Ep 143: Part 2 'Falling' on I Survived: A True Story by Victoria Cilliers
Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast
Release Date: 11/19/2025
Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast
Part I- Phoenix, Arizona 2011: A new elite team of investigators tackles some of the most challenging homicide cases—cold cases. Led by Sgt. Troy Hillman, they are determined to solve the murders of 22-year-old Angela Brosso and 17-year-old Melanie Bernas, whose deaths in 1992 and 1993 have cast long shadows over the city for 20 years. Who is responsible for taking the lives of these young women just as they were beginning to bloom? The cold case team begins by reexamining thousands of documents, including old FBI profiles, reviewing photographs, analyzing tips, revisiting crime scenes, and...
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This special episode is not the story of a twisted perpetrator and the carnage he caused. Perfect for the holiday season, this compelling conversation features Jill welcoming survivor and author Mark Gray. October 1, 2017, Mark was a journalist covering the Route 91 Harvest Festival concert when shots rang out from the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas. In Jill's review of The Las Vegas Massacre CONNECTIONS: Finding Strength Through Tragedy After America's Deadliest Mass Shooting, she noted that it “presents an inspiring portrait of survival after horrific loss, focusing on the victims,...
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Sheryl "Mac" McCollum, host of the podcast Zone 7 and gifted CSI, is back on the Murder Shelf Book Club podcast to discuss her new true crime book, Swans Don’t Swim in the Sewer! The death of a child is devastating for any parent, family, and loved ones. However, when the child is the daughter of a serial killer who asks for help in solving her murder, it takes the investigation to an entirely new level—something that has never happened before. And the professionals who gave their time and expertise in pursuit of justice will astound you. Sheryl also updates Jill on new developments...
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Part III: Vicky Cilliers was struggling to recover her health and to come to terms with the fact that her husband, Emile Cilliers, had been arrested for attempting to murder her. In disbelief, Vicky found it hard to accept this truth. Their marriage wasn’t perfect, but could he really have tried to kill her? As she cooperated with the police, uncertainty and doubt plagued her during Emile’s trial, with the predatory media hovering over her. Vicky frets about the possible outcomes: “What if he is convicted? What if he isn’t? What will co-parenting look like?” As the wheels of justice...
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Part II: As the marriage between Victoria and Emile Cilliers hits some snags concerning money and dishonesty, Vicky tells herself all marriage have ups and downs. But the level of duplicity begins to significantly escalate, even after Vicky gives birth to their second child. Desperate to reconnect with her husband, she looks for any light in the darkness. She is elated when Emile suggests they go skydiving, once a passion they shared. After a false start, with some reservations, Vicky jumps—and falls when both her main and reserve parachutes fail. Miraculously alive, she throws...
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Part I: Meet Vicky—a college graduate, physiotherapist, veteran, and expert skydiver living in the UK. Life was good; she cherished the serenity and freedom that skydiving brought her. Things took a turn for the better when she met the charming and handsome Sergeant Emile Cilliers of the Royal Air Force Physical Training Corps. He swept her off her feet, and they married two years later. Shortly after their wedding, they welcomed their first child. However, a troubling change began to unfold. Emile, who was once loving and attentive, became distant, distracted, and...
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Part 3: The relentless harassment and stalking of the victims escalated to a new, perilous level, raising alarm bells for the detectives assigned to the case. Then, a breakthrough: Law enforcement discovered the identity of the escalating stalker, leading them to a staggering amount of digital evidence that the perpetrator believed had been long ago deleted. But the pressing question lingered: did they possess enough evidence to bring the stalker to justice for murder? Crafting an ingenious plan, the detectives ensnared the suspect in their own web of manipulation, culminating in an...
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Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess, an original Mindhunter, joins Jill for an engaging conversation about her newest book, Expert Witness: The Weight of Our Testimony When Justice Hangs in the Balance, co-authored with Steven Matthew Constantine. In this thought-provoking discussion, Dr. Burgess delves into a range of high-profile cases, including the complex narratives surrounding the Menendez brothers, the shocking revelations involving Bill Cosby, and the harrowing prosecution of Larry Nassar. She shares her insights into the process of criminal investigations, highlighting the criteria for...
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Part 4: (Yes, there is a Part 3!) In this exclusive interview, Jill engages in a candid conversation with retired Commander Jad Lanigan and Aurora SWAT Commander Mike Dailey, whom she met at Crimecon Denver. Both Jad and Mike were pivotal figures during the tragic Aurora Theater Shooting, sharing an intimate look into the chaos and immense pressure faced by first responders. Their experiences highlight the profound psychological toll that the incident took on the department. Since 2012, mass shootings have regrettably become alarmingly routine, with nearly one reported daily by 2025. In an...
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Part 2. The stalker continues to bombard Dave Kroupa and Liz Golyar with vile texts and emails, in addition to more acts of vandalism. Cruel hoaxes amplify the emotional pain and stress that the victims endure, as the sadistic stalker escalates her twisted game. The police begin to take a more serious look at the situation, and Dave and Liz find comfort in each other, as no one else understands their suffering. As investigators delve into the stalker's background, a clearer picture of her behavior emerges, revealing secrets entangled in a web of lies. (Be sure to listen to Part 1 before Part...
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Part II: As the marriage between Victoria and Emile Cilliers hits some snags concerning money and dishonesty, Vicky tells herself all marriage have ups and downs. But the level of duplicity begins to significantly escalate, even after Vicky gives birth to their second child. Desperate to reconnect with her husband, she looks for any light in the darkness. She is elated when Emile suggests they go skydiving, once a passion they shared. After a false start, with some reservations, Vicky jumps—and falls when both her main and reserve parachutes fail. Miraculously alive, she throws herself into recovery—until Emile is arrested for attempted murder.
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