Pushing Up Lillies
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  • Julie Mattson
  • October 11, 2023October 11, 2023
  • Podcast

Mothers Who Drown Their Children

On this episode, we delve into the haunting and deeply disturbing phenomenon of maternal filicide, where mothers, like Andrea Yates and Susan Smith, commit the unimaginable act of drowning their own children.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • October 4, 2023October 4, 2023
  • Podcast

The Muswell Hill Murderer: The British Jeffrey Dahmer

In this bone-chilling episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I delve deep into the sinister world of one of the UK’s most notorious serial killers, Dennis Nilsen, infamously known as “The Muswell Hill Murderer.” From 1978, Nilsen embarked on a horrifying spree of murder and necrophilia, leaving a trail of more than a dozen victims in his wake while living in London.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • September 27, 2023September 29, 2023
  • Podcast

Vanished Without a Trace

Today on Pushing Up Lilies, we venture into the perplexing world of missing persons, where countless individuals, including men, women, and children, have disappeared without a trace. Drawing from my experience as a forensic investigator, I bring you two haunting stories of women whose cases emerged in my area, shedding light on the chilling mysteries that surround their disappearances.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • September 20, 2023September 20, 2023
  • Podcast

The Dark Side of Medical Tourism

Today on Pushing Up Lilies, we explore the unsettling world of medical tourism, where the pursuit of beauty can take a deadly turn. Join me as I share the harrowing stories of individuals who embarked on international journeys in search of cosmetic transformation, only to meet tragic and sometimes fatal ends.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • April 12, 2023April 12, 2023
  • Podcast

Head Trauma and Homicide: Exploring the Louisville Shooter and WWE Superstar Murders

In this gripping episode, I delve into the disturbing connection between head trauma and homicide, specifically examining the cases of the Louisville Shooter and a WWE Superstar, Chris Benoit.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • April 5, 2023April 5, 2023
  • Podcast

Kendall Francois, the Poughkeepsie Serial Killer

Last week I was at advanced homicide investigation training, one of the speakers at the event worked as an investigator on the Kendall Francois case, a serial killer from Poughkeepsie, New York, convicted of killing eight women, from 1996 to 1998. Today I am going to share this story with 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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Christa Pike: Failed Execution Mystery
byJulie Mattson

What happens when someone is sentenced to death, the execution goes forward, but the person doesn’t die?

This week on Pushing Up Lilies, I’m talking about Christa Pike, who was convicted of the brutal 1995 murder of 19-year-old Colleen Slemmer in Knoxville, Tennessee. Pike was just 18 years old when the murder occurred, and she has spent roughly three decades on death row.

I want to start by telling you about Colleen, what happened to her, and the evidence that ultimately led to Pike’s conviction. As a former death investigator, I look at cases like this through the physical evidence, the injuries, the witness statements, and what those findings tell us about a victim’s final moments.

But there’s another side to this story that raises some serious medical questions.

On September 30, 2026, Tennessee reportedly attempted to execute Pike using pentobarbital. According to the account discussed in this episode, she survived the procedure and was hospitalized in critical condition. As a nurse, I have a lot of questions about what happened inside that execution chamber.

We’ll look at how lethal injection is supposed to work, what could potentially go wrong, and the medical and ethical questions that arise when an execution fails.

This case is disturbing on so many levels, and while the latest developments have brought renewed attention to Christa Pike, I don’t want us to forget the young woman whose murder started this entire story.

Join me as we examine the evidence, the medicine, and the unanswered questions surrounding this case.

Christa Pike: Failed Execution Mystery
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
Grand Haven: The Karolkiewicz Family
August 5, 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

Christa Pike: Failed Execution Mystery

Dani After Dark: Julie Mattson Guest Appearance

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

Burger Avenue Mystery

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