Serial Killers & Murderous Minds

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...

What happens when loyalty becomes a weapon? In Part 2, Killer Minds reveals how Sante Kimes pulled her son Kenny into an escalating series of crimes—culminating in cold-blooded murder. From the killing of a banker in the Bahamas to the brutal death of New York socialite Irene Silverman, this episode examines the twisted bond that kept Kenny obedient and the psychological grip Sante never loosened....

Sante Kimes spent her entire life reinventing herself—using charm, deception, and manipulation to get whatever she wanted. In Part 1, Killer Minds follows Sante’s troubled childhood, escalating cruelty, and decades-long career as a con artist who moved effortlessly between fraud, abuse, and exploitation. As her schemes grew bolder, so did her need for control—especially over her youngest son, Kenn...

Jimmy Hoffa’s bid to reclaim his power ended the moment he climbed into a car outside Detroit’s Machus Red Fox restaurant — and vanished forever. In the gripping conclusion of this two-part series, Killer Minds follows the frantic investigation into Hoffa’s disappearance, the mob figures and union rivals with motives to silence him, and the tangled web of dead ends, false confessions, shifting all...

Before he became the center of one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries, Jimmy Hoffa was a tough kid from the Midwest who learned early that respect had to be fought for. In this episode, Killer Minds traces Hoffa’s climb from overworked warehouse teenager to the most powerful labor leader in the country — and the dangerous alliances he forged along the way. As his influence grew, so did his e...

In the shocking conclusion to the Dorothea Puente story, Killer Minds uncovers how a seemingly warm, grandmotherly caretaker manipulated an entire community while murdering the vulnerable people she vowed to protect. As Dorothea’s fraud escalates into calculated killings, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels trace her descent into a chilling cycle of deception, exploitation, and control. From...

Before she became one of America’s most notorious female serial killers, Dorothea Puente was a master of reinvention — a woman who survived a traumatic childhood, escaped into elaborate lies, and learned to weaponize trust. In Part 1, Killer Minds traces Dorothea’s tumultuous early life, from abuse, abandonment, and shapeshifting identities to the scams, marriages, and manipulations that set the s...

Happy New Year! As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited to bring you even more fascinating cases and gripping investigations. More importantly, we'd like to thank you for listening, and making 2025 an unforgettable year, your support and curiosity keep us coming back week after week. Please enjoy our Best of 2025 selection, The Night Stalker! Killer Minds will be back next week with a brand new ep...

Happy New Year! As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited to bring you even more fascinating cases and gripping investigations. More importantly, we'd like to thank you for listening, and making 2025 an unforgettable year, your support and curiosity keep us coming back week after week. Please enjoy our Best of 2025 selection, The Night Stalker! Killer Minds will be back next week with a brand new ep...

The conclusion of the Jim Jones story follows his unraveling as defections, scandals, and mounting scrutiny push the cult leader to flee the U.S. and establish the isolated Jonestown settlement—where his paranoia, drug-fueled delusions, and absolute control escalate to catastrophic levels. As Congressman Leo Ryan attempts to investigate, Jones’s fears explode into violence, culminating in the airs...

Dr. Engels joins Vanessa in this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes for a Crime House crossover!  Dozens of young men, all found drowned. A single eerie clue near every crime scene: a painted smiley face. Uncover the dark origins of the Smiley Face Killers theory — a decades-long investigation that suggests a nationwide ring of serial murderers might still be active. Follow Conspira...

In the first part of this two-episode deep dive, Killer Minds traces the rise of Jim Jones—from a lonely, attention-seeking child in Indiana to a charismatic preacher who built the Peoples Temple and laid the groundwork for one of history’s most infamous cults. Vanessa Richardson recounts how Jones blended social justice messaging with manipulation, staged miracles, and psychological control to am...

On Christmas Eve 2008, the Ortega family gathered at their home in Covina, California, for their annual holiday celebration. Laughter, food, and music filled the night—until a man dressed as Santa Claus knocked on their door. In Part 2 of The Santa Claus Massacre, Carter Roy reveals the shocking and tragic events that unfolded that night, when 45-year-old Bruce Pardo—Sylvia Ortega’s embittered ex-...

Christmas is supposed to be the most wonderful time of the year — but for Bruce Pardo, the holidays brought something far darker. After losing his marriage, his family, and even his dog, Bruce’s bitterness turned deadly. In this first part of our Christmas Crime Special, we meet the Ortega family — a loving, tight-knit clan from Covina, California. When Sylvia Ortega met Bruce, she believed she’d...

By the late 1970s, John Wayne Gacy seemed untouchable — a pillar of his community who charmed neighbors and entertained children. But when police began closing in, the façade cracked, revealing one of the most horrific crime scenes in history. In this conclusion, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels follow investigators as they uncover Gacy’s terrifying secrets: 33 victims buried in his...

Before he became one of America’s most notorious serial killers, John Wayne Gacy was a respected businessman, community volunteer, and beloved party clown in suburban Chicago. But behind the makeup of “Pogo the Clown” hid a deeply disturbed man shaped by abuse, trauma, and rage. In this first episode, host Vanessa Richardson and criminal psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels trace Gacy’s early life — fr...

After shooting cyclist Mo Wilson in cold blood, Kaitlin Armstrong vanished. Using her sister’s passport, she fled the U.S. for Costa Rica — changing her name, dyeing her hair, and even getting plastic surgery to hide from authorities. But as investigators closed in, Kaitlin’s confidence became her downfall. In Part 2, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels follow Armstrong’s desperate escape ac...