Criminal

Dive into the haunting true crime saga of Joseph Zarelli, Philadelphia's "Boy in the Box," whose battered body was discovered in 1957 and remained unidentified for 65 years until groundbreaking DNA genealogy revealed his name. Explore the chilling details of his abuse, the decades of dead-end investigations, and the ongoing quest for his killer—listen now to uncover a mystery that exposes the dark side of 1950s child welfare and inspires hope for justice.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In 1990s London, five men were murdered in silence before police realized they were hunting a serial predator. Colin Ireland, later known as The Gay Slayer, targeted members of the LGBTQ+ community with calculated precision. This episode uncovers his killing pattern, the investigation that closed in on him, and how Britain finally stopped one of its most disturbing murder sprees. Listen to the full story behind the man who hunted in the dark.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

When a suitcase containing Lily Whitmore’s belongings washes ashore after ten months of silence, her mother Sarah Whitmore refuses to accept that hope is gone. Following a trail of forgotten stickers, matching luggage, and engraved initials, she and Detective Alvarez uncover a hidden child-abduction operation led by Douglas KS and Kathy Evans. One twin is rescued. One is lost forever. This episode reveals how a mother’s determination exposed a criminal network — and saved lives.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In the early 1970s, Santa Cruz was a peaceful beach town — until young college women began vanishing. Body parts washed ashore, fear spread, and police hunted a mysterious predator. The truth was far closer than anyone imagined. This episode uncovers the chilling story of Edmund Kemper, the Co-Ed Killer who befriended cops while committing unspeakable crimes — and whose own confession finally ended the nightmare.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In December 1989, 5-year-old Melissa Brandon walked into a crowded holiday party — and vanished without a trace. Decades later, forensic fiber evidence led to the conviction of a maintenance worker, yet Melissa has never been found. This episode unravels the investigation, the science that solved part of the mystery, and the haunting questions that remain unanswered.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In May 1989, two-year-old Ethan Dawson vanished from a crowded playground — no scream, no struggle, no trace. Months later, another child disappeared in the same place. Was this coincidence… or a calculated predator at work? This episode uncovers the chilling mystery, the red-ball lure, and the investigation that changed a city’s sense of safety forever. Listen now to step back into the day everything went wrong.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

A 19-year-old calls his parents after his car gets stuck on a dark rural road. For 47 minutes, they stay on the phone — until he suddenly says “Oh shit” and the line goes dead. Brandon Swanson was never seen again. This episode explores the real-time disappearance, the search, and the unanswered mystery that still haunts investigators and family today.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In the early 1960s, Boston was paralyzed by fear as women were murdered inside their own homes. All signs pointed to one man: Albert DeSalvo, later known as the Boston Strangler. From a violent childhood to shocking confessions, this episode explores the crimes, the psychology, and the unanswered question that still divides investigators — was DeSalvo truly the killer, or the greatest false confession in true crime history?Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In 1985, a 7-year-old girl vanished on her way to school, sparking one of the most baffling missing child cases in America. For 28 years, her family searched without answers — until a reopened cold case uncovered a chilling truth: she had been living under a stolen identity the entire time. This episode explores the kidnapping, the psychological captivity, and the unbelievable reunion that shocked investigators and the nation. Press play to uncover the girl who came back from the dead.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

A teenage cyclist vanishes on a quiet New Mexico road. Months later, a disturbing Polaroid appears in a Florida parking lot — a bound young woman and a terrified child staring into the camera. Was it Tara Calico? Who took the photo, and why was it left to be found? This episode dives into one of America’s most haunting unsolved mysteries. Press play and step into the case that still defies answers.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

A little girl disappears in 1988. Thirty-seven years later, a woman discovers her entire life has been a lie. This episode unravels a shocking kidnapping, a stolen identity, and the investigation that finally uncovered the truth. A true crime mystery of loss, survival, and long-delayed justice.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Dive into the gripping true story of twin sisters abducted as children and reunited with their mother after decades of deception and relentless searching. Uncover the shocking family secrets that kept them apart, and discover how hope triumphed over lies. Listen now to this emotional mystery that will leave you inspired and questioning everything.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

