Criminally Absurd

Episode 29: Vanished in the Desert: The Disappearance of Daniel Robinson

Daniel Robinson, a 24-year-old field geologist disappeared on June 23, 2021, after leaving a remote job site near Buckeye, Arizona. He was last seen driving his 2017 blue Jeep Renegade west into the desert around 9:30am

Nearly a month later, on July 19, a rancher discovered Robinson’s Jeep overturned in a ravine approximately three miles from the worksite. The vehicle had sustained significant damage, and its airbags were deployed, but there was no sign of Daniel.   

The Buckeye Police Department conducted extensive searches covering over 70 square miles using ground teams, drones, cadaver dogs, and helicopters. Despite these efforts, no trace of Robinson was found. Investigators initially found no evidence of foul play and suggested the crash might have been accidental.   

However, Robinson’s father, David Robinson, hired a private investigator, Jeff McGrath, who uncovered anomalies suggesting the crash scene may have been staged.

Despite the passage of time, David Robinson continues to search for his son, organizing volunteer search parties and maintaining a website to raise awareness. He has also criticized law enforcement’s handling of the case, believing that crucial evidence pointing toward foul play has been overlooked.  

Daniel Robinson remains missing, and his case continues to draw attention from advocates seeking justice and answers for his family.

The information presented in this episode is from sources from the most reliable accounts available on the web, including information on Please Help Find Daniel:

pleasehelpfinddaniel.com (http://pleasehelpfinddaniel.com/) 

The Podcast Talking to Death with Payne Lindsey: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/si/podcast/david-robinson-missing-persons-public-awareness-and/id1713799483?i=1000665666603 

An Article from NPR:

https://www.npr.org/2024/06/29/nx-s1-5020582/daniel-robinson-missing-person-anniversary-arizona

An Article from Yahoo News:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/arizona-geologist-daniel-robinson-went-123032345.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAMKiG-1iwkVJtZffXRISE6gLpVXPsQKuY4kzm7KBfRvNUQ5JP-ZVUG_ssgGVbThQ0wOQyU502pL8cWdQuT1uesBMNuGGL4j0F2V8i97kNaeNNVl3GyWfmAU6va64FFUPBAnchjj7qWhYtmOezASaCA7H3pU5YuNbxLWzdA1pX1FA  

An Article from The Independent:

https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/geologist-missing-erratic-witness-arizona-b1925176.html 

An Article from AZ Central:

https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona/2023/09/29/new-information-on-daniel-robinson-who-has-been-missing-since-2021/71007618007/ 

I Think Not Episode 164 and 174

For date of birth:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Daniel_Robinson

Photos include photos of Daniel Robinson.

Episode 28- A Killer in Disguise: The Betrayal of LaNell Barsock

LaNell Barsock was a 29 year old nurse from Palmdale, California, known for her kindness, generosity, and dedication to those she loved. But on June 16, 2010, her life was tragically cut short. She was found murdered in her garage-shot in the back of the head, with a plastic bag placed over her face. The scene was chilling, and the betrayal even more so. 

At first, suspicion fell on her boyfriend, Louis Bonheur, as tensions in their relationship had raised red flags. But as investigators dug deeper, the story took a shocking turn-one filled with deception, manipulation, and a fugitive on the run. 

LaNell’s story is a heartbreaking tale of trust betrayed and justice pursued. Just when you think you understand what happened, another layer is uncovered. And at the center of it all was someone she once loved. 

The information presented in this episode is from sources from the most reliable accounts available on the web, including information from the Dateline Podcast: 

The Breakup Episode from Dateline NBC, June 18, 2024. 

An article from NBC:

https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/california-nurse-lanell-barsock-murder-had-shocking-twist

An article from Yahoo News:

https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/nurse-murdered-california-her-friends-010003125.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAALRkyn9l__IJLOIgtt-j27BoyuYNwWQnQ5XsvnCutV0YtraVhppj5nRoe14MZGpaxOh-EXY98dY67sZkO76vhpZ7LwscfzJkfta97T9jsz-gWb16zl5-PTy6dA-I5jMVDkLGmaoXeampCwRueJZSKOc2JfiMh0_JzFoAKEYXAgtz

Photos include: LaNell Barsock (top) LaNell Barsock (bottom left)  and LaRene Austin (bottom right)

Episode 27: Vanished into the Dark: The Disappearance of Brandon Swanson

Brandon Swanson disappeared in the early hours on May 14th, 2008 around Marshall, Minnesota. At the time of his disappearance, Brandon was 19 years old with brown hair, blue eyes, 5’ 6” and 120lb. 

