Melanie McGuire was a beautiful young nurse who wouldn’t hurt a fly. So when her husband’s chopped-up remains were found in three separate suitcases in the Chesapeake Bay, she suddenly had a lot to answer for… Was this petite New Jersey mum capable of killing her husband and disposing of his body in such a gruesome way? Or was this – as she claimed – a huge Sopranos-style stitch-up? Sex, drugs and luggage: this week’s case is one you won’t wanna miss. Exclusive bonus content: Wondery - Ad-free &...
Jun 12, 2025•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 403
Who was The Zodiac? Did he kill Cheri Jo Bates? And how did three hobbyist cryptographers crack his ‘impossible’ code 50 years after it was written? These are just a few of the questions we answer in our final episode on The Zodiac Killer. Join us as we try to conclude the inconcludable, cold case that has haunted California for half a century. Exclusive bonus content: Wondery - Ad-free & ShortHand Patreon - Ad-free & Bonus Episodes Follow us on social media: YouTube TikTok Instagram Vis...
Jun 05, 2025•1 hr 21 min•Ep. 402
Last week we left you with the absolutely massive cliffhanger of a 408-character cipher, which in theory contained valuable information on the Bay Area’s most infamous killer “The Zodiac”. But first it needed to be solved. And amazingly it wasn’t cracked by the police, or the FBI: it was solved by a 41-year-old history teacher and his wife, and we’re going to tell you exactly how they did it. In this week’s episode, the Zodiac’s killing spree continues – claiming the lives of young lovers Bryan ...
May 29, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 401
Violent attacks, sadistic taunting, and uncrackable puzzles; in some ways “The Zodiac” laid the foundations for every murderous TV psychopath and movie villain of the next half-century. For our 400th episode we decided to dedicate three whole episodes to the potentially the most famous serial killer in history: how he operated, how his puzzles were solved, and who he might have been. In part one we’re going to tell you everything you need to know about the Zodiac’s first four victims: David Fara...
May 22, 2025•59 min•Ep. 400
When her sister-in-law never returned from a trip to India, Sarbjit Kaur Athwal knew exactly what had happened: her mother-in-law had made no secret of her plan to “get rid of” Surjit – the outspoken thorn in the family’s side. But Sarbjit also knew what she was up against: a strict code of honour; the threat of shame and total rejection by her community – and the certainty that if she stepped out of line, it would be her turn next. Exclusive bonus content: Wondery - Ad-free & ShortHand Patr...
May 15, 2025•1 hr 28 min•Ep. 399
With the release of a new Netflix documentary on the Wests, we dove into the archive (way way back to episodes 27 and 28) to get you up to date with our in-depth two-parter on one of the UK's most infamous cases. -- Incest, rape, murder and torture dungeons; the girls take on one of Britain's most notorious serial killer couples - Fred and Rose West. Over a span of 25 years this pair of sexual sadists carried out unspeakable evil in their cellar at the now infamous 25 Cromwell St, and when the t...
May 14, 2025•1 hr 39 min•Ep. 10018
ShortHand is released weekly for Wondery+ and Amazon Music subscribers. Listen exclusively and ad-free every Tuesday on Wondery+ through Apple Podcasts and Spotify. And depending on where you are in the world, ShortHand is included with your Prime Membership on Amazon Music. -- What happens when humanity’s mouthpiece of God, the holiest man on earth, The Pope, passes away? First and foremost a man bonks him on the head with a centuries-old little hammer to make sure he’s really gone. From there ...
May 09, 2025•33 min•Ep. 10017
In our second part of the Pre-Diddy saga, we take a closer look at the accusations you need to know about – and the 99 problems it could cause for some of his closest associates... With all the sensational stories swirling around this case, we separate fact from fiction, and find out that the truth is always wilder than the headlines: from ‘MVP bags’ containing ‘power banger sex machines’, to the involvement of some of music’s biggest names. So what do Justin Bieber, Usher, Jay-Z, Beyoncé, Glori...
May 08, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 398
As the trial we’ve all been waiting for finally approaches, we bring you the full rundown on the self-proclaimed “bad boy for life” – and the hundreds of accusations, from victims as young as nine years old, that threaten to jail the music mogul for the rest of his days. Before we find out which “well-known figures” are likely to be accused alongside Sean Combs (aka P Diddy aka “Love”) here is everything you need to know: from his explosive beginnings on the hip hop scene with Bad Boy Records; t...
