Between 1989 and 1992, hunters, fishermen, joggers, and outdoorsmen across rural Ohio were stalked by a killer hiding in plain sight. A single rifle shot from the treeline… and another man was dead. At first, these deaths looked like tragic accidents — until investigators realized the pattern was intentional.
This two-part series uncovers the true story of Thomas Lee Dillon, the suburban family man who became one of America’s most unpredictable serial killers.
Associated Press. “Ohio Sniper Thomas Dillon Confesses to 5 Killings.” AP News, 1993, https://apnews.com.
The Cincinnati Enquirer. “Sniper in the Woods: The Crimes of Thomas Dillon.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, https://www.cincinnati.com.
The Columbus Dispatch. “Inside the Mind of Serial Sniper Tom Dillon.” The Columbus Dispatch, https://www.dispatch.com.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Serial Murder Symposium Materials: Behavioral Science Unit References to Thomas Lee Dillon.” FBI Vault, https://vault.fbi.gov.
Hiller, Joanne. Sniper Killer: The True Story of Thomas Dillon. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
Kohn, David. “A Sniper’s Mind.” CBS News, 23 Oct. 2002, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-snipers-mind/.
Leyton, Elliott. Hunting Humans: The Rise of the Modern Multiple Murderer. McClelland & Stewart, 1986.
Ohio Attorney General’s Office. “Thomas Lee Dillon Case Records.” Ohio Attorney General, https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov.
Rosencrance, Linda. Blind Fury: The Shocking True Story of Serial Killer Thomas Lee Dillon. Kensington Publishing, 2005.
United States District Court. United States v. Dillon, Federal Firearms Violations Case. PACER, https://pacer.uscourts.gov.
Between 1989 and 1992, hunters, fishermen, joggers, and outdoorsmen across rural Ohio were stalked by a killer hiding in plain sight. A single rifle shot from the treeline… and another man was dead. At first, these deaths looked like tragic accidents — until investigators realized the pattern was intentional.
This two-part series uncovers the true story of Thomas Lee Dillon, the suburban family man who became one of America’s most unpredictable serial killers.
Associated Press. “Ohio Sniper Thomas Dillon Confesses to 5 Killings.” AP News, 1993, https://apnews.com.
The Cincinnati Enquirer. “Sniper in the Woods: The Crimes of Thomas Dillon.” The Cincinnati Enquirer, https://www.cincinnati.com.
The Columbus Dispatch. “Inside the Mind of Serial Sniper Tom Dillon.” The Columbus Dispatch, https://www.dispatch.com.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. “Serial Murder Symposium Materials: Behavioral Science Unit References to Thomas Lee Dillon.” FBI Vault, https://vault.fbi.gov.
Hiller, Joanne. Sniper Killer: The True Story of Thomas Dillon. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2016.
Kohn, David. “A Sniper’s Mind.” CBS News, 23 Oct. 2002, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/a-snipers-mind/.
Leyton, Elliott. Hunting Humans: The Rise of the Modern Multiple Murderer. McClelland & Stewart, 1986.
Ohio Attorney General’s Office. “Thomas Lee Dillon Case Records.” Ohio Attorney General, https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov.
Rosencrance, Linda. Blind Fury: The Shocking True Story of Serial Killer Thomas Lee Dillon. Kensington Publishing, 2005.
United States District Court. United States v. Dillon, Federal Firearms Violations Case. PACER, https://pacer.uscourts.gov.
Between 1982 and 1998, dozens of young women vanished from the streets of King County, Washington. Their disappearances weren’t random — they were the work of a quiet, unremarkable man named Gary Leon Ridgway, a truck-painter who blended into the suburbs so well that even those closest to him never suspected the truth.
In this episode, we break down the real Green River investigation:
the victims who fought to survive, the families who demanded answers, the detectives who spent decades chasing a ghost, and the shocking 2001 breakthrough that finally revealed the identity of the most prolific serial killer in American history.
Using court records, FBI behavioral files, and verified timelines, we walk through Ridgway’s methods, his motives, his confessions, and the massive task of identifying his victims — one that continues to this day.
This is the story of the Green River Killer.
Sources
https://kingcounty.gov/en/dept/sheriff/courts-jails-legal-system/sheriff-services/investigations/green-river 
https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gary-Ridgway 
https://serialkillersinfo.com/serial-killer-documents/gary-ridgway-green-river-killer-summary-of-the-evidence-document/ 
https://www.historylink.org/File/4262 
https://www.biography.com/crime/gary-ridgway-green-river-killer-timeline 
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/shss_facarticles/224/ 
The Cleveland Strangler: Anthony Sowell
In this episode, Three Voices One Crime uncovers the chilling story of Anthony Sowell — a convicted serial killer whose crimes went unnoticed for years on the east side of Cleveland. Between 2007 and 2009, women vanished from the neighborhood surrounding Sowell’s Imperial Avenue home, while police missed multiple opportunities to intervene. When the truth finally emerged, authorities discovered nearly a dozen bodies hidden inside the house, revealing one of the most devastating investigative failures in Ohio history.
This episode explores Sowell’s early life, the escalation of his violence, the systemic breakdowns that allowed him to continue killing, the survivors who tried to warn police, and the intense community outrage that followed. Through timelines, public records, and contemporary reporting, we reconstruct the investigation from the first signs of danger to Sowell’s conviction and death.
Source list
Keteyian, A. (2010, November 10). Missed opportunities in Sowell case. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/missed-opportunities-in-sowell-case/
Palmer, E. (2010, November 9). Police negligence in Cleveland blamed for serial killing spree. Courthouse News Service. https://www.courthousenews.com/police-negligence-in-clevelandblamed-for-serial-killing-spree/
Stern, H. (2011, July 7). Gruesome photos shown at trial of Anthony Sowell. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/gruesome-photos-shown-at-trial-of-anthony-sowell-2011-07-07/
Sberna, R. (2012). House of horrors: The shocking true story of Anthony Sowell, the Cleveland Strangler. Kent State University Press.
Supreme Court of Ohio. (2020). State v. Sowell, Case No. 2020-0798. https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/pdf_viewer/pdf_viewer.aspx?pdf=887730.pdf
WOIO Staff. (2009). Cleveland Strangler investigation timeline. Cleveland 19 News. https://www.cleveland19.com/story/11440896/cleveland-strangler-investigation-timeline/
The Cleveland Strangler: Anthony Sowell
In this episode, Three Voices One Crime uncovers the chilling story of Anthony Sowell — a convicted serial killer whose crimes went unnoticed for years on the east side of Cleveland. Between 2007 and 2009, women vanished from the neighborhood surrounding Sowell’s Imperial Avenue home, while police missed multiple opportunities to intervene. When the truth finally emerged, authorities discovered nearly a dozen bodies hidden inside the house, revealing one of the most devastating investigative failures in Ohio history.
This episode explores Sowell’s early life, the escalation of his violence, the systemic breakdowns that allowed him to continue killing, the survivors who tried to warn police, and the intense community outrage that followed. Through timelines, public records, and contemporary reporting, we reconstruct the investigation from the first signs of danger to Sowell’s conviction and death.
Source list
Keteyian, A. (2010, November 10). Missed opportunities in Sowell case. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/missed-opportunities-in-sowell-case/
Palmer, E. (2010, November 9). Police negligence in Cleveland blamed for serial killing spree. Courthouse News Service. https://www.courthousenews.com/police-negligence-in-clevelandblamed-for-serial-killing-spree/
Stern, H. (2011, July 7). Gruesome photos shown at trial of Anthony Sowell. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/world/us/gruesome-photos-shown-at-trial-of-anthony-sowell-2011-07-07/
Sberna, R. (2012). House of horrors: The shocking true story of Anthony Sowell, the Cleveland Strangler. Kent State University Press.
Supreme Court of Ohio. (2020). State v. Sowell, Case No. 2020-0798. https://www.supremecourt.ohio.gov/pdf_viewer/pdf_viewer.aspx?pdf=887730.pdf
WOIO Staff. (2009). Cleveland Strangler investigation timeline. Cleveland 19 News. https://www.cleveland19.com/story/11440896/cleveland-strangler-investigation-timeline/
In August 1975, 14-year-old Christie Lynn Mullins walked behind the Graceland Shopping Center in Columbus, Ohio—and never returned. Hours later, she was found murdered in a wooded patch just steps from dozens of shoppers. What followed became one of Ohio’s most troubling investigations: a rushed arrest, a coerced confession, and decades of unanswered questions. Nearly forty years later, a family secret finally exposed the real killer. This episode uncovers the missteps, the hidden truth, and how a cold case was finally closed after generations of silence.
10TV News. (2015, November 20). Christie Mullins cold case closes 40 years later; murder suspect ID’d. WBNS-10TV. https://www.10tv.com/
People Magazine – Keil, J. (2023, September 23). Man confessed to teen’s 1975 murder, but niece held his secret for decades. People. https://people.com/
The Columbus Dispatch – Ferenchik, M. (2023). Archival reporting on the Christie Mullins homicide investigation. The Columbus Dispatch. https://dispatch.com/
The Lantern – Baird, M. (2025). The Christie Mullins murder case: 50 years later. The Lantern (Ohio State University). https://www.thelantern.com/
Arlingtonian – Staff Report. (2011). Who was Christie Mullins? Arlingtonian News. https://arlingtonian.com/
The Ant Hill Kids were one of the most disturbing cults in North American history. Deep in rural Canada, a self-proclaimed prophet named Roch Thériault—who called himself “Moses”—built a secluded commune where he controlled every part of his followers’ lives. What started as a doomsday religious group quickly became a violent dictatorship involving starvation, torture, forced “surgeries,” and horrific abuse carried out under the guise of divine punishment.
In this episode, we explore Thériault’s rise, how he isolated and manipulated young followers, the brutal crimes committed inside the commune, the deaths caused by his sadistic rituals, and the survivor whose escape finally brought him down. This is the shocking, real story of The Ant Hill Kids—where faith turned deadly.
CITED SOURCES:
• Hill, T. The Ant Hill Kids: The Courage of Gabrielle Lavallée. ECW Press, 1993.
• CBC News. The Fifth Estate – “Savage Messiah: The Ant Hill Kids”. CBC Television, 1994.
• O’Hara, M. “Inside the Ant Hill Kids Cult.” Toronto Star, Investigative Report, 1989.
• Radio-Canada. “Les Enfants de Moïse” – Survivor Interviews with Gabrielle Lavallée, Radio-Canada, 1990.
• R. v. Thériault, Quebec Superior Court, 1993 (Sentencing & Evidence Summary).
• Correctional Service Canada. “Case File: Roch ‘Moses’ Thériault,” Death Record, 2011.
• Welner, M. “The Mind of a Cult Leader: Roch Thériault.” Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology, Vol. 10, No. 3, 1999.
Ted Bundy is often remembered as the charming law-student type, but behind that clean-cut mask was one of the most calculated predators of the 1970s. In this episode, we break down his early life, the manipulative methods he used to lure victims, his cross-country murders, the jail escapes, the Chi Omega attack, and the final moments leading to his 1989 execution. A look at the real Bundy — without the myth, without the glamor.
Sources
The Stranger Beside Me by Ann Rule
Conversations With a Killer by Stephen G. Michaud & Hugh Aynesworth
The Deliberate Stranger by Richard W. Larsen
Netflix — Conversations With a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes
Seattle Times archival reports (1974–1978)
Tallahassee Democrat — Chi Omega coverage (1978)
Utah & Florida court records and official case files
Ted Bundy is often remembered as the charming law-student type, but behind that clean-cut mask was one of the most calculated predators of the 1970s. In this episode, we break down his early life, the manipulative methods he used to lure victims, his cross-country murders, the jail escapes, the Chi Omega attack, and the final moments leading to his 1989 execution. A look at the real Bundy — without the myth, without the glamor.
Sources
In the quiet suburbs of Long Island, an unassuming man drove a pickup truck that hid a horrifying secret. Joel Rifkin, once a landscaper and neighbor, became one of America’s most notorious serial killers, responsible for the deaths of nineteen women. How did a seemingly ordinary man carry out such chilling crimes in plain sight? In this episode, we trace Rifkin’s life from his troubled upbringing to his calculated murders, explore the methods he used to evade capture, and uncover the shocking investigation that finally brought him to justice. Join us as we dive deep into the mind of a predator and the dark corners of suburban America.
