Dark Side Of... | True Crime & Dark History

Dark Side Of... | True Crime & Dark History

Sometimes the human mind goes to dark places… Sometimes those dark delusions… Turn into reality… A reality of so shaded in grey, once all is said and done, the healthy mind is drawn into the documented retelling of these tragic events. Trying to find logic, reason, and understanding where there may be none. This IS the Dark side of Wikipedia. A podcast all about true crime, murderers, dark history, tragic events, and shocking true stories.

  • 12 minutes 17 seconds
    The Hidden Psychology Behind Kevin Franke’s Inaction – FBI Expert Weighs In
    The Hidden Psychology Behind Kevin Franke’s Inaction – FBI Expert Weighs In
    How do you go from being a father of six to turning a blind eye when your children are suffering? That’s the question swirling around Kevin Franke, who spent a year estranged from his wife, Ruby, and their kids—only to seemingly jump right back into the chaos when given the chance. Even as disturbing truths about alleged child abuse surfaced, he clung to the belief that Ruby and Jodi Hildebrandt had everything under control.

    Was it brainwashing? An addiction to a toxic relationship? Or was Kevin simply so deep in denial that reality didn’t stand a chance? Retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke breaks down the psychological stronghold that kept Kevin tethered to an allegedly abusive dynamic, even as the walls of his world came crashing down. And with Kevin now fighting for custody of his children, the question remains—should he get them back? Or is he still too lost in the wreckage to be the father they need?

    #TrueCrime #KevinFranke #RubyFranke #JodiHildebrandt #ChildAbuse #PsychologicalManipulation #HiddenKillers

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    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
    13 March 2025, 9:00 pm
  • 16 minutes 44 seconds
    Delphi Case Scandal Prosecutor Sat on Evidence That Could Have Changed Everything
    Why does this case feel more like a cover-up than a conviction?

    When key evidence is conveniently withheld, timelines don’t add up, and the people in power seem more concerned with protecting themselves than ensuring justice, you have to ask—what’s really going on here? Tony Brueski and Defense Attorney Bob Motta unravel the latest twists in the Richard Allen case, where finger-pointing has become the primary strategy, and transparency seems to be a foreign concept. Is this all just ego and incompetence, or is there something deeper at play—something that someone really doesn’t want coming to light? And at what point does a case stop being about guilt or innocence and start being about damage control?

    #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #JusticeForTheVictims #LegalDrama #RichardAllenCase #CoverUp #DefenseDiaries

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    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
    13 March 2025, 7:00 pm
  • 32 minutes 8 seconds
    Is Diddy Secretly Behind False Lawsuits to Undermine Real Accusations
    Is Sean “Diddy” Combs secretly manipulating the legal system to help himself? In this episode, we break down the shocking lawsuit that initially seemed like a massive scandal—until it fell apart in real time. The lawsuit accuses Maui Police Chief John Pelletier of helping cover up a 2018 sexual assault in Orinda, California, allegedly orchestrated by Diddy. But there’s a problem—Pelletier has ironclad proof he wasn’t even there. His bank records place him in Las Vegas, 560 miles away, on the night of the alleged crime. So why was his name added seven years later?
    We’re diving deep into the credibility issues surrounding this lawsuit, the lawyer behind it—Ariel Mitchell, who is already being sued for defamation by Diddy—and the growing theory that this case isn’t about justice at all. Could this weak, easily disprovable lawsuit be a deliberate strategy to cast doubt on the other, more serious allegations against Diddy? Is it possible that his legal team is flooding the system with false claims so the real ones get buried in the chaos?

