For many years, beginning in the early 1980s, Washington state had a serial killer on its hands. Sex workers went missing at an alarming rate, most of them were picked up around Pacific Highway South and found later, dumped, in the Green River. This is how the serial killer got his moniker as the Green River Killer. It would be many years later that authorities figured out it was Gary Ridgway. Join Mike and Morf in part 1 of the story of the Green River Killer / Gary Ridgway. We explore his upbr...
Apr 27, 2019•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 58
It's hard to believe but it has been a year since the arrest of Joseph J. DeAngelo as the suspected EAR/GSK. It occurred during our long second season of Criminology when we took a deep dive into this case. In this episode, we talk about what has happened in the past year. But, we do so with the help of our friends, some of the people that made Season 2 so great through their interviews. You'll hear from Paul Holes and so many others, including several of the sister-survivors that have been so i...
Apr 20, 2019•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 57
John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr of the Beatles took the world by storm. They became one of the most popular and influential bands of all time. Nothing in Mark David Chapman's life seemed to work out as he wanted it to. He listened to the Beatles all the time. But Chapman's life was spiraling out of control in the late 1980s. He was obsessed with John Lennon of the Beatles and felt that killing Lennon would make him famous. Chapman displayed many signs of mental illn...
Apr 13, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 56
In 2004, Jason Allen and Lindsay Cutshall were a free-spirited couple who had their whole lives ahead of them. They had so much in common. They came from very religious families and their religion played a huge part in their lives. They had both graduated from a bible college which is where they met. They loved life and were extremely adventurous, choosing to hike, camp, and go white water rafting. Jason and Lindsay were set to marry but they were murdered before it took place. They were on one ...
Apr 06, 2019•56 min•Ep. 55
Between 1978 and 1983, four teenage girls disappeared from Pocatello, Idaho. All four were later found deceased. There were similarities between the victims aside from their ages and gender. They all attended the same school. All went missing during the summer months, and three of the girls were either babysitting or due to babysitting at the time they disappeared. Was this the work of a serial killer or random acts of violence? Join Mike Ferguson and Mike Morford as they discuss the murders of ...
Mar 30, 2019•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 54
Three girls disappeared, each in a different year, in different states, and under different circumstances. Deborah Ann Quimby vanished in 1977, Colleen Orsborn in 1984, and Alicia Markovich in 1987. There was nothing to connect the disappearances of the 3 girls. That was until an apparent connection was seen in an anonymous letter writer. In each case, someone had written at least one letter related to the disappearance of the girls. Some of the letters were sent to family members and some were ...
Mar 23, 2019•57 min•Ep. 53
In 1985, 81-year-old Ed Maurin and his wife 83-year-old Minnie Maurin were shot to death in Washington State. Their murders shocked and saddened the small community where they lived. Residents were asking themselves who would want to kill this friendly and well-liked couple. The police began to investigate the murders but couldn't put anything concrete together. For almost 27 years, the murders of the Maurins went unsolved. But, in 2012, police got the break they needed to finally solve this hau...
Mar 16, 2019•54 min•Ep. 52
In 1980, Roger Atkison and Rose Burkert were brutally murdered inside an Amana Holiday Inn room in Williamsburg, Iowa. As the details emerged, police realized that Roger and Rose were hundreds of miles from their homes. Not only that but Roger was married and the meeting between Roger and Rose was a romantic tryst. This was a bizarre and baffling case from the very start and remains the same to this day. Police originally thought, based on the hotel room crime scene, that this was a crime of pas...
Mar 09, 2019•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 51
On this 50th episode of Criminology, we are talking about the Mary Morris murders. Two women, both named Mary Morris, were murdered in Houston, TX in 2000 just a few days apart. Their killers have never been caught. But this case has fueled speculation among the online sleuth community. Was this the act of a hitman who killed the wrong woman and then corrected his mistake days later? Or was this a coincidence and the perpetrators were closer to home? It is a bizarre and perplexing case for sure....
Mar 02, 2019•54 min•Ep. 50
n the summer of 1964, three civil rights workers went missing in Mississippi. They were in the state working to help African Americans get registered to vote. Their station wagon was found burned and then their bodies were found after a 44-day search. The murders sparked a national outcry for justice and led to the first successful federal prosecution in a Mississippi civil rights case. There was a tremendous amount of media coverage on this case. The individuals responsible included members of ...
