
Hosted by TV Entertainment LLC · EN

In August 1989, 16-year-old Yusuf Hawkins traveled to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, to look at a used car with friends. He never made it home. What followed became one of the most infamous homicide cases in New York history — a case involving racial tension, mob violence, organized crime connections, conflicting witness testimony, and questions that remain decades later. In this episode of The Murder Mind: Crime Traveler, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez revisits the murder of Yusuf Hawkins and examines the investigation through the eyes of a homicide detective. Did investigators identify the right shooter? Could organized crime involvement have changed the direction of the case? And why are people still questioning the outcome more than 35 years later? Join Vince as he breaks down the evidence, the witnesses, the suspects, and the lasting controversy surrounding one of Brooklyn's most significant murder cases. Subscribe for new episodes of Crime Traveler, where we revisit homicide investigations from across America and explore how detectives worked to solve them.

In 1987, police entered an ordinary Philadelphia row house… and discovered something almost impossible to believe. What they found inside became one of the most disturbing criminal investigations in American history. Hidden beneath the home was a secret that shocked investigators — and changed the lives of the women trapped there forever. In this episode of The Murder Mind: Crime Traveler, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez takes you through the investigation step by step — examining how detectives uncovered the truth, the decisions that broke the case open, and the warning signs that were missed. This isn't a story about monsters. It's a story about how evil can hide in places that look completely ordinary.

In 1941, retired railroad worker Philip Peters was found beaten to death inside his locked Denver home. There was no forced entry. No missing valuables. No clear suspect. But what investigators discovered months later turned this case into one of the most terrifying homicide stories in American history. The killer had never left. In this episode of The Murder Mind: Crime Traveler, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez takes you inside the shocking true story of Theodore Edward Coneys — the man secretly living inside the victim's attic while police searched for a murderer. A hidden intruder. A locked-room mystery. And a house that was never truly empty.

Cold Case Episode 1 – Unsolved for 10+ Years A late-night walk in southeast Atlanta turns into a nightmare when three friends are suddenly confronted by a gunman. Within seconds, shots are fired — and one man doesn't survive. In this episode of The Murder Mind: Cold Case, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez breaks down what really happened that night, using the actual 911 call, witness interviews, and crime scene evidence to reconstruct a case that has remained unsolved for more than a decade. Detectives quickly realized this wasn't just a single, random act of violence. Similar robberies had already taken place that same night — pointing to a possible crew targeting victims in the area. Despite multiple witnesses, surveillance footage, and a detailed suspect description, no one has ever been identified or charged in the murder of 33-year-old Patrick Cotrona. This episode explores: • The real 911 call from the night of the shooting • How a robbery escalated into murder • The pattern of connected crimes across the city • Key evidence recovered at the scene • Why this case went cold Someone knows what happened that night. If you have any information about this case, please contact Crime Stoppers. You can remain anonymous.
Episode 6 of Case #5 – Vanishing Act (Final) After years of investigation, setbacks, and new evidence, Detective Vince Velazquez finally brings the case of Shaquilla Weatherspoon to its conclusion. A key witness comes forward with critical information that exposes a major lie and reshapes the timeline of the night Shaquilla was killed. With mounting evidence and a clear picture of what happened, investigators move forward with an arrest. But the case takes an unexpected turn when a missing trial transcript leads to a retrial — forcing detectives and prosecutors to prove the case all over again. In the final episode of Vanishing Act, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez breaks down how the investigation ultimately led to justice, and how the truth held up — even years later. This episode explores: • The witness that changed everything • How detectives prove deception • How circumstantial cases lead to convictions • What happens when a conviction is overturned • How justice is secured after years of setbacks The Murder Mind is a true crime series told from the perspective of a retired homicide detective Vince Velazquez, revealing what actually happens behind the scenes of murder investigations. 👉 Listen to the full Vanishing Act case from Episode 1 to see how the investigation unfolded.
Episode 5 of Case #5 – Vanishing Act Detective Vince Velazquez closes in on a key suspect in the murder investigation of Shaquilla Weatherspoon as phone records, interviews, and forensic evidence begin to expose critical inconsistencies. When confronted with the evidence, the suspect's story begins to fall apart — forcing Vince to reevaluate what really happened the night Shaquilla disappeared. As the case appears to be running out of leads, an unexpected DNA development suddenly gives the investigation new life and introduces a possible new direction. In Episode 5 of Vanishing Act, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez explains how investigators: • Detect deception during interviews • Use phone records as evidence • Apply investigative pressure on suspects • Handle cases when they go cold • Follow new DNA leads The Murder Mind is a true crime series told from the perspective of a real homicide detective, revealing what actually happens behind the scenes of murder investigations. Subscribe to follow the investigation as the case unfolds.
Detective Vince Velazquez continues the investigation into the murder of Shaquilla Weatherspoon as new interviews, alibis, and phone records begin to reshape the case. As multiple suspects are questioned, Vince must determine who is telling the truth — and who may be hiding something. With several romantic relationships, jealousy, and secrets emerging, the case becomes more complex than anyone expected. In Episode 4 of Vanishing Act, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez explains how detectives evaluate suspects, verify alibis, and use investigative strategy to move closer to the truth. The Murder Mind is a true crime series told by a real homicide detective, revealing what actually happens behind the scenes of murder investigations. Subscribe for new episodes.
Detective Vince Velazquez uncovers a shocking new suspect in the murder investigation of Shaquilla Weatherspoon. As the case deepens, a secret affair, hidden jealousy, and new forensic evidence force Vince to consider whether the victim's husband was the only person with motive — or if another man had something to hide. In Episode 3 of Vanishing Act, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez reveals how real murder investigations evolve when new suspects emerge and evidence changes the direction of the case. This episode explores: • The psychology of jealousy crimes • How detectives identify new suspects • What forensic clues can reveal • How love triangles can turn deadly The Murder Mind is a true crime series told from the perspective of a real homicide detective, revealing what actually happens behind the scenes of murder investigations. Subscribe for new episodes every week. #TrueCrime #MurderInvestigation #DetectiveStories #CrimeDocumentary #TheMurderMind
As the investigation into the murder of Shaquilla Weatherspoon continues, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez begins focusing on the person closest to the victim — her husband. In this episode of Vanishing Act, Vince breaks down the police interview, the domestic violence history, and the search of Roy McKinney's home as detectives try to determine if he is involved in her murder. But despite mounting suspicion, detectives find no clear evidence — and a new suspect may emerge. This is Episode 2 of Case #5. Subscribe so you don't miss the next chapter of this investigation.
A missing persons case quickly turned into a homicide investigation when Atlanta police discovered the abandoned car of 29-year-old Shaquilla Weatherspoon. Retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez walks through the shocking evidence in this case: a smashed car window, a gun belt found in a dumpster, and the discovery of a decomposed body in southwest Atlanta. What begins as a missing persons investigation soon reveals disturbing clues that suggest the crime scene may have been staged — and detectives quickly turn their attention to the person closest to the victim. This is Episode 1 of Case #5 on The Murder Mind, a true crime series told from the perspective of the detective who worked the case. New episodes drop every Monday at 6 PM EST. Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode in this investigation.