Hidden Threads: Real Private Investigators. Real Cases. Real Stories.
Hidden Threads uncovers the untold true crime stories behind private investigators' most chilling and high-stakes cases. Each episode exposes hidden connections, dark secrets, and shocking twists—from unsolved murders and missing persons to betrayals that span decades—while revealing the rare political threads that quietly shape the shadows of justice.Available on ALL Streaming PlatformsSpotify • Apple • YouTube • Amazon
The Root of Every Hack: Why It Always Starts With a Human
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Every major breach you've ever heard about — the stolen data, the ransomware, the drained accounts — traces back to the same starting point, and it isn't a genius in a hoodie cracking code. It's a person who clicked, answered, or trusted the wrong thing. This week Jus and I make the case that social engineering is the root cause of nearly all hacking and infiltration.
We walk through how attackers skip the firewall entirely and go straight for the human — the phishing email, the fake IT call, the "I'm locked out, can you he...
Nothing Is Ever Deleted: Data Recovery & the Art of the Con
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You hit delete and think it's gone. It isn't. This week Jus and I get into two sides of the same coin: how deleted data gets pulled back from the dead, and how con artists talk people out of that data in the first place.On the forensics side, I break down what actually happens when you "delete" a file, why your phone and hard drive are keeping receipts you never agreed to, and how examiners recover texts, photos, and files people swore were long gone. It's the stuff that wins court cases and...The Art of the Con: How Hackers Talk Their Way Past Everything
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The biggest breaches in history didn't start with a line of code — they started with a phone call, a friendly email, or a guy in a hi-vis vest walking straight through the front door. This week Jus and I get into social engineering: the art of manipulating people into handing over the keys instead of breaking the lock.
We break down the classic plays — phishing, pretexting, tailgating, and the help-desk vishing calls that took down entire casino networks. We get into why confidence and a clipboard beat firewalls every time, how atta...
$701 Million Gone: The Scams That Fooled Everyone (And How They Got Busted)
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Everybody's heard the horror stories — grandma wires her retirement to a "crypto broker," a lonely guy meets a girl online who just needs a little investment help. Nobody talks about the part where the scammers get caught. This week Jus and I break down 2026's biggest digital scam takedowns and the forensic trail that put cuffs on the people behind them.We cover the May 2026 operation that shut down nine crypto scam centers, seized over $701 million, and led to 276+ arrests — with the ringleaders charged right here in the U.S. out of San Diego. We h...Two Cases, Two Standards: Sarah Grace Patrick and the Isaac Apodaca Sword Killing
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On this episode of Hidden Threads, Macky and Jus break down two very different homicide cases and what they reveal about how evidence—or the lack of it—drives an investigation. First, the Sarah Grace Patrick case out of Georgia, where a teenager stands accused in the deaths of her mother and stepfather, and we dig into what the state has actually shown versus what's been assumed in the court of public opinion. Then we pivot to the Isaac Apodaca sword case, a killing where the physical evidence, digital trail, and investigative record stack...
Justice on the High Bridge — The Delphi Murders and the Richard Allen Conviction
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On February 13, 2017, thirteen-year-old Abby Williams and fourteen-year-old Libby German set out for a day on the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi, Indiana — and never came home. Their bodies were found the next day in the woods near the bridge. It took five years and a misplaced police report — but law enforcement eventually got their man.
Richard Allen was found guilty on November 11, 2024, and sentenced to 130 years in prison. Now his attorneys are throwing everything at the wall hoping something sticks on appeal. In this episode we break down the three appeal...
Spy Gear & Cheater Traps: The Rules of Bugs, Hidden Cameras & How PIs Catch Them | Best Of
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Can someone legally bug your car? Is that hidden camera in the Airbnb against the law? And how do private investigators actually catch a cheating spouse without breaking any rules? In this compilation, I break down the real laws around eavesdropping, listening devices, and hidden cameras — and the surprisingly simple methods PIs use to catch cheaters every day.
I'm Macky, owner of Shadownet — a digital forensics and OSINT firm. After 26 years in uniform, including 9 as a Force Recon Marine, I've spent years in the investigations world, and I'm pulling back the curt...
When a Child Breaks — The Tragedy of Carly Gregg and Ashley Smylie
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This is not an episode about a killer. This is an episode about a 14-year-old girl, a grieving family, a mother who will never come home, and a mental health system that failed everyone in that house on Ashton Way. Ashley Smylie was a dedicated teacher and a mother who loved her daughter. Carly Gregg was a child struggling with dissociation, auditory hallucinations, and medication changes that her family was desperately trying to manage. We are not here to excuse what happened. We are here to ask the harder question — what did we mis...
