Serial Napper | True Crime Stories for Naps

In the early morning hours of October 27, 2006, Dennis Hoy was killed as he slept in his girlfriend’s bed in Etobicoke, Ontario. At first, the story sounded almost tidy. An intruder. A shower running. A crime that appeared sudden and external. But this case was never simple. What followed was a tangled investigation involving a secret relationship, rehearsed narratives, a confession that was never heard by a jury, and two women whose stories changed depending on who needed protecting. In this episode, we examine the murder of Dennis Hoy and the cases against Nicola Puddicombe and Ashleigh Pechaluk. We walk through the plan that was discussed before the murder, the night Dennis was killed, and the police investigation that initially appeared resolved, until it wasn’t. Pechaluk’s confession was ruled inadmissible due to a Charter violation, leading to her acquittal, and the focus later shifted to Puddicombe. We explore the trial that followed, where jurors were shown a videotaped confession they were never allowed to see in the original case, and were asked to decide which version of events could survive cross-examination. This is a case about unreliable confessions, distorted loyalties, and the uncomfortable reality that legal outcomes don’t always provide emotional certainty. Sources: https://www.canlii.org/en/on/onca/doc/2013/2013onca506/2013onca506.html https://globalnews.ca/news/11546862/toronto-woman-axe-murder-trial/ https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/this-was-my-only-son-jury-told/article_504bd1ab-fce6-5f07-8305-ebd613cb85f6.html https://torontosun.com/opinion/columnists/new-girlfriend-of-axe-murderer-seeking-early-parole-is-a-child-killer https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/jury-rules-toronto-woman-serving-life-sentence-for-axe-murder-of-boyfriend-is-now-eligible/article_f5d41159-7f11-4352-952e-9ed995aa16ee.html https://toronto.citynews.ca/2009/10/16/trial-shocker-video-confession-from-acquitted-lover-of-axe-murder-accused/  https://canadianmedialawyers.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/Rv.Puddicombe_2009_ONSC_92188.pdf Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On May 7, 1992, three young men broke into a McDonald’s restaurant in Sydney River, Cape Breton, Nova Scotia, planning to rob the safe and walk away with easy money. Instead, the night ended in one of the most shocking crimes in Canadian history. Three McDonald’s employees were murdered.One young woman survived with permanent, life-altering injuries.And a small community was left forever changed. In this episode of Serial Napper, we break down the Sydney River McDonald’s robbery step by step. From the months of planning and betrayal by an employee on the inside, to the moments when compliance wasn’t enough to stop the violence. We also explore the investigation, trials, and parole decisions that continue to haunt the victims’ families decades later. This is a story about greed, escalation, and how violence can erupt in the most ordinary places, during the most routine moments. Sources: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/full-parole-for-cape-breton-mcdonalds-murders-convict-1.7158681 https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-sole-survivor-of-1992-mcdonalds-murders-in-nova-scotia-dies-at-46/  https://thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/sydney-river-mcdonalds-murders https://www.saltwire.com/atlantic-canada/day-parole-extended-for-freeman-macneil-one-of-three-convicted-in-1992-mcdonalds-slayings-100870464 https://globalnews.ca/news/10390253/mcdonalds-murders-freeman-macneil-full-parole-granted/ Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Five members of one family were found shot to death inside their home in Dunedin, New Zealand. Parents Robin Bain and Margaret Bain, along with their children Arawa (19), Laniet (18), and Stephen (14), were all killed in the early morning hours of June 20, 1994. The only person left alive was the eldest son, David Bain, who said he had been out delivering newspapers at the time of the murders. Inside the house, police discovered a chilling message typed on the family computer:“Sorry, you are the only one who deserved to stay.” What followed was one of the most controversial and divisive criminal cases in New Zealand’s history. In this episode of Serial Napper, we take a deep dive into the Bain family