MURDER IN AMERICA is a true crime podcast that takes a state-by-state look at the most infamous homicides across the United States of America. Co-hosted by Courtney Shannon & Colin Browen (of "The Paranormal Files"), the two delve deep into the darkest tales of murder from each and every state, featuring a from a different state every week. Their passion for true crime, along with Colin's career in investigating paranormal activity gives the two a fresh outlook on these crimes, and allows them to gain the deepest perspectives possible when analyzing the grisly details of these horrific acts. Welcome, to Murder in America.
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By 5 am on June 12th, 2016, news that there had been a shooting at Pulse Nightclub in Orlando was everywhere. Family members gathered outside the club, at hospitals, and at victims' centers, desperate to find out if their loved ones had survived. When the shooting came to an end, the horror of what people endured was really just beginning. For the entire day, victims' loved ones searched the city in agony for answers. In part 3 of our 4-part series, we will explore the endless day that followed ...
It was just after 2 am. Over 200 people were enjoying the freedom that Pulse, an LGBTQ nightclub, offered. They were dancing. Connecting. Singing. Embracing the beauty of being alive and being understood. But in an instant, the night changed entirely. Within just a few minutes, dozens would be dead. And over the next few hours, those who did survive would be forced to fight for their lives as they were held captive by a shooter. In part 2 of our 4-part series, we will take you minute by minute t...
Part one of this series explores the dark beginnings of Omar Mateen, tracing his father's escape from war-torn Afghanistan and their family's pursuit of the American dream, to Omar's childhood marked by severe behavioral issues and academic failures. It details his escalating aggression, dysfunctional relationships, and the FBI's prior investigations into his radicalization, painting a picture of a deeply unstable individual leading up to the Pulse Nightclub massacre.
This episode delves into Detective Robert Anzilotti's relentless efforts to link Richard Cottingham, the infamous "Torso Killer," to a string of unsolved murders from the 1960s and 70s. Through a unique interrogation strategy and the help of a victim's daughter, Jennifer Weiss, Cottingham eventually confessed to killing over 20 women, finally providing closure to families who waited decades for answers. The podcast highlights the diverse lives of his victims and the ongoing quest to uncover the full extent of his crimes.
When firefighters rushed to a hotel room in December of 1979, they had no idea they were stumbling into the den of a serial killer. On the bed, they discovered the bodies of two women — their heads and hands cut off, and their torsos set on fire and left on display for first responders to find. It was the first glimpse into the madness of Richard Cottingham, the Torso Killer. Little did first responders know, his reign of terror went back decades, leaving a twisted trail that, to this day, we ha...
"Are you a kidnapper?" Those are some of the last words that Athena Strand ever said. She was just 7 years old, standing in the back of a FedEx van, where an adult had told her she was safe, that things would be okay. But things would never be okay again. The man driving the van was not only a predator... but a killer. And his plans for Athena would be captured on camera, leading to one of the most horrific trials in modern history. A trial that still has everyone asking: How could someone be so...
Explore the harrowing story of Timothy Buss, who murdered 5-year-old Tara Sue Huffman in 1981 and was released after just 12 years. The podcast details his troubled past, lack of rehabilitation, and the subsequent 1995 murder of 10-year-old Christopher Meyer, highlighting the devastating impact on both families and the community's fight for justice and child safety advocacy.
This episode revisits the horrifying 1993 Houston gang killings of teenagers Jennifer Ertman and Elizabeth Peña. The girls took a shortcut home, unknowingly stumbling upon a violent gang initiation that led to their brutal sexual assault and murder by six perpetrators. The episode details the exhaustive search for the girls, the emotional trials of their killers, and the families' enduring fight for justice, including advocating for victims' rights to witness executions, and navigating ongoing parole hearings.
Part 2 of this series brings us to the unmasking of the Baseline Killer, a man who terrorized Phoenix for over a year. His name was Mark Goudeau. A father. A husband. A hardworking member of the community. But beneath it all, he was the monster stalking the streets. As 2005 turned to 2006, his thirst for murder and violence only grew, and police knew they had to stop him before it was too late. - Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t....
They were known as the Summers of Terror. From 2005 to 2006, Phoenix, Arizona, lived in a state of permanent dread. People and pets were being shot in the streets at random. Women and children were pulled into dark alleys and assaulted. In part 1 of this 2-part series, we’ll dive into the attacks that kicked off a year of chaos, violence, and mystery, which left the police department scrambling for answers. They may not have known their killer, but they knew one thing for certain: He would strik...
There were signs that things were not right at home for 12-year-old Lori Paige. Not just tiny ones: blazing red flags that followed her all her life. She came to school without shoes. She was hit with a belt in front of her classmates. She cried to friends and teachers, saying she couldn’t take the abuse any longer. And then… she vanished. What followed was an investigation that came far too late—one that revealed sexual abuse, violence, and cruelty at the hands of the person who was supposed to...
On April 29th, 1998, Houston Police dragged Charles Victor Thompson out of his ex-girlfriend’s apartment, where he had started a fight with her new boyfriend. Charles was a jealous man, a drunk man, but the police didn’t think he was a killer. At least, not for another 3 hours. What began as a jealous feud spiraled into murder, and from there, into one of the most shocking cases in Texas history: where a death row inmate escaped from prison and proved that he wasn’t done wreaking havoc. Not yet....
This episode details the tragic 1999 Atlanta day trading massacre carried out by Mark Orrin Barton, who first murdered his second wife and two children before unleashing a deadly rampage at his former day trading offices. The podcast vividly recounts the horrific events at Momentum Securities and All Tech Investment Group, highlighting the victims, survivors, and the chaotic scenes. It also delves into Mark Barton's subsequent flight and eventual suicide, examining the lasting impact on the community and the unanswered questions surrounding his motivations and earlier suspected crimes.
In the 1990s, Mark Orrin Barton was aiming for the stars. He was a day trader, working in a prestigious office in Atlanta. He had a wife, kids, and a seemingly successful life. Then, in 1999, he shot it all to hell. Quite literally. You may have never heard of Mark or the Day Trading Massacre, but in part one of this two-part series, we’ll examine the man who took the lives of at least thirteen people in a violent, completely unexpected shooting… and who may have taken the lives of two more year...
When Linda Wallace returned home to a ransacked house and found her 9-year-old daughter, Autumn, brutally murdered, the community of Anaheim was left in shock. The investigation uncovered an unlikely suspect: Maria Alfaro, a family friend struggling with addiction. Driven by a desperate need for drug money, Maria tragically killed Autumn after the child recognized her during a robbery, leading to a complex trial and a death sentence.
In 2008, Gregory Green promised the parole board that he was a changed man. When he had murdered his first wife in 1991, he was a monster. Now, he was different. He was ready for another chance. Believing him, the parole board granted him his freedom, and for years it seemed the right choice. He got married. Raised kids. Got a job. Until, in 2016, he betrayed everyone’s faith in him. Police stepped into his second wife’s home to discover the unthinkable: The annihilation of another family. - Sou...
Marvin Morales took an oath to serve and protect. The Sacramento Sheriff’s Deputy was a shining example of his department… until he wasn’t. A drug scandal. A hidden addiction. PTSD. A series of horrible decisions culminating in the end of his career, and a violent death that no one saw coming. Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/...
Christopher Porco was in trouble. At 21, he was drowning in debt, caught in a web of lies, and flunking out of his college fraternity. His loving parents, Peter and Joan, offered to help him figure things out. But instead, Chris did the unthinkable. In the dead of the night, he grabbed an axe, walked into his parents’ bedroom, and committed a crime so heinous that the detectives on the scene could hardly stomach it. - Sources: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKG...
In 1999, Logan Marr was kidnapped, and the state of Maine thought it was for the best. In their eyes, the toddler’s mother was too poor, too uneducated, too redneck to raise her baby girl. So, they gave her to someone who could. And then someone else. And then someone else. Until finally, in 2001, Christy Marr was finally given back her baby girl: in a casket. This isn’t our typical story. This is the story of a legal kidnapping, a desperate mother, a corrupt system, and a state employee who bel...
This episode details the harrowing disappearance and murder of Jolene Cummings, a loving mother of three, at the hands of her coworker, Kimberly Kessler. The investigation quickly shifted from estranged family to Kessler, who was found to be living under numerous aliases with a long history of violence and erratic behavior. Despite the absence of Jolene's body, compelling evidence, including surveillance footage, blood spatter, and Kessler's chilling Google searches, led to a guilty verdict and a life sentence, bringing partial closure to Jolene's grieving family.
In 2001, Sioux City was terrorized by Adam Moss, who brutally murdered Leticia Aguilar and her five children, then killed Ronald Fish, his former employer. The episode traces Adam's escalating criminal history, drug addiction, and violent tendencies that culminated in these senseless acts. Despite his capture and guilty plea, Adam's suicide in prison years later left families without answers regarding his motives, cementing his legacy as one of Iowa's most notorious killers.
At first, police in Baraboo, Wisconsin, thought the 9-1-1 call was a prank. 13-year-old Thad Phillips claimed he had been kidnapped, tortured, and left for dead with shattered legs. This is the story of Joseph Clark, the Baraboo, they realized it wasn’t a joke at all: It was the most devious crime they had seen in their entire careers. Thad’s feet were twisted backwards, his thighs swollen to the size of basketballs, and his body just hours from death. But, in spite of the pain, Thad told them e...
The final part of the BTK series covers Dennis Rader's arrest, the shocking revelations during his interrogation, and his cold, detailed confessions of ten murders. It explores the devastating aftermath for his unsuspecting family and the powerful victim impact statements from those he terrorized, culminating in his multiple life sentences. The episode also touches on new potential victims and his daughter's advocacy.
After killing Marine Hedge in 1985 and Vicki Wegerle in 1986, Dennis Rader vanished into suburban normalcy for almost twenty years—leading Cub Scouts, serving as church president, and installing home alarms for terrified neighbors. While the task force chased ghosts, he privately curated scrapbooks and fantasized about new victims. In 2004, stung by a newspaper article implying BTK had died or lost his nerve, Rader resurfaced with letters, crime-scene photos, and a floppy disk he believed was un...
For 31 years, the city of Wichita lived in terror of a ghost. Between 1974 and 1991, Dennis Rader – the mild-mannered family man, church leader, and compliance officer – murdered ten people in a series of meticulously planned home invasions that still haunt the American true-crime landscape. He didn’t just kill. He staged elaborate, sadistic “projects”: cutting phone lines, waiting patiently in closets, binding entire families with cords pulled from venetian blinds, torturing them for hours, and...
Before he became the nightmare of Wichita, Kansas – the sadistic serial killer who taunted police with letters signed “BTK” – Dennis Rader was just a quiet, unassuming boy growing up in middle America. In this chilling episode, we go back to the beginning. This is the origin story of one of America’s most infamous serial killers – the story of how Dennis Rader spent decades carefully constructing the perfect mask… This is the making of BTK. - Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spo...
In today's story, we're examining one of the most disturbing series of murders to ever rock the states of Texas & Arkansas, the MOONLIGHT MURDERS. This story is so infamous that it was adapted into a notorious 70's horror film titled "The Town That Dreaded Sundown", and the phantom killer has yet to be caught. - Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl -Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspirac...
In today's episode, we examine the story of Dr. James Craig, whose disturbing crimes came to light in 2023 after the sudden and violent death of his wife. - Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl -Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844 -Amazon/Audible - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files -Pandora - https://www.pandora...
This episode explores the harrowing 1974 Amityville murders, where Ronald "Butch" DeFeo Jr. killed six family members. It delves into Butch's troubled life, the crime scene investigation, his conflicting confessions, and the subsequent trial where he claimed demonic possession. The podcast also examines the enduring mystery of his motive and the sensationalized "Amityville Horror" haunting that emerged from the tragedy, which was later largely debunked.
In August of 2016, a disturbing crime rocked the town of Jupiter, Florida. On that day, a young man did the unthinkable, and ended two lives in an unpredictable, completely random explosion of senseless violence. Join us today as we investigate the story of Austin Harrouff, and the chilling crimes that came to be known as the "Zombie Murders". - Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl -Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.appl...
