Podcast Summary

American Shrapnel

Host: Alabama Media Group
Episode: INTRODUCING: Someone’s Hunting Us
Date: February 11, 2026

Overview:

This episode introduces “Someone’s Hunting Us,” an investigative podcast by NJ.com and The Star Ledger, set against the backdrop of Newark in 2016. The series explores the case of several young Black women who vanished, and the determined efforts of survivors, friends, and families to uncover the truth in the face of systemic indifference. The hosts, Rebecca Everett and Daisy Calabio Robertson, take listeners through the emotional landscape of the victims’ lives, shining a critical light on race, poverty, institutional neglect, and the unyielding search for justice.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Predator’s Planning (00:09–02:00)

• The episode opens with a dramatized scene of the killer—clear-minded yet methodical—assembling his “kill kit” as he prowls Newark at night. His targets are vulnerable women whose disappearances are unlikely to trigger a large-scale reaction.
• The killer appears harmless: “Like if you look at him, you don't look at him and think he's a serial killer.” (Bernisha Patterson, 01:56)

Disappearances Go Unnoticed (02:06–03:41)

• Multiple young women go missing, but their cases attract little public attention or law enforcement urgency.
• “There was no widespread panic, no scary headlines. People go missing all the time in a city like Newark.” (Rebecca Everett, 02:57)
• Police and media overlook patterns that should have connected the crimes.

Victims, Heroes, and Systemic Failure (03:42–05:01)

• The policing was flawed: “There are so many opportunities where this person could have been stopped and lives could have been saved.” (Bernisha Patterson, 04:27)
• Real investigative work was done by loved ones: “The great police work in this story wasn't done by cops, but by the victims, friends, their families, and even the one woman who survived. They were the heroes who eventually brought this killer down.” (Daisy Calabio Robertson, 04:42)
• Survivors and community members played pivotal roles in the investigation.

The Personal Impact and Racial Lens (05:02–06:06)

• Daisy Calabio Robertson, a woman of color, explains the deep personal resonance of the case for her.
• The episode interrogates racial bias in media and policing. Missing Black girls were not afforded the same visibility as white victims, such as Gabby Petito or Natalee Holloway.
• “Black girls go missing all the time, and it feels like no one cares to look for them.” (Rebecca Everett, 09:36)

The Search for Mawa Dumbia (07:24–22:24)

• The emotional heart centers on Mawa Dumbia, a 15-year-old immigrant from the Ivory Coast, and her tight-knit circle of friends: Janesha, Deanna, and Kiki.
• The urgency and resourcefulness of these teenagers is palpable as they hunt for Mawa, facing institutional neglect with bravery.
  • “If you treat her with respect, she'll give you the same energy back. But if you try her, you'll see a whole different side of her because she's a Taurus.” (Janesha Jackson, 14:37)
• Law enforcement’s inadequate response is repeated:
  • “They were more focused on, like, talking to an adult than us.” (Deanna Edison, 11:04)
  • “I printed [the flyers] out at school...we walked up and down Ferry street...and just put flyers up on each pole.” (Janesha Jackson, 11:56)
• Their friendship was both sanctuary and motivation. The story explores the girls’ backgrounds, traumas, and resilience.
  • “We all kind of had similar stories in a way. Like we wasn't getting the love that we needed at home. So we formed it with each other as a group.” (Janesha Jackson, 15:30)

The Broader Social Context (22:25–23:51)

• The episode contrasts the disappearance of Black girls with the massive community responses seen in missing person cases involving white girls in suburban areas.
  • “When you black, they don't give a fuck about you. But a 15 year old girl gone missing, you don't even see her on paper or on the news. Nowhere.” (Janesha Jackson, 20:55)
• Establishes the broader pattern of neglect, reinforcing the show’s intention to correct the historical record.

Second Victim, Robyn West, and a Missed Opportunity (23:52–30:35)

• We meet Bernisha Patterson, best friend of Robin West, whose murder could have been prevented had the police listened years prior. Robyn’s life, struggles, and vibrancy are honored through interviews with those who loved her.
  • “Brielle Robin West. So sweet. We literally ran out of tissues. Because losing Robin broke Bernisha's heart.” (Daisy Calabio Robertson, 24:58)
• Robyn’s journey included foster care, trauma, and the search for belonging. Her faith, musical talent, and struggle with bipolar disorder are explored.
  • “She could sing anything, really, but gospel music was her favorite thing to sing...She used to sing that all the time.” (Bernisha Patterson, 26:45–27:07)
• The dangers of street life, especially for young Black women, are detailed, including their venture into sex work and subsequent entrapment by an abusive man.

The Night of Tragedy (34:07–35:30)

• Bernisha recounts the fateful night she and Robyn, desperate for escape, agree to work the street to repay the predatory “gas money” demanded by their trafficker.
• A BMW pulls up and the killer chooses Robyn. Bernisha, feeling uneasy, snaps a photo of the license plate—an act of intuition that would later prove vital.
  • “He was really handsome...I said, be careful with her. I love her. That was the last thing I said to him before they pulled off.” (Bernisha Patterson, 35:09–35:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Like if you look at him, you don't look at him and think he's a serial killer.” (Bernisha Patterson, 01:56)
• “There are so many opportunities where this person could have been stopped and lives could have been saved.” (Bernisha Patterson, 04:27)
• “The great police work in this story wasn't done by cops, but by the victims, friends, their families, and even the one woman who survived.” (Daisy Calabio Robertson, 04:42)
• “Black girls go missing all the time, and it feels like no one cares to look for them.” (Rebecca Everett, 09:36)
• “When you black, they don't give a fuck about you. But a 15-year-old girl gone missing, you don't even see her on paper or on the news. Nowhere.” (Janesha Jackson, 20:55)
• On Robyn’s memory: “I can still hear her voice when she's singing, like, in my head.” (Bernisha Patterson, 27:11)
• The heart-wrenching moment: “That was the last thing I said to him before they pulled off.” (Bernisha Patterson, 35:30)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 00:09–02:00: Introduction of the killer and his methodical planning
• 02:06–03:41: Disappearances in Newark go largely unnoticed
• 03:42–05:01: Focus on failures of law enforcement and rise of community investigation
• 05:02–06:06: The racial element and host’s personal investment
• 07:24–17:15: Mawa Dumbia’s background, friendship circle, and disappearance
• 17:16–22:24: Friends’ efforts to find Mawa; direct action in absence of police
• 22:25–23:51: Reflection on racial bias and contrasting community responses
• 23:52–30:35: Introduction to Bernisha and Robyn’s story; their struggles and bond
• 30:36–34:07: Robyn and Bernisha’s entrapment and experience with trafficking
• 34:08–35:30: The night Robyn is last seen; Bernisha’s crucial action
• 35:47–37:04: Teasers for next episode and credits

Tone and Style

The tone is urgent, raw, and empathetic, blending investigative rigor with deeply personal testimonials. The hosts’ candor (“that was kind of bullshit,” Rebecca Everett, 04:01), and the unsparing honesty from guests and survivors, immerse listeners in the emotional reality of the victims’ world—a world marked by resilience, courage, and heartbreak.

Conclusion

This episode unveils the tragic stories behind missing Black women in Newark and Philadelphia, the failures of official systems, and the heroism of those left to pick up the slack. It promises a series that will reclaim their narratives, expose long-standing injustices, and resonate powerfully with ongoing conversations around race, violence, and accountability in America.