Advertise on podcast: Killer Destinations

(This is another replay of one of our most popular episodes from our first season. Continued prayers for Cathy’s younger brother, who remains in the ICU, would be greatly appreciated.) Howard Witkin lived in San Jose, CA and managed his family’s thriving glass and mirror business. He had three young children and was known as a humble, fun guy who people liked to be around. In 1980, he was found shot to death in his own home, and it would take decades before the real killer was finally revealed.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Almost a century ago, the kidnapping of famous aviator Charles Lindbergh’s baby son made international headlines. The boy had been taken from his second-floor nursery as he lay sleeping, with a ransom note left behind. After almost a dozen notes were exchanged between the kidnapper and the family, the ransom was paid in exchange for the boy’s location. But it didn’t end there… Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

(This is a replay of an episode from our first season. Usually we only have one replay a year at Christmas, but there was a medical emergency in Cathy's family this week and we weren't able to record. All prayers and positive thoughts would be greatly appreciated.) The Groene family lived in rural Wolf Lodge, Idaho, and their three young children spent a lot of their time outdoors fishing and camping. But no one could've predicted that a BBQ with family and friends in 2005 was the last time they would ever be together. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Is it possible that an infamous murder victim from 1947 – the Black Dahlia – and a taunting serial killer from the late 1960s – the Zodiac – are the work of one maniacal individual? One man says it is. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In the 1970s, California had a disproportionately high number of serial killers compared to the rest of the nation. Today, a lot of these killers from that time are household names – like the Golden State Killer, the Hillside Stranglers and the Night Stalker. And in the mid-1970s, a county in Nor Cal realized they might have an active serial killer – or serial killers – in their midst. But when the cases continued to go unsolved, someone came forward to expose the killer. And it was the last person you’d expect. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Between July 1984 and April 1985, over a dozen individuals were reported missing from the region encompassing San Francisco and Sacramento in northern California. The missing persons had no apparent connections, and all of them disappeared without a trace. But after an observant police officer refused to let a case of shoplifting go unpunished, a horrific scheme was uncovered that shocked even the most seasoned investigators. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We close out our 3-part series about the challenges facing females in the foster care system. In an episode that was dropped on May 20, 2025, we spoke with a woman who founded a nonprofit called Arise for Girls, which provides safe, loving environments where transformation is possible. It also provides life skills and mentorship programs for young adults. Today's episode features Tonnette, a successful, intelligent and deeply caring woman, who graciously agreed to share her story with us. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In order to spend more time with our families and friends at Christmas, this is the one time each year that we do a rebroadcast of one of our early episodes. Kathy chose the episodes for our first two years, so it's only fair that Cathy chose last year and this year. - and for the first time delved into Season 2 for her choice. This is Episode 93 about Molly Watson in Monroe Co. MO. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In 1978, Mark Fair and Karla Brown were just starting their future together when they moved into a quaint bungalow together. They spent the weekend moving in their belongings, and Karla even took Monday off work to make their house a home. But their dream life was short lived. But it would take the tenacity of a police task force and the input of a fabled FBI profiler to finally find the truth. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Berkley, Michigan has a welcoming community and lives by the motto “where small town charm meets city living.” And just 10 years ago, Berkley was named one of the top 50 places to live in the U.S. by Money Magazine and was lauded for its low crime rate and strong sense of community. But just a decade prior, the gruesome slaying of a veteran shifted the perception of a warm and friendly community to one of suspicion and distrust.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When her new boyfriend suggested a romantic weekend getaway, Charlene Leaser thought it sounded like the perfect way to end the summer. But to her horror, instead of fun and relaxation she found herself fighting for her life.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In 1963, three young women – all in their early 20s and from affluent families – were sharing an apartment in Manhattan’s Upper East Side as they started their careers. But one humid August morning, two of the roommates met a horrific end. The gruesomeness of the crime scene and the notoriety of the families involved meant detectives throughout NYC’s five boroughs were called in for help. And it was the persistence of one detective that not only solved the case but also inspired the hit 1970s TV show Kojak. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In 1988, Bob and Donna Decker were living the American dream. They’d moved into their spacious house two years earlier and lived in an idyllic neighborhood that was comprised of one-acre estates and horse farms. But in an instant, their suburban dream was shattered when an unlocked door provided entry for a monster. And nothing would ever be the same again. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

This is the true story behind the inspiration for the movie “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” In the small town of Vidor, TX, Kathy Page’s body was found inside her car – 100 yards from home – nose down in a ditch. It was apparent from the beginning that it was staged… and a killer was on the loose. When the police were slow to act, Kathy’s father started putting up billboards, alleging a cover up and demanding answers. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

After a flight attendant's murder, her widower received a letter from a man that said he thought his mother had been killed by the same person who'd murdered his wife. The problem? Police at the time didn't see the connection. It would take a newly formed task force looking into unsolved homicides to crack the case wide open. And prove that the son's intuition had been right all along. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy