Host Melissa McCarty is an Emmy nominated investigative journalist with more than 20 years of true crime experience. Covering both solved and unsolved cases, She traveled the country confronting accused and convicted killers while also shedding light on the heartache violent acts cause. What sets her apart is the compelling storytelling and unique access to the people involved in each case which gives a 360-degree view of the crimes told directly from the source: the victim, their loved ones, experts, law enforcement, and the killers themselves. Melissa had two friends murdered at a young age and lost her brother suddenly and recently, giving her space to personally understand grief and violence.
Business of Stolen Lives: Ali Hopper on Child Trafficking & Organ Harvesting
Aug 24, 2025
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Operating in the shadows—and in plain sight—organized cartels are turning human beings into a supply chain: children sold for sex, bodies targeted for organ harvesting, families shattered at the border. Investigators warn the demand is driven in large part by the U.S., and past border politics have only intensified the danger. In this episode, Ali Hopper, co-founder of GUARD Against Trafficking, pulls back the curtain on how these networks really work, who profits, and whether lawmakers are finally moving beyond speeches to action. She also shares what parents and communities can do now to spot grooming, disrupt recruitment, and protect kids. #truecrime #humantrafficking #Border #immigrants #Organharvesting #crimestories #truecrimepodcasts
The Phantom FBI Agent Murder Defense
Aug 17, 2025
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When Navy JAG officer Nicholas Kassotis went on trial for the brutal murder and dismemberment of his wife, the courtroom expected a defense grounded in law. Instead, jurors were told a story that belonged in a screenplay. Kassotis claimed an FBI agent—one who never existed—had been investigating mysterious vandals and secret threats against the couple. Kassotis even took the stand insisting this phantom agent shaped his life and career. Prosecutors countered with chilling evidence of premeditation, including a shovel, knives, and cleaning supplies bought before his wife’s murder. In the end, jurors had to decide: was this the desperate delusion of a guilty man, or the truth of a husband facing forces no one else could see? #KillerGenes #Kassotis #FakeFBIAgent #murder #wifemurdered #MindiKassotis #truecrime #truecrimecommunities #truecrimedocumentary #truecrimepodcast
A Burning Lie Murder of a Prominent Doctor + The "She Deserved It" Killer
Aug 11, 2025
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A respected California doctor. A burning mansion. A husband’s alibi that didn’t hold up. Six months later, murder charges—and a story of marriage, money, and fear that ends in tragedy. Plus, a second case where a man kills his ex-wife because she “deserved it” after allegedly murdering his current wife. Two shocking stories of domestic abuse turned deadly, from California to New York, both racing toward trial. #truecrime #domesticabuse #Shedeservedit #killerconfessions #California #newyork #northcarolina #horror #horrorstories #truecrimecommunities
Occult Murder on Bourbon Street: Jaren Lockhart
Aug 08, 2025
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Was it an occult sacrifice? A thrill kill? Or something even darker? In this chilling episode, Melissa unpacks the brutal murder and dismemberment of 22-year-old Jaren Lockhart — a young mother lured off Bourbon Street by a twisted couple obsessed with death and control. What happened next is almost beyond comprehension: from body parts washing ashore to a possible satanic motive tied to a rare celestial event. Melissa shares exclusive behind-the-scenes insights from covering what she calls the most disturbing case of her career, and explores the common undercurrent of predatory behavior in tourism-fueled cities like New Orleans and Las Vegas — places that blur lines between pleasure, power, and danger. Content Warning: Graphic descriptions of violence, ritualistic elements, and personal stories of trauma. #neworleans #Louisiana #Mississippi #occult #ritual #blackmagic #scarystory #scarymysterystories #Horror #horrorstories #foryoupage #truecrime #truecrimecommunity #sincity #lasvegas #scarytruestories #criminalcases #scaryspookystories #crimetok #truecrimetok #killergenes #terryspeaks #margarestsanchez #Jarenlockhart #Bourbonstreet #Melissamccarty
Poisoned Smoothie Murder: Dentist Kills Wife | Family Breaks Silence
Aug 01, 2025
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He was a respected dentist. A father of six. A man of faith. But behind closed doors, Dr. James Craig of Colorado was living a double life—plagued by financial ruin, secret addictions, and a mistress waiting in the wings. In this gripping episode, we unravel the shocking murder of Angela Craig—a devoted mother slowly poisoned to death by her husband’s own hand. Prosecutors say he laced her smoothies all while pretending to care for her at her hospital bedside. You’ll hear courtroom testimony, heartbreaking victim impact statements from Angela’s children and siblings. #Poison #Husbandkillswife #truecrime #crime #truecrimecommunity #truecrimestories #truecrimepodcasts #realstories #podcasts #dentist
Wrongful Confessions & No-Body Convictions: Two Cases of Justice in Question
Jul 29, 2025
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Two teens in New York spent over 30 years in prison for a murder they didn’t commit — and yet, they confessed. In this episode, we dive into the psychology behind false confessions, the interrogation tactics that lead to them, and how the truth finally came to light. Then, we shift to a no-body murder conviction: Jerry Meek was sentenced to life for the presumed murder of his wife, Hope Meek — despite no body, no confession, and no witnesses. We dissect the court documents and explore whether justice was served or if a wrongful conviction is still unfolding in a case that has a small Oklahoma City perplexed. #truecrime #truecrimecommunity #hopemeek #Brianboles #Newyork #Oklahoma #Killergenes
Redefining Evil: Serial Killers, Psychopaths & Modern Monsters | Matt Murphy
Jul 22, 2025
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What really defines a serial killer—and are we getting it all wrong? Former Orange County Deputy District attorney and author of The Book of Murder, Matt Murphy, joins us to dismantle the outdated myths and shed light on today’s most chilling predators. From prosecuting Rodney Alcala—aka “The Dating Game Killer”—to unpacking eerie parallels between Alcala, Ted Bundy, and Bryan Kohberger, this episode dives deep into the modern face of evil.
Murphy delivers sharp insights on what truly makes a psychopath, and doesn’t hold back on hot takes—from the Maurene Comey firing to the P. Diddy trial and where it went wrong? And the legal circus surrounding Luigi Mangione.
A gripping and enlightening listen, you’ll walk away with a whole new framework for understanding criminal minds—prosecution and the evolving definition of darkness.
#truecrime #truecrimecommunity #crime
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Murder by Fire: A Forensic Dive into Death & Deception
Jul 16, 2025
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Murder by Fire: A Fatal Fire Forensic Expert Breaks Down Two Explosive Cases exclusively. What really happened in the Ozarks when Ted Throneberry was murdered and his wife vanished without a trace? And what secrets were engulfed in flames in the California desert when 18-year-old Becky Friedli, her mother Vicki, and boyfriend Jon Hayward were killed in a house fire—with Becky’s body found burning in a wheelbarrow? In this gripping episode, fatal fire forensic expert Dr. Elayne Pope—known for her groundbreaking cadaver research and work with law enforcement—joins us to dissect two headline-making cases: 🔥 Case One: The rural Arkansas mystery of Ted Throneberry, a beloved husband whose death unraveled a shocking trail of deception and betrayal. 🔥 Case Two: The 2006 Pinyon Pines triple homicide, where two men were ultimately convicted—one a decorated war hero—but questions of guilt still haunt both sides. It’s an inferno of secrets, told through the lens of forensic science, psychology, and truth. Dr. Pope shares insights into how fire reveals the final moments of the victims—and whether those moments were staged or real. Two cases she helped crack. #truecrime #scarystories # truecrimecommunity #truecrimepodcasts
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Bloodline of Tragedy: The Crystal Rogers Case, a Family Haunted by Murder | Plus 2 Breaking Stories
Jul 11, 2025
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The breaking conviction in the Crystal Rogers case may have brought headlines—but not closure. Her remains are still missing, and a chilling trail of bloodshed continues to haunt her family. In this episode, we explore the lingering questions: Why was Crystal targeted, what was the motive and who murdered her father, Tommy Ballard?
Plus, two breaking stories: – A shocking murder-suicide in Wisconsin where a beloved couple was gunned down in their home by their adult son. – The re-arrest of Barry Morphew in the high-profile disappearance of his wife Suzanne—with disturbing new evidence pointing to animal tranquilizers.
This is true crime through the eyes of a veteran journalist who has covered the darkest corners of real-life tragedies. Subscribe for breaking stories and in-depth cases from those involved.
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America's Top Interrogator: How to get a Killer to talk
Jul 11, 2025
Show notes
Can You Spot a Lie—or Get a Killer to Confess?
In this gripping episode, we sit down with legendary former homicide detective Fil Waters, known nationwide for extracting confessions in the most unthinkable cases. With decades of experience behind the badge, Waters reveals what it really takes to read a suspect, spot deception, and guide a killer toward the truth.
🔎 Learn how to identify the physical and verbal cues of a lie 🧠 Go inside the proven interrogation tactics used to crack the toughest criminals 🗣️ Hear chilling real-life stories of murderers who confessed—sometimes when you least expect it
This is more than true crime—it’s a psychological journey into human behavior, motive, and manipulation.
Subscribe now for firsthand stories from those who lived it, solved it, and survived it.
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