Crimes and Consequences

In EP267, we examine the deeply unsettling case of Cary Stayner, the Yosemite Killer. On the surface, Cary seemed quiet--reserved, even overlooked. But behind that silence was a storm of inner torment, obsession, and darkness. What makes his story even more chilling is the irony: Cary Stayner, was the brother of Steven Stayner (who we discussed in EP266), a national hero who survived a childhood...

At just seven years old, Steven Stayner was kidnapped by a predator who would hold him captive for seven long years--years in which the world moved on, but Steven was forced to grow up in the shadows of a stolen identity. His eventual escape and heroic rescue of another young boy made national headlines and turned him into a symbol of courage. But what happens after the cameras fade? Behind the...

The manhunt was massive. The victims were piling up. And yet, for years, Andrei Chikatilo continued to slip through the cracks of the Soviet justice system. In Part 2 of this Early Release series, we follow the chilling escalation of The Red Ripper’s crimes—his increasingly brazen attacks, the wrongful arrests, and the sheer horror of a killer who seemed unstoppable.But justice would eventually...

He seemed a mild-mannered teacher, a family man... and he was one of the most prolific serial killers in history. Dubbed The Red Ripper, Andrei Chikatilo terrorized the Soviet Union for over a decade, preying on society’s most vulnerable while hiding in plain sight. In a system riddled with secrecy and denial, his crimes went unchecked—leaving a trail of horror that spanned over 50 victims.

In 1931, William and Julia Wallace had what seemed to be the perfect life. The couple had been married for over 16 years and resided in Liverpool. This perfect life, however, came to a screeching halt when Julia Wallace had her skull smashed in with a blunt object on the night of January 20, 1931, in the Wallace family home. This heinous crime led investigators in England on quite the journey,...

Grant Amato was drowning in a world of fantasy—obsessed with a Bulgarian cam girl and willing to do anything to keep the illusion alive. When his family tried to intervene, they had no idea the depths of his desperation. In January 2019, their once-loving son and brother repaid their concern with cold-blooded murder.In this Early Release episode, available exclusively to our Apple and Patreon...

If you grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, the idea of supermodels strutting on the runway in sleek, sophisticated, and sometimes whimsical outfits is woven into the fabric of international culture. However, it wasn’t always that way. High-profile design icon Giovanni (Gianni) Versace gets much credit for that runway revolution. Sadly, his legacy and last moments are inextricably intertwined....

In 1997, Christina Marie Riggs, a single mother from Arkansas, made a decision that would shock the nation. Struggling with depression and financial hardship, she convinced herself that there was only one way out—for her and her children. What followed was an unspeakable tragedy that left her two innocent children dead and a community searching for answers.In this Early Release episode, available...

Ricky “Coolie” Gray, his nephew, Ray “Lucky” Dandridge, and Ashley Baskerville (Ricky’s girlfriend) were cruising the streets of Richmond in Ricky’s van during the mid-morning of January 1, 2006 "looking for a house to rob" when they ended up in the middle-class neighborhood of Woodland Heights. By the time they were caught, 7 people were dead, and one was beaten so badly, he'd never use his...

A small Pennsylvania town was forever changed on Halloween night in 1992 when 11-year-old Shauna Howe vanished while walking home from a Girl Scout event. Days later, her body was found beneath a railroad bridge, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Oil City. The investigation spanned more than a decade, filled with dead ends, false leads, and unanswered questions—until the...