Sirens: Southern True Crime

Introducing: Dreadfully Yours, Raven Rollins | Conversations with Dark Storytellers

A special announcement from Raven Rollins introducing Dreadfully Yours: Conversations with Dark Storytellers — a brand new companion-ish podcast dedicated to conversations with authors, filmmakers, journalists, podcasters, musicians, and the minds behind the stories that linger long after the final page. 🎙️ Now streaming wherever you get your podcasts. From chilling novels and psychological thrillers to horror, film, true crime, and the art of storytelling itself, Dreadfully Yours is a podcast that invites listeners into conversations with the minds behind the stories that stay with us. Hosted by author, audiobook narrator, and podcaster Raven Rollins, each chapter blends cinematic narration with intimate discussions exploring fear, creativity, obsession, grief, suspense, and the human experiences woven into dark storytelling. Find the podcast anywhere you stream your podcasts or web stream on Captivate. Follow the pod: Facebook, Instagram Dreadfully Yours, Raven Rollins

Athena Strand

Seven-year-old Athena Strand should have been safe at home. Instead, on November 30, 2022, she vanished from outside her father’s property in Paradise, Texas after a FedEx delivery driver came to the home. What followed became one of the most haunting child murder cases in recent memory — a case that would ultimately lead to the arrest, conviction, and death sentence of Tanner Horner. In this episode, I walk through the timeline of Athena’s disappearance, the search efforts that gripped the community, the disturbing evidence shown during the capital murder sentencing trial, and the heartbreaking testimony from the people who loved Athena most. Portions of audio featured in this episode come directly from the live trial proceedings, including testimony from Maitlyn Gandy and the Medical Examiner. Listener discretion is strongly advised. This episode contains discussion of violence against a child, forensic testimony, and traumatic material. Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: This Is True Crime (Book) This Is True Crime: How to Become an Advocate for Justice (book) by Raven Rollins

Book Club | Kathy Reichs - Evil Bones

In this episode, I'm joined by Kathy Reichs, one of the most respected voices in forensic science and crime fiction. A practicing forensic anthropologist and the author behind the Temperance Brennan series (Bones), Reichs brings a rare dual perspective—working real cases involving unidentified remains while also translating that science into compelling narrative. Our conversation moves beyond pop-culture portrayals of forensic work and into the reality of what bones can—and cannot—tell us. We talk about skeletal trauma, time since death, identification challenges, and the responsibility that comes with speaking for the dead. Reichs also reflects on how her real-world experience shapes her fiction, the limits of forensic certainty, and why patience and restraint matter as much as expertise in death investigations. This is a grounded, thoughtful discussion about science, truth, and storytelling—centered not on spectacle, but on accountability, accuracy, and the lives behind the evidence. Kathy Reichs is a board-certified forensic anthropologist who has worked on hundreds of cases involving unidentified human remains. She is also the bestselling author of the Temperance Brennan series, which inspired the television show Bones. Reichs is known for her insistence on scientific accuracy, ethical storytelling, and victim-centered work—both in the lab and on the page. You can get her book here, or wherever you get your books. Mentioned in this episode: That Which Separates Man (Book) Find That Which Separates Man in paperback and on Kindle Unlimited.

Book Club | Rachel Corbett - The Monsters We Make

In this episode of Sirens, I’m joined by Rachel Corbett, journalist, academic, and author of The Monsters We Make, for a deeply thoughtful conversation about crime, memory, and the stories we tell ourselves about evil. Rachel shares how her own childhood experiences—and the moments that shaped her understanding of violence and fear—ultimately led her down the path of researching crime, criminal behavior, and the FBI’s approach to criminal profiling. What began as personal curiosity evolved into years of research that challenge some of the most widely accepted assumptions in true crime. We talk in depth about The Monsters We Make, including what inspired the book, how personal history intersects with academic inquiry, and why criminal profiling may not be the reliable investigative tool pop culture has led us to believe. Rachel breaks down how profiling gained its reputation, where it has fallen short, and why its perceived success often looks very different when examined closely. This episode explores the tension between storytelling and science—and asks hard questions about how myths are created, repeated, and cemented in both law enforcement and media. Find more about Rachel at https://www.rachel-corbett.com/. Mentioned in this episode: Allegedly: POCO Get Allegedly: True Crime From Pontotoc County, OK today. Available in paperback, hardback, and ebook from any major store, including library apps.

