Weird True Crime

On January 10, 2002, 19-year-old Rachel Cooke laced up her Asics, grabbed her yellow Walkman, and headed out for a morning run near her family's home in Georgetown, Texas. She never came home. Twenty-four years later, no one has been charged, no physical evidence has been found, and the Rachel Cooke cold case remains one of the most haunting unsolved missing persons cases in Texas. In this episode, Gina and Amber walk through Rachel's story — who she was, what happened, a false confession that shattered her family all over again, and where the investigation stands today.

🔎 Do you have information? A $10...

What’s the dumbest way a criminal has ever tried to escape police?
This week on Weird True Crime, Amber and Gina dive into a viral Reddit thread titled:
“Policemen of Reddit, what’s the dumbest way a criminal tried to get away from you?”
And let’s just say… evolution may be working overtime.
From a man trying to fly during a foot chase, to a suspect who climbed a fence instead of using the giant open gate, to a drunk guy who asked the cop chasing him for help getting away from… the cop chasing him —...

This week’s True Crime Headlines episode covers five developing stories — from a highly anticipated trial start, to a new murder charge, to a devastating multi-victim murder/suicide, plus a decades-old cold case conviction tied to forensic evidence, and an update in a missing person investigation.
We’re focusing on what’s new, what investigators and courts are saying publicly right now, and what to watch next — while keeping the emphasis where it belongs: on the people harmed, and the families living with the aftermath.
Today’s Headlines
Kouri Richins trial begins — the Utah mom accused in her husband’s...

Listener requests? We deliver.
For our first WTF episode of 2026, we’re answering Oliver’s call for more dumb criminals, bizarre crimes, and “how did anyone think this would work?” moments — and wow… people really tested the limits of common sense last year.
In this episode of Weird True Crime, Amber and Gina break down real criminal cases from 2025–2026 involving meth-fueled decisions, stolen historical artifacts, slow-speed police chases, botched murder-for-hire plots, naked carjackers, and criminals who absolutely should not be writing true crime books.
From an 800-pound war cannon stolen to pay a drug debt, to a man who b...

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Edited by: djaudio

The Suspicious Death of Megan Trussell // Part One



On February 9, 2025, 18-year-old University of Colorado Boulder freshman Megan Trussell vanished after leaving her dorm following a tense argument with her roommate on Super Bowl Sunday, wearing only a light jacket as temperatures dropped into the 20s.  Six days later, Megan’s body was discovered miles away in a hidden culvert in Boulder Canyon—an area she was unfamiliar with—yet her death was quickly ruled a suicide despite missing clothing, unexplained injuries, and conflicting cell phone data.

In this episode of Weird T...

A new investigative podcast on the unsolved murder of Morris Smith and the wrongful arrest of an innocent man. Morris death was the 112th homicide in New Orleans and it was only three months into the year. The police were overrun with murders and the detectives were reeling. His mum was a popular newscaster, adored by many, but why does her daughter think she was involved?

Produced by award winning author and podcaster, N. Leigh Hunt for Fire Eyes Media Music by Captain Fathands and the Morlocks (San Diego)

www.fireeyesmedia.com

Listen to...

Preview | Missing in Hush Town Season 2: Bethany Markowski || The Prologue

Listen to the first six episodes to the second season of the award-nominated podcast, Missing in Hush Town, now wherever you get podcasts. 

Bethany Markowski allegedly went missing from a Jackson, TN shopping mall on March 04, 2001, when her father claims he allowed the 11 year old to go into the mall alone while he took a nap in his van in the parking lot.

Bethany was never seen or heard from again- nor was she ever seen on any of the mall security footage.

We’re keeping spooky season alive with a Reddit AITA: Halloween Edition. Amber and Gina weigh in on 10 delightfully messy moral dilemmas: scaring kids in full clown cosplay, spider décor vs. arachnophobic neighbors, gated candy drama, baby trick-or-treat etiquette, a gothic castle wedding, a dog winning the costume contest (over humans!), a Grim Reaper “prank” gone wrong, painting your house witchy chic, a parent vetoing a teen’s group costume, and one very NSFW “Slave Leia” party situation. Expect laughs, side-eye, and verdicts galore (YTA/NTA/ESH). Stick around for the riddle reveal: “Why did the skeleton not go to the party?”<...

