Listener,

On a quiet May evening, a white stretch limousine glides across the San Mateo Bridge — nine women inside, celebrating a new chapter in life. But before the night can unfold, flames consume the vehicle, trapping five passengers inside as desperate 911 calls flood dispatch. What begins as confusion on the highway becomes a horrifying tragedy burned into California’s memory.

In this episode, Obscura host Justin Drown takes you inside the 911 recordings, witness statements, and the official investigation into one of the most haunting limousine fires in U.S. history. You’ll hear how a mechanical failure turned celebration into catastrophe — and how survival and guilt intertwine in the aftermath.

What really caused the fire? Could it have been prevented? And what happens to the people who walk away when others can’t?

In the conclusion of this two-part series, Obscura turns from the formative years of Kelsey A. to her final, devastating night.

On April 1st, 2025, calls began flooding into dispatch: a wrong-way driver on Interstate 275. Officers pursued a gray Ford Escape, ultimately forcing it to a stop. What unfolded in the following minutes was chaos, fear, and tragedy—ending with gunfire that would claim Kelsey’s life.

Part 2 captures the raw audio from the dash cams, radios, and body mics that recorded her final moments. Beyond the incident itself, we examine the aftershock: the grief of her family, the official investigation, and the long shadow of untreated mental illness that had haunted her for years.

This episode is not only about what happened on that highway—it’s about how a life shaped by hardship, resilience, and trauma reached its breaking point.

• Emergency calls describing a wrong-way driver on I-275.
• Police radio and dash cam audio from the pursuit and confrontation.
• Kelsey’s final words, captured in tense exchanges with officers.
• First-hand accounts of officers securing the scene and her dog.
• News reports and witness perspectives on the officer-involved shooting.
• The moment her family was notified and their reflections on her struggles.
• Insights into the paranoia, fear, and mental health battles that consumed Kelsey in her final year.

This episode contains graphic audio of a police shooting, discussions of mental illness, and descriptions of death. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Part 2 closes the story of Kelsey’s life—a life marked by resilience and collapse, triumph and tragedy. Thank you for sitting with her story.

In this first part of a two-part series, Obscura takes you inside the complicated and often tragic life of Kelsey A., a young woman whose story weaves together resilience, trauma, and the weight of circumstance.

From her early struggles with brain surgery and a near-fatal car accident to her years in a bootcamp and boarding school, Kelsey’s life was shaped by events that altered her path in profound ways. Despite it all, she rose as a standout athlete—first on the basketball court, then in the MMA cage. But as the years went on, new battles emerged: psychiatric crises, brushes with the law, and the dark pull of choices made in desperation.

Part 1 is not the story of her final day—it is the story of how she got there. By tracing her journey, we see the psychological weight she carried and the brief moments of triumph that stood out against a backdrop of adversity.

This episode lays the foundation. Part 2 will plunge into the darker, more unsettling details of her final chapter.

• Kelsey’s early life in Cincinnati and the medical ordeal that reshaped her childhood.
• A devastating car accident that left lasting physical and psychological scars.
• Her removal from home and placement into a North Carolina bootcamp, followed by Montana Academy.
• Near-death experiences, including her survival after collapsing in the snow during an escape attempt.
• The drive and talent that turned her into a star basketball player and later an MMA fighter.
• Glimpses of her later years: psychiatric struggles, brushes with law enforcement, and choices that complicated her legacy.
• A reflection on how chance, trauma, and resilience shaped the person Kelsey became.

This episode contains discussions of brain trauma, psychiatric crises, sex work, and law enforcement encounters. Listener discretion is advised.

Part 1 sets the stage. Part 2 will take you deeper into the grittier, unsettling details that define Kelsey’s final years. Free listeners will get Part 2 next week; patrons can listen early.