Podcast Summary: Snapped: Women Who Murder

Episode: BONUS: Crystal Brinson & Byron Boutin (Snapped: Killer Couples)
Date: November 19, 2025
Host: Oxygen

Overview

This episode dives deep into the harrowing case of Deanna Stiers, an 18-year-old from rural Florida whose life ended tragically in a shocking tale of addiction, toxic relationships, jealousy, and ultimately, murder. Through original police interviews, statements from family and friends, and a step-by-step recount of the investigation, the episode unravels the roles of Crystal Brinson and Byron Boutin—dubbed a “killer couple”—in Deanna’s untimely death.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Discovery of the Crime (01:34–03:34)

• Deanna’s decomposing body is found by hunters in a remote, wooded area in Levy County, Florida.
• Investigators immediately notice animals have fed on the remains and observe blunt force trauma to her head (01:41).
• The body's state suggests it was dumped post-mortem, wrapped in black cloth (03:34).

Notable Quote:

"The right arm is exposed and skeletonized, and part of the upper torso is exposed...We were fairly certain that we had the remains of a female...based on the condition of her hand and her fingernails. They were painted and manicured." — Levy County Investigator [03:34]

Identification and Early Investigation (05:37–07:31)

• Forensic teams find clues: manicure, tattoos, hair color.
• The information matches a missing person: Deanna Stiers, reported by her father weeks earlier (06:46).
• Three local counties join forces to investigate.

Memorable Moment:
Family struggles to accept the grim news when detectives notify them (07:58–08:14).

"It didn't feel real. There's no way it's her. But that was just me fighting, like, my worst fear." — Alyssa, Deanna’s sister [07:58]

Deanna’s Life and Personal Struggles (08:33–12:32)

• Deanna is remembered as joyful, kind, and social but began spiraling after her grandfather's death.
• She aspired to be a nurse but started partying, drinking, and fell in with an older crowd.
• Warning signs of her downward path noted by friends and family (12:10–12:32).

Notable Quote:

"You're going down the wrong path and you're hanging out with the wrong people and something's going to happen to you." — Deanna's family member [02:04, 13:15]

Determining Cause of Death & Early Suspects (12:44–15:25)

• Autopsy reveals Deanna died from acute morphine toxicity, not the head trauma (12:52, 15:11).
• Blunt force trauma was from being “pistol-whipped,” possible human trafficking discussed due to circumstances and her missing status.

Key Insight:

"One of the tactics they'll use...is inject them with drugs. So now you have someone you captured, you're turning them into basically depending on whatever drugs." — Investigator (15:44)

Investigation Tracks Down Key Players (16:35–19:19)

• Deanna's last known debit card activity points to a gas station; surveillance footage leads police to a man named Kevin Shields (16:50–17:25).
• Shields tells police that Crystal Brinson and Byron Boutin indicated to him they had a body in their car, and asked about “where to bury a body that won’t be found” (18:47).

Notable Quote:

"Deanna was dead in the trunk of the car. They discussed what to do with the body." — Investigator [18:55]

Crystal Brinson and Byron Boutin’s Backgrounds (19:29–24:42)

• Both have prior felonies and a pattern of instability and substance abuse (19:29).
• Crystal’s mother describes her daughter’s descent from beauty pageants to exotic dancing and drug addiction, eventually meeting Byron, whom she warns Crystal to avoid (23:45, 24:23).

Piecing Together the Timeline (24:54–26:40)

• Crystal and Byron bring Deanna (in overdose) to Byron’s father’s house, restrain her, and call "Mama CJ" for help.
• "Mama CJ" helps cover up the murder but is not directly involved.

Notable Quote:

"They secured her to this inversion table...and they had her tied up. Byron and Crystal decided to go to Mama CJ’s house...when they returned, Deanna was deceased." — Investigator (26:02)

Search Warrants & Forensic Breakthroughs (27:11–31:27)

• Warrants executed reveal the inversion table and physical evidence linking Byron’s residence to Deanna: blood, DNA on the pistol, matching bindings and fabric, and Deanna’s blood in Byron’s car trunk.

Interrogations and Confessions (31:27–36:38)

• Byron, confronted with evidence, admits to witnessing (but not administering) the fatal events.
• He claims Crystal injected Deanna after an argument about stolen drugs, then assaulted her with the pistol (33:15–33:26).

Notable Quote:

"Pistol hit her like a bunch of times, like really fast." — Byron Boutin [33:15]

• The couple stored her body in the car trunk for two days and asked Shields for disposal advice before dumping her in Levy County (36:00).

The Role of Jealousy (27:28, 38:22–39:34)

• Investigators and family speculate Crystal was motivated by jealousy, as Deanna’s youth and vivacity threatened Crystal’s relationship with Byron.

Notable Quotes:

"Jealousy could have gone into play...you have a younger female, outgoing, very attractive, taking attention away from her. Jealousy can happen." — Investigator [39:25]

Arrests, Trials, and Sentencing (39:06–44:41)

• Byron is charged and convicted of second-degree murder (41:15, 43:04); sentenced to life in prison.
• Crystal accepts a plea deal, receiving 12 years for second-degree murder (43:32, 44:20).

Family Response:

"How can one get life in prison and the other one get 12 years? She should have gotten life in prison as well." — Deanna's mother [44:27]
"I don't feel like we got just[ice] with Crystal." — Alyssa, Deanna’s sister [44:41]

Aftermath and Reflection (44:46–45:43)

• The conclusion dwells on the tragedy’s ripple effects across Deanna’s family and community.
• Crystal Brinson is revealed to have been released from prison in October 2023; Byron’s 2023 appeal was denied (45:43).

Memorable Closing Quotes:

"They cut her life short. Nobody deserves to go through what she did." — Deanna's mother [45:10]
"She had her failures, you know, but she was the sweetest person you'll ever remember." — Sister [45:23]

Important Timestamps

• Discovery of the body: 01:34–03:34
• Identification of Deanna: 06:13–07:31
• Autopsy findings announced: 12:44–15:25
• Kevin Shields' account: 17:32–19:19
• Mama CJ's role revealed: 24:42–26:40
• Physical evidence at Byron's house: 30:07–31:27
• Byron’s confession: 31:27–36:38
• Jealousy discussed as motive: 38:22–39:34
• Sentencing outcome: 41:15–44:41
• Postscript and release info: 45:43

Notable Quotes & Speaker Attribution

• "We were fairly certain that we had the remains of a female...based on the condition of her hand and her fingernails." — Investigator [03:34]
• "We didn't think that we were going to be told, like we found a body. It didn't feel real." — Alyssa (Deanna’s sister) [07:58]
• "She was a lover and she was a girly girl. She was just beautiful. She had these gorgeous eyes that just would melt your heart." — Deanna's mother [08:57]
• "Blunt force trauma that was on Deanna's head matched up with...the butt end of a pistol grip." — Investigator [14:51]
• "She died as a result of acute drug toxicity being morphine." — Medical Examiner [15:11]
• "They brought her...to a house...where they stuffed a rag of some sort in her mouth...secured her to this inversion table." — Investigator [25:49–26:02]
• "Pistol hit her like a bunch of times, like really fast." — Byron Boutin [33:15]
• "How can one get life in prison and the other one get 12 years? She should have gotten life in prison as well." — Deanna's mother [44:27]

Conclusion

The episode masterfully weaves together personal tragedy and criminal investigation, highlighting not just the details of the crime, but the lives impacted by a senseless act rooted in addiction and jealousy. It exposes the dangers faced by vulnerable young people, the chaos of substance abuse, and the devastating outcomes when trust is misplaced.

End of Summary