Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
"Serial Killers & Murderous Minds" takes you deep into the psychology of history’s most chilling murderers. From infamous serial killers to ruthless cult leaders, deadly exes, and terrifying spree killers. Every Monday and Thursday, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels, a clinical and forensic psychologist, blend gripping true crime storytelling with expert psychological analysis to uncover what drives people to kill. The podcast goes beyond the headlines to explore the twisted psychology behind the crimes.
Episodes
Shelly Michael: Nurse, Wife, and Killer Pt. 1
In Morgantown, West Virginia, pediatric nurse practitioner Shelly Michael appeared to have built the perfect life: a successful career, a beautiful home, and a blended family. But beneath that polished surface, she was carrying on a secret affair and quietly laying the groundwork for her husband Jimmy's murder.If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never
Campus Crimes: The Murder of Betsy Aardsma
The third episode of Campus Crimes follows the events of the Friday after Thanksgiving 1969, when 22-year-old graduate student Betsy Aardsma was stabbed through the heart in the basement stacks of Penn State's Pattee Library, surrounded by people, in broad daylight, and dead within minutes. A man walked calmly out of the stacks, said five words, and vanished; no one was ever charged. Decades of in
SERIAL KILLER: The Monster of Florence Pt. 2 with Alexis Linkletter from Crimes of Reddit
For this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels are joined again by Alexis Linkletter, co-hose of Crime House's newest show Crimes of Reddit. Between 1968 and 1985, a killer known as the Monster of Florence murdered eight couples on remote roads outside Florence, Italy, leaving behind chilling physical evidence and no clear culprit. Despite decades of investigation, multiple arrests, and shocking courtro
SERIAL KILLER: The Monster of Florence Pt. 1 with Alexis Linkletter from Crimes of Reddit
For this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels are joined by Alexis Linkletter, co-hose of Crime House's newest show Crimes of Reddit. In 1968, a young couple was shot dead in the Italian countryside while their six-year-old son slept in the back seat: a crime that quietly launched one of Italy's most haunting serial killing sprees. For over a decade, a gunman stalked couples parked in remote areas outs
Campus Crimes: Death in the Ivory Tower
On February 12, 2010, biology professor Amy Bishop opened fire on her colleagues at the University of Alabama in Huntsville, killing three and wounding three more after being denied tenure. But investigators quickly discovered the shooting wasn't her first act of violence: a quarter century of buried history, closed files, and institutional failures had put a gun in that room long before tenure ev
Joji Obara: Thirty Years of Hidden Crimes in Japan Pt. 2
In July 2000, 21-year-old British hostess Lucie Blackman vanished after a date with a man she knew only as Mr. Kowa. In reality, he Joji Obara, a serial predator who had drugged and assaulted over 200 women across three decades in Japan. It was Lucie's own phone calls the night she disappeared, and the courage of his past victims who came forward, that finally brought Obara to justice.If you’re ne
Joji Obara: Thirty Years of Hidden Crimes in Japan Pt. 1
Vanessa and Dr. Engels get into the case of Japanese serial rapist Joji Obara, who for thirty years, drugged and assaulted hundreds of women across Japan, documenting his crimes in chilling detail. Hiding behind false names and a surgically altered face, he evaded justice while his attacks escalated.If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a cas
Campus Crimes: The Murder of Jane Stanford
In the first of our four-part limited series "Campus Crimes," Vanessa breaks down the 1905 murder of Jane Stanford, co-founder of Stanford University, who was poisoned to death in a Honolulu hotel room. A coroner's jury ruled it murder, the evidence was clear, and the prime suspect had motive and opportunity. But the university's own president intervened, hired a compliant doctor, and replaced a m
