Hear firsthand about the survival bonds formed by victims and their families, and how they will face Brogan Rafferty’s potential parole. Amy never received justice – listen to her surprising message to Richard Beasley. Investigators share their feelings about the religious conman turned serial killer. Former prosecutors reflect on the systemic issues within the justice system, and the need for change. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey Producer - Chris Aiola Sound Des...
Jul 01, 2025•25 min•Season 2Ep. 11
In this series finale, special prosecutors Emily and Paul reflect on the murder trial, and its lasting personal impact on them. Brogan Rafferty turns down a plea deal. Richard Beasley takes the stand, blaming everyone but himself for the murders. Watch the video trailer here! EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey Producer - Chris Aiola Sound Design & Mixing - Lochlainn Harte Mixing Supervisor - Sean Rule-Hoffman Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer...
Jun 24, 2025•52 min•Season 2Ep. 10
Prosecutors utilize old charges to keep Beasley locked up while they carefully construct their case. Investigators uncover disturbing details about the Craigslist murders from Richard Beasley’s alleged accomplice, Brogan Rafferty. Beasley cooks up one final con in the Summit County Jail while awaiting trial. Watch the video trailer here! EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey Producer - Chris Aiola Sound Design & Mixing - Lochlainn Harte Mixing Supervisor - Sean Rul...
Jun 17, 2025•38 min•Season 2Ep. 9
Unlawful Acts is a weekly true crime podcast hosted by Susan Davis, offering condensed yet compelling storytelling that dives deep into some of the world’s most fascinating criminal cases. From elusive serial killers to decades-old mysteries, each episode peels back the layers to uncover the truths often left untold. Gerard Schaefer joined the police force to serve and protect—at least, that’s what he told everyone. He wore the badge, filed the reports, and pulled over young women under the pret...
Jun 13, 2025•13 min
After months on the lam, Richard Beasley is apprehended by a special task force. Detective Mackie interrogates both Beasley and teenager Brogan Rafferty about the Craigslist murders. Tim Kern becomes the final victim, though the manner of his death raises questions about who pulled the trigger. Watch the video trailer here! EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey Producer - Chris Aiola Sound Design & Mixing - Lochlainn Harte Mixing Supervisor - Sean Rule-Hoffman Prod...
Jun 10, 2025•37 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Scott Davis escapes his attempted murder, but law enforcement are about to discover that other victims were not so fortunate. Deb Bruce notifies authorities in Noble County that she hasn’t heard from her twin brother David since he left to take a job he found on Craigslist. Detective Mackie's search for a missing ball cap in the woods takes a dark turn with the chilling discovery of a freshly-dug grave. Watch the video trailer here! EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey ...
Jun 03, 2025•32 min•Season 2Ep. 7
In August of 2011, Richard Beasley murders Ralph Geiger in the woods of Noble County, Ohio, and assumes his identity. Months later, Scott Davis responds to a Craigslist ad for a farm caretaker and ends up narrowly escaping his own death after being lured into those same woods. Then-detective Jason Mackie investigates Davis’ story, and begins his search for the crime scene. Watch the video preview here! EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey Producer - Chris Aiola Sound De...
May 27, 2025•29 min•Season 2Ep. 6
Richard Beasley is on the lam, with his young acolyte Brogan Rafferty in tow. Now the killing starts. The first victim? A man seeking redemption. Carol & Emily travel to Noble County, Ohio to meet Sheriff Jason Mackie, who led the investigation into the murders. Watch the video trailer here! Stay tuned after the credits for a preview from our YouTube channel. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey Producer - Chris Aiola Sound Design & Mixing - Lochlainn Harte Mixi...
May 20, 2025•31 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Chaplain Rich is arrested, and investigators gather evidence from his so-called halfway house. Due to prior convictions, he faces the possibility of extradition out of state, and a lengthy prison sentence. Yet against all odds, a judge grants him release. And with the help of a young friend, Richard Beasley vanishes. Watch the video preview here! Stay tuned after the credits for a preview from our YouTube channel. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Co-Host - Emily Pelphrey Producer - Chris Ai...
May 13, 2025•39 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Akron detectives begin listening to recorded phone calls from the Summit County Jail, hoping to track down a predatory jailhouse pastor known as “Chaplain Rich.” Amy places her trust in Lieutenant Detective Terry Pasko, a vice detective slowly building a trafficking case. Investigators learn what goes on at Chaplain Rich’s halfway house and respond to an unexpected Christmas incident. Watch the video trailer here! Stay tuned after the episode for a sneak peek from our YouTube channel. EPISODE CR...
May 06, 2025•34 min•Season 2Ep. 3
In this premiere episode of "The God Hook," host Carol Costello introduces the chilling story of Richard Beasley, infamously known as the Ohio Craigslist Killer. In previously unreleased jailhouse recordings, Beasley portrays himself as a devout Christian, concealing his manipulative and predatory behavior. As the story unfolds, it becomes clear that Beasley's deceitfulness extends beyond the victims he buried in shallow graves. Listen to the preview of a bonus conversation between Carol and Emi...
Apr 29, 2025•33 min•Season 2Ep. 1
In Akron, Ohio, Richard Beasley gains the ear of the most powerful and the faith of the most vulnerable. A twist of fate provides him the opportunity to purchase a home that he puts to nefarious use. Amy, a familiar face at the Summit County Jail, falls prey to Beasley’s scheme. But she ultimately makes a courageous choice that she hopes will bring him to justice. Additional info at carolcostellopresents.com. Do you have questions about this series? Submit them for future Q&A episodes. Subsc...
Apr 29, 2025•42 min•Season 2Ep. 2
Carol Costello Presents is back on April 29th with an all new season exploring the Ohio Craigslist killings. Carol Costello, along with the prosecutor who put Richard Beasley on death row, are determined to tell this cautionary tale in all of its tawdry and poignant details. After 20 years reporting on domestic and international stories for CNN, Carol broke into the podcast space with Series One: Blind Rage, a multi-award winning true crime podcast in 2022 (ranked #22 on Apple) about the story o...
Apr 08, 2025•2 min
In this episode of Blind Rage, Carol gains insight into Samuel Herring's bid for exoneration from the man who heads Ohio's Innocence Project, attorney Mark Godsey. Despite the initial intrigue, DNA evidence led to a perplexing ending: Herring's guilt was confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt. Godsey, a former prosecutor turned innocence advocate, explains how and why the organization took up Herring's case, reveals how DNA evidence was discovered, shares the history of the nationwide effort to ov...
Apr 18, 2024•29 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Carol shares the results of DNA testing on newly recovered evidence in the case of Phyllis Cottle’s brutal assault. The results are infuriating and…baffling. The Ohio Innocence Project prompted a forensic review of evidence, raising the possibility that Samuel J. Herring, the man convicted of the crime, may be innocent. Herring, now 67 years old and wheelchair-bound, has spent nearly 40 years behind bars. He has maintained his innocence. Today we know the truth. And while it leads to a man who i...
Dec 12, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Carol shares a shocking development in the case of Phyllis Cottle's brutal assault, one that she knew might come. The Ohio Innocence Project has prompted a forensic review of evidence, raising the possibility that Samuel J. Herring, the man convicted of the crime, may be innocent. Herring, now 67 years old and wheelchair-bound, has spent nearly 40 years behind bars. He has maintained his innocence. Now DNA testing of recently unearthed evidence may reveal the truth. So, what if the justice syste...
Nov 22, 2023•14 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Phyllis and her family felt ambushed by the media during what was an incredibly difficult and delicate time in her life. The relentless pursuit of her story interrupted her recovery at home. In this bonus episode, Carol interviews her former colleague, producer Ronni Berke, about what it’s like to interview victims. Ronni is an award-winning journalist and producer, who spent 17 years at CNN covering some of the biggest stories, including the September 11th terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, ...
Jul 18, 2023•24 min•Season 1Ep. 15
Phyllis Cottle nearly killed herself when she found out she would never be able to see again. She had a plan, and was about to follow through with it, until she felt a “warm hand on her shoulder,” one that she was convinced was divine. Was she right? Was God intervening? And, if so, what should she do with that sign from above? In this bonus episode we explore those questions with Larry Vuillemin, Phyllis’ good friend who says he also heard God speak to him after a pivotal, life-changing health ...
Jun 27, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Phyllis Cottle said if she “had just been raped,” she may not have gone to police. “I didn’t want the hassle,” she said. But it was more than that: shame, blame, disbelief — reasons that still resonate with survivors today. In this bonus episode, host Carol Costello sits down with Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh, who has created a campaign that aims to change the way society talks about sexual assault. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean...
Jun 06, 2023•27 min•Season 1Ep. 13
The trial is over, but the hard work continues. Phyllis feels a newfound purpose in life, and manifests unexpected forgiveness. Her family continues her fight for justice, vowing to keep her convicted attacker behind bars. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman Contributor - Nijah Golliday Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder For additional information about Phyllis Cot...
Apr 25, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 12
Now the defense makes its case. As witness Chili Mo enters the courtroom, prosecutor Bob Bulford notices something remarkable unfold before his eyes. Phyllis braces for the moment Samuel Herring takes the stand, a questionable move on the part of his attorney. Criminologist Casey Jordan breaks down the defense’s lines of questioning. Will Herring’s testimony be enough to convince the jury of his innocence? EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Ho...
Apr 18, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Phyllis steels herself for the long-awaited trial. Law enforcement reaches out to a potential star witness. And prosecutors hope Phyllis’ testimony sways the jury enough to overlook their lack of physical evidence, before she faces a rapid-fire cross examination. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman Contributor - Nijah Golliday Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder Epi...
Apr 11, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 10
Phyllis receives a grave medical update, and begins to question her very existence. As she searches for a way out of the darkness, the media looks for her. And at the urging of her boss, Phyllis decides to take the narrative into her own hands. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman Contributor - Nijah Golliday Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder For additional informa...
Apr 04, 2023•23 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Police continue their search throughout Akron for a blue house with a black eagle, which they hope will lead them to the scene of the crimes. But will Phyllis’ descriptions prove accurate? And detectives dig deep to learn more about their suspect’s past — but how will they link him to the crime scene? EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman Contributor - Nijah Golliday Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando ...
Mar 28, 2023•21 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Detectives zero in on their suspect, Samuel Herring, whose rap sheet stretches back to childhood. But how will they confirm he’s their guy when Phyllis cannot see? EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman Contributor - Nijah Golliday Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our website (www.carolcostellopres...
Mar 21, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 7
Calls flood the hotlines as Akron PD conducts a citywide manhunt to find Phyllis’ attacker. Phyllis’ description of the house fuels the search, though police cannot ask her — blinded and still recovering — to point out the location. And a particular tip leads Detective Chris Contos to a group of witnesses and his first compelling suspect. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman Contributor - Nijah Golliday Production Director - Brigid Coyne...
Mar 14, 2023•19 min•Season 1Ep. 6
This week, we present a pair of extended interviews with two of the voices in our series: former prosecutor Emily Pelphry, and criminologist Dr. Casey Jordan. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman Contributor - Nijah Golliday Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder Guest: Emily Pelphry (https://denison.edu/people/emily-pelphrey) Guest: Dr. Casey Jordan (https://www.drcase...
Mar 07, 2023•19 min
Recovering in her hospital room, Phyllis mines her memory for any details that might help apprehend her attacker. Detective Chris Contos develops theories about what kind of perpetrator the Akron Police Department is dealing with. Carol talks to criminologist Dr. Casey Jordan about the mindset of such a criminal, and discusses the question that’s on everyone’s mind: who would do this? EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman Contributor - Ni...
Feb 28, 2023•20 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Police, firefighters, and reporters descend on the smoldering crime scene. In an emergency room at Akron City Hospital, medical staff tend to Phyllis while detectives attempt to interview her. The biggest question of all isn't whether she'll lose her vision, but whether her memory superpowers will be enough to catch the bastard who did this to her. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman Contributor - Nijah Golliday Production Director - Br...
Feb 21, 2023•22 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Ninety minutes after her abduction, Phyllis, bound and lying down on the back seat of her car, is brutalized and left for dead. Good samaritans rush to her rescue. And host Carol Costello recounts how, as a 22-year-old reporter at WAKR/TV23, word of something strange in East Akron began to spread through the newsroom. EPISODE CREDITS Host - Carol Costello Producer - Chris Aiola Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman Contributor - Nijah Golliday Production Director - Brigid Coyne Executive Producer -...
Feb 14, 2023•17 min•Season 1Ep. 3
