Podcast
Serial Killers & Murderous Minds
Hosted by Crime House · EN
"Serial Killers & Murderous Minds" takes you deep into the psychology of history’s most chilling murderers. From infamous serial killers to ruthless cult leaders, deadly exes, and terrifying spree killers. Every Monday and Thursday, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels, a clinical and forensic psychologist, blend gripping true crime storytelling with expert psychological analysis to uncover what drives people to kill.
From the calculated minds of serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy to crimes of passion and cold-blooded murders, "Serial Killers & Murderous Minds" goes beyond the headlines to explore the twisted psychology behind the crimes. What fuels their darkness? How do their minds work? And most hauntingly—could they have been stopped?
"Serial Killers & Murderous Minds" is a Crime House Studios original. New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday. Follow "Serial Killers & Murderous Minds" wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us at @Crimehouse on social media.
151episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
SERIAL KILLER: Adolfo Constanzo Pt. 2
Yesterday00:52:26Summary readyWhen 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. Vanessa and Dr. Engels follow the investigation that exposed Adolfo Constanzo's horrific operation... and the dramatic final standoff that brought it all to an end. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Summary
SERIAL KILLER: Adolfo Constanzo Pt. 1
4d ago00:53:43Summary readyEver since he was a child, Adolfo Constanzo was raised to believe he was special. And by his twenties, he'd built a cult in Mexico City fueled by black magic, psychic manipulation, and blind devotion. Join Vanessa and Dr. Engels as they trace Adolfo's path from childhood rituals and revenge spells to his terrifying alliance with Mexican drug cartels, where protection spells masked cold-blooded murder and human sacrifice. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryThe Killing Curse: Hex Hollow Pt. 2
1w ago00:45:52Summary readyJohn Blymire set out to break a curse... but what happened inside Nelson Rehmeyer's farmhouse went far beyond anything he or his young accomplices had planned. In this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels unpack how a mission to steal a lock of hair spiraled into a brutal murder that shocked 1920s Pennsylvania and made international headlines. As guilt consumed the killers and a trial put folk magic itself in the spotlight, the Hex Hollow case forced a community to confront the deadly consequences of belief taken to its extreme. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
Summary
Jeff Davis 8 Pt. 1
Apr 1300:58:16Summary readyVanessa and Dr. Engels dive into the chilling true story of the Jeff Davis 8, the unsolved murders of eight women in Jennings, Louisiana, and the corruption that may have helped their killer stay hidden. As vulnerable women tied to drugs, sex work, and police informant networks begin turning up dead, this true crime deep dive explores the dark links between law enforcement corruption, sex trafficking, and serial murder in Jefferson Davis Parish. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryThe Black Dahlia Pt. 2
Apr 900:52:33Summary readyJoin Vanessa and Dr. Engels as they unravel the shocking aftermath of Elizabeth Short’s 1947 murder, exploring how the Black Dahlia case became one of the most infamous unsolved crimes in Los Angeles history. From the media frenzy and investigative failures to the disturbing suspects and later revelations tied to Dr. George Hodel, this true crime deep dive examines why the Black Dahlia murder still haunts America decades later. Discover the mystery, corruption, and dark Hollywood secrets behind one of the most chilling cold cases of all time. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryThe Black Dahlia Pt. 1
Apr 600:44:18Summary readyIn this episode, Vanessa and Dr. Engels explore the tragic life and unsolved murder of Elizabeth Short, the aspiring actress forever remembered as the Black Dahlia. From her difficult childhood and Hollywood dreams to the final days before her 1947 killing, this true crime deep dive examines the mystery, media frenzy, and chilling unanswered questions behind one of Los Angeles’ most infamous murder cases. Find out how the Black Dahlia murder became one of the most haunting unsolved cases in all of true crime. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryThe Unabomber Pt. 2
Apr 200:54:33Summary readyIn this gripping conclusion to our deep dive on Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, Vanessa and Dr. Engels trace his escalation from calculated bombings to deadly domestic terrorism that left three people dead and a nation in fear. As panic spreads and authorities scramble for answers, a bold and unprecedented move forces the entire country to confront the mind behind the violence. But the breakthrough doesn’t come from advanced forensics or surveillance — it comes from someone who knows him better than anyone else. Explore the psychology, ideology, and investigation behind one of the most notorious domestic terrorists in American history. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryThe Unabomber Pt. 1
Mar 3000:54:18Summary readyExplore the origins of Ted Kaczynski, the Unabomber, in this deep dive into the psychology behind one of America’s most infamous domestic terrorists. From his troubled childhood, social isolation, and controversial Harvard psychological study to his retreat into the Montana wilderness, Vanessa and Dr. Engels examine how a math prodigy became radicalized against technology and industrial society. What turns a gifted genius into a serial bomber — and what warning signs were missed along the way? If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryHeaven's Gate Pt. 2 with Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek
Mar 2601:08:47Summary readyIn March 1997, as the Hale-Bopp comet passed Earth, 39 members of Heaven’s Gate were found dead in a California mansion, having participated in one of the largest mass suicides in modern U.S. history. They believed their deaths were not an end, but a transition — a deliberate “exit” from human bodies to board a spacecraft trailing the comet. In Part 2, we explore the final days of the group, the psychological mechanisms that sustained unwavering loyalty, and the carefully orchestrated ritual that sealed their fate. Was this collective delusion, coercive control, or the ultimate consequence of charismatic authority unchecked? The tragedy of Heaven’s Gate forces us to confront how far belief can go when doubt is no longer allowed to exist. Then, Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek from The First Degree join Dr. Engels and Vanessa Richardson for an extended conversation exploring the legacy of Heaven’s Gate and the enduring questions it raises about belief, manipulation, and the human need for certainty. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
SummaryHeaven's Gate Pt. 1 with Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek
Mar 2300:52:10Summary readyIn the 1970s, Marshall Applewhite and Bonnie Nettles emerged with a radical message: they were celestial beings sent to guide humanity to the “Next Level.” Over time, their small spiritual study group transformed into Heaven’s Gate — a tightly controlled community built on isolation, strict behavioral codes, and the rejection of earthly identity. In Part 1, Alexis Linkletter and Jac Vanek from The First Degree join Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Engels to help examine how Applewhite’s personal crises, religious fixation, and apocalyptic thinking evolved into a doctrine that demanded total surrender. As members cut ties with family, gave up possessions, and redefined themselves as vessels awaiting ascension, belief slowly became obedience — and obedience became destiny. If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Serial Killers & Murderous Minds to never miss a case! For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Serial Killers & Murderous Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios 🎧 Need More to Binge? Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Murder True Crime Stories, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts! Follow me on Social Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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