Crime Curious

A young mother vanishes from the quiet village of Middleburgh, New York in 1986 — and no one reports her missing for four months. Erica Jayne Franolich had been trying to escape an abusive marriage, made a terrified call to her brother the night before she disappeared, and then walked into the October darkness and never came home. Nearly forty years later, her family is still fighting for answers in a case where the truth has always pointed in one direction.

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Erica Jayne Franolich – The Charley Project

Missing: Franolich, Erica Jane | New York State Police

The Forgotten Woman of Middleburgh | by Josie Klakstrom | Medium

Vanished Without a Trace: The Unsolved Disappearance of Erica Franolich in Middleburgh, NY

New York Cold Case: Michigan Woman Missing 39 Years After Vanishing in Middleburgh - Country Herald

NYSP continue to investigate disappearance in Middleburgh 39 years later

When 46‑year‑old Andrea Stranko returned home from a neighborhood UFC watch party with her boyfriend, Daryl Smith, the night should’ve ended quietly. Instead, it became a deadly ambush. Waiting in the shadows was Daryl’s ex, 35‑year‑old Morgan Jane Smith—armed with a shotgun and fueled by obsession.

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Woman killed when love triangle turns deadly in North Port

Morgan Jane Smith - The True Crime Database Membership Morgan Jane Smith Fifty Shades Killer

Did killer plan murder, or was she insane?

A chilling case of a family man living a double life. In this episode, we dive into the story of Thomas Richard Bunday, an Air Force technical sergeant whose quiet, disciplined exterior hid a pattern of escalating violence in Fairbanks, Alaska. Between 1979 and 1981, five young women vanished or were found murdered — and for years, investigators struggled to connect the dots.

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Thomas Bunday - The True Crime Database Membership Thomas Bunday North Pole Killer

Thomas Bunday - Wikipedia

Alleged Serial Killer Thomas Richard Bunday Murdered 5 Victims

March 1983 – MILITARY JUSTICE FOR ALL

Between 1972 and 1985, Schenectady mother Marybeth Tinning lost nine of her children—one after another—under circumstances doctors initially labeled as SIDS or tragic coincidence. But as the pattern grew impossible to ignore, investigators uncovered a chilling truth: MaryBeth had confessed to smothering her infant daughter, Tami Lynne, leading to her 1987 conviction for second‑degree murder

Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon

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Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

Marybeth Tinning: Mom Who Killed Baby Girl Gets Parole | PEOPLE.com

Female Serial Killers: How and why Women Become Monsters - Peter Vronsky - Google Books

Female Serial Killers: How and why Women Become Monsters - Peter Vronsky - Google Books

Reye's syndrome - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

Schenectady Gazette - Google News Archive Search

Marybeth Tinning 'Laying Low' After Parole | PEOPLE.com

When 25‑year‑old grad student Jelani Day vanished in August 2021, his family’s world stopped. Jelani was focused, joyful, and deeply loved — not someone who would simply disappear. But within days, his car was found hidden in the woods, and weeks later, his body was discovered miles away in the Illinois River under circumstances that still make no sense.

In this episode, we break down the timeline, the unanswered questions, and the frustrations Jelani’s family faced as they fought for urgency, transparency, and justice. What really happened to Jelani Day — and why does this case remain so painfully unresolved?

Join Patreon here to binge bonus content! Crime Curious is creating a kick-ass exclusive listener experience | Patreon

Want to just donate to the show? You can do so here:

https://www.buymeacoffee.com/crimecurious
Music By: Michael Drzewiecki
Cover Art By: Charnell

The Mysterious Death of Jelani Day No Mystery, Contends Writer John W. Fountain; ‘Somebody Out There Knows’

Jelani Day Disappearance Explained: The Final Days and Clues That Still Don't Add Up | Read The Real Story

Three years later, Jelani Day joint task force is not actively investigating as family continues to seek answers | WGLT

About Us | Jelanidayfoundation

New Clues Emerge in the Death Investigation of Jelani Day – NBC Chicago