You won’t believe how many red flags police missed in this case.

When 24-year-old Felicia Johnson traveled to Houston for her birthday, she never made it home. Her bloodied phone was found in a park, and the man police say is responsible vanished without a trace. Gina and Amber dig into Felicia’s final hours, the chilling evidence police uncovered, and the fight for justice her father refuses to give up.

🎧 Subscribe & follow Weird True Crime for more real stories, real people, and cases that refuse to be forgotten.

📩 Have a case you want us to...

He’s tall. He’s faceless. He lurks in the woods, on playgrounds, and in the corners of blurry photographs. Slenderman isn’t just another urban legend—he’s the internet’s first viral monster.

In this episode, Amber and Gina uncover the eerie origins of Slenderman. From his 2009 birth on the Something Awful forums to his rapid spread across creepypasta sites, YouTube series like Marble Hornets, and viral games like Slender: The Eight Pages, Slenderman became the perfect modern boogeyman.

But the story didn’t stay online. In 2014, two 12-year-old girls in Wisconsin lured their friend into th...

It’s one of the simplest but most unsettling urban legends ever told: a girl comforts herself at night by letting her dog lick her hand—only to find out in the morning that her dog is dead, and the intruder has left a message scrawled on the mirror: “Humans can lick too.”

In this episode, Amber and Gina dive deep into the chilling urban legend known as The Licked Hand (or Humans Can Lick Too). With an extended campfire-style narration, sarcastic commentary, and true crime context, they explore why this story continues to haunt us. From home invasion...

“Have you checked the children?” That single question has haunted sleepovers, campfires, and horror movies for decades. On this Wicked Wednesday, Amber and Gina unravel the terrifying urban legend of The Babysitter and the Man Upstairs.

You know the story: a teenage babysitter alone in a house, creepy phone calls, and the shocking twist that the calls are coming from inside the house. But what if this wasn’t just a campfire tale?

In this episode, we explore the chilling real-life murder of Janett Christman, a 13-year-old babysitter brutally killed in Columbia, Missouri in 1950. Her unsolved case b...

What happens when teenage love, late-night parking, and a hook-handed killer collide? Today, Amber and Gina dive into one of the most chilling urban legends of all time—The Hookman. You’ve probably heard the story whispered around a campfire: a couple parked at Lover’s Lane, a news bulletin about an escaped asylum patient, and a bloody hook left hanging from the car door. But did you know this legend is rooted in real crimes?
From the 1946 Texarkana Moonlight Murders to the rise of parental scare tactics in the 1950s, this episode unpacks the terrifying origins of The Hookma...

To kick off Wicked Wednesday Urban Legends series, we're throwing it back to our coverage of the Texarkana Moonlight Murders. This horrific, unsolved case is the inspiration for the infamous legend of The Hookman. Come back next week to hear all about it!

Between February and May 1946, three people were brutally attacked and five were murdered in Texarkana by a man dubbed the Phantom Killer. Texarkana straddles Texas and Arkansas and had a population of about 27,000 at the time of the murders. 

The murders have never been solved, though many believe to know who’s responsible for...

After 34 years, Austin Police have finally identified a suspect in the Yogurt Shop Murders. On December 6, 1991, sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, Eliza Thomas, and Amy Ayers were found murdered inside “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” on Anderson Lane, a case that shocked the city and haunted investigators for decades.

This week, APD announced that Robert Eugene Brashers, a violent offender linked to other crimes across the country, has been connected to the murders through DNA and ballistics. Brashers died by suicide in 1999, but it was his daughter’s decision to provide a DNA sample years later that ultim...

The Last Trip is a true crime podcast exclusively investigating missing and murdered victims that were living their best lives… on vacation. 

