Episode 230: Dawnia Dacosta | Riding with the Devil

Episode 230: Dawnia Dacosta | Riding with the Devil

From True Crime Couple by True Crime Couple

May 5, 2026 · 1h 36m

About this episode

The episode recounts the tragic story of Dawnia Dacosta, who ran out of gas and became a victim of a crime while walking to get help.

After a late night church service Dawnia Dacosta began the familiar half and hour ride home. She had done the drive so many times she could have done it with her eyes closed. But as she cruised down I95 she felt her car sputter then slow. She had run out of gas. As she eased onto the shoulder, she may have thought of her mother and the lessons drilled in long before moments like this ever came. Be prepared. Stay alert. Know what to do. So Dawnia followed those rules. Windows up. Doors locked. Hazards flashing. From where she stood, she could see the glow of a Texaco sign just off the exit ramp, not far at all. As she clutched an empty gas can, she stepped into the night, convinced it would be a quick walk… she’d make it. Sources: https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-supreme-court/1720973.html https://flcourts-media.flcourts.gov/content/download/347254/file/02-1590_AmdInit.pdf https://library.law.fsu.edu/Digital-Collections/flsupct/dockets/sc02-1590/02-1590amdinit.pdf https://www.iexitapp.com/exits/Florida/I-95/North/686 https://www.newspapers.com/image/229834760/?terms=dawnia%20dacosta&match=1…

People in this episode

Host: True Crime Couple

Topics covered

  • murder
  • true crime
  • cold case
  • Florida
  • victim stories

Keywords

  • Dawnia Dacosta
  • murder
  • I95
  • cold case
  • true crime

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Texaco

Places: Florida

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