Serial Killers & Murderous Minds

Latest Episodes:

The Smiley Face Killers with Dr. Tristin Engels | Crime House Crossover | From Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

Dr. Engels joins Vanessa in this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes for a Crime House crossover!

Dozens of young men, all found drowned. A single eerie clue near every crime scene: a painted smiley face.

Uncover the dark origins of the Smiley Face Killers theory — a decades-long investigation that suggests a nationwide ring of serial murderers might still be active.

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MURDEROUS MINDS: Jim Jones Pt. 1 Dec 22, 2025

Show notes

In the first part of this two-episode deep dive, Killer Minds traces the rise of Jim Jones—from a lonely, attention-seeking child in Indiana to a charismatic preacher who built the Peoples Temple and laid the groundwork for one of history’s most infamous cults. Vanessa Richardson recounts how Jones blended social justice messaging with manipulation, staged miracles, and psychological control to amass thousands of devoted followers, while Dr. Tristin Engels analyzes the early signs of his megalomania, obsession with power, and growing paranoia. By exploring his childhood influences, calculated use of religion, and escalating tactics of fear and loyalty-testing, this episode examines how Jones transformed himself into a leader capable of unimaginable darkness.

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HOLIDAY SPECIAL: The Santa Claus Massacre Pt. 2 Dec 18, 2025

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On Christmas Eve 2008, the Ortega family gathered at their home in Covina, California, for their annual holiday celebration. Laughter, food, and music filled the night—until a man dressed as Santa Claus knocked on their door. In Part 2 of The Santa Claus Massacre, Carter Roy reveals the shocking and tragic events that unfolded that night, when 45-year-old Bruce Pardo—Sylvia Ortega’s embittered ex-husband—turned holiday cheer into unimaginable horror. What began as a festive family gathering ended in one of California’s deadliest crimes. This episode traces Bruce’s meticulously planned attack, the inferno that followed, and the chilling aftermath that left investigators searching for answers—and a surviving family struggling to rebuild their lives. But out of the ashes, hope emerged: a story of survival, resilience, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Listen to Murder: True Crime Stories wherever you listen to podcasts: https://play.megaphone.fm/zooymjyirj-p1yeorxgirwOn Christmas Eve 2008, the Ortega family gathered at their home in Covina, California, for their annual holiday celebration. Laughter, food, and music filled the night—until a man dressed as Santa Claus knocked on their door. In Part 2 of The Santa Claus Massacre, Carter Roy reveals the shocking and tragic events that unfolded that night, when 45-year-old Bruce Pardo—Sylvia Ortega’s embittered ex-husband—turned holiday cheer into unimaginable horror. What began as a festive family gathering ended in one of California’s deadliest crimes. This episode traces Bruce’s meticulously planned attack, the inferno that followed, and the chilling aftermath that left investigators searching for answers—and a surviving family struggling to rebuild their lives. But out of the ashes, hope emerged: a story of survival, resilience, and the enduring strength of the human spirit.
Listen to Murder: True Crime Stories wherever you listen to podcasts: https://play.megaphone.fm/zooymjyirj-p1yeorxgirw

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: The Santa Claus Massacre Pt. 1 Dec 15, 2025

Show notes

Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year — but for Bruce Pardo, the holidays brought something far darker. After losing his marriage, his family, and even his dog, Bruce’s bitterness turned deadly. In this first part of our Christmas Crime Special, we meet the Ortega family — a loving, tight-knit clan from Covina, California. When Sylvia Ortega met Bruce, she believed she’d finally found her happily ever after. But behind Bruce’s charming smile was a trail of deceit, neglect, and violence stretching back decades. As Carter Roy guides us through the Ortegas’ story, we uncover how one man’s obsession and thirst for revenge set the stage for one of the most horrifying crimes in Christmas history.
Listen to Murder: True Crime Stories wherever you listen to podcasts: https://play.megaphone.fm/zooymjyirj-p1yeorxgirw

SERIAL KILLER: John Wayne Gacy Pt. 2 Dec 11, 2025

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By the late 1970s, John Wayne Gacy seemed untouchable — a pillar of his community who charmed neighbors and entertained children. But when police began closing in, the façade cracked, revealing one of the most horrific crime scenes in history.
In this conclusion, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels follow investigators as they uncover Gacy’s terrifying secrets: 33 victims buried in his home and beyond. Through psychological insight and gripping storytelling, Killer Minds examines how Gacy’s ego, delusion, and cruelty finally brought him down — and what his case reveals about the darkest corners of the human mind.

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SERIAL KILLER: John Wayne Gacy Pt. 1 Dec 08, 2025

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Before he became one of America’s most notorious serial killers, John Wayne Gacy was a respected businessman, community volunteer, and beloved party clown in suburban Chicago. But behind the makeup of “Pogo the Clown” hid a deeply disturbed man shaped by abuse, trauma, and rage.
In this first episode, host Vanessa Richardson and criminal psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels trace Gacy’s early life — from a violent childhood and secret compulsions to the first crimes that exposed his monstrous double life. Beneath the surface of normalcy, a predator was taking shape.

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MURDEROUS MINDS: Kaitlin Armstrong Pt. 2 Dec 04, 2025

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After shooting cyclist Mo Wilson in cold blood, Kaitlin Armstrong vanished. Using her sister’s passport, she fled the U.S. for Costa Rica — changing her name, dyeing her hair, and even getting plastic surgery to hide from authorities. But as investigators closed in, Kaitlin’s confidence became her downfall.
In Part 2, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels follow Armstrong’s desperate escape across borders, her stunning capture in a Costa Rican hostel, and her shocking attempt to flee custody before trial. Through psychological analysis, they explore the fragile ego and delusional self-assurance that led Kaitlin to believe she could outsmart everyone — even after committing an unforgivable crime.

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MURDEROUS MINDS: Kaitlin Armstrong Pt. 1 Dec 01, 2025

Show notes

When Austin-based yoga instructor Kaitlin Armstrong met elite cyclist Colin Strickland, their relationship seemed passionate and driven by shared ambition. But behind the calm surface, jealousy simmered. When Colin reconnected with rising cycling star Anna Moriah “Mo” Wilson, Kaitlin’s insecurity spiraled into obsession — and ultimately, murder.
In Part 1, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels unravel how Kaitlin’s deep-seated anxiety and fear of abandonment evolved into dangerous control. Through psychological insight and chilling detail, the hosts trace Kaitlin’s unraveling — from her unstable upbringing and toxic romance to the moment her jealousy exploded into violence.

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Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House Daily and Crimes and more wherever you get your podcasts!

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HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Thanksgiving Murders Pt. 2 with Carter Roy Nov 27, 2025

Show notes

The holiday of gratitude turns to horror once again.
In this second installment, Killer Minds explores two shocking cases: a deadly family feud in Oakland that ends with a Thanksgiving Day hostage crisis and triple homicide, and the terrifying story of Joel Michael Guy Jr., who meticulously plotted to kill and dismember his parents for their life insurance.
Through these cases, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels, joined by Murder: True Crimes Stories host Carter Roy, unravel what drives ordinary people to commit the unthinkable — when love, loyalty, and bloodlines collide.

Listen to Murder: True Crime Stories wherever you listen to podcasts: https://play.megaphone.fm/zooymjyirj-p1yeorxgirw

Killer Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts.

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HOLIDAY SPECIAL: Thanksgiving Murders Pt. 1 with Carter Roy Nov 24, 2025

Show notes

Thanksgiving is meant for gratitude — but sometimes, it brings out the darkest parts of the human mind.

In this chilling special, the Killer Minds team, joined by Murder: True Crime Stories host Carter Roy, examines two Thanksgiving tragedies: the 2009 Merhige family massacre, when a Florida man opened fire on his relatives after years of mental decline and resentment, and the gruesome murder of Bill Nelson by his wife, Omaima, whose fairytale romance turned into one of California’s most shocking crimes.

A study of obsession, rage, and the deadly side of family gatherings.

Listen to Murder: True Crime Stories wherever you listen to podcasts: https://play.megaphone.fm/zooymjyirj-p1yeorxgirw

Don’t miss out on all things Killer Minds!