Criminology

On July 3, 2014, 15-year-old Megan Nichols disappeared from her Fairfield, Illinois home. Megan was dating an 18-year-old named Brodey Murbarger, and the relationship had caused a rift between Megan and her mother. There were a few cryptic clues left behind at the home, one was Megan's cell phone which had been completely wiped. Another was a note that Megan had written that contained very strange word choices and phrasing. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the disappearance and murder of Megan Nichols. Megan's body was more than four years after she disappeared. After she was discovered, the police quickly zeroed in on her boyfriend Brodey Murbarger, who, by that time, had moved on with his life. Brody has been arrested and charged with Megan's murder, but his case has taken quite some time to get through the courts. This is a case that we'll have to watch closely to see what comes out at trial and whether a jury finds Brodey guilty or not. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1960, three young people, Maila Bjorklund, Anja Tuulikki Maki, and Seppo Boisman were murdered in Finland while they were camping. A fourth person, Nils Gustafsson, who was with the group was injured but survived, and later became a suspect. This is one of Finland's most infamous unsolved murder cases. It rocked the country at the time it occurred and some people are still wary, to this day, about camping because of the stories that have been told over the years. Join Mike and Morf as they cover this infamous unsolved murder case out of Finland. A blond man was seen by a number of eyewitnesses walking away from the campsite. Some eyewitnesses were put under hypnosis. The police centered their suspicion on the lone survivor Nils Gustaffson. They took him to trial but he was ultimately acquitted. But Nils was not the only person around Lake Bodom to garner suspicion over the years. There were a number of people who have been linked as possible suspects to these horrific murders. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2011, Florida teenager Tyler Hadley killed his parents and then held a massive party at his house. Many people, including Tyler, called it the party of a lifetime. What the other partygoers didn't know was that Tyler's parents, Blake and Mary-Jo Hadley, were dead inside their master bedroom at the time. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss this infamous story out of the state of Florida. Tyler had been on a downward spiral, and his mother was so concerned she'd had him involuntarily committed to a mental health facility. His parents thought he was in the process of turning things around, but they were wrong. Tyler had been planning to kill his parents for some time. And, he had told some friends of his plans, including the fact that he would end his life. What went so wrong to cause a teenager to murder the two people who loved him most in the world in cold blood? You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology. An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When a shocking crime occurs, people ask “WHY?” Was it about power, ego, or revenge? On KILLER PSYCHE, retired FBI criminal profiler Candice DeLong draws on her decades of experience to reveal why these murderers and criminals committed these acts. She will reveal fascinating new details about what drove these people, including cases she worked on first-hand. Candice has been called the FBI’s “real-life Clarice Starling,” and she will share specific psychological methods and profiling techniques that experts use to understand the deepest part of the most complex, fascinating, and twisted minds, from the Unabomber to Dr. Death to El Chapo.  Listen to Killer Psyche: wondery.fm/KP_Criminology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1973 two teachers were murdered, one in New York City, and the other in Indiana. While both murders were extremely brutal, they were covered very differently. A Catholic school teacher named Roseann Quinn was murdered in New York City. Her murder became the basis for the book, "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" and later a movie by the same name. 26-year-old Ann Kline was a mathematics professor who was murdered in Evansville, Indiana. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss these two cases. Roseann's murder received extensive coverage. But, the way she was portrayed, a Catholic school teacher by day and a bar-hopper by night, angered many. Ann's murder received much less coverage which, in some part, may have been because it occurred in Indiana rather than New York City. The result in each case was the same, a well-respected teacher was murdered and thousands of kids were robbed of their wisdom, guidance, and teaching. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On August 30th, 2019, the body of Autumn Lee Stone was found in Green Lake in Seattle, Washington. She was found by a man paddleboarding who thought at first that she was a turtle in the water. When the police pulled Autumn's body out of the water, they found her shoelaces tied together around her neck. Within just an hour of Autumn's body being found police said there was no foul play and told journalists that Autumn had taken her own life. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the mysterious death of Autumn Lee Stone. Did Autumn really take her own life or was she the victim of foul play? There are many questions that surround this case. Autumn allegedly told a friend that she was meeting her ex-boyfriend out at Green Lake. There were allegations that this man abused their 5-week-old child. Autumn's family does not believe she ended her life and thinks the police called it a suicide too quickly. Notes written by Autumn and mishandled evidence from the crime scene cloud this baffling case. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Manuel Gehring was a man who was not happy with his life. He had a hard time holding down a job. He wasn't happy that his marriage to his wife Teri had ended and that she had found and married another man. Manuel was also not happy with the custody and child support arrangement that he had with his wife. He wasn't happy that in June 2003, Father's Day fell on Teri's weekend with the kids. And, when Sarah and Philip disappeared over the Fourth of July holiday, Teri and the police feared the worst. Unfortunately, they were correct; Manuel Gehring had done the unthinkable. Join Mike and Morf as we discuss the case of Manuel Gehring, a man who took the lives of his two innocent children. When police finally found him after a cross-country trip, Manuel confessed to the murders. But, he could not remember or would not tell the police where he buried the bodies of his children. Teri never gave up hope, and, to her rescue, came an unlikely hero. A woman in Ohio worked diligently as an amateur detective, and along with her dog Rico, she helped find Sarah's and Philip's bodies and return them to their mother. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1958, 10-year-old Bobby Bizup went missing while at a Catholic summer camp in Boulder County, Colorado. It was assumed he had wandered off and searchers would find him quickly, but, that didn't happen. Parts of Bobby's remains were later found as were bits of his clothing. Some were found 3 miles up Mount Meeker. Bobby's skull was never found. Investigators determined that Bobby most likely died of exposure to the elements. But, there were conflicting reports about Bobby's activities leading up to his disappearance. There were also some strange sightings of Bobby reported in locations as far as 15 miles away from the camp. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the mysterious disappearance and death of Bobby Bizup. There have been revelations that have come out over the years that allege some of the men working at the camp at the time of Bobby's disappearance had molested campers. This had led to speculation that Bobby was either running away from something or someone and that he was perhaps killed because of something he saw. This case has heated up over the past year as a skull that may prove to be Bobby's was brought forth and given to police. DNA testing may soon reveal whether it is Bobby's skull or not. If it is, will it give the authorities the lead they need to finally determine what happened to Bobby Bizup? You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The town of Speedway, Indiana is known for racing with the Indianapolis Speedway being a huge attraction. But, in 1978, Speedway gained attention for a number of high-profile crimes. In September of that year, a serial bomber terrorized the area by detonating eight separate bombs. A month after the bombings, the murder of four young Burger Chef employees rocked the area. Known as the Burger Chef murders, Jayne Friedt, Daniel Davis, Mark Flemmonds, and Ruth Shelton were murder as they were closing up the restaurant. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss these crimes that occurred in Speedway in 1978. The police focused on a suspect in the Speedway bombings. But, the Burger Chef murders remain unsolved to this day. There are a slew of questions to be answered and just as many shady characters that have been linked in some way. Were drugs involved in the murders or was this a case of trying to scare someone into paying a debt that led to murder? You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christy Crystal Creek was the name given to an unidentified female murder victim found near the town of Bonner in Missoula County, Missouri in 1985. She was named after the road near where she was found. Investigators had very little to work with in trying to identify her and went down a lot of avenues that turned out to be incorrect. A number of varying models and composites hindered the identification efforts. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the case of Christy Crystal Creek. It took investigators 36 years, and the help of advancements in DNA, to make the announcement that Christy Crystal Creek was actually Janet Lee Lucas. All efforts then switched to trying to identify Janet's murderer. Police had no idea why Janet was in Montana or even how she got there. But, one name kept popping up in the investigation, suspected serial killer Wayne Nance. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1966, Anita Taylor was murdered inside her home in Springfield, Ohio. Her husband came home from work to find her clinging to life and their infant son in his crib, alive, but with a broken leg. Anita was pronounced dead on arrival at the hospital. The investigation into Anita's murder began and a number of persons of interest were ruled. Join Mike and Morf as they dive into this baffling case. Anita's son, Aaron, who as a baby survived the attack that killed his mother, joins us for this episode and provides his insight into the case. Aaron has been searching for his mother's killer for many years. Over time, some revelations have come to light, and they have provided additional insight into possible motives for Anita's murder. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Two young Silicon Valley entrepreneurs set out to rid the world of smoking with an incredible new product. The device stands to disrupt the tobacco industry and make them rich, until it falls into the wrong hands and lives are ruined. From classrooms to hospitals, boardrooms to the Oval Office, what can be done to protect teenagers and is it too late? From Laura Beil, the reporter behind Dr Death and Bad Batch, comes The Vaping Fix, the inside story of the rise of Juul and the making of a crisis. Listen to THE VAPING FIX at: http://wondery.fm/VF_Criminology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Serial killer Richard Cottingham earned the moniker of "The Torso Killer" for his crimes. To the outside world, Richard seemed like a professional and a family man. But, he was unfaithful to his wife and he had urges deep inside that eventually resulted in a number of murders. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss serial killer Richard Cottingham. He operated in his home state of New Jersey but also ventured into New York to select his victims. Papers began calling him "The Torso Killer" when two victims were found missing their heads and hands. Richard targeted sex workers and later said that violence was the only thing that aroused him. After he was caught, he began confessing to murders that he committed in the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nick and Lisa Masee were living what appeared to those around them to be a great life in Vancouver, Canada. But, even though they brought in a substantial income, they were deeply in debt. In 1994, the two began acting strangely in ways that were noticeable to those around them. In August of that year, they disappeared and have never been heard from or located. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the mysterious disappearance of Nick and Lisa Masee. Some of the details of their actions before they disappeared are troubling. This is a case that many people have speculated on over the years. Those speculations run the gamut from the Masees being killed over a business deal to them running off and setting up new lives somewhere in the world. Hear the facts for yourself and try to answer the burning question: What happened to Nick and Lisa Masee? You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The events of April 20th, 1999 shaped our nation and altered the American narrative. One of America’s deadliest school shootings took place in a small town in Colorado, leaving thirteen dead and another twenty-one severely injured. And it was all broadcast over national tv for the nation to see. The second season of Confronting takes on one of the most prolific tragedies in American history: the Columbine High School massacre. It was a devastating example of how easily a place of learning, familiarity and peace can descend into a war zone of chaos in a moment, the teenagers present that day are now adults who bear the mental and physical scars of the carnage they lived through. Amy Over, a Columbine survivor who is still living with its aftermath and raising her own children in its shadow, confronts many of the realities, questions and myths that surround the massacre to this day. Amy, through her own experience and by speaking with survivors, investigators, classmates, reporters on the scene and other important voices, brings a first-person account of the physical, emotional and spiritual journey that comes along with confronting the worst day of her life. Listen Here: wondery.fm/CC_Criminology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Baby Hope was the name given to a four-year-old little girl found dead in a cooler near the Henry Hudson Parkway. Baby Hope's body was found by construction workers in Manhattan, New York, in 1991. Authorities found witnesses but were unable to figure out who Baby Hope was or what exactly had happened to her. It wasn't until 2013 that police caught a break in the case and the pieces started to fall into place. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss the case of Baby Hope. Police learned that her real name was Anjelica Castillo. As they unraveled the mystery of her identity, they also zeroed in a suspect in her murder. It turned out that Baby Hope was victimized by relatives, the very people that should be there to help keep a little girl like Anjelica safe. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2019, Canadian teenagers Bryer Schmegelsky and Kam McLeod embarked on a deadly crime spree. They told their families that they were headed to the Yukon territory to look for work. But, after stopping to buy a semi-automatic rifle, they started their killing spree. Their victims were selected at random and included a young couple whose van broke down on a road trip to Alaska and a botany professor and husband in his sixties. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss these two Canadian killers. It later surfaced that they had been thinking about murder. At first, the authorities believed they were in danger. But, as more information surfaced, it became clear that they were the killers and one of the largest manhunts in Canadian history began. Authorities were shocked when they finally caught up with the teenagers. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A woman named Becki is lounging by the pool at the Fontainebleau Hotel when she decides to proposition a strapping pool attendant. Go on a date with her...and her husband. What begins as an unconventional proposition will soon throw them all into the international spotlight. And that’s because the couple is none other than Jerry Falwell Jr. and his wife Becki, two of the most powerful figures in Evangelical America. Wondery presents In God We Lust, hosted by Brooke Siffrin and Aricia Skidmore-Williams of Even the Rich. A story of an alluring sex scandal, power, money and a very public fall from grace. When word of their affair fell into the wrong hands it led to political extortion and a public outing that brought Jerry Falwell Jr.’s empire crashing down. Listen at http://wondery.fm/IGWL_Criminology Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1987, the small town of Ina, Illinois was rocked by the senseless and brutal murders of the Dardeen family. When 29-year-old Keith Dardeen failed to show up for work, his parents called the police. The police made a shocking discovery at the Dardeen home. Keith's wife Elaine, who was seven months pregnant, and their 3-year-old son Peter were found bludgeoned to death. Elaine delivered a baby girl during the attack and police found the infant deceased as well. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss this infamous case out of the Midwest. Keith was nowhere to be found and he was initially thought of as a suspect in the murders by police. That thought disappeared, however, when Keith's body was found in a field not far from the home. He had been shot in the head and his genitals had been mutilated. Police scrambled to try to figure out who could have committed these heinous murders. One serial killer took credit but police don't believe he had anything to do with the case. But who did? You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Nevada, Interstate 80 runs through stretches of desert. The desert can be a very unforgiving place with temperature swings and dangers that await those who venture through it. There have been a large number of unexplained disappearances and deaths along a certain stretch of I-80. Pumpernickel Valley's Exit 205 is extremely interesting because it leads to nowhere. But, there have been some very mysterious disappearances that appear to have occurred at this exit. Join Mike and Morf as they discuss a number of mysterious deaths and disappearances. The details of these cases are as fascinating as they are mysterious. In many of them no body was ever found, although one was ruled a suicide. Did these cases involve a predator along I-80 or even multiple predators, or, were these cases where individuals ventured into the desert, got disoriented, and succumbed to the elements. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices