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Wildcide is a unique true crime podcast that blends the most outrageous real-life cases with expert insights from professionals across the criminal justice field. Hosted by sisters Chelsea, an allied health professional, and Bailey, an experienced therapist, the show delves deep into the psychological and sociological dimensions of each case. With their combined expertise, they aren’t afraid to tackle complex, hard-hitting topics while weaving in just enough light-heartedness to balance the intensity. This approach hopefully helps keep our show engaging and relatable, creating a close-knit community of listeners affectionately known as the Wildciders.
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Between 1978 and 1981, a quiet terror crept through the southern United States. Women and couples were attacked in their own homes—bound, blindfolded, and violated by a man wearing a ski mask who seemed to appear and vanish like a ghost. His name was Jon Barry Simonis, and by the time he was caught, he’d confessed to more than 80 rapes across 12 states. Investigators now believe the real number was closer to 130. But this isn’t just another case of brutality, it's a case about the science that emerged from it. When the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit—still in its infancy—noticed the pattern, they turned to a woman who would change criminal profiling forever: Dr. Ann Wolbert Burgess, a nurse and researcher whose revolutionary work in victimology helped agents read the psychological signatures buried inside each crime. Burgess’s insights led the FBI to label Simonis a vindictive rapist—a man driven not by lust, but by power, humiliation, and control. Her method of studying what victims experienced became the blueprint for modern profiling, trauma-informed interviewing, and the way we understand serial offenders today. In this episode, Bailey and Chelsea unravel how a soft-spoken Army veteran with an IQ of 128 weaponized patience, intelligence, and dominance to terrorize communities—and how Burgess’s collaboration with the FBI finally exposed the mind behind the mask. Because sometimes the most dangerous predators aren’t the ones who act without thought. They’re the ones who plan every breath of fear you take.   Don't miss our mind-boggling interview with Dr. Ann Burgess dropping Friday 10/31/25.   Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give s a shout?Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com   Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.    References: American Press. (1982, January 18). Mother of ‘Ski Mask Rapist’ says son confessed to spare family. Lake Charles, LA. Burgess, A. W. (2021). A killer by design: Murderers, mindhunters, and my quest to decipher the criminal mind. Hachette Books. Burgess, A. W., & Holmstrom, L. L. (1974). Rape: Victims of crisis. Bowie, MD: Charles C. Thomas. Burgess, A. W., Douglas, J. E., Ressler, R. K., & Hartman, C. R. (1986). Criminal profiling from crime scene analysis. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 4(4), 401–421. https://www.pbs.org The Cinemaholic. (2021, October 10). Where is Jon Simonis now? The Ski Mask Rapist update. The Cinemaholic. https://thecinemaholic.com The Lantern. (1982, January 15). Ohio man exonerated after Jon Simonis confession. Ohio State University Archives. United Press International. (1981, December 15). Rapist says own confessions convicted him. UPI Archives. United Press International. (1982, January 10). Simonis pleads guilty to 81 attacks in 12 states; sentenced to 21 life terms plus 2,690 years. UPI Archives. Washington Post. (1982, August 22). $2 million rape award. The Washington Post.
Some people will do anything to be noticed — post, pose, or even escape from jail. This week, Bailey and Chelsea dive into the wild world of “Pick Me” criminals — THE MOST obnoxious types of criminals where their egos outweighed any rational thought.  First up, Bailey unpacks the bizarre case of Antoine Massey, the New Orleans fugitive who escaped jail, then went full influencer-on-the-run — livestreaming his manhunt and turning his capture into a clout-chasing spectacle. Then Chelsea heads to Colombia- where 'Pick Me' Pablo aka Pablo Escobar- where his ego outlived him — literally — through a herd of illegally imported hippos that now rule rivers like they’re cartel territory. It’s a double feature of attention addiction: one man desperate to be seen, another so obsessed with being remembered that his chaos keeps breeding decades after death. Get ready for drama, delusion, and a dash of dark comedy — because in this episode, we're dealing with the MOST Pick Me vibes.   Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give s a shout?Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com   Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare  professionals for any such conditions. 
Trigger Warning: This interview discusses sexual compulsive behaviors, juvenile sexual offending, trauma, and family dysfunction. Listener discretion is advised. In this episode, Bailey and Chelsea sit down with Samantha, a Licensed Therapist and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT), who specializes in treating individuals struggling with sexual compulsive behaviors, pornography addiction, and partners affected by sexual offenses. Drawing on her background in nursing, addiction recovery, and trauma therapy, Samantha offers both clinical insight and personal compassion for clients facing shame, secrecy, and recovery challenges. Samantha discusses her time working with juvenile sex offenders in a Florida diversion program—where adolescents were treated therapeutically rather than incarcerated. She describes how her perception of these youths evolved from discomfort to empathy, emphasizing that many of them were “damaged at a young age” and required treatment, not lifelong punishment. She highlights the emotional and developmental factors behind harmful behaviors and how accountability and empathy can coexist in treatment. The conversation expands into prevention and early intervention, addressing the role of family dysfunction, exposure to sexual content, and the accessibility of pornography. Samantha and the hosts explore how shame often fuels secrecy and relapse, and why open communication, education, and trauma-informed therapy are key to preventing future harm. The episode closes with a message of hope and awareness: there are trained professionals ready to work with adolescents and families navigating these painful realities, and early, compassionate intervention saves lives and futures.   About Our Guest:  Samantha is a Licensed Therapist and Certified Sex Addiction Therapist (CSAT) who specializes in treating individuals struggling with sexual compulsive behaviors, pornography addiction, and the partners affected by those behaviors — including partners of individuals who have offended sexually. She provides a nonjudgmental, confidential, and safe environment for clients to explore the areas of their lives where they may struggle. Her clinical experience spans sexual addiction and compulsivity, substance abuse, dual diagnosis, depression, anxiety, self-esteem issues, codependency, and relationship challenges. Samantha also works with clients experiencing chronic pain and tinnitus. She is actively licensed in Florida, New York, and Tennessee. With extensive experience treating eating disorders such as compulsive overeating, anorexia, and bulimia, Samantha uses a cognitive-behavioral approach and EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) to help clients process and heal from past and present trauma. She also applies specialized interventions to address chronic pain. Samantha believes that everyone has the capacity to release addictive patterns and live a life grounded in peace, connection, and purpose. Her passion lies in helping individuals and families overcome struggle, rediscover self-worth, and build a meaningful life of recovery and wholeness.   Contact Samantha – Samantha Ammann, RN, LCSW, CSAT, RYT    
Trigger Warning: This episode contains detailed discussion of sexual assault involving minors and may be distressing to some listeners. In 2021, two assaults inside Loudoun County schools ignited one of the most divisive moral panics in modern America. The perpetrator—a sixteen-year-old named Hunter Heckel—became the face of a national storm that fused crime, politics, and gender identity into a single explosive narrative. Parents demanded answers. News outlets circled like vultures. And in the chaos, one crucial truth disappeared: Hunter Heckel was still a child—both culpable and still developing, guilty and yet unfinished. Through psychological and sociological lenses, Bailey and Chelsea unravel how a local tragedy metastasized into national outrage. They examine the closed-door world of juvenile justice, where rehabilitation battles public fury, and explore the moral panic that turned a courtroom into a cultural warzone. Drawing from neuroscience, social theory, and real juvenile justice policy, the hosts dissect what happens when fear becomes the loudest voice—and what it costs the victims, the families, and the future of every child caught in between. This episode forces a difficult question: When a teenager commits an adult crime, can society still believe in redemption?   Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give s a shout?Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com   Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.    References: Borduin, C. M., Schaeffer, C. M., & Heiblum, N. (2009). A randomized clinical trial of Multisystemic Therapy with juvenile sexual offenders: Effects on youth social ecology and recidivism. Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology, 77(1), 26–37. Letourneau, E. J., & Borduin, C. M. (2010). The effective treatment of juveniles who sexually offend: An ethical imperative. Ethics & Behavior, 20(6), 451–461. Letourneau, E. J., & Caldwell, M. F. (2013). Expanding the focus of juvenile sex offender management: Implications for prevention, treatment, and policy. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 19(4), 512–526. Reitzel, L. R., & Carbonell, J. L. (2006). The effectiveness of sexual offender treatment for juveniles: A meta-analysis. Sexual Abuse: A Journal of Research and Treatment, 18(4), 401–421. SMART Office, U.S. Department of Justice. (2021). Sex Offender Management Assessment and Planning Initiative (SOMAPI): Juvenile treatment summary. Steinberg, L. (2017). Adolescence (11th ed.). McGraw-Hill. Cohen, S. (1972). Folk Devils and Moral Panics. Routledge. Erikson, E. H. (1968). Identity: Youth and Crisis. W. W. Norton.
⚠ Trigger Warning: This episode discusses violence against children, trauma, and death. Listener discretion is advised. On October 2, 2006, the quiet farmlands of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, were shattered when a local milk truck driver, Charles Carl Roberts IV, stormed a one-room Amish schoolhouse and took ten young girls hostage. By the time police broke through the doors, five were dead, five were clinging to life — and Roberts had turned the gun on himself. What followed stunned the world: instead of anger or vengeance, the Amish community responded with forgiveness. They comforted the killer’s widow, attended his funeral, and extended compassion when the world expected fury. In this episode, Bailey explores the psychology of a man consumed by grief and guilt, while Chelsea examines how faith, culture, and community transformed horror into grace. This is the story of Nickel Mines — a tragedy that became a global lesson in the power, and cost, of forgiveness. Resources: If you or someone you know is struggling with grief, depression, or intrusive thoughts of violence or suicide, please reach out for help. 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (U.S.): Dial or text 988 SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 National Center for Victims of Crime: Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com   Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.    References ABC News. (2007). The Power of Forgiveness [Television broadcast]. 20/20. After 18 years, survivor of Nickel Mines Amish school shooting dies. (2024). LancasterOnline. https://lancasteronline.com CBS News. (2006, October 2). Amish school shooting coverage. https://www.cbsnews.com CNN. (2007–2016). Interviews with Marie Roberts. Guardian Staff. (2016, September 30). “The happening”: 10 years after the Amish shooting. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com HISTORY Editors. (2006, October 2). Gunman kills five students at Amish school. History.com. https://lancasterpa.com Noll, S. M., Kraybill, D. B., & Weaver-Zercher, D. L. (2007). No greater love: The Amish girls of Nickel Mines. Sacred Windows. NPR. (2016, October 2). Ten years later: The legacy of Nickel Mines. Morning Edition. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24462390 West Nickel Mines School Shooting: How a rural MCI was successfully managed. (2007). Journal of Emergency Medical Services (JEMS). https://www.jems.com WITF. (2016, October 2). Ten years later: Nickel Mines murders still haunt emergency responders. WITF News. https://www.witf.org The New York Times Archives. (2006, October). Coverage of the West Nickel Mines Amish school shooting. The New York Times.
The most devastating crimes don’t always start with violence — sometimes, they begin with a promise. A voice that sounds enlightened. Someone who claims to see something special in you… and then, piece by piece, rewrites what love means. What truth means. What safety means. This is the story of Iasia Sweeting, a gifted teenage artist who vanished in 2010 — and was found years later weighing just fifty-nine pounds in a Gwinnett County hotel room. Her captor, Calvin McIntosh, a self-proclaimed prophet tied to the Nuwaubian Nation of Moors, ruled through doctrine and deprivation. Alongside his daughter, Najlaa McIntosh, he turned faith into a weapon — a theology where obedience meant holiness and hunger was purification. But perhaps most haunting: this didn’t happen in secret. It happened in plain sight — inside an Extended Stay America filled with guests and staff who heard cries... and did nothing. In this episode, Bailey and Chelsea unpack not just what happened, but how: the psychology of coercive control, the sociological blind spots that enabled it, and the survivor who reclaimed her voice after the world stopped listening. RESOURCES: National Human Trafficking Hotline 1-888-373-7888 | 📱 Text “HELP” to 233733 | humantraffickinghotline.org Confidential, 24/7, multilingual support for victims, survivors, and concerned witnesses. RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) 1-800-656-4673 | rainn.org The largest anti–sexual violence organization in the U.S., offering free, confidential crisis support. StrongHearts Native Helpline (for Native and Indigenous survivors) 1-844-762-8483 | strongheartshelpline.org National Domestic Violence Hotline 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) | thehotline.org 24/7 support for anyone experiencing emotional, physical, or spiritual abuse in relationships. International Cultic Studies Association (ICSA): icsahome.com Education and recovery resources for survivors of high-control groups, cults, and coercive environments. FaithTrust Institute: faithtrustinstitute.org Resources addressing abuse within faith communities and spiritual institutions. Georgia Coalition Against Domestic Violence (GCADV) 1-800-334-2836 | gcadv.org Local support, shelter access, and advocacy services across Georgia. Sealed With A Purpose: sealedwithapurpose.org (if live) Founded by survivor Iasia Sweeting, this nonprofit helps survivors heal through art, equine therapy, and empowerment training. Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give s a shout?Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com   Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare  professionals for any such conditions.  References: 11Alive. (2018, September 14). Father accused of rape, incest, starving 15-month-old daughter to death enters guilty plea. 11Alive. https://www.11alive.com/article/news/crime/father-accused-of-rape-incest-starving-15-month-old-daughter-to-death-enters-guilty-plea/85-595993234 American Broadcasting Company (CBS News). (2014, November 14). Georgia baby’s death leads to charges of murder, child abuse, incest. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/georgia-babys-death-leads-to-charges-of-murder-child-abuse-incest/ Bondurant, Mixson & Elmore LLP. (2018, November 15). Gwinnett jury awards $13.8M to mother of baby starved to death in cult case. Law.com Daily Report Online. https://www.law.com/dailyreportonline/2018/11/15/gwinnett-jury-awards-13-8m-to-mother-of-baby-starved-to-death-in-cult-case/ Courthouse News Service. (2016, May 9). Baby’s estate seeks damages for starvation. Courthouse News. https://www.courthousenews.com/babys-estate-seeks-damages-for-starvation/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Deitch + Rogers. (2018, November 14). Deitch + Rogers obtains $46M verdict for infant’s death. Victim Attorneys. https://victimattorneys.com/deitch-rogers-obtains-46m-verdict-for-infants-death/ Dr. Steve Eichel. (n.d.). Forensic cases. https://drsteveeichel.com/forensic-cases Gwinnett County Police Department. (2010, April 14). Incident report – Runaway juvenile (Case #10-043451). Listed in Sweeting v. Extended Stay America discovery, Bates Nos. 000018–19. Gwinnett County. (2014, November 14). Homicide investigation: Homicide investigation press release. GwinnettCounty.com. https://www.gwinnettcounty.com/newsandevents/NewsDetails?news=PolicePressReleases/HomicidnvestigationHomicidevestigation Law.com. (2018). Sweeting v. Extended Stay CPTO [Court filing PDF]. Law.com. https://images.law.com/contrib/content/uploads/documents/404/22632/Sweeting-v.-Extended-Stay-CPTO.pdf News3LV. (2023, February 5). Middle Georgia’s cult legacy: The Nuwaubian Nation. News3LV. https://news3lv.com/news/offbeat/middle-georgias-cult-legacy-the-nuwaubian-nation Six Mile Post. (2023, April 14). Iasia Sweeting raises awareness for trafficking survivors. SixMilePost.com. https://sixmilepost.com/11829/features/iasia-sweeting-raises-awareness-for-trafficking-survivors/ The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. (2018, November 5). Gwinnett cult baby murder trial begins, bringing awful memories. AJC.com. https://www.ajc.com/news/crime--law/gwinnett-cult-baby-murder-trial-begins-bringing-awful-memories/WUJ4VGAz41Tv2VqxwCugvN/ WTSP. (2014, November 14). Georgia man charged with murder, rape, incest. WTSP News. https://www.wtsp.com/article/news/nation-now/georgia-man-charged-with-murder-rape-incest/67-300186569 YouTube. (2018). Father accused of starving baby to death – court coverage [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y53y69mj2cQ&list=PLdifGR5OPFpK7PIoqkZ4C9DLT4eVcc9XF&index=4 YouTube. (2018). Dr. Steve Eichel on cult dynamics [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8BQz3RPKBk0 YouTube. (2018). Nuwaubian Nation explained – cult history [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIYpUun9zTc YouTube. (2018). Gwinnett cult trial coverage [Video]. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v2mTcs3SVc0  
