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Hi listeners, it's Vanessa. Before we get into today's episode, I want to tell you about another show I think you'll love. Hidden history with Dr. Harini Bhat. Every Monday, Dr. Bhat goes where history gets mysterious. Vanished civilizations, doomsday prophecies, paranormal phenomena and events that science still can't fully explain. Dr. Bot treats these moments like open case files. Not myths, not superstition, just incomplete explanations waiting for a closer look. Hidden History drops every Monday. Follow now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen, so you never miss a mystery.
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This is Crime House.
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All right friends, it's time for your daily true crime rundown. Grab your coffee, settle in, and let's talk about the cases everyone's going to be discussing today. We're starting with the biggest one. The South Carolina Supreme Court just delivered a stunning blow to one of the most closely watched criminal cases in recent memory. Alec Murdoch's double murder convictions have been thrown out and a new trial has been ordered. This is crime house 24 7, your non stop source for the biggest crime cases developing right now. Make sure to subscribe wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Vanessa Richardson and we have quite a lineup for you today. Here's what you need to know. Lately I've been trying to take the stress out of getting dressed. Just focusing on pieces that feel easy, comfortable and still put together without a lot of effort. That's really what's been pulling me toward Quint's. Their stuff just fits that effortless everyday vibe. I love their fabrics, linens, cottons, cashmere. 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We start this morning in South Carolina where the state Supreme Court has just issued a unanimous ruling that is sending shock waves through the true crime world and the legal community alike. Thank you. 57 year old Alec Murdoch's double murder convictions have been overturned. A new trial has been ordered. To understand why this matters, we have to go back to where this all started. On the evening of June 7, 2021, Alec Murdoch called 911 and told dispatchers he'd arrived at his family's hunting property in Coleton County, South Carolina and found his wife and son shot to death. 52 year old Maggie Murdoch and 22 year old Paul Murdoch were killed at close range in what investigators quickly determined was a targeted brutal attack. Maggie was shot multiple times with a rifle. Paul was shot twice with a shotgun. What unfolded in the months and years that followed became one of the most talked about criminal sagas this country has ever seen. Alec Murdoch came from one of South Carolina's most powerful legal dynasties. His family had dominated the local legal and political landscape in the low country for nearly a century. And slowly the picture investigators were building of him was not of a grieving husband and father. It was of a man with a breathtaking double life. Investigators ultimately uncovered that Murdoch had been stealing millions of dollars from his own clients, many of them vulnerable people, injury victims, and even the family of his former housekeeper who had died. He had a secret drug addiction. He'd been lying to investig from the very beginning about where he was in the hours before the murders. He had even staged a fake suicide attempt to try to collect a life insurance policy for his surviving son, now 32 year old Buster. When his trial finally started in January 2023, the proceedings lasted six weeks. It was one of the most watched criminal trials in South Carolina history. Prosecutors argued that Murdoch had killed Maggie and Paul because he feared they were about to discover just how deep financial crimes went. Defense attorneys argued the opposite. That the murders were committed by someone else entirely. And that Alec had no blood, no DNA and no physical evidence tying him to the scene. But there was one piece of evidence that proved decisive. A cell phone video taken on Paul's phone the night of the murders captured the voices of Alec, Maggie and Paul together at the dog kennels on the property. For months leading up to trial, Murdoch had told investigators he had not been to the kennels that evening. The video proved otherwise, and it placed him at the scene roughly 45 minutes before 911 dispatchers received his call. On March 2, 2023, the jury convicted Alec Murdoch of two counts of murder. He was