Papi Killed Mommy

• Media Pressure

  Hey weirdos — I’m Nikki, daughter of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin. If you found this show through Morbid, welcome. Thank you for giving space in your day to my mom’s story and to a new podcast that’s still building its voice. Content note: This episode discusses domestic violence and homicide. The man discussed is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. What this episode is about This is the chapter where I stop waiting for the system and start pushing it. After the Red Rock News coverage and my first email from Sedona Police (Nov 2020), I filed a public-records request. The case file landed in my inbox mid-Jan 2021—and I couldn’t open it for nine months. When I finally did, it was with a student filmmaker filming in my living room while the printer spit the pages out backwards: autopsy first. I learned I’d received 176 pages of what Red Rock once reported was nearly 400; key autopsy pages were missing. That night the flashbacks came, and something in me shifted from waiting to fighting. I started posting on Facebook, then a local ABC reporter reached out. A friend reminded me I knew Sarah Turney from years back; Sarah said, “Start with TikTok.” I did. Within weeks my aunt Wendy—who never stopped pushing in the background—found me online. She had pages I didn’t (including four autopsy pages). Together, we tried the “proper channels,” up to an FBI contact who asked Sedona PD if they’d accept help. They declined. Shout-Out: Sarah Turney & Voices for Justice Sarah Turney has been a mentor and friend since our TGI Friday’s days—she’s the blueprint for family-led advocacy in true crime and has had my back from day one. Follow her and check out her show: • Sarah on Instagram: @saraheturney Voices for Justice • Voices for Justice (website): voicesforjusticepodcast.com In March 2022 we received a letter from Sedona PD labeling my mom’s homicide “inactive,” shifting responsibility to prosecutors, citing “old technology,” and warning our family about “harassment.” I read that letter verbatim in this episode and break down why the language is hostile and not trauma-informed. Then media pressure kicked in. FOX 10’s Justin Lum pushed for interviews; suddenly a zip drive appeared with the 911 call and Russell’s interviews—the first time my family heard them in 29 years. We filmed in Sedona; my aunt cried in front of the house. Justin’s two-part special, “Insufficient” (June 11, 2022), put facts in front of the public. Unsolved in Sedona: Decades later, family members frustrated at lack of progress in cold case | FOX 10 Phoenix We expected movement. We got silence. So I launched a petition Petition · DEMAND a complete Homicide investigation for the murder of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin - Sedona, United States · Change.org and began pitching podcasts.  Huge thank you to The Mombies for being the first true-crime podcast to cover my mom’s case back in September 2022. If you want to support them for amplifying Stephanie’s story, follow and listen here: Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/mombies/id1621473706 Apple Podcasts Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mombieshorror/ (they announced Episode 19: “Stephanie Wasilishin”) In Jan 2023 the Vice Mayor helped facilitate a meeting with police. There was finger-pointing, and a lead I provided was labeled “hearsay.” But one thing finally changed: after thirty years, investigators agreed to record an interview with my dad—the person who was on the phone with my mom for hours the night she planned to leave Russell. Next episode: you’ll hear that January 2023 interview, start to finish. No summaries. Listen with me and decide what it means. Why you heard ads (and what’s next) You may hear short ads now. I’ve moved hosts to make the show sustainable—to cover records fees, transcripts, travel, and production. To my 16 Buzzsprout supporters: you are the backbone. Listener Support on Buzzsprout is closed to new sign-ups; existing payments stay there until you cancel. I may add Patreon or an ad-free option later; I’ll announce it here first. Season Two will elevate other domestic-violence cases alongside my mom’s. To submit a case: [email protected]. How to help today Yavapai County Attorney’s Office — request an active review of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin (Case #930004944) and direct coordination with Sedona PD. (928) 771-3344 · [email protected] Sedona Police Department — move the case from inactive to active, release the complete file to the family, and pursue new leads. (928) 282-3100 · [email protected] Sedona Red Rock News (Editor) — cover the family’s perspective with appropriate domestic-violence context. (928) 282-7795 · [email protected] Copy/paste email subject: Justice for Stephanie Marie Wasilishin — Case #930004944 Be respectful, be firm, and let them know you’re watching. Copy-and-paste email (short) Subject: Justice for Stephanie Marie Wasilishin — Case #930004944 Body: Hello, I’m writing in support of the family of Stephanie Marie Wasilishin (Case #930004944). Please take the steps necessary to ensure an active, victim-centered review of this homicide and transparent communication with the family. The community is watching and asking for accountability, a complete case file, and renewed investigative effort. Thank you for your time.   Follow & Share (paste-ready) TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nicolewasilishin?is_from_webapp=1&sender_device=pc Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nicolewasilishin Email: [email protected] Thank you for listening—and for standing with my family as we fight for justice for my mother.