    From the timeline inconsistencies to the shocking lack of evidence, this case raises far more questions than answers. If this lawsuit was set up to fail, what does that mean for the other cases against Diddy? And if Pelletier’s name was added for show, who’s really pulling the strings? Stay tuned as we uncover one of the most twisted legal plays in modern celebrity history.
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    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com 
    13 March 2025, 5:30 pm
  • 9 minutes 57 seconds
    Did Sheriff Stines Kill to Silence Judge Mullins, Or To Stop Him From Harming Others?
    Did Sheriff Stines Kill to Silence Judge Mullins, Or To Stop Him From Harming Others?
    What happens when a sheriff walks into a courthouse and shoots a sitting judge? A cold-blooded act of revenge or a psychological break under extreme emotional distress? That’s the question swirling around this bizarre and deeply tangled case involving a courthouse sex-for-leniency scandal, a deposition that may have held damning secrets, and a sheriff who turned himself in claiming his family was in danger.

    Now, the defense is pushing for an insanity plea, but does the evidence support it? Psychotherapist and author Shavaun Scott breaks down what it truly takes for someone to reach a psychological breaking point like this. Was this an unpredictable snap, or was there something much more calculated at play? And just how deep does the corruption run in this courthouse?

    #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #CourthouseScandal #PsychologicalBreak #Corruption #CrimeNews #InsanityDefense

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    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
    13 March 2025, 5:00 pm
  • 29 minutes 27 seconds
    Bryan Kohberger Goes 'Full OJ' Claiming Evidenced Planted & He Was Framed!
    Bryan Kohberger’s defense team just made a stunning claim—they say he was framed for the University of Idaho murders. In this episode, we break down the new defense strategy, analyzing whether the knife sheath with Kohberger’s DNA was planted and if there’s any real evidence to support this theory. Could someone have stolen his DNA and placed it at the crime scene? Or is this a desperate legal move to create reasonable doubt?
    We also take a deep dive into the evidence that led to Kohberger’s arrest—his cell phone pings near the victims’ home, the white Hyundai Elantra spotted on surveillance, and the mysterious unidentified DNA found at the crime scene. Is the prosecution’s case airtight, or are there gaps that could sway the jury? And what about the missing murder weapon—could its absence help the defense?

    Finally, we explore Kohberger’s psychology, his odd courtroom demeanor, and what his criminology background reveals about his behavior. Plus, we examine the surviving roommate’s testimony—does it help or hurt the frame-up theory? Don’t miss this detailed breakdown of the latest developments in one of the most high-profile murder trials in recent history. 
     
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    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com 
    13 March 2025, 4:45 pm
  • 29 minutes 56 seconds
    Did Wendi Adelson Know? Breaking Down the Allegations in the Dan Markel Case
    Did Wendi Adelson Know? Breaking Down the Allegations in the Dan Markel Case
    The murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel was a shocking crime that unraveled into a twisted murder-for-hire plot allegedly orchestrated by members of his ex-wife Wendi Adelson’s family. But despite multiple convictions—including those of hitmen, intermediaries, and most recently her own brother, Charlie Adelson—one question still lingers: Why hasn’t Wendi Adelson been charged? In this episode, we take a deep dive into the allegations, the evidence, and the legal barriers that have kept Wendi free, even as those around her have fallen.
    We’ll examine the custody battle and family feud that led up to the murder, the suspicious actions and statements Wendi made before and after Markel’s death, and why investigators labeled her an unindicted co-conspirator. We’ll also break down the phone records, the infamous “hitman joke,” and the controversial immunity deal that has made prosecution more difficult. What did Wendi know? Did she actively participate, or was she just a bystander who benefited from the crime?

    With the upcoming trial of Donna Adelson, Wendi’s mother, new evidence could emerge that finally answers the question of whether Wendi was involved in this carefully planned execution. Could she still face charges? And if so, what would it take for prosecutors to make a move? This is the full story behind one of the most infamous murder cases in recent history—and why it’s far from over.
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    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com 
    13 March 2025, 4:11 pm
  • 17 minutes 20 seconds
    Jay-Z vs. Jane Doe The Billionaire’s Bold Legal Move Explained
    Jay-Z vs. Jane Doe The Billionaire’s Bold Legal Move Explained
    What happens when a billionaire music mogul decides he’s not just going to deny allegations but go full throttle on the offense? Jay-Z is taking a stance that could shake the legal landscape for accused celebrities—suing his accuser and her legal team for defamation, conspiracy, and extortion after a decades-old claim was dismissed. But is this a victory for the falsely accused, or a chilling warning to real victims? Former prosecutor and defense attorney Eric Faddis joins to break down the legal high-stakes chess game, the power plays, and whether Tony Busby—the attorney at the heart of a storm of high-profile accusations—bit off more than he could chew. Could this set a new precedent, or is it just another round of celebrity legal drama?

    #JayZ #LegalBattle #FalseAccusations #TonyBusby #DefamationCase #CelebrityLawsuits #JusticeOrIntimidation

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    13 March 2025, 3:00 pm
  • 10 minutes 21 seconds
    The Autism Defense Explained – Could It Work for Bryan Kohberger?
    The Autism Defense Explained – Could It Work for Bryan Kohberger?
    Did the defense just throw a Hail Mary pass or is there actual legal weight to the claim that Bryan Kohberger’s alleged crimes should be reconsidered due to autism? Just when you thought this case couldn't get any more bizarre, we now have fingernail DNA evidence in the mix, a 911 call from the surviving roommates finally coming to light, and the defense pushing a surprise autism-based death penalty challenge. And let’s not forget—Idaho still has the firing squad on the table.

    Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer joins to dissect whether this autism defense is a legitimate strategy or just another desperate attempt to humanize Kohberger before trial. Can autism truly mitigate responsibility in a case like this, or is this just another twist in an already twisted legal chess match?

    #BryanKohberger #TrueCrime #IdahoMurders #HiddenKillers #DeathPenalty #AutismDefense #Justice

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    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
    13 March 2025, 1:00 pm
  • 17 minutes 29 seconds
    A Small Town’s Shattered Trust: The Killing of Judge Kevin Mullins
    Despite a video showing what appears to be a cold-blooded murder, the attorney representing former Sheriff Shawn ‘Mickey’ Stines insists there’s more to the case than meets the eye. On September 19, 2024, in the quiet courthouse of Letcher County, Kentucky, Stines allegedly walked into the chambers of District Judge Kevin Mullins and shot him multiple times. The entire incident was captured on surveillance footage, and the images are as damning as they come—Mullins, caught off guard, scrambling to take cover under his desk while Stines keeps firing. But according to defense attorney Jeremy Bartley, what happened in that office wasn’t just the result of a single moment but years of tension, legal battles, and alleged threats.

    “It’s extremely complicated,” Bartley told Court TV’s Vinnie Politan, pushing back on the apparent open-and-shut nature of the case. “This isn’t just about what’s seen on the video. There’s a bigger story here.”

    At the time of his murder, Mullins was a key figure in a lawsuit involving allegations of sexual misconduct against a deputy who worked in the courthouse. The lawsuit accused former deputy Ben Fields of coercing women on house arrest into sexual favors, with at least one incident allegedly taking place inside Mullins’ own chambers. While Stines wasn’t named as a defendant in the suit, he was questioned under oath just days before the shooting.

    “In the week prior to and the week of the deposition, lots of people noticed that Mickey had become more increasingly paranoid, that he became sleepless, had gone nights without sleep, and there was an overwhelming amount of pressure on him,” Bartley said, painting a picture of a man under immense psychological strain. The deposition, combined with what Bartley described as “a number of people very interested in the outcome,” had allegedly put Stines in a heightened state of distress.

    Attorney Ned Pillersdorf, who represents the plaintiff in the lawsuit, recalls Stines’ deposition as being out of the ordinary. “It wasn’t your typical deposition of a sheriff in a civil rights case,” Pillersdorf said, describing Stines’ behavior as “odd” but stopping short of speculating on how the lawsuit might connect to the murder. “But having said that, I have no idea why his defense attorney keeps saying that my litigation, the litigation me and my co-counsel are involved in, was somehow a motive in all this. But he keeps saying that.”

    Stines’ attorney claims his client truly believed his family was in immediate danger at the time of the shooting. “Was the threat as imminent as he perceived it to be? Maybe not,” Bartley admitted. “But there was an objective threat to his family.”

    That’s a major claim—one that raises as many questions as it answers. If Stines was, in fact, paranoid and sleep-deprived leading up to the shooting, how much of his fear was rooted in reality? What exactly did he think Mullins—or anyone else, for that matter—was planning to do to him?

    In early March 2025, Bartley filed paperwork indicating that Stines will pursue an insanity defense, arguing that his client was in an extreme emotional state at the time of the shooting. The move isn’t just legal strategy—it’s also practical. “We wanted to get Mickey on the calendar for an evaluation,” Bartley said, explaining that Kentucky’s backlog means psychological evaluations are currently running 12 to 18 months behind.

    As the case heads to trial, the legal battle will center not on whether Stines pulled the trigger—that part is indisputable—but on why he did it. Was he, as the video suggests, executing a judge in cold blood? Or was he a man consumed by fear and paranoia, reacting to a perceived threat that only he could see?

    One thing is clear: Letcher County lost a judge, a sheriff, and any lingering sense of normalcy in a single, shocking afternoon.

    #KentuckyCourthouseShooting #JudgeMullins #ShawnStinesTrial #LegalDrama

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    13 March 2025, 11:00 am
  • 17 minutes 23 seconds
    Last Take: The Tragic Story of Halyna Hutchins and the Rust Shooting
    Last Take: The Tragic Story of Halyna Hutchins and the Rust Shooting
    A tragic accident on the set of "Rust" took Halyna Hutchins' life, and the new Hulu documentary "Last Take: Rust and the Story of Halyna" examines the failures that led to that moment. Directed by her friend Rachel Mason, the film attempts to honor Hutchins while also dissecting the catastrophic failures that led to her death.

    Halyna Hutchins was more than just a talented cinematographer. She was a mother, a wife, and an artist dedicated to her craft. And she loved working on "Rust." That’s a painful truth that echoes throughout the documentary, revealed through her personal notes, messages, and behind-the-scenes footage. This wasn't just another job for her. She was fully invested. Then, in a single moment, everything changed.

    October 21, 2021. A routine rehearsal inside a small wooden church on the set of "Rust" in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Alec Baldwin, both the film’s star and one of its producers, was handed a Colt .45 revolver. It was supposed to be a "cold gun"—an industry term for a firearm containing no live rounds. But when Baldwin pointed it toward the camera during the scene and pulled the trigger, a live bullet was discharged. The shot struck Halyna Hutchins in the chest and injured director Joel Souza, who was standing behind her. She was rushed to the hospital but didn’t survive.

    The immediate aftermath was chaos. Authorities swarmed the set. Baldwin, visibly distraught, was questioned by investigators, struggling to comprehend how this could have happened. The film crew had already been in turmoil—complaints about unsafe working conditions, crew members walking off set in protest just days before. The warning signs were there, but no one stopped production.

    The documentary includes footage of Baldwin being informed that Hutchins had died. His reaction—shock, disbelief, horror—mirrors what most people felt when they first heard the news. A movie set, a place where safety should be an absolute priority, had turned into a crime scene.

    As the investigation unfolded, it became clear that corners had been cut. The film's armorer, Hannah Gutierrez Reed, was responsible for handling weapons on set, but she was young and relatively inexperienced. Reports surfaced that crew members had been using the prop guns for live target practice—a staggering breach of safety protocols. The question became: who was ultimately responsible? Baldwin, as an actor, claimed he was simply following directions. As a producer, could he have done more to ensure a safer set? And then there’s Gutierrez Reed—should she have caught the live round before it ever made its way onto set? What about assistant director Dave Halls, who reportedly handed Baldwin the gun and declared it "cold"?

    The documentary doesn’t shy away from these tough questions, but its focus isn’t just the legal blame game. It’s about the systemic failures that made this possible in the first place. Hutchins' widower, Matt Hutchins, served as an executive producer on the film, ensuring that her story remained at the center of it all. He initially pursued a wrongful death lawsuit against Baldwin and the "Rust" production team, which was eventually settled. But legal battles continue—Gutierrez Reed faces charges of involuntary manslaughter, and Baldwin himself was charged, then had those charges dropped, only for them to be reconsidered later.

    The bigger issue? This wasn’t the first time safety has been compromised on a movie set, and unless serious changes happen, it won’t be the last. The film industry has long relied on outdated practices, assuming accidents are rare enough to justify pushing boundaries. But the truth is, workplace safety shouldn’t be an afterthought, whether it's in a factory, a construction site, or a Hollywood set. And when people raise red flags—like crew members did on "Rust"—they need to be taken seriously before tragedy strikes.

    During a panel discussion about "Last Take," director Joel Souza, who was also injured in the shooting, admitted that he wished the documentary focused more on Halyna’s life rather than just the circumstances of her death. And he’s not wrong. The documentary was originally intended to be a tribute, but as Mason put it, the commercial value of the "Rust" tragedy became an undeniable part of the story. That’s the harsh reality of true crime and high-profile incidents—what starts as a personal loss often turns into a public spectacle.

    Baldwin, meanwhile, has returned to work and even launched a reality show with his family, a move that has drawn criticism. His involvement in "Rust" continues, as the film has resumed production, now with Hutchins' widower as an executive producer. That decision alone raises ethical questions—how do you finish a movie tied to such a devastating loss? And is there a right way to do it?

    Mason hopes the documentary serves a greater purpose beyond recounting the tragedy. She wants it to spark conversations about on-set safety, not just in Hollywood, but in workplaces everywhere. Because at the end of the day, this wasn’t just an accident. It was a preventable failure at every level. And Halyna Hutchins should still be here.

    #RustTragedy #HalynaHutchins #AlecBaldwin #OnSetSafety

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    13 March 2025, 10:00 am
  • 10 minutes 48 seconds
    She Poisoned Him, Took His Money, and Went on Vacation – Brittany Cole’s Shocking Crime
    An Ohio woman who was studying nursing will spend at least 16 years in prison after admitting to fatally overdosing her 80-year-old father-in-law with medication, then hiding his body for more than a month.

    Brittany Cole, 37, pleaded guilty to murder and gross abuse of a corpse in the December 25, 2024, death of her father-in-law, 80-year-old David Cole Sr. Prosecutors say she administered six capsules of Tylenol with codeine and ZzzQuil “knowing it would be fatal.” The following day, she began telling relatives that David Sr. “had moved to Cincinnati.” She and her family then traveled to Orlando, Florida, on vacation while his body remained in the home.

    Upon returning, Cole’s husband, 44-year-old David Cole Jr., allegedly found his father’s remains on January 8, 2025, while Brittany was at nursing school. According to the Muskingum County Prosecutor’s Office, investigators uncovered text messages between the couple discussing “the smell and disposal plans,” as well as a Google search on Brittany’s phone from December 25 asking, “when someone dies how long does it take for the body to start smelling?” Prosecutors also said that David Jr. ordered a mattress cover on January 8, the day he discovered the body.

    Authorities later located David Sr.’s decomposing remains in a shed on the property, wrapped in a mattress cover and a tarp. Investigators believe the couple initially moved the body into a sunroom and, after leaving on vacation, eventually transferred it to the shed.

    Prosecutors allege Brittany Cole’s motivation was financial. After the killing, she continued to receive her father-in-law’s $2,300 monthly social security payments, sent to her by her husband. She used the funds to pay for utilities and household expenses, according to officials.

    On February 26, 2025, Brittany Cole was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 16 years. Her husband, David Cole Jr., faces six felony charges in connection with his father’s death, including tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and obstructing justice. He has not yet been arraigned.
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    The latest on The Downfall of Diddy, The Trial of Karen Read, The Murder Of Maddie Soto, Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, The Menendez Brothers: Quest For Justice, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, The Murder Of Sandra Birchmore, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
    12 March 2025, 11:00 pm
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