He looked like the friendly neighbor everyone trusted. A soft-spoken civil servant with a kind smile, Dennis Nilsen appeared anything but dangerous. But behind the closed doors of his North London flat, he harbored some of the darkest secrets in British criminal history. Between 1978 and 1983, Nilsen lured young men into his home, where he murdered them—and kept their bodies hidden for weeks, even months, before disposing of them in ways that shocked the nation.

Tucked away in the quiet community of Clermont, Florida, lived a man whose easygoing nature and love for the outdoors made him a friend to many. Michael Shaver was a hardworking father who seemed to juggle his responsibilities with an easy smile, always willing to lend a hand or share a laugh. But in early 2015, Michael’s presence began to fade. Calls went unanswered, visits stopped, and gradually, he seemed to slip out of the daily rhythm of life. Yet the silence surrounding his absence raised far more questions than answers. Tonight, we dive into the story of Michael Shaver—his life, the relationships that defined him, and the unsettling mystery that followed when he vanished.

SOURCES: 
1) Michael Shaver: How Did He Die? Who Killed Him?
2) Laurie Shaver who tried to frame seven-year-old daughter for husband's murder barely reacts as she is sentenced
3) Woman convicted of killing husband and burying his body under concrete slab in the backyard
4) Laurie Shaver: Where is the Killer Wife Now?
5) FL v. Laurie Shaver: Buried in the Backyard Murder Trial
6) Brian Shaver and Stacie Turner: Where Are Michael Shaver’s Siblings Now?
7) 20/20 Episode: "The Lies Beneath"

For seven years, Malcolm Naden was Australia’s most wanted fugitive—a master of the bush who vanished into the wilderness after being accused of murder. As police closed in, Naden’s legend grew: a skilled survivalist who could disappear without a trace, living off the land while evading one of the largest manhunts in the nation’s history. In this episode,we track the incredible—and terrifying—pursuit of Malcolm Naden. From the brutal crimes that sent him on the run to the near-misses, shootouts, and the final dramatic capture, this is the story of a predator who thought he could outlast justice.

She was vibrant, creative, and full of life—a young woman with a contagious smile and a heart that drew people in. But in the summer of 2017, Shannon Graves vanished from Youngstown, Ohio, without a trace. What began as a missing person case quickly spiraled into something far darker, revealing a chilling story of betrayal, manipulation, and murder. In this episode, we peel back the layers of a case that shocked a community and exposed a deeply disturbing secret hidden in plain sight. This is the story of Shannon Graves.

SOURCES: 
1) Crime and Justice With Ashleigh Banfield
2) Tragedy of Youngstown murder haunts family as police continue to work the case
3) The Misery Machine Podcast
4) ‘It Was Like A Nightmare’: Ohio Couple Found Woman’s Dismembered Body In Friend’s Deep Freezer
5) Beautiful 28-yo Shannon Graves’ body parts sealed in plastic bags, stored in freezer while look-a-like allegedly steals identity
6) A Body in the Basement
7) Man convicted of murdering Youngstown woman found in freezer
8) Ohio v. Autoro Novoa
9) Final Conspirator Sentenced to Prison in Youngstown Dismemberment Case
10) Mahoning County Man Pleads Guilty to Murder and Abuse of Corpse
11) Woman sentenced to 18 years in coverup and dismemberment case
12) Killer to get new sentence
13) Buried in the House: Don’t Open the Freezer, Oxygen.

Blaze Bernstein was a bright, charismatic college student with a passion for writing, a sharp wit, and a future full of promise. But in January 2018, what began as a visit home to Southern California ended in tragedy when Blaze disappeared after meeting up with a former high school classmate. Days later, his body was discovered in a shallow grave—and the investigation quickly took a dark and disturbing turn.In this episode we explore the heartbreaking murder of Blaze Bernstein, the twisted motives behind the crime, and the questions about hate, identity, and justice that still echo today.
Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of violent hate crimes and murder. Listener discretion is advised.

On a quiet hill in Spring Green, Wisconsin, the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright built his dream home — a sanctuary of design and serenity he called Taliesin. But on a warm August day in 1914, that dream turned to ash and blood. This is not just a story of architectural genius or personal tragedy. It’s a chilling tale of obsession, rage, and a massacre that shattered the peaceful facade of one of America’s most iconic homes. A servant with a hidden grudge… a fire with deadly intent… and seven people left brutally murdered, including the woman Wright loved most.

SOURCES:
1) "Death in a Prairie House: Frank Lloyd Wright and the Taliesin Murders" by William R. Drennan

Tiffany Whitton walked into a Walmart in Marietta, Georgia, one September night in 2013—and vanished without a trace. No calls. No sightings. Just silence. What began as a minor shoplifting incident quickly spiraled into a haunting mystery that left investigators, her family, and the public desperate for answers.

In this episode, we unravel the chilling disappearance of Tiffany Whitton—a young mother with a troubled past and a future cut short. Was she running from something… or someone? And how did a case with so many eyes on it slip into obscurity?Follow the strange trail of inconsistencies, false leads, and the unsettling behavior of those closest to her in a case that still raises more questions than answers.

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 abduction. While the world watched one brother's trauma unfold in the headlines, the other battled invisible demons--ones that would eventually erupt in brutal violence. This is not just the story of a killer- it's the story of unresolved trauma, twisted fantasies, and the shadow legacy of a family marked by tragedy.

SOURCES: 
1) Sund details frantic hunt for wife, daughter: Father-husband testifies during Stayner’s preliminary hearing into slayings of 3 Yosemite visitors
2) CBS News: The Yosemite Murders -- in photos
3)Crime Library: Cary Stayner and the Yosemite Murders
4) CBS Sacramento: 25 years later: FBI agent shares how he got Cary Stayner to confess to Yosemite killings
5) SF Gate: Overshadowed All His Life / Low-key Cary Stayner took back seat to kidnapped brother
6) 20/20 Episode: Evil in Eden

"I know my first name is Steven." These words were uttered by Steven Stayner, who was kidnapped in 1972 at the age of six by a pedophile. Eight years later, and still in the clutches of his captor, once 5-year-old Timmy White was kidnapped, Steven knew he couldn't let what happened over the prior eight years happen to Timmy. The boys escaped their captor and made their way to a police station, where Steven, who had been brainwashed and groomed by his captor, uttered those words to law enforcement.

SOURCES:

1) Heroism and Horror: One Brother Was Kidnapped, The Other Became A Serial Killer
2) Two kidnapped boys, a hero’s return, then a tragic twist: The unbelievable story of Steven Stayner
3) Steven and Cary Stayner: The tale of two brothers' horror and heroism
4) Steven Stayner's Kidnapping, Cary Stayner's Horrific Crimes and One Family's Unbelievable Story
5) 'Captive Audience': Who Was Steven Stayner and What Happened To Him?
6) Who Was Steven? : The Little Boy Who Had Been Kidnaped Never Found Himself
7) He Was Abducted As A Child. Then His Brother Became A Serial Killer.
8) Kidnapper Returns To Jail
9) Molester Gets Life Term for Attempt to Buy a Boy
10) A Child Abductee's journey back
11) Steven Stayner Wikipedia Page
12) The Little Boy Who Never Came Home
13) Second Man Held in '72 Abduction of California Boy; Statute of Limitations
14) Propensity Podcast: Episode 1: In the Shadow of Yosemite - Part 1: Steven Stayner
15) Kenneth Parnell Wikipedia Page

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 catch up. We dive into the groundbreaking forensic work, the psychological profile that finally cracked the case, and Chikatilo’s jaw-dropping confession that stunned the world.🎧  Finish the story before it’s released to the public.Content Warning: This episode contains graphic discussions of sexual violence, murder, and crimes against children. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

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, ending with the most usual suspect in these types of crime: the husband. But did William really kill his wife that night? Or is our killer more clever and sneaky than anticipated?

SOURCES: 
1) The Julia Wallace Murder Foundation
2) William Herbert Wallace -- Wikipedia

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 subscribers, we uncover the shocking case of Grant Amato—the web of lies, the staggering financial ruin, and the brutal execution of his family, all in pursuit of a woman who barely knew he existed.
Content Warning: This episode discusses familicide, financial exploitation, and online obsession. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

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. However, Gianni Versace was not Andrew Cunanan's only victim; he was his most famous one.

SOURCES:
1)  https://www.biography.com/history-culture/gianni-versace     
2)  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gianni-Versace    
3). https://people.com/crime/gianni-versace-partner-speaks-out-people-magazine-investigates-crimes-of-fashion/#:~:text=The%20depression%20Antonio%20D'Amico,Florida%2C%20villa%20after%20hearing%20gunshots.   
4)  http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C138062%2C00.html  
5)  http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,138062,00.html#ixzz11H6hE2vi  
6)  https://wunderlabel.com/lab/fashion-designer/gianni-versace-biography/#:~:text=1968,business%20as%20a%20fabric%20buyer  
7)  https://variety.com/2018/scene/news/the-assassination-of-gianni-versace-darren-criss-andrew-cunanan-1202907696/  
8). https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Andrew_Cunanan  
9). https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gianni-versace-murder-did-iconic-designer-icon-know-killer-andrew-cunanan/      
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