Pushing Up Lillies
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  • Julie Mattson
  • August 21, 2024August 21, 2024
  • Podcast

Caged in Horror: The Cassidy Rainwater Tragedy

Hey everyone, it’s Julie Mattson, and today on Pushing Up Lilies, we’re tackling one of the most shocking and heartbreaking cases in recent years—the brutal torture and murder of Missouri mother Cassidy Rainwater.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • August 14, 2024August 14, 2024
  • Podcast

Crossbow Tragedy in Bushey: The Hunt Family Murders

Today on Pushing Up Lilies, we’re diving into the chilling case of the Hunt family murders. On the evening of July 9th, 2024, Carol, Hannah, and Louise Hunt were brutally killed in their own home in Bushey, England. The weapon? A crossbow—an unusual and terrifying choice that only adds to the horror of this tragic event.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • August 7, 2024August 7, 2024
  • Podcast

Newlywed Betrayal: The Fatal Push of Cody Johnson

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we uncover the chilling story of Montana newlywed Jordan Linn Graham, who admitted to luring her husband of only eight days, Cody Johnson, to Glacier National Park and pushing him off a cliff.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • July 31, 2024July 31, 2024
  • Podcast

The Grim Business of Body Brokers: Uncovering the Horrors of Megan Hess and Shirley Koch

In today’s chilling episode, we delve into the unsettling and grotesque world of body brokers. We’ll take a close look at the horrifying case of Megan Hess and Shirley Koch, who exploited grieving families by selling body parts and giving out the wrong cremains.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • July 24, 2024July 24, 2024
  • Podcast

Nathaniel Bar-Jonah: The Child Killing Cannibal

In today’s episode, we delve into the horrifying case of Nathaniel Bar-Jonah, a man whose name became synonymous with unspeakable evil. Known as the Child Killing Cannibal, Bar-Jonah’s crimes against children in the late 90s left an indelible mark of fear and revulsion.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • August 2, 2023August 2, 2023
  • Podcast

The Tragic Stories of Amusement Park Disasters

Prepare to be captivated as we delve deep into the haunting incidents that shattered the illusion of safety at amusement parks and fairs throughout the world. In this episode, we investigate the heart-wrenching tales of thrills that took a deadly turn, leaving families shattered and communities in shock.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • July 26, 2023July 26, 2023
  • Podcast

Thrills Turned Tragic: Deaths at Fairs and Amusement Parks

Step right up to this spine-chilling episode of the Pushing Up Lilies Podcast, where I dare to explore the hidden dangers lurking within the bright lights and laughter of fairs and amusement parks. Discover the untold stories behind some of the most devastating accidents, and the somber reality behind these entertainment havens, reminding ourselves that even in moments of joy, we must remain vigilant to ensure that thrills never turn tragic.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • February 15, 2023February 15, 2023
  • Podcast

From Love to Murder: The Valentine’s Day Hamilton Homicide

Today we head to Oklahoma City to investigate the murder of Susan Hamilton, which took place on Valentine’s Day in 2001. Susan Hamilton had a seemingly perfect life in her beautiful home in Oklahoma City, until her husband John Hamilton called 911 to report that he’d found his wife dead on the bathroom floor, strangled with two ties and her head bashed in.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • November 2, 2022November 2, 2022
  • Podcast

Medical Murderers & Serial Killers

Today we’re talking about one of the most monstrous abuses of trust, when a trained healthcare professional takes it upon themselves to kill their patients. Being in healthcare myself, I find it hard to believe anyone would do something like this, because everyone that I’ve been around has all had the same mission as mine, which is to take care of people. For the month of November, we are going to cover medical professionals who have killed, or who are serial murderers.

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Pushing Up Lilies

Pushing Up Lilies
Pushing Up Lilies

Dissect the science behind some of the most spine-tingling, unusual and terrifyingly true crime stories with Julie Mattson, a seasoned Forensic Nurse Death Investigator in this gripping weekly podcast.

Julie’s unique approach to investigations is informed by her background in nursing, which allows her to provide an in-depth analysis of the medical intricacies and physiological aspects of each case.

With her compassionate storytelling and unwavering dedication to uncovering the truth, Julie takes you on a thrilling journey into the world of forensic science, shining a light on the intersection of medicine, justice and criminal investigation.

In “Pushing Up Lilies,” Julie’s expert medical analysis will captivate your imagination and challenge your understanding of the human body’s role in solving the most complex and enigmatic criminal case.

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The Monster He Wanted to Become
byJulie Mattson

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m covering the heartbreaking case of Rachel Castillo, a young mother whose disappearance in Southern California led investigators to a devastating discovery, and ultimately, the conviction of her estranged husband, Zarbab Ali.

Rachel vanished during what should have been a routine custody exchange involving her children. But almost immediately, investigators began uncovering signs that something was terribly wrong. What followed was an intense investigation involving surveillance footage, blood evidence, digital tracking, and a search that ended with Rachel’s body being found buried in a remote area.

As a forensic death investigator, I walk through how cases like this begin to unfold behind the scenes, how small pieces of evidence start forming a timeline, how investigators interpret behavioral patterns, and how critical those early investigative decisions become when someone suddenly disappears under suspicious circumstances.

This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, homicide, and burial concealment. 

Listener discretion is advised.

The Monster He Wanted to Become
The Monster He Wanted to Become
May 27, 2026
Julie Mattson
The Death of Spencer Irwin: Questions Left Behind
May 20, 2026
Julie Mattson
The Shocking Torture and Murder of Sonia Exelby
May 13, 2026
Julie Mattson
Inside the Crime that Shook a Community – Part Three
May 6, 2026
Julie Mattson
Inside the Crime that Shook a Community – Part Two
April 29, 2026
Julie Mattson
Inside the Crime that Shook a Community – Part One
April 22, 2026
Julie Mattson
Julie Mattson: LIVE From Beyond The Crime 2026
April 15, 2026
Julie Mattson
Pedro Rodrigues Filho: The Man Who Killed Killers
April 8, 2026
Julie Mattson
Walter Carl Kenney: Twice a John Doe
April 1, 2026
Julie Mattson
A Case That Still Hurts: Revisiting Aubreigh Wyatt’s Story
March 25, 2026
Julie Mattson
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Pushing Up Lilies is a weekly true crime podcast with spine-tingling, unusual, terrifyingly true stories with a forensic twist, hosted by Julie Mattson.

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Pushing Up Lilies is a weekly true crime podcast with spine-tingling, unusual, terrifyingly true stories with a forensic twist, hosted by Forensic Nurse Death Investigator, Julie Mattson.

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Recent Episodes

The Monster He Wanted to Become

The Death of Spencer Irwin: Questions Left Behind

The Shocking Torture and Murder of Sonia Exelby

Inside the Crime that Shook a Community – Part Three

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© 2026 Pushing Up Lilies. All Rights Reserved.