
Loading summary
A
Phoenix has bizarre crime.
B
In the early 90s, the canals of Phoenix, Arizona were hunted by a serial killer.
A
It was such a shock that people were like, well, are we safe?
B
A violent psychopath, two grisly homicides, copycat crimes of Jack the Ripper.
C
The reality to me is he's a sexual sadist. You don't just happen to wander out there and decide, oh, I'm gonna kill somebody like that.
B
The killer eluded police for decades. Hiding in plain sight, living in a world of fantasy.
D
I trust my dog boy. She didn't want him coming in the house. The more you dig, the more certain you get that something's really wrong with this guy.
B
It was Arizona's most infamous cold case, the first one in the world closed by forensic genealogy.
E
It's very important to realize that until now, genealogists had been annoyances to police departments. But they really wanted to solve this case, and they were willing to try anything.
F
How can you explain to me that your DNA is there?
G
Yeah, I know I didn't kill anyone.
B
But solving two murders is just the beginning.
E
Those two crimes, Melanie and Angela, that can't be his first rodeo.
B
I'm Brian Peter Falk, and I'm determined to get to the bottom of this twin twisted tale. Not just who done it, but also who else did he kill.
D
So what makes him tick? He knows what's really horrible in life. He knows real horrors of the world. He really cleaned up and hid it very well, just like he did everything else.
B
This is season six of American Nightmares, the Canal Murders, where the truth lies below the surface. Listen to American Nightmares, the Canal Murders. Wherever you get your podcasts.
Podcast: American Nightmares
Network: Gamut Podcast Network
Release Date: May 28, 2026
Episode: Trailer – Season 6: The Canal Murders
The trailer for Season 6 of American Nightmares introduces listeners to the mysterious and unsettling "Canal Murders" that haunted Phoenix, Arizona in the early 1990s. This season delves into the infamous cold case involving a serial killer who terrorized the city, eluded capture for decades, and was ultimately brought to justice through groundbreaking forensic genealogy. The show promises a deeper look beyond the solved crimes, questioning what other horrors might be hidden—and what truths remain uncovered.
"It was such a shock that people were like, well, are we safe?" – Speaker A [00:10]
"You don't just happen to wander out there and decide, oh, I'm gonna kill somebody like that." – Speaker C [00:20]
"She didn't want him coming in the house. The more you dig, the more certain you get that something's really wrong with this guy." – Speaker D [00:34]
"It's very important to realize that until now, genealogists had been annoyances to police departments. But they really wanted to solve this case, and they were willing to try anything." – Speaker E [00:49]
"Those two crimes, Melanie and Angela, that can't be his first rodeo." – Speaker E [01:11]
"I'm Brian Peter Falk, and I'm determined to get to the bottom of this twin twisted tale. Not just who done it, but also who else did he kill." – Brian Peter Falk [01:16]
On the city’s reaction:
"It was such a shock that people were like, well, are we safe?" – Speaker A [00:10]
On the killer’s psychology:
"The reality to me is he's a sexual sadist." – Speaker C [00:20]
On catching the killer:
"The killer eluded police for decades. Hiding in plain sight, living in a world of fantasy." – Speaker B [00:28]
On the role of genealogy:
"Genealogists had been annoyances to police... they were willing to try anything." – Speaker E [00:49]
On confronting the accused:
"How can you explain to me that your DNA is there?" – Speaker F [01:00]
"Yeah, I know I didn't kill anyone." – Speaker G [01:03]
On the investigation’s broader implications:
"That can't be his first rodeo." – Speaker E [01:11]
"He knows what's really horrible in life... He really cleaned up and hid it very well, just like he did everything else." – Speaker D [01:25]
The trailer employs a haunting and cinematic narrative, using a mix of investigative urgency, emotional interviews, and chilling details. The host and guests speak with conviction and a sense of responsibility to reveal the truth behind the surface of the crimes.
Season 6 of American Nightmares—"The Canal Murders"—dives deep into a legendary Phoenix cold case, exploring not only how two horrific murders were solved but also probing the possibility of more hidden victims. Through forensic innovation and relentless investigation, the season promises to unravel the darkness below the surface, challenging what we think we know about one of Arizona’s most disturbing serial killers.