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- [00:02]
A
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.
- [00:52]
B
This is Crime House.
- [00:57]
A
We all want companionship in life, people to laugh with us in good times, support us in the bad, and share in the little moments that make life special. Everybody needs somebody. Throughout the 1980s, Adolfo Constanzo definitely didn't want to be alone. But he didn't just want someone to share life with. Adolfo wanted people who would follow him into death. Over the years, he cultivated a group of loyal followers who blindly helped him commit brutal, horrific murders. But once Adolfo's operations started to unravel, he quickly learned that if you sell your soul to the devil, there won't be anyone waiting when you fall. The human mind is powerful. It shapes how we think, feel, love and hate. But sometimes it drives people to commit the unthinkable. This is Serial Killers and Murderous minds, a Crime House original. I'm Vanessa Richardson.
- [02:08]
C
And I'm forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Ingalls. Every Monday and Thursday, we uncover the darkest minds in history, analyzing what makes a killer.
- [02:19]
A
Crime House is made possible by you. Follow serial killers and murderous minds and subscribe to Crime House on Apple Podcasts for ad Free early access to each two part series. Before we get started, be advised that this episode contains discussion of suicide, rape, murder and mutilation. Please listen with care. Today we conclude our deep dive into Adolfo Constanzo, the serial killer who used dark rituals from the fringes of an ancient religion to rake in dirty money, control a cult of followers, and kill and mutilate people with reckless abandon, all in the name of pleasing a spirit in exchange for power and prot?
- [03:03]
C
As Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be talking about things like how some cult leaders process their own humiliation, how satanic cults develop a sense of hubris and invincibility, and why some killers mentally unravel in the face of their own demise.
- [03:20]
A
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- [08:08]
C
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 complete 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, 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.
- [10:12]
A
Why do you think he chose Elio to be the next one to carry out the act of killing someone?
- [10:17]
C
If Adolfo is trying to reinforce that he's the one in charge, that includes Elio too. But Elio 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.
- [11:21]
A
What do you think might happen to Adolfo psychologically, if he learned that his followers didn't enjoy killing as much as he did?
- [11:30]
C
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 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. 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 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.
- [12:35]
A
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. 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 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 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.
- [14:12]
C
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 his 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. 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 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. And that the only way for any of them to stay protected is to stay aligned with Adolfo.
- [16:06]
A
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?
- [16:21]
C
Eldio'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. Elio'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 framework. 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 this 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.
- [17:31]
A
While Elio and Ovidio mourned, Adolfo didn't show much emotion. Instead, he calmly extracted Jose's brain and placed it in the nganga. But on the inside, he was disappointed. 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 Jose's 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 suffering strengthened their protection. But now the illusion cracked and it stirred some something deep within Adolfo, his age old fear of being powerless and weak.
- [18:50]
C
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.
- [19:21]
A
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?
- [19:33]
C
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 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. To maintain their commitment to. 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.
- [21:06]
A
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. Someone with 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.
- [21:36]
B
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- [22:22]
D
Girl Winter is so last season. And now spring's got you looking at pictures of tank tops with hungry eyes. Your algorithm is feeding you cutoffs. You're thirsty for the sun on your shoulders that perfect hang on the patio sundress those sandals you can wear all day and all night. And you've had enough of shop from your couch. Done. Hoping it looks anything like the picture when you tear open that envelope. It's time for a little in person spring treat. It's time for a trip to Ross. Work your magic.
