The Consult: Real FBI Profilers

In this final episode of our three-part analysis of the West Memphis Three case, we bring together everything we’ve learned about the murders of Michael Moore, Steve Branch, and Christopher Byers on or about May 5, 1993, and share our overall assessment of the case. Part 3 of 3.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/102-west-memphis-three-part-3/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we look at the autopsies and victimologies of the three boys: Michael Moore, Steve Branch, and Christorpher Byers. We review what the medical examiner found, the condition of the bodies, and the significance of the injuries. We also examine the boys’ victimology to better understand who they were and what risk factors may have drawn the offender’s attention. Part 2 of 3.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/101-west-memphis-three-part-2/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this first episode of our three-part analysis of the West Memphis Three case, we look at the events of May 5, 1993. That afternoon, three 8-year-old boys, Michael Moore, Steve Branch, and Christopher Byers, went missing in West Memphis, Arkansas. The next day, they were found in a drainage ditch in an area known as Robin Hood Hills. They had been murdered.We cover the timeline of their disappearance, the search efforts, and the discovery of their bodies. We also discuss our initial impressions of the crime scene and what it may reveal about the offender.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/100-west-memphis-three-part-1/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Alyssa and Michael McFarland, hosts of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, join the show. We discuss the unsolved murder of George “Jody” Kilgore, who was stabbed in his driveway, in broad daylight, on October 6, 2014. He was 50 years old.For Michael, this case is deeply personal—Jody was his relative—and both he and Alyssa have devoted an entire season of their podcast to telling Jody’s story. In our conversation, we talk about the events surrounding his murder, Jody's life, and why this case deserves far more attention than it has received.More than a decade later, there are still no answers. Someone knows something.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/99-tragedy-a-conversation-with-alyssa-and-michael-mcfarland/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this third episode on the unsolved murder of Karina Holmer, geographic profiler Doug MacGregor joins the show. Doug takes a close look at the locations tied to Karina’s case and what they might reveal about the offender, his comfort zones, and the behaviors behind his choices. We also talk about how geographic profiling and behavioral analysis work together to help narrow the focus in an investigation.To learn more about Doug MacGregor's work, please visit: https://www.irisinvestigativestrategies.comYou can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/98-the-unsolved-murder-of-karina-holmer-a-geographic-profile/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our analysis of the case of Karina Holmer, a 20-year-old au pair from Sweden who was last seen outside a nightclub in Boston in the early morning hours of June 22, 1996. On the afternoon of June 23, the upper half of her body was found in a trash bag in a dumpster about a mile from where she was last seen. We continue our review of the case facts, discuss victimology, and offer our observations about the offender.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/97-the-unsolved-murder-of-karina-holmer-part-2/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we begin our examination of the June 1996 murder of Karina Holmer, a young au pair from Sweden working in the United States. Karina was last seen alive in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 22, in downtown Boston. The next day, her torso was discovered in a trash bag inside a dumpster, about a mile from where she was last seen. She had been severed at the waist. We discuss the known facts and the evidence recovered in this still-unsolved case.If you have any information about Karina's murder, please call the Boston Police Department Unsolved Homicide Unit at (617) 343-4470. If you wish to remain anonymous, you can call the CrimeStoppers tip line at 1 (800) 494-TIPS (8477) or text the word "TIP" to CRIME (27263). You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/96-the-unsolved-murder-of-karina-holmer-part-1/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, Investigator Rita Curley from the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Equal Opportunity Office joins the show. In addition to her role as an investigator, Rita draws on her background in law enforcement and her experience as a mother to a child with autism to train officers on recognizing and appropriately responding to individuals who may be neurodivergent. She dispels common misconceptions about autism and behavior, offering practical guidance to help law enforcement improve communication, reduce misinterpretations, and ensure safer, more informed interactions.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/95-autism-behavior-and-law-enforcement/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We continue our discussion of the murders of four University of Idaho students: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The students were killed in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. The offender pleaded guilty on July 2, 2025. We continue to explore motive, discuss how we would classify the killer behaviorally, and consider whether he was likely to kill again. Part 2 of 2.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagram FacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/94-profiling-bryan-kohberger-part-2/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We discuss the murders of four University of Idaho students: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The students were killed in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. We are covering this case now because Bryan Kohberger recently pleaded guilty on July 2, 2025. We review the known facts of the crime and analyze what they suggest about the offender’s behavior and possible motive. Part 1 of 2.