Some crimes don’t begin in the shadows — they start in silence. In this groundbreaking conversation, we sit down with Dr. Christoffer Rahm, psychiatrist and lead researcher at the Karolinska Institute in Stockholm, and Allison McMahan, psychologist and doctoral candidate specializing in early intervention for individuals with pedophilic disorder. Together, they’re part of a pioneering movement asking one of society’s hardest questions: What if we could stop child sexual abuse before it ever happens? From clinical trials to darknet outreach, their team at Karolinska is reshaping what prevention looks like — through neuroscience, psychotherapy, and empathy. Their program Prevent It offers anonymous, evidence-based therapy to individuals seeking help before they offend, reaching participants across continents and languages. In our discussion, Rahm and McMahan unpack the complexity of pedophilia — what science tells us about its origins, why most sufferers discover their attraction in adolescence, and how empathy, anonymity, and access can literally save lives. They challenge common myths — including the belief that people with these urges are untreatable or destined to offend — and reveal why traditional criminal justice approaches can’t solve a public health crisis this large. This is a conversation about prevention, compassion, and the courage to confront what society avoids. Because silence doesn’t just protect victims — it protects perpetrators. About Dr. Christoffer Rahm: Dr. Christoffer Rahm is a psychiatrist and senior researcher at the Karolinska Institute, one of the world’s leading medical universities. His work focuses on understanding and preventing sexual offending, with an emphasis on early intervention for individuals experiencing pedophilic disorder. Rahm’s clinical and research leadership at the Centre for Psychiatry Research, Region Stockholm, has produced groundbreaking trials — including PRIOtab and Prevent It, programs using psychotherapy and pharmacological treatment (such as testosterone-suppressing agents like degarelix) to reduce risk and improve quality of life. His interdisciplinary approach bridges neuroscience, psychiatry, and public health — reframing child sexual abuse not just as a legal issue, but a preventable medical one. His work has been recognized internationally for offering hope and evidence where once there was only stigma — helping clinicians worldwide understand that empathy and science, together, can stop harm before it starts. About Allison McMahan: Allison McMahan is a licensed clinical psychologist and PhD candidate at the Karolinska Institute, where she co-leads international projects aimed at preventing child sexual abuse. As project coordinator for the Prevent It program — an anonymous, internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy for individuals with pedophilic thoughts — McMahan has worked on expanding access across languages and cultures. Her research focuses on early intervention, treatment optimization, and global accessibility, ensuring those struggling with these thoughts can receive help long before harm occurs. With a background in behavioral therapy and trauma psychology, McMahan brings a compassionate, evidence-based lens to one of the world’s most stigmatized clinical areas. Her mission: to make prevention practical, ethical, and accessible — and to ensure that those seeking help can find it, safely and without shame.   Contact Dr. Rahm: https://ki.se/en/people/christoffer-rahm Contact Allison: https://ki.se/en/people/allison-mcmahan  
Some secrets are buried forever. Others come spilling out in the final moments of life — whispered to a nurse, a prison guard, or an investigator when there’s no more time left to lie. In this Shortcide, Bailey and Chelsea dive into the unsettling world of deathbed confessions. Sometimes they come from guilt too heavy to carry. Sometimes from fear of judgment in the afterlife. And sometimes, from the simple fact that when you’re about to die, there’s nothing left to lose. Together, Bailey and Chelsea unravel two extraordinary stories where these last words cracked open cold cases that had haunted families for decades. One man believed his heart was failing and rushed to free his conscience, only to survive and face the consequences of what he revealed. Another confessed to a decades-old disappearance, leading authorities to shocking discoveries buried right in his own backyard. These are deathbed confessions that arrived too late — but just in time to finally close the cases.   Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app!   Want to recommend a wild case or just give s a shout? Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com     Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.    WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare  professionals for any such conditions.    References CriminalLawyerUSA. (n.d.). Tennessee man on deathbed confesses to murder, then recovers and gets life sentence. CriminalLawyerUSA. Retrieved from https://criminallawyerusa.com/blog/tennessee-man-on-deathbed-confesses-to-murder-then-recovers-and-gets-life-sentence/ Platinum Criminal Defense Law Firm Alund, N. (2024, April 24). Deathbed confession leads to murder victims Alex and Susan Carter. USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/24/larrry-webb-confesses-susan-gail-natasha-alex-carter-deaths/73437638007/ ABC News. (2012, November 6). Inmate James Washington convicted after death bed murder confession. ABC News. Retrieved from https://abcnews.go.com/US/inmate-james-washington-convicted-death-bed-murder-confession/story?id=17653264 ABC News Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2021, December 16). FBI Pittsburgh offers $10,000 reward for information in the disappearance of Natasha and Susan Carter 21 years ago [Press release]. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/pittsburgh/news/press-releases/fbi-pittsburgh-offers-10000-reward-for-information-in-the-disappearance-of-natasha-and-susan-carter-21-years-ago Hannahs, A., Rafferty, K., & Alvarado, A. (2024, April 24). Deathbed confession leads to a solved 24-year-old cold case of a missing woman and 10-year-old girl. WSFA. https://www.wsfa.com/2024/04/24/deathbed-confession-leads-solved-24-year-old-cold-case-missing-woman-10-year-old-girl/?utm_source=chatgpt.com Listverse. (2009, September 29). Top 10 fascinating deathbed confessions. Listverse. Retrieved from https://listverse.com/2009/09/29/top-10-fascinating-deathbed-confessions/ Listverse https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Darwin_disappearance_case Wikipedia Kaiser, C. (n.d.). James Washington thought he was at the end and confessed to murder — but he survived. Medium. Retrieved from https://chrissiemassey1023.medium.com/james-washington-thought-he-was-at-the-end-and-confessed-to-murder-but-he-survived-7c437a864bbb chrissiemassey1023.medium.com
