Serial Killers & Murderous Minds

In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels conclude their investigation into the Jeff Davis 8, the unsolved murders of eight women in Jennings, Louisiana, and the corruption allegations that shattered public trust. As more victims are found, suspicions of a serial killer, police cover-up, and law enforcement corruption deepen, leaving families desperate for answers. If you’re new here, don’t forget t...

Vanessa and Dr. Engels dive into the chilling true story of the Jeff Davis 8, the unsolved murders of eight women in Jennings, Louisiana, and the corruption that may have helped their killer stay hidden. As vulnerable women tied to drugs, sex work, and police informant networks begin turning up dead, this true crime deep dive explores the dark links between law enforcement corruption, sex traffick...

Join Vanessa and Dr. Engels as they unravel the shocking aftermath of Elizabeth Short’s 1947 murder, exploring how the "Black Dahlia" case became one of the most infamous unsolved crimes in Los Angeles history. From the media frenzy and investigative failures to the disturbing suspects and later revelations tied to Dr. George Hodel, this true crime deep dive examines why the murder of Elizabeth Sh...

In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels explore the tragic life and unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, the aspiring actress who the press labeled as the "Black Dahlia." From her difficult childhood and Hollywood dreams to the final days before her 1947 killing, this true crime deep dive examines the mystery, media frenzy, and chilling unanswered questions behind one of Los Angeles’ most infamous...

In this gripping conclusion to our deep dive on Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, Vanessa and Dr. Engels trace his escalation from calculated bombings to deadly domestic terrorism that left three people dead and a nation in fear. As panic spreads and authorities scramble for answers, a bold and unprecedented move forces the entire country to confront the mind behind the violence. But the breakthrough...

Explore the origins of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, in this deep dive into the psychology behind one of America’s most infamous domestic terrorists. From his troubled childhood, social isolation, and controversial Harvard psychological study to his retreat into the Montana wilderness, Vanessa and Dr. Engels examine how a math prodigy became radicalized against technology and industrial society. W...

In March 1997, as the Hale-Bopp comet passed Earth, 39 members of Heaven’s Gate were found dead in a California mansion, having participated in one of the largest mass suicides in modern U.S. history. They believed their deaths were not an end, but a transition — a deliberate “exit” from human bodies to board a spacecraft trailing the comet. In Part 2, we explore the final days of the group, the p...

In the 1970s, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles emerged with a radical message: they were celestial beings sent to guide humanity to the “Next Level.” Over time, their small spiritual study group transformed into Heaven’s Gate — a tightly controlled community built on isolation, strict behavioral codes, and the rejection of earthly identity. In Part 1, Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek from The...

For years, Dr. Harold Shipman operated as a respected physician in Hyde, England, signing death certificates and comforting grieving families. But soon, disturbing patterns began to emerge. An unusually high number of elderly patients were dying under his care. Concerns from undertakers, fellow medical professionals, and eventually law enforcement sparked one of the most significant investigations...

He was a respected family doctor. A pillar of the community. A man patients trusted with their lives. But behind the calm voice and medical authority, Dr. Harold Shipman was hiding something far darker. In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels explore the early life and escalating crimes of Harold Shipman, the British doctor who would later be exposed as one of the most prolific serial killers in m...

In the early 2000s, a brutal crime shocked the United Kingdom. Prosecutors argued that Kenneth Regan and his associates murdered Anil Chohan and members of his family in a calculated plot to seize control of Chohan’s successful shipping business. According to the case presented in court, the motive was clear: financial gain and the opportunity to use the company as a front for criminal enterprises...

In the 1990s, Kenneth Regan was deeply embedded in the British criminal underworld, orchestrating scams, fraud schemes, and elaborate cons across the UK. But when one of his schemes finally caught up with him and landed him behind bars, he didn’t lie low... he found opportunity. That opportunity was Anil Chohan. What began as a prison acquaintance would spiral into one of the most shocking and cal...

