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.
40episodes
Episodes
Newest firstAll episodes
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
Transcribe →The Butcher of Plainfield – Ed Gein
Oct 200:31:33Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Unlawful Acts, we descend into the nightmarish world of Ed Gein—the killer and grave robber whose twisted crimes inspired horror legends like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. From his isolated farmhouse in Plainfield, Wisconsin, Gein dug up corpses, crafted grotesque trophies, and ultimately turned to murder. Join us as we unravel the disturbing psychology of a man whose obsession with death and his mother created one of the darkest legacies in American crime. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Shoe Fetish Killer – Jerry Brudos
Sep 2500:30:29Tap to summarizeOn this episode of Unlawful Acts, we uncover the twisted story of Jerry Brudos—the “Shoe Fetish Killer.” Behind closed doors, his obsession with women’s shoes and lingerie escalated into abduction, murder, and grotesque trophies. What began as a strange fixation turned into a string of brutal killings that shocked the nation. Join us as we expose the double life of a man whose darkest desires left a trail of terror and death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Man Who Slept with Corpses - Dennis Nilsen
Sep 1800:31:08Tap to summarizeKnown as the Muswell Hill Murderer, Dennis Nilsen is one of Britain’s most chilling serial killers. Between 1978 and 1983, Nilsen lured young men into his London flats, where he carried out brutal murders — often keeping the bodies for days, sometimes longer. In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we uncover: How Nilsen evaded police for years while killing at least 15 men The disturbing details of his obsession with the dead The shocking discovery that led to his capture What made him one of the UK’s most terrifying predators This is the haunting story of Dennis Nilsen — a man who hid his darkest secrets behind the closed doors of suburban London. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Dating Game Killer – Rodney Alcala
Sep 1100:32:38Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Unlawful Acts, we expose the twisted double life of Rodney Alcala, a charming photographer who hid his identity as a ruthless predator. Alcala earned national attention when he appeared on the hit TV show The Dating Game in the middle of his murder spree, smiling on camera while living as a serial killer off-screen. Behind his charisma lay a history of manipulation, brutality, and countless victims whose stories shocked the world. We’ll explore his disturbing crimes, the chilling evidence that finally brought him to justice, and how he became forever known as “The Dating Game Killer.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The NFL Player Turned I-5 Killer – Randall Woodfield
Sep 400:33:28Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Unlawful Acts, we dive into the shocking story of Randall Woodfield, a former NFL player whose athletic promise hid a terrifying secret. Known as the I-5 Killer, Woodfield stalked and murdered women along the West Coast during the late 1970s and early 1980s, using his charm and physical prowess to gain their trust before committing brutal crimes. We explore his rise from football player to serial predator, the multi-state investigation that ultimately captured him, and the dark legacy he left behind. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Nation’s Kill Kit Killer – Israel Keyes
Aug 2800:36:23Tap to summarizeIn this chilling episode of Unlawful Acts, we uncover the disturbing crimes of Israel Keyes, a man who turned murder into method. Keyes buried weapons and tools across the United States, creating hidden caches that allowed him to strike whenever and wherever he traveled. Outwardly a quiet father and business owner, he lived a secret double life as a predator who stalked strangers, planned meticulously, and left behind far more questions than answers. From his chilling FBI interviews to the trail of victims he hinted at but never revealed, this is the terrifying story of a killer who treated the entire country as his hunting ground. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Bind, Torture, Kill: Part 2 - Dennis Rader
Aug 2100:26:09Tap to summarizeIn Part Two of Unlawful Acts’ deep dive into Dennis Rader, the “BTK Killer,” we pick up with the chilling aftermath of his crimes and the decades-long hunt to bring him to justice. We’ll examine how Rader managed to elude capture for so long, the evolving investigation that struggled to piece together his taunting clues, and the technological break that finally unmasked him. From his cold courtroom confessions to the lasting impact on his victims’ families, this episode reveals the final chapter of how one of America’s most calculating killers was finally stopped. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →Bind, Torture, Kill: Part 1 – Dennis Rader
Aug 14, 202500:28:55Tap to summarizeIn this chilling episode of Unlawful Acts, we dive into the twisted mind of Dennis Rader, the man who terrorized Kansas for decades under the name “BTK”—short for Bind, Torture, Kill. Rader lived a double life: devoted family man and church leader by day, cold-blooded serial killer by night. We’ll explore his early life, the brutal murders that earned him his infamous moniker, his taunting letters to police, and the shocking way he was finally caught after 30 years. This is the story of how one man’s cruelty hid in plain sight. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →The Meanest Man in America - Donald Henry Gaskins
Aug 7, 202500:27:53Tap to summarizeIn this episode of Unlawful Acts, we confront the violent legacy of Donald Henry Gaskins, a man whose sadistic crimes earned him the title “The Meanest Man in America.” From a troubled childhood in rural South Carolina to a lifetime of theft, assault, and murder, Gaskins left a trail of death that spanned decades. Known for his chilling confessions and unflinching pride in his brutality, he claimed to have killed more than 100 people—by methods as varied as his motives. We’ll explore his rise from petty criminal to one of the most feared killers in the nation, the twisted psychology that drove him, and the final act that sealed his fate. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcribe →