Headlines vs. Reality 🗂️ FOIA FRIDAY! | Forensic Files

There's what makes the headlines, and then there's what's sitting in the police file. We covered a case last
month that could have been case closed before we got our hands on it. But, the more our team dug, the more questions we
had. So, let me catch you up. Walter Sean Stewart was a Chicago firefighter, and on March 7th, 2023, he was on duty
when his house caught fire. Inside were his wife, their three kids, and their dog, Mabel. They all died as a result of
the fire. Investigators called it undetermined and non-criminal, chalking it up to a tragic accident. Case closed.
But, then someone emailed me this case, and we wanted to dive deeper. So, we filed a FOIA request to dig into the
evidence and to check the husband's alibi. And we didn't stop at just one request because a critical video that we
asked for was blurred out. No timestamps, no dates. So, we kept pushing until we got the information we
needed. The file also shows something that never made the headlines. Two smoke alarm batteries on the floor near the
kitchen. Not logged as evidence, not tested, and the agency investigating the fire is the one that Sean works for.
Without a FOIA request, you hear tragic house fire. But, as Crime Junkies, we start asking different questions. Why
was the case closed so quickly? Why weren't phone records pulled? Why weren't those batteries documented? If
we hadn't filed that FOIA request, this family's story could have been ended as an accident. Public records belong to
the public, but if no one asks for them, no one sees what's inside. And that's why we make those requests.

We filed a FOIA request on a house fire that was ruled “non-criminal.” The headlines said tragic accident...but we had questions.

To hear more of what we discovered about this case 👉 listen to our episode "MYSTERIOUS DEATH OF: The Day-Stewart Family" now.

Full Episode Tagged Below. ------------ Follow Crime Junkie: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crimejunkiepodcast Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CrimeJunkiePodcast/ Crime Junkie is created and hosted by Ashley Flowers.

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About Ashley Flowers Ashley Flowers is the top female podcaster in the U.S. and the host of Crime Junkie, the #1 podcast among women and the #1 true crime podcast globally. As the Founder of audiochuck, she has built a top-tier podcast production company that has garnered over 2.6 billion downloads, captivating audiences with its gripping storytelling through 10+ chart topping podcasts. Ashley and her team are dedicated to creating responsible true crime content that respects victims and their families.

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Brief Summary

A firefighter's family's tragic death raises questions about the investigation's thoroughness and transparency.

Key points

The Tragic Fire of Walter Sean Stewart. A firefighter's family perishes in a house fire ruled an accident, but questions linger.

Episode highlights

The Tragic Fire of Walter Sean StewartA firefighter's family perishes in a house fire ruled an accident, but questions linger.“Why was the case closed so quickly?”1:12Mar 7, 2026

Episode quotes

Public records belong to the public, but if no one asks for them...

Emphasizing the importance of transparency in investigations.

1:24WatchMar 7, 2026

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