Tulsa's Hex House

Hosted by Raven Rollins Tulsa’s infamous Hex House wasn’t just a haunted legend—it was real. Beneath the surface of an ordinary duplex at 10 East 21st Street lay a story of control, psychological manipulation, and hidden abuse that gripped the city in the 1940s. Two women were found living in a cold, dark basement—isolated, exploited, and convinced they were earning salvation under the direction of a woman named Carol Ann Smith. In this episode, Raven unearths the true history behind the Hex House. It’s a story of power, belief, and the dangerous ways devotion can be twisted. Mentioned in this episode: Get Allegedly Today! Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

• Chapters

Book Club | Brian & Cameron Santana: A Murder on Campus

In this Sirens exclusive episode, I sit down with brothers Brian and Cameron Santana, co-authors of A Murder on Campus: The Professor, The Cop, and North Carolina’s Most Notorious Cold Case. We talk about the brutal, unsolved 1973 murder of Virginia Marie Olson, a 19-year-old college student whose body was discovered near the campus of UNC-Asheville. Over 50 years, the case would haunt three generations of investigators and the entire Asheville community, marked by dead ends, disturbing parallels, and whispers of notorious suspects. Brian, a veteran cop, and Cameron, a college professor, teamed up to tell this story with a rare blend of insider insight and narrative depth. Get the book here: https://amzn.to/4l06pYt Listen to Santana True Crime wherever you get your podcasts. Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: Get Allegedly Today! Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Girl Forgotten: What Happened to Brianna Wells? (with Dan Brown Jr.)

In this episode, I sit down with filmmaker and composer Dan Brown Jr., the creator of the true crime documentary Girl Forgotten: What Happened to Brianna Wells? and founder of Crime Sonics. On December 29, 2014, 17-year-old Brianna Wells was found murdered and abandoned in a South Phoenix alley. Nearly a decade later, her case remains unsolved and largely forgotten—until now. Dan shares the emotional and investigative journey behind Girl Forgotten, a film four years in the making that follows grassroots advocate Gina as she digs into Brianna’s story, uncovers disturbing truths, and exposes failures within the system. From police missteps to media silence, this documentary challenges how we treat missing and murdered girls—especially when their stories are inconvenient. We talk about the filmmaking process, the importance of storytelling through music, the emotional toll true crime creation can take, and how original music—including the haunting theme “Raise Cain”—brings Brianna’s voice back to the forefront. Follow the film at www.girlforgottenfilm.com. Learn more about Dan and the music of Crime Sonics at www.crimesonics.com. Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: Get Allegedly Today! Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Britney Tiger Gomez

Remastered and featuring updated content, Raven reconnects with Holly Archer to discuss the heartbreaking cold case of Britney Tiger Gomez from Ada, Oklahoma. Originally recorded in 2020, the episode now includes new developments that came to light in 2023, leading to an arrest, though not the kind anyone had hoped for. The MMIW crisis refers to the staggering and disproportionate number of Indigenous women, girls, and Two-Spirit individuals who go missing or are murdered across the United States and Canada, often with little to no media coverage or resolution. Systemic failures, jurisdictional gaps, and historical trauma have left families searching for answers and justice. In Oklahoma—home to many tribal nations—the crisis is especially urgent, and cases like Britney Tiger’s shine a light on just how much work still needs to be done. Anyone with tips on Britney's case can leave an anonymous tip with the FBI at tips.fbi.gov or leave us a tip on our website's homepage. You can always reach out via email as well. Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: Get Allegedly Today! Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Book Club | Ret. TPD Sgt. Mike Huff - Killing My Father: Roger Wheeler

🎙In this episode, Raven sits down in the studio with retired Tulsa Homicide Sergeant Mike Huff, one of the most respected voices in cold case investigations, with guest co-hosts Tiff and Jess from Curious Cousins OK Podcast. With almost 40 years in law enforcement—and three decades in the Homicide Unit—Huff shares his insights on one of Oklahoma’s most notorious murder cases—the infamous Roger Wheeler / Whitey Bulger investigation—from his new book Killing My Father: The Inside Story of The Biggest FBI Corruption Scandal In History, which he wrote with Roger's son, David Wheeler, and historian Laurence J. Yadon. 👤 Guest Info Facebook Page for IACCI Get Killing My Father on Amazon. Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: Get Allegedly Today! Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today! Curious Cousins OK Podcast Find Curious Cousins OK Podcast on all major podcast platforms.