“I acted without any qualms and with a single objective — to commit sexual assaults as often as I could.” Those weren’t the words of a man caught in a single moment of weakness. They were the written confession of Joël Le Scouarnec, a French surgeon who spent more than 25 years preying on children under the cover of his white coat. Behind the image of a trusted doctor lay meticulous diaries, thousands of images, and the names of nearly 300 victims — many assaulted while unconscious on his operating tables. But the horror of this case isn’t only about one man’s compulsion. It’s about the silence that protected him — families who minimized, colleagues who ignored whispers, and institutions that valued reputation over safety. For decades, every system that should have stopped him instead kept him untouchable. This is the story of how silence becomes complicity — protecting a predator in plain sight. And when the tally was finally made, the scale was undeniable: hundreds of victims, etched into journals and confirmed in complaints, cementing this as the largest p*dophilia case in France’s history. **Don't miss our interview about prevention. Can we prevent p*dophiles from claiming victims? Can they change? That's exactly the conversation we have with Dr. Christoffer Rahm and Colleague Allison from the Karolinska Institute of Sweden. Tune in on Friday 9/19/2025.** Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give s a shout?Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com   Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare  professionals for any such conditions.  References: Al Jazeera. (2025, May 28). French surgeon sentenced to 20 years for sex abuse of nearly 300 people. Al Jazeera Pull: 20-year maximum, mass case context. Chrisafis, A. (2025, May 28). French surgeon who abused children for decades sentenced to 20 years in prison. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/may/28/french-court-sentencing-former-surgeon-joel-le-scouarnec-who-abused-children-for-decades Reuters. (2025, May 28). Retired French surgeon gets maximum 20-year sentence for raping young patients. Reuters Pull: 299 victims; anesthesia context; prior 2020 sentence; medical ban/registry; system failures post-2005 conviction. Le Monde (Aubenas, F.). (2025, May 29). Former surgeon Le Scouarnec handed 20-year sentence… Le Monde.fr Pull: Admits to 299 counts; “worst child abuse case” framing. PBS NewsHour. (2025, May 28). French pedophile sentenced to 20 years… PBS Pull: Max sentence; hundreds of patients. FranceInfo. (2025). Qui est Joël Le Scouarnec, l’ancien chirurgien soupçonné de pédophilie et d’agressions sexuelles sur plus de 250 patients. FranceInfo. https://www.franceinfo.fr/faits-divers/affaire-le-scouarnec/qui-est-joel-le-scouarnec-l-ancien-chirurgien-soupconne-de-pedophilie-et-d-agressions-sexuelles-sur-plus-de-250-patients_3717021.html Gozzi, L. (2025, March 1). Name was in a child abuse diary—now his family listen to ‘vile’ testimony. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/ce34v17dw53o ClickOnDetroit / AP. (2025, May 28). French court to deliver verdict… WDIV Pull: 20-year max; courtroom sketch; scale. The Guardian. (2025, Feb 24). French surgeon accused of abusing 299 patients says he did ‘hideous things’. The Guardian Pull: His words; four-month trial; how 2017 incident triggered search. AP News. (2025, Feb). A French surgeon is on trial… AP News Pull: 2017 neighbor report; notebooks; explicit media. Le Monde (Aubenas, F.). (2025, Apr 24). Trial… reveals ignored warnings. Le Monde.fr Pull: 2005 suspended sentence for images; colleagues’ testimony. Le Monde. (2025, Jul 18). France launches probe into failures… Le Monde.fr Pull: National probe after verdict—institutional accountability. Sky News. (2025, Feb 20). Diaries of a monster… Sky News Pull: The notebooks as catalog; decades unchecked. PBS NewsHour. (2025, February 24). A French surgeon is on trial accused of raping or abusing 299 people, mostly child patients. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/a-french-surgeon-is-on-trial-accused-of-raping-or-abusing-299-people-mostly-child-patients PEOPLE. (2025, May). Former surgeon sentenced to 20 years… People.com Pull: 300k+ images; child-sized dolls; concurrent 2020 sentence; claimed links to two suicides (use with care and attribution). Porter, C., Breeden, A., & Le Stradic, S. (2025, May 27). A French pedophile doctor abused hundreds in his care. Why wasn’t he stopped? The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/27/world/europe/joel-le-scouarnec-france-doctor-pedophile.html Karolinska Institutet. (2025). Perpetration Prevention – Rahm & Joleby. (group overview: Prevent It, PRIORITY/PRIOtab, Prevent-MED) Karolinska Institutet KI project page (Swedish). (n.d.). Effect of GnRH antagonist… randomized clinical trial. (Rahm et al.; degarelix pilot RCT) Karolinska Institutet Hillert, J., et al. (2024). Web-Based Initiatives to Prevent Sexual Offense Perpetration. Frontiers in Psychology (PMC). PMC Stephens, S., et al. (2022). A Review of Childhood Sexual Abuse Perpetration… Current Sexual Health Reports. PubMed NouvelObs. (2025, February 24). Procès Le Scouarnec : 10 dates pour comprendre. NouvelObs. https://www.nouvelobs.com/justice/20250224.OBS100705/proces-le-scouarnec-10-dates-pour-comprendre.html Vogel, K., & Grégor, P. (2025, May 28). Former French surgeon is sentenced to 20 years in abuse of nearly 300. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2025/05/28/joel-le-scouarnec-france-doctor-abuse-sentence.html
When 18-year-old Danielle Marzejka and 19-year-old Seren Bryan vanished from their Clinton Township home in August 2018, friends expected them to pop back up with a laugh and a message. Instead, their belongings remained untouched—their phones, insulin, and treasured keepsakes left behind. Days later, a horrific discovery in a backyard shed shattered the illusion of safety in suburban Michigan. As investigators unraveled the case, evidence pointed inward. What looked like a spotless bedroom glowed with blood under luminol. Hidden duct tape carried fingerprints. And the suspect’s trail stretched from Michigan to Ohio—ending in a Cincinnati public library, where he sat disguised in a blonde wig and sunglasses, trying to disappear. This is a story that forces us to confront the unthinkable: that violence can come not from strangers, but from within the home. It’s about silence, disguise, and the devastating fracture of a family when blood itself becomes the threat. Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give s a shout?Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com   Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare  professionals for any such conditions.  References: The Horrific Discovery at the Back of the Shed [Video]. (n.d.). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6JLMygukFmw ClickOnDetroit. (2020, January 14). Man to be sentenced for murder of sister, her boyfriend in Clinton Township; bodies found in shed. WDIV Local 4. https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/local/2020/01/14/man-to-be-sentenced-for-murder-of-sister-her-boyfriend-in-clinton-township-bodies-found-in-shed Fox 2 Detroit. (2019, November 21). Man guilty of murdering sister and her boyfriend with hammer, leaving bodies in trash bags. FOX 2 Detroit. https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/man-guilty-of-murdering-sister-and-her-boyfriend-with-hammer-leaving-bodies-in-trash-bags Fox 2 Detroit. (2020, January 14). Judge says ‘evil man is going where he deserves’ after murdering sister and her boyfriend. FOX 2 Detroit. https://www.fox2detroit.com/news/judge-says-evil-man-is-going-where-he-deserves-after-murdering-sister-and-her-boyfriend Macomb Daily. (2019, November 23). Clinton Township man guilty of murdering sister, her boyfriend. The Macomb Daily. https://www.macombdaily.com/2019/11/23/clinton-township-man-guilty-of-murdering-sister-her-boyfriend Pietrangelo, M. (2019, November 19). Medical examiner: Clinton Township slaying method provided insurance of death. Voice News. https://www.voicenews.com/2019/11/19/medical-examiner-clinton-township-slaying-method-provided-insurance-of-death Unquestionably Criminal. (2023, April 7). A brother’s betrayal: The gruesome murders of Danielle Marzejka and Seren Bryan. Medium. https://unquestionablycriminal.medium.com/a-brothers-betrayal-the-gruesome-murders-of-danielle-marzejka-and-seren-bryan-b4a206c04d81 U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Justice Programs. (2007). Siblicide: A descriptive analysis of sibling homicide. National Criminal Justice Reference Service. https://www.ojp.gov/ncjrs/virtual-library/abstracts/siblicide-descriptive-analysis-sibling-homicide Fundraiser for Erin Funk by David Rabior : Danielle Marzejka Memorial Fund
**CORRECTED/UPDATED 9/3: Audio Issues with this episode** Kenneth McDuff was supposed to die in prison. Instead, a broken justice system set him free—and unleashed one of the most sadistic serial killers Texas has ever known. Nicknamed The Broomstick Killer for the brutality of his first murders in 1966, McDuff’s first death sentence was commuted, and he walked out of prison decades later into a society unprepared for the monster it had released. What followed was a trail of women abducted, strangled, and discarded across county lines, while law enforcement scrambled to connect the dots. Beneath the surface, McDuff lived a double life: a construction worker by day and predator by night, the embodiment of functional psychopathy. His victims revealed society’s blind spots, and his release exposed the failures of a parole system that valued procedure over protection. In the end, McDuff didn’t just claim lives—he forced Texas to rewrite its laws, leaving behind a legacy carved in fear and reform. Thanks for listening! If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give s a shout?Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com For Wildcider Merch, visit www.wildcidepodcast.com   Find us on Facebook@ Wildcide Podcast. Follow us on Instagram @wildcidepodcast PS: Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare  professionals for any such conditions.  References: Alcatraz East. (n.d.). The Broomstick Killer: Kenneth McDuff. Alcatraz East Crime Museum. Retrieved August 30, 2025, from https://www.alcatrazeast.com/crime-library/serial-killers/the-broomstick-killer/ Lavergne, G. M. (1999). Bad boy from Rosebud: The murderous life of Kenneth Allen McDuff. University of North Texas Press. Oxygen. (2019, June 26). Death Row inmate’s release tied to two murders in the ’90s. Oxygen True Crime. https://www.oxygen.com/prosecuting-evil-with-kelly-siegler/crime-news/serial-killer-kenneth-mcduff-victims-what-to-know Riggs, R. (Host). (2020–present). Freed to Kill [TV series]. Apple TV. https://tv.apple.com/at/show/freed-to-kill/umc.cmc.6xhr0wm5aq3uso8fx1swo0vba United States Court of Appeals, Fifth Circuit. (1997). McDuff v. Johnson, 118 F.3d 446 (5th Cir. 1997). Justia. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/appellate-courts/F3/118/446/495656/ Hall, R. (2014). Review of Bad Boy from Rosebud: The Murderous Life of Kenneth Allen McDuff, by G. M. Lavergne. Southwestern Historical Quarterly. Retrieved August 30, 2025, from Project MUSE via University of North Texas Digital Library: https://muse.jhu.edu/pub/134/article/549192/pdf Lavergne, G. M. (1999). Bad Boy from Rosebud: The murderous life of Kenneth Allen McDuff. University of North Texas Press. (Available via UNT Digital Library: https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc271399/) Witherspoon, T. (2024, October 8). McDuff murder victim Melissa Northrup was mother of Eddy man shot, killed along with his son over the weekend. KWTX. Retrieved August 30, 2025, from https://www.kwtx.com/2024/10/08/mcduff-murder-victim-melissa-northrup-was-mother-eddy-man-shot-killed-along-with-his-son-over-weekend/  
In April 2008, neighbors in Vidalia, Georgia, were jolted awake by the sound of a shotgun blast. The man who died that morning was no stranger — Sonny Graham was a beloved golf director, a husband, a father. But Sonny also carried a secret: the transplanted heart of another man who had died by suicide more than a decade earlier. That man’s widow, Cheryl, had since become Sonny’s wife. What unfolded was a story so eerie it captured headlines across the world: two suicides, one heart, one wife. But behind the sensational coverage was something far more complicated — a collision of love, survival, stigma, and myth-making. In this episode, Bailey and Chelsea unravel the haunting symmetry of Sonny Graham and Terry Cottle’s lives. From the quiet desperation inside a South Carolina trailer, to the medical miracle of a transplant, to the crushing burden of being turned into a symbol, this is the story of how communities cling to folklore when the truth feels unbearable — and why even a heart strong enough to beat twice couldn’t carry the weight of a legend. Resources:   Struggling with Suicidal Thoughts?  For the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, Call/Text 988  Previously known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, the 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States.     Find a Therapist:  Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist  BetterHelp - Get Started & Sign-Up Today    Depression Resources:  Helpful Online Resources for Depression (webmd.com)    If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give us a 'hey!'? Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com Buy Merch!: www.wildcidepodcast.com   Updates on Instagram: @wildcidepodcast Facebook: Wildcide Podcast Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  References: Associated Press. (2008, April 6). Recipient of suicide victim’s heart kills self 12 years later. The Seattle Times. https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/recipient-of-suicide-victims-heart-kills-self-12-years-later/ Associated Press. (2008, April 6). Man with suicide victim’s heart takes own life. NBC News. https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna23984857 Associated Press. (2008, April 7). Same fate for donor, recipient. Los Angeles Times. https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm- 2008-apr-07-na-oddheart7-story.html Associated Press. (2008, April 7). Transplant patient in bizarre suicide. Otago Daily Times. https://www.odt.co.nz/news/world/transplant-patient-bizarre-suicide Associated Press. (2008, April 7). Heart transplant recipient dies same way donor did (suicide). WFMY News 2. https://www.wfmynews2.com/story/news/2008/04/07/heart-transplant-recipient-dies-same-way-donor-did-suicide/16660567/ Associated Press. (2008, April 7). Heart transplant man dies like suicide donor. The Telegraph. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1584391/Heart-transplant-man-dies-like-suicide-donor.html Associated Press. (2008, April 13). Transplant patient in bizarre suicide. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transplant- patient-in-bizarre-suicide/ Associated Press. (2008, August 31). Transplant tragedy: 2 men, 2 suicides, 1 heart, 1 widow. Deseret News. https://www.deseret.com/2008/8/31/20266449/transplant-tragedy-2-men-2-suicides-1-heart-1-widow Associated Press. (2008, September 1). 