- [22:54]
A
By the spring of 1980, 9. 26 year old Adolfo Constanzo and his cult were on a killing spree with no signs of slowing down. They killed drug dealers, cops and Even mistakenly killed 14 year old Jose Luna. But it was all about to unravel. Once Adolfo asked his followers to find an American as their next victim. That wouldn't be too hard. It was spring break season in Matamoros. College students from Texas flocked there to blow off steam, including 21 year old pre med student Mark Kilroy. On March 14th, Mark and his friends were bar hopping around 2am they were pretty drunk and decided to call it a night. But as they stumbled out of a bar, they got separated in the crowded street street. Mark ended up all alone. He meandered on until he was in a quieter area. And that's when two of Adolfo's followers spotted him from their truck. They lured him in with a question like hey, don't I know you? And when Mark got closer, they grabbed him. Afraid for his life, Mark racked his brain for a way to escape. At one point, his abductors pulled over to use the bathroom and Mark tried to get out and run. But the cult members managed to stop him and shove him back into the truck. After that, they all drove back to the ranch. When they got there, they bound Mark's hands, feet and eyes with duct tape and left him in the bed of the truck for an entire day waiting for Adolfo to arrive. Mark sat bound in the back of that truck, unsure why he'd been taken or what was waiting for him. At one point, the ranch's caretaker, a man named Domingo Bustamante, came out to the truck and fed Mark some scrambled eggs. Mark pleaded for Domingo's help. But although Domingo took pity on Mark, he knew what happened to people who crossed Adolfo. There was nothing else he could do. So when Adolfo finally got to the ranch, he brought Mark to the shed and brutally attacked him. He sexually assaulted him before dismembering him while he was still alive. Then he called the others back in to finish the job. After Mark was dead, they placed his heart in the nganga and buried the rest of his remains behind the shed alongside many of their other victims. Except this time they did something different. Before burying Mark, they attached a wire to his spine which they kept above ground. Their plan was to retrieve the spine once the rest of the body had decomposed and and turn it into a necklace. In the aftermath of Mark's murder, the cult members laughed and joked about what they'd Just done one of them. Even proudly proclaimed, quote, my soul is dead. I am not a human being.
- [25:43]
C
I just wanted to take a minute to check in with everyone listening. How y' all doing? I know you can't answer me. How are you doing, Vanessa, with this? I'm okay.
- [25:52]
A
This is. I get chills from this one.
- [25:54]
C
Yeah. This is by far one of the most gruesome cases that I think we've covered, at least from my perspective. And I have seen some very gruesome cases in my career to include actual cartel members who have, in fact, dismembered people. But this is probably the most severe one that I have ever heard of. When professionals encounter depraved cases, the use of humor is very common, and I think that's a well known and well documented fact. Humor is a defense mechanism, and it's intended to protect against discomfort. And these cases are. Are anything but comfortable. It's psychological distancing from the reality of what they've just seen, read, or encountered, including myself. So these reactions you're describing from the members, the laughing and joking, doesn't mean they necessarily enjoyed this. It's more likely than not a combination of different psychological processes that they're going through, in addition to, you know, humor, like I just described it, can be a form of desensitization. They've now killed several people. That's repeated exposure to violence, including Adolfo's threats of violence. And the emotional responses to that, like shock, distress, empathy, those all weaken. There's also group reinforcement. They're constantly looking to each other for cues on how to react to something like this. If one person laughs or minimizes what happened, it gives others permission to do the same.
- [27:22]
A
Same.
- [27:22]
C
That reaction can spread quickly. That's also common in many first responder settings as well, because think about it. First responders are going to come upon scenes just like this one. There's also the possibility of an identity shift. They've been pushed to adopt a worldview where these acts are acceptable and meaningful. So reacting in a way that aligns with that, rather than showing distress, becomes part of maintaining their place in the group and their safety. With Adolfo, that doesn't mean they're unaffected. In many cases, it's actually the opposite, especially speaking of professionals. But overall, though, these reactions can reflect just how much they've had to override their own instincts to stay aligned, to survive within the group and make sense of what they're doing. And much like professionals, we have to override those reactions to stay aligned with the mission and the job. Survive with the hazards of that job and focus on our goals and the good that we're here to do. Do.
- [28:22]
A
Adolfo was thrilled that his followers were finally enjoying the ritual sacrifices as much as he was. But it's possible he got so caught up in things he failed to consider the consequences. Because the American authorities didn't respond the same as the ones in Mexico. And just over the border in Brownsville, Texas, trouble was brewing for Adolfo Constanzo. The same night, Mark had been out with his friends. They'd reported him missing. Missing. Soon the Brownsville Police Department was assigned to the case. Mark's father, James, was also active in the search for his son. He spent weeks consulting with the authorities and passing out flyers between Brownsville and Matamoros. Unfortunately, by late March, there was still no trace of Mark and no breaks in the case. Brownsville detectives feared he'd been captured by corrupt Mexican cops looking for a bribe. Though they had had no idea how wrong they were, investigators pressed on. Finally, without any leads, they released the story to the media. It quickly made national headlines and even appeared on America's Most Wanted. Then James posted a $5,000 reward for information leading to his son's return. And some local businesses in Texas chipped in and bumped up the reward to $15,000. The public and police were looking for Mark Kilroy night and day. It was completely different from the practically non existent response to 14 year old Jose's disappearance.
