"When you cross the line, you pay for it"
Brook Weber is just 18 years old in August of 1996 when she and her boyfriend Jeffrey Wolfe find themselves in the most disturbing home in all of Mississippi. Gary Carl Simmons, a local butcher in Moss Pointe, has been waiting for someone like Brook to fall into his clutches after his ex-wife Lori Simmons fled with their children in fear of her life. In fact, Gary has a perfect human-sized box hidden in his house, waiting to make his fantasies come to life. Little does Gary know that the Butcher’s Box is no match for Brook, and with a little luck and a lot of skill, not only will she escape, but she’ll make him pay for his crimes.
Credits
Directed, written, & edited by Justin Chalifoux
Curated by Tianyi Zhang
Research by Tiffany Loxton
Voiceover by William Akana
Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader
Sources
Shattered: The Box (Red Marble Media)
Evil Lives Here: Butcher and the Box (Red Marble Media)
The Horrific Crimes of Gary Simmons (Vocal Media)
“There’s something evil about the captain”--The Duperraults are a happy family from Wisconsin. Their father has a dream of bringing the family on a boat trip to the Bahamas and in November of 1961, the Duperraults rent a sailing boat called the Bluebelle along with a friend of the family and his wife. 4 days later, only two of them made it back. What happened on the BlueBelle ship?
“His entire world revolved around her” --When cops break into the Groene home on May 16th 2005 after receiving a call from a concerned neighbor, no one is prepared to find the family murdered, and as they identify everyone, they notice that the younger children, Dylan, 9, and Shasta, 8, are missing. As the authorities race against time to find the missing kids, Shasta is trapped in the woods with her family’s killer, nearly 100 miles away, and starts to plan her own escape.
“Only a monster can do this kind of evil thing” --On the morning of July 12, 2009, in the Rye Brook Hilton Hotel, May Abad receives a frantic call from hotel security, urging her to rush to her parents’ suite. As she races down the hallway, her mother, Narcy Novack’s, screams cut through the silence—her father, Ben Novack Jr., millionaire and heir to Miami’s famous Fontainebleau hotel, has been brutally murdered. Now, May is on a desperate hunt for the truth. But what she doesn’t realize is that the killer is much closer than she ever imagined.-CreditsDirected & edited by Matthew RiceWriting & research by Bianca Yzabelle TanRevisions by Kat GardilcicProduced by Alexandra Salois & Salim SaderVoiceover by William Akana-SourcesDateline NBC, “Family Affair” CNBC, Deadly Rich, “Bound for Murder” 48 Hours, “Crazy Love”Dying to Belong, “Narcy Novack”The Criminal Mind Unveiled, “My Dirty Little Secret”
“There’s a monster out there”
It’s 1981 in the sleepy town of River Oaks, Texas, and someone is hunting cheerleaders. A 16-year-old teenager, Susan Brown, is brutally attacked in her own home. What she, the cops, and the rest of the town don’t know is that she’s just the first victim in a rampage that will change this Texas suburb forever.One by one, members of the Castleberry High School cheer squad are targeted, but things escalate when Rona Stratton’s sister is found dead in her bedroom. Rona decides to team up with her friend Lisa Ticknor, who also survived an attack, along with the other cheerleaders in the squad, to start a decades-long fight to take down the Cheerleader Slayer, and make sure he would never hurt anyone else.
Sources:
Discovery + - Warner Bros
CBS News
The portal to Texas History
Channel 5 Action News
KXAS-TV
The Digital Library
Channel 5 Action News
British Pathé
“There’s no way that we just found this murder plan"
25-year-old Patrick De La Cerda is ready to start a new chapter with his fiancée, Jessica Devnani, until right after Valentine’s day, in 2018, when cops make a grim discovery at the couple’s barn in Deltona, Florida: Patrick has been murdered in what seems to be a targeted assassination, but as the case goes on, unusual clues pop up. Ominous voicemails, private investigators, secret cameras, Jessica & the detectives discover nothing is as it seems, and it’s up to them to trap the killer who thought he was too smart to ever be caught, and get justice for Patrick.
Credits:
Directed, written, & edited by Justin Chalifoux
Research by Tiffany Loxton
Voiceover by William Akana
Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader
Sources:
48 Hours: The Ring (CBS News Productions)
Love You To Death: Playbook for Murder (Streetcar Entertainment)
A Plan to Kill: Til Death Do Us Part (IPC)
Green Eyed Killers: Patrick De La Cerda (Peninsula Television)
Jessica Devnani (YouTube)
“Shh, don’t scream.”--On the night of July 23rd 2013, Tiffany calmly calls the police asking for help after she injured her own neck in an attempt to take her life, while her ex-husband Kris simply watches her. When the detectives arrive on the scene, it’s clear to them that she didn’t do this herself. Her ex Kris says the opposite, and calls her a liar. As they dig more into the case, time is running out as Kris carries out his own plan to “finish the job”.
