Hey y’all, it’s Julie Mattson… and today we’re revisiting a case that still sits heavy on my heart. In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, I’m talking about thirteen-year-old Aubreigh Wyatt, a young girl whose life ended far too soon after enduring relentless bullying. We’re going to walk through her story together, not just to understand what happened, but to really look at the deeper impact bullying can have on someone’s life… especially at such a vulnerable age. I’ll share some of the signs that often go unnoticed, why open communication matters so much, and what we can all do to help protect the people around us, especially our kids. This one’s tough, y’all… but it’s important. Because sometimes the hardest conversations are the ones that can make the biggest difference. So if you’re listening today, I’m really glad you’re here. Let’s talk about it. * Listener discretion is advised. EPISODE TRANSCRIPT: 0:06 Welcome to Pushing Up Lilies. 0:08 I’m your host, Julie Mattson. 0:10 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. 0:24 Do I have some stories for you? 0:26 Are you ready? 0:31 Hey, y’all, I hope everybody is having a great week. 0:34 Our weather in Texas has been amazing. 0:38 It hasn’t been as hot as it was earlier in the month, which kind of surprises me, but we’ll be going to North Dakota soon at the end of the month. 0:47 I’m looking forward to the weather there. 0:49 I think it’s normally like in the seventies, we’re going to go to South Dakota and North Dakota. 0:55 But first I have a death investigation conference. 0:59 It’s the International Association of Coroners and Medical Examiners. 1:05 They have a training symposium every year and it’s in Vegas. 1:11 We go, well, we alternate in our office. 1:14 The investigators kind of take turns going because we have to get continuing education just like you have to in a lot of different career fields. 1:25 And it’s interesting, we hear a lot of really cool stories from a lot of investigators and pathologists all over the US or all over the world actually, to hear stories about deaths that occur in ways that we don’t really get to experience in our county. 1:44 For example, we had someone from Louisiana talking about alligator deaths after Katrina. 1:54 You know, we don’t have, well, I’m not going to say we don’t have alligators in Texas. 1:58 There have been a lot of pictures of huge alligators seen in Texas and seen in Texas Lakes. 2:06 But, as of yet, we in our county have not had an alligator related death, but to hear like deaths related to shark attacks, which, you know, we don’t have any oceans in Denton. 2:20 And so we have not experienced that. 2:23 And so it’s just interesting because certain parts of the country have deaths that we’ll probably never see here. 2:31 It’s interesting to see how they handle them. 2:34 And we get to see the photos too which I know may seem morbid, but I don’t know, I just, we really learn a lot. 2:43 It’s great to network and to get to know people. 2:48 I met some women at the conference in Atlanta when I went to the Child death investigation training that are going to be in Vegas. 2:55 I’m looking forward to seeing them again. 2:58 It’s fun. 2:59 It’s definitely a community kind of like, you know, firefighters and police officers, we are our own community, and we are filled with different people. 3:11 I absolutely love it. 3:12 I am looking forward to that conference as well and that is coming up. 3:17 We’ll be gone next week, and they have a lot of events for us. 3:21 A lot of fun things. 3:23 And I also occasionally I think the last time I went, I got to see a couple of doctors I used to work with in Houston. 3:30 It’s kind of like a reunion of sorts. 3:32 That’ll be a lot of fun. 3:35 I was at work yesterday and I wanted to kind of tell you all about part of my day. 3:42 It’s humbling to say the least. 3:44 But this is what I dislike. 3:48 I think the most about this career field. 3:52 And I think a lot of people will agree having to notify family of a death. 4:00 It’s always been the hardest part for me. 4:03 I know that I just always kind of imagine myself on the other end of the conversation. 4:09 And I’m sure that, you know, a lot of people when we have to do this question, whether or not we are, who we say we are. 4:19 A lot of people initially think that it’s a joke or that we’re kidding or it’s not possible, but I do not like calling people to tell them that their loved one has passed away. 4:33 We don’t like to do that. 4:35 We will typically go to the residence and tell them with an officer, but in this case, it was out of county, and I wasn’t able to or in these two cases, and I didn’t have addresses. 4:47 I didn’t know where to go. 4:50 Sometimes the urgency is of course, letting the family know as soon as possible. 4:56 In one of the cases, the gentleman was transported there from a public facility. 5:05 And so his wife did not know. If it happens to someone at home, obviously, you know, normally their family is going to find him. 5:13 But in this particular case, he was at a public venue and was found unresponsive and was transported to the hospital. 5:21 She did not know I did not have a
Till Death Do Us Part – The Brandon and Rachel Dumovich Story
