A Million Other Choices

A double murder. A cold case solved by DNA decades later. And a defendant whose trial antics — from degrading the victim’s mother to marking his own teeth — were as outrageous as the crime itself. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Why are some murders solved quickly — while others never are? In this episode of Let’s Talk About Murder, we break down homicide solve rates: what they actually are, how they’re calculated, why they vary so wildly by country, city, and victim — and what happens when a case quietly slips into the unsolved column. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It wasn’t an accident. It wasn’t restraint gone wrong. It was punishment. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A fake inheritance. A lie that spiraled out of control. And a relationship built on deception that ended in murder. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we’re taking a cross-Canada road trip, but not the fun kind with snacks and a playlist. We’re looking at how each province approaches domestic violence: the risk assessments they use, the red flags they miss, and the very real lives caught in the gaps. 📌 1. ShelterSafe.ca (Canada-wide) Website: https://www.sheltersafe.ca An interactive map of women’s shelters across every province and territory. Listeners can click their region and immediately find 24/7 shelters, phone lines, and crisis intake options. This is one of the best resources for people needing physical safety right now. 📌 2. 1-800-VICTIM-LINK (1-800-842-8465) Free, confidential support across Canada. Helps with: Excellent for people who don’t know where to start. 📌 3. 211 Canada (Call or Text 2-1-1) Website: https://211.ca Available nationwide. Provides: 211 is great because you can say anything — “I need help,” “I’m scared,” “I don’t know what to do” — and they direct you. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Danger isn’t always outside the door. Sometimes, it’s climbing up the wall. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When 52-year-old Timothy Pasa was found murdered, the story that unfolded was anything but simple - what was revealed was a plan so calculated it still makes seasoned investigators shake their heads. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Coercive control doesn’t start with bruises. It starts with rules. Restrictions. Apologies that don’t sound like apologies. In this episode, we’re sitting down to talk about the kind of control that doesn’t always leave marks — but absolutely destroys lives. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A missing grandmother, a secret buried in the Illinois woods, and a family story that twisted itself into something almost unbelievable. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode of Let’s Talk About Murder, we’re talking honestly about the red flags too many people miss… and the systems that still turn away from them. These are the patterns survivors describe, the behaviours families wish they’d known to name sooner, and the signs that should never be ignored. It’s not an easy conversation — but it’s one that saves lives. Let’s talk about what family violence really looks like before the headline, before the crime scene, before the tragedy. Because recognizing the signs is how we break the cycle. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Jackie Schwingel was bright, curious, and only two years old — still at that age where every day is a new discovery. But what unfolded made it devastatingly clear: this wasn’t a medical mystery. This wasn’t an accident. This was the result of one adult’s reckless, selfish, and utterly avoidable behaviour. Travis Ray Thompson didn’t just make a mistake — he made a choice. A choice that cost Jackie her life. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

The “Not Criminally Responsible” verdict. You’ve heard it in headlines, you’ve seen the outrage online, and maybe you’ve wondered how someone can admit to a violent act and still be found not responsible for it. In this episode, we’re breaking down what NCR really is Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A 24-year-old from Alberta, moved thousands of miles to the remote Shetland Islands to live with someone she trusted — only to be murdered in the most brutal, isolating way imaginable. She died in a hot tub with more than 50 injuries inflicted. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today we’re digging into one of the justice system’s strangest little loopholes — the Alford plea. It’s that magical moment in court where someone stands up and says, “I’m innocent… but also, yes, I’ll take the conviction, thanks.” It’s bizarre, it’s controversial, and it raises all kinds of questions about pressure, power, and what “justice” actually looks like when the truth gets negotiated. So grab your coffee — we’re unpacking why this plea exists. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In the quiet suburban sprawl of Ottawa’s west end, Camille Cléroux blended in just enough to get away with the unthinkable. Three women. Three disappearances. And a man who thought he could rewrite their stories by burying the truth—literally. This is the case that shocked even seasoned detectives, a years-long trail of manipulation, violence, and secrets hidden beneath neatly kept garden beds. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

She thought it was just a normal Sunday drive. But when Katie Kenyon climbed into that van with her on again, off-again boyfriend, she didn’t know it would be her last trip. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How murder is handled, charged and punished differs depending on your postal code. Grab your coffee, because this one is part legal nerd-out, part cultural reality check… and yes, I will absolutely be side-eyeing a few things along the way. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Joshua Niles and Amber Washburn were building a peaceful life together — until someone from his past decided to destroy it all. This is a story of obsession, revenge, and the lengths one woman went to reclaim control she’d already lost. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This is the story of Liese Dodd—of love turned deadly, of control disguised as devotion, and of a community demanding justice for a mother who never got to meet her child. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When Mengqi Ji Elledge vanished from her Missouri home, her husband, Joseph Elledge, claimed she had gone for a walk and never returned. But behind that calm story lay a very different truth—one built on control, fear, and years of hidden abuse. Support this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/a-million-other-choices/exclusive-content Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy