Podcast Summary: "Nobody Should Believe Me"
Episode: Introducing: PRETEND
Release Date: January 20, 2025

Introduction

In the premiere episode of "Nobody Should Believe Me," host Andrea Dunlop sets the stage by spotlighting a compelling true crime podcast titled Pretend, created by Javier Leyva. Andrea introduces the show as an exploration of deception, featuring stories of con artists, fraudsters, and cult leaders. She particularly highlights the first episode of the 2024 series, "Who’s Afraid of LaDonna Humphrey?" where Javier delves into the manipulative world surrounding a renowned true crime creator. Andrea emphasizes Javier's journalistic integrity and ethical storytelling, promising listeners a deep dive into unraveling complex webs of deceit.

Andrea Dunlop [00:04]: "Javier is both a thorough and ethical storyteller."

Alicia Lockhart’s Ordeal with Clown Pornography

The episode transitions into the harrowing experience of Alicia Lockhart, introduced by Javier Leyva. In 2010, at the age of 24, Alicia accepted a position as a personal assistant to a man involved in producing clown pornography—a niche and disturbing genre combining child entertainment with adult content. Initially intrigued by the unconventional job, Alicia's discomfort grows when she is coerced into participating in death fetish videos, blurring the lines between reality and horrifying fantasy.

Alicia Lockhart [04:23]: "It was like birthday party clown. You know, like entertainment, children entertainment clown."

The Death Fetish Video and Connection to Melissa Witt’s Case

Alicia recounts being asked to portray a lifeless body in a fetish film, complete with a Mickey Mouse watch, for a mere $500. The experience was unsettling, leading Alicia to later question the significance of the watch in relation to a real-life cold case—the disappearance and murder of Melissa Witt in Arkansas. In 2021, a conversation with her sister ignites Alicia's suspicion that her participation in the death fetish video may be linked to Melissa Witt's unsolved murder, particularly due to the specific detail of the Mickey Mouse watch.

Alicia Lockhart [11:18]: "They found her body six weeks later... her Mickey Mouse watch, along with all her other possessions, gone."

Collaboration with Ladonna Humphrey

Driven by her newfound suspicions, Alicia contacts Ladonna Humphrey, a prominent true crime author and podcaster known for her extensive work on the Melissa Witt case. Together, they embark on an investigative journey to uncover connections between the death fetish community and the cold case. Their collaboration leads to the co-authoring of a book titled Strangled and the launching of a podcast, Deep Dark Secrets, aimed at exposing the dark underbelly of online death fetish communities.

Alicia Lockhart [17:14]: "I co-authored this book with Ladonna because we felt it was so unbelievable. We've got to document it."

Rise of Harassment: The FetishMaster Account

As Alicia and Ladonna delve deeper into their investigation, they become targets of intense harassment from an online persona named FetishMaster. Over two years, Alicia receives threatening messages from various burner phone numbers, filled with explicit sexual content and veiled threats. The harassment intensifies when Alicia discovers that Ladonna may have been unknowingly operating the FetishMaster account, raising serious questions about Ladonna's involvement and intentions.

Alicia Lockhart [29:43]: "It scares me for Ladonna and for myself."

Confrontation and Unraveling Truths

The tension culminates when Alicia confronts Ladonna about the FetishMaster account, suspecting that Ladonna herself may be behind the harassment. Ladonna vehemently denies the allegations, attributing the misuse of her account to potential hacking or malware. Despite her denials, the inconsistency in Ladonna's explanations and the sudden cessation of the harassing messages following the confrontation deepen the mystery, leaving listeners questioning Ladonna's true role in the unfolding drama.

Ladonna Humphrey [35:26]: "I am not Fetish Master. I don't know what's going on."

Cliffhanger and Future Episodes

The episode closes with Javier Leyva highlighting the perplexing nature of the case, emphasizing the lack of concrete evidence linking Ladonna to the FetishMaster account. He teases upcoming episodes that will explore further allegations, testimonies from other victims, and possible defenses from Ladonna herself. Javier underscores the complexity of discerning truth in such tangled narratives, promising a thorough investigation in the episodes to follow.

Javier Leyva [43:21]: "They’re terrified of her and they do not want her to fixate on them or focus on them any longer. They just want her out of their life."

Notable Quotes

• Andrea Dunlop [00:04]: "Pretend takes you deep into the process of unraveling webs of deception."

• Alicia Lockhart [08:16]: "And he reiterated that it was super important that the dead Girl be wearing the Mickey Mouse watch in the video."

• Ladonna Humphrey [35:13]: "I am being completely honest with you. I don't know what's going on."

Conclusion

"Introducing: PRETEND" sets a gripping foundation for a season filled with intrigue, deception, and unresolved questions. By intertwining personal trauma with investigative journalism, the episode invites listeners to question the reliability of narrators and the complexities of uncovering the truth in the realm of true crime storytelling. As the series progresses, it promises to deliver deeper insights and resolutions to the enigmatic claims surrounding Ladonna Humphrey and the Melissa Witt case.

Next Steps:
Stay tuned for upcoming episodes on Pretend, where Javier Leyva continues to peel back the layers of this intricate case. Subscribers can access bonus content and early releases by following the podcast on Patreon or Apple Podcasts.