Feb 23, 2019•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 49
13-year-old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German went missing on February 13, 2017. The two friends were out hiking and their families became worried when they didn't show to be picked up. After an extensive search, their bodies were found the very next day. Police recovered evidence from Libby's cell phone and released an image and small snippet of audio that they believe to be the suspect. But so far, this person has not been identified and the case remains unsolved. You can support the ...
Feb 16, 2019•1 hr 10 min•Ep. 48
In our part 2 episode on the disappearance of Maura Murray, we talk with Tim and Lance from The Missing Maura Murray podcast. They give us additional insight into the case using the information they have learned over their years of covering this case. There is also breaking news in the case that just came out this week that we'll talk about as well. You can help support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adch...
Feb 09, 2019•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 47
Maura Murray was a 21-year-old nursing student at the University of Massachusetts. On February 9th, 2004, she crashed her car on a secluded road in New Hampshire and has not been seen or heard from since. The events surrounding the night of her disappearance and the things that transpired in the days leading up to it have caused much speculation and a lot of rumors over the years. Was Maura Murray's life troubled to the point that she decided to end it? Did she run away to start her life over or...
Feb 02, 2019•52 min•Ep. 46
On October 15, 2018, in Barron Wisconsin, the unthinkable happened. An armed intruder entered the home of James and Denise Closs. He murdered James and Denise and kidnapped their daughter, 13-year-old Jayme. The story made headlines around the world. Police led an all-out search for Jayme and the person that abducted her and killed her parents. But, they came up empty. On January 10, 2019, Jayme escaped from her captor, a man she identified as 21-year-old Jake Patterson. Police caught Patterson ...
Jan 26, 2019•53 min•Ep. 45
In this episode, we're discussing the murders of Reverend Carol Daniels and Terri "Missy" Bevers. Daniels was brutally murdered inside the church where she preached each Sunday. Terri "Missy" Bevers, a fitness instructor, was murdered inside a church where she gave early morning fitness lessons. Both murderers were likely caught on tape. In the Bevers murder, the video surveillance shows someone dressed in black, in police SWAT-type clothing. These are two senseless murders that have yet to be s...
Jan 19, 2019•51 min•Ep. 44
In May of 1983, Tommy Vickery and Teresa Lynn Cronic were found shot to death in Tommy's McDonough, GA home. This was a small town back then with a population of around 3,000 people. Tommy Vickery got involved in the drug trade and consorted with unsavory people. The murders baffled police. There are so many questions surrounding this case. Why were Tommy and Teresa together? Who would have wanted them dead and was it connected to Tommy's involvement with the drug trade and a cartel out of Miami...
Jan 12, 2019•48 min•Ep. 43
In this first episode of 2019, we're discussing the disappearance of 11-year-old Mikelle Biggs. Mikelle disappeared near her home in Mesa, Arizona 20 years ago. Mikelle's sister Kimber was outside with her that day that she vanished. We'll hear from Kimber in this episode about Mikelle's disappearance and how it affected their entire family. This is a story of bad things that can happen in the blink of an eye. When Kimber found her sister Mikelle's bike the wheels were still spinning. The whole ...
Jan 05, 2019•49 min•Ep. 42
In this final episode of season 4, we discuss the 1992 murder of 25-year-old school teacher Christy Mirack in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. We also examine the investigation and the genetic genealogy that, years later, would help identify her killer. We wrap up the episode by talking about a few other cases that were solved in 2018 using this incredible new technology. You can help support the show by going to patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit...
Nov 17, 2018•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 41
In this episode, we are profiling more cases solved in 2018 through the use of DNA and genetic genealogy. We discuss the 2009 murder of 22-year-old Holly Cassano in Mahomet, IL. We also discuss two cases somewhat connected in Tacoma Washington. 12-year-old Michella Welch was murdered in March of 1986. 5 months later, 13-year-old Jennifer Bastian was murdered. The murders of Holly Cassano and Michella Welch were solved this year using DNA and genetic genealogy. Jennifer's murder was solved in 201...
