For more than 15 years, police across Europe believed they were hunting one of the most elusive serial killers in modern history.

Known as The Phantom of Heilbronn, the same DNA appeared at dozens of crime scenes spanning multiple countries. Detectives linked the mysterious suspect to murders, robberies, burglaries, and violent crimes, creating one of the largest criminal investigations in European history.

There was just one problem...

The killer never existed.

This week on Devious Backstories, Handy & Maal break down the unbelievable true story behind the Phantom of Heilbronn, how contaminated DNA evidence sent investigators on a years-long chase, and the forensic mistake that changed criminal investigations forever.

Do men completely misunderstand what actually impresses women?

This week on Devious Thoughts, Handy & Maal jump into another chaotic episode packed with dating debates, internet drama, Reddit stories, and hot takes. From arguing whether certain behaviors are misogynistic or respectful to breaking down unwritten social rules and exposing the biggest signs of terrible friends, nothing is off limits.

If you enjoy relationship debates, AITA stories, hilarious conversations, and unfiltered discussions, this one's for you.

⏱️ TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro
0:34 Tweets & Treats
8:09 Misogyny or Respect?
14:20 Tweets Continued
18:02 Am I The Asshole?
23:29 Unwritten Rules
37:40 Signs of Terrible Friends

💬 Question of the Day: What's the biggest misconception people have about dating?

What if someone convinced hundreds of people to move to a country... that didn't exist?This week on Devious Backstories, Handy & Maal dive into the unbelievable story of Gregor MacGregor, the man who pulled off one of the boldest scams in history. In the early 1800s, he invented the nation of Poyais, printed maps, created official documents, sold land, and even convinced families to leave everything behind for a paradise that was nothing more than a lie.How did so many intelligent people fall for it? Why wasn't he stopped sooner? And how did one man become one of history's most successful con artists?It's a story filled with deception, greed, false hope, and a scam so outrageous it almost sounds impossible.💬 Question of the Day: Do you think a scam like Poyais could happen today?

What's the biggest lie society tells us?

This week on Devious Thoughts, Handy & Maal tackle some of life's biggest debates—from whether money really buys happiness to the secrets that can destroy lives, impossible relationship dilemmas, and another chaotic round of your favorite games.

The conversations get serious, ridiculous, and completely unfiltered as they debate modern life, relationships, and the questions everyone has an opinion on.

If you enjoy controversial discussions, Reddit stories, hot takes, and comedy, this episode is for you.

 TIMESTAMPS

0:00 Intro
0:55 What's the Biggest Lie Society Tells People?
12:24 Life Destroying Secrets
18:35 Strike Three
33:09 Am I The Asshole?
44:00 Keep It or Cut It

 Question of the Day: What's the biggest lie society tells people? Let us know in the comments.

One prisoner.

No name.

No visitors.

No explanation.

This week on Devious Backstories, Handy & Maal unravel the chilling mystery behind the man history remembers as the Man in the Iron Mask.

For more than 30 years, a mysterious prisoner was kept under extraordinary security by order of King Louis XIV's government. He was moved from fortress to fortress under constant guard, isolated from other inmates, and watched so closely that even his plates were inspected for hidden messages.

Rumors exploded across France. Was he the king's twin? A secret brother? A political prisoner who knew something so dangerous it could bring down the monarchy?

Even after his death, officials destroyed his belongings, scrubbed his prison cell clean, and buried him under a false name—fueling one of history's greatest unsolved mysteries.

Join Handy & Maal as they separate fact from fiction and explore the theories that have fascinated historians for over 300 years.

This week on Devious Backstories, Handy & Maal dive into one of the most chilling kidnapping cases in American history.In 1968, 20-year-old Barbara Jane Mackle was abducted by Gary Steven Krist and his accomplice, Ruth Eisemann-Schier. Their ransom plot took a horrifying turn when Barbara was buried alive inside a specially constructed underground box while her family scrambled to meet the kidnappers' demands.The gang breaks down how the kidnapping was planned, how Barbara survived more than three days trapped beneath the ground, the nationwide manhunt that followed, and how one of the kidnappers became the first woman ever placed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list.

What habits should you leave behind once you hit 30? 😭💀

This week on Devious Thoughts, Handy & Maal debate the things that might be acceptable in your twenties—but probably deserve to stay there.

From partying until you throw up to avoiding unnecessary drama, varsity jackets, and whether strip club trips with your friends are actually weird, nothing is off limits.

The chaos continues as Maal shares a bizarre stalker story before the gang jumps into another round of The Art of Lying, where unbelievable situations somehow get even worse.

A mix of hilarious debates, hot takes, and complete nonsense from start to finish.

⏱️ Timestamps:
0:00 Maal's Stalker
8:54 What's No Longer Acceptable After 30?
• Partying until you throw up
• Being the party animal
• Strip club trips
• Avoiding drama
• Varsity jackets
• Rebel fish fry
23:30 The Art of Lying

💬 Question of the Day: What's something people should retire after turning 30?

This week on Devious Backstories, Handy & Maal dive into one of Australia's strangest true crime cases: the infamous Shark Arm Case.

In 1935, visitors at Sydney's Coogee Aquarium watched in disbelief as a tiger shark suddenly became ill... and regurgitated a human arm into its tank.

What looked like a bizarre accident quickly unraveled into a web of insurance fraud, organized crime, forged documents, suspicious deaths, and murder.

The gang breaks down how one shark shocked an entire nation, the investigation that followed, and why the mystery remains one of Australia's most fascinating unsolved true crime stories.

A story so unbelievable it sounds like fiction—but every twist really happened.

How much would it take for you to risk it? 😭💀This week on Devious Thoughts, Handy & Maal put themselves through impossible hypotheticals, react to viral tweets, tackle a wild Reddit dilemma, and decide whether questionable behavior is actually justified... or just plain jaded.Things get even more personal when Maal shares stories about sibling rivalries, proving that family drama never really goes away.From impossible choices to internet chaos, this episode has a little bit of everything

TImestamps:00:48 would you risk it

18:26 sibling stories

21:39 tweets & treats

22:46 reddit

30:00 Justified or Jaded

Which "Would You Risk It?" scenario had you changing your answer halfway through?

This week on Devious Backstories, Handy & Maal dive into the horrifying true story of William Burke and William Hare—two men whose names became synonymous with one of history's most disturbing murder sprees.

In 1820s Edinburgh, medical schools desperately needed bodies for anatomical research. Instead of digging up graves like traditional body snatchers, Burke and Hare realized there was far more money to be made by creating their own supply.

The gang breaks down how the pair lured vulnerable victims, carried out their shocking crimes, sold the bodies to anatomists, and how their gruesome scheme eventually unraveled.

From the infamous "Burking" method to the investigation that exposed them, this is one of the darkest and most influential true crime stories in British history.

A chilling tale of greed, murder, and the case that forever changed the study of anatomy.