Ashley Flowers

Crime Junkie is an Audiochuck production.

So, what do you think, Chuck?

Do you approve?

Hi, Crime Junkies.

Hi, Crime Junkies.

I'm your host, Ashley Flowers.

And I'm Britt.

And today I am bringing you a special episode.

If you recognize the name Marilyn Nikki McCown, then you've either been with us since the very beginning or you've made it all the way through our archives.

Because Nikki's story was the very first one I ever told on Crime Junkie back in December of 2017.

before we even knew what this show would become, before the millions of you listening now, and long before we had a team of investigative reporters digging into these cases.

And her case really shaped the future of what this show would become because I remember, Britt, I'm sure you do too.

I can tell you where I was standing.

The day after that episode dropped, Nikki's daughter Peyton reached out to me, said that she listened, said she was grateful for the attention, but, you know, there was more to the story.

Mm-hmm.

I drove all the way up to Richmond, Indiana.

I met with her.

And I held that conversation with me every day for the next eight years.

This reminder that even when we had no following, the people who lived these stories would be listening to these stories.

I never forgot her.