Papi Killed Mommy – CrimeCon Experience

Host: Nikki
Episode: Crime Con (Bonus Episode)
Release Date: September 10, 2025

Episode Overview

In this emotional bonus episode, Nikki, host and daughter of the woman at the center of the Papi Killed Mommy podcast, shares her transformative experience attending her first CrimeCon event in Denver. She opens up about the overwhelming support from the true crime community, meeting listeners and advocates, and how the event shaped her decisions regarding the future of the podcast. The episode also reveals new developments (and frustrations) with her mother’s cold case investigation, along with a major announcement about the direction of Season Two.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Epic Road Trip to CrimeCon

Nikki, best friend Melissa, and her emotional support dog Dickie Birdie drive 900 miles from Phoenix to Denver, with the trip turning into a 14-hour marathon due to route changes and weather.
Light-hearted moment: They make the best of it by binge-listening to the Crime Weekly podcast, which Nikki becomes a fan of thanks to Melissa.
Quote:

“By the time we reached Denver, Derek and Stephanie had basically kept us company the entire way. And by the end of the trip, they had officially become one of my new favorite podcasts.” (02:10)

2. Arriving at CrimeCon: Overwhelming Emotions & Community

Walking into the convention hall, Nikki is emotionally hit by meeting Cheryl Lynn Dale, the first person to cover her mom’s case respectfully—and someone who donated so Nikki could attend the event.
Tearful reunion:

"The second I saw her, I just burst into tears, full on sobbing..." (03:00)
Starstruck encounters with podcasters from Generation Y, Killer Queens, Navigating Advocacy, Crime Salad, Moms and Mysteries, and sightings of major media figures.
Memorable moment: Feeling seen and validated when people stop by her booth already familiar with her story—“Overwhelming in the best way.” (04:15)
Nikki reflects on the importance of meeting not just creators, but listeners, survivors, families, and advocates who connect deeply with her mother’s story.

3. Wrestling with Monetization & Sustaining the Podcast

At CrimeCon, Nikki is approached by a company wanting to help monetize the podcast.
She initially resists, fearing perceptions of exploitation, but changes her mind after conversations with other creators and realizing the financial strain shouldn't fall solely on listeners.
Quote:

"If I want to keep doing this, if I want to keep taking my mom's story to events like CrimeCon, if I want to get her case out to the world, I can't keep asking my listeners to carry the financial burden." (07:50)
Announces that Season One and all of Season Two will be monetized—not to profit, but to fight for justice and bring the story to more people.

4. Season Two Announcement & New Co-Host

Nikki reveals Season Two is coming and will feature not only her mother's story but other under-told domestic violence cases.
Melissa, her best friend and true crime enthusiast, will join as co-host.
Quote:

"Together, we're going to bring new energy, new conversation and new advocacy to Poppy Killed Mommy." (10:20)
Listeners are invited to submit cases for consideration:

"If you know of a domestic violence case that needs attention... please email me at poppykilledmommymail.com." (12:05)

5. Sobering Update on Her Mother’s Case

Nikki shares a timeline of communication between herself, the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office, and the Sedona Police Department regarding her mom’s case:
- Positive-sounding news about “additional investigation requested” quickly turns to vague language about waiting for new info.
- Sedona PD refers to the matter as “annual review,” clarifies no timeline, and indicates the request for records should go to the county attorney.
- The blunt truth arrives:
  
  "This is in cold case review." (14:44)
- Nikki interprets these shifting, inconsistent statements as evidence of inaction:
  
  "The two agencies can't even keep their language consistent. And that contradiction alone shows how little transparency there really is." (16:30)
She emphasizes that the case is not being actively worked, despite reassuring language from authorities.

6. Call to Action

Nikki urges listeners to demand transparency and true investigation into her mother’s unsolved homicide.
Contact details for the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office, Sedona Police Department, and Red Rock News will be in the show notes.
Editorial correction about Red Rock News editor’s name:
- Corrects to "Christopher Fox Grant," clarifies Kyle Larson is the owner.

7. Reflecting on CrimeCon: Hope, Community, and Resilience

Nikki expresses gratitude for all who spoke with her in Denver and the power of community support in keeping her mother’s story alive.
Quote:

“Looking back on my first CrimeCon experience, it was so much more than just an event. It was proof that people care, proof that my mom's story matters, and a reminder that even three decades later, I'm not alone in this fight.” (19:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On discovering community at CrimeCon:

“It was overwhelming to suddenly be standing in the same place as people who had spoken my mom's name out loud on their platforms, who had helped amplify her story to the world.” (03:20)
On deciding to monetize:

"If I want to keep doing this... I can't keep asking my listeners to carry the financial burden." (07:50)
Announcement:

“Season two of Poppy Killed Mommy is officially happening. So exciting.” (09:30)
On the mixed messages from authorities:

“Words like review or ongoing might sound reassuring, but they don't guarantee action. And my mom's case deserves more than paperwork and vague promises.” (16:55)
Final message to her mother:

