Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words
Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words is a podcast that strips away sensational headlines and lets the people at the heart of true crime stories speak for themselves. From survivors and families to investigators, journalists, and insiders, these are raw, unfiltered conversations that rarely make it into mainstream coverage. Hosted by Justin Shepherd, a creator and advocate with millions of followers across platforms, Unheard brings a new dimension to true crime by centering voices that are often overlooked. Each episode offers an intimate, human perspective on cases that shocked communities, shaped public opinion, or exposed flaws in our justice system. This isn’t about sensationalism—it’s about listening and giving people the chance to reclaim their narrative.
Episodes
His Fraternity Put a Backpack on Him Instead of Calling for Help | Gary DeVercelly Jr.
Gary DeVercelly Jr. was 18 years old with his entire future mapped out.He was smart, driven, an athlete, and the kind of kid his parents trusted to make good decisions. When fraternities at Rider University began recruiting him, Gary saw something that could help his future: leadership, connections, and a network that might open doors after college.His parents asked him about hazing, Gary
The Death of Jason Abarca Doesn’t Make Sense
Jason Abarca was 19 years old when he disappeared in December 2023 after a series of events that ended with him running into the woods near Winchester, Virginia.Months later, his remains were found.But for Jason’s parents, Jennifer and Benito Soto, finding their son did not bring the answers they had desperately been searching for. Instead, it left them with even more questions about what
BONUS EPISODE: Seven Men Accused. No Criminal Charges. The Cornell Case and Fraternity Culture | Dan Catullo
Seven men have been accused in a civil lawsuit of sexually assaulting a young woman at Cornell University’s Chi Phi fraternity house. Nearly two years later, questions remain about what happened that night and how the university responded.For this bonus episode of Unheard, I’m sharing a conversation from my YouTube live with my friend Dan Catullo, an Emmy Award winning filmmaker whose wor
Beatrice Keul: Donald Trump, Jeffrey Epstein & The Story She Waited 30 Years to Tell
Content warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual assault and other potentially disturbing subjects.Former Miss Switzerland and international model Beatrice Keul sits down with Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words for an extensive conversation about events she says began more than three decades ago and ultimately connected her story to Donald Trump and Jeffrey Epstein.Keul rec
When Prosecutors Break the Rules: Who Holds Them Accountable? | Iris Eytan
Who holds the prosecutor accountable?Prosecutors are some of the most powerful people in our criminal justice system. They decide what charges to bring, what plea deals to offer and what evidence to put before a jury. But what happens when a prosecutor breaks the rules — or when the pursuit of a conviction comes at the expense of a defendant's constitutional rights?On this episode of UNHE
My Nonverbal Son Was Being Abused and Couldn't Tell Me | Jessica Vestal
When Jessica Vestal's son Dax started coming home with bruises and injuries, she knew something wasn't right.The problem was that Dax is nonverbal. He couldn't tell her what was happening.What Jessica eventually uncovered led to criminal charges, national attention, and difficult questions about how vulnerable children are protected when they can't speak for themselves.In this episode of
He Killed His Abuser and Went to Prison | David Garlock
At 17 years old, David Garlock and his brother killed the man they say subjected them to years of sexual, physical, and emotional abuse.The crime led to murder convictions and decades-long prison sentences. David ultimately spent more than 13 years behind bars before being released on parole.Today, he is a criminal justice reform advocate, speaker, and survivor who openly discusses what h
The Missing Person Case That Makes No Sense: Bryan Vladek Hasel
On November 6, 2021, 22-year-old Vladek Hasel walked away from a coffee shop near the University of Central Florida and seemingly vanished.More than four years later, his family is still searching for answers.In this episode, I sit down with Vladek's sister, Bethany Hasel, to discuss the day her brother disappeared, the investigation that followed, the theories surrounding his case, and w
Mark Geragos on Diddy, the Menendez Brothers & Defending America's Most Controversial Clients
Mark Geragos has spent more than three decades at the center of some of the most high-profile and controversial legal battles in America.From Michael Jackson, Chris Brown, Winona Ryder, and Scott Peterson to Erik and Lyle Menendez, Geragos has represented clients whose names dominated headlines around the world. Most recently, he served as an advisor to Sean "Diddy" Combs' defense team du
George Floyd’s Uncle on Justice, Rage, and What Changed America
On May 25, 2020, the world watched as George Floyd’s final moments sparked one of the largest social justice movements in modern history. Six years later, on the anniversary of his death, Unheard sits down with the man who has spent years carrying both the grief and the responsibility of keeping George’s name alive: his uncle, Selwyn Jones.In this deeply personal and emotional conversatio
What If Everything You Know About Charles Manson Is Wrong?
This isn't just another Charles Manson episode....For decades, the name Charles Manson has been synonymous with evil. The media painted him as a master manipulator, a cult leader capable of controlling minds, and the face of one of the most infamous murder cases in American history.But what if the story the public was told was never the full story?In this episode of Unheard: True Crime In
The Legal Analyst Millions Watch: Jesse Weber on True Crime, Trials, and Media
This week on Unheard: True Crime In Their Own Words, I sit down with Jesse Weber, attorney, legal analyst, host, and one of the most recognized voices in true crime and courtroom coverage today.Known for his work with Law&Crime, CourtTV, NewsNation, national television appearances, and extensive coverage of high profile criminal trials, Jesse joins me for an in depth conversation abou
The DNA Solving “Unsolvable” Cases (Including Kohberger) | Othram Labs
There are cases that sit for years, sometimes decades, with no answers. No suspect, no clear direction, and no path forward.But that’s starting to change.In this episode, Justin sits down with Dr. Kristen Mittelman, Chief Development Officer at Othram Labs, to break down how advanced DNA technology is being used to solve cases that were once considered unsolvable.Othram specializes in wor
The Cases We Get Wrong | Allison Weiner on True Crime, Media, and Missteps
There’s the version of a case you see… and then there’s what’s actually happening while it’s unfolding.In this episode, I’m joined by Allison Weiner, an investigative journalist who’s spent years covering high-profile cases in real time, not after the fact, not cleaned up for a documentary, but as they’re happening.We get into cases like Holly Bobo case and Amy Harwick case, but this isn’
Columbine: Rachel Scott’s Father Speaks — The Truth About What Happened After
The Columbine High School shooting changed everything, but what came after is a story most people don’t fully understand.In this episode of Unheard: True Crime In Their Own Words, Darrell Scott, the father of Rachel Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School shooting, shares what happened after that day, how his family coped with unimaginable loss, and how Rachel’s story became
All Bark, No Bite? The Reality Behind Dog the Bounty Hunter
What does it actually look like to chase fugitives for a living… and then have your life turned into a television show?In this episode, I sit down with Justin Bihag, someone who didn’t just appear on Dog the Bounty Hunter… he lived it.We get into what most people never saw. Not the edited version. Not the dramatized version. The reality of what it took to track people down, what those app
She Was Trafficked as a Baby… and Lived 50 Years Without Knowing Her Name | E. Monique Smith
In this episode of Unheard, I sit down with E. Monique Smith, a woman whose story almost defies belief.As a baby, she was taken from her biological family and raised by people who were not who they claimed to be. She grew up without knowing her real name, her real identity, or where she came from. For decades, she lived without documentation, without answers, and while enduring severe abu
Diddy, Power, and Silence: What Relentless Aaron Says He Witnessed
In this episode, our guest isn’t just telling stories about the music industry, he lived through some of its darkest moments.Dewitt Gilmore, who is better known as Relentless Aaron, joins Unheard for a raw, unfiltered conversation about his personal experiences inside the world surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs, and what he says really went on behind the scenes.From his early days trying to
Alissa Turney: They Called Her a Runaway. Her Sister Changed Everything
In 2001, Alissa Turney went missing from her home in Phoenix, Arizona. Her disappearance was quickly labeled a runaway case, and for years, it received little attention from law enforcement.But her sister, Sarah Turney, refused to let Alissa’s case disappear.In this episode, Sarah Turney shares the full story behind the disappearance of Alissa Turney, including the early failures in the i
