American Criminal
American Criminal is a true crime history podcast that explores the dark side of the American dream. Host Jeremy Schwartz delves into the minds of notorious felons and outlaws, from brothers who killed their parents to crypto kings who stole billions. The podcast covers assassins, gangsters, killers, and con artists, revealing the full story behind each case. Listeners can access early, ad-free episodes on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or AmericanCriminal.com.
Episodes
William 'Boss' Tweed | New York's Forty Thieves | 1
Growing up in a New York City where pigs roamed the unpaved streets, Bill Tweed didn't have much reason to pay attention to the world of politics. But as he got older and wiser, he sized up the world, and realized that there was a surefire way to make money, and that was to win an election. And he was willing to do whatever it took to do just that. His determination would one day see him sitting a
Case File | Destroying Richard Jewell
Eric Rudolph's horrific crimes affected a lot of people. More than 100 people were injured in his bombings, and two people lost their lives. And there was one man whose entire existence shifted on the night of the Atlanta Olympics bombing: Richard Jewell.
Listen to all 5 episodes of 'Domestic Terror: The Hunt for Eric Rudolph' wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free access to t
American Criminal Season 25: William 'Boss' Tweed
In the 19th century, the great American experiment was still in its infancy. Not only was the political landscape still forming, but everyday voters didn’t have the time or means to pay attention to everything that happened in the halls of power. That left the door wide open for rampant corruption and outright theft. And no one did that like New York’s William ‘Boss’ Tweed.
In this season of Amer
Killer Cowboy: The Legend of Claude Dallas
In 1981, game wardens Bill Pogue and Conley Elms stopped by the Nevada campsite of Claude Dallas, a self-proclaimed "mountain man" who was living off the land. Just minutes after they arrived, though, both Bill and Conley were dead by Claude's hand. So was Claude acting in self-defense? Or was he a cold-blooded killer?
Listen to all 5 episodes of 'Domestic Terror: The Hunt for Eric Rudolph' whe
Case File | Deep Cover | The Family Man
Elise and Marissa grew up in a seemingly normal house in the suburbs of St. Louis, but it was a house built on secrets. There were things their father never told them—like how he really made his money. One night, the police showed up with questions. Hours later, the sisters turned on the TV and saw something surreal: their father in the middle of a police chase. The local news identified him as a
Domestic Terror: The Hunt for Eric Rudolph | One Final Bomb | 5
After making it through his first couple of years alone in the woods, Eric Rudolph decided that he wasn't done building bombs. So he picked his target and set out to reassert his anti-abortion message. But once again, things wouldn't go entirely to plan.
Listen to all 5 episodes of 'Domestic Terror: The Hunt for Eric Rudolph' wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free access to th
Domestic Terror: The Hunt for Eric Rudolph | Run Rudolph Run | 4
Following his latest bombing of an abortion clinic, Eric Rudolph was on the back foot – running scared. He believed in the righteousness of his actions, but he didn’t want to be punished for them. Luckily for him, he’d spent years planning for exactly this scenario. So, with no other option, Eric fled into the woods of North Carolina, kickstarting a years-long manhunt in the Appalachians.
Liste
Domestic Terror: The Hunt for Eric Rudolph | The Army of God and the New World Order | 3
Like some of his comrades in the fight against abortion in America, Eric Rudolph claimed membership in the Army of God, a mysterious, structureless underground group with one clear organizing principle: violence against abortion providers was justified and righteous. Looking at his heroes from within the movement, Eric was disappointed to have not claimed more lives in the war, so in 1998, he plan
Domestic Terror: The Hunt for Eric Rudolph | The Bombing of Atlanta | 2
Fed up with what he sees as the crumbling of Western civilization, and inspired by anti-abortion activists who've killed doctors, Eric Rudolph set out to send a message to America -- and the world. His target? The 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. His actions would have severe consequences for more than a hundred people, including security guard Richard Jewell.
Listen to all 5 episodes of 'Domestic T
Domestic Terror: The Hunt for Eric Rudolph | King of the Mountain | 1
In 1996, a bomb exploded at a free concert celebrating the Atlanta Olympics. The explosion killed one woman and injured over a hundred people. In the aftermath, no one stepped forward to take credit for the Atlanta Olympics bombing, leaving the entire world to wonder just who could attack such a joyous event? The answer was Eric Rudolph, and his reign of terror was just getting started.
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American Criminal Season 24 - Domestic Terror: The Hunt for Eric Rudolph
On July 27th, 1996, the Atlanta Olympic Games were in full swing when a bomb exploded in the middle of a crowded park. When the dust settled, two people were dead and over a hundred were injured. As investigators scrambled for answers, they had no idea that this campaign of terror was just beginning.
On this season of American Criminal: The making of a homegrown terrorist. How a twisted stew of
Nancy Motes: The Dance Mom Kidnapper
In December 2016, Nancy Motes carried out a bizarre kidnapping plot in her daughter’s name, seemingly desperate to get revenge on the Texas community and art form that had wronged her.
To listen to all five episodes of 'The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
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The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes | Final Dynasty | 5
With her husband gone, and his millions vanished, Sante Kimes was determined to get her hands on money in any way she could. Her devious schemes led to three calculated, cold-blooded murders.
To listen to all five episodes of 'The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
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American Criminal: Mother's Day Special
This Mother’s Day on American Criminal: kidnapping, people trafficking, slavery, murder – we’re going all in on the mothers who’d stop at nothing to get what they wanted.
Don’t miss the latest season The Social Climber Killer | Sante Kimes plus a special Mother's Day episode on Nancy Motes: The Dance Mom Kidnapper.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free access to the
The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes | No Witnesses | 4
After her imprisonment for slavery, Sante Kimes is determined not to go back to jail. And she’s only too happy to get her hands a little bloody to keep her freedom.
To listen to all five episodes of 'The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
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The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes | Involuntary Servitude | 3
With her husband’s millions, Sante Kimes could easily afford to hire staff to run her household. But spending money was out of the question if Sante could get something for free – even if that meant she had to enslave a few people.
To listen to all five episodes of 'The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at Americ
The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes | The Art of Being Rich | 2
With her first husband in the rearview mirror, Sante Kimes set out to find herself a man who was truly worthy of her. And in Sante’s mind, there was only one qualification for that position: money, and lots of it.
To listen to all five episodes of 'The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes | Fire and Vice | 1
By the end of her life, Sante Kimes had a reputation as one of the most devious defendants judges on both coasts had ever seen. But before that, she was a little girl who learned some very important lessons from her parents.
To listen to all five episodes of 'The Social Climber Killer: Sante Kimes' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCrimin
Case File | Jeffrey MacDonald -- Innocent or Guilty?
One of the most litigated murder cases in American history played out in the courts for over 50 years, and there are still plenty of unanswered questions about exactly what happened the night Jeffrey MacDonald's family were brutally murdered. Chief among them: did investigators get it right, or is an innocent person behind bars?
To listen to all three episodes of 'The Murder of Carol Stuart' r
The Racial Hoax Murders and the Killer of Killers
The murder of Carol Stuart is far from the only violent crime an individual has tried to blame on "a Black guy." Sadly, it's a surprisingly common occurrence. This is the story of the horrific murders of Barbara Anderson by her husband Jesse Anderson, and of Michael and Alex Smith by their mother Susan Smith. Both killers sent their communities on a wild goose chase, looking for young Black men. B
The Murder of Carol Stuart | The Body in the Water | 3
With the investigation into the murder of Carol Stuart in full swing, all of Boston is talking about it. The city's leaders say this is the tragic but inevitable result of the crack cocaine epidemic that has swept across the nation, and police are using the crime as an excuse to target young Black men for random searches. But there are a few people who start to suspect that Chuck Stuart's story is
The Murder of Carol Stuart | The Proposition | 2
By the summer of 1989, Charles Stuart had decided to kill his wife. But he didn't think he could pull it off alone. So he started asking around, trying to find someone willing to help him. And if he couldn't recruit a willing accomplice, he was just going to have to trick someone.
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The Murder of Carol Stuart | The Perfect Couple | 1
On October 23rd, 1989, Charles and Carol Stuart were abducted and robbed in their own car. Before he escaped, their attacker shot each of the Stuarts, leaving Carol fatally wounded and Charles desperately calling for help. The incident outraged Boston, and saw the local police mobilized to hunt down the killer. There was just one problem: it was all a lie.
To listen to all three episodes of 'Th
Case File | Machine Gun Kelly and the Woolverton Kidnapping
In January 1932, Howard Woolverton and his wife were run off the road by some thugs, who grabbed Howard and drove away. They held him for ransom in a plot that captured the nation's attention. But just who was behind the scheme has never been conclusively proven. Erik Rivenes speaks with author Kevin Meredith about the kidnapping, and why the world thinks Machine Gun Kelly is the one to blame.
T
American Criminal Season 22: The Murder of Carol Stuart
Robbery gone wrong, or cold-blooded murder?
In fall of 1989, Charles and Carol Stuart were expecting their first child. It was the happiest time of their lives. But on the night of October 23rd, they’d just left a birthing class when they were attacked by a man with a gun. Miraculously, Charles survived the encounter, but Carol wasn’t so lucky. And in the aftermath of that horrific crime, Bost
Machine Gun Kelly | The Other Urschel
In the early 1930s, there was more going on in America than the Great Depression and a spate of kidnappings. We're joined by author and acclaimed journalist Joe Urschel to discuss the evolution of law enforcement, the impact of media reporting on the Machine Gun Kelly case, and the eternal need to prove your father wrong.
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The Kansas City Massacre and the Birth of the FBI
In June, 1933, a crime that would shock that nation was committed outside a train station in broad daylight. No one saw the Kansas City Massacre coming, and as the nascent FBI scrambled to deal with the fallout, they were shaping their own legacy, as well as the future of crime-fighting in America.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Machine Gun Kelly' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple P
Machine Gun Kelly | Manhunt | 4
With the entire country watching, J Edgar Hoover's Bureau of Investigation turns their efforts to hunting down the infamous Machine Gun Kelly and his wife, Kathryn.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Machine Gun Kelly' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
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Machine Gun Kelly | The Kidnapping of Charles Urschel | 3
George "Machine Gun" Kelly and his partner in crime, Albert Bates, pull off a flawless abduction of one of the richest men in Oklahoma. But their victim, Charles Urschel, has a superpower that's going to ruin everything.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Machine Gun Kelly' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
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Machine Gun Kelly | The American Kidnapping Epidemic | 2
After his first botched kidnapping attempt, George "Machine Gun" Kelly goes back to what's familiar: robbing banks. But as the Great Depression ravages the economy, it's getting harder and harder to get a good haul, so George and his wife start plotting what will become one of the most famous kidnappings in American history.
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Machine Gun Kelly | Straight Outta Leavenworth | 1
Growing up in Memphis, George Kelly Barnes starts dabbling in crime from a young age. First he blackmails his father, then he grows a successful bootlegging business for himself. But how did this small-time crook earn one of the most famous names in criminal history? And why don't we talk about his most famous crime?
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The Great McDonald's Monopoly Heist | The Man Behind McMillions
Until 2020, the world had mostly forgotten all about the McDonald's Monopoly scandal that rocked the country. But like so many modern true crime stories, this one was revived thanks to a simple post on Reddit. We chat with James Lee Hernandez, co-director of the McMillions documentary series, about freedom of information requests, late night interviews, and getting the FBI on board.
To listen to
American Criminal Season 21: Machine Gun Kelly
In the 1930s, America was in the midst of an epidemic that no one could stop. But it wasn’t an illness we were up against, it was a crime: kidnapping. Every year, thousands of people were abducted and held for ransom while law enforcement struggled to deal with the massive problem. Watching all this go down was a small-time bootlegger turned bank robber: George “Machine Gun” Kelly. And he wanted i
Case File | Cautionary Tales | Pepsi's Deadly Number Shuffle
Cautionary Tales is the podcast that explores history's biggest missteps,and asks what we can learn from them. Whether it's a botched crime, a film flop, or a catastrophic plane crash, there is always a lesson. Each episode brings together storytelling, social-science analysis, and carefully crafted soundscapes.