sentenced to two consecutive life terms without the possibility of parole. Prosecutors declared justice done for Maggie and Paul. And for a moment, it seemed like the saga was finally over. But it wasn't. Alec Murdoch's defense team filed a motion for a new trial, and at the center of their argument was a name you may remember. Rebecca Becky Hill. Hill had served as the Colleton County Clerk of Court during the trial. At the time, prosecutors publicly praised her as an asset to the proceedings. She took a prominent role throughout the six weeks of testimony, and when it was over, she started writing a book about what she had witnessed from inside the courtroom. Its title, behind the Doors of justice, the Murdoch Murders. Then the allegations started coming out. Defense attorneys claimed that Hill had engaged in improper communications with jurors throughout the trial, suggesting to them that Murdoch was guilty and that they shouldn't be fooled by his defense. One juror, identified in court records only as Juror Z, stated under oath that Hill had told the jury panel not to be full fooled by evidence presented by Murdoch's attorneys and urged them to, quote, watch him closely and pay attention to his actions, end quote. That language is not coming from the evidence. It's coming from a court officer telling jurors what to think before they ever began deliberating. The situation grew even more troubling with another juror, a woman referenced to in court documents as the Egg Lady. She'd been dismissed from the jury during the trial after Hill interrogated her about social media posts to an affidavit submitted by the juror. Hill, knowing the woman had fears about her ex husband, told her that law enforcement had questioned him, offered to reinstate a restraining order the juror had against him, and then suggested that, quote, the Murdoch probably got to the ex husband when he called the juror on the morning of the verdict. In January 2024, Hill appeared at an evidentiary hearing and faced cross examination over these claims. She'd already pleaded guilty to separate charges of obstruction of justice and perjury for showing sealed court exhibits to a reporter and lying about it in court. But the criminal charges related to her interactions with the jury were never filed. She was not prosecuted for those specific conversations. That did not stop the South Carolina Supreme Court from addressing them directly. On May 13, in a unanimous 5 to 0 ruling, the justices threw out Alec Murdoch's murder convictions entirely and ordered a new trial. All five justices agreed. In their ruling, the justices were candid about what this decision costs. Quote, although we are aware of the time, money and effort expended for this lengthy trial. We have no choice but to reverse the denial of Murdoch's motion for a new trial due to Hill's improper external influences on the jury and remand for a new trial. End quote. Additionally, the book that Hill had been writing was ultimately pulled from publication after plagiarism allegations emerged. So where does this leave Alec Murdoch right now? He separately pleaded guilty to more than 20 financial crimes and is currently serving a 40 year federal sentence and a 27 year state sentence. Those convictions have not been appealed and are not impacted by Wednesday's ruling. His attorneys, Dick Harpudlian and Jim Griffin, released a statement saying the ruling affirms that the rule of law remains strong in South Carolina and that they look forward to a new trial conducted consistent with the Constitution. It's impossible to overstate how extraordinary today's ruling is. Double murder convictions, a prominent trial, a six week proceeding that riveted the nation, and it's all been undone because of the behavior of one elected official who couldn't keep her opinions to herself and was apparently too busy angling for a book deal to realize she was blowing up the entire case. For those close to Maggie and Paul Murdoch this morning is devastating in a way that's hard to put into words. Justice for now is back at the beginning. Now we move to Utah, where Corey Richins, who was convicted of murdering her husband, stands before a judge on what would have been his 44th birthday.
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what they did to your family, you're
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lucky to make it out alive.
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Streaming on Peacock these men are going
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to come after me, taking them out. It's My only chance.
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Put a bullet in her head. From the co creator of Ozone Dark. Looks like a family was running drugs. Execution style killing. It's rare for the Keys. Any leads on who they might have been running for? The cartel killed my family. I'm gonna kill them. All of them. Mia streaming now only on Peacock. On May 13th, 35 year old Corey Richards was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Judge Richard Razek handed down the maximum sentence available for the aggravated murder charge. Exactly what prosecutors had asked for and exactly what Eric Richards family had pleaded for. In that courtroom before the judge ruled, Corey Richards chose to speak for roughly 30 minutes. Directed largely at her sons. She insisted she is not a murderer. She said she'll appeal her conviction. She told her boys, quote, I'm coming home. Not today, not this year, but we're going to make this right. End quote. The story behind this sentence is one that unfolded over years, starting on March 4, 2022, when 41 year old Eric Richards was found unresponsive in the bedroom of his home in Camas, Utah. His wife Corey called 911 and told dispatchers she'd found him cold to the touch. She told investigators they'd been celebrating a business deal. Earlier that evening, a medical examiner determined the cause of death quickly and definitively. Eric Richards had five times the lethal dose of fentanyl in his system. It was illicit fentanyl, not medical grade. It had been orally ingested. In the absence of any indication that Eric was a drug user, friends and family said he simply was not. Investigators in the family began looking much more closely at the circumstances surrounding his death. And the more they looked, the more they found. Corey Richards was a real estate agent with a house flipping business that had accumulated millions of dollars in debt. Investigators alleged she had taken out numerous life insurance policies on her husband without his knowledge. She was involved in a long running affair with another man. And according to testimony from Eric's family and friends, Eric Richards himself had told people he was afraid of his wife. One of the most striking details from the entire case came through a family spokesman. Eric had reportedly told his family, quote, if I die, you need to take a look at her because I think she's trying to kill me, end quote. Prosecutors built a case over months that pointed directly at Corey as the person who had obtained the fentanyl and administered it to her husband. The prosecution's star witness was Carmen Lauber, the family's housekeeper, who testified that Corey had asked her to procure illicit pills on multiple occasions. In early 2022 cell phone data robber's phone near the pickup location on dates that aligned with those requests. Valentine's Day 2022 became its own chapter in the prosecution's case. Prosecutors alleged that Corey had made an earlier attempt on her husband's life that day, that she had poisoned a sandwich she made for him, and that Eric broke out in hives shortly after eating it, used his son's EpiPen, and then fell asleep. Eric called two close friends that day and told them he thought he was going to die. And then 10 days later, a life insurance policy on Eric Richards went into effect, one that investigators said Corey had opened without his knowledge. There was more. Investigators examined Corey Richen's cell phone and found searches that prosecutors called a roadmap to her state of mind. Among them, quote, what is a lethal dose of fentanyl? And quote, if someone is poisoned, what does it go down on the death certificate as? End quote. And searches about women's prison in Utah. As if all of that weren't enough, Corey Richards made a choice after Eric died that would ultimately prove to be one of the most damaging decisions in the entire case. She wrote a children's book. She titled it are you with me? It was framed as a story to help children cope with the loss of a parent. She dedicated it to, quote, my amazing husband and a wonderful father, end quote. She promoted it on a local Utah television station. In April 2023, roughly a year after Eric's death. And then just weeks later, in May 2023, she was arrested and charged with his murder. After a trial spanning more than 13 days of testimony, with more than 40 witnesses called by the prosecution and zero witnesses called by the defense, the jury came back with their verdict. On March 16, 2026, Corey Richards was found guilty on all counts. Aggravated murder, attempted aggravated murder, forgery, and insurance fraud. It's also worth noting Corey faces more than two dozen additional money related criminal charges in a separate case that has not yet gone to trial. But on May 13, the focus turned to sentencing, with the hearing beginning at 9:30am in Park City at the Summit County Courthouse. Corey's legal team had tried to delay it, filing motions, arguing they needed more time to prepare. Eric's sister, Katie Richards, broke down as she told the court. Few people outside that family had heard in full detail before. She said that Eric had known toward the end of his marriage exactly what he was dealing with. He'd already consulted with a divorce attorney, but he made a heartbreaking calculation. He would not leave. Not yet. He told his sister. He believed Corey was, in his words, quote, the most evil person he had ever met, end quote. And that he was terrified of what might happen to his boys if she had equal custody. His plan was to stay in the marriage, survive it, and get his sons to adulthood safely. The three children, identified in court filings only by their initials, wr, CR And AR had their statements read into the record by the counselors who've been working with them. The oldest son, now 13, said that he does not miss his mother. He said that he's afraid that if she's released, she will come after him and his brothers. His statements read, quote, I think she would come and take us and not do good things to us, like hurt us, end quote. The middle child, now 11, recalled the night of March 4, 2022, in a way that no child should ever have to. He told the court he was put to bed early that night. No bath, which was unusual. He said his parents bedroom door was locked and the television was blaring from ins. He tried to reach a key to get into the room and his mother yelled at him to go away. That contradicts what Corey Richards had told investigators, that she was in the child's room that night. The youngest son, who was in preschool when his father was killed, said that whenever someone talks about his mother, quote, it makes me feel hateful and ashamed, end quote. All three boys are currently being raised by Eric Richen's sister and her husband. They've each undergone intensive therapy. The prosecution argued in their sentencing memorandum that Corey Richards has shown no remorse. They cited a text message she allegedly sent to an admirer after the guilty verdict in March, in which she said, quote, I will expose this county, the prosecution, the judge, so they can lock me away. For now, that's fine. It's going to come back on them. They picked the wrong one, end quote. By every account from the people who knew him, Eric Richens was a man trying to do right by his boys in an impossible situation. And on May 13, on what would have been his 44th birthday, a judge made sure the woman who took Eric from his children never comes home.
