About
Veteran news reporter, true-crime author, freelance writer and editor. Also certified as a group fitness instructor, yoga teacher and personal trainer.
Featured Work
SUBMERGED: Ryan Widmer, his drowned bride and the justice system
2018
A young bride drowned in her bathtub. Her husband of four months was accused of murder. Yet what happened in their tiny suburban bathroom--and why--was never resolved. A gripping true-crime drama, based on exclusive new information, SUBMERGED exposes hidden angles of a case that divided an ordinary American community, tore apart two families and tested the criminal justice system. Janice Hisle covered all three of Ryan Widmer's trials for THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER, dug deep to tell the untold story--and found new questions and answers buried amid thousands of pages in a law-office's basement.
Other Works
Press and Media Mentions
- CNN's "Crime and Justice" with Ashleigh Banfield featured Janice Hisle as a guest and explored the question: Could a DNA test prove that Sarah Widmer's drowning may have been caused by a medical condition, not homicide? (Scroll down to find embedded video under "ABOUT the book." )
- The Cincinnati (Ohio ) ENQUIRER ran an article about new information revealed about the Ryan Widmer murder case in Janice Hisle's book, SUBMERGED.
- Cincinnati Public Radio WVXU: "Cincinnati Edition" host Michael Monks explores new details revealed in Janice Hisle's book about the Ryan Widmer murder case.
- Fox19 TV report on SUBMERGED and Janice Hisle, plus video and a copy of a diagram the author produced, showing strange symptoms suffered by 24-year-old Sarah Widmer, who never underwent tests for several possible disorders that could have caused her to drown in her bathtub.
- TRUE MURDER podcast: The host read the entire book, SUBMERGED, before interviewing the author, making for an intense and detailed discussion!
- "She drowned; he's in prison. But was her death really a murder?" Medium.com article reflects on 11-year anniversary of Sarah Widmer's drowning; author visits Sarah's grave then, days later, visits Sarah's convicted husband, Ryan, in prison.
- Radio Station 55WKRC : Host Brian Thomas talks with author Janice Hisle about new information she learned even after the publication of her book on the Ryan Widmer case.
- "A dead bride, a bathtub and justice that may not be blind:" Dayton Daily News reporter Amelia Robinson, host of the acclaimed podcast, "What Had Happened Was..." interviewed author Janice Hisle about the Ryan Widmer murder case and her book, SUBMERGED.
- Radio station 700WLW: Eddie Fingers and Rocky Boiman explored why Janice Hisle wrote SUBMERGED, saying, “this has Netflix written all over it." Scroll to the 32:00 mark on the July 24, 2018 episode.
- Podcast: House of Mystery True Crime History explored the Widmer bathtub-drowning case with author Janice Hisle
- PODCAST: (part one) Lexington, Ky., Community Radio's "Gray Matters," Episode 8, delves deeply into whether "confirmation bias" may have permeated the Ryan Widmer murder case.
- PODCAST: (part two) Lexington, Ky., Community Radio's "Gray Matters," Episode 9.
- Northern Kentucky Tribune article features new book, SUBMERGED, by former news reporter Janice Hisle.
- Radio station 700 WLW: Former Hamilton County prosecutor Mike Allen spoke with author Janice Hisle and Peter Bronson, who edited Hisle's book and published it through his company, Chilidog Press. Discussion included the amount of work that went into the book, Ryan Widmer’s reaction to it–and the seemingly slim chances for any appeals to succeed. Scroll to the 36:00 mark to hear the interview.
- Radio station 700WLW: Host Willie Cunningham, an attorney, discusses the Ryan Widmer murder case with author Janice Hisle and says he thinks evidence was insufficient to convict Ryan Widmer. Interview begins at the 70:12 marker.
- Feature article on author in Women of Cincy blog
- PODCAST: Sisterhood of SWEAT host Linda Mitchell interviews Janice Hisle about the Ryan Widmer murder case and her book, SUBMERGED.
- Radio station 700 WLW: Host Gary Jeff Walker interviewed Janice Hisle talked about unusual features of the Ryan Widmer case, including the fact that rock-n-roll lyrics were considered evidence. Scroll to the 72:19 mark
- Radio station 55 WKRC: Host Brian Thomas gave a great overview of the case and explored speculation over any possible motive for Sarah to have been drowned, along with “inconsistencies” in Ryan’s story.
- Popular podcast True Crime Brewery hosts read aloud large passages from SUBMERGED, and offered commentary.
- Radio station 700 WLW: Host Bill Cunningham, who is an attorney, agreed that it was very unusual for the prosecution to acknowledge that they didn’t know how the alleged crime had been committed, even despite a conviction. Go to the 36:30 mark.
