What Makes a Killer

In this last episode of season five, we'll examine Floridian serial killer Bobby Joe Long... 1984. Tampa, Florida. A 17-year-old girl named Lisa was on her way home from work, when she was abducted from the side of the road. For the next 26 hours, she was subjected to a terrifying imprisonment by a sadistic sexual predator, who had already killed several young girls. But, unlike the other victims, Lisa was the only one to survive. As bodies were being discovered every other week, Floridian authorities realized a serial killer was on the loose. Investigators didn't know it yet, but the killer was a 31-year-old army veteran and divorced father of two hiding in plain sight. And over the course of eight months, ten women would die by his hands in the Tampa area. This episode is sponsored by: BetterHelp Original music by Kai Engel, Ben Krejci, and Kevin MacLeod. Additional music and sound effects provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

September 22nd, 1991. Guilford, Connecticut. Early that evening, a mysterious man visited the home of Christine Brendel and delivered some shocking news – her brother Ernest and his family had been kidnapped, and were being held for ransom by the Mafia. It turned out the man at the door, 42-year-old Christopher Hightower, was a pathological liar and a killer. He claimed he needed $75,000 to release the family, but in reality, they had already met their fate. Most shocking of all was Hightower's methods. He killed Ernest – who was a friend of his – with a crossbow, strangled his wife Alice, and then drugged their eight-year-old daughter Emily, and dumped her in a shallow grave. But in court he continued his lies, claiming he saw the mob carry out the killings. What Makes a Killer is sponsored by BetterHelp & Sinisterhood. Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Christmas day, 2010. A couple was walking their dog along a remote road in Clifton, an English port city of Bristol, when they happened upon the body of a 25-year-old Joanna Yeates. 32-year-old Dutch engineer Vincent Tabak, who was obsessed with violent pornography and rough sex, would soon be identified as Joanna's killer. Tabak strangled the young woman to death in her own apartment, and then dumped her body 3 miles away from where they both lived. A nationwide hunt had come to a tragic end and the prime murder suspect was Joanna’s landlord and neighbor, Christopher Jefferies. But the police had arrested the wrong neighbor! Original music by Kai Engel, Ben Krejci, and Lee Rosevere. Additional music and sound effects provided by Epidemic Sound and Freesound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On February 24th, 1986, police in Talladega, Alabama forced their way inside the home of 24-year-old mother and student Sherri Weathers. When she had not shown up for classes in over a week, police were sent to do a wellness check. And soon the reason for her absence became very clear.  Sherri and her two young children had been strangled to death, and their killer had piled them on top of each other in the shape of a cross. The killer was a 31-year-old artist and seasoned criminal, and his macabre masterpiece was far from complete. Two more bodies were discovered, and the killer had slipped away without a trace. With no clue as to where he went, police began the long and grueling search to find him, before he struck again. This episode is sponsored by: Badlands - listen on all major podcast apps! Wondery's This is Actually Happening - listen ad free on the Wondery Plus app BetterHelp -What Makes A Killer is sponsored by BetterHelp. Get 10% off. Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Sergey Cheremisinov, Kevin MacLeod, and Kai Engel. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

November 13th, 1977. Los Angeles, California. Young students, Dolores and Sonja were on their way home from a day out shopping, when two police officers stopped them for questioning. However, it was just a clever disguise, and the supposed police officers were actually sadistic killers. The girls were held captive for five days, abused, and then eventually strangled. Their killers were two cousins, Angelo Buono and Kenneth Bianchi. The partners in crime went on a killing spree, murdering 10 young women in just four months. Many were dumped on hillsides across LA – locations that would lead the killers to earn their infamous moniker. This episode is sponsored by: Crimes of the Centuries Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

The residence of 39-year-old Claudia Benton was broken into by a savage intruder. The mother of two, had been brutally beaten, sexually assaulted, and fatally stabbed. The killer was a man named Ángel Reséndiz who had been illegally boarding trains across the US border from Mexico for over 20 years. He would go on to kill at least nine people, but capturing Reséndiz would prove to be one of the FBI’s most challenging cases. Original music by Kai Engel, Ben Krejci, and Lee Rosevere. Additional music and sound effects provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On April 1st, 1990, an Arizona State Trooper was out on patrol when he spotted a truck pulled over on the side of interstate 10 in Casa Grande. The officer pulled off the interstate and parked behind the truck. After approaching the suspicious vehicle, he peered into the cab and was met with a shocking image. He came face to face with a terrified woman, chained up like an animal. He immediately handcuffed the driver and brought him into custody, unaware that he had just apprehended a sadistic killer, with years of violence behind him. This episode is sponsored by: Crime Weekly - listen on all major podcast apps! Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Kevin MacLeod, Chris Zabriskie, Sergey Cheremisinov, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

June 2010, Cumbria, a predominantly rural county in Northwest England. The peaceful community of Whitehaven, in the county of Cumbria, was about to be shattered by the murderous rampage of one man. Over the course of one day, Derrick Bird would kill twelve people and injure eleven more. This callous killer only stopped when he had run out of ammunition, and as the police were closing in, he finally turned the gun on himself. This episode is sponsored by: Astonishing Legends Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

July 5th, 1998. Irene Silverman, an 82-year-old New York socialite, was viciously assaulted in her home before being tasered and finally strangled. Her killers were 23-year-old Kenny Kimes and his 63-year old mother Santé. The Kimes were linked to crimes in 5 separate states following a trail of fraud and suspected murder. By pure chance, a sting operation to apprehend the mother/son duo was already underway at a nearby hotel - the same day as Irene's murder. Santé was a con-artist who would stop at nothing to keep her crimes under wraps. Over a period of two years, she coerced her son, Kenny, into committing three murders. This episode is sponsored by: BetterHelp Original music by Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, JOHNWALLY, Kevin MacLeod, Ben Krejci, KRISTIANKULTA, and Magmi.Soundtracks. Sound effects provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In November of 2016, police were investigating the disappearance of a young couple, named Kala and Charlie. The pair had seemingly vanished without a trace two months earlier, but through a stroke of luck, investigators finally had a lead. They made their way to a property in Woodruff, South Carolina, and upon arrival, they made an unbelievable discovery. 30-year-old Kala had been chained up in a metal storage container for 65 days. Her boyfriend Charlie had been shot dead. The killer was discovered to be an unassuming real estate agent, who had been hiding in plain sight for years. Police would soon discover two more bodies, hidden on the grounds of his property. And the man had even more skeletons in his closet. 13 years earlier, he murdered 4 employees at a motorcycle dealership. A crime which had remained unsolved until now. This episode is sponsored by: BetterHelp - use our link to get 10% off your first month! The Minds of Madness - listen on all major podcast apps! Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Kevin MacLeod, Chris Zabriskie, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In March 1995, the body of 41-year-old Julie Winningham was found just off Highway 14 in Washington State, strangled to death. Julie had become the eighth victim of an active serial killer named Keith Jesperson. The 39-year-old truck driver had been slaughtering women across America for the past five years. He would go on to capture national intrigue when he confessed to five murders in an anonymous letter he sent to a newspaper, signed with a smile. This episode is sponsored by: Badlands Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

February 13th, 1966, a group of young children spent the afternoon sledding down the snow-covered hills in Krakow, Poland but one 19-year-old was looking for a very different kind of thrill. As the day drew to a close, 11-year-old Leszek Calek began walking home… alone! A strange man emerged from the shadows and approached the young boy with a bayonet. Leszek was violently stabbed eleven times by a young man who was labeled by the press as the “Vampire of Krakow.” Original music by Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, JOHNWALLY, klankbeeld, Ben Krejci, and Lee Rosevere. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In July of 1976, two teenage girls were sitting in a car in front of their New York City apartment, when a man approached and fired 5 shots into the vehicle. One of the girls died instantly, while the other was seriously injured. Within a year, the same man would claim 5 more young lives, terrifying the citizens of NYC. And in a taunting letter to police, gave himself a nickname that would go down in infamy; “Son of Sam”. Original music by Ben Krejci. Additional music provided by: Epidemic Sound, Kai Engel, Sergey Cheremisinov, Daniel Birch, Nctrnm, and Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Join us on a chilling journey into the depths of the human psyche. Welcome to 'What Makes a Killer,' the podcast that explores the twisted minds behind the most notorious crimes.  Each episode, host Jennifer Nittoso explores a different case, examining the motives, the methods, and the aftermath. We'll search for the truth and confront the unthinkable - examining such cases as the Vampire of Krakow, the Happy Face Killer, and Son of Sam.  From Audioboom Studios and Woodcut Media, What Makes a Killer: Season Five... begins Thursday, August 3rd on all major podcast apps!

From Audioboom Studios, Nikki Druce and Cheryl Hole (RuPaul's Drag Race UK) will be traveling to the strangest corners of the world, stopping to learn about the craziest true crime cases in history, spooky paranormal activities, truly bonkers internet mythology, very convincing cults, and much, much more... It’s going to be a wild ride! Killers, Cults and Queens is out NOW with new episodes every Thursday. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts!

