TRUE CRIME with Bratterstein

On a cold morning in January 2017, 14-year-old Alianna DeFreeze left her Cleveland home, heading to school like any other day. But Alianna never made it to class. What began as a routine walk turned into a parent's worst nightmare when she crossed paths with Christopher Whitaker—a violent predator hiding in plain sight. In this episode, we dive deep into the heartbreaking case of Alianna DeFreeze:...

The Quinton Simon case shocked the nation, as his mother, Leilani Simon, was arrested and charged with his murder in 2024. After a 10-day trial, Leilani was found guilty of 19 charges, including the brutal killing of her 20-month-old son. Despite her attempts to downplay the situation, the prosecution argued that her actions were premeditated, pointing to her history of neglect and abuse toward Qu...

Stephen Grant was convicted of second-degree murder for the brutal killing of his wife, Tara Grant, after weeks of testimony detailing his manipulative and calculated actions. Prosecutors revealed that after strangling Tara, he dismembered her body in his father’s tool shop and disposed of her remains in the woods. The jury couldn't agree on premeditation, but the judge called Grant’s actions "dem...

Josef Fritzl held his daughter Elisabeth Fritzl captive in a basement for 24 years and she gave birth to seven children.

It was a morning that would forever change the town of Pearl, Mississippi. On October 1, 1997, 16-year-old Luke Woodham embarked on a violent spree that left three dead and seven injured. The day began with a chilling act of matricide. Woodham brutally murdered his mother, Mary Ann Woodham, at their home before taking her car to Pearl High School. Concealing a .30-30 lever-action deer rifle under...

In 1990, 17-year-old Samuel Manzie pled guilty to the brutal murder of 11-year-old Eddie Werner, avoiding trial through a controversial plea deal. Originally, his defense planned an insanity plea, but the court rejected it, opting instead for a "mental disease or defect" argument. However, as his trial date neared, Sam admitted to strangling Eddie, stuffing his body in a suitcase, and dumping him...

It started with a simple Facebook message. Seventeen-year-old Kaytlin Angela Root from St. Joseph, Missouri, was lured to a local park by someone she thought she could trust. But on October 16, 2016, that trust was betrayed in the most horrific way. Joggers discovered Kaytlin's lifeless body near a trail in Krug Park—she had been brutally stabbed and strangled. ​ The investigation quickly led to t...

In this weeks heartbreaking true crime case, we will discuss.. Claudette Ficik, the 20-year-old woman who went missing in 1994, leading to a frantic search with many people worrying that there was an active serial killer in Georgia. Six weeks later, her body was discovered in the Oconee River, weighted down with steel and showing signs of asphyxiation. Autopsy results later showed that Claudette w...

It was supposed to be a fresh start. A 14-year-old girl, a new life in America, a chance to rebuild. But on May 23, 2024, that fresh start turned into a horrific crime scene in Lauderdale Lakes, Florida. 79-year-old Yevheniia Koval was found beaten and unresponsive in her home. She was rushed to the hospital, but it was too late—her injuries were fatal. But here’s where the story takes a disturbin...

The Morgan Metzer case is a chilling story of obsession, deception, and a staged rescue gone horribly wrong. On January 1, 2021, in Canton, Georgia, Morgan woke up to a masked intruder in her bedroom, his voice eerily altered to sound like Batman. What followed was a terrifying ordeal—she was assaulted, zip-tied, and left on her back porch, blindfolded with a pillowcase over her head. But here’s w...

Angus Sinclair ⁠died in prison at the age of 73⁠ after spending decades in jail for a series of killings, rapes and indecent attacks on children.

The Devon Guzman case revolves around the 2000 murder of the 19-year-old in Easton, Pennsylvania. She was found dead in a car with her throat slashed, initially raising suspicions of suicide before being confirmed as a homicide. The investigation uncovered a love triangle involving Devon, Michelle Hetzel, and Hetzel’s husband, Brandon Bloss. Jealousy and possessiveness were key motives, as Hetzel...

