Most people will never come face-to-face with a serial killer.

Jarrett Ferentino has.

Before becoming a nationally recognized legal analyst, Jarrett was a homicide prosecutor who helped build cases against some of the most dangerous criminals in America, including serial killer Hugo Selenski, who hid bodies on his own property while living in plain sight.

In this episode of Unheard, Jarrett takes us inside the justice system from the perspective few ever experience.

We discuss:

• What it’s actually like to prosecute a serial killer

• The Brittanee Drexel case and how forensic science finally solved it

• How modern DNA technology is rewriting cold cases

• Corruption, influence, and the role of powerful families

• And how those same dynamics help explain how Jeffrey Epstein operated for so long

This conversation goes beyond individual crimes.

It explores the intersection of justice, science, power, and accountability — and what happens when the system finally catches up.

Jarrett Ferentino is a former homicide prosecutor, legal expert, and victims’ advocate who has spent his career pursuing justice for families who thought they might never get answers.

Order Jarrett's New Book Here: https://a.co/d/0hcKf4hJ

This is Unheard.

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Follow Justin:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@justinthenickofcrime

Instagram: https://instagram.com/justinthenickofcrime

Substack: https://justinthenickofcrime.substack.com

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#truecrime #jeffreyepstein #serialkiller #unheard #hugoselenski #brittaneedrexel #truecrimepodcast #justice

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On July 6, 2024, Sonya Massey did what millions of Americans are told to do when they feel unsafe. She called 911 for help. She was alone in her home in Springfield, Illinois, and believed someone might be outside. Two sheriff’s deputies responded. Less than an hour later, Sonya was dead, shot inside her own kitchen by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson. The body camera footage would later show Sonya apologizing, raising her hands, and trying to comply in the moments before the fatal shot was fired. Her death sparked national outrage, federal scrutiny, and protests across the country, but behind the headlines was a family left to live with the reality of what happened.

In this episode of Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words, Justin Shepherd sits down with Sonya’s cousin, Sontae Massey, for a deeply personal and emotional conversation about who Sonya really was and what her loss has meant to those who loved her most. Sontae shares what Sonya was like beyond the news coverage, the moment the family learned she had been killed, and the painful aftermath that followed. She speaks openly about the investigation, the courtroom revelations, and the questions her family still carries. She also discusses the creation of the Massey Commission, formed in Sonya’s name to push for accountability, transparency, and systemic change.

This conversation goes beyond the incident itself and explores the broader impact on a family, a community, and a country still grappling with issues of trust, justice, and accountability. It is a story about grief, resilience, and the determination to make sure Sonya Massey is remembered not just for how she died, but for who she was.

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In this episode of Unheard, Justin sits down with legendary journalist Ashleigh Banfield for an honest conversation about truth, trauma, and the media machine that shapes how the world sees tragedy.

Ashleigh reflects on her journey from small-town newsrooms to the center of history, including being in New York on 9/11, running for her life when the towers collapsed, and continuing to report in the aftermath. She opens up about the emotional toll of covering national tragedies like Sandy Hook, high-profile cases like Casey Anthony, and war zones around the world, and how those experiences permanently changed the way she approaches journalism.

The conversation explores the responsibility of reporters in moments of crisis, the harm caused by conspiracy culture, and why empathy is not optional when telling stories involving victims and survivors. Ashleigh also talks about her evolution beyond traditional news and her work today as the host of the podcast Drop Dead Serious, where she continues to examine complex cases with depth, integrity, and compassion.

This episode is a rare look behind the headlines and into the mind of someone who has spent a lifetime bearing witness to history.

Follow our guest: https://www.dropdeadserious.com/

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