Pushing Up Lillies
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  • Julie Mattson
  • December 25, 2024December 25, 2024
  • Podcast

The Tragic Murder of Rhonda Hinson

In this episode, we’re taking a closer look at the heartbreaking 1981 murder of 19-year-old Rhonda Hinson, a North Carolina teen whose life was brutally cut short just two days before Christmas.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • December 18, 2024December 18, 2024
  • Podcast

Rides That Never Return: Rideshare Nightmares

Hey y’all, it’s Julie Mattson, and on this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we’re diving into the unsettling world of deaths linked to Uber and Lyft rides.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • December 11, 2024December 11, 2024
  • Podcast

The Walls Have Eyes: The Chilling Case of Daniel LaPlante

This week, I’m taking you into one of the most unsettling cases I’ve ever researched—the story of Daniel LaPlante. Known for his bizarre and terrifying behavior, LaPlante lurked in the walls of a family’s home before brutally murdering a pregnant woman and her children.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • December 4, 2024December 4, 2024
  • Podcast

Breathless: Tragic Asphyxia and Choking Deaths

In this episode, I’m diving into a heartbreaking and often misunderstood topic—deaths caused by asphyxia and choking. Whether it’s accidental, intentional, or the result of foul play, these cases are some of the most challenging and emotional to investigate.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • November 27, 2024November 27, 2024
  • Podcast

Susan Smith: A Mother’s Betrayal

This week, we’re revisiting one of the most shocking and heartbreaking cases in true crime history—the story of Susan Smith, the mother who drove her car into a lake in 1994, drowning her two young sons. It’s a case that stunned the nation, and now, nearly 30 years later, Susan was up for parole.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • November 20, 2024November 20, 2024
  • Podcast

Deaths in Tanning Beds

In this episode, we’re diving into a chilling and often overlooked phenomenon—people found deceased in tanning beds.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • November 13, 2024November 13, 2024
  • Podcast

Eighteen Decomposed Bodies in a Funeral Home

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we dive into the chilling case of Chris Lee Johnson, a 39-year-old funeral home owner from Douglas, Georgia, who has been arrested after authorities discovered 18 decomposing bodies in his care.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • November 5, 2024November 6, 2024
  • Podcast

Wife Murdered Over Zombie House Flipping Show

On this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we’re delving into the twisted tale of David Tronnes, a Florida man whose obsession with home renovations and dreams of reality TV stardom ended in murder.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • October 30, 2024October 30, 2024
  • Podcast

Buried Secrets: A Deathbed Confession Unravels a 24-Year Mystery

In this episode, I’m diving into a case that stayed cold for 24 long years—until a chilling deathbed confession finally led investigators to the remains of a missing girl and her mother in West Virginia.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • October 23, 2024October 23, 2024
  • Podcast

Suicide and the Dark Side of the Holidays

In this episode, I’m diving into a heartbreaking case of a man who took his own life while on vacation with his family—a devastating reminder that even joyful moments can be overshadowed by personal struggles.

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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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A Mother’s Life Stolen: The Murder of Caroline Piña Cairo
byJulie Mattson

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m examining the heartbreaking murder of 32-year-old Caroline Piña Cairo, a mother of five whose life was taken in a brutal daylight attack that stunned the Del Rio, Texas community.

When Caroline arrived at the hospital suffering from multiple stab wounds, medical teams fought to save her life. Despite their efforts, she later succumbed to her injuries. Three women were arrested and charged with her murder, but many questions surrounding the case remain unanswered as the investigation continues.

As a forensic death investigator and former emergency room nurse, I walk through what happens in the critical moments after a stabbing victim arrives at the hospital, why injuries like these can be far more severe than they first appear, and how investigators begin reconstructing a violent crime through witness statements, surveillance footage, forensic evidence, and medical findings. I also discuss why it’s so important to separate verified facts from speculation while a case is still unfolding.

But more than anything, I want to remember Caroline.

She wasn’t simply the victim in a headline. She was a mother, a friend, and someone remembered for her generosity and the kindness she showed others, even during difficult times in her own life. Behind every investigation is a family whose world has been forever changed, and five children who will grow up without their mother.

This episode contains discussion of homicide, stabbing violence, and death. Listener discretion is advised.

A Mother’s Life Stolen: The Murder of Caroline Piña Cairo
A Mother’s Life Stolen: The Murder of Caroline Piña Cairo
July 8, 2026
Julie Mattson
Amy Steadman and the Mechanicville Family Deaths
July 1, 2026
Julie Mattson
The Survivor Who Stopped a Serial Killer
June 24, 2026
Julie Mattson
Where It All Began: Julie’s Story – Host of Pushing Up Lilies
June 17, 2026
Julie Mattson
The State of Texas vs Karmelo Anthony
June 11, 2026
Julie Mattson
One Final Moment: The Tragic Death of Austin Metcalf
June 3, 2026
Julie Mattson
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
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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

A Mother’s Life Stolen: The Murder of Caroline Piña Cairo

Amy Steadman and the Mechanicville Family Deaths

The Survivor Who Stopped a Serial Killer

Where It All Began: Julie’s Story – Host of Pushing Up Lilies

Subscribe to Podcast

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© 2026 Pushing Up Lilies. All Rights Reserved.