Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski | True Crime News & Commentary

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit the opening days of one of the most chilling courtroom dramas in modern true crime — the Arizona trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-declared prophet now serving life sentences in Idaho for the murders of her children, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan, and the conspiracy to kill Tammy Daybell. This time, Lori stands accused of murdering her fourth husband, Charles Vallow — and she’s decided to be her own lawyer. In this two-part special, Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole dissect the emotional and strategic fireworks from both sides of the courtroom, starting with the prosecution’s explosive opening  statement. Prosecutor Treena Kay laid out a devastating narrative of greed, manipulation, and religious delusion — alleging that Lori orchestrated the deaths of her husband and children to secure life insurance payouts and remove any obstacles to marrying Chad Daybell. Through phone records, witness testimony, and forensic evidence, the prosecution painted Lori as a woman willing to kill for prophecy, power, and profit. Tony and Stacy break down the psychological weight of the prosecution’s arguments — from the use of religious ideology as control to the manipulation of her brother Alex Cox, who became her self-proclaimed “angel of death.” They also analyze the jury’s visible reactions and the emotional undercurrent of a courtroom haunted by victims’ families still seeking answers. Then, in Part Two, the focus shifts to Lori’s stunning self-representation — and her surreal decision to stand as both defendant and defense counsel. Lori’s opening statement cast herself as misunderstood and unfairly vilified, arguing that her brother acted in self-defense during Charles’s death. But Tony and Stacy reveal how Lori’s calm, confident demeanor may mask deep narcissism and delusion — a belief that she alone can rewrite the narrative of her crimes. As Tony and Stacy unpack the legal and psychological implications of Lori’s “sovereign” defense, listeners gain rare insight into a defendant whose blend of charisma and chaos continues to defy legal logic and human empathy. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Trials, The Delusions, and The Crimes That Defined the Year. #LoriVallowDaybell #CharlesVallow #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #StacyCole #TrueCrimePodcast #DoomsdayMom #CultCrimes #ChadDaybell #SelfRepresentation #PsychologicalDelusion #CourtroomDrama #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re examining two of the most unnerving threads in the case against Bryan Kohberger — the alleged thumbs-up mirror selfie taken hours after the Idaho student murders, and the college paper that prosecutors say reveals the mind of a killer long before the crime. In this special combined episode, Tony Brueski brings together a powerful mix of expert voices — retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer, behavioral expert Robin Dreeke, and defense attorney Bob Motta — to unpack how two seemingly separate pieces of evidence might expose the psychology and planning behind one of the most disturbing crimes in modern memory. The selfie, allegedly timestamped 10:31 AM on November 13th, 2022, shows Kohberger clean-shaven, wearing a white button-up, giving a calm thumbs-up in front of a shower — while the victims still lay undiscovered just miles away. It’s an image that feels ripped from American Psycho, echoing both Patrick Bateman’s narcissism and Norman Bates’ eerie detachment. Was it a subconscious taunt? A digital trophy? Or simply the reflection of a man who couldn’t tell the difference between performance and reality? Then comes the academic paper that prosecutors now want admitted as evidence: “Crime-Scene Scenario Final.” Written in 2020 during Kohberger’s criminology studies, the 12-page essay describes — in chilling detail — how to secure, process, and control a murder scene without leaving trace evidence. He even wrote about wearing “fiber-free protective gear” and checking neighbor alibis — years before a masked intruder allegedly slaughtered four students while leaving behind only one trace: DNA on a knife sheath. The episode breaks down what prosecutors call a pattern of preparation, bolstered by other alleged evidence — a balaclava receipt, phone pings near the crime scene, and the now-infamous Amazon purchase of a knife, sheath, and sharpener. Is the paper proof of intent, or just twisted irony? And could that mirror selfie — equal parts arrogance and emptiness — be the moment his mask slipped for good? 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, the Evidence, and the Psychology That Defined the Year. #BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #JenniferCoffindaffer #RobinDreeke #BobMotta #TrueCrimePodcast #PapaRodger #AmericanPsycho #CriminalPsychology #CourtroomDrama #Idaho4 #YearInReview #JusticeForVictims Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit one of the most surreal twists in the Donna Adelson murder trial — the moment when a novel became potential evidence in a real-life homicide case. In this special episode, Tony Brueski breaks down the unprecedented legal and psychological debate surrounding This Is Our Story, a book written by Donna’s daughter, Wendi Adelson, years before the murder of her ex-husband, Dan Markel. What began as fiction has now been pulled into a courtroom as a possible roadmap to motive. Prosecutors argue that the story — about a woman desperate to escape her marriage and rebuild her life without her husband — eerily mirrors Wendi’s