Morbid Podcast: The Unsolved Death of Stephanie Wasilishin

Hosts: Ash Kelley & Alaina Urquhart
Date: September 18, 2025
Episode: "The Unsolved Death of Stephanie Wasilishin"

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode focuses on the mysterious and unresolved 1993 death of Stephanie Wasilishin in Sedona, Arizona—a case personally brought to the hosts by her daughter, Nikki. Ash and Alaina blend compassionate storytelling, forensic scrutiny, and empathetic advocacy, with frequent candid asides about trauma, survivor strength, and the systemic failures facing cold cases. The purpose is to both honor Stephanie and highlight her family’s search for truth, amplifying Nikki’s ongoing fight for justice through her own podcast, Poppy Killed Mommy, and a Change.org petition.

Episode Structure

1. Opening Banter & Listener Connection (01:42–08:31)

• Ash and Alaina open with signature humor and banter, discussing fall vibes, haunted houses, TikTok recaps, and pop culture references, setting a lighthearted but genuinely warm tone.
• Notable shout-outs to:
  • TikToker Nicole Crites for funny Morbid lip-syncs (03:07)
  • Upcoming collab episode teased with lots of excitement (04:38–05:19)
  • The importance of community (“You guys are great. You guys rule.” — Ash, 05:33)

2. Introduction to the Case & Family Advocacy (08:41–11:08)

• Personal Connection: The case is brought directly by Nikki, Stephanie’s daughter (“Friend of the pod, Nikki asked that we cover her mother's case, and we said absolutely, we will.” — Alaina, 08:57).
• Nikki’s Podcast: Poppy Killed Mommy—devoted to her mother’s life and to raising awareness of the case.
• Sarah Turney’s Support: Noted advocate for family-run true crime podcasts (Voices for Justice), also supporting Nikki (“Sarah Turney is a badass... the advocate, sister, slash, all of the above.” — Alaina, 10:16).

3. The Night of the Incident: July 9, 1993 (11:08–19:49)

• Timeline & Immediate Aftermath
  • 1:30am: 911 call from Russell Peterson (Stephanie’s boyfriend).
  • Stephanie is found dead from a large-caliber gunshot wound to the throat.
  • A four-year-old daughter is present at the scene (“She looked up at the officers and told them, 'that's my mommy.'” — Ash, 13:13)
• Russell’s Initial Statement
  • Claims a domestic fight, Stephanie fired at him, then a struggle led to accidental shooting.
  • Children (Nikki, 10, and younger sister, 4) were removed to foster care.
  • Describes Stephanie as having spent hours on the phone with her ex (Nikki’s biological father), suggesting recent tension over Russell’s impending trip to NY for a culinary seminar.
  • Russell’s claim: Stephanie fired the gun at him, then later they struggled and it discharged.

Memorable quote:
"How does a fight end that way? It should never end that way." — Ash, 11:44

4. Family Impact and Trauma (17:04–20:02)

• Graphic impact on the children is explored (“You become an adult at 10 years old.” — Alaina, 17:55), furthering the human cost of Stephanie’s death.

5. Physical Evidence & Crime Scene (22:12–19:39, resumes at 22:12)

• Evidence consistent with Russell’s version (at first): wine, beer glasses, bullets lodged in wall corroborate the story.
• Boss Peter Korn backs up some narrative elements but notes Stephanie’s distress.
• Deeper interviews reveal** chronic abuse in Stephanie’s background:
  • Stephanie suffered abuse as a child; likely repeated abusive relationships.
  • Rumors/allegations of Russell also being abusive (“Stephanie confided in her that Russell had also been physically abusive to her.” — Alaina, 27:04).

6. Who Stephanie Was: Nikki’s Tribute (27:20–32:33)

Nikki’s direct words:
"My mother was a 10. An absolute model. Gorgeous, beautiful inside and out. ... She lived for the small moments and she really did live for the moments with her children." — (28:03)
She recounts rituals, like R.L. Stine books and family holidays, that defined her relationship with Stephanie.

• Emotional resonance:
  • The discussion evokes memories of the small things parents do that indelibly shape a child (“It's those little things you do for your kids that they remember.” — Ash, 31:13).