“To my mom, I'll never stop telling your story.” (20:05)

Important Timestamps

00:10 — Nikki introduces the episode and the road trip to Denver
03:00 — Meeting Cheryl Lynn Dale and emotional reactions
04:15 — Interactions with podcasting community
07:50 — Internal debate and announcement about monetizing the podcast
09:30 — Season Two announcement and new co-host
12:05 — Call for listener-submitted stories
13:00 – 17:00 — Updates and revelations about the mother’s case, analysis of law enforcement messaging
19:15 — Reflections on what CrimeCon meant to Nikki
20:05 — Closing gratitude and dedication

Tone & Style

Nikki’s storytelling is frank, vulnerable, and heartfelt, balancing raw emotion with moments of levity. Her passion—both for her mother’s memory and for the wider issue of domestic violence—is clear throughout. The episode mixes hope, frustration, humor, gratitude, and advocacy, drawing the listener into both the immediacy of her CrimeCon experience and the ongoing fight for justice in her mother's case.

Listener Takeaways

Community matters: Personal connection and validation make a profound difference for survivors.
Advocacy is ongoing: Meaningful progress in cold cases often relies on sustained public pressure.
The fight continues: With new directions for Papi Killed Mommy and continued demands for accountability, Nikki’s mission endures—and listeners are invited to join her.

For further engagement:
Submit domestic violence case suggestions: poppykilledmommymail.com
Advocate for Nikki’s mother: Contact info for officials and press in show notes

Next episode: Continuation of Season One’s focus on Nikki’s mother’s story.

End of Summary

Transcript

A (0:10)

