My Favorite Murder: Rewind with Karen & Georgia

Episode 66: The Devil's Number

Release Date: October 15, 2025
Hosts: Karen Kilgariff & Georgia Hardstark
Podcast Network: Exactly Right, iHeartPodcasts

Episode Overview

In this special “Rewind” episode, Karen and Georgia revisit their original 2017 Episode 66, “The Devil’s Number.” They offer fresh commentary, updates, and behind-the-scenes reflections while revisiting the historic cases of Anneliese Michel’s exorcism and Jack Unterweger, the Vienna Strangler. The episode weaves their signature mix of true crime deep-dives, candid self-examination, humor, and audience engagement, focusing as much on the hosts’ growth and evolving awareness as the stories themselves.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Revisiting the Past & Learning Publicly

• Citing Sources and Accountability
  • Karen reflects on being called out in 2017 for not properly citing journalist Gary Baum in her retelling of the Ronnie Chasen case ([03:33]–[06:19]).
    • Notable Quote:
      • “Being accused of plagiarism is a horrible feeling and something that I never want to keep the door open on. So I will always cite from now on and just be very careful.” — Karen ([05:32])
  • They discuss the importance of attribution, their evolution as podcast hosts, and how audience feedback influences their approach ([31:11]–[33:36]).
    • Notable Quote:
      • “Like every lesson that we've learned on this podcast, we learn it publicly and we learn it with a lot of hostility coming from the other side... but the guy that did it is basically responsible for the way we now always make sure to cite sources at the top of the page.” — Karen ([31:16])

2. Podcast Recommendations & Listener Input

• Georgia passionately recommends two podcasts:
  • Accused—a narrative investigative series about the 1978 Ohio murder of Elizabeth Andes ([06:45]–[08:03]).
  • Mysteries Abound—a soothing British(-Australian) man reading true mysteries, which becomes Georgia’s sleep aid but later is revealed to be Australian ([08:03]; corrections at [33:58]).
• They riff on how falling in love with a podcast and losing it can feel like grief.

3. Hilarious Tangents & Relatable Anecdotes

• A recurring theme is the tendency for their conversations to wander to childhood memories, cookies, JLo catchphrases, odd jobs, and dream analysis ([09:13]–[13:48]).
  • Notable Quote:
    • “‘Don’t show me nothing I can’t change’ — that’s my JLo life motto.” — Georgia ([12:37])
• Bathroom politics at live shows, the perils of public urination, and even “is it OK to fart in an airport bathroom?” are investigated ([27:30]–[30:32]), showcasing their trademark blend of irreverence and sincerity.

Featured True Crime Stories

1. The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel ([40:18]–[64:17])

Told by Georgia
A detailed account of the harrowing 1970s German case of Anneliese Michel, a deeply religious young woman whose diagnosed epilepsy and mental illness were mistaken for demonic possession, leading to 67 exorcisms over 10 months. Anneliese died of malnutrition and neglect; her parents and priests were convicted of negligent homicide.

Key Points:

• Anneliese’s progression from epilepsy diagnosis to “possession” and the family’s retreat from medical care.
• Gruesome details: self-harm, eating insects, hallucinations, starvation, and kneecap fractures from repetitive genuflection.
• The church’s role, court trials, and later scientific theories (anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis) suggesting a then-unknown medical explanation for her symptoms.
• Comparison to the book “Brain on Fire” by Susannah Cahalan ([58:33]): modern parallels between medical mystery and “possession.”
• Host Reflection: The tragedy of care being supplanted by religious dogma; the lasting impact on exorcism narratives (“...it's heartbreaking. Broken kneecaps is not cool.” — Karen [66:36])
• Memorable moment:
  • “She looks like... an old woman. It's really horrific... but you can tell it's her.” — Georgia ([53:20])

Case Updates:

• By 2019, 61,000 wrongful drug convictions tied to Massachusetts chemist Annie Dookhan’s misconduct were thrown out ([34:47]); this case is revisited as an example of systemic justice failures.

2. Jack Unterweger, the Vienna Strangler ([71:55]–[100:15])

Told by Karen
The bizarre story of an Austrian convicted murderer/serial killer who, after being lauded as a symbol of rehabilitation and becoming a literary celebrity, resumes killing sex workers after his release—both in Europe and in Los Angeles.

Key Points:

• Initial 1970s murder and life sentence; in prison, Unterweger reinvents himself as a writer and cause célèbre for rehabilitation.
• A movement by Austria’s intellectual elite leads to his early release; he flourishes as a talk show celebrity and crime reporter.
• After release, a spate of nearly identical murders follows his travel path—including time spent in LA (he stays at the notorious Cecil Hotel).
• His proximity to investigations, even conducting interviews and ride-alongs with LAPD, is both diabolical and manipulative; he reports on the very murders he committed.
• The circumstantial but damning forensic evidence (unique slip knots, red fibers) and his eventual suicide after conviction.
• Notable Quote:
  • “He was basically faux investigating his own crime. It's amazing. And… the thing about the psychopaths… is you stop focusing on what they do and they make you focus on them. And that's how that—like, it's cult of personality.” — Karen ([98:17])

Broader Discussion:

• Host analysis of psychopathy, narcissism, rehabilitation fallacies, and the unique ability of charismatic killers to manipulate both individuals and society at large.
• Reflection on why “smart” people can fall for such sociopaths, the importance of listening to gut feelings, and the parallels to the Ted Bundy–Ann Rule case ([101:14]–[105:59]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Karen on learning in public:
  “We learn it publicly, and we learn it with a lot of hostility coming from the other side... but it’s great to be able to start naming the people who did the hard work.” ([31:13])
• Georgia’s humor about the show’s chaos:
  “So cross your T’s and dot your everything—it’s not gonna happen on this episode.” ([02:51])
• JLo wisdom:
  “Don't show me nothing I can't change.” ([12:37])
• About murder-inclined hummingbirds:
  “Hummingbirds are assholes... They're really aggressive and territorial and they keep fighting against it. It made me so happy because everyone's like, hummingbirds are so beautiful... And it's like, well, they can be fucking dicks too.” — Georgia ([109:14])
• On psychopathy and manipulation:
  “It's as if in his mind, since he doesn't acknowledge it, it didn't happen.” — Karen, on Unterweger ([99:37])

Pop Culture & Listener Engagement

• Shout-outs to listeners who send creative, sometimes macabre, handcrafted gifts—such as serial killer greeting cards illustrated by John Freiler ([20:27]–[24:53]).
• Live show anecdotes, including bathroom line politics and women’s restroom strategies ([25:02]–[27:45]).
• Ongoing meme/metaphor creation: Karen as an “emotional lighthouse” in Maine, with lighthouse cats and endless clam chowder ([106:00]).

Updates & Case Developments

• Corrections about the “Mysteries Abound” podcast host’s nationality ([33:58]–[34:28]).
• Updates on Annie Dookhan’s lab misconduct’s long-term justice impact ([34:47]–[35:48]).
• Note on legacy: Unterweger featured as "the first transatlantic serial killer" on Peacock’s World's Most Notorious Killers ([107:07]).

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [04:00] – Discussion about crediting sources & lessons from being “called out”
• [06:45] – Podcast recommendations
• [14:28] – News: Annie Dookhan drug lab scandal
• [40:18] – The Exorcism of Anneliese Michel (Georgia’s story starts)
• [58:33] – Parallels to “Brain on Fire” and modern medical theory
• [71:55] – The Story of Jack Unterweger (Karen’s story starts)
• [109:14] – Good Things: Hummingbirds (“assholes”)
• [112:54] – Alternate jokey titles for this episode

Listener Takeaways & Tone

The episode balances sobering true crime investigation and breezy comedic banter. Karen and Georgia’s vulnerability, self-correction, and willingness to amplify their audience’s concerns contribute to the authenticity and evolution of the podcast. Their signature warmth and relatability are ever-present, even as they confront the darkest corners of human behavior.

Alternate Episode Titles (per hosts, [112:25]–[112:54])

• “Its Own Face” (cookie tangent)
• “Nothing I Can’t Change” (JLo quote)
• “Emotional Lighthouse”

Final Words

Karen and Georgia round off the episode with gratitude to their listeners, a reminder that the show—and the lessons it offers (“stay sexy, don’t get murdered”)—is a conversation in real time: messy, evolving, occasionally profound, and always human.