Podcast
Papi Killed Mommy
Hosted by NIKKI · EN
Papi Killed Mommy is a raw true crime podcast about the night my mother was murdered - and how the truth was buried for years. I was just 10 years old, but I never forgot what really happened.
Support - Papi Killed Mommy and help keep the story alive.
Your monthly support means the world to me - and it helps me keep bringing you this important story. As a thank you, you'll get a personal email from me and a shoutout in the next episode!
visit my website, or find it in my social media bio. Every little bit makes a difference - thank you for standing with me.
28episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Independent Takes Notice
2w ago00:22:08Summary readyIt's been 36 days since the last episode of Papi Killed Mommy. Lots to fill you in on. In this episode, I sit down and talk openly about burnout, obsession, grief, media attention, CrimeCon Vegas, and the emotional reality of spending five years living inside my mother's homicide case every single day. Over the last few months, my mom's case has received major media attention, including front-page local coverage, a national article from A&E, and now a brand-new feature from The Independent https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/cold-case-murder-stephanie-wasilishin-tiktok-b2968369.html after a journalist discovered me through the CrimeCon Facebook community. We talk about what that coverage means to me, why media pressure has always been the goal, and how surreal it feels preparing to walk onto a stage with Crime Weekly at CrimeCon 2026 after starting this journey alone on TikTok years ago. But this episode also goes somewhere I never expected… I talk honestly about hitting a wall with true crime. I don't see my self going forward with other cases. After years of reading police reports, autopsy reports, case files, and reliving trauma publicly online, I've started questioning whether I can continue existing solely inside this world emotionally and creatively. And somehow… that led to the accidental launch of an entirely different podcast. Introducing: Nanny Nikki's Imagination Station https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/nanny-nikkis-imagination-station/id1896688793 — where turning the page is just the beginning. A brand-new children's storytelling podcast inspired by my work with kids, imagination, storytelling, voices, characters, and creativity. Episode two, Dickie Birdie Has Two Names, is an original story inspired by my tiny senior chihuahua, Dickie Birdie — and honestly, creating it may have been the happiest I've felt creatively in years. For the first time in a long time, I created something joyful instead of painful. In this episode we also somehow spiral into: • kidnapped classroom hermit crabs. I'm a Crabnapper • why the hermit crab trade is heartbreaking. • senior rescue dogs • Arizona heat • TikTok violations • emotional exhaustion • media pressure • CrimeCon prep chaos • and whether I'm literally just waiting for a deathbed confession at this point So basically… a normal week in my life. If you're coming to CrimeCon Vegas, come say hi. I'll be at my booth with merch, framed articles, giveaway signed front page articles, and Dickie Birdie riding around in his tiny red stroller. 🐾 Support Nikk's zoo of rescue animals, senior pets, and apparently now hermit crabs: Amazon Wishlist Thank you for continuing to keep my mom's name alive after all these years. I'll see you at CrimeCon… or I'll see you right back here after.
Summary
16. A&E Delivered
Apr 1200:38:22Summary readyIn this episode of Papi Killed Mommy, Nikki shares a major turning point in her mother Stephanie Wasilishin's case — from national media recognition… to a shift in strategy… to one of the most personal decisions she's made in 33 years. After being told there is no legal path forward without a confession, Nikki opens up about what the last month has actually looked like behind the scenes — the frustration, the burnout, and the moment everything changed. Because this episode marks something important: Momentum. 🎙️ Episode Highlights 📰 A&E Delivers — National Feature Released On April 9, 2026, A&E published a national article on Stephanie Wasilishin's case — bringing long-overdue visibility to a story that has largely gone unheard for decades. 📰 Read the article here: https://www.aetv.com/articles/stephanie-wasilishin This moment represents more than just coverage — it's validation, visibility, and the beginning of something bigger. 🎧 The Last 33 Days — What Changed This episode walks through: Being told the case cannot move forward without a confession The emotional aftermath of that reality Taking a step back — and what that looked like The realization that this case needs bigger media, bigger platforms, and more pressure Why television and national exposure are key to movement in cold cases 🎤 CrimeCon 2026 — Next Steps With CrimeCon approaching, Nikki is preparing to take this story directly to creators, networks, and anyone willing to listen. This is no longer just about telling the story. It's about getting it in front of the right people. 📱 Follow Nikki in Real Time For updates, behind-the-scenes advocacy, and ongoing developments: 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolewasilishin ✊ Sign the Petition — Justice for Stephanie Wasilishin 👉 https://www.change.org/justiceforstacy Every signature helps increase visibility and keeps pressure on this case. 🐾 Dickie Birdie & Senior Dog + Kitty Wishlist I'm not asking for support for myself. But I will ask for my animals. They are my babies — my dogs and my cats — and right now, they're all getting older at the same time. Living in Arizona, the extreme heat makes it really hard to keep them comfortable and safe through the summer. This wishlist includes things like cooling mats, food, and basic items to help them get through the heat — especially for dogs like Jake who struggle the most in the warmer months. I also have my 16-year-old cat, Manny, whose kidneys are starting to go. He has a prescription for kidney care food that I have not been able to fill yet, and that's something I'm really trying to get for him as soon as possible. If you're in a position to help at all — even something small — it truly means more than you know. And if not, just being here and listening is everything. 👉 https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/49E74TM4J5D8 📣 If You Have Information If you have any information related to this case — no matter how small — or if you know Russell Bennett Peterson or have ever crossed paths with him, please come forward. 📧 papikilledmommy@gmail.com Sedona Police Department: 📞 (928) 282-3100 Please only reach out if you have legitimate information that could help move this case forward. And then… there's this. For the first time in 33 years… Nikki is no longer waiting. After being told that a confession is the only way forward, she made the decision to stop sitting on the sidelines — and step directly into the space she's been kept out of for decades. A message was sent. To Russell Bennett Peterson. Requesting a conversation. Face to face. On camera. An opportunity to speak. To explain. To tell the truth. The message has been read. There has been no response. Yet. This episode is not the end of anything. It's the beginning of the next phase. And this time… it's personal.
Summary
15. Defeated
Mar 900:33:16Summary readyEvery time I sat down to write the script about what has happened in the last 30 days in my mom's case, I got stuck. Angry. Frustrated. Completely overwhelmed. So this episode isn't really written. Instead, I walked into the studio, turned on the microphone, and treated this the same way I treat my morning TikTok videos — like a vlog. Just sitting down and talking through everything that has happened. Because a lot has happened. In early February, true crime creator Stephanie Harlowe released a two-part deep dive into my mother's case, focusing on the interrogations of Russell Peterson. Between the two videos, Stephanie spent more than four and a half hours analyzing the evidence, timelines, and statements in this case. If you haven't seen those yet, you can watch them here: Part 1 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-OckJoNghk Part 2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gOqvB1j2cGI Watching someone dissect the story that has defined my life since I was ten years old was overwhelming, but also incredibly validating. Tens of thousands of people listened to those interrogation recordings and heard the same things my family has been saying for decades. For a moment, it gave me hope. Shortly after that, I finally received something I had been requesting for months — the updated case file from Yavapai County, including crime scene photographs from the night my mom was killed that I had never seen before. Seeing my childhood home frozen in time like that was surreal. Some things I remembered immediately — the blanket on the couch, my mom's plants, the telescope she bought me because I loved space. Other things felt completely unfamiliar, like I was looking at the house through someone else's eyes. But one photo stopped me in my tracks. In the kitchen, on the bar counter, there was a children's canvas craft with crayons and markers scattered around it — something my sister and I had been coloring while my mom helped us. Because when people look at my mom's case, I want them to see what I see: a loving mother who spent her time doing crafts with her kids. Not the story that was written about her after she died. This episode also covers the long-awaited meeting my family had with the Yavapai County Attorney's Office on February 27th — a meeting I had been pushing for since launching this podcast. After months of emails, media pressure, and requests, we finally sat down with them. And within minutes, I realized something devastating. They weren't there to move the case forward. They were there to explain why they wouldn't. According to the county attorney, the only way this case can move forward now would be with a confession or a confrontation call. After more than thirty years… the system is essentially asking the family to solve the case ourselves. That moment left me feeling something I didn't expect after fighting this hard for this long: Defeated. But even in the middle of that feeling, there are still things moving forward. In this episode I also share some unexpected updates, including: • Signing my contract to attend CrimeCon 2026 in Las Vegas • Returning to Creator's Row with a booth for Papi Killed Mommy • And being invited to appear on stage with Stephanie Harlowe and Derrick Levasseur for a live Crime Weekly show I also recently sat down for an interview with A&E Digital, and they will be releasing an article about my mom's case next month. Right now, I don't know exactly what the next step in this fight will be. But I do know this: This isn't the end. You can follow my daily updates on TikTok here: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolewasilishin If you want to support efforts to reopen my mom's case, you can sign the petition here: https://www.change.org/p/demand-a-complete-homicide-investigation-for-the-murder-of-stephanie-marie-wasilishin Contact the podcast: PapiKilledMommy@gmail.com If you have investigative skills, private investigator connections, or information that could help move this case forward, please reach out.
Summary
14. Front Page and A&E
Jan 2500:28:17Summary readyIn this episode of Papi Killed Mommy, Nikki shares jaw‑dropping real‑time developments in her mother Stephanie Wasilishin's cold case — from viral TikTok traction, to national recognition, to major media momentum and strategic advocacy work that's finally putting this case in front of the right eyes. This episode covers everything that's happened in the last 35 days: documentary‑style updates, personal reflections, and exactly what has shifted since the last episode — including acknowledgment from major creators and outlets who've helped amplify Stephanie's story. 🎙️ Episode Highlights ✨ Stephanie Harlowe True crime creator Stephanie Harlowe — YouTuber, podcaster, researcher, and co‑host of Crime Weekly — saw one of Nikki's TikToks and reached out. Stephanie has agreed to feature Stephanie Wasilishin's case on her YouTube channel, and she's currently reviewing case files and interrogation audio. This is a huge moment of visibility for a case that's stayed in the shadows for decades. 📺 Stephanie Harlowe on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@stephanieharlowe 📱 Stephanie on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@stephanieharlowe 📰 A&E Recognition – Mikey Brieaddy Cold cases influencer Mikey Brieaddy included Stephanie Wasilishin's case in an A&E Crime + Investigation article highlighting the "5 Cold Cases True Crime Influencer Mike Brieaddy Most Wants to See Solved" — a nod that puts national spotlight on this long‑overlooked story. 📰 Read the A&E article here: https://www.aetv.com/articles/the-5-cold-cases-true-crime-influencer-mike-brieaddy-most-wants-to-see-solved 📱 Mikey Brieaddy on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@makingatruecrimerer?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc 📺 Mike's YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@makingatruecrimerer 📂 Case Work & Advocacy This episode goes deep into the ongoing legal and investigative push: 🔹 Civil rights packet sent to attorneys — documents, timelines, and evidence packaged and mailed to civil rights lawyers, searching for someone who will take this case seriously. 🔹 UPDATED Records requests — new case files and crime scene photos requested, including a quote being obtained for these records. 🔹 Upcoming meeting with Yavapai County Attorney's Office — February 27, 2026 — Nikki and her aunt are driving to Prescott to confront the long silence and demand answers about why years of inaction and inconsistency went unexplained. 💰 Support the Investigation & Story Pushing for justice costs money. Your support directly helps with things like public records costs, travel, and storytelling infrastructure: 🔗 GoFundMe — Case files, crime scene photos & Prescott travel: https://gofund.me/7ad47648b 🔗 GoFundMe — Book ghostwriter fund: https://gofund.me/aa526e170 Every contribution helps keep this work going. And even if you can't donate — sharing, following, and engaging matters. 📱 Follow Nikki in Real Time For the most up‑to‑date updates and behind‑the‑scenes advocacy: 👉 https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolewasilishin?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc 📣 Call to Action If you believe this cold case deserves accountability — especially given the inconsistencies and unanswered questions — you can respectfully reach out to the office now handling the investigation: Yavapai County Attorney's Office 📍 Prescott, Arizona 📞 (928) 771‑3300 📧 county.attorney@yavapaiaz.gov
Summary
13. I'm Baaaack
Dec 2100:27:41Summary ready*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" tabindex="-1" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:7f02786a-70bf-4c16-8513-37dbca9fce2d-13" data-testid= "conversation-turn-28" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> After nearly two months of silence, Nikki returns. In Episode 13 of Papi Killed Mommy, Nikki steps back behind the microphone to reflect on what happened after the end of Season One—and what it feels like when a story doesn't end with charges, arrests, or accountability. This episode is an update, a reckoning, and a continuation. Nikki walks listeners through the moment she believed her podcast had finally forced movement in her mother's 32-year-old homicide case—an August 28th email from the Yavapai County Attorney's Office stating that additional investigation had been requested from Sedona Police. She shares how that news followed her to CrimeCon, where she told anyone who would listen that the podcast was working… and how that same moment caught the attention of a reporter from The U.S. Sun. What followed was familiar: silence, "no comment," and a story that ultimately never ran. For the first time, Nikki details the ten-day stretch of unanswered emails to the Yavapai County Attorney's Office, the moment she switched from her personal email to the Papi Killed Mommy account, and the response she finally received on November 25th—brief, noncommittal, and once again leaving more questions than answers. But this episode isn't only about institutional silence. Just one day before that response, Nikki's local paper, the Cave Creek Carefree Independent, published the first mainstream print article about her mother's case since 2022. In this episode, Nikki reads the article in full and reflects on what responsible, thoughtful journalism looks like—and why being heard matters. Cave Creek woman turns lifelong trauma into