Criminology

It’s Halloween, and this week on Criminology, we’re exploring chilling stories where death may not have been the end. From the famous Greenbrier Ghost, whose alleged messages from beyond the grave helped expose a murder, to a Louisiana cemetery owner whose spirit was said to haunt those connected to her death, these cases blur the line between true crime and the supernatural.

Join Mike and Morf for their annual Halloween episode. We’ll also examine the legend of Fisher’s Ghost, the eerie sightings connected to the tragic crash of Eastern Airlines Flight 401, and other stories...

In August 2006, Bernadette Vander Meer and her husband traveled to Utah’s Zion National Park to celebrate their tenth wedding anniversary. The couple planned to revisit Angels Landing, the breathtaking spot where he had proposed years earlier. But shortly after reaching the summit at sunrise, Bernadette plunged more than a thousand feet to her death. Her death was ruled a tragic accident, but those closest to Bernadette had doubts.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Bernadette Vander Meer. Bernadette was an experienced hiker, and behind the image of a happy marriage were troubling signs of control, un...

In April 2005, 25-year-old Janet Abaroa was found brutally stabbed to death inside her Durham, North Carolina, home. Her six-month-old son was found unharmed, but there were no obvious signs of forced entry and very little appeared to be missing. As investigators dug into Janet’s life and relationships, they uncovered financial problems, infidelity, troubling behavior, and a number of details that raised questions about what really happened that night.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the murder of Janet Abarora. For years, Janet’s murder remained unresolved. But a seemingly insignificant clue involving her contact lenses even...

In 1965, newlywed Mary Shotwell Little vanished after an evening at Atlanta’s Lenox Square Shopping Center. Her car was later found with blood inside and signs that it had traveled somewhere before being returned to the parking lot. Two years later, Diane Shields—the woman who had replaced Mary at the same bank and even sat at her desk—was found murdered in the trunk of her car.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Mary Little and Diane Shields. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a remarkable series of connections between the two women, including shared cowork...

When Sherri Rasmussen was found brutally murdered inside her own home, the crime scene seemed to tell a simple story: a burglary gone horribly wrong. But beneath the overturned furniture and apparent signs of a break-in were clues pointing to something far more calculated—and far more personal. The 29-year-old nursing director had been beaten, shot multiple times, and bitten during a violent struggle.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the murder of Sherri Rasmussen. For more than two decades, her killer remained free while investigators pursued the wrong theory. Then, DNA from that bite mark ch...

In September 2015, 32-year-old Henry McCabe disappeared after a night out with friends in Minnesota. Hours after he was last seen, Henry left his wife a bizarre and disturbing voicemail filled with strange sounds, moaning, and apparent cries of distress. Nearly two months later, his body was found in Rush Lake, but an autopsy revealed no signs of trauma or foul play, and his death was ruled a probable drowning with the manner undetermined. 

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the death of Henry McCabe. Questions remain about conflicting accounts of Henry’s final movements, an anonymous let...

During the Great Depression, the Karpis-Barker Gang became one of America’s most notorious criminal organizations, leaving behind a trail of bank robberies, kidnappings, and murder. At the center was Alvin “Creepy” Karpis, who partnered with Fred and Doc Barker and became one of the FBI’s most wanted men.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the Karpis-Barker gang. The gang’s crimes included the high-profile kidnappings of William Hamm Jr. and Edward Bremer, while corruption and a growing federal investigation helped shape their rise and eventual downfall. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the violent hi...

In this episode of Criminology, Mike and Morf explore the mysterious Bennington Triangle in southern Vermont, examining a series of disappearances and deaths dating back to the 1940s. The cases include hunters Carl Herrick and Middie Rivers, college student Paula Jean Welden, World War I veteran James Tedford, eight-year-old Paul Jepson, hiker Frieda Langer, and the disappearance of Martha Jeannette Jones, who was eventually found alive.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the Bennington Triangle. Explanations range from accidents and getting lost in the rugged wilderness to abduction and foul play. Also examined is the area's...

In 1987, Josefina Rivera escaped from Gary Heidnik and led Philadelphia police to his home, where they discovered three women chained and imprisoned in his basement and human remains in the freezer. Heidnik had spent years preying on vulnerable and intellectually disabled women, including a previous victim he kidnapped from a state hospital in 1978. Between November 1986 and March 1987, he abducted seven women and subjected them to horrific abuse, captivity, starvation, and torture. Two victims, Sandra Lindsay and Deborah Dudley, were murdered. 

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Gary Heidnik. Rivera ultimately escaped and called the police, bringing H...

Eugene Horsch was arrested in June 2026 after authorities found drugs, illegal firearms, fake IDs, and law-enforcement credentials in his vehicle, leading investigators to his Philadelphia home. The investigation uncovered evidence connected to four missing women—Amy McHale, Blair Tonzelli, Maribel Fresses, and Gabrielle Amarando—with digital evidence suggesting Fresses and Amarando may be dead.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Eugene and Raymond Horsch. Eugene’s father, Raymond Horsch, who died in 2025, had a long criminal history and produced disturbing films and photographs depicting sex, violence, and apparent deaths. Investigators are now working through hundreds of thousa...

Today, we’re sharing a special look at a podcast we think you’ll like from our friends at ABC Audio and 20/20. It’s called “Burden of Proof: Luigi Mangione.” In this five-part series, ABC News Legal Analyst Brian Buckmire goes deep into the case of Luigi Mangione and Brian Thompson. He’ll unpack the murder itself, the two men at the heart of the story, and how this case has affected the conversation about healthcare in America. 

This is episode one, “Christmastime in Altoona.” In this episode, the manhunt for the alleged shooter of United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompso...

In the 1990s, a series of brutal murders and disappearances in Southwest Florida became known as the Hog Trail Murders. Investigators began focusing on Daniel Owen Conahan Jr. after survivor David Payton described being lured into Conahan’s car with an offer of beer and money. Payton escaped by stealing the car, while another survivor, Stanley Burden, described being taken into the woods, tied to a tree, and attacked.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Daniel Conahan Jr. Multiple bodies were discovered in remote areas of Charlotte and Sarasota Counties, with several victims displaying similar injuries, ro...

In the 1990s, a series of brutal murders and disappearances in Southwest Florida became known as the Hog Trail Murders. Investigators began focusing on Daniel Owen Conahan Jr. after survivor David Payton described being lured into Conahan's car with an offer of beer and money. Payton escaped by stealing the car, while another survivor, Stanley Burden, described being taken into the woods, tied to a tree, and attacked.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Daniel Conahan Jr. Multiple bodies were discovered in remote areas of Charlotte and Sarasota Counties, with several victims displaying similar injuries, rope...

On July 29, 2026, 60-year-old Shukur Aikebaer was at his home in Chino Hills, California, with his wife and 13-year-old daughter when the power to their house was intentionally cut. When Shukur went outside to check the electrical panel, two men ambushed him, shot him, and forced him into the trunk of their car.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the Chino Hills kidnapping. A neighbor called 911 after hearing gunshots and screams, and deputies quickly located the suspects' silver Nissan Altima. After a brief pursuit, the passenger surrendered, but the driver, 67-year-old Zhengfeng Bo, opened fire into the...

For homicide detectives, their chance of solving a murder is cut in half if they don't get a lead within the first 48 hours.

Adapted from the hit A&E true crime series The First 48, Crime House Studios brings you the podcast that drops you inside that critical window: the interrogations, the dead ends, and the breakthroughs that crack a case wide open. Each week, we revisit a landmark investigation from the franchise, pairing its signature investigative depth with immersive, long-form storytelling built for your ears.

Real detectives. Real cases. Real stakes. New episodes every Thursday...

