Introducing: Clues with Morgan Absher & Kaelyn Moore

Summary

Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield: Episode Summary

Episode Title: Introducing: Clues with Morgan Absher & Kaelyn Moore
Release Date: April 28, 2025

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Introduction to the New Series

In the April 28, 2025 episode of Drop Dead Serious With Ashleigh Banfield, Ashleigh Banfield unveils an exciting addition to the Crime House lineup: the original series Clues, hosted by Morgan Absher and Kaylin Moore. Banfield emphasizes her extensive experience in true crime reporting, stating, “I know a thing or two about true crime... I’ve been reporting on it for 36 years” [00:00]. She invites listeners to delve deeper into mystery and injustice through this new series, promising an irreverent style distinct from her television persona.

Meet the Hosts: Morgan Absher & Kaylin Moore

Ashleigh introduces the dynamic duo behind Clues. Morgan Absher, known for hosting the podcast Two Hot Takes, and Kaylin Moore, the voice behind Heart Starts Pounding, bring years of experience dissecting complex crime stories and internet phenomena.

Clues: A Comprehensive Exploration of Crime

Clues is portrayed as a deep dive into some of the most notorious crimes, where every minute detail can be the key to unraveling the case. Banfield describes the show as “where a single clue can crack a case wide open” [00:00]. Hosted every Wednesday, the series promises to explore everything from shocking murders to high-stakes trials, meticulously unpacking forensic evidence and the relentless pursuit of truth by investigators.

Hosts' Approach and Expertise

Morgan Absher and Kaylin Moore outline their unique approaches to the series:

• Morgan Absher: “I'll be your Internet sleuth, pulling out the threads that don't add up or maybe do, and digging into the unanswered questions that still linger” [01:35]. Morgan leverages his expertise in online investigations, tapping into platforms like Reddit to uncover theories and obscure details that often go unnoticed.

• Kaylin Moore: “I'll be piecing together the timelines, analyzing the forensic science and tracking the hard evidence that changed everything” [01:57]. Kaylin focuses on the scientific and evidential aspects, ensuring a thorough examination of each case's factual components.

Preview of the First Episode: The Lacey Peterson Case

The inaugural episode of Clues centers on the perplexing murder of Lacey Peterson. The hosts begin by setting the stage for this complex case, highlighting significant elements that made it notoriously difficult to solve.

Key Clues Discussed in the First Episode

1. Scott’s Boat: A Suspicious Acquisition

   Kaylin Moore provides critical background on Scott’s acquisition of a boat, a pivotal element in the Lacey Peterson case:

   “Scott bought it on December 9, 2002, about two weeks prior to Lacey's disappearance... He... bought this boat in cash, which... was kept in a warehouse away from his family. No one knew about this boat. There was no paper trail leading him to this boat” [02:14].

   This secretive purchase raised red flags, especially considering Scott's concealment of the boat's existence from his family and the lack of a legitimate purchase record.

2. The First Use of the Boat: Timing is Everything

   The first and only time Scott took the boat out was on December 24, the day Lacey went missing:

   “Scott... thought that the day Lacy went missing also was, like, the perfect time to take it out” [03:35].

   The timing of this decision coinciding with Lacey's disappearance suggested ulterior motives, adding a layer of suspicion to Scott’s actions.

3. Hair Evidence: A Critical Breakthrough

   One of the most compelling pieces of evidence discussed is the presence of two dark strands of hair found wrapped in pliers on Scott's boat:

   “...the prosecution argued that because Lacey's hair was found on the boat, it meant that she had been on the boat, if not when she was alive, then when she was dead” [04:06].

   Morgan Expands on this clue:

   “It was wrapped up in pliers. Yeah, it's a very strange spot for the hair to be” [04:22].

   The intentional placement of the hair suggested a deliberate attempt to link Lacey to the boat, strengthening the case against Scott.

4. Potential Explanations and Implications

   The hosts explore possible scenarios surrounding the hair evidence:

   Kaylin speculates, “maybe there was a chance that he hugged her goodbye in the morning, hair got on his shirt, it got onto the boat” [05:06].

   However, the disappearance of this evidence due to Scott washing his clothes promptly leaves many questions unanswered, indicating possible attempts to destroy incriminating evidence.

Conclusion: The Intricacies of Clues and Justice

The first episode of Clues sets the tone for the series, showcasing the meticulous unraveling of complex cases through critical examination of seemingly minor details. Morgan and Kaylin's combined expertise offers listeners a balanced perspective, blending internet-driven theories with scientific analysis.

Join the Journey

Ashleigh Banfield wraps up the introduction by encouraging listeners to follow Clues on their preferred podcast platforms and social media:

“If you want to take a peek into our case files, make sure you're following us on socials. Rimehouse and Clues podcast on Instagram” [05:26].

New episodes drop every Wednesday, inviting true crime enthusiasts to engage with every nuanced clue that brings us closer to the truth.

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This detailed summary captures the essence of the introductory episode of Clues, highlighting the hosts' backgrounds, the show's objectives, and a deep dive into the first case discussed. For those passionate about true crime and investigative storytelling, Clues promises a compelling addition to the genre.

