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Weird True CrimeGina & Amber The Darkcast Network Author: Gina Nichols and Amber Paul
Weird True Crime is the ultimate podcast for fans of bizarre, lesser-known, and jaw-dropping true crime stories. Hosted by Gina Nichols and Amber Paul, these lifelong besties explore strange crimes that will leave you stunned. They dive into ethical, victim-focused storytelling with family interviews that bring humanity to the forefront of the narrative.Every episode of Weird True Crime unravels mysterious cases, unsolved crimes, and shocking events you wont believe are real. Need a lighter take? Tune in biweekly for WTF Wednesday, where Gina and Amber share hilarious stories of dumb criminals, true crime history, and other oddball crime tales guaranteed to make you laugh.As part of the Weird True Crime family, youll join a growing community of "little skeletons" led by our quirky mascot, Billy the Skelly, who guides you through these wild and fascinating tales.Whether searching for podcasts about true crime, strange cases, ethical storytelling, or even light-hearted crime stories, Weird True Crime offers a unique blend of heart, humor, and spine-tingling content.Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast platform, and let Gina, Amber, and Billy take you on an unforgettable journey into the weirdest corners of crime.Weird True Crime is a Fire Eyes Media LLC production.Instagram: www.instagram.com/weirdtruecrimeTikTok: www.tiktok.com/weirdtruecrimeYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@WeirdTrueCrimeFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/weirdtruecrimeBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-true-crime--5679751/support. Language: en Genres: True Crime Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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Calista Springer: The True Story of a Child Failed by the System
Wednesday, 6 May, 2026
Calista Springer was a 16-year-old girl from Centreville, Michigan, who loved to draw, paint, and color — and who spent most of her short life being abused, starved, and chained to a bed by the people who were supposed to protect her. For over a decade, teachers, neighbors, and social workers filed at least 15 reports with Child Protective Services. Nothing was done. On February 27, 2008, a fire broke out in the Springer home. Calista could not escape. She was chained to her bunk bed by a dog choke chain. She died of carbon monoxide poisoning. She was 91 pounds.The Calista Springer case is one of the most heartbreaking examples of child abuse and CPS failure in Michigan history. Calista's stepmother, Marsha and father, Anthony Springer, were ultimately convicted of torture and first-degree child abuse — but only after years of documented abuse that investigators, caseworkers, and school officials failed to stop. The Springers had even pulled Calista out of public school under Michigan's permissive homeschool laws, removing her from the last adults who could have intervened. In 2010, both Marsha and Anthony were sentenced to up to 50 years in prison for torture.In this episode of Weird True Crime, Amber and Gina walk through the full story of Calista Springer — from her early childhood and diagnosis with Pervasive Developmental Disorder, to the years of reported child abuse that CPS ignored, to the fire that killed her and the criminal trial that followed. They also examine the civil lawsuit against the CPS workers who closed Calista's case, the role Michigan's homeschool laws played in hiding her abuse, and what her case changed — and didn't change — about how the state protects vulnerable children.If this episode moved you, please share it. The more people who know Calista's story, the harder it becomes to look away from the systems that failed her — and the children who are still waiting for someone to believe them. Follow Weird True Crime wherever you listen to podcasts, and leave us a review if you have a minute — it helps more people find the show.📢 Follow & Subscribe:Subscribe on Patreon: www.patreon.com/weirdtruecrimeWebsite: www.weirdtruecrime.comInstagram: www.instagram.com/weirdtruecrimeTikTok: www.tiktok.com/weirdtruecrimeYouTube: www.youtube.com/@weirdtruecrimeEmail: weirdtruecrime@gmail.comMusic by - @djantonyflower⭐ Leave a 5-star review if you enjoy the showProud Member of Fire Eyes Media LLCLinks & SourcesDistrict Court — Langdon v. Skelding (civil lawsuit): https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCOURTS-miwd-1_10-cv-00985/pdf/USCOURTS-miwd-1_10-cv-00985-0.pdfMichigan Court of Appeals — Langdon v. Skelding: https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=17496516472404841413Court of Appeals — People v. Springer (sentencing appeal): https://scholar.google.com/scholar_case?case=70839503630412404816th Circuit Court of Appeals — related federal ruling: https://cases.justia.com/federal/appellate-courts/ca6/11-2353/11-2353-2013-04-17.pdfM Live — Calista Springer investigative series (March 2009): https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2009/03/calista_springer_in_progress.htmlM Live — Records investigation: https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2009/03/gazette_investigation_records.htmlM Live — Initial fire report: https://www.mlive.com/kzgazette/2008/02/girl_who_died_in_centreville_f.htmlM Live — Fire details: https://www.mlive.com/kzgazette/2008/02/details_emerge_in_fatal_fire.htmlM Live — Jury deliberations: https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2010/02/jury_deliberations_continue_to.htmlM Live — Case goes to jury: https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2010/02/springer_case_goes_to_the_jury.htmlM Live — Children with Calista's disorder (trial coverage): https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2010/02/children_with_calistas_disorde.htmlM Live — Courtney Springer testimony: https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2010/02/calista_springers_sister_court.htmlM Live — Anthony Springer's public statement (2008): https://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/2008/09/anthony_springers_statement_to.htmlM Live — Calista's mother grieves (March 2008): https://www.mlive.com/kzgazette/2008/03/calistas_mother_grieves_as_doc.htmlNIH — Pervasive Developmental Disorders: https://www.ninds.nih.gov/health-information/disorders/pervasive-developmental-disordersBecome a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-true-crime--5679751/support.
