Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: Papi Killed Mommy – Episode 19: "A Message to my Sister"

Host: Nikki
Date: July 8, 2026
Theme: A deeply personal message from Nikki to her estranged younger sister on the anniversary of their mother’s murder, reflecting on family trauma, unresolved grief, and a plea for reconnection and justice.

Episode Overview

This episode diverges from the usual broader audience focus. Instead, Nikki delivers a heartfelt, candid message directly to her younger sister—her only sibling—to mark the 33rd anniversary of their mother’s murder. Nikki revisits the trauma of that night, updates her sister on the strides made in seeking justice, and makes a vulnerable appeal for reconciliation and collaboration moving forward.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Night of the Murder and Its Aftermath

[00:37–03:21]

Nikki recalls the night 33 years ago when, at age 10, she was woken up by police, placed in the back of a squad car, and repeatedly hears her little sister saying, "Poppy killed Mommy".
She admits that at the time, she did not believe her sister—a memory that still haunts her.

2. Addressing Her Sister Directly

Nikki clearly states:
“Today's episode isn't for the thousands of people who follow this podcast for the last year. It's to one person. That little sister… trying to convince me that what she saw was our reality and I wouldn't believe her.” [01:32]
The episode serves as Nikki’s attempt to reach her sister after six years of complete silence.

3. Six Years of Estrangement

Nikki explains the silence between them, confessing she doesn't even remember why she was initially mad and did not answer her sister's call for help regarding their mother’s case.
Despite the long silence, Nikki’s life transformed—she took their mother's case public, launched the podcast, and amassed significant media attention.

4. Achievements Since Going Public

Outlines podcast milestones:
- Four feature articles about the case, including coverage from A&E, the New York Independent, VT.com, and her hometown paper’s front page [04:22].
- Attended CrimeCon, spoke on stage with Crime Weekly.
- Podcast charted in Apple’s Top 25 true crime list.
- Networked with journalists, investigators, producers, victims, and families—“Thousands of complete strangers know our mom’s name now.” [05:17]

5. Recent Contact and Hopes for Reconciliation

Nikki reveals learning that her sister reached out to a mutual acquaintance, Dustin, indicating she’s still engaged and thinking about the case [06:10].
Someone from her sister’s world sent Nikki a recent photo of her sister, reporting that she is “not particularly fond” of Nikki, but is being encouraged to help with the case.

6. The Phone Call with Investigator Laura Leon

For the first time, Nikki hears her sister's 2023 recorded conversation with Investigator Laura Leon, which was marked by anger and frustration—emotions Nikki had never heard from her sister before:
- “You sounded like me. You sounded like Aunt Wendy. You sounded like someone who was tired of carrying this alone. That phone call changed the way I look at you. For real.” [07:04]

7. The Stalled Case and A Plea for Unity

Nikki and Aunt Wendy's recent meeting with the county attorney revealed that the case is stalled, pending a "confession or a confrontation call".
Nikki realizes she’s been seeking help from strangers when perhaps the one person needed most is her own sister—“his daughter.”
She appeals:
- “I'm not asking you to forgive me. I'm not asking you to trust me overnight. I'm just asking you to sit down, talk, meet with me, meet with Aunt Wendy, meet with the county attorney if you're willing…We've got the best chance we've had in 33 years.” [08:05]

8. Closing: Apology and A Call for Reconnection

Nikki offers an apology, expresses her ongoing love and desire to rekindle their relationship, and states a hard-earned realization:
- “With all of the anger that's between us, we need to project the anger at the person that we're actually mad at.” [08:40]
She returns to the memory in the police car:
- “You kept trying to convince me that what you saw was real and I wouldn't believe you. I believe you, Kay. I'm really sorry.” [09:40]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On her motivation:
“Every single thing has been for her and for us. I don't know what your life has been like these last six years. I don't know what you're carrying.” [05:50]
On estrangement:
“Six years is a long time. In six years, my life has changed... The crazy part is I don't even remember why I was mad. I honestly don't.” [03:25]
On her sister's 2023 phone call:
“You sounded like someone who was tired of carrying this alone. That phone call changed the way I look at you. For real.” [07:04]
On moving forward:
“Family doesn't have to be friends. But that doesn't change the fact that we are family and we are sisters. You're my only sister. We had the same mom. We have the same mom. She loved both of us, and she deserves every chance we have left.” [08:14]
Her apology and plea:
“I never stop being your sister, and I never will. Please call me. Kay. My number's still the same... I love you. I miss you.” [09:18]