2 suicide victims shared same heart, wife. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2- suicide-victims-shared-same-heart-wife/ Associated Press. (2008, September 7). 2 men, 2 suicides, 1 heart and 1 widow. SFGate. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/2- men-2-suicides-1-heart-and-1-widow-3181340.php Associated Press. (2008, August 31). 2 men, 2 suicides, 1 heart and 1 widow. The Bend Bulletin. https://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/2-men-2-suicides-1-heart-and-1-widow/article_7f1f66c4-6d9a-5c90-8a77- 392ac47f7a1c.html Evening Standard. (2012, April 12). Man given heart of suicide victim marries donor’s widow … then kills himself in exactly the same way. https://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/man-given-heart-of-suicide-victim-marries-donor-s-widow-then-kills-himself-in- exactly-the-same-way-7629461.html   The Island Packet. (2009, November 22). Questions linger after suicide ruling in Graham death. The Island Packet. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-island-packet/142814707/ The Times and Democrat. (2010, February 22). GBI: Heart recipient committed suicide. The Times and Democrat. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-times-and-democrat/142669372/ Snopes. (2024, March 9). 2 men shared same heart, same wife, same cause of death? Snopes. https://www.snopes.com/fact- check/suicide-heart-widow/  
In this episode, Bailey and Chelsea peel back the layers of a New York story most people never knew was happening right under their noses. At the height of the city’s cultural revolution—where art, politics, and therapy collided—a radical psychotherapy collective promised liberation from tradition, family, and fear. But what began as an experiment in freedom grew into something far more controlling, and far more dangerous. With Bailey unpacking the psychological traps that rewired minds, and Chelsea exploring the social forces that made so many intelligent New Yorkers vulnerable, this episode asks: how does a group survive not in isolation, but right in the heart of Manhattan? And what happens when the people meant to heal you become the ones holding you captive? Dark, fascinating, and unnervingly close to home—this is the rise and fall of the Sullivanians, the cult that thrived in luxury apartments on the Upper West Side.   If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give us a 'hey!'? Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com Buy Merch!: www.wildcidepodcast.com  Updates on Instagram: @wildcidepodcast Facebook: Wildcide Podcast Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  References: Feinerman, S. (2024, June 13). Rescuing Rosie and the end of the Sullivanians (No. 14) [Audio podcast episode]. In Through a Blue Window. Buzzsprout. https://www.buzzsprout.com/2213540/episodes/15347992-rescuing-rosie-and-the-end-of-the-sullivanians Stille, A. (2023). The Sullivanians: Sex, psychotherapy, and the wild life of an American commune. Farrar, Straus and Giroux. Winter, J. (2023, June 14). The Upper West Side cult that hid in plain sight. The New Yorker. Retrieved from https://www.newyorker.com/books/under-review/the-upper-west-side-cult-that-hid-in-plain-sight  Williams, M. (2023, June 13). The Fourth Wall: Inside the Sullivanians sex cult on New York’s Upper West Side. MovieMaker Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.moviemaker.com/the-fourth-wall-sullivanians-sex-cult/
Some criminals steal for money. These two stole for sport. Chelsea takes on Victor Lustig, the smooth-talking con artist who “sold” the Eiffel Tower — twice — and even conned Al Capone. From fake government papers to counterfeit money presses, Lustig’s schemes left a trail of humiliated victims from Paris to New York. Bailey dives into Ferdinand Waldo Demara, the master impostor who bluffed his way through careers he had no business holding — including performing actual surgeries in the Royal Canadian Navy after skimming a medical textbook. Both men built empires on charm, lies, and sheer audacity. Both pushed their luck until the world finally caught up. And both prove that sometimes, the boldest crimes are the ones so ridiculous… you almost want to see if they’ll get away with it.   If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give us a 'hey!'? Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com Buy Merch!: www.wildcidepodcast.com  Updates on Instagram: @wildcidepodcast Facebook: Wildcide Podcast Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  References: CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum. (2019, July 17). Ferdinand “Waldo” Demara. CFB Esquimalt Naval & Military Museum. https://navalandmilitarymuseum.org/archives/articles/characters/ferdinand-waldo-demara/ Time. (2009, May 26). Faking it: Ferdinand Demara. Time. https://content.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1900621_1900618_1900605,00. html Maysh, J. (2016, March 9). The man who sold the Eiffel Tower. Twice. Smithsonian Magazine. Retrieved from https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/man-who-sold-eiffel-tower-twice-180958370/ Ferdinand Waldo Demara: One of the greatest imposters the world has ever seen | The Independent
A car bomb. A forest war. And an activist caught in the middle. When Earth First! organizer Judi Bari was nearly killed by a bomb planted beneath the driver’s seat of her Subaru, the FBI didn’t hunt for the bomber—they arrested her. What followed was a decades-long battle between environmentalists, the logging industry, and law enforcement, marked by conspiracy, smear campaigns, and civil rights violations. In this episode, we dig into the unsolved car bombing that silenced a voice—but only briefly. We explore the psychological toll of being framed, the sociopolitical war over California’s redwoods, and why Judi Bari remains a lightning rod for activism, even after death. Was she targeted for her politics? Or was the FBI covering something up? If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give us a 'hey!'? Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com Buy Merch!: www.wildcidepodcast.com  Updates on Instagram: @wildcidepodcast Facebook: Wildcide Podcast Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  References: Alternative Tentacles. (n.d.). Judi Bari. https://alternativetentacles.com/pages/artist-page/judi-bari Bari, J. (1992). The feminization of Earth First!. History Is A Weapon. https://www.historyisaweapon.com/defcon1/barifemef.html Cherney, D. (n.d.). JudiBari.org: The official archive of Judi Bari’s life and case. JudiBari.org. http://www.judibari.org/index.html Cherney, D. (2010). Motion to preserve the bombs. JudiBari.org. http://www.judibari.org/Mo-Preserve-Bombs-2010.pdf Cherney, D. (2010). Declaration in support of motion to preserve bombs. JudiBari.org. http://www.judibari.org/Mo-Preserve-Bombs-Declaration-Cherney-2010.pdf Fifth Estate Collective. (1997, Summer). Judi Bari lives. Fifth Estate, 349. https://www.fifthestate.org/archive/349-summer-1997/judi-bari-lives/ Greenson, T. (1997, January). Judi Bari: Outspoken and uncompromising. North Coast Journal. https://www.northcoastjournal.com/jan97/1-97.people.html InfoRefuge. (n.d.). Judi Bari biography. https://inforefuge.com/judi-bari-bio Industrial Workers of the World. (n.d.). Judi Bari biography. https://archive.iww.org/history/biography/JudiBari/1/ Kuletz, V. (2021, August 10). How Judi Bari tried to unite loggers and environmentalists. JSTOR Daily. https://daily.jstor.org/how-judi-bari-tried-to-unite-loggers-and-environmentalists/ Martin, D. (1997, March 4). Judi Bari, 47, leader of Earth First! protest on redwoods in 1990. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/04/us/judi-bari-47-leader-of-earth-first-protest-on-redwoods-in-1990.html Trees Foundation. (2020, May 20). 30 years ago in May: The bombing of Earth First! activists Judi Bari and Darryl Cherney. https://treesfoundation.org/2020/05/30-years-ago-in-may-the-bombing-of-earth-first-activists-judi-bari-and-darryl-cherney/ Wheaton, B. K. (2010). Declaration in support of motion to preserve bombs. JudiBari.org. http://www.judibari.org/Mo-Preserve-Bombs-Declaration-Wheaton-re-8-23-10.pdf United States Department of Justice. (2010). Opposition to motion to preserve bombs. JudiBari.org. http://www.judibari.org/D-Opp-P-Mo-Preserv-Ev-8-12-10.pdf Zinn Education Project. (n.d.). Judi Bari car bombing. https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/judi-bari
