Episode Breakdown:
What happens when silence isn’t just fear—but culture, history, and survival?

In this episode, we unpack the murder of Rene Charles—a case that sat in the shadows not because there were no answers, but because the truth lived inside a community that wasn’t quick to speak. This story forces us to look at how loyalty, fear, and unspoken rules can shape justice—and delay it.

This episode explores the life and murder of Rene Charles, and how cultural understanding became just as important as evidence in solving the case.

We go beyond the surface to examine how silence—rooted in both Black American and Haitian experiences—can protect, but also prevent accountability.

Through the investigation, we uncover how relationships, hidden truths, and community dynamics played a critical role in what happened—and why it took so long to get answers.

• The shared history of silence across the Black diaspora—and how it shows up differently in communities
• Rene Charles’ life, legacy, and role within the Haitian community
• The investigation timeline and why the case stalled
• How community trust (or lack of it) impacts justice
• The role of Detective Roxanne Lopez and Officer Ronnie Charles in reopening the case
• Hidden relationships, secrecy, and the weight of what wasn’t said
• The influence of Haiti’s political history on community interactions with law enforcement
• The lasting ripple effects of violence within tight-knit communities

Timestamps:

00:22 – Introduction: culture, silence, and what this case represents
02:09 – The murder of Rene Charles
03:02 – Rene’s relationship with Philomena and community response
05:10 – Silence as survival across the diaspora
06:36 – Haitian history and distrust of authority
08:17 – Rene’s journey, immigration, and impact
09:48 – His generosity, family life, and reputation
11:15 – The affair that complicated everything
13:22 – Secrets, relationships, and shifting narratives
15:03 – Rumors of a love triangle and motive
16:37 – Daniel Jean-Baptiste questioned and his alibi
19:37 – The case goes cold
20:31 – Evidence hidden in plain sight
21:31 – Community reaction to reopening the case
24:09 – Investigators turn inward toward the community
25:54 – Haiti connections and international elements
29:44 – Confession and the role of Daniel Jean-Baptiste
35:47 – Sentencing and unanswered questions (including Mucchi Toussaint)
36:22 – Reflection: trust, loss, and community impact
39:08 – The gray areas of relationships and truth
40:45 – Silence, secrets, and long-term consequences
42:07 – Update: Na'Ziyah Harris case + broader justice reflections

Full Breakdown of Na'Ziyah Harris Episode:

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1Jg7pBUeWl64CJA1H9fY1d?si=_m9JvPDiTaWHJ-i0QBnGGA

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She Was 10 Minutes From Home: The Murder of Dawnia DaCosta

Dawnia DaCosta was just minutes away from where she was supposed to be.

What started as a routine night—a late prayer vigil, a familiar drive—turned into something far more unsettling. Within a matter of hours, Dawnia would vanish, leaving behind a trail of questions, conflicting witness accounts, and a case that wouldn’t fully come together until years later.

In this episode, we walk through the timeline of that night, the investigation that followed, and the evidence that both helped—and delayed—answers. From the gas station sighting to the composite sketch, to the DNA that ultimately pointed to Lucious Boyd, this case reveals how easily critical details can be missed when they aren’t fully connected.

And even now, the story doesn’t end with one victim.

• The night Dawnia attended a prayer vigil alone

• The gas station encounter and witness descriptions

• The church van theory and early investigative focus

• The discovery of Dawnia’s body and forensic findings

• How DNA evidence led to Lucious Boyd

• The 2023 breakthrough linking another victim in the same time frame

• What this case reveals about patterns, missed connections, and delayed justice

  
  

  
  

  Why This Case Stays With You

Dawnia didn’t step outside of her routine.
She was close to home. Close to safety.

And somehow—
that still wasn’t enough.

Discover the heartbreaking case of April Lynn Holt, a young woman whose life was tragically cut short amid emotional manipulation, unanswered questions, and a justice system that left her family fighting for more.

In this episode of Murder in the Black, we walk through April’s story — from her vibrant life as a beauty entrepreneur and social media influencer to the disturbing details surrounding her death, the evidence that raised red flags, and the legal outcome that continues to spark outrage.

This is more than a case.

It’s a conversation about emotional abuse, missed warning signs, and what justice really looks like when the system falls short.

🎧 In This Episode:

• The life of April Lynn Holt — her ambitions, business, and growing social media presence

• Her relationship with Donavan Holt, including on-and-off patterns and signs of emotional manipulation

• The final moments before her hospitalization, including bruising, petechiae, and conflicting accounts

• Key evidence uncovered in the case file — including fingerprint analysis and inconsistencies in the scene

• Denzel’s account of the argument on July 28 and what he witnessed

• The staged crime scene and Donavan’s confession, claiming her death was accidental

• The legal aftermath — charges, plea deals, and how prosecution limitations impacted sentencing

• The emotional toll on April’s mother, Jamie, and her relentless fight for truth and justice

• A deeper look into emotional abuse and how it can escalate into deadly outcomes

• Systemic failures in domestic violence cases and what this case reveals

  ⏱️ Timestamps:

  00:00 – Introduction to the case of April Lynn Holt
  00:25 – April’s background, personality, and social media presence
  01:11 – Her dedication to motherhood and entrepreneurship
  02:10 – The emotional connection between beauty professionals and clients
  03:00 – Relationship timeline with Donavan — on-and-off patterns
  05:00 – Social media and the illusion of “perfect” relationships
  09:30 – April’s mental health and decision to leave
  15:00 – Hospitalization, injuries, and conflicting narratives
  16:55 – Evidence of strangulation and staged scene indicators
  20:06 – Medical examiner ruling and Jamie’s refusal to accept suicide
  30:07 – Jamie’s advocacy, TikTok awareness, and gag order
  32:15 – Evidence pointing to foul play — fingerprints and Denzel’s testimony
  34:15 – Donavan’s confession and staged scene details
  37:11 – Legal proceedings, plea deal, and sentencing
  43:15 – Reflection on emotional abuse and systemic failures
  44:23 – Jamie’s resilience and fight for justice
  46:21 – Final thoughts: awareness, advocacy, and accountability

  
  

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