Essence Peters believed in love, even when it hurt. But when her boyfriend’s devotion turned deadly, her family was left searching for answers—and justice. In this episode, Samantha Paul unravels the haunting story of a young woman whose light was extinguished by the very person who claimed to love her. Discover the chilling truth behind the backyard burial that shocked New Orleans, and the urgent lessons her story leaves behind.

On this riveting episode of No Tears For Black Girls, we delve into the haunting case that shocked Atlanta’s elite and exposed a labyrinthine web of privilege, race, and cold-blooded murder. Lita McClinton Sullivan—vibrant, ambitious, beloved—was gunned down at her own front door, moments before a legal showdown with her wealthy estranged husband. What unfolded was a nearly twenty-year odyssey for justice: a story of deep family betrayal, relentless detective work, globe-trotting fugitives, and a community forever changed.

Follow the dramatic twists: a wealthy suitor with dark secrets, a murder-for-hire plot that spanned continents, and a courageous family determined to unmask the truth—no matter the odds. Featuring exclusive commentary on the legacy of Lita’s pioneering family and reflecting on the racial and social undercurrents that shaped the investigation, this episode is a must-listen for true crime fans and anyone touched by the fight for justice.

Plus: Get a sneak preview of “Bouquet At The Door” from the soundtrack of J.C. Reedburg’s upcoming novel, Dead Mic, only on No Tears For Black Girls.

If you or someone you love is experiencing domestic violence, help is available. Call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or visit thehotline.org.

Don’t miss this unforgettable true crime saga—hit play now!

On a September night in 2017, 19-year-old Kenneka Jenkins vanished from a hotel party outside Chicago. Nearly 20 hours later, she was found in a walk-in freezer—sparking national outrage, unanswered questions, and a mother’s fight for justice. In this episode, we unravel the mystery, the digital clues, and the legacy of a case that still haunts a community.

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When Black women and girls go missing in Atlanta, their stories too often vanish with them. In this gripping episode of No Tears For Black Girls, we uncover the haunting cases of Destiney Gunnison, Bridget Shiel, and Jokisha Brown—three lives lost or missing in the city’s shadows.

Through family voices, chilling details, and hard truths about systemic neglect, we reveal why so many cases remain unsolved and unheard. Join us as we demand justice, remembrance, and a future where silence never wins.

When the headlines broke about a murder-for-hire plot against R. Kelly in prison, the world gasped—but Black women saw the pattern. In this explosive episode of No Tears For Black Girls, we go beyond the scandal to unpack the latest news, the wildest rumors, and the deeper truths the system wants to keep hidden.

Is R. Kelly being silenced for what he knows? What does this case reveal about the music industry, justice, and the way Black women’s pain is treated as spectacle? We break it all down—mixing true crime, celebrity gossip, and hard-hitting commentary, straight from the salon to your speakers.

Plus, get an exclusive preview of our upcoming novel, The Price of Silence, and the original soundtrack that’s already making waves.

Subscribe, share, and join the conversation—because justice isn’t just about headlines. It’s about changing the story.

"In this episode of No Tears For Black Girls, host Samantha Paul confronts the stark reality of how missing Black women are often overlooked in America’s media and criminal justice systems. Marking the debut of the new song “Invisible Woman” from the upcoming novella The Price of Silence by J.C. Reedburg, we revisit the 2018 disappearance of 26-year-old postal worker Kierra Coles. Three months pregnant and last seen on surveillance tape leaving her Chicago apartment, Kierra vanished without a trace, her personal belongings left behind and her case languishing for years.

Through conversations with Kierra’s mother, Karen Phillips, and analysis of law enforcement practices, we explore the systemic failures that led the Chicago Police Department to classify her case as low-risk and suspend active investigation after only one year. We examine the phenomenon known as “missing white woman syndrome,” supported by studies showing far greater media attention for white victims, and discuss the impact of this bias on families and communities. In October 2022, the FBI finally announced a $45,000 reward following relentless advocacy, but the question remains: why did it take four years of public pressure for this milestone to occur?

“Invisible Woman” by The Crown & Soul Collective—and the companion novella releasing this Juneteenth—shines a light on those whose disappearances are met with indifference. We encourage listeners to keep Kierra’s story alive by sharing her likeness, following “Find Kierra Coles” on social media, and contacting Chicago officials for case updates. Join us as we refuse to let another Black woman slip into silence."

In this episode of “No Tears For Black Girls,” we take you to 553 Sheldon Avenue SE in Grand Rapids, Michigan—a mustard-yellow house built in 1903 whose creaking floors and weathered walls have borne witness to generations of family stories. Nestled in the city’s South East Community, an area marked by both steadfast home ownership and stubbornly high crime rates, the house seems to stand apart from the bustle of downtown life, its somber presence a silent sentinel on cloudy Michigan days.

On a cold Wednesday morning in March 2019, 25-year-old Keyona Griffin made a final, desperate call to 911 from inside that very home. “I need help,” she whispered, her voice trembling so faintly that the crucial words—“He already killed my auntie”—were never properly understood by the dispatcher. What followed was a tragic cascade of missed signals and lost opportunities, and a case that would come to define the Grand Rapids Police Department’s worst fears: a vibrant young woman and her beloved aunt murdered in their own home, and the alleged perpetrator slipping through every net, only to end up on the U.S. Marshals’ 15 Most Wanted list.

But this is more than a tale of procedural breakdowns and unanswered calls. It is the story of Keyona Griffin—a “bubbly and big-hearted” woman whose radiant optimism made her loss all the more heartrending—and Cherletta Baber-Bey, the gentle, nurturing aunt who saw only the best in the man she trusted. Through interviews with family members, law enforcement officials, and community advocates, we piece together the human lives behind the headlines and ask how a case so full of potential turning points could still remain unresolved.

Join us as we sift through the fragments of evidence, revisit heart-wrenching 911 recordings, and confront the lingering questions of accountability and justice. In “Shadows on Sheldon,” we don’t just recount a crime—we explore the people caught in its crossfire, the flaws in our emergency response systems, and the enduring hope that one day, those who love Keyona and Cherletta will finally find the answers they deserve. Tune in and walk the creaking floors with us—if you dare.

In this episode, we revisit the harrowing January 2025 disappearance of 29-year-old Alexis Schuler, a devoted mother of three whose life was cut tragically short. Known for her radiant smile and unwavering love for her children, Alexis vanished after getting into a truck with Devontae Gray, the father of one of her children. What began as a missing person case quickly escalated into one of the most chilling domestic violence tragedies the Capitol Heights community had ever seen. When officers finally executed a search warrant at Gray’s duplex, they uncovered Alexis’s body concealed behind a newly built wall—entombed in concrete, soil, and hay—a discovery that would shock investigators and expose glaring lapses in the system’s response to domestic abuse warnings.