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In the suburbs of D.C. a woman fails to show up for work and is found brutally murdered.
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Well, before you go, I host another show right here at Crime House and I want to make sure you're up to speed today on Serial Killers and Murderous Minds with me and my co Host, forensic psycholog Dr. Tristan Engels were covering part two of Adolfo Constanzo. In part one, we traced Adolfo Constanzo's path from a childhood steeped in rituals and revenge spells to the cult he built in Mexico City fueled by black magic, psychic manipulation and blind devotion. And his terrifying alliance with Mexican drug cartels, where protection spells masked coldblooded murder and human sacrifice. When the kidnapping of an American college student set off an international manhunt, investigators had no idea it would lead them to a ranch in Mexico hiding 15 bodies, a cauldron filled with human remains, and a cult built on ritual human sacrifice. Dr. Engels and I follow the investigation that exposed Adolfo Constanzo's horrific operation and the dramatic final standoff that brought it all to an end. We grabbed a clip from today's episode. Take a listen and if you like what you hear, don't forget to follow serial killers and murderous minds wherever you listen. By the fall of 1988, 26 year old Adolfo Constanzo had killed at least 12 people with the help of his devoted Palomayombe cult followers in Matamoros, Mexico. By this time, the group consisted of about a dozen people, including members of the notorious Hernandez cartel family run by 21 year old Eliot Hernandez. The group's beliefs caused them to view murder as a necessary sacrifice. In exchange for human remains and souls, the gods would bestow protection and prosperity. And so far, it seemed to be working. Now that Adolfo had wormed his way into the Mexican drug trade, the group was growing wealthier by the day. As their greed grew, Adolfo had to make sure his followers knew he was the one in charge. So In November of 1988, he killed one of the men Elio had recruited into the cult. With that, all the other members knew they had to obey him or else. And one month later, Adolfo embarked on an all out killing spree his next victims were two police officers who'd fallen out of favor with Salvador Alarcon, the corrupt federal agent who'd helped get Adolfo into the drug trade. Two months after that, Adolfo went after a group of three small time drug traffickers. He and some of his followers stole a huge stash of marijuana from them before shooting them dead and dismembering their bodies. Later, they fed the victim's remains to their nganga, the special cauldron that housed their protective spirit, called an enkisi. But when it came to killing, there was something Adolfo didn't outright admit to his followers, though they may have noticed it themselves. Taking someone's life in a violent way wasn't just about feeding the nkisi. For Adolfo, it provided something akin to sexual pleasure. Sometimes he sexually assaulted victims before killing them. But even when he didn't, the act of murder felt sexually charged to him. The more obvious it became how much Adolfo enjoyed killing, the more he claimed he wanted the others to feel the same way. So he said the next time they went to kill, Elio would be the one to do it.
