Juicy Crimes with Heather McDonald

Episode: Hot For Teacher Turns Deadly and The Wrongly Convicted Are Exonerated

Date: January 28, 2026
Guest: Maggie Freeling, Host of the Bone Valley Podcast

Episode Overview

This episode of "Juicy Crimes" features two main segments: a recap of recent true crime stories with particularly juicy twists, followed by a deep-dive interview with podcast host and investigative journalist Maggie Freeling. Heather and Maggie discuss the flaws in America’s justice system—that can lead to multiple wrongful convictions in one case—while spotlighting the human stories behind these tragedies. The tone remains conversational, sometimes irreverent, but always focused on exposing injustices with compassion for those affected.

Heather’s “Hot for Teacher” Update

(00:00–05:45)

• Incident in Billings, Montana:
  A geometry teacher, Jason Raider, was stabbed multiple times by a female student during after-school hours (Jan 13th, 4:23pm).
  • Both are now recovering; the attacker also stabbed herself.
  • Social media speculation claims the student is a well-known, attractive Tiktoker, who frequently posted in schoolgirl outfits.
  • Theories swirled about a possible inappropriate relationship, but evidence points more toward her having an obsession with the teacher, including stalking behaviors and fascination with movies portraying student-teacher affairs.
  • The student was also reportedly obsessed with Jodi Arias (notorious for murdering a romantic partner).
  • Heather: “I've never heard of someone having an obsession with wanting to be with your teacher... that you would go to these lengths and actually hurt them and then hurt yourself.” [05:45]
  • Both are physically okay; identities remain closely guarded due to legal/privacy issues.

True Crime Case Updates

(05:45–15:56)

1. Celeste Hernandez Case:

• Celeste (teenage girl) found dead in singer David’s Tesla trunk.
• An arrest (Neo Langston, streamer) made for not appearing as a witness, but the main suspect, David, remains at large.
• David is believed to be transferring assets to his mother, perhaps in preparation for future lawsuits.

2. Ohio Dentist Double Homicide:

• Dentist Spencer and wife Monique Teepee murdered at home.
• Suspect: Monique’s ex-husband, Dr. David McKee, who claims innocence.
• Heather shares a creepy story from a listener who once dated McKee: he was controlling and stalkerish, adding an unsettling dimension to the portrait of the accused.
  • “He seemed very controlling and she was really creeped out.” [09:49]

3. Canero Brothers Murders (New Jersey, 2018):

• Paul Canero on trial for murdering his brother Keith, Keith’s wife, and their two children, then committing arson at two locations.
• Motive revolves around financial disputes from a shared business/trust.
• Prosecution: Paul was under financial stress; evidence includes a ring camera argument just prior to the murders.
• Defense: Motive implausible for $10,000, suggests another brother, Corey, could also be culpable.
• Heather on defense strategies: “It’s always interesting when defense does that. It’s like... look over here!” [12:36]

Main Interview: Wrongful Convictions and “Bone Valley”

(16:26–57:24)

Maggie Freeling’s Journey & Approach

• Host of acclaimed crime podcast “Bone Valley”
• Extensive experience in criminal justice and prison reporting, initially motivated to “help people who are marginalized, who can't use their voice.” [18:48]
• Maggie has worked border/immigration stories, then moved into DOJ and prison work.

On Visiting Prisons:

• Maggie finds prison experiences “humbling,” with guards often being the most intimidating barrier.
• “The scariest part is trying to get through into the prison.” [19:59]
• Every visit brings a reminder of freedom’s value: “I don’t know if I’ve left prison one time without tears in my eyes.” [21:09]

Notorious Case: David Thorne in Ohio

(22:32–26:40)

• Convicted of murdering the mother of his child in 1999; the crime scene was contaminated and police conduct was questionable.
• Maggie invested a year trying to prove his innocence but ultimately concluded he was guilty, after finding no evidence of coercion and confronting him on lies.
• “When you’re looking for evidence of innocence, you need to find evidence... We weren’t finding anything. Every witness stuck to their story… In fact, we found more witnesses who were telling us information about his guilt who were credible.” [25:03]
• David Thorne “had the personality of like a David Koresh. He was handsome, charming...” [26:10]

The Quincy Cross / Jessica Curran Murder – “Bone Valley” Season 3

(26:47–57:24)

The Crime & Mass Convictions

• In 2000, 18-year-old Jessica Curran found brutally murdered and burned in Mayfield, Kentucky.
• Five people (including Quincy Cross) wrongfully convicted; the Innocence Project is working the case.
• Case began with one suspect, then switched to “a whole new group” years later, based on a citizen sleuth’s intervention.

Details & Timeline

• Initial suspect: Quincy Cross, a young Black man, in town for partying, was noted to have smelled like gas after a car breakdown—days before body found burned.
• Seven years later, a witness (Victoria Caldwell) fabricated a story implicating Quincy and several others.
• Four others charged: Victoria Caldwell, her cousin Tamara Caldwell (who hadn’t met Quincy at the time of the murder), Jeff Burton, Venetia Stubblefield.
• None of the stories or “confessions” matched physical evidence.
• Heather: “How were they committing a murder together in 2000 if they didn’t meet or know each other until 2003?” [33:09]

Coercion & False Confessions

• Victims of police pressure; teenage girls at the time, from vulnerable backgrounds, threatened with loss of children or “a needle in the arm.”
• “The story that was concocted was made through pressure, coercion, threats, and that's where we’re at now.” [35:02]
• Some witnesses held in hotel rooms for hours by men from the now-defunct Kentucky Bureau of Investigation, outside parental knowledge.
• Venetia Stubblefield, whose IQ was 67, held out for seven years before finally giving in under duress.

Maggie:

• “Venetia... is the biggest hero in this today. I mean, she probably has the worst life out of everybody today besides Quincy [who's in prison]. She did do time... and when she got out she had nothing. She had absolutely nothing.” [38:30]
• “These girls have now taken their power back and said, no, we were coerced to lie. None of this is true.” [36:00]

Impact of the Wrongful Convictions

• Only Quincy serves life; most others are out, but lives devastated.
• Quincy’s positive spirit remains: “To even see media reporting a truthful headline for him is just everything... because this crime was huge in Kentucky.” [42:34]

Theories & Next Steps

• Maggie: Theory involves possible police corruption and drug-dealing links, but will be explored in detail in next season.
• Ongoing efforts to vacate Quincy’s conviction as co-defendants recant.

Challenges of Investigative Work

• Maggie explains dangers of investigating in small towns—often more intimidation from police than criminals.
• Stays in remote hotels/Airbnbs; sometimes followed or approached by locals or officers.
• Media interest: documentary projects in progress.

Heather and Maggie’s Reflections

• Wide-ranging discussion of why vulnerable people confess: psychological exhaustion, ignorance of legal rights, and the power dynamics in interrogations.
• The team stresses that the justice system's drive for convictions can override evidence.
• “It's pretty easy to put someone in. ...It is so difficult to get someone out. The system is meant to be final.” (Maggie, [56:35])
• “Prosecutors rarely, rarely admit they were wrong.” (Maggie, [55:35])

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On wrongful conviction risk:
  Maggie: "It’s everyone’s worst fear and anything could happen. You could think, I would never confess… But the situations these girls were put in…” [47:32]

• On manipulated testimonies:
  Heather: “They just constantly kept bringing her in and going over, just...grilling her.” [38:22]

• On system bias:
  Maggie: "The police were caught in a scandal for dealing drugs out of the evidence room." [42:42]

• On coerced confessions:
  Heather: “This is why people confess to crimes they haven’t committed — because it’s a mind thing.” [48:27]

• On representation:
  Maggie: “They all had public defenders…a couple did try to raise alarms...but the system just continued.” [54:28]

Important Timestamps

• 00:00-05:45: Billings teacher stabbing case
• 05:45-15:56: Crime story updates: Celeste Hernandez, Ohio double homicide, Canero brothers
• 16:26: Interview with Maggie Freeling begins
• 19:59: Maggie on fear and reality of prison visits
• 22:32: Maggie's “Death and Deceit An Alliance” case story
• 26:47: Graves County/Jessica Curran murder case deep dive
• 35:02: How pressure on witnesses led to wrongful convictions
• 38:30: Venetia Stubblefield’s coerced confession and aftermath
• 42:34: The toll on Quincy Cross and his family
• 47:32: Maggie on the psychology of coerced confessions
• 56:35: Systemic barriers to overturning wrongful convictions

Where to Find Maggie Freeling

• Listen: "Bone Valley" podcast, Season 3 (Graves County) and the Pulitzer Prize-winning "Suave"
• Follow: Instagram @MaggieFreeling

Summary Takeaway

Heather McDonald uses her comedic, relatable voice to explore the lighter and darker sides of true crime. This episode weaves tabloidy headlines and real justice system horrors—including the deeply chilling story of five people convicted on the basis of lies, rumors, and coerced confessions. Guest Maggie Freeling brings an insider’s passion, empathy, and deep research, making a compelling case for increased awareness of how justice miscarries—and the long path to exoneration and healing for the wrongly accused. This gripping conversation is especially urgent for fans of “true crime” who care about actual innocence, systemic reform, and the very human cost of getting it wrong.