What happens when one of America’s most prestigious art galleries falls for an $80 million lie? From the acclaimed filmmaker behind Netflix’s Made You Look, Barry Avrich returns with The Devil Wears Rothko: Inside the Art Scandal That Rocked the World. This gripping true crime exposé pulls back the curtain on the now-infamous Knoedler Gallery fraud—complete with a mysterious dealer, a brilliant forger, and a web of deception that reached the highest tiers of the art world. With exclusive interviews and deep investigative reporting, Avrich uncovers: How Glafira Rosales passed off dozens of forged Rothkos, Pollocks, and Motherwells The shady world of art provenance and its role in enabling forgery Why even experts and billionaires fell for the scam A peek into lawsuits, violent threats, and a gallery’s collapse And just how many major works in museums today might still be fake This is the darker side of prestige—where ego, wealth, and trust collide. The Devil Wears Rothko is essential reading for fans of art history, white-collar crime, and psychological manipulation. About Our Honored Guest: Barry Avrich is a veteran documentary filmmaker and producer who has directed and produced over seventy films including Made You Look, Born Hungry, Prosecuting Evil, Blurred Lines, and David Foster: Off The Record. Avrich has authored five books including Moguls, Monsters and Madmen (2017), and built the world’s first movie theater in a hospital. Featured Read: The Devil Wears Rothko By Barry Avrich | Releases June 24, 2025 | Post Hill Press   If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give us a 'hey!'? Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com Buy Merch!: www.wildcidepodcast.com  Updates on Instagram: @wildcidepodcast Facebook: Wildcide Podcast Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions. 
For years, the name Wolfgang Beltracchi meant nothing to the art world. And yet, his fingerprints were everywhere—on canvases attributed to long-dead masters, hanging in prestigious galleries, and sitting in private collections worth millions. He didn’t just forge art—he forged history itself. But this isn’t your typical forgery tale. This is the story of a man who studied the flaws of the elite and turned them into his canvas. Alongside his wife Helene, Wolfgang created an empire of lies so seductive, it didn’t just fool the experts—it made them complicit. With charm, chemistry, and unsettling precision, the couple orchestrated one of the most audacious art frauds in modern memory. In this episode of Wildcide, we unravel the scandal that blurred the line between brilliance and betrayal. From psychological manipulation to the sociological blind spots of wealth and prestige, we explore how one man exposed the vulnerabilities of an entire industry—just by telling the story it wanted to hear. What does it take to fool the gatekeepers of culture? And why did they want to be fooled? Tune in on Friday 6/6/25 for our interview with director, producer and author Barry Avrich.   If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give us a 'hey!'? Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com Buy Merch!: www.wildcidepodcast.com  Updates on Instagram: @wildcidepodcast Facebook: Wildcide Podcast Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.    References: CBS News. (2014, February 23). Art forger Wolfgang Beltracchi's multimillion dollar scam. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/art-forger-wolfgang-beltracchis-multimillion-dollar-scam/ Deutsche Welle. (2015, August 19). How Beltracchi, the world's most famous art forger, plays with the market. https://www.dw.com/en/how-beltracchi-the-worlds-most-famous-art-forger-plays-with-the-market/a-18436266 Frickel, C. (2015, May 8). Wolfgang Beltracchi: Porträt des genialen Kunstfälschers. WEB.DE. https://web.de/magazine/unterhaltung/kultur/wolfgang-beltracchi-portraet-genialen-kunstfaelschers-30625452 Hammer, J. (2012, October 10). The greatest fake-art scam in history? Vanity Fair. https://www.vanityfair.com/culture/2012/10/wolfgang-beltracchi-helene-art-scam Levesque, D. (2014, February 22). Wolfgang Beltracchi and the biggest art scandal. Guardian Liberty Voice. https://guardianlv.com/2014/02/wolfgang-beltracchi-and-the-biggest-art-scandal/ Röbel, S., & Sontheimer, M. (2011, June 13). The $7 million fake: Forgery scandal embarrasses international art world. Der Spiegel. https://www.spiegel.de/international/zeitgeist/the-7-million-fake-forgery-scandal-embarrasses-international-art-world-a-768195.html:contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3} Roxborough, S. (2014, August 29). Beltracchi: The Art of Forgery ('Beltracchi: Die Kunst der Fälschung'): Montreal Review. The Hollywood Reporter. https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-reviews/beltracchi-art-forgery-beltracchi-die-729140/ Gladwell, M. (2013). The statue that didn't look right. In Blink: The power of thinking without thinking (Adapted handout). TOK Topics. https://toktopics.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/blink-handout.pdf
In today's Shortcide, we explore two outrageous real-life cases where the last wills and testaments caused chaos. First up is T.M. Zink, an Iowa attorney who left his fortune to build a women-free library, complete with “NO WOMAN ADMITTED” signs. His daughter fought back, and what unfolded was a courtroom showdown filled with legal twists and personal pettiness. Then, we head to 1920s Toronto for the bizarre Great Stork Derby, where eccentric millionaire Charles Vance Millar promised his fortune to the woman who had the most babies in ten years. What began as a prank turned into a decade-long legal and social spectacle. Tune in for a wild ride through inheritance gone hilariously wrong.   If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give us a 'hey!'? Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com Buy Merch!: www.wildcidepodcast.com  Updates on Instagram: @wildcidepodcast Facebook: Wildcide Podcast Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  References: Asselin, S. V. (2020, January 12). The Great Stork Derby: When a millionaire held a baby-making race for his fortune. All That's Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/great-stork-derby Baird, C. (2023, August 1). The Great Stork Derby. Canadian History Ehx. https://canadaehx.com/2023/08/01/the-great-stork-derby/ Commonplace Fun Facts. (2024, September 21). Inside T.M. Zink’s controversial will: The curious quest to build a womanless library. https://commonplacefacts.com/2024/09/21/zink-womanless-library/ Ross, G. (2011, July 29). The Zink Womanless Library. Futility Closet. https://www.futilitycloset.com/2011/07/29/the-zink-womanless-library/
