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Annie Elise
Hey, true crime besties. Welcome back to an allnew episode of Serial. Hey, everybody. Welcome back to an all new episode of Serial Astley with me, Annie, Elise. And today we are going over headline highlights. Everything that is going down in the true crime world this week. And there are a lot of really disturbing cases that are breaking and a couple updates in some other cases that I can't remember if we did. I. I don't think we did a deep dive on it, but we definitely did talk about it in headline highlights. But there's been a huge development, so I definitely want to talk with you about that case. As you can see, if you are watching the video version of this, I am cozy on the couch. It's raining outside. I've got my laptop next to me with everything I want to talk with you guys about. And we're just kind of going to hang here together and hope that this rainstorm passes. Hopefully it's not raining wherever you are. But I'm out on the east coast right now and it is definitely stormy and humid where I am now. As a reminder, I'm going to be seeing you guys next week. For all my east coast friends, whether you're in New York, Boston, Philly, Jersey, Connecticut, dc, wherever you are, on the east coast next week, it's our week. All right? We're gonna get together because we have the live show next week and I'm doing five different ones. So I will be in your neck of the woods just depending on where you live. And I've told you before, but this is not going to be an average show or episode. It's a live episode, a live taping. But I need your help to be the jury in this case because when I tell you there are red flags galore, more than probably I have seen in quite some time. There's also some really shady CCTV footage that I'm going to play for you guys, exclusive interviews as well, and audio and video that I gathered myself when I first heard about this case because I flew out to where this case is rooted in or rooted from. I should say interviewed people, talked with people who are close to those involved in the case. Kind of sleuthed out. Simone, my own things out there that I want to share with you and it's just very layered and very wild as like, to put it mildly. So I definitely am going to need your help. And this is a case that is exclusive to tour. So again, next week is the week. Make sure you grab your tickets. If you haven't yet, there's a couple left. There's also just a very final few meet and greets too that are available so you can get all of that information@annie elise.com and go to the Little Tours tab. So I'm excited to meet you guys next week and see all of you. So that's what we've got going on in terms of like housekeeping and admin stuff on this episode. But now I want to get into the first case that we're going to be discussing. And this is the one that I mentioned is more of an update. But I am going to give you some backstory too. But we did talk about it very, very briefly in a headline highlights episode several months ago. And it's a story about somebody named Sam Haskell. He is a spoiled TR fund kid, little douche canoe dweeb who turned his family home into a straight up slaughterhouse. He killed his wife. He killed his wife's parents. And just when you think this sociopath couldn't get any lower, last week he pulled the ultimate coward move. And we're going to talk about all of it. Now, as I said, for those of you who are not familiar with this story, let me just give you a quick recap and I just want you to be prepared a little bit of a trigger warning. This is a case that is going to make you want to scream, throw up, yell, all the different emotions. And I want to start by talking about the people who actually matter in this story. Okay? The victims. Because his wife May was only 37 years old and she was like a total badass. She was raising three young kids, 6, 8 and 12 years old. She lived in Tarzana, California. And she somehow managed to juggle multiple different jobs trying to keep her family afloat. She really was the one holding everything together in this scenario. Her parents, too, had moved all the way from China to help her out. They were in their 60s and their 70s, so definitely like at that age where they should have been retired, maybe vacationing, cruising, traveling, doing things like that. But they Came and they helped their daughter out because that's what they believed was important to them. They wanted to be around their grandkids, they wanted to help their daughter. And they were all in too. They were cooking, they, they were cleaning, they were running the kids to the various sporting practices. Just really incredible hands on grandparents. Meanwhile, her husband Sam, he was just kind of coasting. He was just like doing the absolute bare minimum, living off his dad's Hollywood success and his dad's Hollywood connections. Not really pulling his own weight, if I'm being honest. Now, his dad was a famous Hollywood agent, and he worked with names like Dolly Parton, George Clooney, some really heavy hitters in the space, right? So he was very well known, very well respected in the industry. And because of that, had connections, had a little bit of money. And Sam was just kind of like cruising off of that, just milking it, wanting kind of, you know, I don't want to say like the easy way out, but kind of, kind of, if we're being honest. So you have this really interesting dynamic, right? May was a loving mom, had these amazing parents who were always there helping with the kids, supporting her through everything. And then she had this kind of deadbeat loser husband who just didn't really feel like he wanted to work to earn his own right in anything, but rather just coast off of his dad's success. So they went along with this for years, and this is the dynamic that the family had. But on November 6, 2023, everything changed because May and her parents suddenly vanished. And then just the very next day, her husband Sam hired a couple of day laborers to like, move a bunch of trash bags off the property. And I don't know if you've ever hired anybody like that. I personally use this company called kind of like TaskRabbit, but for deliveries, for things you need to move off to, you know, if you're donating or to dump site, whatever. So he