The Peacemaker

Episode 9: Bonus Episode – Research Chemicals

Release Date: January 6, 2026
Hosts: Ben Westhoff & Ryan Krull
Podcast: iHeartPodcasts

Overview

This bonus episode follows the conclusion of the main "Peacemaker" series, which investigates the tragic suicide cluster at Truman State University's Alpha Kappa Lambda fraternity. With the trial of Brandon Grossheim still pending, hosts Ben Westhoff and Ryan Krull use this episode to revisit theories, correct previous reporting, and respond to feedback from listeners, including those directly connected to the case. The primary focus centers on new insights from a confidential source about fraternities, drugs—particularly research chemicals—and deeper scrutiny of the evidence surrounding key deaths.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Listener Feedback from a Truman State Insider

[02:19 – 09:52]

• Introduction of Source:
  Ben spoke to an unnamed former Truman State sorority member who knew several involved in the case well—including victims and Brandon Grossheim. Her decision to remain anonymous was out of respect for victims’ families.

• Perceptions of Brandon’s Behavior

  • On Dating Victims’ Ex-Girlfriends:
    The insider dismissed this as not unusual for a small college campus.

    “More likely than not, you know, everyone kind of ended up sleeping with everyone at some point.”
    — (Listener, relayed by Ben, [03:39])

  • On Wearing Victim’s Clothes:
    She also minimized this, noting the fraternity’s culture of clothing exchange and donations by victims’ families.

    “Jake gave away a lot of his clothes. In general, I had clothes of Jake’s... So it’s not super crazy to me that Brandon would have Jake’s clothes.”
    — (Listener, relayed by Ben, [04:51])

• Drug Culture as a Common Denominator

  • She believed the link between Brandon and the victims centered on intense drug use, especially "research chemicals," i.e., synthetic designer drugs.

    “Of all of the fraternities, AKLs were the heaviest of the drug using fraternities, and they were doing drugs that weren’t weed. You know, a lot of psychedelics, but also lab-created research chemicals.”
    — (Listener, relayed by Ben, [05:59])

  • Ben, citing his book "Fentanyl Inc.," explains “research chemicals” are potent, little-studied drugs imported from abroad, often with unpredictable and dangerous effects.
  • The source suspects these drugs contributed significantly to the deaths:

    “I really feel strongly that Brandon, you know, he was doing those drugs with those kids. But I think that really is the link, is that they were all doing the same kinds of drugs, the same batches of drugs. And, you know, sometimes you get a bad batch of something and it can mess your brain chemistry up.”
    — (Listener, relayed by Ben, [07:46])

• Clarifications and Limitations

  • The source is clear she cannot prove which drugs were used, nor does she accuse Brandon of supplying them.
  • She also speculates that if Brandon took drugs from Jake Hughes' safe after his death, this may have been to spare Jake’s reputation with police or parents—not maliciously.

• Host Analysis:
  Ben concludes that, given the victim’s psychiatric prescriptions, recent breakups, and the impact of strong psychedelics, the confluence of these drugs could have created a perfect—and fatal—storm for vulnerable individuals.

  “If you throw in some powerful, unpredictable psychedelics on top of that, it could put them all in an even worse frame of mind.”
  — Ben Westhoff, [09:03]

2. Correction on the "Werther Effect"

[11:19 – 13:21]

• Listener/Expert Correction:
  Ryan reports that a listener, historian Minsu Kang, pointed out a factual error: contrary to common belief, Goethe’s novel The Sorrows of Young Werther did not actually cause a wave of suicides in Europe.

  “It’s actually a myth that has been debunked... After its publication, there was a news article about a girl who was found dead with the Young Werther book under her pillow. And… the pearl clutching class seized on it and basically made up this rumor.”
  — Ryan Krull, [12:12]

• Key Takeaway:
  While the so-called "Werther Effect" (i.e., the idea that widely publicized suicides inspire more suicides) is real and recognized, its attribution to Goethe’s novel is not historically accurate.