When Self-Defense Becomes Murder: The Karmelo Anthony Verdict
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Stand Your Ground laws exist to protect innocent people from violent threats — not to settle arguments over parking spots or personal slights. We dig into the Karmelo Anthony trial, the conviction, and the hard truth that self-defense law demands an imminent threat of bodily injury before deadly force is ever justified. If you carry, you need to understand where the legal line is — because ignorance of that line can cost you everything.
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Best of Hidden Threads: Alimony Investigations, Hidden Assets & Following the Money
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Can someone really hide money during a divorce? In this Best of Hidden Threads compilation, we discuss alimony investigations, hidden assets, undisclosed income, shell businesses, digital evidence, financial deception, and the investigative techniques used to uncover the truth.
Drawing from real-world investigative experience, we explain how investigators identify financial inconsistencies, analyze digital evidence, follow money trails, and assist attorneys and clients in high-conflict domestic cases.
Topics include:
Hidden assets during divorceAlimony and financial deceptionDigital evidence in family law casesBusiness income concealmentBank records and financial investigationsOpen-source intelligence (OSINT)Common...Real Stories of Resilience: How Invisible Warriors Is Changing Lives | Nancy Becher | Part 2
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In Part 2 of our conversation, Macky Outlaw continues his discussion with Nancy Becher, founder of Invisible Warriors, focusing on the real-life impact of helping women veterans overcome adversity.
Nancy shares powerful stories of resilience, recovery, and transformation from women who have faced homelessness, trauma, isolation, and other challenges after military service. We also discuss the resources available to veterans, the importance of community support, and what civilians can do to help those who served.
This episode goes beyond the statistics and highlights the human side of veteran advocacy.
<...The Hidden Battles of Women Veterans | Nancy Becher, Founder of Invisible Warriors | Part 1
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Women veterans often face challenges that remain unseen long after their military service ends. In Part 1 of this conversation, Macky Outlaw sits down with Nancy Becher, founder of Invisible Warriors, to discuss the unique struggles female veterans encounter when transitioning back to civilian life.
From military sexual trauma and mental health challenges to homelessness, employment barriers, family reintegration, and the lack of recognition many women veterans experience, this episode sheds light on issues that deserve greater attention.
Nancy shares real-world stories, lessons learned through her nonprofit work, and how...
Alabama Crime Roundtable: Murder, Self-Defense, and the Evidence Trail
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In this episode of The Hidden Threads Podcast, former law enforcement professionals Macky Outlaw and Jus take a deep dive into three Alabama criminal cases that have captured public attention.
The discussion begins with the death of Whitney Harlow Roberson and the investigative questions surrounding the case. The conversation then turns to the shocking multi-victim homicide case involving William Graham Oliver and the evidence investigators examine when building a case of this magnitude. Finally, Macky and Jus break down the self-defense shooting involving Christopher Saam and discuss how Alabama's self-defense laws...
The Golden State Killer: How DNA Finally Caught Joseph DeAngelo
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For more than four decades, Joseph DeAngelo evaded justice while investigators hunted the man known as the Golden State Killer. In this episode of Hidden Threads, we break down the crimes, the preserved forensic evidence, and the groundbreaking use of genetic genealogy that finally exposed him. From GEDmatch and family tree analysis to covert DNA collection and the privacy controversy that followed, this is the inside story of one of the most important criminal investigations in modern history.
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Scammers, Grifters, and the Psychology of the Con
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Scammers don’t just steal money—they manipulate trust, emotion, urgency, and fear. In this episode of Hidden Threads, we break down real-world scams, the psychology behind why smart people still get caught, red flags investigators look for, and how fraudsters build believable lies that can cost victims everything. From romance scams and identity theft to online fraud and professional grifters, we unpack how the con really works.
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The Government Is Watching Me… Or Is It? Inside the Mind of Surveillance Paranoia
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They’re not spies. They’re not whistleblowers. They’re not handling classified intel. So why are some ordinary people absolutely convinced the government is tracking them with drones, listening through walls with directional microphones, or monitoring every move they make?
In this episode of Hidden Threads, Macky and Jus discuss real-world cases involving clients who believed shadowy agencies were targeting them—despite living otherwise ordinary lives as mechanics, HR professionals, and tradespeople. How do investigators handle these calls professionally? When do claims point to legitimate privacy concerns—and when is something e...
Reasonable Suspicion or Rabbit Hole? Conspiracies, Paranoia & The Investigator’s Line
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Description: In this off-the-cuff Hidden Threads conversation, Macky and Jus dive into the blurry line between reasonable articulable suspicion and full-blown conspiracy theories. When does a gut feeling become something worth investigating? How do investigators separate facts, patterns, and legitimate indicators from assumptions, paranoia, and internet rabbit holes? Real-world stories, random tangents, and honest investigator talk.
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The Tyre Nichols Case: When Policing Goes Wrong
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In this episode of Hidden Threads, Macky Outlaw and Jus discuss the tragic death of Tyre Nichols following his encounter with officers from the Memphis Police Department.
We break down the body camera footage, the culture surrounding aggressive police units, and the reality that a small percentage of officers who lose control can permanently damage public trust in law enforcement. This conversation focuses on accountability, leadership failures, use of force, and how incidents like this impact the overwhelming majority of good officers serving honorably every day.
Raw d...
The Kevin Duggan Case: When Bad Cops Destroy Public Trust
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In this episode of Hidden Threads, Macky Outlaw and Jus break down the case of former Baltimore officer Kevin Duggan and the dangerous reality of what happens when law enforcement officers lose control, abuse authority, or cross ethical lines.
We discuss how a very small percentage of corrupt or reckless officers can damage the reputation of the overwhelming majority of good cops who serve honorably every day. From public trust and accountability to police culture, leadership failures, and the long-term damage caused by misconduct, this episode takes an honest look at...
Hidden Threads: De-Escalation, Split-Second Decisions, and the Murdaugh Trial Twist
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In this episode of Hidden Threads, Macky and Jus dive into one of the most critical and controversial aspects of modern policing: de-escalation. Drawing from real-world encounters, we break down what effective de-escalation looks like, where officers succeed, where situations spiral, and the split-second human factors that can turn routine encounters into national headlines.
We also unpack the latest developments in the Alex Murdaugh case, including the granting of a new trial and what that means for the justice system, appeals, courtroom procedure, and public trust. Was this a legitimate legal...
When Custody Exchanges Turn Violent: What Really Happens & How to Protect Yourself
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Custody exchanges are supposed to be routine—but in the real world, they can turn volatile fast.
In this episode of The Hidden Threads Podcast, Macky and Jus break down what happens when emotions, conflict, and court orders collide during child custody exchanges. Drawing from real-world investigative experience, they walk through how these situations escalate, what warning signs to watch for, and how incidents are documented when things go wrong.
This episode dives into how evidence is gathered in these cases, including video, witness statements, timelines, and patterns of be...
Finding the Missing: The Gabby Petito Case & How Investigations Really Work
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When someone goes missing, every minute matters—but most people don’t understand what actually happens behind the scenes.
In this episode of The Hidden Threads Podcast, Macky and Jus break down the case of Gabby Petito and use it as a real-world example of how missing person investigations unfold.
This isn’t just the story you saw in the headlines. This is the process.
We walk through how investigators build a timeline from digital evidence, how social media and public tips can become critical leads, and how so...
Are They Watching… or Is It in Your Head? Inside Cases of Clients Who Hear & See Things
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Some clients are convinced they’re being watched. Others say they hear voices, see people outside their home, or believe someone is inside their devices.
In this episode of The Hidden Threads Podcast, Macky and Jus talk about one of the most difficult types of cases investigators face—when a client believes something is happening, but the evidence doesn’t line up.
This isn’t about making fun of anyone. It’s about the reality of the job.
We break down how investigators approach these situations, how to separat...
Power, Allegations, and Proof: The Eric Swalwell Case & How Sexual Assault Investigations Really Work
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In this episode of The Hidden Threads Podcast, Macky and Jus break down the recent allegations surrounding Eric Swalwell—but this isn’t just about headlines.
This is about how cases like this are actually investigated.
We go beyond the noise and get into:
What multiple accusations really mean from an investigative standpoint The difference between allegations, evidence, and proof How digital evidence (phones, messages, timelines) can make or break a case Why most people misunderstand how sexual assault investigations unfold The legal and ethical boun...They Ran, Hid, and Lied—We Served Them Anyway
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In this episode, we break down some of the wildest service of process stories we’ve experienced in the field. From people hiding in plain sight to running, denying, and doing everything possible to avoid being served—we’ve seen it all.