A nine-year-old Girl Scout vanished in 1975—and her murder remained unsolved for 34 years. This episode unpacks the tragic case of Marsha Trimble, the investigative mistakes that delayed justice, and the DNA breakthrough that finally exposed her killer. A haunting true crime story about lost time, forensic science, and justice long overdue.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In 1962, 9-year-old Carol Anne Doherty was brutally murdered inside a church—a crime that haunted a community for decades. In this episode, you’ll learn how modern forensic breakthroughs, long-buried confessions, and renewed investigation finally exposed serial predator William Shrader, uncovering a chilling pattern of abuse and violence that spanned over forty years. A story of lost innocence, delayed justice, and the failures that allowed a killer to remain hidden.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.

In 1976, 14-year-old Jan Marsh was murdered—and her case went cold for more than half a century. Decades later, three of her former classmates reunited, reopened old memories, challenged a failed investigation, and uncovered the truth police had missed. This episode tells the remarkable story of how ordinary women, armed with persistence and modern forensics, finally brought a killer to justice.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

Dive into the disturbing true crime story of Eileen Wuornos, one of America’s most infamous female serial killers, responsible for the murders of seven men along Florida highways between 1989 and 1990. This episode explores her traumatic childhood, life as a teenage prostitute, and the chilling debate over whether Wuornos was born violent or shaped by abuse and neglect. You’ll learn how her crimes were uncovered, why police initially failed to stop her, and how her case continues to spark controversy over justice, trauma, and responsibility.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In 1996, 19-year-old college student Kristen Smart vanished without a trace—and for 25 years, her case remained a haunting mystery. This episode explores how a civilian podcaster reignited the investigation, exposed systemic failures, and helped uncover the evidence that finally led to justice. In this episode, you’ll learn how persistence, audio journalism, and overlooked clues brought new life to a cold case the system had abandoned.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

The murder of Meline Kingsbury exposes the devastating reality of domestic violence and ultimate betrayal. Killed by the father of her children, Meline’s disappearance triggered an investigation that uncovered lies, forensic evidence, and a chilling pattern of abuse that escalated to murder.In this episode, you’ll learn how investigators dismantled Adam Fravel’s alibi, how digital and forensic clues led to the hidden body, and why experts warn that leaving an abusive relationship is often the most dangerous moment of all.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In October 2006, a quiet rural town in Iowa was shattered by an unimaginable crime. Five members of the Bentler family were found brutally murdered inside their home—killed not by a stranger, but by someone they trusted most. A chilling 911 call from a 14-year-old girl would capture the final seconds of her life and point investigators toward an unthinkable truth.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.

In this episode, we delve into the horrific story of Dr. Anthony Garcia, a doctor who went from being a promising pathologist to a cold-blooded killer due to career failure. Starting with his dismissal from Kraton University Medical Center in 2001 for misconduct and sabotage against colleagues, Garcia developed an obsession with revenge that culminated in brutal murders five years later: stabbing 11-year-old Thomas Hunter and housekeeper Shirley Sherman in the neck at the home of his father, Dr. William Hunter. Five years later, on Mother's Day 2013, he shot and stabbed Dr. Roger Brumach and his wife Mary in their home as they were preparing to move, demonstrating a pattern of meticulously planned murders with unique details such as the use of a kitchen knife and a Honda CRV car tracked by eyewitnesses. Interesting facts include Garcia's confession to a stripper about his murders, a manual on murder found in his home, and his obsession with Shakespearean quotes about revenge, revealing the psychology of a killer disguised as a professional doctor while caring for elderly patients.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/criminal--6152643/support.This episode includes AI-generated content.