True Crime Obsessed

Episode 475: In Ice Cold Blood: Miss Fortune
Original air date: December 11, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode centers on the chilling double homicide of a famous Vietnamese-American fortune teller, Ha “Ms. Ha” Smith, and her daughter Anita in Westminster, California, as recapped from the "In Ice Cold Blood" true crime TV series (Season 2, Episode 5: "Miss Fortune"). Hosts Nicole and Brooke dissect the investigation—blending humor, compassion, and critical insight—while spotlighting the victims, the eccentric suspects, and the wild, greed-driven motives at play.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to the Case & Victims (00:15–05:00)

• Background: Ha Smith, celebrated within the Vietnamese community as “Ms. Ha,” rebuilt her life in America after escaping Communist Vietnam, carrying her young daughter Anita through the Cambodian jungle and surviving in a Thai refugee camp.
  • “Ha literally carried her five-year-old daughter Anita on her shoulder through the Cambodian jungle...before relocating to America. Absolutely insane.” (Brooke, 03:56)
• Mother-Daughter Bond: The hosts repeatedly emphasize the unbreakable bond and courage of Ha and Anita.
  • “The most single mother badassery you can possibly fucking get, you know.” (Brooke, 04:10)
• Victim Profile: Anita is described as “the pride and joy,” now a brilliant UCLA law student.
• Ha’s Fortune Telling Business: Ms. Ha gains both wealth and renown through her spiritual and fortune-telling services, earning repeat business, especially via expensive love spells.
  • “Clients would pay 10, $15,000 to get their fortune told. She earned a very good living doing that.” (Narrator, 09:21)
  • “I mean, $15,000 for a love potion. It better work.” (Brooke, 12:21)

2. The Crime Scene (10:59–15:22)

• Discovery: A 911 call from Anita’s boyfriend (Dung) leads police to a ransacked home with candles, shrines, and chaos. Both women are found dead, bearing ritualistic marks and excessive stab wounds.
  • "Both victims had knife wounds in excess of 15 to 20 each.” (Detective, 02:30)
  • “Anita, the daughter, is found first...her face and hands are covered in white paint. There’s a black cloth over her face...” (Brooke, 12:33)
  • "Ha [is] hunched over, almost like she's bowing...one of her middle fingers is extended...is this some kind of a message?" (Narrator, 12:55)
• Forensics:
  • Bloody, recently washed knives (taken from the home’s block) are present.
  • Bloody footprint and evidence of the murderer using the victim’s bathroom, suggesting post-crime clean up.
• Occult Speculation: The ritualistic staging, white paint mixed with blood, and shrines puzzle police.
  • "Is this the occult? Is this religion? Is this just somebody trying to throw us off?" (Brooke, 13:21)

3. Initial Suspects & Motives (17:14–20:56)

• Boyfriend (Dung): Initial suspect due to proximity and reported obsessive behavior.
  • Dung brought food to the victims, noticed their dog (unnamed, later humorously referred to as “Jake”) was outside—a red flag.
  • “She's a grown woman who's in law school and can do so. Is that horrifying and traumatizing for everyone involved?... to then ban [the boyfriend]? It's just... it feels like a lot.” (Nicole, 19:54)
• Prior Home Invasion: Ms. Ha was previously targeted and robbed by Asian gang members; could revenge be a motive?
• Suspicious Handyman: A handyman arrives unprompted during the investigation, sporting a cut hand and white paint on his boots, raising eyebrows.
  • “It’s almost as if, poof, he just appeared out of thin air with white paint all over his boots.” (Nicole, 23:44)
• Suspects Cleared: Dung’s alibi (at work) checks out; paint on handyman’s boots doesn’t match evidence.

4. The Break in the Case: Credit Card Usage (29:32–32:23)

• Financial Clues: Despite the ransacking, $64,000 in cash and jewelry were missed by the thieves—Ms. Ha was adept at hiding valuables.
  • "$64,000 in cash hidden in a vacuum... jewelry in the coffee pot." (Nicole, 22:03, 22:22)
• Credit Card Trail: Killers begin using the victims’ cards at Target, then purchase airline tickets under Ms. Ha and Anita’s names.
  • “Not only are they using them, they're using it at Target. We see the video of these idiots using the credit cards at Target.” (Brooke, 29:43)
• Arrest: Detectives stake out the suspect on a flight—identified as Tanya Nelson—leading to her arrest. In her possession: stolen cards, luggage, and damning documents.

5. The Unraveling: Motives & Confessions (35:00–41:50)

• Tanya Nelson: From North Carolina, she attempted to fraudulently take over Ms. Ha and Anita’s bank accounts (found writing “horrible sin” on the calendar the day of the murders; 33:59).
  • “This woman Tanya, had written on the calendar, quote, horrible sin.” (Brooke, 34:23)
• Accomplice Identified: Philippe Zamora, her meek associate (client of Tanya’s escort service; she used knowledge of his homosexuality to blackmail and control him).
• Connection to Victims: Tanya obsessed over her brother-in-law and tried to use Ms. Ha’s services to win him back via a love spell. Ms. Ha refused—triggering Tanya’s rage.
  • “Tanya Nelson then goes to Miss Ha and wants a love spell put on…the brother in law... Ha explains... she couldn't do it. That sends Tanya into a rage.” (Narrator/Detective, 39:08–39:22)
• Murders Detailed:
  • Tanya and Philippe visit posing as clients. A confrontation erupts; both women are murdered in a violent, impromptu attack. Paint is used to “cover up” evidence.
  • “After the murders, they ransacked the place… Then Tanya tells Philippe to go get the white paint, and he does. Because all of this is easier than just being gay.” (Nicole, 41:34)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Victim Empathy & Social Commentary

• “That lady walked through the jungle with her daughter to give her a better life. And this is how they died. To protect your secret.” (Brooke, 42:50)
• “There isn’t a fucking spell in the world that's gonna make you likable. Or you not gay. Get grips, all of you.” (Nicole, 45:24)

Sharp Humor & Hosts’ Chemistry

• “You know what? Stay stupid and stay sloppy.” (Nicole, 15:13, about the bloody footprint)
• “Justice for Jake!” (Nicole, 18:27, about the family dog’s name never being mentioned)
• “Not only are they using them, they're using it at Target. And we see the video of these idiots using the credit cards…” (Brooke, 29:43)

Outrage at the Motive and Waste of Life

• “Your secret should not cost anybody else their fucking life. That's not how this works.” (Brooke, 42:03)
• “She wouldn’t do [the love spell] for this obviously unhinged woman. Also, there isn't a spell in the world that's gonna make you likable—or you not gay.” (Nicole, 45:15–45:29)

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-------------|--------------------------------------------------------------| | 00:15–05:00 | Introduction of Ha and Anita’s story and background | | 08:06–09:42 | Ha’s fortune telling business and community importance | | 10:59–15:22 | Crime scene discovery, investigation, and ritualistic clues | | 17:14–20:56 | Boyfriend as initial suspect, family dynamics | | 22:03–22:25 | Homespun burglary with cash/jewelry hiding highlights | | 23:22–24:15 | The “handyman” suspect and comic speculation | | 29:32–32:23 | Breakthrough with credit card usage and arrests | | 33:59–34:55 | Tanya’s calendar: “horrible sin” | | 35:00–41:50 | Motives, confessions, and retelling of the murders | | 44:00–45:30 | Sentences, aftermath, and hosts’ social commentary |

Conclusion & Reflections (44:00–end)

• Justice & Sentencing: Tanya Nelson is convicted and receives the death penalty (one of very few women to do so in California). Philippe Zamora gets 27 years to life.
• Hosts’ Take: While not supporters of the death penalty, the hosts express little sympathy for the fate of the perpetrators—underscoring the senseless destruction visited on two extraordinary women by greed, obsession, and emotional instability.
• Victim Legacy: The episode closes with respect for Ha’s integrity—her refusal to use her craft unethically—and for Anita’s promising life.

Overall Tone

The hosts’ combination of irreverence, righteous anger, and heartfelt empathy delivers a vivid, accessible account—layering true crime narrative, social commentary, and sharp humor. Their style is unfiltered and direct, with the tone oscillating between grave, satirical, and deeply poignant.

For the next bonus episode:
Stay tuned for a lighter topic: a Lilith Fair documentary recap—“Building a Mystery”—as the hosts promise their signature blend of music nostalgia and sass.

Memorable Signoff:
“Stay safe, please...Fuck you, Tanya.” — Nicole (47:09)