Transcript

[Ashley Banfield]

Hey guys, it's Ashley Banfield here and if you're enjoying drop dead serious, I've got something you need to check out. It is the brand new crime house original series Clues, hosted by Morgan Absher and Kaylin Moore. And if their names sound familiar to you, that's because Morgan hosts the podcast two Hot Takes. And Kaylin hosts the podcast Heart starts pounding. And they're coming together to host this new series clip Clues. Every Wednesday, Morgan and Kaylin take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever. Where a single clue can crack a case wide open. From shocking murders to high stakes trials, Clues unpacks the forensic evidence and obsessive sleuthing behind the investigations that still have people talking to this very day. Kaylin is a true crime expert breaking down the cold hard facts of these cases. And Morgan is your Internet detective going into full Reddit mode to uncover the theories and weird details that you definitely haven't heard. So whether you are obsessed with the details, deep into the Internet theories, or if you just love a good forensic twist, you have to check out clues. Check out this clip from their very first episode, Foreign.

[Morgan Absher]

Hi there, I'm Morgan Absher.

[Kaylin Moore]

And I'm Kayla Moore. Between Morgan's show Two Hot Takes and my show Heart Starts Pounding. We've spent years dissecting the Internet's craziest stories and the world's most chilling true crime cases.

[Morgan Absher]

And now we're teaming up on Clues, a crime house original show powered by Pave Studios. Every Wednesday on Clues, we'll break down the small but cross crucial details that cracked open some of the most infamous cases. I'll be your Internet sleuth, pulling out the threads that don't add up or maybe do, and digging into the unanswered questions that still linger.

[Kaylin Moore]

And I'll be piecing together the timelines, analyzing the forensic science and tracking the hard evidence that changed everything.

[Morgan Absher]

We're talking about the hair fiber that sealed a conviction, a footprint that blew open an alibi. And the case that took decades to solve until some somebody finally connected the dots.

[Kaylin Moore]

And some clues are obvious, but some are hidden in plain sight. And sometimes they lead to places and convictions that no one ever expected.

[Morgan Absher]

So if you're like us and can't stop combing through case files and crime documentaries, this is the show for you.

[Kaylin Moore]

Tune in every week for clues where even the littlest details matter. And sometimes the truth is stranger than fiction.

[Morgan Absher]

Today we are opening up the case file for the murder of Lacey Peterson. I want to get into a Few more of these clues, but can you give us a little bit more background on Scott's boat first?

[Kaylin Moore]

Yes. It's important to know a little bit more about this boat, actually. So Scott bought it on December 9, 2002, about two weeks prior to Lacey's disappearance. And if you've been paying attention to the timeline here, December 9th is also when he told Amber Fry, his mistress, that he had a wife who had passed away previously. Just so we're all on the same page with that, he also bought this boat in cash, which when you also add in the fact that he was keeping it in a warehouse away from his family, no one knew about this boat. There was no paper trail leading him to this boat. Feels pretty secretive. According to Scott, on December 24, the day Lacy went missing, that was the first time he had ever taken this boat out. In general, even though he had bought it on December 9, he had never taken it out before. But he thought that the day Lacy went missing also was, like, the perfect time to take it out.

[Morgan Absher]

Christmas Eve. Why not?

[Kaylin Moore]

Yeah, right. Five hours round trip. Can't get over that. Scott himself even said that Lacey had never been on this boat before. But one of the biggest clues in this case was found on the boat.

[Morgan Absher]

Which brings us to our second clue, which is two dark strands of hair that were found in a pair of pliers on Scott's boat. Initially, it was reported that only one strand of hair was found, but months later, it came out that there was actually a second strand of hair that was found in the evidence envelope.

[Kaylin Moore]

And eventually, the prosecution for this case argued that because Lacey's hair was found on the boat, it meant that she had been on the boat, if not when she was alive, then when she was dead. Because hair wasn't just found on clothing. It wasn't just found strewn about in the boat. Like, maybe it had gotten on Scott's shirt and fell off whatever. It was. Wrapped up in pliers. Yeah, it's a very strange spot for the hair to be.

[Morgan Absher]

I mean, it would seemingly have to be kind of intentional for it to get caught. I shed everywhere. Like, if you went and looked in my car right now, there'd be blonde hairs everywhere. But it was the fact that they were wrapped up in those pliers. And it's not odd for someone to have pliers on a boat, especially when fishing. You know, you could use them to take a fish off of your hook or cut a line that got tangled or whatever. It's not that. It's the fact that by his own admission, Scott said Lacy had never been on the boat, right?

[Kaylin Moore]

And again, too, it makes me think about how maybe there was a chance that he hugged her goodbye in the morning, hair got on his shirt, it got onto the boat. But we're never going to know that because Scott washed his clothes the second he got home. So all of that evidence is gone now.

[Morgan Absher]

Make sure to tune into Clues every week and discover the details with us wherever you get your podcasts.

[Kaylin Moore]

If you want to take a peek into our case files, make sure you're following us on socials. Rimehouse and Clues podcast on Instagram.

[Ashley Banfield]

Thank you for listening to Check out the rest of this episode and so much more. Make sure to follow Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaylin Moore. Just search for clues wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Wednesday.