EP21 | Shallow Grave
Nineteen-year-old Kara Nichols vanished on her way to a modeling shoot, her phone going silent in an instant. Nearly a decade later, the truth that finally surfaced exposed a chilling betrayal—and left everyone wondering what justice for Kara truly means.
Kara Nichols was just 19, vibrant, ambitious, and always in motion. She loved the pulse of EDM concerts, dreamed of a career in modeling, and kept close to her circle of friends. Her phone was rarely out of reach, buzzing with calls, texts, and social media updates. But in October 2012, that constant stream of connection went silent. The last anyone heard, Kara was on her way to a modeling shoot. Where her phone last pinged, however, this raised more questions than answers.
Her disappearance quickly drew public attention. Family and friends pleaded for help, fearing she had been trafficked or worse. Tips flooded in, but most led nowhere. Some even demanded money in exchange for information. Investigators pressed on, but for nearly a decade, progress was painfully slow.
In the absence of clarity, suspicion seeped into the cracks. And what little evidence existed seemed to converge on a single figure.
In this episode of Sword and Scale, we trace Kara’s story through the desperation of her loved ones and the relentless search for truth. What they ultimately uncovered offered answers, but also a haunting new question: what does justice for Kara really look like?
Crew
Host: Mike Boudet (@SwordandScale/@MBoudet)
Creator & Director: Ash Patiño (@AshesToAshTV)
Directors of Photography: David Patiño (@DavidAPatino) & Jordan Young (@break_point_films)
Cinematographer: Zack Placencia & Matthew Cincoski
Producer: Tyann Sells
Sound & Music Credit: Zapsplat
Additional Crew Listed on Episode