Episode Summary: While working on the new season of Pretend, I wanted to bring back an episode from 2018 that’s worth another listen. It’s the story of Art Schlichter, a former Ohio State football star whose gambling addiction wrecked his life—and the lives of others. One of those people was Anita Barney, the widow of a Wendy’s CEO, who lost everything after trusting the wrong person. This isn’t just a story about gambling. It’s about how someone can slowly gain control over another person’s lif...
Mar 11, 2025•43 min•Season 20Ep. 9
n part two of Licensed to Kill, we continue the shocking investigation into doctors who exploit their patients for profit. This episode follows Patty Hester, a fitness instructor who was misdiagnosed with a rare blood cancer and nearly subjected to years of unnecessary chemotherapy—all at the hands of Dr. Farid Fata, a Michigan oncologist who built his fortune by treating healthy patients for diseases they never had. But Fata isn’t alone. Across the country, doctors like Thomas Weiner, Ian Pater...
Mar 04, 2025•34 min•Season 20Ep. 8
What if your doctor wasn’t trying to save you, but trying to cash in on you? In this episode of Pretend, we uncover the shocking case of Dr. Thomas Weiner, an oncologist accused of prescribing years of brutal chemotherapy treatments to patients who may not have even had cancer. We follow the story of Scott Warwick, a man who was told he had stage 4 lung cancer and endured 11 years of toxic treatments—only to later learn there was no biopsy confirming his diagnosis. When Dr. Randy Sasich, a pulmo...
Feb 25, 2025•43 min•Season 20Ep. 7
A group of women, all with eerily similar stories, say they were deceived—emotionally and financially—by the same man: William Sullivan. But instead of staying silent, they took matters into their own hands. They formed Operation Cock Block, a coordinated effort to expose what they claim were Sullivan’s deceptive tactics and warn others before they fell victim. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Feb 19, 2025•52 min•Season 20Ep. 6
Facilitated Communication is marketed as a miraculous tool for non-speaking autistic children. But what happens when this controversial method leads to devastating consequences? In this episode, we hear from Kevin Plantin, a father who was falsely accused of assault based solely on messages typed with the help of a facilitator. Despite the evidence, some courts and institutions still give FC credibility—with tragic consequences. In this episode, Kevin Plantan recounts how a letter typed via FC l...
Feb 11, 2025•39 min•Season 20Ep. 5
A mother kills her autistic son. Why? Because he asked her to. The mother claims he used facilitated communication to ask her to help him die. This case is just one of many tied to the controversial method that claims to give a voice to non-speaking autistic individuals. But what if the voice wasn’t theirs at all? Share Your Thoughts: Have you listened to The Telepathy Tapes? What do you think about the claims it makes? We want to hear from you! Send a voice memo with your thoughts to javier@pre...
Feb 04, 2025•50 min•Season 20Ep. 4
The Telepathy Tapes podcast shot to the top of the charts, making bold claims about telepathic abilities in non-verbal autistic children. But are the claims rooted in science—or something else entirely? In this episode of PRETEND, we take a closer look at the phenomenon, the controversies, and the skepticism surrounding these extraordinary claims. We’ll discuss: ➜ The premise of The Telepathy Tapes and the experiments it presents. ➜ Scientific skepticism surrounding telepathy claims. ➜ Ethical c...
Jan 28, 2025•47 min•Season 20Ep. 3
Hello PRETENDERS! I'm excited to announce that the new season of my other podcast, Criminal Conduct Season, is here! To listen to the rest of the story, search for Criminal Conduct and subscribe. ____________________ Buffalo Jim Barrier was a wrestling promoter, mechanic, and Las Vegas icon. He faced off against Rick Rizzolo, a powerful strip club owner with alleged mob ties. Their feud lasted decades. Days after Rizzolo’s release from house release, Buffalo Jim was found dead under mysterious c...
Jan 21, 2025•33 min
Today on PRETEND, we’re featuring the season 5 premiere of Nobody Should Believe Me, a compelling podcast hosted by author Andrea Dunlop that explores Munchausen by proxy abuse. Dunlop’s investigative storytelling sheds light on a complex and deeply troubling form of abuse, offering listeners both empathy and insight. Season 5 kicks off with an in-depth look at Sophie Hartman’s 2016 memoir, Crowns of Beauty, where Hartman recounts her experiences in Zambia and her journey to becoming the adoptiv...
Jan 14, 2025•48 min
DNA evidence is often seen as the gold standard in criminal investigations—a scientific fingerprint that can definitively prove guilt or innocence. But what happens when the science behind it is mishandled or manipulated? In this episode of PRETEND, we explore two shocking cases: the Garrett Coughlin triple homicide and the wrongful conviction of Josiah Sutton. Both cases reveal how sloppy forensic work and unethical practices can set guilty criminals free and, worse, imprison innocent people. T...
