Serialously with Annie Elise — Episode 374: “Infatuated With WHO?! Her Cousin Does The Unthinkable”
Release Date: March 9, 2026
Host: Annie Elise
Podcast Network: Audioboom Studios

Episode Overview

In this chilling episode, Annie Elise tackles one of the most harrowing and convoluted cases in recent Ohio history. What appears at first as a typical small-town tragedy quickly spirals into a shocking saga involving secret family affairs, incest, necrophilia, multiple murders, and unimaginable heartbreak. With her signature conversational style, Annie walks listeners through the dark layers behind the quadruple murder of the Holston family in Lawrence County, Ohio, exposing secrets, red flags, and motives that defy belief.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Picturesque Family and Small Town Dynamics (01:29–04:15)

• The Holston family (Todd, Stacy, and sons Devin and Braxton) lived the “American Dream” in rural Appalachia, closely surrounded by family.
• Annie places emphasis on how common it is for extended families to stay close in rural Ohio, setting the stage for this particular dynamic’s tragic consequences.

2. The Unthinkable Secret — Stacy’s Affair with Her Cousin (04:16–13:30)

• Stacy enters into an affair with her first cousin, Aron Lawson, detailing both the emotional and physical elements.
• Annie discusses the unique pain and drama of extricating yourself from an affair—especially when it’s with a family member. The impossibility of escape, given their proximity and blood ties, becomes a recurring theme.
  • "They knew they were first cousins and decided to bond—very close, closer than most cousins do emotionally... then it crossed over into sexual territory. And it's not only messy, but it's also ick, ick." — Annie Elise (08:01)

3. The Breakup and its Deadly Fallout (13:31–19:00)

• Stacy finally ends the affair; Aron becomes obsessed and destabilized, unable to accept the rejection.
• Aron confides in his mother—Stacy’s aunt—about his infatuation and even calls Stacy “the love of his life.”
• Critical tension: Stacy wants to fix her marriage; Aron, devastated and heartbroken, is “going through his own kind of heartbreak.”

4. The Day of the Murders: Calm Routine, then Horror (19:01–27:45)

• October 11, 2017: Routine morning, Todd heads to an early worksite; Stacy prepares the kids for school, with nothing immediately amiss.
• By evening, Todd grows increasingly worried after repeated unanswered calls and texts from Stacy, prompting him to contact her mother, Tammy.
• Tammy enters the house and is heard screaming on the phone to Todd, followed by a loud noise and silence.
  • "He heard her yell out, oh my God. Then heard this very loud noise and then complete silence." — Annie Elise (27:36)

5. Discovery of the Crime Scene (27:46–34:00)

• Todd arrives home, is attacked and stabbed by Aron but manages to fight him off and throw him out.
• Shocking discovery: the bodies of Stacy, Donald (her stepfather), and Tammy (her mother), all shot and killed. Their youngest son, Braxton, found alive but alone; eight-year-old Devin is missing.

6. The Search for Missing Devin and the Manhunt for Aron (34:01–40:16)

• Authorities and neighbors fear Devin has been kidnapped by Aron, prompting a large-scale manhunt.
• Media attention escalates as Aron is suspected to be hiding in the thick woods near the area.

7. Major Break: Aron Turns Himself In (40:17–41:30)

• After two days on the run, cold and unable to endure the woods, Aron surrenders at the police station.
  • "He actually turned himself in... because the second night out in the woods was too cold for him. He couldn't hack it." — Annie Elise (40:36)

8. Layered Motives and Step-by-Step Breakdown of the Crime (41:31–53:43)

• Aron premeditated the attacks: props open a window the day before, waits inside the house with a backpack of supplies after Todd leaves for work.
• Timeline of murders:
  • Stacy is shot, her body moved, and, in a shocking reveal, sexually assaulted after death.
  • Aron calls the school pretending to be Todd, ensuring Devin rides the bus home instead of to his grandparents', facilitating Devin’s murder.
  • Tammy and Donald arrive separately and are ambushed and killed.
• Annie unpacks the psychological elements, Aron's twisted logic, and points out the rare and disturbing necrophilia aspect.
  • "He undressed her body, put a condom on, and he had sex with her deceased corpse... if you aren't grossed out enough with the incestual relationship that's already going on, adding necrophilia to the list, that certainly is, like, next level, unhinged and deranged." — Annie Elise (49:53)

