Podcast
Crime Salad
Hosted by BLACKCAT | Realm · EN
Truth. Awareness. Accountability.
Crime Salad is a top-ranked true crime podcast hosted by husband-and-wife duo Ashley and Ricky. Each week, they deliver in-depth coverage of real crime stories, unsolved cases, missing persons, and criminal investigations that demand closer attention.
With careful research and thoughtful storytelling, they examine the evidence, the timelines, and the systemic failures that shape each case. From cold cases and suspicious deaths to wrongful convictions and domestic violence tragedies, Crime Salad focuses on facts over speculation and victims over sensationalism.
Their mission is simple: uncover the truth, promote accountability, and keep the focus where it belongs: on the lives affected and the justice still sought.
If you’re looking for a true crime podcast that values integrity, depth, and clarity, you’re in the right place.
68episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Disappearance of Mekayla Bali: Secrets, Sightings, and Silence
Oct 1800:50:51Summary readySixteen-year-old Mekayla Bali vanished in broad daylight from Yorkton, Saskatchewan in 2016. Nearly a decade later, her disappearance remains one of Canada’s most haunting mysteries. In this episode, Ashley and Ricky trace Mekayla’s final hours through security footage, phone records, and witness accounts that reveal a series of strange and unsettling moments. From cryptic texts and untraceable calls to online connections that may have lured her away, the timeline raises chilling questions about what really happened that day. Was Mekayla planning to run away? Was she groomed by someone she met online? Or did she encounter something far more sinister? Join us as we explore the key theories, police findings, and heartbreaking search led by her mother, Paula Bali, who continues to fight for answers nearly nine years later. If You Have Any Information About the Disappearance of Mekayla Bali Contact the F Division RCMP Historical Case Unit: 1-833-502-6861 1-639-625-4111 saskmissingpersons@rcmp-grc.gc.ca Reach Crime Stoppers (Anonymous Tips): 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) Submit a tip online Contact the National Centre for Missing Persons and Unidentified Remains: canadasmissing-disparuscanada@rcmp-grc.gc.ca Follow Mekayla’s Official Facebook Page for Updates: Let’s Bring Mekayla Bali Home Thank you all for supporting Crime Salad. Your love and our Patreon members truly keep this show going. For ad-free listening, join us for just $1 at patreon.com/crimesaladpodcast Check out the new Crime Salad merch collection! Visit crimesaladpodcast.dashery.com to grab exclusive true crime merch designed with the help of our friends at Dashery -- creators of custom podcast apparel made easy. Every purchase helps support the show! Thank you, BetterHelp, for sponsoring this episode of Crime Salad. Find your therapist and start your journey today at BetterHelp.com/crimesalad to get 10% off your first month. Once Upon A Crime, one of the most captivating true crime shows out there. In their latest series, Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder, host Esther Ludlow peels back the layers of myth and legend to uncover the real story behind Elizabeth Short’s chilling and unsolved 1947 murder in Los Angeles. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7, every day of the year. Your call, text, or chat is free and confidential. Visit 988lifeline.org
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Missing: Oakley Carlson - Denial, Neglect, and the Fight for Justice
Oct 1100:59:28Summary readyCrime Salad dives into the case of Oakley Carlson, a 5-year-old girl from Grays Harbor County, Washington, who disappeared after being returned to her biological parents, Jordan Bowers and Andrew Carlson. This episode exposes the warning signs and system failures that continue to haunt advocates demanding justice for Oakley. Miracle Made: We’ve been loving our Miracle Made sheets, now you can too! 💫 Save 40%, get an extra 20% off, plus a free towel set at TryMiracle.com/CRIMESALAD with code CRIMESALAD. True Crime Couple: a husband-and-wife duo breaking down the wildest cases with heart! Dashery: Thanks to Dashery for making our new Crime Salad merch collection possible! Check it out at crimesaladpodcast.com!! Dashery helps creators design and deliver custom merch to fans without the hassle. Thank you all for supporting Crime Salad. Your love and our Patreon members truly keep this show going. For ad-free listening, join us for just $1 at patreon.com/crimesaladpodcast
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Trudy Appleby: The 1996 Moline Disappearance