In "Number Fever: How Pepsi Nearly Went Pop", host Tim Harford explores the fallout f
The Great McDonald's Monopoly Heist | Go Directly to Jail | 3
In 2001, the FBI receive an anonymous tip that the McDonald's Monopoly promotions have been rigged for years, and they set out to investigate. But what seems like a joke case at first soon turns deadly serious. And just when the story breaks, history happens, and a fast food competition doesn't seem so important anymore.
To listen to all three episodes of 'The Great McDonald's Monopoly Heist' r
The Great McDonald's Monopoly Heist | The Two Jerrys | 2
After finding a way to steal the highest value prize tokens for the McDonald's Monopoly games, Jerry Jacobson had a problem: he needed people who could claim the prizes and then give him a cut. He didn't have the network to pull off a scheme like that. But he soon found people who did: the Mafia.
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The Great McDonald's Monopoly Heist | A Man on the Inside | 1
In 1987, McDonald's joined forces with another American icon for a marketing scheme. The McDonald's Monopoly promotion was so popular that the company decided to bring it back again and again, watching their sales spike every time. What they didn't know was that one man on the inside was rigging the game so that no one would ever win the big prizes -- for years.
To listen to all three episodes o
Case File | American Scandal | The Ice Pick Surgeon
Medical professionals are some of the most trusted people in our society. And for good reason. They dedicate their lives to helping others. Every now and again, you get a bad egg like Genene Jones, who seeks to hurt her patients, too. And then there are the more complicated cases. Walter Jackson wanted to help people. He really did. But his way of doing that was the transorbital lobotomy -- a proc
American Criminal Season 20: The Great McDonald's Monopoly Heist
In the late-1980s, McDonald’s teamed up with another icon of American capitalism: the game of Monopoly. Together, the two brands launched one of the most successful and popular marketing campaigns of the 20th century. Certain McDonald’s products came with themed game pieces that customers could collect and assemble to win prizes, including a million dollars.
But there was just one problem: th
Killer Nurse: Genene Jones | Do No Harm | 4
After being chased from Bexar County Hospital, killer nurse Genene Jones heads to Kerrville to work in a new pediatric clinic. And despite how close she came to being caught for her crimes already, she refuses to stop murdering the children in her care -- until enough people finally notice what she's doing.
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Killer Nurse: Genene Jones | Angel of Death | 3
At Bexar County Hospital, Genene Jones' colleagues started to notice that a worrying number of children were dying while she looked after them. It got so bad that people started calling Genene's regular shift 'The Death Shift.' But hospital bureaucracy made investigating Genene's crimes a logistical nightmare, and punishing her for them was next to impossible.
To listen to all four episodes of
Killer Nurse: Genene Jones | The Nurse Who Cried Wolf | 2
After a lifetime of making up dramatic stories about herself to get the attention she loved, Genene Jones found a career where she could surround herself with life and death drama, and people would thank her for it. But she soon realized that being the nurse who looked after sick and dying babies wasn't good enough. She needed to engineer emergencies to bring more eyes to her. And if some of the c
Killer Nurse: Genene Jones | A Calling | 1
Genene Jones grew up in a loving family, but always felt overlooked by everyone around her. Then, when her brother died in a horrific accident, she found that tragedy brought her exactly what she'd always craved: attention.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Killer Nurse: Genene Jones' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
Halloween Horrors | Crime and Coffee Couple: The Liske Griffin Halloween Murders
Love a cozy yet dark vibe? Join Allison and Mike, a witty, married duo with over 20 years of banter under their belts, for Crime and Coffee Couple—your weekly true crime fix. On Sunday, October 31, 2010, 16-year-old Devon Griffin returned to his family’s home in Martin, Ohio & encountered what he initially thought was a Halloween prank, but proved to be the stuff of nightmares. Find Crime and Coff
Halloween Horrors | The Real Amityville Horror | 3
In November, 1974, six members of the DeFeo family were found murdered in their beds in Amityville, New York. The truth behind the shocking crime rocked the small community, and would go on to inspire one of the most iconic horror film franchises of all time. But just how haunted is the Amityville Horror house?
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Halloween Horrors | The Candyman Killer | 2
In 1974, one shocking crime changed the way Americans think about trick or treating forever when Ronal O'Bryan's son Timothy died after eating poisoned Halloween candy.
To listen to all three episodes of 'Halloween Horrors' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
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Halloween Horrors | The Trick or Treat Murder | 1
On Halloween night, 1957, Peter Fabiano is gunned down by one final trick-or-treater. Or so it seems.
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Rope, Hitchcock, and Murder on Screen
Jeremy sits down to chat with Christie Vela and Michael Federico from "Terror and Tacos" to talk about Alfred Hitchcock's 1948 thriller, "Rope." The film shocked audiences with its on-screen depiction of murder, and examined the Leopold and Loeb case in a fresh new light.
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Leopold and Loeb | Cry for Blood | 4
Following their brutal murder of Bobby Franks, Leopold and Loeb were facing imminent arrest, and when investigators put the screws to them, the teenage killers had to face just how badly they'd messed things up. Suddenly, all of Chicago was screaming for their heads. But the arrival of lawyer Clarence Darrow looked set to change the trajectory of this crime of the century.
To listen to all four
American Criminal Season 18: Halloween Horrors
This Halloween, American Criminal is bringing you three tales of real crimes with a spooky twist. A masked trick or treat slayer, a real-life killer Candyman, and a house so haunted it caused the brutal murders of an entire family.
Don’t miss the latest season of American Criminal – Halloween Horrors, beginning October 2nd.
Listen wherever you get your podcasts, or to get early, ad-free acc
Leopold and Loeb | This Cruel and Vicious Murder | 3
In May, 1924, Leopold and Loeb set out to commit their carefully planned "perfect crime." First they had to choose a victim, then kidnap and kill him, hide his body, and collect a substantial ransom. They were certain they could pull it off, but nothing went quite accordingly to plan, leaving the teenage killers dangerously close to being found out.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Leopold an
Leopold and Loeb | Nothing but the Night | 2
Once they're reunited in Michigan, Leopold and Loeb carried on their downward spiral into criminality. Their schemes got progressively more daring until the little things wouldn't do anymore. Now they wanted to carry out the perfect crime. And that crime would start with murder.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Leopold and Loeb' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or
A Conversation with Jeremy Schwartz
A frank conversation with our host Jeremy Schwartz about his favorite cases we've covered, his career as an actor on and off the stage, and what he's listening to when he's not behind the mic.
Thank you for being a listener. Please be sure to rate, review, and follow American Criminal wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe in Apple, Spotify, or at americancriminal.com
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Leopold and Loeb | The Prodigies | 1
Growing up in Chicago, Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb both seemed destined for greatness. They each performed well in school, and advanced to university long before their peers. But once they met at college, Leopold and Loeb began a dance that would lead them to one of the most infamous crimes of the 20th century: the murder of Bobby Franks.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Leopold and Loeb'
Kill Your Darlings
In this special bonus episode, we're bringing you pieces of our favorite stories that didn't make it to the final episodes.
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Clarence Darrow: Lawyer of the Century
Ahead of our next series on Leopold and Loeb, Lindsay Graham (American Scandal, American History Tellers, & History Daily) joins the show to talk about a key figure in the Leopold and Loeb story, and one of the 20th century's most famous trial lawyers: Clarence Darrow.
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A Menendez Brothers Parole Update
There have been a lot of developments in the Menendez case since our last update. Recently, Lyle and Erik Menendez appeared before the parole board for the first time. Here's everything you need to know about what happened.