More than 135 years later, the identity of Jack the Ripper remains one of the greatest unsolved mysteries in true crime In Part 2, Vanessa and Dr. Engels explore the final chilling 1888 Whitechapel murders that terrorized Victorian London and their aftermath. They'll examine the most compelling suspects behind the world’s most infamous unidentified serial killer, and what kind of person could be c...

Jack the Ripper remains one of the most infamous unsolved serial killers in history. His brutal crimes shocked Victorian London and continue to grip the true crime community today. Despite numerous suspects, modern forensic attempts, and over a century of investigation, the identity of Jack the Ripper remains unknown. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds...

In this episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels continue the chilling story of Lyda Southard as her confidence grows and her crimes escalate. With multiple husbands dead and suspicion quietly mounting, Lyda refines her methods while authorities begin connecting the dots. This episode follows her final murders, her attempt to flee justice, and the fo...

In this episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, Vanessa Richardson and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels are joined by Sarah Turney and Kourtney Nichole from Crime House's new show, The Final Hours. They explore the early life of Lyda Southard, a woman trapped by poverty, rigid gender roles, and rural isolation in the early 20th century. What begins as a story of a young woman longin...

In this episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, true crime creator Annie Elise returns to frame the conclusion of the Brenda Delgado case, examining the aftermath of Kendra Hatcher’s murder and the unraveling of the plot behind it. Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels follow investigators as they close in on Brenda, tracing her attempts to control the narrative, manipulate witnesses, a...

With over 500 million downloads, 10 to Life is one of the leading true crime podcasts and YouTube channels covering the cases everyone is talking about — and the ones no one else is. If you love deep dives, real-time updates, and the full story behind the headlines, don’t miss 10 to Life. 🎙️ Listen to 10 to Life every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/ch...

In this episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, true crime creator Annie Elise brings a case that has stayed with her—the murder-for-hire of Kendra Hatcher. Annie opens the episode by sharing what drew her so deeply to this disturbing story and why it stands out to her as a chilling example of emotional fixation spiraling out of control. Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels then examin...

Behind the badge, Mark Putnam was hiding a devastating secret. When an affair threatened his career and family, desperation took over—with fatal consequences. This episode examines the psychological toll of pressure, fear, and entitlement as Putnam crossed an irreversible line. As investigators close in, the carefully maintained image of a model agent collapses, exposing a shocking betrayal of tru...

From childhood, Mark Putnam dreamed of becoming an FBI agent—and he achieved it through relentless ambition and fierce competitiveness. But when pressure mounted and his personal boundaries blurred, his need to protect his career spiraled into catastrophe. This episode traces Putnam’s rise through the Bureau, his struggle to prove himself, and the risky decisions that pulled him into an illicit re...

As suspicions around Helmuth Schmidt grow, neighbors, loved ones, and authorities begin to notice the cracks in his carefully constructed lies. Multiple identities, missing women, and chilling discoveries point to a pattern far more sinister than fraud alone. This episode follows the unraveling of Schmidt’s crimes as bystanders finally step in, leading to shocking revelations beneath the surface o...

In the early 1900s, a charming German immigrant used lies, fake identities, and newspaper marriage ads to lure women into his web. What began as romance quickly turned into manipulation, financial ruin, and disappearance. Known as “The American Bluebeard,” Helmuth Schmidt built a double life fueled by control, deception, and a growing appetite for risk. As his lies multiplied and his behavior esca...

In the early hours of July 17, 1918, the Romanov family was led into a basement—and history was forever changed. In the gripping conclusion, Killer Minds unpacks the brutal execution of the former royals, the chaotic cover-up that followed, and the decades of rumors that convinced the world at least one child survived. From false Anastasia claims to groundbreaking DNA discoveries nearly a century...

For nearly 300 years, the Romanov family ruled Russia under the belief that their power was divinely ordained. But as war, poverty, and political unrest spread, that illusion of control began to crumble. In Part 1, Killer Minds traces the rise and fall of Czar Nicholas II, the growing resentment toward the monarchy, and the revolutionary forces determined to erase the Romanovs forever. Vanessa Ric...