Fact and Suspicion

Diddy: Record producer, Musician, Executive, Fashion Mogul, Entrepreneur, Billionaire. Sean Combs has almost as many titles as he has names, but can we add "criminal" to that list?

In the early morning hours of June 7, 1992, the quiet town of Springfield Missouri became home to one of the most baffling mysteries in American history. Sometime between 3 and 7am, 47-year-old Sherrill Levitt, her 19-year-old daughter Suzie Streeter, and Suzie's friend 18-year-old Stacy McCall disappeared without a trace from Levitt's home on Delmar Street. There were no signs of forced entry or a struggle, the beds appeared to have been slept in, and none of the neighbors remembering seeing or hearing anything out of the ordinary. Even to seasoned investigators, it seemed as though the women had simply vanished into thin air. For more than 30 years, police and amateur sleuths alike have worked to solve the disappearance of the Springfield Three. Yet, we seem no closer to finding the missing women than on the day they vanished.

On April 30th, 2011 Gail Polmgren dropped off her kids with her husband Matthew and drove off in her red Jeep Rubicon, never to be seen alive again. Her marriage was failing and she had asked friends to hide documents and money because she was afraid of her husband. And as the facts of the case began to surface, the shock and outrage of the community grew to a fever pitch.

Marshal Iwaasa was a 26-year-old college student from Calgary Alberta. A shy, hard-working man according to those who knew him best, his family was shocked when his truck was found burned deep in the wilderness of British Columbia with his belongings scattered around it. Marshal Iwaasa has not been seen since.

November 16th, 1999. Cherica Adams called 911 to report that she had been shot.  Cherica was eight months pregnant and losing blood rapidly, but she managed to survive long enough for her son to be born by emergency caesarian section. She also implicated her boyfriend in her murder: it was NFL start Rae Carruth.

May 6, 2014: Peggy Winn enters the home of 88-year-old Russell Dermond and his 87-year-old wife Shirley. She had been trying to reach the couple for the last three days. After searching through the home, Peggy and her husband found Russell's body in a pool of blood in the garage.   To this day, Russell's head has never been found.

Bobbie Jo Stinnett was 23-years-old and 8 months pregnant on December 16, 2004: the day she lost her life. She was found by her mother, Becky Harper, who described the scene as looking like her daughter's stomach had exploded. The truth of Bobbie Jo's death was tragic and beyond disturbing.

On August 10th, 2017, Freelance Journalist Kim wall joined Danish inventor Peter Madsen on his Submarine, the UC3 Nautilus, with the intent of interviewing him. Several hours after they were expected to return, Kim's boyfriend reported her missing. A search ensued for Kim, Peter, and the missing submarine. The next day, Madsen was rescued from the sinking sub, but Kim was nowhere to be found. What followed was the most infamous criminal investigation in the history of Denmark.

The American Stonehenge, that was the name given by many to the Georgia Guidestones, a 19ft tall granite monument weighing over 230,000 lbs with advanced astronomical features and cryptic engravings. In 2022, the Guidestones were damaged by a bomber and were suspiciously dismantled by local authorities later that same day. Today, we will discuss the mysteries of who built the Guidestones and why they were destroyed.

Most cold cases will never be solved. Occasionally, though, new information or advancements in technology will give investigators the edge they need for a major breakthrough. This happened to be the case in the disappearance of 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel, who vanished during her spring break while walking down Ocean Blvd., the busy main thoroughfare in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

On February 24, 1978, five men from Marysville California drove to a basketball game in Chico. The last time they were seen alive was shortly after the game ended at a convenience store just off the Chico State campus. Their car was later found in a remote area of the Plumas County forest. Months later, four of their bodies were found miles from the car. To this day, the fifth man, Gary Matthias has not been found. The reason they ended up in the Plumas National Forest is still unknown, and has since become one of the strangest missing person's mysteries of all time.

On August 29, 1995 Mark Winger of Springfield Illinois made a frantic 911 call. He reported that his wife Donnah had been attacked by an intruder, who Mark had then shot in the head. Donnah would die at the hospital, and investigators would find that her attacker had a disturbing history.

In February of 2013, guests of the Cecil Hotel in Los Angelas began to complain that the water in their rooms had a strange sickly taste. This led to a maintenance man making a gruesome discovery in the water reservoir on top of the hotel. The body of 21-year-old Elisa Lam was found floating in the tank. The question still remains: how did she get there?

On November 26, 2003 the town of Chesnee South Carolina saw its largest mass murder ever. Four people were shot to death at Superbike Motorsports, a local motorcycle dealer and service center. After committing these grisly murders, the killer went back and shot each victim in the head and and chest just to be sure. A self-proclaimed serial killer and rapist has confessed to these crimes, but many doubt his guilt in this particular case. Todd Kohlhepp is guilty of murder, but is he guilty of these?

