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19 year old Leah Croucher set off on her morning walk to work in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire England, after that she was never seen alive again  Despite huge nationwide appeals & substantial rewards offered for any information that would lead to information on Leah's whereabouts every lead seems to come to a dead end . That is, until 3 years after Leah disappeared when a local handyman was called out to a home to locate a foul smell. It was then that he made a horrifying discovery in the property that was situated less than half a mile from Leah's family home . Today's case shines a light on the ever present & very real safety issues for young women.... And the frightening fact that no matter how familiar we are with certain areas, danger can still be lurking nearby, even in broad daylight & close to the safety of your own home .... This is episode 153: And Then She Vanished-The Tragic Murder Of Leah Croucher *Crime talk begins at 7:25 minutes in Leah Sources : itv.com/ bbc.co.uk/ just giving.com/ www.missingpeople.org.uk/ bbc.news.uk / Sky News.com/ the guardian.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A terrifying child abduction takes place as 8 year old Cherish Perrywinkle is shopping with her mom in a busy store on June 21st 2013 in Jacksonville, Florida.  Her family had been approached by a kindly older man offering to pay for their clothes as he waited for his wife. However in reality there was no wife & this was no kindly man, but a dangerous, registered sex offender.  As Cherish disappears from the safety of the store the last glimpses of her walking out with 61 year old predator Donald Smith are caught on CCTV. These final images of Cherish are truly haunting because after this she was never seen alive again. Her battered body was found in a creek & her injuries so severe, extensive & horrifying even a seasoned Doctor nearly broke down whilst relaying her injuries in court. Cherish's tragic case shines a light on the predators who walk amongst us free to offend time & again. Monsters who target vulnerable families in order to gain access to their innocent victims. And how even if a stranger claims to be a family man just wanting to help you out, there is a chance that under the friendly facade lurks a deadly wolf in sheep's clothing. A reality that heartbreakingly little Cherish & her family found out in the most devastating way possible.... This is episode 152 : A Wolf In Sheep's Clothing- The Murder Of Cherish Perrywinkle  *Crime talk begins at 13:10 mins Sources : findagrave.com/ tandfonline.com/  the Florida times-union, Jacksonville.com / flcourts-media.flcourts.gov/ news4jax.com / skynews.com/ allthatsinteresting.com/ Wikipedia.com/ Reddit / foxnews.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

His number of murder victims continued to rise as American con artist & serial killer Edward Wayne Edwards was moving from state to state all the while hiding behind this facade whilst leading his double life. Claiming to all that knew him he was a criminal turned 'good family man' but in reality it seems that no one who crossed his path was safe. Not even the young man who had become his foster son 'Dannie Boy' whom Edwards murdered & buried in a shallow grave in order to collect his life insurance. After eluding law enforcement for decades, his horrific crimes finally came to light in 2009 when his daughter managed to link him back to the brutal killing of a young local couple, leading to Edwards being charged for five murders. However law enforcement believe he may be responsible for many, many more.... This is episode 151: Con Artist, Author, & Serial Killer: The Many Faces Of Edward Edwards Part 2 *Crime talk begins at 7:00 minutes Sources: criminalmindsfandom.com/ A&E documentary/ Cold Case Files documentary/ www.oxygen.com / YouTube paramount network / theguardian.com/ people.com/ www.nbcnews.com/ oprahdaily/ the independent/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A dangerous, duplicitous killer moved acrossmany different states spanning the US, leaving a trail of arson, robberies & cold blooded murder in his wake. He did all of this whilst innocently masquerading as a reformed criminal turned author, appearing on several TV shows to show the world how he had changed.  Such was his ego he even had the audacity to write an autobiography of his metamorphosis whilst continuing to secretly kill innocent victims. This was a cunning killer who managed to elude authorities for much of his life as well as escape prison twice, only being sentenced for his murders shortly before his death. Leaving many suspicions aroused & many questions unanswered... We know for a fact that he was responsible for 5 brutal, bloody murders. However, investigators strongly believe that these crimes despicable crimes are just the tip of the iceberg with this duplicitous killer.  It is actually believed to be far more likely he was responsible for up to 14 murders. Authorities just don't have enough evidence to link them all back to him... yet ..... This is episode 150: Con Artist, Author, & Serial Killer-The Many Faces Of Edward Edwards Part 1  *Crime talk begins at 12:18 minutes Sources: criminalmindsfandom.com/ A&E documentary/ Cold Case Files documentary/ www.oxygen.com / YouTube paramount network / theguardian.com/ people.com/ www.nbcnews.com/ oprahdaily/ the independent/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's hard to fathom a more nightmarish scenario. Catching your best friend watching videos of him sexually abusing your 6 year old child. This is exactly what happened to a normal family man, 36 year old Vyacheslev Matrosov, in Russia in 2001. A man who was infuriated by the disgusting acts his friend Oleg Sviridov, 32, had forced upon his child.  The betrayal was so immense & his in-built paternal instinct to protect at all costs so overpowering that Vyacheslev took the law into his own hands.  He sought justice in a way he believed was fitting as he forced his former friend to dig his own grave & kill himself. The people of Russia were overwhelmingly in support of Vyacheslev actions, instead of seeing him as a criminal they believed he was a hero who only did what most parents would do. Today's case is nothing if not polarising. It shines a light on difficult but important questions, & sparks an interesting debate on the rather grey area of justice versus vigilantism. Can forcing someone to take their own life ever be justified even if they are an active predator? And at what point can it be considered one has gone way too far when defending the safety of their own family...?  This is episode 149: Vigilante Killer Or Heroic Father? The Case Of Vyacheslev Matrosov  *Crime talk begins 12:45 minutes in Sources: News.com.au/ article the daily telegraph/ msn.com/ www.dailystar.co.uk/ www.the-express.com/ www.themirror.com/ www.dailyrecord.co.uk/   See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After brutally murdering two young children Arthur Shawcross is granted early parole in 1988, but he has no intentions of taking this opportunity to stay on the right side of the law. Infact Shawcross could not ignore his strong compulsions to abuse, torture & kill as he begins to hunt & target a new type of victim. Tragically after more & more bodies of local sex workers are discovered in & close to the Genesee River police in Rochester, New York have no doubt that they have an active serial killer on the loose. In todays episode we see how an incredibly dangerous predator was eventually caught & bright to justice after taking the lives of fourteen innocent victims in such a horrific way. This is episode 148: Arthur Shawcross- The Genesee River Killer Part 2 *Crime talk begins 4:32 minutes in Sources: Biography.com/ skynews.com/ allthatsinteresting.com/ foxnews.com/ Interview With A Serial Killer documentary/ YouTube /reddit / Murderpedia/ thenytimes.com / A-Z of Serial Killers See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A cruel & sadistic serial killer, Arthur Shawcross committed at least 14 horrific murders between 1982 & 1989.  His youngest victim was just 8 years old, & his crimes so shocking they earned him monikers such as 'The Monster Of The Rivers' & 'The Rochester Strangler'. The mere mention of his name sends shudders through the women of Rochester, New York, who had to live through the fear & uncertainty of his deadly killing campaign. Shawcross' killing career was finally brought to an end when his sloppiness led to him being caught, his consequent arrest revealing the true extent of his crimes. And the depths of depravity he had sunk to shocked even the most seasoned investigators. As we look at the horrific murders he committed it also displays to us the unusual switch he made from his original victim type -children - to him then going on to kill sex workers.  An interesting dichotomy & a change that we don't often see with serial killers ...  This is episode 147 Arthur Shawcross - The Gennessee River Killer: Part 1  Crime talk begins 6:55 minutes in. Sources: Biography.com/ skynews.com/ allthatsinteresting.com/ foxnews.com/ Interview With A Serial Killer documentary/ YouTube /reddit / Murderpedia/ thenytimes.com / A-Z of Serial Killers See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 What would you do if a stranger wielding a hammer suddenly leapt out from the shadows in your bedroom ready to beat you to death?Would you run? Or would your instinct be to fight for your life ? For 51 year old Susan Kuhnhausen this was a split second decision she was faced with one September afternoon. However her attacker, a hitman who had been paid by her husband Mike in a murder for hire plot, did not realise quite who he was dealing with. And as Susan began to launch her own attack back on her attacker she knew one thing was for sure- only one of them would be leaving that room alive. And she would do everything to make damn sure that it wasn't going to be him. It was kill, or be killed. This is an extraordinary case of betrayal, a battle to survive & one woman's strength when faced with the most dangerous & terrifying situation.  