Clues Podcast Summary

Episode: Nanette Krentel: Murder Beneath the Bayou Smoke

Hosts: Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore
Date: April 1, 2026
Podcast: Clues (Crime House Original)

Episode Overview

This episode examines the still-unsolved 2017 murder of Nanette Krentel in Lacombe, Louisiana. The hosts, Morgan and Kaelyn, meticulously break down the timeline, evidence, and investigative failings that have left Nanette’s family searching for justice nearly a decade later. Through forensic detail, personal accounts, and a review of overlooked clues, Clues brings listeners into the heart of a botched investigation overshadowed by small-town politics, family secrets, and deeply flawed procedures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Case Timeline & Introduction (07:25)

• Nanette Krentel and her husband Steve, a local fire chief, lived on 100 acres near Lacombe, LA. On July 14, 2017, Nanette was found dead in her burning home.
• The day unfolds with Nanette’s regular morning routine before Steve leaves for work. At 8:40am, she goes out for coffee and breakfast, returns home at about 9am, and is last seen alive then.
• At 2:30pm, neighbors notice the house on fire. Steve arrives to find the property engulfed, realizing Nanette is likely inside due to her SUV being present.

2. Discovery of Nanette’s Body & Initial Theories (16:09)

• Nanette’s body is recovered from the master bathroom with her beloved dog Harley nearby. The coroner, Dr. Charles Preston, finds severe burn injuries, making identification via DNA necessary.
• Key Clue #1: A gunshot wound to the right temple; bullet found with no exit wound (16:41).
• The original theory is accidental death due to fire, but evidence quickly contradicts this.

3. Investigation Failures & Mishandling (18:03, 26:39)

• The crime scene is released the very night of the fire, with family and private investigators finding additional evidence the official investigators missed.
  • Quote (Morgan): "Family? Not even investigators. Family. And they’re strolling through, seeing, again, totally unsecured. And they also spot an assault rifle in the rubble. So there’s...guns everywhere." (19:22)
• Key Clue #2: Multiple unsecured firearms and evidence missed due to premature scene release.
• Quote (Kaelyn): "The whole thing was a mess. No one was taking ownership of this." (26:58)
• Numerous mentions of investigative "botches," including the decision not to secure the perimeter or gather all possible evidence.

4. Autopsy Findings & Fire Forensics (23:12, 39:25)

• Key Clue #3: No soot or particulate in Nanette’s airways, indicating she died before the fire started (23:12).
• Three separate autopsies confirm homicide. Still, the sheriff publicly disagrees with the coroner’s findings.
  • Quote (Dr. Preston): "The victim’s remains have now undergone three autopsies and a forensic reconstruction. Based on...all the details...I am entirely comfortable in declaring this death a homicide." (39:18)

5. Intentional Arson Confirmed (30:59, 32:00)

• Investigators use accelerant-sniffing dogs, finding gasoline throughout home—including on animals.
• Key Clue #4: Use of accelerants conclusively proves the fire was set intentionally.
• Key Clue #5: The DVR storing all surveillance footage is found, destroyed with gasoline—indicating someone knew the surveillance system well.

6. Botched Release of Autopsy Details (25:51)

• The family learns Nanette was shot at her memorial service due to a sheriff’s press release—deepening the family's trauma.

7. Personal and Family Dynamics

• Nanette was an animal lover, beloved community member, and deeply involved stepmother.
• Her marriage to Steve was reportedly troubled—he was confirmed to have had at least two affairs.
• Key Clue #6: Marriage troubles, including Steve’s infidelity and Nanette’s intent to possibly leave before her death.
  • Quote (Kaelyn): "She told her best friend Lori Rando, that she didn’t know what she was going to do, but that she was definitely planning on talking to him about it." (41:40)

8. Suspects & Alibis (43:10–55:56)

Steve Krentel (Husband)

• Fire chief, experienced with arson investigations, but alibi proves he was at work all day with corroborating camera footage and cell phone data.
• Passed a polygraph.
• Cleared as a suspect.

Justin Krentel (Stepson)

• Nanette expressed fear about him in messages to friends; however, he lived and worked in Virginia at the time, with a solid alibi.

