Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Caroline Fraser joins "Mind Over Murder" co-hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss her new book "Murderland: Crime and Bloodlust in the Time of Serial Killers." The work explores the provocative premise that environmental toxins may have led men living in the Pacific Northwest to become serial killers. Could a poisonous mix of lead, copper and arsenic fumes spewing out of a massive industrial smelting plant in Tacoma, Washington have impacted those living i...
Jun 30, 2025•41 min•Season 6Ep. 487
Author and advocate Ashley Spence joins "Mind Over Murder" co-hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss her new book "Silent Witness: How DNA Uncovered the Truth and Empowered My Healing." Ashley, a sexual assault survivor herself, founded the DNA Justice Project to advocate how forensic DNA can change lives, transform justice and prevent crimes before they happen. This bonus episode of "Mind Over Murder"originally ran on March 3, 2025. CrimeCon: We’re going to CrimeCon again, folks! Join ...
Jun 28, 2025•40 min•Season 6Ep. 486
"Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley are joined by Chris Fabricant of the Innocence Project to discuss his new edition of his book, "Junk Science and the American Criminal Justice System." Chris describes the shocking story of how discredited scientific forensics have been used in thousands of wrongful convictions across the United States. CrimeCon: We’re going to CrimeCon again, folks! Join us in Denver for new merch, some MOM listener hangouts, and a lot of fun! Use the code...
Jun 23, 2025•46 min•Season 6Ep. 485
Author and podcaster Kate Winkler Dawson joins "Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss her new book, "The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder and the Real Hester Prynne." We also touch on "Buried Bones," her historical true crime podcast with investigator Paul Holes. This bonus episode of "Mind Over Murder" originally ran on February 24, 2025. The Sinners All Bow: Two Authors, One Murder and the Real Hester Prynne: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/727618/t...
Jun 19, 2025•49 min•Season 6Ep. 484
"Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley discuss the mysterious case of D B Cooper with Darren Schaefer, the host of "The Cooper Vortex" podcast. Dan "DB" Cooper, who successfully hijacked a Northwest Airlines passenger jet and parachuted into the dense forest of the Pacific Northwest. He was never caught, although a small amount of the $200,000 ransom was later recovered. This is Part 4 of 4 parts on the Dan "DB" Cooper case. CrimeCon: We’re going to CrimeCon again, folks! Join u...
Jun 16, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 483
Join "Mind Over Murder" co-hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley as they meet award winning author and historian Anne Soon Choi to discuss her new book "L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and Death in Hollywood," which tells the story of one of America's most prominent medical examiners. Dr. Noguchi's outstanding and sometimes controversial work earned him the nickname "Coroner to the Stars." This bonus episode of "mind Over Murder" originally ran on February 17, 2025. L.A. Coroner: Thomas Noguchi and ...
Jun 13, 2025•43 min•Season 6Ep. 482
"Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley discuss the mysterious case of D B Cooper with Darren Schaefer, the host of "The Cooper Vortex" podcast. Dan "DB" Cooper, who successfully hijacked a Northwest Airlines passenger jet and parachuted into the dense forest of the Pacific Northwest. He was never caught, although a small amount of the $200,000 ransom was later recovered. This is Part 3 of 4 parts on the Dan "DB" Cooper case. CrimeCon: We’re going to CrimeCon again, folks! Join u...
Jun 09, 2025•42 min•Season 6Ep. 481
Join "Mind Over Murder" podcast hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley as we discuss the New York Times Magazine article by Pamela Colloff: "He Dialed 911 to Save His Baby. Then His Children Were Taken Away. The controversial medical diagnosis of shaken baby syndrome can send parents to jail. What if the symptoms are caused by something else?" This bonus episode of "Mind Over Murder" originally ran on January 20, 2025. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/29/magazine/shaken-baby-syndrome-diagnosis.html...
Jun 06, 2025•56 min•Season 6Ep. 480
"Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley discuss the mysterious case of D B Cooper, who successfully hijacked a Northwest Airlines passenger jet and parachuted into the dense forest of the Pacific Northwest. He was never caught, although a small amount of the $200,000 ransom was later recovered. This is Part 2 of 4 parts on the Dan "DB" Cooper case. CrimeCon: We’re going to CrimeCon again, folks! Join us in Denver for new merch, some MOM listener hangouts, and a lot of fun! Use th...
Jun 02, 2025•30 min•Season 6Ep. 479
James Lee Hernandez and Brian Lazarte, writer/producers of "McMillions: The Absolutely True Story of How and Unlikely Pair of FBI Agents Brought Down the Most Supersized Fraud in Fast Food History" join "Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley for a great discussion of their true crime series, book and podcasts. This bonus episode of "Mind Over Murder" originally ran on December 23, 2024. CrimeCon: We’re going to CrimeCon again, folks! Join us in Denver for new merch, some MOM lis...