A woman who has used her traumatic ordeal to become a voice for other victims of violent crime. A woman who as one hitman soon found out the hard way is a real force to be reckoned with .... This is episode 146:  A Fight To The Death: The Incredible Survival Of Susan Walters (Kuhnhausen) *Crime talk begins at 7:27 Sources: Blurredbylines.com/ allthatsinteresting.com/ Oregon live.com/ www.nbcnews.com/ the Seattle times.com/ wweek.com article by Beth Slovie/ the oregonian/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On December 22nd 1990 what would have been a fun filled Christmas at the Tiede family cabin instead became the scene of two violent, senseless murders, & very nearly a third.  Two dangerous escaped convicts had broken into the isolated cabin in Oakley, Utah, before brutally shooting dead Kaye Tiede in front of her terrified daughter Linae 20, & killing her grandmother Beth Potts.  They shoot father Rolf Tiede as he arrives with his daughter 16 year old Trisha before setting the cabin alight & escaping on snowmobiles, taking the Tiede girls as hostages. However what Lester Von Taylor & his accomplice Edward Deli did not realise was that Rolf although badly injured had miraculously survived the attack. And determined to save his girls he was following the killers through the treacherous snow as an intense high speed police chase ensues. Today's case shows how incredibly people can find the will to survive even when faced with the deadliest of situations. And how the intense love of one family helped the survivors overcome the most traumatic ordeal one could ever imagine.... This is episode 145: The Cabin In The Mountains-The Tiede Family Murders Crime Talk Time Stamp 10:28 Sources: Wikipedia/ people.com/ 48 Hours/ CBS News/ Morbidology Podcast/ allthatsinteresting.com/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a tragic case of double filicide & suicide 34 year old Brock Mater shot his 7 year old son Alec & 6 year old daughter Lydia to death inside his home on May 29th 2024 in Surprise, Phoenix, Arizona before killing himself. He was going through a divorce from his wife Hope & was undergoing mental health treatment. Despite concerning signs that he could present a real danger to himself & others the courts still awarded him 50/50 custody of Alec & Lydia . Hope Hooton talks to us today about the ongoing campaign for filicide awareness she started after the devastating loss of her children.She has created the 'Alec & Lydia Act' which incredibly is soon to be introduced into Arizona. Hope is a fierce advocate for reform & child safety & works tirelessly to raise awareness on these issues. Giving those who lost their lives in such horrific circumstances a voice when they no longer have one. She tells us about her campaign for victims of filicide & how she believes the system failed not just her, Alec, & Lydia but also failed Brock too. This is episode 144: Hope Hooton's Fight Against Filicide: The Tragic Case Of Alec & Lydia Mater You can find/follow Hope on... Instagram: Hope_In_The_Pain Tik tok: Hope.in.the.pain Facebook: Hope In The Pain YouTube: @hopeinthepain 'Voices Against Filicide' podcast on Spotify Website: voicesagainstfilicide.odoo.com Sources: voicedagainstfilicide.odoo.com/ daily mail/ therowanproject.org/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

News of the double murder of two teenage cousins sent ripples of shock through the community of Little Falls, Minnesota . It was Thanksgiving day 2012, but what would usually be a day of celebrating with loved ones & making memories instead became a real life nightmare for the family of 18 year old Haile Kifer & 17 year old Nicholas Brady. Their killer 64 year old Byron David Smith claimed he had shot them in fear of them breaking in to his house again. But soon more information came to light about what really happened that night, exposing the extraordinary lengths Smith had gone to to prepare for the break in & murders. This case instantly became polarising, splitting the opinions of people across America & still continues to do so, despite Smith being sentenced to life in prison where he remains to this day .  