Four teenagers went camping beside a quiet lake in Finland.

By morning, three were dead.

One was alive—but badly injured, with no memory of what had happened during the night.

On June 5, 1960, Maila Irmeli Björklund, Anja Tuulikki Mäki, Seppo Antero Boisman, and Nils Gustafsson spent the night at Lake Bodom in Espoo, Finland.

What happened before dawn would become one of Finland’s most infamous unsolved mysteries.

The tent was torn apart. Three teenagers were killed. Nils Gustafsson survived, but his memory of the attack was gone. The murder weapon was never found, and questions surrounding the investigation would follow the case for decades.

Over the years, there were suspects, strange witness accounts, theories about a mysterious stranger, and one name that became particularly notorious: Hans Assmann.

Then, more than forty years after the murders, the investigation took an unexpected turn.

Nils Gustafsson—the surviving victim—was arrested and accused of killing the others.

The case eventually went to trial in 2005.

He was acquitted.

But the questions surrounding Lake Bodom never really disappeared.

In this episode of Murder Most Brewed, we’re going back to that summer night in 1960, following the investigation, the theories, the trial, and the evidence that still leaves this case without a definitive answer.

Four went camping.

Three never came home.

And more than six decades later, Lake Bodom is still keeping its secrets.

☕️ Grab your coffee and open the file.

If you enjoyed this episode, follow Murder Most Brewed and leave a rating or review wherever you listen. And if you have a theory about what happened at Lake Bodom, I’d love to hear it.

The file is finally coming to a close.

For decades, the Green River investigation stretched across Washington State, leaving behind unanswered questions, grieving families, and evidence that would eventually help investigators uncover the truth.

In the final chapter of Case File #001, we look beyond the arrest and into what came after—the investigation that continued even after Gary Ridgway was in custody, the information that helped investigators locate additional victims, the plea agreement that forever changed the course of the case, and the lasting impact this investigation left behind.

But this final chapter isn’t really about an ending.

It’s about what remains.

The victims.

The families.

The investigators who spent years searching.

And the evidence that waited long enough for science to catch up.

In this episode:

☕ The aftermath of Ridgway’s arrest📁 His cooperation with investigators🔎 The search for additional victims and evidence⚖️ The plea agreement and the difficult questions surrounding it🌲 The lasting impact of the Green River investigation🕯️ Remembering the people behind the case file

This is the final chapter of Case File #001, but the stories don’t end here.

Thank you for trusting me with this case and for joining me through every chapter.

☕ Keep your coffee warm. Keep asking questions.

The file may be closed...but the story is never forgotten.

Case File #001: The Green River Killer

Part Three:

The Ghost Leaves a Trace

The Evidence That Changed Everything

For nearly two decades, investigators searched for answers in one of the largest serial murder investigations in American history.

The evidence was there.

The determination was there.

But the science needed to catch up.

In Part Three of Case File #001, we follow the moment the investigation changed forever. As advances in DNA technology gave detectives a new way to examine long-preserved evidence, a decades-long search finally began to move toward answers.

This episode explores:

☕ How advancements in DNA technology transformed the Green River investigation☕ The evidence that connected Gary Ridgway to multiple victims☕ Why investigators continued building the case even after the breakthrough☕ The 2001 arrest that marked a turning point in the investigation☕ The difficult decisions that followed as prosecutors balanced justice with the hope of finding answers for victims’ families

More than a story about forensic science, this episode is a reminder that every case file represents a life—and every victim deserves to be remembered.

Thank you for listening to Murder Most Brewed.

If you enjoy thoughtful, research-driven true crime, please follow the show, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who loves documentary-style storytelling.

Join the Brew Crew on Substack for behind-the-scenes research, case notes, and updates on future Case Files.

☕ The file may be closed… but the story is never forgotten.

For years, investigators searched for a killer they could not identify.

They had victims.

They had crime scenes.

They had countless questions.

But they didn’t have a name they could prove.

In Part Two of Murder Most Brewed’s Case File #001: The Green River Killer, we continue the investigation into one of the most complex serial murder cases in American history.

As detectives worked to connect the growing number of cases, they faced an impossible challenge: finding someone who appeared ordinary, someone who blended into everyday life, and someone who left behind few answers.

This episode explores:

☕ The massive effort to identify the person responsible☕ The creation and challenges of the Green River investigation☕ The overwhelming number of leads detectives had to follow☕ The early moments when Gary Ridgway came onto investigators’ radar☕ Why suspicion alone wasn’t enough—and why evidence would ultimately be the key

For nearly two decades, investigators hunted a ghost.

But the evidence was waiting.

And eventually, science would give that evidence a voice.

Case File #001 continues in Part Three: The Ghost Leaves a Trace.

The women connected to this case were more than a headline or a statistic. They were daughters, sisters, friends, and loved ones. Their stories deserve to be remembered with dignity and compassion.

☕ Follow Murder Most Brewed for more Case Files, investigative storytelling, and stories that look beyond the headlines.

📁 The file may be closed… but the story is never forgotten.

🎙️ Podcast Show Notes

Case File #001: The Green River Killer — Part 1:

The River Begins to Speak

In the summer of 1982, a discovery along the banks of Washington’s Green River would become the beginning of one of the largest serial murder investigations in American history.

But before there was a name attached to the investigation, there were women whose lives mattered.

In this first installment of Murder Most Brewed’s Case File #001: The Green River Killer, we return to the beginning—when detectives were faced with a growing number of missing women, a community searching for answers, and an investigation that would span decades.

This episode explores:☕ The discovery that began the Green River investigation☕ The early victims whose stories deserve to be remembered☕ The challenges investigators faced as they searched for answers☕ How a series of separate cases became one of the most infamous investigations in Washington State history

This is not just the story of a killer.

It is the story of the women who were taken, the families who waited, and the investigators who refused to stop searching.

Case File #001 continues next week with Part Two: Hunting a Ghost.

Victim Reminder

The women connected to this case were more than the circumstances surrounding their deaths. They were daughters, sisters, friends, and loved ones. Their stories deserve to be remembered with dignity and compassion.

Follow Murder Most Brewed

☕ Subscribe for new episodes☕ Follow on your favorite podcast platform☕ Join the Brew Crew on Substack for additional stories, behind-the-scenes notes, and upcoming case files

On a warm Australia Day in 1966, siblings Jane, Arnna, and Grant Beaumont boarded a bus for what should have been an ordinary day at Glenelg Beach in South Australia.

They never returned home.

Despite thousands of witnesses, one of the largest investigations in Australian history, and decades of renewed efforts, the disappearance of the Beaumont children remains one of the world's most enduring unsolved mysteries.

In this episode of Murder Most Brewed, we revisit the events of January 26, 1966, examine the known timeline, discuss the witness accounts that shaped the investigation, and separate confirmed facts from the many theories that have emerged over the decades.

Grab your favorite cup of coffee as we open another case file and explore a mystery that continues to haunt investigators nearly sixty years later.

In this episode:

- The Beaumont family and Australia Day, 1966

- The children's trip to Glenelg Beach

- The timeline of their disappearance

- Witness accounts and the unidentified man

- The investigation and major developments

- Why this case remains unsolved

- A reflection on the lasting impact of one of Australia's greatest mysteries

If you enjoy thoughtful, atmospheric true crime, please consider following Murder Most Brewed, leaving a rating or review, and sharing this episode with a fellow true crime fan.

You can also subscribe to Murder Most Brewed on Substack for additional case discussions, behind-the-scenes research, and exclusive content.

☕ Every file gathers dust. Not every mystery does.

Grant Amato appeared to have a promising future. But after losing his nursing career, his life became consumed by an online obsession that prosecutors say cost his family nearly $200,000.

When his parents and brother confronted him and tried to intervene, the events that followed shocked investigators and captured national attention.

In this episode of Murder Most Brewed, we explore the rise and fall of Grant Amato, the devastating murders of his parents, Chad and Margaret Amato, and his brother, Cody, the investigation that uncovered a trail of digital evidence, and the trial that ended with three convictions for first-degree murder.