Thank you for being a listener. Please be sure to rate, review, and follow American Criminal wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribe in Apple, Spotify, or at americancrimi
American Criminal Season 17: Leopold and Loeb
This season on American Criminal we’re taking you inside the minds of the killers who committed one of the most infamous crimes of the 20th century: Leopold and Loeb.
In 1924, two teenagers abducted and murdered Bobby Franks in broad daylight because they were convinced they could get away with it. But what made them think that? Why were they obsessed with committing the perfect crime? And how di
Lucas, Toole, and the Murder of Adam Walsh | Bring Out Your Dead | 4
With their confessions piling up, Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole earn infamy as two of history’s most prolific serial killers. But while not everything about their stories add up, some refuse to believe they’ve been conned.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Lucas, Toole, and the Murder of Adam Walsh' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal
Lucas, Toole, and the Murder of Adam Walsh | Death and Texas | 3
After abandoning Ottis Toole once again, Henry Lee Lucas finds himself in Texas. There he commits a pair of horrifying murders that will open a Pandora’s Box of trouble for law enforcement around the country.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Lucas, Toole, and the Murder of Adam Walsh' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
Lucas, Toole, and the Murder of Adam Walsh | The Head in the Canal | 2
When Ottis Toole meets Henry Lee Lucas outside of a homeless shelter in Florida, he’s overjoyed to have found a soulmate. But when one friend abandons the other, it leads to a crime that changes America.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Lucas, Toole, and the Murder of Adam Walsh' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
We'd
Lucas, Toole, and the Murder of Adam Walsh | Fledgling Criminals | 1
Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole are two of history’s most prolific serial killers. Or they’re liars who aren’t to be trusted. Either way, they’ve both got red in their ledger – all stemming from their twisted beginnings.
To listen to all four episodes of 'Lucas, Toole, and the Murder of Adam Walsh' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
Case File | The Cult Next Door
Mattie Lasiter and Ashleigh Teeter's father led a doomsday cult in Arkansas. Now they're sharing their stories and educating others about how to recognize a cult when you see one -- even from the inside.
To listen to all four episodes of 'NXIVM' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCriminal.com
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American Criminal Season 16: Lucas, Toole, and the Murder of Adam Walsh
On July 27, 1981, six-year-old Adam Walsh was kidnapped from a Sears parking lot in Florida. Just days later his remains were found in a drainage canal over 100 miles away. The case captivated America, and started a national conversation about how to respond to cases of missing children. But investigators had no leads and the case eventually went cold. Then, in 1983, drifter Ottis Toole confesses
NXIVM | The Mighty Fall | 4
When Keith Raniere felt the women in his cult slipping out of his control, he came up with a way to keep them under his thumb. The secret group known as Dominus Obsequius Sororium, or DOS, was designed to turn women into his literal sex slaves. But it would also be his undoing.
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NXIVM | Sex, Lies, and Billionaires | 3
As Keith Raniere's company hits its stride, he lures billionaire heiresses and hollywood actresses into the fold. But not everyone is content to stay under his thumb, and when people speak out against him, Keith goes scorched earth.
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NXIVM | Laying the Foundation | 2
By the turn of the century, Keith Raniere had launched a new company that would not only bring him vast sums of money, it would also give him access to vulnerable people in search of ways to improve themselves. They’d willingly share their deepest secrets, their insecurities, and Keith would use that insight to control them all.
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NXIVM | Growing Up with Keith Raniere | 1
In 2017, a little-known consulting firm called NXIVM became the center of an international scandal. One day, no one had heard of the group at all. The next, people were calling it a cult. But this wasn’t your typical religious fringe group. Then again, a little digging definitely made things sound more cult-like: there were accusations of a secret society, psychological manipulation, imprisonment,
Case File | God Hook: The Ohio Craigslist Killings
Obviously, most of us don’t use the internet as a search engine for murder. But there are bad apples in every bunch.
Richard Beasley was one of those bad apples. When he decided he wanted to kill people, he sought the desperate, the lonely, and the forgotten. And thanks to modern technology, there was one place he could go to cast as wide a net as possible: Craigslist.
On her show, The God Hook,
To Kill A Cheerleader | How to Hire a Hitman in Channelview, Texas | 3
After her daughter Shanna was disqualified from the cheerleading tryouts, Wanda Holloway was seeing red. In her mind, there were two people responsible for Shanna not being a cheerleader: Verna Heath and her daughter Amber. And there was only one thing she could do. Both of them had to go, so it was time for Wanda to find a hitman.
To listen to all three episodes of 'To Kill A Cheerleader' right
American Criminal Season 15: NXIVM
In 2017, a little-known consulting firm called NXIVM became the center of an international scandal. One day, no one had heard of the group at all. The next, people were calling it a cult. There were accusations of a secret society, psychological manipulation, imprisonment, occult sexual abuse. Then there was the group’s founder, Keith Raniere – a self-styled genius whose followers worshipped him a
To Kill A Cheerleader | A Girl's Best Friend is Her Mother | 2
As Wanda Holloway married, divorced, and remarried, one thing in her life remained constant: her obsession with making her daughter a cheerleader. But when it came time for tryouts, Wanda discovered that the path to glory would be rockier than she expected.
To listen to all three episodes of 'To Kill a Cheerleader' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or at AmericanCrim
To Kill A Cheerleader | God, Glory, and Glamor | 1
It was a case that made headlines around the world: Texas mother hires hitman to kill her neighbor -- over cheerleading. But how did it get to that point? What was it that drove Wanda Holloway to believe that killing the mother of her daughter's rival would get her what she wanted?
To listen to all three episodes of 'To Kill A Cheerleader' right now and ad-free, subscribe in Apple Podcasts, Spo
Case File | Eyewitness History: Bill Ayers
It's hard to remember that we're all living through history every day, and that some of the people who lived through the turbulent periods we learn about through books and podcasts are still alive to tell the story. Now that you've heard about the Weather Underground, listen to the tale from one of its founding members. This is an interview with Bill Ayers from Parthenon Podcast Network's 'Eyewitn
American Criminal Season 14: To Kill A Cheerleader
In 1991, a small Texas town just outside of Houston was shocked to discover just how far one mother was determined to go to ensure her child’s success. When Wanda Holloway’s teenage daughter failed to make the cheerleading team, she became obsessed with the girl she felt stood in the way. In her mind, this other girl and her mother were cheats, and suck-ups. That meant they had to go.
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The Weather Underground | Extinguished | 4
With their numbers dwindling, the remaining members of the Weather Underground took stock of what they had left. The Vietnam War was still raging, and America felt no closer to all-out revolution than it did when the Weathermen first came together. But they weren't giving up the fight -- not yet. In fact, they doubled down by targeting some of the most iconic landmarks at the heart of American pow
The Weather Underground | Smolder | 3
In the aftermath of the devastating explosion in New York that killed three of their comrades, the members of the Weather Underground scattered. Suddenly, everyone was terrified that the authorities would escalate their efforts to find them, and they'd never get the chance to ignite their revolution.
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The Weather Underground | Inferno | 2
In their first major act since forming, the Weathermen gathered in Chicago for several days of planned protests and brawls with the police. The hope is that their actions will be the spark that ignites the flames of revolution. But when their Days of Rage don't go exactly to plan, the group is forced to rethink its entire philosophy, and transforms into the Weather Underground.
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Introducing: Unsolved Histories
The Unsolved Histories podcast team was pleased to get a phone call letting them know a U.S. senator not only listened to Season 1, but wanted to address a problem raised by their recounting of the tragic story of Flight 293. Military men and women who go missing, but not in action, are not remembered or memorialized and the families left without the support that is given to other MIA families. If
The Weather Underground | Starting the Fire | 1
On March 6th, 1970, a bomb went off in the basement of a four-story townhouse in Greenwich Village, New York. As the smoke cleared, it became clear that this wasn't a gas leak. And it wasn't even an intentional act of terror. It was an accidental one caused by the left-wing anti-war group: The Weathermen.
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