- [29:52]
C
That's obviously very heartbreaking and sadly it's not uncommon. When you look at cases like this, attention from the public and law enforcement sadly is not distributed evenly. Certain victims tend to receive more visibility and more urgency or effort. And in Mark's case, you have several factors that amplify attention to his case. He's a white college student from the US with family and community resources that generate media outreach, financial incentives and public pressure. In contrast, Jose's case received far less attention, which can reflect broader patterns we see in missing persons cases where factors like age, nationality, socioeconomic status and perceived risk influence how the case is urgently treated. It's not always about explicit bias. Sometimes it's about which cases generate pressure politically too. Cases that receive media coverage, public interest and community advocacy tend to move faster because they're being watched and they're being talked about. But there are real biases that affect the attention a case receives also. For example, Jose was an extended family member of a cartel. That alone could have caused his case to be deprioritized.
- [31:07]
A
Do you think it's possible Adolfo knew how much more tension would arise from Mark's case because he was American and therefore maybe he chased that excitement. Or do you think he was blindsided by all the police effort?
- [31:19]
C
I think he had to have known on some level that this would carry more visibility or generate more attention. On the one hand, that might have been the thrill he was seeking, because if he could pull this off and still not be suspected, it's another validation or confirmation of his power and his control, especially to his followers. Look at this demonstration of my power. But on the other hand, his behavior until this point has been largely driven more by control reinforcement and escalation than by his long term strategic thinking, especially about law enforcement response. So it doesn't necessarily mean, in my opinion, that he fully anticipated the scale of the reaction this case might get. I think this is more likely than not a combination of escalation in ego or overconfidence, confidence.
- [32:12]
A
In late March of 1989, Adolfo realized how much attention was on Mark's case. So he slowed down a little bit. But after only two weeks, he figured that since they hadn't been caught, their protection was intact. So he told the group it was time to continue.
- [32:30]
C
This implies that he genuinely believes that he's spiritually protected. And I think it's important to note that someone can genuinely believe, believe in something, even if it's something that causes harm. But that doesn't automatically mean that they meet criteria for delusional thinking in the clinical sense. Clinical delusions involve fixed false beliefs that aren't grounded in reality, even when there is clear evidence against them. That's not quite what we're seeing here, at least not yet. Adolfo's beliefs are drawn from an existing framework where he was taught at a young age and are being used in a structured and goal directed way. We don't typically see that in psychosis. This is more like a constructed system that's being reinforced and collectively acted on. So I just wanted to clear that up. When you say if he's genuinely believing that he's spiritually protected, that we don't confuse that automatically to mean he's delusional.
- [33:27]
A
Goal directed is absolutely right, because this time he wanted to sell all the marijuana they'd recently stolen. And according to Adolfo, another sacrifice would ensure ensure everything went smoothly. His name was Gilberto Sosa. He was the ex boyfriend of one of the cult members, Sarah Aldrete. Sarah had mentioned that Gilberto might still have feelings for her. So Adolfo ordered her to lure Gilberto into Their clutches. According to Sarah, she invited Gilberto to her apartment under threat from Adolfo, where another cult member forced him into a car at gunpoint. Once they were at the ranch, the group moved quickly. They ambushed Gilberto and dismembered him before killing him. Then Adolfo ordered one of them to cut Gilberto's throat. Finally, they hung his body from the rafters so that his blood would drip into the nganga. After that, the group had high hopes for a smooth drug sale. 10 days later. But they had no idea that their plan plans would be thwarted by one of their own. On April 1, 1989, Helio's nephew, who went by the nickname Little Seraphine, blew through a police checkpoint. Adolfo had always promised the group they were protected and therefore immune to the law. So Seraphine kept driving without a second thought.
- [34:48]
C
That's belief shaping behavior. Adolfo went from telling them they were protected to telling them they were untouchable. That's the kind of belief that can override someone's normal risk assessment process, especially at certain developmental stages. Adolfo is a great example of that, actually. He's been taught since he was young to believe that he was exceptional. And the more he leaned into that belief, and the more he was validated and reinforced by the people around him, the more grandiose he became. He's also showing signs that he believes he's untouchable, too. And if he's untouchable, anyone who follows him is protected or untouchable by extension. And also, we know that Elio is 21 years old, and little Seraphine is his nephew, so he's likely younger. We don't know by how much, but that still matters. He doesn't have a fully developed frontal lobe either. Risk taking is already common in adolescence. Beliefs regarding invincibility are also common. And now he's been given permission to lean into those. When people, especially adolescents, feel invincible, they're more likely to take risks they otherwise wouldn't. There's also a trust component, because Seraphine isn't just acting on his own judgment. He's relying on both Adolfo and his uncle's assurances. So if his uncle, the leader or heir to the family cartel, trusts Adolfo, then why wouldn't he? Especially over his own instincts, which he's still learning to trust because he doesn't have the years of lived experience to back it up.
- [36:24]
A
Seraphine's actions were so outrageous, the agents at the checkpoint looked at one another in disbelief. Then they piled into a car and followed him all the way Back to the ranch. When the officers got there, they could sense that something was off. And when they spotted a statue of an occult God, they knew something suspicious was going on. But rather than investigate the property, they reported what they saw to their superior. Pretty soon, police were asking around town for intel. And they got it. Locals told them the ranch belonged to to the notorious Hernandez family and that the man behind the family's success was a black magic sorcerer named Adolfo Constanzo. With this information, agents started tapping the Hernandez's phones. They picked up information about drug deals in the works. And from there, police conducted searches of their homes and cars, eventually uncovering drug residue and an entire arsenal of illegal weapons. On April 9, 1989, Ed, eight days after Seraphim blew the checkpoint, officers felt they had enough to arrest multiple members of the Hernandez clan on drug trafficking charges. Police moved in on the family home and arrested several people, including Elio, Little Seraphine, and two other cult members. Later, when Elio's brother Ovidio learned what had happened, he immediately warned Adolfo. And just like that, the illuminated illusion shattered. The man who'd spent the past year telling his followers they were untouchable was forced into hiding. Adolfo grabbed a few members of his inner circle, Sarah Aldrete, Martin Rodriguez, Omar Ochoa, and Alvaro Valdez, and went on the run. Adolfo probably thought he'd be safest among his most devoted followers. But as pressure mounted, one member of the group made a grave mistake. What they did to your family, you're
- [38:38]
C
lucky to make it out alive.
- [38:39]
A
Streaming on Peacock.
- [38:41]
C
These men are going to come after me. Taking them out is my only chance. Put a bullet in her head.
- [38:47]
A
From the co creator of Ozark. 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?
- [38:55]
C
The cartel killed my family. I'm gonna kill them.
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D
All of them.
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A
MIA Streaming now only on Peacock.
- [39:05]
E
This episode is brought to you by Prime Obsession is in session. And this summer, Prime Originals have everything you want. Steamy romances, irresistible love stories. And the book to screen favorites you've already read twice off campus. Elle every year after the Love Hypothesis, Sterling Point and more Slow burns. Second chances chemistry you can feel through the screen. Your next obsession is waiting. Watch only on Prime.
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F
If you like your true crime like you like your coffee, Red Handed is the podcast for you.
- [39:39]
A
You.
- [39:39]
F
It's dark, intense, and might just keep you up all night. I'm Hannah. I'm Saroti. And every week on Red Handed we break down a different fascinating case from the most recent US Trials everyone is obsessing over, like Brendan Banfield, Karen Reid and Ellen Greenberg, to the most unbelievable stories from around the world. There's nothing we love more than digging into every detail of the cases we cover, getting beyond a basic analysis and cutting to the heart of the story. Red handed has over 400 episodes ready to be binge right now. Plus be sure to check out our weekly sister show Shorthand, where we unpack everything from the Black death to Area 51. If you're looking for smart, detailed true crime with personality, check out Red Handed wherever you get your podcasts.
- [40:21]
A
In April of 1989, 26 year old Adolfo Constanzo and a few of his followers went on the run. Law enforcement was hot on their trail and had already arrested most of the other cult members on drug trafficking charges. Charges. The authorities knew there was still more to uncover, so they returned to Rancho Santa Elena and kept searching the property. Soon they uncovered 64 pounds of marijuana and another stash of illegal weapons. It was a huge find. However, the suspects in custody still wouldn't talk. So officers turned their focus to someone they thought might be more willing to help help them. The ranch's caretaker, Domingo Bustamante. The day after their most recent search, officers brought Domingo into the station and he immediately started talking. Domingo told police about the drug operation and more importantly about the constant flow of people entering the ranch but never leaving. Then Domingo said something shocking. He told them about a young American man who'd been there on only weeks earlier. The man had been kept bound and blindfolded inside a truck for an entire day. His only meal had been a plate of eggs that Domingo gave him. And when Adolfo finally arrived at the ranch, the man was taken away. Domingo never saw him again.
