Show Notes
On this special holiday bonus episode titled “True Crime Convos,” Melissa has teamed up with two fellow true crime podcasters to converse about our various experiences in the medium. Join me as I chat with Robin with "The Trail Went Cold" and Robert Parmer of “The Broken System Podcast” about such topics as researching cold cases, working with victims’ families, and even some of the more bizarre things we’ve experienced as podcasters.
More from Navigating Advocacy
Melissa and Whitney revisit the death of CU Boulder student Megan Trussell, a 19-year-old film major found in Boulder Canyon after leaving her dorm on February 9, 2025. Officials ruled her death a suicide, but her family and many others have unanswered questions and note the investigative gaps, including missing phone and purse, limited video footage, injuries, and evidence they say was not fully tested.
In October 2006, 29-year-old mom, volunteer firefighter, and Army veteran Margaret Haddican McEnroe vanished from her Warren Township, New Jersey home after a tense period in her marriage; her baby was left alone, and her car, wallet, and most belongings remained. For six days, her family wasn’t even told she was missing, and early assumptions delayed an urgent investigation. As questions grew around shifting timelines and an alleged domestic dispute, Margaret’s sister Adrienne pushed for accountability and renewed attention, stressing how advocacy can keep a missing loved one from being dismissed or forgotten.
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In this episode of Navigating Advocacy, we’re joined by two well-known voices in true crime podcasting—Tim Pilleri and Lance Reenstierna of Crawlspace Media.
Alex VanDalsen was a free-spirited 21-year-old who disappeared on February 3, 2021, after leaving his home in Lafayette, Indiana. Days later, his body was found in suspicious circumstances, leading to questions about the initial investigation, which quickly ruled his death a suicide. Despite clear inconsistencies and a lack of thorough investigation, Alex's family continues to seek justice and answers for his mysterious death.