Crime House Daily: Night Watch
Episode: “Woman Says ‘Multiple Personalities’ Made Her Kill Grace Jennings”
Date: November 4, 2025
Host: Katie Ring
Episode Overview
This Night Watch episode deeply investigates the shocking murder of 21-year-old Grace Jennings in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The discussion centers on the complex interpersonal dynamics between Grace, her ex-boyfriend Isaac Opodaka, and his girlfriend Kiara McColley — the woman who ultimately killed Grace. Host Katie Ring explores Kiara’s mental health claims, serious allegations of sex trafficking, vigilante-style justice, and the bizarre, twisting motives emerging from this ongoing case. Listeners are given a comprehensive review of the events from the crime itself to developing trial outcomes, with a particular focus on the psychology, criminal investigation, and broader implications for the justice system.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Who Was Grace Jennings?
- [03:26] Katie Ring paints a picture of Grace as "a joy to be around," a social butterfly surrounded by friends and family, someone expressive with “bold fashion sense” and a lighthearted personality.
- In the months before her murder, she’s described as coming into her own, falling in love with Jackson Sparks, and getting engaged on her birthday.
2. The Night of the Murder: Events as Described
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[05:17] Grace, having temporarily split from her fiancé, Jackson, contacts ex-boyfriend Isaac for a place to stay.
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Grace stays in the apartment where Isaac lives with Kiara. The three hang out and end up sharing a bed for the night in the small apartment.
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[06:20] The next morning, Kiara becomes upset and tells Isaac and Grace to leave. Isaac goes into the main house briefly, and returns to find the apartment covered in blood — Grace has been stabbed to death with a sword.
“According to Isaac, Kiara is standing over Grace’s body and says, ‘I did it.’”
—Narrator, [06:57] -
Isaac flees, calls his mother, and then calls the police from a nearby store, visibly shaken.
3. Police Arrival and Shocking Crime Scene
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[07:40] Police find Grace’s body with multiple stab wounds and a literal sword near her.
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[08:20] Kiara, when found, acts shocked and confused. Upon questioning, she claims to have no memory of the incident, citing dissociative identity disorder (DID).
“She has no memory of how Grace died, but chances are she might be telling the truth because she suffers from dissociative identity disorder.”
—Katie Ring, [08:30]
4. Kiara’s Mental Health Defense & Allegations
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Kiara describes DID as “like being in a house with a gaming console. Only one person can play at a time, but a bunch of different people are fighting for the chance to play.”
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She claims her dominant personality (“Froggy with three Gs”) was present during questioning.
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[09:10] Kiara alleges that her motive is revenge: she claims Grace trafficked her for sex as a teenager, orchestrating a gang rape.
“She says that she hopes Grace is dead because she deserves it.”
—Narrator, [09:23]“Kiara claims that Grace is actually a sex trafficker and says she knows this from personal experience.”
—Narrator, [09:34] -
Katie Ring discusses the potential link between this trauma and dissociative identity disorder, citing research on how severe childhood trauma can disrupt normal consciousness and lead to DID.
“It is not uncommon for survivors of rape to report experiencing themselves as being outside of their body during the assault… particularly in the context of repeated trauma during childhood, the use of dissociation can become a rigid and automatic response...”
—Katie Ring, [11:10]
5. The Conspiracy, Vigilante Group & Text Message Evidence
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Investigators recover text messages from Isaac to Kiara:
“I’m wanting you to kill her. You have to end your suffering by ending her joy.”
—Text from Isaac, read by Katie Ring, [12:26] -
Kiara claims Isaac is the leader of a vigilante group ("Ghost") that targets sex traffickers and promises rewards to those who kill.
“He wants Kiara to join them… if she kills someone, she’ll be rewarded with a high rank as well as black market perks.”
—Narrator, [13:01] -
Additional texts show planning between Kiara and Isaac, discussing potential methods and locations for the murder, eventually settling on killing Grace in the apartment and cleaning up with hydrogen peroxide.
6. Isaac’s Shifting Stories
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[14:24] Isaac initially denies everything, then claims texts were fictional (“just discussing a movie”) or that Kiara sent them herself.
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When confronted with the messages, Isaac admits he “wanted Grace dead because of what she allegedly did to Kiara,” but claims he didn’t actually plan for it to happen and would have stopped her if present.
“He says he would have stopped Kiara if he had been in the room at the time.”
—Narrator, [15:55] -
Police find a 2020 sexual assault report from Kiara, but details don’t match her account, and there’s no evidence linking Grace.
7. Legal Proceedings & Mental Health Evaluation
- Both Kiara and Isaac are charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy.
- Kiara is found incompetent to stand trial in 2023 and sent for psychiatric evaluation; after several months, she is ruled competent and returned to custody.
- Trial dates are delayed by crime lab backlogs and ongoing investigations into the supposed vigilante group (no evidence for its existence).
8. Background of the Suspects Revealed
- Media reports uncover that Isaac has a criminal record, mainly larceny, and was charged with domestic violence against Kiara earlier in 2022 (charges dropped).
- Allegations from Kiara’s ex include claims of delusions and violent behavior from her, including self-admitted witchcraft, hexing, and physical abuse.
“She once told him she was a witch… and that she had the ability to hex people and even levitate.”
—Narrator, [20:20]
9. Plea Deals and Trial Status
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[21:23] Kiara accepts a plea deal: guilty to aggravated second-degree murder and conspiracy; faces 30 years in prison if she cooperates by testifying against Isaac.
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Isaac initially signs a plea but later revokes, hires new counsel, and now heads to jury trial.
“The judge, Glenn Ellington, responded by physically ripping up the deal in the courtroom.”
—Narrator, [22:04] -
Kiara’s sentencing is pending; Isaac faces a possible life sentence if convicted at trial.
10. Impact on Victims’ Families
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[23:36] Grace’s fiancé, Jackson Sparks, speaks out, describing their brief but cherished engagement.
“He says that even though their time together was short, it was cherished, and that he’s grateful he was able to make her happy during the time they spent together.”
—Narrator, [23:49] -
Katie Ring emphasizes the continued pursuit of answers and justice for Grace.
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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Kiara on her mental health:
“It’s like being in a house with a gaming console. Only one person can play at a time, but a bunch of different people are fighting for the chance to play.”
—Kiara McColley (in police interview), [08:27] -
Isaac urging violence:
“I’m wanting you to kill her. You have to end your suffering by ending her joy.”
—Isaac Opodaka (text message), [12:26] -
Jackson Sparks on Grace’s memory:
“He calls her the love of his life… he’s grateful he was able to make her happy during the time they spent together.”
—Katie Ring, [23:49]
Important Timestamps
- 03:26 – Background on Grace Jennings and her relationships
- 05:17 – Series of events the night of the murder
- 07:40 – Police discover crime scene details
- 08:20 – Kiara’s response and dissociative identity claim
- 09:23 – Kiara’s accusation of sex trafficking
- 11:10 – Katie Ring on trauma and dissociation research
- 12:26 – Police discover incriminating text from Isaac
- 14:24 – Isaac’s police interview, denials, and changing stories
- 20:20 – Background: Kiara’s ex-boyfriend speaks about her instability
- 21:23 – Plea deals, courtroom drama, trial status
- 23:36 – Jackson Sparks’s statement on Grace’s legacy
Conclusion
Katie Ring closes by promising ongoing updates as the trial continues and encourages listeners to share their thoughts and theories. The episode stands out for its careful attention to the tangled psychological, criminal, and interpersonal aspects of the case, providing listeners with a thorough understanding of a developing, highly disturbing murder investigation.