Podcast Summary: Something About Cari — "The Circle Expands"

Host: Keith Morrison (NBC News)
Release Date: December 9, 2025
Episode: 3

Episode Overview

In this gripping episode, Keith Morrison journeys deeper into the heartland mystery surrounding Cari Farver, a single mom who vanished shortly after beginning a new romance with Dave Krupa. The investigation spirals into a web of stalking, threats, arson, and murder, with both Dave and his ex, Liz Goliar, at the center of escalating terror. Investigators, loved ones, and eventually listeners are all led through a labyrinth of suspicion—until a mind-bending twist surfaces, shifting the entire direction of the case.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Arson at Liz Goliar’s House

• [00:44–04:47]
  • The episode recounts a pivotal event in August 2013: Liz Goliar finds her house filled with smoke and calls 911 in distress.
  • Retired fire commander Shane McClanahan investigated the scene and described it as a "cold scene"—no active fire but significant smoke and soot.
    • Notable Quote:

      “They had what they described as a cold scene, which means there was no active fire … no extinguishment activities.” — Shane McClanahan [02:17]

  • Suspicious items—a gas can and lighter fluid container—are found, signaling arson.
  • The fire was set in six different locations in the basement, but failed to consume the house due to closed windows starving it of oxygen.
    • Notable Quote:

      “Obviously, that is not a normal place to find either. Gasoline. Lighter fluid. Right.” — McClanahan [05:12]

  • Tragically, Liz’s pets (two dogs, a cat, and a snake) perish in the fire.

2. Blame Turns to Cari Farver

• [04:47–09:20]
  • Liz asserts that Carrie Farver, whom she accuses of months of stalking and harassment, is responsible for the fire.
  • Police find an email—ostensibly from Carrie—sent to Dave, threatening Liz and her children:
    • Notable Quote (Voice Actor Reading):

      “...Hope you and your kids burn to death.” [08:35]

  • The case against Carrie escalates ominously, but she remains untraceable.

3. Liz Seeks Refuge and a Pattern of Turmoil Emerges

• [11:15–14:35]
  • Following the fire and continuous harassment, Liz relocates with her children to Council Bluffs, Iowa, moving in with her accommodating ex, Todd Butterbaugh.
    • Notable Quote:

      "If Liz needed a safe space ... he was the guy who could happily provide it." — Keith Morrison [12:27]

  • Their arrangement is more platonic than romantic. Todd frequently babysits Liz's children and provides financial help, though hopes for rekindling romance are unfulfilled.
  • Liz’s troubles continue: a previous incident involves a pizza delivery man who, after fixating on their TV, is suspected of returning to steal it and other electronics [15:27–15:52].

4. Dave Krupa’s Descent into Anxiety & Threats

• [15:57–18:19]
  • Dave experiences relentless harassment—graffiti, property damage, and threatening messages. His own children become targets.
    • Notable Quote:

      "What did she say when she threatened your kids, for example?"
      "Oh, something along the lines of slit your children's throats." — Dave Krupa [17:06]

  • Out of fear for his safety, Dave purchases a gun and, seeking refuge, moves to Council Bluffs, closer to his children.

5. Amy Flora Enters the Crosshairs

• [18:19–23:43]
  • Dave’s ex, Amy Flora, details her own torment after Carrie’s obsession spills onto her.
    • Notable Quotes:

      "I'm a single mom ... and then I have some crazy person sending me all these messages, threatening my kids … It was scary." — Amy Flora [18:19]
      "I would get 50, 60 a day, just while I was at work … over a period of several months." — Amy Flora [22:28]

  • Despite attempts to change phone numbers and employ safety precautions (escorts to her car, neighbors watching her home), the harassment persists without reprieve.

