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In January 1998, 37-year-old Gina Castillo had a nice life—a husband, a teenage son, and a 1-month old baby girl. She had no way to know that her son Mario had a disturbing obsession with the movies Scream and Scream 2, or that he wanted to bring the films to life.

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Episode Source List:

https://casetext.com/case/people-v-padilla-228 

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-court-of-appeal/1752030.html 

https://scocal.stanford.edu/opinion/people-v-padilla-34667 

https://www.courts.ca.gov/documents/4-s263375-resp-opening-brief-merits-112520.pdf 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/2-guilty-of-iscream-i-murder/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/santa-maria-times-mario-padilla-ca/28140270/ 

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-jul-23-me-58845-story.html   

https://www.audacy.com/knxnews/news/local/juvenile-court-hearing-ordered-for-man-in-mothers-death     

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In August 2004, 22-year-old Erin Belanger was starting a new life in Deltona, Florida, with her boyfriend Francisco "Flacco" Roman. Soon, the couple had two roommates, Michelle Nathan and Anthony Vega, to help with bills. While doing a favor for her grandmother, Erin learned that some squatters had moved into her grandma’s home. Her efforts to remove them led to a disturbing homicide dubbed the Deltona Massacre and The Xbox Murders. 

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Episode Source List:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/18/18-5434/62592/20180904153652866_victorinoBIO.pdf

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-district-court-of-appeal/115129434.html 

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-supreme-court/1646593.html 

https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/fifth-district-court-of-appeal/2023/5d23-1569.html 

https://casetext.com/case/victorino-v-state-1 

https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/xbox-murders/4/

https://www.wesh.com/article/deltona-xbox-murders-sentence/43726725#

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/courts/2023/02/09/deltonas-xbox-murders-what-you-need-to-know-before-the-april-trial-troy-victorino-jerone-hunter/69886892007/ 

https://www.news-journalonline.com/story/news/crime/2018/08/10/14-years-later-2004-deltona-massacre-resonates/6502534007/   

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/local/2023/05/16/hearing-could-decide-resentencing-trial-for-men-convicted-in-deltona-xbox-murders/ 

https://www.staugustine.com/story/news/state/2018/03/08/court-rejects-troy-victorinos-appeal-for-life-sentence-in-xbox-murders/13337681007/ 

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/2023/09/26/florida-appeals-court-new-death-penalty-law-applies-to-xbox-murders-retrial/ 

“The Deltona Massacre.” The Real Story with Maria Elena Salinas. Season 1, Episode 2. 1 May 2017.      

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When ExeLee “Lela” Villella didn’t show up to work one day, her coworkers knew something must be wrong. Early in the investigation, police narrowed their focus on her husband Mark Villella—who worked at a funeral home. 

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Episode Source List:

https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/fifth-district-court-of-appeal/2002/5d01-3011-op.html

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2002/12/15/funeral-director-gets-new-murder-trial/28732680007/

https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1999/08/28/slain-wife-found-in-casket-with-other-body/

https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1999/10/19/funeral-director-had-record-of-abuse/

https://www.theledger.com/story/news/1999/10/18/records-funeral-home-director-abusive-years-before-killing-his-wife/26557257007/

https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1999-08-29-9908290204-story.html   

https://www.newspapers.com/article/41377301/the_orlando_sentinel/ 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/98488466/exelee-louise-villella   

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Disappearances, break-ins, and a possible murder…at the zoo? On January 13, 2023, the Dallas Zoo discovered that a leopard named Nova had mysteriously disappeared. But their problems compounded when a pair of monkeys disappeared and someone (or something) killed an endangered vulture. What was going on?

Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/badactspod

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Episode Source List:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/dallas-zoo-death-escape-burglary-monkeys-leopard-rcna68947

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/crime/2023/01/23/unprecedented-and-disturbing-dallas-zoo-says-death-investigation-of-vulture-ongoing/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/01/24/vulture-death-leopard-escape-dallas-zoo/11111220002/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/01/13/clouded-leopard-missing-dallas-zoo/11047658002/ 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/latest-suspicious-occurrence-dallas-zoo-two-tamarin-monkeys-are-missin-rcna68280

