Crime Junkie: "MURDERED: Christion Olson"

Date: November 3, 2025
Host: Ashley Flowers
Co-Host: Britt Prawat

Episode Overview

Ashley Flowers and Britt Prawat cover the mysterious case of Christion Olson, an 18-year-old who was found severely injured after a party in Brunswick Hills, Ohio, and died shortly after. Despite the presence of numerous friends and promising digital evidence, the investigation has produced more questions than answers. The episode explores multiple theories and highlights the pain and confusion faced by Christion's family.

Key Discussion Points & Timeline

[01:33] – The Night of July 13, 2024: Setting the Scene

• Christion ("Christian") Olson, 18, attends a small party in Brunswick Hills, Ohio.
• Around 3am, his brother Chris Jr. receives a call from Christian's friends—Eric, Aiden, and Braylon—saying he's extremely drunk and they don't know what to do.
• An hour later, Eric and Braylon help Chris Jr. bring Christian into his home. Aiden stays in the car.
• Christian is mumbling, mainly saying "ow" repeatedly and appears to be in significant pain, not simply intoxicated.
• Christian's dad, Chris Sr., notes blood and a possible shoe print on Christian's face, suspecting something more serious than drunkenness.
• Christian’s condition rapidly deteriorates and he stops breathing.

Notable Quote:

"He looks like he got beat up. I mean, he's like drooling some blood, he's asking for help." — Ashley Flowers, [03:51]

[05:40] – Tragic Outcome & Initial Investigation

• A 911 call is placed by the family as Christian stops breathing. Family performs CPR until paramedics arrive.
• Christian is taken to the hospital, but is declared dead at 5:56am.
• The coroner tells the family his death is "suspicious." Police withhold details, citing concerns about causing unnecessary emotional turmoil.

Notable Quote:

"In the end, his death is ruled blunt force trauma to the neck and abdomen and his manner of death is homicide." — Ashley Flowers, [08:49]

[08:49] – Autopsy Revelations & Discrepancies

• Autopsy Findings:
  • Severe internal injuries: fractured ribs and collarbone, punctured liver and lung, minor external abrasions.
  • Police originally believe Christian was heavily intoxicated; toxicology shows no alcohol in his system, only a small amount of marijuana.
• Raises new questions about what happened during the crucial hours after he left the party.

Notable Quote:

"Not only was Christian not wasted to the extent his friends let on, he may not have been drunk at all..." — Ashley Flowers, [07:56]

[11:28] – What Happened at the Party?

• Eric’s initial story:

  • Small, chill party at his dad's house.
  • Argument between Christian and Becca (a girl he'd been dating) about another girl led to a fight; Becca and her friends left, leaving only Eric, Aiden, and Christian at the house.
  • Christian leaves after the fight (despite Eric’s protest), supposedly “drunk.”

• Alternate accounts:

  • Eric’s story shifts: Christian was found 5-6 houses down, not just at the driveway.
  • Some details about who was driving, and a differing chain of events (including meetings with Braylon) emerge from differing police interviews.

• Neighbor encounters:

  • A group of local teen boys witness Christian lying in front of a house. They attempt to call 911, but the call doesn’t go through; they also take Snapchat videos for documentation.
  • The boys admit to not getting close enough to see his injuries.

Notable Quote:

"Not mentioning three other guys that were outside, like that's pretty strange." — Britt, [16:00]

[18:31] – Timeline Gaps & Questionable Choices

• Eric and Aiden make multiple stops on the way back to Christian's home, including one at a golf course to meet Braylon.
• Police question why no one called emergency services sooner despite Christian’s deteriorating state.

Notable Moment:

Body cam segment emphasizing police confusion about the lack of a 911 call:

Police Officer: "And through all of this, why didn't...why didn't somebody call and say, we need to get the police or at the very least a rescue squad here?" [19:43]

Eric: "I just called his brother and he just told me to bring him home. And I...I was freaking out." [19:51]

[23:00] – Forensics, Phones, and the Elusive Camera Footage

• Police analyze GPS and other phone data:

  • Christian's phone leaves the house around 2:06am; Eric and Aiden's phones remain inside.
  • Christian's phone goes silent ("goes dark") at 2:14am.
  • The phone is intact and with him when found.

• Surveillance frustration:

  • Despite numerous doorbell cameras in the neighborhood (Topaz Lane), residents uniformly report theirs were either inoperable or captured nothing—a suspicious claim.
  • Ashley and Britt discuss possible reasons neighbors might cover for each other, including racial bias in the community.

