The Vibes Were Off

In February 2003, Marc Gonsalves, Tom Howes, and Keith Stansell—three American defense contractors—were captured by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) after their surveillance plane crashed in the jungle. The men endured more than five years of brutal captivity, often held in chains and forced to march through dense terrain to avoid detection by authorities. They were finally freed...

Judy Malinowski was a devoted mother whose life was tragically redefined after she was doused in gasoline and set on fire by her ex-boyfriend in 2015. Despite suffering catastrophic injuries, she spent her final two years undergoing dozens of surgeries and providing unprecedented video testimony from her hospital bed to ensure her attacker faced justice. Her enduring mission culminated in the pass...

In 1992, Fabienne Witherspoon became one of the few people to survive an encounter with Tommy Lynn Sells by heroically fighting him off with a heavy ceramic duck after he attacked her in her home. "Quack, Quack, B*tch" Years later, ten-year-old Krystal Surles displayed equal courage by surviving a slit throat and walking nearly a quarter-mile to find help after Sells murdered her friend....

In June 2024, Cassidy Poarch survived a harrowing incident in Murray County, Georgia, after being held captive and assaulted by Nick Cargain. After being beaten and threatened with drowning, she managed to escape and hide inside a cardboard box on a neighbor's porch while barefoot and bleeding. Her courage in escaping and providing evidence led to Cargain's conviction and a sentence of lif...

Join us today as we discuss the incredible survivor story of Mary Vincent. She is an American artist and victims’ advocate who survived a horrific 1978 attack in which her forearms were severed by a man who had offered her a ride while she was hitchhiking as a teenager. Left for dead, she packed her wounds to slow the bleeding, climbed out of a ravine, walked miles to find help, and later helped i...

Join us as we tell the harrowing survival tale of Rita Kemper. Rita is the only known survivor of Baltimore's own cannibal killer. Dive into gruesome details and examine how so many law enforcement agencies became attached to this small section of Maryland. Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joe_Metheny Baltimore Sun Investigation Discovery CBS News

This podcast episode explores the profound story of a man who survived a violent home invasion that tragically claimed the lives of his family members. It delves into the investigation surrounding the attack and the shocking discovery of those responsible for the crime. Ultimately, the narrative focuses on his emotional and spiritual journey toward healing and his difficult choice to offer forgive...

In 2006, 17-year-old Ashley Reeves went missing from her home in Millstadt, Illinois, sparking a desperate search that led investigators to a chilling discovery. This episode covers her incredible physical recovery and the legal battle to bring her attacker to justice. It is a profound story of resilience and hope in the face of unimaginable trauma. Resources: https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buz...

This week, we dive into the unbelievable true story of Juliane Koepcke, the sole survivor of the Lanza Flight 508 plane crash in the Amazon rainforest in 1971. Hear how this 17-year-old girl survived a 10,000-foot fall, faced a 9-day trek through the jungle with a broken collarbone and other injuries, and used her knowledge of the wilderness to find her way back to civilization. You won’t believe...

Welcome back for Part 2 of the killing cousins saga, featuring our Survivor Regan Martin! Regan was just 14 years old hitchhiking with her friend when they were picked up by 2 monsters. Find out how she survives with the help of her friend Lynn, and ensures these serial killers face justice. Also follow along through the many, many trials and life after, including what life was like in prison. Tha...

Welcome to our first episode! Angela Hommell was only 20 years old when she immigrated to Vero Beach, Florida from Germany. Not long after her arrival she would become a victim of the “Killing Cousins”. In this episode you will hear Angela’s incredible survival story. You will also learn about some of the first known victims of the sadistic serial killers David Alan Gore and Fred Waterfield. Produ...

Welcome to The Vibes Were Off! A True Crime Podcast featuring survivors! First episode releases January 6. 2026!