This episode explores themes of online obsession, financial deception, family intervention, and the tragic consequences of addiction to fantasy.

In this episode:

- Grant Amato's early life and nursing career

- His online relationship with Bulgarian webcam performer Silvie

- The financial losses suffered by his family

- The family's intervention

- The murders of Chad, Margaret, and Cody Amato

- The investigation and digital evidence

- The trial, verdict, and sentencing

- "The Last Sip" – a reflection on obsession, reality, and the cost of losing yourself

⚠️ Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussions of homicide and family violence.

Thank you for listening to Murder Most Brewed. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow the podcast, leave a review, and share it with someone who loves thoughtful true crime storytelling.

On July 31, 2022, a car carrying three young people crashed into a brick building in Strongsville, Ohio, at nearly 100 miles per hour.

Two passengers — Dominic Russo and Davion Flanagan — were killed.

The driver, Mackenzie Shirilla, survived.

What initially appeared to be a tragic high-speed crash quickly became a criminal investigation after authorities found no evidence of braking or attempts to avoid impact.

Prosecutors argued the crash was intentional, presenting it as a deliberate act that resulted in the deaths of both passengers. The defense maintained that Shirilla had no clear memory of the crash and disputed the claim of intent.

In 2023, Mackenzie Shirilla was convicted of murder and sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

The case has continued to generate public debate, especially following renewed attention from documentary coverage and online discussion.

This episode of Murder Most Brewed explores:

- The timeline of the crash and police findings  

- The reconstruction of the final drive  

- The prosecution and defense arguments at trial  

- The verdict and sentencing  

- Why the case continues to divide public opinion  

⚠️ Listener discretion advised: This episode discusses fatal crashes, death, and court testimony involving minors/young adults.

At its core, this case asks a difficult question:

When does a fatal crash stop being an accident—and become something intentional?

Listen now to The Six Seconds Before Impact.

—

Murder Most Brewed

In December 2025, a disturbing Reddit post began circulating in Louisville, Kentucky, warning that a serial killer may have been targeting unhoused people near Interstate 65.

Days later, a man named Michael Howard was found dead in a homeless encampment. His body had been mutilated, and investigators would later link the killing to a suspect who allegedly expressed a violent fascination with serial killers and a desire to “hunt homeless people.”

According to Louisville Metro Police, 21-year-old Michael Hristov was identified as the primary suspect in the case. Investigators allege he also posted online about ongoing attacks before they were publicly confirmed, effectively inserting himself into the narrative as fear spread through the city.

Authorities later stated they found forensic evidence linking Hristov to the crime scene, including DNA evidence and digital material recovered during the investigation. Police also reported that Hristov died during a standoff with law enforcement in May 2026 after allegedly opening fire during an attempted arrest.

This episode explores:

- The December 2025 Reddit post that sparked fear in Louisville  

- The murder of Michael Howard in a homeless encampment  

- Allegations that the suspect inserted himself into online discussions  

- The investigation and forensic evidence described by police  

- The broader pattern of violence against unhoused communities  

⚠️ This episode contains discussion of violence, homelessness, and disturbing crime scene details.

At the center of this case is a larger question: when violence targets society’s most vulnerable, how long does it take before anyone notices and what happens when fear spreads faster than facts?

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If you enjoyed this episode, please consider subscribing, rating, and sharing Murder Most Brewed. It truly helps the show grow and brings more eyes to these cases.

Thank you for listening.

— Murder Most Brewed

For decades, Kimberly Kessler disappeared into stolen identities across America, changing names, cities, and lives as she moved from state to state unnoticed.  

Then, in 2018, Florida hairstylist and mother of three Joleen Cummings vanished without a trace.  

What investigators uncovered next was chilling: blood evidence inside a salon, disturbing surveillance footage, bizarre online searches… and a suspect who technically didn’t exist.  

In this episode of Murder Most Brewed, we dive into the haunting case of Kimberly Kessler, the woman with eighteen aliases, and explore the psychological mystery behind a life built on deception.  

☕ Follow Murder Most Brewed for more true crime cases, disappearances, forensic mysteries, and dark storytelling.