Jaimie Beebe, co-host of the popular True Crime podcast “Strictly Stalking”, brings together the two things she’s most passionate about: True Crime & Travel.  Through her own solo travels around the world she has a unique perspective on staying alive in paradise.  Join Jaimie as she recreates someone’s last days in paradise on The Last Trip.

Listen to The Last Trip wherever you get your podcasts!

Become a supporter of this podcast: http...

Each week, your hosts Neil & Megan get into a true crime case or just a truly macabre story. We also throw in some strange and interesting tales of oddity. And remember, we like to take the cases seriously, but not ourselves. New episodes every Wednesday!

Listen to Mortal Musings wherever you get your podcasts!

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/weird-true-crime--5679751/support.

FIVE TIME AWARD NOMINATED at the True Crime Awards 2025, Independent Podcast Awards and the British Podcast Awards as Best True Crime Podcast. Murder Mile UK True Crime is a unique London-based true-crime podcast, focused on Soho, the West End and West London, presented as a guided walk of 300+ untold, unsolved and long-forgotten murder cases.

Praised as one of the best London, British, English and UK True Crime podcasts, as well as 4th Best True-Crime Podcast by This Week, iTunes Top 25 Podcast, Podcast Magazine's Hot 50, The Telegraph's Top 5, Crime & Investigation Channel's Top 20 True-Crime Podcasts, also seen on BBC Radio...

Introducing the full length investigative podcast, In Esto. 

IN ESTO - What really happened to Adrianna Hutto?

Episode 1 - "Everything's Purple"

Amanda and Alan live in his double-wide trailer in Northern Florida. He is a butcher and she works overnights at a care home. He has two teenagers who often visit and she has a 7 (Adrianna) and a 6 (AJ) year old who share a room. Alan goes to work early and leaves Amanda's kids under the supervision of his son, Alan Jr. When Amanda arrives from work she finds her two kids w...

This week, we’re leaving the heavy headlines behind and diving into some of the funniest, weirdest, and most absurd news stories out there. From chimpanzees starting viral trends to a passenger’s “swamp crotch” causing TSA chaos, we’ve got it all. Amber and Gina share their favorite bizarre headlines and try to make sense of the madness. Get ready for laughs, disbelief, and a touch of absurdity. Oh, and don’t forget to stick around for our ridiculous riddle at the end!

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Website: www.weirdtruecrime.com
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We’re throwing it back to our interview with Julie Murray this week in anticipation of our trip to Boston for the 2025 True Crime Podcast Festival. 

Julie’s sister, Maura Murray, disappeared in Haverhill, New Hampshire on February 9, 2004, and her family has been searching for answers for over 20 years. 

In the second half of our interview, we’re breaking down what happened that night in Haverhill, conflicting timelines, weird findings at the crash site, and other confusing events that led to crucial time wasted and unanswered questions. 

Julie clarifies rumors and speculation around Maura’s actions a...

We’re throwing it back to our interview with Julie Murray this week in anticipation of our trip to Boston for the 2025 True Crime Podcast Festival. 

Julie’s sister, Maura Murray, disappeared in Haverhill, New Hampshire on February 9, 2004, and her family has been searching for answers for over 20 years. 

Julie has dedicated her life to advocating for Maura and other families in similar situations. She shared what it was like growing up with Maura and what her life was like leading up to that fateful night. 

Come back next week for Part 2 and hear more fr...

Amanda and Trevin from Live Laugh Larceny join Amber and Gina for the ultimate collab in this special WTF Wednesday episode! We talk dilemmas, dumb criminals, and animal antics in this amazingly fun team-up. 

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Edited by - djaudio22@gmail.com

Leave us a review and share your thoughts — it helps so much!

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In this chilling and heartbreaking episode of Weird True Crime, Gina and Amber unravel the twisted tale of Ben Renick — a world-renowned snake breeder who was tragically murdered in his Missouri reptile facility in 2017.
What initially looked like a freak accident involving one of Ben’s giant pythons quickly unraveled into something far darker. Through twists involving life insurance, poison-laced protein shakes, extramarital affairs, and a murder-for-hire plot, the truth finally came to light — and it wasn’t the snakes who struck.
We follow the investigation step-by-step, from the bizarre discovery of Ben's body to the shocking arrests of his w...

In this powerful and heartbreaking premiere of WTF: What They Faced, Gina and Amber delve into the real-life story of John Edward Jones, a 26-year-old medical student and father who became trapped in Utah’s infamous Nutty Putty Cave in 2009.
What began as a family caving adventure turned into a 27-hour rescue mission that captivated the nation and ended in unthinkable tragedy. Using official reports, firsthand accounts, and direct quotes from rescuers and family members, this episode examines the full timeline of John’s entrapment, the harrowing rescue effort, the system failure that sealed his fate, and the aftermath that...

On the morning of September 26, 2003, 32-year-old Army veteran and father Eric Nelams stepped outside his Phenix City, Alabama home to head to work—just like he did every other day. Minutes later, he was gunned down in his own carport. Despite witnesses, potential suspects, and a possible motive, Eric’s murder remains unsolved more than two decades later. In this episode, we explore the tragic and frustrating case of Eric Nelams—an honorably discharged veteran, a devoted father, and a man who was deeply loved by his family and community. We examine the suspicious circumstances surrounding his murder, including an allege...

On the morning of September 26, 2003, 32-year-old Army veteran and father Eric Nelams stepped outside his Phenix City, Alabama home to head to work—just like he did every other day. Minutes later, he was gunned down in his own carport. Despite witnesses, potential suspects, and a possible motive, Eric’s murder remains unsolved more than two decades later. In this episode, we explore the tragic and frustrating case of Eric Nelams—an honorably discharged veteran, a devoted father, and a man who was deeply loved by his family and community. We examine the suspicious circumstances surrounding his murder, including an allege...

After diving into the world of creative criminal sentencing, Gina and Amber are back—this time turning their attention to the unsung heroes of chaos control: 911 dispatchers. From mistaking a goat for a kidnapped child to a man mowing shag carpet in the living room, this episode dives into some of the weirdest, funniest, and flat-out absurd emergency calls ever recorded. Whether it’s a deer standoff, an accidental dog dial, or tomatoes classified as missiles—yes, really—these stories highlight just how weird the world can be when you’re on the other end of the emergency line. 📢 Follow & Subscribe: Su...

In August 2017, award-winning journalist Kim Wall boarded a homemade submarine in Copenhagen to interview eccentric inventor Peter Madsen. She was never seen alive again. What began as a promising story turned into one of the most chilling and bizarre true crime cases in recent memory. In this episode, we take you through Kim’s life, the investigation into her murder, the trial that shocked Denmark, and how her legacy continues to impact journalism around the world. This is not just a story about a horrific crime — it’s a story about the power of storytelling, the dangers journalists face, and the fi...

In today’s episode, Gina and Amber are diving deep into the wild world of creative criminal sentencing. We’re talking bread-and-water diets, lawnmower justice, court-mandated makeovers, and yes—someone actually had to knit sweaters as punishment. From animal neglect to sidewalk-stomping road rage, these stories feature judges who didn’t just throw the book—they rewrote the entire genre. Come for the crimes, stay for the sentencing—and see how these mischief-makers got served a steaming hot plate of poetic justice. Whether it’s jail time in a wig or holding up a sign that screams “I’m an idiot,” you’ll be...

In this episode, we’re honored to share a powerful conversation with Charlie Shunick — founder of the Resource Association for Missing People, forensic consultant, professor, and passionate advocate for families of the missing. Back in October 2024, G attended the virtual Cold Case Symposium — a meaningful event that brings together families of unsolved homicide and missing persons cases from across the country. It was there she heard Charlie speak, and the impact of her words was immediate and emotional. Charlie’s heartfelt presentation on the harms of exploitative true crime content and the importance of ethical storytelling struck a deep chord. We knew...