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I think what stands out here is the link between violence and arousal, because that's something a lot of people may have questions about. So let's discuss that briefly. Sexual assault is often much less about sexual desire in the traditional sense, and more about power and control. And when you apply that here, the same principle holds. Adolfo is largely driven by power and control. We outlined that heavily in episode one. It's why he has a cult following. He's using control to keep them loyal. He's attempting to infiltrate the cartels to elevate his control, and he will do what it takes to maintain that. We saw how quickly and how severely he escalated when that was threatened the first time he killed, it showed him just how much control he could have, and now he's fixated on that. So what he's responding to is the power, dominance and ability to completely control another person in life and death. And that helps explain why it matters so much to him that his followers feel the same way as he does. At this point, obedience isn't enough for him anymore. If they're just complying with his orders, there's still the possibility that they could resist or leave, especially if they're growing increasingly uncomfortable with his behavior. But if they begin to experience it the way he does, if they're associating it with excitement, power or even gratification, sexually or otherwise, then they're no Longer just following him. They're aligning with him. And we know that kind of alignment is essential for maintaining control, because it binds them to him, like we talked about in episode one. And then it reduces internal conflict within the group. It also makes it justified from within, and it reinforces his identity. It becomes normalized. He's continuing his attempts to create a shared reality with him at the helm of it.
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Why do you think he chose Elio to be the next one to carry out the act of killing someone?
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If Adolfo is trying to reinforce that he's the one in charge, that includes Helio, too. But Helio is different because he comes into this with his own power, influence and authority as the heir or leader to a cartel. So placing him in a position of obedience serves a very specific purpose. In one sense, it allows Adolfo to establish superiority outside of this group. People likely answer to Elio. I mean, if he is the leader, they're all answering to him. But here, Adolfo is flipping that dynamic. He's showing that even someone with his level of power is still lower on the social hierarchy to him. At the same time, it functions as a loyalty test as well. And Elio's loyalty carries more weight than anyone else's in that group. If he complies, it reinforces Adolfo's credibility and it strengthens his position within the group. He's making it clear that his authority extends to everyone, even those that others might hesitate to challenge.
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What do you think might happen to Adolfo psychologically if he learned that his followers didn't enjoy killing as much as he did?
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If they did not feel the same way he did, then they're not aligned with him, and that would be a threat. There are a few ways he would likely react to that. One possibility is he would try psychological manipulation, making them think they're in the wrong or they're not, following the Palo Mayombe way as a way to get them aligned. A second is he would interpret that as weakness or hesitation or disloyalty. And he'll respond the same way he has in the past with lethal violence. Violence. Or he might push them further by escalating the behavior in an attempt to get the same reaction, testing their limits. But the reality is, on some level, he has to know this, otherwise he would not be secretive about these feelings. He knows that sharing this would likely threaten his alignment too. However, at the same time, he was also taught at a young age that there is power in secrecy and deception. His teachings with Padrino were done in secret as well. So the secrecy is also a normal behavior for him too.
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Adolfo's followers understood the importance of obedience, so Elio didn't argue with this plan. And In February of 1989, the group found their next victim. But Helio had no idea what a huge mistake he was about to make. On the morning of February 25th, a couple group members were driving around in their truck when they spotted 14 year old Jose Luna walking down the street. They slammed on their brakes, then jumped out and grabbed him. Him. They beat Jose, bound him, pulled a burlap sack over his head and threw him into the bed of the truck. Jose was terrified, but he was also confused because he recognized the truck. It belonged to members of the Hernandez family, who may have been his cousins. It's not clear whether Jose said anything to his attackers, but pretty soon he was being dragged toward the shed at Rancho Santa Elena, the ranch where one of the cult members worked and where they housed their nganga in an abandoned shop shack. Once they were inside the shed, Elio's heart raced when he realized his first ever victim was just a boy. Still, he knew he had no choice but to obey Adolfo. So Elio lifted a machete and killed Jose in one single motion. Afterward, he removed the sack from Jose's head and made a horrifying realization. He had just killed his own own cousin. Elio screamed, burst into tears and fell to his knees. His brother Ovidio rushed to comfort him, and the two held each other and sobbed while the others watched in silence.