We talk about the tactics, the close calls, and what it actually takes to get papers served when someone really doesn’t want to be found. If you’ve ever wondered what happens behind the scenes in real-world process serving, this episode pulls back the curtain.
Real stories. R...
Inside the Mind of a First Amendment Auditor | Josh Abrams (Part 1)
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What really happens when a camera meets authority?
In Part 1 of this explosive interview, Josh Abrams sits down to break down the world of First Amendment auditing—what it is, why he does it, and the moments that changed everything.
We get into:
The truth behind viral police encounters How everyday situations escalate fast The legal line between rights and resistance What people misunderstand about auditorsThis isn’t theory—this is real-world confrontation, raw footage, and the mindset behind it all.
Whether you think it’s accountab...
Crossing the Line or Holding the Line? | Josh Abrams (Part 2)
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In Part 2, the conversation with Josh Abrams goes deeper—and gets more intense.
We move past the viral clips and into the consequences:
What happens after the cameras stop rolling Arrests, lawsuits, and the real risks behind auditing Where the line actually is—and who decides it Encounters that almost went sideways The mental game of staying calm under pressureThis is the side most people never see—the fallout, the strategy, and the moments that test everything.
If Part 1 made you question it…
Part 2 will make yo...
Use of Force Continuum: Marine Lessons and Capitol Police Procedures
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Macky Outlaw and Jus continue their discussion on the use of force continuum — the step-by-step levels of response that law enforcement and military personnel are trained to follow, from presence and verbal commands all the way to deadly force as a last resort.
Drawing from their Marine Corps experience, they talk about how this structured approach keeps situations from escalating unnecessarily and protects everyone involved. They address heated online debates where many have claimed that an unarmed woman climbing through a broken window during the January 6 events at the Capitol should ha...
Stupid Criminals in Uniform: Marines Stealing Weapons and a Cop Selling His Service Pistol
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Macky Outlaw and Jus are back with another raw episode, kicking it off with some wild Marine Corps stories from the old days — the good, the bad, and the straight-up dumb decisions that happen when young guys with too much testosterone and not enough supervision get their hands on serious firepower.
They dive into real cases of Marines doing incredibly stupid shit: stealing weapons from the armory, trying to smuggle gear off base, and the predictable (and often hilarious in hindsight) ways they got caught. From court-martials to ruined careers, they br...
Vanishing Messages, Hidden Trails: Why Signal, Snapchat & Cloud Apps Still Rat You Out
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Macky Outlaw and Jus are back for a straight-talking episode that might make you rethink your entire digital life.
They start by swapping some classic Marine Corps stories — the kind of lessons in vigilance and situational awareness that hit different once you’re back in the civilian world.
Then they go full forensic deep-dive into the apps everyone thinks are “safe”: Signal, Snapchat, Telegram, WhatsApp, iCloud, Google Photos, and every other cloud-based messaging and storage app.
They break down exactly how these platforms leave behind recoverable evidence on your...
From Marine Corps Battles to Courtroom Wars: Old Times, Ironclad Evidence & Insulin Murders
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In this raw and unfiltered episode of the podcast, Macky Outlaw and Jus sit down to shoot the shit about their wild days in the Marines — the brotherhood, the chaos, the lessons that still hit hard today.
Then they pivot hard into the brutal reality of divorce and custody battles: why evidence is everything, how one photo, one text, or one bank statement can make or break your case, and the dirty tactics people use when kids and money are on the line.
Finally, they dive into one of th...
Digital Ghosts: How Floppy Disks, Cell Phones & Surveillance Data Caught BTK and the Idaho 4 Killer
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Macky Outlaw and Jus start the show with a quick, no-nonsense chat about the War Powers Resolution — why they don’t think Trump is violating the law, and what the 1973 rules actually mean in practice. It’s fast, fun, and straight talk before they dive into the real meat of the episode.
Then it’s all about the digital clues that are changing the game for catching killers in the 21st century. The guys break down two chilling cases where technology left no place for murderers to hide:
Dennis Rader (B...Ashli Babbitt's Death: Hero or Hypocrisy? Deadly Force Rules Broken on January 6
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In this hard-hitting episode, Macky Outlaw and Jus break down the shooting of Ashli Babbitt during the January 6 Capitol events. An unarmed Air Force veteran and mother was fatally shot while climbing through a broken window in a barricaded door—yet the officer who pulled the trigger has been widely labeled a hero and cleared of any wrongdoing.