Oct 300:51:34Summary readyIn August of 1996, 11-year-old Trudy Appleby vanished from her neighborhood in Moline, Illinois, leaving behind one of the most haunting mysteries in the Quad Cities. There was no sign of a struggle, no clear witnesses, and no immediate answers. For nearly three decades, her case remained unsolved. But behind the headlines, Trudy’s father never stopped fighting. From the very beginning, he insisted he knew who was responsible. While police chased false leads and dead ends, he pointed to the same small circle of men—names he repeated year after year, long before investigators finally confirmed them as persons of interest. In August 2025, almost exactly 29 years after Trudy disappeared, an arrest was finally made. The breakthrough came too late for her father, who passed away without seeing justice—but it proved he had been right all along. This is the story of Trudy Appleby: a child gone without a trace, a family’s relentless search for truth, and the decades-long fight to hold those responsible accountable in the Quad Cities’ most infamous missing child case. Please contact the Moline Police Department (Illinois) - Missing Persons Unit - 1-309-797-0407 OR your local FBI if you have any information. Trudy’s Missing Poster: https://www.missingkids.org/poster/NCMC/822441/1 This episode is made possible by show subscribers and sponsors, thank you! Patreon.com/crimesaladpodcast crimesaladpodcast.com Mint Mobile: Ready to say yes to saying no? Make the switch at mintmobile.com/CRIMESALAD Keywords: Trudy Appleby, Moline Illinois, Quad Cities missing child, East Moline, Illinois cold case, Dennis Appleby, David Whipple, James “Jim” Messick, Jamie Fisher, Rock Island County Sheriff’s Office, Moline Police Department, FBI Quad Cities, unsolved disappearance, True Crime Podcast, where is trudy appleby
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Filicide Awareness Interview with Hope Hooton
Sep 2400:37:58Summary readyIn this episode, Crime Salad sits down with Hope Hooton, a mother who has endured the unimaginable loss of her two children to filicide, the act of a parent killing their own child. This conversation covers deeply sensitive topics, including suicide, domestic abuse, and the devastating realities that too often go overlooked by the system. Hope shares the red flags she recognized, the steps she took to protect herself and her children, and the hard truths about how difficult it can be to leave an abusive relationship. Through her story, Hope is turning tragedy into purpose, spreading awareness, advocating for change, and working to save children’s lives by shining a light on the warning signs that must never be ignored. Listener discretion is advised. Please take care of your mental health first as you listen. Please Follow and Support Hope Hooton: Hope’s Website: https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com/ Hope’s Podcast: Voices Against Filicide Hope’s TikTok: hope.in.the.pain Pierce's pledge https://www.piercespledge.org/ If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. You can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text “START” to 88788 to be connected with free, confidential support 24/7. If you are struggling with thoughts of self-harm or suicide, call or text 988 to connect with the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. You can call or text anytime to be connected with trained counselors.
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Fighting Against Filicide: Alec, Lydia, and Rowan
Sep 2100:47:57Summary readyIn this episode of Crime Salad, we share the devastating story of Alec and Lydia Mater; two young children whose lives were stolen in an act of filicide after the courts prioritized shared custody over safety. Their mother, Hope Hooton, has turned her unimaginable grief into a fight for change, pushing for reforms to protect other children from the same fate. This is not an easy story to hear. It carries a strong listener discretion warning as we discuss filicide, the failures of the system, and the heartbreaking loss of two innocent lives. But it’s also a story of resilience; of a mother determined to ensure her children’s voices are not forgotten. Important Links: The Website: https://voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com/ The Podcast: Voices Against Filicide Hope’s TikTok: hope.in.the.pain This episode is made possible by our subscribers and sponsors—thank you! For the purest and most potent CBD (No fillers, no junk – just full-spectrum goodness) go to www.cornbreadhemp.com/CRIMESALAD with code CRIMESALAD to get 30% off your first order. Be sure to search for and subscribe to the True Crime Society podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!
