Scream and Sugar: True Crime Coffee Hour

Ep 81 - The Murder of Brianna Denison Pt I

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re heading to our own backyard—Reno, Nevada—for a case that gripped the community and left lasting scars: the 2008 murder of 19-year-old Brianna Denison. After a night out with friends, Brianna vanished from a friend’s home near the University of Nevada campus. Weeks later, her body was found—her death linked to a string of violent assaults that had already been haunting the area. As investigators raced against time, DNA evidence became the key to exposing a predator hiding in plain sight: James Biela. How did this case change the way Reno saw safety, trust, and its college-town nightlife? And how did Brianna’s memory inspire a movement for awareness and justice? In this episode, we revisit the investigation, the trial, and the legacy that still echoes through the Biggest Little City.  Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all! Case Notes:  2PhatVegans - https://www.instagram.com/2phatvegansnola/?hl=en Big Kitchen Cafe | San Diego https://share.google/uthBaXQfTzFIafqGO [https://share.google/uthBaXQfTzFIafqGO] Damning DNA — The Murder of Brianna Denison — Crime Library https://share.google/IMqxG3hhpo4z4iRp3 [https://share.google/IMqxG3hhpo4z4iRp3]Tip, DNA lead to arrest in student's slaying - CNN.com https://share.google/p1piGflOxiTLo5a0P [https://share.google/p1piGflOxiTLo5a0P] Photos: The Brianna Denison case https://share.google/5Dnto1UZOHR7wfZLp [https://share.google/5Dnto1UZOHR7wfZLp] https://open.spotify.com/episode/62aAaptGmj4TKg1K3wK83T?si=Dfux1ymfRMO0WCa3BAjEZQ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/62aAaptGmj4TKg1K3wK83T?si=Dfux1ymfRMO0WCa3BAjEZQ]  https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19-6204/117740/20191002123643407_Appendix%20Exhibits.pdf [https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19-6204/117740/20191002123643407_Appendix%20Exhibits.pdf] James Biela | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers  https://share.google/e3seakvBt4hMF952K [https://share.google/e3seakvBt4hMF952K] https://youtu.be/xZLPJAQRx9E?si=7oflKaSkjc0wo9MP [https://youtu.be/xZLPJAQRx9E?si=7oflKaSkjc0wo9MP] https://open.spotify.com/episode/1evjqu2JHs1dxi8gMrkXWb?si=B0qHTPWaS-OkcCAfN3DWbQ [https://open.spotify.com/episode/1evjqu2JHs1dxi8gMrkXWb?si=B0qHTPWaS-OkcCAfN3DWbQ] Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Ep 80: The Reclaim the Night Movement and The Murder of Dr. Moumita (HALF-CAF!)

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re traveling to Kolkata, India, to uncover a story that’s as heartbreaking as it is infuriating—the murder of Dr. Moumita, allegedly at the hands of another hospital worker, Sanjay Roy. In 2023, the young doctor’s brutal death sent shockwaves across India, igniting public outrage and sparking powerful conversations about women’s safety, gender-based violence, and systemic silence. As activists and students flooded the streets with the Reclaim the Night movement, demanding justice for Moumita, many began to question how deeply patriarchy and corruption run within the very systems meant to protect women. Was this tragedy the result of one man’s violence—or a reflection of a society that still fails to value women’s lives? Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all! Case Notes: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/kolkata-doctor-rape-murder-post-mortem-report-highlights-brutal-assault-confirms-multiple-injuries-signs-of-struggle/articleshow/112484225.cms [https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/kolkata-doctor-rape-murder-post-mortem-report-highlights-brutal-assault-confirms-multiple-injuries-signs-of-struggle/articleshow/112484225.cms]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Kolkata_rape_and_murder#cite_note-livemint-18 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2024_Kolkata_rape_and_murder#cite_note-livemint-18]https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/kolkata-rape-murder-case-150-mg-of-semen-found-in-doctors-body-doctors-say-it-could-be-gang-rape-441513-2024-08-14 [https://www.businesstoday.in/india/story/kolkata-rape-murder-case-150-mg-of-semen-found-in-doctors-body-doctors-say-it-could-be-gang-rape-441513-2024-08-14]https://www.instagram.com/turf_supper_club/?hl=en [https://www.instagram.com/turf_supper_club/?hl=en] Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Ep 79 - The Murder of Shad Thyrion by Taylor Schabusiness

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re heading to Green Bay, Wisconsin, to unravel one of the most shocking and gruesome cases in recent memory—the murder of Shad Thyrion at the hands of Taylor Schabusiness. In 2022, a late-night encounter spiraled into a horror scene that stunned investigators. Police arrived to find evidence of a brutal killing that defied comprehension—acts so disturbing they shook even seasoned officers. As the trial unfolded, questions of mental health, manipulation, and pure depravity collided, leaving the nation wondering what drove Taylor Schabusiness to commit such an unthinkable crime.  In this episode, we examine the timeline, the evidence, and the chilling courtroom revelations that turned a small Wisconsin town into the setting of a nightmare. We also want to call out Laughing Cat Coffee here in town!  So grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all! Case Notes:  Laughing Cat Coffee Roasters: https://www.laughingcatcoffee.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c0WUmwmzzkU https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/schabusiness-removed-from-courtroom-after-outburst-during-hearing-in-new-battery-case/https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/schabusiness-removed-from-courtroom-after-outburst-during-hearing-in-new-battery-case/ [https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/schabusiness-removed-from-courtroom-after-outburst-during-hearing-in-new-battery-case/]https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/convicted-murderer-taylor-schabusiness-reaches-plea-deal-sentencing-date-set/ [https://www.wearegreenbay.com/news/local-news/convicted-murderer-taylor-schabusiness-reaches-plea-deal-sentencing-date-set/]https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Shad_Thyrion#cite_note-Independent-1 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Shad_Thyrion#cite_note-Independent-1]https://www.killerqueenspodcast.com/taylor-schabusiness-case-and-trial/#:~:text=The%20rest%20of%20the%20body,wanted%20to%20see%20what%20happens.%E2%80%9D [https://www.killerqueenspodcast.com/taylor-schabusiness-case-and-trial/#:~:text=The%20rest%20of%20the%20body,wanted%20to%20see%20what%20happens.%E2%80%9D]https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/crime/2023/07/24/timeline-of-events-in-the-taylor-schabusiness-homicide-case/70401764007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z115753e002400v115753b0058xxd005865&gca-ft=164&gca-ds=sophi [https://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/story/news/crime/2023/07/24/timeline-of-events-in-the-taylor-schabusiness-homicide-case/70401764007/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z115753e002400v115753b0058xxd005865&gca-ft=164&gca-ds=sophi]https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/taylor-schabusiness-shad-thyrion-trial-b2464272.html [https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/taylor-schabusiness-shad-thyrion-trial-b2464272.html]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xofnwgeulB8 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xofnwgeulB8]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy4E32IzBaw [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zy4E32IzBaw] Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Ep 78 - Jordan Turpin and her Escape from the Turpin House of Horrors