murders, a case that has split public opinion for decades. We examine the deeply dysfunctional family dynamic, the disturbing events leading up to the killings, and the two competing theories that continue to fuel debate. This is a case where the courts delivered a verdict, but never certainty.Where five people lost their lives.And where the truth may have died with them. Sources:https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/519710/bain-family-murders-30-years-on-case-continues-to-grip-the-public https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/the-bain-murders-30-years-on-where-is-david-why-are-kiwis-obsessed-with-this-case-and-why-his-lawyer-says-questions-remain/ML6FZENSGBFRHPIH3IQZNJWX3I/ https://www.nowtolove.co.nz/news/real-life/the-case-that-gripped-new-zealand-the-bain-murders-25-years-on-43581/ https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/bain-david.htm https://newsroom.co.nz/2020/12/02/book-of-the-week-phil-taylor-on-martin-van-beynen/ https://interactives.stuff.co.nz/blackhands/evidence/ Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Christmas morning in 2011, in Anaheim, California, children opened their presents just feet away from their mother’s body. Za’Zell Preston was 26 years old, a mother of three, a dancer, and a full-time college student studying to become a domestic violence counselor. Seven weeks postpartum, she was trying to build a future for herself and her children while trapped in a violent and controlling marriage. Her husband, William Wallace, had a documented history of abusing Za’Zell. He had been arrested before. He had spent time in jail. Family members had warned police. The danger was known. On Christmas Eve, after attending a neighbour’s party, Wallace beat Za’Zell to death inside their apartment. Instead of calling for help, he staged her body on the couch, placed sunglasses over her eyes, and waited for morning. He allowed Christmas to happen around her. In this episode of Serial Napper, we examine the murder of Za’Zell Preston, the calculated staging that followed, and the chilling performance of normalcy that unfolded in front of her children. We walk through the investigation, the trial, and the forensic evidence that dismantled Wallace’s version of events, leading to his conviction for second-degree murder. Listener discretion advised. This episode includes discussions of extreme domestic violence and the presence of children in the aftermath. Souces:https://nypost.com/2021/06/07/man-who-killed-wife-propped-up-body-while-kids-opened-presents-sentenced/ https://www.ocregister.com/2012/05/25/column-suspect-says-he-creamed-zazell/ https://people.com/crime/man-convicted-murder-after-killing-wife-having-kids-open-christmas-gifts-in-front-body/ https://lawbirdie.com/criminal-case-study-murder-of-zazell-preston/ https://lasentinel.net/christmas-day-killing-of-wife-in-anaheim-heads-to-jury.html Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On May 27, 2020, Nick Cordova, a 40-year-old husband and father of two, was murdered inside his Gilbert, Arizona HVAC business while he was on FaceTime with his children. Nick was shot in broad daylight.Surveillance footage exists.A vehicle of interest was identified. And more than five years later, no one has been arrested. In this episode, we walk through who Nick Cordova was before his life was violently cut short, the final FaceTime call that unfolded in real time, and the unanswered questions that continue to surround his case. We also examine what police have said publicly, the surveillance video released weeks after the murder, and why this investigation still feels unfinished years later. Nick was known as a tireless worker, a devoted husband, and a deeply involved father. He was building a future for his family, not walking away from it. Today, his wife, Alysha continues to fight for answers while raising their children, Cruize and Capri, on her own. This episode exists to keep Nick’s case in the spotlight and to remind listeners that this story is far from over. Alysha has created a GoFundMe to help cover legal expenses, private investigative work, and continued efforts to pursue accountability and justice for Nick. If you’re able to donate, it helps support that ongoing fight. https://gofund.me/36bbab3ea Sources: https://www.facebook.com/justice.cordova https://www.instagram.com/noisefornick