This case is absolutely heartbreaking and one of the most disturbing crimes I’ve ever come across. Alex DeMolle, a man with no violent history, was convicted of the horrific murder of 11-year-old Shaquita Mack, who was just out riding her bike, trying to escape her troubled home life. The prosecution painted a chilling picture of how Alex lured her into his apartment, assaulted her, and then stran...

In December 2009, Susan Powell mysteriously vanished after attending church with her husband Joshua and their two sons. The next day, Joshua claimed he took the boys on a late-night camping trip, but police found his story suspicious, especially after discovering Susan's blood in the home and a letter expressing fear of her husband. Joshua's odd behavior continued as he withdrew money from her acc...

In September 2024, renowned mental health counselor, Nick Abraham, was tragically found dead, wrapped in a tarp on the side of Highway 51 in Louisiana. Authorities confirmed his death was caused by blunt force trauma, sparking an investigation that quickly led to the arrest of TikTok influencer Mr. Prada, who's real name is Terryon Thomas, and this guy has over 8 million followers across his socia...

On May 1, 2023, an Amber Alert was issued in Henryetta, Oklahoma, for 14-year-old Ivy Webster and 15-year-old Brittany Brewer, last seen with 39-year-old Jesse McFadden. The girls were close friends with Jesse's 13-year-old stepdaughter, Tiffany, and had not returned home after a sleepover. As police searched for the missing girls, a bench warrant was issued for Jesse due to a missed court date re...

The DC Snipers, also known as the Beltway Snipers, were responsible for a series of chilling and deadly shootings that terrorized the Washington D.C. area in the fall of 2002. Over the course of three weeks, John Allen Muhammad and his teenage accomplice, Lee Boyd Malvo, carried out 10 random murders and several other attacks, leaving residents in fear as they were gunned down while pumping gas, w...

Mandy Stavik’s heartbreaking story began when her body was found in a river, remarkably preserved by the cold water, making her appear eerily alive. Her death devastated the tight-knit community of Whatcom County, leaving residents locked in fear. A talented swimmer and lifeguard, Mandy was found drowned, having suffered blunt force trauma and sexual assault. Despite DNA evidence, investigators st...

The Quinton Simon case shocked the nation, as his mother, Leilani Simon, was arrested and charged with his murder in 2024. After a 10-day trial, Leilani was found guilty of 19 charges, including the brutal killing of her 20-month-old son. Despite her attempts to downplay the situation, the prosecution argued that her actions were premeditated, pointing to her history of neglect and abuse toward Qu...

On Dec. 21, 1992, 25-year-old elementary school teacher Christy Mirack was found beaten and strangled to death in her Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, townhouse. It was the gruesome murder case that had stumped Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, authorities for more than two decades.

Christopher Gregor was found guilty of the aggravated manslaughter of his 6-year-old son after jurors saw surveillance video showing the boys "father" deliberately increasing the speed of a treadmill that the boy was running on. The verdict in the death of Corey Micciolo came after a four-week trial in Ocean County Superior Court for Christopher, who was also charged with first-degree murder and c...

Bradley Jay Hillious was found guilty of the murder of his wife, Amanda Hillious, after a dramatic 10-day trial in Montana. The prosecution argued that Brad killed Amanda to pursue a relationship with his girlfriend, while the defense claimed it was an accident, with Brad attempting to save Amanda's life after a fall down the stairs. In a shocking moment, Amanda's 12-year-old son testified, statin...

On March 19, 2024, in Brandon, Mississippi, 14-year-old Carly Gregg lured her stepfather, Heath Smylie, home to ambush him after she had already murdered her mother, Ashley Smylie. Heath found Ashley’s body posed in Carly's room and called 911, believing an intruder may be involved because he just could not believe it was Carly. Security footage from inside the house showed Carly's chilling crimes...