Nov 10, 2018•50 min•Ep. 40
In this episode of Criminology, we discuss 3 different cases where identities were matched after many years using genetic genealogy. The cases of Joseph Newton Chandler, Lyle Stevik, and Buckskin girl prove that DNA and genetic genealogy are being used to identify more than just killers. All 3 of these matches occurred in 2018. You can help support the show by going to patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Nov 03, 2018•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 39
Robert Eugene Brashers began murdering in 1985 as he drifted from state to state. Police had his DNA but he never made their radar since he wasn't in any database. His murderous ways ended in 1999 when he died in a stand-off with police. But it wasn't until 2018 that Brashers was tied to his murders through the use of Genetic Genealogy. You can support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices...
Oct 27, 2018•46 min•Ep. 38
In 1988, 8-year-old April Marie Tinsley was abducted and murdered in her hometown of Fort Wayne Indiana. The senseless murder rocked the entire town of Fort Wayne. Investigators struggled to find April's killer even though he left DNA behind. Her killer would terrorize the town through the years through his writings, some of which he put in the bicycle baskets of little girls. It would be 30 years before investigators, using a combination of DNA and genetic genealogy, would identify the man they...
Oct 20, 2018•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 37
In 1987, 20-year-old Jay Cook and 18-year-old Tanya Van Cuylenborg were murdered on a trip from Victoria British Columbia to Seattle Washington. Police investigated the case for years but could not solve it. They had DNA evidence but no suspect to match it up to. It wasn't until 2018, with the help of forensic genealogy, that they were able to find out who left that DNA over 30 years ago. You can help support the show by going to patreo.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more abou...
Oct 13, 2018•48 min•Ep. 36
We continue to explore the new DNA and forensic genealogy technics that are being used to solve cold cases. We're laying the groundwork, giving you all of the information you need ahead of the cases we'll be covering this season. In this episode, we talk to Colleen Fitzpatrick who has an extensive resume in using DNA and forensic genealogy to help give police names to aid in their investigation. We also talk to Steve Armentrout, the CEO of Parabon Nanolabs, whose company has been instrumental in...
Oct 06, 2018•56 min•Ep. 35
Forensic genealogy has ushered in a new era in crime-fighting. Season 4 of Criminology is all about cases solved in 2018 using forensic genealogy techniques and databases to match old DNA to suspects. GedMatch and Parabon are names that have been in the news lately as they have been used to solved cold cases. We will be covering these cases in depth over the course of Season 4. In this first episode, we lay the groundwork by diving into how law enforcement is using this public information to zer...
Sep 29, 2018•48 min•Ep. 34
Charles Horvath went missing in 1989 while backpacking across Canada. His mother, Denise Horvath-Allan, has been searching for him for 29 years. You can support the show at patreon.com/criminology An Emash Digital production Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Sep 15, 2018•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 33
We're discussing the case known as the San Francisco Witch Killers. It’s an interesting case in which mental illness, drugs, and the twisted beliefs of Jim Carson and Susan Barnes converge and leave a trail of murder victims along the way. In addition to the details of the case, in this episode, you will hear from the daughter of one of them and she tells us what it was like having to grow up with all of this in her life, and what it was like knowing her own father was a serial killer. You can h...
Sep 01, 2018•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 32
In this fourth and last episode of our Ted Bundy series, we close it out by talking with some Bundy experts and authors. They are able to provide some amazing insight into the infamous serial killer. You can help support the show through Patreon . We'd love to connect with listeners on social media. We are available on the following platforms: Facebook - Instagram - Threads - X Formerly Twitter - Blue Sky - Twitch Criminology is an Emash Digital production hosted by Mike Ferguson and Mike Morfor...
Aug 25, 2018•1 hr 43 min•Ep. 31
Ted Bundy was an infamous American serial killer who targeted young females. In this third episode, we discuss Bundy's murders in Florida including those he committed at the Chi Omega sorority house. We dive into his capture and eventual execution. Bundy gave a number of interviews before he was executed and these allow us to analyze him, or do they? Who was the true Ted Bundy behind the mask, showing people what they wanted to see, and telling them what they wanted to hear? You can support the ...
Aug 18, 2018•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 30
Ted Bundy was an infamous American serial killer who targeted young females. In this second episode, we dive further into the murders committed by Bundy and the methods he used to lure his victims. We also discuss his life in politics. As the number of murders and sexual assaults he committed rose, victims came forward with his description. Once that was put out into the public, people who knew Ted Bundy started to come forward to police that he looked very much like the composite sketch. It's j...
Aug 11, 2018•1 hr•Ep. 29
