"Nothing in this case is what I thought it was from the 911 call to the fires to even the way Denise died." — Ashley Flowers
"The Outer Banks are made up of a bunch of like little small beach towns right on the water, and most of the big homes there are either rentals or at least rented out to vacationers, but there is a small local population that stays there all year round." — Ashley Flowers
"Every Thursday Kylie dives into New England's most gripping mysteries, uncovering stories in a way you won't hear anywhere else." — Ashley Flowers
The episode introduces the complex case of Denise Johnson, who was murdered in 1997 in the Outer Banks of North Carolina. The narrative details the initial discovery of her body following a house fire, the subsequent homicide investigation, and the case's eventual classification as cold. The host expresses her personal fascination with the case after meeting investigative crime reporter Delia Dambra, who has dedicated significant time to unraveling the mystery. Dambra's work suggests that initial assumptions about the case, from the nature of the 911 call to the crime scene itself, were misleading.
The core of the episode focuses on the collaboration between Ashley Flowers and Delia Dambra to bring more attention to Denise Johnson's case through a new podcast series, "Counterclock." The podcast aims to present Dambra's extensive research, which has reportedly brought investigators closer to potential suspects and answers. The hosts believe that listener insights could be crucial in solving the remaining pieces of the puzzle, encouraging listeners to engage with the series and report any relevant information they might possess.
Towards the end, the episode briefly promotes another true crime podcast, "Dark Down East," hosted by Kylie Lo, emphasizing its focus on New England mysteries and its commitment to honoring victims' stories. This segment reinforces the podcast's dedication to shedding light on overlooked cases and giving voices to those affected by crime.