Podcast
Unlawful Acts
Hosted by Network One Digital · EN
Every story has two sides — the version we hear, and the version buried beneath the surface.
Unlawful Acts is a weekly true crime podcast hosted by Susan Davis and Jocelyn Frankhuizen, delivering gripping, condensed storytelling that dives deep into some of history’s most fascinating criminal cases. From elusive serial killers and unsolved disappearances to organized crime, corruption, and decades-old mysteries, each episode peels back the layers to uncover truths often left untold.
But this isn’t just about the crimes — it’s about the people. The families who never stopped searching. The detectives who chased justice across years and continents. The hidden patterns and overlooked clues hiding in plain sight.
With sharp analysis, compelling narrative, and a passion for uncovering what others miss, Susan and Jocelyn explore not just what happened — but why.
If you’re fascinated by criminal psychology, drawn to detail, and want the full story without the filler, Unlawful Acts invites you to dig deeper and discover what they didn’t want you to know.
New episodes weekly.
39episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
The Gainesville Ripper - Danny Rolling
Mar 500:31:44Tap to summarizeIn the late summer of 1990, the quiet college town of Gainesville, Florida became the center of a nightmare that would shock the entire country. Over the course of just a few days, five University of Florida students were brutally murdered in their own apartments, sending waves of fear through the campus and beyond. In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we break down the horrifying crimes of the man who would become known as the Gainesville Ripper. We examine how the killings unfolded, the investigative mistakes and breakthroughs that followed, and how one of Florida’s most notorious serial killers was finally identified. We also explore the psychology behind the crimes, the atmosphere of panic that gripped the university community, and the lasting impact these murders had on law enforcement and campus safety across the country. This is the story of a case that paralyzed a city, terrified a generation of students, and ultimately exposed the dark reality hiding in plain sight. If you enjoy deep dives into the minds behind the crimes and the systems built to stop them, Unlawful Acts takes you inside the investigation. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Mailroom Murderer - Robert Shulman
Feb 2600:25:17Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the chilling case of Robert Shulman — the Brooklyn mailroom worker who lived a quiet double life as a serial killer. Known as the “Mailroom Murderer,” Shulman targeted vulnerable women in New York during the mid-1990s, evading detection while maintaining the appearance of an ordinary family man. But when investigators began connecting the dots, the truth behind his crimes unraveled quickly. We break down the timeline of the murders, the investigative breakthroughs that led to his arrest, and the disturbing psychology behind a man who hid in plain sight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Green River Killer - Gary Ridgway
Feb 1900:29:06Tap to summarizeFor nearly two decades, women began disappearing along the Green River in Washington State. Many were young, vulnerable, and living on the margins of society. Their cases were overlooked, their names forgotten—until investigators uncovered a pattern that would lead to one of the most prolific serial killers in American history. In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we break down the crimes of the Green River Killer, the massive investigation that spanned decades, and the man at the center of it all: Gary Ridgway. From his early life and disturbing psychology to the forensic breakthroughs that finally brought him to justice, this is the full story behind the case that haunted a generation. Who were the victims? How did he avoid capture for so long? And what finally stopped him? This is the true story of the Green River Killer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Machete Murders - Juan Corona
Feb 1200:31:05Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Unlawful Acts, we dive into one of the most shocking mass murder cases in California history. Juan Corona was a quiet farm labor contractor in the small town of Yuba City—until authorities uncovered a gruesome secret buried in the orchards. Between 1970 and 1971, Corona lured vulnerable migrant workers to their deaths, leaving behind a trail of violence that stunned the nation. As investigators began to dig, the scale of the horror came into focus. Body after body was discovered, many brutally attacked with a machete, turning the rural farmland into a chilling crime scene. Questions quickly arose about Corona’s mental health, his past, and whether warning signs had been missed. In this episode, we explore the investigation, the disturbing evidence, the courtroom battles, and the legacy of one of America’s deadliest serial killers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Day Trader Massacre - Mark Barton
Feb 500:28:38Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the disturbing case of Mark Barton, the day trader whose financial losses and unraveling personal life culminated in one of the most shocking mass shootings in Atlanta history. In July 1999, Barton carried out a brutal series of attacks that began inside his own home and ended in two brokerage offices, leaving multiple victims and a city searching for answers. What appeared to be a story about money and market losses quickly revealed a much darker past—one filled with violence, deception, and earlier suspicious deaths. This episode explores Barton’s troubled history, the warning signs that went unnoticed, and the events that led to the tragic shootings. We break down the timeline, the psychology behind the crimes, and how this case continues to be remembered as one of the most chilling examples of financial desperation turning into mass violence. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Base Commander — Russell Williams
Jan 2900:36:08Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the case of Russell Williams, a man trusted with national security, elite power, and absolute authority — who was living a violent double life in plain sight. Known publicly as “The Base Commander,” Williams was a decorated colonel in the Canadian Air Force, commanding one of the country’s most important military bases. Privately, he was committing a series of escalating crimes fueled by control, secrecy, and compulsion — burglaries, sexual violence, and murder — all while maintaining the image of discipline and honor. This episode traces how unchecked authority, entitlement, and secrecy allowed Williams to operate undetected, how investigators finally connected the dots, and why his calm demeanor during interrogation remains one of the most chilling aspects of the case. Unlawful Acts explores not just what he did — but how someone so trusted was able to become so dangerous, and what this case reveals about power, blind spots, and the lies we accept when someone wears a uniform. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Grim Sleeper - Lonnie Franklin Jr.
Jan 2200:35:58Tap to summarizeFor more than two decades, Los Angeles was haunted by a predator hiding in plain sight. Known as the Grim Sleeper, Lonnie Franklin Jr. murdered women across South Los Angeles while living a seemingly ordinary life as a father, neighbor, and friend. In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the full scope of Franklin’s crimes — from the earliest victims to the long gaps that earned him his chilling nickname. We explore how systemic failures, overlooked victims, and advances in forensic genealogy ultimately led to his arrest, and what this case reveals about serial offenders who evade capture for decades. This is not just the story of a killer — it’s an examination of how violence persists in the shadows, how communities are failed, and how justice can arrive far too late. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →America’s First Female Serial Killer - Aileen Wuornos
Jan 1500:34:13Tap to summarizeAileen Wuornos shocked the world when she was arrested for killing seven men along Florida highways in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Branded by the media as a monster and sensationalized as a femme fatale, Wuornos quickly became one of the most infamous figures in true-crime history. But behind the headlines lies a far more complex and disturbing story—one shaped by severe childhood abuse, abandonment, mental illness, and life on the margins of society. As a sex worker living on the road, Wuornos claimed her killings were acts of self-defense. Prosecutors argued they were calculated murders driven by rage and desperation. In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the full arc of Aileen Wuornos’ life—from her traumatic upbringing to her crimes, trials, and eventual execution—while unpacking how gender, media narratives, and public fear influenced the way her story was told. We ask the uncomfortable questions: Was Wuornos purely a predator, a victim of circumstance, or something far more complicated? This is not just the story of a killer—it’s a deeper look at how society decides who is beyond redemption. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Golden State Killer - Joseph DeAngelo
Jan 800:44:14Tap to summarizeFor more than 40 years, Joseph DeAngelo terrorized California — committing dozens of home invasions, sexual assaults, and murders while evading every attempt to stop him. Known to the public as The Golden State Killer, DeAngelo operated across multiple jurisdictions, constantly evolving his methods. He stalked neighborhoods, studied victims, taunted law enforcement, and vanished without leaving evidence strong enough to identify him. Investigators suspected he was highly trained — possibly law enforcement or military — but the case went cold for decades. On this episode of Unlawful Acts, we break down: Who Joseph DeAngelo really was The timeline of crimes spanning Northern and Southern California How his behavior escalated from burglary to rape to murder The psychological profile behind his need for control and fear Why law enforcement failed to catch him for so long How genetic genealogy finally exposed the man hiding in plain sight This case reshaped criminal investigations forever and proved that time does not protect predators. Justice didn’t come quickly — but it came. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Co-Ed Killer - Edmund Kemper
Oct 900:39:42Tap to summarizeIn this disturbing episode of Unlawful Acts, we delve into the terrifying mind of Edmund Kemper—one of America’s most calculating serial killers, known as the Co-Ed Killer. Towering at 6’9” with an IQ of 145, Kemper used his intelligence, charm, and sheer physical power to manipulate and murder with chilling precision. We explore his troubled childhood, his early killings at just 15, and the brutal spree that followed his release—targeting young female hitchhikers across California. From necrophilic fantasies to the horrifying murder of his own mother, Kemper’s story is a psychological descent into pure evil. This episode pulls no punches as we dissect the methods, motivations, and madness behind a killer who sought not just control—but complete domination. Step inside the fractured mind of the Co-Ed Killer—and discover the horror that hid in plain sight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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