hired a couple day laborers to haul off a bunch of these trash bags. He gave him 500 bucks and said, hey, these are full of rocks. Some old Halloween decorations, but I need you to get rid of them. However, one of the workers started getting suspicious because when he was handling the bags, he noticed that they were soft. It's not like they had rocks inside them at all. So with his curiosity a little bit piqued, he decided to look inside. And when he opened the bags, he found them full of body parts. So these day workers, they immediately headed back to Sam's home, gave him back his money Gave him back the bags and called 911 right away. They're like, look, we don't want any part of this. I don't know what the heck is going on. We're calling the police. However, by the time the police finally arrived, Sam and the bags were gone. Later that same day, security camera footage also caught Sam driving his wife May's Tesla and dumping same bags into various strip mall dumpsters. Which I got to say is kind of a ballsy move, right? Because you hire these day laborers to cart all of this stuff away. They open the bags, you're caught, and they come back saying, we're calling 911. We don't want any part of this. Here's your money back. Then of course, you're probably panicked and you're like, okay, I need to get rid of all this myself. But didn't really think it through because you're caught on surveillance cameras. You now have witnesses who have seen you, who have seen the contents of your bags. I mean, it feels like everything is starting to fall apart in this moment. But it gets even worse because the following morning, a homeless man stumbled across one of these trash bags. And inside, sure enough, he found a human torso. And the torso belonged to Sam's 37 year old wife, May. Only her torso was ever found. And her parents bodies still have never been recovered. Which, who does that? Who dismembers their own wife, their own family, and then just dumps them like they're garbage? It's beyond terrifying. So when the police finally searched the house and a nearby Airbnb where he had taken his kids, they found blood everywhere. I'm talking mattresses, bedding. They even found a machete, a saw, even a.357 revolver. And DNA was all over the place and it confirmed that it belonged to all three of the victims. They also found a Home Depot receipt that was dated weeks before the murders ever took place. The receipt was for saw blades, for coveralls, and for all the items that he would need to execute this horrific triple dismemberment. And seeing that receipt from weeks earlier, that proved that this wasn't some heat of the moment snap where he then tried to cover it up. This was premeditated. This was cold blooded. So when the cops finally arrested him, they ended up finding him at a mall of all places. And in his car there was a blood soaked knife, $67,000 in cash, and a one way ticket to Japan. He was just completely, fully ready to disappear. And the motive? Well, it's a tale as Old as time, right? It turns out Sam was having an affair with a 27 year old woman. He also had invited this mistress of his to Japan with him, which I swear I don't know how many times I have to say this, but just get a divorce. Just get a divorce, right? Why is that such a hard concept? Instead he wiped out his entire family. He left his three children without their mother, without their grandparents. I mean, and no answers except the fact that what he wanted to gallivant over to Japan with his 27 year old mistress, like get a clue, get a grip. And just when you think that it can't get any more twisted. Two days before his preliminary hearing where prosecutors were about to present a mountain of evidence against him, he was found dead in his jail cell. Apparent suicide, self inflicted injuries and a note left behind. And his lawyers claimed that the reason that he took his own life was because he was quote, trying to end the chaos. I'm sorry. No, you created this chaos, then you ran from it, Then you took the coward's way out and took your own life over it. This was all your own doing, you know, horrific situation that you caused on your own. It's honestly infuriating because now not only are those kids left completely orphaned, but May's family will never get the justice that they deserve. And he could have just gotten a divorce. He could have left her, the grandparents, could have helped her out, could have helped her raise the kids. Now these poor kids don't have their grandparents, their mother, and arguably the only people in their lives that truly loved them. It's horrific. And still again, no answers. No answers. Now speaking of infuriating cases and breaking cases that I want to talk with you about, this next story is absolutely infuriating because it's about an 18 year old girl who was betrayed in the most violent, most cowardly way possible by somebody who claimed to love her. Her name was Marissa DiNapoli. And honestly, she should be here telling this story today, being the one to share what happened to her. But instead we're now talking about how she was stabbed to death and then left in the woods like garbage. And how the police had her killer right in front of them, but then let him walk. So let me break it down for you. Marissa was last seen on June 28 at around 9pm According to Cell phone data, she was at her ex boyfriend's house. He was 20 years old and they had kind of had this like on and off relationship for about two years. But it wasn't some high school love. Story because according to Marissa's friends, it was toxic. He was controlling, manipulative, just awful. At 9:16pm, she texted her family saying that she was staying at a friend's house, that she would be home by 8am the next morning. But that was the last time that anyone heard from her. The next morning, a ring camera catches Marissa and her ex arguing on the stairs outside of his house. She's holding clothes in her arms and she looks just extremely tense. He, on the other hand, looks angry, agitated. Now, the audio is rough, but if you listen very, very closely, you can hear him snapping, saying, why would you do that to me? I thought you loved me. Why would you text your ex? And Marissa responds, I didn't. And just wait, because it only gets worse from here.
David
But why would you text your ex?