Timestamps for Important Segments

First-person retelling of the night of the murder: [00:37–01:22]
Direct address to her sister & explanation of silence: [01:22–03:25]
Recap of activism and podcast progress: [03:55–05:17]
Discovering sister’s indirect contact & hope for collaboration: [06:10–07:14]
Reaction to sister’s recorded interview: [07:14–07:46]
Call for meeting and potential case resolution: [08:05–08:48]
Final apology, plea for reconnection, and affirmation: [09:18–09:54]

Tone and Style

Nikki’s delivery is raw, vulnerable, and direct—a powerful monologue filled with regret, hope, apology, and longing for truth and unity. She expresses frustration with the slow justice process, empathy for her sister, and an unwavering drive to honor their mother's memory.

Summary Conclusion

In a riveting, emotional message, Nikki sets aside the podcast’s usual storytelling to reach across years of silence to her sister, “Kay”. She offers updates, acknowledges past hurts, and makes a heartfelt plea for reconciliation, both to move their mother’s stalled murder case forward and to heal their fractured bond. The episode stands out as a poignant, personal appeal for family, justice, and healing, rooted deeply in trauma and love.

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Transcript3 lines

[00:02]
A
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[00:37]
B
My name is Nikki. I'm the daughter of a murdered woman. Welcome back to another episode of Poppy Killed Mommy. Today is July 8th, the worst day of my life. The next 24 hours will compile to be the most traumatic thing that's ever happened to me. 33 years ago tonight at around 11pm I said goodnight to my mom like any other evening. Three hours later, I was woken by the Sedona Police Department's flashlights in my face and put in the back of a cop car where my little sister keeps telling me that Poppy killed Mommy. Come to find out, she was actually right. Today's episode isn't for the thousands of people who follow this podcast for the last year. It's to one person. That little sister. That little sister that sat with me in the back of that police car that night and kept telling me that Poppy killed Mommy, trying to convince me that what she saw was our reality and I wouldn't believe her. That's who I'm trying to talk to today. That little sister. To my little sister. I don't know if you're ever going to hear this. Maybe someone will send it to you, or maybe you'll stumble across it one day, or maybe you'll just never press play. But after six years of silence, I'm not really sure what to do next to get your attention. So this is my next option. It's been six years since you've called me. The last time you called, it had everything to do with Mom's case. You had just been contacted by the Sedona Police Department and you called for help. I didn't take that phone call because I was mad at you. The crazy part is I don't even remember why I was mad. I honestly don't. You probably do. But six years is a long time. In six years, my life has changed. As you probably already know, I took Mom's case public after you called. After years of waiting for someone else to do something, I finally realized nobody was going to come to Help. So I did the only thing I knew how to do. I picked up a camera. And I didn't even know how to do that. And that camera turned into a microphone. I built a recording studio, got all the equipment, learned how to use it. And one year ago today, I sat in this studio and I hit publish on the very first episode of Poppy Killed Mommy. I had no idea what would happen. I didn't even know if anyone would listen. I didn't know if anyone would care. I just knew I couldn't keep waiting. Since then, we've had four newspaper articles written about Mom's case. A lot of media coverage. It's really exciting. A and E, the New York Independent, and VT.com all published stories. Within the last four to five months, my hometown newspaper put Mom's story on the front page. That happened six months ago. I've also gone to CrimeCon twice. I stood on stage live with Crime Weekly and I told our story to hundreds of people. This podcast has charted twice on Apple's top true crime charts, making it all the way to top 25. I've talked to journalists, investigators, producers, victims, families. Thousands of complete strangers know our mom's name now. People from all over the world know what happened on July 9, 1993. And yet you still don't call. You still don't write. And for a long time, I thought maybe that was your answer to all of this. Maybe you just wanted nothing to do with this and I low key respected it. Maybe you had made peace with leaving the past where it was. And then something changed. Last week, just days