Moms and Mysteries: A True Crime Podcast

When Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain vanished in May 2024, her family was devastated. Nikki was born in a refugee camp in Southeast Asia and came to the United States with her family, settling in Seattle. She was a beautiful, bubbly woman who loved to laugh and was always her family's biggest cheerleader. She had a forgiving nature and brought joy to everyone around her. After Nikki vanished, her husband Tyler McCain publicly pleaded for her safe return. He apologized to both families and said he wanted to help find her. But in August 2025, everything changed. Tyler was arrested and charged with Nikki's murder. Prosecutors allege he had a motive to silence Nikki—one that involves a disturbing history and a case that was dismissed when Nikki disappeared. This episode covers Nikki's life, her disappearance, and the shocking developments that led to Tyler's arrest. Nikki is still missing. A $30,000 reward is being offered for information leading to her location. If you have information about Nikki Cheng Saelee McCain, please contact the Shasta County Sheriff's Office Major Crimes Unit at (530) 245-6135 or mcu@shastacounty.gov. Thank you to this week's sponsor! Take control of your life with Skylight Calendar. Go to MySkylight.com/MOMS for $30 off your 15-inch calendar now! New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org. #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #NikkiCheng #California #DomesticViolence #MissingPerson #TylerMcCain #JusticeForNikki Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1969, Jane Louise Mixer, a 23-year-old law student at the University of Michigan, was trying to catch a ride home to tell her parents she was engaged to her boyfriend Phil. Jane was an exceptional student—top 10% of her high school class, honor student, debate team member, cheerleader, and voted "best all around girl." She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1968 and enrolled in law school, where she was one of the only female students in the entire program. But Jane never made it home that day. She was found shot and strangled in a cemetery, her belongings eerily arranged beside her. For over 30 years, Jane's case sat frozen in time. Many believed John Norman Collins, a serial killer convicted of murdering another Michigan student, was responsible. But in 2001, DNA testing pointed to a different man: Gary Leiterman, a 62-year-old former nurse. In 2005, Gary was convicted of Jane's murder based on DNA evidence, handwriting analysis, and the fact that he owned a .22 caliber gun. But the conviction was highly controversial. Three scientists later argued that the DNA evidence was likely the result of lab contamination. Gary maintained his innocence until his death in prison on July 4, 2019, at age 76. Was Gary Leiterman truly guilty? Or was Jane Mixer's real killer never caught? Thank you to this week's sponsors! Don't miss out on early Black Friday deals. Head to Wayfair.com now to shop Wayfair's Black Friday deals for up to 70% off! Sale ends December 7th. Right now, IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners 20% off all IQBAR products—including the sampler pack—plus FREE shipping. To get your 20% off, text MOMS to 64000. Step into the holiday season with layers made to feel good, look polished, and last— from Quince. Perfect for gifting or keeping for yourself. Go to Quince.com/moms for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too! Right now try your first bag of Kitty Litter for just $14.99 and get a free cat toy at PrettyLitter.com/moms. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #JaneMixer #Michigan #UniversityOfMichigan #DNAEvidence #WrongfulConviction #ColdCase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On an ordinary Tuesday morning in October 2018, Cheryl Coker vanished from her suburban Ohio home. Her SUV was found abandoned in a Kroger parking lot with her purse and phone still inside. Cheryl—a bubbly, talkative mom and grandmother who never met a stranger—had not left on her own. For a year and a half, her family searched desperately for answers. Then, in April 2020, her remains were discovered in a wooded area not far from her home. Police believe Cheryl was murdered inside her house before being taken to the location where she was found. The only person of interest? Her husband, Bill Coker. This case explores the heartbreaking disappearance and murder of a devoted mother who was on the verge of starting a new chapter in her life. Despite strong suspicions and an active investigation, no charges have been filed. Cheryl's family is still waiting for justice. If you have any information, please contact the Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation at 1-800-282-3784. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #CherylCoker #UnsolvedMurder #Ohio #JusticeForCheryl #RiversideOhio Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In July 1988, Lieth Von Stein was brutally murdered in his Washington, North Carolina home while his wife Bonnie barely survived the attack. The crime scene looked like a burglary gone wrong—but investigators quickly realized something didn't add up. The house was barely disturbed, nothing of value was taken, and the violence was shockingly personal. As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered a conspiracy that seemed ripped from a fantasy game. Lieth's stepson Chris and his college friends had been playing Dungeons & Dragons obsessively, blurring the lines between fantasy and reality. The motive? A $2 million inheritance. The plan? Orchestrated by college kids who thought they could get away with murder. This case explores how greed, entitlement, and obsession led to one of North Carolina's most shocking family murders. From the brutal attack to the investigation that exposed a twisted plot, this is the story of when fantasy became fatal reality. Thank you to this week's sponsors: New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #LiethVonStein #NorthCarolina #FamilyMurder #Inheritance #DungeonsAndDragons Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Some crimes are violent, some are tragic, and some are just so absurd that they make you lose a little faith in humanity. Today we're diving into lawsuits so wild, so petty, and so downright unbelievable, you'll think we made them up. First up: the Wendy's finger fraud. In March 2005, Anna Ayala claimed she found a human finger in her chili. The story made national headlines, Wendy's stock plummeted, and America lost its appetite for fast food. But the finger was planted—Anna thought she could outsmart the legal system and sue for millions. She was wrong. We also cover the man who sued himself, the guy who demanded $67 million from a laundromat over a lost pair of pants, and more cases that prove greed and audacity know no bounds. This episode is a wild ride through the most frivolous, bizarre, and criminal lawsuits in American history. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #WendysFingerFraud #AbsurdLawsuits #AnnaAyala #FastFoodScam #FrivolousLawsuits Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When a friend found 58-year-old Janie Ballard stabbed over 70 times in her Little Rock, Arkansas home on September 13, 2003, investigators immediately suspected her own daughter, Leslie, and Leslie's much older husband, Mike McCool. But how did a shy, successful young woman from a prominent family become capable of such unthinkable violence? Leslie had grown up with every advantage—private school, college degrees, a job at the family printing business, and a condo bought by her parents. But after meeting Mike, a twice-divorced bodybuilder 22 years her senior with a violent criminal past, Leslie transformed completely. The more her parents disapproved, the deeper she fell under his control. When Janie cut Leslie out of her will, the relationship turned deadly. This case explores how manipulation, greed, and toxic family dynamics led to one of Arkansas's most shocking matricides. A mother who feared her own daughter—and was right to be afraid. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Get organized, refreshed, and ready for the holidays for way less. Head to Wayfair.com right now to shop all things home. Little Spoon is the mealtime hack parents can't stop talking about. Try their no-prep, nutrient-packed meals and snacks for babies, toddlers, and big kids. Get 50% off your first online order at littlespoon.com/MOMS with code MOMS at checkout. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #JanieBallard #Arkansas #Matricide #FamilyMurder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Science is supposed to cure disease and improve life, but sometimes confidence goes off the rails. Today, we are taking you on a tour through history's wildest moments when science went completely off the rails, including incidents where confidence reached levels of blowing up a dead whale, dropping cats out of planes, and poisoning an entire generation. Join us as we explore the terrifying line between discovery and disaster. Join us as we dive into bizarre and unethical experiments, from psychology horror shows that spiraled out of control to so-called "miracle" substances turned deadly. Join us as we discuss the chilling details of the Radium Girls, whose agonizing sacrifice ultimately forced the development of crucial occupational health and safety laws. Join us as we unpack the dark lessons learned from the infamous Stanford Prison Experiment. This episode proves that sometimes, what we don't know can truly hurt us. Thank you to this week's sponsors! To explore coverage, visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/MOMS. Eligibility restrictions apply. Visit ASPCApetinsurance.com/AmazonTerms for more info. Stop cooking with toxic cookware, and upgrade to Our Place today. Visit fromourplace.com/MOMS and use code MOMS for 10% off sitewide. With a 100-day risk-free trial, free shipping and returns, you can experience this game-changing cookware with zero risk. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2016, a small South African community was rocked by a series of brutal murders orchestrated by a woman who claimed to speak directly to God. Cecilia Steyn manipulated her followers into committing unspeakable acts, all while maintaining the facade of a devout Christian. This is the story of the Krugersdorp Killings—where faith became a weapon and devotion turned deadly.What started as a church group became one of South Africa's most shocking cult cases. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: ⁠patreon.com/momsandmysteries⁠ Visit our website: ⁠momsandmysteries.com⁠ #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #CultCrime #SouthAfrica #Krugersdorp Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are revisiting one of the most brutal and complex crimes we have ever covered: The Pike County Massacre, also known as the Rhoden Family Murders. Six years ago, we first discussed the shocking event where eight members of the Rhoden family—four adults, three young men, and a teenage boy—were executed at four different homes in rural Ohio on the same night. At the time of our original episode in 2019, the Wagner family had just been arrested. Now, years later, the trials and sentencing of the four members of the Wagner family are complete, and we are bringing you a comprehensive update on the fate of George Wagner IV, Jake Wagner, Angela Wagner, and Billy Wagner. In this update, we detail the chilling motive that led to the execution-style murders: Custody and Obsession: The motive was centered on a heated custody battle over a young child shared by killer Jake Wagner and victim Hanna May Rhoden. The Plea Deals: We discuss the shocking plea deal struck by Jake Wagner, who pled guilty to all eight murders to spare his mother and father from the death penalty. The Sentences: We cover the emotional and tense courtroom proceedings that led to the sentences for all four family members, including the life without parole sentences handed down. The Unanswered Questions: While justice has been served in the eyes of the law, we still explore the lingering questions surrounding the planning, the execution, and the sheer ruthlessness required to wipe out an entire family. Join us as we close the chapter on this dark episode in Ohio's history, examining the convictions, the sentences, and the final search for peace for the surviving Rhoden family members. Thank you to this week's sponsors! Whatever challenges you're facing, Grow Therapy is here to help. Sessions average about $21 with insurance and some pay as little as $0, depending on their plan. Visit GrowTherapy.com/MOMS today to get started. Availability and coverage vary by state and insurance plan. Check-out bonus episodes up on Spotify and Apple podcast now! Get new episodes a day early and ad free, plus chat episodes, at Patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast . To advertise on the show, contact sales@advertisecast.com or visit https://www.advertisecast.com/MomsandMysteriesATrueCrimePodcast. Check-out Moms and Mysteries to find links to our tiktok, youtube, twitter, instagram and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 2010, Hollywood publicist Ronni Chasen was driving home from a movie premiere when she was shot multiple times in her Mercedes. The high-profile murder sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, and the investigation took bizarre turns—including a suspect who died by suicide before he could be questioned. Was it a professional hit, a random robbery, or something else entirely?Hollywood's most baffling unsolved murder remains a mystery. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: ⁠patreon.com/momsandmysteries⁠ Visit our website: ⁠momsandmysteries.com⁠ #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #Hollywood #UnsolvedMystery #RonniChasen Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices