Lonely Crime Fanatic

this week's all-new episode of.

The crime annex follows the mysterious disappearance.

Of a young mother.

That rocks a tight-knit community,

Leaving them only with questions.

But that was the last time anyone would see.

Tina Alvarez alive.

In next week's episode, we'll explore all the suspects.

The police never considered.

you can't avoid me forever, Ashley.

If you don't call me back...

Just please call me.

I know we can fix this.

tina's mother could no longer stay silent.

She knew the danger her daughter was in.

Even if Tina could not yet recognize it.

The signs were all there.

The abusive situation. The controlling behavior.

The nightmare voice mails.

But Tina couldn't hear her mother's warnings.

Despite all the signs, Tina took him back.

She had no idea the danger she was letting back into her life.

Or that he would escalate in his tactics.

Rick had started monitoring tina's movements,

Her every appointment, every tiny errand.

In the aftermath, police discovered.

That he even installed spyware on her phone.

There was no escaping his watchful eye.

All leading to one moment.

When the authorities arrived at tina's apartment.

The door was unlocked and there was no sign of Tina.

That was the last time anyone would see Tina Alvarez alive.

In next week's episode, we'll explore all the suspects.

The police never considered.

- Hi. - hi.

Ready for therapy?

Yes, absolutely.

How are you doin'?

I'm fine.

He's been calling, but I haven't answered.

Good.

I had another nightmare.

That he broke into the house last night.

You need to stop listening to true crime podcasts before bed.

But it's just getting good!

What is happening with the divorce lawyers?

Any progress?

Are you dragging your feet on purpose?

No.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean it like that.

It's just a lot all at once.

God, lily, I swear, every time I try to think about it,

I just start procrastinating,

Like a kid who can't get their homework done.

But in the meantime, I've listened to.

Every true crime podcast that's out there, so...

Have you listened to unsolved files ?

No, I don't think so.

Ah, you know what I think?

I always know what you think.

You always hyperfixate on something.

Ever since I've known you,

You take everything and turn it into some...

Giant project that consumes you.

Do you remember study abroad?

I thought that was dead and buried!

You promised!

And you know what your latest project is?

serial killers?

Yes.

But it's because you'd rather focus on something else.

Than getting Paul out of your life for good.

I know. You're right.

If you have time to obsess over murders.

That have already been solved.

I have time to talk to a divorce lawyer.

yeah.

All right.

But my caseload is gonna suffer from this, I'm just sayin'.

Ashley, I know you're home!

Come on, ash, talk to me.

I told you that I didn't want you here.

I've been trying to talk to you for three days.

I got your message.

You're gonna keep ignoring me, then?

I'm not ignoring you, Paul.

I just... you can't force me to talk to you.

And you can't keep me out of my own home.

I wanna talk, that's all.

She's not at your beck and call.

Stay out of this!

No.

Ash, come on.

It's my house too.

Please, just let me come inside for a minute.

You have no idea how hard it's been.

I'm staying in this total dump of a rental.

I need to get more clothes, and...

I miss you.

Paul, I'm asking you to leave or I'm calling the police.

- Don't say that. - I'm serious. Go.

I'll go, but I want us to sit and talk, though.

Soon.

Promise me that?

Then talk to the lawyer.

hell yeah.

That felt good.

the following is a story from a past life.

Based in truth,

Slightly adjusted for the sake of the innocent.

I'm David Bryant, and this is unsolved files.

Mary is alone.

Today, she's at a party,

Surrounded by loved ones.

Popular among her peers, attractive, smart.

The envy of many.

But in her suffering, she's alone.

Only he knows the truth of her pain.

Because he is the reason for it.

On this day, Mary is among many who care for her,

And she is utterly alone.

She had put a happy front on for so long,

Giving the impression that their marriage was a fairy tale.

No one would believe that he was capable of inflicting.

The horrors on her that she endured.

But no matter how perfect an act she performed...

She could never be perfect enough.

"not him," they all said.

No one could believe it.

Not in this town.

Not in this community.

How could one of their own be a monster?

Mary is gone now.

A little boy no longer has his mother.

Her parents forced to bury their daughter.

And rick walks around free.

Damn.

perhaps burdened by the truth of what happened,

But free.

Ten years on and the case remains officially...

Unsolved.

David Bryant, former federal investigator.

And criminal profiler turned author.

And now podcaster.

Unsolved files is a fresh take on the genre of true crime.

What made you leave investigative work behind.

For podcasting?

Well, nothing haunts an investigator more.

Than the ones that got away.

I mean, sometimes you know what happened,

You know who's responsible.

But you don't have the proof to put them away.

That's... Torture, in a sense.

Hi, marianne.

hi, David. Are you ready?

Ready as I'll ever be.

listen, the publisher called.

Uh-huh.

they wanna add another date.

They wanna add another speaking engagement?

that's right.

Uh, yeah, let me just check my diary.

it'll be for next week.

They'll take care of everything.

Can you make it?

Yeah, yeah, I can make it work.

great, and Carl will pick you up tonight.

Understood, Carl will pick me up at 6:00 pm.

thank you.

Thank you for organizing the tour.

have a great night tonight.

Okay.

bye.

Bye bye.

I saw the worst of the worst.

And, uh... It changes you in subtle ways.

Some not so subtle.

Hey, what's up?

You are not gonna believe this.

David Bryant is doing a book signing this Friday.

Who?

David Bryant!

The host of the unsolved files podcast.

You recommended him to me?

He's written a book.

I don't know, could be interesting.

Hey, whatever gets you out of that house, I'm down.

Okay, I'll buy tickets.

And I'll pick you up.

It's a date.

with the podcast, with these stories,

I get to point the finger.

I get to solve the crime.

And there's always justice.

so how do you choose what's next?

Well, it's pretty simple, really.

I'm just... I'm looking for a good story.

With some sort of vindication for the victims.

And it's usually about people who never saw it coming.

Hey, I'm walkin' out the door right now.