Brandon had been out earlier that night and gone to a couple of parties before making his way home to Marshall, Minnesota. Unfortunately, on the way home, he ran into a bit of car trouble when his car veered a bit off the side of a gravel road and got stuck in a ditch. He called his parents for help and explained exactly where he was but when they got there Brandon was nowhere to be seen and neither was his car. 

The search was extensive and eventually they located his car with the doors open and no sign of accident or distress. 

To this day there have been no signs of Brandon or what could have happened to Brandon. If you have any information on the disappearance of Brandon Swanson please contact the Lincoln County authorities at 507-694-1664

The information presented in this episode is from sources from the most reliable accounts available on the web, including information from the Morbid Podcast:

Morbid Podcast: Episode 293 and 294 Where is Brandon Swanson, January 23, 2022

An article from the Grandforks Herald:

https://www.grandforksherald.com/news/the-vault/rural-roads-of-minnesota-remain-last-known-location-of-19-year-old-brandon-swanson-1#:~:text=The%20drive%20from%20the%20gathering,to%20his%20parents%20for%20help.

Information from Missing People in America:

https://missingpeopleinamerica.org/missing/Brandon-Swanson 

Information on the FBI website:

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/missing-persons/brandon-victor-swanson#:~:text=Details:,doors%20open%20and%20keys%20missing. 

Information on Reddit:

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/1d5zq8v/disappearance_of_brandon_swanson/ 

Information from the Going West Podcast:

Going West Podcast - Episode 1 and 411 - June 4, 2024

Photos include: The map of the area where Brandon went missing from, Brandon Swanson’s missing poster, and a photo of Brandon. 

Episode 26- Murder in the Digital Age: The Bianca Devins Story

In this episode, we explore the life and tragic death of Bianca Devins, a 17 year old girl from Utica, New York, whose story became a a chilling example of the dark side of the internet culture. Bianca was a talented, artistic teen active in online communities where she built friendships and shared her struggles with mental health. 

On July 14, 2019 she was murdered by someone she knew from these online spaces, an act that shocked the world not just for it’s brutality, but for the way it unfolded on social media platforms. 

We dive into Bianca’s background, the events leading up to the tragedy, and the disturbing aftermath, including how graphic images of her death were spread across the internet. We discuss the impact on her family, the legal consequences for her killer, and the broader conversation about online safety, exploitation, and digital responsibility. 

This episode aims to honor Bianca’s life beyond the headlines and to spark critical discussion about protecting vulnerable  communities online. 

The information presented in this episode is from sources from the most reliable accounts available on the web, including information on NY Post:

https://nypost.com/2024/06/16/us-news/new-york-teen-bianca-devins-murder-photos-went-viral-prompting-mom-to-help-change-law/

Wikipedia:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Bianca_Devins

An article on CBS News:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/bianca-devins-murder-violent-images-psychological-terrorism-48-hours/

An article on BBC:

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-49002486

The Crime Weekly Podcast episode July 17, 2024:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-weekly/id1540621732?i=1000662491598

Please send this to your Members of Congress-from the Crime Weekly Podcast:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/14g0gveEgpSwTDwrn1cXg9GtPtQAWfCwzj7Bicu2Z8ss/edit?pli=1&tab=t.0

Photos include Bianca Devins x2, Bianca’s convicted murderer Brandon Clark, and Bianca’s final resting place 

Episode 25 - Rigged: The Hot Lotto Scandal 

Eddie Tipton was a formal security director at the Multi-State Lottery Association (MUSL)- the organization responsible for administrating various lotteries, including the Hot Lotto game. 

Starting around 2005, Tipton installed code into the lottery's random number generator, which allowed him to predict the winning numbers on certain days. He shared those numbers with family and friends, who would then buy the winning tickets and try to claim the prizes-trying to avoid suspicion by spreading out the claims across different states and people. 

The scheme started to unravel in 2010, when a $16.5 million winning Hot Lotto ticket bought in Iowa sat unclaimed for almost a year. Just before the deadline, a couple of different lawyers reached out to claim the ticket, but failed to give the specific details to claim the winning amount. 

Investigators eventually asked the public to assist by releasing the convince store surveillance video, which then led the investigators to Eddie Tipton as the man who purchased the ticket. 

Tipton was arrested and convicted. He and his accomplices collected over $2 million in fraudulent winnings. In 2017, Tipton was sentenced to 25 years in prison, though he later reached a plea deal. 

The information presented in this episode is from sources from the most reliable accounts available on the web, including information on AE TV:

https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/hot-lotto-scandal 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Powerball#:~:text=In%20each%20drawing%2C%20winning%20numbers,ball%20from%20the%20second%20machine. 

An article from The NY Times:

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/05/03/magazine/money-issue-iowa-lottery-fraud-mystery.html 

An article on Colorado News Line:

https://coloradonewsline.com/2022/01/27/lottery-scams-alleged-mastermind-paroled/ 

An article from the Des Moines Register:

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/videos/news/crime-and-courts/2018/03/15/surveillance-video-captures-sale-rigged-hot-lotto-ticket/16982253/ (this one has the surveillance video)

Photos include: A photo of Eddie on surveillance, a photo of Eddie Tipton (left) and his brother Tommy Tipton (right.) 

Episode 24 - Family Annihilation:  The Brom Family Murders

In this chilling episode, we explore a horrific crime that shook the quiet community of Rochester, Minnesota in 1988. The Brom family-parents Bernard and Paulette, along with two of their children Diane and Richard-were brutally murdered in the middle of the night in their own home. The shocking twist: The killer was their own son and brother, 16 year old David Brom.

The murders sent shockwaves through the small city and captured national attention due to their gruesome nature and the young age of the perpetrator. As the investigation unfolded, disturbing details emerged about David’s troubled relationship with his family, releasing deep-rooted tension and signs of psychological distress. 

In this episode, we take a closer look into the events leading up to the murders, the aftermath, and the trial. 

The information presented in this episode is from sources from the most reliable accounts available on the web, including information from Town Square Media:

https://townsquare.media/site/715/files/2021/02/PATTI-PRICE-ON-DAVID-BROM-Interview-Transcript.pdf

An article from Duluth News Tribune:

https://www.duluthnewstribune.com/news/the-vault/33-years-later-this-teenagers-crime-still-shocks-rochester

An Article from KTTC:

https://www.kttc.com/2021/11/08/notorious-brom-murders/

Articles from the Post Bulletin:

https://www.postbulletin.com/coroner-describes-wound

https://www.postbulletin.com/newsmd/timeline-of-brom-murders

Information from Murderpedia:

⁠https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/brom-david-francis.htm⁠

Information from My Crime Library:

https://mycrimelibrary.com/david-brom-teen-killer-murdered-family-with-an-axe/#google_vignette

An article from KAAL TV:

https://www.kaaltv.com/news/top-news/saturday-marks-35-years-since-brom-family-murders/

Articles from Park Rapids Enterprise:

https://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/news/the-vault/33-years-later-this-teenagers-crime-still-shocks-rochester

https://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/news/the-vault/33-years-later-this-teenagers-crime-still-shocks-rochester

Photos include: The Brom’s house the day their bodies were discovered, a photo of David Brom being booked into Olmsted County Jail, and a family photo of Paulette, Diane, Richard, David, and Bernard

Episode 23-Missing: Lovely ‘Angie’ Brooks

Lovely Brooks, known to her loved ones as “Angie,” was last seen on January 10, 2023, in the 1000 block of Barlen Drive in Richmond, Virginia. According to her sister, Angie had been residing with and caring for their father. He last saw her leaving their home that morning.

She left behind most of her belongings, including her luggage and phone charger, but took her phone and purse. Other than the regular deposit of her Social Security disability benefits, there has been no activity on Angie’s bank account.

Investigators have reviewed her phone records, but authorities have stated they “can’t really elaborate” on their findings as the case remains open. Angie is a transgender woman with black hair and brown eyes. She has a small heart tattoo on her chest and pierced ears.

If anyone has any information about the whereabouts of Lovely Brooks, please call Detective C. Key 804-646-6764 or Crime Stoppers at 804-780-1000.

The information presented in this episode is from sources from the most reliable accounts available on the web, including information from True Crime Files:

https://www.truecasefiles.com/2025/02/the-disappearance-of-lovely-andreya.html#google_vignette

An article from NBC News:

https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/missing-in-america/family-still-searching-answers-january-disappearance-richmond-virginia-rcna83653

And Reddit thread:

https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/1ivphym/a_disabled_transgender_woman_leaves_home_one_day/

Photos include: Photos of Lovely "Angie" Brooks

Episode 22: A Mystery Still Haunting: The Murders of Mary and Susanne Reker 

The episode this week is about the Reker sisters. On September 2, 1974, Mary Reker, aged 15 and Susanne Reker, aged 12, left their home  in St. Cloud, Minnesota to go shopping for last minute school supplies. Tragically, the sisters never returned. 

After an agonizing 26 days, their bodies were discovered, stabbed to death, in a quarry outside of St. Cloud.

The investigation into he deaths was complicated by issues with jurisdictional overlap between local, county, and state authorities, leading to a. Lack of progress. As of now, no arrests have been made, and the case remains unsolved. 

If you have any information on the Reker case, please call the Stearns County Sheriff’s Department at 320-251-4240 or crime stoppers at 320-255-1301. 

The information presented in this episode is from sources from the most reliable accounts available on the web, including information on St. Cloud Live:

https://www.stcloudlive.com/news/the-vault/the-reker-sisters-1974-deaths-remain-a-mystery-50-years-later

Articles from Fox 9:

https://www.fox9.com/news/reker-murders-connection-or-coincidence

https://www.fox9.com/news/mother-of-murdered-girls-confronts-suspected-killer-on-his-death-bed

The podcast Crime Junkies:

https://crimejunkiepodcast.com/murdered-mary-susanne-reker/

Photos include: Susanne Reker and Mary Reker (left to right) and the sister's resting place.

Episode 21: Calculated Betrayal: The Murder of Toni Henthorn

This episode discusses the murder of Toni Henthorn, which is a chilling case of deception and premeditation. In 2012, Toni, a 50 year-old ophthalmologist from Colorado, fell to her death during a hike in Rocky Mountain National Park with her husband, Harold Henthorn. At first, Harold claimed it was a tragic accident, but investigators soon uncovered disturbing details. 

Authorities found inconsistencies in Harold’s story, financial motives, including a $4.7 million life insurance policy on Toni, and eerie similarities to the mysterious 1995 death of Harold’s fires wife, Lynn Henthorn, who also died under suspicious circumstances. 

Harold was eventually convicted of Toni’s murder in 2015 and sentenced to life in prison. 

The information presented in this episode is from sources from the most reliable accounts available on the web, including information on the 20/20 Episode:

Mountain of Lies Season 47, Episode 19

An article from ABC News:

https://abcnews.go.com/US/colorado-man-pushing-wife-off-cliff-exposed-decades/story?id=118482217 

An article from CBS News:

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/48-hours-investigates-the-deaths-of-harold-henthorns-wives/ 

A podcast: Park Predators Podcast - Episode 10 - The Husband - August 25th, 2020

An an article from Bol News:

https://www.bolnews.com/viral/2023/11/the-dark-saga-of-harold-henthorn-a-life-of-deceit-and-tragedy/

Photos include: Toni Henthorn with their daughter Haley, Harald Henthorn with his first wife Sandra (top) and Toni and Harald (bottom.)

Episode 20-Patterns of Neglect: Emily Pike and the MMIP Epidemic 

In this episode, we uncover the heartbreaking case of Emily Pike, a young Indigenous woman whose life was tragically cut short. Her story is not just about one life lost-it’s a painful reflection of the larger crisis affecting Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP.)

We’ll explore who Emily was, the circumstances surrounding her disappearance and murder, and the systemic neglect that leaves so many MMIP cases unsolved. Though this discussion, we aim to shed light on the injustice, amplify the voices of those fighting for change, and demand action for Emily and countless others. 

If you have any information on the homicide of Emily Pike, please contact the sheriff’s office at 928-200=2352, the Bureau of Indian Affairs at 505-917-7830, or San Carlos Apache Tribal Police at 928-475-1755. According to a report just released on Sunday, there is a $75,000 reward for information and leads to those responsible for her death. 

The information presented in this episode is from sources from the most reliable accounts available on the web, including information in these articles from WSAZ:

https://www.wsaz.com/2025/02/28/graphic-body-missing-14-year-old-girl-found-dismembered-off-highway-authorities-say/

https://www.wsaz.com/2025/03/01/she-was-baby-mother-shares-tearful-interview-after-missing-daughter-found-dismembered/

An article from Time:

https://time.com/7265596/san-carlos-apache-teenager-emily-pike-death-indian-country/

Article from Yahoo:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/reward-grows-emily-pike-case-042901115.html

Information on the podcast Voices for Justice, Episode on March 6, 2025 Emily Pike:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/voices-for-justice/id1469338483?i=1000698191478

Photos include: a photo of Emily Pike and 2 photos of memorials for Emily.