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/tamarin-monkeys-taken-dallas-zoo-found-closet-abandoned-home-rcna68512 

https://twitter.com/DallasPD/status/1620464705985970177?s=20&t=9ygW6639xkUFNkHTG0QryQ 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/key-tip-aquarium-employees-led-arrest-suspect-dallas-zoo-incidents-rcna69124 

https://abc7chicago.com/dallas-zoo-davion-irvin-burglary-tamarin-monkeys/12965193/

https://www.wfaa.com/article/news/crime/man-indicted-dallas-zoo-monkey-thefts-found-incompetent-stand-trial/287-47de73c0-0268-49c2-92f0-fa78e31af380

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2023/02/08/davion-irvin-jailed-dallas-zoo-monkey-theft/11210540002/

https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/crime/article278777844.html

https://www.dallasnews.com/news/obituaries/2023/02/25/remembering-pin/ 

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In September 2006, a hitman showed up in Anne Lauren Royston’s office, claiming he’d been hired to kill her. Later that month, he disappeared, turning up across the Atlantic Ocean in Ireland. The hitman was embroiled in a high profile murder-for-hire case there, targeting an Irish multi-millionaire and his sons. It’s a story so ridiculous that even the Lifetime network would tone it down. 

Episode Source List:

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/murder-for-hire

https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/philadelphia/press-releases/2012/woman-gets-72-months-for-trying-to-broker-a-hit-on-a-romantic-rival

https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/philadelphia/press-releases/2011/woman-pleads-guilty-in-murder-for-hire-conspiracy

https://www.cnet.com/culture/woman-accused-of-tapping-hireahitman-net/ 

https://www.nj.com/hudson/2012/01/jersey_city_woman_sentenced_to.html 

https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/2012/01/former_allentown_woman_sent_to.html   

https://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/2011/09/former_allentown_woman_pleads.html 

https://www.irishcentral.com/news/las-vegas-hit-man-for-hire-to-be-extradited-to-us-from-limerick-118642004-237378241 

https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2012-feb-28-la-me-hitman-for-hire-20120228-story.html 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1369394/Marissa-Mark-accused-hiring-assassin-online-paying-19k-kill-exs-new-lover.html 

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In 2012, the City of Arlington Texas was embroiled in efforts to shut down Flashdancers Cabaret, one of two remaining strip clubs in the city. They were on the verge of success, much to the chagrin of co-owner Ryan Grant. As it turns out, Grant had a very unorthodox solution to his problems…murder. 

Episode Source List:

https://archives.fbi.gov/archives/dallas/press-releases/2012/tarrant-county-man-pleads-guilty-in-murder-for-hire-case

https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndtx/pr/tarrant-county-man-sentenced-10-years-federal-prison-murder-hire-case

https://www.scribd.com/doc/78152701/Flash-Dancers-Complaint 

https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/one-of-arlingtons-last-remaining-strip-clubs-flashdancer-takes-city-to-federal-court-7120321 

https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/call-me-whn-u-can-how-the-feds-say-flashdancers-owner-plotted-to-have-arlington-mayor-robert-cluck-killed-7116916 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ryan-walker-grant-update-owner-of-topless-club-gets-10-year-sentence-in-failed-plot-to-kill-texas-mayor/

https://www.nbcdfw.com/news/local/dfw-federal-magistrate-rules-ryan-walker-grant-held-without-bond/1924370/

https://www.dallasobserver.com/news/ryan-grant-the-strip-club-owner-who-tried-to-kill-arlingtons-mayor-got-10-years-in-prison-7123541

https://www.scribd.com/doc/88869768/Ryan-Walker-Grant

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On October 30, 2020, a 28-year-old man arrived home to find a box addressed to him. But when he opened the gift inside, a hiss alerted him to something wrong. Unfortunately, it was already too late. 

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Episode Source List:

https://www.morelaw.com/verdicts/case.asp?n=1:21-cr-00075&s=MD&d=168677 

https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/ohio-man-admits-making-bomb-and-driving-it-carroll-county-maryland-intent-kill-his

https://www.justice.gov/usao-md/pr/ohio-man-sentenced-almost-22-years-federal-prison-driving-bomb-carroll-county-maryland

https://foxbaltimore.com/news/local/man-injured-in-reported-explosion-in-carroll-county 

https://www.ydr.com/story/news/crime/2020/11/02/home-made-bomb-addressed-md-victim-motive-unknown-police-say/6126120002/ 

https://www.fox10phoenix.com/news/costumed-ohio-sex-offender-pleads-guilty-to-planting-bomb-at-romantic-rivals-maryland-home   

https://abcnews.go.com/US/man-built-gift-wrapped-homemade-bomb-attempt-kill/story?id=91429580 

https://www.wmar2news.com/news/local-news/ohio-man-drove-to-carroll-county-with-bomb-to-kill-romantic-rival 

https://dagorhir.com/wordpress/

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In October 2022, 25-year-old Rasheem Carter, who is black, disappeared in a small Mississippi town. In the days leading up to his disappearance, Rasheem told his mother and the local police about problems he was having, including threats from white men in trucks. A month after he disappeared, the first set of his remains were found. Rasheem Carter deserves justice.