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re confronting one of the most harrowing modern true crime stories—the Turpin family, whose Perris, California home became known as the House of Horrors. In 2018, seventeen-year-old Jordan Turpin escaped the unthinkable, breaking free from years of abuse at the hands of her parents, David and Louise Turpin. What she revealed to police was almost beyond comprehension—thirteen siblings trapped in filth, chained to beds, starved, and silenced. Her courage not only exposed the horrors hidden behind suburban walls but also raised painful questions about how such cruelty could go unnoticed for so long. How did this nightmare go undetected for years? And what became of the Turpin children after their rescue? In this episode, we uncover the haunting truth of survival, neglect, and the lasting strength of one girl’s bravery. Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all! Case Notes:  Eve's Eatery: https://www.eveseaterynv.com/ https://time.com/5109959/turpin-parents-children-torture/ [https://time.com/5109959/turpin-parents-children-torture/]https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2018/10/05/louise-turpin-denied-mental-health-diversion/1538158002/ [https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2018/10/05/louise-turpin-denied-mental-health-diversion/1538158002/]https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2018/06/22/turpin-children-were-choked-caged-thrown-down-stairs-prosecutor-says/726304002/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z113803e000200v113803b0043xxd004365&gca-ft=121&gca-ds=sophi [https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2018/06/22/turpin-children-were-choked-caged-thrown-down-stairs-prosecutor-says/726304002/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z113803e000200v113803b0043xxd004365&gca-ft=121&gca-ds=sophi]https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2018/08/31/david-and-louise-turpin-re-enter-not-guilty-pleas/1158228002/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z113803e007600v113803b0043xxd004365&gca-ft=160&gca-ds=sophi [https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/crime_courts/2018/08/31/david-and-louise-turpin-re-enter-not-guilty-pleas/1158228002/?gnt-cfr=1&gca-cat=p&gca-uir=true&gca-epti=z113803e007600v113803b0043xxd004365&gca-ft=160&gca-ds=sophi]https://www.patrickwanis.com/the-psychology-behind-the-house-of-horrors-and-child-torture/ [https://www.patrickwanis.com/the-psychology-behind-the-house-of-horrors-and-child-torture/]https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/us/turpin-children-foster-home-attorney-interview [https://www.cnn.com/2022/07/27/us/turpin-children-foster-home-attorney-interview]https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-turpin-mental-health-20181005-story.html#:~:text=Judge%20rejects%20request%20by%20mother,of%20prosecution%20%2D%20Los%20Angeles%20Times [https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-turpin-mental-health-20181005-story.html#:~:text=Judge%20rejects%20request%20by%20mother,of%20prosecution%20-%20Los%20Angeles%20Times]https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/turpin-family-parents-why-do-it-children-perris-california-captives-psychology-motive-a8162136.html [https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/turpin-family-parents-why-do-it-children-perris-california-captives-psychology-motive-a8162136.html]https://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/body-camera-footage-shows-deputys-1st-conversation-jordan-81290124 [https://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/body-camera-footage-shows-deputys-1st-conversation-jordan-81290124]https://abc7chicago.com/post/david-louise-turpin-case-former-det-thomas-salisbury-speaks-investigation-children-abuse-cases/15573459/ [https://abc7chicago.com/post/david-louise-turpin-case-former-det-thomas-salisbury-speaks-investigation-children-abuse-cases/15573459/]https://people.com/where-are-turpin-family-siblings-now-8379490? [https://people.com/where-are-turpin-family-siblings-now-8379490?utm_source=chatgpt.com] Body Cam Footage: https://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/body-camera-video-shows-inside-turpin-family-house-81290118 [https://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/body-camera-video-shows-inside-turpin-family-house-81290118] Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Ep 77 - The Mass Burial Site at NNAMHS Reno Campus (with Matthew Berrey!)

Welcome back, Spooky Squad, to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. In this haunting and thought-provoking episode of Scream & Sugar, we join journalist and spooky sleuth Matthew Berrey as he unearths a lesser-known chapter of Northern Nevada history: the mass burials on the grounds of the former Northern Nevada Adult Mental Health Services (NNAMS) campus in Reno. For decades, the campus—originally established in the late 19th century as part of Nevada’s institutional mental healthcare system—laid claim to a cemetery where hundreds of individuals, many forgotten and unidentified, were laid to rest.  Matthew takes us behind the scenes of the research: the historical context of the asylum system in Nevada, the working-farm and self-sufficient model of the institution, and the shadows cast by minimal record-keeping, unmarked graves, and, maybe, institutional neglect.  Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all! Case Notes:  http://friendsofnorthernnevadaadultmentalhealthservicescemetery.com/powerpointpresentation.html [http://friendsofnorthernnevadaadultmentalhealthservicescemetery.com/powerpointpresentation.html] (need to use wayback machine) http://friendsofnorthernnevadaadultmentalhealthservicescemetery.com/cemeteryhomepage.html [http://friendsofnorthernnevadaadultmentalhealthservicescemetery.com/cemeteryhomepage.html] (need to use wayback machine) https://historicreno.org/media/custom/docs/FPv14n2.pdf [https://historicreno.org/media/custom/docs/FPv14n2.pdf] https://www.historicreno.org/media/custom/docs/FPv13n2.pdf [https://www.historicreno.org/media/custom/docs/FPv13n2.pdf] https://www.historicreno.org/media/custom/docs/FPv12n3.pdf [https://www.historicreno.org/media/custom/docs/FPv12n3.pdf] https://nvtami.com/2023/08/06/nevada-insane-asylum-the-desecrated-cemetery/ [https://nvtami.com/2023/08/06/nevada-insane-asylum-the-desecrated-cemetery/]  Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support [https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss]. This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.