3. Revisiting the Death of Glenna Haut

[13:32 – 18:46]

• Anna Scott’s Analysis:
  Anna Scott, a journalist and nursing graduate student, reviewed the medical documents regarding Glenna Haut—the only non-suicide death in the cluster.

  • Medical Perspective:
    Glenna died from an abdominal hemorrhage due to severe liver damage, amplified by acute alcohol toxicity:

    “She tore a blood vessel in her abdomen, and then because her liver was not able to clot blood anymore, she essentially bled out inside her own body... Her death really sounds absolutely excruciating and incredibly tragic.”
    — Anna Scott, [15:04]

  • Inconsistencies in Brandon’s Account:
    Anna (and the hosts) find Brandon Grossheim’s claim—of having a seemingly normal and coherent interaction with Glenna shortly before her death—dubious, given the probable state of her health.

    “It’s very hard to believe that if this conversation actually occurred relatively close to her passing away, that she would have been in any kind of coherent state and would have been able to tell him, ‘Oh, I’m fine,’ and nothing would seem amiss and he would just leave. That just doesn’t seem to jive with any of the evidence.”
    — Anna Scott, [16:26]

  • Speculation on Brandon’s Motives:
    Anna suggests—without direct evidence—that perhaps Brandon fabricated his story, not to cover up a crime but to maintain his self-appointed role as a “central character” or witness.

    “He is somebody that has inserted himself into death investigations in the past, as the podcast has covered... Maybe, maybe for some reason he had a compulsion to do the same in this situation and just invented the encounter for attention...”
    — Anna Scott, [16:26]

  • Host Reflections:
    Ben remains hesitant, noting the specificity of Brandon’s account, but concedes much about Brandon’s behavior (and the case generally) remains inexplicable.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On AKL's Culture:
  “Of all of the fraternities, AKLs were the heaviest of the drug using fraternities, and they were doing drugs that weren’t weed. You know, a lot of psychedelics, but also lab created research chemicals.”
  — Listener (via Ben), [05:59]

• On Research Chemicals:
  “These drugs are made in China and sold on the dark web. They’re branded as research chemicals to avoid scrutiny with customs... But really they’re just drugs. And more specifically, they're designer drugs, brand new concoctions...”
  — Ben Westhoff, [06:37]

• On Misconceptions about Werther:
  “It’s actually a myth that has been debunked... the pearl clutching class seized on it and basically made up this rumor that the book caused a bunch of suicides and thus a myth was born.”
  — Ryan Krull, [12:12]

• On Speculation Surrounding Brandon
  “He is somebody that has inserted himself into death investigations in the past, as the podcast has covered... Maybe... he just invented the encounter for attention or some other reason that, you know, some other psychological reason.”
  — Anna Scott, [16:26]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• [02:19] Listener account from former Truman State student
• [03:39] Defense of Brandon’s dating and clothing behaviors
• [05:59] Insight into AKL’s drug culture and “research chemicals”
• [07:46] Speculation on the role of drugs in the suicides
• [09:03] Hosts analyze intersecting risk factors (drugs, prescriptions, breakups)
• [11:19] Correction—Myth of Werther suicides
• [13:32] Anna Scott’s review of Glenna Haut’s medical report
• [15:04] Description of Glenna’s cause of death
• [16:26] Anna Scott speculates on Brandon’s possible fabrication of events

Conclusion

This bonus episode of The Peacemaker responds directly to community feedback and incorporates new perspectives, many from those who witnessed the events or have expertise in relevant fields. Major revelations include a reframing of Brandon Grossheim’s behavior (from “creepy” to possibly culturally typical for Truman State), a powerful theory that experimental drugs might have played a more significant role in the deaths than previously understood, a correction of a widely believed literary myth, and professional speculation challenging elements of Grossheim's account of events. The episode remains measured, noting a lack of definite proof, but doubt and ambiguity continue to haunt the case. The hosts invite further listener feedback as the trial approaches.