In August 2018, the disappearance of Shanann Watts and her two young daughters captured the attention of the world. What began as a missing‑persons case in a quiet Colorado suburb quickly unraveled into one of the most shocking family tragedies in recent history.
Content Warning:
This episode contains detailed discussion of homicide, child harm, and emotionally distressing material. Listener discretion is strongly advised.
References:
In the winter of 1987, in the quiet rural stretch of Pope County, Arkansas, a man named Ronald Gene Simmons committed one of the most devastating crimes in American history. Over the course of three days, he murdered sixteen people, fourteen of them his own family.
It was a crime so calculated, so intimate, and so incomprehensible that even today, decades later, investigators, psychologists, and surviving relatives still struggle with the same question: Why?
Content Warning: This episodes discusses murder of children, gun violence and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.
References:
In February 2000, the quiet town of Aberdeen, New South Wales, became the centre of one of Australia’s most shocking criminal cases. Katherine Knight , a former abattoir worker with a long history of violence in her relationships , murdered her partner, 44‑year‑old John Price, stabbing him at least 37 times during a final escalation of domestic conflict.
What followed stunned even seasoned investigators: Knight mutilated Price after his death, actions that would ultimately make her the first woman in Australian history to receive a life sentence with no possibility of parole.
Content Warning:
This episode contains descriptions of extreme domestic violence, psychological abuse, and graphic criminal acts. Please take care of yourself, and feel free to step away at any time.
References:
Between 2002 and 2004, three young women vanished from the streets of Cleveland, Ohio. Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus, each taken while walking alone, each disappearing without a trace. For over a decade, their families searched, their communities mourned, and their names became symbols of unanswered questions.
The man responsible was Ariel Castro, a school bus driver who lived at 2207 Seymour Avenue in Cleveland’s Tremont neighbourhood. Behind the doors of his seemingly ordinary home, he concealed a nightmare. For years, Castro held Michelle, Amanda, and Gina captive, subjecting them to unimaginable suffering.
This unfortunately had to be uploaded due to audio issues.
I hope you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving with your loved ones.
It's a day typically associated with family, gratitude, and coming together. But tragically, for one particular family in Jupiter, Florida, a Thanksgiving gathering back in 2009 turned into an absolute nightmare.
Paul Michael Merhige, a man invited to share in the holiday meal, instead unleashed unimaginable violence. By the end of the night, four family members were dead, including his six-year-old cousin Makayla, and his pregnant sister Lisa.
Content Warning:
This episode details murder and suicide. Listener discretion is advised.
References:
Hotel owners receive $100,000 reward for turning in Thanksgiving Day murder suspect
South Florida News: Thanksgiving Killer's Parents Sued By Former Son-In-Law
Parents Cleared on Son's Thanksgiving Murders
CNN News: Man admits murdering 4 relatives on Thanksgiving, gets life in prison
Mortal Musings Podcast: Paul Michael Merhige & The Thanksgiving Murders
Burden of Proof Podcast: Paul Michael Merhige, The Unwelcome Guest
In August 2002, the quiet, safe town of Soham, England, turned into ground zero for a national tragedy. Best friends Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman, both ten years old, vanished while walking home from a barbecue in their matching football shirts. What followed was a massive search operation, fueled by desperate hope and gut-wrenching appeals.
Content Warning:
This episode discusses the kidnapping and murder of two children, Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman. We will be covering sensitive topics including child homicide, psychological trauma, and sexual predation. Listener discretion is strongly advised, especially for younger or sensitive listeners. Please take care while listening.
References:
Today, we're going to delve into one of the most chilling cases of transnational child sexual abuse ever uncovered in the UK, the case of Richard Huckle.
Huckle presented himself as a caring, friendly, and dedicated teacher, moving freely between the UK and Southeast Asia. Yet, behind this carefully constructed facade was a prolific and calculated predator who used his position and the internet to commit unspeakable crimes against vulnerable children.
Content Warning:
I must issue a very strong content warning. The content of this episode deals explicitly with themes of child sexual abuse, exploitation, and abuse material.
On June 2nd, 2018, students at the Oregon Culinary Institute walked into class expecting to see their instructor, Chef Dan Brophy, ready to greet them. Instead, they found him lying on the kitchen floor, shot dead. What began as a shocking tragedy quickly unraveled into one of the most bizarre true crime cases in recent memory.
