Up and Vanished - The Sleepwalker Murder with Murder: True Crime Stories

Episode Date: March 16, 2026

In this special crossover episode, Payne Lindsey joins Carter Roy on Murder: True Crime Stories to examine one of the most controversial cases of the 1990s. For the full episode, follow Murder: True Crime Stories wherever you listen to podcasts. In January 1997, Scott Falater appeared to be a devoted husband and father living a quiet suburban life in Arizona, until his wife, Yarmila Falater, was found brutally stabbed and drowned in their backyard pool. Falater was discovered nearby with blood on his clothes, yet he claimed he had no memory of the attack, insisting he was asleep when it happened. Payne introduces the case and discusses why it is so fascinating. Carter unpacks the shocking details of the crime, the rare and deeply divisive “homicidal sleepwalking” defense, and the chilling question at the center of the trial: can someone commit murder without ever waking up? Blurring the line between science, psychology, and criminal responsibility, the case of Scott Falater remains one of the most unsettling courtroom battles in modern history. To hear the full episode, search Murder: True Crime Stories wherever you listen to podcasts and be sure to follow the show so you never miss an episode. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

You're listening to a tenderfoot TV podcast. Hey guys, Payne here. I want to share something with you a little different. It's honestly one of the most unsettling cases I've ever heard of. Recently, I joined Carter Roy on Murder True Crime Stories to talk about the 1997 killing of Ramella Follader. She was brutally murdered by her husband, Scott Follator, but he insists that he was asleep when he did it.

There were 44 stab wounds, a neighbor watching from across the street, and a defense that asks a terrifying question. Can someone commit a murder without ever waking up? And what does that even mean? This case is one that tows the line between science, psychology, and accountability, and whether or not the jury got it right. Here's a preview of the episode. This is Crime House.

44 stab wounds. A swimming pool full of blood. a witness who saw it all happen, and a man who had no idea he'd just become a killer. Memory can be tricky like that. We've all been in a situation where we completely forget something we've done. Maybe your parents told an embarrassing childhood story you don't remember, or your friends had to fill you in after too many drinks. For the most part, these realizations are harmless, sometimes funny even.

But for Scott for later, they were horrifying. One night in 1997, Scott's life was shattered when he learned that his wife of 20 years was brutally murdered in their backyard. Scott said he was fast asleep when it happened. Then things took an even darker turn. When police told Scott, he was the one who actually did it. Welcome to the Sleepwalker murder.

People's lives are like a story. There's a beginning, a middle, and an end. But you don't always know which part you're on. Sometimes the final chapter arrives far too soon, and we don't always get to know the real ending. I'm Carter Roy, and this is Murder, True Crime Stories, a crime house original powered by Pave Studios. And today I'm joined by Payne Lindsay, the host of the Up and Vanished podcast. Thanks for having me, man. Yeah, so glad you're here. And now, before we dive in, make sure to go and follow up and vanished if you haven't already. Every season, Pain,

covers a different cold case. His coverage has led to some remarkable results and put an important spotlight on stories that need to be told. Trust me, you do not want to miss it. Today, Payne is going to introduce the case we're covering and explain why it's one he hasn't been able to get out of his head. Then be sure to stick around at the end as we sit down for an extended conversation about these shocking events.

Yeah, this is definitely a case that sticks with me personally because it's just weird. Today, Carter's going to tell you all about Scott Follator, also known as the Sleepwalker Murderer. In 1997, Scott's world came crashing down when his wife was found dead in their backyard. She'd been drowned and stabbed repeatedly. Scott had no idea what happened until he was in handcuffs.

What followed was one of the most controversial trials in U.S. history, and I can see why. Scott's story shows how complex our minds really are. It makes us question, how well we really know ourselves. All that and more coming up. To hear the full episode, search murder, true crime stories

on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. And make sure to follow the show.