advocacy for murdered mother - NewsBreak As Christmas approaches, Nikki reflects on memory, grief, and the weight of a 32nd holiday season without her mother. She shares newly restored home video from Christmas 1989, the moments that survive only on old VHS tapes, and how those stolen memories continue to fuel her fight. Episode 13 also looks forward. Nikki talks candidly about burnout, time, and the realities of advocating while working full-time. She shares how a recent conversation sparked the possibility of turning the podcast into a book, what comes next as her current studio contract nears its end, and why 2026 may mark a pivot toward civil litigation, documentary work, or both. Finally, Nikki introduces Season Two—beginning with the case of Amber Haines, another domestic violence death with haunting parallels to her mother's story. This episode contains discussions of domestic violence and homicide. Listener discretion is advised. As always, the individual discussed in this series is innocent until proven guilty. The story didn't end. The fight didn't stop. I'm Baaack
Summary
BONUS EPISODE~ Unraveling
Nov 300:27:22Summary ready⚠️ Trigger Warning This episode discusses domestic violence, homicide, trauma, panic attacks, and systemic failures in law enforcement and media. Listener discretion is advised. 🎧 Bonus Episode: Unraveling It's been one week since I hit publish on Episode Twelve. One week since I said, "Season One is over." And in that week — I've unraveled. I thought finishing would feel like relief. Like release. But it hasn't. It's felt like grief. Like failure. Like drowning. Because it's the end, and still — no charges. No arrest. Nothing. Thirty-two years later, and it feels like I failed her. Like I am falling apart while the system shrugs. This episode isn't planned. It isn't polished. It's me trying to breathe. To talk about what Season One did to me — and why I can't walk away. Because this story isn't finished — and neither am I. 🎬 The Studio That Promised and Stalled In February 2024, I signed with a production studio that said they believed in my mother's story. They promised to build a pitch deck, to sell it to a network, to bring her case to television. I waited. I trusted. I delivered everything they asked for. Twenty months later — nothing. No pitch. No sale. No cameras. Just the same excuse on repeat: "It's hard to sell a story that doesn't have an ending." Let me be clear: My mother doesn't have an ending because the people in charge refused to give her one. That's not a creative problem. That's a justice problem. I was gaslit and dragged along for nearly two years while my mother's story sat in storage. But that ends soon. In under 100 days, my contract expires. When it does, her story comes back to me. And when that happens — I will take it anywhere that will listen. Filmmakers. Journalists. Documentary students. Networks. Anyone willing to give her truth the screen time it deserves. Because if they won't build it, I will. 💔 How You Can Help Right Now 1️⃣ Say Her Name Say it out loud. Post it. Write it. 👉 Stacy Marie Wasilishin Make the algorithm learn it. 2️⃣ Ask for Accountability You have every right to request updates and clarity. Use your voice — respectfully, publicly, and on record. Yavapai County Attorney's Office 📧 cca@prosecutor.yavapai.us 📞 (928) 771-3344 ✉️ 255 E Gurley St, Prescott, AZ 86301 Sedona Police Department 📧 spdrecords@sedonaaz.gov 📞 (928) 282-3100 Ask clearly: "Why was the death of Stacy Wasilishin closed without charges, and has the case been reviewed since 2020?" Red Rock News (Larson Newspapers) 📧 editor@larsonnewspapers.com "The narrative matters. Accuracy matters. Words shape cases." Ask them why they aren't covering this story now that it's being publicly revisited by her daughter. 3️⃣ Sign & Share the Petition 🖋️ Justice for Stacy Marie Wasilishin — Change.org https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-stacy-marie-wasilishin Every signature proves people are paying attention. 4️⃣ Stream & Share Season One Every play counts as proof that this story matters. 🎧 Apple Podcasts | Spotify 5️⃣ Follow and Amplify TikTok → @nicolewasilishin Instagram → @nicolewasilishin Share the clips. Tag the outlets. Keep the momentum alive. 6️⃣ Support the Mission 🛒 Amazon Equipment Wishlist → https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/49E74TM4J5D8 💰 GoFundMe for Merch & Travel → https://www.gofundme.com/f/this-is-my-birthday-wish-help-me-bring-my-mothers-story-to These links keep the merch table stocked, the equipment running, and the advocacy alive. Every magnet, every mic cable, every sticker = one more chance to say her name in public. If you work in film, journalism, investigative audio, or documentary production — or know someone who does — contact me directly: 📧 PapiKilledMommy@gmail.com When the countdown hits zero, I'm walking this story into the light. 💜 Domestic Violence Is an Epidemic 1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. The risk of homicide rises 75% when a woman tries to leave. If this episode brings something up for you, please reach out: National Domestic Violence Hotline 📞 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) 💬 Text START to 88788 🌐 www.thehotline.org You are not alone. You deserve to be safe. 🕯️ Final Words This show was built from grief, drywall dust, and a daughter's refusal to accept silence. It was recorded in panic and purpose. It was made by hand, by heart, by sheer stubborn love. Season One may be complete, but the fight is not. Because silence is not peace. Because failure is not the end. Because I am still here. My name is Nikki Wasilishin. I am the daughter of a murdered woman. And this — this is me Unraveling.