So was it self defence, committed by a terrified man who felt his burglarised home was no longer his safe sanctuary? Or was it infact meticulously planned , cold blooded murder ??? This is episode 143 The Murders Of Haile Kifer & Nicholas Brady  Crime talk Time Stamp: 8:50 minutes in Sources: Tomo US YouTube/ Wikipedia/  abcnews.go.com/ mprnews.org/ Murderpedia / theguardian.com / CBS News/ Skynews.com/ allthatsinteresting.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The second body of a young woman, 27 year old Ciara Glennon is tragically discovered in Claremont, Perth, Western Australia in 1997.  Now with two confirmed murder victims & a third girl missing but feared to have met the same fate, residents of Australia are terrified to learn the police are now hunting a serial killer .  But it won't be for another 20 years before the net finally closes in around the violent predator that had been snatching women as they made their way home. In December 2016 Bradley Robert Edward's a man who seemed very normal on the surface was finally arrested.  Bringing the campaign of terror & fear he had wrought upon the people of Claremont to an end once & for all... This is episode 142:The Claremont Killer Part 2  Crime talk timestamp: 9:02 minutes in  Sources: Stalking Claremont: Inside The Hunt For A Serial Killer-book by Brett Christian /Wikipedia /All that's interesting.com/ Sky News.com/ www.abc.net.au/ www.tandfonline.com / bbc.news.com/ the guardian.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young girl suddenly disappears after leaving a club to head home in a suburb of Perth, Western Australia in 1996. As the search for Sarah Spiers intensified two more young girls soon also vanish, from the same area & under similar circumstances. Tragically after they were both later found violently murdered police in Claremont realise they have a deadly serial killer on their hands, one so dangerous that he was hunting young women at an alarming pace. A huge hunt was launched, the task force assembled for the job was the biggest of its time & the case became the longest running, most expensive investigation the state had ever seen.  But it wouldn't be until 2016 that the identify of the brutal killer that had left women across Claremont terrified would finally be revealed.  This is Episode 141: The Claremont Killer Part 1 Crime talk timestamp: 14:51 minutes Sources: Stalking Claremont: Inside The Hunt For A Serial Killer-book by Brett Christian /Wikipedia /All that's interesting.com/ Sky News.com/ www.abc.net.au/ www.tandfonline.com / bbc.news.com/ the guardian.com See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After 3 year old Caylee Anthonys remains were tragically found in Orlando Florida in 2008 after she was reported missing months earlier, her mother Casey is charged with her murder. . 22 year old Casey Anthony had not bothered reporting her daughter's alleged 'abduction' despite claiming she hadn't seen her for weeks & continuing to party in the meantime. In a case that gripped America & people the over her court case became a huge media event totally dominating headlines across the country. Despite her bizarre behaviour, ever changing version of events & outrage amongst the public she was found not guilty of her daughter's murder & walked free. However, many still believe to this day that Casey Anthony got away with cold blooded murder.... This is episode 138: America's Most Hated Woman? The murder of Caylee Part 2 Crime talk timestamp: 7:39 minutes in Sources: The Guardian / A&E Casey Anthony's Parents: The Lie Detector Test / Discovery - Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery / Crime Investigation - Casey Anthony Where the Truth Lies / Oxygen -The Case of Caylee Anthony / ABC News / Oxygen / Biography / People / Parade / See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When a 3 year old girl is reported missing in Orlando Florida in 2008 hope amongst people soon turned to fear. Suspicion quickly fell on her mother 22 year old Casey Anthony who didn't bother reporting her daughter's alleged abduction despite claiming she hadn't seen her for weeks. In a case that gripped America & people around the world everyone demanded justice when Caylee's skeletal remains were discovered just a stones throw from the family home. Despite her bizarre behaviour, ever changing version of events & outrage amongst the public she was found not guilty of her daughter's murder & walked free. However, many still believe to this day that Casey Anthony got away with cold blooded murder.... This is episode 138: America's Most Hated Woman? The murder of Caylee Part 1 Crime talk timestamp: 8:38 minutes in Sources: The Guardian / A&E Casey Anthony's Parents: The Lie Detector Test / Discovery - Casey Anthony: An American Murder Mystery / Crime Investigation - Casey Anthony Where the Truth Lies / Oxygen -The Case of Caylee Anthony / ABC News / Oxygen / Biography / People / Parade / See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.