Pushing Up Lillies
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  • Julie Mattson
  • July 22, 2026July 23, 2026
  • Podcast

The Questions Left Behind: What Happened to Allie Hummel?

BONUS AUDIO: SHARED WITH PERMISSION FROM ALLIE’S FRIEND BONUS AUDIO: SHARED WITH PERMISSION FROM ALLIE’S FRIEND What happens when a young, healthy woman is found dead in her own home… and the questions begin long before the investigation has answers? This week on Pushing Up Lilies, I’m taking a closer look at the life and death of Alexandra “Allie” Hummel, a 36-year-old licensed nurse from Missouri whose unexpected death remains under investigation. Based on publicly available information, I walk through the timeline of events leading up to her death, including a documented domestic violence incident that occurred less than a year earlier and why that history is significant in any death investigation. From the 911 call to the pending toxicology results, I’ll explain what investigators look for when responding to an unexpected death in the home, how prior incidents become part of the investigative process, and why every piece of evidence matters. As a forensic death investigator, I also share my professional perspective on scene documentation, autopsy findings, toxicology testing, and the importance of remaining objective while allowing the facts to determine the outcome. Most importantly, this episode is about Allie, a dedicated nurse, mother, daughter, sister, and friend whose loved ones continue to seek answers. While this investigation is still ongoing, her story also shines a light on the realities of domestic violence, the challenges victims often face, and why support systems are so important. Next week, I’ll be joined by Allie’s close friend, Kelsey, who will share personal memories of Allie and offer additional insight into the woman behind the headlines. If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, please know that help is available. You are not alone. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: 00:06 Welcome to Pushing Up Lilies. I’m your host, Julie Mattson. Pushing Up Lilies is a weekly true crime podcast with spine-tingling, unusual, and terrifyingly true stories from my perspective as a forensic death investigator and a sexual assault nurse examiner.  00:24 Do I have some stories for you? Are you ready? Hey guys, welcome to another episode of Pushing Up Lilies. I’m coming to you this week from Deadwood, South Dakota. I don’t know how many of you have been here before, but it is such a beautiful countryside.  00:44 We flew into Rapid City yesterday and we’re here for a couple of days. Then we’re going to go visit my husband’s family farm in Rock Lake, North Dakota. And then we’re going to go to Minot and spend a day at the fair, I believe, before we go home.  01:03 So just needed a little opportunity to get away. School is still schooling. I guess next week is my last week of this semester. So, I’ll be taking my final exam, which I’m extremely nervous about for this clinical.  01:19 And I have one more clinical day, and I will have my 180 hours and 180 patients in for this semester. And then we’re going to do the same thing next semester, but next semester is going to be pediatrics and family medicine.  01:34 And then my last semester is the same. So, I will be doing those rotations in Louisville as well. So, I should be done in March, y’all. So, I’m just hoping that everything goes smoothly. School is hard when you’ve been out for 30 years.  01:52 It’s really hard to try to go back. And my memory’s not what it used to be. I think I’ve told you all that before. When you’re 58, you just don’t remember things like you should. And so, it’s more difficult, even if it’s something that’s instilled in your brain that you’ve been doing for 30 years.  02:07 But today we are dedicating a full episode to the life and death of Alexandra, also known as Allie Leanne Barton Hummel. She was a 36-year-old licensed nurse from New London, Missouri. And Allie was found unresponsive in her home on June 23rd of this year, 2026.  02:31 And her death remains under investigation. Now, again, as I’ve told y’all before, this is a fully factual account based on public records, news reports, court documents, family statements, statements from friends that I have spoken to, and official statements that have been made public since the middle of this month.  02:58 There is no speculation here beyond what’s reported. I’m just going to stick to the facts. But Allie’s story is one of a dedicated healthcare professional, a sister, a friend, and a mother, and a woman whose final chapter has left her loved ones in her community seeking answers.  03:18 This is a story very similar to ones that we hear every day and very similar to ones that I have worked in the death investigation field. Now, later in this episode, I’m going to give you some professional insights into the death investigation process in cases like this.  03:38 And I’m going to announce next week’s episode. That’s going to be an interview with Allie’s friend Kelsey, who will share her perspective and memories surrounding her friend’s life and passing. Now, Alexandra, or we’ll just call her Allie.  03:55 Allie Hummel was born on July 7th of 1989. So, she would have turned 37 just two weeks after her death. She grew up in Missouri area and pursued a career in nursing, and she became a licensed nurse in that state.  04:16 She is remembered by those who knew her as a caring individual with passion for helping others. Now, Allie worked as a nurse, and we all know this is a demanding profession that often involves long hours.  04:29 It’s a lot of stress, and it has a profound impact on patients’ lives, which is why we love it. But colleagues and friends who interacted with her professionally described her positively following her death.  04:43 She was very well loved. Now, she married Dr. Andrew Michael Hummel, who was an anesthesiologist, and he operated Northern Ozark Anesthesia Solutions, which is his own