May 29, 2025•53 min•Season 6Ep. 478
"Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley discuss the mysterious case of D B Cooper, who successfully hijacked a Northwest Airlines passenger jet and parachuted into the dense forest of the Pacific Northwest. He was never caught, although a small amount of the $200,000 ransom was later recovered. This is Part 1 of 3 parts on the Dan "DB" Cooper case. CrimeCon: We’re going to CrimeCon again, folks! Join us in Denver for new merch, some MOM listener hangouts, and a lot of fun! Use th...
May 26, 2025•47 min•Season 6Ep. 477
"Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley are joined by Robert Grey, longtime listener to the podcast who attended both Virginia Tech and William and Mary. We review his impressions of the August 2009 murders of Virginia Tech students Heidi Childs and David Metzler, as well as the Colonial Parkway Murders, and their impact on the college community. Can advanced DNA techniques solve the tragic case of two undergrads found shot to death in a place called Caldwell Fields? How has the ...
May 22, 2025•46 min•Season 6Ep. 476
Michael Butterfield, author of "The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America's Most Elusive Murderer," joins "Mind Over Murder" cohosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss his new book, his longtime research into the still unsolved Zodiac case, and his website, ZodiacKillerFacts.com. Will Zodiac ever be identified? Will the remaining Zodiac ciphers be solved? Are there really similarities between the Zodiac case and the Colonial Parkway Murders? This is Part 2 of 2 parts on the Zodiac with Mich...
May 19, 2025•36 min•Season 6Ep. 475
Dan Harrington, Gil Harrington and Jane Lillian Vance, founders of "Help Save the Next Girl," join us to discuss the good work of their organization, founded after the brutal murder of Dan and Gil's 20 year old daughter Morgan Harrington in October 2009. We talk about the book that Gil and Jane co-wrote, "Morgan Harrington Murdered Dead and for Good: A Mother's Quest to Find a Serial Killer and Healing," as well as missing persons cases in Virginia, dealing with profound grief, and healing throu...
May 15, 2025•35 min•Season 6Ep. 474
Michael Butterfield, author of "The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America's Most Elusive Murderer," joins "Mind Over Murder" cohosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss his new book, his longtime research into the still unsolved Zodiac case, and his website, ZodiacKillerFacts.com. Will Zodiac ever be identified? Will the remaining Zodiac ciphers be solved? Are there really similarities between the Zodiac case and the Colonial Parkway Murders? This is Part 1 of 2 parts on the Zodiac with Mich...
May 12, 2025•43 min•Season 6Ep. 473
Dan Harrington, Gil Harrington and Jane Lillian Vance, founders of "Help Save the Next Girl," join us to discuss the good work of their organization, founded after the brutal murder of Dan and Gil's 20 year old daughter Morgan Harrington in October 2009. We talk about the book that Gil and Jane co-wrote, "Morgan Harrington Murdered Dead and for Good: A Mother's Quest to Find a Serial Killer and Healing," as well as missing persons cases in Virginia, dealing with profound grief, and healing throu...
May 09, 2025•38 min•Season 6Ep. 472
"Mind Over Murder" podcast host Bill Thomas asks retired Virginia State Police Special Agent Danny Plott questions regarding Joe Kenda's "American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders" TV special on the Investigation Discovery network. Are Joe Kenda and Danny Plott on the right track to help solve this case of serial murder? This is part 2 of 2 parts of our interview with Danny Plott in the American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders. American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders: https://www.you...
May 05, 2025•30 min•Season 6Ep. 471
Matt Murphy, renowned California prosecutor and now legal analyst for ABC News, joins "Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss his new "The Book of Murder: A Prosecutors Journey Through Love and Death." In this deep dive into murder and its aftermath, Matt walks readers through some of the most complex and diabolical cases from his career in the Orange County District Attorney's Office. He describes how, despite the work wreaking havoc on his personal life, he ultimatel...
May 01, 2025•52 min•Season 6Ep. 470
"Mind Over Murder" podcast host Bill Thomas asks retired Virginia State Police Special Agent Danny Plott questions regarding Joe Kenda's "American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders" TV special on the Investigation Discovery network. Are Joe Kenda and Danny Plott on the right track to help solve this case of serial murder? This is part 1 of 2 parts of our interview with Danny Plott in the American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders. American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders: https://www.you...
Apr 28, 2025•34 min•Season 6Ep. 469
"Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley review the August 2009 murders of Virginia Tech students Heidi Childs and David Metzler, still unsolved after 15 years. Can advanced DNA techniques solve this tragic case of two undergrads found shot to death in a place called Caldwell Fields? How has the Virginia Tech community been touched so many times by senseless violence? Where does the Childs/Metzler investigation go from here? This bonus episode of Mind Over Murder originally ran on...
