Scams, Money, & Murder – "Wedding Fund Murder Fraud Pt. 1"

Podcast: Crime House Original
Hosts: Vanessa Richardson & Carter Roy
Guest Expert: Dr. Tristan Engels (Forensic Psychologist)
Date: November 13, 2025

EPISODE OVERVIEW

This episode launches a two-part deep-dive into the chilling true story of Daniel Wozniak—an aspiring actor whose desperation for money to fund his wedding led him down a deadly path. Through narrative storytelling and expert psychological insights, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristan Engels dissect the making of a killer and the series of deceptions, toxic relationships, and crimes that would follow.

Major themes:

• The psychology of pathological lying and entitlement
• The intersection of money troubles, addiction, and manipulation
• Intimate partner violence and emotional abuse
• The catastrophic fallout of greed and betrayal

KEY DISCUSSION POINTS & INSIGHTS

1. The Roots of Deception: Daniel's Upbringing & Early Lies

[05:00–11:00]

• Strict Parental Control: Raised in Long Beach, CA, Dan’s life was rigidly controlled by his mother, Marianne, who maintained an overbearing hold over him.

• Helicopter Parenting Effects:

  “When [helicopter parenting] becomes abnormal is when it's excessive or controlling and it hinders their child's ability to develop their own identity or sense of independence.”
  — Dr. Tristan Engels, 06:19

• Coping by Lying: Dan began lying in his teens as a way to carve out autonomy—telling his mother he and his girlfriend were the same age, lying about activities, pushing boundaries.

• Early Relationship as Escape: Dan’s first relationship, with Britney, serves both as escape and illicit defiance.

Expert Insight:

• Teens with overbearing parents often resort to deception as a means to claim independence.
• Pathological lying, when rooted in coping, can evolve into a more destructive habit.

2. Acting Aspirations and a Web of Self-Delusion

[08:05–11:40]

• Dan moves to Costa Mesa to pursue acting but refuses jobs outside theater, lying that he works as a Verizon manager while borrowing money from friends.

• Dr. Engels:

  "Lying to friends about working to borrow money that he has no means of paying back can certainly pose a risk to himself personally...and it can impair him professionally and legally." (10:20)

• Financial and Substance Troubles: Partying, substance abuse, and living beyond his means become Dan’s day-to-day survival mechanisms.

3. The Toxic Union: Dan & Rachel Buffett

[12:30–15:39]

• Rachel Buffett, a fellow theater actor and Disneyland performer, enters Dan’s life and quickly becomes his partner.
• Their relationship is marred by mutual substance abuse and escalating physical altercations, witnessed openly by friends.

On Intimate Partner Violence:

"There's not only abuse occurring, but there's also reactive abuse occurring. The individual enduring that abuse begins to react to it in aggressive ways."
— Dr. Tristan Engels, 13:49

• Friends are advised to address abusive behavior privately and compassionately.

Unusual Dynamic:

• Rachel and Dan are unashamed, fighting openly; Dr. Engels suggests Rachel may subconsciously want friends to see Dan’s behavior (for validation or accountability).
• Substance use increases risk of violence and leads to public exposure of relationship issues.

4. Escalation: Secrets, Blackmail, and Proposal

[16:51–21:19]

• Rachel soon discovers a sex tape of Dan and his ex, Britney, which he kept as an “insurance policy” for potential future blackmail—she’s shocked, but stays with him.

• "This is what we call revenge porn...it is illegal. The act of extortion is highly emotionally manipulative because it involves using fear and intimidation."
  — Dr. Tristan Engels, 20:27

• Lack of money, legal problems (a DUI), addiction, and upcoming wedding amplify stress.

5. Sam Herr: The Trusting Friend & The Mark

[22:00–25:42]

• Sam Herr, a veteran and friend from Dan’s apartment complex, is revealed to have a past murder accusation and PTSD.

• "Past behavior is the best predictor for future violence...history of serious violence like murder is definitely a serious risk marker for future violence..."
  — Dr. Tristan Engels, 24:24

• Sam is financially stable, generous with Dan, and sympathetic due to shared struggles.

• Dan grows envious and begins plotting for Sam's savings.

6. The Stage Is Set: Julie Kibuishi and the Deadly Plan

[28:29–32:45]

• As Dan's wedding approaches, he’s broke and sees Sam—recently befriended and trusted—along with Julie Kibuishi, as a solution to his problems.
• Julie, a close friend who supported Sam through PTSD, is lured to Sam’s apartment by late-night texts (actually sent by Dan).

On PTSD and Substance Risk:

"Episodes of PTSD can range in severity...when people are under the influence, they're less in control of their impulses, emotions and behaviors."
— Dr. Tristan Engels, 30:28 & 31:49

7. Crime Scene Discovery: Shock and Misinterpretation

[32:46–36:01]

• Sam's worried father, Steve, discovers Julie’s body in Sam’s apartment, staged to, as police would initially surmise, indicate a murder-suicide or sexual assault.

• "How someone will react to something like this will depend largely on past experiences, personality traits, and coping mechanisms."
  — Dr. Tristan Engels, 34:09

• The body is staged with her pants pulled down and a taunting note—"all yours, FU"—written on her sweatshirt. Police believe Sam, missing with his wallet and keys, is the likely murderer.

• On processing trauma:

  "Most people don’t have regular exposure or experience being around deceased individuals... so when they are suddenly seeing one... they immediately apply a framework that is established for them...until they can orient themselves."
  — Dr. Tristan Engels, 34:58

NOTABLE QUOTES & MEMORABLE MOMENTS

• "Keep your friends close, but your enemies closer. It's not just a saying, it's a means of survival. Because in the world we're entering, trust is a trap and betrayal is often fatal."
  — Carter Roy, 01:49

• "His mom, Marianne, was really strict. According to family friends, she made sure Dan was on a precise schedule whenever he was out of the house. She called Dan nonstop to check on him."
  — Vanessa Richardson, 05:53

• "When lying becomes pathological, it's become persistent, compulsive, and pervasive and causes significant impairment in functioning or poses a risk to themselves."
  — Dr. Tristan Engels, 10:20

• "Sam’s friends realized his life was more complicated than they’d thought... Sam truly regretted what had happened. He vowed to turn his life around, which was why he joined the Army."
  — Vanessa Richardson, 24:24

• "From the looks of it, Sam had killed Julie and made a run for it, but that couldn't have been further from the truth. In reality, the whole thing was staged like a scene straight out of the theater, and it was all set up by Dan Wozniak."
  — Vanessa Richardson, 36:01

IMPORTANT SEGMENT TIMESTAMPS

• [00:55] Introduction to Dan Wozniak and the “performance of a lifetime.”
• [05:00–07:09] Dan’s strict upbringing, impact of helicopter parenting.
• [08:05–11:40] Pathological lying and its consequences.
• [12:30–15:39] Toxic dynamic of Dan and Rachel; substance abuse and public fights.
• [16:51–21:19] Rachel’s discovery of sex tape and Dan’s blackmail plan.
• [22:00–24:24] Sam Herr’s troubled past and friendship with Dan.
• [28:29–32:45] The setup for the crime: Julie is called to Sam’s apartment.
• [32:46–36:01] Crime scene discovery, police misdirection, and psychological reactions.

CONCLUSION & LOOK AHEAD

The episode closes on a tense cliffhanger: police believe Sam Herr is a murderer on the run, but all evidence has been orchestrated by Dan Wozniak, whose obsession with money and self-image has turned deadly. In Part 2, the hosts promise to unravel the investigation that led to Dan’s exposure and to further analyze what makes a killer.