Killer Destinations

In May 2020, the headlines around the nation were about missing wife and mom Suzanne Morphew. She'd gone for a bike ride on Mother's Day and never returned. Her husband, Barry, was the primary suspect and at one point was arrested before the District Attorney asked to have the case dismissed. But breaking news in September revealed that Suzanne's remains had been found! Is Barry still a suspect? Or will new clues lead police in a different direction?

In 1999, Carole Sund took her daughter Juli (15) and close family friend Silvina Pelosso (16), who was visiting from Argentina, on a trip to Yosemite National Park. When the trio disappeared, it set off a huge search and initially it was feared their car slid off the road. The cold snowy weather meant fewer tourists, but it also meant increased danger. Not from the hibernating animals… it was a much more dangerous predator.

In 2015, Mary Yoder and her husband, Bill, owned a successful chiropractic business and were looking forward to a dream vacation in Europe. Mary, who exercised every day and was always the picture of health, suddenly passed away with no explanation. An anonymous letter to the Sheriff's Office and Medical Examiner provided the answer as to how Mary passed away... but the person the letter named as being responsible wasn't someone detectives had even considered. 

We're back in Baton Rouge, Louisiana to bring you the story of Jody Plauche. In 1984, he (and his family) were groomed by someone they trusted. After he was taken, the authorities worked with the family to quickly find him. But no one imagined that the ending would be broadcast on live TV.

In 2005, Rosemarie Essa was found unresponsive in her car after a minor accident. Everyone was stunned when she didn't make it, and all of her toxicological screens came back negative. Until a friend of hers talked to detectives and shared a conversation she had with Rosemarie minutes before the accident. And that conversation gave investigators the break they needed.

In 1980, a young woman was the victim of a horrible crime but fortunately was able to get away and get help. Authorities immediately found the perpetrator and a trial ensued. But in an unexpected twist, a reporter did a deep dive into the case and uncovered information that revealed the real truth. And what happened at the end shocked everyone. 

After 14 days on the run, escaped prisoner Danelo Cavalcante was captured! In this bonus episode we talk about how the manhunt ended, the large contingent of law enforcement searching for him, and why he was able to stay hidden for so long.

This is the case of missing 19-year-old Dylan Rounds, who disappeared in late May 2022 from his farm in Lucin, Utah. Dylan's mom said he always wanted to be a farmer and he was living out that dream. Although someone has been arrested in connection with his death, his body has never been found. Go to the family's Facebook page for more information about Dylan, their search and #dylanslegacy.

We kick off Season 3 in Beverly Hills, CA. A city of luxury and glamour, residents are used to the city turning up in the headlines. But no one expected to wake up on the morning of August 21, 1989, to news about Jose and Kitty Menendez losing their lives in what was widely assumed to be a mob hit. Two trials were held that ultimately resulted in convictions. But more than 30 years later new information has come to light, leading to the question... was justice served?

In 1984, Robert and Maria Marshall were living the American dream with their three sons in Toms River, New Jersey. But no one ever knows what goes on behind closed doors. And in this case, a gamble on a better life took a tragic turn.

We all need friends... that community we've built to help us through hard times and celebrate with during the good times. Join us in Bonita Springs, FL to learn about the community Mark and Teresa Sievers built for themselves and how some of their friends responded when called upon for help.

In 1984, Angela Samota was a junior at Southern Methodist University with a bright future ahead of her. She was double majoring in electrical engineering and computer science, was active in her sorority and was well-liked by everyone she met. Until one night when she tried to help someone in need. It would take an old college friend to provide the pathway needed to finally find justice for Angela.

In 2014, Chris Regan was looking forward to new beginnings. Although he enjoyed living in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, he'd just gotten a new job in North Carolina that would allow him to live closer to one of his sons. He was reported missing just two weeks before his big move. But eventually his case went cold. Then in 2016, the unexpected d3ath of a former Michigan resident who'd just moved to Indiana brought Chris's case back to the attention of the authorities. With some dogged determination and a little luck, they were finally able to find the link and crack the cases.

In 2014, University of Virginia student Hannah Graham disappeared after a night out with friends. Her family and the university community held out hope she'd be found safe, but sadly her remains were discovered five weeks later. Surveillance cameras provided authorities with not only a suspect, but with a clue to solving a similar disappearance that happened in the same area five years prior.   

In 2000, Briton Lucie Blackman went to Tokyo, Japan with her best friend. They planned to get jobs as nightclub hostesses for a few months, make enough money to pay off some debts, and have some savings left when they returned home. But they were unaware of what was lurking in the shadows. Lucie's disappearance set off a frantic search by her family and friends, and the evil they uncovered rocked an entire nation.

Have you ever wondered about the groundbreaking cases that have fundamentally changed our justice system? One central element that is now commonplace is the use of DNA evidence. The first U.S. court to use DNA took place in 1987 in Orlando, FL. This is the story of the scientific and legal pioneers who came together to help victims of a horrible crime find justice.

In 2010, human remains were found on Gilgo Beach, located on the south shore of Long Island, New York. In total, 10 sets of remains would eventually be uncovered. Police were unable to find the perpetrator or perpetrators and the cases went cold. In 2022, a multi-agency task force was created specifically to investigate the cases using updated technology - and the primary suspect in ALL of the cases was arrested in July 2023.

In 1982, prominent attorney James Campbell and his wife, Virginia, were killed while asleep in their beds. Their two grandsons were sleeping at the foot of the bed but were thankfully unhurt. After the case was declared cold, three of James and Virginia's daughters hired a private investigator. Although some of the PI's tactics were a bit unorthodox, in the end the family was able to hear not one, but two cell doors clang shut.

On July 18, 2018, Mollie Tibbetts was spending the summer before returning to college working at a local day care. She had been on the track team in high school, and still kept up with her daily runs. But on this day, she never returned. Even with local, state and federal law enforcement searching alongside many volunteers, they didn't find her. It would take tracking down the perpetrator to finally bring her family, friends and the entire community a sense of justice.

Emporia is a beautiful city in eastern Kansas. But in 1983, some of the community's secrets became very public when a twisted tale of lust and betrayal made its way to the headlines. It was so scandalous that it became a CBS movie of the week just a few years later. 

In October 1993, 12-year-old Polly Klaas was having a sleepover at her house with two of her friends. They were trying on possible Halloween costumes, never knowing the danger that was lurking just outside her bedroom door. When Polly was abducted, the search for her soon became the largest manhunt in US history. The tragic outcome of the search was the catalyst for California's Three-Strikes law. 

In 2018, Molly Watson was days away from her dream wedding. Everything was taken care of – she had the venue, two dresses (!) and had just picked up her wedding license. Then late one night, someone came across Molly's car on a back road. She was lying on the ground in front of it, and she was no longer living. Who was responsible for ruining Molly's hopes and dreams? And what would lead investigators to the perpetrator?

In 2003, Nikki Redmond graduated from the prestigious Spelman College in just three years, assumed the Miss Savannah title after being a runner up in the pageant after the original winner was crowned Miss Georgia and became engaged to her long-time boyfriend. No one could have predicted how horrifically her year would end after the sudden death of her fiancé. History Nerds UnitedLet's make history fun again! Come listen to interviews with today's best authors.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

In 1993, 23-year-old Bonnie Haim was married and the mother of a 3-year-old son when late one night she vanished. It would be 21 years before her family knew the heartbreaking truth of what really happened and where Bonnie had been for all those years.History Nerds UnitedLet's make history fun again! Come listen to interviews with today's best authors.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

In 2010, detectives found a young woman deceased in a friend's apartment - and the friend was nowhere to be found. Costa Mesa PD detectives immediately started looking for clues and talking to friends of the missing man. And it was one of these friends who unwittingly led investigators to the person responsible. History Nerds UnitedLet's make history fun again! Come listen to interviews with today's best authors.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

It's a story ripped from the headlines - Utah mom Kouri Richins, who wrote a book on grief after her three sons struggled with their dad's death, was arrested and charged with her husband's murder. Police were unsure what caused the healthy 39-year-old Eric RIchins to die suddenly, but the toxicology report had all the answers.

In 1985, Youngstown State University sophomore Gina Tenney was living off-campus in an apartment on the top floor of a duplex. Over winter break, she thought she heard someone trying to break into her apartment several times, but she never saw anyone. Four days later, her body was found floating in an icy river. With DNA testing in its early stages, it would take the Youngstown PD's perseverance to bring the perpetrator to justice.History Nerds UnitedLet's make history fun again! Come listen to interviews with today's best authors.Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

In 1999, a 911 call came into the Craig Co., Oklahoma Sheriff's Dept. - the Freeman family's mobile home was on fire. Found in the burning rubble were parents Danny and Kathy Freeman. But their 16-year-old daughter Ashley, and her best friend Lauria Bible, vanished. Despite intensive searches, the two teenage girls were never found. It would take authorities decades to learn what likely happened to them, because in this case fear and intimidation trumped justice.

In 2013, southern California residents were scared. The Los Angeles PD was scouring the region for a suspect who was targeting members of law enforcement and their families. For more than a week he eluded authorities, popping up in a different county every day or so. And you never knew where he would strike again. It took the largest manhunt in southern California's history to bring an end to his reign of terror. 

On March 8, 1924, the Louisville Police Department received a report of a man who had been shot in an upscale neighborhood. Following these early 20th century detectives as they navigated the intricate plot twists and myriad of characters could make anyone involved in this case believe they were living the real-life version of a classic film noir movie.

In 2015, a decorated police lieutenant radioed that he was pursuing 3 suspects and requested backup. Arriving officers called dispatch just a few minutes later and said the two most dreaded words: officer down. A huge manhunt was formed to find the suspects, but somehow, they eluded police. It would take two months before police announced the person responsible. And it sent shockwaves through the community.

The Reverend Jim Jones grew from an impoverished, lonely child in Indiana to the dynamic and charismatic leader of his own religious movement. His dream of creating a socialist utopia for his followers became a reality when he built a compound in Guyana. But all was not as joyful as it seemed. When the truth was finally revealed, the shock of Rev. Jones' end game reverberated across the nation and the world.

In 1989, Victoria Cushman had been secretly seeing a married police detective who she believed was going to leave his family so they could be together. Before he could do that, her lifeless body was found on her apartment floor. From the start, there were rumors of a cover up by higher ups at the police department after it turned out her married lover lied about their relationship. It took years, but the perpetrator finally heard the cell doors slam shut.

In 1984, the body of nine-year-old Dawn Hamilton was found in the woods behind her apartment building. Two young boys helped police come up with a composite sketch, leading to the arrest and conviction of Kirk Bloodsworth. He was sentenced to death row. After years of maintaining his innocence, DNA testing gave him the chance to prove he didn't harm Dawn. Or did it prove his guilt instead?

Anyone who remembers the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London will recognize the nickname the Blade Runner. It was given to South African Oscar Pistorius, who was the first amputee to compete in an Olympic Games and did so on legs made of carbon fiber. The golden glow of the Olympics soon lost its luster when five months later a call came in to emergency services. Oscar had mistaken his girlfriend for an intruder and accidentally ended her life. Was it an accident? Or was it intentional? 

Y'all, this one is a special episode because we recorded it last week LIVE in Chattanooga, Tennessee! Chattanooga is a such a cool city and we met so many amazing people. And while this episode doesn't take place in Chattanooga, it happened just a couple of hours northwest. It took almost a decade to find out what happened, and what sealed the fate of the accused came from a very unlikely source. 

In 1985, a husband and father on assignment more than 500 miles away from home received a devastating phone call. He rushed home to find his wife and two of his three children gone forever. The only thing his 22-month-old daughter could tell them was they needed to hide from the burglar. 

In 1987, a preacher's wife in Dallas, Texas was found unresponsive on the floor of her garage. Her husband kept vigil at her bedside for more than a week, with rumors swirling in the community that he was somehow involved. Did rumors drive his downfall or was he actually responsible?