9. The Aftermath: Legal Proceedings and Todd’s Trauma (65:25–70:52)

• Aron initially pleads not guilty, but later changes plea to guilty, allegedly to spare the families a gruesome trial.
• Sentenced to death and additional consecutive prison terms.
  • "In the end, he was ultimately sentenced to death for the four counts of murder. And on top of that, he also received a total of 59 years and 6 months for the other non capital counts." — Annie Elise (67:07)
• Annie’s reflection on the immense trauma Todd endures—losing his family and learning horrific secrets all at once.
  • "Put yourself in Todd's shoes... you lose your wife, you find out she was having an affair... with her own cousin and her own murderer. I don't even know where your mind goes after that. How you come back from that, I truly don't know." — Annie Elise (68:13)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Incest and the Affair:
  "They knew they were first cousins and decided to bond—very close, closer than most cousins do emotionally... then it crossed over into sexual territory. And it's not only messy, but it's also ick, ick."
  — Annie Elise (08:01)

• Family Trust Betrayed:
  "He'd babysit my kids while we go out... I just don't know why he'd do things like this."
  — Tammy, Stacy's Mom (00:42)

• The Immediate Horror:
  "He heard her yell out, oh my God. Then heard this very loud noise and then complete silence."
  — Annie Elise (27:36)

• Turning Himself In:
  "He actually turned himself in... because the second night out in the woods was too cold for him. He couldn't hack it."
  — Annie Elise (40:36)

• Necrophilia Detail:
  "He undressed her body, put a condom on, and he had sex with her deceased corpse... if you aren't grossed out enough with the incestual relationship that's already going on, adding necrophilia to the list, that certainly is, like, next level, unhinged and deranged."
  — Annie Elise (49:53)

• Reflection on the Survivor:
  "Put yourself in Todd's shoes... you lose your wife, you find out she was having an affair... with her own cousin and her own murderer. I don't even know where your mind goes after that. How you come back from that, I truly don't know."
  — Annie Elise (68:13)

Timeline of Critical Events and Timestamps

| Timestamp | Event/Discussion | |------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:29–04:15| Introduction to the Holston family and community dynamics | | 04:16–13:30| Stacy's affair with cousin Aron revealed and its emotional complexity explained | | 13:31–19:00| Breakup with Aron and ominous change in his behavior | | 19:01–27:45| Day of the murders: Todd leaves for work; irregularities in communication; Tammy discovers scene | | 27:46–34:00| Todd returns; is attacked by Aron and discovers the bodies | | 34:01–40:16| Braxton is found alive; large-scale manhunt for Aron; Devin is falsely presumed missing | | 40:17–41:30| Aron turns himself in due to cold and discomfort | | 41:31–53:43| Annie provides a step-by-step, in-depth account of Aron’s planning and execution of the murders, necrophilia, and attempted escape | | 65:25–70:52| Aftermath: Legal proceedings, Aron's pleas, sentencing, and Annie’s reflection on Todd's unimaginable experience |

Tone & Delivery

Annie maintains her signature, raw conversational style—equal parts empathetic, incredulous, and darkly witty. She often pauses to insert personal reflections or voice the collective horror and confusion listeners likely feel, providing an almost “friend-to-friend” retelling despite the heaviness of the subject matter.

Concluding Thoughts

This episode of Serialously is a harrowing deep dive into a crime whose darkness goes beyond even the typical boundaries of true crime. Through methodical storytelling and compassionate analysis, Annie Elise exposes the rupturing of family trust, the horror of family violence, and the incomprehensible pain left behind. The episode is grounded by Annie’s sensitive yet unflinching approach, and it’s particularly poignant in its exploration of hidden traumas and betrayal within even the closest of communities.

For Listeners

• For the most disturbing parts (necrophilia, child murder), Annie provides content warnings, but covers all essential details.
• Annie encourages listeners to reflect on the ripple effects of such crimes on survivors and the wider family/community.

If you need the full intensity of the episode, or want to hear more of Annie’s personal takes, listen to the podcast for her voice and delivery—but this summary provides all the key information, quotes, and emotional beats.