Podcast Summary: The Binge Cases: Killer Story | Episode 3: Paradise Ruined

Host: Steve Fishman
Main Contributors: Reporter Lyndal Marks and key witnesses/family members
Date: February 16, 2026

Overview

This episode delves deep into the Las Vegas cold case of Sabrina Kidd, a 17-year-old whose body was found in the Colorado River and buried as a Jane Doe. The story chronicles tabloid reporter Lyndal Marks's dogged investigation years later, seeking both justice for Sabrina and a reckoning for herself, driven by her own past traumas. This chapter focuses on new clues, the emotional toll on Sabrina’s family, and a shocking revelation about Sabrina’s landlord that changes the trajectory of the investigation.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Sabrina’s Burial and the Desert Cemetery

• [02:23-04:56] The episode paints a vivid picture of the Kingman, Arizona cemetery where Sabrina was buried anonymously:
  • The cemetery’s caretaker, Nikki Rowe, describes it as a somber, desert place, different from classic cemeteries:

    "It's not like a normal cemetery, you know, where there's grass and things. It is the Arizona desert." (D, 02:43)

  • Jane Does are buried with simple pine caskets and marked only by found dates.
  • Staff say a prayer, hoping for the deceased to be named and for their killer to be found.

2. The Toll on Sabrina’s Family

• [08:05-09:46] Reporter Lyndal Marks speaks to Sabrina’s mother, Bobby Sue, highlighting her recurring guilt and overwhelming sense of loss:

  • "She felt like she had not done the right thing by her daughter on tonight's call." (C, 08:36)

  • Bobby Sue recalls always wanting her “baby back,” but lacks actionable clues for Lyndal.

3. Discovery of a Mysterious Life Insurance Policy

• [09:46-11:10] A pivotal conversation reveals a crucial clue:
  • Bobby Sue mentions, almost as an afterthought, a nurse’s visit regarding a life insurance policy, which Lyndal knows could be key.

  • "Did Sabrina ever say anything to you that you thought was strange?" (C, 08:55)

  • Bobby Sue had no details—she didn’t take the policy out, nor did she have any paperwork.

4. Lyndal’s Old-School Detective Work

• [12:10-13:39] Lyndal embarks on a grueling search, calling insurance companies from the physical Yellow Pages—eventually zeroing in on State Farm.
  • She avoids revealing she is a journalist to avoid stonewalling:

    • "I did not say I was from A Current Affair. And I said, there's a missing girl and her mother's very upset." (C, 12:16)

  • State Farm is cagey, refusing to talk to Lyndal but open to Sabrina’s mother contacting them.

5. Romance and Distraction Amid the Investigation

• [15:05-16:57] Lyndal briefly finds personal solace and stability in her relationship with her boss, Dan, after a traumatic earlier life.
  • Describes their New York courtship and whirlwind engagement:

    • "I am in heaven...this is New York. This is like every movie I've ever seen." (C, 16:20)

    • "Bang. We were engaged." (C, 16:46)

  • Nonetheless, Lyndal’s concern over Sabrina’s fate remains a constant undercurrent.

6. Sabrina’s Troubled Years in Vegas

• [17:17-21:56] The episode flashes back to Sabrina’s arrival in Las Vegas as a teenager, her familial conflicts, and descent into a risky relationship:
  • Cousin Dewana describes Sabrina’s emotional state and self-reinvention:

    • "She was a very beautiful young girl, but she just didn't care about her look. She became totally opposite than her mother." (E, 18:29)

  • Sabrina’s attachment to “Mr. Naked City,” a dangerous boyfriend, and subsequent break with family.

7. Sabrina Finds Stability, Reconnects with Family

• [23:59-25:18] Sabrina’s fortunes seem to improve with a stable living situation and reconciliation with her cousin Dewana.
  • Sabrina’s positive transformation is noted:

    • "She said that she wanted to see me and she wanted to talk and she was sorry about everything." (E, 24:41)

  • Sabrina is happy, has a job, and looks forward to the future.

8. The Breakthrough: The Life Insurance Policy

• [27:11-28:29] The tension peaks as Lyndal finally obtains the insurance paperwork from State Farm:
  • The document reveals a staggering policy: $400,000 on Sabrina’s life—just ten days before she disappeared.
  • The beneficiary is Tom Preston, Sabrina’s benign-seeming landlord.

    • "They sent that one page that says $400,000. The beneficiary, Tom Preston." (C, 28:15)

  • Lyndal is stunned, feeling both elation and fury:

    • "It was like my blood at the same time boiled and went cold." (C, 28:29)

  • She and her husband Dan agree: Preston must be investigated as the main suspect.

9. Lyndal’s Relentless Drive

• [29:30] Lyndal’s determination shines, even in the face of warning from her husband:

  • "No one's going to tell me not to put a microphone on and go and ambush a killer. I'm sorry. No one's going to tell me not to do that." (C, 29:30)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Lost Identity:

  "This somber place is managed by a Pepe woman, Nikki Rowe... when a dead body can't be identified... declared a Jane or John Doe... This is where Sabrina's body would rest for years alongside other Jane and John does, unnamed and unclaimed." (B & D, 02:23-03:58)

• On Family Despair:

  "She felt like she had not done the right thing by her daughter on tonight's call." (C, 08:36) "She was just missing. They were looking around the country. They were trying to find her. Scouring different newspapers." (C, 09:11)

• On the Investigation’s Turning Point:

  "It was like this golden opportunity... But then I saw $400,000 and Lindell saw the date." (C, 27:39) "This right there, I realize there's motive right there. It's like my blood at the same time boiled and went cold." (C, 28:29)

• On Journalistic Tenacity:

  "No one's going to tell me not to put a microphone on and go and ambush a killer. I'm sorry. No one's going to tell me not to do that." (C, 29:30)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Intro to Sabrina’s Burial and Jane Doe Cemetery: 02:23–04:56
• Lyndal and Bobby Sue’s Emotional Calls: 08:05–09:46
• Life Insurance Policy Discovery: 09:46–13:39
• Lyndal’s Romance and Distraction: 15:05–16:57
• Sabrina’s Life in Vegas & Relationship Troubles: 17:17–21:56
• Sabrina Reconnecting with Dewana: 24:41–25:18
• Insurance Policy Breakthrough: 27:11–28:29
• Lyndal’s Determination: 29:30

Episode Tone & Style

The episode’s tone is somber, urgent, and personal, blending cold-case reporting with intimate family moments and the protagonist’s own emotional journey. The narrative weaves between investigative suspense, personal healing, and the ache of unresolved loss, punctuated with moments of hope and sharp determination.

Conclusion

“Paradise Ruined” marks a turning point in the podcast’s investigation with the bombshell revelation of the life insurance policy, thrusting Sabrina’s quiet landlord into the center of suspicion. The episode balances methodical reporting with raw, emotional storytelling—leaving listeners eager for the confrontation and answers promised in the next installment.