Mark’s ex-girlfriend Hilary can’t get hold of him. Haunted by their last conversation, she leaves messages on his answering machine, increasingly anxious about his whereabouts. When Mark’s mother calls her with the same concerns, Hilary knows something is very wrong.

Her desperate search leads to a tragic discovery and a cascade of questions about the final days of Mark's life. On the surface, Mark was a groundbreaking artist who made a profound impact. But behind closed doors, he was plagued by intense ambition and dark obsessions.

As the layers of his life are peeled back, a tangled web of conspiracy theories, high-profile connections, and strange coincidences begins to emerge, leaving some to wonder if Mark's devastating end was truly of his own making—or if he uncovered something worth silencing.

This is episode six of The Illuminator: Art, Conspiracy, and Madness, a new series from Brazen, hosted by Ako Mitchell. For ad-free listening, and more, subscribe to Brazen+ at brazen.fm/plus.

Content Warning: This episode contains references to suicide.

To see Lombardi’s expansive BCCI drawing in full, visit brazen.fm/illuminator

If you liked The Illuminator, you can buy merchandise from the series at shop.brazen.fm

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://brazen.fm/plus/