In this episode, Abby covers the murder of Betsy Faria. On December 27, 2011, Betsy returned to her Troy, Missouri, home after a chemotherapy appointment. That night, her husband, Russ, found her murdered in their living room.

Betsy had been facing cancer with people around her who were supposed to offer love and support. One of those people was her friend Pam Hupp, who had driven her home that evening. And if you think you know where this story is going, wait until you hear what Pam has to say.

What happened to Betsy—and how did the search for answers turn into a case so bizarre it became a television series?

Before the case, we’re choosing our death row meals, and we have a logistical question: whose job is it to actually procure these meals? Does someone get handed a shopping list? If you know, let us know in the comments. And shoutout to Uchi in Charlotte for making the cut in our final-meal selections: @uchirestaurants!

Story starts: 9:30

Want to watch the dramatization after listening? The Thing About Pam, starring Renée Zellweger, is currently available to purchase in the U.S. through Apple TV and Fandango at Home. Find current viewing options here.

We’re so happy you’re here. Follow along, share your thoughts, send us case suggestions, or submit a case request:

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Sources:

• Katie Shepherd, The Washington Post: An Innocent Man Spent Years in Prison for His Wife’s Murder. Now Prosecutors Say Her Close Friend Framed Him.
• Missouri Court of Appeals: Day v. Hupp, 528 S.W.3d 400
• United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri: Faria v. McCarrick, Case No. 4:16-cv-01175-JAR
• St. Louis Magazine: The Unimaginable, Infamous Case of Pam Hupp
• LegalClarity: Pam Hupp: Convictions, Charges, and What’s Next
• LegalClarity: Pam Hupp Neck Wounds: Murders, Self-Harm, and Trial

In this episode, Ally covers the murder of Anthony “Nino” Puglisi and the abduction of his wife, Debra Puglisi Sharp. On April 20, 1998, Debra was planting roses outside their Newark, Delaware, home when Nino arrived home from work and went inside. When Debra followed him a short time later, an ordinary spring afternoon became the beginning of a nightmare.

Over the next 101 hours, Debra’s family and investigators struggled to understand what had happened while she fought to stay alive. With no idea whether anyone would find her—or what the man holding her planned to do—every decision she made mattered.

What happened inside the Puglisi home, where was Debra taken, and how did she survive five terrifying days in captivity?

Before the case, we’re talking about the death of Hayden Panettiere, her history with addiction, and how an overdose can create ripple effects through families, relationships, workplaces, and entire communities. We also revisit Cory Monteith’s death, the lasting effect it had on Lea Michele and the people around him, and the tragedies associated with what fans have called the “Glee curse.”

Story starts: 7:59

Debra tells the complete story of her captivity, Nino’s murder, and her life after the crime in her memoir, Shattered: Reclaiming a Life Torn Apart by Violence. Learn more and purchase Debra’s book here.

We’re so happy you’re here. Follow along, share your thoughts, send us case suggestions, or submit a case request:

Instagram: @probationbehavior

Join our Patreon

Email: probationbehavior@gmail.com

Case request form: Submit a case request

Sources:

• I Survived: "I Couldn't Understand What Was Bringing My Neighbor To Do This To Me”
• Debra Puglisi Sharp: Shattered: Reclaiming a Life Torn Apart by Violence
• CNN Transcript: Interview With Debra Puglisi Sharp
• The Review: Local Author Celebrates Survival
• The Washington Post: 5 Days of Terror, Then Freedom
• Delaware Superior Court: State v. Flagg
• Delaware Superior Court: Nationwide Insurance Co. v. Flagg

In this episode, Abby covers the disappearance and murder of Skylar Neese, a 16-year-old from Star City, West Virginia, who slipped out of her bedroom after midnight on July 6, 2012, and climbed into a waiting car. Skylar left behind the things she would have needed if she planned to stay away, making it clear to her parents that she intended to come home.

What followed was a months-long search shaped by surveillance footage, conflicting stories, social media posts, and the growing feeling that someone close to Skylar knew more than they were saying. What happened after she got into that car, and how long could the truth stay hidden?

Before the case, we’re talking about hickies, mosquito season, and how Ally somehow gave herself a quarter-sized bruise on her own face. Abby brings a major airport and airplane grievance to the table, while Ally has a complaint for anyone committing one particular crime against the English language. Bruises, bugs, baggage, and bad grammar—we’re covering it all.

Story starts: 14:53

At the end of the episode, we also mention Lexi Weinbaum, who has shared her experience surviving a similar violent incident. You can hear more of her story on Lexi’s TikTok.

We’re so happy you’re here. Follow along, share your thoughts, send us case suggestions, or submit a case request:

Instagram: @probationbehavior

Join our Patreon

Email: probationbehavior@gmail.com

Case request form: Submit a case request

Sources:

• ABC News: Best Friends, Killers: Teens Murder Friend Because They “Didn’t Like Her”
• ABC News: Teenage Killers’ Eerie Tweets After Stabbing Friend to Death
• TIME: The Heartbreaking True Story Behind Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese
• PEOPLE: Where Are Skylar Neese’s Killers Now?
• Hulu: Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese
• Disney+: Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese
• Apple TV: Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese
• Skylar Neese Murder

And since you made it all the way down here: a quick shout-out to Ally’s cousin. You can check out his YouTube channel here.