meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
Cold Case Files

REOPENED: One Tough Mother

Cold Case Files

A&E / PodcastOne

Society & Culture, True Crime

4.18.2K Ratings

🗓️ 2 April 2026

⏱️ 36 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

When 19-year-old newlywed Tiffany Johnston is found dead in a small town in Oklahoma, her mother vows to exact justice for her killer. Over a decade later the investigation becomes much bigger than anyone imagined as more victims associated to the same killer are discovered.


This Episode is sponsored by BetterHelp


BetterHelp: Visit BetterHelp.com/COLDCASE to get 10% off your first month.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode contains descriptions of violence and sexual assault.

0:04.5

Listener discretion is advised.

0:10.3

Everyone called Tiffany My Shadow.

0:12.7

Wherever Mama went, Tiffany was with me.

0:15.3

It was very hard to deal with her getting murdered.

0:19.0

The police had no idea who to look for.

0:22.5

Tiffany's was just another co-case.

0:25.2

Whenever I got so dishearted, I go, maybe I should give up.

0:30.7

But then my Indian blood comes out and I go out and I talk to nature and I talk to Tiffany and the redbirds come into the yard,

0:42.0

which is a good symbol that means your loved one is close by. And I said, I will not give up. I will find

0:49.2

who did this to you.

0:59.3

There are 120,000 unsolved murders in America.

1:01.6

Each one is a cold case.

1:04.2

Only 1% are ever solved.

1:07.0

This is one of those rare stories. This is one of those rare stories. Yeah. It's almost midnight on July 6, 1997 in Bethany, Oklahoma, and Sergeant Reed is on his way to a call in the Oklahoma City suburb.

1:37.0

As he's driving, he spots something odd at the sunshine car wash.

1:41.8

A white Dodge neon was parked in the far west stall, but no one was around it. I didn't

1:47.7

pay much more attention. After finishing the call, I drove by the Sunshine Car Wash again,

1:53.9

and that same white Dodge Neon was still in the Far West stall. The Dodge Neon is the only car left at

2:00.7

the car wash at this late hour,

2:03.0

and Sergeant Reed sends the license plate number to headquarters to find out who owns the vehicle.

2:09.0

It's registered to 19-year-old Tiffany Johnston.

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from A&E / PodcastOne, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of A&E / PodcastOne and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.