Mind Behind The Crime | The Psychology Of Killers

By True Crime TodayNews True Crime News Commentary

Mind Behind The Crime | The Psychology Of Killers episodes

October 23, 2025 The Hidden Birth: The Laken Snelling Case & The Psychology of Denial
When 21-year-old University of Kentucky cheerleader Laken Snelling gave birth alone in her apartment, what happened next stunned investigators. She wrapped her newborn in a towel, placed the body in a trash bag inside her closet — and then, according to court documents, ordered McDonald’s through an app and tried to go about her day.

This episode digs into that impossible contradiction: how someone can experience the most traumatic moment of their life and immediately act as though nothing happened. Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott explore the psychological mechanics of shock, shame, and denial — and why the young brain, overwhelmed by fear and isolation, can make devastating choices it can’t comprehend.

Is this a story of pure evil? Or of panic, immaturity, and a desperate attempt to keep life “normal” when everything has already collapsed? We’ll look at how identity, reputation, and fear of judgment can override rational thought, and why concealment often feels like the only option to a terrified young adult.

This isn’t a story about excuses — it’s about understanding how fear rewires the human mind.

#HiddenKillers #LakenSnelling #TrueCrime #PsychologyOfDenial #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #UniversityOfKentucky #ImpulseControl #CrimeAndPsychology #HiddenBirth

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26 min
October 23, 2025 Inside the Panic: Why D4vd’s “Frunk” Decision Reveals a Broken Mind, Not a Master Plan
When police found the body of 15-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez inside the front trunk of a Tesla registered to the musician known as D4vd, it didn’t just expose a horrifying crime scene — it exposed a psychological collapse. A moment where fear, immaturity, and denial replaced logic.

In this episode, Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to examine the psychology of impulsive concealment — why young people in crisis make catastrophic, irrational choices that they somehow believe will “fix” the problem.

Why would anyone think a body in a frunk wouldn’t be found? Why do young adults underestimate consequences, even when the evidence is literally sitting in plain sight? And what does this say about a generation raised on instant validation and social-media performance?

This isn’t a story about criminal genius. It’s about panic. About the under-developed prefrontal cortex that governs judgment and foresight — and how, when terror strikes, it simply shuts down. Together, Tony and Shavaun unpack what neuroscience, fear, and shame can do to the human mind when reality feels too big to face.

If you’ve ever wondered why some people make the worst decisions imaginable under pressure, this conversation will change how you think about crime, youth, and consequence.

#HiddenKillers #D4vd #CelesteRivasHernandez #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologyOfCrime #ImpulsiveCrimes #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #BrainDevelopment #CrimeAndPsychology

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28 min
October 23, 2025 D4VD & Laken Snelling: Panic, Denial & Disaster, How Young Minds Destroy Their Lives in Seconds
Two crimes. Two young lives. Two moments of sheer panic that turned fatal.

A musician whose Tesla held the body of a missing 15-year-old.
A college cheerleader who hid her newborn in a closet, then went out for fast food.

In this extended Hidden Killers episode, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott dissect the chilling psychology behind both the D4vd / Celeste Rivas Hernandez and Laken Snelling cases — revealing how fear, shame, and an underdeveloped brain can twist reality into delusion.

Why do young people believe they can hide what can’t be hidden? What happens in the mind when panic flips the switch from reason to denial? And what does neuroscience tell us about the prefrontal cortex — the part of the brain that’s supposed to see the bigger picture — simply not being ready yet?

This isn’t about monsters. It’s about immaturity, fear, and the illusion of control. It’s about how a single impulsive act — followed by a catastrophic cover-up — can change everything.

Raw, honest, and psychologically deep, this episode shows that the scariest thing about these crimes isn’t the violence. It’s how human the decisions behind them really are.

#HiddenKillers #D4vd #LakenSnelling #TrueCrime #PsychologyOfCrime #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #ImpulseControl #BrainDevelopment #FearAndDenial

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53 min
October 18, 2025The Adelsons Fall Apart: Narcissism, Denial, and Legacy in Shambles-WEEK IN REVIEW
It wasn’t just Donna Adelson who broke down at sentencing—it was her husband Harvey, too. And in their back-to-back emotional outbursts, we witnessed the unraveling of an entire family narrative that had held for over a decade.

In this joint psychological breakdown, Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole are joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to dissect the most emotionally charged—and revealing—moments of both Donna and Harvey’s final courtroom statements.

Together, we examine:
How narcissistic collapse shows up in real time through fractured speech, emotional spirals, and selective memory

Why Harvey’s grief appears genuine—but is directed toward defending the illusion, not the truth

How Donna’s use of oaths, denial, and moral inversion reframes her as a victim of the justice system

The family system that enabled this collapse—and what happens when loyalty outweighs accountability

This is what it sounds like when a legacy built on image can no longer hold the weight of the truth.

🔔 Subscribe for full courtroom analysis, expert interviews, and behavioral breakdowns from the biggest trials in America.

#AdelsonTrial #DonnaAdelson #HarveyAdelson #DanMarkel #FamilyCollapse #NarcissisticCollapse #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #CourtroomDrama #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott

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1 hr 3 min
October 16, 2025I Am the Victim: Donna Adelson’s Unraveling at Sentencing
Donna Adelson didn’t beg for mercy at sentencing—she grabbed the mic and tried to rewrite history.

In this raw, emotionally fractured courtroom speech, Donna portrayed herself not as a conspirator—but as a victim. “There are two crimes,” she declared. “The second is taking my life.” Her voice cracked, her story crumbled, and what we witnessed was more than denial—it was psychological collapse playing out live.

In this episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony Brueski to dissect:
What narcissistic collapse really looks and sounds like when the façade finally breaks

Why Donna's repeated references to her grandchildren, oaths on her life, and attacks on the system reveal more about control than conscience

How emotional manipulation works in sentencing statements—and why selective grief is a red flag

The psychological toll of living inside a family system built on secrecy, power, and self-preservation

This isn’t just courtroom drama. It’s behavioral dissection.

🔔 Subscribe for deeper breakdowns of the psychology behind high-profile defendants.

#DonnaAdelson #HiddenKillers #DanMarkel #PsychologicalCollapse #SentencingStatement #CourtroomBehavior #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #FamilyDenial #EmotionalManipulation

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34 min
October 16, 2025You Took My Wife—and My Life: Harvey Adelson Melts Down in Court
What happens when a man loses not just his wife—but the version of reality he’s built for over 50 years?

In this gripping episode, we unpack the emotional, erratic, and deeply revealing courtroom statement of Harvey Adelson, the husband of convicted murderer Donna Adelson. At her sentencing, Harvey took the stand and delivered a passionate defense of his wife—denying all wrongdoing, blaming the justice system, accusing witnesses of lying, and even calling Dan Markel’s grieving parents dishonest.

But here’s the twist: Harvey’s grief is real. So is his collapse. And so is his refusal to acknowledge the truth.

With psychotherapist Shavaun Scott, we explore:
The psychology of enmeshment and why Harvey can’t separate Donna’s guilt from his own identity

Why family loyalty in narcissistic systems becomes more important than the truth

How denial, image preservation, and emotional breakdown all show up in real time

What it means when someone experiences their spouse’s conviction as their own personal execution

This is not just a reaction. It’s a psychological autopsy of a collapsing dynasty.

🔔 Subscribe for more psychological and behavioral analysis of high-profile trials.

#HiddenKillers #HarveyAdelson #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #TrueCrime #FamilyDenial #PsychologicalCollapse #CourtroomDrama #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski

Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?

Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod
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Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872
29 min
October 16, 2025The Adelsons Fall Apart: Narcissism, Denial, and Legacy in Shambles
It wasn’t just Donna Adelson who broke down at sentencing—it was her husband Harvey, too. And in their back-to-back emotional outbursts, we witnessed the unraveling of an entire family narrative that had held for over a decade.

In this joint psychological breakdown, Tony Brueski and Stacy Cole are joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to dissect the most emotionally charged—and revealing—moments of both Donna and Harvey’s final courtroom statements.

Together, we examine:
How narcissistic collapse shows up in real time through fractured speech, emotional spirals, and selective memory

Why Harvey’s grief appears genuine—but is directed toward defending the illusion, not the truth

How Donna’s use of oaths, denial, and moral inversion reframes her as a victim of the justice system

The family system that enabled this collapse—and what happens when loyalty outweighs accountability

This is what it sounds like when a legacy built on image can no longer hold the weight of the truth.

🔔 Subscribe for full courtroom analysis, expert interviews, and behavioral breakdowns from the biggest trials in America.

#AdelsonTrial #DonnaAdelson #HarveyAdelson #DanMarkel #FamilyCollapse #NarcissisticCollapse #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #CourtroomDrama #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott

Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?

Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod
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1 hr 3 min
October 11, 2025The Mind of Charlie Kirk’s Alleged Killer—What Went So Wrong? -WEEK IN REVIEW
This wasn’t an outburst. It was, according to prosecutors, a deliberate, public execution. A bolt-action rifle. A rooftop. A single shot aimed at a political figure speaking to a crowd of thousands. Prosecutors say Tyler James Robinson left a note, sent texts, and planned every detail.

In this gripping and unsettling episode of Hidden Killers, Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott unravel the deeper psychology of targeted violence—and how some killers don’t just act, they perform.

