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Carol Costello Presents: The God Hook — True Crime
Carol Costello Presents: The God Hook

In Season Two of her true crime series, The God Hook, journalist Carol Costello investigates the complex case of the Ohio Craigslist Killings—and in doing so, unearths the untold story of the crimes that preceded the murders—and the victims who’ve never received justice. Richard Beasley was convicted of murdering three men and attempting to kill a fourth in the fall of 2011, but before that heinous spree, authorities were building a human trafficking case against him. Now, working with the case’s prosecutor, a county sheriff, and many closely involved sources, Carol examines previously unknown details of Beasley’s alleged crimes, and how he used the God Hook to lure his victims and bend them to his will.
In Season One of this podcast, Blind Rage, journalist Carol Costello revisits the first big assignment she covered as a 22-year-old, novice reporter: Phyllis Cottles’ brutal attack. Psychologists call them “Triumphant Survivors,” but Phyllis Cottle was more than a survivor, she used this crime to better herself and the world around her.
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Copyright: © All Rights Reserved 2022-23

Latest Episodes:

A Sneak Preview of Season Two! Carol Costello Presents: The God Hook Apr 08, 2025

Show notes

Carol Costello Presents is back on April 29th with an all new season exploring the Ohio Craigslist killings.

Carol Costello, along with the prosecutor who put Richard Beasley on death row, are determined to tell this cautionary tale in all of its tawdry and poignant details. After 20 years reporting on domestic and international stories for CNN, Carol broke into the podcast space with Series One: Blind Rage, a multi-award winning true crime podcast in 2022 (ranked #22 on Apple) about the story of Phyllis Cottle, who survived an attack in which she was assaulted, burned, and blinded, determined to put her attacker behind bars.

Now, with an established following, Carol has uncovered a case that exposes the dark side of prison ministries who send chaplains into thousands of prisons across the country in an effort to reduce recidivism.

“This is a story about the Christian belief in redemption - and how that belief is exploited by criminals like Richard Beasley,” says host, Carol Costello.

About the Host: Carol Costello is an award-winning journalist and a former CNN anchor known for her in-depth reporting and engaging storytelling. With a career spanning several decades, Carol has become a respected voice in the news industry, covering some of the most significant historical events.

Tune in on April 29th for season two: The God Hook.

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Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

Why That Case? An Interview with The Ohio Innocence Project Apr 18, 2024

Show notes

In this episode of Blind Rage, Carol gains insight into Samuel Herring's bid for exoneration from the man who heads Ohio's Innocence Project, attorney Mark Godsey.

Despite the initial intrigue, DNA evidence led to a perplexing ending: Herring's guilt was confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Godsey, a former prosecutor turned innocence advocate, explains how and why the organization took up Herring's case, reveals how DNA evidence was discovered, shares the history of the nationwide effort to overturn wrongful convictions, and addresses the emotional toll on victims' families.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host - Carol Costello

Producer - Chris Aiola

Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman

Contributor - Nijah Golliday

Production Director - Brigid Coyne

Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando

Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder

Guest: Mark Godsey (https://law.uc.edu/faculty/directory/mark-godsey.html)

Ohio Innocence Project at Cincinnati Law

(https://law.uc.edu/real-world-learning/centers/ohio-innocence-project-at-cincinnati-law.html)

Ohio Innocence Project Application:

(https://law.uc.edu/content/dam/refresh/law/pdfs-temporary/oip-inmate-screening-application.pdf)

For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our website (www.carolcostellopresents.com), Carol’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CarolLMU) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/carolcostello).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

Update: DNA Results | "I'm a Gun Man" Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Carol shares the results of DNA testing on newly recovered evidence in the case of Phyllis Cottle’s brutal assault.

The results are infuriating and…baffling.

The Ohio Innocence Project prompted a forensic review of evidence, raising the possibility that Samuel J. Herring, the man convicted of the crime, may be innocent.

Herring, now 67 years old and wheelchair-bound, has spent nearly 40 years behind bars. He has maintained his innocence.

Today we know the truth.

And while it leads to a man who is definitely guilty, it also raises questions.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host - Carol Costello

Producer - Chris Aiola

Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman

Production Director - Brigid Coyne

Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando

Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder

Cleveland Channel 5’s story on Samuel Herring: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/investigations/new-testing-shows-dna-of-akron-rapist-found-on-victims-clothing

The Marshall Project’s story on Samuel Herring: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2023/12/06/dna-ohio-innocence-project-conviction-integrity-unit-prison

For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our website (www.carolcostellopresents.com), Carol’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CarolLMU) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/carolcostello).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

Update: The Unthinkable Nov 22, 2023

Show notes

Carol shares a shocking development in the case of Phyllis Cottle's brutal assault, one that she knew might come.

The Ohio Innocence Project has prompted a forensic review of evidence, raising the possibility that Samuel J. Herring, the man convicted of the crime, may be innocent.

Herring, now 67 years old and wheelchair-bound, has spent nearly 40 years behind bars. He has maintained his innocence.

Now DNA testing of recently unearthed evidence may reveal the truth.

So, what if the justice system got it wrong? And if Herring is innocent, then who did it?

EPISODE CREDITS

Host - Carol Costello

Producer - Chris Aiola

Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman

Contributor - Nijah Golliday

Production Director - Brigid Coyne

Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando

Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder

The Marshall Project’s story on Samuel Herring: https://www.themarshallproject.org/2023/11/09/after-nearly-40-years-behind-bars-in-ohio-dna-testing-is-finally-underway?

For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our newly-launched website (www.carolcostellopresents.com), Carol’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CarolLMU) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/carolcostello).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

Bonus: Survivors and the Media Jul 18, 2023

Show notes

Phyllis and her family felt ambushed by the media during what was an incredibly difficult and delicate time in her life. The relentless pursuit of her story interrupted her recovery at home.

In this bonus episode, Carol interviews her former colleague, producer Ronni Berke, about what it’s like to interview victims.

Ronni is an award-winning journalist and producer, who spent 17 years at CNN covering some of the biggest stories, including the September 11th terrorist attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and the Sandy Hook Elementary shooting.

She’s also the Director Of Development And Communications for the LAM Foundation, the leading nonprofit in the fight against lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) - a rare lung disease affecting primarily women.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host - Carol Costello

Producer - Chris Aiola

Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman

Contributor - Nijah Golliday

Production Director - Brigid Coyne

Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando

Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder

Guest: Ronni Berke (www.ronniberke.com)

The LAM Foundation (https://www.thelamfoundation.org/)

For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our newly-launched website (www.carolcostellopresents.com), Carol’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CarolLMU) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/carolcostello).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

Bonus: A Spiritual Awakening Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

Phyllis Cottle nearly killed herself when she found out she would never be able to see again. She had a plan, and was about to follow through with it, until she felt a “warm hand on her shoulder,” one that she was convinced was divine. Was she right? Was God intervening? And, if so, what should she do with that sign from above?

In this bonus episode we explore those questions with Larry Vuillemin, Phyllis’ good friend who says he also heard God speak to him after a pivotal, life-changing health scare.

Larry is a former Senior Trial Attorney with the Summit County Prosecutor’s office, an Akron City Councilman, and former Adjunct Professor at the University of Akron School of Law.

In 1990, he co-founded Heart to Heart Communications, which focuses on personal and spiritual development as a foundational way empowering leaders and enriching workplaces

EPISODE CREDITS

Host - Carol Costello

Producer - Chris Aiola

Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman

Contributor - Nijah Golliday

Production Director - Brigid Coyne

Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando

Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder

Guest: Larry Vuillemin, Attorney at Law

(https://www.ohiodefensefirm.com/about/lawrence-vuillemin)

Heart to Heart Leadership: https://www.htohleadership.org/

For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our newly-launched website (www.carolcostellopresents.com), Carol’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CarolLMU) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/carolcostello).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

Bonus: Why Didn't You Scream? Jun 06, 2023

Show notes

Phyllis Cottle said if she “had just been raped,” she may not have gone to police. “I didn’t want the hassle,” she said. But it was more than that: shame, blame, disbelief — reasons that still resonate with survivors today.

In this bonus episode, host Carol Costello sits down with Summit County Prosecutor Sherri Bevan Walsh, who has created a campaign that aims to change the way society talks about sexual assault.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host - Carol Costello

Producer - Chris Aiola

Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman

Contributor - Nijah Golliday

Production Director - Brigid Coyne

Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando

Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder

Guest: Sherri Bevan Walsh, Summit County Prosecutor

(https://prosecutor.summitoh.net/pages/About-Prosecutor-Sherri-Bevan-Walsh.html)

Start By Believing Campaign (https://startbybelieving.org/home/)

For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our newly-launched website (www.carolcostellopresents.com), Carol’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CarolLMU) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/carolcostello).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

S1 E12 | The Fight Continues Apr 25, 2023

Show notes

The trial is over, but the hard work continues. Phyllis feels a newfound purpose in life, and manifests unexpected forgiveness. Her family continues her fight for justice, vowing to keep her convicted attacker behind bars.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host - Carol Costello

Producer - Chris Aiola

Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman

Contributor - Nijah Golliday

Production Director - Brigid Coyne

Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando

Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder

For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our website (www.carolcostellopresents.com), Carol’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CarolLMU) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/carolcostello).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

S1 E11 | Happy Birthday Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

Now the defense makes its case. As witness Chili Mo enters the courtroom, prosecutor Bob Bulford notices something remarkable unfold before his eyes. Phyllis braces for the moment Samuel Herring takes the stand, a questionable move on the part of his attorney. Criminologist Casey Jordan breaks down the defense’s lines of questioning. Will Herring’s testimony be enough to convince the jury of his innocence?

EPISODE CREDITS

Host - Carol Costello

Producer - Chris Aiola

Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman

Contributor - Nijah Golliday

Production Director - Brigid Coyne

Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando

Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder

For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our website (www.carolcostellopresents.com), Carol’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CarolLMU) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/carolcostello).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

S1 E10 | Three Ring Trial Apr 11, 2023

Show notes

Phyllis steels herself for the long-awaited trial. Law enforcement reaches out to a potential star witness. And prosecutors hope Phyllis’ testimony sways the jury enough to overlook their lack of physical evidence, before she faces a rapid-fire cross examination.

EPISODE CREDITS

Host - Carol Costello

Producer - Chris Aiola

Audio Engineer - Sean Rule-Hoffman

Contributor - Nijah Golliday

Production Director - Brigid Coyne

Executive Producer - Gerardo Orlando

Original Music - Timothy Law Snyder

Episode Image ©Marcy Nighswander – USA TODAY NETWORK

For additional information about Phyllis Cottle’s case, please visit our website (www.carolcostellopresents.com), Carol’s Facebook page (Facebook.com/CarolLMU) and Instagram page (www.instagram.com/carolcostello).

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://carolcostellopresents.supportingcast.fm/

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