Florida State University, Tallahassee. January 15th, 1978. Around 2:45 am, a man broke into the Chi Omega Sorority House and attacked four women. He was a known serial killer, and was on the run after breaking out of prison for the second time. Within four years, one of America’s most prolific killers– Ted Bundy– kidnapped, raped, and sadistically murdered at least thirty young women during the mid 1970’s. Initially convicted of only kidnap and assault, it is suspected that he may have actually raped and slaughtered up to a hundred young women. This episode is sponsored by: Stamps.com - promo code: WHAT Magic Mind - promo code: WHAT20 Cerebral Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

1990s Central Florida–a woman posing as a sex worker has made a name for herself by targeting middle-aged, wealthy men with expensive cars, killing them, and pawning off their belongings. In what would turn out to be a year long murder spree with no clear killer, Aileen Wuornos would shoot, rob, and murder seven men... just because she felt like it. Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In October, 1977 in Edinburgh, Scotland, the body of a 17-year-old girl was found on a deserted beach. Then, just a few hours later, the body of a second teenage girl was found in a field, just a few miles away. Later, the girls were identified as friends, and had last been seen alive the previous evening at the World’s End Pub in Edinburgh. Their murders prompted one of the biggest manhunts in Scotland’s history. But it would take nearly 40 years for investigators to discover who was behind the crime.  This episode is sponsored by: Cerebral Original music by Ben Krejci, Sergey Cheremisinov, Kai Engel, Kevin MacLeod, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

March 10th, 1993 in London, England. A man called a national newspaper to declare that he had just killed somebody. The victim had been suffocated to death with a plastic bag during a sadomasochistic sex session. His was the first death of many. The killer was 38-year-old Colin Ireland; a man with a singular obsession–becoming a serial killer of gay men. Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In late August 1990, freshman roommates Christina Powell and Sonja Larson were excitedly preparing for their first semester at the University of Florida in Gainesville. But they would never make it to the start of the school year. Hidden in the shadows, outside of their apartment, was a man fixated on feeding his sexual desires and twisted need to succeed at something in his life. Their murders would be the first in a string of violent killings that would turn the bustling college town completely upside down. Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Sergey Cheremisinov, Daniel Birch, and Kevin MacLeod. Additional music provided by: Epidemic Sound Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

1980s Washington. One of the most prolific serial killers of all time, Gary Ridgway, preyed on vulnerable young women, runaways and sex workers. With his un-assuming persona and habit of dumping bodies in the nearby Green River, Ridgway was able to commit mass murder for nearly twenty years, and get way with it. The fear that swept across the Pacific Northwest was palpable. This episode is sponsored by: Stamps.com - promo code: WHAT Cerebral Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On July 25th, 1994, a suspected murderer entered a small gas station in North Yorkshire, England. As he browsed the store, the owner of the station recognized him. This man was wanted for the murder of four people, and had been on the run for a week. Two weeks prior, this self-proclaimed murderer had brutally killed his girlfriend  and, a week later, her twin sister. He was fueled by drugs, alcohol, and sexual gratification.  Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Sergey Cheremisinov, and Kevin MacLeod. Additional music provided by: Epidemic Sound Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

May 1984, at the Lane County Courthouse in Eugene, Oregon. A mother of three stands accused of murdering her seven year old daughter, and of the attempted murder of her other two children. When her daughter testifies against her mother, it becomes all too clear. This woman wanted her children gone, just so she would be free of the responsibilities of motherhood, and so she could pursue a man she'd been interested in. Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On July 14th, 1990, in Stow, Scotland, a 6-year-old girl was walking to her friend’s house when she was suddenly pulled into a car off the side of the road. A local man who had been working in his garden saw the girl disappear into the van and quickly called the police.  By chance, they were able to locate the vehicle, forcing the driver to pull over. When they opened the back of the van, they found the girl, just minutes away from suffocating. Unaware to the police, the driver was a 43-year-old pedophile. And he was responsible for the abduction and murder of several other young girls. Police had been trying to track him down for years. Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Sergey Cheremisinov, Kevin MacLeod, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by: Epidemic Sound Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

It's 1988 in Kansas City, Missouri. Young, vulnerable men are going missing without a trace, and no one can seem to figure out why. A local man named Robert Berdella–known as an upstanding member of the community–has been secretly holding these men in his house, torturing them to their limits, and taking extensive notes. No one has a clue, not even police. After murdering them, he dissects his victims with such precision, that he would become known as the "Kansas City Butcher." Due to recent events, the order of this season has been changed. The previous episode's teaser may no longer be accurate. This episode is sponsored by: Cerebral Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by Epidemic Sound. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In August of 1998, a woman by the name of Christine Smith was picked up from her usual spot on the notorious downtown strip known as "the track" in Spokane, Washington. After providing her services to the man, he shot her in the head. She survived the attack, and thinking that the man had stabbed her, fled the car.     She would later learn that she would be the only person to ever survive one of this man’s brutal attacks. For over twenty years, Washington State was plagued by an elusive killer targeting female sex-workers. Investigators would have never guessed that the man they were looking for was acting as an upstanding member of the community and model citizen. Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Sergey Cheremisinov, Kevin MacLeod, Chris Zabriskie, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by: Epidemic Sound Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