Annie Elise
So that ring camera footage, it was the last time that anybody saw Marissa. When the two of them left his house, things were clearly tense. And not long after, traffic cameras caught his car heading toward Anderson lake. And between 9:58 and 10:18am, both of their phones stopped moving. But both of them did ping in the same wooded area near that lake. Then Marissa's phone went dark. She never showed up for her shift at Starbucks where she worked. And she wasn't replying to any of her family's calls or text messages. She also, of course, never came home. By the next morning, her family knew that something was seriously wrong. This just was not like her. She was responsible. She always showed up, always answered. So her mom wasted no time at all. She went straight to the Morgan Hill Police Department and reported her missing. Later that same day, the police were called to her ex boyfriend Martin's house because of a fight. And Marissa's family had driven over there themselves because they were desperate. They knew that he had something to do with this. And honestly, they weren't wrong. Marissa had told friends before that she was scared of him. She was scared that he might actually kill her. And here's the part that's going to make your blood boil. Because when the police got there, Martin was acting super shady, just totally uncooperative. And not just with her family, but with the police officers as well. Yet still, these officers just let him walk. They didn't take him in, they didn't question him, nothing. And the family was furious. Rightfully so. They felt like nobody was taking them or Marissa seriously at all in this. So Marissa's family decided to take matters into their own hands. They organized a search party near the lake where her phone had last pinged and Everybody was looking for her on foot. Family, friends, even community members showed up to help. But then just two days later, on July 2, a family member made a heartbreaking discovery. They found Marissa's body. She had been stabbed five times in the back. 5. Her family was, of course, absolutely devastated. So now, finally, the police went and they decided to bring Martin in for questioning. But guess what? To the surprise of absolutely no one, he was just gone. Just vanished. So now at this point, Morgan Hill Police Department finally decides, okay, it's time to get serious. We need to call in backup. We need to find him. And they bring in everybody to help. I'm talking FBI, Homeland Security, U.S. marshals. And the family is kind of responding like, yeah, no, this is what we have been trying to tell you from the very beginning. This is the guy responsible. Now, luckily, within days, the U.S. marshals were able to track Martin down, and he was trying to cross the U.S. mexico border, which, I mean, hello. Obviously, nothing screams innocent more than trying to flee to Mexico, right? So as of now, he's been officially charged with first degree murder. And thankfully, the court also denied him bail. His preliminary hearing is set for September 9th. But in all of this, my heart breaks for Marissa's family because I cannot even begin to imagine the pain of knowing that her ex was behind all of this, that she knew that he was dangerous, she knew that he was violent, and they knew that he did this, that he was responsible, and they just had to watch the police do absolutely nothing while really important and precious time was slipping away. They deserved to be taken seriously from the start. And quite honestly, Marissa deserved better. So we'll see what happens when he goes to court. And if we learn of what really transpired, what the motive was, I think the surface level of this, based on what we know, I think it sounds like he was controlling, manipulative, and jealous, especially from what we heard on that ring camera footage. So I'm guessing he probably just snapped. And it was one of those scenarios of, you know, if I can't have you, no one can. But it's just senseless and so much violence. I just being a late teen, early 20 years old, like, that is really scary. That is incredibly frightening that somebody can be that evil and that violent at such a young age. I mean, I know it's not like a child, but, like, kind of, you're like, right on the cusp of adulthood, right? So we'll see what happens with that case. Now, this next case is truly bizarre because a Florida woman is accused of murdering a Man with a hammer. But get this. After doing that, she allegedly left a note on his body. And the note, you are not going to believe what it says. On July 2, police found the body of 41 year old Waduda Woodley just lying in a pool of blood behind a stairwell at a Jacksonville apartment complex. He had been beaten to death badly. Also had blunt force trauma to his head and his face. I mean, it was brutal. Blood was spattered all across the walls, the stairs, everywhere. It was a bloodbath. It was a horrific scene. But what really caught the investigators attention was what they found on top of his body. Because there was a white sheet of paper just laid right across his chest. And scrawled across it in green highlighter with were the words pedo touches children, which. Okay, let's just pause for a second. That note, I mean, wow. Not something you hear or see every day, especially in true crime cases. And it's pretty chilling. Not only the deliberateness of it being placed so carefully on his chest, but of course, the words. There was something that felt almost like this message wasn't just to him, but to the world. Like they wanted this person on display for what they had done. And obviously the word pedo changes everything. I mean, it immediately reframes this entire crime, right? You kind of go from like, oh my God, this person was just bludgeoned to death. A full bloodbath with a hammer. One of the most grotesque and gruesome crimes out there. Who could have done this? Almost then switching gears to like, wait, was this revenge? Was this warranted? Not warranted like that. It's excusable, but you know what I mean, like, who is this person? Who was this guy? So the police start following the trail of blood that was all over the walls and all over the staircase at this apartment complex. And it leads them straight to a nearby apartment, an apartment that belonged to 21 year old Jurnee Mcrew. And when they question her, Jurnee tells them that Waduda had been sexually grooming her since she was just 8 years old. She also accuses him of assaulting her multiple times throughout her childhood. And then, and this part is key, she says that she invited him over, she sent him text messages saying that she was sorry for how she treated him and that she had been fantasizing about him, that she wanted to have sex with him. And sure enough, as expected, he came over and according to her, they went out for a little bit and then they came back to her apartment for drinks. At that point, he started Pressuring her for sex, and she responded by asking him to leave. But that is apparently when things escalated. She says that she grabbed a hammer and she hid it behind her back as she walked him to the door. Then when he grabbed her and wrapped his arms around her, she says she pushed him away and just started attacking him with the hammer. And in fact, sure enough, the hammer was later found bloody in her bathroom sink, along with her bloody clothing and that same green highlighter that she had used to write that note. And here's where I have some questions and a lot of mixed feelings in all of this, because I do believe that victims of abuse carry very deep, very unimaginable trauma. Absolutely no question about it. And do I think that some of them maybe sometimes fantasize about justice or seeking revenge or taking their power back? Sure, absolutely. But then it begs the question, does that actually justify something like this? Does that justify a brutal murder? When does it become eye for an eye? Does it? Or is it never excused? Does vigilante justice never get a get out of jail free card? I mean, on the one hand, if what she's saying is true, this man did prey on her as a child, as young as eight. So who wouldn't feel for her? Who wouldn't understand that kind of rage? But now she's 21 years old. She had her whole life ahead of her, and she's most likely gonna spend most of her life behind bars because of this. So you kind of have to wonder and ask the question, was it worth it? Which nobody can really answer that question but her, right? And maybe for her, it was worth it. Maybe that was the only way she saw justice and saw out of this situation. I don't know. And what do you think? I want to hear your thoughts on this one, because it's complicated. There's no real easy answer here. Jurnee was arrested and is set to appear in Court on July 24th. So I will definitely keep you posted on this. But I also have a feeling that we haven't quite heard the full story yet. And I'm curious to see how the court handles a case like this, too, especially if evidence does end up backing up her claims of grooming and abuse. And are there other victims? Was she the only one? It's just a tragic story all the way around. No matter how you look at it, there's no winners. There's just trauma, violence. And now this young woman whose life will never, ever be the same and probably never would have been the same even if she hadn't murdered him if what she is alleging against him is true. So it's just one of those where there's unfortunately no happy ending for anybody. Do you ever have one of those moments where your gut just tells you that something's off? Like your intuition is just nagging at you that something's not right? Recently I was in a target with my kids and I kind of got that weird eerie feeling that somebody was like watching us. So I sped up, my heart was racing. I like raced out to the car, got them locked safe and sound. But it really did remind me of just how important it is to stay sharp and stay alert. Now I know this may sound cheesy and some of you may not agree, but I believe it starts with what you're putting inside your body. Fueling your body with the right stuff to make sure that you are always alert, that you're always at your sharpest. And recently I got introduced to cachava and I swear I notice a difference. Call me crazy, but I really do. It's not just a protein shake. It's a whole body meal and it has 25 grams of plant based protein plus 85 superfoods. Also adaptogens and nutrients that actually keep me full and energized for hours, which is really important for me because as you know, I'm not a big coffee drinker. So I need something that I feel like is giving me all my nutrients but giving me energy too and just is kind of like a whole body type meal like I just said. Now my favorite one is the chai flavor. I blend it with almond milk, some peanut butter, I throw in a frozen banana and it's kind of now my new favorite part of my morning routine. It just like sets the day off right. And I love how clean it is too. There's no artificial stuff, no weird additives, just real ingredients. And you don't have to be vegan to love it. I'm not vegan. It just tastes so good. It's just a good for you fuel that tastes amazing and for me keeps me focused all day. I think I've even told you that my daughter Emmy, she loves little like protein shake type drinks and she loves it. They have like coconut flavor, they have vanilla, acai and she loves it so much too. So the kids love it. I love it. It's just, you know, a win, win, win, win, win. So stay sharp and fuel yourself with Cachava. Go to kachava.com and use code A E for 15 off your next order. That's Kachava K A C H A V A dot com code A, E for 15 off. So, as you guys know, right now I'm on the east coast and I am so, so sad because I don't have my refrigerator here and my refrigerator is stacked full of Ollipop now back at home. And I need to find a grocery store out here that carries it. I know it's at so many retailers, but I need to just like, like put a little pep in my step and go figure it out. Because Ollipop has changed my soda game for me. It's no secret I have been obsessed with Diet Coke since, you know, probably I was in the womb. No, that's an exaggeration. But you get it. And I know it's bad for you. I know it is. And so when I was introduced to Ollipop, which I'll be honest, I've been hearing about it for well over a year, but I was such a, like, loyal Diet Coke person that I never even wanted to really explore it. But when I finally did try it, it. It tasted just like Diet Coke. But I knew it was so much better for me. And I feel like almost everyone has some sort of relationship with soda. Maybe from your childhood, like maybe you grew up drinking it all the time, maybe you quit, maybe you're addicted to it and you're trying to quit. But there's like certain nostalgic flavors too that I feel like always ties back to childhood for me. I remember sun kissed or like Fanta was like my go to after school drink. I loved it that with like string cheese. And so I won't drink it now because I know how much sugar is in it. But Ollipop has a flavor that is just like Orange Fanta, which their orange Squeeze only has 5 grams of sugar compared to Orange Fanta which has 44 grams of sugar. Also, like I said, I started drinking their vintage cola and that only has 2 grams of sugar compared to a regular Coke that has 39 grams of sugar. So I feel way better about my choices when I'm drinking Olipop and I feel like it's better for me and I don't have to necessarily sacrifice that like, like soda taste that I've come to know and love. And if you haven't tried it, you definitely should. I know a lot of you have been tagging me on Instagram with your favorite flavor, or I guess can I should say which. Please keep doing that because I'm trying to like, go on a whole, like, you know, national Tour of trying every single flavor of Olipop because they're so good. But if you haven't tried it yet, now is the time. You can get a free can of Ollipop. Buy any two cans of Olipop in store and they will pay you back for one. It works on any flavor too, at any retailer. Just go to drinkollipop.com ae and Olipop is sold online on Amazon. It's also available at over 50,000 retailers nationwide, including Costco, Walmart, Target, Publix, Whole Foods, kroger and H E B. So again, go to drinkolipop.com ae and buy any two cans of Olipop in store and they will pay you back for one. Are you guys. Now buckle up because this next story is wild. I mean, in all of my years, I don't think that I have ever heard anything quite like this. A 49 year old nurse practitioner who was supposed to be using his license to help people, instead used it to secretly end his mistress's pregnancy. He did this by drugging her from the inside out. Yes, you heard that right. Drugging her from the inside out. But before we get there, let me just back up and tell you how all of this even started. So first off, he's married. Let's just start there. But despite that, in the fall of 2023, he started a relationship with one of his own patients, which I gotta just say that's gotta go against like the code of ethics and all that stuff. But he started with his own patients? Well, I guess not. I've seen Grey's Anatomy, I don't know, whatever. But he wasn't just cheating. It was this full blown, unethical, manipulative behavior affair with somebody who literally trusted him as her doctor. And according to the victim, he told her that he was getting divorced. He even went as far as showing her fake divorce papers. So they dated for a few months, things got serious and they started planning a future together. Talking marriage, kids. I mean, it was picture perfect. Until it wasn't. In January of 2024, she ended up telling him that she was pregnant. And he acted thrilled, just supportive. They were talking baby names. They even went stroller shopping together. He seemed over the moon. However, behind the scenes, he had a plan. A very dark, very disgusting plan. Fast forward a few weeks and on January 27, the two of them had sex. And without her knowledge, during that, he somehow managed to slip four pills inside of her during sex. Four pills, vaginally, while they were being intimate. Now what were those pills well, it's a drug called misopristol, which is used for medical terminations. And as a nurse practitioner, he was able to prescribe this medication to himself. So he calls in this prescription for himself, gets the medicine, then goes has sex with her and shoves this medication inside of her. This wasn't a mistake. This was calculated. Later that night, the medicine worked like it's supposed to, and she started cramping very, very badly, started bleeding. She told him she needed to rush to the er. She was terrified that she was miscarrying their baby. The baby that she thought they were both excited to have. And when that happened, this man. This man had the audacity to tell her she was overreacting, that she didn't need to seek medical help, that she just needed to relax. I mean, beyond evil. Thankfully, she didn't listen to this prick and she went anyway. And sure enough, when the doctors examined her, they reportedly found those pills and still inside of her, which, can you even imagine, that moment for a second here? Not only was she miscarrying, but in that moment, she realized it wasn't even her body doing this naturally. It was someone who had done it to her. I mean, the betrayal, the violation, just absolutely unimaginable. So doctors ended up performing a sane exam and a kit, and they later confirmed that she was, in fact, no longer pregnant. And get this. A few days later, instead of apologizing to her and trying to make up for what he had done, although you can never make up for something like that, he contacted her and he offered her money. Money to stay quiet. And get this. Then his wife. Yeah, the same wife that he claimed to be divorcing. But spoiler alert, he wasn't divorcing her. She contacts her, too, and she offers her two grand and begs her to not report her husband, saying it would ruin their lives forever, which, can you just imagine? I mean, seriously, what is wrong with these people? Woman to woman, what is wrong with you? Honestly, like, it is unbelievable. Eventually, though, this victim, the woman, she had enough. She ended up getting a restraining order against both him and his wife, which, thank goodness. That is like step A, right? These people are disgusting. Now, in another twist, which I don't know if it's a shocker or not, he ends up violating the restraining order. Within days, he starts sending her flowers, handwritten letters, emails, all of these things, professing his love to her, which I gotta say, is so weird, because your wife just found out that you were having an affair. Or maybe she knew. I don't know. But she certainly found out that you terminated this other woman, this mistress's child of yours. And you're still like, you have the audacity to continue professing your love and send love letters and flowers? Like, what is wrong with you? You like, are you trying to love bomb your way out of this? Does the wife, is she co signing on this, hoping that it'll help maybe keep this victim quiet? I just do not understand. But anyway, we love to see karma at work. And he ended up finally being arrested on March 11 for violating the protective order. He unfortunately though, was released on a five hundred thousand dollar bond. Because, of course, I mean, I guess you. It's not a crime that you would have to hold somebody for. But I mean, we see it too often, right? Whenever people violate restraining orders, they are generally allowed bond. It's unbelievable. But get this. Sure enough, the wife was also charged too. She was charged for trying to help intimidate this victim. Then Last Friday, on July 11, he appeared in court for a potential plea deal. And he walked in with a big smile on his face, just surrounded by family, friends, everyone. And so many people supporting him that they filled two entire rows of seats like it was some sort of support group for him. I mean, can you even imagine? And his legal team tried to argue that this victim wasn't actually pregnant when she went to the ER that night, that he didn't cause the miscarriage, that it was something completely unrelated, which. Sure, Jan, sure, I'm sure the doctor is no more than your bootleg nurse practitioner. So this victim was also in court and she wanted to face him. She wanted to face all of these supporters of his. And what she said absolutely broke my heart because she told the judge that coming forward had been humiliating, that she had been trashed by her community and also by his family. She even literally had to beg the court, saying, please, your honor, do not fall for his good boy act. He is the most manipulative person that I have ever met.
Courtney Tamagni
Someone so manipulative, deceptive and cowardly that instead of taking the options that I was clear to him were available, he insisted. He instead plotted to sexually assault me to try to abort our unborn child without my knowledge or consent. Please, your honor, do not fall for this big boy act. This man is the most manipulative person I've ever been. His position of power as my medical provider to manipulate me, to cloud my judgment, and to use me for his own personal gain.
Annie Elise
This creep. David then addresses the court and he says that he Took full responsibility for his actions, saying, quote, that he had let fear and desperation guide him.
David
Sincerely sorry for all this. I've spent the past year and a half trying to understand all of this in my own actions. I do accept full responsibility for my actions. I allowed my emotions, allowed my judgment. I allowed myself to enter into a non adulterous relationship. I allowed fear to guide many of my actions which led to all of this. Those actions are what I did. They're not who I am. They are nonetheless my actions. I do take full responsibility for my actions and I hope all people affected can find peace, pleasure and a sense of safety. I acted in a manner contradicting my own morals. I have respect for the inherent dignity of all people. That's why I'm a nurse. My life is the matter of fact. Wanting to be able to heal, I allowed my sympathy for me down a path of adventures. I allowed my own lust and passions to cloud my mental judgment. In the end, I allowed desperation and fear to completely guide me. I want to apologize to my family, the community and my friends for her parental trust. I want to apologize to no one feels that who has endured the worst I could imagine. I want to go back to serving my scenario, my family.