before Mom's death anniversary, I found out you reached out to Dustin. For the first time in years, I got a whiff of your existence. You were okay. You're alive and you're communicating freely with somebody that I know. I know. He told you that. He wouldn't tell me. I mean, but come on. Of course he told me. Within minutes, I had screenshots. Come on. Then, almost out of nowhere. This is really odd, all the timing. Someone from your world reached out to me. And maybe you don't even know it. You probably don't, but they sent me a picture of you. Yeah, they told me that you weren't particularly fond of me. That's the exact words they used. I can only imagine the lovely things you've said about me. But they were going to do whatever they could to encourage you to help with Mom's case. For the first time in a long time, it made me wonder, are you thinking about mom, too? Because I never stopped. Not for one day. Every interview I've done, every article, every podcast episode, every speech, every email, every meeting, every mile I've driven, every single thing has been for her and for us. I don't know what your life has been like these last six years. I don't know what you're carrying. I don't know what conversations you've had with yourself when nobody else is around. But I do know this. When I was researching this podcast, I came across something I'd never heard before. Your phone call with Investigator Laura Leon from 2023. I sat there listening, and I heard something I had never, ever heard from you before. I heard anger. I heard frustration. I heard hurt. You sounded like me. You sounded like Aunt Wendy. You sounded like someone who was tired of carrying this alone. That phone call changed the way I look at you. For real. Because for years, I thought maybe you just didn't care. You were too young. You don't know her. You just don't care. Earlier this year, Aunt Wendy and I met with the county attorney. We asked the question we've been asking for decades. What will it take to finally close this case? The answer infuriated me. It's down to a confession or a confrontation call. That's where this case stands after 33 years. When I heard that, I thought of you immediately. I've spent years trying to get the world to pressure your father. I've asked strangers to care. I've asked journalists to care. I've asked podcasters to care. I have asked millions of people on social media to care about a person they've never met. But maybe the person I've needed all along was my own sister, his daughter. So I'm asking you, not as a podcaster, not as someone trying to build an audience, not for downloads, not for headlines. I'm asking you, as your sister, are you ready? Because I am. Maybe we're never going to agree on everything that's happened between us. Maybe we'll never be friends. You know, family doesn't have to be friends. But that doesn't change the fact that we are family and we are sisters. You're my only sister. We had the same mom. We have the same mom. She loved both of us, and she deserves every chance we have left. I feel that if you and I and Aunt Wendy can somehow put all of this aside and we can come together, I honestly believe that we have the best chance that we've had in 33 years. I'm not asking you to forgive me. I'm not asking you to trust me overnight. I'm just asking you to sit down, talk, meet with me, meet with Aunt Wendy, meet with the county attorney if you're willing. Let's hear what they have to say together. And if the answer is still no, at least we'll know. We had tried and we did our best. And maybe I could be at some kind of peace. But I don't want to spend the rest of my life wondering what would have happened if I had just asked you one more time. So this is me asking, six years later, are you ready? Because if you are, I'm here. I never stop being your sister, and I never will. Please call me. Kay. My number's still the same. I don't know what else to say other than this was is very emotional for me. I would like to rekindle our relationship. I really would, and I'm really sorry. With everything that has happened, with all of the anger that's between us, we need to project the anger at the person that we're actually mad at. It took me a lot of years to realize that. I have been angry all my life, but it's at one particular person. And I think that. I think it's time. I think it's time. So if you're ready, please call me. I love you. I miss you. And just remember 33 years ago, in the back of that police car, you kept telling me that Poppy killed Mama. You kept trying to convince me that what you saw was real and I wouldn't believe you. I believe you, Kay. I'm really sorry. Please call.
[09:55]
C
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