Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of real criminal cases, including details that may be disturbing to some listeners.
This week’s Side Bar dives into the 'Lost Boys'
ABOUT :
In recent years, experts have started warning about a troubling new trend often called the rise of the “lost boys” — a growing wave of younger and younger males becoming involved in violent crimes, especially gun-related homicides. While overall crime has dropped in many places, the rate of adolescent violence has surged, with some cities reporting dramatic spikes in teenage offenders. Researchers link this shift to a mix of pandemic-era trauma, lack of support systems, easy access to weapons, and a deep sense of social disconnection. It’s sparking a national conversation about how we’re failing young men, what’s fueling this crisis, and what it will take to keep the next generation from getting lost.
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WELCOME TO SIDE BAR — a spirited spinoff of Criminal Appeal, where host Dr. Casey Jordan and co-host Dr. Colleen Butler-Sweet take their conversations from the courtroom to the cocktail bar. In these quick, 15-minute episodes, the co-hosts unwind over drinks, sharing candid takes on justice, behavior, and the stories that didn’t make it into the main show.
🗓️Release Schedule : Side Bar episodes drop biweekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
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Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of real criminal cases, including details that may be disturbing to some listeners.
This week’s Side Bar dives into the Phenomenon of Hybristophilia
ABOUT :
Hybristophilia is a psychological phenomenon in which someone experiences attraction to another person who has committed violent or criminal acts. Often referred to as “Bonnie and Clyde Syndrome,” it can appear in mild forms—such as fascination with dangerous individuals—or more extreme forms where people actively pursue relationships with offenders, including those in prison. This attraction is usually tied to deeper psychological needs, like a desire to “save” or “fix” someone, a fascination with power, or the thrill of danger from a safe distance. While often sensationalized in true crime media, hybristophilia is complex and rooted in emotional, relational, and sometimes trauma-related dynamics.
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WELCOME TO SIDE BAR — a spirited spinoff of Criminal Appeal, where host Dr. Casey Jordan and co-host Dr. Colleen Butler-Sweet take their conversations from the courtroom to the cocktail bar. In these quick, 15-minute episodes, the co-hosts unwind over drinks, sharing candid takes on justice, behavior, and the stories that didn’t make it into the main show.
🗓️Release Schedule : Side Bar episodes drop biweekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
🔔 Next Side Bar Episode released on Thursday 12/11/25🔔 Subscribe for More True Crime
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This episode enjoyed Prisoner Wine
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⚠️ SENSITIVITY WARNING: Listener discretion is advised — this episode includes details that may be disturbing to some audiences.
In part 1 we dive into the disturbing and complex case of Kendall Francois — one of New York’s most notorious serial offenders.
What makes this episode different is the firsthand perspective: Dr. Casey Jordan personally worked with Kendall during his time in custody, giving us an inside look at his personality, behavior, and the unsettling dynamics behind the crimes.
We also feature rare archival clips from The Leeza Gibbons Show, where Casey shares her real experiences and professional insights from the time she spent interviewing Kendall. These firsthand accounts help paint a fuller, more nuanced picture of who he was — far beyond what headlines captured.
🔔 Next episode drops December 9th... Talking about Hybristophilia
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⚠️ SENSITIVITY WARNING: Listener discretion is advised — this episode includes details that may be disturbing to some audiences.
Welcome to Part 2 of our breakdown of the Kendall Francois case.In Part 1, we uncovered how Francois fit the profile of a power-control killer—someone driven by dominance and manipulation rather than impulse.
In this episode, Dr. Casey Jordan continues sharing her firsthand experience working directly with Francois, offering deeper insight into his behavior, the investigation, and how the case ultimately came together.
🔔 Next episode drops December 9th... Talking about Hybristophilia
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Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of real criminal cases, including details that may be disturbing to some listeners.
This week’s Side Bar dives into The Menendez brothers case
ABOUT THE CASE:
The Menendez brothers case involves the 1989 shotgun murders of wealthy Beverly Hills parents, José and Kitty Menendez, by their sons, Lyle and Erik. While the prosecution argued the motive was greed for the family's $14 million estate, the defense countered that the killings were an act of self-defense resulting from years of severe physical and sexual abuse by their father. After a high-profile first trial resulted in hung juries, the brothers were convicted of first-degree murder in a second trial in 1996 and sentenced to consecutive life terms. Recent resentencing, acknowledging they were youthful offenders, has made both brothers eligible for parole, reigniting debate over the role of child abuse in the case.