Notable Quote:

"It's not like others in this community are rallying around the family to get answers. It feels a little more like if something happened in this neighborhood, a lot of the neighbors might cover for each other." — Ashley Flowers, [26:40]

[28:09] – Theories Explored: Accident or Attack?

• Accident Theory:

  • Hit-and-run possible, especially as Christian wore black and the road wasn’t well-lit.
  • A blue pickup truck frequently seen in the area vanished after the incident, but police consider this unrelated.

• Attack Theory:

  • Less visible trauma than expected for a severe beating, but internal injuries consistent with significant force (body slam, for example).
  • Physical evidence (cut on the shoulder, scuffing on face) doesn't definitively confirm a fight.
  • Christian’s friends’ stories are vague and inconsistent; Becca downplays the supposed fight.

Notable Quote:

"To slam someone so hard that they die, that's not just boys horsing around... I don't think that explains everything." — Ashley Flowers, [32:34]

• Police continue to focus on the critical missing hour.

[35:31] – Suspect Pool & Alternate Theories

• Focus on Friends:
  • Christian's family believes his friends know more than they share. They’ve had no contact since the incident.
  • Aiden quickly lawyered up.
• Retaliation/Robbery Theory:
  • A robbery a week before at a local drug dealer’s home allegedly involved Christian (unconfirmed; no mention in court records).
  • Police consider the possibility he was targeted in retaliation.
  • DNA evidence from the robbery (left on a wave cap) hasn’t been publicly compared to Christian’s DNA.

Notable Quote:

"Even if Christian had nothing to do with the robbery, that doesn't mean that the guy whose house was robbed didn't think that Christian was involved." — Britt, [39:21]

[41:34] – Final Reflections & Pleas for Information

• Phone/Social Media Data:

  • Major challenge: Encrypted communications (mostly via Snapchat or similar apps) slow investigation progress.
  • Police seek any remaining digital evidence before it disappears.

• Community Dynamic:

  • The family faces hostility and racial slurs during justice walks in the neighborhood.
  • Ashley lays out the urgent need for witnesses or anyone with footage/info to come forward.

Memorable Quote:

"Chrissy says that the person who murdered Christian didn't just take one life that night. They took six. Her family has not been the same since his death. And more than anything, they want justice for the boy that they so lovingly refer to as Fat Man." — Ashley Flowers, [44:08]

• Brunswick Hills PD has set up a website for tips. Ashley encourages anyone who was in the area or has footage/information to come forward.

Notable Quotes & Moments

• [03:51] "He looks like he got beat up. I mean, he's like drooling some blood, he's asking for help." — Ashley Flowers
• [08:49] "In the end, his death is ruled blunt force trauma to the neck and abdomen and his manner of death is homicide." — Ashley Flowers
• [19:43] "And through all of this, why didn't...why didn't somebody call and say, we need to get the police or at the very least a rescue squad here?" — Police Officer
• [26:40] "It feels a little more like if something happened in this neighborhood, a lot of the neighbors might cover for each other." — Ashley Flowers
• [32:34] "To slam someone so hard that they die, that's not just boys horsing around..." — Ashley Flowers
• [39:21] "Even if Christian had nothing to do with the robbery, that doesn't mean that the guy whose house was robbed didn't think that Christian was involved." — Britt
• [44:08] "Chrissy says that the person who murdered Christian didn't just take one life that night. They took six." — Ashley Flowers

Important Timestamps

• [01:33] – 911 call placed for Christian, family performs CPR.
• [05:55] – Family describes Christian’s condition on the 911 call.
• [08:49] – Medical examiner rules death a homicide.
• [11:28] – Timeline and party details via police interviews.
• [19:43] – Police question Eric’s choices in handling Christian’s critical injury.
• [23:02] – Phone data and surveillance efforts discussed.
• [28:09] – Main theories (hit-and-run vs attack) explored.
• [35:31] – Focus shifts to robbery retaliation theory.
• [44:08] – Emotional plea from Christian's family.

Final Thoughts

Ashley and Britt paint a portrait of Christian Olson as a beloved son and brother, snatched away by violence and still surrounded by secrets. The episode underscores the sharp pain of ambiguous loss, community distrust, missed opportunities for intervention, and lingering questions that grow as time passes without answers. Listeners are urged to share information and pressure for accountability, as Christian's family waits for justice.

For more information or to submit a tip:
Visit the Brunswick Hills Police Department website (link in the Crime Junkie show notes).