It’s July, 1975 in Manchester, England. One man, dubbed "The Beast of Manchester" was responsible for sparking immense fear across the city. This "beast" was the unpredictable and violent 30-year-old Trevor Hardy. He seemed to truly enjoy the act of killing. But it didn't stop there. The Beast would return to the scene of the crime to mutilate his victims over and over again. This episode is sponsored by: Manscaped - promo code: Killer20 Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

From 1974-1991, the city of Wichita, Kansas was gripped with fear as a violent serial killer was on the loose. The killer, known to the public by his alias BTK, was an unassuming family-man named Dennis Rader. He would attack people in their own homes before binding, torturing and ultimately killing them, seemingly for self gratification. BTK came in and out of the shadows for 30 years, taunting investigators with miniscule clues. But in a moment of overconfidence, he was finally thrown into the light. This episode is sponsored by: Cerebral Microdose Gummies - Promo code: WHAT Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Sergey Cheremisinov, Kevin MacLeod, Chris Zabriskie, and Daniel Birch. Additional music provided by: Epidemic Sound Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

What Makes a Killer is a series that chronicles the lives and crimes of the world’s most notorious killers. In every episode, host Jennifer Nittoso will trace a killer’s origins, examine their behavior, and follow their path to bloodshed. As always, this season we’ll hear from family members, survivors, and experts to uncover what led these killers to commit their crimes. In this season, we will cover thirteen new killers, each more sinister than the last. Diane Downs, The Green River Killer, Ted Bundy, BTK... all their stories will be examined. What Makes a Killer returns May 12th. New episodes released every Thursday. Subscribe now on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find your favorite shows.

It's May 1990, and convicted murderer Jack Unterweger is about to charm his way out of prison. After teaching himself how to read and becoming a well-known children's author, Unterweger had convinced the Austrian public that he was a changed, reformed man. But it was a ruse, and his release would only lead to the death of at least nine more women in both Austria and the United States. He was once again on the loose, on top of the world, and not trying to hide it from anyone. But no one suspected it was him. This episode is sponsored by: Vodacast Best Fiends IPVanish Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

It’s 2010 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Local man, Stephen Griffiths has just returned home from a night out with a woman in tow. Seconds later, she's seen on security footage running for her life away from his apartment. Griffiths, seen with a crossbow, chases after her and shoots her, before dragging the woman back inside his apartment. She is never to be seen alive again. But he doesn't try to hide this. In fact, he flaunts it, with the hopes of living up to his idol–the Yorkshire Ripper. This episode is sponsored by: PrettyLitter - promo code: WMAK Warby Parker Vodacast Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Yosemite National Park, located in the picturesque Sierra Nevada mountains, was all but serene for five months in 1999. Fear ran rampant as four women were viciously murdered. The prime suspect was 37-year-old Cary Stayner, a handyman at a local lodge. After being arrested in July of that same year, he astonished everyone with what he did next. This episode is sponsored by: IPVanish PrettyLitter - Promo code: WMAK Vodacast Original music by Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, JOHNWALLY, Ben Krejci, Kevin MacLeod, Magmi.Soundtracks, and Lee Rosevere. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On December 2nd 2015, Horst Kroner boarded a plane to Thailand, intending to spend his vacation sleeping with various women. While he was away, neighbors became increasingly concerned about the whereabouts of Kroner's wife. They didn't know it yet, but two days before his trip, the man had viciously murdered his wife, bludgeoning her to death while she slept before hiding her body. This episode is sponsored by: Vodacast StoryWorth Best Fiends Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel,  Scott Holmes, Kevin MacLeod, Chris Zabriskie, and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On August 19th 1987, the citizens of Hungerford in Berkshire woke up to a seemingly picturesque summer's day. While a mother sat in a park with her children, she was approached by a young man named Michael Ryan. As she turned to face him, Michael Ryan shot her. What followed was a day of terror, as the town was thrown into chaos and authorities were inundated with conflicting information. As they desperately tried to locate the killer, Michael Ryan continued to claim victims. This episode is sponsored by: Vodacast Daily Harvest - Promo code: WHAT Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Kevin MacLeod, Sergey Cheremisinov, Chris Zabriskie, and Daniel Birch.

