Pushing Up Lillies
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  • Julie Mattson
  • October 2, 2024October 2, 2024
  • Podcast

Bathtub Murder: The Tragic Death of Kendy Howard

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we’re diving into the tragic and shocking case of Kendy Howard. Kendy was the wife of Idaho State Trooper Dan Howard, a man sworn to protect, but instead, he became the ultimate betrayer. In 2023, while she was taking a bath, Dan shot Kendy in the head in what appears to be a calculated and cold-blooded crime.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • September 25, 2024September 25, 2024
  • Podcast

Sleepover Tragedy: The Henryetta Murders

This week, we’re covering a case that shook the small town of Henryetta, Oklahoma, and sent shockwaves across the country. On May 1st, 2023, Jesse McFadden murdered his wife, Holly Guess, her three children—Rylee Elizabeth Allen, Michael James Mayo, and Tiffany Dore Guess—as well as their two young friends, Ivy Webster and Brittany Brewer. What started as an innocent sleepover turned into a horrifying massacre.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • September 17, 2024September 18, 2024
  • Podcast

Gone But Not Forgotten: The Tragic Case of Laura Wallen

Hey y’all, it’s Julie with Pushing Up Lilies. This week, we’re diving into the heartbreaking case of Laura Wallen, a 31-year-old beloved history and law teacher from Wild Lake High School in Columbia, Maryland. Laura went missing, and her family’s worst fears came true.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • September 11, 2024September 11, 2024
  • Podcast

Samuel Haskell IV Accused of Dismembering Wife and In-laws

Hey y’all, this week on Pushing Up Lilies, I’m diving deep into a chilling case that sounds like it’s straight out of a Hollywood horror movie.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • September 4, 2024September 4, 2024
  • Podcast

Unpacking Gruesome Suitcase Murders

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m taking a deep dive into some of the most chilling cases where victims were found locked inside suitcases—an unsettling trend that leaves us all with more questions than answers.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • August 22, 2022June 17, 2026
  • Podcast

Julie’s Story: Host of Pushing Up Lilies

Welcome to the very first episode of Pushing Up Lilies, a true crime podcast shared through my perspective as a Forensic Nurse Death Investigator and a Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner for the last 21 years.

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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.