Summary
Not The End
Oct 2701:07:44Summary readyTrigger Warning: This episode discusses domestic violence, homicide, trauma, and systemic failures in law enforcement. Listener discretion is advised. Seven hours. Twelve episodes. Three decades. And one promise: I would tell you everything. 32 years ago, my mother, Stacy Marie Wasilishin, was murdered inside our home in Sedona, Arizona. Her death was ruled a homicide. No one was ever charged. I have spent the last four years fighting to change that — and this season has been that fight. If you’ve listened from Episode 1 through today: Thank you. You didn’t just hear this story. You witnessed it. You carried it. You helped bring my mom’s voice back into the world. This final episode lays out every piece of evidence — clearly, calmly, and completely — and asks the question a grand jury never heard: Was there enough evidence in 1993 to charge Russell Bennett Peterson with the murder of Stacy Marie Wasilishin? Today, you decide. 🎙️ Special Guest — Attorney Mike Hansen (Texas Dad Lawyer) In this episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Mike Hansen, a Texas attorney with experience in both prosecution and defense of domestic-violence homicide cases. Mike reviewed my mom’s official case file — not rumors, not speculation — and publicly broke down what the evidence showed. Follow Mike here: TikTok: @texasdadlawyer Instagram: @texas_dad_lawyer Mike — thank you for being the spark that started this entire podcast. ❤️ Good Deed Section — Potato’s Journey Home This season’s closing spotlight belongs to Potato — a stray dog from Puerto Rico who survived pack attacks, heartworm, and living off scraps beside a trash can where he begged for food. Amanda from True Creeps True Crime didn’t scroll past. She saved him. Before he left the island, Amanda nailed a note to the trash-can post: “Thank you for the food, the love, and the belly rubs. I will miss you but it was time to move on. Asta Potato.” If you’d like to help: Follow: https://www.instagram.com/potatos.journey Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/23U6FVRNJB6DX Donate (Venmo): @AmandaMednansky Rescue: Hacienda de Sato Amor / https://silkysato.com True Creeps Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-creeps-true-crime-ghost-stories-cryptids-horrors/id1533487681 True Creeps IG: https://www.instagram.com/truecreepspod Saving one life still matters. This is what compassion looks like. 🟣 Season 2 Announcement Season One ends here — but the mission continues. I will be joined by Melissa Field, and together we’ll cover two domestic-violence-related cases each month. Research. Records. Respect. Reckoning. We’ll remain rooted in truth and shaped by advocacy. And yes — the door is open for Episode 13 if justice comes. 🟩 Support the Show & Help Us Keep Going To continue telling stories that deserve to be heard: We still need three more items of equipment before we can start recording Season 2. Both the wishlist and Gofund link are below, thank you Amazon Equipment Wishlist: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/49E74TM4J5D8 GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/this-is-my-birthday-wish-help-me-bring-my-mothers-story-to Business / Press / Sponsorship / Legal Inquiry: 📧 PapiKilledMommy@gmail.com 📬 Share Your Story If you knew her — I want to talk to you. Your memories are everything to me. 📧 Email: PapiKilledMommy@gmail.com 💜 Final Words This podcast was built in a closet — by hand — with my father, in drywall dust and grief and stubborn love. It was written in car rides, recess breaks, panic attacks, late-night edits, tears, and hope. If you're reading this, if you're listening to this, if you've made it to the end — you helped bring my mother back into the world. Her life mattered. Her story matters. Her name will not be erased. He may have taken her life. But he will not take her story. Thank you – for listening. For witnessing. For staying. Season One is complete. This is not the end. This is the beginning of something louder. — Nikki Daughter of a murdered woman. Keeper of the flame. Voice she never should have had to leave behind. 📬 Call for Accountability — Respectful, On-Record, Public If you believe this case deserves review, you can respectfully request status clarification from the agencies involved: Yavapai County Attorney’s Office 📧 cca@prosecutor.yavapai.us 📞 (928) 771-3344 ✉️ 255 E Gurley St, Prescott, AZ 86301 Sedona Police Department 📧 spdrecords@sedonaaz.gov 📞 (928) 282-3100 Ask clearly: “Is the homicide of Stacy Wasilishin currently classified as an open investigation?” Red Rock News 📧 editor@larsonnewspapers.com (The narrative matters. Accuracy matters. Words shape cases.) 💜 Domestic Violence Is An Epidemic 1 in 3 women will experience domestic violence in their lifetime. More than 10 million people in the U.S. are abused every year. The most dangerous moment is when a victim tries to leave. The risk of homicide increases by 75%. If this episode brought something up for you: National Domestic Violence Hotline 📞 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) 📱 Text START to 88788 💻 Chat: www.thehotline.org You are not alone. You deserve to be safe.
