Never Light Up A Room Podcast
We all know the cliche "they lit up a room". On this true crime podcast, we will explain why you should stay safe and never "light up a room"! We aim to shine a light on the well known cases as well as the overlooked or forgotten stories. Join us each week as we cover a new investigation and illuminate the darkness that surrounds us.
Episodes
Episode 073: The Murder of Gregg Smart
On May 1st 1990 Pamela Smart came home from an important board meeting at the school that she worked at to find her husband Gregg Smart murdered, and with the condo that they owned in complete disarray. Was this a robbery gone wrong or was …
Episode 072: The Idaho Student Murders: The Murders of Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin
In the early morning hours of Nov 13, 2022, a crime that captivated the world took place. 4 University of Idaho students, all in their early 20s, were brutally murdered in their off- campus house in Moscow Idaho. The victims' families as we…
Episode 071: The Murder of Travis Alexander
After not hearing from their friend Travis, a group of his friends would go over to Travis Alexander’s house on June 9th 2008 where they would find him dead in his standup shower. Travis would have a gunshot wound to his head, had been stab…
Leave The Light On July 2025
We're back with our seventeenth Leave The Light On episode where we recap the cases we covered in the previous month, discuss crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in the next month. If we know!Refer…
Episode 070: The Death of Elisa Lam
On January 31st 2013, 21 year old Elisa Lam who was traveling on the west coast of the United States missed a check in call with her parents who were home in Vancouver. After not hearing from her, Elisa’s parents would then call the Los Ang…
Episode 069: The Murder of Alexis Gabe
On January 26, 2022, 23-year-old Alexis went out to meet up with one of her friends, however, she never returned home. Alexis’s family reported her missing the next day. Over time, investigators pieced together what happened the night that …
Episode 068: The Murder of Cari Farver
In October of 2012, 37-year-old, Cari Farver began casually dating Dave Kroupa, however 2 weeks into the relationship Cari suddenly disappeared. Although Cari had essentially vanished physically, Dave was soon being bombarded by texts and e…
Episode 067: The Escape of Kara Robinson
On June 24th 2002 while at a friends house, 15 year old Kara was outside watering plants when a man pulled into the driveway. Striking up a conversation, the man would then go on to kidnap Kara and take her back to his apartment where he wo…
Episode 066: Gal Vallerius, AKA OxyMonster
Gal Vallerius was a seemingly mild-mannered Frenchman, with a wife and family, living in Paris France. However, behind the scenes, or should we say, behind the screen, Gal was known as “OxyMonster”, one of the most prominent drug dealers on…
Leave The Light On June 2025
We're back with our sixteenth Leave The Light On episode where we recap the cases we covered in the previous month, discuss crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in the next month. If we know! Refere…
Episode 065: The Disappearance of Lauren Spierer
On the night of June 2nd 2011, 20-year-old University of Indiana student Lauren Spierer had some friends over to watch a basketball game. Deciding that the night was not finished, Lauren went over to a friend's place to keep the party going…
Episode 064: The Murder of Sean Kennedy
On May 16, 2007, 20-year-old Sean Kennedy was leaving a nightclub where he had spent the evening with his friends. As he was leaving the club, he was confronted by a group of men in a vehicle. An altercation occurred between Sean and one of…
Episode 063: The Murder of Bianca Devins
On July 14th, 2019, 17-year-old Bianca Devins went to a concert in New York with someone that she thought was her friend. Unfortunately, on their way home from the concert, Bianca’s “friend” revealed that he had a very sinister plan for Bia…
Episode 062: The Disappearance and Murder of Vicki Lynne Hoskinson
On Sept 17, 1984, 8-year-old Vicki Lynne Hoskinson set out on her pink bicycle to drop off a birthday card for her aunt at the mailbox. Sadly, Vicki never returned home. Her pink bike was found several blocks from her home but there was no …
Leave The Light On May 2025
We're back with our Fifteenth Leave The Light On episode where we recap the cases we covered in the previous month, discuss crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in the next month. If we know! Refere…
Episode 061: The Murder of Annie Le
On September 8th 2009 Yale student Annie Le would be caught on video entering into the Lab where she worked. Unfortunately that video would be the last time anyone would see the 24 year old as she would be reported missing later that evenin…
Episode 060: The Disappearance of Maisy Odjick and Shannon Alexander
On Sept 5, 2008, best friends, 16-year-old Maisy Odjick and 17-year-old Shannon Alexander attended a dance in Maniwaki Quebec, Canada. The following day the two teens disappeared, leaving behind their belongings including their purses, wall…
Episode 059: The Murder of Missy Bevers
On the morning of April 18th 2006 students of the gladiator boot camp found their instructor Terri “Missy” Bevers with multiple injuries at the church where the class was to be taught that morning at Midlothian’s Creekside Church of Christ …
Episode 058: Albert Walker and the Murder of Ronald Platt
On July 28, 1996, two fishermen found the body of a middle-aged man off the Devon coast in England. The body was soon identified as Ronald Platt, thanks to the service records for the Rolex watch the man had been wearing. This started the u…
Leave The Light On April 2025
We're back with our Fourteenth Leave The Light On episode where we recap the cases we covered in the previous month, discuss crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in the next month. If we know! Refer…
