The Consult: Real FBI Profilers

In this episode, we begin our examination of the June 1996 murder of Karina Holmer, a young au pair from Sweden working in the United States. Karina was last seen alive in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 22, in downtown Boston. The next day, her torso was discovered in a trash bag inside a dumpster, about a mile from where she was last seen. She had been severed at the waist. We discuss...

In this episode, Investigator Rita Curley from the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Equal Opportunity Office joins the show. In addition to her role as an investigator, Rita draws on her background in law enforcement and her experience as a mother to a child with autism to train officers on recognizing and appropriately responding to individuals who may be neurodivergent. She dispels common m...

We continue our discussion of the murders of four University of Idaho students: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The students were killed in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. The offender pleaded guilty on July 2, 2025. We continue to explore motive, discuss how we would classify the killer behaviorally, and consider whether he was likely to kill again. Part 2 o...

We discuss the murders of four University of Idaho students: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The students were killed in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. We are covering this case now because Bryan Kohberger recently pleaded guilty on July 2, 2025. We review the known facts of the crime and analyze what they suggest about the offender’s behavior and possible m...

In this episode of The Consult, I talk with Jill, host of Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast, a true crime book club in podcast format. Jill has a passion for digging into true crime stories through books, and she brings a thoughtful, well-researched approach to every case she covers. We talk about how she chooses the books for her show, how our understanding of crime has changed over time, and how th...

In this final installment, we continue our consultation with cold case investigator Jennifer Bucholtz and arson expert Alan Haskins from the American Military University Cold Case Team. We focus on understanding more about Linda Malcom in an effort to better understand her killer and complete our assessment of this unsolved 2008 murder. You can follow The Consult on social media: X/Twitter Instagr...

Cold case investigator Jennifer Bucholtz and arson investigator Alan Haskins return for Part 2 of our discussion about the 2008 unsolved murder of Linda Malcom in Port Orchard, Washington. In this episode, we continue examining the crime scene and discuss Linda’s victimology to better understand the offender’s potential motivations and opportunities. You can follow The Consult on social media: X/T...

Cold case investigator Jennifer Bucholtz and arson investigator Alan Haskins join us to discuss the 2008 unsolved murder of 47-year-old Linda Malcom. Linda was found dead in the early morning hours of April 30, 2008, after a suspicious fire was reported at her home in Port Orchard, Washington. It was ultimately determined that Linda had been stabbed multiple times. In this episode, Jennifer and Al...

Retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley is joined by Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit. Elgin PD recently launched a podcast titled Somebody Knows Something , which follows one of their active cold case investigations. We talk about the case, what led them to start the podcast, and how they balanced investigative integrity, public outreach, and...

We’re joined once again by Ashland Oregon Police Chief Tighe O'Meara to discuss the 2011 unsolved murder of David Michael Grubbs. This time, we present our profile of the offender. Some of the characteristics in this profile are unique, and we believe that individuals who knew the offender may recognize them. You can follow The Consult on social media: X/Twitter Instagram Facebook For additional i...

In this episode, we talk with Ashland Oregon Police Chief Tighe O'Meara about the 2011 unsolved murder of David Michael Grubbs. Chief O'Meara discusses the facts of the case, the challenges investigators have faced, and how the department continues to seek justice for David and his family. We also examine aspects of victimology to better understand David’s risk level. You can follow The Consult on...

In this episode, retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley talks with geographic profiler Douglas MacGregor about his background and how geographic profiling can aid investigations. They discuss the types of cases that benefit most from this approach and take a closer look at the Rachel Morin case and the Zodiac Killer. To learn more about Douglas MacGregor and his work, please visit https://www.irisinves...

Writer and researcher Michael Butterfield joins retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley to answer listener questions about the Zodiac Killer case. Michael is the host of the podcast Zodiac: A to Z and the author of the new book The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America's Most Elusive Murderer . You can follow The Consult on social media: X/Twitter Instagram Facebook For additional information and resource...

In Part 4 of our series on the Zodiac Killer, we continue our discussion with Zodiac expert Michael Butterfield for a deep-dive discussion into the personality and behavioral characteristics of the infamous, unidentified serial killer. We explore what may have been beneath the mask of calculated manipulation and deadly intent. Michael is the host of Zodiac: A to Z and the author of a new book The...

Writer, researcher, and podcaster Michael Butterfield returns for Part 3 of our discussion on the Zodiac case. In this episode, we discuss the murder of Paul Stine, a cab driver who was shot and killed by the Zodiac on October 11, 1969, in San Francisco. Michael is the host of the podcast Zodiac: A to Z and the author of the upcoming book The Zodiac Killer: The Story of America’s Most Elusive Murd...

Writer, researcher, and podcaster Michael Butterfield returns for Part 2 of our discussion on the Zodiac case. In this episode, we focus on the chilling attack at Lake Berryessa on September 27, 1969. The victims were college students Cecelia Shepard and Bryan Hartnell. While Bryan survived, Cecelia tragically succumbed to her injuries. Michael walks us through the details of this attack and how i...

Writer, researcher, and podcaster Michael Butterfield joins us to examine the series of murders attributed to the person who called himself the Zodiac. Michael has dedicated 30-plus years to investigating this case. In this episode, we discuss the earliest known attacks: the December 20, 1968, murders of Betty Lou Jensen and David Faraday on Lake Herman Road in Benicia, California, and the July 4,...

We answer listener questions about our analysis of the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee. You can follow The Consult on social media: X/Twitter Instagram Facebook For additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/79-profiling-the-murderer-of-hae-min-lee-listener-questions/ Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s mus...

We continue our analysis of the 1999 murder of Hae Min Lee, exploring her victimology and risk level. We then conclude with our assessment of the offender’s characteristics and motive. You can follow The Consult on social media: X/Twitter Instagram Facebook For additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/78-profiling-the-murderer-of-hae-...

We begin our examination of the murder of 18-year-old Hae Min Lee, who disappeared after school on January 13, 1999. Nearly a month later, on February 9, her body was discovered in Baltimore’s Leakin Park. In this episode, we break down the circumstances of her disappearance, the crime scene, and the autopsy. Through an in-depth discussion of behavior, we analyze what it reveals about the offender...

Retired FBI agent and senior polygraph examiner George Olivo joins The Consult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the polygraph. With years of experience administering polygraphs, he explains how they really work, their strengths and limitations, and the myths that have surrounded them. For more information about George Olivo and his services, please visit his website: https://georgeol...

Jason Usry, host of the new podcast Inconceivable: The Story of Temujin Kensu , joins The Consult to discuss his investigation into the 1986 murder of Scott Macklem. Temujin Kensu was convicted of the crime, but many believe he was wrongfully convicted. Jason approached the case with an open mind, initially assuming Kensu’s innocence before uncovering more complex truths. This episode explores his...

In this episode, we discuss Ellen Greenberg’s victimology and give our final thoughts. You can follow The Consult on social media: X/Twitter Instagram   Facebook     For additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/74-the-death-of-ellen-greenberg-part-4/   Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen to more of John’s music on Spo...

We continue our examination of Ellen Greenberg’s death. In this episode, we discuss the 911 call.   You can follow The Consult on social media: X/Twitter   Instagram Facebook   For additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/73-the-death-of-ellen-greenberg-part-3/   Music “Light in the Basement” by John Hanske. Listen...

We continue our in-depth examination of Ellen Greenberg’s death. In this episode, we analyze and debate the autopsy findings, exploring the key findings and their implications. Part 2 of 4.    You can follow The Consult on social media: X/Twitter   Instagram   Facebook     For additional information and resources, please visit our episode website: https://www.truecrimeconsult.com/72-the-death-of-e...