Cold Case Murder Mysteries

At 11:30pm on August 28, 2013, a 19-year-old Sierra College student named Bryce Laspisa got behind the wheel of his SUV heading south on California's Interstate 5 headed in the direction of his parents' home nearly 500 miles away, soon after telling his mother he had something important to talk to her about. But Bryce never makes it home. Throughout one of the strangest road trips in recent memory, one that lasts in excess of 30 hours, Bryce will do everything he can to avoid arriving at his destination, up to and including an attempt on his own life, before disappearing without a trace. Join host Ryan Kraus for a fascinating look at the psychology of the truth hidden within the mystery.

On December 24, 2002, a young pregnant woman named Laci Peterson seemingly vanishes from the face of the earth while walking her dog. In the aftermath, media attention turns to her husband, Scott, who embarks on a series of odd behaviors before the bodies of his wife and unborn son finally turn up. Years later, Scott Peterson sits on California's Death row for the crime. But did he really do it? Join host Ryan Kraus for a psychological profile of the man convicted of this infamous crime.

Sometime after 2:30am on February 14, 2000, a 9-year-old girl from Shelby, NC named Asha Degree left her parents home in a rainstorm and began walking Highway 18 south toward an unknown destination. 1.3 miles later, and in temperatures barely above freezing, she was spotted by a passing motorist, but fled into the woods when he called out to her. Asha hasn't been seen since. Join host Ryan Kraus for a psychological examination of her journey in an effort to uncover the origin story that propelled this child to run away.

When 6-year-old Max Shacknai, son of wealthy pharmaceutical executive Jonah Shacknai, plummets to his death in a mysterious fall over a second-floor banister at the Spreckels mansion in Coronado, CA, the family is left in a state of shock. But only two days later, Jonah's live-in girlfriend, Rebecca Zahau, succumbs under equally suspicious circumstances, leaving both deaths begging the question: suicide or murder?

On the evening of December 7, 1993 a 35-year-old Jamaican immigrant named Colin Ferguson boarded the number 3 train at Penn Station in New York City headed for long Island. He took a seat in the third car, among 80 other passengers, and remained silent until they pulled into the Merillon station. Before the train stopped, Colin stood up, revealed a Ruger 9mm pistol accompanied by 160 rounds of ammunition, and began firing.

In the early morning hours of June 6, 1996 a frantic young mother of three from suburban Rowlett, TX makes a frantic call to 911 to report an intruder entered her home and viciously stabbed two of her sons to death. But when police arrive, they begin to notice disparities between the story Darlie Routier tells and the narrative the evidence creates. In the end, she receives the death penalty for her crimes. But one question persists. Was there really an intruder in the house that night?

On the night of August 2, 2006 a 32-year-old Washington, DC-area attorney named Robert Wone went to the home of a college roommate with plans to sleep at the residence in anticipation of arriving at work early the next day. But within an hour of his arrival, 911 received a call that he’d been murdered by an unknown intruder. When police arrived, they found no signs of forced entry, and it seemed Robert had been sexually assaulted. Twelve years later, we’re still asking what happened to Robert Wone.

On the morning of January 24, 2006 a young Orlando, FL woman named Jennifer Kesse failed to show up for work, causing concern among her family, friends, and employer. Hours later, it was apparent nobody could account for her whereabouts, but the scene back at her condo indicated she'd gotten ready for work and left in her car as usual. That is, until security footage from a nearby apartment complex rendered video of an unknown person abandoning her car at noon on the day of her disappearance. Twelve years later, however, there's still no sign of Jennifer Kesse ... or that strange man.

On the night of July 13, 1966 career criminal Richard Speck knocked at the door of a townhome on E. 100th St. in Chicago, IL with bad intentions. What followed changed the psychological landscape of American society forever.

On the evening of November 28, 2012 two police officers discovered a distressed 26-year-old woman named Emma Fillipoff sitting outside the Empress Hotel in Victoria, BC clutching her shoes. After a 45-minute interview in which she barely spoke, they decided she was not a threat to herself or anyone else, and went about their business. But Emma Fillipoff was never seen again. Join host Ryan Kraus for a psychological reconstruction of the narrative present in the final days before her disappearance.

