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The Victim in Surprise

The Victim in Surprise

By: Eileen Zenn
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 On June 6th, 2017, Amal Bahjat was found murdered in her home in Surprise, Arizona. On a wall in the house, a message had been scrawled in Arabic—what seemed a warning from the killer or killers, since Amal, a former Muslim, had converted to Christianity and was vocal about her new faith. Amal was active on a television ministry broadcast for the Kurdish community in the US—but only as someone who called in to bear her testimony of Jesus Christ. She never appeared physically on any television program or video. Although her murder may appear to have been a consequence of Amal’s conversion and activity in the ministry, the host Eileen sees it differently. After going through public documents and forensic evidence, she strongly believes that her friend’s murder was not motivated by religion—but that she was killed by someone close to her. A month prior to her murder, Amal called 911 and reported a kidnapping attempt. Two policemen showed up at her residence in Surprise, but found Amal utterly calm and collected. She didn’t show any sign of fear or stress. In addition, according to people close to her, Amal had received phone threats in the days leading up to her murder. But Amal never reported these to the police, nor did their postmortem investigation turn up any suspicious messages or voice mails in her phone record. Amal’s husband Jihad was also a convert to Christianity. Yet she alone fell victim to the alleged extremist’s attack. This case was solvable back in 2017—but the police of Surprise botched it. Eileen exposes the incompetence of the local detectives, and their mishandling of crucial evidence. Please join Eileen as she unravels the threads of the unsolved murder of her friend. The story has never been told until now—and the rabbit hole she went down will thrill and appall you with its many twists and turns.Copyright 2025 Eileen Zenn Politics & Government Spirituality True Crime
Episodes
  • Episode 12 - Who Killed Amal Bahjat

    Episode 12 - Who Killed Amal Bahjat
    Jun 24 2025

    In this chapter, the host Eileen shares with you a list of people who had the code to the keypad lock to the house. There was one person that was suspicious from that list.

    In late 2018 Ibtisam was called to the Surprise police station to submit a test, did she pass?

    Tune in to learn the new theory of who might’ve wrote on the wall.

    Host Eileen Zenn keeps going back to the key to the Buick, this time, she shares in this episode, the two versions of the events from the night of the crime; one is Ibtisam’s and the other is her husband’s Bob.

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    This podcast is speculative and any theory presented is not proof of anyone’s guilt. All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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    18 mins
  • “A closed chapter in my life”

    “A closed chapter in my life”
    Jun 17 2025

    In this episode the host tackles a few subjects, such as who was behind a suspicious banking activity in Amal’s account a week prior to the murder.

    And what did Amal’s friend Jeanie Hill tell the FBI when interviewed.

    In early 2018 Jihad and his son went to the local TV station to talk about the murder and labeled it “an act of terrorism”

    Tune in to listen to a scenario the host imagined, based on what Amin told the detectives that the backyard gate didn’t have a lock. Does that mean the fanatic intruder would’ve accessed it easily? Find all about it and learn about the lame theory that doesn’t add up.

    Link to House Listing

    Join the Victim in Surprise Facebook Group

    This podcast is speculative and any theory presented is not proof of anyone’s guilt. All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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    21 mins
  • Episode 10 - The “Trustworthy”

    Episode 10 - The “Trustworthy”
    Jun 10 2025

    There is a name that means The "Trustworthy" One. That name is Amin. But does the man live up to the name?

    That is the question that is asked in this episode of the Victim in Surprise

    First, we rejoin the contentious phone conversation between host Eileen Zenn and Amal's husband Jihad.

    Then we get into the meat of the matter. Who is the "Trustworthy" one and what was his relationship with Amal? Was he a loving step son, who only wanted to be close to his new mother? Or was he spying,stealing and manipulating her? Just how trustworthy was he? And what might his involvement be?

    Tune in to find out.

    Join the Victim in Surprise Facebook Group

    This podcast is speculative and any theory presented is not proof of anyone’s guilt. All parties are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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    26 mins
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