Invisible Choir

"Have you ever seen a dead body?" It was a haunting question that marked the beginning of a gruesome discovery inside the Smylie family home in Brandon, MS, in March of 2024. A beloved high school teacher was found shot dead, and her husband narrowly escaped with his own life. Amid the chaos that followed, Heath Smylie recognized the killer—but if not for the footage captured on a home security camera in the family’s kitchen, no one might have believed him… Written by Sam Foster, Edited and Engineered by Scott Ecklein, and Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. All original music written, composed and performed by Scott Ecklein. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/perfectstorm  Support Our Sponsors:  StoryWorth: Go to https://www.storyworth.com/invisible to save $10 on your first purchase! Rocket Money: Cancel unwanted subscriptions and manage your expenses the easy way by going to https://www.rocketmoney.com/invisible.  Squarespace: Go to https://www.squarespace.com/choir for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, use offer code “CHOIR” to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain!  Bilt Rewards: Earn points by paying rent right now when you go to JoinBilt.com/choir!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shortly after 5 a.m. on Sept. 10, 2012, three masked men wielding guns broke into a suburban home in Ocoee, Florida. The intruders dragged roommates Alex Zaldivar, 19, Brienna Campos, 20, and her brother Remington Campos, 23, from their beds and lay them face down on the living room floor. Minutes later, bullets were fired into each of the heads. The men fled. When the ringing in their ears subsided, Remington and Brienna Campos realized they had miraculously survived, but their friend did not. Alex Zaldivar lay motionless in a widening pool of his own blood. Who were these men and why were they trying to kill everyone inside? It would later be revealed one of the intruders had been in this house, uninvited, once before. He was facing serious prison time and saw only one solution: he had to kill the witnesses.  A special thanks to Rafael Zaldivar, who shared photos, videos and personal stories about his son, as well as retired Orlando Police Detective Michael Moreschi, who investigated the murder and provided an interview and information for this episode. Written by Gus Burns, Edited and Engineered by Scott Ecklein, and Executive Produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list: View full episode source list: https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/witness    Support Our Sponsors:  Ro Body: Sign up today at Ro.Co/Invisible and you’ll pay just $99 for your first month. Medication costs are separate. Naväge: Go to navage.com/choir to order your Naväge with 30 Original SaltPods and get a FREE cleaning kit as a gift! Use promo code “CHOIR” at checkout.   Mint Mobile: Cut your wireless bill to just $15 per month by going to mintmobile.com/choir!  Quince: Upgrade your wardrobe with pieces made to last with Quince. Go to quince.com/choir for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!  Acorns: Visit acorns.com/choir or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today!  June’s Journey: Discover June’s Journey, a hidden-object mystery game with a captivating detective story taking you back to the glamour of the 1920’s! Available on Apple IOS and Android.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Monday, June 24th, 2019, 33-year-old Kaylynn Blue failed to show up for her shift at a Walgreens in Idaho Falls, raising concern among her coworkers. Kaylynn had already missed two days—which was highly unusual for her. Worried, they reached out to her family, who soon involved the authorities. By 9 a.m., police arrived at Kaylynn’s residence to conduct a welfare check. There, they encountered her boyfriend, Philip Schwab, also 33. What they discovered was chilling: Philip was not only responsible for Kaylynn’s death, but had left behind a disturbing trail of online confessions detailing his crimes. Written by Trevor Pason, edited and engineered by Scott Ecklein, and executive produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/beneathsoil    Support Our Sponsors:  Squarespace: Go to https://www.squarespace.com/choir for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, use offer code “CHOIR” to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain!  Rocket Money: Cancel unwanted subscriptions and manage your expenses the easy way by going to https://www.rocketmoney.com/invisible   June’s Journey: Discover June’s Journey, a hidden-object mystery game with a captivating detective story taking you back to the glamour of the 1920’s! Available on Apple IOS and Android.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We're all drawn to the same things for different reasons. Nineteen-year-old “Serge” craved the freedom and exploration that travel offered. In 2008, he jumped at the chance to join a friend on an illegal train-hopping adventure to Florida. From that moment on, he was hooked. But his carefree nomadic lifestyle soon led him to cross paths with a coarse train hopping veteran known only as,  "Dirty Mike." Serge and his adventurous friends quickly discovered that Dirty Mike was on a journey of his own—one fueled by much darker and disturbing motives… Special thanks to Serge Z. for taking the time to talk to us and share his story about his experiences traveling the country.  Written by Trevor Pason, edited and engineered by Scott Ecklein, and executive produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/bellybeast    Support Our Sponsors:  Naväge: Go to navage.com/choir to order your Naväge with 30 Original SaltPods and get a FREE cleaning kit as a gift! Use promo code “CHOIR” at checkout.   Mint Mobile: Cut your wireless bill to just $15 per month by going to  mintmobile.com/choir!  Ro Body: Sign up today at Ro.Co/Invisible and you’ll pay just $99 for your first month!  Medication costs are separate. HelloFresh: For free breakfast for life go to HelloFresh.com/freechoir! One free breakfast item per box while subscription is active. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On December 7th, 2016, 22-year-old Jessica Seger had plans to visit her sister, 25-year-old Amanda Suarez, at her home in Okeechobee, Florida. When Jessica arrived at the home, she noticed something strange: the door was open. And what lay inside proved to be horrific, as her sister's body was set on the floor, posed and covered in blood. Along with the body was Amanda’s hysterical 2-year-old child. Jessica grabbed her nephew and ran up the block to call the police. In the ensuing investigation and interviews with family and friends, investigators compiled a small list of potential suspects. But it was only after the discovery of a single piece of evidence left behind by Amanda herself, that detectives were able to narrow it down to one prime suspect. What followed was a tale of extreme depravity of the worst kind…   Written by Trevor Pason, edited and engineered by Scott Ecklein, and executive produced by Michael Ojibway. View full episode source list at https://www.invisiblechoir.com/listen/fog    Support Our Sponsors:  HungryRoot: Go to https://www.hungryroot.com/choir to get 40% off your first delivery and free veggies!  WildGrain: Go to https://wildgrain.com/choir or use code “CHOIR” at checkout to get $30 off the first box, PLUS free Croissants in every box!   Squarespace: Go to https://www.squarespace.com/choir for a free trial, and when you’re ready to launch, use offer code “CHOIR” to save 10% off your first purchase of a website or domain!  Acorns: Visit acorns.com/choir or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today!  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices