Crime and Motive

When 21-year-old Samantha Josephson called for an Uber after a night out, she thought she was heading home safely. Instead, she stepped into a car driven by a predator. Nathaniel Rowland saw an opportunity — and Samantha never made it out alive. In this episode, we unpack the chilling case that shocked the nation, examine the hunt for a killer, and explore the safety changes sparked by Samantha’s tragic murder.

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In 1979, 16-year-old Brenda Spencer became the first juvenile mass school shooter when she killed two staff members and wounded eight children at Grover Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego. She took careful aim at the young students and fired from her house across the street. When asked why she did it, she cooly replied that she “Didn’t like Mondays.”

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December 16, 2024. Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. A quiet study hall turns into a war zone when 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow opens fire—killing a student, a teacher, and ultimately herself.

In this chilling episode of Murder U, we unpack the first juvenile female mass school shooting in 45 years. Who was Samantha Rupnow, and how did her obsession with violence go unnoticed? From troubling online posts and a disturbing manifesto to a potential link with a California man planning a simultaneous attack, this story is more than a tragedy—it’s a wake-up call. Female school shooters are rare. But maybe not for long.

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Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988 SAMHSA
National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Murder U is an Abnormia Original Podcast

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On February 14, 2008, Northern Illinois University became the site of a devastating mass shooting when a former student walked into a packed lecture hall and opened fire. Within minutes, six people were dead, including the gunman, and nearly two dozen others were injured. Who was the shooter, and what led him to carry out such a brutal attack? What warning signs were missed? In this episode of Murder U, we examine the tragic events of that day, the gunman’s troubled past, and the long-lasting impact on the victims, their families, and the NIU campus. 

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Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988  SAMHSA
National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Murder U is an Abnormia Original Podcast

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In April 1993, 20-year-old Sophie Sergie was found brutally murdered in a dorm bathroom at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The crime sent shockwaves through the campus, but despite an intense investigation, the case went cold for nearly three decades. Who could have committed such a heinous act? And why did it take so long to uncover the truth?

In this episode, we unravel the chilling details of Sophie’s final night, the frustrating dead ends that plagued investigators, and the groundbreaking DNA technology that finally led to an arrest in 2019. How did a genealogical breakthrough expose a suspect who had been hiding in plain sight for years? And what does this case reveal about the flaws in cold case investigations? 

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Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988  SAMHSA
National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Murder U is an Abnormia Original Podcast

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In July 2021, Chandler Halderson reported his parents, Bart and Krista, missing from their Wisconsin home. What began as a search for a missing couple quickly turned into a chilling murder investigation when dismembered remains were discovered. As detectives uncovered Chandler's web of lies about his education and career, a dark motive emerged. In this episode, we unravel the shocking details of the Halderson family murders, exploring how deception, betrayal, and brutal violence shattered a seemingly ordinary family.

Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & Tiktok Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988 SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233   Murder U is an Abnormia Original Podcast  

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On October 30th, 2019, Clark Atlanta University senior Alexis Crawford was heard laughing and in good spirits during her last conversation with her mother, Tammy Crawford. Yet, in the days that followed, silence replaced that joyful exchange. On Friday, November 1st, around 10:45 p.m., the Crawford family filed a missing person report, their growing dread hinting at an unspeakable tragedy. Exactly a week later, Alexis’s body was discovered in a plastic bin at a local park. Her promising life, cut tragically short just before graduation, now serves as a chilling tale of friendship, lust, jealousy, deception, and the horrifying consequences of misplaced trust. Join me as we peel back the layers of this disturbing case and uncover the dark secrets behind Alexis Crawford’s murder.   Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & Tiktok

Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988  SAMHSA
National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Murder U is an Abnormia Original Podcast

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When 21-year-old Jennifer Cave went out with her friend Colton Pitonyak in Austin, Texas, she never made it home. The next morning, her body was found in Colton’s apartment. She was brutally murdered and dismembered. As police closed in, he fled to Mexico with his accomplice, Laura Hall, setting off a shocking case of crime, cover-up, and betrayal. What led a promising college student to such brutality? And how far would his accomplice go to protect him? Join me as we uncover the chilling truth behind Jennifer Cave’s murder.

Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & Tiktok

Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988  SAMHSA
National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Murder U is an Abnormia Original Podcast

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Jennifer Pan’s parents had her life mapped out—straight A’s, top universities, and a future they approved of. But behind their proud smiles, Jennifer was drowning in lies, fabricating degrees and achievements to meet impossible expectations. When the truth threatened to unravel, she made a chilling choice: to eliminate the source of her pressure once and for all. Was she a victim of extreme parental control, or a master manipulator willing to kill for her own freedom?

Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & Tiktok
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988  SAMHSA
National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Murder U is an Abnormia Original Podcast

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Laken Hope Riley, a vibrant University of Georgia student, was tragically killed while jogging on a popular campus running path. Her shocking murder sent ripples of fear through the college community. As investigators scrambled for leads, security camera footage became the crucial puzzle piece that revealed the identity of her killer. Join us as we delve into the details of Laken's life, the investigation, and the disturbing truth that came to light.

Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & Tiktok
Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988 
SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233
Murder U is an Abnormia Original Podcast

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/crime-and-motive--6152042/support.

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