Podcast Summary: Papi Killed Mommy

Episode: Interview with her friend Cheryl Mendel
Host: Nikki
Date: October 7, 2025
Total Length: ~56 minutes (not counting ads)

Overview

This special bonus episode of "Papi Killed Mommy" centers on host Nikki’s in-depth conversation with Cheryl Mendel, one of the very few friends of Nikki’s murdered mother, Stacy, who has been willing to recount their shared history. Nikki uses these “bonus” interviews to add dimension and texture to her mother’s story, helping to shape Stacy’s identity beyond just "victim." Through memories, anecdotes, and honest reflection, Nikki and Cheryl traverse the loud, sun-soaked days of 1976-77 Downers Grove and Phoenix, as well as the decades-long reverberations of that formative friendship.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Importance of Bonus Episodes

(01:47-05:45)

• Nikki explains why interviews like this matter: They aren’t just “extra content.” These conversations with people who knew Stacy are Nikki’s way to feel close to her mom again, learning who she was through others’ eyes.
• Nikki laments that only two of her mother’s friends have come forward to be interviewed, expressing both immense gratitude and frustration at the silence of others:

“Making your trauma entertainment is a curse no one should bear... But I need to say this. If you knew my mom and you’re listening, I want to hear from you.”
– Nikki (03:51)

True Crime Community Connections

(05:45-11:35)

• Nikki tells Cheryl about realizing her podcast is gaining traction—coworkers and parents at Nikki’s school are recognizing her from the show.
• Cheryl and Nikki discuss their experiences at CrimeCon, celebrity podcasters, and how Nikki’s friend Melissa has become instrumental in both Nikki’s personal and podcasting life.

Stacy’s Mysterious Trip to Chicago: Rumors, Realities, and Resilience

(12:11-18:41)

• Cheryl recounts meeting Stacy at age 15 during the summer of 1976 in Downers Grove after Stacy arrived from Phoenix for “family problems.”
• Nikki, referencing family talk of an abusive pregnancy or abortion, asks if Cheryl ever saw signs of trauma or post-abortion distress.
  • Cheryl adamantly reports, multiple times, that Stacy seemed “totally normal,” showing neither distress nor recovery.

“She acted totally normal. If something happened to her, I would have expected something a little bit different from her. She wouldn’t have been so…”
– Cheryl (13:18, 14:16)

• Cheryl describes Stacy’s seamless integration into teenage life: parties, chores, friendships.

Classic Friendship and Wild Teenage Adventures

(19:28-30:11)

• Cheryl paints a vivid picture of the teen culture: nicknames, parties, crushes, and mischief.
• Memorable tales include:
  • Stacy’s impact on friend groups and teen romance triangles.
  • Joyriding in stolen cars, John Boy’s rock ballad karaoke, and houses where the front door was never used.

“John would sing Freebird... He was in love with Stacy and all the girls... he’d bring bags of Thai sticks out of the fucking wall, man!”
– Cheryl (20:41)

• The group participated in typical 1970s teen rebellion: drinking, riding in unsafe cars, wandering the neighborhood unsupervised.

Deeper Character: Stacy’s Heart and Friendship

(36:12-38:40; 43:16-44:01)

• Beyond the wild years, Cheryl describes Stacy as compassionate, heartfelt, and genuinely loving—especially in their one-on-one friendship.

“She was very heartfelt... like I always felt things came from her heart... There was no contentions with her, no arguing, no fighting, no competition, no nothing. Just pure friendship.”
– Cheryl (37:35)

• Nikki reflects on what this means for her, especially when learning that Stacy could laugh and thrive, whatever her past trauma.

Staying Connected Across the Years

(38:40-42:09)

• After their teenage years, Cheryl and Stacy kept in touch through late-night phone calls—often with Stacy intoxicated, expressing her love and gratitude for Cheryl’s friendship.
• Cheryl recounts learning about Stacy’s murder from Nikki’s Aunt Wendy, expressing lingering pain and describing how news of Stacy's death left her “blown away.”

