Papi Killed Mommy – Episode 13: "I'm Baaaack"
Host: Nikki
Release Date: December 21, 2025
Episode Overview
In this deeply personal and unfiltered episode, Nikki returns after a two-month hiatus to update listeners on her relentless pursuit of justice for her mother’s unsolved murder. Episode 13 is both a candid look at Nikki’s emotional journey and a status update on the case, media coverage, and what comes next for the podcast. The episode centers around perseverance in the face of institutional silence, the power of authentic journalism, and the ways in which grief and advocacy intertwine as Nikki continues to share her mother's story with the world.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Returning After a Break
- Nikki opens with vulnerability, expressing how much she missed her audience and how essential the podcast is to her own healing.
“How I have missed you. I have so missed you. I can’t even tell you how I’ve missed you. You have no idea how therapeutic it is to talk to you.” [01:00]
- She didn’t originally plan to record another episode unless there was a major update (like an arrest), but the story—and her fight—continues due to unresolved outcomes.
2. Emotional Fallout & The Need to Keep Going
- Referencing the bonus episode “Unraveling” released after what she thought was the series finale, Nikki shares her struggle with feeling that she’d let down both her mother and listeners.
“At the time of that recording... I felt like I had let my mom down. And not just my mom, but everyone who's listened and everyone who's believed this story deserves answers.” [03:00]
- She decides the podcast must stay alive, evolving into an ongoing “audio vlog” to process, update, and keep the story in the public eye.
3. The Most Recent Developments
A. The Email from Yavapai County Attorney’s Office
- August 28, 2025: Nikki receives an email that the Sedona PD was asked to conduct an additional investigation—a huge moment that gave her hope.
- At CrimeCon, she shared this news openly, and a reporter from The Sun expressed interest in her story.
B. Frustrations with Media & Official Stonewalling
- Mid-November: The reporter follows up but is stonewalled by the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office.
“‘We cannot comment on this matter.’ And because of the lack of comment, the editors of The Sun decided not to run a story on my mother after all.” [09:50]
- Nikki describes her persistence in following up with officials, employing every professional and emotional tool she had (including using ChatGPT to keep messages dispassionate), but initially receives no reply.
- 10 days of daily emails yields nothing—until she switches to her podcast email address and finally gets a brief, official response:
Nov 25, 2025 - Yavapai County Attorney: "The prosecutor will be meeting with detectives from Sedona in the next few weeks to receive an update about the investigation. After that meeting, I will reach out to you to schedule a meeting..." [16:30]
- Nikki’s approach remains respectful yet insistent in her response:
“With the holidays approaching, I am happy to give your office the space and time needed… However, if I have not heard from you by the start of the new year, I will resume calling and writing for an update. This case has been unresolved for 32 years and I remain committed…” [17:35]
4. Breakthrough: Local Journalism Steps Up
- November 24, 2025: The Cave Creek Carefree Independent publishes a feature article on Nikki’s mom and the podcast—the first print media coverage since 2022.
- Nikki reads the article aloud, interspersed with emotional pauses, acknowledging its importance:
“This is the first piece of mainstream printed media about my mother’s case since Fox 10… That’s years of silence. Years of pitching, following up, just hoping someone would listen. Finally, somebody did.” [19:00]
- The article covers:
- Nikki’s background and the case’s facts, including conflicting statements by the key suspect, Russell Peterson, and the case’s procedural history.
- The podcast’s wide reach: 221,000 TikTok followers, over 240,000 episode downloads, and international listenership.
- The emotional and investigative labor Nikki shoulders as a family member, podcaster, and advocate.
- The legacy of her mother and the “full circle” support from fellow podcaster Sarah Turney.
5. Post-Article Reflection
- Nikki analyzes why the article matters: respectful tone, focus on impact (not just crime), avoidance of sensationalism, and accurate representation of her work.
“It didn't sensationalize my mom's death, and it didn't reduce her to a headline... Instead, it treated the case like what it actually is: an unresolved homicide with a very real ripple effect.” [32:35] “This article shows what happens when media actually listens. No stonewalling, no 'no comment', no silence. Just a journalist doing the work… That is what accountability looks like in media.” [34:55]
6. Holiday Reflections and Grief
- With Christmas looming, Nikki shares poignant memories of holidays past with her mother, and how family rituals were shaped by the loss.
“That means in five days, it’ll be the 32nd Christmas without my mom. I can barely even remember what Christmases were like with her anymore... But those stolen moments are everything to me.” [38:10]
- She describes discovering old VHS footage and the comfort of hearing her mother's laugh again—a “priceless” memory.
7. Next Steps: Expanding the Fight
- Meeting with a marketing manager prompts the question: is her story ready to become a book? Nikki realizes she already has the backbone for it from her scripts and story-telling.
“She said, ‘Is this the book yet?’ And I said, ‘No, should it be?’... I already had the backbone of a book. Like, right here, written. Like, you've listened to it. 12 full episode scripts. Well, now 13…” [43:50]
- She’s also contemplating a documentary and exploring the possibility of civil litigation due to the ongoing lack of criminal accountability.
“Because movement creates attention and attention creates pressure. So if I could get some kind of, I don’t know, civil case going, maybe the media will pay attention, which will then cause… the cops to do their job.” [49:00]
8. What’s Next for the Podcast
- Nikki is actively developing Season Two, beginning with cases like Amber Haines, a story with parallels to her own.
“Her story sounds hauntingly similar to my mom’s. It’s just—it's just gross how often this happens to women. And it’s just an epidemic in America.” [52:00]
- She encourages listeners to send in other cases of domestic violence for her to cover.
“I honestly don’t know what the next chapter looks like yet. I just know that this isn’t the end.” [54:45]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Persistence and Grief:
“What I know is this, though: I will never stop fighting. And as long as I’m fighting, I owe it to you and honestly, for my own sanity, to keep you updated and… to keep with my therapy, because this is my therapy.” [04:15]
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On Lack of Institutional Response:
“This isn’t a new case. This isn’t breaking news. This is a homicide that has been unresolved for 32 years. And asking for transparency isn’t harassment—it’s accountability.” [18:15]
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On Community and Impact:
“They’re just as mad as I am, which is overwhelming, you know, to have strangers care just as much as you do.” [Podcast quoting local article, 29:05]
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Advice from Sarah Turney:
“She told me, ‘No one is going to fight for your loved ones like you will.’ And it’s just a full circle moment to have that quote thrown back out at me in this article and to end the article.” [36:45]
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On the Validity of Her Work:
“That validation matters not for ego, but because it confirms that this story resonates for a reason.” [33:50]
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On Her Mother’s Legacy:
“Those stolen moments are everything to me. And they remind me how wonderful she was and how larger than life she really is—and how much she made Christmas feel like magic.” [41:00]
Important Timestamps
- 00:00 – Nikki welcomes listeners back and sets the tone.
- 03:00 – Discusses emotional fallout after last season’s "end."
- 06:00 – Recap: last major investigative update and CrimeCon experience.
- 10:00 – Media stonewalling by Yavapai County Attorney & The Sun.
- 16:30 – Breakthrough: receives official response about the investigation.
- 19:00 – Celebrates local paper’s feature article and reads it aloud.
- 32:35 – Analysis of journalistic responsibility and accurate representation.
- 38:10 – Christmas memories and the pain of ongoing loss.
- 43:50 – Considering next creative steps: book, documentary, potential litigation.
- 52:00 – Teases Season Two, Amber Haines case.
- 54:45 – Final reflection: “This isn’t the end. I have weeks left on this contract, and after that, the story keeps going.”
Conclusion
Episode 13 of Papi Killed Mommy is a vulnerable, determined, and hopeful update—both an invitation for longtime listeners to keep walking the path with Nikki and a case study in the relentless perseverance needed to fight for justice when institutions fail. Nikki’s candor about her disappointments, small wins, and ongoing plans—book, documentary, or otherwise—makes this episode essential listening for anyone invested in true crime advocacy, the families left behind, or the intersection of personal grief and public action.
If you have stories relating to domestic violence that deserve to be covered, reach out to Nikki at: papiKilledMommyMail@gmail.com
Stay tuned for updates, as the fight—and the story—continues.