Small Town Murder Small Town Murder

Black Candle Murder Party - West Liberty, Iowa - Part 2

Sep 18, 2026 · 1h 20m

Summary

This episode covers the second part of the 1992 murder of Corey Wenicke in West Liberty, Iowa, focusing on a 2017 breakthrough when a nurse revealed she witnessed the suspect, Annette Cahill, confessing as a child. The hosts discuss the investigation's handling of this witness, including the failure to interview a corroborating friend and the suspect's later inconsistent statements. They analyze the complex web of relationships and the eventual cold case status, highlighting the challenges of solving decades-old crimes with limited resources.

Topics discussed

Intro and Stamps.com sponsorship Show promotion and recap of previous episode Suspects and background of Corey Wenicke's murder Evidence analysis and the cold case status 2017 hospital encounter with a cold case agent Timeline of Annette's movements on the day of murder Jessica's testimony of Annette's confession at age 9 Discussion on child witness reliability and family dynamics Thrive Market sponsorship segment SimplySafe home security sponsorship Legal challenges and memory decay concerns Investigative failures and the missing door discrepancy 2018 interview with Annette and her current life Annette's defense and inconsistencies in her story Charges, bond, and reactions from family and colleagues Debate on guilt, due process, and workplace implications Status of other suspects and Ro sponsorship Stamps.com sponsorship segment First trial proceedings and hung jury outcome Second trial: New witness Scott Payne and bloodstained clothes Contested lab report and defense arguments Second trial verdict, sentencing, and appeals Wrongful conviction review and DNA evidence analysis Current advocacy efforts and closing remarks Outro, live show dates, and final sponsorships
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