Cup of Coffee and Crime
Hey Coffee and Crimers, I'm your host Belle, and once a week, join me with your favourite cup of coffee as I bring you true crime cases from around the world; some you'll know, some you won't.From closed cases to cold cases, from mysterious disappearances to cover-ups, from the sinister to the surreal, you'll find them all here on the Cup of Coffee and Crime Podcast.** My goal is to share these cases with respect & sensitivity for the victims & their families. I prioritise thorough research, accurate information, and avoid speculation or sensationalism. **Each episode is dedicated to remembering the...
Episodes
A Toxic Pull, a Fatal End: Daniel Green
Daniel Green was a dedicated father, a steady presence in his son’s life, and determined to move forward after a turbulent marriage. But his split from Erika Sandoval hadn’t settled into peace. Even apart, they were caught in a toxic pull; …
A Missing Man, A Manuscript and a Murder : Johnny Altinger
Johnny Altinger wasn’t reckless. He didn’t take chances, didn’t skip plans, didn’t just disappear. So when he vanished after a first date with a woman he’d met online, his friends knew something was wrong. What began with a gut feeling soon…
Gone but not Forgotten: Greer Lawrance
Greer Lawrance was just 20 years old; kind,thoughtful, full of life, and deeply loved by those who knew her. She knew her worth, and had walked away from a relationship that had turned toxic, choosing peace over chaos and control. But when …
Coercion, Control, and Eight Lives Lost: Valerie Jackson
Valerie Jackson didn’t have an easy life, but she kept trying to make the best of it; for herself and for her children. Caught between two volatile men, she moved back and forth, hoping each time for peace, for change, for a fresh start. It…
A Fire, A Family's Grief, and a Chilling Confession: Mary Gregory
She was 94 years old, a strong, determined grandmother battling dementia. Yet despite her diagnosis, Mary Gregory’s independent spirit meant she continued living alone in her modest bungalow in Lancashire, England. When a house fire tragica…
A Mother's love, a Son's Cruel Secret: Carol Anne Taggart
She was kind, dependable, and loved by those who knew her, a devoted mother whose world revolved around her family; especially her youngest son. But just days before Christmas, 54-year-old Carol-Anne Taggart vanished from her home in Dunfer…
A Little Girl's Last Words: Gizzell Ford
She was vibrant, and full of potential. A little girl who dreamed of becoming a doctor, who wrote about love, hope, and perseverance in the pages of her pink diary. But behind the words and her radiant smile, 8-year-old Gizzell Ford was fig…
The "Butcher" of Australia :Katherine Knight
She worked in a slaughterhouse, was known for her violent streak—and yet, somehow, people kept giving Katherine Knight another chance.In a small town in New South Wales, Australia, one man thought he could handle her. But behind the smiles …
Newlyweds, Secrets & a Deadly Knock at the Door: Rick and Gail Brink
They were young, in love, and barely a year into marriage when someone walked in and took their future.Rick and Gail Brink were settling into the rhythms of newlywed life in rural Michigan when they were suddenly found murdered, execution-s…
Used, Betrayed, Murdered: Kenny Bunn
Life had never come easy for 27 year old Kenny Bunn.. He didn't fit the mould in his conservative Southern town. He craved connection, a second chance at happiness, maybe even love. And that desperation? It was noticed. And it was used.When…
Missing, Mourned, and Mistreated: Rori Hache and Kandis Fitzpatrick
Two young women. Two disappearances. Years apart, but eerily connected.Rori Hache was vibrant, full of life, and just 18 when she vanished in 2017 in Oshawa, Canada. Kandis Fitzpatrick disappeared nearly a decade earlier—but her name wouldn…
Control, Confessions and Bubble and Squeak: David Jackson
She appeared to be a typical grandmother. He was her husband, David Jackson—a retired Army veteran. So how did bubble and squeak end in murder?What unfolded one quiet February evening in 2021 shocked their sleepy Somerset, England community…
Double Lives, Deadly Intent: The Han Twins Murder Plot
In this episode of Cup of Coffee and Crime, I delve into the haunting true story of identical twins Sunny and Jeena Han—two sisters bound by blood but torn apart by jealousy, control, and betrayal.Known as the “Han twins murder plot,” this …
Your Friend til the End: Suzanne Capper
At just 16, Suzanne Capper was a girl with her whole life ahead of her. But in December 1992, she became the victim of a horrifying crime that would shock a nation. Held and tortured for days by people she once trusted, Suzanne’s story is o…
The Real Life Dexter? - Pedro Filho
The Real-Life Dexter? Pedro Filho, Brazil’s Most Notorious Vigilante Killer, claimed to only kill the bad guys—drug dealers, rapists, abusers. By the time he was a teenager, he'd already taken his first life. By the time he was captured, th…
Who You know: Martine Magnussen
She was young, bright, and full of promise. Martine Vik Magnussen had left her home in Norway to study in London, chasing her dreams in one of the world’s most vibrant cities. But after a night out celebrating with friends, Martine vanished…
BONUS: Olly and Jordan
Today's bitesize episode dives into two heartbreaking cases involving young boys — both of whom had their childhoods stolen in drastically different ways.13-year-old Olly Stephens was killed for no other reason than standing up for what he …
BONUS: Alice and Anggy
Our Facebook Community Members spoke, and the response was an overwhelming yes! During our season hiatus, I’ll be periodically bringing you bonus bitesize episodes—stories originally shared on my TikTok account before this podcast grew. Tod…
A Deadly Pact or a Desperate Act: Joanne Witt
In the final episode of Season 4, join me as I discuss the case of 47-year-old single mother Joanne Witt, who was found murdered in her El Dorado Hills, California, home. As investigators searched for her killer, the case took an unexpected…
Forgotten or Forsaken: Cooper Harris
A devoted father or a calculated killer? On a sweltering June morning in Georgia, 22-month-old Cooper Harris was strapped into his car seat as his father, Justin Ross Harris, drove him to daycare—only Cooper never made it there. Left in the…
Devotion and Deadly Betrayal: Robbie Doerr
As a dedicated firefighter, 51-year-old Robbie Doerr had built a life centered around service and family. To those who knew him, he was loyal, hardworking, and devoted to his wife, Becky. But on a cool February night in 2019, Robbie was sho…
Obsessed, Unstoppable, and Unchecked: Mary Lynn Witherspoon
Mary Lynn Witherspoon was a beloved teacher in Charleston, South Carolina—graceful, kind, and dedicated to her students. But behind her poised exterior was a growing fear she couldn’t escape. For over 20 years, she was the target of an obse…
From Threat to Tragedy: Clare Bernal
Clare Bernal was a 22 year old British woman with her whole life ahead of her. She was ambitious, kind-hearted, and building a career she loved.. But what began as a brief romance with a co-worker soon turned into a chilling ordeal of obses…
Nowhere to Hide: Celeste Manno
Celeste Manno was a 23-year-old Australian woman—a bright, compassionate young woman with her whole future ahead of her. She had a loving family, a promising career, and a kind heart that made a lasting impact on everyone she met. However, …
Secrets in the Ashes: Melissa Lamesch
Melissa Lamesch was just days away from welcoming her first child when tragedy struck. The 27-year-old EMT, known for her compassion and dedication to helping others, was found dead in her Illinois home following a fire. At first, the blaze…
UNSOLVED - Secrets By The Sea: What Happened to Steven Clark
Steven Clark was 23 years old when he vanished without a trace during a Mother/Son walk along the beach on a chilly December afternoon in 1992. He was funny, intelligent, and full of quiet determination—a young man who had overcome so much …
Turn a Blind Eye: The Bluestone Family
Jill Bluestone was a loving mother raising her 4 children alongside her husband in Gravesend, Kent, England, where their family life seemed picture-perfect. But behind closed doors, tensions simmered, and the cracks in their marriage began …
Twisted Love: Ryan Poston
29 year old Ryan Poston was a successful young attorney with a bright future ahead of him, but behind the scenes, his personal life was unraveling. On a quiet October night in 2012, a volatile relationship would lead to an unforgettable nig…
UNSOLVED & MISSING - Secrets and Suspicion: Kyron Horman
Kyron Horman was a bright and curious 7-year-old with a love for science and an infectious smile. On the morning of June 4, 2010, he arrived at school, excited to showcase his science project at the school fair. But by the end of the day, K…
Betrayed From Within: Lisa Knoefel
When 41 year old mother and Social Worker, Lisa Knoefel, opened her home and heart to foster daughter Sabrina Zunich, she hoped to provide a safe haven for a teenager in need. But behind the picture-perfect suburban life in Willoughby Hills…
Obsession, Heartbreak, and a Fatal Betrayal: Emma Walker
Emma Walker was a bright, ambitious high school cheerleader with her whole life ahead of her. Riley Gaul was the college freshman who couldn't let her go. Their relationship began as young love but spiraled into a dangerous obsession. When …
Spousal Revenge: Darcy Freeman
On a bright January morning in Melbourne Australia, four-year-old Darcy Freeman was on her way to her first day of school—a moment filled with the excitement and hope of new beginnings. But by the end of that day, Darcy’s name would be etch…
Unseen and UNSOLVED: Evelyn and Alex Hernandez
Evelyn Hernandez was a young mother balancing work, dreams, and the imminent arrival of her second child. But on a spring day in 2002, Evelyn and her five-year-old son, Alex, disappeared from their San Francisco neighborhood without a trace…
A Betrayal Within: Tia Sharp
Twelve-year-old Tia Sharp was a happy, adventurous girl visiting her grandmother’s home, a place that should have offered safety and comfort. But when Tia vanished without a trace, her family’s worst nightmare began. The search for Tia woul…
A Short Walk to Tragedy: Paige Ann Doherty
When 15-year-old Paige Ann Doherty left her Clydebank home for her part-time job, no one could have imagined the horror that would soon follow. A short walk to a local deli would be her last, leading to a brutal encounter that sent shockwav…
Shattered Ties: Justin Hilbert
A young father with a promising future, brutally murdered. A second murder just weeks later, sparking a high-speed chase and a manhunt across California. In the shadow of those events lay a web of connection, suspicion, and unanswered quest…
Ambition and Secrets: Kara Nichols
An aspiring model with big dreams. A quiet Colorado Springs neighbourhood. In October 2012, 19-year-old Kara Nichols vanished without a trace, leaving behind questions that would haunt her family and investigators for years. As leads dried…
Deadly Devotion: Marcus Wesson
A self-proclaimed prophet. A family cloaked in secrecy. In 2004, police uncovered a horror that would send shockwaves through a quiet Fresno neighbourhood—nine bodies, all related, all brutally murdered. As investigators peeled back the lay…
Unchartered Waters: Ben Smart and Olivia Hope
In the final episode of Season 3, I delve into two young lives full of promise, a New Year's Eve celebration in the peaceful Marlborough Sounds, and a disappearance that has sparked debate for decades. Ben Smart and Olivia Hope's night shou…
Family Feud: Becky Bliefnick
In February 2023, the peaceful town of Quincy, Illinois, was shattered by the shocking murder of Becky Bliefnick, a devoted mother of three. Found in her own home, the brutal nature of the crime left investigators scrambling for answers. As…