Podcast Summary: Murder Sheet – The Death of Micah Badoni (Jan 17, 2026)

Overview

In this episode of Murder Sheet, hosts Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee take a journalistic deep dive into the unsolved death of 29-year-old Micah Badoni. The case remains unresolved amid concerns of underreported crimes against Indigenous people in the U.S. and Canada. The hosts speak with Micah’s cousin, Taylor Chimony, who shares insights about Micah’s life, the events leading up to his tragic death, frustrations with police investigation, and her advocacy for missing and murdered Indigenous persons.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Who Was Micah Badoni?

[05:48–09:20]

• Taylor Chimony recalls her cousin Micah as a gentle, reserved, and humorous man with a love for metal music and Sasquatch lore.
• He worked at an industrial paint facility in Phoenix, was loyal, and loved spending time with family both in the city and on the Navajo reservation.
  • “Once he opened up, he was funny, he was witty… He was obsessed with Bigfoot.” (Taylor, 06:40)
• Memorable family moments include baking a pineapple upside-down cake and braving a dust storm to rescue painted flowers.

2. The Circumstances Surrounding Micah’s Death

[09:33–13:34]

• On August 17, 2018, Micah and a friend were at a bar in Phoenix, approached by a group asking to use their phone. After some hesitation, Micah handed it over.
• The group, joined by others, then attacked them. Both Micah and his friend were physically assaulted, with Micah's phone and wallet stolen and never recovered.
• Micah's friend went to a nearby Circle K (a key location in the story) to call for help while Micah waited at a crosswalk.
• A car—described only as a dark-colored sedan, possibly blue or gray—struck Micah and fled. Despite nearby traffic cameras, no footage or images have ever been publicly released.
  • “Micah’s phone and wallet were stolen… They have never been recovered.” (Taylor, 09:33)
  • “They did see the vehicle on traffic cameras, but to my knowledge, there has never been any advancements in his case. And I don't understand why.” (Taylor, 13:12)

3. Police and Media Response

[13:45–16:56]

• Taylor feels law enforcement and media have deprioritized the case, attributing the lack of progress at least in part to Micah being Indigenous.
  • “I hate to say it, but I think this is just one of these cases… swept under the rug by law enforcement and is probably not being, you know, recognized because of the race we are.” (Taylor, 13:45)
• Early local news coverage fizzled quickly, and communication from police to the family has been lacking. Taylor’s outreach often goes unanswered.
  • “I have reached out to Phoenix police several times, and not once have I gotten a call back.” (Taylor, 17:25)
• Discusses broader media bias and the disproportionate focus on cases involving white women, often leaving cases like Micah's underreported.

4. Challenges Solving Hit-and-Run Cases

[03:59–04:21]

• The hosts note hit-and-run cases tend to be less covered in true crime narratives and pose unique investigative challenges due to limited evidence and jurisdictional differences.
  • “Hit and run fatalities can be very difficult cases to solve. There is not a lot of concrete data about the solve rate for these kinds of crimes.” (Áine, 03:59)

5. The Crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIW)

[01:57–02:52]

• Taylor contextualizes Micah’s case within the larger issue of violence and homicide among Indigenous communities.
  • “This crisis sees Indigenous, Native American and Alaska Native people, especially women and girls, facing disproportionately high rates of abduction and murder… but it also affects men in those communities.” (Áine, 01:57)
• The hosts cite alarming statistics showing Indigenous men have the second highest homicide rates among all ethnic groups in the U.S.

6. Advocacy and the Importance of Awareness

[25:15–27:36]

• Taylor shares the challenges and fears in taking on an advocacy role after Micah's death, inspired by other Indigenous women like the advocates for Ella May Begay and Ashley Loring Heavy Runner.
  • “That kind of courage is really what encouraged me to be like, hey, I should start sharing this.” (Taylor, 25:15)
• She credits podcasts and media platforms for giving families like hers a voice:
  • “It’s podcasters, like, like, you guys who are giving… us a platform to share our stories.” (Taylor, 26:54)
• Expresses that persistent coverage keeps pressure on police and increases likelihood of resolution.

7. Justice and Grief

[24:32–25:07]

• Micah was initially admitted to the hospital as a John Doe, only later identified through employer and family efforts.
• His family continues to grieve without closure.
  • “I don't know that we will ever get answers in his case. But all I can do is… share his story and hope that, you know, his family can get justice, especially for his siblings.” (Taylor, 24:36)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On systemic bias and lack of progress:
  “I think the cases with indigenous people are being recognized as much as some of the others.” (Taylor, 14:30)
• On advocacy and breaking silence:
  “I was scared to be on air and, like, share these stories for the type of backlash I might get… But that kind of courage is really what encouraged me to be like, hey, I should start sharing this.” (Taylor, 25:15)
• On the role of the media:
  “By raising the media profile of a case, you can encourage or force police agencies to put more time and resources into it.” (Áine, 14:55)

Timestamps to Key Segments

• [00:05] — Introduction to Micah’s story and case background
• [05:48] — Taylor describes Micah's personality and family memories
• [09:33] — Taylor recounts the night of Micah's assault and hit-and-run
• [13:45] — Frustrations with lack of investigation, race, and media
• [16:04] — Taylor's hopes for improved police and media response
• [17:25] — Communication breakdown between police and families
• [24:32] — How Micah was identified and impact on family
• [25:15] — Taylor discusses advocacy and inspiration
• [26:52] — Importance of media platforms for unsolved cases

Conclusion

The episode offers an in-depth and compassionate look at both a specific case—Micah Badoni’s tragic and unsolved death—and the systemic issues enveloping it: the crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous people, media bias, lack of police communication, and barriers to justice. Taylor Chimony’s advocacy and candor provide a moving call to action for wider awareness, better institutional practices, and continued attention to unsolved cases often ignored by mainstream narratives.

If you have information on the case:
Contact Phoenix Police Department at 602-262-6151 or Silent Witness at 480-948-6377.

“Somebody out there knows something. There’s no way. Nobody knows.”
— Taylor Chimony, [27:07]