"What happened in that box?"--January 11th 1973, on his way to buy milk for his siblings, 13 year old Paul Martin Andrews doesn’t notice a blue van is following him. Sitting in it is Richard Ausley, a dangerous outlaw on the run, and as Richard usually does, he simply asks Paul for help and offers him a ride. His story would end up becoming infamously known as “The Boy in the Box”, and 30 years later, Paul speaks up about it for the first time, as his captor begs for freedom.-
“Are the hurt people dead?”--In 1979, 4 year old Jennifer Carson comes face to face with one of the most bizarre and deranged serial killers to have ever lived: none other than her new psychic step-mother, Susan Carson. Susan, along with Jenn’s father Michael Bear Carson, will embark on a years-long religious mission to hunt down and kill anyone they deem a witch, and Jenn is their first target. Little do the infamous San Francisco Witch Killers know that Jenn will escape the clutches of their evil cult and lead the way to justice for her and the rest of their victims.Directed, written & edited by Alexandre GendronResearch & script revision by Tiffany LoxtonProduced by Alexandra Salois & Salim SaderVoiceover by William AkanaSourcesI Lived with a Killer: The San Francisco Witch Killers (Breakthrough Entertainment)Snapped: Killer Couples: Susan & Michael Carson (Jupiter Entertainment)The Killer In My Family: James Michael 'Bear' Carson (Woodcut Media)Deadly Women: Hunting Humans (Beyond International)This Is Life With Lisa Ling: Children of Killers (Part2 Pictures)Wicked Attraction: The Two Bears (M2 Pictures)The Conversation: My Dad Was a Serial Killer (BBC)Facing Evil: Dr. Jenn Carson (iHeartPodcasts/Tenderfoot TV)
“I don’t want to tell her daddy’s gone”-- In the early hours of March 10th, 2017, police officers enter the home of Valerie McDaniel and Leon Jacob with seemingly unexpected news – cops tell the new couple that Valerie’s ex-husband has just been killed in a robbery gone wrong, but there’s something else they’re hiding. What Leon and Valerie don’t know is that they’ve walked right into a trap—one designed to catch them in their own deadly scheme. Behind it all was the last person they expected: Leon’s ex, Meghan Verikas. Directed, written and edited by Matthew Rice Researched by Bianca Yzabelle Tan Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader Voiceover by William Akana Sources KPRC ABC13 Houston ABC, 20/20 Law&Crime Dateline NBC, Twisted in Texas Oxygen, Murder for Hire, Doctor’s Orders A&E, American Justice, “The Bad Doctor”
“She knew who did it all along”-- On July 31st 1970, in the small town of Price Utah, 4 year old Heidi wakes up to eerie silence, and after peeking through the keyhole of her bedroom door, she sees a terrifying scene that will stick with her forever: the tragic murder of her mother. However, no one is convicted, and before the case file is officially marked as unsolved, Heidi’s grandmother takes one last photo of her, standing in front of the outline: nobody could imagine that this photo would actually hide the key to solve the murder, which will only be done 46 years later.
“You’re gonna pay for this”
On May 1st, 2001, 11 YO Leah Henry is dropped off by her school bus less than a mile from the safety of her house, but as she starts her walk home, a car suddenly drives up to her and parks, blocking the road. Unbeknownst to her, Leah is about to be kidnapped by one of Texas’ most notorious serial predators, but she will also be known as the girl who outsmarted him using her wits, and even her camera, and ultimately, took him down for good.
