In EP267, we examine the deeply unsettling case of Cary Stayner, the Yosemite Killer. On the surface, Cary seemed quiet--reserved, even overlooked. But behind that silence was a storm of inner torment, obsession, and darkness. What makes his story even more chilling is the irony: Cary Stayner, was the brother of Steven Stayner (who we discussed in EP266), a national hero who survived a childhood abduction. While the world watched one brother's trauma unfold in the headlines, the other battled invisible demons--ones that would eventually erupt in brutal violence. This is not just the story of a killer- it's the story of unresolved trauma, twisted fantasies, and the shadow legacy of a family marked by tragedy.

SOURCES: 
1) Sund details frantic hunt for wife, daughter: Father-husband testifies during Stayner’s preliminary hearing into slayings of 3 Yosemite visitors
2) CBS News: The Yosemite Murders -- in photos
3)Crime Library: Cary Stayner and the Yosemite Murders
4) CBS Sacramento: 25 years later: FBI agent shares how he got Cary Stayner to confess to Yosemite killings
5) SF Gate: Overshadowed All His Life / Low-key Cary Stayner took back seat to kidnapped brother
6) 20/20 Episode: Evil in Eden

At just seven years old, Steven Stayner was kidnapped by a predator who would hold him captive for seven long years--years in which the world moved on, but Steven was forced to grow up in the shadows of a stolen identity. His eventual escape and heroic rescue of another young boy made national headlines and turned him into a symbol of courage. But what happens after the cameras fade? Behind the media attention was a young man who had to piece together a life that had been taken from him. His story is not just about survival--it's about resilience, loss, and the quiet, ongoing struggle to reclaim a sense of self. Listen this week to Steven Stayner's story--he was a survivor whose story is as inspiring as it is tragic. 

SOURCES:

1) Heroism and Horror: One Brother Was Kidnapped, The Other Became A Serial Killer
2) Two kidnapped boys, a hero’s return, then a tragic twist: The unbelievable story of Steven Stayner
3) Steven and Cary Stayner: The tale of two brothers' horror and heroism
4) Steven Stayner's Kidnapping, Cary Stayner's Horrific Crimes and One Family's Unbelievable Story
5) 'Captive Audience': Who Was Steven Stayner and What Happened To Him?
6) Who Was Steven? : The Little Boy Who Had Been Kidnaped Never Found Himself
7) He Was Abducted As A Child. Then His Brother Became A Serial Killer.
8) Kidnapper Returns To Jail
9) Molester Gets Life Term for Attempt to Buy a Boy
10) A Child Abductee's journey back
11) Steven Stayner Wikipedia Page
12) The Little Boy Who Never Came Home
13) Second Man Held in '72 Abduction of California Boy; Statute of Limitations
14) Propensity Podcast: Episode 1: In the Shadow of Yosemite - Part 1: Steven Stayner
15) Kenneth Parnell Wikipedia Page

The manhunt was massive. The victims were piling up. And yet, for years, Andrei Chikatilo continued to slip through the cracks of the Soviet justice system. In Part 2 of this Early Release series, we follow the chilling escalation of The Red Ripper’s crimes—his increasingly brazen attacks, the wrongful arrests, and the sheer horror of a killer who seemed unstoppable.But justice would eventually catch up. We dive into the groundbreaking forensic work, the psychological profile that finally cracked the case, and Chikatilo’s jaw-dropping confession that stunned the world.🎧  Finish the story before it’s released to the public.Content Warning: This episode contains graphic discussions of sexual violence, murder, and crimes against children. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

He seemed a mild-mannered teacher, a family man... and he was one of the most prolific serial killers in history. Dubbed The Red Ripper, Andrei Chikatilo terrorized the Soviet Union for over a decade, preying on society’s most vulnerable while hiding in plain sight. In a system riddled with secrecy and denial, his crimes went unchecked—leaving a trail of horror that spanned over 50 victims.

In 1931, William and Julia Wallace had what seemed to be the perfect life. The couple had been married for over 16 years and resided in Liverpool. This perfect life, however, came to a screeching halt when Julia Wallace had her skull smashed in with a blunt object on the night of January 20, 1931, in the Wallace family home. This heinous crime led investigators in England on quite the journey, ending with the most usual suspect in these types of crime: the husband. But did William really kill his wife that night? Or is our killer more clever and sneaky than anticipated?

SOURCES: 
1) The Julia Wallace Murder Foundation
2) William Herbert Wallace -- Wikipedia

Grant Amato was drowning in a world of fantasy—obsessed with a Bulgarian cam girl and willing to do anything to keep the illusion alive. When his family tried to intervene, they had no idea the depths of his desperation. In January 2019, their once-loving son and brother repaid their concern with cold-blooded murder.In this Early Release episode, available exclusively to our Apple and Patreon subscribers, we uncover the shocking case of Grant Amato—the web of lies, the staggering financial ruin, and the brutal execution of his family, all in pursuit of a woman who barely knew he existed.
Content Warning: This episode discusses familicide, financial exploitation, and online obsession. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

If you grew up in the 1980s and 1990s, the idea of supermodels strutting on the runway in sleek, sophisticated, and sometimes whimsical outfits is woven into the fabric of international culture. However, it wasn’t always that way. High-profile design icon Giovanni (Gianni) Versace gets much credit for that runway revolution. Sadly, his legacy and last moments are inextricably intertwined. However, Gianni Versace was not Andrew Cunanan's only victim; he was his most famous one.

SOURCES:
1)  https://www.biography.com/history-culture/gianni-versace     
2)  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Gianni-Versace    
3). https://people.com/crime/gianni-versace-partner-speaks-out-people-magazine-investigates-crimes-of-fashion/#:~:text=The%20depression%20Antonio%20D'Amico,Florida%2C%20villa%20after%20hearing%20gunshots.   
4)  http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C138062%2C00.html  
5)  http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,138062,00.html#ixzz11H6hE2vi  
6)  https://wunderlabel.com/lab/fashion-designer/gianni-versace-biography/#:~:text=1968,business%20as%20a%20fabric%20buyer  
7)  https://variety.com/2018/scene/news/the-assassination-of-gianni-versace-darren-criss-andrew-cunanan-1202907696/  
8). https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Andrew_Cunanan  
9). https://www.cbsnews.com/news/gianni-versace-murder-did-iconic-designer-icon-know-killer-andrew-cunanan/      
10)  https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/murder-of-chicago-real-estate-mogul-lee-miglin-horrors-andrew-cunanan-murder-spree-gianni-versace/  
11) https://www.businessinsider.com/gianni-versace-donatella-versace-family-life-story-2019-4#gianni-also-had-a-nephew-from-donatella-daniel-beck-gianni-left-daniel-his-art-collection-which-includes-two-pieces-by-picasso-18  

In 1997, Christina Marie Riggs, a single mother from Arkansas, made a decision that would shock the nation. Struggling with depression and financial hardship, she convinced herself that there was only one way out—for her and her children. What followed was an unspeakable tragedy that left her two innocent children dead and a community searching for answers.In this Early Release episode, available exclusively to our Apple and Patreon subscribers, we take a deep dive into the heartbreaking case of Christina Riggs—what led her to commit the unthinkable, her shocking confession, and the legal battle that ended with her becoming the first woman executed in Arkansas in over 150 years.🎧 Listen now before the episode is released to the public.Content Warning: This episode contains discussions of filicide, mental illness, and execution. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Ricky “Coolie” Gray, his nephew, Ray “Lucky” Dandridge, and Ashley Baskerville (Ricky’s girlfriend) were cruising the streets of Richmond in Ricky’s van during the mid-morning of January 1, 2006 "looking for a house to rob" when they ended up in the middle-class neighborhood of Woodland Heights. By the time they were caught, 7 people were dead, and one was beaten so badly, he'd never use his right arm again.

SOURCES:
1) Court Records
2) House of Freaks Singer Murdered
3) Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Stepfather didn't trust Gray
4) Fox News: Jury Weighing Execution for Killer of Richmond Family Hears Testimony of Violence
5) CBS6: Friday Morning Blog - Arlington Attack Testimony
6) Death Penalty Information Center: Independent Pathologist Says Autopsy Reveals Problems With Virginia’s Execution of Ricky Gray
7) Richmond.com: Dandridge Gets Three Life Sentences
8) CourtTV Crime Library: Tucker/Baskerville Family Murders--"She Never Really Had a Life..."
9) inRich.com: Dandridge pleads guilty; sentenced to life without parole
10) Fredericksburg.com: Culpeper indicts Gray Man convicted of Richmond murders charged in slaying of Sheryl Ann Embrey.
11) StarExponent.com: Not guilty plea from convicted killer Gray
12) TimesDispatch.com: Execution date set for Harvey family killer but appeal likely
13) CBS6: Supreme Court will not hear appeal of Harvey family killer Ricky Gray
13: CBS6: Richmond killer should not endure ‘chemical torture’ lawyers argue
14: CNN: Virginia executes convicted family killer Ricky Gray

A small Pennsylvania town was forever changed on Halloween night in 1992 when 11-year-old Shauna Howe vanished while walking home from a Girl Scout event. Days later, her body was found beneath a railroad bridge, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community of Oil City. The investigation spanned more than a decade, filled with dead ends, false leads, and unanswered questions—until the truth finally came to light.In this early release episode, available exclusively to our Apple and Patreon subscribers, we unravel the haunting details of Shauna Howe's murder, the community’s decades-long search for justice, and the dark secrets that were hiding in plain sight.🎧 Listen now—before the episode drops for the public.Content Warning: This episode discusses child abduction, violence, and murder. Listener discretion is advised.