Hey y’all, it’s Julie Mattson, and in this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we’re diving into a heartbreaking case of love, betrayal, and murder. This is the story of Brandon and Rachel Dumovich, a couple who seemed to have it all, until their picture-perfect life took a deadly turn. What happens when the vows “till death do us part” become a grim reality? I’m walking you through the investigation, the shocking motive, and how one tragic decision shattered multiple lives. This case left an entire community stunned, and serves as a reminder that sometimes the greatest danger can lie within our own homes. Join me as we uncover the truth behind the Dumovich story, piece by chilling piece. * Listener discretion is advised. 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? Hi, y’all. We’re back for another week of Pushing Up Lilies and I can’t tell you again how well our first annual murder mystery dinner party went. We had around 35 people, I believe, actually show up. 00:48 The food was amazing. The waitstaff was amazing. I was greeted with the staff there and the management. They helped me set up and it was really, really fun. The murder mystery code that I hired to do the actual play was amazing. 01:07 It was a little more interactive than I thought it would be, and I was pleasantly surprised at how much fun everyone had. There was not one complaint. Everyone said they wanted to come back next year. 01:19 I’ve already secured a venue for next year and it actually holds 100 people. So, start thinking it’ll be in October again, probably around Halloween. It’s going to have a different theme every year. So, I’m already excited. 01:35 I’m already kind of in my head planning next year’s event. We had a lot of giveaways and thank you again to those who came and showed me support. We had a great raffle, and a lot of people won some wonderful prizes. 01:52 It was just so much fun. I wanted to follow up a little bit on a case that I covered several weeks ago. ago, the one about the schoolteacher, Ellen Greenberg. Ellen’s story, and I know that a lot of y’all have been following it, she was the young lady found in her locked apartment in January of 2011. 02:14 She had 20 stab wounds to her back, neck, and head. The knife was actually still lodged in her chest when her fiance, Samuel Goldberg, forced the door open and discovered her body. Now, initially, if y’all remember, Ellen’s death was ruled a homicide. 02:34 Seemed pretty obvious, that many stab wounds. But not long after, the ruling was changed to suicide. This is because investigators claim there were no signs of forced entry. There were no defensive wounds and no DNA from her fiancé on the knife. 02:56 But for years, Ellen’s parents, Josh and Sandy Greenberg, have fought to challenge the conclusion. They’ve raised questions about the evidence. Number one, the number and location of the wounds, the bruises, remember, and different stages on her body, the fact that the surveillance footage was missing, and even the 3D reconstruction that experts did say that self-infliction was impossible. 03:27 Their persistence paid off earlier this year when a settlement with the city of Philadelphia required that the police review the case again. And many hoped that that would bring clarity or even justice to Ellen. 03:41 But this week, the Philadelphia Medical Examiner’s Office announced that once again Ellen’s death is being rolled a suicide. The new report actually acknowledges that the injuries are unusual, but it does insist that Ellen could have inflicted them herself. 03:59 They actually cited her history of anxiety and the lack of DNA evidence linking anybody else to the crime. So, her family’s attorney called the review deeply flawed, and Ellen’s parents say that they’re heartbroken, but they’re not surprised, but guess what? 04:18 They’re not done fighting, and that’s what you do for your kids. For those who followed her story since the beginning, this latest ruling kind of feels like Deja vu. The case is closed, but it’s not really resolved. 04:33 It’s funny because I actually got a lot of messages, private messages, mostly on Facebook about this case, people who saw that it was changed back to suicide and who were just like floored. But floored by the fact that they think that this could be a suicide when you stab yourself 20 times. 04:52 And again, I’ve had someone shoot themself twice, but they… grazed themself the first time. These injuries were significant. I mean, there’s a lot of things that go into play when the pathologists are trying to determine the cause and manner of death. 05:08 And I would actually like to try to get one of our pathologists in Tarrant County on the podcast to discuss this case, to see what their thoughts are, just to hear it from their viewpoint. Because 20 times, I don’t see with the extent of these injuries and the depth of these injuries, how that’s possible. 05:29 I mean, I’m surprised by things every day, but it kind of blows me away. I will say that this story of Brandon and Rachel Dumovich has really got me a little perplexed. I’m not quite sure why they are not actually releasing the manner of death. 05:56 But let’s talk a little bit about this story. So, love stories begin with a spark and a laugh and a moment or a memory that stays with us forever. But sometimes those same stories end in ways that nobody could ever imagine.
The Mysterious Death of Ellen Greenberg
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.
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.
Fan Favorite Replay: How to Avoid an Autopsy
Today I want to talk to you about one of the questions that I get asked a lot being a death investigator. And that is, how to avoid an autopsy. There are many reasons why people do not want an autopsy, reasons range from religious beliefs to not wanting the body, as they call it, mutilated.
People’s Choice Replay: From Bullying to Tragedy – The Heartbreaking Case of Aubreigh Wyatt
In this episode of Pushing Up Lilies, we take a look at two very recent cases that highlight the severe consequences of toxic relationships and senseless violence. First, we’ll explore the tragic story of the missing Georgia firefighters who were found dead after trying to end a toxic relationship. The details of their disappearance and subsequent discovery reveal the dark side of relationships gone horribly wrong.
The Koch Family Tragedy and Mental Health Awareness
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.
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.
Wife Murdered Over Zombie House Flipping Show
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.
Suicide and the Dark Side of the Holidays
In this episode, I’m diving into a heartbreaking case of a man who took his own life while on vacation with his family—a devastating reminder that even joyful moments can be overshadowed by personal struggles.