“I walked around and even to this day, Nicole, it just bothers me... It’s a story that’s very bothersome.”
– Cheryl (41:46)

Grief, Loneliness, and the Need for Connection

(48:21-50:19)

• Nikki candidly discusses the difficulties of her upbringing after losing her mother—her father Craig’s emotional distance and Wendy’s inability to remain present due to her own grief.

“Life was very hard with Craig. He's a good man, but he didn't know how to raise a child...”
– Nikki (48:31)

• Cheryl offers emotional support, affirming that Nikki can always reach out for a motherly connection.

The Legacy of Stacy: Invitations for More Stories

(54:00-55:23)

• Nikki issues a heartfelt invitation for anyone who knew her mother to reach out—every small memory is a thread that weaves together the fabric of Stacy’s life.

“Cheryl, thank you for loving my mother out loud, for protecting the parts that belong to friendship and gifting the parts that belong to history.”
– Nikki (54:29)

• Nikki highlights how these shared stories transform Stacy from a forensic file into a vibrant, three-dimensional person.

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• "When I sit down to talk to people who knew my mom…I'm discovering pieces of her that I never got the chance to know as her daughter."
  — Nikki (02:21)

• "Chasing new memories of my mom is like chasing a drug. It’s this instant rush, this adrenaline high..."
  — Nikki (04:09)

• "She did not act like somebody who went through something emotionally and tragically... that is the farthest thing that I saw when I met her."
  — Cheryl (14:51)

• "Your mother just cracked me. Cheryl, baby, what the fuck?"
  — Cheryl (19:59)

• "That girl had chores. And we would just crack up because that girl had chores."
  — Cheryl (15:31)

• "John would sing Freebird... and he was in love with Stacy and all the girls."
  — Cheryl (20:41)

• "She was a heartbreaker... she was the love of his life."
  — Cheryl (19:48)

• "I am a cast member in this story. Like, really, I’m a cast member. Had she not come here, she would have nothing to do with Downers Grove."
  — Cheryl (29:48)

• "She had a hard exterior; she was a tough girl, but she was also very humbled by her heart."
  — Cheryl (37:35)

• "Did I ever tell you how much I love you?"
  — Stacy, as remembered by Cheryl (39:25)

• "Every little memory is my small way to bring her back..."
  — Nikki (43:00)

• "She has been and will always be loved by me... I know that we would have been so... continue speaking to this day."
  — Cheryl (43:16)

• "Whatever God’s plan is for Russell... he’s got to answer for that."
  — Cheryl (44:01)

Timestamps for Significant Segments

• 01:09-05:45 – Nikki’s introduction: why these interviews matter, call for more stories
• 05:45-11:35 – Nikki and Cheryl on podcast recognition, CrimeCon, meeting Melissa
• 12:11-18:41 – Cheryl recounts how she met Stacy; the mystery of Stacy’s Chicago stay and Cheryl’s absolute lack of any trauma signs
• 19:28-30:11 – Teenage wild stories: parties, nicknames, romances, car joyrides, and lessons
• 36:12-38:40 – Cheryl on Stacy’s genuine compassion and what made their friendship special
• 38:40-42:09 – Keeping in touch, late night calls, learning of Stacy’s death
• 48:21-50:19 – Nikki reflects on the loneliness following her mom’s murder; Cheryl offers ongoing support
• 54:00-55:23 – Nikki’s invitation for more people to share stories, summary of what Cheryl’s memories mean to her

Episode Tone & Language

The tone toggles between raw grief, nostalgia, candid humor, and earnest longing. Nikki’s language is confessional and open; Cheryl’s is unfiltered, affectionate, and reflective—often laced with 1970s teen slang and plenty of swearing.

Final Reflections

This episode stands out by transforming cold case podcasting into living memory work. Cheryl’s stories let Stacy emerge as more than a victim: a teenage girl with jokes, heartbreak, bad decisions, loving friendships, and an indelible spark that still draws people together decades later.

If you knew Stacy, Nikki asks you to reach out—even the smallest recollection matters.
If you or anyone you know is in danger, the National Domestic Violence Hotline is 1-800-799-SAFE.