6. Investigative Dead Ends and Fresh Eyes

• [24:03–28:28]
  • The case stagnates among law enforcement, becoming "office chatter."
  • Detectives Jim Doty and Ryan Avis at the Pottawatoma County Sheriff’s Office decide to re-examine the case with a fresh perspective, each pursuing a different hypothesis:
    • Ryan: What if Carrie is alive and harassing people?
    • Jim: What if she’s not alive?
    • Notable Quote:

      “I thought the smart idea was not to have tunnel vision ... Each of us took one [hypothesis] and we started from scratch.” — Detective Jim Doty [25:24]

  • They gain valuable digital evidence from the phones of both Liz and Dave but have yet to formally interview Liz.

7. The “Twist” — Turning Suspicion to Amy Flora

• [28:28–30:47]
  • Coincidentally, Liz comes to the sheriff’s office not with a complaint about Carrie, but about Amy Flora, alleging that Amy—not Carrie—must be the real tormentor, as she has the motivation (Dave) and opportunity.
    • Notable Quotes:

      “For three years, Liz believed that Carrie Farver was the woman behind all the threatening messages ... But suddenly ... it wasn’t Carrie at all.” — Keith Morrison [29:13]
      “I would find it more reasonable to believe that his kid's mom is [the culprit], not a detective.” — Liz Goliar [30:16]

  • Investigators note this significant shift, hinting at the unraveling of the established narrative.

8. Foreshadowing the Shocking Truth to Come

• [30:47–31:18]
  • The episode closes by teasing that even more disturbing developments are imminent, signaling dramatic turns in the next installment.

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• Arson Discovery:

  “There was no thermal damage or ... active fire on the main floor. Just a heavy soot layer ... indicating this fire had cooled.”
  — Shane McClanahan [04:47]

• Harassment Email:

  “Hope you and your kids burn to death.”
  — Voice actor reading “Carrie’s” email [08:53]

• Todd Butterbaugh on Living with Liz:

  “I hadn't been in a relationship for a while … I can't say there was, like, chemistry.”
  — Todd Butterbaugh [13:02]

• Dave Krupa on Fearing for His Kids:

  “Oh, something along the lines of slit your children’s throats.”
  — Dave Krupa [17:06]

• Amy Flora’s Ordeal:

  “I would get 50, 60 [messages] a day, just while I was at work ...”
  — Amy Flora [22:28]

• Shifting Suspicions:

  “It wasn’t Carrie at all … the real culprit had to be Dave’s ex, the mother of his children, Amy Flora.”
  — Keith Morrison paraphrasing Liz Goliar [29:13]

• Detective’s Open-Minded Approach:

  “I thought the smart idea was not to have tunnel vision on any direction.”
  — Detective Jim Doty [25:24]

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [00:44–05:45] – Fire at Liz’s house, arson investigation, discovery of evidence
• [05:45–09:09] – Police explore arson and harassment links to Cari Farver, pivotal email
• [11:15–14:35] – Liz moves in with Todd Butterbaugh, their relationship dynamics
• [15:57–18:19] – Dave Krupa details the escalation of threats and his protective measures
• [18:19–23:43] – Amy Flora’s experience of harassment and safety precautions
• [24:03–28:28] – Detectives Doty & Avis take the case, dual hypothesis, digital evidence found
• [28:28–30:47] – Liz’s accusation shifts from Carrie Farver to Amy Flora
• [30:47–31:18] – Tease of upcoming dramatic revelations

Tone & Style

Keith Morrison maintains a suspenseful, reflective, and empathetic tone throughout, skillfully weaving together interviews, firsthand accounts, and investigative findings. The episode is heavy with the real-life distress of the victims while hinting at deeper layers yet unpeeled in the investigation.

Summary Takeaway

The Circle Expands elevates the saga of Cari Farver from a tale of stalking and missing persons into a genuine psychological thriller. The story’s complexity grows as victims, investigators, and listeners alike are forced to reevaluate all assumptions while teasing the unraveling of a grand deception. The final moments set the stage for an even stranger and more disturbing truth to emerge in future episodes.