True Crime All The Time – Episode 468: Jermaine Ross

Release Date: January 19, 2026
Hosts: Mike Ferguson and Mike Gibson (Gibby)

Episode Overview

In this episode, Mike and Gibby dissect the tragic 2018 murder of Jermaine Ross—a beloved barber from Cahokia, Illinois—who was found dead in his home after missing appointments. The episode explores Ross’s positive influence in his community, the investigation that followed his suspicious death, and the eventual unraveling of motive, suspects, and truth. The hosts intersperse serious analysis with their signature light banter, but stay deeply engaged with the case’s details and emotional gravity.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

Jermaine Ross: A Beloved Community Barber

• Background: Jermaine Ross (b. Nov 6, 1970) was known for his vibrant barbershop that served as a local hub. People were drawn to his welcoming personality, generosity, and community spirit.

  • "[Jermaine] was a person that reached out and helped people. He was a community person. You know, he had a heart." (Mike Ferguson, quoting Jermaine's sister Willa Ross Patterson, 08:56)
  • Jermaine often cut children's hair for free if their families were struggling, and let those in need stay at his house rent-free (08:47–10:04).

• Barbershop as Safe Space: Mike and Gibby reflect on the importance of neighborhood barbershops as safe, social spaces, contrasting them with modern chain salons (06:24–08:45).

Discovery of the Crime Scene

• Jermaine Goes Missing: In early October 2018, Jermaine missed several appointments. A friend found an overwhelming odor and a disturbing number of flies at his house on October 3 (11:51–12:16).

  • "There were so many flies, it looked like a black tarp across the window." (Mike Ferguson, 12:09)

• Police Arrive: A neighbor, Officer Greer, responded after being told "Ross is dead." Greer was immediately met with a powerful odor ("the stench, I mean, it was bad"), an unmistakable sign of death for law enforcement (13:19–13:58).

• Initial Assumptions: Due to decomposition and no obvious injuries, police initially suspected natural causes (14:00–14:33).

  • Forensic details: Jermaine was found nude on the couch; the home was disorganized but showed no signs of struggle (15:21–16:23).

The Investigation and the Oddities

• Suspicious Clues:

  • A can of Comet cleanser—used for scrubbing—was found on both the living room coffee table and Jermaine’s genitals, as well as on the deadbolt and doorknob. Investigators wondered if someone was trying to erase fingerprints or DNA (16:23–19:06).
    • "Can you dust somebody's genitals for fingerprints?" (Mike Gibson, 19:23)

• Autopsy Revelation: The coroner found Jermaine died of a gunshot wound—the bullet entered through his buttocks and pierced his heart, indicating an unusual firing angle (19:59–21:00).

• Major Case Squad: Due to the wide suspect pool—Jermaine was well-liked but also well-known—authorities called in a multi-jurisdictional task force (21:31–22:11).

Motive and Suspects

• Rumors and Threats:

  • Jermaine had recently received a $25,000 insurance settlement after his barbershop was destroyed in a fire. He openly discussed getting the money, even showing cash to several people (31:00–37:44).
    • "You need to keep your mouth shut and stop telling these people that you got money, especially if you're over here by yourself." (Mike Ferguson, relaying Ronald’s warning, 32:07)
  • Jermaine told friends and family he was having "problems" with unspecified people and carried a pistol for protection (25:41–27:43).

• Financial Struggles: Despite the insurance payout, Jermaine was described as someone who never had much money and was still struggling financially prior to the windfall—at the time of his death, he had no running water (49:23).

  • "He didn't even have running water at his house at the time of his death." (Mike Ferguson, 49:23)

• No Cash Found: After his murder, authorities could not locate the settlement money—only two $100 bills under his mattress—reinforcing robbery as a likely motive (38:02).

Witnesses, Alibis, and Cracks in the Story

• Neighbors and Timeline:

  • A neighbor, Dion H., reported hearing gunshots around midnight on September 30 but saw no movement and went back to bed (23:58–24:03).
  • Jermaine had previously told people his door had been kicked in and that "people were after him" (25:21–25:41).

