The Peacemaker – Episode 2: Grimm’s Fairy Tales
Release Date: October 21, 2025
Hosts: Ben Westhoff & Ryan Krull
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts
Episode Overview
This gripping installment of The Peacemaker continues the podcast’s investigation into a tragic suicide cluster that devastated Truman State University in Kirksville, Missouri. Hosts Ben Westhoff and Ryan Krull unravel the haunting sequence of events that led to the deaths of four young men—all connected by their membership in the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity and, even more intriguingly, by their friendship with one man: Brandon Grossheim. As legal proceedings swirl and the community searches for answers, this episode probes the boundaries of psychological influence, complicity, and the contagious nature of suicide.
Key Topics and Insights
1. Background – The Tragedy in Kirksville
- [05:38] In the summer of 2016, Truman State—known as the “Harvard of the Midwest”—became the unlikely setting for a suicide cluster that made international news.
- Four young men, all tied to the Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity, died by suicide in quick succession:
- Alex Mullins
- Jake Hughes
- Alex Vogt
- Josh Thomas
- All four shared a close connection to fraternity brother Brandon Grossheim, who “discovered some of the bodies, later dated some of the victims’ girlfriends, and wore one of their clothes.”
2. What Is a Suicide Cluster?
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[07:17] Rita Lachevsky, a suicide prevention trainer, defines a cluster as “three or more people who kill themselves within maybe a six to 18 month period after there’s been a suicide attempt or a suicide in their vicinity.”
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[08:14] The concept of “suicide contagion” is introduced, with Lachevsky highlighting the Werther Effect—the uptick in suicides following high-profile cases, such as Marilyn Monroe.
“Suicides can be contagious.” – Rita Lachevsky [08:14]
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The discussion links the Kirksville cluster to historical examples, including Goethe’s The Sorrows of Young Werther, which inspired youth suicides in 18th-century Europe, and recent cases like Conrad Roy and Michelle Carter’s legal saga.
3. Was Brandon Grossheim Responsible?
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[12:28] Some families and community members began to question whether Grossheim’s involvement was sinister or a tragic coincidence.
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Unlike Michelle Carter’s case (where direct urging to commit suicide was documented), no verified texts or evidence confirm that Grossheim explicitly encouraged the deaths.
“I believe that he just believed he was grander and more helpful than any type of degree would give him.”
– Rita Lachevsky on Brandon Grossheim’s attitude as a psychology major [14:49] -
Former friend Tristan Weiser alleges Brandon texted victim Jake Hughes with instructions on how to tie a noose, though she did not see the messages firsthand—the claim remains unverified.
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Grossheim himself told a counselor he offered support to struggling friends but "knew all along they would, quote, do their own free will.” [15:39]
4. Kirksville and Fraternity Culture
- [22:23] The hosts set the scene in Kirksville—a rural, economically challenged college town with a marked “town vs. gown” divide (locals vs. college students).
- Students lament the lack of healthy dining options and the insular nature of the community.
- Nicknames like “kirkatoids” and “shit cricker” (slang for locals) illustrate the town’s quirks.
5. Deep Dive: The Victims’ Stories
Alex Mullins
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[29:30] Described by his friend Tommy Lona as “a city boy” who never fit in at Truman State and grew increasingly isolated.
-
Was bullied by fraternity members shortly before his death.
“He was very irritable…and his fraternity members were just, like, disparaging, calling him a P word, a B word. This is the typical kind of, like, man on man bullying.”
– Tommy Lona [33:14] -
The night before his death, his girlfriend broke up with him, triggering a downward spiral.
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After Alex’s suicide, questions arose regarding the timeline and the possibility that drug paraphernalia or cash was removed from his room before police arrived.
Jake Hughes
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[40:37] Jake, the second victim, struggled with depression and prior trauma (witnessing an ex-girlfriend’s overdose).
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He memorialized Alex Mullins with a tattoo—and 20 days later, took his own life during a party at the fraternity house.
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Grossheim was the one who discovered Jake, performed CPR, and was notably calm and precise during police questioning—details that struck other fraternity members as odd.
“[Brandon] was seen up against the wardrobe, almost like caressing Jake, like, down from the wardrobe. And all I could really process at this moment was that, like, Jake was like, pale. He was very pale, right?” – Logan Hunt [41:54]
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Some fraternity brothers accused Brandon of “raiding” Jake’s safe, as Jake was known to sell drugs.
“It just kind of—it almost seemed like a trophy to me in a way.”
– Connor Templeton, regarding Brandon’s commemorative tattoos and wearing Jake’s clothes [52:12]
6. Brandon Grossheim’s Behavior After the Suicides
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Removed from the fraternity and campus, Brandon grew increasingly isolated and began posting videos of himself reading Grimm’s Fairy Tales on Facebook.
“Hello, ladies and gentlemen. My name is Brandon Grossheim. I think I’m going to try to make a series out of this, but I’m going to just read some of my favorite fairy tales…”
– Brandon Grossheim [58:03] -
He started dating at least one of the victims’ girlfriends shortly after their death, raising further suspicion within the community.
- At least one woman accused him of psychological manipulation, suggesting he may have been “grooming her for suicide.”
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On the psychology of suicide clusters:
“Nobody belonged, because we were all isolated…We didn’t see that the church ladies went out to Denny’s after church…but we weren’t there.”
– Rita Lachevsky [09:41] -
On the town’s unique culture:
“Shit cricker…It is in the dictionary. Okay. Shit cricker is born and raised here.”
– Local explaining Kirksville slang [23:18] -
Brandon’s attitude in police interviews:
“Brandon often sounds like he should be leading the investigation himself. He shoots down the police’s dumb idea that this might have been autoerotic asphyxiation…”
– Ben Westhoff [48:09] -
Fraternity suspicion of Brandon’s motives:
“He got the number seven in the middle of the Death Star…as a memorial to Jake, who was a Star Wars fan. The number seven held special significance for Alex Mullins…it almost seemed like a trophy to me in a way.”
– Connor Templeton [52:12]
Timeline of Major Events and Segments
| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 05:38 | Introduction to the 2016 Kirksville deaths, listing of victims | | 07:17 | Explanation of suicide clusters with Rita Lachevsky | | 13:24 | Comparison to Conrad Roy / Michelle Carter legal case | | 14:49 | Rita Lachevsky on Brandon Grossheim's self-image | | 15:39 | Brandon’s statement to counselor on “free will” | | 22:23 | Describing town of Kirksville, “town vs. gown” dynamic | | 29:30 | Alex Mullins’ background, struggles, and last days | | 33:14 | Tommy Lona recounts Alex’s bullying and final hours | | 40:37 | Jake Hughes’ story and his reaction to Alex’s death | | 41:54 | Logan Hunt on discovering Jake, Grossheim’s demeanor | | 48:09 | Grossheim’s detailed and unemotional police interview | | 52:12 | Fraternity’s suspicions and Brandon’s tattoos, trophy comments | | 58:03 | Brandon’s Grimm’s Fairy Tales Facebook videos | | 59:15 | Brandon dating victims’ girlfriends, accusations of manipulation |
Concluding Thoughts
The Peacemaker's second episode unpacks not only the facts of an unprecedented suicide cluster but also the subtle lines between support, enabling, and manipulation. The focus on Brandon Grossheim—whose actions and affect continue to divide opinion—remains central, as the community, listeners, and legal system struggle to understand whether he is a well-meaning man cursed by coincidence, or a far darker figure.
The episode ends with an ominous tease: next, the investigation will deepen into Brandon’s relationships with the victims’ girlfriends, and new allegations around his disturbing psychological influence.
If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, seek help by calling the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.