Quick Facts
From the show
Host Paula names them all by name: Iyana, Kayla, Markeis, Sparkle. Black true crime that centers the full lives of Black victims, not just their deaths.
Episodes
Latest Episode
August 13, 2026 · 26m
In Fort Walton Beach, Florida, a bitter custody battle placed two parents at odds over the future of their young daughter. As tensions continued building, father Edgar Jennings III remained determined to have a place in his child’s life. This is a story about toxic co-parenting, complicated family dynamics, and why the term “deadbeat parent” does not belong to only one gender.
More Episodes
Aug 2, 2026 · 36m
Danielle Hoyle had just welcomed her newborn daughter, Kennedy, into the world when a web of deception turned what should have been the happiest days of her life into an unimaginable tragedy. This is the story of love, lies, and the lives forever changed by one man's choices.
Jul 22, 2026 · 24m
Darrent Williams spent his life outrunning the violence that surrounded so many young men growing up in his neighborhood. Through relentless determination, he turned his dream into reality, earning a spot with the Denver Broncos and becoming one of the NFL's brightest young cornerbacks. Then, during a New Year's Eve celebration in downtown Denver, a split-second act of gang violence changed countless lives forever.In this episode of Cocoa Crimes™, we examine Darrent's journey from Fort Worth to the NFL, the investigation that followed his murder, the ripple effects felt by his family, teammates, and the Broncos organization, and the legacy that continues to honor the man behind the jersey. Because sometimes the greatest tragedy is not who was targeted, but who was lost.
Jul 16, 2026 · 28m
When two friends from the same neighborhood find themselves caught between their bond with each other and the bitter rivalry of the men they love, a single afternoon in broad daylight sets off a devastating chain of events. This story isn't just about the tragedy itself; it’s about the parallel paths of grief, the trauma that ripples through a community, and the futures that are stolen when history repeats itself.
Jun 23, 2026 · 46m
This week on Cocoa Crimes, we examine the life and death of Kayla Atwood, a Pensacola mother of four who spent years rebuilding her life and embracing a future she fought hard to create.After overcoming addiction and celebrating five and a half years of sobriety, Kayla was focused on raising her children, building her confidence, and moving forward on her own terms. When Kayla suddenly disappeared in January 2024, her family immediately knew something was wrong. What began as a desperate search for answers soon evolved into a complex investigation that would uncover a troubling series of events and leave an entire community searching for the truth.In this episode, we explore Kayla's journey of recovery, the relationships that shaped her final days, the investigation into her disappearance, and the courtroom battle that followed.Because sometimes the most powerful thing a person can do is own their story. And sometimes, not everyone is willing to let them.Listener discretion is advised.
Jun 2, 2026 · 44m
Content warning: this episode contains detailed discussions of domestic violence, strangulation, gun violence, and intimate partner homicide.In this week's episode of Cocoa Crimes, we tell the story of Mariah Samuels: a vibrant mother, athlete, and adventurer from Minneapolis, Minnesota who was known for lighting up every room she walked into. Mariah was a devoted mother of two sons who was her absolute world, but behind the warmth and life she poured into everything around her, she was navigating a dangerous situation that would force her to repeatedly reach out to law enforcement and the courts for protection. This episode is a deeply important conversation about intimate partner violence, institutional failure, and what happens when a woman does absolutely everything right and the systems designed to protect her still fall short.
May 27, 2026 · 36m
This episode explores the murder of Samuel Johnson Jr., a kind and hardworking father from San Antonio, Texas, told through the lens of family dynamics, manipulation, and greed.
May 19, 2026 · 53m
This week on Cocoa Crimes, we discuss the heartbreaking story of Iyana Sawyer, a 16-year-old girl with big dreams, a close-knit family, and secrets that would eventually unravel into one of the most disturbing cases to come out of Jacksonville.This episode discusses grooming, manipulation, family betrayal, and the warning signs people sometimes miss until it’s too late.
May 14, 2026 · 42m
What happens when social media obsession goes too far? In this episode, we're talking about the tragic story of 23-year-old Kayla Hodgson, a sweet, soft-spoken young woman from South Florida who was just living her life, minding her business, and loving the people around her. But while Kayla was navigating her 20s, someone else was watching. This is a story about jealousy, obsession, and what happens when someone decides that access equals ownership. Buckle up...this one is heavy.
May 6, 2026 · 32m
Content warning: This episode contains references to gun violence, homicide, grief, loss of a parent, parental substance abuse and abandonment, mental health, physical assault, and incarceration.This week, we’re switching things up to look at the heavy weights carried on both sides of a shared tragedy. On one side, a 19-year-old student striving to break family cycles; on the other, a young mother crushed by the burdens of caregiving and survival.It’s a story of how two beautiful lives were pushed until the vessel of resilience finally cracked. It didn't have to end this way.Listen now wherever you get your podcasts. New episodes drop every Tuesday.