real-life circumstances before Markel’s death. They claim it exposes family resentment, obsession with control, and the emotional triggers that led to murder. The defense, meanwhile, insists the book is irrelevant, prejudicial, and “a dangerous conflation of art and accusation.” Tony unpacks the courtroom fight over this bizarre piece of evidence: Why the State believes Wendi’s novel matters — and how prosecutors think it reveals intent. How Donna’s defense team is trying to block it, calling it an unfair literary witch hunt. What the novel actually says — and why its parallels to the Markel-Adelson saga are impossible to ignore. But this episode isn’t just about the legal argument. It’s about narrative control — the very thing the Adelsons have fought to maintain since the day Dan Markel was shot in his driveway. From Donna’s alleged orchestration of the hit to Wendi’s public denial of involvement, the family’s story has always been carefully curated. Now, that curation may become their undoing. Could fiction really help convict someone of murder? Or is this a dangerous precedent that blurs the line between imagination and evidence? Either way, the irony is impossible to miss: the Adelsons, who once controlled the narrative, may now be undone by one they wrote themselves. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases Where Truth Was Stranger Than Fiction. #DonnaAdelson #WendiAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderForHire #CourtroomDrama #FloridaCrime #JusticeForDanMarkel #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting the most disturbing, politically charged, and psychologically revealing chapter in the Gilgo Beach murder investigation — one that now includes the alleged discovery of Rex Heuermann’s “manifesto.” In this explosive special, Tony Brueski unpacks two powerful narratives unfolding in parallel: the discovery of a chilling document allegedly authored by Heuermann detailing methods for serial murder, and the growing skepticism of his ex-wife Asa Ellerup, who’s beginning to wonder if her former husband might be a pawn in a much darker story of corruption and cover-ups. Investigators reportedly found a meticulously written digital file on Heuermann’s computer — a step-by-step “how-to” guide for abducting, killing, dismembering, and disposing of victims while avoiding forensic detection. The alleged instructions include forensic countermeasures that mirror the real-world evidence found across multiple crime scenes, including Manorville and Ocean Parkway, where the remains of victims like Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack were discovered. Prosecutors say this “manifesto” could become the smoking gun in proving premeditation, linking Heuermann to multiple unsolved murders, and showing a disturbing consciousness of guilt. But with a county marred by scandal — from former police chief James Burke’s porn-and-violence scandal to DA Thomas Spota’s obstruction conviction — the defense is asking: how much of this can be trusted? Enter Asa Ellerup. After watching Netflix’s Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer, she isn’t pushing wild conspiracies — but she is questioning the system. Her legal team is raising alarms about Suffolk County’s history of corruption, claiming it taints everything from the DNA evidence (derived through a contested “whole genome sequencing” technique) to the investigative integrity itself. Could a broken system be capable of building a monster to hide its own sins? Or is this simply the final unraveling of one of America’s most terrifying suburban nightmares? 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Cover-Ups, and The Chaos That Defined the Year. #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachMurders #AsaEllerup #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #SuffolkCounty #JamesBurke #Corruption #TrueCrimePodcast #ManifestoEvidence #SerialKillerCase #YearInReview #JusticeForVictims #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re peeling back the layers of one of the most disturbing psychological power structures ever exposed in celebrity culture — the world of Sean “Diddy” Combs. In this gripping two-part special, Tony Brueski and retired FBI Behavioral Analyst Robin Dreeke dive deep into how fear, manipulation, and emotional dependency built an empire of silence around Diddy for decades. Why didn’t more people speak up sooner? Dreeke reveals the three psychological levers that kept Diddy’s inner circle compliant — even as the behavior around them crossed moral and legal lines. From fear-based loyalty and financial entanglement to the illusion of belonging, Dreeke dissects how coercive control can transform a celebrity brand into a psychological fortress. This episode doesn’t just explore the headlines — it exposes the mechanics behind them. How does a person with immense power and charisma create a reality distortion field so strong that people rationalize the unthinkable? How do those closest to the source of abuse convince themselves they’re “protected,” when in truth, they’re prisoners of influence? Drawing from FBI behavioral science and decades of fieldwork, Dreeke and Brueski connect Diddy’s alleged patterns to cult-style leadership psychology, trauma bonding, and the weaponization of loyalty. They break down how abusers in positions of fame exploit human nature’s deepest needs — safety, validation, and identity — to ensure silence and complicity. This isn’t just a celebrity scandal. It’s a case study in toxic leadership, groupthink, and the quiet, corrosive power of fear. It’s about how one man allegedly turned charisma into control — and how those around him, knowingly or not, became part of the machine that protected him. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases That Exposed Power, Silence, and the Psychology of Control. #DiddyTrial #SeanCombs #RobinDreeke #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #FBIBehavioralAnalysis #CoerciveControl #CultDynamics #CelebrityAbuse #ToxicLeadership #PowerAndControl #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting the shocking new evidence and eerie imagery redefining the case against Bryan Kohberger, the man accused of murdering four University of Idaho students in one of the most haunting crimes of the decade. In this special combined episode, Tony Brueski is joined by Defense Attorney Bob Motta (Defense Diaries) and former prosecutor Eric Faddis to dissect the revelations that turned a complex case into a potentially airtight one. First, the receipts — literally. Prosecutors say Kohberger bought the exact model of knife and sheath found at the crime scene months before the murders. The order allegedly came straight from Amazon, complete with a matching knife sharpener that looks suspiciously like a vacuum attachment. It’s the kind of detail that might sound absurd if it weren’t so chilling. Tony and Motta break down how this discovery — paired with the bizarre thumbs-up bathroom selfie allegedly taken hours after the killings — creates a psychological portrait of someone who wasn’t just methodical, but disturbingly proud. Was the selfie a trophy? A taunt? Or the self-satisfied smirk of a man who believed he’d gotten away with it? Then, Faddis brings the legal heat — explaining why this evidence could be devastating for the defense, how the alleged receipts demolish claims of “planted evidence,” and what the prosecution will do with a timeline that screams premeditation. Could Kohberger’s team still angle for a plea deal to avoid the death penalty? Or has this case already crossed the line into the inevitable? Beyond the evidence, Tony and his guests explore the deeper question: Why document your own destruction? From online purchases to photos, the alleged digital breadcrumbs reveal a mindset obsessed with control — and undone by it. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes That Defined a Year of Forensics, Psychology, and Pure Obsession. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #BobMotta #EricFaddis #TrueCrimePodcast #IdahoMurders #ForensicEvidence #AmazonReceipts #KnifeSheath #CourtroomDrama #DeathPenalty #CriminalPsychology #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday #JusticeForVictims Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting two defining moments in the unraveling of the Adelson family empire — moments that exposed not only the legal chaos behind the Dan Markel murder case, but the chilling psychology that fueled it. In this special combined episode, Tony Brueski dissects Donna Adelson’s courtroom performance of a lifetime — a bond hearing turned one-woman show where the alleged murder-for-hire mastermind painted herself as the real victim. Frail, misunderstood, and oh-so-tragically sleepless behind bars, Donna leaned hard into self-pity, deflection, and emotional theater. But beneath the trembling voice and the laundry list of ailments was something far more dangerous: covert narcissism in action. We break down the key moments from her testimony — from her evasive answers to her complete absence of remorse — and unpack how her manipulative tactics mirror the textbook behaviors of covert narcissists. Victim-playing. Reality-twisting. Emotional control disguised as vulnerability. It’s not just courtroom drama — it’s psychological warfare. Then, we turn to the legal front lines, where Donna’s defense team fought to block over 560 pages of divorce records between her daughter Wendi Adelson and slain law professor Dan Markel. The argument? That the bitter custody battle fueling years of tension was “irrelevant.” Prosecutors, however, say it’s the very foundation of motive — the powder keg that led to murder. While Donna’s attorneys tried to keep the narrative tidy, the state saw through it — reminding the court that this “frail grandmother” once tried to board a one-way international flight. And as motions pile up and family ties fracture, it’s becoming clear: this isn’t just about one murder. It’s about a legacy of manipulation, control, and denial finally colliding with accountability. From psychological breakdowns to legal takedowns, this Year in Review episode captures the full scope of the Adelson implosion — a story where justice, narcissism, and family loyalty all share the same DNA. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, the Lies, and the Consequences That Defined the Year. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #WendiAdelson #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderForHire #CourtroomDrama #Narcissism #LegalAnalysis #HiddenKillersYearInReview #JusticeForDanMarkel #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting one of the most chilling — and hauntingly bizarre — developments in the ongoing Bryan Kohberger case: the alleged “selfie of satisfaction” and the disturbing digital trail that may reveal the psychology of a killer. Newly surfaced evidence points to a digital footprint as unsettling as the crime itself — including an Amazon order history allegedly showing a combat knife, matching sheath, and sharpener purchased months before the Idaho student murders. And then, the image: a post-crime selfie of Kohberger, freshly showered, clean-shaven, giving a thumbs-up in a bright white shirt. Was it arrogance? A trophy? Or the hollow ritual of someone reliving what they’d just done? In this Hidden Killers special, Tony Brueski is joined by retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer and former FBI Behavioral Unit Chief Robin Dreeke to break down how both the digital evidence and the alleged photo may expose Kohberger’s deeper pathology. Coffindaffer unpacks the forensic side — why a knife sharpener might have been part of the prep, and how such a detail reflects a disturbing level of forethought. Dreeke dives into the behavioral side, exploring how narcissism, ritual, and the need for control manifest in offenders like Kohberger. Together, they ask the question no one wants to answer: could he have been planning for more? We also explore how the selfie itself might play in court — not as a smoking gun, but as a powerful psychological weapon. Could prosecutors use it to humanize the horror for jurors? Could the surviving roommates recognize it as a chilling echo of the man they may have glimpsed that night? From his alleged shopping habits to his eerie self-portrait, this is the story of a man who may have thought he could control every variable — except his own digital reflection. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, the Minds, and the Evidence That Defined the Year. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #JenniferCoffindaffer #RobinDreeke #TrueCrimePodcast #IdahoMurders #CriminalPsychology #KnifeEvidence #ForensicAnalysis #CourtroomDrama #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday #JusticeForVictims Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we turn our focus to one of the most bizarre and psychologically chilling trials unfolding in America: Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-proclaimed prophet who’s decided she’s the best person to defend herself in court. Already convicted in Idaho for the murders of her two youngest children, Tylee Ryan and JJ Vallow, and the conspiracy to murder her husband’s former wife, Tammy Daybell, Lori is now facing justice in Arizona for the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. But this time, there’s no defense team to shield her — because Lori fired them. She’s representing herself. In this special, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott to unpack the chilling psychology behind Lori’s decision, exploring how delusion, narcissism, and religious grandiosity collide in a courtroom setting. Lori’s behavior — confident, defiant, and disturbingly serene — may seem erratic, but Scott explains how it fits a pattern of pathological self-belief common among cult leaders and high-control personalities. During her recent pretrial hearing, Lori insisted on moving forward with trial despite her own forensics expert not being ready, demanded to exclude incriminating statements from her deceased brother Alex Cox, and even tried to subpoena journalist Nate Eaton — the reporter who’s covered her saga from day one. She also hinted at testifying in her own defense, setting the stage for one of the most surreal spectacles in recent legal history. But beneath the theatrics lies a darker psychology. Lori isn’t just defending herself legally — she’s defending her identity as a “divine messenger.” Scott breaks down how shared psychosis (folie à deux) between Lori and her husband Chad Daybell fueled a belief system that justified murder under the guise of prophecy. Together, they turned apocalypse fantasies into fatal decisions. As jury selection looms and Arizona prosecutors prepare to argue their case, Tony and Shavaun explore whether Lori’s self-representation is a strategy, a symptom, or both — and how her religious delusions continue to warp her sense of accountability. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Courtrooms, and The Minds That Shook America. #LoriVallowDaybell #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #CultPsychology #SelfRepresentation #CharlesVallow #ChadDaybell #CourtroomDrama #FolieADeux #NarcissisticDelusion #MurderTrial #ArizonaTrial #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit one of the most chilling and dysfunctional family dramas ever to play out in a courtroom — the Adelson saga, where murder, money, and manipulation collided in one of Florida’s most unforgettable true crime stories. In this combined special, Tony Brueski sits down with Defense Attorney Bob Motta (Defense Diaries) to dissect the bizarre downfall of Donna Adelson and the lingering shadow of her daughter Wendi. First: Donna’s bond hearing — a spectacle of self-pity and denial. The 75-year-old matriarch tried to paint herself as a fragile grandmother “suffering” in jail, lamenting her lack of comfort and care. But prosecutors came armed with something far more powerful than sympathy: her own voice. Recorded jailhouse calls revealed conversations about potential escape plans, non-extradition countries, and a near-miss flight to Vietnam. Suddenly, Donna’s bedtime complaints didn’t sound so innocent. Motta and Brueski break down how Donna’s decision to testify at her own hearing became one of the most catastrophic legal moves of the year — and how her own words could now be used against her at trial. They also explore the psychology of control and entitlement that defined the Adelson family long before Dan Markel’s murder. Then the focus shifts to Wendi Adelson — the woman at the center of the storm who, despite being labeled an unindicted co-conspirator, has never been charged. We unpack the evidence, the custody battles, and the infamous “hitman joke” that prosecutors say revealed more than she intended. Why has Wendi remained free while those around her — from Charlie to Donna to the hitmen — have all fallen? And could new evidence from Donna’s upcoming trial finally change that? It’s a tale of arrogance, privilege, and self-destruction — a family that believed intellect and influence could bend justice, only to watch it snap back with a vengeance. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, the Cases, and the Consequences That Defined the Year. #DonnaAdelson #WendiAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #BobMotta #DefenseDiaries #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderForHire #FloridaCrime #CourtroomDrama #HiddenKillersYearInReview #JusticeForDanMarkel Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting one of the darkest and most complex cases in modern true crime — the alleged double life of Rex Heuermann, the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer who managed to live a picture-perfect suburban existence while allegedly committing unthinkable crimes. In this gripping two-part special, Tony Brueski and retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke unravel how Heuermann allegedly concealed a predatory world behind the mask of a mild-mannered architect. Dreeke dissects the psychological mechanics of deception — how a man can manipulate his own family into overlooking chaos, maintain the illusion of normalcy, and exploit society’s indifference toward marginalized victims. How do you hide something this horrifying in plain sight? By preying on a culture that doesn’t look too closely. The conversation dives deep into the psychology of incremental abnormality — how small behavioral shifts go unnoticed until the monster is fully formed. From the quiet control of his household to the alleged targeting of sex trafficking victims society ignored, Dreeke exposes the chilling behavioral blueprint of a man who thrived in the shadows of neglect. Then, the focus turns to Suffolk County’s corruption problem — one that may have allowed this case to fester for over a decade. Enter James Burke, the disgraced former police chief whose own scandals — including beating a suspect over stolen porn and sex toys — helped derail the Gilgo investigation for years. With former DA Thomas Spota later indicted for obstruction and witness tampering, the question becomes unavoidable: Did law enforcement’s rot give a serial killer room to operate? The episode also examines Asa Ellerup’s new public comments following Netflix’s Gone Girls: The Long Island Serial Killer. Heuermann’s ex-wife isn’t pushing conspiracy theories — but she’s asking questions. Could her husband be a fall guy for a broken system? With DNA evidence hinging on a controversial technique called whole genome sequencing, the courts now face a precedent-setting decision that could make or break the case. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Corruption, and The Psychology That Defined the Year. #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachMurders #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #RobinDreeke #AsaEllerup #JamesBurke #SuffolkCounty #TrueCrimePodcast #Corruption #SerialKillerCase #YearInReview #JusticeForVictims #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit one of the most shocking and psychologically revealing cases of the year — the federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs, where allegations of manipulation, coercive control, and psychological abuse have redefined how power, fame, and fear intertwine. In this full-length special, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott and retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke for a two-part deep dive into the disturbing behavioral patterns emerging from the trial — and the psychology of a man accused of wielding control like a weapon. Shavaun Scott breaks down ten key psychological tactics allegedly used by Combs against Cassie Ventura, as detailed in testimony and filings: covert manipulation, emotional isolation, threats, intimidation, extortion through explicit material, and the gradual dismantling of personal autonomy. She explains how high-profile abusers create invisible cages — systems of dependence and fear that trap victims even under the public eye. Then, Robin Dreeke analyzes the case from a behavioral intelligence perspective — mapping how powerful figures maintain a dual identity: adored in public, feared in private. From the alleged use of surveillance and financial control to the orchestration of silence among inner-circle members, Dreeke exposes how a “high-functioning predator” can operate unchecked for decades. The discussion also explores the psychology of complicity — how enablers and bystanders become part of the abuse cycle, whether through fear, loyalty, or career survival. Both experts highlight the chilling consistency between Combs’ alleged conduct and established behavioral profiles of coercive narcissists and organized abusers. This is more than a celebrity scandal. It’s a clinical case study in power addiction, psychological dominance, and the systemic failures that allow fame to mask abuse. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases Where Power, Psychology, and Justice Collided. #DiddyTrial #CassieVentura #SeanCombs #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #RobinDreeke #PsychologicalAbuse #CoerciveControl #CelebrityCrime #PowerAndControl #TrueCrimePodcast #BehavioralAnalysis #YearInReview #JusticeForSurvivors #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit one of the most jaw-dropping chapters in the ongoing Bryan Kohberger case — the digital trail that may have done what he allegedly couldn’t avoid in person: exposing him completely. Investigators say Kohberger, the Ph.D. criminology student accused of killing four University of Idaho students in November 2022, may have left behind more than DNA on a knife sheath — he may have left a shopping list. A damning set of online purchases allegedly includes a K-Bar knife, matching sheath, and sharpening tool — all conveniently ordered from Amazon. In this Hidden Killers breakdown, Tony Brueski teams up with retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke and defense attorney Bob Motta (Defense Diaries) to dissect the chilling implications of the so-called “Amazon Evidence.” If true, this isn’t just forensic coincidence — it’s a psychological signature. Dreeke dives into what these purchases reveal about a possible obsessive, methodical mindset: someone fascinated by control, process, and precision. But in his precision, perhaps also arrogant — believing intellect could outsmart technology. Then, Motta joins Tony to examine how this alleged evidence fits into the broader defense battle. Could the prosecution argue that Kohberger’s shopping habits show premeditation? Or can the defense spin it as circumstantial — just a “collector’s curiosity” in military blades? And yes — that infamous thumbs-up shower selfie allegedly taken hours after the murders makes its appearance. Motta and Brueski unpack the surreal combination of vanity, detachment, and potential trophy-taking behavior. It’s the kind of moment that would be laughable, if it weren’t so horrifying. Together, they explore the haunting question that lingers behind every piece of evidence: Was this a one-time act of obsession, or a rehearsal for something darker? 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes That Defined the Year in Evidence, Psychology, and Pure Audacity. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #RobinDreeke #BobMotta #TrueCrimePodcast #AmazonEvidence #KnifeSheath #IdahoFour #CriminalPsychology #MurderTrial #CourtroomDrama #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday #DefenseDiaries #JusticeForVictims Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting one of the most jaw-dropping courtroom sagas of the year — the unraveling of Donna Adelson, the 75-year-old grandmother accused of orchestrating the murder-for-hire plot that took the life of Florida State law professor Dan Markel. In two of the year’s most explosive episodes, Tony Brueski sat down with both Defense Attorney Bob Motta (Defense Diaries) and retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer to break down how a once-untouchable matriarch’s arrogance and denial helped destroy her family’s last shred of credibility. Donna’s courtroom appearance was supposed to humanize her. Instead, it showcased the same manipulative charm and self-delusion that prosecutors say fueled her alleged role in the murder conspiracy. From the stand, she painted herself as a frail victim of “inhumane jail conditions” — right before prosecutors rolled out recorded jailhouse calls in which she and her son Charlie Adelson discuss potential escape routes and non-extradition countries. Oops. Motta dissects the strategic disaster of Donna testifying at her own bond hearing — a move that may go down as one of the biggest self-inflicted wounds in recent courtroom history. Coffindaffer takes it even deeper, exposing the psychology behind Donna’s belief that she could still talk her way out of accountability, decades after manipulating everyone around her. From family loyalty turned liability to delusion on display, this episode captures the full scope of Donna’s implosion — and what it means for the rest of the Adelson family heading into the next phase of legal battles. Will she ever take a plea? Could she flip on her daughter Wendi? Or does Donna still believe she can win the game — even when the board’s already on fire? 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases That Defined a Year of Crime, Corruption, and Consequence. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #BobMotta #JenniferCoffindaffer #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderForHire #Justice #AdelsonTrial #CourtroomDrama #HiddenKillersYearInReview #TrueCrimeToday #DefenseDiaries Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In this episode, we take a brutally honest look at the now-viral TikTok posted by the biological mother of 18-year-old Anna Kepner — the teen found dead and concealed under a bed aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship. What should have been a grieving mother’s message somehow turned into a thirteen-minute monologue about everything but Anna. Excuses. Grievances. Old resentments. Contradictions. Life stories. Dental detours. Accusations. Chaos. And almost nothing about the daughter she lost. Tonight, I break it down section by section — with timestamps — stopping at the points where the emotional wheels fly off and the video reveals far more about the environment Anna came from than the mother ever intended. This isn’t mockery. This isn’t cruelty. This is context — because the instability, bitterness, and self-centered chaos on full display here help explain so much about the world Anna grew up in. Meanwhile, investigators are focused on real evidence:  • a body concealed under a bed  • keycard logs  • cabin access patterns  • surveillance footage  • a 16-year-old stepsibling publicly named as a suspect  • a stepmother pleading the Fifth  • and a family structure collapsing in real time This TikTok doesn’t give answers — but it gives a devastating look at the dysfunction that shaped this case from day one. Watch as we break down the video, analyze each section, and look at what this emotional unraveling tells us about the broader investigation into Anna’s death. If you want the unfiltered truth behind the headlines — and the family chaos investigators are up against — this is the episode you need to hear. 👇 Comment below — what was the most shocking part of her video to YOU? #AnnaKepner #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #TikTokBreakdown #TonyBrueski #CrimeAnalysis #CruiseShipCase #FBIInvestigation #FamilyDynamics #JusticeForAnna Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

In the Delphi murders, the public was told a simple story: the police put the pieces together, the system worked, and justice was finally served. But when you actually read the documents — the transcripts, investigator depositions, Franks filings, internal notes, and the raw exhibits tucked into the case file — a very different picture emerges. This wasn’t a clean investigation. It wasn’t methodical. It wasn’t disciplined. It was chaotic, fragmented, and politically pressured from the moment Abby and Libby were found. Leads were documented once and never followed up on. Entire suspects — and entire theories — were quietly dropped without explanation. Investigators contradicted each other, forgot key details, and admitted under oath that they weren’t even aware of evidence sitting inside their own case file. And yet somehow, in year six, the narrative suddenly snapped into place — not because the investigation got better, but because it finally got a suspect it could backfill the story around. Tonight, we dig into the evidence that was ignored, the leads that were buried, the internal disagreements investigators never wanted the public to see, and the retrofitted logic that shaped the state’s case. This is not about saying who is guilty or innocent — it’s about asking why the most important homicide investigation in modern Indiana history was handled with the kind of inconsistency you’d expect from a case no one was watching. If this is how the system works when the world is paying attention… what happens in a case where no one is? Join Tony Brueski as we break down the investigation behind the scenes — the failures, the shortcuts, the missing follow-through, and the real-world consequences of an investigative structure that collapses under pressure. Subscribe and comment with your thoughts. This case isn’t just about what happened in 2017 — it’s about what kind of justice system we’re willing to accept today. #DelphiMurders #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #AbbyAndLibby #RichardAllen #DelphiInvestigation #JusticeForAbbyAndLibby #CrimeAnalysis #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner is not just another tragic case — it’s a collision of panic, secrecy, and a blended family imploding in real time. Found hidden under a bed on a cruise ship, wrapped and concealed, Anna’s final moments are surrounded by unanswered questions and emotionally charged reactions from nearly every member of her family. Tonight on Hidden Killers, I sit down with retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke to cut through the noise and focus on the behavioral reality inside that small cabin. Because cases like this aren’t just about evidence — they’re about human choices under pressure. We look at the concealment: Why was Anna hidden? What does that typically signal in juvenile behavior? Where is the line between immaturity-driven panic and intentional wrongdoing? We examine the claim from the grandmother that the 16-year-old “doesn’t remember what happened.” Is that trauma? Dissociation? Avoidance? Or something investigators hear when the truth is too overwhelming to say out loud? We explore what happens when adults make catastrophic decisions — like placing teenagers with known tension in the same sleeping quarters — and how that shapes what happens next. And then there’s the public chaos: the stepmother pleading the Fifth, the biological mother spiraling on social media, relatives accusing each other, all while a teen girl is gone. Robin breaks down how investigators filter useful behavior from emotional theater and why public performance can sometimes be a clue in itself. This is the interview that strips away the speculation and digs into the actual human behavior behind the headlines. If you want clarity instead of noise, depth instead of rumor — you’re in the right place. #HiddenKillers #AnnaKepnerCase #CruiseShipInvestigation #RobinDreeke #BehaviorAnalysis #TrueCrimeBreakdown #CrimePsychology #FBIExpert #JuvenileInvestigation #FamilyChaos Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

When 18-year-old Anna Kepner was found hidden under a bed inside a cruise ship cabin, the story immediately drew national attention — not because of what investigators discovered, but because of all the things they didn’t. No intruder. No external threat. No clear cause of death. Just a 16-year-old stepsibling who now sits at the center of a legal and emotional storm. Tonight on Hidden Killers, we dig into the legal tensions surrounding this case — the gaps, the unknowns, the strict limitations of the juvenile system, and the uncomfortable reality that many of these answers may never become public. With attorney and former prosecutor Bob Motta, we explore every realistic scenario investigators must consider: accident, panic, trauma, a moment of fear that spiraled, an altercation without intent, a medical event mishandled, or an intentional act. The law doesn’t get to pick the neat version — it has to test all of them. We also break down the implications of the stepson’s claim that he “doesn’t remember what happened.” Legally, that can indicate trauma, shock, dissociation, or a panic-response blackout — all of which dramatically complicate the question of charges. Because intent matters. Mechanism matters. And mental state matters. We look at why certain charges are possible, why some are unlikely, and why others — like premeditated murder — simply don’t fit the known facts. And we explain the Fifth Amendment move by the stepmother: a headline-grabbing moment that creates more confusion than clarity. Most importantly, we dive into the biggest question: how does a case like this realistically end? A juvenile plea? Treatment? No charges? Or a sealed resolution the public will never see? This case is heartbreaking, confusing, and bound by legal blinders that make it even harder to understand. But tonight, we break down what the law actually says — not what the internet assumes. #AnnaKepner #CruiseCase #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimeToday #LegalBreakdown #JuvenileCase #BobMotta #CrimeAnalysis #JusticeSystem #InvestigationUpdate Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