7. The Forensics: Autopsy and Contradictions (32:35–36:59)

• Dr. Philip Keane rules death as homicide; gunshot wound unlikely to be accidental or suicide:
  • Stephanie right-handed but residue on left hand.
  • Wound angle/position suspicious—would require an “unnatural, awkward angle” if self-inflicted.
  • Quote: “The character of the wound is such that it is a contact wound... consistent with deposition in a defensive posture than with any self inflicted injury.” — 34:12

8. Statements Change: Russell’s Versions (36:45–46:08)

• Russell’s story shifts:
  • From “accidental shooting in struggle” to “Stephanie shot herself as I walked in.”
  • Fails to account for gunpowder on his own hands or his daughter’s claim of seeing him move the gun.
  • Eventually claims blacking out during the incident.

Memorable moment:
"It's when people claim the blackout happens that I'm like, oh." — Ash, 39:08

• Detective Spokes (lead investigator) becomes suspicious, highlighting the evolving, unreliable stories.

9. Investigative Limitations & Stalled Case (47:10–54:43)

• Evidence Problems: Only witnesses are Russell and very young daughter (“...a jury isn't going to put a man away for life or for a considerable amount of time based on a three year old’s word.” — Alaina, 47:51).
• Multiple investigations run aground: not enough to bring charges or present to a grand jury.
• Law enforcement urges family to keep pushing, hinting at the reality that only public/family pressure keeps cold cases alive.

10. Recent Developments & Family Advocacy (48:33–55:48)

• In 2020, renewed (but brief and inconclusive) investigation; mention of a possible confrontation call.

• Sergeant Dominguez cautious but admits “there’s more to the story than that of a suicide.”

• New medical examiner finds case “inconclusive” (“If somebody who's been doing autopsies for many, many years can't really conclusively come up with what happened... that's big.” — Ash, 54:05)

• Family-led efforts: Nikki’s podcast, petitions, media coverage, and social media campaigns to keep the case—and her mother’s memory—alive.

11. Nikki’s Closing Words & Call to Action (55:48–59:04)

Nikki’s words:
"It'll take me 28 years to become involved in my mother's cold case murder. I will wait for the police to do their job all my life. But I will wait in vain... I'm obsessed for some kind of justice. The influence that she has given me is to never give up, and I never intend to." — 56:07

• Change.org Petition: Demand a renewed homicide investigation for Stephanie.
• Emphasis on community support: “Go sign that for Nikki. Share the word, spread the word, support her podcast, support the Change.org petition, and let's crack open this cold case.” — Alaina, 58:49

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments by Timestamp

• “How does a fight end that way? It should never end that way.” — Ash, 11:44
• “My mother was a 10. An absolute model. Gorgeous, beautiful inside and out. ... She lived for the small moments and she really did live for the moments with her children.” — Nikki (read by hosts), 28:03
• “The character of the wound is such that it is a contact wound, and the presence of gunpowder residue on the left hand is more consistent with the deposition in a defensive posture than with any self-inflicted injury, whether intentional or otherwise.” — Dr. Keane (autopsy), 34:12
• “It's when people claim the blackout happens that I'm like, oh.” — Ash, 39:08
• "A jury isn't going to put a man away for life or for a considerable amount of time based on a three year old's word." — Alaina, 47:51
• "If somebody who's been doing autopsies for many, many years can't really conclusively come up with what happened... that's big." — Ash, 54:05
• “I know that I carry her rage and her anger. I'm mad for the life that was taken from her and her children. …I feel like I've become her warrior.” — Nikki, 56:07

Calls to Action

• Subscribe to and support Nikki’s podcast Poppy Killed Mommy for her firsthand perspective.
• Sign and share the Change.org petition: [Demand a Complete Homicide Investigation for Stephanie Marie Wasilishin].
• Spread awareness on socials; coverage can bring justice even years later (cf. Golden State Killer, Boy in the Box).
• Support family-run justice efforts—real change comes from persistence.

Final Tone

• Empathetic, empowering, and poignant.
• Highlighting systemic complexities and obstacles in cold case investigations—but also the unwavering strength of survivors and advocates.
• Concludes with hope and calls for communal action, affirming that “cold cases are never cold for the family.”

For more first-hand insight:

• Poppy Killed Mommy podcast, hosted by Nikki.
• Social/official links in episode show notes.