https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/who-killed-nick-cordova-fathers-murder-heard-over-facetime-remains-unsolved-gilbert-pd https://websleuths.com/threads/az-nick-cordova-40-murder-caught-on-surveillance-video-gilbert-may-27-2020.536280/page-11 https://www.abc15.com/news/region-southeast-valley/gilbert/nick-cordovas-family-pushing-for-answers-five-years-later Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In November 2025, Rebecca Kay Park vanished from Boon Township, Michigan, just days to weeks before she was due to give birth to her third son. Within 24 hours, her phone turned up near a rural two-track road. Three weeks later, Rebecca’s body was discovered deep in the Manistee National Forest...her unborn son missing. What followed was a horrifying investigation that uncovered a maze of family secrets, shifting stories, disturbing text messages, and alleged admissions from those closest to her. According to court documents, this was not a random attack or a disappearance gone wrong. Prosecutors allege it was a calculated, targeted act involving the people Rebecca should have been safest with: her biological mother and stepfather. Sources: https://midmichigannow.com/resources/pdf/5765d274-c7ce-4023-8309-54e9b6cda2c0-PARKPCAFFIDAVIT.pdf https://upnorthlive.com/news/local/court-documents-reveal-chilling-details-in-rebecca-park-case-as-next-hearing-is-scheduled-bartholomew-wexford-pregnant-baby https://upnorthlive.com/resources/pdf/62f89a69-ac34-450d-aa6d-57a36b149dff-CORTNEYBARTHOLOMEWPCAFFIDAVIT.pdf https://www.mlive.com/news/2025/12/suspected-burial-sites-and-human-remains-what-a-search-warrant-reveals-in-the-rebecca-park-case.html https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2025/12/04/rebecca-parks-sister-and-fianc-released-from-jail-after-posting-bond/87612412007/ https://www.union-bulletin.com/news/national/adoptive-mom-of-pregnant-wexford-victim-tried-to-protect-her-knew-suspect-was-dangerous/article_85cb81a0-41e5-5b56-b6d2-d9cc28e2a8cf.html Support the Show: Visit http://www.HelloFresh.com/NAPPER10FM to Get 10 Free Meals + a Free breakfast for Life! One per box with active subscription. Free meals applied as discount on first box, new subscribers only, varies by plan. Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tonight, we’re diving into the heartbreaking life and death of Daisy Coleman, the teenager at the center of the Netflix documentary Audrie & Daisy, whose fight for justice and advocacy for other survivors changed the national conversation around sexual assault. This isn’t a murder case, but it is a tragedy that exposes something deeply broken in the systems meant to protect children. Daisy survived the unthinkable at fourteen, only to be betrayed by her town, her school, and a justice system that bent under the weight of a powerful last name. She went on to become a fierce advocate, co-founding SafeBAE and helping thousands of survivors… all while battling the trauma that never let her go. In this episode, we walk through Daisy’s early life, the assault in Maryville, the shocking collapse of the investigation, the rise of Audrie & Daisy, her years of advocacy, and the devastating losses that shaped her final chapter. We also look at the cultural moment surrounding her case: Steubenville, Brock Turner, and the growing awareness of how often powerful boys are protected while girls are sacrificed. Daisy deserved safety. She deserved justice. And she deserved a future that wasn’t defined by what was done to her. If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255). Sources: https://www.robersonpolleychapel.com/obituary/catherine-daisy-coleman  https://abcnews.go.com/US/newly-released-documents-tapes-maryville-teen-alleged-rape/ https://www.npr.org/2013/10/17/236307720/nearly-two-years-later-a-controversial-rape-case-is-reviewed https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/Daisy-Coleman-sexual-assault-survivor-turned-15461696.php https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/life-after-sexual-assault-inside-harrowing-doc-audrie-daisy-101595/ Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In October 2008, 21-year-old Dylan Koshman walked out the back door of a south Edmonton home after a late-night fight with his cousins… and was never seen again. No jacket. No wallet. No phone. No trace. What looked at first like a young man storming off in anger quickly became something much darker. Dylan’s phone and wallet were later found in a neighbour’s yard. Multiple 911 calls reported fighting outside the house. The stories from the people inside that night never fully aligned. And nine years after he vanished, the Edmonton Police Service quietly upgraded his case from a missing-person file to a homicide investigation. Over 16 years later, Dylan’s family is still waiting for answers, and someone out there may hold the missing piece. If you know anything about the disappearance of Dylan Koshman, even something that felt unimportant at the time, please contact Edmonton Police or Please Bring Me Home. Sources: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/199681921/dylan-koshman https://www.facebook.com/helpfinddylankoshman/ https://youtu.be/ps9771aPntE?si=qxelk2xXiBjB2sny https://globalnews.ca/news/10011796/dylan-koshman-disappearance-15-years-later/  https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/edmonton/dylan-koshman-edmonton-missing-person-homicide-investigation-1.4037783 Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9-year-old Melodee Buzzard vanished in October after a cross-country trip with her mother, and the story behind her disappearance keeps getting stranger. Her last confirmed sighting was near the Colorado–Utah state line. Days later, her mother returned to Lompoc alone, with swapped license plates, changing statements, and no explanation for where Melodee went. In this episode, I break down the complex timeline: the surveillance footage, the multi-state route, the allegations that Melodee was left with a Utah “zoo couple,” and the disturbing claim that Ashlee cut Melodee’s face out of missing posters inside her home. Private investigators now believe Melodee may still be close to Lompoc. If you have information about Melodee’s whereabouts, contact authorities at (805) 681-4150. Sources: https://www.foxnews.com/us/missing-melodee-buzzard-mother-allegedly-told-man-she-left-daughter-with-strangers-she-met-zoo-report https://www.cnn.com/2025/11/12/us/melodee-buzzard-disappearance-timeline https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-ashlee-buzzard-armed-box-cutter-falsely-imprisoned/story?id=127461848 https://www.foxnews.com/us/melodee-buzzard-mom-plotted-cut-off-missing-9-year-old-from-entire-world-grandma-says https://www.newsnationnow.com/banfield/ashlee-buzzard-cut-daughters-face-posters-pi/ Visit our Sponsor: Go to HelloFresh.com/napper10fm now to get 10 Free Meals + a Free breakfast for Life! Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25-year-old Chance Englebert vanished without a trace after a tense holiday weekend argument in July 2019. He walked away from his in-laws’ home in Gering, Nebraska, during a storm and was never seen alive again. For years, his case sat in that agonizing space between hope and heartbreak...until now. In October 2025, remains were discovered at Scott’s Bluff National Monument. They have now been positively identified as Chance. After six long years of searching, Chance has finally been found, though his story is still far from answered. This heartbreaking update reshapes the case but does not resolve it. There are still countless questions about what happened that night, how he ended up there, and what he may have encountered on his walk. In this episode of Serial Napper, I walk through the timeline of Chance’s final hours, his last known movements, and the clues that fueled one of the most perplexing searches in recent history. I also break down the discoveries made by a private investigator, conflicting witness accounts, and the leading theories that continue to swirl, including possible foul play. We talk through the speculation, the community efforts, the emotional toll on Chance’s family, and the many unresolved threads that still demand answers. This episode was originally released as a Patreon exclusive, but with this new development, it is being made public in honour of Chance. Sources: https://cowboystatedaily.com/2024/06/30/new-leads-but-not-much-progress-finding-moorcroft-man-missing-for-5-years/ https://www.facebook.com/findchanceenglebert/ https://wyomingtruth.org/still-no-answers-for-family-of-missing-moorcroft-man-as-reward-expires/ https://wyomingtruth.org/arm-bone-recovered-in-nebraska-not-remains-of-missing-moorcroft-man/ https://uncovered.com/cases/chance-leslie-englebert#timeline Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On December 30th, 2000, the Miyazawa family murders shocked Japan and became one of