In 2014, a college student living in the trendy Isla Vista community of Santa Barbara was struggling to fit in. Throughout his education, he just wanted to be popular. But that never happened. He wrote pages and pages in his journal about the day he would seek retribution. That tragic day was May 23, 2014. 

In 1998, Mark and Julie Jensen had been married for 14 years and were devoted to their two sons, ages eight and three. At the end of the year, Mark noticed some significant changes in Julie's personality - she was depressed and wasn't sleeping or eating. He urged her to go to the doctor, but she refused. On December 3rd, Mark and the boys came home to find Julie had passed away. Police did not suspect foul play, until the Jensen's next door neighbor handed them a letter hand-written by Julie naming the perpetrator. Had Julie really solved the case with a letter from the grave? 

What happened to Tim Bosma in 2013 could have happened to anyone. He was selling his truck and went for a test drive with a prospective buyer. He never came home. But no one expected the investigation into his disappearance to uncover a web of lies that left the community and the country in shock. 

We are back in Texas, y'all for a shocking case of betrayal and greed. In 1992, Fort Worth, TX socialites Jack and Caren Koslow were ambushed in their home. Tragically, Caren did not survive. And just when police were ready to arrest their suspect, they received information from an unexpected source that changed everything. 

In 1983, three members of the Ryen family and their son's friend were killed in a brutal attack in the Ryen home. Despite initial reports that up to three men were involved, only one man was arrested and convicted. Kevin Cooper has maintained his innocence for the past 38 years. In 2021, the CA governor ordered an independent review of the case and on Jan. 13, 2023, the results were made public. Is Kevin Cooper innocent? 

In 2018, Daniel Brophy was a chef and instructor at the Oregon Culinary Institute in Portland. Early on a Saturday morning, students found his body on the floor of one of the school's kitchens. Daniel's wife, Nancy, became an early suspect, in part because she was an author and had a lengthy search history involving different ways to kill someone. Was she really researching plotlines or was she guilty?

We've all heard bits and pieces about the tragic murders at the University of Idaho. But now that the Moscow Police Department has made their probable cause affidavit public, we can bring you the facts - from what happened that terrible night to how they tracked down the now-infamous white Hyundai Elantra to the arrest in Pennsylvania. And, what happens next.

We're beginning the new year by bringing you big updates on four cases we've covered over the past year. We have updates on Episode 41 - the murders of Mike Sisco and Karen Harkness in Topeka, KS; Episode 18 - covering the murders of a suspected serial killer police have dubbed "The Shopping Cart Killer"; Episode 29 - which discusses the case of the first person to be tried and convicted using genetic genealogy; and Episode 11 - the case of a missing 12-year-old girl and how it involves a two-time candidate for Governor of Idaho.

This week's episode is a rebroadcast of our favorite episode to-date - Episode 1, the disappearance and murder of Denise Huber in Newport Beach, CA. In 1991, Denise vanished into thin air from the shoulder of a Southern California freeway. The trail went cold for three years until a woman, acting on her instincts, finally discovered what happened to Denise.

Michele Rae Powers was the mother of a 3-year-old son, and, in January 1982, after fighting for two years, was finally given visitation rights. Which her son's father was NOT happy about. She told her twin sister she was concerned about her safety. And unfortunately, it turned out that her instincts were correct.  

In 1997, brothers Melvin and George DeJesus were arrested and convicted of murdering their next-door neighbor - and the mother of a childhood friend - Margaret Midkiff. They became targets of the investigation after a jailhouse snitch gave police information that only someone present at the scene would know. Did police arrest the right perpetrators? 

The Harvey family home in Richmond, Virginia was where friends and neighbors gathered every New Year's Day for food and fun. But in 2006, arriving guests found emergency vehicles and crime scene tape surrounding the house and property. They stood together as they waited to hear news about their friends. The answer was more horrific than any of them imagined. 

In July 1966, five student nurses and three exchange nurses from the Philippines were sharing a dorm-style townhouse in Chicago, Illinois. All of the young women were smart, caring and had bright futures. They had no way of knowing someone had been watching them for days, and learning their routines, before breaking into the townhouse late one night. He was smiling and kind as he told them he wouldn't hurt them. He lied.