Apr 26, 2025•41 min•Season 6Ep. 468
"Mind Over Murder" podcast hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley reply to an "Ask Us Anything" series of listener questions regarding Joe Kenda's "American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders" TV special on the Investigation Discovery network. This is part 1 of our "Ask Us Anything" on the American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders. American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp3rNRZnL0E Washingtonian: A Murder on the Rappahannock River: https://www.washingtoni...
Apr 21, 2025•46 min•Season 6Ep. 467
Edna Cowell Martin, cousin to serial killer Ted Bundy, joins "Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss her new book, cowritten with Megan Atkinson, "Dark Tide: Growing Up With Ted Bundy." How well do we really know the people around us? What would you do if you learned your family's secrets? Are their truly monsters among us? Join us for a fascinating conversation. This bonus episode of "Mind Over Murder" originally ran on September 30, 2024. "Dark Tide: Growing Up With ...
Apr 19, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 466
"Mind Over Murder" podcast hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley reply to an "Ask Us Anything" series of listener questions regarding Joe Kenda's "American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders" TV special on the Investigation Discovery network. This is part 1 of our "Ask Us Anything" on the American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders. American Detective: Colonial Parkway Murders: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fp3rNRZnL0E Washingtonian: A Murder on the Rappahannock River: https://www.washingtoni...
Apr 14, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 465
Jeffrey Smalldon talks with "Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley about his new book, "That Beast Was Not Me: One Forensic Psychologist, Fifty Years of Conversations with Killers." He recounts his many face to face conversations with murderers like John Wayne Gacy, Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, serial sniper Thomas Lee Dillon, Donald Harvey, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and many others. This is Part 2 of 2 parts with Jeffrey Smalldon, and this bonus episode originally ran on October 1...
Apr 11, 2025•42 min•Season 6Ep. 464
"Mind Over Murder" podcast hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley meet with former FBI Profiler (and producer and writer) Jim Clemente to discuss the parole process for the 3 men convicted in mass kidnapping of 26 elementary school students and their bus driver in rural Chowchilla, California. The crime, the largest mass kidnapping in United States history, shocked the nation in 1976. Should the 3 kidnappers have served longer? How was the trauma of the 26 young victims taken into account if at al...
Apr 07, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 463
Jeffrey Smalldon talks with "Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley about his new book, "That Beast Was Not Me: One Forensic Psychologist, Fifty Years of Conversations with Killers." He recounts his many face to face conversations with murderers like John Wayne Gacy, Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, serial sniper Thomas Lee Dillon, Donald Harvey, Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme and many others. This is Part 1 of 2 parts with Jeffrey Smalldon, and originally ran on October 7, 2024. Jeffrey Sma...
Apr 05, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 462
"Mind Over Murder" podcast hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley meet with retired prosecutor Matt Murphy to discuss the parole process for the 3 men convicted in mass kidnapping of 26 elementary school students and their bus driver in rural Chowchilla, California. The crime, the largest mass kidnapping in United States history, shocked the nation in 1976. How does the California parole system work? What impact did the kidnapping have on the 26 survivors? Why were the three kidnappers ultimately ...
Mar 31, 2025•47 min•Season 6Ep. 461
Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn join "Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss their book, co-written with Nicole Weisensee Egan, "Victim F: From Crime Victims to Suspects to Survivors," which tells the shocking true story of their bizarre 2015 kidnapping and the revictimization by the justice system in Vallejo, California, where investigators refused to believe their story until it proved to be completely true. Denise and Aaron's story was featured in a hit 2024 Netflix ...
Mar 29, 2025•48 min•Season 6Ep. 460
"Mind Over Murder" podcast hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley discuss the mass kidnapping of 26 elementary school students and their bus driver in rural Chowchilla, California. The crime, the largest mass kidnapping in United States history, shocked the nation in 1976. How did three rich kids plan and execute this heinous crime? Why did their plans fall apart so quickly? What impact did the kidnapping have on the 26 survivors? Why were the three kidnappers ultimately paroled? "Chowchilla" Docu...
Mar 24, 2025•45 min•Season 6Ep. 459
Nina Innsted, host of the "Already Gone" podcast and the "Missing in Michigan" Facebook page joins "Mind Over Murder" hosts Bill Thomas and Kristin Dilley to discuss why some missing persons posts on social media turn out to be scams, why fake notices like these hurt real efforts to find missing people, and how to avoid these scams. Why do people run scams like this? What can families of missing people do to let people know their posts are legitimate? How can we avoid such scams? Join us for a f...
Mar 20, 2025•41 min•Season 6Ep. 458