In 1992, 20-year-old Jennifer Judd was murdered in Baxter Springs, Kansas. Jennifer had been married for only nine days when she was brutally stabbed in her home. Her husband, Justin, immediately suspected his friend Jeremy Bryan Jones, but investigators initially lacked enough evidence to arrest him.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Jeremy Bryan Jones. Jones had a long history of violence, sexual assault allegations, drug abuse, and fleeing authorities. He eventually assumed the identity of John Paul Chapman. A fingerprint database error allowed him to avoid identification during multiple arrests in Georgia.

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Although we aren't covering a new case this week, we wanted to bring you this replay episode from the Criminology vault. It's the Mississippi Burning case which originally aired on episode 49 in 2019. We will be back soon with an all new episode of Criminology.

In the summer of 1964, three civil rights workers went missing in Mississippi. They were in the state working to help African Americans get registered to vote. Their station wagon was found burned and then their bodies were found after a 44-day search. The murders sparked a national outcry for justice and led to...

This week, Mike and Morf examine the baffling death of Alyssa Romine Olson, a deeply religious Arizona woman whose body was discovered in a shallow pond at Gilbert's Riparian Preserve in June 2016. Despite an extensive investigation, authorities have never determined whether Alyssa's death was the result of murder, suicide, or a tragic accident. Ten years later, the case remains one of the most perplexing unsolved mysteries in Arizona.

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In June 1992, 35-year-old Samuel "Sammy" Wheeler was found murdered inside his Isuzu Trooper in Virginia's George Washington National Forest. His SUV had been riddled with bullets, wiped clean of fingerprints, and someone had unsuccessfully tried to burn it to destroy evidence. The investigation quickly focused on a bitter custody dispute involving Sammy, his fiancée, her estranged husband, and even Sammy's identical twin brother.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the murder of Sammy Wheeler. For years, accusations flew between those closest to him before investigators discovered the shocking truth: none of the prime suspects was r...

On the morning of July 31, 2022, Mackenzie Shirilla's Toyota Camry slammed into a commercial building in Strongsville, Ohio, at approximately 100 mph. Dominic Russo died instantly, while Davion Flanagan succumbed to his injuries shortly afterward. Despite catastrophic injuries, Shirilla survived.

Join Mike and Morf as they examine the highly publicized case of Mackenzie Shirilla, the Ohio teenager convicted of intentionally causing a high-speed crash that killed her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and their friend, Davion Flanagan, in July 2022. Initially believed to be an accident, the investigation soon shifted as detectives uncovered evidence suggesting the crash had been intentional.

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In June 1994, two closely connected deaths occurred in Rapid City, South Dakota. The disappearance of Tina Marcotte and the mysterious death of Tom Kueter fueled decades of speculation before advances in DNA evidence finally led investigators to officially close the case.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the disappearance of Tina Marcotte and the death of Tom Kueter. Tina disappeared after getting a ride after work when she found one of her tires had been slashed. She told a friend it was someone she used to work with named Tom. Investigators are sure they know what...

In 1987, Janice Christensen, a 31-year-old Ohio woman, went on a routine morning run that ended in one of Hudson, Ohio's most haunting cold cases. Her husband reported her missing after she failed to come home, and then went searching for her. He was the one who ultimately found her body.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Janice Christensen. Advances in DNA technology and genetic genealogy ultimately identified her killer as Thomas Collier Jordan. Investigators connected him to other violent crimes while ruling him out in several infamous Northeast Ohio murders.

You can...

In September 2023, authorities in Romeoville, Illinois, discovered one of the most disturbing family murders in recent memory. Inside a home on Concord Avenue, investigators found 32-year-old Zoraida Bartolomei, her partner Alberto Rolon, their sons Adriel and Diego, and the family's three dogs shot to death.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the Romeoville Murders. The police investigation uncovered an affair between Zoraida and co-worker Nathaniel Huey Jr. Nathaniel initially cooperated with investigators but refused searches of his phone and vehicle, making detectives increasingly suspicious. What the police discovered next shocked everyone and was more bizarre than...