Hi, my name is Nikki and I'm the daughter of a murdered woman. Welcome back to a special bonus episode of Poppy Killed Mommy. As many of you know, I have just returned from my very first crime con, a three day event in Denver where I had the opportunity to share my mom's story with the true crime community face to face. It was one of the most emotional, overwhelming, but unforgettable weekends of my life. Let's start at the beginning. I loaded up the car with my best friend from work, Melissa, and of course my little sidekick and emotional support dog, Dickie Birdie. Together we hit the open Road, a 900 mile journey from Phoenix to Denver. What should have been a 12 hour drive on the way there turned into 14 thanks to an accident and a reroute on I40. We ended up winding through dark mountain back roads in the pouring rain and fog in the middle of the night with huge deers threatening to throw themselves in front of our car at any moment. It was terrifying at times, but we kept each other laughing and we powered through by listening to hours and hours of Crime Weekly. Melissa totally introduced me to them. I had never heard of them before this weekend, but by the time we reached Denver, Derek and Stephanie had basically kept us company the entire way. And by the end of the trip, they had officially become one of my new favorite podcasts. We finally arrived in Denver at 3am, up at 9am to get to the convention hall to set up the table. When we walked in, I didn't expect the wave of emotions that hit me. Within minutes, I spotted the very first famous person who had covered my mom's case, Cheryl Lynn Dale. Not only has she covered my mom's case, but she was so respectful. She also donated money to get me to CrimeCon. The second I saw her, I just burst into tears, full on sobbing. It was overwhelming to suddenly be standing in the same place as people who had spoken my mom's name out loud on their platforms, who had helped amplify her story to the world. And then it was like a snowball. I hadn't even been set up for half an hour before one of the guys from Generation Y stopped by. I'll be honest, I don't even know which one of them it was, but all I remember is feeling starstruck. These were people I had listened to from afar and now they were standing right in front of me, acknowledging my mom's story. Throughout the weekend, so many people stopped by my booth to meet me, to hear my mom's story and to tell me they had already heard about Poppy Killed Mommy. That alone was just overwhelming in the best way. But then there were the podcasters, Generation Y, killer queens navigating advocacy, crime, salad, moms and mysteries. All of these shows, all of these creators, all in one space. But the biggest highlight for me personally, meeting the people who had actually covered my mom's case. It felt surreal. There was also the large media giants, Court tv, Dateline Law, and Crime. At one point, I walked right past Vinnie Politan, and I'll admit, I didn't have the guts to introduce myself. But just to be in that same space surrounded by people I had only ever seen on screens, was an incredible experience. The entire weekend was a rollercoaster of emotions, pride, sadness, gratitude, exhaustion, and pure joy. For me, the most amazing part, though, wasn't just meeting the famous podcasters and creators. It was meeting the listeners, the survivors, the families, the advocates, the people who stopped at my booth, looked me in the eyes and told me they cared about my mom's story. Now, here's something else that came out of CrimeCon that I wasn't expecting. While I was there, I was approached by a company that wants to help monetize Poppy Killed Mommy. At first, my gut reaction was no. I've always been very vocal about not wanting to profit from my mom's story. I didn't want anyone to think I was exploiting her murder for money. But then I spent three days talking to other podcasters, other advocates, and friends in the community, and I realized something. If I want to keep doing this, if I want to keep taking my mom's story to events like CrimeCon, if I want to get her case out to the world, I can't keep asking my listeners to carry the financial burden. I've made the decision to monetize the rest of season one and all of season two. Not because I want to cash in on my mom's story, but because I want to keep her story alive, keep fighting for justice, and keep building this platform. Which brings me to the big announcement. Season two of Poppy Killed Mommy is officially happening. So exciting. Season one will always belong to my mom. It will continue until there is some kind of resolution or until there is a day when I no longer have breath in my body. But season two is going to be different. In season two, I will be covering other cases of domestic violence, cases that deserve to be told, just like my mom's. And I won't be doing it alone. My best friend Melissa, the same one who road tripped to Denver with me, who spent five days straight side by side with me, who held me up when I was sobb, and who kept me laughing when I was overwhelmed, will be joining me as my co host. Hey. Melissa is a true crime junkie. She knows the community, she knows the players, and she has the kind of passion and perspective that balances perfectly with my voice as a daughter and a survivor. Together, we're going to bring new energy, new conversation and new advocacy to Poppy Killed Mommy. If you stopped by my booth at CrimeCon, you probably already met Melissa. If not, you'll get to know her soon. And I think you'll love the banter we bring as we take on season two together. So here's where you come in. If you know of a domestic violence case that needs attention, a case that deserves to be told, please email me at poppykilledmommymail.com P A P I killedmommymail.com Melissa and I would love to read your suggestions and consider them for future episodes. I sure hope you'll stick with us as we explore unknown cases of domestic violence. Last thing before I wrap up this bonus episode, I want to share something important over the last several weeks, I've received multiple emails from both the Yavapai County Attorney's Office and the Sedona Police Department regarding my mom's case. When you line them up in order, a very clear picture begins to form, and it's not the one they want us to see. On August 28, Yavapai County Attorney's Office emailed me and told me investigators and prosecutors had reviewed the case file, met with Sedona detectives and an additional investigation had been requested. This sounded encouraging, like something new was finally being done, and I told everybody that stopped by my booth at CrimeCon about this email. Just days later, their language shifted. This time, they said their office and the Sedona Police Department continued to work leads that arise from ongoing investigation, but admitted there was no timeline and progress would only happen if any new information was uncovered. That phrase, if any, is critical, it means they're waiting for something to fall into their laps rather than actively pursuing the case. Sedona confirmed that they met with the county attorney, but described the work differently. Instead of an additional investigation, they called it their annual review. They made it clear it was routine, not a fresh or an urgent push. In a longer response, Sedona explained they were following up in some areas because the county attorney relayed my concerns but emphasized they could not give me a timeline. They also clarified that records or reports would come from Yavapai not from them. In other words, don't ask us, ask them. Later that day, the Sedona Police Department sent me another email. Finally, I received the blunt truth. This is quotes right now. This is in cold case review. That was it. No more spin, no more hopeful wording. It was the reality that my mom's murder is not being actively investigated. It sits in a file, occasionally looked at during an annual review, but no urgency. The county attorney's office wants to make it sound like progress is being made, using words like ongoing investigation and an additional investigation requested. But Sedona Police Department eventually admitted what's really happening. This is a cold case review, nothing more. So here's the truth. My mom's case is not being treated as an open homicide investigation. It's being kept alive on paper, but not actively worked. The two agencies can't even keep their language consistent. And that contradiction alone shows how little transparency there really is. This matters because words like review or ongoing might sound reassuring, but they don't guarantee action. And my mom's case deserves more than paperwork and vague promises. She was a real person. She was my mother, and she deserves justice. That's why I'll keep speaking out. That's why I'm asking you, the public, my listeners, my community, to stand with me, demand transparency, demand accountability, demand that my mom's case be treated as what it is, an unsolved homicide, not just a cold case review checked off once a year. So, once again, here's my call to action. And I'll include all of the phone numbers and emails in the show notes, but please do call or email the Yavapai County's Attorney's office. Call or email the Sedona Police Department. And don't forget the Red Rock News. Quick editorial note. In my last episode, I mistakenly referred to the editor of the Red Rock News as Christopher Larson. His name is actually Christopher Fox Grant. The Larsons are the owners of the paper. I've also emailed the owner, Kyle Larson, I believe his name is, directly about their coverage of my mom's case. To date, I have not received a response back. But looking back in my first CrimeCon experience, it was so much more than just an event. It was proof that people care, proof that my mom's story matters, and a reminder that even three decades later, I'm not alone in this fight. So, to everyone I met in Denver, everyone who stopped by my booth, everyone who listened, everyone who hugged me, and everyone who has downloaded an episode of Poppy Killed Mommy. Thank you. You made this one of the most amazing experiences of my life. To Melissa, thank you for taking this adventure with me. I can't wait to see what the future has in store for us. And to my mom, I'll never stop telling your story. I'll be back next week with the continuation of my mom season. Thank you for listening.