Psychopedia: True Crime & Criminal Psychology

The Long Island Serial Killer case, also known as The Gilgo Beach Murders, has been a haunting unsolved mystery for over a decade that seems to have touched the lives of all New Yorkers, Tank and Slater included. From the disappearances of multiple young women to the discovery of dismembered remains on our local beaches, and even allegations of police corruption, this chilling case is as baffling...

In this week's episode we are joined by special guest, comedian Mark Normand. When a grown man with a ruptured colon, blue lips, and a fading pulse crawled through the doors of a hospital in Washington state, doctors immediately suspected foul play given the unique nature of his injury. Following this man's tragic death, an official investigation ensued, leading law enforcement to make a truly out...

While all acts of violence and cruelty directed at innocent individuals are condemnable, certain cases distinguish themselves as particularly macabre, even within the realm of the most heinous offenses.  This case falls into that category.  Jerry Brudos, an American serial killer and necrophiliac, developed an obsession with high heel shoes at a young age. The profound psychological harm inflicted...

When 15-year-old Mary Vincent stuck her thumb out along the side of a road in Berkley, California, her hope was to hitch a ride away from her strict parents towards a new beginning. Mary was positively thrilled when a grandfatherly looking man in a truck pulled up beside her and offered to drive her exactly where she wanted to go. But when the driver veered off route and instead drove Mary, who wa...

This headlining case of the England-based TikTok star Mahek Bukhari, which is being tried in court NOW (at the time in which this episode was recorded), is truly astonishing.  The twists and turns involved in this outrageous case are mind-blowing and reveal the grave lengths that this social media figure has taken in order to preserve her spotlight on the global stage.  We've all seen the tremendo...

To the outside world, Shelly Knotek presented like the perfect mother.  She had three lovely daughters, cheerful family photos covering every wall of their farmhouse, and a glowing smile for anyone who glanced in her direction.  But then, psychopaths are known to be master manipulators.  Because Shelly's three lovely daughters were quite literally dying inside.  The cheerful photos on the walls we...

Patrick Mackay, known as the Devil's Disciple, is one scary motherf*cker.  Labeled a psychopath at age 15 (before ever even killing anyone), Patrick grew up to become one of the most prolific serial killers of all time in the United Kingdom.  His rise to terror was riddled with bouts of domestic violence, cruel and unusual treatment of animals, burglaries, alcohol abuse, inadequate mental health t...

Some believe that love is the result of divine intervention, fate, or cosmic design.  Others feel it has more to do with luck or sexy hormones.  But the couple featured in this completely stomach-turning case feel that love has everything to do with sharing the same DNA.  Yup.  The romantic relationship that existed between 43 year old Steven (dad) and 20 year old Katie (daughter) is just one of t...

DISCLAIMER: You will be changed after hearing this absolutely horrific case. There aren't enough words in the dictionary to adequately describe the horror that 17 year old Junko Furuta endured over the course of 44 days at the ruthless hands of her four captors (as well as 100 other people). In addition to enduring heinous forms of torture and humiliation, this poor young girl suffered through som...

Parenthood is tricky.  Do too much for your child, and you’re a helicopter parent; do too little, and your kid lacks sufficient support.  Finding the right balance is an art…or in this case, witchcraft.  Leonarda Cianciulli was a serial killer and black magic practitioner from Italy who devoted her entire life to protecting her son from a damning curse she truly believed would kill him.  Can we re...

On May 31, 2014 in the backwoods of Waukesha, Wisconsin, two 12-year-old girls violently plunged a kitchen knife into their best friend nineteen times before leaving her alone to bleed out and die.   The young assailants claimed that they were forced to murder "someone they loved" in order to prevent Slenderman - an evil, mythical, online urban legend - from harming their families. In an outrageou...

The perfect true crime case highlighting the complex and dark nature of the human psyche doesn’t exi—  Yes, yes it does exist, and you’ve just landed on it. This fascinating case centers around an individual who meticulously choreographed her own murder for the ultimate (and final) sexual experience.  Sharon Lopatka was both perpetrator and victim, predator and prey.  She was one of the first peop...

In Part 1 of this gruesome case, we were introduced to the Toy Box Killer and to some of the ways in which he tortured his victims inside a soundproof, escape-proof cargo trailer (known as the "toy box") kept on his property in Elephant Butte, New Mexico.  Alarmingly, what we’ve heard until this point has only scratched the surface.  Part 2 of this case explains, in full detail, all of the additio...

David Parker Ray, more famously known as the Toy Box Killer, fancied himself a highly skilled sexual scientist who would abduct women (thereafter referred to as “pretty pieces of meat”) before inflicting upon them immeasurable pain through sexual experimentation and inhumane torture.  First, he would psychologically break down his victims.  Then, he would violently assault them inside a soundproof...

When news of this case first emerged, the main star was a missing severed penis.  The supporting role of this highly disturbing saga was played by Lorena Bobbitt, a knife-wielding lunatic who castrated her husband in a fit of jealousy and rage.  Every headline, talk show, comedian and reporter characterized Lorena as being every man’s worst nightmare, and the frightening face of fickle females eve...

This mindblowing and highly disturbing case features a pre-teen, middle-class, church-going 12 year old girl who suddenly decided to embrace Goth culture, join online chat rooms, and hatch a plan to obliterate her entire family.  Cool.  Put on your favorite Hot Topic hoodie and join Tank Sinatra and Investigator Slater as they navigate this horrific case and contend with their own emotions while d...

How does someone go from being the father of the most famous athlete in the world to an unidentified corpse in a swamp?  And how does the state get away with LITERALLY burying crime scene evidence in the actual ground?  This gripping and tragic case shook the entire globe and just may have more questions than it does answers.    Instagram + TikTok: @psychopediapod @tank.sinatra @investigatorslater...

When a butcher with anger issues feels wronged by her lover, it can really only end one way.  This week, Tank Sinatra and Investigator Slater bring you the case of one of Australia’s most famous convicts and diabolical murderers in the nation’s history.  Never before this case, or ever again since, has there been a crime of this nature perpetrated by a woman in Australia.  Allow us to introduce yo...

When a school bus driver and local dad neglects to put on his mask of sanity, the monster confronting us is every person’s worst nightmare.  Ariel Castro used his non-threatening exterior to lure three innocent young women into his car to fulfill his depraved desires.  Join Tank Sinatra and Investigator Slater as they cover the heartbreaking, yet inspiring tale of a decade-long ordeal of enslaveme...

What if we told you that a very small man with a penchant for eating human flesh was allowed to freely roam the streets of Japan as recently as 2022?  And what if we told you that this case involves not only cannibalism, but also necrophilia and vorarephilia?  You’d probably first Google “vorarephilia” and then after that, we'd urge you to press play on this absolutely mental case. Instagram + Tik...

When you think of Ken and Barbie, what comes to mind?  What comes to mind for Tank is that his sister used to chew on their feet until they were all flattened out, but what comes to mind for most people is the “perfect couple.”  You know those people who seem to have it all together? We don’t like those people. But never compare your insides with someone else’s outsides, because while Paul Bernard...

Hans Schmidt wasn’t necessarily set up for success. Whether being forced to perform Catholic masses in a homemade frock by his overbearing mother in Germany, or meeting his buddy at the local slaughterhouse to engage in mutual masturbation, it’s fair to say that Hans had a turbulent and unusual childhood. Even after relocating to New York City years later and becoming an ordained Catholic priest I...

Psychopedia is a true crime podcast infused with comedy….making it a crimedy. Each week, Investigator Slater presents a horrific true crime case to Tank Sinatra for the first time, whose reaction to each gruesome detail prompts thought provoking conversation and hilarious dialogue. The episodes contain several pop quizzes to keep Tank on his jacked toes, while causing listeners to question Investi...