Get Involved:
Justice Department Criminal Division: Call 202-353-4641 or email [email protected] 

Local FBI Field Office: https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/jackson

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Episode Source List:
Vice News Segment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUBU_UvbQqo

https://jacksonadvocateonline.com/fayette-mother-torn-by-grief-while-waiting-for-crime-lab-report-on-her-missing-son/ 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/03/14/rasheem-carter-mississippi-black-mysterious-death/ 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/rasheem-carter-death-mississippi-racism-b2301975.html 

https://magnoliatribune.com/2023/05/24/investigation-continues-in-death-of-rasheem-carter/ 

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/rasheem-carter-death-mississippi-b2301332.html 

https://abcnews.go.com/US/rasheem-carters-family-presses-justice-remains-found-mississippi/story?id=99255001 

https://www.mississippifreepress.org/32706/they-told-him-no-rasheem-carters-family-questions-police-details-of-death-in-smith-county 

https://abc7chicago.com/rasheem-carter-mississippi-case-update-human-remains-found/13242827/ 

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/backlash-sheriff-says-not-ruled-foul-play-rasheem-carters-death-rcna74936 

https://abc7chicago.com/rasheem-carter-update-mississippi-severed-head-missing-man-found-dead/12953896/ 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CUBU_UvbQqo   

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxOSbs5SLU0   

https://australian.museum/learn/science/stages-of-decomposition/ 

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In March 2017, artist Corrina Mehiel was planning a trip to visit her family. On the day she planned to leave, her phone suddenly went silent. The next day, investigators discovered that she’d become the victim of a terrifying crime.

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Episode Source List:

https://www.justice.gov/usao-dc/pr/maryland-man-sentenced-life-prison-murder-corrina-mehiel 

https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/crime/crime-and-courts/2019/03/21/art-academy-professor-corrina-mehiels-killer-found-guilty-d-c/3232149002/ 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/public-safety/dc-man-found-guilty-of-murder-in-case-prosecutor-calls-every-persons-worst-nightmare/2019/03/20/4201848a-4aa5-11e9-9663-00ac73f49662_story.html 

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/artist-corrina-mehiel-murdered-901097 

https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/local/man-gets-life-in-prison-for-rape-murder-of-artist-corrina-mehiel-in-ne-dc-apartment/154317/ 

https://www.pennlive.com/news/2017/04/details_emerge_in_death_of_cor.html 

https://www.artacademy.edu/office-of-engagement/social-impact/corrina-mehiel-residency/ 

https://obits.pennlive.com/us/obituaries/pennlive/name/corrina-mehiel-obituary?id=16153784&_gl=1*1erzdwz*_gcl_au*MTk2ODg1MDE5Ni4xNjkzMjQyMDky  

https://www.corrinamehiel.com/about.htm   

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In July 1991, 17-year-old Patricia “Tricia” Moreno was living with a foster mom in Malden, Massachusetts. She was a vibrant, pretty teen with dark curls, dark eyes, and a button nose. Who left her to die out on the fire escape?

Episode Source List:

https://apnews.com/article/cold-case-teen-girl-conviction-04c7b22f26fd36c66864cbccced50542 

https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/rodney-daniels-convicted-1991-murder-malden-patricia-moreno/ 

https://people.com/man-convicted-1991-cold-case-murder-girl-17-7693630 

https://www.wcvb.com/article/man-convicted-1991-patricia-moreno-murder-malden-massachusetts/44833674# 

https://www.masslive.com/news/2023/08/rodney-daniels-convicted-of-1991-murder-in-connection-with-patricia-morenos-death.html 

https://www.boston.com/news/crime/2021/09/29/man-arrested-cold-case-murder-patricia-moreno/ 

https://www.middlesexda.com/press-releases/news/man-convicted-first-degree-murder-connection-32-year-old-murder-patricia-moreno 

https://whdh.com/news/no-bail-for-suspect-in-1991-slaying-of-17-year-old-girl-in-malden/ 

https://apnews.com/article/shootings-arrests-massachusetts-e637ad360f17ca4f6858e693691a3f13