SERIAL KILLER: Israel Keyes Pt. 2
In June 2011, Israel Keyes abducted and murdered Bill and Lorraine Currier from their home in Essex, Vermont, a crime that went unsolved for years. Months later, he targeted 18-year-old barista Samantha Koenig near his own home in Anchorage, Alaska, breaking the strict rules he'd lived by... and leaving a trail that finally led investigators to him. Keyes died by suicide in 2012, leaving as many a
SERIAL KILLER: Israel Keyes Pt. 1
Israel Keyes spent years methodically preparing for murder: burying weapon caches across the country, committing crimes far from home, and maintaining a quiet family life to avoid suspicion. Born into a white nationalist sect and mentored by domestic terrorists, Keyes developed a chilling capacity for violence alongside an equally chilling ability to conceal it. This episode traces his upbringing,
The Villisca Axe Murders: Eight Victims, No Answers Pt. 2
Investigators spent years chasing suspects in the Villisca Axe Murders, including a traveling minister, a suspected serial killer, and an alleged hitman, yet every lead collapsed before trial. A coerced confession, two hung juries, and a killer who was never convicted left the case permanently unsolved.If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a
The Villisca Axe Murders: Eight Victims, No Answers Pt. 1
In June 1912, eight people were bludgeoned with an axe in a Villisca, Iowa home while they slept. The killer left behind a staged scene filled with bizarre clues but no clear identity, plunging a tight-knit community into fear and suspicion.If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! Want all 2 parts of every case all at once? Join Crime Ho
SERIAL KILLER: Ed Kemper Pt. 2 with Andrea Gunning of Betrayal Weekly
Once again, Vanessa and Dr. Engels are joined by Andrea Gunning of "Betrayal Weekly" to discuss the crimes of Ed Kemper. In early 1973, Kemper murdered UC Santa Cruz students Rosalind Thorpe and Alice Liu following a violent argument with his mother, Clarnell... then turned his rage on her. After killing Clarnell and her friend Sara Hallett, Kemper fled California before voluntarily calling police
SERIAL KILLER: Ed Kemper Pt. 1 with Andrea Gunning of Betrayal Weekly
Vanessa and Dr. Engels are joined by Andrea Gunning of "Betrayal Weekly" to discus the crimes of Ed Kemper, who murdered at least six young women who accepted rides from him while hitchhiking in the 1970s. But the roots of his violence stretched back to a childhood defined by abuse, abandonment, and early acts of cruelty toward animals and family members. After killing his grandparents at 15 and s
The D.C. Snipers: Murder Manipulation and a Lost Boy Pt. 2
In the fall of 2002, John Muhammad and his teenage accomplice Lee Boyd Malvo killed nearly 20 people across the mid-Atlantic and southern United States, paralyzing the nation with fear. Until a trail of careless mistakes finally led investigators to the pair sleeping in their Chevy Caprice at a Maryland rest stop.If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to ne
The D.C. Snipers: Murder Manipulation and a Lost Boy Pt. 1
In the early 2000s, John Allen Muhammad and 16-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo terrorized the Washington D.C. metropolitan area in a killing spree that left nearly 20 people dead, all to conceal Muhammad's true target: his ex-wife. This episode traces Lee's turbulent childhood in Jamaica and Antigua, and how years of abandonment and abuse left him dangerously vulnerable to Muhammad's calculated manipulati
SERIAL KILLER: The Midnight Assassin Pt. 2
Despite a year of killings, the Austin police made no credible arrests in the Midnight Assassin investigation, and two innocent husbands were prosecuted while a key suspect died without ever facing trial. The case remains unsolved more than 140 years later, with some theorizing the killer may have gone on to commit similar crimes around the world.If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial K
SERIAL KILLER: The Midnight Assassin Pt. 1
In 1884, a brutal killer began targeting Black female domestic servants in Austin, Texas, attacking victims in their sleep and vanishing without a trace. With no forensic tools and deep racial prejudice shaping the investigation, police arrested countless innocent men while the murders escalated in frequency and violence. The case, known as the Midnight Assassin, remains unsolved to this day.Join
