Pushing Up Lillies
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  • Julie Mattson
  • January 21, 2026January 21, 2026
  • Podcast

Spence and Mo’ Tepe: The Murdered Dentist and His Wife

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
  • December 3, 2025December 3, 2025
  • Podcast

The Disappearance of Ana Walshe

In this episode, I’m digging into the unsettling story of Faye and Raymond Copeland—the oldest couple ever sentenced to death in the United States.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • September 10, 2025September 10, 2025
  • Podcast

Love, Lies and Embezzlement

On today’s episode, we explore the heartbreaking story of the Hart family murder-suicide. On March 26th, 2018, the family’s SUV was found at the bottom of a cliff in California, with the bodies of all eight family members inside.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • July 9, 2025July 9, 2025
  • Podcast

Suzanne Morphew: Vanished Mom and Wildlife Drugs

In this episode, I’m digging into the unsettling story of Faye and Raymond Copeland—the oldest couple ever sentenced to death in the United States.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • January 1, 2025January 1, 2025
  • Podcast

Japan’s ‘Black Widow’ Serial Killer Chisako Kakehi 

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m taking a trip across the globe to uncover the unsettling story of Japan’s “Black Widow,” Chisako Kakashi. This infamous serial killer has been accused of luring her victims into deadly traps—often using poison—as she pursued financial gain and control.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • June 7, 2023June 7, 2023
  • Podcast

Australian Mom Pardoned for Death of Children After 20 Years

In this gripping episode, we delve into a heart-wrenching case that shocked Australia and sparked intense debates within the criminal justice system. Join us as we uncover the tragic tale of an Australian mother Kathleen Folbigg, who spent a harrowing 20 years behind bars for the mysterious deaths of her four children.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • February 22, 2023
  • Podcast

The Valentine’s Day Murder of Denise Leuthold

This week we conclude our Valentine’s Day Murders with a story about Nathan Leuthold, a 39 year old former Baptist Missionary, who shot his wife Denise Leuthold in the head on Valentine’s Day 2013, to make room for his lover, a 20-year-old Lithuanian woman the couple sponsored to study in the United States.

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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 Death of Aria Talathi: When a Drowning Scene Tells a Different Story
byJulie Mattson

Sometimes a death scene seems to tell you exactly what happened. A child is found submerged in a swimming pool, and the immediate assumption is drowning.

But as a death investigator, I’ve learned that where someone is found doesn’t necessarily tell us where, or how, they died.

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m taking you through the case of four-year-old Aria Talathi, who was found in the deep end of a swimming pool at a short-term rental in Florida while traveling with her mother, Dr. Neha Gupta. What initially appeared to be a devastating childhood drowning became something very different when investigators began looking more closely at the physical evidence.

According to the arrest affidavit discussed in this episode, investigators said Aria’s lungs and stomach were considered dry, while the examination also documented cuts inside her mouth and bruising along the insides of her cheeks. Authorities alleged those injuries raised the possibility that she had been smothered and was already dead before being placed in the pool.

I’ll take you behind the scenes of how I would approach a death investigation like this, including what I would photograph, what questions I would ask, how I would build the timeline, and why something as simple as a door latch, an undisturbed bed, a phone record, or the contents of a stomach can become important.

And there’s something I don’t want us to lose in all of the forensic details: Aria was four years old. Before her name appeared in an arrest affidavit or became part of a murder case, she was a little girl who went to the beach, rode jet skis, and traveled with her mother. Her life deserves to remain at the center of this story.

I also begin this episode with a brief update on the Lindsay Clancy case following the September 4 mistrial and what may happen next.

Content Note: This episode discusses the death of a child, possible smothering/asphyxiation, drowning, and alleged homicide.

The Death of Aria Talathi: When a Drowning Scene Tells a Different Story
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
Grand Haven: The Karolkiewicz Family
August 5, 2026
Julie Mattson
When Murder Ends in Suicide: A Recent Wave of American Murder-Suicides
July 29, 2026
Julie Mattson
The Questions Left Behind: What Happened to Allie Hummel?
July 22, 2026
Julie Mattson
Andrew Hummel: Discovery of Allie
July 22, 2026
Julie Mattson
Andrew Hummel: Waiting On Toxicology
July 22, 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 Death of Aria Talathi: When a Drowning Scene Tells a Different Story

The Lindsay Clancy Trial: The Case Is Now in the Jury’s Hands

The Lindsay Clancy Trial: New Testimony, New Questions

The Lindsay Clancy Trial: Psychosis, Premeditation, or Both?

Subscribe to Podcast

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© 2026 Pushing Up Lilies. All Rights Reserved.