Hunting for Secrets: The Murder of Leonila Stickney

When a joyful young Filipino mother searching for a better life in America is killed during a South Dakota pheasant hunt, her fiancé insists it was a tragic accident. But as investigators dig deeper, they uncover a disturbing pattern: a violently jealous ex-cop, a secret vasectomy, a hidden affair, and nearly a million dollars in life insurance taken out on the victim just months before her death. What initially looked like a hunting mishap slowly unravels into a chilling story of greed, betrayal, and a man who believed his badge could help him get away with murder. Sources: 1. Accident, Suicide or Murder. 2019. 2. “Leonila ‘Nila’ De Valle Stickney (1983-2009) - Find a Grave Memorial.” Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/108733253/leonila-stickney. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026. 3. “South Dakota Attorney General.” South Dakota Attorney General, https://atg.sd.gov/OurOffice/Media/pressreleasesdetail.aspx?id=1939#gsc.tab=0. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026. 4. State v. Bertram. Accessed 10 Feb. 2026. 7. Mitchell Republic, 2016. 8. Mitchell Republic, 2016. 9. The Dickinson Press, 2021. 10. Mitchell Republic, 2021. This Week’s Episode Brought To You By: Shopify - $1 per month trial - http://shopify.com/lovemurder Hers - Personalized, affordable plans for weight loss, hair, and anxiety - forhers.com/LOVEMURDER Jones Road Beauty - Use code Love at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Cool Gloss with your first purchase! Progressive Insurance - Discover better rates at https://www.progressive.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.