On Thanksgiving Day 2012, 65-year-old Little Falls, MN resident Byron David Smith fatally shoots two burglars in his home, seemingly enacting his right to protect his property by use of deadly force. But when the police arrive, the crime scene suggests something much different took place that afternoon in Byron's basement. Something much more sinister. Join host Ryan Kraus for a journey into the mind of a killer in an attempt to uncover the origin of his evil.

In the early morning hours of December 2, 2011 a young woman named Morgan Ingram was found dead inside her parents’ Carbondale, CO home after several months of reporting terrifying encounters with a vicious stalker. But when the toxicology report returned controversial results in the aftermath, one questioned remained at the center of this heated debate: suicide … or murder?

BONUS EPISODE: In the early morning hours of August 8, 2014 a young woman named Warriena Wright plunged to her death from the hi-rise balcony of an apartment building located along Australia's Gold Coast. In the aftermath, her date for the evening, a local playboy named Gable Tostee, found himself charged with the crime. But one question remained: accident ... or murder? Join host Ryan Kraus for a psychological exploration of the events that precipitated the most infamous Tinder hookup in recent memory. **Please note**: All new full-length episodes of Cold Case Murder Mysteries are now available only by premium subscription on www.coldcasemurdermysteries.com PayPal donations made through the link on the website are also greatly appreciated. Thank you for your support!

In November, 2004 somebody entered the home of Delmar, NY residents Joan and Peter Porco in the middle of the night, armed with a fireman's axe and the worst of intentions. By the next morning, local police had arrived at the house to find one of the more perplexing massacres in recent memory. Join host Ryan Kraus for a look deep inside the mind of a vicious killer and the venomous sociopathy that fueled his rage.

On February 9, 2004, a 21-year-old college student named Maura Murray disappears after a car accident on route 112 in Haverhill, NH and is never seen again. What follows is one of the more baffling mysteries in American true crime lore. Join host Ryan Kraus for an in-depth look at the psychology of the event as he travels inside the mind of Maura Murray.

On May 3, 2007, a 3-year-old British girl disappears from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz, Portugal, igniting one of the most infamous missing persons cases in modern history. But in the 12 years since, from allegations of a kidnapper to suspicions cast upon the parents, one question remains unanswered: what happened to Madeleine McCann? Join host Ryan Kraus for a psychological examination of the evidence in an effort to uncover the truth.

At 10pm on June 9th, 1912, the Moore family of Villisca, Iowa returns home from the Children's Day Program at their local Presbyterian church along with two guests. But as night turns to dawn, the family of six never emerges from behind the drawn curtains of the residence. Soon after, a suspicious neighbor sets off a chain of events that leads to a gruesome discovery: eight dead bodies, all bludgeoned with an axe. Two adults. Six children. And no answers more than 100 years later. Join host Ryan Kraus for a casual stroll through the crime scene as he attempts to extract motive and possible suspects from the psychology present in the murders.

Join host Ryan Kraus in part II of this series covering Elliot Rodger and the Isla Vista Massacre, in which he takes the audience down the rabbit hole once again for a psychological examination of evolution's war on introversion and its resulting societal implications that lead to violence.

On the evening of May 23, 2014, 22-year-old UCSB student Elliot Rodger murdered three students in his apartment near campus before taking his rampage to the streets behind the wheel of a fast-moving car. After killing or wounding more than a dozen people in his path, the perpetrator crashed the vehicle and took his own life, leaving us with one very important question: why? Join host Ryan Kraus for a psychological examination of the early years documented in Elliot's manifesto "My Twisted World" to learn what brought forth the demon. With a special appearance by Jessica from the Asian Madness Podcast.

On August 5, 1962, the world learned of the death of Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe, who succumbed to an overdose of barbiturates at age 36. Decades later, however, many still speculate the actress was the victim of murder. Join host Ryan Kraus for a psychological profile of the life and death of a legend.