Asha Kreimer: The Restroom at Rollerville

Summary

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Crime House 24/7: “Asha Kreimer: The Restroom at Rollerville”

Original Air Date: July 28, 2026
Host: Vanessa Richardson
Featured Hosts: Sarah Turney and Courtney Nicole from The Final Hours

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the mysterious disappearance of Asha Kreimer, a young Australian woman who vanished from a café near Point Arena, California in 2015, while experiencing a sudden mental health crisis. Hosts Sarah Turney and Courtney Nicole from The Final Hours explore Asha’s background, the days leading up to her disappearance, and the troubling resurfacing of traumatic memories that seem to have triggered her crisis.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Asha’s Early Life and Family History

• Hilo, Hawaii to Australia: Born in Hawaii (1989), moved to Redcliffe, Australia at age 2.
• Family Structure: Parents separated when she was 7; father passed away during her youth, raised by her mother Jeannie and older sister Juncie.
• Remote Upbringing: Lived in a remote Aboriginal community, Pipalajara; schooled in Alice Springs, later boarding school in Brisbane.
• Traumatic Early Experience
  • At age 12-13, Asha was stopped and questioned by a police officer about a sexual assault she knew nothing about, leaving her fearful and traumatized. ([04:20])
    • Courtney Nicole: “I think it's absolutely insane that they stopped a 12 year old little girl to question her about this. That's traumatizing." (04:20)

2. Young Adulthood and Move to the US

• Success in Brisbane: Thrived academically and socially at St. Peter’s Lutheran College.
• Desire to Travel: Worked at Arts Factory Lodge; planned move to California with sister.
• Relocation to San Francisco: At age 22 (2011), moved to SF, worked at a spa.
• Relationship with Jemeis Gale:
  • Met soon after arriving in SF, connection reinforced by mutual interests and family parallels.
  • Courtney Nicole: "There's this whole idea of the invisible string theory…some people are just meant to find each other." (07:12)
  • Moved to rural Albion, CA for an idyllic life together; tensions noted by Asha’s mother regarding marijuana use and family history of mental illness. ([09:11])

3. Onset of Mental Health Crisis

• Precursor Events (September 2015):

  • Visited Los Angeles for her sister’s birthday; returned noticeably changed—withdrawn, anxious, and less confident.
    • Sarah Turney: “She became quiet and reserved and seemed depressed. She didn’t appear to trust her judgment about anything anymore.” (10:41)
  • Developed sleep disturbances (waking at 3 a.m.), ate noticeably less, obsessed over relationship, and struggled with self-confidence.

• Visits from Friends:

  • Hosted Olivia Ponton (acquaintance) and Sally Scales (childhood friend).
  • Increasing anxiety leading up to Sally’s visit, notably suggesting Sally stay elsewhere.

4. Triggering Event and Rapid Decline

• Resurfacing Trauma:
  • While Asha and Sally reminisced over childhood photos, a picture triggered a “rush of traumatic memories” connected to her past ([14:07]).
    • Afterward, Asha experienced nightly distress, expressing unresolved issues about her father’s death.
    • Sarah Turney: “Asha had no prior history of mental illness before this.” (14:07)
  • Jemeis and Sally sought professional help but mental health services were unavailable over the weekend, leading to a plan for Monday.

5. Escalation: Day of Disappearance

• Nonverbal and Disturbed:
  • September 19, 2015: Asha became mostly nonverbal, responding to loved ones only with shrugs and hand gestures.
  • When asked by Jemeis if she felt like harming herself, Asha replied yes—prompting immediate concern.
    • Courtney Nicole: “When she answered yes, he knew help could not wait until Monday.” (17:32)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Childhood Trauma
  • Sarah Turney: “Stopping a child on the streets isn’t the way to do that, in my opinion…they have trained professionals to do this. This just wasn’t the right approach.” (04:52)
• On Mental Health Resources
  • Sarah Turney: “Trauma can come out of nowhere…with a scent…something you smell or picture…can just knock you right off your feet.” (16:15)
  • Courtney Nicole: “If you feel like it is an emergency, the ER is the best place to go. But if it’s not an emergency…988, anytime, day or night.” (16:49)

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Timestamps for Critical Segments

• [02:39 – 04:20] — Asha’s background, family, and traumatic childhood incident
• [07:12 – 08:37] — Meeting Jemeis, thoughts on fate/invisible string theory
• [09:11 – 10:41] — Move to rural California, concerns over mental health
• [10:41 – 13:18] — Changes following LA visit, onset of depressive symptoms
• [14:07 – 15:05] — Trauma resurfacing after seeing childhood photo
• [16:15 – 17:40] — Discussion on how trauma surfaces and mental health resources
• [17:32] — Crisis point: Asha’s admission of suicidal thoughts

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Tone and Style Notes

• The episode is compassionate and empathetic, with personal reflections from the hosts on trauma and mental health.
• The hosts stress the importance of proper protocols with children and robust mental health resources.
• There’s an undercurrent of sadness and urgency, acknowledging both the confusion and heartbreak surrounding Asha’s story.

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Summary

Sarah Turney and Courtney Nicole craft a nuanced portrait of Asha Kreimer: a vibrant, worldly woman whose sudden mental health episode, triggered by long-buried childhood trauma, spiraled rapidly in the days before her disappearance. Through compassionate analysis and reflection, the hosts highlight not only the gaps in crisis support, but the unpredictable, overwhelming force of trauma. Their call to keep resources like the 988 lifeline top of mind underscores the episode’s urgency and hope for prevention in future crises.

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For more in-depth coverage of missing persons cases, follow “The Final Hours” from the Crime House team on your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Vanessa]

Hi listeners, it's Vanessa. Before today's episode, I want to tell you about another show I think you'll love. Crime House and A E are teaming up on the podcast version of the famous true crime series the First 48. Each week, Carter Roy takes you inside a landmark homicide case, the interrogations, the dead ends, and the breakthroughs in the critical first 48 hours. Listen to and follow the first 48 every Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

[Sarah Turney]

This is Crime House.

[Vanessa]

Hey listeners, it's Vanessa, back with another episode from Crime House that I think you'll love. Today I'm sharing an episode from the Final Hours, hosted by Sarah Turney and Courtney Nicole. Each week on the Final Hours, Sarah and Courtney cover a different missing persons case and trace the final moments that led up to their disappearance. Today's episode is about the case of Asha Kramer, who vanished from a cafe Near Point Arena, California in 2015 while in the grip of a mental health crisis and was never seen again. If you enjoy this episode, follow the Final Hours on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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[Sarah Turney]

Before we begin today's episode, we wanted to note that there is discussion of self harm. If you or anyone you know is struggling, please know that help is always available and you can call or text the Suicide and Crisis Hotline at 988. Now let's get into the story.

[Courtney Nicole]

For much of her life, Asha Kramer appeared to know her direction, who she was and where she was going. That is, until one event seemed to change it all after looking through a pile of old photographs with a childhood friend. A dark memory resurfaced after that. Those closest to Asha said it seemed like something shifted in her. And then three days later, Asha disappeared. But before we discuss what Asha went through, let's talk about the person she was.

[Sarah Turney]

She was born on May 2, 1989, in Hilo, Hawaii, to parents Jeannie and Russell. She also had an older sister named Juncie. In 1991, when Asha was two years old, her family moved to Redcliffe, Australia, where her mom studied midwifery. But in 1996, when Asha was around seven years old, her parents separated. And it's not exactly clear when. But at some point during her youth, Asha's father passed away. From the age of 7 on, Asha and her older sister were raised solely by their mother. Jeanie took a job as a nurse in an Aboriginal community called Pipalajara, which was remote and landlocked in the center of Australia. The closest school for Asha and Jhansi was in Alice Springs, a small town where cultures clashed. Jeannie could tell that Asha felt unsafe living there. For example, this was the kind of thing that Asha had to deal with. One day in the early 2000s, when she was about 12 or 13, she caught an early bus home and walked the rest of the way. That's when a police officer stopped and questioned her about a violent sexual assault that had happened in the area. Asha knew nothing about it, but. But it stuck with her afterward. She was terrified and had trouble leaving the house.

