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In Thanksgiving 2009, Muriel and Jimmy Sitton hosted Thanksgiving dinner for their extended family. The day would have been perfect—if two of their relatives hadn’t secretly invited their rage-filled son who wasn’t supposed to come. Paul Michael Merhige arrived at the gathering that day with an evil plan, taking the lives of family members Makayla Sitton, Raymonde Joseph, Carla Merhige, and Lisa Knight. 

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Episode Source List:

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/fl-district-court-of-appeal/1657743.html 

https://supremecourt.flcourts.gov/content/download/384112/file/14-859_JurisIntBrief_050214.pdf 

https://www.cnn.com/2011/10/27/justice/florida-thanksgiving-killings/index.html

https://abcnews.go.com/US/thanksgiving-massacre-gunman-kills-relatives-dinner/story?id=9189258

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/crime/2012/03/31/i-ve-been-waiting/7832926007/ 

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/thanksgiving-massacre-witness-paul-merhige-ate-dinner-sang-songs-then-executed-family/   

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/parents-of-makayla-sitton-to-sue-thanksgiving-killer-paul-merhige-parents/2055945/ 

https://www.wptv.com/news/region-n-palm-beach-county/jupiter/10-years-after-the-jupiter-thanksgiving-murders-a-family-remembers 

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/crime/2012/03/31/an-unusual-suspect-merhige-was/7757281007/ 

https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2009/11/28/four-killed-at-family-dinner/ 

https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Mental-Health-Conditions/Schizophrenia

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In April 1996, 17-year-old David Crawford went for a walk on the railroad tracks near Sparta, Michigan. That day, he met another teenage boy during his walk, 16-year-old Federico “Kiko” Cruz. No one could predict the darkness waiting inside Kiko, or the horrors he’d film himself committing. 

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Episode Source List:

https://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=261275

https://law.justia.com/cases/michigan/court-of-appeals-unpublished/2000/20000128-c209273-0079-209273-opn.html 

https://law.justia.com/cases/michigan/court-of-appeals-order/2023/364089.html 

https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/1996-teen-killer-again-sentenced-to-life-in-prison/ 

https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/man-who-was-a-minor-when-he-killed-and-beheaded-a-teen-gets-shorter-sentence/ 

https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/man-who-beheaded-teen-in-1996-resentenced/ 

https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/man-who-killed-beheaded-teen-near-sparta-apologizes-has-life-sentence-reduced/ 

https://www.woodtv.com/news/kent-county/man-who-killed-beheaded-teen-near-sparta-apologizes-has-life-sentence-reduced/ 

https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/crime/savage-butchery-of-teens-1996-beheading-warrants-life-in-prison-judge-rules/69-612350195 

https://www.wzzm13.com/article/news/satan-inspired-beheading-committed-as-teen-brings-killer-back-for-resentencing/69-611509091 

Skeletons in the Closet: Stories from the County Morgue By Tobin T. Buhk

Wicked Deeds: Murder In America By James M. O'Kane

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In January 2003, 17-year-old Jon Siesling called 911 to report intruders in his home. Inside, first responders found his mother Sharon and sisters Katelin and Leah brutally murdered. The evidence soon led investigators to some horrifying conclusions. 

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Episode Source List:

https://casetext.com/case/people-v-siesling-3 

https://www.michbar.org/file/opinions/appeals/2005/061605/27726.pdf 

https://www.cbsnews.com/detroit/news/man-who-killed-mom-2-sisters-as-a-teen-to-get-new-sentence/ 

https://ssristories.org/17-year-old-kills-his-two-sisters-his-mother-no-illegal-drugs-or-alcohol/ 

https://mdocweb.state.mi.us/otis2/otis2profile.aspx?mdocNumber=485040 

https://www.woodtv.com/news/grand-rapids/murderer-jon-sieslings-sentence-reduced-to-years-after-court-ruling/ 

https://www.newspapers.com/article/battle-creek-enquirer/23413610/ 

https://www.clickondetroit.com/news/michigan/2023/04/19/michigan-man-who-killed-mom-2-sisters-as-a-teen-to-get-new-sentence/ 

https://www.mlive.com/news/grand-rapids/2021/10/house-where-teen-violently-murdered-his-mom-and-sisters-features-chilling-halloween-display.html 

https://obits.mlive.com/us/obituaries/grandrapids/name/sharon-ruth-obituary?id=15208306 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UK6v4hVeqJA 

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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.

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

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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. 

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

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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 

Subscriber-only episode

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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. 

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

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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/