Unlawful Acts

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the disturbing crimes of Robert Ben Rhoades, a long-haul truck driver who used America’s interstate system as his hunting ground. Known as the Truck Stop Killer, Rhoades spent years traveling across the country while secretly abducting and torturing victims inside a specially modified sleeper cab designed for captivity. Authorities believe Rhoades may be connected to dozens of disappearances across multiple states throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. His crimes came to light after a routine traffic stop revealed a horrifying scene inside his truck — one that exposed a hidden world of violence, manipulation, and calculated cruelty. In this episode, we break down how Rhoades operated, how he evaded detection for years, and the moment law enforcement finally uncovered the truth behind one of the most chilling serial killer cases connected to America’s highways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late summer of 1990, the quiet college town of Gainesville, Florida became the center of a nightmare that would shock the entire country. Over the course of just a few days, five University of Florida students were brutally murdered in their own apartments, sending waves of fear through the campus and beyond. In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we break down the horrifying crimes of the man who would become known as the Gainesville Ripper. We examine how the killings unfolded, the investigative mistakes and breakthroughs that followed, and how one of Florida’s most notorious serial killers was finally identified. We also explore the psychology behind the crimes, the atmosphere of panic that gripped the university community, and the lasting impact these murders had on law enforcement and campus safety across the country. This is the story of a case that paralyzed a city, terrified a generation of students, and ultimately exposed the dark reality hiding in plain sight. If you enjoy deep dives into the minds behind the crimes and the systems built to stop them, Unlawful Acts takes you inside the investigation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the chilling case of Robert Shulman — the Brooklyn mailroom worker who lived a quiet double life as a serial killer. Known as the “Mailroom Murderer,” Shulman targeted vulnerable women in New York during the mid-1990s, evading detection while maintaining the appearance of an ordinary family man. But when investigators began connecting the dots, the truth behind his crimes unraveled quickly. We break down the timeline of the murders, the investigative breakthroughs that led to his arrest, and the disturbing psychology behind a man who hid in plain sight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For nearly two decades, women began disappearing along the Green River in Washington State. Many were young, vulnerable, and living on the margins of society. Their cases were overlooked, their names forgotten—until investigators uncovered a pattern that would lead to one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we break down the crimes of the Green River Killer, the massive investigation that spanned decades, and the man at the center of it all: Gary Ridgway. From his early life and disturbing psychology to the forensic breakthroughs that finally brought him to justice, this is the full story behind the case that haunted a generation. Who were the victims? How did he avoid capture for so long? And what finally stopped him? This is the true story of the Green River Killer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we dive into one of the most shocking mass murder cases in California history. Juan Corona was a quiet farm labor contractor in the small town of Yuba City—until authorities uncovered a gruesome secret buried in the orchards. Between 1970 and 1971, Corona lured vulnerable migrant workers to their deaths, leaving behind a trail of violence that stunned the nation. As investigators began to dig, the scale of the horror came into focus. Body after body was discovered, many brutally attacked with a machete, turning the rural farmland into a chilling crime scene. Questions quickly arose about Corona’s mental health, his past, and whether warning signs had been missed. In this episode, we explore the investigation, the disturbing evidence, the courtroom battles, and the legacy of one of America’s deadliest serial killers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the disturbing case of Mark Barton, the day trader whose financial losses and unraveling personal life culminated in one of the most shocking mass shootings in Atlanta history. In July 1999, Barton carried out a brutal series of attacks that began inside his own home and ended in two brokerage offices, leaving multiple victims and a city searching for answers. What appeared to be a story about money and market losses quickly revealed a much darker past—one filled with violence, deception, and earlier suspicious deaths. This episode explores Barton’s troubled history, the warning signs that went unnoticed, and the events that led to the tragic shootings. We break down the timeline, the psychology behind the crimes, and how this case continues to be remembered as one of the most chilling examples of financial desperation turning into mass violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the case of Russell Williams, a man trusted with national security, elite power, and absolute authority — who was living a violent double life in plain sight. Known publicly as “The Base Commander,” Williams was a decorated colonel in the Canadian Air Force, commanding one of the country’s most important military bases. Privately, he was committing a series of escalating crimes fueled by control, secrecy, and compulsion — burglaries, sexual violence, and murder — all while maintaining the image of discipline and honor. This episode traces how unchecked authority, entitlement, and secrecy allowed Williams to operate undetected, how investigators finally connected the dots, and why his calm demeanor during interrogation remains one of the most chilling aspects of the case. Unlawful Acts explores not just what he did — but how someone so trusted was able to become so dangerous, and what this case reveals about power, blind spots, and the lies we accept when someone wears a uniform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than two decades, Los Angeles was haunted by a predator hiding in plain sight. Known as the Grim Sleeper, Lonnie Franklin Jr. murdered women across South Los Angeles while living a seemingly ordinary life as a father, neighbor, and friend. In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the full scope of Franklin’s crimes — from the earliest victims to the long gaps that earned him his chilling nickname. We explore how systemic failures, overlooked victims, and advances in forensic genealogy ultimately led to his arrest, and what this case reveals about serial offenders who evade capture for decades. This is not just the story of a killer — it’s an examination of how violence persists in the shadows, how communities are failed, and how justice can arrive far too late. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aileen Wuornos shocked the world when she was arrested for killing seven men along Florida highways in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Branded by the media as a monster and sensationalized as a femme fatale, Wuornos quickly became one of the most infamous figures in true-crime history. But behind the headlines lies a far more complex and disturbing story—one shaped by severe childhood abuse, abandonment, mental illness, and life on the margins of society. As a sex worker living on the road, Wuornos claimed her killings were acts of self-defense. Prosecutors argued they were calculated murders driven by rage and desperation. In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the full arc of Aileen Wuornos’ life—from her traumatic upbringing to her crimes, trials, and eventual execution—while unpacking how gender, media narratives, and public fear influenced the way her story was told. We ask the uncomfortable questions: Was Wuornos purely a predator, a victim of circumstance, or something far more complicated? This is not just the story of a killer—it’s a deeper look at how society decides who is beyond redemption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For more than 40 years, Joseph DeAngelo terrorized California — committing dozens of home invasions, sexual assaults, and murders while evading every attempt to stop him. Known to the public as The Golden State Killer, DeAngelo operated across multiple jurisdictions, constantly evolving his methods. He stalked neighborhoods, studied victims, taunted law enforcement, and vanished without leaving evidence strong enough to identify him. Investigators suspected he was highly trained — possibly law enforcement or military — but the case went cold for decades. On this episode of Unlawful Acts, we break down: Who Joseph DeAngelo really was The timeline of crimes spanning Northern and Southern California How his behavior escalated from burglary to rape to murder The psychological profile behind his need for control and fear Why law enforcement failed to catch him for so long How genetic genealogy finally exposed the man hiding in plain sight This case reshaped criminal investigations forever and proved that time does not protect predators. Justice didn’t come quickly — but it came. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 2 of our DC Snipers series, Unlawful Acts shifts deeper into the heart of Washington, D.C., as the attacks escalate and the city descends into fear. With the nation’s capital on edge, random shootings continue to strike gas stations, sidewalks, schools, and parking lots—turning everyday routines into calculated risks. Investigators scramble to connect the dots as conflicting witness accounts, misleading clues, and mounting political pressure complicate the manhunt. This episode focuses on the DC-area crimes themselves: the victims’ stories, the psychological warfare created by the randomness of the attacks, and the massive law enforcement response that still struggled to stop the violence. As John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo refine their methods, the pattern becomes clearer—but only in hindsight. Part 2 exposes how close authorities were to the truth, how far off they sometimes were, and how an entire region lived under the shadow of an unseen sniper. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Part 1 of our deep dive into the DC Snipers, we trace the origins of the killers long before the terror began. This episode uncovers John Allen Muhammad’s troubled past, his descent into instability, and the events that set the stage for his deadly partnership with 17-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo. We explore their early connection, the psychological grip Muhammad held over Malvo, and the twisted father-son dynamic that fueled their path toward violence. From their movements across the country to the planning that would later paralyze an entire region, Part 1 lays the groundwork for understanding how two lives converged into one of the most chilling criminal collaborations in American history. This is the story before the shots — the making of the DC Snipers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

n this explosive episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the chilling manifesto, secret life, and deadly crimes of Ted Kaczynski—the Harvard-educated mathematics genius who became one of America’s most infamous domestic terrorists, known to the world as The Unabomber. From a remote Montana cabin, Kaczynski mailed homemade bombs to universities, airlines, and tech leaders—killing three and injuring dozens over a 17-year campaign against modern society. His writings warned of the dangers of industrialization and technological control—but his method of delivery was destruction. We trace Kaczynski’s early brilliance, his descent into radicalization, and the FBI's years-long manhunt that ended with one of the most important forensic breakthroughs in history: linguistic profiling. This is the story of a mind at war—with society, with progress, and ultimately, with itself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this icy cold episode of Unlawful Acts, we dive into the chilling world of Richard Kuklinski, the notorious contract killer known as The Iceman. For decades, Kuklinski led a double life—devoted family man at home, and ruthless assassin for the mob by night. His nickname came not only from his emotionless demeanor, but from his method of freezing bodies to obscure time of death. With over 100 suspected murders to his name, Kuklinski operated with brutal efficiency—poison, guns, knives, and even cyanide-laced food were all part of his deadly toolkit. But behind the calculated kills was a deeply disturbed mind shaped by childhood abuse, street violence, and an insatiable hunger for power and control. We uncover how he kept his crimes hidden for so long, the mafia connections that fueled his killing spree, and the jaw-dropping interviews that revealed just how far a man will go to silence his conscience. This is the story of a killer who showed no mercy—and left bodies on ice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the gripping conclusion of Unlawful Acts: The Fox Hollow Farm Killer, investigators close in on Herb Baumeister, unraveling a web of lies that stretches from suburban Indianapolis to the chilling discovery buried beneath his property. As authorities uncover bones scattered across the wooded estate, the horrifying scale of Baumeister’s crimes finally comes to light. Through forensic revelations, survivor testimony, and haunting police reports, this episode exposes how one man’s secret life became one of the most shocking serial murder cases in American history. The search for the missing ends here — at Fox Hollow Farm. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this first part of a two-episode special, Unlawful Acts unearths the beginnings of one of America’s most chilling true-crime cases — the story of Herb Baumeister, the wealthy Indiana businessman who hid a horrifying secret behind the gates of his estate, Fox Hollow Farm. Beneath the surface of suburban success, Baumeister lived a double life — one of control, deception, and deadly obsession. As young men from Indianapolis began disappearing, no one could have imagined the dark truth that would soon surface. From his early psychological unraveling to the first signs of violence, this episode traces the disturbing evolution of a killer who hid in plain sight. Step inside the walls of Fox Hollow Farm — where the line between respectability and evil begins to blur. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this haunting episode of Unlawful Acts, we unravel the terrifying case of Richard Cottingham, better known as The Torso Killer—a man whose crimes shocked even the most seasoned investigators. Operating throughout the 1970s and 80s in New Jersey and New York, Cottingham targeted women in a spree of sadistic violence that included torture, mutilation, and dismemberment. Known for leaving behind only the torsos of his victims, Cottingham evaded capture for years while living a seemingly normal life as a husband, father, and computer operator. But behind closed doors, he was committing some of the most brutal and disturbing murders in modern history. We examine the chilling methods, the forensic breakthroughs that exposed him, and his twisted confessions that continue to surface even decades later. This is not just a story of murder—it’s a descent into madness. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this deeply unsettling episode of Unlawful Acts, we investigate the cold and calculated crimes of Alexander Pichushkin, infamously known as The Chessboard Killer. Operating in Moscow’s Bitsa Park, Pichushkin set out to murder one person for every square on a chessboard—64 victims in total. What began with a single act of revenge spiraled into a horrifying spree targeting the elderly, the vulnerable, and those who trusted him. With shocking intelligence and a complete lack of remorse, Pichushkin documented his kills and played a deadly game with the lives of strangers. We explore his twisted psychology, the failures that allowed him to continue for years, and the chilling legacy of one of Russia’s most prolific modern serial killers. This is a story of obsession, manipulation, and murder—played move by move. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this nightmarish episode of Unlawful Acts, we investigate the chilling double life of John Wayne Gacy—beloved community member by day, sadistic serial killer by night. Known as the “Killer Clown” for performing at children's parties as Pogo the Clown, Gacy used charm, status, and manipulation to lure young men and boys into his suburban Chicago home—never to be seen again. We retrace the horrifying trail of over 30 murders, the twisted psychology behind his crimes, and the shocking discoveries made beneath his house of horrors. From his political connections to his gruesome confessions, this episode reveals how a predator can walk among us—smiling, smiling, always smiling. Step behind the mask of the Killer Clown—and into one of the darkest chapters in American criminal history. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this disturbing episode of Unlawful Acts, we delve into the terrifying mind of Edmund Kemper—one of America’s most calculating serial killers, known as the Co-Ed Killer. Towering at 6’9” with an IQ of 145, Kemper used his intelligence, charm, and sheer physical power to manipulate and murder with chilling precision. We explore his troubled childhood, his early killings at just 15, and the brutal spree that followed his release—targeting young female hitchhikers across California. From necrophilic fantasies to the horrifying murder of his own mother, Kemper’s story is a psychological descent into pure evil. This episode pulls no punches as we dissect the methods, motivations, and madness behind a killer who sought not just control—but complete domination. Step inside the fractured mind of the Co-Ed Killer—and discover the horror that hid in plain sight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices