Moms and Mysteries: A True Crime Podcast

On March 26, 1997, deputies responding to an anonymous tip entered a luxury mansion in Rancho Santa Fe, California, and found 39 people dead. They were all dressed in matching black clothing and brand-new Nike sneakers, with purple shrouds placed carefully over their faces. The house was immaculate. The trash had been taken out.

And every single person inside had died willingly, convinced they were boarding a spacecraft hidden behind the Hale-Bopp comet.

This week, we are covering the full story of Heaven's Gate, from the very beginning. We trace the origins of the group through its two founders: Marshall Applewhite, a charismatic former music professor from Texas, and Bonnie Nettles, a Houston nurse with a deep interest in astrology and the occult. Together, they spent years building a belief system that blended UFO mythology, biblical prophecy, and New Age spirituality into something entirely their own. We talk about how they recruited hundreds of followers across the country, the strict rules that governed every aspect of daily life inside the group, and how Bonnie's death from cancer in 1985 forced Marshall to completely reinterpret everything the movement had been built on.

We also get into the final days of Heaven's Gate, the farewell videos members recorded, and the chilling, methodical way the group carried out their plan over the course of three days. This one is a deep one, and it is a story that still feels impossible to fully understand almost thirty years later.

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It seemed we missed some (ALL) edits on the last post. Thanks everyone who took the time to let us know!

We are giving you a little gift this week. This episode originally aired on our Patreon several months ago, and we loved it so much that we wanted to share it with everyone. Consider this a peek behind the paywall! And if silly isn't for you, don't worry, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week!

This week we are covering the HBO Max show Neighbors and the episode titled "Patch of Grass." If you have not seen this show yet, please stop what you are doing and get yourself a Max subscription, because this one is something else entirely. We have two stories out of Florida, which should tell you everything you need to know. In Palm Bay, we meet Johnny and Andy, two neighbors who have been locked in a full-blown war since the year 2000 over St. Augustine grass. There are death threats, acid-throwing promises, a very decorated vehicle, and a man who used to go by the Italian Stallion. In West Palm Beach, we meet Victoria and Melissa, two women who were perfectly good neighbors for 16 years until a one-foot-wide strip of grass came between them. There are guns, Zoom court, a chain-smoking Victoria, a mediator who also sells firearms, and a son named Jack who wants absolutely no part of any of this.

If you want more bonus episodes like this one, you can find them over on our ⁠Patreon⁠. We release content there regularly that never makes it to the main feed (plus our regular episodes without ads), and we would love to have you over there.

Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support. It means everything to us.

Patreon: ⁠Patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We are giving you a little gift this week. This episode originally aired on our Patreon several months ago, and we loved it so much that we wanted to share it with everyone. Consider this a peek behind the paywall! And if silly isn't for you, don't worry, we'll be back to our regularly scheduled programming next week!

This week we are covering the HBO Max show Neighbors and the episode titled "Patch of Grass." If you have not seen this show yet, please stop what you are doing and get yourself a Max subscription, because this one is something else entirely. We have two stories out of Florida, which should tell you everything you need to know. In Palm Bay, we meet Johnny and Andy, two neighbors who have been locked in a full-blown war since the year 2000 over St. Augustine grass. There are death threats, acid-throwing promises, a very decorated vehicle, and a man who used to go by the Italian Stallion. In West Palm Beach, we meet Victoria and Melissa, two women who were perfectly good neighbors for 16 years until a one-foot-wide strip of grass came between them. There are guns, Zoom court, a chain-smoking Victoria, a mediator who also sells firearms, and a son named Jack who wants absolutely no part of any of this.

If you want more bonus episodes like this one, you can find them over on our Patreon. We release content there regularly that never makes it to the main feed (plus our regular episodes without ads), and we would love to have you over there.

Thank you so much for listening and for all of your support. It means everything to us.

Patreon: Patreon.com/momsandmysteriespodcast
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On April 27, 2021, the quiet community of Zanesville, Ohio, was shattered when 23-year-old Jayla Wyatt was found shot to death in the entryway of a local apartment. She had been shot six times, including a devastating direct shot to the face. The apartment belonged to Patrick Downes, a man significantly older than Jayla with whom she had recently started staying.

When investigators began looking into who could have targeted Jayla, they quickly uncovered a toxic web of addiction, obsession, and volatile relationships. The trail led directly to 20-year-old Tristaney Baker and her 23-year-old boyfriend, Devin McKnelly. Driven by a deep, drug-fueled jealousy over Patrick, Tristaney had planned the execution, while Devin provided both the firearm and the getaway vehicle. Within twenty-four hours of the crime, police used emergency cellphone tracking to locate the couple in Columbus, Ohio, bringing an end to their short-lived flight from justice.

In this episode, we discuss the heartbreaking details of Jayla's life, the explosive and dangerous dynamic between her killers, and the rapid police investigation that brought them both to justice.

Thank you to this week's sponsors!

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New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday!

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For years, local authorities in Charlotte County, Florida, were called to the home of Scott Lee Huss and Yana Huss. There were restraining orders, allegations of child abuse, threats, arrests, and repeated warnings from neighbors, teachers, and deputies that the situation was spiraling out of control. Yet, despite nineteen police visits in less than a year and multiple domestic violence charges, the system repeatedly failed to protect Yana. On the morning of April 25, 2007, the violence reached a tragic and predictable end when Scott stabbed Yana to death inside their Port Charlotte home, forcing her eight year old son, Petir Huss, to witness the horrific attack and help cover it up.

In this episode, we discuss the devastating details of Yana's life, the cycle of abuse that kept her trapped, and the catastrophic failures of the justice system that allowed a dangerous man to remain free. We also look at the aftermath of the crime, including Scott's bizarre 12 page manifesto, his wild claims of a Russian mafia conspiracy, and the custody battle fought by Yana's mother, Elena Kuchinskaya, to bring her grandchildren to safety.

Thank you to this week's sponsors!

For a limited time, Nutrafol is offering our listeners $10 off your first month’s subscription and free shipping when you visit Nutrafol.com and enter promo code MOMS.

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New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday!

Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries

Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries

Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices