The Knife: A True Crime Podcast

Episode: Queen of the Con: Johnathan Walton’s Story
Date: September 4, 2025
Hosts: Hannah Smith & Paisha Eaton
Guest: Jonathan Walton

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the story of Jonathan Walton, TV producer, podcast host (Queen of the Con), and author of Anatomy of a Con Artist. Through a candid, first-person interview, Jonathan shares how he was conned by a woman he thought was a best friend, the red flags he missed, and how he turned his experience into a resource for other victims. The conversation also explores broader lessons about the psychology of trust, the enduring shame scam victims experience, and tangible advice for both recognizing cons and seeking justice.

Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Mechanics of a Con: Jonathan’s Story

• Meeting the Con Artist
  • Jonathan met "Mare Smith" in his LA apartment complex (2013) after organizing efforts to regain building pool access ([03:06]).
  • Mare presents herself as a wealthy Irish heiress and offers help—a classic con artist opening ([09:34]).
• Building Trust & Bonding
  • Mare rapidly becomes close to Jonathan and his husband, offering lavish dinners, vacations, and personal secrets ([08:29], [12:25]).
  • She creates a sense of family and mutual struggle, even mimicking Jonathan’s experience of family estrangement ([21:17]).
• Emotional Manipulation & Overwhelm
  • Uses TMI (Too Much Information) as a tactic, causing reciprocal vulnerability ([05:31]).
  • Leverages high emotional stakes: fake illnesses, family drama, legal troubles ([20:34], [21:17]).
• The Ask: Financial Exploitation
  • Four years in, Mare requests large sums of money, including $50,000 for supposed legal fees ([30:02]).
  • Jonathan helps without suspicion, noting how con artists often repay small amounts early (“bequetting”) to reinforce trust ([27:21]).

2. Recognizing Red Flags: Themes from Anatomy of a Con Artist

• Jonathan’s 14 Red Flags
  • Key examples: “Offering to Help”, “Too Kind Too Quick”, “Drama, Drama, Drama”, “Technology as Proof”, “TMI”, “Stories from Faraway Places” ([04:01], [54:24]).
  • The book emphasizes that multiple flags (3–5+) in a new relationship should trigger critical scrutiny ([69:31]).
• Red Flags in Action
  • Mare used technology—emails and texts from fake relatives—to fabricate her story ([21:17], [30:02]).
  • Scarcity tactics and dramatic deadlines were also used to pressure Jonathan ([54:24]).

3. Victim Psychology & Overcoming Shame

• Anyone Can Be Conned
  • The myth that victims are unintelligent is false; empathy is a key vulnerability ([04:46], [81:32]).
  • “Con artists don’t outsmart you. Con artists out-feel you.” – Jonathan ([05:31]).
• Shame Prevents Reporting
  • 90%+ of victims never report scams, many due to embarrassment and self-doubt ([05:31], [16:40]).
• Victim Delusion and Self-Deception
  • Many victims rationalize their experience to avoid the pain of accepting the truth ([17:34]).

4. Aftermath, Justice & Helping Others

• Discovery & Confrontation
  • Jonathan uncovers the truth when he independently checks jail records ([30:02]).
  • Police are initially dismissive; Jonathan persistently documents his case and refers other victims ([38:52]).
• How to Get Justice
  • Advice: Prepare your case like a “pitch”—bring evidence, affidavits, and clarity for police ([44:41]).
  • Law enforcement is overwhelmed; persistence and well-prepared documentation can make the difference ([41:23]).
• Turning Pain into Purpose
  • Jonathan’s “obsession” becomes a mission: hunting con artists, advising victims, and authoring a resource ([47:19], [58:59]).
  • Blog and book have directly saved others, as in the case of Bob, who avoided losing his home ([58:59]).

Notable Quotes & Moments

“Con artists don’t outsmart you. Con artists out-feel you. They figure out what your buttons are, and they use your emotions.”
— Jonathan Walton ([05:31])

“The bigger the lie, the more believable. And you would think the opposite would be true.”
— Jonathan Walton ([21:17])

“Some people golf on the weekends. I hunt con artists.”
— Jonathan Walton ([75:17])

“Once you're making decisions on that love, you're not thinking straight. You're going to get conned.”
— Jonathan Walton ([01:51], [67:53])

“If someone is using technology, digital screens to back up what they're saying, be suspicious. Regular people don't do that.”
— Jonathan Walton ([30:02])

“How has there not been a book about these red flags before? I gotta be the guy to write it.”
— Jonathan Walton ([65:38])

“Drama, drama, drama. ... If you're busy being scared, you're not thinking with your intellect, you know you're going to get scammed. This is how they manipulate you.”
— Jonathan Walton ([53:18])

“Who's susceptible to being conned? Humans.”
— Hannah Smith ([77:54])

On Anger and Recovery

“I was in a space where I immediately understood murder. I understood it. I wanted to kill her. ... I enjoyed it. It brought me relief. ... when I picked her up, I was enraged. ... But in the months after realizing what happened, I would have these detailed murder fantasies ... and they eventually went away.”
— Jonathan Walton ([35:55])

“If someone scams you, don’t kill them as much as you want to. Believe me, I know. I know the feeling.”
— Jonathan Walton ([37:46])

Key Timestamps of Important Segments

• 01:51 | Jonathan: “The con artist's job is to get you to love them…”
• 05:31 | Jonathan on shame & the TMI red flag
• 09:34 | Describing the initial neighborhood meeting with Mare
• 12:25 | The power of creating intimacy and trust
• 21:17 | Red flags: drama, technology manipulation, matching vulnerabilities
• 30:02 | Realization: uncovering the truth through jail records
• 35:55 | Processing rage and vengeance fantasies
• 38:52 | Seeking justice, initial police indifference, and persistence
• 44:41 | How to present your case to police
• 54:24 | Most common red flags explained
• 58:59 | Bob’s story—being saved by Jonathan’s blog
• 65:38 | Jonathan’s unique resilience and ability to speak out as a victim
• 75:17 | “Some people golf on the weekends. I hunt con artists.”
• 81:32 | Hosts reflect: “Who can be conned? Humans.”

Flow & Tone

The conversation is frank, vulnerable, and solution-oriented. Jonathan’s humility, candor (including discussion of shame, anger, and murder fantasies), and sense of mission illuminate the reality of being conned—both the excruciating emotional journey and the practical steps necessary for survivors to reclaim agency. The hosts match his tone, blending empathy, realism, and subtle humor.

Practical Tips & Takeaways

• No one is immune to being conned—connection and empathy are universal vulnerabilities.
• Watch for overlapping red flags in relationships:
  • Too eager to help or share
  • Lavish early generosity (money/attention)
  • High drama or urgent crises
  • Use of unverifiable stories or “proof” via technology
  • Attempts to isolate you from others
  • Recurring requests with high pressure
• If targeted, gather evidence, prepare your story, follow up with police persistently, and seek support.
• Jonathan’s book, "Anatomy of a Con Artist," is recommended as both a preventative resource and an informative, digestible handbook for victims and their loved ones.

Memorable Closing

“Really, it’s like, who can be conned? Humans. The people that are susceptible to being conned are people that are human.”
— Hannah Smith ([77:54])

Recommended Resource:
Anatomy of a Con Artist by Jonathan Walton
(“If you think that there's someone in your life who's being scammed, it's a great holiday present for them ... might soften the blow rather than just, ‘Hey, you’re being taken for a ride.’” — Hannah Smith [81:55])

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