The Peacemaker: Episode 1 – The Fraternity Suicides

Podcast: The Peacemaker
Hosts: Ben Westhoff & Ryan Krull
Date: October 14, 2025
Episode: 1: The Fraternity Suicides

Main Theme

This episode introduces the haunting story of a suicide cluster at Truman State University's Alpha Kappa Lambda (AKL) fraternity, where a series of deaths between 2016 and 2017 shook a rural Missouri college community. At the center is Brandon Grossheim, a fraternity brother who was intimately linked to each victim and whose behavior and possible influence have agitated suspicion, accusations, and a civil lawsuit. Host Ben Westhoff—joined by co-host Ryan Krull—sets out to untangle the confusion, controversy, and pain left in the wake of these tragedies.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Discovery of the Suicides

• [04:30 – 09:30]
  • Audio from police body cams takes listeners inside the immediate aftermath of the first suicide: Jake Hughes, a psychology major, found dead by hanging in his fraternity room.
  • Brandon Grossheim, the "house manager," discovered Hughes, just as he had discovered the previous suicide victim, Alex Mullins, three weeks earlier.
  • Both young men died in the same manner, both found by Grossheim, raising suspicion.
• Notable Quote:
  • Brandon reflecting to police on Jake Hughes:

    "You could tell he was crying. I gave him a hug... I told him 'you need me, I'm here.' He was like, 'I've got some people, but I promise I'll call you.' Except that night, Hughes didn't call him." (08:30)

2. The "Peacemaker" Persona

• [10:00 – 16:00]
  • Grossheim was known for seeking out struggling individuals, sometimes probing the depression of those around him and seeing himself as a helper—a “Peacemaker.”

  • “He called himself the Peacemaker. Why would you give yourself that title? What peace did you make?” (12:45)

3. Truman State Culture and Environment

• [17:15 – 21:45]
  • Truman State, dubbed the “Harvard of the Midwest,” is academically demanding but also has an intense social scene, particularly in Greek life.
  • Alcohol use is rampant despite the “dry campus” rules.
• Student perspectives:
  • “Every time I bring up, like, ‘Oh, I go to Truman State,’ it’s like, ‘oh, that’s a challenging school. You must be really smart.’ So it puts another layer of pressure.” (20:00, Chloe Schwab)
  • “My freshman year... I drank every single day. That was the way to make friends.” (21:00, Tristan Weiser)

4. Grossheim’s Background and Complex Reputation

• [23:00 – 29:30]
  • Brandon Grossheim introduced as someone both engaging and unnerving; participated in theater and was known for motivational spiels reminiscent of figures like Wim Hof.
• Notable Quote:
  • "He honestly reminded me so much of the Wim Hof guy... nothing nefarious, just the idea of mind over matter." (27:45, former high school colleague)

5. The Fraternity: Culture and Fallout

• [31:00 – 35:45]
  • Alpha Kappa Lambda (AKL) described as quintessential party frat—frequent themed parties, camaraderie among brothers.
  • The community reeled after the first two deaths; Grossheim both sympathized with and unsettled many brothers.
• Notable Quote:
  • "I think that was his view on suicide, though, that... if that's how you wanted to go, you should go on your own terms. And... why would you tell somebody that?" (35:15, Tommy Lona)

6. Suspicion Falls on Brandon Grossheim

• [36:30 – 41:00]
  • Grossheim’s behavior post-suicides draws scrutiny: dating a victim’s girlfriend, wearing their clothes, alleged theft.
  • Fraternity debated whether to support or expel him; ultimately, he was expelled and soon dropped out.
• Memorable Moment:
  • “It’s literally just, you know, the angel and devil on your shoulders. I mean, did he do it? Did he not? ...And I still wouldn’t be able to tell you to this day which answer would be right.” (39:00, Connor Templeton)

7. The Third Death – Josh Thomas

• [43:00 – 50:00]
  • Josh Thomas, an openly gay, vibrant fraternity brother who battled deep depression, took his life in April 2017.
  • Grossheim no longer lived in the house, but a note with his name and email was found on Josh’s body.
• Notable Quote:
  • “He felt like Brandon was one of the only people who understood him... it’s really easy for people with the most significant trauma to find each other.” (46:30, Elena Bora)

8. Growing Theories and Investigations

• [51:00 – 57:00]
  • Rumors: initial suspicions focused on hazing; later, attention focused on Grossheim's relationships with each victim.
  • After three deaths, media attention and parent desperation surged.

