Share

Cup of Coffee and Crime
The Story He Told; Helen Bailey
Helen Bailey, a successful children’s author, had rebuilt her life after the loss of her husband. She’d even found love again.
But then she abruptly disappeared from her home in Hertfordshire, England. Along with her dog, Boris.
According to her partner, she’d gone away for a few days. Needed space. Time to herself.
But the more time passed, the less that story made sense.
Helen hadn’t told anyone she was leaving. Only a note explaining her absence.
There were no confirmed sightings.
Full 999 call: https://youtu.be/ZsS8X4Zspr4?si=rHOZs0bEFrgGzjgJ
And the last trace of her led straight back to the place she vanished from.
As the investigation unfolded, the story being told began to shift.
Because Helen… and Boris… hadn’t gone anywhere at all.
★ To see todays case photos head over to the Cup of Coffee and Crime Facebook Discussion Group
★ To support the show and keep me caffeinated, you are now able to Buy Me a Coffee :)
★ Taking a few minutes to complete a quick survey is such a huge way to help http://bit.ly/cupofcoffeeandcrime-survey
Music from #Uppbeat :
https://uppbeat.io/t/ak/midnight-stroll
License code: OCHNSIEQIVR5SLQ7
More episodes
View all episodes

One Last Cup of Coffee
02:43|After three and a half years, Cup of Coffee and Crime has come to an end. As a completely independent podcast, every case has been researched, written, recorded, edited and produced by me alone. It's been a labour of love, but it's also become more than I can realistically carry alone. Before I step away, though, I wanted to say a proper thank you to everyone who has listened, supported the show and been part of this journey, so If you've ever spent part of your week with me, I'd love it if you joined me one last time.
5. The Girl Who Never Existed: Treva Throneberry
50:07||Season 7, Ep. 5For years, a teenage runaway named Brianna Stewart found kindness wherever she went. Families took her in. Friends loved her. Teachers believed her. She even graduated high school.Then one routine fingerprint check changed everything.Because Brianna Stewart never existed.This week, we're exploring the extraordinary true story of Treva Throneberry, one of the most baffling identity deception cases in true crime history.
4. The Boy Who Vanished Without a Reason: Andrew Gosden
35:44||Season 7, Ep. 4Andrew Gosden seemed to have everything going for him. A close family. A bright future. No obvious reason to disappear.Then, at fourteen years old, he travelled to London alone... and was never seen again.Nearly twenty years later, the questions remain exactly the same.
3. House of Cards: The Murder of Lori Hacking
33:38||Season 7, Ep. 3On the surface, Lori and Mark Hacking looked like a young couple with their whole future ahead of them. They had packed up their home, signed a lease in North Carolina, and were preparing to move across the country so Mark could begin medical school.There was just one problem.None of it was true.For years, Mark had quietly built a life on deception, convincing everyone around him that he was a successful university graduate with a place at one of America's most prestigious medical schools. Friends believed him. Family believed him. Most importantly, Lori believed him.When the lies finally began to unravel, everything changed.In this episode, we examine the murder of Lori Hacking, the devastating consequences of living behind a carefully constructed façade, and how one man's determination to protect a lie cost an innocent woman her life.Because sometimes the most dangerous secrets aren't hidden from strangers.They're hidden from the people who love us most.
2. When Leaving Wasn't Enough: Jane Clough
29:37||Season 7, Ep. 2Jane Clough knew she was in danger.After leaving an abusive relationship, she did everything victims are told to do. She went to the police. She reported the abuse. She cooperated with investigators and prepared to stand up in court.But when the man accused of raping her was granted bail, Jane became convinced he was going to kill her.Tragically, she was right.In this episode, we follow Jane's story from the beginning of her relationship with Jonathan Vass through to the warning signs, the failures that left her unprotected, and the heartbreaking murder that shocked the country. We also look at the extraordinary campaign led by her parents, John and Penny Clough, whose determination changed UK law and continues to protect victims today.
1. The Richardson Family Murders; Jasmine Richardson
38:13||Season 7, Ep. 1Marc and Debra Richardson had worked hard to build a stable life for their family in Medicine Hat, Alberta. After overcoming addiction and years of financial struggle, it finally felt as though life was falling into place.Then, on an ordinary Sunday morning in April 2006, an eight-year-old boy went to knock on his friend's door for a play date. What he found instead would shock Canada and leave an entire community searching for answers.As investigators uncovered what had been happening behind closed doors and online, this case became far more complicated than anyone could have imagined. Even today, it continues to raise difficult questions about grooming, responsibility and whether some children can ever truly leave their worst actions behind.
BONUS: Killer Brothers; Ethan Austin & Paris Bennett
15:24|Some questions never have answers.In this Season Break Bitesize episode, we're looking at two heartbreaking cases involving children who committed unimaginable crimes against members of their own family.First, we explore the tragic deaths of Ethan and Kaitlin Austin, a case that left investigators unable to find a clear motive and a family searching for answers they'll likely never have.Then we look at the case of Paris and Ella Bennett, where a 13-year-old admitted killing his four-year-old sister in an attempt to punish their mother, leaving experts, and those closest to him, trying to understand how a child could commit such a calculated act.Two very different cases.One haunting question.Why?
BONUS: Killer Wives; Darlene Gentry & Omaima Nelson
17:13|Darlene Gentry looked like she had it all. A loving husband, three young children, and the kind of life that seemed picture-perfect from the outside. But when Keith Gentry was found shot in the head inside their Texas home, investigators quickly realised the danger hadn't come from a stranger. It had been living under the same roof all along.Omaima Nelson's marriage lasted just three weeks. What followed was truly disturbing. A Thanksgiving holiday that ended in violence and dismemberment.Two marriages. Two husbands. And two women whose secrets only came to light after it was far too late.This bonus episode explores the terrifying reality that sometimes the person closest to you is the person you understand the least.
BONUS: The Murder of Liam Smith
21:00|Liam Smith was 38, a father of two, living a quiet life in Wigan, England.When he stepped outside his front door on a cold November evening and never made it back inside, nothing about it made sense.What followed revealed a brief connection that traced back years, to a single date that should have meant nothing. But somewhere along the line, the story changed. And so did the person telling it.As the investigation unfolded, a plan that had been building quietly was exposed. A version of events that became justification for murder. And a decision that would end in violence on a quiet residential street.This is a UK true crime case about control, belief, and what happens when two people convince themselves they’re entitled to act as judge, jury and executioner.