Pushing Up Lillies
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  • Julie Mattson
  • May 3, 2023May 3, 2023
  • Podcast

Inside the Minds of Women Who Marry Serial Killers

On today’s episode, we will explore the psychology behind the relationships and examine the motivations of individuals who write to and marry serial killers behind bars.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • April 26, 2023April 25, 2023
  • Podcast

Head Trauma: From Infants to Seniors to Criminal Behavior

In this episode, we take an in-depth look at the physical and neurological signs of head trauma and the ways in which they can manifest in different age groups, from babies to the elderly. We also explore head trauma and the connection to criminal behavior, taking a closer look at the scientific evidence and the real-life case of the Louisville shooter, Connor Sturgeon.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • April 19, 2023April 18, 2023
  • Podcast

Serial Killers Who Suffered Head Trauma

Join me as we unravel the mysteries of the human mind and seek to understand the complex interplay of factors that may contribute to the making of a serial killer.

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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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  • Julie Mattson
  • March 29, 2023March 29, 2023
  • Podcast

Buster Murdaugh and the Mysterious Death of Stephen Smith

This week I want to talk about Stephen Smith’s death. Stephen Smith, he was the young man, 19 years old, that was found dead in the middle of a rural road, not really anything indicative of a hit and run. However, his death was determined to be vehicular manslaughter. Eight years later, it’s being investigated as a homicide, with all eyes on Buster Murdaugh.

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  • Julie Mattson
  • March 15, 2023
  • Podcast

Delusions of Being a Vampire: Richard Chase, The Vampire of Sacramento

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
  • March 8, 2023March 8, 2023
  • Podcast

A Deep Dive into the Alex Murdaugh Murders

Today we are taking a deep dive into the double murder trial of Alex Murdaugh, a South Carolina former attorney who has been convicted of murdering his wife and son.

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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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  • Julie Mattson
  • February 15, 2023February 15, 2023
  • Podcast

From Love to Murder: The Valentine’s Day Hamilton Homicide

Today we head to Oklahoma City to investigate the murder of Susan Hamilton, which took place on Valentine’s Day in 2001. Susan Hamilton had a seemingly perfect life in her beautiful home in Oklahoma City, until her husband John Hamilton called 911 to report that he’d found his wife dead on the bathroom floor, strangled with two ties and her head bashed in.

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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.