Crime Junkie

In the 1980s and early 1990s, a serial predator targeted young girls in the suburbs of Melbourne, Australia. He wore a mask and left little evidence behind. Investigators described him as calm and calculating, earning him the nickname, “Mr. Cruel.” More than three decades later, he has never been caught. But continued reporting by crime journalists and renewed hope from crime junkies have kept the case in the spotlight, fueling hope that his identity may one day be revealed.   Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhLXyjS30CI Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/infamous-mr-cruel/ Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies. Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie! Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @

In 1981, a Harvard graduate student vanished after stepping out of Logan Airport the night after Thanksgiving. As investigators searched for answers, they focused on a suspect connected to another murder – a woman who was killed just two years earlier. He was convicted in one case and widely believed responsible for the other. But after reviewing thousands of pages of records, we found gaps that raise difficult questions: Was the wrong man blamed? And is the real killer still out there?    Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfb_-VeKeqQ Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-joan-webster-marie-iannuzzi/ Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies. Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie! In

In 1984, when Robin Altman was just 22 years old, her brother Steven was found hanging by his neck in an apparent suicide. 12 years later, tragedy struck this family again when Robin's mother Mary Ann took her own life by self-strangulation. But Robin had a nagging feeling that something wasn't right. There was one question she could not get out of her head: what if these deaths weren't suicides at all? What if her brother Steven and her mother Mary Ann were murdered? Robin embarks on a journey to find the truth.If you have any information about the death of Mary Ann Hayes, please contact Northfield PD at 847-446-2131. If you have any information about the death of Steven Altman, please contact Chicago Police at 312-744-2422. You can also contact us at tips@audiochuck.com.If you or someone you know is in crisis or feeling suicidal, please reach out for help by calling the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK, where trained counselors are available 24/7 to provide support. Source materials fo

On June 2, 2022, Rachel Hansen opened her eyes to a dark figure standing over her bed, staring at her. She screamed, and the person took off. But the very next night — just after 2 a.m. — a dark figure entered her Gilbert, Arizona, apartment again, kicked down her bedroom door and shot her in the abdomen before fleeing.   Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_ytPB_pg6M Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-rachel-hansen/ Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies. Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie! Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuck Twitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuck TikTok: @crimejunkiepodcast Facebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllc Crime Junkie is hosted

The 1986 shooting of 16-year-old twin sisters Jill and Julie Hansen stunned the small town of Willow Creek, California. The investigation into who shot the girls and set fire to the Hansen family home is marked by twists and turns, with evidence ultimately pointing back to a suspect close to the family. Did tunnel vision cause investigators to overlook critical pieces of evidence? Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oHIUhNT36u8Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-jill-and-julie-hansen/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /Crime

A Chicago house fire killed a firefighter’s wife and their three children. The city called it a tragic accident. But as we pulled records and spoke with those who knew the family best, the story began to unravel. This is the untold story of the Day-Stewart family fire. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zOQTToywl1YSource materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-of-the-day-stewart-family/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @as

What began as a whirlwind romance in the midst of a murder in 1970s DC, ended in a mysterious tragedy in small-town Indiana. Separated by five months, the deaths of Bobby and his wife, Barbara Moore, tore a town and a family apart.If you know anything about the death of Bobby Moore, please reach out to the Indiana State Police Cold Case Investigations at: 1-800-453-4756 or you can reach out anonymously through Crimestoppers at crimetips.org. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bjr7JTw7SfMSource materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-bobby-moore/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @a

This is the full sit-down interview between Ashley and Elizabeth Smart -- a powerful 90 minutes of raw, unedited conversation with one of the most real and honest and deep-down GOOD human beings we've ever had the privilege of knowing. To learn more about the programs and services the Elizabeth Smart Foundation offers please visit https://www.elizabethsmartfoundation.org/ Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/audio-extra-a-conversation-with-elizabeth-smart/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashl

R&B radio fans in Dayton, Ohio, knew Kelly Dee Wilson as her on air name Nikki Brooks. When Wilson turned up murdered in her apartment after her show in March 2000, the community was shocked. Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://thedeckpodcast.com/kelly-dee-wilson/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikTok: @crimejunkiepodcastFacebook: /CrimeJunkiePodcast | /audiochuckllcCrime Junkie is hosted by Ashley Flowers and Brit Prawat. Instagram: @ashleyflowers | @britprawatTwitter: @Ash_Flowers | @britprawatTikTok: @ashleyflowerscrimejunkieFacebook: /AshleyFlowers.AF Text Ashley at 317-733-7485 to talk all things true crime, get behind the scenes updates, and m

Marilyn “Niqui” McCown was the first missing person’s case covered on Crime Junkie. Now, nearly 25 years after she vanished, fresh reporting uncovers never-before-heard details from police files that challenge everything we thought we knew. What if Niqui’s story never truly ended — and the answers are still closer than anyone realized?If you know anything about the disappearance of Marilyn “Niqui” McCown, please contact the Richmond Police Department at (765) 983-7247.If you or anyone you know is thinking about suicide, please be aware that emotional support can be reached by calling or texting the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline at 988.Click HERE to listen to Bobby Webster’s full interview with police. You can learn more about The Good segment and even submit a story of your own by visiting The Good page on our website! Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGOEKD2aU8Y Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitat

A luxury vacation to Mexico with college friends ended in tragedy when Shanquella Robinson died of what her friends said was alcohol poisoning. But Shanquella’s family always believed there was more to the story, especially when a video surfaced of her being brutally beaten just hours before she died. That video and a pair of autopsies coming to two different conclusions has shrouded Shanquella’s death in mystery. Years later, there are still so many questions. What exactly killed Shanquella and who, if anyone, is responsible? If you have any information about the death of Shanquella Robinson, you can call the Charlotte FBI at 704-672-6100, or email us at tips@audiochuck.com. Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-of-shanquella-robinson/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current m

Before dawn on July 4, 1997, Bonnie Lee Schultz was driving home after a late night out with friends. She was never seen again. For nearly 30 years, Indianapolis investigators suspected her husband’s involvement in her disappearance, but with no sign of Bonnie or her car, the case went cold. Could detectives have overlooked an unidentified predator who targeted her? If you have any information about Bonnie’s disappearance or her missing vehicle, contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at 317-327-6160 or email us at tips@audiochuck.com. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAUv-r8JWY8 Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/missing-bonnie-lee-schultz-part-2/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options an

Before dawn on July 4, 1997, Bonnie Lee Schultz was driving home after a late night out with friends. She was never seen again. For nearly 30 years, Indianapolis investigators suspected her husband’s involvement in her disappearance, but with no sign of Bonnie or her car, the case went cold. Could detectives have overlooked an unidentified predator who targeted her? If you have any information about Bonnie’s disappearance or her missing vehicle, contact the Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department at 317-327-6160 or email us at tips@audiochuck.com. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jAnuzZiMJMw Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/missing-bonnie-lee-schultz/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and polic

In August 2008, a woman in rural Kentucky survived one of the most brutal assaults we have ever reported, but her strength that night ensured her attacker was identified and arrested. Years later, he is a free man living in the community. As we examined his past, we uncovered unsettling similarities to another case that has haunted a family for decades. Now, two families are searching for answers — and they need your help.If you know anything about the murder of Elena Sanchez Hawkins, please call the Kentucky State Police Post 4 at (270)766–5078 or email us at tips@audiochuck.com.If you are a victim of sexual abuse, you can contact RAINN’s national sexual assault hotline by calling 800-656-HOPE (4673), by texting HOPE to 64673, or by online chatting at hotline.RAINN.org. Their services are free, confidential, and available 24/7. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sl8t0gq8a6I Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to charact

When 20-year-old Amanda Wienckowski vanished one night in Buffalo, her mom, Leslie, refused to sit back and wait for answers. She begged police to listen and even parked outside the house where Amanda was last seen — for weeks — hoping her daughter would walk out the front door. What followed would test every ounce of a mother’s strength: a case full of contradictions, silence from the system, and a fight that would stretch on for more than a decade. This is the story of a mother who wouldn’t let the world forget her daughter — no matter how long it takes for justice. You can track the status of Assembly Bill 8986 at this link: https://legiscan.com/NY/bill/A08986/2025You can also comment on that site or find a local legislator to champion Leslie’s request for a 20-year extension to Article 78.Find the NY State Assembly Directory here: https://nyassembly.gov/mem/ and please include the bill number when reaching outYou can find Sexual Assault resources by texting HOPE to 64673 for RAINN’s National Sexual Assaul

In November 2024, Ashley Flowers sat down with John Ramsey at his home for a one-on-one conversation about the murder of his daughter, JonBenét Ramsey.In the year since that interview, John has met with the Boulder Police Department and appeared in multiple media outlets, pushing for additional testing in his daughter’s case. Ashley has also continued meeting with people connected to the case, and hopes to one day soon have an update to share.Following Boulder Police’s most recent update on Dec. 12, 2025, it appears more testing is planned and efforts continue to solve the nearly 30-year mystery of who killed JonBenét. John's conversation with Ashley may give us a clue into what items they're looking at testing. Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/infamous-a-conversation-with-john-ramsey/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodc

Law enforcement Explorer programs were created to mentor teens interested in policing. But decades of weak oversight created an environment where officers could manipulate that trust. Some exploited their roles, using their authority to groom, abuse, and silence the very teens they were entrusted to guide.Resources:RAINN – Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network: 24/7 hotline and resources for survivors of sexual assault and abuse. Call 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visitrainn.orgNational Sexual Violence Resource Center (NSVRC): Research, education, and tools to support prevention and survivor recovery. Visitnsvrc.orgJoyful Heart Foundation: Works to transform the response to sexual assault, domestic violence, and child abuse, while supporting healing and survivor advocacy. Visitjoyfulheartfoundation.orgChildhelp National Child Abuse Hotline: Confidential support for anyone concerned about child abuse. Call 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) or visitchildhelphotline.orgVictimConnect Resource Center: Provides free,

In 2021, 23-year-old Sandra Birchmore was found dead in her apartment. And what Massachusetts investigators quickly called a suicide slowly revealed itself to be something much more sinister. Because out of the woodwork came friends, family, and co-workers with stories that Sandra had told them about her life. Stories of grooming, sexual abuse, and years of misconduct at the hands of several Stoughton Police officers… which began when she was barely a teenager. Three officers later resigned from the department. With a 2026 federal trial pending, the whole state has been left to wonder whether Sandra’s death was truly a suicide – as state police continue to maintain – or the end result of something much darker. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJPFejHEi4c Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-sandra-birchmore/Did y

For decades, police said Rowena Wilkinson Zapalac died via suicide by masturbation. But her family always believed there was more to Rowena’s death than met the eye. Could she have been the victim of a serial killer passing through Texas, or could her case be connected to the deaths of two other women in the area?If you have any information about the deaths of Rowena Wilkinson Zapalac or Melody Ann Bush, please contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at (979) 968-5856 or email us at tips@audiochuck.com.Click HERE to view and sign Joleta’s petition asking Fayette County to change Rowena’s manner of death on her death certificate to homicide. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DEoLPgUDUyQ Source materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/mysterious-death-of-rowena-wilkinson-zapalac/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free?

When a couple from Oso, Washington, is discovered missing, it doesn’t take long for detectives to develop a prime suspect. But solving the case, finding their bodies and capturing the killer took approximately 100 days, using a combination of old-school investigative methods and modern forensic tools.Click HERE to view the footage from SnoHawk 1’s camera, courtesy of the Snohomish County Sheriff's Office. Head over to our Crime Junkie YouTube channel to WATCH this episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ntgTjRbQpISource materials for this episode cannot be listed here due to character limitations. For a full list of sources, please visit:  https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-patrick-shunn-and-monique-patenaude/Did you know you can listen to this episode ad-free? Join the Fan Club! Visit https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/fanclub/ to view the current membership options and policies.Don’t miss out on all things Crime Junkie!Instagram: @crimejunkiepodcast | @audiochuckTwitter: @CrimeJunkiePod | @audiochuckTikT