From Protection to Peril, the Sabrina Zunich Case- Ep. 100 cover art

From Protection to Peril, the Sabrina Zunich Case- Ep. 100

From Protection to Peril, the Sabrina Zunich Case- Ep. 100

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 In this harrowing milestone episode, Charity unpacks one of the most shocking and heartbreaking cases to ever come through the foster care system—the murder of Lisa Knoefel, a dedicated social worker and loving mother, at the hands of the teen she brought into her home to protect. What began as an act of compassion—taking in 16-year-old Sabrina Zunich, a girl with a traumatic past and severe mental health struggles—quickly twisted into something unimaginable. Grooming. Manipulation. A secret relationship. And a murder-for-hire plot orchestrated by the one person Lisa should have been able to trust: her husband, Kevin Knoefel. Charity walks through Sabrina’s turbulent childhood, the psychological vulnerabilities that made her a target, the disturbing evolution of her relationship with Kevin, and the brutal 178-stab murder that shook Willoughby Hills, Ohio. This episode also highlights systemic failures in foster care, the red flags that were missed, and how a teenager in crisis was weaponized by a manipulative adult to destroy the very family trying to help her. Episode Highlights Lisa Knoefel’s passion for protecting children—and how it tragically cost her lifeSabrina’s childhood trauma: addiction, instability, neglect, and mental health strugglesThe foster care statistics behind placement instability and teen vulnerabilityHow Sabrina initially thrived in the Knoefel home before the dynamic shiftedEarly red flags: accusations of favoritism, emotional distancing, and inappropriate closeness with KevinThe grooming trajectory: massages, sexual “jokes,” escalating boundaries, and Kevin planning a future with SabrinaKevin’s manipulation: coercing Sabrina with threats of suicide, love-bombing, and promises of a life togetherThe life insurance motive—$785,000—and the plan to stage a burglaryThe chilling details of the murder: 178 stab wounds and a bent knifeMegan’s courageous 911 call and her attempt to stop the attackKevin’s suspicious behavior after the murder—calm demeanor, insurance paperwork, visiting Sabrina in jailSabrina’s eventual cooperation with police and the unraveling of the conspiracyTrial outcomes: Kevin Knoefel — Life in prison + 12 yearsSabrina Zunich — Life with parole eligibility in 30 years The deep failures in foster care oversight and ignored warning signsWhere the surviving daughters and key figures are nowHow a system meant to save Sabrina instead placed her in the worst possible home Reflection Lisa Knoefel spent her life protecting children. She opened her home to a teenager who desperately needed safety. And she was betrayed by the system she trusted and the man she loved. This case is a devastating reminder: When red flags are ignored, vulnerable people pay the highest price. Resources & References Daughter Gets Life in Foster Mom's Stabbing Death Oxygen: Sabrina Zunich State of Ohio Vs. Kevin Knoefel $6.2 Million Awarded in Lisa Knoefel Murder Case What You Need To Know About The Sabrina Zunich Case Ahead Of The Premiere Of 'Snapped: Behind Bars The Tragic Murder of Lisa Knoefel Relationship Details Revealed Between Husband, Foster Daughter Lisa Knoefel Murder: How Did She Die? Who Killed Her? Graphic Details of Woman’s Murder Come Out in Husband’s Trial Man Manipulated Teenage Foster Daughter to Fatally Stab His Wife Worth More Dead Than Alive Sabrina Zunich Teen Killer Murders Foster Mother 'I Was Not Mentally There,' Woman Who Murdered Foster Mom at Foster Dad's Request Says in Prison Interview 40 Foster Children Statistics & Facts: 2025 Data U.S. Foster Care Statistics 2025 What Impacts Placement Stability? The Impact of Placement Stability on Behavioral Well-Being for Children in Foster Care Sign up to be a Patron today! Get access to the Patron-Only Facebook Group, Bonus Episodes, and more. https://www.escapepod.live Do you have a story that you want to share with EscapePod? Or do you just want to reach out to us with your comments and thoughts? General mail: justbecause@escapepod.live Submit listener stories: escapeartist@escapepod.live On Social Media  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EscapePod.traumedy  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/escape_pod_podcast/  YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Escape_Pod_podcast/videos Subscribe and listen now- https://linktr.ee/escapepod57701
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