🎙️ 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?

---

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.  

Following the recent discussion around the Texas Killing Fields arrest, this episode serves as an expanded look at the case, covering the timeline, victims, investigation history, and unanswered questions that didn't fit into the initial coverage.

This is a deeper storytelling version meant to give fuller context to a case that spans decades, multiple investigations, and ongoing uncertainty.

He wasn’t a stranger to the case.

For decades, The Texas Killing Fields held onto its secrets. Now, after 40 years, an arrest is raising more questions than answers and revealing a connection that may have been hiding in plain sight all along.

They went for a hike… and for eight days, something was happening in the jungle. The photos they left behind only make it more unsettling.

Don’t forget to check out this week’s second episode… another unsettling case, told in a completely different way.

Murder Most Brewed is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber.

In January 1991, a man in Seattle began telling friends something deeply unsettling.

He believed a woman he had met during a trip to San Fransico had placed a curse on him, and that he would die on a specific date.

At first, those around him tried to reassure him that it was nothing more than an empty threat. But as the days passed, his fear only grew stronger.

Christopher began placing candles and crosses around his apartment, convinced that something supernatural was coming for him.

Then, on the very day he believed the curse would take effect... Christopher Case was found dead in his home.

There were no signs of violence.

No evidence of an intruder.

Just a quiet apartment filled with burned candles and unanswered questions.

In this episode of Murder Most Brewed, we explore the eerie and mysterious circumstances surrounding the death of Christopher Case, and ask whether overwhelming fear alone could explain what happened.

Or if this case hides a darker truth.

Join the Brew Crew!

If you enjoy dark mysteries, strange cases, and atmospheric storytelling, be sure to follow Murder Most Brewed so you never miss an episode.

If you enjoyed this episode, leaving a review on Apple Podcasts or rating the show on Spotify helps other listeners find discover the podcast.