We examine how this case directly contradicts the long-standing American legal standard on deadly force: Deadly force is generally not authorized to protect property or to eject a simple trespasser. In th...
From Marine Corps Battles to Courtroom Wars: Old Times, Ironclad Evidence & Insulin Murders
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In this raw and unfiltered episode of the podcast, Macky Outlaw and Jus sit down to shoot the shit about their wild days in the Marines — the brotherhood, the chaos, the lessons that still hit hard today.
Then they pivot hard into the brutal reality of divorce and custody battles: why evidence is everything, how one photo, one text, or one bank statement can make or break your case, and the dirty tactics people use when kids and money are on the line.
Finally, they dive into one of th...
Best Of: From Marines to Badges to Shadows: Our Real Careers in Service & Investigation
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Join us for an unfiltered, no-BS chat about the wild ride from the Marine Corps to the police force and finally landing in private investigations. We break down the highs, the challenges, the skills that carried over (and the ones that didn't), funny stories from the field, and what it's really like switching worlds—from structured military life to street-level policing to running your own cases as a PI.
If you're a veteran thinking about law enforcement, a cop eyeing the private sector, or just love hearing authentic career stories with rea...
War Powers in Action: Trump's Bold Defense of America Against Threats in Venezuela and Iran
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In this no-holds-barred episode of Hidden Threads, Macky Outlaw and Jus break down the War Powers Resolution of 1973—not as a shackle on the presidency, but as a framework that smart, decisive leaders like President Trump use to protect the nation without getting bogged down in congressional gridlock. We celebrate how Trump is fully exercising his Article II Commander-in-Chief authority to strike fast and hard against real threats to American security.
We dive into the game-changing January 2026 Operation Absolute Resolve in Venezuela: U.S. forces deliver precision strikes in Ca...
Albert Fish: The Boogeyman, Cannibalism, and the Depths of Pedophilic Evil
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In this chilling episode of Hidden Threads, Macky Outlaw and Jus thread through one of history's most depraved monsters: Albert Fish, the "Gray Man," "Werewolf of Wysteria," "Brooklyn Vampire," and true Boogeyman. Born in 1870, Fish was a seemingly mild-mannered painter and family man who hid unimaginable horrors—molesting hundreds of children, torturing and murdering at least three (likely more), and committing acts of cannibalism.
We break down his traumatic childhood in an abusive orphanage, the development of extreme paraphilias (including sadomasochism, pedophilia, coprophagia, and self-harm like embedding needles in hi...
The Brutal Beating of Robert Brooks: A Death in Custody and What It Says About America's Prisons
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On Hidden Threads, Macky Outlaw and Jus unpack one of the most disturbing prison cases in recent memory: the brutal beating death of Robert Brooks, a 43-year-old Black man, at Marcy Correctional Facility in New York on December 9, 2024. Transferred from Mohawk Correctional Facility, Brooks was handcuffed and shackled when officers unleashed a savage assault—punches, kicks, chokeholds, even striking him with a shoe—captured on body cam footage that shocked the nation.
Brooks died the next morning from neck compression and blunt force trauma. What followed was a rare wave...
Best of Hidden Threads: "How Private Investigators Hunt for Cheaters on Dating Sites" – with Samantha McNamara
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In this eye-opening "Best Of" episode from Hidden Threads, hosts Macky Outlaw and special guest Samantha McNamara pull back the curtain on one of the most common—and digital-heavy—types of infidelity investigations: catching partners who are active on dating apps and sites like Tinder, Bumble, Ashley Madison, and others.
We break down the modern PI toolkit for uncovering online cheating, starting with digital footprint analysis: searching public profiles, reverse image searches on photos, username cross-referencing across platforms (using tools similar to OSINT methods), and monitoring for hidden or secondary accounts that...
Best of Hidden Threads: "The Carroll County Double Murder – Unpacking the Sarah Grace Patrick Case" – with Samantha McNamara
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In this gripping "Best Of" episode from Hidden Threads, hosts Macky Outlaw and special guest Samantha McNamara dissect one of the most shocking family-related crimes to emerge from Georgia in recent years: the February 2025 murders of Kristin Brock and James Brock in their Carrollton home.
We walk through the chilling timeline: the couple, ages 41 and 45, were found shot multiple times while sleeping in their bed in a quiet rural area of Carroll County. Their then-16-year-old daughter, Sarah Grace Patrick (who turned 17 by the time of her arrest), called 911 after the...