Nurse Lucy Letby was convicted as Britain's most prolific child serial killer, sentenced to two whole-life orders for the murders and attempted murders of infants in her care. But the verdict was just the beginning.
Content Warning
This episode discusses severe topics including the murder and attempted murder of vulnerable infants. Listener discretion is strongly advised, especially for those sensitive to content concerning child loss or medical trauma.
References
The American family tragedy started in 1972 with a kidnapping that shocked the nation. For seven years, the Stayners lived a nightmare until Steven Stayner returned home a hero. But that same trauma consumed his older brother, Cary Stayner, who felt profoundly neglected in the shadow of the media spotlight.
In this episode of Criminal, Interrupted, we trace the devastating connection between a child's rescue and a serial killer's rise. From the manipulation of Kenneth Parnell to the brutal, calculated murders of Carole Sund, Juli Sund, Silvina Pelosso, and Joie Armstrong.
Content Warning:
This episode details murder, sexual descriptions and child abduction. Listener discretion is advised.
References:
In the 1990s, neighbourhoods were playgrounds, and the front door was rarely locked. But in Jacksonville, Florida, in 1998, that innocence was violently murdered.
When eight-year-old Maddie Clifton vanished after going to play, a frantic search began, completely unaware that the answer, and the killer, was right across the street.
This is the story of Joshua Phillips, the seemingly normal 14-year-old neighbour who concealed Maddie's body under his waterbed for six days.
Content Warning:
This episode contains descriptions of the murder of a child. Listener discretion is strongly advised.
References:
In 1989, Lyle and Erik Menendez killed their wealthy parents in a Beverly Hills mansion, shocking the world with their immediate, lavish post-murder spending. Was it the cold-blooded pursuit of a multi-million dollar inheritance, or the desperate final act of self-defense against years of unimaginable familial abuse?
Content Warning:
This episode discusses sexual abuse, child abuse, and murder. Listener discretion is advised.
References:
Wikipedia: Lyle and Erik Menendez
CBS News: Inside the story of the notorious Menendez brothers case
Biography Host: Kitty Menendez | Biography
People News: Who Were the Menendez Brothers’ Parents? Inside the Lives of José and Kitty Menendez Before Their 1989 Murders
Britannica: Menendez brothers
Court TV Podcast: Murder & The Menendez Brothers
The Casual Criminalist: Innocent or Guilty?
Ian Watkins was once the celebrated frontman of Lostprophets, a band that sold millions of records and commanded stages around the world. But behind the fame was a predator whose crimes shocked even seasoned investigators.
In this episode, we trace Watkins’ rise to stardom, his descent into drug abuse and manipulation, and the police investigation that uncovered some of the most disturbing offences in modern British criminal history. We also examine the role of his accomplices, the devastating impact on survivors, and the aftermath of his sentencing and death in prison.
Content Warning:
This episode discusses child sexual abuse, exploitation, and systemic negligence. Please listen with care, and take breaks if you need to. If this subject matter feels overwhelming, it may be best to skip this episode.
References:
Wikipedia - Ian Watkins (Lostprophets singer)
Sentencing Remarks - THE QUEEN - v - IAN WATKINS AND B AND P
Mathrubhumi.com - Paedophilia, pornography, sex crimes: Inside the monstrous life and death of Lostprophets singer Ian Watkins
Emma Kenny Podcast - Dark Secrets of Rock: Ian Watkins and the Fall of Lostprophets
Wikipedia -COPINE Scale
Richard Chase was an American serial killer, cannibal and necrophile who killed six people in Sacramento, California, between December 1977 and January 1978. Chase became known as ‘The Vampire of Sacramento,’ a name born from the horror of his crimes.
Content Warning:
This episode contains descriptions of extreme violence, including murder, sexual assault, and crimes involving children and animals. These details are deeply disturbing, and while I will avoid sensationalism, the facts themselves are difficult to hear. Please take care of yourself while listening, and step away if you need to. The victims deserve to be remembered, but your wellbeing matters too.
