Sweetness and Silence: The Murder of Erica Vassel

In this episode of Murder in the Black, hosts Steph and Maia tell the story of Erica Vassel, a vibrant 21-year-old from Clewiston, Florida, whose life was cut short just days after Super Bowl Sunday in February 2011.

Known as America’s Sweetest Town, Clewiston sits on the edge of the Everglades, surrounded by sugar cane fields and built on familiarity and trust. But when Erica failed to come home, that sense of safety quickly unraveled.

Steph and Maia walk listeners through who Erica was before she became a headline — a young woman full of color, ambition, and promise — and then carefully unfold the events surrounding her disappearance, the rumors that flooded her small community, and the investigation that followed. As detectives chased leads, a burner phone, and conflicting stories, the truth ultimately emerged through a shocking confession.

This episode also explores the cultural and spiritual concept of “root work”, how belief systems can be misunderstood or weaponized, and the dangerous consequences when fear overrides accountability.

Through reflection, this case challenges us to consider trust, vigilance, and how even familiar places can hold hidden dangers.

• The life and legacy of Erica Vassel

• Her disappearance and discovery in Clewiston, Florida

• How rumors and community speculation can complicate investigations

• The role of belief systems in criminal confessions

• The dangers of misplaced fear and control

• The importance of community awareness and accountability

• A family’s fight for truth and justice

Missing persons • Community trust • Violence in familiar spaces • Cultural misunderstanding • Accountability • Vigilance • Justice

This episode invites listeners to reflect on personal safety, community responsibility, and how easily danger can be overlooked when it hides behind familiarity.

🕊️ What This Episode Explores🔎 Key Themes🎧 Listener Reflection