• Potential Perpetrators Emerge:

  • Attention turned to Melinda Graves, a local woman acquainted with Jermaine. Melinda approached police, scared and claiming strangers were accusing her of the murder and threatening her (38:34–40:15).
  • Melinda said she and friend Jasmine Madison (Jermaine’s lover) were at his house the night of the murder, but that both left while he was alive (39:48).
  • Melinda’s story changed in successive interviews—she admitted to searching for Jermaine’s money, then described a strange man bursting in, demanding money, and killing Jermaine while she and Jasmine fled (41:39–45:07).
    • "[Her] story changed. She recalled: 'So we're walking down the street to the dude's house. ... were drinking Malt liquor and smoking my cigarettes.'" (Mike Ferguson, 41:39)

The Break in the Case

• Contradictions and Surveillance:

  • Security footage revealed a black car matching Melinda’s description at the scene. A man named Modi, who drove a similar car and knew Jasmine, was interrogated but cleared via alibi (47:45–48:16).

• Jasmine Madison Located: Eventually police found Jasmine had been hiding due to outstanding warrants. She asserted Melinda killed Jermaine—not a mystery man—and recounted the full incident in detail:

  • After a night of drinking and sex, Melinda appeared with Jermaine’s own handgun, demanded the money, and shot him twice (49:25–51:13).
  • Melinda then ordered Jasmine to pour Comet on Jermaine’s body, possibly to destroy forensic evidence of sexual contact (51:13–51:19).
    • “Just trying to figure out why put Comet on your inner thighs and your junk.” (Mike Gibson, 51:13)

• Confession and Aftermath:

  • After Jasmine’s account and corroborating evidence—including Melinda’s sudden spending and her brother’s testimony—Melinda eventually confessed during police interrogation (54:47–55:54).
    • “Melinda admitted to shooting Jermaine twice, saying that she panicked after doing so.” (Mike Ferguson, 55:57)

Judicial Resolution

• Charges and Sentencing:

  • Melinda Graves was charged and eventually pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, earning a 25-years-to-life sentence (56:46–58:25).
  • Jasmine Madison pleaded guilty to obstruction of justice for her role in evidence tampering (57:36–57:55).

• Aftermath:

  • Jermaine’s family, friends, and community mourned the senseless loss of a man universally liked for his generosity.
  • Melinda's parole eligibility could see her released at 55, a development that angers and saddens those who loved Jermaine (58:25–59:22).
    • “How fair is it that this person at some point gets to go free, live their life? ... We’ll never see our loved one again.” (Mike Ferguson, 58:47)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Ross’s Generosity:

  • “If a child’s parents didn’t have money for their haircut, Jermaine did it for free because he wanted them to look nice for school.” — Mike Ferguson, 08:47

• On Discovery of the Scene:

  • “[The] stench, I mean, it was bad. ... I just put my head inside the door. I called the chief, like, ‘Hey, we got a body over here.’” — Officer Greer, 13:44

• On Motive:

  • “If you’re a person out to get some quick cash, finding out that someone has $25,000 in cash, that could be pretty tempting for a criminal. And murder might be the quick and easy way to get it. People murder for less.” — Mike Ferguson, 37:44–38:07

• On Changing Stories:

  • “Never a good sign when someone’s story changes. Especially a change like this, because it’s so dramatically different.” — Mike Ferguson, 42:43

Important Timestamps

• 02:30 – Episode start, hosts’ banter
• 05:39 – Introduction of Jermaine Ross
• 08:47 – Stories of Jermaine’s generosity
• 11:51 – Discovery of Jermaine’s body
• 16:23 – Comet cleaner found as a clue
• 19:59 – Coroner reveals gunshot wound
• 21:31 – Major Case Squad brought in
• 31:00–37:44 – Discussion of Jermaine’s insurance payout and its risks
• 49:25 – Jasmine’s confession: Melinda pulled the trigger
• 54:47 – Melinda confronted, confesses to murder
• 56:46 – Melinda’s sentencing
• 58:47 – Mike reflects on fairness and closure for the family

Conclusion and Reflections

Mike and Gibby close the episode by lamenting the tragic waste of a generous life taken over greed, pondering how unjust it feels for the perpetrator to ever regain freedom while Jermaine’s family faces a permanent loss. They highlight how this crime was senseless and entirely preventable—an unhappy testament to the destructive power of desperation and poor choices.

For those interested in the full case details, the hosts recommend checking out the related 'Real Murders on Elm Street' episode featuring interviews with family, law enforcement, and first responders.