- [41:46]
C
Domingo likely felt safe saying something now because there has been a change in the balance of power. Now Adolfo's on the run, law enforcement's actively investigating, they're making arrests and searching the property. That paints a very different picture than the one that he and everyone else on that ranch has been led to believe. And that's that Adolfo may not be as powerful or untouchable as he claimed. At the same time, Domingo is physically in police custody. That creates a feeling of immediate protection that he didn't have before. But there's also self preserving. He can be implicated too. He knew to some degree what has been happening there. He said so himself. People are coming but never seen leaving. An American tourist was here and never seen Again, he is implying things that indicate he knows the answer, but isn't saying it directly either. So the perceived threat of Adolfo has weakened, but his sense of safety has also increased. And at the same time, time the reality of the consequences, especially for any complicitness, are setting into.
- [42:54]
A
After Domingo told his story, the entire room went still. An officer asked him to describe the American. Domingo said he was blonde. Then a different officer left the room and came back with a photograph of Mark Kilroy. He placed the photo in front of Domingo and asked if that was the man he'd seen on the right ranch, and Domingo said yes. After that, investigators went back to Seraphine and asked him directly about Mark. Still convinced he was protected, Seraphim confessed, showing no emotion. He described how Mark had been killed in a ritual sacrifice to appease the gods of Palo Mayombe, and that they'd done it all under the rule of their leader, Adolfo Constanzo. Now the Matamoros police realized the vast, gruesome case they had on their hands. They knew they couldn't handle the whole thing on their own, so they called the Brownsville PD and asked them to come to their station right away. Once they arrived, everyone headed for Rancho Santa Elena together, with little Seraphine in tow. At the ranch, Seraphine opened the shed for them, where they got the most gruesome shock of their lives. The agents gagged from the smell of rotting remains as they looked around to see animal carcasses, pools of blood, and two wires dangling from the roof beams with loops at the ends that would fit a human wrist. Then they saw it. A black cauldron in the middle of the room with 28 sticks covering what was inside. One agent peered in, unsure of what he was looking at at, but then he remembered Seraphine's description of what they'd done to Mark Kilroy. And he realized it was a human brain. After that, little Seraphine led the agents behind the shed to where Mark was buried. It was easy to find because of the wire sticking out of the ground. Seraphine explained the purpose of the wire, and investigators were horrified. They also knew that Mark couldn't be the only person buried on this property. They kept digging, and over the next six days, they found 14 additional bodies, all of them with organs and appendages missing. The story of the gruesome discoveries made headlines in both Mexico and the U.S. adolfo, watching from a Holiday Inn in Brownsville, wasn't about to let this media attention lead the authorities to him. So he and the others started bouncing around hotels near Mexico City City. They managed to fly under the radar for a while, until the FBI joined the investigation. Federal agents consulted an anthropologist, who gave them an idea. If they wanted Adolfo to feel weak and destabilized, they should destroy his nganga on camera for the whole world, including Adolfo, to see. So that's what they did. On April 23, 1989, the police set fire to the shed at Rancho Santa Element. While cameras rolled, flames consumed the structure. But when the smoke cleared, the iron cauldron still stood. They still had one more step to complete. They overturned the cauldron, emptied its contents, and burned what remained. The next day, the footage aired. Adolfo and the others saw it from their hideout as intended. They watched in horror as the Nganga was destroyed. To them, this meant the spirit within had been killed. After that, Adolfo unraveled. He screamed, wept, and paced endlessly, clutching his handgun like a lifeline. Without the Nganga, he no longer felt protected.
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C
Adolfo's reaction here makes sense when you consider what the Nganga represented to him. It was the foundation of his belief system. It symbolized his power, protection, control, and ultimately his identity. So when it was destroyed, it was a direct threat to how he understood himself and the world around him. And that belief system allowed him and his followers to feel insulated from consequences. So in this moment, that illusion is now gone, but he's had to rebuild Nganga's before. He started that very one from scratch with this group, so this isn't new. With that in mind, I think he's reacting to exposure and a loss of control. Exposure because his entire identity is being challenged in a very public, undeniable way. And that kind of violation can feel really threatening to Adolfo and Control, because it wasn't him that destroyed it. It was law enforcement. It shows that something outside of him, something he doesn't control, can interfere and overpower and break through what he believed was his most power tool and what others believe about him as well. This is the first time that we've seen that he's not the one in control, and he's the one left feeling vulnerable.
- [48:10]
A
The next day, Adolfo tried to regain a semblance of control. His nganga may have been destroyed, but his business was still intact. At least so he thought. Adolfo called up Salvador Alcohol to make sure everything was in place for an upcoming drug deal they'd planned, and Salvador said no. He'd also seen the footage of the Enganga being destroyed, which meant he knew Adolfo no longer had any Power or protection. In other words, Salvador was done helping him. Upon hearing this, Adolfo knew he and his remaining cult members had to get out of Mexico. They discussed the possibility of seeing sneaking into Guatemala. And Sarah tried to find a surgeon who could give them plastic surgery as a way to permanently disguise themselves. But during her search, a few locals in Mexico City recognized her from the news. People soon tipped off the authorities, who zeroed in on the hotel where the cult was hiding out. Officers quickly set up a stakeout at a shopping center just outside the hotel. On May 6, 1989, Adolfo looked out the window and saw them. In an act of sheer panic, he yelled to the others that they were done for. Then he grabbed his gun and started firing at the police outside. As the officers returned fire, Adolfo barked at Omar and Martin to throw their money out the window. He then turned to Alvaro and asked for more ammo. And that's when Alvaro gave him the bad news. News they barely had any left. Adolfo paused. Then he calmly told the others what they had to do. They'd never get away, so they should die, and on their own terms. He told them he would choose which one of them would kill the others before that person turned the gun on themselves.
- [50:04]
C
Adolfo choosing death and insisting the others die with him is his last attempt at control. He knows that if he's crying caught, nothing will be on his terms from that point on. Capture would mean more direct exposure. It would mean answering to authority rather than being the authority. He'll be losing all power and having the reality of what he's done defined by someone else and not him. He can't justify or rationalize his actions and get an entire world to believe it. He can't control what the other group members will say if they don't choose death. This is an entire identity collapse for him. So choosing death can be a way to preserve control in the only way that he still can. Even giving them orders and deciding what happens is a reflection of that. There's also psychological consistency there. If he's built a system where loyalty is absolute and disobedience is punishable by death, then allowing them to survive would contradict all of that too. This is just the same need for control, preserving identity and ensuring authority, that we have seen in him throughout his life. Playing out one last time.
- [51:21]
A
Adolfo made his choice. He handed the gun to Omar and he told him to shoot them all, then himself. But for the first time, one of Adolfo's followers disobeyed him.
- [51:33]
C
Him.
- [51:34]
A
Omar refused and ran out of the room. After that, Adolfo turned to Alvaro and asked him to do it. He was hesitant at first, but Adolfo persuaded him. Finally, Alvaro did as he was told and shot Adolfo. Their leader was dead and now that Adolfo's grip on them had been released, Alvaro didn't hold up the rest of the deal. He chose not to kill himself or the others in the instead, he put the gun down and they all walked outside and surrendered. Sarah, Omar and Alvaro were all charged with murder, drug trafficking and criminal association. Sarah received a 62 year sentence while Alvaro received 35. Omar died from complications due to AIDS before he was sentenced. Meanwhile, Elio, little Seraphine and Elio's cousin Sergio Salinas were jo charged with murder, drug and weapons violations, cover up, and improper burial. They were each sentenced to 67 years. One of Adolfo's earliest followers, Jorge Montes, was charged with murder and sentenced to 35 years. And finally, two of the suspects, Ovidio Hernandez and Malio Torres, managed to avoid capture. From our sources, it seems like both are still fugitives. As of this request recording, Adolfo Constanzo ranks among the most brutal, vile and prolific serial killers to have ever lived. But what sets him apart from other notorious killers is that Adolfo was not a lone wolf. He had a loyal team who happily helped him satisfy his bloodlust and in the end, he lured them too, into the depths of hell. Thanks so much for listening. Come back next time for a deep dive into the mind of another murderer.
- [53:40]
C
Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is a Crime House original Powered by Pave Studios Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support. If you like what you heard today, reach out on Instagram at Crime House. Don't forget to rate, review and follow Serial Killers and Murderous Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly does make a difference
- [54:04]
A
and to enhance your listening experience, subscribe to Crime House plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode of Serial Killers and Murderous People Minds ad free along with early access to each thrilling two part series. Serial Killers and Murderous Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristan Engels and is a Crime House original. Powered by Pave Studios, this episode was brought to life by the Serial Killers and Murderous Minds team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Lori Marinelli, Natalie Pertzovsky, Alyssa Fox, Sarah Batchelor, Dana Rossi, Sarah Tardif, and Carrie Murphy. Thank you for listening. I'm Katie Ring, host of America's Most Infamous Crimes. Each week I take on one of the most notorious criminal cases in American history, listen to and follow America's most infamous crimes Available now wherever you get your podcasts. 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.