Sources for Joel Rifkin Episode
1. Mladinich, Robert. From the Mouth of the Monster: The Joel Rifkin Story. Pocket Books, 2002.
• Based on interviews with Rifkin and his mother, providing deep insight into his early life, mindset, and crimes.
2. Pulitzer, Lisa Beth & Swirsky, Joan. Crossing the Line: The True Story of Long Island Serial Killer Joel Rifkin. Berkley Books, 1994.
• Covers Rifkin’s crime spree, investigation, and media coverage; helpful for timeline and escalation details.
3. Eftimiades, Maria. Garden of Graves: The Shocking True Story of Long Island Serial Killer Joel Rifkin. St. Martin’s Press, 1993.
• A contemporaneous account of the murders and public reaction; great for victim impact and media context.
4. Lo, Rebecca & Rosewood, Jack. Joel Rifkin: The Horrifying & True Story of Joel the Ripper. Rosewood/Jack & Lo, 2018.
• Modern overview of Rifkin’s life and crimes; useful for updated perspectives and narrative framing.
5. Martell, Joseph L. “Psychological Profile Assessment of Serial Killer Joel Rifkin.” Capella University, 2021.
• Academic paper analyzing Rifkin’s behavior, psychology, and developmental background.
6. Alvarado, Francisco. “Did Joel Rifkin’s Childhood Turn Him Into a Serial Killer?” A&E Crime + Investigation, July 25, 2023.
• Journalistic piece connecting Rifkin’s upbringing and early trauma to his later crimes.
7. Allely, Clare S., Minnis, Helen, Thompson, Lucy, Wilson, Philip M.J. “Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers and mass murderers.” Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(3), 2014.
• Academic research on risk factors for serial murderers; provides context for Rifkin’s psychological profile.
8. Brown, Heather. “The Role of Child and Adult Sexual Fantasies and Criminal Paraphilia Involving Serial Sexual Murderers.” Walden University, 2022.
• Dissertation examining sexual paraphilia and fantasy; useful for understanding Rifkin’s victim selection and MO.
9. PsychologyWriting.com. “How Joel Rifkin’s Behavior Can Be Explained Using Psychodynamic Theory.”
• Essay applying psychodynamic theory to Rifkin’s actions; helpful for psychological analysis in the episode.
10. Archival News Reports: e.g., New York Times and Newsday coverage of Rifkin’s arrest and trial, 1993–1994.
• Provides original reporting on his capture, trial, and public reaction; valuable for historical context and accuracy.
In the quiet suburbs of Long Island, an unassuming man drove a pickup truck that hid a horrifying secret. Joel Rifkin, once a landscaper and neighbor, became one of America’s most notorious serial killers, responsible for the deaths of nineteen women. How did a seemingly ordinary man carry out such chilling crimes in plain sight? In this episode, we trace Rifkin’s life from his troubled upbringing to his calculated murders, explore the methods he used to evade capture, and uncover the shocking investigation that finally brought him to justice. Join us as we dive deep into the mind of a predator and the dark corners of suburban America.
Sources for Joel Rifkin Episode
1. Mladinich, Robert. From the Mouth of the Monster: The Joel Rifkin Story. Pocket Books, 2002.
• Based on interviews with Rifkin and his mother, providing deep insight into his early life, mindset, and crimes.
2. Pulitzer, Lisa Beth & Swirsky, Joan. Crossing the Line: The True Story of Long Island Serial Killer Joel Rifkin. Berkley Books, 1994.
• Covers Rifkin’s crime spree, investigation, and media coverage; helpful for timeline and escalation details.
3. Eftimiades, Maria. Garden of Graves: The Shocking True Story of Long Island Serial Killer Joel Rifkin. St. Martin’s Press, 1993.
• A contemporaneous account of the murders and public reaction; great for victim impact and media context.
4. Lo, Rebecca & Rosewood, Jack. Joel Rifkin: The Horrifying & True Story of Joel the Ripper. Rosewood/Jack & Lo, 2018.
• Modern overview of Rifkin’s life and crimes; useful for updated perspectives and narrative framing.