Episode 057: The Murder of Faith Hedgepeth
After a night out of fun and dancing on September 6th 2012 at the popular Thrill Night club. College students Faith Hedgepeth and her roommate Karena Rosario head back to their apartment. Karena then leaves the apartment for the rest of the…
Episode 056: The Deaths of Nichol Olsen, Alexa Montez, and London Bribiescas
On January 10, 2019, the bodies of 37-year-old Nichol Olsen, along with her 2 daughters, 16-year-old Alexa Montez and 10-year-old London Bribiescas were found in the upscale Anaqua Springs Ranch home of Nichol’s boyfriend, Charlie Wheeler. …
Episode 055: The Lululemon Murder
On March 12th, 2011 at a Lululemon store in Bethesda Maryland store manager Rachel Oertli was set to open the store that morning. When she arrived at the store, she noticed the door was unlocked and there was merchandise spread across the …
Episode 054: The Mysterious Death of Ellen Greenberg
On January 26, 2011, Sam Goldberg found his fiancé, Ellen Greenberg stabbed to death in the couple's apartment. Ellen’s death was initially ruled a homicide but that was later changed to rule her death a suicide. Ellen’s family does not bel…
Episode 053: The Chowchilla Bus Kidnapping
On July 15th 1976 3 gunmen would hijack a school bus that was carrying 26 kids from the ages of 5-14. The gunmen would go to hold the children and bus driver captive for over 24 hours. Tune in to hear the incredible story of what unfolded a…
Leave The Light On March 2025
We’re back with our Thirteenth Leave The Light On episode where we recap the cases we covered in the previous month, discuss crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in the next month. If we know!Refere…
Episode 052: The Psychology of False Confessions
This week we are looking at the psychology behind why a person would confess to a crime that they never committed. We discuss the categories of false confessions including voluntary, persuaded or internalized, and compliant false confession…
Episode 051: The Murder of Rachel Hurley
On March 17th 1990 14 year old Rachel Hurley was out boating with her friends at the Jupiter Inlet in Florida. With her Mom waiting in the parking lot just over a mile away, Rachel leaves her friends at the washroom to make sure she wasn't …
Episode 050: The Ecole Polytechnique Massacre
On Dec 6, 1989, Marc Lepine carried out a targeted attack on women at the Ecole Polytechnique engineering school in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The rampage resulted in 14 women losing their lives and 14 other people being wounded, while count…
Episode 049: The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen
On February 24th 1986 29 year old Sherri Rasmussen would be found dead in her home by her husband John Ruetten. Sherri would have 3 bullet wounds to her chest as well as a bite in her arm. Police initially ruled it as a home invasion gone w…
Leave The Light On February 2025
We’re back with our twelfth Leave The Light On episode where we recap the cases we covered in the previous month, discuss crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in the next month. If we know!Reference…
Episode 048: Sharon Kinne and the murders of James Kinne, Patricia Jones, and Francisco Ordonez
On March 19, 1960, James Kinne was allegedly shot and killed by his 2-year-old daughter who had been playing with James .22 pistol and accidentally fired the gun, killing her father. Within a month, James’ widow, Sharon Kinne, was involved …
Episode 047: The Murder of Richard Schoeck
On February 14th 2010 Richard Schoeck was to meet his wife Stacey Schoeck at Belton Bridge Park in Hall County Georgia for some adult activities. While they both took separate vehicles, when Stacey arrived at the park, she would find Richar…
Episode 046: The Death of Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan
In the early morning hours of July 31, 2022, Mackenzie Shirilla drove her car 100mph into a brick building. The crash resulted in the deaths of the two passengers in the car, Dominic Russo, who was Mackenzie’s boyfriend, and Davion Flanagan…
Episode 045: The United California Bank Heist of 1972
In March of 1972 a crew of burglars  from Youngstown Ohio travelled to Laguna Niguel California to get the score of a life time. One small mistake foiled the crew from pulling off an almost perfect heist.  Sources “Amil Dinsio – Master…
Leave The Light On January 2025
We’re back with our eleventh Leave The Light On episode where we recap the cases we covered in the previous month, discuss crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in the next month. If we know! Refer…
Episode 044: The Murder of Laken Riley
On Feb 22, 2024, 22-year-old Laken Riley went for run on her college campus, but sadly, Laken never made it home from this run. Laken’s body was found over 60 feet off the running trail several hours later. Police immediately began searchi…
Episode 043: The Duke University Lacrosse Scandal
On March 13th 2006 during spring break at Duke University the Lacrosse team that had to stay on Campus went on to throw a party at an off campus house where the team hired 2 exotic dancers to attend. Shortly after the 2 girls arrived they …
Episode 040.5: *CORRECTED* Rachel Bellesen and the Death of Jacob Glace
In mid-December, we released episode 40: Rachel Bellesen and the Death of Jacob Glace. After releasing the episode, Rachel reached out to us and let us know that we had some inaccurate details in our episode. Rachel very kindly provided u…
Episode 042: The Deaths of Sammy Weaver, Vicki Weaver, and Deputy US Marshal William (Bill) Degan at Ruby Ridge
In August of 1992, the US Marshals Services were called to a property in the remote Boundary County of Idaho, called Ruby Ridge, to arrest Randy Weaver who had failed to make his court appearance for gun charges. The exchange between the …