April 7th, 2016, police were called to the Peabody Estate in South London after receiving complaints from tenants about a putrid smell. The two police officers knocked on the door of 49-year-old Stefano Brizzi’s apartment and waiting for them inside was a gruesome sight. The body belonged to 59-year-old police officer Gordon Semple. The officers would soon find out that Semple had met his killer while using a dating app. This episode is sponsored by: Warby Parker Original music by Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, iamdead324, JOHNWALLY, klankbeeld, Ben Krejci, KRISTIANKULTA, Kevin MacLeod, Magmi.Soundtracks, and Lee Rosevere. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In the summer of 1996, all of Belgium was in shock when two young girls who had been kidnapped, raped, and tortured were rescued from a makeshift dungeon below a house in Marcinelle. As the weeks passed, the bodies of four other young girls were found buried at properties linked to the same man. It was the beginning of a terrible nightmare for the entire nation. With the help of his wife, Michelle Martin, convicted pedophile Marc Dutroux's unhealthy desire for young girls had turned deadly. This episode is sponsored by: Best Fiends HelloFresh - Promo code: 12WHAT PrettyLitter - Promo code: WMAK Original music by Almusic34, Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, iamdead324, JOHNWALLY, klankbeeld, Ben Krejci, KRISTIANKULTA, Kevin MacLeod, cognito perceptu, and Lee Rosevere. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

It's July 1st, 2000, and an eight year old schoolgirl is playing in a field outside of her grandparent’s house at Littlehampton in West Sussex. She disappears from sight for only a moment, but that is enough time for her abductor to make his move and steal the child. What follows is an emotional search for the little girl, who would never be found. With little to no evidence tying anyone to the scene, this proved to be a difficult case, and extremely upsetting for everyone involved. This episode is sponsored by: Daily Harvest - promo code: WHAT IPVanish Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In July 2010 in Northumberland England, a jealous ex-boyfriend goes on a violent rampage after deciding that police have taken too much from him, including his relationship. He effectively declares war on the police after killing his ex's new partner, and shooting an officer, both from point blank range. Then he went into hiding, alarming the police, his now #1 target. This episode is sponsored by: IPVanish Daily Harvest - promo code: WHAT Gabi Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In April 1991, doctors at Grantham and Kesteven hospital in Lincolnshire were perplexed. In just two months, the health of 13 children had mysteriously deteriorated and four of them had died. But this was no unfortunate coincidence. One of the nurses was deliberately attempting to kill her young patients by injecting them with deadly poison. This episode is sponsored by: IPVanish Original music by Almusic34, Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, Ben Krejci, KRISTIANKULTA, JOHNWALLY, and Lee Rosevere. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On October 3rd, 2012, Coral Jones gave an emotional televised appeal for the safe return of her daughter, April. The five-year-old had been missing for 36 hours – she’d vanished while playing outside her home in the rural welsh town of Machynlleth. The entire community came together to help the police search for the missing girl. There was a real hope that April would be found alive. But the search would be in vain… A local 46-year-old man named Mark Bridger, who was known to the family, had abducted and murdered April. This episode is sponsored by: PrettyLitter - Promo code: WMAK StoryWorth Original music by Almusic34, Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, iamdead324, JOHNWALLY, klankbeeld, Ben Krejci, and Lee Rosevere. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On June 2nd 1985, San Francisco police were called to a lumberyard to apprehend a shoplifter. By the time they arrive the suspect had already fled, but the man's partner is still at the scene. The man in in possession of a gun fitted with an illegal silencer, so they arrest him. But while in custody at the station, the suspect swallows a cyanide pill he had hidden in his clothing. Authorities would soon uncover the truth; this man had been one half of a sick and twisted serial killing duo. And the other half of the pair was still on the loose. This episode is sponsored by: HelloFresh Original music by Ben Krejci, Nctrnm, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Kevin MacLeod, Sergey Cheremisinov, Chris Zabriskie, and Daniel Birch.

In the winter of 2006, the town of Ipswich, England was left horrified as the bodies of five missing female sex workers were found by police. The discovery launched a massive manhunt that resulted in police questioning over 2,000 men. Police raced against time to find the killer, all while women continued to risk their lives, hoping they would not become another victim of Steve Wright. This episode is sponsored by: Daily Harvest Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Nctrnm, Daniel Birch, Kevin MacLeod, and Sergey Cheremisinov. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

What Makes a Killer is a series that chronicles the lives and crimes of the world’s most notorious killers. In every episode host Jennifer Nittoso will trace a killer’s origins, examine their behavior, and follow their path to bloodshed. As always, this season we’ll hear from family members, survivors, and experts to uncover what led these killers to commit their crimes. On this season, we will cover thirteen new killers, each more sinister than the last. The identities of The Suffolk Strangler, The Angel of Death, and The Yosemite Park Killer will all be revealed What Makes a Killer returns April 1st. New episodes released every Thursday. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find your favorite shows.