5. Martell, Joseph L. “Psychological Profile Assessment of Serial Killer Joel Rifkin.” Capella University, 2021.
• Academic paper analyzing Rifkin’s behavior, psychology, and developmental background.
6. Alvarado, Francisco. “Did Joel Rifkin’s Childhood Turn Him Into a Serial Killer?” A&E Crime + Investigation, July 25, 2023.
• Journalistic piece connecting Rifkin’s upbringing and early trauma to his later crimes.
7. Allely, Clare S., Minnis, Helen, Thompson, Lucy, Wilson, Philip M.J. “Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers and mass murderers.” Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(3), 2014.
• Academic research on risk factors for serial murderers; provides context for Rifkin’s psychological profile.
8. Brown, Heather. “The Role of Child and Adult Sexual Fantasies and Criminal Paraphilia Involving Serial Sexual Murderers.” Walden University, 2022.
• Dissertation examining sexual paraphilia and fantasy; useful for understanding Rifkin’s victim selection and MO.
9. PsychologyWriting.com. “How Joel Rifkin’s Behavior Can Be Explained Using Psychodynamic Theory.”
• Essay applying psychodynamic theory to Rifkin’s actions; helpful for psychological analysis in the episode.
10. Archival News Reports: e.g., New York Times and Newsday coverage of Rifkin’s arrest and trial, 1993–1994.
• Provides original reporting on his capture, trial, and public reaction; valuable for historical context and accuracy.
On New Year’s Eve 2009, wealthy banker and mother of two Shele Danishefsky was found dead in her Manhattan apartment bathtub. At first, it looked like a tragic accident. But what followed exposed a chilling story of greed, control, and a husband desperate to keep his secret. Investigators would later discover that her husband, Rod Covlin, had staged the scene to cover up her murder — a killing driven by jealousy and money. This episode unpacks the case that shocked New York City, from the initial scene to the courtroom, and the years of deception that followed. Drawing from court documents, forensic reports, and firsthand accounts, we uncover how small details inside a bathroom told the real story — and how justice for Shele nearly slipped away.
AAFS conference paper
Zaferes A. (2021). Roderick Covlin’s botched bathtub staged homicide aquatic investigative techniques to get it right In Proceedings of the AAFS 2021 annual meeting. https://www.aafs.org/sites/default/files/media/documents/AAFS-2021-H144.pdf
Summary: short conference paper that reviews how the Covlin case showed failures in aquatic crime scene investigation and argues for specific bathtub investigation procedures.
People v. Covlin slip opinion
People v. Covlin, 2018 NY Slip Op 28011 (Sup Ct, N.Y. County, Jan 22 2018). Retrieved from https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/other-courts/2018/2018-ny-slip-op-28011.html
Summary: court opinion that discusses motions and rulings in the Covlin prosecution including suppression issues and facts alleged by the prosecution.
Oxygen article
Sederstrom J. (2023, January 11). Man murders wife on New Year’s Eve and stages it to look like an accident Oxygen Dateline Secrets Uncovered. https://www.oxygen.com/dateline-secrets-uncovered/crime-news/rod-covlin-convicted-of-killing-wife-shele-danishefsky
Summary: long form magazine style article that summarizes the case background the investigation the exhumation that led to homicide finding and details from the 2019 trial and conviction.
New York Post article
New York Post. (2019, January 22). Prosecutors reveal how accused wife killer botched cover up. https://nypost.com/2019/01/22/prosecutors-reveal-how-accused-wife-killer-botched-cover-up/
Summary: tabloid style coverage focused on prosecution details and mediaworthy moments from the trial and investigation.
Blank Rome case summary
Blank Rome LLP. (n.d.). Blank Rome attorneys secure justice in the murder of Shele Danishefsky Covlin. https://www.blankrome.com/cases-and-deals/blank-rome-attorneys-secure-justice-murder-shele-danishefsky-covlin
Summary: law firm case note that outlines the litigation milestones and the firm’s role in representing family interests or counsel involvement and highlights the guilty verdict.
Introduction