Brian Krentel (Brother-in-law)

• History of violence and threats, including explicit death threats from prison letters (50:46).
• Was under court-mandated house arrest with a supposed alcohol/GPS monitor, but location tracking was never activated (53:13)—a major investigative failure.
• Alibi based on security camera footage that family claims was never properly authenticated. Ultimately also cleared.

The “Unknown Stalker”

• Weeks before death, Nanette emailed her dad about a strange man at her gate and suspicious items found on the property (knife, cigarette butt). Items were lost in the fire, leaving this as an unexplored lead.

9. Politics, Small Town Connections & Additional Botches (59:04)

• Multiple investigators and a whistleblower (Jerry Rogers) were fired/arrested for pushing the case or anonymously encouraging the family to ask about potential leads.
• Quote (Morgan): "It’s so wild that a county, a medical examiner, could control or determine the potential outcome of a body." (56:41)
• Nanette’s sister Kim (a prosecutor) and her family had to fight in court to stop Nanette’s cremation, arrange a private autopsy, and continually push for action.
• Ongoing suspicion of local law enforcement and fire department being too closely intertwined—alleged by both hosts and locals on Reddit (65:04).

10. Current Status & Family Struggles

• Case remains unsolved; official cause of death ruled as homicide.
• Nanette’s family continues to fight for justice, enduring secondary trauma from botched investigation.
• Steve Krentel eventually retired after demotion for unrelated misconduct.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "Immediate red flag." (Kaelyn on Nanette’s lack of soot in airways – 23:42)
• "Family should not ever find out crucial, sensitive information on their loved ones from a news alert, and especially not while they’re at [a] loved one’s funeral service." (Morgan, 26:39)
• "So they released it. Steve ends up hiring his own private fire investigator who examines the house two days after Nanette’s death... But this is when they actually find some of the bodies of her cats, along with a shotgun, which is actually our second clue. Which just goes to show, again, why this is on the botched board." (Morgan, 18:49)
• On broken GPS monitoring: "Never been turned on. Meaning he could have easily been on their property." (Morgan, 53:11)
• "Every single step of this whole process has been so traumatizing for her family. I cannot help but think of them in this entire case." (Kaelyn, 57:14)
• "One interesting thing about this case is how many investigators have gotten fired over it..." (Kaelyn, 58:13)
• "I really hope we do get justice for Nanette." (Kaelyn, 65:25)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 07:25 – Detailed timeline from Nanette’s final morning
• 16:41 – Autopsy discovery of gunshot wound
• 18:03 / 26:39 – Mishandling of the crime scene
• 23:12 – Forensic findings (lack of soot) prove homicide
• 30:59 – Accelerants and arson dog findings
• 32:00 – Destroyed DVR: Surveillance sabotage
• 39:25 – Three autopsies confirm homicide; authorities disagree
• 41:40 – Marriage troubles/emails reveal possible motives
• 43:10–55:56 – Suspects, family suspects, alibis, and missed evidence
• 53:13 – Broken GPS bracelet (Brian's alibi in question)
• 58:13 – Political pressures, investigator firings, family’s legal fights
• 62:03 – Family’s efforts, retaliation, and impact
• 66:50 – Call for listener participation, resources, and concluding thoughts

Overall Tone

The hosts maintain a mix of empathetic, critical, and at times wry commentary. They express deep frustration at the parade of investigative and bureaucratic failures, highlighting both the personal and systemic consequences for Nanette’s family and community. The language is concise but compassionate, balancing forensic clarity with personal insight.

Final Thoughts

The murder of Nanette Krentel remains unresolved due to a near-legendary list of investigative mistakes and possible conflicts of interest. Despite ample evidence suggesting premeditated homicide by someone with intimate knowledge of the home and family, justice has been elusive.

If you have information relevant to Nanette Krentel’s case, contact Crime Stoppers at 504-822-1111 (anonymously) or the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office at 985-898-2338. A $10,000 reward remains available.

Resources and Support Mentioned

• National Center for Victims of Crime — 1-800-FYI-CALL
• Parents of Murdered Children — 1-888-818-POMC

For more engaging true crime analysis, follow @CluesPodcast on Instagram and @CluesPod on YouTube.