May 01, 2025•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 397
When the Countess of Lucan burst into a West London pub drenched head-to-toe in blood, it instantly sparked a national obsession. Lord Lucan – the suave, speedboat-racing, professional-gambling aristocrat – was wanted for the murder of their housekeeper, Sandra Rivett. And he had disappeared without a trace. This week, we sift through the theories on Britain’s most famous fugitive (from the bonkers to the actually quite credible) to try to get to the bottom of the nation’s favourite murder myste...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 35 min•Ep. 396
They say Brazil is not for amateurs. And that’s certainly true in the crime-stricken city of Manaus, where Wallace Souza – a charismatic TV host and congressman with a flair for the dramatic – built up an army of fans with his hard-hitting news coverage in the early 2000s. But was his bonkers daytime TV show, Canal Livre, just a smokescreen for his own shady criminal empire? And how far would Wallace go to increase his show’s already killer ratings? Grab your bug spray and join us for anot...
Apr 17, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 395
The adopted princess of a wealthy Spanish family, 12-year-old Asunta Basterra Porto seemed destined to thrive under the devoted care of her parents Rosario and Alfonso. But beneath the surface, sinister secrets were taking root – including clandestine druggings, creepy family photos and one seriously twisted marriage. Had these callous parents cast aside the daughter they chose? An investigation dogged by accusations of bias would only muddy the waters further... Join us this week as we explore ...
Apr 10, 2025•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 394
In one of our most horrifying episodes yet, we look at a man who clamped and amputated the genitals of potentially hundreds of men, and carried out unimaginable sexual torture – all from his basement flat in North London. But what makes this story truly unbelievable is that every one of those victims wanted for it to happen. They belonged to a secretive community of 'nullos' – people who fantasise about the removal of sexual organs. And each procedure was filmed and streamed for a waiting online...
Apr 03, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 393
Continuing our filmed mega Menendez marathon, in this episode we dive into the sensational details of Lyle and Erik’s trial – where these Beverly Hills bad boys would need to convince the jury, and the world , of their story. We break down the explosive courtroom battles, shocking legal twists, and the media circus that turned the case into a spectacle – plus new bombshell revelations that could change everything for the brothers… With 2024’s controversial Monsters TV show thrusting the ca...
Mar 27, 2025•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 392
In this long-awaited episode, we dive into one of the most infamous true-crime cases in American history: the story of Lyle and Erik Menendez. The brutal 1989 slayings of their wealthy parents, José and Kitty Menendez, divided a nation: but where do we stand? In Part 1, we take you through the chilling night of the crime, the early investigations, and the lavish spending spree that raised eyebrows everywhere. We unravel the media frenzy, the shocking confessions, and the family secrets that woul...
Mar 20, 2025•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 391
Delia Balmer’s ex-boyfriend wasn’t just a scruffy stoner with a pet tarantula and a sketchbook full of gruesome drawings: he was a murderer. The infamous ‘Canal Killer’ John Sweeney told Delia he had killed before – but after the police ignored her repeated warnings, she ended up barely escaping with her life. This is the harrowing true story behind hit ITV drama ‘Until I Kill You’: one of horror, survival, and a broken justice system that let a monster slip through the cracks. Read ...
Mar 13, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 390
When the body of 19-year-old Caroline Crouch was found in her attic room after an apparent home invasion – with her 11-month-old daughter crying next to her, and her puppy hanging from the bannister – the nation of Greece mourned with her widower, Babis Anagnostopoulos. A handsome helicopter pilot, Anagnostopoulos had led the tributes since her death. But one month on, at a clifftop memorial service, Athenian police revealed that new analysis of the couple’s smart devices revealed a new culprit....
Mar 06, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 389
This week, we were speechless to learn that Casey Anthony is now on TikTok (and Substack), trying to reposition herself as an online advocate and activist for those wronged by the justice system. And, so you can understand why this idea made our heads spin, we've rereleased this classic two-parter from 2021. So – enjoy, then come and join us on our socials, to let us know your thoughts... -- This week, in the concluding part of our Casey Anthony series - Hannah and Suruthi head into a courtroom ...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 10016
This week, we were speechless to learn that Casey Anthony is now on TikTok (and Substack), trying to reposition herself as an online advocate and activist for those wronged by the justice system. And, so you can understand why this idea made our heads spin, we've rereleased this classic two-parter from 2021. So – enjoy, then come and join us on our socials, to let us know your thoughts... -- When 22-year-old Casey Anthony was arrested on 16 July 2008, her two-year-old daughter Caylee hadn't been...
Mar 05, 2025•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 10015
This story of how a rich, aristocratic French family lost their fortunes, and their minds, to a painter-and-decorator conman, unravels like Dan Brown mystery. Secret treasures, Masonic plots, kidnap and torture - the de Védrines family were desperate to hold onto their ancestral chateau; only to have everything ripped away from them by a Crowley-obsessed charlatan. Exclusive bonus content: Wondery - Ad-free & ShortHand Patreon - Ad-free & Bonus Episodes Follow us on social me...
Feb 27, 2025•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 388
In December 2020 Gabby Petito and her fiance Brian Laundrie set off on a once-in-a-lifetime journey across the USA in their tiny little van. The trip was set to be packed full of starry nights and stunning vistas for countless happy memories, and also all the beautiful views needed to kickstart Gabby’s dream career as a travel vlogger. But when Brian returned to his family home in August 2021 without Gabby, things went from living daydream to living nightmare. What followed was a search that spa...
Feb 24, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 10014
The body of a woman – a hotel night clerk – is found frozen in the deep winter snow of Van Buren County, Michigan. A tragic discovery; but the tale it went on to tell revealed a series of ever more barbaric and gruesome details: of no-holds-barred sexual games, crises of faith, and utter betrayal. The web was so tangled that it took police more than three decades to uncover the full, shocking truth. Exclusive bonus content: Wondery - Ad-free & ShortHand Patreon - Ad-free & Bo...
Feb 20, 2025•55 min•Ep. 387
An independent panel of experts has concluded that NO murders took place at the Countess of Chester hospital. If true, it would mean that Lucy Letby, currently serving 15 life sentences and branded the UK’s most prolific child serial killer, is innocent – and the subject of the worst miscarriage of justice in recent British memory. We go over what was covered at last week’s press conference – and whether it changed our minds on this complex case. YouTube Video Version Watch the press conference:...
Feb 14, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 10013
Through the early 2000s, a satanic, paedophilic sex cult, with dozens of members and an obsession with Ancient Egyptian iconography, ran totally undetected in an unassuming cul-de-sac in south Wales. And its depraved, shabby and mostly toothless kingpin, Colin Batley, was perhaps the most unlikely cult leader imaginable… For over a decade, Batley used his twisted free-love philosophy to groom the children of his besotted followers – some as young as seven – into believing that their ‘spiritual p...
Feb 13, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 386
The sex-mad geisha who sliced off her lover’s genitals, strangled him with a kimono belt, and carved her name into his arm, is perhaps Japan’s most famous criminal of the 20th century. Today, Abe’s story is practically a part of Japanese folklore. So how did this brutal killer become an unlikely celebrity, feminist icon and star of stage and screen? What exactly is a geisha? And what does her story tell us about the mystifying world of Japanese sexuality today? Exclusive bonus content: Wondery &...
Feb 06, 2025•1 hr 17 min•Ep. 385
The brutal hatchet murders of Andrew and Abby Borden are still among the most infamous and hotly debated cases in true-crime history. Truly springing from the pages of your favourite murder mystery – with seemingly innocent housekeepers, “evil stepmothers”, and precocious ladies of luxury aplenty – there’s a lot of fact and a lot of fiction to wade through. Join us as we discover the real story behind the infamous Lizzie Andrew Borden, and the trial that swept the English-speaking world. Exclusi...
Jan 30, 2025•56 min•Ep. 384
With Ross Ulbricht now a free man thanks to his recent presidential pardon we thought it would a good idea to look back at who he is, what he did, and what he represented as "The Dread Pirate Roberts". So enjoy our episode from all the way back in March 2023 for some all important context on the internets iconic drug kingpin, and decide for yourself: Should he be walking free? -- For some, the end of the world's most infamous online marketplace was a major victory in the never ending war on drug...
Jan 28, 2025•55 min•Ep. 10012
The world’s media painted Brock Turner as a promising young swimmer – an Olympic hopeful with everything to lose. Whereas his anonymous victim was identified only from the police report: a blackout-drunk girl, passed out by some bins at a frat party, claiming sexual assault. Turner’s expensive team of lawyers did everything they could to further debase and defame the victim’s testimony. But they hadn’t counted on coming up against Chanel Miller. Miller’s unflinching impact statement started a mo...
Jan 23, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Ep. 383
Ellen Greenberg was murdered, or at the very least died under very suspicious circumstances. To us, and to almost everyone who has even so much as glanced at this case, that much is obvious. Yet as of this episode the state of Pennsylvania refuses to view the 27-year-olds death as anything but suicide. In our second of two parts on Ellen’s brutal murder we’re going to tell you how incompetent policing, shambolic coverups, and institutional corruption led to this case being put on ice. Despi...
Jan 16, 2025•1 hr 4 min•Ep. 382
With the release of Gypsy Rose Blancharde’s memoir just around the corner, we thought it was high time we revisited the full story, from Episode 26 of RedHanded. And, to hear our thoughts on the book, check out this week’s Under the Duvet on Patreon.com/redhanded . -- Things aren't always what they seem... To the world Dee Dee Blancharde was the perfect mum. She dedicated her life as a single mother to taking care of her incredibly ill and disabled child. But one night Dee Dee was brutally...
Jan 13, 2025•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 10011