the most chilling unsolved murder cases in Japanese history. In the quiet Tokyo suburb of Setagaya, 44-year-old Mikio Miyazawa, his wife Yasuko, and their children Niina and Rei were brutally killed inside their home — a crime now known globally as The Setagaya Family Murders or simply The Miyazawa Family Murder Case. What makes this case infamous isn’t just that it remains unsolved. It’s what the killer did after. The suspect stayed inside the home for hours. He ate the family’s food, drank their tea, browsed their computer, tended to his injuries, and even slept on their couch before disappearing without a trace. Despite leaving behind DNA, fingerprints, clothing, and dozens of forensic clues, the killer has never been identified. This episode breaks down the facts, theories, and evidence behind one of Japan’s most haunting cold cases — a case that continues to baffle detectives 25 years later. If you're interested in unsolved mysteries, Japanese true crime, cold cases, international murder cases, or the Setagaya murders, this episode is one you won’t forget. Sources: http://www.asahi.com/articles/ASHDX0FNNHDCUTIL02K.html  http://web.archive.org/web/20150322223518/http://www3.nhk.or.jp/news/html/20150323/k10010024731000.html https://japantoday.com/category/crime/setagaya-family-murders-remain-unsolved-after-24-years-1 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-29/the-house-of-horrors-in-setagaya-japan/11771304 Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On New Year’s Night, 2008, fifteen-year-old Amy Fitzpatrick left her best friend’s home in Calahonda, Spain, for what should have been a short walk back to her house. She never arrived. No CCTV, no belongings left behind, no confirmed sightings. Just a child who stepped into the dark and vanished. This episode dives deep into the chaotic months leading up to Amy’s disappearance, the instability at home, and the fractured relationships that made her so vulnerable. We examine the major theories, from the runaway assumption to the possibility of a stranger abduction, to darker suspicions involving gangland figures, and the complicated family dynamics that continue to shadow the case nearly two decades later. Seventeen years on, Amy’s father continues to beg for answers. Her friends still hold suspicions they’re afraid to say out loud. And Spanish police still classify her disappearance as a “missing persons” case—despite everything. Someone knows what happened to Amy Fitzpatrick. And it’s long past time they speak. Sources:https://www.searchforamy.com/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/lifestyle/article-14486469/The-eerie-case-child-went-missing-abroad-just-months-Madeleine-McCann-Amy-Fitzpatrick-disappeared-middle-night-family-Spain-17-years-no-answers.html https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/mother-missing-amy-fitzpatrick-needs-32239153 https://www.facebook.com/amyfor https://www.irishmirror.ie/all-about/amy-fitzpatrick https://www.independent.ie/regionals/herald/amy-made-it-home-before-she-disappeared-pal-who-last-saw-her/39380329.html https://www.dublinlive.ie/news/dublin-news/amy-fitzpatrick-man-goes-back-12510493 Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1995, 15-year-old Elyse Pahler disappeared from her home in Arroyo Grande, California. For months, police brushed her off as a runaway. Her family begged for answers. Rumours spread. Tips went nowhere. And meanwhile, the truth was sitting in the eucalyptus grove just a quarter mile from her house. This episode dives into the disturbing case of Elyse Pahler, a story twisted by Satanic Panic headlines, Slayer lyrics, and courtroom theatrics, but at its core, it’s about a bright, ambitious teenager who trusted the wrong people. Three local boys, obsessed with violence, drugs, and a fantasy of satanic “power,” lured Elyse out one summer night with promises of drugs and friendship. What followed was an unthinkable murder that rocked their quiet community to its foundation. We’ll walk through Elyse’s life, her disappearance, the boys’ bizarre motivations, the shocking confessions, the trials, the lawsuits against Slayer, and the emotional aftermath her family is still navigating almost 30 years later. Including recent updates: the 2025 parole releases of two of her killers, and the upcoming parole hearing for the third. This is one of those cases people think they know — but behind the sensationalism is a real girl who deserved so much more. Listener discretion is strongly advised. Sources: https://morbidology.com/the-satanic-sacrifice-of-elyse-pahler/ https://www.timbercreektalon.com/2021/10/horror-hotspot-the-murder-of-elyse-pahler/ https://religion.fandom.com/wiki/Elyse_Pahler https://people.com/satanic-ritual-murder-death-metal-elyse-pahler-royce-casey-prison-release-11801921 In the Name of Satan by Wensley Clarkson (highly recommended but difficult in parts) Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the early hours of September 29th, 2021, seventeen-year-old Benjamin Elliott called 911 sobbing, saying, “I just killed my sister… I thought it was a dream.” When police arrived, they found Benjamin covered in blood, clutching a knife, and his twin sister, Meghan dead in her bed. What followed was one of the most haunting and divisive murder cases Texas has ever seen. Benjamin claimed he was sleepwalking when he stabbed his twin, and expert witnesses argued that parasomnia — a rare sleep disorder — could explain everything. But prosecutors saw it differently. Two stab wounds. No sleep disorder diagnosis. And one quiet “hmm” when told his sister was gone. Was this a tragic accident committed by a brain on autopilot? Or the coldest cover story imaginable? In this episode of Serial Napper, we dive deep into the science, the psychology, and the heartbreak of a case that asks one impossible question:How much control do we really have over ourselves? Sources: https://www.courttv.com/news/tx-v-benjamin-elliott-sleepwalking-twin-murder-trial/ https://www.kens5.com/article/news/crime/murder-trial-houston-man-twin-sister-death/285-66c1d559-4f1c-419e-bf88-10cb4a0e3f6a https://lawandcrime.com/crime/jury-rejects-sleepwalking-defense-of-man-who-fatally-stabbed-his-twin-sister-in-the-neck-with-survival-knife/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/benjamin-elliott-texas-twin-sister-sleepwalking-murder-trial-48-hours/ Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the night of March 17th, 1995, six teenage boys from Pickering, Ontario: Jay Boyle, Michael Cummins, Danny Higgins, Chad Smith, Robbie Rumboldt, and Jamie Lefebvre — walked into the cold darkness near Lake Ontario and were never seen again. It was supposed to be just another night of partying over March Break. But by morning, the boys were gone...no calls, no sightings, no trace. Their footprints led down to the marina, and security footage captured three of them wandering near the docks just before 2 a.m. Two boats went missing that same night… but neither the boats nor the boys were ever found. For thirty years, families have begged for answers, only to be met with red tape, misplaced evidence, and vanishing video footage. Police say the boys likely drowned. But without a single piece of wreckage, not one body, or even a floating life jacket, that theory feels paper-thin. In this episode, I’m revisiting the haunting case of the Pickering Lost Boys, breaking down the investigation, the red flags, and the disturbing missteps that still leave families questioning what really happened that night. Were they victims of a tragic accident?Or did something much darker unfold on that dock in 1995? Anyone with information on the case can call Durham police at 905-579-1520, or anonymously contact Durham Regional Crime Stoppers by calling 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or going online to www.durhamregionalcrimestoppers.ca. Sources: https://www.durhamregion.com/news/the-lost-boys-of-pickering-a-haunting-cold-case-remains-open-after-30-years/article_bd0ab683-9a7c-5a54-ab0c-7411291c613e.html https://www.durhamregion.com/news/the-mystery-of-the-lost-boys-part-1/article_fbf8b83c-e889-5ce1-8f8a-d87d62dfb340.html  https://www.ucfiles.com/Files/1995/lost-boys/ https://www.facebook.com/lostboys95 https://www.durhamregion.com/news/private-investigator-seeks-new-witnesses-in-lost-boys-of-pickering-case/article_8a8bcc63-de32-50ac-9027-5cbe27793652.html Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In October 1975, Ottawa was a picture of calm - polite, predictable, and almost boring in its safety. But that illusion shattered when 17-year-old Robert Poulin, a Catholic school student, carried out one of Canada’s first modern school shootings. Before walking into Saint Pius X High School with a sawed-off shotgun, he set fire to his own home, where firefighters would later discover the body of 17-year-old Kimberly Rabot, his friend and neighbour. In this episode, we dig into the hidden life of Robert Poulin: the quiet boy with good grades and a polite smile who was secretly drowning in shame, repression, and violent obsession. His diaries revealed a mind twisted by guilt, pornography, and resentment, and a plan for destruction no one saw coming. We’ll explore how the Catholic Church and Ottawa’s media handled this tragedy - or more accurately, buried it. Because in 1970s Canada, people didn’t talk about teenage sexuality, mental illness, or male violence. They whispered, denied, and moved on. And in that silence, the lessons from this case were lost. Sources: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/the-murder-of-kim-rabot-and-the-st-pius-x-school-shooting-all-our-coverage-of-the-tragedy-s-50th-anniversary-9.6956730 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/50-years-later-an-ottawa-high-schoolers-violent-unravelling-still-leaves-deep-scars-9.6931797 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/who-is-kim-rabot-remembering-the-first-victim-of-a-faded-canadian-tragedy-9.6937685 https://todayinottawashistory.wordpress.com/2021/10/09/the-pius-x-high-school-tragedy/ https://criminal-justice.iresearchnet.com/types-of-crime/school-violence/robert-poulin/ https://nationalpost.com/opinion/raymond-j-de-souza-companions-ensure-evil-will-not-prevail Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In August of 1993, ten-year-old Holly Kristen Piirainen vanished while visiting her grandparents’ cottage in Sturbridge, Massachusetts. She’d walked just a few hundred yards down a dirt road to see a neighbour’s puppies...and never came back. Seventy-nine days later, hunters discovered her remains in the woods of nearby Brimfield. More than thirty years later, Holly’s killer has never been caught. In this episode, we retrace that summer day, the massive search that followed, and the decades of leads, suspects, and heartbreak. From the Stanger brothers’ eerie connection to the Molly Bish case, to convicted rapist Gerald Battistoni’s proximity to the scene, and the mysterious “Boston” tank top found near Holly’s body — every clue feels close but never close enough. Now, with modern DNA testing and genetic genealogy back in the spotlight, investigators are hoping technology will finally reveal what time has buried. The Hampden District Attorney’s Office is even hosting another FIGG DNA drive on November 9, 2025, inviting locals to provide cheek-swab samples that could generate long-overdue answers. Because somewhere in those quiet Massachusetts woods, the truth is still waiting to be found. ⚠️ Listener Discretion:This episode contains discussion of child abduction and murder. Please take care of yourself while listening. 📍If You’re Local: You can take part in the Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy event on Nov 9, 2025, from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Brimfield Public Safety Complex, 34 Wales Rd. Participants provide a simple cheek swab and will receive free ancestry and family-tree results. 📞 Tip Line: If you have any information about Holly’s case, contact the Hampden County District Attorney’s Office or visit HelpHolly.com. Sources:https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/da-to-release-new-details-in-1993-killing-of-10-year-old-mass-girl/2960667/  https://www.helpholly.com/ https://www.facebook.com/hollypiirainen  https://www.cbsnews.com/news/investigators-link-dead-mass-man-to-site-where-body-of-10-year-old-holly-piirainen-was-found/ https://www.facebook.com/events/1505090837301831/?acontext=%7B%22event_action_history%22%3A[%7B%22mechanism%22%3A%22your_upcoming_events_unit%22%2C%22surface%22%3A%22bookmark%22%7D]%2C%22ref_notif_type%22%3Anull%7D Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s the urban legend every parent has whispered at least once: “Check your candy, you never know what could be inside.” But in 1974, that warning wasn’t just a myth. In Pasadena, Texas, eight-year-old Timothy O’Bryan was poisoned by a Pixy Stix laced with cyanide, handed to him by his own father. This is the horrifying true story of Ronald O’Bryan, the man the media dubbed The Candyman Killer. He wasn’t a stranger lurking in the shadows or a neighbour with bad intentions. He was a dad in financial ruin who saw his son’s life as a quick payday. Sources: https://texasarchive.org/2017_03761  https://www.vice.com/en/article/halloween-killer-ronald-clark-o-bryan-candy-man/  https://www.nytimes.com/1984/04/01/us/killer-of-son-is-executed-in-texas-after-asking-forgiveness-for-all.html  https://www.hcdistrictclerk.com/Common/HistoricalDocument/pdf/COTM_Oct_2021.pdf Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Visit our Sponsor: “Cozy Earth is giving you up to 40% off using code NAPPER at www.cozyearth.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To ring in 150 EPISODES, Kaydra invites some friends to the show to read some of their favorite spooky stories from the internet. Happy Halloween! This episode was produced and edited by Kaydra Brannan, the host of Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast. https://www.perplexitymysterypodcast.com/ Show Notes: Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast https://www.perplexitymysterypodcast.com/ Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/Glitch_in_the_Matrix/comments/1dgll4w/my_wife_and_i_saw_our_5_year_old_daughter_but/ Believing the Bizarre https://believingthebizarre.com/ Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/s/pSiiHaLfSw Lets Get Haunted: letsgethaunted.com  Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/BackwoodsCreepy/comments/esx890/my_first_time_backpacking/  All video assets purchased/licensed from here: https://www.pexels.com  All sound effects purchased/licensed from here: https://artlist.io/sfx   Music: “Scary Forest Ambience” by DL Sounds, purchased here: https://www.editingsounds.com/royalty-free-music/scary-forest-ambience/ Drinking the Koolaid https://www.dtkpod.com/ Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/nosleep/s/ecZb8zhu6R Live, Laugh, Larceny https://www.livelaughlarceny.com/ Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/creepyencounters/comments/lv0ifn/i_heard_a_creepy_voice_whisper_help_while_walking/  Music: Experia / Brain Hurts from the Memories / Courtesy of Epidemic Sound Serial Napper https://serialnapper.com/ Story: https://www.wattpad.com/594413960-short-horror-stories-look-at-me Scare You To Sleep https://www.scareyoutosleep.com/ Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/Glitch_in_the_Matrix/comments/ke896c/i_died_last_night_but_im_still_here/ Lets Not Meet https://letsnotmeetpodcast.com/ Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/ParanormalEncounters/comments/16uxnlg/something_in_my_house_perfectly_mimicked_my_sons/ Truly Twisted, Twisted & Uncorked Podcast  https://open.spotify.com/show/6Pvr5mpNCgvToOehPV8xEE https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/truly-twisted-where-real-stories-take-a-twisted-turn/id1800597032?i=1000700047299 https://www.twistedanduncorked.com/ Story: https://www.reddit.com/r/Paranormal/s/8kh2WHUxet Scared All The Time Podcast https://scaredallthetimepodcast.com/ Story: http://web.archive.org/web/19981203004349/http:/www.ghosts.org/stories/tales/evil-kids.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the summer of 1990, Gainesville, Florida, was a humid little college town buzzing with new school year jitters...until one week changed everything. Within days, five University of Florida students were brutally murdered in their homes. Doors were barricaded, classes cancelled, and the city descended into full-blown terror. The killer was methodical, staging his victims like something out of a horror film. And he was closer than anyone imagined. This is the story of Daniel Rolling, the man who would become known as The Gainesville Ripper, a drifter raised in abuse and chaos, who left a trail of horror. Before his crimes inspired the movie Scream, they shattered a town and haunted a generation. This episode dives into how one man turned a college campus into a real-life nightmare. Lock your doors. Check them again. Then press play. Sources: https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/psyc%20405/serial%20killers/rolling,%20danny%20-%202004.pdf  https://ffplaw.com/notable-case/the-gainesville-student-murders/ https://murderpedia.org/male.R/r1/rolling-daniel-harold.htm https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Danny_Rolling https://www.biography.com/news/danny-rolling-scream-killer-gainesville  https://allthatsinteresting.com/danny-rolling-gainesville-ripper https://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-louisiana-helped-break-case-student-murders-florida/story?id=76900692 Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices