Mind Behind The Crime | The Psychology Of Killers

This episode of Hidden Killers brings together three troubling, psychologically revealing stories — each offering a unique window into manipulation, identity, and the way families and offenders construct narratives to protect themselves. We begin with Bryan Kohberger’s reported self-harm threats inside Idaho Maximum Security Institution. He’s allegedly telling staff he’ll “harm himself” if they don’t move him out of J-Block — a threat strategically worded, attached to conditions, and deployed after earlier complaints didn’t get traction. Psychotherapist Shavaun Scott breaks down the psychology behind conditional threats, escalation patterns, and why institutions must take every claim seriously even when manipulation is suspected. From there, we move into Kohberger’s serial-killer outreach — his attempts to connect with high-profile offenders rather than family or supporters. Shavaun helps us understand what this reveals about identity, belonging, status, and the collapse of the image he expected to maintain inside prison. When inmates respond with contempt instead of fascination, the psychological fallout can be profound. Finally, we shift to the Anna Kepner cruise-ship case, where conflicting accounts from adults and teens highlight the distance between family myth and emotional reality. Parents describe harmony; teens describe aggression. Shavaun walks us through why teenagers often perceive danger more clearly than adults, how aggression becomes normalized, and why blended families are especially vulnerable to maintaining a narrative that doesn’t match the truth. Across all three segments, one theme emerges: when reality doesn’t match the story someone needs to believe, the mind works overtime to bridge the gap — sometimes through manipulation, sometimes through denial, and sometimes through sheer grandiosity. #HiddenKillers #BryanKohberger #AnnaKepner #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #PrisonPsychology #FamilyDynamics #SerialOffenders #TonyBrueski #CriminalMindset 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 aboard a cruise ship has left behind a trail of conflicting stories — and at the center of it is a blended family dynamic that now looks very different depending on who’s doing the talking. Parents and grandparents describe harmony, closeness, and three teenagers who were “the three amigos.” Yet teens who actually lived inside that home describe something else entirely: aggression, chokeholds, tension, and behavior reframed by adults as “just playing.” On today’s episode of Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down what these contradictions reveal about denial, family image-management, and the difference between outside perception and lived experience. Shavaun explains why teens often have a more accurate read on the emotional temperature of a home than parents do — especially in blended families where adults may be overly invested in a narrative of unity. She walks us through the psychology of minimizing aggression, why “roughhousing” becomes the excuse of choice, and the gender dynamics that shape which behaviors get dismissed and which get flagged. We also look at why an outsider — in this case, Anna’s ex-boyfriend — might actually provide a more reliable account than adults with emotional or reputational skin in the game. And how cabin assignments made by a travel agent, not the kids themselves, may speak volumes about parental blind spots. This segment is a deep dive into credibility, emotional truth, and the patterns families cling to long after red flags have been waving in plain sight. #AnnaKepner #HiddenKillers #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #FamilyDynamics #BlendedFamilies #CruiseShipCase #TonyBrueski #PsychologicalInsight #TeenPerspective 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

Bryan Kohberger is reportedly telling prison staff he’ll “harm himself” if they don’t move him out of J-Block — and the wording of that threat is raising eyebrows. Not “end his life.” Not “I’m in crisis.” The phrase is specific, conditional, and attached to a demand. And in corrections psychology, that distinction matters. Today on Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down what this behavior actually signals. Is Kohberger genuinely overwhelmed inside Idaho’s most restrictive housing unit? Or is this a strategic form of pressure meant to regain a sense of control he no longer has? From Day 2, Kohberger began testing the system — complaining about food, noise, harassment, and ultimately escalating to self-harm threats when lower-level grievances didn’t get traction. Shavaun explains what this escalation pattern typically indicates: a person accustomed to getting results through pressure, resistance, or emotional leverage. But even with concerns about manipulation, prison staff are doing exactly what protocol requires — removing ligature risks, tightening supervision, documenting behavior. Shavaun walks us through why institutions must treat every threat seriously, even when the individual making it has a history of calculated behavior. We also explore the psychological payoff of using self-harm threats as leverage. Even if he doesn’t get transferred, Kohberger may still gain exactly what he wants: attention, disruption, and power over the environment. For someone who built an identity around control, that’s currency. This conversation offers a rare look into the psychological realities behind bars — and why a threat doesn’t always mean what it appears to mean on the surface. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #PrisonPsychology #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #TonyBrueski #JBlock #PrisonBehavior #CriminalMindset #ControlTactics 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

While threatening self-harm, Bryan Kohberger is reportedly reaching out to serial offenders across the country — trying to build relationships with the very people he once studied academically. It’s a pattern that has stunned investigators and raised deeper questions about identity, belonging, and psychological validation. Today on Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us untangle what this behavior reveals. Why would someone convicted of killing four college students seek connection not with family, supporters, or advocates — but with other violent offenders? What does that choice of outreach tell us about how he sees himself and the world around him? Sources say Kohberger views himself as “above” the general prison population. He expected notoriety, maybe even dark fascination, when he entered the system. Instead, he got contempt — rejection from inmates who taunt him, mock him, and refuse to engage. For someone craving recognition, rejection can feel like psychological collapse. So why turn to serial offenders? Shavaun explores whether this is about validation, identity fusion, or the need to belong to a group he believes mirrors his own self-image. She also explains the recognizable profile of individuals who study violent offenders not to prevent harm — but because they identify with them emotionally or intellectually. Kohberger’s behavior is happening in tandem with his escalating demands and self-harm threats. These aren’t random, disconnected acts, Shavaun says — they’re part of a larger pattern: a man whose sense of identity relies heavily on external reinforcement. And inside prison, he’s not getting the reaction he believed he deserved. We also discuss why he clings so tightly to the “why” behind his crime — the one thing prosecutors never demanded and the one thing he refuses to give up. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #SerialOffenders #ShavaunScott #PrisonPsychology #TonyBrueski #CriminalIdentity #StatusDynamics #TrueCrimeAnalysis #PsychologicalProfiling 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

Jurors aren’t just weighing evidence in the Brian Walshe case — they’re weighing behavior. They’re deciding which version of events feels psychologically possible, which narrative aligns with human behavior, and which actions simply don’t match the story being told. Today, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us understand the psychological patterns prosecutors are highlighting. We explore why certain types of deception — calculated lies, rehearsed narratives, contradictory explanations — point to deeper issues than simple panic or misunderstanding. Shavaun walks us through the mechanics of deceit: how people maintain double lives, how they separate public persona from private behavior, and what happens internally when the truth starts closing in. We look at the early-morning searches revealed in court and discuss what they suggest about planning, awareness, and emotional state. We also examine the defense’s theory that Ana died suddenly and Brian responded in fear rather than violence. Shavaun explains what a real shock response looks like, how grief manifests, and why certain behaviors line up more with self-protection than panic. Then we broaden the view: the warning signs in troubled relationships, the risk spike when someone prepares to leave, the emotional danger of perceived betrayal, and what it means when financial motive intersects with escalating conflict. These are the patterns professionals see every day in cases that end in violence. Shavaun’s perspective gives viewers the tools to understand not only this case, but the psychology behind deception itself — and why credibility is often the real battleground inside the courtroom. #HiddenKillers #BrianWalsheTrial #PsychologyExplained #TrueCrimeInsights #ShavaunScott #CrimeBehavior #CourtroomCoverage #AnaWalshe #ManipulationTactics #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

Some cases are about evidence. Others are about timelines. The Brian Walshe case is about psychology — about behavior that doesn’t match the story being told. Today, we bring in psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to break down that gap and explain what the patterns reveal. We look at the alleged deception: the shifting narratives, the claims about Ana leaving for a spontaneous work trip, the hesitation to report her missing, the sudden insistence that “no one would believe” the truth. Shavaun walks us through why these types of explanations fit a known psychological profile — one where control, image management, and self-preservation override all else. Then we tackle the digital footprint prosecutors laid out: the early-morning searches, the questions about legal consequences, and the behavior that investigators say unfolded before anyone even realized Ana was missing. From a clinical perspective, Shavaun explains what this kind of preoccupation suggests about intent and mindset. We also dig into the deeper emotional framework: jealousy, perceived betrayal, financial desperation, and what happens when a relationship is crumbling under the weight of lies. Shavaun talks about how someone can publicly perform normalcy — even affection — while privately preparing for loss of control. For anyone trying to understand how deception works, how manipulators construct believable narratives, and how victims often sense danger before anyone else does, this conversation is essential. This isn’t speculation — it’s behavioral psychology applied to one of the most unsettling cases in recent memory. #HiddenKillers #BrianWalshe #ManipulationPsychology #TrueCrimeAnalysis #ShavaunScott #CrimeMindset #CourtroomBreakdown #AnaWalshe #DeceptiveBehavior #TrueCrimeChannel 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 Brian Walshe case is one of those situations where the behavior speaks louder than the words. And when the behavior is stacked next to the timeline, the digital searches, and the ever-shifting narratives, the discrepancy becomes the whole story. In this episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down what the psychology reveals — not in theory, but in the real patterns prosecutors say Brian Walshe followed. We’re looking at the contrast between everyday lies and the kind of calculated misdirection that reshapes reality for everyone around it. Shavaun brings decades of clinical experience to explain why certain behavioral choices — from early-morning Google searches to inconsistent statements to elaborate cover stories — raise red flags that aren’t just “suspicious” but psychologically telling. We analyze how serial deceivers rationalize their actions, why they believe they can outrun the truth, and how they maintain “normalcy” while living a double life. We also unpack the defense’s version of events: the claim that Ana Walshe suddenly passed away, that Brian panicked, and that the dismemberment and disposal were responses to shock. Shavaun walks us through what genuine shock looks like, what guilt looks like, and how investigators typically spot the difference. Then we widen the lens: what the psychology says about leaving dangerous relationships, why the time when a partner prepares to leave can be the most volatile, and how betrayal, financial stress, and loss of control can escalate risk in ways friends and family often overlook. If you’ve ever wondered how trained professionals evaluate credibility, deception, and emotional performance in cases like this, this is the breakdown you need. #HiddenKillers #BrianWalsheCase #DeceptionPsychology #TrueCrimeInsights #ShavaunScott #CrimeBreakdown #CourtAnalysis #AnaWalshe #TrueCrimeDaily #PsychologyUnmasked 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

Jurors aren’t just weighing evidence in the Brian Walshe case — they’re weighing behavior. They’re deciding which version of events feels psychologically possible, which narrative aligns with human behavior, and which actions simply don’t match the story being told. Today, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us understand the psychological patterns prosecutors are highlighting. We explore why certain types of deception — calculated lies, rehearsed narratives, contradictory explanations — point to deeper issues than simple panic or misunderstanding. Shavaun walks us through the mechanics of deceit: how people maintain double lives, how they separate public persona from private behavior, and what happens internally when the truth starts closing in. We look at the early-morning searches revealed in court and discuss what they suggest about planning, awareness, and emotional state. We also examine the defense’s theory that Ana died suddenly and Brian responded in fear rather than violence. Shavaun explains what a real shock response looks like, how grief manifests, and why certain behaviors line up more with self-protection than panic. Then we broaden the view: the warning signs in troubled relationships, the risk spike when someone prepares to leave, the emotional danger of perceived betrayal, and what it means when financial motive intersects with escalating conflict. These are the patterns professionals see every day in cases that end in violence. Shavaun’s perspective gives viewers the tools to understand not only this case, but the psychology behind deception itself — and why credibility is often the real battleground inside the courtroom. #HiddenKillers #BrianWalsheTrial #PsychologyExplained #TrueCrimeInsights #ShavaunScott #CrimeBehavior #CourtroomCoverage #AnaWalshe #ManipulationTactics #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

In this episode of Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to unpack the disturbing psychology and systemic collapse behind the escape of Morgan Geyser — the now-23-year-old woman who attempted a ritualistic Slender Man killing as a child, and who recently slipped out of a state-approved group home with a 42-year-old man after cutting off her GPS monitor. This wasn’t a locked facility. This wasn’t a secure psychiatric placement. This was a quiet residential street with families and kids — none of whom were told she was there. Tonight, we dig into the dangerous illusion of “stability” in cases like this. For years, Morgan lived in the tightly controlled structure of an institution. But structure can mask fragility. Compliance is not recovery. And what looked like stability to officials has now erupted into an interstate escape, a severed GPS bracelet, a fake name, and a bizarre “Google me” exchange with police. Shavaun walks us through the psychological landmines: • What her original violent delusion reveals about long-term risk • Why institutional calm can lull clinicians into false confidence • The overlooked red flags: dark material, troubling adult contacts • Why placing her in an unsecure group home was a catastrophic risk • What attachment to a much older man signals clinically • How quickly delusion-based distortions can return • The massive danger created when addresses are sealed from the public • Why relapse in psychosis can be invisible until it’s explosive And then there’s the system failure: When Morgan cut her GPS bracelet, the alert came in around 9:30 p.m. Police weren’t notified until nearly 12 hours later. For victims like Payton Leutner, this is a nightmare come back to life. For the public, it’s a warning about how dangerously optimistic the system can be when evaluating violent, delusion-based offenders. This episode pulls the curtain back on the psychology — and the failures — behind a case that never should have been allowed to unfold this way. #HiddenKillers #MorganGeyser #SlenderMan #TrueCrime #MentalHealth #Psychosis #SystemFailure #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #CrimeNews 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 sit down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to examine one of the most psychologically alarming missing-child cases in recent memory: the disappearance of nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard — and the unraveling mental state of her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, whose behavior seems to be spiraling far past “odd” and into a realm of fractured reality. This is a case defined by contradictions, delusion-like narratives, and a system trapped in its own limitations. Ashlee has claimed her house is bugged, that strangers are monitoring her, that law enforcement is tracking her every move, and that a mystery couple from a zoo — whose names she can’t provide — is caring for Melodee. Meanwhile, she’s deleting accounts, swapping plates, dismantling her digital life, and creating what looks disturbingly like a symbolic stand-in for Melodee on a pillow inside the home. And through all of this, Melodee hasn’t been heard from in nearly two months. Tonight, Shavaun breaks down the psychological red flags: • What paranoia and impaired reality-testing actually look like • Why her story shifts from day to day • What the “shrine” on the couch signals clinically • Whether the flight behaviors suggest panic, planning, or manic unraveling • Why calm, controlled behavior can mask severe internal instability • The danger to a child depending on a parent whose reality is fractured But the bigger story is the systemic failure: Why hasn’t Ashlee been detained? Why no psychiatric hold? Why can’t the system intervene when a child is missing and a parent is unraveling? Shavaun walks us through the brutal truth: unless someone meets the impossibly narrow legal standard of “imminent danger,” mental-health and child-welfare systems are often legally powerless — even when the red flags are blinking in neon. If you’re following the Buzzard case, this is the conversation you need to hear. #HiddenKillers #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrime #MissingChild #Psychology #MentalHealthCrisis #SystemFailure #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott 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, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us unravel two cases that shouldn’t be connected — but absolutely are. On one side: Ashlee Buzzard, a mother spiraling into paranoia, delusion, secrecy, and destabilization as her nine-year-old daughter, Melodee, remains missing. On the other: Morgan Geyser, the Slender Man attacker who escaped a state placement, cut her ankle monitor, crossed state lines with a 42-year-old man, and was found behind a truck stop. Two wildly different cases. One identical problem: a system incapable of responding to psychological danger until AFTER the damage is done. Shavaun takes us deep into the psychology behind both crises. In the Buzzard case, we look at fractured reality, shifting stories, conspiracy fears, digital erasure, symbolic “shrines,” and the psychological danger created when a child’s safety depends entirely on a parent who may no longer be tethered to shared reality — yet shows just enough calm to avoid involuntary intervention. In the Geyser case, we dig into the illusion of “recovery,” the fragility of delusion-based offenders, hidden addresses, overlooked red flags, troubling adult relationships, and the near-disastrous consequences of placing someone with her history in an unsecured neighborhood with nothing but a GPS bracelet — a bracelet that failed the moment it mattered. Both cases ask the same chilling questions: • Why can’t the system