In this episode, we dive into some of the most bizarre and hilarious fast food crimes, from a meth lab in a Taco Bell to a chaotic art heist at an Arby’s, and a robbery foiled by a trail of hot dogs. Join Amber and Gina as they break down these outlandish criminal acts with humor and sarcasm, uncovering what went wrong, what went way too far, and how the police and fast food employees handled these situations in the weirdest ways possible. You won't believe the absurdity behind these true crime tales straight from your favorite fast food jo...

We're throwing it back to the very first episode we ever recorded together — and it's a case that still gives us chills. Sixteen-year-old Cassie Jo Stoddart was house-sitting for her aunt and uncle when what should’ve been a quiet night turned into an unthinkable nightmare. In this episode, we cover how two of Cassie’s classmates carried out a cold, premeditated murder — all while documenting their plan on video. It’s a case that’s not only heartbreaking, but also incredibly disturbing in how calculated it was. If you’ve never heard this one, buckle up. And if you have, it’s wor...

In this gripping episode of Weird True Crime, Amber and Gina uncover some of the most bizarre, shocking, and jaw-dropping true crime headlines—from hidden backyard bodies to murder-for-hire plots gone wrong. 🔎 What You'll Hear in This Episode:  ✔️ The chilling case of Leigh Sabine, who kept her husband’s mummified body in her backyard for 18 years—until a prank went horribly wrong.  ✔️ The Ghost Adventures murder plot, where Aaron Goodwin’s wife allegedly tried to have him killed in a murder-for-hire scheme with a Florida inmate.  ✔️ A fraud case so cruel it will make your blood boil—how one woman faked terminal cancer for fi...

What would you do if you discovered your father had been leading a double life—one as a respected firefighter, the other as an alleged hitman for the Chicago Outfit? That’s exactly what Kyle Tekiela faced when he learned the shocking truth about his father, Kenny "The Kid" Tekiela. In his gripping podcast, Crook County, Kyle unpacks his father’s alleged ties to the infamous Chicago Outfit—a crime syndicate that operated under mob bosses like Sam Giancana and Al Capone. In this episode, I sit down with Kyle to discuss what it was like to uncover his father’s past, th...

This is the strange but true case of Katie Fusco and Stephen Pladl.
Katie Fusco was like a lot of adopted kids- as she got older, her curiosity about her birth parents grew, and she eventually found them: Stephen and Alyssa Paldl. As a relationshup began building and she turned 18, she moved in with them. However, the relationship was anything but normal. What transpired is something out of a disturbing, twisty horror novel. This weird true crime case is sure to leave you feeling some type of way.
This is the strange but true case of...

This is the strange but true case of Katie Fusco and Stephen Pladl. Katie Fusco was like a lot of adopted kids- as she got older, her curiosity about her birth parents grew, and she eventually found them: Stephen and Alyssa Paldl. As a relationshup began building and she turned 18, she moved in with them. However, the relationship was anything but normal. What transpired is something out of a disturbing, twisty horror novel. This weird true crime case is sure to leave you feeling some type of way. This is the strange but true case of Katie Fusco and Stephen...

In this episode of Florida Man Chronicles, we take you through some of the most bizarre, hilarious, and downright strange criminal antics that only a Florida Man could pull off! From impersonating FBI agents and trying to escape in a hamster wheel, to breaking into homes and hiding drugs in unexpected places, we cover it all. Join us as we explore the unforgettable moments from the wildest true crime stories in Florida, and dive deep into the ridiculousness of it all. Get ready for some laughs, jaw-dropping moments, and a whole lot of Florida Man weirdness. Subscribe on Patreon: www...

Weird True Crime welcomes Missing in Hush Town. This is the first episode from the first season of the long-form investigative podcast.  Missing in Hush Town: Chapter One   Jennifer Wix was just 21. Adrianna, her baby girl, was just 2. On March 25, 2004, the girls were never seen or heard from again. We started this podcast with a sliver of hope that perhaps one of the girls was still out there- after all, who could harm an innocent little girl? We now have confirmation that neither girls took a breath past March 25, 2004. Our mission is the same- bring the girls home, but our sea...