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  • Julie Mattson
  • May 29, 2024May 29, 2024
  • Podcast

Twisters and Toxins: Tornadoes, Poisons, and Date Rape Drugs

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we start with the recent devastating tornado in Texas, discussing its aftermath and the challenges it brings to death investigators. Then we will uncover the chilling reality of date rape drugs, exploring how they incapacitate victims and the forensic methods used to detect them.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • September 28, 2022September 28, 2022
  • Podcast

A Day in the Life of a Sexual Assault Nurse

Over the years as a sexual assault nurse, I’ve interviewed a lot of victims, and even perpetrators. One thing that always breaks my heart is the fact that a lot of people feel like they deserve what happened to them. I always hated to hear that when I would talk to the victims and the first thing they would say is; “I shouldn’t of worn that short skirt, I shouldn’t of wore that cut off shirt, or I shouldn’t of had that third beer”. The truth of the matter is, you should be able to wear what you want to, and go where you want to, and hang out with whoever you want to, and not have to worry about someone taking advantage of you.

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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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Ashley Flynn Case: A Life Taken, A Family Shattered
byJulie Mattson

When a murder makes national headlines, we often hear more about the person accused of committing the crime than the person whose life was taken. This week on Pushing Up Lilies, I want to change that.

I’m talking about the murder of 37-year-old Ashley Flynn, a devoted mother of two, former elementary school teacher, and volleyball coach from Tipp City, Ohio. Ashley was a woman of faith who loved her family, her community, and the children whose lives she touched. On February 16, 2026, she was fatally shot while in bed inside the home she shared with her husband and daughters.

Her husband, Caleb Flynn, a former pastor and American Idol contestant, initially told investigators that someone had broken into their home. But as investigators examined the scene, questions began to emerge about the reported forced entry, the removal of security cameras, and the physical evidence surrounding Ashley’s death.

As a forensic nurse and former death investigator, I want to take you through some of the details that stood out to me. We’ll discuss the autopsy findings, bullet trajectories, blood evidence, digital records, and how investigators reconstructed what happened inside that bedroom, even though the murder weapon was never recovered.

We’ll also look at the evidence prosecutors presented concerning Caleb’s extramarital affair, the messages that became central to their case, and the trial that resulted in his conviction.

But beyond the investigation and courtroom proceedings, I want us to remember Ashley.

She was a mother whose daughters will grow up without her, a teacher who made a difference, and a woman whose life meant so much more than the circumstances of her death.

Join me as we examine the evidence, the investigation, and the heartbreaking story of Ashley Flynn, because behind every case file is a person with a life, a family, and a story worth telling.

Ashley Flynn Case: A Life Taken, A Family Shattered
Ashley Flynn Case: A Life Taken, A Family Shattered
October 14, 2026
Julie Mattson
Christa Pike: Failed Execution Mystery
October 7, 2026
Julie Mattson
Tasia Fortune: The Hanging That Wasn’t The Cause of Death
September 30, 2026
Julie Mattson
Burger Avenue Mystery
September 23, 2026
Julie Mattson
The Death of Barrett Walsh: Psychosis, a Murder Charge, and the Lindsay Clancy Connection
September 16, 2026
Julie Mattson
The Death of Aria Talathi: When a Drowning Scene Tells a Different Story
September 9, 2026
Julie Mattson
The Lindsay Clancy Trial: The Case Is Now in the Jury’s Hands
September 2, 2026
Julie Mattson
The Lindsay Clancy Trial: New Testimony, New Questions
August 26, 2026
Julie Mattson
The Lindsay Clancy Trial: Psychosis, Premeditation, or Both?
August 19, 2026
Julie Mattson
The Lindsay Clancy Case: Three Children, One Unthinkable Night
August 12, 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

Ashley Flynn Case: A Life Taken, A Family Shattered

Christa Pike: Failed Execution Mystery

Dani After Dark: Julie Mattson Guest Appearance

Tasia Fortune: The Hanging That Wasn’t The Cause of Death

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