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Introducing: CRIME HOUSE DAILY
Sep 1500:11:56Summary readyCrime doesn’t take a day off. And neither does Crime House Daily. Hosted by self-defense instructor and advocate for victims, Katie Ring, Crime House Daily is coming to you twice every weekday, covering the biggest crime stories as they unfold. Morning episodes give you the need-to-know. The latest headlines, breaking developments, and where things are going next. Evening episodes go deeper. Into the people, the evidence, and the moments that matter most. The pursuit of justice never stops. And with Crime House Daily, you won’t have to either. Follow Crime House Daily on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or listen here: https://link.podtrac.com/73j9h1co
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Finding Tracy Hill | Columbiana County, Ohio
Sep 1100:37:34Summary readyIn 2001, Tracy Hill was 24 years old, a college student, and separated from her husband. She was trying to build a future for herself when, suddenly, she went missing. What followed was a desperate search, suspicions of foul play, and a case that—after more than two decades—remains unsolved. Even with all the years that have passed, Tracy’s case is still open. Foul play is suspected, but without Tracy, there’s no way to bring justice to those responsible. The Columbiana County Sheriff’s Office continues to ask for the public’s help. If you know anything about the disappearance of Tracy Hill, no matter how small, you’re urged to call their office at 330-424-7255. Thanks Miracle Made for sponsoring this episode: Try Miracle Made sheets today at trymiracle.com/CRIMESALAD! Save over 40%, plus use promo code CRIMESALAD at checkout to get a FREE 3-piece towel set and an extra 20% off! Keywords: Tracy Hill, Guilford Lake, Columbiana County, Ohio missing persons, Kent State student disappearance, North Lima Ohio, Ohio cold cases.
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STACEY B. COLBERT: THE NEVER ENDING FIGHT
Sep 500:38:22Summary readyIn March of 1998, 23-year-old Stacey Colbert disappeared from her Columbus, Ohio apartment. Stacey was vibrant, funny, and deeply loved by her family and friends. She had a smile that could brighten even the darkest room, and a spirit that made people want to be near her. But when she vanished, a wave of fear and unanswered questions consumed her community. What followed were years of rumors, false leads, and painful uncertainty. Stacey’s story reveals how someone can disappear even in a place that should feel safe—and how a family can be left waiting for justice that never seems to come. Helpful Links: Finishing Stacey’s Fight Facebook The family’s GoFundMe If you have any information about Stacey’s case—no matter how small—you can reach out in the following ways: 📞 Call the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office at 740-833-2800 📧 Email: finishingstaceysfight@gmail.com 🕵️ Submit an anonymous tip through the Ohio Attorney General’s official page: Link Check out this amazing podcast: https://www.truthandjusticepod.com/
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The Murder of Jennifer Daugherty (The Greensburg Six Case)
Aug 2900:45:02Summary readyOn a snowy morning in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, a school worker made a puzzling discovery outside Greensburg Salem Middle School—a heavy garbage can lodged beneath his truck. What he found inside would unravel one of the most shocking cases in Westmoreland County history. In this episode of Crime Salad, we uncover the disturbing story of Jennifer Daugherty and the horrifying secrets that shook a quiet Pennsylvania town. Merch and other stuff: Crimesaladpodcast.com Sponsors for this episode: The best blanket ever! LolaBlankets.com code CRIMESALAD for 35% off. Trust us—once you try Lola, those old throw blankets don’t stand a chance. 💚Get 30% off your first order at cornbreadhemp.com/CRIMESALAD with code CRIMESALAD
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The Mysterious Death of Deborah Waggoner: South Greensburg’s 1990 Unsolved Homicide
Aug 2500:39:34Summary readyOn the night of April 17th in 1990, Deborah Waggoner had what seemed like an ordinary plan. Around 7 PM, she left her South Greensburg home in her faded green 1976 Chevrolet Malibu. She told her boyfriend, Charles Stader, that she was headed to the nearby coin-operated Carbon Car Wash to clean her car. It was close by, so Charles didn’t expect her to be gone for more than an hour. Before she left, he’d asked her to grab a pack of cigarettes on her way home, and she agreed. That was the last time anyone saw Deborah alive.
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