On May 10, 2012, a blazing fire engulfed a family home in Allentown, Derby. The parents, Mick and Mairead Philpott, were able to get out alive, but there were six children trapped inside. All six perished in the tragedy . . . but it was not an accident. It came as a shock to his neighbors - but not to the authorities - that Mick Philpott was involved in orchestrating the fire in a complicated scheme for power and revenge.  This episode is sponsored by:  Better Help Original music by Ben Krejci,  Kai Engel, Daniel Birch, and Lee Rosevere. SFX by ramston, vedas, kwahmah_02, IESP, miastodzwiekow, Puniho, MAJ061785, and Almusic34.

In April 1973, in Santa Cruz California, a 24 year old man is on the run for the violent murder of his mother and her best friend. The only problem? Authorities have no idea that the crime has been committed. After three days of driving, and with no media coverage of his crime, the man makes a surprising call...to the police. And that's not the only twist, he is responsible for multiple other murders that are being investigated by the police, and he confesses to all of them in graphic detail. This episode is sponsored by: Unjust and Unsolved, & SimpliSafe Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Kevin MacLeod, Sergey Cheremisinov, Chris Zabriskie, and Daniel Birch.

On August 2nd, 2012, twelve year old Tia Sharp went missing after supposedly  traveling by train to meet up with some friends for the day. She is due back home in the evening evening, but she never arrived. What followed her disappearance was one of the most publicized search campaigns in British history. But on August 10th, it all came to an abrupt end, with a twist that shocked both the public, and Tia’s family. Tia’s body, and her killer, had been right in front of the cameras the entire time. This episode is sponsored by: Better Help, & Green Chef  Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Kevin MacLeod, Sergey Cheremisinov, and Daniel Birch.

On June 20, 1970, the hunt was underway for a missing 12-year-old girl named Robin Samsoe. She had last been seen with her friend talking to an older man with a camera. When the man's description was circulated, he was immediately recognized by his parole officer . . . but also recognized for having appeared on a television show - The Dating Game. This episode is sponsored by: Spycast Podcast  Original music by Ben Krejci, Daniel Birch, Kevin MacLeod, Kai Engel, Nctrnm, and Lee Rosevere. SFX by Dynamicell, alexbird, qubodup, 1Kaylin_Dickson, DBKEEBLER, MWLANDI, adamlhumphreys, klankbeeld, lawnjelly, and odditonic. 

On May 31st, 1983, Polish police were dispatched to check out a supposed robbery. A neighbor had called when he realized his pig cooker was stolen . . .but police were well aware that the accused man, Pawel Tuchlin, was guilty of things that were far more sinister. For years, the man had been stalking women around Poland and attacking them with a hammer . . . and for years, police had done nothing to apprehend him.  This episode is sponsored by: Something Was Wrong Podcast Better Help Original music by Ben Krejci,  Kai Engel, Daniel Birch, Lee Rosevere, and Nctrnm. SFX by TypOnNegatywny, mwilkinsss, InspectorJ, harrybates01, pfranzen, CheneWessels_170017, MAJ061785, pcaeldries, daveincamas, Leafs67, bennychico11, kwahmah_02, drotzruhn, nextmaking, Glaneur-de-sons, manychefsbroth, FedeFrede, and Almusic34. Additional sfx from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On November 12th, 2002 police received a call from a terrified 14 year old boy and his 11-year-old sister. They had returned home from school to find their mother, Heather Barnett, brutally murdered. Police arrive at the scene to find the victim’s children being comforted by a neighbor. Neither police nor the children realize they are being consoled by the very man who murdered their mother. And it would take another 8 years, and the discovery of another body 14 hundred miles away, to finally bring Heather Barnett’s killer to justice. This episode is sponsored by: SimpliSafe Check out Killer Queens for more true crime and a lot of 90's references. Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Kevin MacLeod,  Scott Holmes, Sergey Cheremisinov, Chris Zabriskie, and Daniel Birch.