They Left Him Alone to Die: The Fraternity Hazing Death of Adam Oakes
This episode tells the heartbreaking story of Adam Oakes, a 19-year-old Virginia Commonwealth University student who died during a fraternity hazing ritual.Adam was excited about college. He was outgoing, compassionate, and the kind of person people naturally gravitated toward. But like so many freshmen, he also wanted to belong. That desire to fit in led him to accept an invitation to at
Joe Exotic Speaks From Prison About Tiger King and His Conviction
In this episode, Justin sits down with Joe Exotic to talk about life before and after the Tiger King phenomenon, the legal battles that landed him in prison, and why he continues to insist he was wrongly convicted. Joe discusses the conspiracy-to-commit-murder case that put him behind bars, the role he believes perjury and unreliable testimony played in the trial, and why he argues the ju
Jennifer Wix and Adriana Robinson: A Disappearance Without Answers
In 2004, Jennifer Wix and her 2-year-old daughter Adriana Robinson disappeared from Tennessee. They were never seen again. The last person to see them alive was Jennifer’s boyfriend, who told police that she left voluntarily. That explanation shaped the investigation from the very beginning and influenced how the case was handled for years.Over time, serious questions began to emerge. Jen
He Prosecuted a Serial Killer—What He Says the System Hides
Most people will never come face-to-face with a serial killer.Jarrett Ferentino has.Before becoming a nationally recognized legal analyst, Jarrett was a homicide prosecutor who helped build cases against some of the most dangerous criminals in America, including serial killer Hugo Selenski, who hid bodies on his own property while living in plain sight.In this episode of Unheard, Jarrett
They Lost Sonya Massey—Now They’re Demanding Answers
On July 6, 2024, Sonya Massey did what millions of Americans are told to do when they feel unsafe. She called 911 for help. She was alone in her home in Springfield, Illinois, and believed someone might be outside. Two sheriff’s deputies responded. Less than an hour later, Sonya was dead, shot inside her own kitchen by Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson. The body camera footage
Ashleigh Banfield on What Really Happens Behind True Crime Coverage
In this episode of Unheard, Justin sits down with legendary journalist Ashleigh Banfield for an honest conversation about truth, trauma, and the media machine that shapes how the world sees tragedy.Ashleigh reflects on her journey from small-town newsrooms to the center of history, including being in New York on 9/11, running for her life when the towers collapsed, and continuing to repor
A Former Cop Turned Criminal—The Story Behind a Real Bank Heist
He used to be a police officer who believed in the system. He wore a badge, took an oath, and built a career around enforcing the law. Years later, he was on the other side of it, charged in a bank heist that cost him his freedom and permanently altered the trajectory of his life.In this episode of Unheard, I sit down with Gary Sahlin to talk about how that transformation happened. Not in
Elizabeth Smart: The Part of Her Story Most People Miss
In this deeply moving episode of Unheard, survivor and advocate Elizabeth Smart shares her experience of surviving kidnapping and navigating the long, complex journey of healing after trauma. Elizabeth opens up about how the legal system can retraumatize survivors, why forgiveness is deeply personal, and what recovery really looks like beyond the headlines.This conversation explores traum
Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words — Official Trailer Hosted by Justin Shepherd
Unheard: True Crime in Their Own Words is a groundbreaking true-crime podcast that hands the microphone back to those who were silenced. Hosted by investigative storyteller Justin Shepherd, Unheard goes beyond headlines and court transcripts to reveal raw, firsthand accounts from victims, survivors, and voices long overlooked by the justice system.This trailer offers a