The Sirloin Stockade Massacre

On July 16, 1978, one of Oklahoma’s most haunting mass murders unfolded just before midnight at the Sirloin Stockade restaurant in Oklahoma City. Located near SW 74th and Pennsylvania Avenue, the family steakhouse became the site of unimaginable horror when three armed intruders forced six teenage and adult employees into the walk-in freezer during closing hours, where they were gunned down. Five of the employees died on the spot. A sixth died en route to the hospital. The victims included: David Lindsey (17), David Salsman (16), Anthony Tew (17), Terri Horst (15), Louis Zacarias (43), Isaac Freeman (56) Oklahoma City was stunned. And just weeks before, another family—Melvin and Linda Lorenz and their 12-year-old son—had also been killed on the highway, just south of town. Police would eventually connect the two scenes. Join me as I discuss these cases around the anniversary of the killings. Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: Get Allegedly Today! Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Allegedly | Judie Hansen & William Boudrie with OSBI SAIC Gary Perkinson

This remastered episode of Sirens revisits the chilling case of William Boudrie, murdered by his ex-wife, Judie Hansen. The crime went unsolved for three decades—hidden in plain sight—until Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Gary Perkinson stepped in and changed everything. The episode features remastered audio from our original release, along with personal phone conversations I had with Gary while writing Allegedly: True Crime from Pontotoc County, Oklahoma, where this case is also featured. Gary, who wrote the foreword and afterword of Allegedly, takes us through his investigation and the work it took to finally bring Judie to justice. Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: Get Allegedly Today! Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Book Club | Tony Adame - Chase the Devil

In this gripping episode, I sit down with journalist and author Tony Adame, the mind behind Chase the Devil: Murder and Obsession on Florida’s Gulf Coast and the award-winning podcast The Sheriff: Murder, Lies & Revenge in Okaloosa County. We dive into the real-life case that inspired his debut true crime book—a haunting story of manipulation, obsession, and murder set against the backdrop of coastal Florida. The story of Tonya Ethridge McKinley. Tony shares what it was like to research such an emotionally complex story, how living on the Gulf Coast gave him a unique perspective, and what it takes to turn a criminal case into a compelling long-form narrative. We also explore the psychological themes at play and how Tony’s background in journalism and podcasting shaped his voice as an author. Find Chase the Devil anywhere books are sold or at: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million Find Tony Adame's podcast, The Sheriff: Murder, Lies & Revenge in Okaloosa County, on all major podcast platforms. Listen on Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Watch Tony on Cold Case Files (Intro with interview from Tony's sister, Renee) S2 E16: The Clock Strikes Murder. Find Cold Case Files on Hulu, A&E, or most streaming platforms. Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: SOS Short Ad Get Sins of the South at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Raven Rollins on The Opperman Report

I was honored to go on a live radio broadcast show recently called The Opperman Report with host Ed Opperman. We had a great discussion about my true crime books, Allegedly and Sins of the South, and also this podcast! Listen in here or go find his podcast today! Find my books and the companion episodes to them here: https://linktr.ee/RavenRollins Mentioned in this episode: Get Allegedly Today! Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Strangulation PSA with Experts

A quick conversation with experts on strangulation - how easy it is, the stats of domestic violence, and the long-lasting effects it can have. Strangulation Experts include: Deb Campbell, SANE Nurse; Carrie White, Esquire. Medical Experts include: Rick Rollins, Critical Care Paramedic; a quick PSA from Dr. Sarah Hull from YouTube. If you or someone you know is struggling with domestic violence, please seek help at: National Domestic Violence Hotline, 800-799-7233 or text "BEGIN" to 88788. Find the website here. Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: SOS Short Ad Get Sins of the South at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Allegedly | Jennifer Campbell

Remastered: Raven and Holly discuss the case of Jennifer Campbell, a domestic violence victim shot and killed by her husband in Ada, Oklahoma. Find more about Jennifer in Raven's book "Allegedly: True Crime From Pontotoc County, Oklahoma." https://linktr.ee/RavenRollins Resource Apps discussed for DV: One Love, Aspire News #domesticviolenceawareness Originally released on 3/15/2020 Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: Get Allegedly Today! Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Allegedly | Rachel Woodall

Remastered: Raven and Holly take you back to 2002 Ada, Oklahoma to talk about the case of Rachel Woodall. Tyler "T.J." Mullins was arrested by Ada police after he led them to a body buried in rural Seminole County. The victim was his former girlfriend, Rachel Woodall, 21. Originally released 11/16/2019. *Domestic Violence* We also tell you about https://startbybelieving.org/. Find more about Rachel in Raven's book "Allegedly: True Crime From Pontotoc County, Oklahoma." https://linktr.ee/RavenRollins Advocacy. Investigation. Education. Storytelling. If you appreciate what I do, here are a few ways to support Sirens and help true crime stories reach more ears: Rate, review, and share my podcast! Find Raven's books at www.RavenRollins.com Follow Sirens on Social Media https://my.link.gallery/thesirenspodcast 🎬 Binge your next obsession on Paramount+ — Try it FREE with our link! https://paramountplus.qflm.net/c/3437665/2089315/3065 Mentioned in this episode: Get Allegedly Today! Find Allegedly at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Hot Pursuit | Cold Cases That Need Heating Up | Part 2

In the sultry haze of summer, when shadows stretch long and secrets simmer, we embark on a gripping journey into the heart of true crime. Our ensemble of remarkable true-crime podcasters has assembled—a collective of voices determined to unravel mysteries, chase justice, and ignite the cold embers of forgotten cases. True crime isn’t just about facts; it’s about resilience. Families, investigators, and ordinary citizens refuse to let darkness prevail. Their determination fuels our narrative—a beacon against the night. Picture crimes unfolding against a backdrop of scorching asphalt and sun-drenched streets. Tempers flare, alibis melt, and the mercury rises. These are the stories that sizzle—the ones that demand answers even when the air itself shimmers with tension. Ghostly echoes of the past linger in the shadows. We’ll breathe life into forgotten victims, reexamining evidence, chasing leads, and daring to ask questions long buried. Perhaps you’ll be the missing piece—the spark that reignites justice’s flame. Welcome to Hot Pursuit. In episode 2 you’ll hear from the following podcasters (in order); if you enjoy listening, please check out their podcasts by clicking their link below: The Dark Oak Podcast Key to the Case True Crime Creepers Vintage Homicide Excuse Me, That’s Illegal Beyond the Rainbow Murder and Mimosas Coffee and Cases Method and Madness Podcast

Hot Pursuit | Cold Cases That Need Heating Up | Part 1

In the sultry haze of summer, when shadows stretch long and secrets simmer, we embark on a gripping journey into the heart of true crime. Our ensemble of remarkable true-crime podcasters has assembled—a collective of voices determined to unravel mysteries, chase justice, and ignite the cold embers of forgotten cases. True crime isn’t just about facts; it’s about resilience. Families, investigators, and ordinary citizens refuse to let darkness prevail. Their determination fuels our narrative—a beacon against the night. Picture crimes unfolding against a backdrop of scorching asphalt and sun-drenched streets. Tempers flare, alibis melt, and the mercury rises. These are the stories that sizzle—the ones that demand answers even when the air itself shimmers with tension. Ghostly echoes of the past linger in the shadows. We’ll breathe life into forgotten victims, reexamining evidence, chasing leads, and daring to ask questions long buried. Perhaps you’ll be the missing piece—the spark that reignites justice’s flame. Welcome to Hot Pursuit. In episode 1 you’ll hear from the following podcasts (in order); if you enjoy listening, please check out their podcasts by clicking their link below: Fresh Hell The Trail Went Cold Suffer the Little Children Music City 911 Already Gone Sirens | A Southern True Crime Podcast or Www.thesirenspodcast.com Everything Scary Private Dicks Mentioned in this episode: SOS Short Ad Get Sins of the South at your favorite online retailer or library app today!

Jewell "Juli" Busken | Feed Drop | Unforbidden Truth Podcast

We have a feed drop for you from another true crime podcast, Unforbidden Truth, which interviews convicted killers. Before we introduce you, Raven discusses the case of Juli Busken from Oklahoma, which is the subject of this Unforbidden Truth Episode. Busken, a 21-year-old ballerina from Benton, Arkansas, had just finished her final semester at the University of Oklahoma when she was abducted from her apartment in Norman on December 20, 1996. Her body was found near Lake Stanley Draper that evening. Authorities said she had been bound, sexually assaulted, and shot in the back of the head. The state of Oklahoma executed Anthony Sanchez on Thursday, September 21, at 10:19 a.m. In this short interview with Unforbidden Truth, Sanchez proclaims his innocence, discussing his trial and his innocence shortly before his execution. Www.unforbiddentruth.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/unforbiddentruth Sources: https://pastebin.com/upGTbg6i Mentioned in this episode: I Crit You Not: RPG Podcast Listen to I Crit You Not: An RPG Podcast wherever you stream your podcasts or visit www.icrityounot.com.

Book Club | PI and Author Greg Overacker

Raven and guest co-host Professor Mandy McNeely had a great conversation with Greg Overacker, the long-time family private investigator of the Brianna Maitland case, and now the author of the book about her, The Hunt for Brianna Maitland: The Relentless Pursuit of Answers to One of Vermont’s Biggest Mysteries. This guy never gives up! The Forward was written by Bruce Maitland, Brianna’s Father, who also founded and is the president of the nonprofit Private Investigations for the Missing, which seeks to, at no cost, fill the need for private investigation by providing families with qualified, expert investigators to work on their loved one's case. You can find them at https://investigationsforthemissing.org/. Lou Berry, a former Chief of Police and the Case Manager for PI for the Missing, wrote the Afterword. Find this book only at the publisher's website: https://books.bloatedtoe.com/the-hunt-for-brianna-maitland/ or through Greg himself. 5-Star read by a 5-star man! Mentioned in this episode: SOS Short Ad Get Sins of the South at your favorite online retailer or library app today!