Kristen Modafferi

Voices for Justice

Sarah Turney

True Crime, Documentary, Society & Culture

4.8 • 9.3K Ratings

🗓️ 26 February 2026

⏱️ 41 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In 1997, 17-year-old Kristen finished her first year of college at North Carolina State University, but after classes ended, she had no plans to enjoy a lazy summer. Instead, she devised a plan to take another class across the country in California… A few short months to enjoy the Golden State and gain some independence as she entered adulthood. She was smart, ambitious and had a solid plan. But just 23 days after she landed in California, she disappeared. Kristen Modafferi was 18 years old when she was last seen at the Crocker Galleria Mall in San Francisco, California, on June 23, 1997. She is white with brown hair and brown eyes. At the time of her disappearance, she was 5’6” and weighed approximately 140 lbs. She may have been carrying a green Jansport brand backpack with a black mesh pocket on the front. If you have any information, please call the Oakland PD at 510-238-3775. For more information about the podcast and the cases discussed, visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠VoicesforJusticePodcast.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ For even more content or to further support the show, join the ⁠Voices for Justice Patreon⁠. Follow us on social media: Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VFJPod⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VoicesforJusticePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VoicesforJusticePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@VoicesforJusticePodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Voices for Justice is hosted by Sarah Turney Twitter: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahETurney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahETurney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahETurney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Facebook: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahETurney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ YouTube: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠@SarahTurney⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The introduction music used in Voices for Justice is Thread of Clouds by Blue Dot Sessions. Outro music is Melancholic Ending by Soft and Furious. The track used for ad transitions is Pinky by Blue Dot Sessions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Voices for Justice is a podcast that uses adult language and discusses sensitive and potentially triggering topics, including violence, abuse, and murder.
0:11.3	This podcast may not be appropriate for younger audiences.
0:15.1	All parties are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
0:18.4	Some names have been changed or omitted per their request or for safety
0:21.8	purposes. Listener discretion is advised. My name is Sarah Turney, and this is Voices for Justice.
0:34.7	Today I'm discussing the case of Kristen Modifery.
0:38.4	In 1997, 17-year-old Kristen finished her first year of college at North Carolina State University.
0:44.7	But after classes ended, she had no plans to enjoy a lazy summer.
0:48.8	Instead, she devised a plan to take another class across the country in California.
0:53.5	It would be a few short months
0:54.8	to enjoy the Golden State and gain some independence as she entered adulthood. She was smart,
1:00.6	ambitious, and had a solid plan, but just 23 days after she landed in California, she disappeared.
1:08.7	This is the case of Kristen Modifery.
1:18.7	Turning 18 and moving to California, especially in the 90s, was a dream for so many American teenagers.
1:20.3	This was only further solidified by the media.
1:23.3	So many of these iconic 90s cult classic TV shows and movies were set in the Golden State.
1:28.7	Think Clueless, The Craft, Beverly Hills 90210,0, saved by the bell, Moesha, Party of Five.
1:34.4	The list is seemingly endless. There was also the music scene, with bands like Green Day,
1:39.4	The Offspring, Sublime, Blink 182, Rage Against the Machine, Third Eye Blind, and no doubt all getting started
1:45.7	in California. This boom of culture also extended to technology in Silicon Valley,
1:51.4	like the birth of the World Wide Web and the first IMAQ. Combine all that with classic
1:57.0	attractions like their beautiful beaches and iconic landmarks like Disneyland,
	...

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