On November 26, 2003 the town of Chesnee South Carolina saw its largest mass murder ever. Four people were shot to death at Superbike Motor Sports, a local motorcycle dealer and service center. After committing these grisly murders, the killer went back and shot each victim once in the head and chest just to be sure. A self-proclaimed serial killer and rapist has confessed to these crimes but many doubt his guilt in this particular case. Todd Kohlhepp is guilty of murder, but is he guilty of these?

Brandon Swanson Disappeared on May 14th, 2008. After celebrating the end of the spring semester with friends, Brandon began the 30-mile drive back to his home in Marshall Minnesota. He would never arrive.   Around 2 a.m. Brandon called his father claiming to have ran his car into a ditch near Lynd, a small town just outside of Marshall. His parents left immediately but failed to located Brandon or his car. Frustrated, Brandon left his car and decided to walk into town. He has never been seen again.

Ben and Dan take a look at HBO's new mini-series The Staircase and discuss what it gets right and what it gets wrong.

In the autumn of 1888, a killer terrorized the East End of London. Over a three-month period, Jack the Ripper stalked the streets of White Chapel, brutally murdering at least 5 women before vanishing as abruptly as he appeared. More than a century later, Jack the Ripper remains unidentified, but his horrific legacy lives on.

Ben and Dan discuss 12 Tribes, the cult that runs a chain of sandwich shops.

In this episode of Fact and Suspicion, Ben and Dan discuss three prolific conmen: Billy McFarland, Kyle Sandler, and Barry Minkow.

In 2012, 16 Japanese students were trapped on an Island and forced to murder each other by an evil robotic bear named Monokuma. Join Ben and Dan as we discuss perhaps the most horrific case we've ever examined. #April Fools

An Update on the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

A wolf in Sheep's clothing, you've probably heard that saying all your life. It's become cliche in books and film. But is this a trope, or a grim reality of our world? The Duggar family was seen as Wholesome, hard working, an interesting caracture of family life for some, heroes for others. Millions of people watched their show on TLC. But beyond the cameras there was dark secrets and a monster in the making named Josh.

On Friday, June 4 2010, Skyline Elementary School in Portland Oregon was having a Science Fair and Talent Show. There were many extra people in the school that day. That morning 7 year old Kyron Horman toured the science fair with his step mother Terri. Kyron, however, never made it to class. Was he abducted from school? Was he targeted by a stranger, or did someone close to him mean him harm?

Kent Heithold was murdered in the early morning hours of November 1st, 2001 in the parking lot of the Columbia Daily Tribune. Police struggled to find leads in the case foryears until 19-year-old Chuck Erickson confessed based on some dreams he had. Chuck also implicated his friend Ryan Ferguson who went on to be convicted of murder, based solely on the testimony of Chuck.

Jaliek Rainwalker was born a victim of abuse. At birth he was addicted to alcohol and cocaine and was given up for adoption and two days old. Due to the circumstances of his birth, he faced severe developmental and behavioral issues. Jaliek went through six different foster families before finally, at seven years of age, being placed with the family that would adopt him. Five years later on November 2, 2007, Jaliek's adopted father Stephen Kerr would awake to find Jaliek missing.  He has never been found.

In the early morning hours of December 9th, 2001 Michael Peterson called 911 to report that he had found his wife Cathleen severely injured at the bottom of a staircase in their home. When Paramedics arrived, the scene was covered in blood. Authorities immediately suspected foul play and their suspicion fell on Michael. As more details emerged, this turned into a rabbit hole of confusing facts that resulted in one of the most polarizing murder cases in American History. 

On October 27th, 1989, 11-year-old Amy Mihaljevic left school and walked to the Bay Square Shopping Center. Two of her friends witnessed her leave with an adult male. About an hour later, Amy called her mother, telling her that she had been at choir auditions. Amy, However, never returned home.

On July 2, 2021, 22-year-old Gabby Petito and her fiance Brian Laundrie embarked on a cross-country trip. They appeared to be the perfect couple when they set out to see the country and become social media influencers. But that facade crumbled, however, when Laundrie returned home in the couple's van and Gabby was no where to be found.

A special update episode of Fact and Suspicion on the newly released information about the Delphi Murders.

In 1999, in the Oklahoma suburb of Edmond, local businessman Paul Howell took his two daughters shopping for school supplies and then to the Braum's dairy for ice cream. The family didn't realize it at the time, but as they left the Braum's parking lot they were followed by two men in an Oldsmobile Cutlass. When Paul arrived at his parent's home, one of the men got out of the car, walked to the driver's side of Paul's Suburban and shot him in the head killing him instantly (a little after 9:30 pm). Paul's sister, Megan Toby, quickly grabbed the children and rushed them into the house. As she did, she saw the man drive off in Paul's Suburban, running over her brother's body as he fled the scene. It didn't take long for investigators to single in on a local car thief named Julius Jones. Inside his home, police found the murder weapon and clothing that matched the shooter's description. The evidence looked overwhelming, and the jury agreed. Jones was found guilty and sentenced to death for the murder of Paul Howell. Since then, however, many have come to question Jones's involvement. A movement has formed, led by lawyers, activists, and celebrities, to free Jones from prison. Tonight, we'll discuss the murder of Paul Howell and whether the right man is behind bars.

It was just shy of closing time at the Common Grounds Coffee Shack on February 1, 2012. 18-year-old barista Samantha Koenig was busy cleaning up towards the end of her shift when her final customer of the night approached the kiosk window. Nothing about the man seemed initially threatening; he ordered an Americano and waited patiently while it was prepared. Not even the ski mask he wore (which might otherwise be a red flag) was out of place in the Alaskan winter. But this man was not here by chance, and he certainly wasn't here for coffee. He had carefully selected this location from a number of shops in the area, singling it out because snowdrifts had obscured the shack from view, and because the employees worked alone. But to Samantha, he was just another customer. She had no idea that she was serving one of the most dangerous serial killers of the 21st century: Israel Keyes.   Songs: Infados by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...) Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-... Artist: http://incompetech.com/ Detective Caution - https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/ Dark  Shadows - https://www.fesliyanstudios.com/ Footage: Dice Rolling: Video by Wendy Laplume from Pexels Coffee: Video by cottonbro from Pexels Coffee 2: Video by cottonbro from Pexels Money: Video by Tima Miroshnichenko from Pexels ATM Withdraw: Video by Monstera from Pexels ATM Card Insert: Video by RODNAE Productions from Pexels Man Walking in the Woods: Video by Åke Wall from Pexels Police with Red Lights: Video by KM L from Pexels

Hiking Trails are often portrayed in horror films as frightening and dangerous. Though, in reality, this is rarely the case. Tragically, a real life monster found 13-year-old Liberty German and 14-year-old Abigail Williams on February 13th, 2017 as they hiked the Monon High Bridge Trail in Delphi Indiana. We've never found this monster. Though, we have seen him, and we've heard his voice as he ordered the girls to go "down the hill." Despite video evidence, four years later we are still searching for the Delphi Killer.

Most parents never consider tragedy striking their family during a vacation. Or, at least they didn't until 2007 when the news of Madeleine McCann's disappearance made international headlines. 3-year-old Maddy vanished from the apartment her parents were renting in Praia Da Luz Portugal. This was arguably the most publicized missing persons case in European history. The media storm surrounding the disappearance would ruin lives, and 14 years later we still have no answers.

In 1993, the world was shocked when allegations of child molestation came to light against Michael Jackson. Overnight, the King of Pop went from being the world's most popular entertainer to one of the most notorious pedophiles in history. Tabloids competed to run the most horrific, sensational headlines imaginable while talking heads opined endlessly about his guilt. For the general public, the message was clear: Michael Jackson was undeniably guilty. Once again, the media proved that the only thing it loves more than creating a star is watching one fall. These allegations followed Jackson the rest of his life, and even after. However, a closer look at the facts of the case reveals a much different story than the one we've been told. Tonight, we'll discuss the side of the story that the media neglected.

In our first episode discussing the murder of Caylee Anthony, we explored the lies told by her mother Casey and the strange story she created about Caylee's abduction by an imaginary nanny. Tonight we will examine the evidence found, the bizarre behavior of Casey after her daughter's death, and the ensuing trial that made headlines around the world.

Two -year-old Caylee Anthony was last seen alive on June 16, 2008. The search for the toddler drew national media attention. The entire country was swept up in the circus that followed and the myriad of lies told by Caylee's mother, Casey Anthony, who soon became the most hated woman in the country. Join us as we explore the circumstances of Caylee's disappearance and the infamous trial that followed.

We receive packages almost every day. Fedex and UPS bring us a never ending stream of parcels from Amazon, Walmart, Wayfair, and Wish. There were times, however, when the entire US was wary of unexpected packages. For 17 years, Ted Kaczynski spread fear by sending bombs across the country. Who was he and what drove him to such lengths?  Tonight, we will explore the story of the American Nightmare known as the Unabomber.

In 2008, British Columbia realtor Lindsay Buziak received a cold call from a new client. They informed her that they needed to buy a million dollar home immediately. This is the kind of call that most realtors pray for, but some things are too good to be true.

On the day after Christmas of 1996, 6-year-old beauty queen JonBenet Ramsey was reported missing from her home in Boulder Colorado. A bizarre ransom note found inside the home indicated that JonBenet had been abducted and ordered her parents to pay more than a hundred thousand dollars for her safe return. According to the note, the group responsible would contact the Ramsey's between 8 and 10 a.m. the next morning to negotiate the swap. But 10 a.m. came and went without any word from the kidnappers. Unfortunately, it became clear why the phone never rang later that evening when JonBenet's lifeless body was discovered in the basement of the family's home. 25 years later, JonBenet's murder remains unsolved.

On March 2, 1998, 19 year old college student, Suzanne Lyall left work at the Crossgate Mall in Guilderland, NY around 9:20 PM.  She took a public bus back to campus and was seen exiting the bus near her dorm, however she never made it back to her room.  The next day Suzanne's bank card was used at an ATM in a local convenience store, but Suzanne was never seen again.

Brandon Lawson disappeared in the early morning hours of August 10th 2013. After an argument with his wife Ladessa, he left his home in San Angelo Texas intending to make the three-and-a-half-hour drive to his father’s home in Crowley. He would never arrive. At 12:30 am, just shy of the town of Bronte, Brandon’s truck ran out of gas, leaving him stranded on Highway 277. Over the next 48 minutes, Brandon placed a number of phone calls, including one to his brother (Kyle) for help, three missed calls to Ladessa, and a 911 call that remains the subject of scrutiny and speculation to this day. Unfortunately, we may never know what happened to Brandon that night, because shortly after placing this call to 9/11, he seems to have vanished into thin air.

In 1995, 23-year-old Heather Teague was sunbathing next to the Ohio River in Henderson County Kentucky. Across the river, a man watched her through a telescope. As she lay there unaware, the witness saw a man creep up and abduct Heather at gunpoint, dragging her into the woods. Heather has never been seen again.

In the early morning hours of April 1st, 2006, 27-year-old med student Brian Shaffer went in to the Ugly Tuna Saloona In Columbus Ohio. Less than an hour later, his friends waited outside the bar as it was closing, but Brian never came out. 15 years later, there is no evidence that he ever left the bar.

On February 14th, 2000, Asha Degree disappeared from her home in Shelby North Carolina. At first, it seemed as though she may have been abducted, until further evidence showed that Asha packed a bag and left on her own. Over 20 years later, Asha has not been found, and investigators are still clueless as to why she left her home that night.

Early on the Morning of April 13th, 2011, Holly Bobo vanished into the woods near her house in Darden Tennessee. Her brother Clint saw her through a window moments before kneeling down next to a man in camouflage in their yard. In the moment, Clint assumed the man was Holly's boyfriend Drew. By the time he realized his error, it was too late. Holly wasn't seen again until her remains were found three years later. Since then, a man has been convicted of her murder, though questions remain whether the right man is behind bars.

In January, 2006 24-year-old Florida native Jennifer Kesse vanished on her way to work. Two days later, her Chevy Malibu was found in the parking lot of a neighboring apartment complex about a mile from her home. Security footage showed a man dropping off the car around noon on the day of Jennifer’s disappearance but, unfortunately, his face was obscured behind the complex’s gate. Sixteen years later, this man remains unidentified, and Jennifer’s friends and family are left to wonder what happened.

If you've ever heard an urban myth about a man living inside the walls of another family's home, you are actually hearing a story that is rooted in a good deal of truth. In 1986, Daniel LaPlante terrorized the Andrews family of Townsend Massachusetts by making noises from inside their walls and moving things around the house. While this is the best known part of laPlante's story, it is in fact only the beginning. The entire tale is much more disturbing.

On the morning of May 11th, 2011, six-year-old Timmothy Pitzen was picked up early from kindergarten by his mother Amy. Over the following days the two visited a zoo, a water park, and two different resorts. On the third day, Amy was found dead in a hotel in Rockford Illinois. She had committed suicide and left a note saying Timmothy was safe but would never be found. The fate of Timmothy Pitzen remains a mystery to this day.

On July 10th 2015, a family camping trip ended in tragedy when two-year-old DeOrr Kunz disappeared from Timber Creek Campgrounds just outside of Leadore Idaho. The trip was a last minute decision by DeOrr’s parents, Jessica Mitchell and Vernal Kunz. Joining them was Jessica’s grandfather Bob Walton and his friend Isaac Reinwand. On the second day of the trip,  DeOrr stayed behind with his grandpa while his parents and Isaac went fishing in the nearby creek only 50 feet away. They were gone less than 20 minutes, yet when they returned to camp, DeOrr had vanished. To this day, no sign of baby Deorr has ever been found.

Lauren Spierer was a 20-year-old student at Indiana University. Like most undergrads, she enjoyed visiting local bars and having drinks with her friends; this was her plan for the night of June 2nd 2011. Instead, her night of fun ended in tragedy. A close friend of Lauren's claims that she left his apartment walking home at 4:30 a.m. She was never seen again. Did Lauren meet with harm on her walk home, or do the answers to her disappearance lie with the friends she was with that night?