BONUS EPISODE~ Letter from her daughter: Nikki Lee

 

Hi, my name is Nikki. I’m the daughter of a murdered woman, and welcome back to Papi Killed Mommy.

In this bonus episode, I’m reading a letter I wrote to my mom, Stacy Wasilishin  Writing it was healing. Reading it out loud was harder than I expected. I cried multiple times during the recording, and I seriously considered re-recording it to make it cleaner, easier to listen to, more “together.” But the truth is, I wasn’t together. I’m not. And in the end, I realized that starting over would’ve meant hiding the real emotion — and I’ve spent enough of my life doing that.

So what you’ll hear is raw. The end especially is rough — you can hear my voice breaking, and my tears. I ask you to bear with me, and if you can, listen all the way through. This letter means everything to me. It’s the beginning of a conversation I’ve waited 32 years to have.

My mom was murdered on July 9th, 1993, by her boyfriend, Russell Peterson — the father of my younger sister. She had just gotten off the phone with my dad, Craig Daly, after making plans to leave Russell for good. Just a few hours later, she was shot and killed. I was ten years old. My little sister was three. That night was the last time I ever saw my mother alive. And to this day, no one has ever been arrested for her murder.

This podcast is my way of changing that.

I’ve spent the last few years fighting for justice — contacting police, speaking with attorneys, getting our story on the news, and building a community of people who believe in my mom, who believe she deserves answers. In December 2021, I started sharing her story on TikTok. Two years later, a video of me saying “I am the daughter of a murdered woman” went viral, reaching over 13 million views. Since then, more than 200,000 people have joined me on this journey. People are learning her name, saying it out loud, and helping me demand what’s long overdue: justice.

If you're new here, thank you for listening. And if you've been with me from the beginning — I appreciate you more than you know. This podcast premieres on  July 8th at 11 PM — the exact time I said goodnight to my mother for the very last time. It’s taken me months to prepare, and every step has pushed me far outside my comfort zone. I built a home studio with my dad. I learned how to record and edit. I’ve made mistakes and started over and cried in front of the mic more times than I can count. But I’ve kept going — because she deserves to be remembered. Not just as a victim. But as a woman. A mother. A fighter.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence, please reach out. 
📞 National Domestic Violence Hotline: [phone]-SAFE (7233) or text START to 88788.
💻 thehotline.org

If you have any information that could lead to the arrest of Russell Bennett Peterson or anyone involved in Stacy Wasilishin’s murder, please contact:
📞 Sedona Police Department: [phone]

🐾✈️ Traveling to CrimeCon with my best friend, Dickie Birdie, comes with some unexpected expenses — his recent vet visit alone was $827. If you’d like to help make sure he’s safe and comfy on this trip, I’ve put together a small Amazon Wishlist with his travel essentials (like a stroller, pop‑up kennel, and car seat). Every bit of support means the world. 💙

🛒 Click here to check out Dickie Birdie’s Wishlist

🔗 Follow our journey and stay connected:
TikTok: @nicolewasilishin
Instagram: @nicolewasilishin
Petition for justice: change.org/justiceforstacy

Support the show