Killer Story | 1. A Rose for Mom

Podcast: The Binge Cases: Killer Story
Host: Sony Music Entertainment
Date: February 2, 2026

Episode Overview

The series debut of "Killer Story" unearths the 1987 disappearance of Sabrina Kidd—a 17-year-old who moved alone to Las Vegas, seeking a fresh start and affection missing from her difficult Texas upbringing. Through the eyes of tabloid reporter Lyndall Marks, whose own secret past drives her obsession with justice, the episode explores the emotional impact of unresolved crimes, bureaucratic neglect, and the web of relationships that shape a young woman’s fate. This is a deeply human story of yearning, loss, and the desperate fight for answers—drawing together family, friends, and one relentless journalist.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovery on the Colorado River

• Tom Percival’s Firsthand Account (00:32–02:58):
  • In September 1987, Tom Percival and his wife found a body floating in the Colorado River, mistaking it at first for a "beautiful mannequin."
  • Tom describes the haunting image:

    “I saw a bloody tear. I lost it right there. I said, who would do this to this poor girl?”
    (Tom Percival, 02:48)

  • The identity of the girl is unknown at the time—it would be years before she's identified as Sabrina Kidd.

2. Sabrina Kidd’s Early Life and Relationships

• Mother-Daughter Bond and Estrangement (05:15–06:46):

  • Sabrina “worshiped her mom,” recalls cousin Dewana (05:15).
  • Childhood memories often center on Sabrina gifting her mother a single rose:

    “Her ideal was always to stop and get her mom a rose.”
    (Dewana, 05:41)

  • Bobby Sue, Sabrina’s mother, is described as beautiful but emotionally distant and often absent, prioritizing relationships over parenting.

• Las Vegas and Search for Belonging (06:46–09:07):

  • At 17, Sabrina moved to Vegas to live with cousin Dewana, seeking love and acceptance:

    “I just want someone to love me, someone to care about me unconditionally and not judge me.”
    (Sabrina, recounted by Dewana, 06:54)

  • Conflict with her cousin and a transient lifestyle characterize her early Vegas experience.

• Friendship and Romance (07:31–11:51):

  • Sabrina's friend Jennifer remembers her as “just really kind.”
  • Meeting Jim Bixel offers Sabrina a sense of freedom and belonging:

    “She would say, you know, riding on the bike really makes me feel free.”
    (Jim Bixel, 09:33)

  • With help from Jim and others, Sabrina finally secures a job and a stable place to live.

3. The Disappearance

• Timeline Leading to Vanishing (13:14–16:01):

  • September 17–18, 1987:
    • Sabrina attends a football game with friends Crystal and Jennifer.
    • She is last seen the morning after, being dropped off at her place at about 8:30 AM.
    • When Crystal attempts to pick her up for work at 9:30 AM, the landlord, acting unusually, says Sabrina isn’t there.
    • Sabrina never makes it to work; friends immediately suspect something is wrong.

• Frustration with Authorities (17:36–18:20):

  • Jennifer and Crystal report Sabrina missing, but police dismiss the case as a runaway situation and insinuate illicit behavior.

    “Even if it was true, it had nothing to fucking do with the fact that she’s missing. I remember being so fucking angry.”
    (Jennifer, 18:02)

4. Family’s Relentless Search

• Enduring Hope, Institutional Apathy (18:20–19:20):
  • Sabrina’s mother and aunt persist for four years—contacting media and pushing for attention.
  • Their break comes when they contact "A Current Affair," aiming for national visibility.

5. Lyndall Marks: The Reluctant Crusader

• Taking the Call: Initial Skepticism to Empathy (20:32–24:34):

  • Lyndall’s phone rings in 1991 with a plea from the family.

    “We have phoned newspapers, we’ve phoned other people in the media. No one cares. We can’t get anyone to do anything. You are our last resort.”
    (Aunt, recounted by Lyndall, 21:29)

  • Lyndall, a hard-nosed reporter with an “irrationally relentless” streak, feels immediate empathy and connection.

• Battle with the News Desk (24:42–26:24):

  • Lyndall's editor Dan Meanan initially refuses to greenlight the story, dismissing “missing persons” as inconclusive:

    “This is a sausage factory. And I’ve got to come up with about four or five stories a night. So I can’t be wasting my time on stories that I feel doesn’t have a conclusion.”
    (Dan Meanan, 26:04)

  • Lyndall refuses to back down:

    “Yeah, totally. Fuck off.”
    (Lyndall Marks, 26:19)

• Lyndall’s Personal Stake (26:57–27:27):

  • Hints are dropped about Lyndall’s personal history motivating her drive:

    “If I feel like a victim hasn’t been given a voice, I won’t stop until I have found a way to tell that story.” (Lyndall Marks, 26:54)

  • The episode ends with Lyndall promising to reveal her secret and its connection to Sabrina’s case in the next episode.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Tom Percival describes the discovery:

  “I remember looking at her hair, beautiful hair floating in the water, just floating out like a... like a rainbow, kind of just... it's beautiful. And she did have this, like a mossy green tint all over one of the skin that I could see. And that's when I noticed the teardrop right in the corner of her eye. I saw a bloody tear. I lost it right there. I said, who would do this to this poor girl?”
  (Tom Percival, 01:44–02:58)

• Dewana on Sabrina’s longing for unconditional love:

  “She was over in the one bed and I was in the other bed and I asked her, I said, what do you want? And she goes, I just want someone to love me, someone to care about me unconditionally and not judge me.”
  (Dewana, 06:54)

• Jennifer remembers police skepticism:

  “We waited 24 hours and then we went to the police. We said, she’s missing. Something happened and they just didn’t believe us. One point they said that she was classed as a runaway and there’s nothing we could do.”
  (Jennifer, 17:36)

• Lyndall’s philosophy as a reporter:

  “You never take no for an answer.”
  (Lyndall Marks, 22:54)
  “If I feel like there’s a big man kicking a little guy in the guts, I will go after that story. I will go after that, with aggression and passion.”
  (Lyndall Marks, 23:07)

• On newsroom dismissiveness:

  “We don’t do missing persons. There’s no conclusion to the story.”
  (Dan Meanan, 25:11)

• Lyndall’s refusal to be deterred:

  “When I feel something and my instinct is telling me this is right, I. I have to follow this. I will follow it. I will go down every rabbit hole. If I feel like a victim hasn’t been given a voice, I won’t stop until I have found a way to tell that story.”
  (Lyndall Marks, 26:36)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Discovery on Colorado River: 00:32–02:58
• Sabrina’s Childhood and Vegas Move: 05:15–07:31
• Friendship & Relationship with Jim: 08:29–11:51
• Day of Disappearance, Friend Accounts: 13:14–16:01
• Police Dismiss Inquiry: 17:36–18:20
• Family’s Media Campaign: 18:20–19:20
• Lyndall Receives the Call: 20:32–24:34
• Editor Pushback: 25:11–26:24
• Lyndall’s Secret Teased: 26:57–27:27

Episode Tone & Style

The episode blends the warmth of friends and family reminiscences with the dark urgency of a true crime investigation. Narration—led by Steve Fishman—is empathetic and atmospheric, interweaving first-person memories with investigative grit. Guest voices (Tom, Dewana, Jennifer, Jim, Lyndall, and Dan) are candid, sometimes emotional, but always earnest. The story is told with a sense of dignity for the victim and an undercurrent of critique for institutional failures.

For Next Time

The episode ends on a cliffhanger—Lyndall’s hidden motivation and past trauma will come to light, promising deeper insight into her drive to solve Sabrina Kidd’s case and to give voice to those overlooked by the system.