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Even though Elio is the leader or heir to the cartel, that power was inherited after his father's death, or what we assume is his father's death. And inherited authority doesn't always feel earned or even wanted. So it's very possible Elio was struggling with family expectations, or questioning whether he was capable of being the leader of a cartel, whether he belonged, or how to actually embody that kind of power. Remember too, he's only 21 years old. That's a lot of pressure, and it can create a lot of insecurity. And that's exactly the kind of vulnerability someone like Adolfo can exploit. Because if Elio feels uncertain about himself and these enormous expectations, then gets the promise of power, protection and certainty, that becomes very appealing. It offers him a way to step into this role that he may not have felt equipped for on his own. So if that's what's keeping him aligned to Adolfo, and we can't say that with certainty, but it is a strong possibility, then he's likely already ambivalent and uncomfortable with this loyalty test as it is. And now he's being told to kill. He knows what disobedience would cost him, and he complies. But then he realizes it's his own cousin. That's profoundly destabilizing, and it's very personal. And that can trigger shock, confusion or guilt, possibly even a sense of betrayal, not just because of what he did to his own family, but toward Adolfo for having him do it in the first place. But at the same time, it sends a message to the group and even Elio, that no one is outside of Adolfo's control, or rather his spiritual protection, as he would frame it. Not even your own family. Family. And that the only way for any of them to stay protected is to stay aligned with Adolfo.
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Since Adolfo cares so much about maintaining control, how do you think he's likely to react, both externally and internally, that this happened? How do you think his followers also might interpret his outward reaction?
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Elio's reaction is likely not what Adolfo hoped at all, because it's the opposite of alignment. Adolfo enjoys killing. Someone who enjoys the act of killing is not typically distressed by it. They don't feel remorse, empathy or guilt. Eldio's reaction is upsetting to Adolfo, and he can't show that he's upset by it. He needs to maintain a controlled response, one that communicates to everyone that this murder is expected, normal and necessary, regardless of who it is, because that is his entire belief frame. He has to take the grief out of this experience to keep the loyalty and alignment intact. But as with most high control group leaders like this, or cult leaders, he will find a way to manipulate the situation into a narrative that is palatable for his followers, especially Elio. Or this experience alone is terrifying enough to prevent all of them from questioning it, because they don't want to risk having to kill any one of their own family members.
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While Elio and Ovidio mourned, Adolfo didn't show much emotion. Instead, he calmly extracted Jose's brain and placed it in the enganga. But on the inside, he was disappointed that the experience hadn't awakened Elio's love of ritual murder like he'd hoped, however, Adolfo would soon have something to be grateful for. Jose's mother reported him missing, but the police dismissed her concerns. They said he'd probably be back soon and refused to search for him. And since there was no serious investigation, Adolfo told the group that the Enisi was protecting them. Then, after laying Low for a few weeks, they set out to find their next victim. On March 13, 1989, about three weeks after Joseph his death, the group abducted and killed a local drug dealer. Adolfo was excited to make his next kill. But during the encounter, something caught him by surprise. The man showed no fear or resistance. He simply accepted his fate. This aggravated Adolfo. He'd been telling the group that their victim's suffering strengthened their protection. But now the illusion cracked and it stirred something deep within Adolfo. His age old fear of being powerless and weak.
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Weak fear plays a role in how Adolfo views control. Their fear, resistance or distress confirms his control. And it becomes part of this experience for him. It becomes part of what's gratifying and what's arousing for him. The lack of fear response removes the part of this that makes him feel powerful. And when that happens, it's not satisfying for Adolfo. Instead, that's likely going to lead to intense frustration and even likely an escalation.
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What do you think Adolfo's need for fear suggests about how he picked his victims? Do you think it's possible he picked people that he was afraid, might have been better than him in some way, or had something he didn't?
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We talked about this in episode one a little. But there is a reason why he wants to infiltrate the cartels. The cartels in Mexico are a symbol of very significant power. He also has targeted people associated with them, like drug dealers. And these are people who more likely than not work for them. He wants power and he wants control. But when it comes to victim selection, we know he's killed a cartel family, he's killed drug dealers, but he's now killed a little boy, Jose. That does change things a little bit. And because of that, I think the victim selection is less about feeling superior and more about practicality, but also the reactions he will get from his victims. So like we talked about, he needs that fear response to get the gratification that comes from killing a little boy is most certain, certainly going to provide that fear reaction. That's a certainty. But with cartel members and drug dealers who are associated with cartel members, when they also have influence and power and they give him that reaction, it's likely more rewarding for him. It's also important to note, you know, some of these victims were practical for his belief system, and it reinforces his power and alignment within his group to maintain their commitment too. So again, his victim selection, I think really is less about superiority and more about maximizing control, reinforcing his identity. And gratification and maintaining his authority.
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Adolfo knew he couldn't let this incident shatter his image, and the only way to do that was to kill someone else immediately. He told his cult to find another victim, but this time he had a specific kind of person in mind. Someone with blonde, blonde hair who looked soft and meek. He thought it was a power play, but he had no idea this next attack would be his undoing. That was Serial Killers and Murderous Minds with me, Vanessa Richardson and my co host Dr. Tristan Engels. Catch part two of Adolfo Constanzo. And if you missed part one, that's there waiting for you too. On Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Just search serial killers and murderous minds. You've been listening to crime house 247 bringing you breaking crime news. I'm Vanessa Richardson. We'll be back tomorrow morning with more developing stories. Stay safe and thanks for listening.
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looking for your next listen? Check out hidden history with Dr. Harini Bot every Monday. Dr. Bot goes where history gets mysterious vanished civilizations, doomsday prophecies and events that science still can't fully explain. Follow Hidden History now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or wherever you listen.
Crime House 24/7 – Episode Summary
Episode Title: Alex Murdaugh's Murder Convictions Just Got Thrown Out | True Crime News
Host: Vanessa Richardson
Date: May 14, 2026
This episode delivers a detailed breakdown of two major true crime stories dominating headlines:
Host Vanessa Richardson guides listeners through the legal bombshells, the personalities at the center of both cases, and the human costs for the families involved.
Main Points:
The Case Recap:
Murdaugh Family Legacy and Unraveling:
The Trial:
Conviction and Fallout:
The Bombshell Reversal:
Improper Jury Influence:
Egregious Conduct:
Supreme Court Ruling:
"Although we are aware of the time, money and effort expended for this lengthy trial. We have no choice but to reverse... due to Hill's improper external influences on the jury and remand for a new trial." (Vanessa quoting the ruling, 09:08)
Current Status:
Memorable Moment:
“It’s impossible to overstate how extraordinary today’s ruling is... it’s all been undone because of the behavior of one elected official who couldn’t keep her opinions to herself and was apparently too busy angling for a book deal to realize she was blowing up the entire case.” (Vanessa, 10:15)
Main Points:
Who is Corey Richins?
Investigation Details:
"If I die, you need to take a look at her because I think she's trying to kill me." (Vanessa, 13:23)
Striking Detail:
Trial and Sentencing:
“She insisted she is not a murderer. She said she’ll appeal her conviction. She told her boys, 'I’m coming home. Not today, not this year, but we’re going to make this right.'” (Vanessa quoting Corey, 12:21)
Victim Impact Statements:
Eric’s Children Speak Out:
“I think she would come and take us and not do good things to us, like hurt us.” (Vanessa, 17:47)
“Whenever someone talks about his mother, ‘it makes me feel hateful and ashamed.’” (17:52)
Sister Katie:
“[Eric told me] Corey was ‘the most evil person he had ever met’... he stayed in the marriage to protect his boys until adulthood.” (Vanessa, 16:19)
Prosecutor’s Closing:
Memorable Closing:
“On May 13, on what would have been his 44th birthday, a judge made sure the woman who took Eric from his children never comes home.” (19:52)
Vanessa Richardson’s narration is empathetic, focused, and clear. She balances careful recounting of facts with striking emotional impact, offering both legal insight and personal context. Quotes from legal documents, the courtroom, and victims’ families are used to emphasize the gravity and human dimensions of these cases.
This episode is a master class in contextualizing breaking true crime news, highlighting the fragility of justice when legal procedures are violated, and the deep scars inflicted by family betrayal and loss.