In February 1988, a 29-year-old John Duffy was on trial for the rape and murder of three women. He was a terrifying figure, and infamous across London. His arrest brought an end to a horrific four-year crime spree across the British capital, but he was only a half a murderous duo. Duffy refused to give up the name of his accomplice, and without any leads, the police have no choice but to wait. It would be another 15 years before the other man was found guilty for his part in the heinous crimes. Over a decade later, the imprisoned Duffy has had enough, and tells investigators he will testify against his former accomplice, and friend, David Mulcahy. This episode is sponsored by: BetterHelp & Green Chef Check out Real Ghost Stories Online for a daily dose of horror. Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Kevin MacLeod, Sergey Cheremisinov, and Daniel Birch.

On February 8, 1983, a plumbing engineer arrived at an apartment in Cranley Gardens to investigate a blocked drain. When he opened the drain cover, he knew right away that the smell was not anything that would usually be in a pipe . . .and he pulled out large pieces of flesh. It was traced back to the top floor, where lived 27-year-old Dennis Nilsen. When he was arrested, Nilsen was discovered to have murdered at least 13 people - but even Nilsen couldn’t remember how many.  This episode is sponsored by:  Raycon Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. SFX by unfa, Leady, limwei, Gidion, Eelke, constructabeat, Almusic34, klankbeeld, pauliep83, and KRISTIANKULTA. Additional sfx from freesfx.co.uk. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On December 1st, 1996, single father Lee Harvey was murdered on the side of the road. The only person who witnessed what happened was his fiancé, Tracie Andrews, who claimed he had been killed in a road rage incident by strangers. But not long after a tearful plea to the press, Andrews’s story began to fall apart. And she went from the number one witness to the number one suspect.   Original music by Ben Krejci, Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, and Ad Serpentae. Sergey Cheremisinov, and  Kevin MacLeod. SFX by ramston, digifishmusic, Kyster, InspectorJ, Maurice_J_K, luminadii, FedeFrede, and miastodzwiekow.  Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In August 1985, California police officers rescued a man from an angry mod that attacked him as he exited a bus. What they didn't know, was that they had just detained a man the media had dubbed "The Night Stalker". The killer had spent 14 months terrorizing the state of California, claiming 13 victims. After finally getting a good look at the man, police realized they had just made the arrest of the decade, Richard Ramirez. This episode is sponsored by: Better Help, & SimpliSafe Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere, Nctrnm, Daniel Birch, Kevin MacLeod, Scott Holmes, and Sergey Cheremisinov. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In February 1994, in Sunderland, England, a badly burned body of a teenager was found on a plot of land. It was the third in just three months. Despite all three deaths being similar, and suspicious, pathologists initially ruled out murder. Police didn’t know it yet, but there is a serial killer on the loose, and his name, was Steven Grieveson. This episode is sponsored by: Raycon Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Daniel Birch, Kevin MacLeod, and Scott Holmes. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On November 25th, 1987 in Paris, France. 87-year old Bertha Finalteri was strangled and robbed. It was the latest in a string of older women being robbed, tortured, and murdered . . . but Bertha survived. The culprits were a pair of young lovers, Thierry Paulin and Jean-Thierry Maturin. And when they split up, Paulin continued to steal from helpless women – and admitted to killing at least 21 people. This episode is sponsored by: It was Simple: The Betty Broderick Murders Podcast Original music by Ben Krejci, Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, Lee Rosevere,  Sergey Cheremisinov, and  Kevin MacLeod. SFX by CheneWessels_170017, ceberation, maj061785, JPMusic82, burnsie289, volivieri, margotdots and  tim-kahn. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In November 1988, detectives in Sacramento California discovered the body of a missing man named Burt Montoya. His body was found buried in the yard of the boarding house he had been living in. The woman in charge of the boarding house was shocked by the discovery of her tenant, but as more and more bodies were discovered, it became apparent that the little old landlady was not as innocent as she looked. Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, Daniel Birch, and  Kevin MacLeod. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

When we face challenges in life, we seek answers from people we believe can help us. When tragedy strikes an exclusive retreat with a self-help superstar, many people are left to wonder: how far is too far? James Arthur Ray was an Oprah-endorsed self-help teacher who achieved fame, fortune, and influence. But friends and family members of his followers questioned his unorthodox methods, and tried to stop him. From Wondery, the makers of “Dirty John,” “Dr. Death,” and “The Shrink Next Door,” comes a story about the dark side of enlightenment. Hosted by journalist Matt Stroud.   Listen today at wondery.fm/whatmakes_guru

What Makes a Killer is a series that chronicles the lives and crimes of the world’s most notorious killers. In every episode host Jennifer Nittoso will trace a killer’s origins, examine their behavior, and follow their path to bloodshed. We’ll hear from family members, survivors, and experts to uncover how they became killers. On this season, we will cover thirteen killers, each more sinister than the last. Who was the Death House Landlady? And how did the Sunderland Strangler get his name? All this and more will be answered this season.  What Makes a Killer returns July 2nd. New episodes released every Thursday. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, or wherever you find your favorite shows.

On the Season finale of What Makes a Killer: On November 17th 2006, police in the German city of Cologne searched the vehicle of a 47-year man suspected of murder. What they found inside the truck was a collection of gruesome memorabilia. That day, police apprehended Volker Eckert, bringing an end to a 32 year career of murder that spanned five European countries. To this day, the exact number of his victims is still unknown. This episode is sponsored by:  Kenko Hello Fresh Original music by Ben Krejci and Kai Engel. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Shortly before midnight on July 22nd, 1991, two Milwaukee police officers were flagged down in their patrol car by a man with a pair of handcuffs dangling from one wrist. The man had escaped from a small one bedroom apartment. When the officers went to investigate, they found themselves in a living nightmare. Between 1978 and 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer killed 17 young men and boys by luring them back to his apartment where he would drug and strangle them. But it wasn’t the act of murder that thrilled Dahmer - it was the dead bodies of his victims that he was interested in . . .  This episode is sponsored by: Hello Fresh Original music by Ben Krejci and Kai Engel. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Levi Bellfield  was responsible for the brutal murders of two young women and the attempted murder of another across a 16 month period between 2003 and 2004. While serving time in prison, he was again found guilty in 2011 of one of the highest profile cases of the 21st century - a crime that had gone unsolved for almost a decade. Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In September 2006, Glasgow police discovered the body of a 23-year-old student, Angelika Kluk, under the floorboards of a local church. The investigation into Angelika's murder would uncover a series of shocking crimes dating back as far as the early 1990s. Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Serial killer and rapist, Stephen Port used online dating sites to lure young men to their deaths. His victims had been found within yards of one another in East London, and it was initially thought that no foul play was involved. But the discovery of a fourth victim in September 2015, led the police to the killer who had poisoned his trusting victims. Original music by Ben Krejci and Kai Engel. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

For 20 years, Fred and Rosemary West satisfied their appetite for sex and murder inside their home on 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester – which became known as “The House of Horrors.” This episode is sponsored by: Embr   Original music by Ben Krejci, Kai Engel and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

On August 4th, 2002, 10 year olds Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman went out to buy candy in Soham, England...and then disappeared. A local school caretaker, Ian Huntley, is the last one to see them alive... This episode is sponsored by: Native Audible Original music by Ben Krejci and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

When a local woman went missing in 1957, police searched the farmhouse of loner Ed Gein. What they found stunned the small town of Plainfield, Wisconsin - and the world. This episode is sponsored by: Embr BetterHelp  Original music by Ben Krejci and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In her twelve day killing spree, 31-year old Joanne Dennehy killed three men and stabbed two others in broad daylight, leaving them for dead. Some have characterized Dennehy as a femme fatale, a woman who entices men into her life before turning in an instant... with deadly results.  This episode is sponsored by: BetterHelp  Lola Kencko Promo Code: WHAT Original music by Ben Krejci and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

In his five-year reign of terror, Peter Sutcliffe brutally murdered 13 young women across the North of England. During the investigation, Sutcliffe was interviewed nine times by police - narrowly escaping capture each time. When he was finally apprehended in January 1981, it brought an end to a manhunt that had both terrified and captivated the nation. This episode is sponsored by: Embr  Care/of  Native  Code: WHAT Original music by Ben Krejci and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

A local businessman, socialite, and Democratic precinct captain, known to spend his weekends entertaining children as a clown -- but over the course of six years, John Wayne Gacy kidnapped, tortured, and brutally murdered 33 young men and boys in and around Chicago, Illinois. 27 of the 33 victims were discovered buried in a crawl space directly below Gacy’s home. This episode is sponsored by: Kencko  Audible  BetterHelp  Original music by Ben Krejci and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

Pedophile, rapist, murderer, and cannibal, Joachim Kroll is considered to be one of the most twisted serial killers in Europe in the twentieth century. Between the mid 1950s and the late 1970s, Kroll targeted women and children across West Germany, evading the authorities for years.  This episode is sponsored by: AMC's Shudder  BetterHelp  MDRN CBD  Original music by Ben Krejci and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

What Makes a Killer is a twelve-part series that chronicles the lives and crimes of the world’s most notorious serial killers. In every episode host Jennifer Nittoso will trace a killer’s origins, examine their behavior, and follow their path to bloodshed. We’ll hear from family members, survivors, and experts to uncover how they became killers.  What Makes a Killer premieres October 31st with new episodes every Thursday. Subscribe now on Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to your favorite shows.