Jan 07, 2025•38 min•Season 20Ep. 2
People panicked when a swarm of mysterious drones appeared in New Jersey’s night skies. Were they military? Foreign spies? Aliens? But buried under all the hysteria was one theory that refused to die: Birds Aren't Real. Yeah, that old internet conspiracy claiming birds are actually government surveillance drones. But here’s the thing—what if the joke isn’t as silly as it seems? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 31, 2024•25 min•Season 20Ep. 1
As a holiday treat, Amanda of Wine & Crime, Javier of PRETEND, and Whitney of Navigating Advocacy sit down to chat true crime, being in the podcasting industry, cases that haunt us, dream collaborations, and more! Enjoy this bonus conversation and check out all of these amazing shows wherever you get your podcasts! Javier Leiva - PRETEND, Criminal Conduct, Ponzi Playbook Amanda Jacobson - Wine & Crime https://open.spotify.com/show/5OeKXVPomhbejM9v7CDqxJ?si=4451247ce3704a0a Whitney - Navigating A...
Dec 26, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Season 19Ep. 14
In today's Christmas episode, we delve into the story of David Ellisor, a man whose grand Christmas scheme left the city of Miami in disbelief. Ellisor, a real-life Grinch, planned to host "Christmas From Around the World," a supposed once-in-a-lifetime event promising the presence of ambassadors, live reindeer, and a spectacle of global traditions. But the event never happened. He collected the cash and made a run for it. This is a Christmas caper for the ages. Plus, listeners tell their own Ch...
Dec 24, 2024•41 min•Season 19Ep. 13
The true crime podcasting community has come together for the holiday season to discuss all things true crime podcasting. Over the next two weeks, ten shows will be dropping bonus episodes sharing these conversations. In this episode, I'm joined by Alvin Williams (Affirmative Murder) and Josh Hallmark (True Crime Bullsh**) to discuss how we started our shows, true crime as an industry, how we've grown and lessons we've learned, cases we've covered, monetizing true crime, television, the future o...
Dec 23, 2024•1 hr 10 min•Season 19Ep. 12
When the IRS knocked on John Coutu's door, demanding $80,000, his girlfriend, Jennifer Mitchell, offered to help with his taxes. It seemed like a simple gesture of support. But John would soon find himself caught in a troubling situation. Unbeknownst to him, his taxes were never filed, and a series of lies began to unravel. As John speaks out, his story reveals a strange and complicated web that extends beyond his own experience. Today, we explore what happens when trust, love, and taxes collide...
Dec 18, 2024•40 min•Season 19Ep. 11
So, I've got to tell you about this crazy rabbit hole I slipped into. It's about that bizarre olive lady from the Maury show. Remember her? Olives freaked out Sally because they reminded her of, get this, dead people's eyes. Wild, right? I always wondered... Was Sally for real or just putting on a show for the cameras? This question led me to Anthony Freire, a guy who used to produce for Maury Povich. Man, the stuff I learned while putting together this episode! It’s like peeling back the curtai...
Dec 11, 2024•37 min•Season 19Ep. 10
Lisa Findley tried to steal Elvis Presley’s home. She almost got away with it. A con artist with a long history of scams almost pulled off her biggest scheme yet—stealing Elvis Presley’s iconic home, Graceland. Using fake documents and fabricated identities, Lisa Findley tried to claim ownership of the historic estate. In this episode, NBC News reporter Brandy Zadrozny takes us down a rabbit hole and shows us how she unraveled Findley’s web of lies, linking her to years of fraud and harassment. ...
Dec 03, 2024•48 min•Season 19Ep. 9
In this episode, Dr. Jan Canty, a psychologist, author, and podcast host, shares essential advice on recognizing and avoiding con artists in modern relationships. Dr. Canty, who experienced betrayal and tragedy in her life, offers insights into the red flags of deceptive individuals and provides practical tips for safeguarding against potential scams. Through her 'Don't Con Yourself' TikTok series, Dr. Canty breaks down each stage of interactions with con artists and how to protect oneself. She ...
Nov 26, 2024•51 min•Season 19Ep. 9
The Rise and Fall of LaDonna’s Loudest Surrogate: David McClam LaDonna Humphrey’s most vocal supporter, David McClam, launched the We Are Not Afraid podcast to defend her against mounting accusations. Episode after episode, McClam promised to deliver proof that LaDonna’s critics were lying. But instead of delivering proof, McClam brought Alecia Lockhart’s alleged sexual abuser on air to dismiss her claims, issued personal threats to show up at my doorstep and attack me, and even threatened to se...
Nov 19, 2024•38 min•Season 19Ep. 8
LaDonna Humphrey groomed Lexi Kakis to be her next close ally—a “surrogate in training,” if you will. Drawn in by their shared passion for cold cases, Kakis found herself getting deeper into Humphrey’s world. Surprisingly, Kakis says she never experienced the harassment others have claimed, but during our interview, she learned how LaDonna truly felt about her. Kakis was with LaDonna the weekend the Pretend podcast series came out, and in a fit of desperation, LaDonna asked her to retaliate agai...
Nov 12, 2024•35 min•Season 19Ep. 7
What's the old saying? People who live in glass houses shouldn't throw stones. Well, it turns out that Dennis McCaslin, editor of LaDonna's tabloid blog, has some skeletons in his closet. Listen to part 3 of LaDonna's Surrogates: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ladonnas-part-3-114712491 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 05, 2024•32 min•Season 19Ep. 6
LaDonna Humphrey uses her surrogates to do her dirty work; in part one, we discuss how she weaponized Dennis McCaslin, a Fort Smith, Arkansas tabloid blogger, to go after her enemies. Listen to LaDonna's Surrogates Part 2: https://www.patreon.com/posts/ladonnas-part-2-114024374 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 29, 2024•30 min•Season 19Ep. 5
It’s hard to imagine former executives, investment fraudsters, and insider traders gathering for weekly support meetings. When I first heard about a support group for white-collar criminals, I was skeptical. It sounded like an SNL sketch: former hedge fund managers, insider traders, and embezzlers sitting in a circle, sharing their woes. However, Jeff Grant, the founder of the White Collar Support Group, doesn’t see it that way. After serving time for his crimes, Grant emerged with a mission—to ...
Oct 22, 2024•59 min•Season 19Ep. 4
Where do sovereign citizens go when they need medical attention? Some of them seek help from homeopathic quacks like Rick Van Thiel. Rick Van Thiel is not a surgeon. He's a porn star operating on people with dirty scalpels, reused needles, surrounded by filth. And the worst part is that he performs his surgeries in the nude. This episode is part of my sovereign citizens series. I first learned about this story from Jerri William's podcast called FBI retired Case File Review. Disclaimer It's safe...
Oct 15, 2024•55 min•Season 19Ep. 3
In this episode of PRETEND, we uncover the unbelievable story of Carlos Henrique Raposo, better known as "Kaiser," the man who lived the life of a soccer legend without ever kicking a ball. He partied like a star, signed with major teams, and tricked the entire football world for nearly three decades. I sit down with the producer of Kaiser: The Greatest Footballer Never to Play Football, Louis Myles, to unravel how Kaiser pulled off this audacious stunt and the real story behind the myth. Keep t...
Oct 08, 2024•35 min•Season 19Ep. 2
In this episode of PRETEND, I’m taking you back to the case of Tanya and Rick Fernandez—the Arizona couple behind one of the most bizarre harassment campaigns I’ve ever covered. For those of you who followed The Stalker series, you might think this story ended when they struck a plea deal, but not so fast. Despite completing court-ordered counseling and walking away without convictions, it looks like the Fernandezes are back at it. I'll fill you in on everything that's happened since our last ep...
Oct 01, 2024•34 min•Season 19Ep. 1
Can you believe this is the 16th episode of our investigation into LaDonna Humphrey—a story that, honestly, I didn’t think would last this long. But here we are. Now, if you’ve followed along, you know this has been a wild ride. LaDonna, once a respected figure in the true crime community, has become the center of some truly shocking accusations. Stealing evidence from the Fort Smith Police Department? Allegations of harassment? Manipulating people for her own gain? It’s been hard to keep up, ev...
Sep 24, 2024•55 min•Season 18Ep. 16
We continue our investigation into Charles Ray Vines and his potential involvement in the Melissa Witt murder. In this episode, we track down Vines’ former neighbor and friend, Thomas Seymour. Seymour claims that he spoke with Vines just before Vines was heading to the bowling alley to meet a girl named Melissa. What other information does Seymour have that could shed light on this 30-year-old mystery? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 17, 2024•43 min•Season 18Ep. 15
I’ve been investigating the Melissa Witt case for a while now, and just when I thought I had a handle on it, a new lead dropped into my lap. In this episode, I sit down with Patti Rush, a victim advocate who might have uncovered the most crucial evidence yet. We’re talking about a case so warped by misinformation that even those closest to it can’t tell what’s real anymore. But now, we’re pulling on a thread that could unravel the whole story—and maybe, just maybe, lead us to the truth about who...
Sep 10, 2024•40 min•Season 18Ep. 14
"Javier, aren't you worried that LaDonna might target you next?" That's the question I get asked most frequently. The answer is too late. Even before this series dropped, LaDonna began sending me spoof emails. I've received various messages, including some from fake accounts, and even attempts to hack into my podcast platform. Additionally, LaDonna tried other creative ways to obstruct my investigation and stop the legitimate reporting of her abusive behavior toward others. Fun, fun. ________ If...
Sep 03, 2024•23 min
