Ice Cold Case

A live recording of Madison McGhee reading her victim impact statement at CrimeCon 2025, reflecting on the long-term consequences of her father’s unsolved murder, recorded live in Denver, Colorado (CrimeCon 2025) as part of a panel with the National Center for Victims of Crime.

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Someone with a very close connection to Omar comes forward with what he said privately about July 11, 2002. This new version of the story contradicts timelines and raises new questions about fear, power, and what never made it into the case files.
00:00 - Previously On
01:03 - Part 0: When the Phone Rings
04:23 - Part 1: Another Day, Another Twist
11:25 - Part 2: Public vs. Private
14:10 - Part 3: From the Outside
20:37 - Part 4: July 11, 2002
27:37 - Part 5: Motive
31:23 - Part 6: The End is Near
35:11 - Next Time
35:33 - Credits

Learn more...

In a conversation with the key witness, Omar Foston, there's new claims and contradictions about the hours surrounding J.C. McGhee's murder. A revealing phone call shines light on the uncomfortable possibility that the truth, and the killer, might be closer than anyone wants to believe.

00:00 - Previously On

01:03 - Part 0: Don't Trust Anyone...

04:18 - Part 1: An Unlikely Alliance

08:21 - Part 2: Crooked Cops

13:26 - Part 3: Omar's Story

25:49 - Part 4: Did You Kill My Dad?

32:44 - Part 5: ... Not Even Family

38:24...

Josh Mankiewicz (NBC's Dateline) is back on the pod! Josh joins Madison McGhee for a live conversation from Denver, Colorado (CrimeCon 2025) about the updates in the case of the murder of J.C. McGhee, how life has changed since she started this journey, and what listeners can expect.

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A breakdown of the DNA, ballistics, and forensic evidence that could finally solve J.C. McGhee's case. Questioning what evidence exists and why the Belmont County Sheriff’s Department won't test it.

00:00 - Previously On

01:06 - Part 0: From Guessing to Proving

02:37 - Part 1: DNA to Test

08:52 - Part 2: Bullet Casings

15:53 - Part 3: Sneakers and Shoe Strings

19:22 - Part 4: The Rubbing Alcohol

22:29 - Part 5: The Timeline

24:57 - Part 6: Obvious Choice

26:17 - Next Time

26:40 - Credits

An expose into the brutal reality behind the FBI nickname “misdemeanor homicides,” racial bias in policing, and the informant culture that shaped Belmont County. The picture now becomes clearer and a whole lot darker. Is accountability just a cover up?
https://www.theroot.com/of-course-there-are-black-serial-killers-1790880259

0:00 - Previously On

1:06 - Part 0: A Town of Snitches

3:07 - Part 1: No Humans Involved

9:01 - Part 2: Your Bias is Showing

17:05 - Part 3: The County Filled with Confidential Informant

21:01 - Part 4: Broken System

25:51 - Part 5: Is Late Bett...

Belmont County Sheriff's Department has assigned a new detective to the case. New press articles question the integrity of this assignment and the motive for the renewed interest in J.C. McGhee's case.
Additional Sources:
https://ledenews.com/revisiting-cold-cases-in-belmont-county-part-1/
https://ledenews.com/revisiting-cold-cases-in-belmont-county-part-2/
00:00 - Previously On
1:03 - Part 0: Play Nice or Don't Play At All
6:09 - Part 1: "I'll Do My Best"
13:38 - Part 2: Talking Behind Bars
18:01 - Part 3: Omar... Again
23:37 - Part 4: Just Call Rico
28:03 - Part 5: Open and Active
35:24 - Part 6: Better Late Than Never
37:45...

A new suspect is revealed through an anonymous tip that heats up the case, but his location could make any legal proceedings difficult.
To submit any tips or information, please email: icecoldcasepodcast@gmail.com
Additional Sources:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/sep/01/christopher-dudus-coke-us-court
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndoh/pr/jamaican-man-charged-illegally-reentering-us
https://www.wowktv.com/news/crime/jamaican-man-in-wv-to-be-deported-after-illegal-reentry-into-the-us/

00:00 - Previously On 01:04 - Part 0: A New Name 03:27 - Part 1: Convenient Suspect 11:11- Part 2: Everyone's a Snitch 13:58 - Part 3: A 23-Year Secret 20:38 - Part 4: Where is Spoon? 24:18 - Part 5: Everyone Left Behind 30:08...

A raw, unfiltered episode with updates about the podcast, J.C. McGhee's case, and Madison's personal life before Ice Cold Case jumps back into full episodes.

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Airbnb Boat featuring Ego Nwodim

The rental listing said “please don’t unsnap.” Spoiler alert…she snapped.

Follow Ego Nwodim on Instagram and listen to her podcast, Thanks Dad with Ego Nwodim.

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It Started as a Love Story  

*Some names and details have been changed to conceal the identities of those who wish to remain anonymous. 

When Brittani Ard matches with Kanon on Hinge sparks fly. Their first date revealed an instant connection and chemistry. Kanon is devastatingly handsome with a charm that disarmed even the most guarded heart — plus he is surprisingly emotionally available for a man in his forties. It’s as if the universe has conspired to bring them together, two soulmates destined to find each other. 

The couple spends the next five mo...

This is part two of a two-part interview I did with Haley Gray, credentialed victim advocate, researcher, and writer for the series Crime Weekly released about the murder of J.C. McGhee.

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This is part one of a two-part interview I did with Haley Gray, credentialed victim advocate, researcher, and writer for the series Crime Weekly released about the murder of J.C. McGhee.

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The police have not solved my dad's murder in nearly twenty-three years, but their negligence could be the symptom of a larger issue. Taking a deeper look at policing in America, and specifically within Belmont County, Ohio, it's clear that the systems in place to serve and protect constituents aren't working and could even be a catalyst for crime.

To submit any tips or information, please email: icecoldcasepodcast@gmail.com

Additional Sources:

The Intelligencer

The Intelligencer

Times Leader Online

Ohio Attorney...

Welcome to Season 11 of Dakota Spotlight. This season, we uncover the haunting 1999 murder of a young man in Bismarck, North Dakota—a tragic event that reverberated through the community and left a lasting impact on everyone involved. In Episode 1, we set the stage during a bustling winter weekend in Bismarck, when the city was filled with out-of-town visitors attending the state wrestling tournament. Through vivid storytelling, you’ll ride along as the night unfolds, culminating in a harrowing discovery that ignites a high-stakes investigation.

This season features firsthand accounts from detectives, loved ones, and even...

After hitting a lot of dead ends, it was finally time to talk to a crucial source in my dad's murder to try to decipher the new tips coming in. Perhaps there's darker reasons this case isn't solved. Now I'm forced to reevaluate my allegiance because the line between empathy and gullibility is becoming more blurred.

Additional Sources:

https://www.theintelligencer.net/news/top-headlines/2024/12/retiring-belmont-county-sheriff-david-lucas-looks-back-on-nearly-a-half-century-in-law-enforcement/

To submit any tips or information, please email: icecoldcasepodcast@gmail.com

00:00 Previously On

01:06 Sisyphus

This cold case is about to be up in flames. New tips, new suspects, and new research are steering the ship of this investigation. Nothing is what it seems, and maybe everything I needed to know was right in front of me the whole time. It's time to take a look at the systemic hurdles holding me back from finding out what really happened to my dad, John Cornelius McGhee, on July 11, 2002. Ice Cold Case is a chronicle of self-discovery and exploration. Subscribe now to join the investigation and uncover the truth behind the coldest case in Belmont County.<...

Celisia Stanton joins Madison to talk about the second season of her true crime podcast, Truer Crime.

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Steven Keogh (former investigator and current crime consultant) joins Madison McGhee for a live conversation at CrimeCon London 2024 about Madison's investigation into the unsolved murder of J.C. McGhee and the his advice for her as she continues this journey.

Join me at CrimeCon UK 2025 (London or Manchester) - use code ICECOLDCASE10 for 10% off your ticket! https://crimeconuk.seetickets.com/tour/crimecon-uk

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As I start to build a case, new developments have forced me to reconsider my list of suspects and revisit my investigative methods.

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While exploring the Belmont County Sheriff's Department's reputation, I find a strange connection. The loose ends of this case are becoming cleaner and the path to justice feels closer than ever.

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Josh Mankiewicz (NBC's Dateline) joins Madison McGhee for a live conversation from CrimeCon 2024 about the details of the murder of J.C. McGhee and the journey to investigating her father's murder.

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Some new developments leave more questions than answers, but solving this case seems more possible than ever before. Now there are just a few people left to track down, and finding them could be really simple or incredibly difficult.

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The police and my family are constantly tossing blame. Meanwhile important information is starting to surface that has me questioning everything.

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Sarah Turney (Voices for Justice) joins Madison McGhee for a conversation about the dynamics between families of victims and investigators.

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New information stands out from the case files that didn't before. New characters are emerging with important pieces to the larger puzzle. The truth still seems hard to find, but maybe the devil's in the details.

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Another look at the case files illuminates some discrepancies and new questions arise. Now I’m trying to find the truth that lies between the lines.

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Daryl’s Smith reputation in Belmont County made him an obvious suspect. “Innocent until proven guilty” is the standard. Was he ever given a fair chance? If he didn’t do it, where do I go from here?

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Welcome to Belmont County. Years of investigating have led to this. I sat down across the table from the main suspect in my dad's murder.

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After six months of sifting through the new information flooding in about my dad’s case, it’s time to share some significant updates that have me questioning my own theory. Now I’m wondering: is it wrong to be wrong?

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There's two sides to every story. With new information flooding in about my dad's case, my own suspicions are shifting. Is everything that I've been told one hundred percent true? Or have I've been thrown a few red herrings? It's time to take a look at the other side of the story to try to find out what really happened to my dad, John Cornelius McGhee, on July 11, 2002. Ice Cold Case is a chronicle of self-discovery and exploration. Subscribe now to join the investigation and uncover the truth behind the coldest case in Belmont County.

...

After years of investigating, I'm ready to put together all the pieces I currently have. Help me solve my dad's murder.

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As more details surface, people are getting defensive. In the fallout, I’m finding crucial clues that could help solve this case.

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After researching all the theories and motives possibly involved in this case, I find a suspect that links them together.

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As I narrow down the suspects, I take a look at this case from a new perspective to try to pinpoint who really killed my dad.  

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Looking at the police’s handling of this investigation, it’s clear that corners were cut. Was my dad a casualty in their war on drugs? 

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A suspect is charged with my dad's murder, but inconsistent witness testimony builds a web of lies and complicates the trial.

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As I learn about my dad's closet relationships, two people stand out as particularly suspicious. With a custody battle in the mix, the police identified a motive for murder.

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Every hero has an origin story and this is mine — the story of how I found out about my dad's murder and what pushed me to start asking questions.

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 This is the story of what happened to J.C. McGhee on July 11, 2002 according to police records — some of which may not be entirely accurate nor adequate. Twenty years later, the search for answers begins.

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Join me as I delve into the deeply personal and haunting story of my dad's murder. In this gripping true crime podcast, I take you on a journey of discovery as I explore the case from every angle, and reveal the untold details that I have uncovered through my investigation.

With each episode, you'll be drawn deeper into the investigation, as I look for new evidence, interview key players, and unravel the mystery of my dad's death. But this isn't just a quest for justice - it's a deeply personal journey that will take you inside the...