Into The Dark Podcast Episode 110: The Spa Day Murder - Sabina Rosas

Host: Peyton Moreland | Release Date: March 12, 2025 | Producer: OH NO MEDIA

1. Introduction and Host’s Personal Reflections

[02:13] Peyton Moreland: Peyton Moreland welcomes listeners back to Into The Dark with a heartfelt introduction. She shares a personal anecdote about a missed hair appointment that led her to record the episode from home, highlighting the serendipitous nature of life's disruptions. Peyton opens up about her recent mental health journey, expressing gratitude for the supportive messages received on Instagram after she shared her struggles.

"I just think that life is so hard. And honestly, like, every single person listening to this episode has gone through or is going through something that is so extremely painful and hurtful and just devastating." [05:10]

She emphasizes the importance of empathy and understanding, setting a compassionate tone for the episode. Peyton acknowledges the challenging topics ahead, issuing a trigger warning for discussions on suicide and murder to ensure listeners approach the content with care.

2. Case Introduction: The Mysterious Uber Ride

[07:50] Peyton Moreland: Peyton introduces the central case of the episode, revolving around Sabina Rosas, a 33-year-old visual artist from Tajikistan, and a perplexing Uber ride involving driver Ozan Musulu and a passenger named Tom. The narrative begins on October 28, 2024, when Tom requests an unusual four-hour Uber ride from a high-end spa in Watermill, New York, to his home in Honesdale, Pennsylvania.

"This was an extremely long trip to ask an Uber driver to make, but a job was a job." [09:15]

Tom's demeanor is described as nervous and silent throughout the journey, creating an intensely awkward atmosphere in the vehicle. Despite the lack of overt red flags, the peculiar nature of the trip leaves both Tom and Ozan with lingering unease.

3. Sabina Rosas: A Brief Biography

[10:30] Peyton Moreland: Sabina Rosas's background is meticulously detailed. Born in Tajikistan amidst civil war, she immigrated to the United States in 2009 at age 17. Sabina pursued her passion for visual arts, graduating with a degree in Film and Media Studies from a reputable New York City school. Her artistic style, deeply rooted in intuition and spiritualism, earned her recognition as an "ambassador of belonging." Sabina's commitment to her craft included innovative techniques like painting with her eyes closed to embrace spontaneity.

"Her work incorporated a lot of Sabina's beliefs about intuition and spiritualism." [12:05]

Despite her professional dedication, Sabina faced challenges, including a 2023 arrest for battery following a physical altercation in Miami. Nevertheless, she co-founded a journal to spotlight Central Asian artists, marking her as a burgeoning talent in the art community.

4. The Murder at Shusugi Ban House

[14:00] Peyton Moreland: The narrative shifts to the tragic event on October 28, 2024, when Sabina and her male companion, Thomas Cannon, checked into the exclusive Shusugi Ban House spa. At 12:30 PM, a staff member discovered Sabina's lifeless body in Tom's room, hours after Tom had been dropped off by Ozan just before her death.

"Sabina was already dead and had been for hours since earlier that morning, actually, before Tom had even called that Uber and left." [15:10]

The immediate aftermath saw investigators swarming the resort, but no substantial leads emerged initially. Concurrently, Sabina's family sought public assistance through online pleas for information, setting the stage for a pivotal encounter involving Uber driver Ozan and a reporter from the Dingley Mail.

5. The Uber Driver’s Crucial Encounter

[18:45] Peyton Moreland: Ozan Musulu recalled a subsequent ride with a reporter who was investigating Sabina's murder. During this drive, he recounted the strange behavior of Tom from the previous day, igniting the reporter's curiosity. This connection proved instrumental as Ozan's detailed account provided law enforcement with critical information about Thomas's whereabouts and his association with Sabina.

"It's so eerie. It's hard to ignore, especially in light of what the reporter already knew about the case." [20:30]

The reporter promptly relayed this information to the police, significantly advancing the investigation by identifying Thomas as the primary suspect, despite initial anonymity regarding his full identity.

6. Unraveling Thomas Cannon’s Motives and Relationships

[22:15] Peyton Moreland: Thomas Cannon, a 56-year-old flooring expert specializing in escape room design, emerges as the key figure in Sabina's murder. Despite being engaged to another man, Ryder Iwata, Sabina shared a complex and close relationship with Thomas. This relationship was marked by Thomas's financial support and personal favors, such as funding Sabina's residency program in Portugal and facilitating extravagant spa trips.

"Thomas was always doing favors for her, helping her haul heavy furniture around when she was moving, treating her to dinner at expensive restaurants and going on flashy trips." [24:05]

Conflicting accounts about Sabina's relationship status surface, with Ryder denying any affair and emphasizing Sabina's commitment to him. Meanwhile, Sabina's college mentor, Elizabeth Phillips, warns of Thomas's obsessive and possessive behavior towards Sabina, suggesting potential motives rooted in jealousy and unreciprocated feelings.

7. Police Investigation and Thomas’s Demise

[25:40] Peyton Moreland: The investigation took a dramatic turn when police, guided by Ozan’s testimony, located Thomas at his remote Pennsylvania cabin. Upon arrival at 11 PM on October 29, police discovered that Thomas had already taken his own life, rendering him unable to stand trial or provide further insights into Sabina's murder.

"Thomas would never be charged with Sabina's murder because he had taken his own life." [27:30]

Examination of Thomas's phone revealed a suicide note in which he confessed to killing Sabina, though details of his motives remain undisclosed. This resolution closed the case officially, yet it left Sabina's family and community grappling with unanswered questions about the true circumstances surrounding her death.

8. Reflections and Unanswered Questions

[28:15] Peyton Moreland: Peyton concludes the episode by reflecting on the tragic loss of Sabina Rosas and the enigmatic nature of her murder. She underscores the senselessness of such violence and the profound impact it has on those left behind. Sabina's fiancé, Ryder, continues to struggle with the lack of closure, as Thomas's suicide preempted any legal resolution.

"Sabina did not deserve to be murdered. I don't know if we'll ever learn the truth about how or why Thomas killed Sabina." [29:55]

Peyton emphasizes the importance of remembering Sabina's vibrant legacy and the void her absence has created in the artistic community. She urges listeners to approach the case with empathy, cautioning against quick judgments and acknowledging the complexity of human relationships and motivations.

Conclusion

In Episode 110 of Into The Dark, Peyton Moreland meticulously dissects the baffling case of Sabina Rosas, intertwining factual recounting with empathetic reflections. Through detailed storytelling and insightful analysis, Peyton highlights the intricate web of relationships and circumstances that culminated in Sabina's untimely death, leaving listeners both informed and contemplative about the depths of human behavior and the elusive quest for truth in the face of tragedy.

Notable Quotes:

• "Everything happens for a reason. Maybe I really needed to record this episode today." [04:50]
• "Sabina did not deserve to be murdered." [29:55]

Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content segments to focus on the core narrative and discussions presented in the episode.