From the alleged planning to the engraving on the bullets, the post-crime concealment, and the so-called “energy burst” of activity right after the shot—this wasn’t just about killing. It was about control. Symbolism. Message.

In this interview, we explore:
How violent actors create their own mythology around the act

The psychology of public spectacle and performance-driven violence

Why some shooters choose rooftops, long guns, and high-attention moments

What happens psychologically after the act: the crash, the clean-up, and the final justification

We also examine how obsession, identity, and a need for significance play into the creation of what some perpetrators see as a necessary act of violence.

If you’ve ever wondered what turns someone from angry to armed—and what mental framework allows a person to believe they’re righteous in doing so—this is the episode to watch.

🎯 Subscribe for more deeply researched true crime conversations and psychological deep dives into the minds behind the headlines.

#CharlieKirk #TargetedKilling #TylerRobinson #PublicExecution #RitualizedViolence #TrueCrimeInterview #PsychologyOfKillers #ShavaunScott #ForensicPsychology #HiddenKillers

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55 min
October 09, 2025Charlie Kirk's Shooter Left Clues. Why Didn’t Anyone Stop Him?
The warning signs were there. According to prosecutors, Tyler James Robinson—the man charged in the assassination of Charlie Kirk—left behind a note, sent texts before and after the shooting, and planned the act for over a week. Yet no one stopped it.

In this episode of Hidden Killers, host Tony Brueski sits down with psychotherapist and forensic behavioral expert Shavaun Scott to dissect the psychology behind leakage, missed signals, and why families, friends, and institutions continue to fail at catching killers before they act.

We’re asking the hard questions:
Why do people hesitate to report concerning behavior—even when their gut says something’s wrong?

What language patterns and behavior shifts should raise red flags in friends, classmates, or coworkers?

What role does the internet play in radicalizing already isolated individuals?

What can schools, campuses, and event organizers realistically do to stop this?

This isn’t about panic. It’s about prevention. Because according to the Secret Service, most mass shooters display obvious warning signs in the days, weeks, and months before they act.

This episode pulls back the curtain on the psychology of targeted violence—and why so many communities only connect the dots when it’s already too late.

🔔 Subscribe for more true crime interviews, forensic breakdowns, and expert-driven analysis from inside the nation’s most disturbing cases.

#CharlieKirk #TylerRobinson #MassShooterWarningSigns #TrueCrimePsychology #ShavaunScott #Leakage #ForensicBehavioralAnalysis #HiddenKillersPodcast #PreventMassShootings #EarlyIntervention

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29 min
October 09, 2025The Psychology Behind the Alleged Charlie Kirk Assassin
This wasn’t a moment of rage. According to prosecutors, it was a calculated, deliberate act: a long gun, a rooftop, and a public figure in the crosshairs.

In this powerful and deeply psychological episode of Hidden Killers, Tony Brueski is joined by psychotherapist and forensic behavioral expert Shavaun Scott to examine the disturbing case of Tyler James Robinson, the man charged with murdering Charlie Kirk in front of a crowd at Utah Valley University.

Authorities allege Robinson left behind a handwritten note, confessed to the act in a text message, and planned the shooting for over a week. Prosecutors are calling it ideologically motivated, and they’re seeking the death penalty.

But this isn’t just about what allegedly happened. It’s about how people get there.
What makes someone move from grievance to violence? From obsession to execution? From believing in a cause to believing that murder is justified?

Together, Tony and Shavaun break down the psychology of targeted violence, including:
The mindset behind planned attacks vs. spontaneous rage

What the term “leakage” means—and how it shows up in text messages and online behavior

Why offenders often see themselves as heroes, protectors, or martyrs

The role of digital radicalization, algorithmic echo chambers, and identity reinforcement

The symbolism of engraved weapons, public executions, and post-crime behavior

What institutions, families, and friends can realistically do to stop the next shooter

This interview dives deep into the dark corners of obsession, warning signs, and the narratives people build around violence. It’s not about sensationalism—it’s about understanding the patterns, so we can finally learn how to stop them.

If you’ve ever asked yourself, “How could no one see this coming?”—this is the conversation you need to hear.

🔔 Subscribe for more interviews, courtroom breakdowns, and psychological deep dives on the cases that shake the country.

#CharlieKirk #TylerRobinson #TargetedViolence #TrueCrimePsychology #ShavaunScott #HiddenKillers #MentalHealthAndViolence #Leakage #GrievanceToViolence #ForensicPsychology

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27 min

About Mind Behind The Crime | The Psychology Of Killers

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Welcome to Mind Behind The Crime, the authoritative podcast that grants you exclusive access to the profound insights of respected psychologists, psychotherapists, and mental health experts as they…