Summary
Contracts, Clauses, and Zero Coverage
Oct 1100:37:48Summary readyEpisode 11 — Contracts, Clauses, and Zero Coverage Content warning: This episode discusses domestic violence and homicide. The man mentioned is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Listener discretion advised. What this episode is about Nikki picks up the timeline after last week’s pushback to “small podcast notwithstanding.” We hear how viral moments (Dec 2023) briefly opened doors—then how 2024 became a year of contracts, clauses, and zero coverage. Inside: reconnection with Laurie “Swifty” Swift, two viral breakthroughs, documentary interest and pullbacks, a national-TV almost, a chilling FB request from Russell Peterson, DNA results confirming a brother on Nikki’s father’s side, the validation from Mike Hansen (TX attorney)—and the decision to stop waiting and build a studio with her dad. Next episode: opens with Mike Hansen on Stacy’s case, then the closet-to-studio build, bringing the series to “now.” Special thanks Erin (host of Sipping on Some Crime)—thank you for covering Stacy’s case and for reconnecting Nikki with her mom’s friend. Listeners, please follow and support Erin’s work: • Apple Podcasts: “Sipping on Some Crime” Apple Podcasts • Spotify: “Sipping on Some Crime” Spotify • Instagram: @sippingonsomecrime Instagram Do something today If you know or saw anything Ask for a full review and that the case be presented to a grand jury. Yavapai County Attorney’s Office Prescott: (928) 771-3344 • Camp Verde: (928) 567-7717 Email: ycao@yavapaiaz.gov Sedona Police Department (Non-Emergency) Main: (928) 282-3100 • Front Office: (928) 203-5002 Ask local media to cover this case Sedona Red Rock News — Newsroom: (928) 282-7795 • editor@larsonnewspapers.com Request balanced, ongoing reporting and note that the community is watching. Sign & share the petition Add your name and pass it on. Every signature increases public pressure. 🔗 Change.org: https://www.change.org/p/demand-a-complete-homicide-investigation-for-the-murder-of-stephanie-marie-wasilishin Send a tip or share a memory If you knew Stacy in Downers Grove, Phoenix, or Sedona—or have any information about her death—reach out. Anonymous tips are welcome. 📧 papikilledmommy@gmail.com Social: @nicolewasilishin (TikTok/Instagram) Media & creators (of any size) Journalists, podcasters, YouTubers, bloggers—please cover this story. If you have one follower or a million, it helps. 📧 papikilledmommy@gmail.com Season 2: Case submissions (open) We’re collecting DV-related stories, cold cases, or cases with accountability gaps. Include names, dates/locations, a short timeline, links to records, and your contact info. 📧 papikilledmommy@gmail.com Support the show & community outreach We’re keeping the GoFundMe open to fund booths and merch at community events (like Nikki’s school Fall Festival) so Stacy’s name reaches new people. 👉 GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/this-is-my-birthday-wish-help-me-bring-my-mothers-story-to Dickie Birdie’s wish list is still active—stuffies & toys make his day. 👉 Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/49E74TM4J5D8?ref_=wl_share Safety resources If you or someone you know needs help: National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Call, text, or chat 24/7. Credits — Host: Nikki Wasilishin • Series: Papi Killed Mommy (Ep. 11) Tips & media inquiries: papikilledmommy@gmail.com
Summary
“Make Noise”
Oct 800:04:58Summary readyBonus: “Make Noise” — Melissa joins the mic In this special bonus episode, Nikki introduces Melissa—a fellow teacher, friend, and the new co-host helping carry Stacy’s story forward. Together, they lay out exactly how you can help: get the case in front of media, apply public pressure, sign the petition, contact officials, and send tips or cases for Season 2. What’s inside Why media pressure matters—and how even small platforms help A direct call for journalists, podcasters, YouTubers & bloggers to cover Stacy’s case Concrete actions: sign, call, email, share, and submit tips Season 2: how to pitch cases involving DV, cold cases, or accountability gaps Do something today Share this story with media If you know someone in press (local paper, college newsroom, blogger, podcaster, YouTuber—any size), send them this episode and ask them to cover Stacy’s case. If you are media, contact Nikki directly: 📧 papikilledmommy@gmail.com Sign & share the petition Add your name and pass it on. Every signature increases public pressure. 🔗 Petition: https://www.change.org/p/demand-a-complete-homicide-investigation-for-the-murder-of-stephanie-marie-wasilishin Call / email officials Ask for a full review and that the case be presented to a grand jury. Yavapai County Attorney’s Office Prescott: (928) 771-3344 • Camp Verde: (928) 567-7717 Email: ycao@yavapaiaz.gov Sedona Police Department (Non-Emergency) Main: (928) 282-3100 • Front Office: (928) 203-5002 Ask local media to cover it Sedona Red Rock News — Newsroom: (928) 282-7795 • editor@larsonnewspapers.com Urge balanced, ongoing reporting and note that the community is watching. Send a tip (or share a memory) If you know anything about Stacy’s case—or knew her in Downers Grove, Phoenix, or Sedona—reach out. Anonymous tips welcomed. 📧 papikilledmommy@gmail.com Social: @nicolewasilishin (TikTok/Instagram) Season 2: Case submissions (open) We’re collecting DV-related stories, cold cases, or cases with accountability gaps. Include names, dates/locations, a short timeline, links to articles/records, and your contact info. 📧 papikilledmommy@gmail.com Support the show & community events We’re keeping the GoFundMe open to fund booths/merch at school & community events (like the Fall Festival) so Stacy’s name reaches new people. Thank you for helping. 👉 GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/this-is-my-birthday-wish-help-me-bring-my-mothers-story-to Dickie Birdie’s wish list is still active—stuffies & toys make his day. 👉 Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/49E74TM4J5D8?ref_=wl_share Safety resources If you or someone you know needs help: National Domestic Violence Hotline — 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Call, text, or chat 24/7. Credits — Host: Nikki Wasilishin • Co-Host: Melissa Field • Series: Papi Killed Mommy (Bonus) Contact for media & tips: papikilledmommy@gmail.com
Summary
Interview with her friend: Cheryl Mendel
Oct 700:54:24Summary readyBonus: Cheryl remembers Stacy (Downers Grove ’76–’77) In this bonus episode, I sit down with Cheryl—one of the few friends willing to remember my mom out loud. For 45 minutes we go back to 1976–77: unincorporated Downers Grove summers, the black-lagoon pool in Phoenix, eighth-row Kansas tickets worth getting fired for, bedroom-window entrances, “Free Bird” on a battered karaoke box, and the late-night calls that began, “Cheryl, baby… did I tell you how much I love you?” This isn’t paperwork; it’s texture. It’s Stacy before the headlines—fun-loving, tough on the outside, soft at the center—and a friendship that kept showing up even when life got hard. What’s inside How Stacy landed in Downers Grove and instantly built a tribe Party stories, near-misses, and neighborhood nicknames (John Boy, Marty, Larry & Jerry) Phoenix memories: tubing the river, the black-lagoon pool, and that Kansas concert Late-’80s/early-’90s phone calls—what they did (and didn’t) say Why some memories stayed off-mic on purpose Production note: my first remote interview on Riverside (two brief audio dropouts; conversation preserved) Cover art I tracked down the airport photo Cheryl mentions (she’s in The Loop radio tee, taking my mom to fly back to Phoenix) and made it this episode’s cover. It shows on Spotify; Apple Podcasts may not display it after my Libsyn switch. Call to Action: Keep Stacy’s name moving If you knew Stacy in Downers Grove, Phoenix, or Sedona—or you knew Russell Peterson—please share what you remember. Even a small detail can matter. Yavapai County Attorney’s Office Prescott: (928) 771-3344 • Camp Verde: (928) 567-7717 • Email: ycao@yavapaiaz.gov Sedona Police Department (Non-Emergency) (928) 282-3100 • Front Office: (928) 203-5002 Sedona Red Rock News Newsroom: (928) 282-7795 • Tips/press: editor@larsonnewspapers.com Be respectful and factual when you reach out. If you’re contacting the paper, include your name, best call-back number, and any documentation or links. Share a memory or a tip with me 📧 papikilledmommy@gmail.com DMs open: @nicolewasilishin (TikTok/Instagram). Tell me if you want your message read on air or kept anonymous. Season 2: Case submissions (open now) We’re collecting cases for Season 2 (DV-related, cold cases, or cases with accountability gaps). Send pitches, timelines, links, and how we can reach you: 📧 papikilledmommy@gmail.com Support the show & community events We’re keeping the GoFundMe open to help with upcoming appearances and community events—like my school’s Fall Festival—so we can keep printing merch and saying yes to every booth we can find. Thank you for helping us keep Stacy’s name in motion. 👉 GoFundMe: https://www.gofundme.com/f/this-is-my-birthday-wish-help-me-bring-my-mothers-story-to Also: Dickie Birdie’s wish list is still active. If you want to make his day, he loves toys and stuffies—it’s the highlight of his day when a package arrives. 🐶💛 👉 Amazon Wish List: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/49E74TM4J5D8?ref_=wl_share Safety resources If you or someone you know needs help, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE (7233). Call, text, or chat 24/7. Credits — Host: Nikki Wasilishin • Guest: Cheryl Mendel • Recording: Riverside (remote) • Edit: minimal; select private moments removed at guest request If this episode moved you, follow, rate, and share Papi Killed Mommy. Keeping Stacy’s name in motion helps more than you know.
Summary