  --------  

  37:46

  --------

  37:46
• Crime Con

    In this special bonus episode of Papi Killed Mommy, I share my very first CrimeCon experience — a three-day whirlwind in Denver that was emotional, overwhelming, and unforgettable. The journey started on the road: 900 miles, 14 hours, my best friend Melissa by my side, and my emotional support pup, Dickie Birdie, curled up in the backseat. Between reroutes, pouring rain, thick fog, and deer threatening to dart across the road, the drive was intense. We kept each other laughing and passed the time listening to hours of Crime Weekly. By the time we rolled into Denver at 3:00 a.m., I was exhausted but ready. Nothing could have prepared me for the emotions of walking into the convention hall the next morning. Within minutes, I spotted Sherrilyn Dale — one of the first creators to cover my mom’s story, and someone who had donated to help get me to CrimeCon. I burst into tears. Suddenly I was surrounded by people who had spoken my mom’s name out loud, who had amplified her story on their platforms. The rest of the weekend felt surreal. Podcasters I’d admired from afar — Generation Why, Killer Queens, Crime Salad, Moms & Mysteries, Navigating Advocacy — all stopped by. Media giants like Court TV, Dateline, and Law and Crime were everywhere. But the most powerful part wasn’t the “big names.” It was the listeners, survivors, families, and advocates who came to my booth, looked me in the eye, and told me they cared about my mom’s story. CrimeCon also forced me to face a big decision. A company approached me about monetizing my podcast. At first, I resisted — I’ve always been afraid of looking like I was profiting from my mom’s death. But after conversations with other creators and advocates, I realized this isn’t about profit. It’s about sustainability. If I want to keep sharing my mom’s story, traveling to events, and building this platform, I can’t keep relying only on my listeners to carry the financial burden. So, I’ve decided to monetize the rest of Season One and all of Season Two — not for me, but for my mom, for justice, and for every family like mine. And here’s the announcement: Season Two of Papi Killed Mommy is officially happening. This season belongs to my mom and will continue until justice comes, but Season Two will expand to cover other domestic violence cases. My best friend Melissa — my partner in Denver, my rock through CrimeCon — will join me as co-host. Together, we’ll bring new voices, new cases, and new energy to the show. CrimeCon also made one thing painfully clear: despite encouraging words from officials, my mom’s case is not being actively investigated. Emails from both the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office and Sedona PD reveal contradictions and carefully chosen language — “ongoing investigation,” “annual review,” “if any” new information. In the end, Sedona PD admitted the truth: this is a cold case review, not an open homicide investigation. My mom deserves better. So here’s my call to action. Please stand with me:  📞 Call the Yavapai County Attorney’s Office at (928) 771-3344 📧 Email them at [email protected] — demand they pursue justice. 📞 Call the Sedona Police Department at (928) 282-3100 📧 Email [email protected] — insist they reactivate my mom’s case. 📞 Contact the Sedona Red Rock News at (928) 282-7795 📧 Email [email protected] — tell them to report this story from the family’s perspective. CrimeCon reminded me that I am not alone. People care. My mom’s story matters. And with your help, I’ll never stop fighting for justice. Support the show

  --------  

  10:21

  --------

  10:21
• The Red Rock News

    In this episode of Papi Killed Mommy, for the first time, I read three articles about my mom’s death: the original piece from 1993, and two follow-ups nearly three decades later in July 2020 by the Sedona Red Rock News. These articles shaped how the public saw my mom’s case. The 1993 article framed my mom’s murder as a “domestic fight,” erasing her identity and repeating Russell Peterson’s account uncritically through police statements. There was no context about domestic violence, no family voice, and no scrutiny of why no arrest was made despite the homicide ruling. That first story planted doubt and distorted the truth. In July 2020, after my aunt Wendy reignited the case, the Red Rock News finally returned to the story — but once again, my family was excluded. The July 15 article leaned almost entirely on law enforcement, recycled Peterson’s story, and framed my mom’s death as “maybe homicide, maybe suicide,” despite the medical examiner ruling it homicide. Missing was accountability for decades of inaction or any context about intimate partner violence. The July 27 article was the most damaging. It quoted Sgt. Michael Dominguez dismissing my family as “over-focused,” printed speculative suicide theories, emphasized my mom’s blood alcohol level without balance, and recycled Peterson’s contradictions. Most harmful of all, Dominguez’s reckless comments — published without challenge — led to his removal from the case. The Red Rock News didn’t just fail us; their reporting obstructed progress and retraumatized my family. I’ll never forget my reaction to reading these articles. I fell to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably, stunned that the word “suicide” was still being repeated decades later. Suicide was never on the table — except from the suspect’s mouth. Yet here it was, still being printed as though it carried weight. This episode also includes my first direct communication from Sedona PD in November 2020: an email from Sgt. Laura Leon. I read it word-for-word, then break down why it was so damaging — dismissive of me, minimizing my trauma, treating my mom’s case like closed paperwork, and telling me “everyone finds closure differently” instead of fighting for justice. That email crushed me, but it also lit the fire that pushed me to act. Episode 8 is a raw look at how journalism and law enforcement failed my mom — not just in 1993, but again in 2020. It’s about erasure, bias, and the harm caused when the people we’re supposed to trust don’t do their jobs. But it’s also about my determination to reclaim my mom’s story and demand accountability. 📣 CALL TO ACTION Your voice matters. Please take a few minutes to demand justice for my mom: Sedona Police Department 📞 (928) 282-3100 📧 [email protected] ➡️ Ask them to officially reactivate Stacy’s case. Yavapai County Attorney’s Office 📞 (928) 771-3344 📧 [email protected] ➡️ Urge them to re-examine the evidence and pursue accountability. Sedona Red Rock News 📞 (928) 282-7795 📧 [email protected] ➡️ Demand they finally report this case from the family’s perspective. 💜 Support the Podcast & Dickie Birdie This podcast is 100% independent and ad-free. If you’d like to help me keep fighting for justice: 🛒Fundraiser by Nicole Wasilishin : Birthday Wish: Help me bring my moms case to crime con 🐶Dickie Birdie's wishlist Amazon.com Every call, email, share, and d Support the show

  --------  

  35:39

  --------

  35:39
• "Mommy Killed Herself"

     📍 Hi, I’m Nikki — the daughter of a murdered woman. Welcome back. This week, I take you back to 1993, when my mom’s case stalled—but my Aunt Wendy never stopped fighting. Together with Grandma Bea, they held on to hope, and now I carry their legacy as the third generation of Wasilishin women demanding justice for my mother Stacy Wasilishin. This cycle must stop— You’ll hear the story of my sister’s unsettling shift from “Papi killed Mommy” to “Mommy killed herself,” how a 1999 letter from Yavapai County Attorney Jim Landis laid out a path for renewed investigation that was never followed, and how the most poignant moment came when my sister reappeared in my life—only to vanish again. Today marks 1,858 days since she's called. And today is her 36th birthday—four years older than Mom ever lived to be. Kay, happy birthday. Please call me. We have so much to catch up on. Mom needs your help. I need your help. I’m sorry—sorry for everything. Please call. 💌 A huge thank you to Joanne and Mikayla — your support means everything in this ad-free journey.⬇️⬇️ Want to support the show directly? ⬇️⬇️ Hit the “Support the Show” button at the bottom of this episode’s page. Every dollar helps keep Papi Killed Mommy ad-free and gets Mom’s story in front of more people. 🛒 Support the Podcast — funds are still needed for CrimeCon travel and merch: GoFundMe 🐶 Limited editions on Dickie Birdie's Amazon Wishlist — My emotional support pup is CrimeCon-bound, too: Amazon Wishlist CALL TO ACTION — Together, we can demand justice Sedona Police Department 📞 (928) 282-3100 📧 [email protected] Ask them to officially reactivate Mom’s case. Yavapai County Attorney’s Office 📞 (928) 771-3344 📧 [email protected] Urge them to re-examine the evidence. Sedona Red Rock News 📞 (928) 282-7795 📧 [email protected] Ask them to share this story from the family’s perspective. When we ALL speak up, they can’t ignore us. Next Week on Episode 8 In July 2020, I discovered that Mom’s case had quietly been reopened—and that a local paper had blindsided my family with two articles. A detective floated “suicide” as a cause of death, and an investigator’s email lit a fire under me to finally request the full case file… The file sat unopened for eight months. When I did open it, my life—and this case—changed forever. Support the show

  --------  

  19:07

  --------

  19:07
• Interview with her friend: Laurie Swift

    📍 Bonus Episode: Laurie Swift Remembers Stacy I’m Nikki—daughter of a murdered woman. This bonus episode features longtime friend Swifty sharing candid memories of my mom, Stacy, that bring her to life beyond the headlines. Recorded back in May, these clips are raw, unscripted, and mostly unreleased. Through Swifty's voice you’ll see a young Stacy who thrifted, cleaned obsessively, and lived through music like Aerosmith and Foghat. We’re halfway through this journey—six episodes complete, six more to go. The first half covered 1993, the year my mom was murdered. The second half will span the next three decades of silence, missed opportunities, and my fight for justice. Before moving forward, I want to pause and remind you: Stacy wasn’t just a case file. She was a daughter, sister, mother, and friend. 📞 Calls to Action If you believe Stacey’s story deserves another look, please reach out: Sedona Police Department • Phone: 928‑282‑3100 • Email: [email protected] (Chief Stephanie Foley) Ask them to reopen Stephanie Marie Wasilishin’s cold case. Yavapai County Attorney’s Office • Phone: 928‑771‑3344 • Email: [email protected] Request reinvestigation and witness reconsideration. Sedona Red Rock News • Phone: 928‑282‑7795 • Email: [email protected] Encourage them to re-report the case from the family’s point of view. 🎗️ Support the Podcast & Merchandise Just yesterday I spent $650 (Sticker Mule), $110 (Vistaprint), and $25 (Zazzle)—nearly $785 total—to prepare merch for CrimeCon. I still need more shirts, stickers, and materials. Every donation helps keep my mom’s name visible. 👉 Donate here:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/this-is-my-birthday-wish-help-me-bring-my-mothers-story-to Every donor gets a first-generation Papi Killed Mommy sticker and a handwritten thank-you card. 🐾 Help Dickie Birdie Travel My best friend Dickie Birdie just had a vet bill of $827 to make sure he’s fit for CrimeCon. He still needs a few more small things for the trip, if you're willing.  👉 Check his Amazon Wishlist 💌 Special Thank-Yous 💖 Stacey Wheaton — my angel. You’ve carried this podcast more times than I can count. 💖 Alex — thank you for always supporting the show. 💖 Brittany Wells Art — a Kansas City-based artist, author, and true crime junkie who designed and PAID for my banners. Find her work in the Facebook group 👉 Brittany Wells Art — facebook.com/groups/brittanywellsart 🖌️  📲 Stay Up to Date Follow me on TikTok & Instagram: @nicolewasilishin for behind-the-scenes updates, merch drops, and reflections. 🔔 Next up: Episode 7 — “Mommy Killed Herself.” My sister, who had always said “Papi killed Mommy,” suddenly changes her story a year later. Was it coached? Manipulated? Or something more? Thank you for listening, supporting, and fighting for justice with me. This is Papi Killed Mommy. Support the show

  --------  

  31:11

  --------

  31:11

More News podcasts

Trending News podcasts

About Papi Killed Mommy

Papi Killed Mommy: Podcasts in Family