Sources:
A&E
2013 - Investigation Discovery
“If he doesn’t get it his way, he may literally lose his mind” On February 23rd, 2023, mom of 3 Becky Bliefnick was found dead, shot 14 times in cold blood, and despite the brutal nature of the attack, there isn’t any DNA evidence left behind. The killer thinks he’s outsmarted everyone, but little do they know that Becky refused to be a silent victim, and has left all the clues investigators need to uncover the truth and bring justice for her and make sure her killer would pay for the murder. Becky’s sister, Sarah, has started a GoFundMe to create a scholarship fund and support Becky’s 3 young children. To donate: https://www.gofundme.com/f/sf6w9h-becky-bliefnick-memorial-and-support-fund Research & story by Tiffany Loxton Editing by Maxime Desrochers & Matthew Rice Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader Voiceover by William Akana Sources: 48 Hours: The Game Show and the Murder (CBS) Dateline: Ghostrider (Peacock Productions) Killer Relationships: The Price of Love (Faith in Justice Productions/Texas Crew Productions) 2020 Special Bad Romance: Dangerous Game (ABC) Killer Cases: The Bicycle Killer (Law & Crime Productions)
“He shot my daughter in the face!” -
On Christmas Eve 2008, just before midnight, 911 operators scramble as every phone rings off the hook in the city of Covina, California. All the callers frantically report a massive explosion on East Knollcrest drive—the Ortegas' family home. In the chaos, neighbors are sheltering the panicked surviving family members, running for their lives from what should have been a normal Christmas dinner. But what the survivors tell 911 dispatchers is even more deeply disturbing: the nightmare actually began before the house went up in flames when a man dressed as Santa Claus opened fire at the family dinner. Now, the surviving Ortega family must figure out how to rebuild after an unimaginable tragedy, and keep the Christmas spirit alive.
In her journey to rebuild, Leticia Yuzefpolsky now shares empowering stories about healing, love, & family on her blog: https://leticiashope.com/about/
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Credits Directed, written & edited by Alexandre Gendron & Justin Chalifoux Researched by Manon Lafosse Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader Voiceover by William Akana _
Sources Oxygen Emerge Pictures Jarrett Creative Group Kristina Kuzmic Bellum Entertainment OWN Michele F Rosenthal ABC7 CNN AP Archive Associated Press CBS News Associate Press 2KCAL9 Chasing reality Raw Bill Rhetts - hi-caliber.org Why are we friends? Podcast Rory Smithristmas - Short Film 2022 Little Help - Christmas Short Film 2022 Advent - Christmas Short Film 2024 Santa Flamethrower - Garden Center Santa Claus On Fire - Stuntman Phil
“I think he’s right behind me — watching me” June 13th 1985: Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess, a trailblazer mindhunter, sits across from an 8YO girl, trying to analyze her. 10 days prior, little Opal Horton barely escaped a kidnapping by a man who took her best friend Missy right in front of her. Now, Dr. Burgess’s job is to catch this man, to find Missy before it’s too late, but there’s one problem: Opal is not talking. Dr. Burgess will need to use everything her studies have taught her, from her nursing career, to teaching the FBI, to studying the most notorious serial killers, to eventually catch Opal’s monster. Unseen would like to sincerely thank Dr. Burgess for time to meet with us, share her insights on the case, and teach us about her groundbreaking work in mental health and forensics. Dr. Burgess has authored numerous publications, including her recent book “A Killer by Design” about her career revolutionizing treatment of the trauma and abuse, and criminal psychology: https://www.amazon.com/Killer-Design-Murderers-Mindhunters-Decipher/dp/0306924862 Credits: Written, edited & directed by Justin Chalifoux Researched by Manon Lafosse Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader Voiceover by William Akana A big thank you also to Jeremy Rothman Productions for the shoot. Sources:
Red Marble Media Hulu Boston College A&E television networks Movie Web The interview room National Geographic Daily Herald Wondery - Candice DeLong Film Rise True Entertainment and Condé Nast Entertainment for Discovery Illinois Police 60 minutes ABC7 News NCTV17 CONUS Archive
“I just know something is wrong with her” --
On June 10th, 2016 Josephine Wentzel receives the worst call of her life: her 30-year-old daughter is dead, and her boyfriend Raymond McLeod is MIA. This date marks the beginning of a 6-year-long international manhunt, but after months of fruitless efforts by police, a desperate Josephine takes matters into her own hands. She will use all her experience as a former police officer to catch him before he kills again, and get justice for her daughter, and two grandchildren.
For more information or to support Josephine’s efforts to help other families with missing or murdered loved ones: https://angelsofjustice.org/
Josephine also wrote two books about her journey to get justice for Krystal:
“The Chase: In Hot Pursuit of My Daughter’s Killer” and “The Capture: The riveting account of capturing my daughter's murderer.”
The Chase:
https://www.amazon.com/Chase-hot-pursuit-daughters-killer/dp/B09JVJ2F49
The Capture:
Credits:
Directed, written & edited by Alexandre Gendron
Researched by Tiffany Loxton
Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader
Voiceover by William Akana
John Walsh: In Pursuit - Investigation Discovery/Zero Point Zero Production Inc.