Although we aren't covering a new case this week, we wanted to bring you this replay episode from the Criminology vault. It's the case of the Pocatello Babysitter Murders which originally aired on episode 54 in 2019. We will be back with all new episode next week.

Between 1978 and 1983, four teenage girls disappeared from Pocatello, Idaho. All four were later found deceased. There were similarities between the victims aside from their ages and gender. They all attended the same school. All went missing during the summer months, and three of the girls were either babysitting or due to babysitting...

In 1993, 19-year-old college freshman Tricia Lynn Reitler, an Indiana Wesleyan University freshman, vanished while walking back to her dorm after a quick trip to a supermarket. More than three decades later, investigators believe they know who was responsible, but Tricia's body has never been found, and no one has been charged in her case.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the disappearance of Tricia Lynn Reitler. The case eventually became linked to suspected serial killer Larry DeWayne Hall, who repeatedly confessed to and then recanted involvement in numerous murders. Authorities found disturbing notes, maps, and items...

On March 4, 2022, Kouri Richins called 911 after finding her husband unresponsive in their home in Kamas, Utah. Eric was only 39 years old and appeared healthy before his sudden death. An autopsy later revealed Eric died from a fentanyl overdose estimated at roughly five times the lethal dose. Investigators noted there was no known history of opioid abuse.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the murder of Eric Richins. Police began to zero in on Kouri, and what they uncovered during their investigation included allegations of financial fraud, poisonings, affairs, and life insurance schemes.

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In the 1980s and early 1990s, a terrifying series of murders occurred connected to the so-called "Coin Shop Killer," believed to be longtime suspect Charles Thurman Sinclair. Multiple coin shop owners across several states were targeted using a chillingly consistent method: a friendly, knowledgeable customer would gain trust before returning to rob and murder the shop owners.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the "Coin Shop Killer." An interstate investigation linked the crimes at a time when cooperation between agencies was far less common than today. But there are still many unanswered questions involving these cases...

Serial killers. Unsolved murders. Investigations that gripped America. If you think you know these cases, think again.

America's Most Infamous Crimes is a Crime House original hosted by Katie Ring. Each week, we go deep on one of the most notorious true-crime cases in American history. Not the quick recap version, but the full story told across multiple episodes every Tuesday through Thursday.

From the serial killers who terrorized entire cities to the cold cases that still don't have answers, this is the podcast that takes you beyond the headlines and inside the investigation.

In one of the most unbelievable identity theft cases ever uncovered, William Woods lost far more than his credit score — he lost his freedom, his name, and nearly his sanity after authorities mistakenly believed he was the imposter.

This week, Mike and Morf examine the shocking decades-long deception carried out by Matthew David Keirans, a man who stole another person's identity in 1988 and successfully lived as "William Woods" for more than 30 years. What began with a stolen wallet at a hot dog stand in Albuquerque eventually spiraled into fraudulent loans, wrongful imprisonment, psychiatric institutionalization, and one of th...

In the summer of 1982, Father Reynaldo John Rivera was lured out to a location by a male caller who said they needed last rites performed. Father Rivera's body was found days later; he had been bound and strangled.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the murders and disappearances of priests in the 1980s. There are some eerie connections between a number of priests who were either murdered or disappeared under suspicious circumstances. These connections have led many online to speculate about conspiracy theories involving a person or persons who wanted revenge.

You...

In 1989, Rebecca Shaeffer was just hitting her stride as an actress. She was coming off a three-year stint on a television show, My Sister Sam, opposite Pam Dawber. Robert John Barbo had been stalking Rebecca, though she was unaware of it. His obsession would end in tragedy.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Rebecca Shaeffer and other instances of stalkers targeting celebrities. Stalking is a scary thing and often involves a person who knows their victim personally. But in the case of celebrities, stalkers don't really know their target but often believe they do.

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Dating back to 2022, at least 11 scientists or people with high security clearance levels have gone missing or been murdered. This has caused speculation to run rampant and has fueled many different conspiracy theories online.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the missing and murdered scientists. But it's not just the online community that has fueled speculation regarding these cases. The White House, top lawmakers, and even the President have commented on the cases. It's been announced that the FBI will officially begin looking into it.

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In May 2004, suitcases filled with body parts were discovered around the Chesapeake Bay area. It took the police some time to identify that the remains belonged to Bill McGuire. This was in large part because Bill had not been reported missing, so the authorities turned their attention to his wife, Melanie.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss what the media has dubbed "The Suitcase Murder." Melanie told the police that Bill was violent towards her and had a gambling addiction. She did file for a restraining order against Bill, which gave her story more credibility. But...

Just before 11 PM on August 11th, 2009, Ryan Widmer called 911, requesting help at his home in Hamilton Township, Ohio. According to Ryan, His wife, twenty-four-year-old Sarah Widmer, had fallen asleep while she was taking a bath and accidentally drowned. Police quickly became suspicious of his story.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the death of Sarah Widmer. Ryan's story was picked apart, and discrepancies emerged. Also, the crime scene didn't seem to make sense. But the state's case was primarily circumstantial. And although Ryan has been convicted multiple times of Sarah's murder, there are many who believe...

On October 26th, 2015, 18-year-old Ebby Jane Steppach was reported missing. She was last seen leaving her grandparents' home in West Little Rock, Arkansas, around 8 PM on the 24th.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Ebby Steppach. Three years, Ebby's body was found less than 20 yards from where her car was found after she disappeared. Before she went missing, Ebby dropped a bombshell on her stepfather. Many people have pointed to deficiencies in the police work early on.

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On the night of August 8th, 2018, Thomas Perez Jr. of Fontana, CA called the Fontana Police Department to report that his father, Thomas Perez Sr., had been missing for about seventeen hours.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss Thomas Perez Jr. Thomas caught the attention of the police by the way he was acting when they arrived. They also discovered that bleach had been used inside the house, blood in the house, and his father's mattress had been removed, as had some of his clothing.

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Brendan and Christine Banfield had been together for nineteen years. They dated for many years, got married, and had a daughter named Valerie. The family was living in Herndon, Virginia, and because of their busy schedules they decided to hire a nanny.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss what has been called "The Au Pair Murders" by the press. On the morning of February 24th, 2023, Juliana Magalhaes, the au pair, and Brendan Banfield called 911. They claimed they found Brendan's wife, Christine, and that she had been attacked by an intruder who turned out to be a...

The Oakland County child killer was responsible for the murders of at least 4 children in Oakland County, MI, in 1976 and 1977. Technically, we don't know whether it's a single killer or multiple killers. What we do know is that these murders shocked that area of Michigan and forever changed the lives of the people there, not just the families of the victims, but the entire community.

Join Mike and Morf for the second and last part of a discussion on the Oakland County child killer. In this episode we focus more on the known evidence in the case...

The Oakland County child killer was responsible for the murders of at least 4 children in Oakland County, MI, in 1976 and 1977. Technically, we don't know whether it's a single killer or multiple killers. What we do know is that these murders shocked that area of Michigan and forever changed the lives of the people there, not just the families of the victims, but the entire community.

Join Mike and Morf for the first part of a discussion on the Oakland County child killer. The perpetrator selected both male and female victims and dumped their bodies where they would...

In 2015, 22-year-old Asia Brown and her 2-year-old son Ashton Brown disappeared. On February 22nd, a friend of Asia called 911 to report her missing after she failed to show up to work for two days.

Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the disappearance and murder of Asia and Ashton Brown. On February 20th, Asia was active on her social media accounts and was seen on surveillance video at an Autozone store. But the police had few clues to go on, and virtually no tips came in after the bodies of both Asia and Ashton were found.