Courtney Tamagni
No, I do.
David
I love being nursed. I long to return to it. I am a healer at heart. My desire, once I complete my incarceration is to get certified and counseling to give back excuse my misdeeds for healing and health others.
Annie Elise
David ended up pleading guilty to second degree assault with DV witness tampering and fourth degree assault with sexual motivation. But his sentence, just one year and one day in prison, plus a no contact order with the victim for the next 10 years. But as we saw, he already violated that once. Who's to say he won't violate it again? But I gotta just say one year and one day in prison for taking someone's child's life. I don't know how that equates. I really, really don't. Now, before the judge wrapped things up, he did have some strong words for David. He said, quote, sometimes your character isn't about what you do when people are watching. It's what you do when no one is. And in this case, your public Persona was completely different from the man that this victim knew. And because of that, everyone involved has been hurt. Which honestly, I couldn't have said it any better myself. Now, this next case that I want to talk with you about, I truly don't even know what to believe and I'm really curious to hear what your thoughts are, because I think it could go a bunch of different ways. And I'm actually seeing a bunch of different opinions out there in the public, but I don't even know where to begin with this next story. It is like straight out of a horror movie and it will literally make your skin crawl. So we're talking about Courtney Tamagni, a 20 year old from New Jersey who is now accusing her own dad, a freaking police chief, of some of the most heinous ritualistic abuse that I have ever heard of. Back on January 26, 2025, Courtney filed a very explosive lawsuit that sent shockwaves all throughout their small city in New Jersey called Leonia. Now, Leonia is a small, tight knit community in the suburbs of Jersey, and it's kind of a stone's throw to Manhattan. And it's this, like, charming little quaint and historic town that literally looks like it is straight from a postcard. Think like beautiful old historic buildings, colonial homes, lots of lush green open spaces, things like that. And sure enough, Courtney's father, Scott, was the police chief of Leonia. He and his wife Jean had raised Courtney and her two sisters there. But like I always say, things from the outside aren't always what they seem. And Courtney has accused her dad, Scott, of sexually abusing her for over a decade, starting at the very young age of 3 years old. And Scott isn't the only one that she's pointing the finger at either. She also claims that her neighbor, a man by the name of Keith Slevin, and some other members of their community are all part of some sick and twisted satanic cult. And these allegations are very disturbing. Okay. Courtney recently went on the podcast We're All Insane. And she opened up about some of the very horrific and terrifying abuse that she and her sisters endured for over 10 years. We're talking masked men, fires, animal burnings, chanting, I mean, full on ritualistic horror show. She and her sisters were allegedly drugged, raped, trafficked, and their dad even would threaten to kill their mother if they ever spoke out about it. Now, I want you to hear firsthand from Courtney about some of these allegations. Take a listen to her as she describes some of the abuse that she was subjected to.
Courtney Tamagni
I'm Courtney Tammany. I'm a survivor of satanic ritual abuse and my father's molestation. He is the chief of police, and I'm here today to help end this epidemic of childhood abuse. I was born into a cult. It's a satanic cult. They have their own special calendar. They wear Masks. They always would wear these masks with bones or whatever. They wanted to scare you. And it was also a power thing. We would go into the woods and we would play games, which were not games. There's a lot of fire, a lot of burnings, burnings of animals, animal skins, humans as well. What scared us the most is, okay, we're doing this to these people, people that we've trafficked. Why wouldn't we do this to you? You know, you need to be scared for your life because we just did that to this young girl or this young boy. So why wouldn't we do it to you if you're not acting well? So I wasn't able to sleep. I was up at night. And when I wasn't at these events, I was just being abused by my dad and my neighbor.
Annie Elise
Now, as if all of this wasn't already enough, she also claims that her dad's family has been involved in this satanic cult for generations. On the We're All Insane podcast, she even talked about these tunnels that they used to sneak in and around to do these insane rituals. She also describes a really sick game that was called Hunters and Gatherers.
Courtney Tamagni
We would go into the woods and we would play games, which were not games. One of them was called Hunter and Gatherer. You're in the woods at night. You have seven, 10 kids. Some of the men are hunters, where they have to find you, and the other ones are the gatherers. So the hunters would hit you over the head with a beam, a bat. My father, as a cop, had a nightstick, hit you with that, pass out. The gatherers would come. They'd be in, like, two or three assigned gatherers, and they would come get you and you assault you to whatever extent that they wanted. But they made it as it was a game and you could win. But after doing the game enough times, you realized there was no winning. You weren't going to win.
Annie Elise
The result was always the same.
Courtney Tamagni
Yeah, you were always going to be hit. They just wanted to watch you look terrified and run.