[Courtney Nicole]

I think it's absolutely insane that they stopped a 12 year old little girl to question her about this. That's traumatizing. And also what's interesting, Sarah, is I found that while this happened in Australia, most countries actually do have special rules around questioning children. And I think the biggest concern is that kids are a lot more suggestible than adults. Like they can be easily intimidated. So that's why in a lot of places, interviews with children are done by specially trained professionals. So this event likely was very traumatic for Asha since it sounds like it was not done properly.

[Sarah Turney]

Yeah, I mean, I think that we're both very pro. Let's get to the bottom of this. Let's solve the crime. But stopping a child on the streets isn't the way to do that, in my opinion. Like you said, they have trained professionals to do this. This just wasn't the right approach.

[Courtney Nicole]

Also, I mean, like 12 years old, who's to say that she even knew, like, what that topic was about? I don't know. I'M thinking back to when I was 12 and I really didn't know. Like I was pretty innocent, as most kids are at 12 years old. So that's just insane that they stopped a random little girl on the street to bring this up.

[Sarah Turney]

Yeah, that definitely seems out of protocol. Well, Asha's mom responded to her newfound fear by sending her to boarding school in Alice Springs. Jeannie spoke with the Thin Air podcast, who got a lot of first hand interviews with the people close to Asha and helped us fill in a lot of gaps in Asha's history. Jeannie said that around the age of 14, Asha transferred to St. Peter's Lutheran College, a private school in the large coastal city of Brisbane, about 1500 miles away. There, Asha thrived. She was popular and loved by her many friends. They described her as an old soul, was the first to know about cool new things. Plus her grades reflected just how smart she was and she started playing soccer and doing track and Field. Around 2007. After high school graduation, 18 year old Asha moved 100 miles south of Brisbane to Malumbimby, whose 3,000 residents lovingly called it the biggest little town in Australia. Janie now lived there between her stints working as a nurse with the Aboriginal communities. During that time, Asha considered studying journalism, but decided to take time off from school first. She and her sister Jansi worked at a hostel called the Arts Factory Lodge, where they studied therapeutic massage. This phase of Asha's life was relatively quiet, but she had a growing desire to travel. One day, when Jeannie returned from working with a group in the Australian interior, Asha and Jaunsy shared their latest plans. They were moving to California. Jeannie felt like this decision came Suddenly, but in 2011, when Asha was 22, she helped her daughters move to San Francisco. Asha and Jaunsy shared a studio apartment and Asha found work at the Burke Williams Day Spa.

[Courtney Nicole]

Asha found romance quickly too. One night about two weeks after they got to San Francisco, Asha and Jensy were walking home. They met two skateboarders who invited them to a birthday party for a man named Jemi Gale. When the sisters got there, Asha and Jemaya hit it off. They had a lot in common. Both of their moms were nurses and their fathers were musicians. They were also both mixed race. Coincidentally, Asha had even met Jemeis brothers previously when they were traveling in Australia. I think it's pretty insane that she previously met his brothers like long before they even met. There's this whole idea of the invisible string theory which I've always been obsessed with, and that's that some people are just meant to find each other no matter how unlikely the circumstances are. And when you hear stories like this, it's kind of hard not to think about it.

[Sarah Turney]

No, I totally agree. It's like such a small world. It reminds me of, like, you'll see on social media when people have a picture of them together as kids and they're just like, they happen to be on family vacation, right? And then there's this picture of them on the cruise deck or whatever, and then they get married 20 years later having no idea that they were on that cruise together. Like, I believe in that fully. It is such a small world, and I think we're a lot more connected than we think sometimes.

[Courtney Nicole]

Oh, for sure. Honestly, I love stories like that, and I don't know if it's fate or, like, just our brains trying to make sense of random events, but I just think it's such a beautiful idea, so I'm gonna stick with believing in that.

[Sarah Turney]

Yes. I love it. We need some more beauty in this world.

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[Courtney Nicole]

New purchase necessary bgw group void we're prohibited by long cts and cs21 sponsored by chumba casino. Asha and Jemiah started hanging out almost every day and grew incredibly close, which put some distance between Asha and Jauncey. Asha got to know the rest of Jamais family who lived in the area, and then they moved in together in San Francisco's mission district in 2013. Asha and Jemai were looking forward to the future. They wanted to live in a house, but couldn't afford anything in San Francisco. So they went on Craigslist to see what was available in the surrounding area. They saw a listing three hours north of San Francisco in Albion, California, a coastal community with a population under 300. The property was six acres with two rustic houses and a Jacuzzi enveloped in redwood trees. It was so beautiful that they were willing to uproot their entire lives, find new jobs, and build a new community just to live there. But Asha's mom, Jeannie, was a little concerned about the move. Mostly because Asha was making a habit of recreational pot smoking. Genie thought this was risky for Asha, considering she had a genetic predisposition for mental illness on both sides of the family. But there were a lot of good things going on for Asha in Albion, like space for their two dogs, cats and chickens to run around. And she found plenty of work. Between the Inn at Schoolhouse Creek and the plant shop digging dog nursery, Asha seemed to be thriving for at least the next two years. But in September 2015, things changed.

[Sarah Turney]

While Asha was establishing her life with Jemeis, her sister Johnsi moved to Los Angeles. And as the calendar turned to September 2015, Asha went to LA to celebrate Jauncey's birthday. On Sunday, September 6, Jamiah picked Asha up from her return flight in San Francisco. In the car she told him she wanted to make some changes in her life, like she hadn't gotten her American driver's license yet and she wanted to improve her relationships, get closer with his mom and stepdad. Other than that, Asha mostly stayed silent during the three hour drive and she seemed relieved when they got home. But Jemeis noticed that something was different about Asha after that visit to la. She became quiet and reserved and seemed depressed. She didn't appear to trust her judgment about anything anymore and admitted she was struggling with her self confidence. Asha also started obsessing about every struggle she'd had since they first met. For example, she wanted to get married to Jemeis and have a baby, but they were having trouble conceiving. She wanted to see a fertility doctor and go to therapy and before she used to sleep through the night. But after her return from Los Angeles, she woke up regularly at 3am she also ate noticeably less than usual. On top of all of it, Asha was dealing with the pressure of hosting a few visitors over the next 10 days.

[Courtney Nicole]

First was her sister's friend, Olivia Ponton. The exact nature of Olivia's visit is unclear, but she and Asha had only met once. Thankfully, Asha and Jemai had a ton of space in case things got awkward. Next up was Asha's close childhood friend from Australia, Sally Scales. This visit was a big deal to Asha. She and Jemai cleaned the house top to bottom after her return from Los Angeles, but Jemiah said she seemed obsessed with making everything perfect, like she couldn't stop cleaning. By the time Olivia got to town in mid September, Asha was still depressed, but she was starting to open up about it. She was also apologizing to Jemiah profusely for Sally's upcoming visit, even though throughout their entire four year relationship she had talked to him about Sally. Asha said she was like a sister. She and Sally had met in 1996, when Asha was about seven years old and her mom started working for her first aboriginal community. Sally was a member of that community and spent a lot of time at the Kramers house in Alice Springs. But Asha appeared really anxious about Sally's visit, way more so than Olivia's. In fact, she told Jemai she preferred Sally not stay at their house. She suggested she might be more comfortable at Jemai's mother's house three hours away in San Francisco. But when he asked her why, she wouldn't say.

[Sarah Turney]

On Wednesday, September 16, 2015, Jemiah drove Asha to pick Sally up from San Francisco International airport. Asha and Jemiah did take Sally to Jemiah's mother's house, but only for dinner, which was also the last full meal anyone saw Asha eat that night. Jamiah pulled his mom aside and confided in her about Asha's behavior. The next day, Thursday, September 17, Asha and Jemiah took Sally from their house in Albion to the nearby town of Mendocino. They were buying wine, cheese, and cold cuts at a grocery store when Asha abruptly left to sit in the car by herself. Sally told Jemiah that she thought Asha seemed depressed, that Asha liked country life but didn't like being so far from the city. But Asha had also told Jemeis that she was having trouble relating to her old friend.