John Walsh: The Search Continues
America’s Most Wanted New Season - Fox Alternative Entertainment
Still A Mystery: Charmed By A Killer - Investigation Discovery, Efran Films
Crime Stories With Nancy Grace Red Seat Ventures
Tamron Hall Show - ABC News/Disney Media Distribution/Summerdale Productions
Access Hollywood - NBC
Inside Edition - CBS Media
Philip DeFranco
Court TV
Unsolved Podcast
“It was like making a deal with the devil” --
At 3:30 am on February 21st 2008, Melissa Oxley frantically calls 911 from her bedroom. She’s just woken up next to the dead body of her husband, Ben, who’s been murdered with a shotgun in his sleep. She hides with her 6-year-old stepdaughter, Alyssa, pleading with dispatchers to hurry, since she can hear footsteps downstairs, but when police arrive, there’s no intruder found. As all clues point to Melissa, Ben’s daughter, 6 YO Alyssa, breaks her silence: she was the only one awake in the house, and what she saw that night will take the investigation in a whole different direction.
Directing, writing & editing by Matthew Rice
Research by Tianyi Zhang
Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader
Voiceover by William Akana
Sources:
Documentary:
Dateline NBC - While They Were Sleeping 2019
Discovery Plus - Does murder sleep - S01E01 Deadly awakening
Oxygen - Killer Motive: S2E7 Waking nightmare
Apple TV - In Plain Sight : Family Nightmare
Interrogation Footage:
Law & Crime Network - She Woke Up Covered in Her Husband’s Blood
“I’m gonna die tonight, or I’m gonna escape somehow” -- July 20, 2014. Zenya Hernandez is on the phone, desperately trying to organize the search for her 15-year-old daughter, who has been missing for 9 months. She doesn’t know it yet, but her wait is about to end: miraculously, Abby Hernandez reappears at her front door that night. But to Zenya’s concern and the community’s disbelief, Abby won’t speak about the horrors she went through, nor reveal the name of her kidnapper. She’ll keep these terrifying secrets to herself... until she gathers enough courage to bring this monster to justice. Credits: Directing, writing, & editing by Alexandre Gendron Researched by Manon Lafosse Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader Voiceover by William Akana Sources - Documentary: 20/20 - What Happened To Abby 20/20 Extra - Exclusive Abby Hernandez Interview Sources - Film: Lifetime - Girl In The Shed: The Kidnapping Of Abby Hernandez
This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/UNSEEN and get on your way to being your best self.
“I think daddy killed mommy in the bathtub” --
It’s April 11th 2007, and young medical student Alexis Somers tries to call her mom, but repeatedly gets no answer, until her dad finally picks up: “mom is dead”. After rushing home from college following his disturbing announcement, Alexis realizes something in the house is horribly wrong. Out of her 7 other siblings, she is the one her mom shared her secrets with, and she remembers one of the last conversations they had: “if something happens to me, make sure your dad isn’t behind it.”
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Uncover what true crime documentaries don’t show you: real cases and real people, but with a new twist. This is Unseen.
Sources:
ABC 20/20
Oxygen - Abuse of Power
Dateline - NBC
Rachel MacNeill - Veimo - Tribute Video
University of Nevada
CNN
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"You don’t come into MY house, and attack MY family"-- On July 13th 2007, a woman is found murdered in the middle of the night. Her husband, who was asleep upstairs, immediately becomes the prime suspect, but police have no idea that the true culprit, a masked serial killer, has already struck again, miles away, leaving a trail of crime scenes undetected along the Northeastern US. However, everything changes when he breaks into the bedroom of 15-year-old Shea McDonough, who will team up with her entire family to make sure the killer is brought to justice for all of his crimes. Jeannie McDonough, Shea’s mom, wrote a book detailing her family’s intense ordeal and fight for justice titled “Caught in the Act: A Courageous Family's Fight to Save Their Daughter from a Serial Killer.” It can be purchased here: https://www.amazon.ca/Caught-Act-Cour... - - - Credits: Directing, writing, & editing by Maxime Desrochers Researched by Tianyi Zhang Produced by Alexandra Salois & Salim Sader Voiceover by William Akana - - - Sources: Documentary 48 Hours Mystery Live to Tell Hunting Humans - CBS News I survived a serial killer 2013 - E! Entertainment Television Dateline NBC S17 E66 A stranger in the house - Dateline NBC The Coroner: I Speak for the Dead - airing on Investigation Discovery; Production Company: Finch Productions Murder on Main Street: Nightmare Next Door - Investigation Discovery Hunting Humans 2002 : production company Kangas Kahn Films; distribution company IFM World Releasing