9. A Fourth Suicide, Another Link to Grossheim

• [58:00 – 1:03:00]
  • Melissa Bodorf Airy, mother of victim Alex Mullins, uncovered police had reopened her son’s case.
  • Police revealed a fourth, previously undisclosed suicide—Alex Vogt, who lived across the hall from Grossheim after he moved out of the frat house. Again, Grossheim was among the last to see the victim alive.
• Notable Quote:
  • “It was as if everywhere Brandon went, suicide followed him." (1:01:15, Ben Westhoff)

10. Community and Legal Repercussions

• [1:05:00 – 1:11:00]
  • The University, fraternity, and community remain shaken; a civil lawsuit against Grossheim moves toward trial.
  • Debate lingers: is Grossheim a scapegoat, or a manipulator?
• Quotes:
  • “There's a difference between comforting someone... and somebody asking for that information to feed into, 'oh, well, this is how you can end it.' That's not how you help somebody.” (1:07:20, Tristan Weiser)
  • “The biggest issue I see is the official version of what happened just doesn't make sense. There’s still so many questions...” (1:08:40, Javad Khazali, plaintiff’s attorney)

11. Reflection and The Larger Mystery

• [1:12:00 – End]
  • The episode closes with the hosts framing the coming investigation into Grossheim’s psyche and possible culpability, as the campus community and victim families look for answers—and justice.

  • “Brandon is intriguing because he seemed to truly believe he could help people deal with their depression despite so much evidence to the contrary. Which is why the nickname he had for himself now seems so ironic. The Peacemaker.” (1:13:50, Ben Westhoff)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Brandon Grossheim:

  “He called himself the Peacemaker. Why would you give yourself that title? What piece did you make?” (12:45)

• Student Chloe Schwab:

  “Every time I bring up, like, ‘Oh, I go to Truman State,’ it’s like, ‘oh, that’s a challenging school. You must be really smart.’ So it puts another layer of pressure.” (20:00)

• Former AKL Member Connor Templeton:

  “It’s literally just, you know, the angel and devil on your shoulders. I mean, did he do it? Did he not?... And I still wouldn’t be able to tell you to this day which answer would be right.” (39:00)

• Victim’s Friend Tommy Lona:

  “That was his view on suicide, though, that if that's how you wanted to go, you should go on your own terms. Why would you tell somebody that?” (35:15)

• Plaintiff’s Attorney Javad Khazali:

  “The biggest issue I see is the official version of what happened just doesn't make sense. There’s still so many questions...” (1:08:40)

Timestamps for Major Segments

• 04:30 – Discovery of Jake Hughes’ body
• 09:30 – Brandon’s police interview
• 17:30 – Truman State’s social and academic culture
• 23:00 – Grossheim's background and high school reputation
• 31:00 – Fraternity culture
• 36:30 – Growing suspicions about Grossheim
• 43:00 – Introduction of Josh Thomas
• 50:00 – The pattern and media attention
• 58:00 – Melissa Bodorf Airy’s personal investigation
• 1:05:00 – Community and legal fallout
• 1:12:00 – Hosts’ reflection and framing for future episodes

Tone & Takeaways

The episode is investigative, respectful, at times speculative, and laced with a haunting sense of tragedy and unresolved tension. It balances reporting, personal testimony, and expert commentary to highlight the deep psychological complexity of the events and introduce the disturbing and complicated figure of Brandon Grossheim. The hosts avoid sensationalism, instead focusing on the pain of loss, the quest for truth, and the larger societal failures in addressing mental health.

Future episodes promise deeper exploration of Grossheim’s influence, the legal case against him, and new perspectives on the already notorious Truman State suicide cluster.