Wikipedia - Richard Chase
Crime Museum -
“Dracula Killer” murders four people
Criminal Minds Wiki - Richard Chase
True Lives Youtube - Richard Chase: The Vampire Of Sacramento (Born To Kill) | Our Life
Explore With Us Youtube - He Hunted His Victims Down To Turn Them Into Smoothies: The Dark Case of Richard Chase
When a Florida man won $30 million, he thought it would bring freedom. Instead, it brought lawsuits, manipulation, and betrayal. This episode traces how Abraham Shakespeare’s generosity made him a target , and how the woman who promised to protect him became the one who silenced him.
References:
Wikipedia – Murder of Abraham Shakespeare
Murderpedia – Dorice “Dee Dee” Moore
Tampa Bay Times archives
The Cinemaholic – “Where is Dee Dee Moore Now?”
When police searched Ed Gein’s farmhouse in 1957, they uncovered a scene that defied belief. This episode documents the crimes, the investigation, and the media frenzy that followed.
Content Warning: Contains graphic descriptions of crime scene evidence, including human remains and postmortem mutilation. Please listen with care.
References:
Edward Theodore Gein - "American Psycho" - https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/psyc%20405/serial%20killers/gein,%20ed.pdf
Harold Schechter, Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein
The Cinemaholic – “How Ed Gein Was Caught”
MSN News – “The Ed Gein Story: The Truth About the Notorious Serial Killer’s Gruesome Mask”
Professor Graeme Yorston - Ed Gein - The Mind of a Monster | True Crime Documentary
Judith Barsi lit up screens in the 1980s, but her life at home was marked by terror. In this episode, we explore the heartbreaking reality behind her success: the domestic violence that shaped her final years, the warning signs that were missed, and the legacy she left behind.
References:
Los Angeles Times, July 1988 coverage of Judith Barsi’s death and career
Kaleena Fraga, “Inside Judith Barsi’s Tragic Death At The Hands Of Her Own Father,” All That’s Interesting, 2022
Maddie Garfinkle, “How Did Judith Barsi Die?” People, 2024
Jennifer Tisdale, “Why Did Judith Barsi’s Father Kill Her?” Distractify, 2024
Wikipedia: Judith Barsi
Eleanor Neale - The Tragic Murder of Child Star Judith Barsi
In November 2010, what looked like a violent home invasion in Markham, Ontario, was revealed to be something far darker: a murder‑for‑hire plot orchestrated by Jennifer Pan against her own parents.
References:
Karen K. Ho, “Jennifer Pan’s Revenge,” Toronto Life (2015)
Canadian Lawyer, “SCC upholds decision to overturn first-degree murder conviction for Jennifer Pan” (2025)
Wikipedia, “Murder of Bich Pan”
A&E True Crime, “Why Did Jennifer Pan Orchestrate a Plot to Murder Her Parents?” (2025)
Harper’s Bazaar Australia, “True Story of What Jennifer Did: What Did Jennifer Pan Do?” (2024)
Netflix Documentary: What Jennifer Did
JCS Criminal Psychology Youtube: Jennifers Solution
On September 8th, 2025, LAPD discovered the body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez in a Tesla registered to singer D4vd. She had been missing for over a year.
In this episode, we break down the facts released so far, from the timeline of her disappearance to the ongoing investigation.
Content Warning:
This episode contains discussion of death and violence involving a minor. Listener discretion is advised.
References:
The Nightly – Celeste Rivas Hernandez: Family of teen found dead in singer D4vd’s Tesla breaks silence
News18 – Singer David Burke, Aka D4vd, Cooperating With Cops After Teen Girl’s Dead Body Was Found In His Tesla
ABC News – Body found in towed Tesla registered to singer D4vd identified as 15-year-old girl
E! News / MSN – D4vd Case: Family of 15-Year-Old Girl Found Dead in Tesla Speaks Out
Al Jazeera – Who was Celeste Rivas, the missing teen found dead in singer D4vd’s Tesla?
Madeline Soto was reported missing in February 2024. What followed was a devastating investigation that revealed years of abuse hidden in plain sight. This video honours her memory, outlines the facts of the case, and calls for greater awareness and accountability.
Content Warning: This video discusses the disappearance and murder of 13-year-old Madeline Soto, including references to murder and child abuse. Viewer discretion is advised.
References:
ClickOrlando – Full Timeline of the Madeline Soto Case
People Magazine – What Happened to Madeline Soto
Law&Crime – Stephan Sterns’ Arrest and Charges
Wikipedia – Murder of Madeline Soto
ThatChapter - The Disturbing Case of Madeline Soto