Murder Unscripted

On a sunny afternoon in 2003, 49-year-old Kathleen “Kathy” Loreck stepped out for her regular lunchtime walk along a quiet Concord, California trail. Minutes later, she was brutally attacked in broad daylight — a crime so evil it shook the entire community to its core. In this episode of Murder Unscripted, we unpack the chilling details behind Kathy's murder, the witnesses who stepped up to help,...

A survivor’s courage. A forensic artist’s skill. A killer exposed. In this episode of Murder Unscripted , we tell the story of Daniel Lee Corwin , a Texas serial killer whose crimes haunted Huntsville in the 1980s — and how a single forensic sketch helped identify him before he could strike again. Through survivor accounts, investigative records, and forensic breakthroughs, we trace Corwin’s desce...

When 44-year-old real-estate broker David Swinehart was found brutally murdered in his car in Pottstown, Pennsylvania , in January 1982, the quiet Montgomery County town was stunned. What began as a violent homicide soon unraveled into a twisted web of family betrayal, greed, and forbidden love . Investigators discovered that the successful businessman’s estranged wife, Patricia Swinehart , and he...

A gifted grad student. A city on edge. And a composite sketch that changed everything. Melissa unpacks the 2003 murder of Ottawa’s Ardeth Wood , from her disappearance to the forensic artistry that led investigators to her killer, Chris Myers . This episode of Murder Unscripted explores how one powerful drawing helped bring justice — and how art and science combined to solve a chilling Canadian tr...

Dr. Katherine Ramsland sits down to discuss haunted crime scenes, paranormal forensics, and HBO’s The Serial Killer’s Apprentice What happens when true crime crosses into the paranormal? In this spine-chilling episode of Murder Unscripted, forensic psychologist and author Dr. Katherine Ramsland explores haunted crime scenes, paranormal forensics, and the eerie mysteries behind real-life haunted in...

Killed for the Family Farm tells the chilling true story of Jack and Linda Myers - a beloved couple brutally murdered in their own home on a quiet stretch of rural Ohio farmland. What began as a peaceful family life ended in betrayal, greed, and violence — all while a 4-year-old child lay pretending to sleep just feet away. In this episode of Murder Unscripted's Forensic Fridays, we break down the...

In 1991, Salem’s “Official Witch,” Laurie Cabot, claimed she could see where missing woman Martha Brailsford was hidden. Days later, police recovered the body, and arrested neighbor Thomas Maimoni for her murder. This chilling true crime story blurs the line between witchcraft, intuition, and justice. When Martha Brailsford went missing after a day of sailing, Salem police faced a mystery with no...

For over a century, the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida operated under the guise of reform. But behind its walls, countless young boys endured abuse, neglect, and unimaginable atrocities at the hands of those meant to protect them. In this episode, we uncover: 📜 The disturbing history of the Dozier Reform School ⚠️ The horrifying abuse and crimes that took place behind closed doors 🗣️...

A promising 19-year-old college student disappears after a softball game. Weeks later, a chilling phone call reveals a voice that will haunt investigators for years. This is the story of Shannon Melendi — a case of obsession, deception, and a killer hiding in plain sight. 🔪 Who was the man behind the call? And how did justice finally catch up? #ShannonMelendi #TrueCrime #MurderUnscripted #Atlanta...

We open our October block with one of Texas’ most chilling stories: the Todville Murder Mansion in Seabrook. Built by William “Bill” List, this eerie mansion became the site of his twisted crimes—until one victim turned the tables and killed him inside his own home. In this episode, we uncover the dark history of List’s reign of terror, the murder that ended it, and why the ruins of Todville Mansi...

What is it really like to face death every single day? In this episode, we sit down with Shannon Bradley Byers — a former death investigator with the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office in Georgia, and a cherished friend of Murder Unscripted. With her unique and deeply personal perspective, Shannon shares: 🕵️‍♀️ “The case that haunts her” — one that has stayed with her long after leaving the...

Is this America's most sadistic crime ever? In this episode of Murder Unscripted, we unpack the harrowing 1993 killings of the Luna family in west Phoenix, Arizona. Prosecutors said Richard Kenneth Djerf targeted the household in a revenge plot tied to an earlier burglary dispute involving Albert Luna Jr., a former coworker. Djerf later pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder for the...

In 1995, 8-year-old Jackie Clark was brutally murdered in New Brunswick, Canada, a case that shocked the nation and left lasting scars. Join Melissa as she uncover the details, the investigation, and the pursuit of justice in this haunting true crime story.

To skip the banter, jump to 2:18 The 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders remain one of the most haunting unsolved crimes in Texas history. In this episode, we investigate how four men — Forrest Welbourne, Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen, and Maurice Pierce — became central figures in the case. We cover: 🕵️‍♂️ How each suspect was connected to the crime scene ⚖️ The controversial false confessions an...

To skip the banter, jump to 7:09 In December 1991, Austin, Texas was shaken by one of the most shocking and brutal crimes in its history: the Yogurt Shop Murders. Four teenage girls were killed inside a small yogurt shop, a case that has haunted investigators and the community for decades. In Part 1 of this two-part series, we explore: 🔎 The chilling details of the murder scene 🧩 Victimology — w...

On Christmas Day 2003, Russel Douglas was found shot to death in his car on Whidbey Island, Washington. What looked like a holiday tragedy soon unraveled into a shocking murder-for-hire plot filled with betrayal, secrets, and manipulation. Join us as we uncover the twists and turns behind the murder of Russell Douglas and the search for justice.

In this episode, we revisit the 1987 Colorado Springs murder of 20-year-old Army Specialist Darlene “Krash” Krashoc, a Fort Carson soldier whose case went cold for decades - until DNA technology brought a breakthrough and a conviction more than 30 years later. We unpack the timeline, the forensics, and the investigation that ultimately identified Michael Whyte, who was later sentenced to life in p...

A successful real estate agent showing a home in Arkansas—what should have been a routine appointment turned into a nightmare. When Beverly Carter never returned, a frantic search began… and what investigators uncovered was a chilling plot of greed and deception that shocked the community. Join Ed & Melissa every Tuesday for their deep dives into the crimes that horrify and haunt us.

Ed and Melissa sit down with Rob Betnar, the Pennsylvania State Police investigator who cracked the 1985 murder of 13-year-old David Wellington Reed in Schuylkill Haven, Pennsylvania. Drawing from the original police files - not rumors - Rob walks us through how a long-cold disappearance became a homicide case and, ultimately, a solved mystery. Ed previously produced this case for ID’s Nightmare N...

In this MU Mini, Ed dives into the shocking murder of Kay Mortensen, a retired BYU professor whose life was cut short in his quiet Payson, Utah home in 2009. What began as a brutal and baffling crime that placed suspicion on his own family would unravel into a chilling story of greed, betrayal, and a deadly robbery gone wrong. Join us as we uncover the twists and turns behind this tragic case.

To skip the banter, jump to 10:25 In August of 1985, a beloved 13-year-old paperboy disappears without a trace in tiny Schuylkill Haven, PA. The next day, his bicycle is found in the weeds by some railroad tracks...4 months later, his bones on a remote hillside. Rumors swirl for decades, leaving a heartbroken family with more questions than answers. That is until 23 years later when a dedicated co...

In January 2012, the quiet town of Mountain City, Tennessee, was shaken by the brutal murders of Billy Payne and his fiancé, Billie Jean Hayworth, who was found holding their infant son—alive but covered in her blood. What seemed like an unfathomable act of violence soon unraveled into a chilling story of obsession, jealousy, and a toxic web of online drama. This case would expose how a feud born...

To skip the banter, jump to 6:49 On a steamy July night in 1989, 18-year-old Shannon Siders slipped into a friend’s car and vanished into the dark woods outside Newaygo, Michigan. Three months later a hunter found her beaten remains in the “Hole-in-the-Woods” clearing, launching one of the state’s most haunting mysteries. A cold-case task force exhumed Shannon’s body in 2012, pieced together long-...

In this week's MU Mini, we harken back to July's block, GIRL POWER, to spotlight Janet Monge, the controversial anthropologist at the University of Pennsylvania. From her role in the aftermath of the MOVE bombings 💥, to the chilling mystery of Duffy’s Cut ☠️, and her work identifying America’s “first serial killer” H.H. Holmes 🏰. 💬 Question of the week: Should scientists ever cross ethical line...

To skip the banter, jump to 8:12 In this episode of Murder Unscripted, Melissa unpacks the haunting disappearance and murder of 18-year-old Mandy Stavik along the Nooksack River trail in tiny Acme, Washington. While everyone in town had their suspicions about who was responsible, folks kept their secrets to themselves. Three decades later, a discarded soda can, a determined cold-case team, and adv...