Annie Elise
Now, I'm sorry, but if this is true, who does this to children? It almost kind of reminds me, in a weird, roundabout way of that movie Hide and seek. Did you guys ever see that where it was like, this generation of like. Or these. These, like, culty thing with, like, all this. These generations of family who, like, do these games on the wedding night and, like, try to kill the bride? Weird stuff. But, like, when I first read about this, it kind of gave me those vibes, obviously, like. Like a little Bit different from that, but you get what I'm saying. And here's where it gets really, really messy. Scott and Keith both deny all of these allegations against them. They're out there saying, like, no, absolutely not. This has never even happened. They also claim that the feds, Homeland Security and the New Jersey Attorney General and the Bergen County Prosecutor's office all looked into these allegations and found nothing. In fact, Keith, the friend of the family, friend, neighbor, guy, is countersuing Courtney for defamation. He says that all of her claims are, quote, made of whole cloth and has caused him all sorts of public ridicule. And Scott's attorney says that all of this is false and defamatory, also alluding to the idea that Courtney has severe mental health issues, which maybe that's true, but maybe it's not. Maybe that's just kind of a classic move. Blame the victim, make the victim look crazy. I don't know. And that's why I'm saying there's a lot of mixed opinions out there right now. A lot of people out there are not believing Scott. They're not believing this mental health situation that he's trying to put forth. Neither is Courtney's mom, by the way. She's now joined the lawsuit, and she's in the process of divorcing Scott. So clearly, a lot of people do believe this. And look, I know that Courtney's story does sound insane and almost too crazy to be true, which I'm not going to lie. Satanic cults, animal sacrifices, secret tunnels, all of that. It is a little difficult for me to wrap my head around. I know things like that exist, but it does border on the edge of conspiracy, right, and conspiracy theories and wondering if that really could be real. But I also have been doing this long enough to know that sometimes the truth is crazier than fiction. And we also do know, too, that quite often people in power have the ability and the means to hide some really ugly secrets. And he has the police chief. I think he was in a very powerful position and maybe had the means to do that. So as all of this gets sorted away and we learn more, I, of course, will keep you updated. But my heart just goes out to Courtney and her sisters. I mean, they are living in a literal nightmare, yet she still is being outspoken. She still is out there fighting for justice, and that takes a lot of courage. So I hope that the courts dig deep, they figure out what the truth really is in this situation, because Courtney and her sisters deserve peace and answers. And I wonder what we are going to learn in this. What do you think? Have you heard of this case? Have you heard of any other details? And do you think it's real? Do you think it's too far fetched? What do you believe? I definitely will 100% be following this so I will keep you updated as we learn more. Maybe we'll do a deep dive on it as well because there is a lot of information below the line. So if you want that deep dive, definitely let me know. Otherwise I will see you next week. To all my friends In New York, Jersey, Philly, Boston, D.C. all of the areas over on the East Coast, Connecticut, we're doing five shows somewhere in your neck of the woods. All the details are@annie elise.com Go to the tour tab and grab your tickets because there are not many left. And like I said, I need you guys to be the jury for this case because there is so much stuff that I sleuthed out, so many text messages, audio recordings, cctv, so many red flags that I just want to talk with you guys about it and get your opinion. I also have some professional experts who will be tapping in to share their thoughts and theories on the case. And again that is exclusive to the tour. So I will see you next week. Alright guys, thanks again for tuning in. I will be back with you Monday with an all new episode and a deep dive into a case that is going viral everywhere right now that everyone is talking about. Especially if you're on Tick Tock. You may know what I'm talking about. We did the deep dive so that you don't have to and found out a ton of information. So I'll be back with you on Monday with that. All right, until the next one, don't join any cults, be nice, don't kill people, don't gaslight anyone and just try and be a good human. All right. It all right, bye guys.
Title: Ritualistic Sex Cult, Murderer Left Note Behind, & Ex-Boyfriend Snaps
Release Date: July 17, 2025
Hosted By: Annie Elise (10 to LIFE & Audioboom Studios)
In Episode 299 of Serialously with Annie Elise, Annie delves into several harrowing true crime cases that have recently surfaced or evolved. The episode primarily focuses on three major stories: the gruesome murders committed by Sam Haskell, the tragic case of Marissa DiNapoli, a bizarre murder involving a note, and disturbing allegations against a police chief involving ritualistic abuse.
Annie begins with the chilling story of Sam Haskell, whose heinous actions turned his family home into a scene of horror.
Background: Sam, portrayed as a spoiled individual benefiting from his father's Hollywood connections, failed to contribute meaningfully to his family. In contrast, his wife May, a 37-year-old dedicated mother of three, and her supportive parents were the pillars of the household.
The Murders: On November 6, 2023, Sam murdered his wife and her parents. The following day, he attempted to dispose of the bodies by hiring day laborers, claiming the bags contained rocks and Halloween decorations. Suspicious workers discovered the bags were filled with human remains and alerted authorities, but Sam had already fled, captured on surveillance cameras disposing of the remains.
Annie Elise (12:34): "He killed his wife, he killed his wife's parents...last week he pulled the ultimate coward move."
Evidence and Arrest: Upon investigation, the police found blood, weapons, and a Home Depot receipt indicating premeditation. Sam was arrested with a blood-soaked knife, substantial cash, and a one-way ticket to Japan in his possession.
Suicide and Aftermath: Just days before his preliminary hearing, Sam was found dead in his jail cell, leaving behind a note. His lawyers claimed it was to "end the chaos," but Annie criticizes this act as a cowardly escape from justice.
Annie Elise (28:15): "He could have just gotten a divorce. He could have left her, the grandparents...now these poor kids don't have their grandparents, their mother."
Impact: Sam's actions left three young children orphaned and deprived May's parents of justice. The case underscores the devastating consequences of unchecked manipulation and the failure to address red flags.
Next, Annie discusses the tragic murder of 18-year-old Marissa DiNapoli by her ex-boyfriend, highlighting failures in the investigative process.
Background: Marissa, in a toxic relationship with 20-year-old Martin, was last seen on June 28 after texting her family about staying at a friend's house. Ring camera footage showed a heated argument between her and Martin, capturing his agitation and her tension.
Annie Elise (13:29): "Why would you text your ex? I didn't."
Disappearance and Discovery: Marissa's phone ceased activity near Anderson Lake, and she failed to return to her job or home. Her family reported her missing, but initial police response was lackluster, dismissing immediate suspicions around Martin despite Marissa's expressed fears.
Murder and Arrest: Two days later, Marissa's body was found near the lake, stabbed five times. Martin was charged with first-degree murder after attempting to flee to Mexico but was apprehended by U.S. Marshals.
Annie Elise (25:42): "It is incredibly frightening that somebody can be that evil and that violent at such a young age."
Current Status: Martin awaits his preliminary hearing on September 9th. The case highlights systemic issues in responding to domestic threats and the tragic cost of delayed action.
Annie shifts to a bizarre case involving a Florida woman accused of murdering a man with a hammer and leaving a disturbing note.
The Crime Scene: On July 2, police discovered the body of 41-year-old Waduda Woodley, beaten to death with blunt force trauma. A white sheet with the message "pedo touches children" was found on his chest, adding a chilling layer to the crime.
Annie Elise (34:43): "The words 'pedo' immediately reframes this entire crime... it sounds like he was controlling, manipulative, and jealous."
Accused’s Claim: Jurnee Mcrew, the alleged perpetrator, claims Woodley had been sexually grooming her since she was eight. She recounts initiating contact to seek revenge, ultimately leading to the violent confrontation.
Legal and Moral Implications: Annie reflects on the complexities of vigilante justice, questioning whether personal trauma justifies extreme actions.
Annie Elise (41:25): "Does vigilante justice ever get a get out of jail free card? I mean, does it ever, right?"
Current Status: Jurnee is set to appear in court on July 24th. The case remains contentious, raising debates about rightful retribution versus criminal actions.
Annie covers a case involving a 49-year-old nurse practitioner, David, who abused his professional position to manipulate and harm a patient.
Background: Despite being married, David engaged in an unethical affair with a 27-year-old patient, falsely presenting his impending divorce to gain trust.
The Scheme: In January 2024, after the patient disclosed her pregnancy, David surreptitiously administered misoprostol during intercourse, causing her to miscarry without her consent.
Annie Elise (36:31): "He is the most manipulative person I've ever met... He used me for his own personal gain."
Exposing the Truth: The patient discovered the tampered pills after experiencing severe cramps and bleeding, leading her to seek medical help where the truth came to light.
Legal Proceedings: David was arrested for violating a protective order but was controversially released on a $500,000 bond. In court, his remorse seemed insincere, and his minimal sentence raised questions about justice.
Court’s Statement (36:48): "Sometimes your character isn't about what you do when people are watching. In this case, your public persona was completely different from the man that this victim knew."
Impact: The case highlights systemic failures in protecting victims and ensuring accountability, especially when perpetrators hold positions of trust and authority.
The most disturbing segment involves Courtney Tamagni's allegations against her father, Scott, the police chief of Leonia, NJ, and a purported satanic cult.
Allegations: Courtney claims that from the age of three, she and her sisters were subjected to decades of satanic ritual abuse, including sexual assaults, animal burnings, and other horrific acts orchestrated by her father and community members.
Courtney Tamagni (40:08): "We would go into the woods and we would play games, which were not games... you were always going to be hit."
Community and Legal Response: The accused, including Scott and neighbor Keith Slevin, vehemently deny the allegations, with Keith filing a defamation lawsuit against Courtney. Scott’s attorney questions Courtney’s mental health, attempting to discredit her claims.
Support and Controversy: Despite the outlandish nature of the claims, several community members and Courtney's mother support her, indicating deep familial and societal rifts.
Annie Elise (42:12): "Courtney and her sisters deserve peace and answers... I'm curious to see how the courts handle this."
Public Opinion: The case has polarized listeners, with debates over the credibility of Courtney’s testimony, the existence of such cult activities, and the potential misuse of power by law enforcement officials.
Current Status: As investigations continue, Annie expresses uncertainty and emphasizes the need for the truth to emerge, acknowledging the complexity and gravity of the allegations.
Episode 299 of Serialously with Annie Elise presents a series of disturbing true crime cases that underscore themes of manipulation, betrayal, and systemic failures in justice. Annie not only narrates these stories with emotional depth but also prompts listeners to reflect on broader societal issues related to power, accountability, and the quest for justice.
Notable Quotes:
Annie Elise on Sam Haskell's Case (28:15): "He could have just gotten a divorce. He could have left her, the grandparents...now these poor kids don't have their grandparents."
Annie Elise on Marissa DiNapoli (25:42): "It is incredibly frightening that somebody can be that evil and that violent at such a young age."
Annie Elise on Jurnee Mcrew's Actions (34:43): "The words 'pedo' immediately reframes this entire crime... it sounds like he was controlling, manipulative, and jealous."
Courtney Tamagni Testimony (40:08): "We would go into the woods and we would play games, which were not games."
Upcoming Content: Annie hints at deeper dives into certain cases and upcoming live shows on the East Coast, encouraging listeners to engage and participate in discussions surrounding these complex and emotionally charged cases.
Note: This summary omits advertisement segments and focuses solely on the core true crime content discussed in the episode.