This is the story Wisconsin never wanted to explain — how the girl who nearly took a child’s life in the infamous Slender Man attack was quietly moved into a suburban neighborhood, supervised by nothing more than a plastic ankle monitor, and somehow slipped across state lines with a grown man before anyone sounded the alarm. Tonight, we’re taking you through the full timeline of how Morgan Geyser — the attacker in the Slender Man stabbing — went from a secure psychiatric institution to a residential street in Madison. Not because she “served her time,” but because judges, doctors, and state agencies convinced themselves she was ready for “community reintegration,” despite red flags that would stop any other case in its tracks. We dig into the decisions that opened the door:  • The court rulings that shifted her from a locked facility to a group home.  • The warnings about disturbing reading material and troubling outside contacts.  • The placement that got scrapped after residents found out who was coming.  • The next placement, quietly sealed by the court to avoid public backlash.  • The neighborhood full of families who had no idea she had moved in.  • And the ankle-monitor alert that DOC brushed off as a “device glitch” while she walked freely into the night. And then — the escape.  A missing GPS signal.  A 12-hour communication delay.  A 42-year-old man by her side.  And a capture behind a truck stop in Illinois after officers realized the woman they found didn’t want to say her name because she’d “done something really bad.” This isn’t just a story about an escape. It’s a story about a system that trusted a fragile treatment plan more than it trusted the memory of what she had already done. It’s about the gap between courtroom optimism and real-world danger. And it’s about how the people most affected — the victim’s family, the neighbors, and the public — were kept in the dark until everything fell apart. If you’ve ever wondered how someone with a violent, delusion-driven history ends up living quietly next to families with no warning, this breakdown will answer that — and raise questions Wisconsin will be forced to confront. #SlenderManCase #MorganGeyser #TrueCrimeNews #HiddenKillers #CrimeAnalysis #JusticeSystem #Wisconsin #CrimeBreakdown #PublicSafety #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Tonight on Hidden Killers, we’re breaking down the most disturbing new revelations in the disappearance of 9-year-old Melodee Buzzard — details so bizarre, so psychologically alarming, that they raise one unavoidable question: How is this woman still free? According to exclusive new reporting and a lengthy interview with the one man Ashlee Buzzard actually talked to, we now have a window into the chaotic, paranoid, and deeply fractured mental state that may have shaped the final days before Melodee vanished. And while law enforcement continues to dig through multiple states looking for answers, these new details shine a harsh spotlight on the crisis unfolding inside the mind of the one person who refuses to explain anything: Melodee’s mother. Ashlee allegedly told this man she handed her daughter over to strangers she met at a zoo. She couldn’t provide names, numbers, addresses — nothing. She claimed these strangers kept changing the drop-off location across multiple states because they were “paranoid about being followed.” She said she once had their contact information… and then said she didn’t. She insisted she needed to leave her daughter with them for “a month or two” so she could recover from an outpatient procedure. And then it gets worse. She allegedly talked about fake license plates and how to order them. She admitted she had swapped plates before — something investigators independently confirmed on the rental car she used during that cross-country trip. Inside her home, the man says he saw a pillow dressed in Melodee’s clothing — a hoodie, pants — arranged on the couch like a body, surrounded by photos torn from missing posters. She told him the house was bugged. That he was undercover law enforcement. She deleted her Amazon, her email, her bank accounts. She gave him keys to her house and storage unit and told him to prepare to empty her belongings because she expected to be arrested. This isn’t just suspicious behavior. This is a mental health crisis unfolding out loud. And yet — legally — nobody can force treatment, nobody can force an evaluation, and nobody can arrest her unless investigators can prove a crime. Tonight, we break down these new claims, the psychological patterns behind them, and what they reveal about the danger Melodee may have been living in long before she disappeared. Subscribe for ongoing updates in this rapidly evolving case. #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #MissingChildren #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #MentalHealthCrisis #CaseAnalysis #TonyBrueski #NewsNation #TrueCrimeCommunity Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872