Papi Killed Mommy

Episode: "Contracts, Clauses, and Zero Coverage"

Host: Nikki
Date: October 11, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of "Papi Killed Mommy" explores the tumultuous journey Nikki, the host, faced trying to bring national attention and justice to her mother’s cold case. Nikki recounts a year marked by viral moments, false hopes, contract pitfalls, near-breakthroughs, and constant advocacy despite repeated letdowns from mainstream media and production companies. The episode is deeply personal, highlighting both the emotional rollercoaster and the practical lessons learned about navigating the true crime media landscape.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Power of Community and Reconnection

[00:00–06:12]

• Nikki recaps the previous episode, emphasizing the role of grassroots activism and family/community support for the case.
• A key moment comes when longtime family friend Laurie Swift (“Swifty”) finds Nikki through a true crime podcast ("Sippin on Some Crime") and reignites a relationship that brings Nikki needed emotional support.
  • Quote [05:55]: “Your mama would never handle a gun, especially when she was inebriated… Weebles wobbles. Okay, there’s no way she would go and pull something out of—oh damn. She would never hit touch a gun anyway.” – Laurie Swift

2. Going Viral & the Shifting Momentum

[06:13–16:15]

• Spring 2023 marked Nikki’s decision to focus full-time on her mother’s case, leading to viral success on TikTok.
• Two critical viral videos catalyze unprecedented attention:
  • December 2023 viral video: 2.6 million views
  • Second video ("I am the daughter of a murdered woman"): 13.2 million views, 80,000 new followers
• This exposure led to a flood of podcast invitations and, soon after, offers from production companies.
  • Quote [11:46]: “I wasn’t just chasing attention for the sake of it. I was chasing something bigger. Mainstream coverage.” – Nikki

3. Navigating Documentary Offers and Legal Pitfalls

[16:16–27:08]

• Nikki is wooed by two studios: one small, informal, verbal; the other large, formal, offering a multi-episode opportunity.
• She feels emotionally trapped choosing between exclusivity clauses and her yearning for widespread coverage.
  • Quote [20:33]: “I kept thinking, why can't my mom's case be in both? Why can't it be everywhere? Why does justice have to be limited to one lens, one project, one company’s control?” – Nikki
• Ultimately, she steps away from the smaller, less formal deal, opting to sign with the larger production.

4. Media Limbo and Unfulfilled Promises

[27:09–37:00]

• Nikki shares the heartbreak of being approached by Ashley Banfield’s production team for national TV coverage—only to be kept in limbo for nearly two years with no segment ever materializing.
  • Quote [33:22]: “What they don’t realize is this. These stories are not just entertainment. These are people’s lives. And when they… dangle that kind of opportunity in front of me, they aren’t just filling airtime, they’re raising and then crushing hope.” – Nikki

5. Direct Encounter with the Alleged Perpetrator

[37:01–40:54]

• Nikki describes receiving a Facebook friend request from Russell Peterson, the man accused of killing her mother.
• Initial anger shifts to seeing it as an investigative opportunity—she temporarily accepts to glean information.
  • Quote [39:21]: “For a brief moment, I had access to the man who killed my mother. And what I found there was emptiness… a shell of a social media presence and a shell of a man.” – Nikki

6. Family Mysteries and DNA Revelations

[40:55–45:55]

• Through emerging connections with her mother’s friends and coworkers, rumors about a possible older sibling arise.
• Conflicting accounts prompt Nikki to use DNA testing, leading her to discover a brother—who turns out to be from her father’s side, not a hidden child of her mother.

7. Harmful Industry Practices: Contracts, Clauses, and Gag Orders

[45:56–55:20]

• A major true crime YouTuber offers Nikki a documentary but withdraws when Nikki requests advocacy support.
• The ensuing offer of a podcast appearance is contingent on signing a non-disparagement clause—something Nikki finds deeply troubling.
  • Quote [54:10]: “Why would I need to sign away my right to criticize someone simply to tell my mother’s story?” – Nikki
• This leads to the realization that not all help is genuine or comes without strings.

8. The Birth of "Papi Killed Mommy" Podcast

[55:21–End]

• Shifts in her career to teaching and the unpredictability of social media algorithms make Nikki realize she can't wait for external permission or platforms.
• Validation comes via Mike Hansen ("Texas Dad Lawyer"), whose legal analysis of her mother’s case on social media provides professional affirmation and fuels Nikki to start her own podcast, building a home studio with her dad.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• On Trust and Vulnerability [33:22]:
  “When they reach out to a daughter like me, who’s been fighting for three decades to get her mom’s case heard, and they dangle that kind of opportunity in front of me, they aren’t just filling airtime, they’re raising and then crushing hope.” – Nikki

• On Legal Clauses in True Crime Media [54:10]:
  “Why would I need to sign away my right to criticize someone simply to tell my mother’s story? If your relationship with families is so strong, why require them to promise they’ll never speak critically of you?” – Nikki

• Laurie Swift’s Testimony [05:55]:
  “Your mama would never handle a gun, especially when she was inebriated… Weebles wobbles. Okay, there’s no way she would go and pull something out of—oh damn. She would never hit touch a gun anyway.” – Laurie Swift

• On the Reality of Advocacy [57:29]:
  “Every door I thought was open wasn’t. Every promise stretched into waiting, and the waiting stretched into silence. I kept handing people my mother’s story with two hands, and somehow it slipped through their fingers. And then through mine, I hit a wall. And on the other side of that wall was a decision. Help myself.” – Nikki

Important Timestamps

• 00:00–03:04: Recap, the role of media and family in the case
• 03:04–06:12: Laurie Swift recounts reconnecting with Nikki
• 06:12–11:25: Nikki moves home, goes viral, chase for mainstream media begins
• 11:26–16:15: Podcast invitations, first documentary offer arrives
• 16:16–22:45: The dilemma of exclusive contracts with documentaries
• 22:46–27:08: Decision between studios; final choice
• 27:09–33:22: Banfield TV outreach; endless waiting and disappointment
• 33:23–40:54: The Facebook friend request from Russell Peterson and Nikki’s emotional response
• 40:55–45:55: Rumors of an older sibling; DNA testing
• 45:56–55:20: Documentary with YouTuber falls apart over support and contract issues
• 55:21–End: Creating the podcast, finding validation with Mike Hansen, building her own “room” for the case

Takeaways and Calls to Action

• Community and persistence are vital—institutions may fail, but families and communities push cases forward.
• Viral moments create opportunity—but the attention can be fleeting and doesn’t always bring closure or coverage.
• Media and legal contracts require caution—victims' families should protect themselves and seek clarity before signing anything.
• Mainstream interest is unpredictable—hopes can be raised and dashed, but advocacy must continue regardless.
• Build your own platform—when doors close, create your own “room” for the story.

Direct Call for Listeners:

• Share Stacy’s story and episode with others, especially if you knew her or Russell Peterson.
• Contact Sedona PD or Nikki with any information about the case.
• Advocate with local officials and media for coverage and a grand jury review.

Closing

In “Contracts, Clauses, and Zero Coverage,” Nikki details the challenges and heartbreak of seeking justice in a media landscape fixated on exclusivity and protection of platforms. Through resilience, she reclaims her mother’s story and builds her own space for it—a powerful example for all families seeking accountability and truth.

Next episode: Nikki will bring on Mike Hansen, "Texas Dad Lawyer," to analyze her mother’s case and discuss building her home studio for the podcast's future.