Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words

This episode tells the heartbreaking story of Adam Oakes, a 19-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University student who died during a fraternity hazing ritual. Adam was excited about college. He was outgoing, compassionate, and the kind of person people naturally gravitated toward. But like so many freshmen, he also wanted to belong. That desire to fit in led him to accept an invitation to attend what he believed was part of a fraternity pledging process. That night, Adam was taken to an off-campus house where pledges were pressured to drink extreme amounts of alcohol as part of a hazing ritual. At some point, Adam consumed a fatal amount. Instead of getting him immediate help, members of the fraternity left him alone in a bedroom. By the time anyone checked on him the next morning, Adam was dead. His death shocked the community and exposed a hazing culture that often operates in secrecy, protected by silence and loyalty to the organization over the safety of the students involved. In this powerful conversation, Adam’s father, Eric Oakes, walks through who Adam was, what happened that night, and the devastating moment his family learned their son was gone. But Eric also talks about what came next. Rather than retreating into grief, he chose to fight for change. Eric founded the Love Like Adam Foundation, which works to educate students and families about hazing and push for stronger laws to hold organizations accountable. His advocacy helped lead to Adam’s Law in Virginia, legislation designed to strengthen hazing penalties and increase transparency around fraternity misconduct. This is not just a story about one tragedy. It’s a story about a culture that still exists on many campuses, and a warning that every parent sending a child to college needs to hear. Adam’s story is devastating. But Eric’s mission is simple: make sure no other family has to live through it. To learn more about Eric’s work, visit the Love Like Adam Foundation. (https://lovelikeadam.com) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Justin sits down with Joe Exotic to talk about life before and after the Tiger King phenomenon, the legal battles that landed him in prison, and why he continues to insist he was wrongly convicted. Joe discusses the conspiracy-to-commit-murder case that put him behind bars, the role he believes perjury and unreliable testimony played in the trial, and why he argues the justice system failed to fully investigate key details. The conversation also explores the broader impact of the case. Joe reflects on how incarceration has affected his life, his health, and the people around him, while Justin examines how media coverage and public perception shaped the narrative that millions of viewers came to believe. They discuss the difference between entertainment and reality, and how documentaries and news coverage can influence how the public views guilt, innocence, and accountability. The episode also touches on the world of big cats and private zoos, including debates over animal care, euthanasia decisions, and the ethical questions surrounding exotic animal ownership. Natasha joins the conversation to share her own background growing up around animals and to challenge some of the claims and assumptions made in the Tiger King series. Throughout the discussion, the focus remains on larger questions about justice, media influence, and the legal system. Joe talks about his ongoing efforts to appeal his conviction and his hopes for clemency, while Justin presses on what accountability should look like in controversial cases like this one. The result is a candid conversation about fame, prison, the power of storytelling, and the complicated intersection of law, media, and public opinion. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 2004, Jennifer Wix and her 2-year-old daughter Adriana Robinson disappeared from Tennessee. They were never seen again. The last person to see them alive was Jennifer’s boyfriend, who told police that she left voluntarily. That explanation shaped the investigation from the very beginning and influenced how the case was handled for years. Over time, serious questions began to emerge. Jennifer had told her family she was afraid. Her relationship had become volatile, and in the days before she vanished, there were signs that something was wrong. The story about what happened that day never fully made sense, and years later, he admitted that he had lied about key details. The case was eventually reclassified as a homicide, but more than two decades later, no one has been arrested. Jennifer’s sister Casey Robinson has spent years fighting for answers, pushing law enforcement to keep the case alive, and refusing to let her sister and niece be forgotten. In this episode, Casey shares the full story of Jennifer and Adriana, the failures that defined the investigation, and what it is like to live for more than twenty years without closure. This conversation is about persistence, accountability, and a family that is still searching for the truth. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Most people will never come face-to-face with a serial killer. Jarrett Ferentino has. Before becoming a nationally recognized legal analyst, Jarrett was a homicide prosecutor who helped build cases against some of the most dangerous criminals in America, including serial killer Hugo Selenski, who hid bodies on his own property while living in plain sight. In this episode of Unheard, Jarrett takes us inside the justice system from the perspective few ever experience. We discuss: • What it’s actually like to prosecute a serial killer • The Brittanee Drexel case and how forensic science finally solved it • How modern DNA technology is rewriting cold cases • Corruption, influence, and the role of powerful families • And how those same dynamics help explain how Jeffrey Epstein operated for so long This conversation goes beyond individual crimes. It explores the intersection of justice, science, power, and accountability — and what happens when the system finally catches up. Jarrett Ferentino is a former homicide prosecutor, legal expert, and victims’ advocate who has spent his career pursuing justice for families who thought they might never get answers. Order Jarrett's New Book Here: https://a.co/d/0hcKf4hJ This is Unheard. — Follow Justin: YouTube: https://youtube.com/@justinthenickofcrime Instagram: https://instagram.com/justinthenickofcrime Substack: https://justinthenickofcrime.substack.com — #truecrime #jeffreyepstein #serialkiller #unheard #hugoselenski #brittaneedrexel #truecrimepodcast #justice See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Justin Shepherd speaks with Sontae Massey, cousin of Sonya Massey, the 36-year-old Illinois mother who was shot and killed inside her own home by a sheriff’s deputy after calling 911 for help on July 6, 2024. Sontae shares personal insight into who Sonya was beyond the headlines, the devastating moment their family learned of her death, and the emotional and legal aftermath that followed. She discusses the investigation, courtroom developments, and the creation of the Massey Commission, an initiative formed in Sonya’s name to advocate for accountability and systemic change. This conversation offers a firsthand perspective on grief, justice, and the lasting impact Sonya’s death has had on her family and community.