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/93-profiling-bryan-kohberger-part-1/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode of The Consult, I talk with Jill, host of Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast, a true crime book club in podcast format. Jill has a passion for digging into true crime stories through books, and she brings a thoughtful, well-researched approach to every case she covers.We talk about how she chooses the books for her show, how our understanding of crime has changed over time, and how those shifts are reflected in the stories we read. We also discuss how true crime books can educate us on a wide range of topics and why they can be such a powerful tool for learning. Jill shares some of her all-time favorite titles, and we talk about the stories that have stuck with us the most.If you're a true crime reader, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/92-murder-shelf-bookclub-podcast/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this final installment, we continue our consultation with cold case investigator Jennifer Bucholtz and arson expert Alan Haskins from the American Military University Cold Case Team. We focus on understanding more about Linda Malcom in an effort to better understand her killer and complete our assessment of this unsolved 2008 murder.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/91-the-unsolved-murder-of-linda-malcom-part-3/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cold case investigator Jennifer Bucholtz and arson investigator Alan Haskins return for Part 2 of our discussion about the 2008 unsolved murder of Linda Malcom in Port Orchard, Washington. In this episode, we continue examining the crime scene and discuss Linda’s victimology to better understand the offender’s potential motivations and opportunities.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/90-the-unsolved-murder-of-linda-malcom-part-2/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Cold case investigator Jennifer Bucholtz and arson investigator Alan Haskins join us to discuss the 2008 unsolved murder of 47-year-old Linda Malcom. Linda was found dead in the early morning hours of April 30, 2008, after a suspicious fire was reported at her home in Port Orchard, Washington. It was ultimately determined that Linda had been stabbed multiple times. In this episode, Jennifer and Alan walk us through the early investigation and details of the crime scene.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/89-the-unsolved-murder-of-linda-malcom-part-1/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley is joined by Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit. Elgin PD recently launched a podcast titled Somebody Knows Something, which follows one of their active cold case investigations. We talk about the case, what led them to start the podcast, and how they balanced investigative integrity, public outreach, and storytelling. It’s a rare look at how detectives are using new platforms to generate leads and keep cases in the public eye.For more information about the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit, please visit their website: https://epdopendata-cityofelgin.hub.arcgis.com/pages/cold-casesYou can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/88-somebody-knows-something-the-detectives-behind-the-podcast/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

We’re joined once again by Ashland Oregon Police Chief Tighe O'Meara to discuss the 2011 unsolved murder of David Michael Grubbs. This time, we present our profile of the offender. Some of the characteristics in this profile are unique, and we believe that individuals who knew the offender may recognize them.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/87-the-unsolved-murder-of-david-grubbs-part-2/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, we talk with Ashland Oregon Police Chief Tighe O'Meara about the 2011 unsolved murder of David Michael Grubbs. Chief O'Meara discusses the facts of the case, the challenges investigators have faced, and how the department continues to seek justice for David and his family. We also examine aspects of victimology to better understand David’s risk level.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/86-the-unsolved-murder-of-david-grubbs-part-1/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode, retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley talks with geographic profiler Douglas MacGregor about his background and how geographic profiling can aid investigations. They discuss the types of cases that benefit most from this approach and take a closer look at the Rachel Morin case and the Zodiac Killer.To learn more about Douglas MacGregor and his work, please visit https://www.irisinvestigativestrategies.comYou can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/85-geographic-profiling-with-douglas-macgregor/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Writer and researcher Michael Butterfield joins retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley to answer listener questions about the Zodiac Killer case.Michael is the host of the podcast Zodiac: A to Z and the author of the new book The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America's Most Elusive Murderer. You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/84-profiling-the-zodiac-killer-part-listener-questions/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Part 4 of our series on the Zodiac Killer, we continue our discussion with Zodiac expert Michael Butterfield for a deep-dive discussion into the personality and behavioral characteristics of the infamous, unidentified serial killer. We explore what may have been beneath the mask of calculated manipulation and deadly intent.Michael is the host of Zodiac: A to Z and the author of a new book The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America’s Most Elusive Murderer.You can follow The Consult on social media:X/TwitterInstagramFacebookFor additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/83-profiling-the-zodiac-killer-part-4/Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spotify.If you enjoyed this episode, consider supporting us on Patreon for early and ad-free episodes. Visit Patreon.com/theconsultpod to become a subscriber.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.