In this episode, we dive into the glitter-soaked rise and catastrophic fall of New York City’s infamous Club Kid scene, as portrayed in the film Party Monster. But beyond the tabloid-fueled fame lies a far darker true story — the murder of Andre "Angel" Melendez.

We explore how Michael Alig, once a self-proclaimed king of nightlife, built a celebrity persona in the early ’90s underground party world alongside figures like James St. James. Fueled by fame, excess, and escalating drug use, the scene spiraled into chaos culminating in Andre "Angel" Melendez’s brutal killing in 1996.

Sources:
Party Monster by James St. James
Glory Daze: The Life and Times of Michael Alig
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/michael-alig-dead-club-kid-party-monster-1107737/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Melendez

In this episode, we dig into the truth behind Jennifer’s Body the 2009 horror film that was initially dismissed and later reclaimed as a cult classic with feminist themes of female rage, power, and exploitation. While the movie is fictional, its central premise (a teenage girl sacrificed by a band seeking fame) echoes a disturbing real-life case that many viewers are unaware of. We examine the 1995 murder of Elyse Pahler, a 15-year-old girl from California who was killed by three teenage boys who claimed they were performing a ritual to help their own metal band succeed.

This episode walks through what happened to Elyse, how the case unfolded, and how her parents later filed a lawsuit against the band Slayer, arguing that violent lyrics and imagery influenced the killers — a case that was ultimately dismissed on First Amendment grounds. We explore how Elyse’s story became entangled in broader conversations about satanic panic, media blame, and moral responsibility in the 1990s. By separating fact from fiction, this episode centers the real tragedy behind the parallels and highlights the lasting impact of Elyse Pahler’s case beyond the courtroom.

Sources:
In the Name of Satan by Wensley Clarkson
A Killer Among Friends: episode 3
https://www.courthousenews.com/two-killers-from-shocking-satanic-teen-murder-case-paroled/
Wiki
https://www.courthousenews.com/two-killers-from-shocking-satanic-teen-murder-case-paroled/

In this episode, we unpack the story behind Abducted Off the Street: The Carlesha Gaither Story and the real-life survival of Carlesha Freeland-Gaither. On November 2, 2014, Carlesha was abducted while walking home in Philadelphia, a crime that was partially caught on surveillance footage and sparked a desperate search. Through the Lifetime film, viewers are taken inside the fear, resilience, and quick thinking that defined those terrifying days — including Carlesha’s bravery in leaving behind clues for detectives after she was taken.

Sources:
Abducted Off the Street: The Carlesha Gaither Story
https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-philadelphia-abduction-found-alive-police/story?id=26706205
https://www.aetv.com/articles/carlesha-gaither-abduction
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ-oME48Pd4
https://www.npr.org/2021/09/24/1040048967/missing-black-women-girls-left-out-media-ignored#:~:text=The%20media%20ignores%20missing%20Black,of%20the%20overall%20female%20population.