SERIAL KILLER: The Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run Pt. 2
Despite years of investigation, the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run remained elusive. One promising suspect, slipped through the police's grasp, and an innocent man may have died in custody for a crime he didn't commit. Decades later, the authorities are using DNA technology in hopes of finally identifying the victims.Join Crime House+ to binge a special limited series on Murder: True Crime Stories f
SERIAL KILLER: The Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run Pt. 1
In 1930s Cleveland, a killer known as the Mad Butcher of Kingsbury Run preyed on the vulnerable as the city struggled through the Great Depression. Victims were found dismembered and decapitated across the city, their identities stripped away as deliberately as their lives. This episode examines the psychology of overkill, dismemberment, and a pioneering criminal profile that was decades ahead of
Andrea Yates: The Mother Who Went Too Far Pt. 2
On June 20, 2001, Andrea Yates drowned her five young children in the bathtub of her Houston home, convinced she was saving their souls from eternal damnation. A devout mother battling postpartum psychosis and major depression, she had fallen under the influence of extremist preacher Michael Woroniecki, whose teachings persuaded her that only death could protect her children from the demons she be
Andrea Yates: The Mother Who Went Too Far Pt. 1
On the surface, Andrea Yates was a former valedictorian, nurse, and a devout mother of five from Clear Lake, Texas. But deep down, Andrea was consumed by religious guilt, postpartum psychosis, and the manipulative teachings of a fringe preacher who convinced her that demons were pursuing her family. This episode traces her deteriorating mental health across nearly a decade of mismanaged care, isol
SERIAL KILLER: "The Candy Man" Dean Corll Pt. 2
In 1970s Houston, serial killer Dean Corll murdered at least 28 teenage boys with the help of two young accomplices he groomed and manipulated. When Corll turned on 17-year-old Wayne Henley and threatened to kill his girlfriend, Wayne made a decision that would unravel one of America's most horrific crime sprees. This episode examines the psychology of coercion, escalating violence, and what it fi
SERIAL KILLER: "The Candy Man" Dean Corll Pt. 1
In early 1970s Houston, Texas, businessman Dean Corll used free candy, a party-ready apartment, and a carefully cultivated reputation as a community pillar to lure teenage boys to their deaths. But behind his friendly facade, Corll was systematically grooming victims... and recruiting young accomplices to help him carry out increasingly brutal crimes. This episode traces his childhood, his escalat
Joe Ball: The Alligator Man of Elmendorf Pt. 2
After killing at least two women in his orbit, Joe Ball seemingly got away clean. But when the rumors in town caught up to him.. Joe did something nobody expected. After he was gone, his gator pit and a trail of missing women turned him into one of Depression-era Texas's most chilling figures.If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! Want
Joe Ball: The Alligator Man of Elmendorf Pt.1
In 1930s Elmendorf, Texas, tavern owner Joe Ball built a reputation for wild alligator feedings and a revolving door of female employees who kept disappearing without explanation. Reportedly a descendant of notorious slaveholders, Ball graduated from bootlegger to killer, and when the women in his life became inconvenient, they simply vanished.If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Kill
SERIAL KILLER: Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski Pt. 2
By the early 1980s, Richard Kuklinski had supposedly killed dozens of men for the New York Mafia. And with his boss Roy DeMeo dead, he was operating entirely on his own terms. But when ATF agent Dominick Polifrone began building an undercover identity inside New Jersey's criminal world, Richard's own greed and loose talk would bring him down.
If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Kille
SERIAL KILLER: Richard "The Iceman" Kuklinski Pt. 1
Richard Kuklinski grew up in the violent housing projects of Jersey City, New Jersey, where abuse at home and relentless bullying on the streets hardened him into a killer before he turned 15. By his mid-twenties, he had leveraged his capacity for cold-blooded violence into a career as a trusted hitman for the Gambino crime family under Brooklyn mob boss Roy DeMeo. This episode traces how Kuklinsk
SERIAL KILLER: "The Ypsilanti Ripper" John Norman Collins Pt. 2 with Katie Ring from America's Most Infamous Crimes
Once again, Vanessa and Dr. Engels are joined by Katie Ring, host of the Crime House Original America's Most Infamous Crimes to discuss the crimes of the "Ypsilanti Ripper." In 1969, John Norman Collins terrorized Ypsilanti, Michigan, murdering at least six young women and girls while hiding behind a charming, all-American persona. Despite being questioned multiple times, Collins evaded investigat
SERIAL KILLER: "The Ypsilanti Ripper" John Norman Collins Pt. 1 with Katie Ring from America's Most Infamous Crimes
Vanessa and Dr. Engels are joined by Katie Ring, host of the Crime House Original America's Most Infamous Crimes to discuss the crimes of the "Ypsilanti Ripper." In the late 1960s, Eastern Michigan University students Mary Fleszar and Joan Schell were brutally murdered by someone hiding in plain sight: their charming, honor-roll neighbor John Norman Collins. Despite a witness placing Collins with
SERIAL KILLER: "The Blood Countess" Pt. 2 with Dr. Harini Bhat from Hidden History
Vanessa and Dr. Engels are joined again by Dr. Harini Bhat from PAVE Studio's newest show "Hidden History" as they conclude their deep dive into the "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Bathory, used her wealth and noble status to lure hundreds of young women to their deaths inside the walls of Castle Csejthe. As her crimes escalated from peasant girls to the daughters of nobility, rumors of blood baths an
SERIAL KILLER: "The Blood Countess" Pt. 1 with Dr. Harini Bhat from Hidden History
Vanessa and Dr. Engels are joined by Dr. Harini Bhat from PAVE Studio's newest show "Hidden History" as they discuss the "Blood Countess" Elizabeth Bathory, a 16th and 17th-century noblewoman who used her vast wealth, noble status, and unchecked power to torture and murder hundreds of young girls within the walls of her castle. Raised amid war, public executions, and a family that weaponized cruel
SERIAL KILLER: Adolfo Constanzo Pt. 2
When the kidnapping of an American college student set off an international manhunt, investigators had no idea it would lead them to a ranch in Mexico hiding 15 bodies, a cauldron filled with human remains, and a cult built on ritual human sacrifice. Vanessa and Dr. Engels follow the investigation that exposed Adolfo Constanzo's horrific operation... and the dramatic final standoff that brought it
SERIAL KILLER: Adolfo Constanzo Pt. 1
Ever since he was a child, Adolfo Constanzo was raised to believe he was special. And by his twenties, he'd built a cult in Mexico City fueled by black magic, psychic manipulation, and blind devotion. Join Vanessa and Dr. Engels as they trace Adolfo's path from childhood rituals and revenge spells to his terrifying alliance with Mexican drug cartels, where protection spells masked cold-blooded mu
The Killing Curse: Hex Hollow Pt. 2
John Blymire set out to break a curse... but what happened inside Nelson Rehmeyer's farmhouse went far beyond anything he or his young accomplices had planned. In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels unpack how a mission to steal a lock of hair spiraled into a brutal murder that shocked 1920s Pennsylvania and made international headlines. As guilt consumed the killers and a trial put folk magic it
The Killing Curse: Hex Hollow Pt. 1
In 1920s Pennsylvania, folk magic and Christian faith existed side by side. And for John Blymire, a man tormented by mysterious illness since childhood, the line between healing and darkness was about to disappear. In this first installment, Vanessa and Dr. Engels explore the world of Braucherei folk magic, the psychology of curses and belief, and how one man's desperation for answers led him to r
SERIAL KILLER: H. H. Holmes Pt. 2
After faking his best friend's death for an insurance payout, H.H. Holmes spun an elaborate web of lies. But as Holmes's stories unraveled, the true scope of his betrayal revealed a man who saw everyone around him as expendable. Even the people who loved him most.
If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early a
SERIAL KILLER: H. H. Holmes Pt. 1
H.H. Holmes is one of America's most notorious serial killers. But before the murders, there were the scams. In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels trace Holmes's dark path from a childhood fascination with death to medical school grave robbing, a mysterious building full of trapdoors, and a dangerous partnership with fellow conman Benjamin Pitezel. As the two hatch an elaborate life insurance fr
Justice Delayed: Stephen Lawrence Pt. 2
After the suspects in Stephen Lawrence's murder walked free on a technicality, his mother Doreen refused to let the fight end there. Her relentless campaign for justice exposed deep-rooted institutional racism within London's police force, sparked a landmark public inquiry, and ultimately helped rewrite British law itself.
If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous M
Justice Delayed: Stephen Lawrence Pt. 1
When 18-year-old Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death at a London bus stop in 1993, it set off one of the most explosive fights for justice in British history. In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels trace Stephen's life, the brutal attack that took it, and the mounting failures that turned a grieving mother into a force for change.
If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers &
SERIAL KILLER: Jeff Davis 8 Pt. 2
In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels conclude their investigation into the Jeff Davis 8, the unsolved murders of eight women in Jennings, Louisiana, and the corruption allegations that shattered public trust. As more victims are found, suspicions of a serial killer, police cover-up, and law enforcement corruption deepen, leaving families desperate for answers.
If you’re new here, don’t forget t
SERIAL KILLER: Jeff Davis 8 Pt. 1
Vanessa and Dr. Engels dive into the chilling true story of the Jeff Davis 8, the unsolved murders of eight women in Jennings, Louisiana, and the corruption that may have helped their killer stay hidden. As vulnerable women tied to drugs, sex work, and police informant networks begin turning up dead, this true crime deep dive explores the dark links between law enforcement corruption, sex traffick
Elizabeth Short "The Black Dahlia" Pt. 2
Join Vanessa and Dr. Engels as they unravel the shocking aftermath of Elizabeth Short’s 1947 murder, exploring how the "Black Dahlia" case became one of the most infamous unsolved crimes in Los Angeles history. From the media frenzy and investigative failures to the disturbing suspects and later revelations tied to Dr. George Hodel, this true crime deep dive examines why the murder of Elizabeth Sh
Elizabeth Short "The Black Dahlia" Pt. 1
In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels explore the tragic life and unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, the aspiring actress who the press labeled as the "Black Dahlia." From her difficult childhood and Hollywood dreams to the final days before her 1947 killing, this true crime deep dive examines the mystery, media frenzy, and chilling unanswered questions behind one of Los Angeles’ most infamous
The Unabomber Pt. 2
In this gripping conclusion to our deep dive on Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, Vanessa and Dr. Engels trace his escalation from calculated bombings to deadly domestic terrorism that left three people dead and a nation in fear. As panic spreads and authorities scramble for answers, a bold and unprecedented move forces the entire country to confront the mind behind the violence. But the breakthrough
The Unabomber Pt. 1
Explore the origins of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, in this deep dive into the psychology behind one of America’s most infamous domestic terrorists. From his troubled childhood, social isolation, and controversial Harvard psychological study to his retreat into the Montana wilderness, Vanessa and Dr. Engels examine how a math prodigy became radicalized against technology and industrial society.
Heaven's Gate Pt. 2 with Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek
In March 1997, as the Hale-Bopp comet passed Earth, 39 members of Heaven’s Gate were found dead in a California mansion, having participated in one of the largest mass suicides in modern U.S. history. They believed their deaths were not an end, but a transition — a deliberate “exit” from human bodies to board a spacecraft trailing the comet. In Part 2, we explore the final days of the group, the p
Heaven's Gate Pt. 1 with Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek
In the 1970s, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles emerged with a radical message: they were celestial beings sent to guide humanity to the “Next Level.” Over time, their small spiritual study group transformed into Heaven’s Gate — a tightly controlled community built on isolation, strict behavioral codes, and the rejection of earthly identity. In Part 1, Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek from The
Harold Shipman: Britain’s Deadliest Doctor Pt. 2
For years, Dr. Harold Shipman operated as a respected physician in Hyde, England, signing death certificates and comforting grieving families. But soon, disturbing patterns began to emerge. An unusually high number of elderly patients were dying under his care. Concerns from undertakers, fellow medical professionals, and eventually law enforcement sparked one of the most significant investigations
Harold Shipman: Britain’s Deadliest Doctor Pt. 1
He was a respected family doctor. A pillar of the community. A man patients trusted with their lives.But behind the calm voice and medical authority, Dr. Harold Shipman was hiding something far darker.In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels explore the early life and escalating crimes of Harold Shipman, the British doctor who would later be exposed as one of the most prolific serial killers in mod
Blood in the Basement: The Chohan Family Case Pt. 2
In the early 2000s, a brutal crime shocked the United Kingdom.Prosecutors argued that Kenneth Regan and his associates murdered Anil Chohan and members of his family in a calculated plot to seize control of Chohan’s successful shipping business. According to the case presented in court, the motive was clear: financial gain and the opportunity to use the company as a front for criminal enterprises.
Blood in the Basement: The Chohan Family Case Pt. 1
In the 1990s, Kenneth Regan was deeply embedded in the British criminal underworld, orchestrating scams, fraud schemes, and elaborate cons across the UK. But when one of his schemes finally caught up with him and landed him behind bars, he didn’t lie low... he found opportunity.That opportunity was Anil Chohan.What began as a prison acquaintance would spiral into one of the most shocking and calcu
Jack the Ripper Pt. 2
More than 135 years later, the identity of Jack the Ripper remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in true crime In Part 2, Vanessa and Dr. Engels explore the final chilling 1888 Whitechapel murders that terrorized Victorian London and their aftermath. They'll examine the most compelling suspects behind the world’s most infamous unidentified serial killer, and what kind of person could be c
Jack the Ripper Pt. 1
Jack the Ripper remains one of the most infamous unsolved serial killers in history. His brutal crimes shocked Victorian London and continue to grip the true crime community today. Despite numerous suspects, modern forensic attempts, and over a century of investigation, the identity of Jack the Ripper remains unknown.
If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
The Black Widow of Idaho Pt. 2
In this episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels continue the chilling story of Lyda Southard as her confidence grows and her crimes escalate. With multiple husbands dead and suspicion quietly mounting, Lyda refines her methods while authorities begin connecting the dots. This episode follows her final murders, her attempt to flee justice, and the fo
The Black Widow of Idaho Pt. 1
In this episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, Vanessa Richardson and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels are joined by Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole from Crime House's new show, The Final Hours. They explore the early life of Lyda Southard, a woman trapped by poverty, rigid gender roles, and rural isolation in the early 20th century. What begins as a story of a young woman longi
Cyberstalking to Contract Killing Pt. 2 with Annie Elise
In this episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, true crime creator Annie Elise returns to frame the conclusion of the Brenda Delgado case, examining the aftermath of Kendra Hatcher’s murder and the unraveling of the plot behind it.Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels follow investigators as they close in on Brenda, tracing her attempts to control the narrative, manipulate witnesses, an
Introducing: 10 to Life with Annie Elise
With over 500 million downloads, 10 to Life is one of the leading true crime podcasts and YouTube channels covering the cases everyone is talking about — and the ones no one else is.
If you love deep dives, real-time updates, and the full story behind the headlines, don’t miss 10 to Life.
🎙️ Listen to 10 to Life every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.
Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/ch
Cyberstalking to Contract Killing Pt. 1 with Annie Elise
In this episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, true crime creator Annie Elise brings a case that has stayed with her—the murder-for-hire of Kendra Hatcher. Annie opens the episode by sharing what drew her so deeply to this disturbing story and why it stands out to her as a chilling example of emotional fixation spiraling out of control.
Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels then examin
The FBI Affair Murder Pt. 2
Behind the badge, Mark Putnam was hiding a devastating secret. When an affair threatened his career and family, desperation took over—with fatal consequences. This episode examines the psychological toll of pressure, fear, and entitlement as Putnam crossed an irreversible line. As investigators close in, the carefully maintained image of a model agent collapses, exposing a shocking betrayal of tru
The FBI Affair Murder Pt. 1
From childhood, Mark Putnam dreamed of becoming an FBI agent—and he achieved it through relentless ambition and fierce competitiveness. But when pressure mounted and his personal boundaries blurred, his need to protect his career spiraled into catastrophe. This episode traces Putnam’s rise through the Bureau, his struggle to prove himself, and the risky decisions that pulled him into an illicit re
The American Bluebeard Pt. 2
As suspicions around Helmuth Schmidt grow, neighbors, loved ones, and authorities begin to notice the cracks in his carefully constructed lies. Multiple identities, missing women, and chilling discoveries point to a pattern far more sinister than fraud alone. This episode follows the unraveling of Schmidt’s crimes as bystanders finally step in, leading to shocking revelations beneath the surface o
The American Bluebeard Pt. 1
In the early 1900s, a charming German immigrant used lies, fake identities, and newspaper marriage ads to lure women into his web. What began as romance quickly turned into manipulation, financial ruin, and disappearance. Known as “The American Bluebeard,” Helmuth Schmidt built a double life fueled by control, deception, and a growing appetite for risk. As his lies multiplied and his behavior esca
MURDEROUS MINDS: The Mysterious Romanov Family Assassination Pt. 2
In the early hours of July 17, 1918, the Romanov family was led into a basement—and history was forever changed. In the gripping conclusion, Killer Minds unpacks the brutal execution of the former royals, the chaotic cover-up that followed, and the decades of rumors that convinced the world at least one child survived. From false Anastasia claims to groundbreaking DNA discoveries nearly a century
MURDEROUS MINDS: The Mysterious Romanov Family Assassination Pt. 1
For nearly 300 years, the Romanov family ruled Russia under the belief that their power was divinely ordained. But as war, poverty, and political unrest spread, that illusion of control began to crumble. In Part 1, Killer Minds traces the rise and fall of Czar Nicholas II, the growing resentment toward the monarchy, and the revolutionary forces determined to erase the Romanovs forever. Vanessa Ric
SERIAL KILLER: Sante Kimes Pt. 2
What happens when loyalty becomes a weapon? In Part 2, Killer Minds reveals how Sante Kimes pulled her son Kenny into an escalating series of crimes—culminating in cold-blooded murder. From the killing of a banker in the Bahamas to the brutal death of New York socialite Irene Silverman, this episode examines the twisted bond that kept Kenny obedient and the psychological grip Sante never loosened.
SERIAL KILLER: Sante Kimes Pt. 1
Sante Kimes spent her entire life reinventing herself—using charm, deception, and manipulation to get whatever she wanted. In Part 1, Killer Minds follows Sante’s troubled childhood, escalating cruelty, and decades-long career as a con artist who moved effortlessly between fraud, abuse, and exploitation. As her schemes grew bolder, so did her need for control—especially over her youngest son, Kenn
MURDEROUS MINDS: Jimmy Hoffa Pt. 2
Jimmy Hoffa’s bid to reclaim his power ended the moment he climbed into a car outside Detroit’s Machus Red Fox restaurant — and vanished forever. In the gripping conclusion of this two-part series, Killer Minds follows the frantic investigation into Hoffa’s disappearance, the mob figures and union rivals with motives to silence him, and the tangled web of dead ends, false confessions, shifting all
MURDEROUS MINDS: Jimmy Hoffa Pt. 1
Before he became the center of one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries, Jimmy Hoffa was a tough kid from the Midwest who learned early that respect had to be fought for. In this episode, Killer Minds traces Hoffa’s climb from overworked warehouse teenager to the most powerful labor leader in the country — and the dangerous alliances he forged along the way. As his influence grew, so did his e
SERIAL KILLER: The Death House Landlady Pt. 2
In the shocking conclusion to the Dorothea Puente story, Killer Minds uncovers how a seemingly warm, grandmotherly caretaker manipulated an entire community while murdering the vulnerable people she vowed to protect. As Dorothea’s fraud escalates into calculated killings, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels trace her descent into a chilling cycle of deception, exploitation, and control. From
SERIAL KILLER: The Death House Landlady Pt. 1
Before she became one of America’s most notorious female serial killers, Dorothea Puente was a master of reinvention — a woman who survived a traumatic childhood, escaped into elaborate lies, and learned to weaponize trust. In Part 1, Killer Minds traces Dorothea’s tumultuous early life, from abuse, abandonment, and shapeshifting identities to the scams, marriages, and manipulations that set the s
BEST OF 2025: The Night Stalker Pt. 2
Happy New Year! As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited to bring you even more fascinating cases and gripping investigations. More importantly, we'd like to thank you for listening, and making 2025 an unforgettable year, your support and curiosity keep us coming back week after week. Please enjoy our Best of 2025 selection, The Night Stalker! Killer Minds will be back next week with a brand new
BEST OF 2025: The Night Stalker Pt. 1
Happy New Year! As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited to bring you even more fascinating cases and gripping investigations. More importantly, we'd like to thank you for listening, and making 2025 an unforgettable year, your support and curiosity keep us coming back week after week. Please enjoy our Best of 2025 selection, The Night Stalker! Killer Minds will be back next week with a brand new
MURDEROUS MINDS: Jim Jones Pt. 2
The conclusion of the Jim Jones story follows his unraveling as defections, scandals, and mounting scrutiny push the cult leader to flee the U.S. and establish the isolated Jonestown settlement—where his paranoia, drug-fueled delusions, and absolute control escalate to catastrophic levels. As Congressman Leo Ryan attempts to investigate, Jones’s fears explode into violence, culminating in the airs
The Smiley Face Killers with Dr. Tristin Engels | Crime House Crossover | From Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes
Dr. Engels joins Vanessa in this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes for a Crime House crossover!
Dozens of young men, all found drowned. A single eerie clue near every crime scene: a painted smiley face.
Uncover the dark origins of the Smiley Face Killers theory — a decades-long investigation that suggests a nationwide ring of serial murderers might still be active.
Follow Conspira
MURDEROUS MINDS: Jim Jones Pt. 1
In the first part of this two-episode deep dive, Killer Minds traces the rise of Jim Jones—from a lonely, attention-seeking child in Indiana to a charismatic preacher who built the Peoples Temple and laid the groundwork for one of history’s most infamous cults. Vanessa Richardson recounts how Jones blended social justice messaging with manipulation, staged miracles, and psychological control to am
HOLIDAY SPECIAL: The Santa Claus Massacre Pt. 2
On Christmas Eve 2008, the Ortega family gathered at their home in Covina, California, for their annual holiday celebration. Laughter, food, and music filled the night—until a man dressed as Santa Claus knocked on their door. In Part 2 of The Santa Claus Massacre, Carter Roy reveals the shocking and tragic events that unfolded that night, when 45-year-old Bruce Pardo—Sylvia Ortega’s embittered ex-
HOLIDAY SPECIAL: The Santa Claus Massacre Pt. 1
Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year — but for Bruce Pardo, the holidays brought something far darker. After losing his marriage, his family, and even his dog, Bruce’s bitterness turned deadly. In this first part of our Christmas Crime Special, we meet the Ortega family — a loving, tight-knit clan from Covina, California. When Sylvia Ortega met Bruce, she believed she’d
SERIAL KILLER: John Wayne Gacy Pt. 2
By the late 1970s, John Wayne Gacy seemed untouchable — a pillar of his community who charmed neighbors and entertained children. But when police began closing in, the façade cracked, revealing one of the most horrific crime scenes in history.In this conclusion, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels follow investigators as they uncover Gacy’s terrifying secrets: 33 victims buried in his
SERIAL KILLER: John Wayne Gacy Pt. 1
Before he became one of America’s most notorious serial killers, John Wayne Gacy was a respected businessman, community volunteer, and beloved party clown in suburban Chicago. But behind the makeup of “Pogo the Clown” hid a deeply disturbed man shaped by abuse, trauma, and rage.In this first episode, host Vanessa Richardson and criminal psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels trace Gacy’s early life — fro
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