[Courtney Nicole]

Well, they were definitely both putting in the work because on Friday, September 18, Asha and Sally had a long discussion about the deaths of their fathers. Then together, they looked at old, old photographs. But that's when they came across a picture of a white house. According to Sally, Asha shot upright and went catatonic. She left Sally's room and went to find Jemeis in the hot tub. She confided in him that she had just had a rush of traumatic memories from her childhood resurface. We should note that Asha had no prior history of mental illness before this. But Jemeis suggested they find Asha help from a mental health professional, and she she agreed. They reached out to local therapists, clinics, and women's groups. Since places were closed for the weekend, they made a plan for Asha to find somewhere to go on Monday. That night, Asha woke Jamiah up shouting, quote, I haven't gotten over my father's death, end quote. From then on, it began happening nightly.

[Sarah Turney]

I know this is heartbreaking.

[Courtney Nicole]

It is super heartbreaking. And I feel like this part alone confuses a lot of people, and I think it would be super helpful to clear some things up. So psychiatric emergency services themselves don't really close, but a lot of outpatient mental health clinics, private practices and places that do non emergency evaluations absolutely. Can have limited hours or be closed on weekends. So it's possible that's what he was running into.

[Sarah Turney]

So. This is so hard. I don't think I've ever really had like a repressed memory, but there's been times where like I see a photograph of something from my childhood and it wipes me out. Like I need a day to just like reflect and recover and. And it kind of feels like something similar might have happened here.

[Courtney Nicole]

Yeah, I would. I would agree. I personally have never had anything like traumatic resurfaced like that. But I will be going about my day and like I'll step outside and I'll smell something outside that smells like something from my childhood, something that I have not thought about in a really long time, that I've not experienced in a really long time. And it brings me back to that exact moment when I was a kid. And so I'm again, like you just said, I'm assuming that's kind of what happened here. Only it seems like whatever she remembered was not good.

[Sarah Turney]

Yeah, I mean, I think it happens more than people talk about. And again, I think that's why we keep referring to these resources throughout this episode. Right. Again, 988 if you're in crisis 24 7. Because I feel like it's not spoken about enough. How this trauma can come out of nowhere. Right. How something that happened, you know, a decade ago. We don't know what happened here with Asha. Right. But something that may have happened years ago can just come right back up to the surface with a scent. Right. Something you smell or picture or something that somebody says and it just knocks you right off your feet.

[Courtney Nicole]

Yeah. Especially like in Asha's case, if you've never had any prior experience with mental health episodes. Something like this can be really scary and like you don't know how to understand it or like process it. So like we said 988 or honestly, if you feel like it is an emergency, I would say the ER is the best place to go. But if it's not an emergency and you just want to talk and you. You need to get something off your chest or to help understand something. Nine at eight. Anytime, day or night. The next morning, Saturday, September 19, 2015, Jemai, Sally and Olivia all sat with Asha. They tried to get her to talk, but she only shrugged her shoulders and made unusual hand gestures. Asha hardly responded verbally. That is, until Jemai asked Asha if she felt like hurting herself. When she answered yes, he knew help could not wait until Monday.

[Vanessa]

For more, follow the final hours on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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[Courtney Nicole]

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[Sarah Turney]

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[Courtney Nicole]

Listen to and follow Government that Doesn't Suck. Available now, wherever you get your podcasts.

[Vanessa]

Hi listeners, it's Vanessa. Before today's episode, I want to tell you about another show I think you'll love. Crime House and A E are teaming up on the podcast version of the famous true crime series the First 48. Each week, Carter Roy takes you inside a landmark homicide case, the interrogations, the dead ends, and the breakthroughs in the critical first 48 hours. Listen to and follow the first 48 every Thursday on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.