intervene before irreversible harm? • Why is “imminent danger” defined so narrowly it becomes meaningless? • How can someone be deeply unstable yet still appear compliant enough to avoid detection? • How many red flags does it take before a child or community is protected? This is a conversation about psychology, danger, and systemic blind spots — and why families, victims, and entire neighborhoods keep getting blindsided by crises everyone saw coming but nobody was legally allowed to stop. #HiddenKillers #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #MorganGeyser #SlenderMan #TrueCrime #MentalHealthCrisis #SystemFailure #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott 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 the shocking moment that shattered the illusion of Adelson family unity — Wendi Adelson’s refusal to testify for her mother, Donna, in one of Florida’s most explosive murder-for-hire trials. In a stunning pretrial twist, Donna’s defense team tried to subpoena her daughter, Wendi, hoping her testimony might humanize Donna or counterbalance the prosecution’s narrative. But Wendi’s lawyers fought back, arguing that testifying could incriminate her — and the judge agreed. The subpoena was tossed, meaning Wendi will not be forced to take the stand. It’s a moment that speaks volumes without a word being spoken. While Charlie Adelson, already convicted and serving life for his role in the 2014 murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel, steps forward to testify for his mother, Wendi stays silent. In a case built on loyalty, control, and manipulation, this silence may say more than any testimony ever could. Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott break down what this fracture reveals about the psychology of the Adelson family — how fear, guilt, and self-preservation drive behavior when the walls close in. They analyze how jurors are likely to interpret the sibling contrast: one child taking the stand for loyalty, another staying quiet to save herself. Does Wendi’s silence protect her, or does it make her look complicit? Then, defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis joins Tony to explore how this new dynamic could shift courtroom strategy. Could Donna’s team now push harder to put her on the stand herself, hoping to fill the emotional vacuum left by Wendi’s absence? And what will the state do with a family now publicly divided — a daughter refusing to help her mother, a son defending her from a prison cell? This isn’t just a trial about murder. It’s about the collapse of a dynasty built on influence and image, where loyalty has finally given way to self-preservation. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases That Exposed the Truth Behind the Facades. #DonnaAdelson #WendiAdelson #CharlieAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #EricFaddis #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderTrial #CourtroomDrama #FamilyBetrayal #HiddenKillersYearInReview 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 unpacking one of the most haunting psychological stories to emerge from the Gilgo Beach murders — the steadfast denial of Asa Ellerup, estranged wife of accused serial killer Rex Heuermann. Even as prosecutors present a mountain of evidence — DNA matches, hair fibers from family members found on victims, burner phones, and a detailed murder planning document — Asa still calls her husband her “hero.” She describes visiting him in jail as feeling like “a first date.” She smiles when she hears his voice. She insists their home — where police say the murders were plotted — could never be a crime scene. In this gripping psychological breakdown, retired FBI Behavioral Analyst Robin Dreeke joins Tony Brueski to dissect how trauma, denial, and love can merge into something that looks like loyalty but is really self-preservation. Dreeke explains how 27 years of marriage built what he calls a “truth infrastructure” — a psychological foundation so powerful that admitting betrayal feels more dangerous than believing the lie. He unpacks the mechanics of trauma bonding, cognitive dissonance, and protective blindness, explaining how the human brain often rejects unbearable truth to preserve emotional stability. Dreeke also explores how financial stress, illness, and media exploitation may amplify Asa’s denial — especially as she battles cancer, navigates public scrutiny, and faces criticism for participating in the Peacock documentary The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets. Then, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony to analyze the most disturbing moments captured on camera — including Rex’s recorded jail calls and Asa’s telling body language. Why does she close her eyes when confronted with evidence? Why does she describe love as something that would “hurt him”? Scott reveals how guilt, dependency, and unresolved trauma often trap partners of predators in cycles of emotional paralysis. Together, Dreeke and Scott piece together a portrait not just of denial — but of the psychological collateral damage left behind when a family’s reality is shattered by unimaginable truth. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Psychology, and The Human Blind Spots That Defined the Year. #AsaEllerup #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachMurders #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #RobinDreeke #ShavaunScott #TraumaBonding #SerialKillerPsychology #Denial #CognitiveDissonance #TrueCrimePodcast #LongIslandSerialKiller #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 one of the most disturbing and debated questions of the year: Was Bryan Kohberger just a socially awkward PhD student obsessed with criminology—or a meticulous killer hiding in plain sight? In this full-length breakdown, Tony Brueski sits down with former felony prosecutor and defense attorney Eric Faddis, and later, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott, to unravel both sides of the psychological and legal battlefield surrounding the Idaho student murder case. From disappearing cell phone signals to Amazon receipts allegedly showing purchases of masks and knives months before the crime, the evidence paints a chilling picture of intent and foresight. Prosecutors say these details form a digital breadcrumb trail of premeditation—a methodical pattern that includes turning off his phone during the murders, changing his license plates afterward, and buying a new knife sharpener like it was just another household necessity. Faddis breaks down how prosecutors could use this mountain of circumstantial evidence to prove intent and pattern, while the defense may counter with claims of coincidence—or even neurodivergence, arguing that Kohberger’s socially awkward behavior is being misinterpreted as malice. Could an autism spectrum defense help humanize him in front of a jury—or would it risk sounding like an excuse for cold, calculated planning? Then, Shavaun Scott joins Tony for the darker dive — exploring the unsettling parallels between Kohberger’s alleged actions and cinematic killers like Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) and Norman Bates (Psycho). From his mirror selfie and sterile composure to online alter egos like “Papa Rodger” commenting about the murders in real time, they examine how narcissism, ego, and obsession with control may have blended into performance. Was Kohberger studying criminology to understand crime—or to perfect it? And if these clues were left on purpose, what was the endgame: to prove superiority, or to be remembered? 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Minds, and The Obsessions That Defined the Year. #BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #EricFaddis #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #AmericanPsycho #PapaRodger #CriminalPsychology #CourtroomDrama #Premeditation #AutismDefense #Idaho4 #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 going beyond the headlines to examine the psychological machinery behind one of the most explosive celebrity trials of the decade — Sean “Diddy” Combs and the disturbing allegations that have shattered his empire. In this powerful two-part special, Tony Brueski is joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to break down the alleged behavioral profile of Diddy — not from a place of gossip, but through a clinical lens. Scott explores whether Combs’ reported actions align with narcissistic personality traits, psychopathic tendencies, and patterns of coercive control often seen in long-term cycles of abuse. From alleged emotional domination and financial control to threats, surveillance, and sexual coercion, Scott unpacks how power and pathology intertwine — and how high-profile abusers weaponize influence, fear, and fame to keep victims silent. It’s a chilling look at how manipulation can masquerade as charisma, and how the psychology of celebrity can distort accountability on a global scale. Then, in the second half, Tony delivers a full breakdown of the most pivotal week of the Diddy federal trial (June 12–16, 2025) — a stretch of testimony and evidence that could decide whether the hip-hop mogul spends life in prison or walks free. Among the bombshell moments: Six firearms with defaced serial numbers found near alleged “freak-off” supplies. Homeland Security’s discovery of AR-15 parts, drugs, and lubricants allegedly tied to a sex-trafficking operation. The emotional testimony of “Jane,” who confronted Diddy in court after describing years of abuse and coercion. Immunity witness Jonathan Perez, Diddy’s former assistant, whose drug procurement testimony both strengthened and complicated the government’s case. Kanye West’s surreal courthouse appearance, adding a spectacle to an already volatile trial. And the controversial dismissal of Juror #6, a decision now under scrutiny for potential bias. Together, these two lenses — the psychological and the procedural — reveal the full picture of a man once untouchable, now facing the reckoning of his own creation. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases That Redefined Power, Psychology, and Justice. #DiddyTrial #SeanCombs #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologicalAbuse #FederalTrial #CelebrityJustice #CoerciveControl #Narcissism #Psychopathy #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 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 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

When the Epstein files go public, the biggest shock won’t be a single name — it will be the realization of how many institutions failed, looked away, or quietly enabled a predator to operate at the highest levels of society. And once that truth lands, America is going to feel something profound: institutional betrayal. In this riveting one-hour discussion, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dig into the psychology of what happens when the public discovers that the systems they trusted were protecting someone like Jeffrey Epstein. Governments. Universities. Financial institutions. Social circles. Even media figures. When the public sees how interconnected it all was, trust fractures — sometimes permanently. Shavaun explains why institutional betrayal wounds deeper than individual harm, why people struggle to process wrongdoing by powerful figures, and why this release may cause a destabilizing but necessary shift in how Americans view power, authority, and accountability. We explore the psychological whiplash of discovering that “the system worked” was a myth. Why people defend public figures out of identity rather than fact. And why denial becomes a survival mechanism when the truth feels too big to accept. Most importantly, we examine what healing could look like — how truth, even painful truth, can be the beginning of a more honest national conversation about abuse, complicity, and institutional decay. This interview isn’t about politics. It’s about psychology. And it’s about what happens when a country finally sees what was in the dark. #HiddenKillers #EpsteinFiles #InstitutionalBetrayal #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeAnalysis #PowerAndAbuse #Psychology #NationalTrauma #MentalHealth 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 public sees headlines. Survivors feel earthquakes. As the full Epstein files move toward release, America is fixated on the political implications. But for the survivors of Epstein and his network, this is something else entirely — a psychological rupture, a reopening of wounds, a wave of validation mingled with dread. And that emotional reality often gets lost in the noise. In this gripping conversation, Tony Brueski is joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to break down what this moment truly means for survivors, both publicly known and privately suffering. Shavaun explains why major truth-reveals can reactivate trauma stored deep in the body. Why survivors can experience physical symptoms, flashbacks, emotional volatility, or sudden dissociation when their stories re-enter public consciousness. And why validation — even when desperately needed — is not always simple, gentle, or healing in the moment. We also explore the psychological impact on families of survivors, who have carried their own secondary trauma for years. Many will watch their loved ones relive the past. Others will face the public glare, the online chaos, and the uncertainty that comes with knowing what the files might reveal. And beyond survivors, Shavaun addresses something the public rarely considers: how this national moment may trigger people who were never directly connected to Epstein at all — anyone with a personal history of abuse, betrayal, or institutional failure. This episode is a raw, compassionate, deeply informed look at the human cost behind the headlines. #HiddenKillers #EpsteinFiles #ShavaunScott #Trauma #SurvivorVoices #TonyBrueski #PsychologicalImpact #TruthAndHealing #MentalHealthMatters #TrueCrimePodcast 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 Epstein files are about to drop — not rumors, not whispers, not selectively leaked scraps — the full trove of documents America has spent years demanding. And while the legal system prepares for its moment, the rest of the country is bracing for something far deeper: the psychological shockwave that comes when long-buried truth finally hits daylight. In this powerful hour-long conversation, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to examine the emotional and psychological fallout that is about to ripple through millions of people. From survivors who will relive their trauma in real time, to families who have carried the weight of these stories for decades, to a public that is finally about to see how deeply Epstein’s influence reached — nothing about this moment is simple. Shavaun breaks down why this case carries such heavy emotional gravity, why institutional betrayal hits harder than individual wrongdoing, and how the human brain reacts when long-hidden truths collide with years of speculation, denial, conspiracy, and political posturing. We explore the trauma responses that may surface for survivors. The panic, defensiveness, and rationalization likely to erupt from those whose names appear in the documents. The wave of cognitive dissonance the public will feel when familiar faces and trusted institutions are forced into the spotlight. And the psychological mechanisms — shame, fear, denial — that will shape the national conversation in the days and weeks after release. This isn’t just a news event. This is a national psychological event. And Shavaun Scott helps us understand exactly what that means. #HiddenKillers #EpsteinFiles #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimeAnalysis #Psychology #TraumaRecovery #EpsteinCase #InstitutionalBetrayal #MentalHealth 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