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WELCOME TO SIDE BAR — a spirited spinoff of Criminal Appeal, where host Dr. Casey Jordan and co-host Dr. Colleen Butler-Sweet take their conversations from the courtroom to the cocktail bar. In these quick, 15-minute episodes, the co-hosts unwind over drinks, sharing candid takes on justice, behavior, and the stories that didn’t make it into the main show.
🗓️Release Schedule : Side Bar episodes drop biweekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
🔔 Next Side Bar Episode released on Tuesday 12/09/25
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Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of real criminal cases, including details that may be disturbing to some listeners.
This week’s Side Bar dives into the case of the Idaho Murderer, Bryan Kohberger.
ABOUT THE CASE:
Bryan Kohberger, a former criminology PhD student, pleaded guilty in July 2025 to the brutal 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students — Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. Investigators linked him to the crime through DNA evidence found on a knife sheath at the scene and a discarded Q-tip from his parents’ trash. Despite extensive digital forensics (cell tower pings, surveillance footage) and his attempts to clean his car and apartment, the motive for the killings remains unclear. As part of a plea deal, he avoided the death penalty and was sentenced to four consecutive life terms without parole, plus 10 years for burglary.
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WELCOME TO SIDE BAR — a spirited spinoff of Criminal Appeal, where host Dr. Casey Jordan and co-host Dr. Colleen Butler-Sweet take their conversations from the courtroom to the cocktail bar. In these quick, 15-minute episodes, the co-hosts unwind over drinks, sharing candid takes on justice, behavior, and the stories that didn’t make it into the main show.
🗓️Release Schedule : Side Bar episodes drop biweekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
🔔 Next Side Bar Episode released on Thursday 11/27/25
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This episode enjoyed with Velvet Llama
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⚠️ SENSITIVITY WARNING: Listener discretion is advised — this episode includes details that may be disturbing to some audiences.
Part 2 of our deep dive into the Linda Bigazzi case continues as we uncover more details behind this shocking story.
In this episode, we explore new evidence and dive deeper into the investigation. Hear exclusive insights from Linda’s criminal defense attorney, and catch more clips from Dr. Casey Jordan’s one-on-one interview with Linda that reveal perspectives you haven’t heard before.
🔔 Next episode drops November 25th... Talking Bryan Kohberger
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⚠️ SENSITIVITY WARNING: Listener discretion is advised — this episode includes details that may be disturbing to some audiences.
In Part 1, we take a deep dive into the chilling case of Linda Bigazzi — the Connecticut professor accused of murdering her husband, Dr. Pierluigi Bigazzi.
We explore the twists and unanswered questions surrounding the investigation, featuring exclusive clips from Dr. Casey Jordan’s one-on-one interview with Linda herself. Plus, Linda’s criminal defense attorney joins the conversation to share new insight and context from inside the case.
🔥 Watch Part 2 !
In Part 2 we dive further into Linda's story and are joined by Linda's Criminal Defense Attorney, Patrick Tomasiewicz.
🔔 Part 2 available to listen
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Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of real criminal cases, including details that may be disturbing to some listeners.
This week’s Side Bar dives into the Netflix Documentary everyone is talking about - Unknown Caller | The High School Catfish.
ABOUT THE CASE:
Unknown Number: The High School Catfish follows Michigan teen Lauryn Licari and her boyfriend Owen McKenny, who are relentlessly harassed by an anonymous texter in 2020. The messages escalate from cruel to threatening, drawing in friends, family, and law enforcement. Shockingly, the harasser turns out to be someone very close to the victims, leaving the community questioning trust, manipulation, and the dangers of digital deception._______________________________
WELCOME TO SIDE BAR — a spirited spinoff of Criminal Appeal, where host Dr. Casey Jordan and co-host Dr. Colleen Butler-Sweet take their conversations from the courtroom to the cocktail bar. In these quick, 15-minute episodes, the co-hosts unwind over drinks, sharing candid takes on justice, behavior, and the stories that didn’t make it into the main show.
🗓️Release Schedule : Side Bar episodes drop biweekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.
🔔 Next Side Bar Episode released on Tuesday 11/25/25
🔔 Subscribe for More True Crime _________________________________
This episode enjoyed with Stosh's Classic Kettle Corn & Downeast Cider
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Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of real criminal cases, including details that may be disturbing to some listeners.This week’s Side Bar dives into the Karen Read trial, as the hosts break down the latest developments and debate the questions everyone’s asking. ABOUT THE CASE:In January 2022, her boyfriend, Boston police officer John O’Keefe, was found dead in the snow outside a fellow officer’s house in Canton, Massachusetts. Prosecutors accused Read of striking O’Keefe with her SUV after a night of drinking, then leaving him to die. Her defense team countered that she was framed in a law-enforcement cover-up — claiming O’Keefe was assaulted inside the home and that Read had dropped him off safely. The first trial ended in a mistrial due to a hung jury. In June 2025, Read was acquitted of the most serious charges (murder, manslaughter and leaving the scene) but was found guilty of operating under the influence (OUI), receiving probation rather than prison._______________________________WELCOME TO SIDE BAR — a spirited spinoff of Criminal Appeal, where host Dr. Casey Jordan and co-host Dr. Colleen Butler-Sweet take their conversations from the courtroom to the cocktail bar. In these quick, 15-minute episodes, the co-hosts unwind over drinks, sharing candid takes on justice, behavior, and the stories that didn’t make it into the main show.🗓️Release Schedule : Side Bar episodes drop biweekly on Tuesdays and Thursdays.🔔 Next Side Bar Episode released on Thursday 11/13/25🔔 Subscribe for More True Crime _________________________________This episode is brought to you by Litchfield Distillery — “The Spirit of Hard Work.” Based in Litchfield, Connecticut, Litchfield Distillery is known for its handcrafted, small-batch spirits made with locally sourced ingredients. From award-winning bourbons to refreshing ready-to-drink cocktails, every bottle reflects a dedication to quality and craftsmanship.Find Litchfield Distillery products at litchfielddistillery.com or visit their tasting room in Litchfield, CT to experience their full lineup in person.__________________________________Listen on your audio platforms :
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⚠️ SENSITIVITY WARNING: This episode discusses severe topics including the murder of a child, psychopathy, and premeditated violence within a family. Listener discretion is strongly advised.
In Part 2 of our deep dive into the Paris Bennett case, we shift the focus to Laura, the mother at the center of this complex story. Featuring exclusive clips from The Family I Had' documentary, this episode explores her perspective on the crime, her ongoing relationship with Paris, and how she’s sought understanding and accountability in the years since.
❓ANSWER THIS❓ After watching both parts, do you believe Paris’s actions were driven by pure intent—or something deeper, like mental illness or family dynamics?
🔔 Next episode drops November 18th ... Talking Linda Bigazzi
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⚠️ SENSITIVITY WARNING: This episode discusses severe topics including the murder of a child, psychopathy, and premeditated violence within a family. Listener discretion is strongly advised.
In this Part 1 deep dive into one of the most disturbing cases of juvenile homicide, we analyze the chilling psychology of a boy who murdered his younger sister, Ella, at the age of 13. What drove him to such a heinous act against his own family? Was it just a desire to cause pain to his mother, Charity?
This episode features analysis of the crime and includes exclusive, unsettling clips from the notorious Piers Morgan 'Psychopath' interview where Paris reveals his unsettling lack of remorse and chilling mindset.
🔥 Watch Part 2 !
Part 2 will cover the aftermath, the mother's painful struggle, and feature clips from the emotional documentary "The Family I Had."
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NEW EPISODE EVERY WEEK ! Criminal Appeal is a bold new true crime podcast hosted by Criminologist and Attorney Dr. Casey Jordan and Professor Dr. Colleen Butler-Sweet. Unlike other true crime shows, Criminal Appeal goes beyond retelling stories—it brings decades of real-world expertise directly to the mic. Dr. Jordan, a renowned criminologist and legal analyst with more than 3,000 media appearances on CNN, HLN, and Investigation Discovery, shares firsthand insights drawn from her work as a criminologist, attorney, investigative profiler, researcher, and consultant. Together with Dr. Butler-Sweet, they tackle both high-profile and lesser-known cases with sharp analysis, behind-the-scenes knowledge, and thought-provoking conversation. The result is a podcast that bridges academia, law, and lived experience—giving listeners not just the story, but the deeper truth about crime and justice.
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