Pushing Up Lillies
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  • Julie Mattson
  • December 31, 2025December 31, 2025
  • Podcast

New Year’s Eve Murder Encore – Son Decapitates Mom

On New Years Eve in 2014, a son attacked his mother at their home and decapitated her with an ax, because she “nagged him” to do the chores.

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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
  • March 19, 2025April 2, 2025
  • Podcast

Hairdresser Murder: What Happened to Joleen Cummings?

Hey y’all, it’s Julie Mattson, your host on Pushing Up Lilies. This week, I’m diving into a tough but important topic—suicides at work. As a death investigator, I’ve responded to countless cases where people take their own lives while on the job, and the impact on coworkers and families is heartbreaking. We’ll talk about the signs, the struggles, and the aftermath of these tragic losses.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • March 12, 2025March 12, 2025
  • Podcast

Workplace Suicides & the Murder Kroger Case

Hey y’all, it’s Julie Mattson, your host on Pushing Up Lilies. This week, I’m diving into a tough but important topic—suicides at work. As a death investigator, I’ve responded to countless cases where people take their own lives while on the job, and the impact on coworkers and families is heartbreaking. We’ll talk about the signs, the struggles, and the aftermath of these tragic losses.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • March 5, 2025March 5, 2025
  • Podcast

Flies, Gnats, Spiders… Oh My! (Listener Favorite Rewind)

As death investigators, we deal on a daily basis with all kinds of insects; roaches, flies, gnats and spiders. Of course, those are things that they don’t really show you on TV, because it takes the glamor out of the job. And the truth of the matter is, we’re not walking around in high heels looking our best with our make-up on and our hair done.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • February 26, 2025February 26, 2025
  • Podcast

Connecticut ‘Cannibal Killer’ Released to Kill Again?

On today’s episode, I want to share with you stories of two different men that had an obsession with blood. One, I was personally on the scene investigating, and the other is the infamous killer Richard Chase, also known as the Vampire of Sacramento, one of the most deeply mentally ill serial killers of all time.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • February 12, 2025February 12, 2025
  • Podcast

Sacramento Vampire Richard Chase Part 2

On today’s episode, I want to share with you stories of two different men that had an obsession with blood. One, I was personally on the scene investigating, and the other is the infamous killer Richard Chase, also known as the Vampire of Sacramento, one of the most deeply mentally ill serial killers of all time.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • February 5, 2025February 5, 2025
  • Podcast

Sacramento Vampire Richard Chase Part 1

On today’s episode, I want to share with you stories of two different men that had an obsession with blood. One, I was personally on the scene investigating, and the other is the infamous killer Richard Chase, also known as the Vampire of Sacramento, one of the most deeply mentally ill serial killers of all time.

Read more
  • Julie Mattson
  • September 13, 2023September 13, 2023
  • Podcast

When Suicides Collide with Unseen Victims

In this episode, I invite you to step into my world as a forensic death investigator, where we explore a haunting aspect of my work that often goes unnoticed – suicides involving pedestrians and vehicles.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • September 6, 2023September 6, 2023
  • Podcast

The Invisible Killer – Unintentional Carbon Monoxide Deaths

In this riveting episode, we shine a light on the silent and deadly menace known as carbon monoxide. Join us as we delve into the haunting cases of unintentional carbon monoxide deaths that have left families shattered and communities in shock. These stories reveal the devastating consequences of a colorless, odorless gas that strikes without warning.

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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 Monster He Wanted to Become
byJulie Mattson

In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m covering the heartbreaking case of Rachel Castillo, a young mother whose disappearance in Southern California led investigators to a devastating discovery, and ultimately, the conviction of her estranged husband, Zarbab Ali.

Rachel vanished during what should have been a routine custody exchange involving her children. But almost immediately, investigators began uncovering signs that something was terribly wrong. What followed was an intense investigation involving surveillance footage, blood evidence, digital tracking, and a search that ended with Rachel’s body being found buried in a remote area.

As a forensic death investigator, I walk through how cases like this begin to unfold behind the scenes, how small pieces of evidence start forming a timeline, how investigators interpret behavioral patterns, and how critical those early investigative decisions become when someone suddenly disappears under suspicious circumstances.

This episode contains discussion of domestic violence, homicide, and burial concealment. 

Listener discretion is advised.

The Monster He Wanted to Become
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
Inside the Crime that Shook a Community – Part Two
April 29, 2026
Julie Mattson
Inside the Crime that Shook a Community – Part One
April 22, 2026
Julie Mattson
Julie Mattson: LIVE From Beyond The Crime 2026
April 15, 2026
Julie Mattson
Pedro Rodrigues Filho: The Man Who Killed Killers
April 8, 2026
Julie Mattson
Walter Carl Kenney: Twice a John Doe
April 1, 2026
Julie Mattson
A Case That Still Hurts: Revisiting Aubreigh Wyatt’s Story
March 25, 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 Monster He Wanted to Become

The Death of Spencer Irwin: Questions Left Behind

The Shocking Torture and Murder of Sonia Exelby

Inside the Crime that Shook a Community – Part Three

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© 2026 Pushing Up Lilies. All Rights Reserved.