of Truth— where the stories don’t disappear… and the smoke never lies. 🔥 FOLLOW & SUPPORT 📺 YouTube: https://youtube.com/@cigarandacrimepodcast  🎙️ Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and all major platforms 👍 Don’t forget to subscribe, rate, and share to help keep these stories alive.

Paradise, Perception, and the Final Post — The Death of Ashlee Jenae Robinson

Paradise. Love. Celebration. That’s what Ashlee Jenae Robinson was experiencing in Zanzibar as she celebrated her 31st birthday, just days after saying yes to a proposal. But within a week… everything changed. Ashlee, a 31-year-old woman from South Jersey, was found unresponsive in a resort villa and later passed away. What followed was a wave of unanswered questions, conflicting narratives, and a timeline that doesn’t fully align. In this episode of Cigar & A Crime, Dr. Dee takes you beyond the headlines and into the details that matter: *  A birthday trip that became something else entirely  *  A reported argument and sudden separation  *  An 11-hour gap that raises serious questions  *  A fiancé at the center of the timeline  *  A family fighting to bring their daughter home, and searching for answers  As authorities continue their investigation, Ashlee’s loved ones are left navigating distance, silence, and uncertainty while asking one question: What really happened in paradise? This episode doesn’t rush to conclusions. It sits with the facts, the emotions, and the unanswered questions, because sometimes the truth isn’t immediate… it’s uncovered. 🎧 Listen now on Cigar & A Crime 💬 Share your thoughts and help keep Ashlee’s story visible