Last interview, we sat down with Tamara Cooper to discuss compulsive sexual behavior. The question remained: what happens to the partners after betrayal? So this week, we sit down with Jessica Lamar, CPTT (Certified Partner Trauma Therapist) for an eye-opening conversation on betrayal trauma—the profound impact of infidelity and sex addiction on partners. Jessica brings years of clinical expertise to the table as we unpack the difference between sex addiction and infidelity, explore the trauma responses that often follow discovery, and discuss what healing actually looks like. If you've ever wondered how to support someone reeling from betrayal—or how to recognize unhealthy patterns masked as "normal"—this interview is a must-listen. About Our Honored Guest: Jessica Lamar Psy.D, LMHC, LPC, CPTT  Jessica, the Co-Founder and Director of Business Development and Strategy at the Bellevue Trauma Recovery Center (BTRC), holds a Doctorate degree in Clinical Psychology from the Arizona School of Professional Psychology. As a Licensed Mental Health Therapist in Washington and Colorado States, Jessica has dedicated her career to supporting individuals and families through traumatic circumstances and life-changing transitions in forensic, intensive, and outpatient settings. Jessica’s clinical focus centers around honoring the grief process during significant life-altering changes, particularly Betrayal Trauma. She firmly believes that BTRC’s intensive trauma-informed treatment model offers a much-needed space for meaningful and supportive processing of Trauma. Alongside her passion for education, Jessica leads webinars and engages in speaking engagements that shed light on the intersection of Disenfranchised Grief and Betrayal Trauma. As a certified ETT therapist and a certified partner trauma therapist, Jessica utilizes an attachment-based, interpersonal therapy model to facilitate rapid trauma recovery effectively. Additionally, she possesses extensive training and experience in the treatment of problematic sexual behaviors/sex addiction, acknowledging the range of distressing and disruptive experiences that these behaviors can evoke in individuals. She believes this knowledge is essential for effectively supporting and treating individuals through a supportive recovery process from the impact of Betrayal Trauma. As the Director of Business Development and Strategy at BTRC, Jessica focuses on cultivating community connections, providing psychoeducation to other professionals, developing plans to enhance BTRC’s overall performance, and implementing feedback to ensure the provision of effective and contemporary treatment approaches. Jessica takes pride in guiding BTRC towards evolution and growth within the ever-changing mental health field. She is also one of the primary individual therapists for the BTRC intensive programs.  During her leisure time, Jessica enjoys reading fiction novels, embarking on outdoor adventures, exploring new restaurants, and nurturing connections with her loved ones.   RESOURCES: Do you Suffer from Betrayal Trauma? Take the free Assessment:  https://partnerbetrayaltrauma.org/partner-betrayal-trauma-tests/ Do you struggle with sex addiction? Take the free assessment: https://new.recoveryzone.com/PublicSurvey/SAST SLAA is a 12-step program for individuals struggling with sex and love addiction:  https://slaafws.org   Institutions & Professional Networks IITAP (International Institute for Trauma and Addiction Professionals) Founded by Dr. Patrick Carnes, IITAP offers specialized training for therapists working with betrayal trauma and sex addiction. Look for therapists certified as CPTT (Certified Partner Trauma Therapist) or CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist). 🔗 https://iitap.com ▶️ Find a CPTT near you APSATS (Association of Partners of Sex Addicts Trauma Specialists) Focuses exclusively on partner trauma—not codependency. They train therapists and coaches in the Multidimensional Partner Trauma Model (MPTM). APSATS validates that betrayal trauma is real, complex, and requires partner-centered treatment. 🔗 https://www.apsats.org The Meadows (Wickenburg, AZ) One of the most respected trauma and addiction recovery centers in the U.S. Offers: Gentle Path for sex addiction recovery (founded on Carnes’ work) Survivors & Betrayal Bond workshops Healing Intimate Treason (for betrayed partners) 🔗 https://www.themeadows.com Books & Recovery Workbooks The Betrayal Bond – by Dr. Patrick Carnes Explores trauma bonds that keep people stuck in harmful relationships. Offers recovery steps. 🔗 Carnes' Website Facing Heartbreak – by Stefanie Carnes, Mari Lee, and Anthony Rodriguez A compassionate workbook specifically for betrayed partners of sex addicts. 🔗 Available on Amazon and recovery resource sites Your Sexually Addicted Spouse – by Barbara Steffens & Marsha Means One of the first books to challenge the codependency model and affirm betrayal trauma as a trauma, not a pathology. Podcasts & Online Support Betrayal Trauma Recovery (BTR.org) Founded by Anne Blythe, BTR offers: Free podcast interviews Daily online support groups 1:1 coaching with trauma-informed professionals 🔗 https://www.btr.org Bloom for Women Offers an online healing platform with guided courses, webinars, and a therapist directory. Includes education on gaslighting, emotional abuse, betrayal trauma, and rebuilding self-trust. 🔗 https://www.bloomforwomen.com Supportive Coaching & Group Programs BraveOne by Coach Sarah Morales – braveone.com Hope After Betrayal – hopeafterbetrayal.com PartnerHope – therapy and intensives by Dr. Jake and JoAnn Porter (https://daringventures.com) Apps for Journaling and Grounding Sanvello or Calm – for anxiety and mindfulness Reclaim – a journal and recovery planner for betrayed partners Intimate Treason Journal App – based on Healing from Intimate Treason
When Dr. Jean-Claude Dominique was struck in a late-night hit-and-run, his Queens community mourned the loss of a respected OB-GYN, devoted father, and loving husband. His wife, Eliette, stood by as he lay in a coma—unaware that the real impact of that night was only just beginning. What first appeared to be a tragic accident quickly unraveled into a web of forged documents, double lives, and competing claims of marriage. As the investigation deepened, Eliette found herself blindsided by a betrayal no one could’ve predicted—one that would shatter families and ultimately end in violence. This week on Wildcide, we unravel the hidden life of a man living in plain sight—and the woman who had to reclaim her reality from the wreckage. Then, join us Friday (5/22) for a powerful follow-up interview with Dr. Jessica Lamar, a betrayal trauma expert, who unpacks the psychological fallout when the person you trust most turns out to be a stranger. If you want to support us, subscribe, rate and review on your favorite podcast listening app! Want to recommend a wild case or just give us a 'hey!'? Contact us at Wildcidepodcast@gmail.com Buy Merch!: www.wildcidepodcast.com  Updates on Instagram: @wildcidepodcast Facebook: Wildcide Podcast Don’t forget Wildcide Wednesdays- new episodes drop every Wednesday at 6am EST. Interviews will drop every other Friday at 6am EST. Background music by Brad Parsons at Train Sound Studio. Art for the podcast was created by Kelly Steen.  ​WILDCIDE Podcast and any content posted is presented solely for general informational, educational, and entertainment purposes. The use of information on this podcast or materials linked from this podcast or website is at the user’s own risk. It is not intended as a substitute for the advice of a physician, professional coach, psychotherapist, or other qualified professional, diagnosis, or treatment. Users should not disregard or delay in obtaining medical advice for any medical or mental health condition they may have and should seek the assistance of their healthcare professionals for any such conditions.  References:
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