Picture this: a young girl, clearly distressed, was found loitering near the General Post Office on bustling O’Connell Street. She’s alone, silent, and seemingly terrified. When two police officers in Ireland approach her, she doesn’t — or won’t — speak English. But she somehow manages to get one thing across: she’s 14 years old.

The only other clues? Some haunting doodles of an airplane, a bed, and a gun. Not exactly the kind of thing you’d find in your average teen’s sketchbook. Authorities begin to suspect she might be a victim of sex trafficking. It’s not long before Interpol and the Missing Persons Bureau get involved, and the media latches on. Headlines scream: Who is GPO Girl?

With no solid leads and a growing public obsession, the police make a bold move — they go public. Her photo, snapped on the sly, is released… and when the sun rises on the southern hemisphere, the real story finally comes to light.

Because GPO Girl? Yeah, she wasn’t a teenager. She wasn’t trafficked. And she definitely wasn’t who she claimed to be.

She was Samantha Azzopardi — a 25-year-old Australian woman with a suitcase full of lies and a long history of reinvention. Her stint in Dublin was just one chapter in a globe-trotting tale of deceit, delusion, and downright bizarre behaviour. 

Sources:

https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/principal-predator-malka-leifer-and-schoolgirl-conwoman-samantha-azzopardi-shared-kiss-behind-bars/news-story/22def31a59175d16bcd00cdc4b5b7a20

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-57284621

https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/she-even-managed-to-fool-gardai-true-crime-series-con-girl-exposes-the-many-lives-and-lies-of-samantha-azzopardi/42357359.html

https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/missing-teenage-girl-found-in-dublin-identified-as-25-year-old-australian-1.1586181

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/29/disturbed-au-pair-who-created-false-identities-given-two-years-jail-in-victoria

https://www.crave.ca/FR/tv-shows/con-girl

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/the-downfall-of-australias-baby-faced-serial-scam-artist/YRWIFKNC6FHLCUSHVNCB25JBX4/#google_vignette

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/con-girl-true-story-what-happened-samantha-azzopardi/

https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/samantha-azzopardi-true-story/

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What happens when obsession crosses the line into destruction? When fantasy becomes more important than family? And when one man’s delusion spirals so far out of control… it ends in bloodshed?

Night after night, Grant Amato sat in the dim glow of his family’s computer screen, utterly captivated by a woman thousands of miles away — a Bulgarian webcam model named Silvie. She danced. She posed. She told him everything he wanted to hear… for a price. And Grant? He paid it. Thousands of dollars. Hours of his time. His job. His dignity. And eventually… much, much more.

When the money ran out, he stole from the people who loved him the most — his own family. Hoping to keep the fantasy alive, he lied. Again. And again. Until his family had had enough. They begged him to get help. They gave him a choice: leave Silvie… or leave their home. Grant chose neither. Instead, prosecutors say, he chose murder.

On a quiet night in January 2019, in the suburb of Chuluota, Florida, Grant Amato’s mother, father, and brother were found brutally gunned down in their home. But that’s not where this story ends.

Because here we are — in 2025 — and somehow, somehow, Grant Amato’s name is back in the headlines… this time, tied to a murder-for-hire plot targeting Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin.

Sources:

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2019/07/12/obsession-money-lies-tore-grant-amatos-family-apart-a-jury-will-decide-whether-he-killed-them/

https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/amato-family-murders

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/29/he-spent-bulgarian-cam-girl-police-say-obsession-led-massacre/ 

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/5700189/Amato-Affidavit.pdf

https://www.primevideo.com/region/na/detail/0IDCFBRXWU1XDTN2F6ZTNTGUPO/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r

https://people.com/ghost-adventure-star-wife-in-love-man-serving-life-massacring-family-11698136

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It all began on Friday morning, May 2nd, 2025. Lilly, who’s just six years old, and her little brother Jack, only four, were last seen around 10 a.m. near their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County. Their mother, Malehya, and stepfather, Daniel, were asleep with their baby in another room. Meanwhile, Lilly and Jack were supposed to quietly play by themselves.

Daniel, the stepdad, said that he had last heard the kids playing around 10 a.m. He even told them to keep it down so the baby—and the parents—could get some sleep. At some point, though, the house fell silent. You know that uneasy feeling when kids suddenly get too quiet? That’s what triggered Daniel to check on them. When he did, they were gone. 

They weren’t in the room, not in the backyard—just gone. The family believes Lilly and Jack must have slipped out through the sliding door and somehow made their way beyond the fenced yard. Considering how heavily wooded the area is, authorities suspect the siblings wandered into the forest. But despite a massive search effort—150 people, dogs, drones, thermal imaging, and the Nova Scotia Guard—there’s still no sign of them.

But as more time passes, questions are starting to arise. Some people are finding the circumstances around the children’s disappearance suspicious. How could two young kids slip out unnoticed in the middle of the morning? Why were the parents asleep while the kids were left unsupervised? And how likely is it that two little ones could make it so far into the dense forest without leaving any trace? This is a developing story, and the details seem to be changing by the day. 

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lilly and Jack is asked to contact Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333. To remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca

Sources:

https://crimetimelines.com/missing-siblings-lily-jack-sullivan-nova-scotia-2025/

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/missing-children-pictou-county-lily-jack-sullivan-1.7527613

https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/pictou-county-missing-children-lily-jack-sullivan-may-7-1.7528438

https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6753206

https://globalnews.ca/news/11175272/missing-children-ns-day-10/ 

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-nova-scotia-missing-children-pictou-updates-timeline/

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Tonight, we’re talking about a crime that rocked the small village of Romeoville, Illinois. It was a quiet Sunday evening in September 2023 when police pulled up to a quaint blue home on Concord Avenue. The neighbourhood was calm and peaceful, but what they found inside was anything but. As officers moved through the dark, quiet house, their flashlights revealed overturned furniture, deceased pets, and something way worse: an entire family had been brutally murdered.

Zoraida Bartolomei, her husband Alberto Rolon, and their two young sons, Adriel and Diego, were all found dead in their own home — executed in cold blood. At first, the police thought it was a targeted home invasion. It certainly appeared so at first glance; their belongings looked like they had been rummaged through, and there was spray paint on the walls. But as they dug deeper, they uncovered a twisted story that no one saw coming — one filled with manipulation, cartel ties, jealousy, and one of the most bizarre catfishing schemes you could imagine.

It’s a case that shocked not just the tight-knit community but the entire country. We’re talking infidelity, paranoia, and way more death than any small town should ever see. 

Sources:

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/romeoville-murders-catfish-motive_n_670e9236e4b094567cfe6423

https://abc7chicago.com/post/red-flags-led-2023-mass-murder-romeoville-family-planned-nathaniel-huey-jrs-fiance-emalinda-palomo-files-show/15394243/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12543891/nathanial-huey-partner-ermalinda-palomo-romeoville.html

https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/police-docs-paint-horrifying-picture-of-what-led-to-shocking-romeoville-quadruple-murder/3565458/

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On the night of May 12, 2003, 16-year-old Martha Puebla sat outside her home in Sun Valley, California, sharing a quiet moment with a friend. Within minutes, her life was stolen by a gunman who asked for her by name before firing multiple shots and disappearing into the night. What seemed like a cold, calculated execution quickly unravelled into a web of investigative missteps, courtroom drama, and one extraordinary twist of fate.

Join me as we explore the murder of Martha Puebla — a tragic case that led detectives down a winding path of gang retaliation, eyewitness errors, and a young man falsely accused. Juan Catalan was arrested for Martha’s murder, based on shaky testimony and a grainy photo lineup. But just as his case seemed destined for a grim ending, an unlikely piece of evidence surfaced — hidden in the background of a popular TV show being filmed the night of the murder.

This is a story of justice nearly derailed — and the miracle that saved an innocent man from death row.

Sources:

https://www.dailynews.com/2008/07/02/la-gang-member-gets-life-for-killing-teenage-girl/

https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-interrogate2-2008jul02-story.html

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/06/07/face-in-the-crowd

https://studylib.net/doc/18288765/1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22-

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Somewhere the sun shines, somewhere the birds sing the glories of a new dawn. Somewhere … it's Spring again! But HERE … every day is Halloween! Rogue Transmissions, an uncanny anthology of exceptional indie podcasts, presents the Halfway to Halloween Hullabaloo! Your horror host Edward October is scanning the dial for lost broadcasts, campfire tales, and weird nostalgia to bring you a hell-raising halfway to Halloween party that will chase away the springtime blues.

First up: Vintage Halloween games and fortune-telling rituals, the secret of "The Ring Wraith Kid," and ghostly electronic voice phenomenon (EVP) recorded in a haunted apartment. Then: Green glowing footprints (do they belong to a ghost or an alien?), a startling steampunk re-imagining of The Tell-Tale Heart, a haunted pub, and a terrifying true missing persons case. Plus: The Tavern Haunting, and the true account of a haunted cabin in the woods.

Featuring Rogue Transmissions from: Karyn Raynor & Aubree Summers (Chick Lit podcast), Alecia Watson (Twisted & Uncorked and Truly Twisted), Amber & Maddie (Witches Talking Tarot), JT Hosack (Brew Crime), Emma & Becky (Spine Chillers & Serial Killers), Nikki Young (Serial Napper), Jen (Our True Crime Podcast), and Edward October (Octoberpod AM).

Tighten your screams, dust off your shrouds, and bring enough candy to feed a crowd ... because we're throwing a Halfway to Halloween party wild enough to wake the dead on this edition of Rogue Transmissions, the uncanny anthology of exceptional indie podcasts.

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The date was September 11th, 2000, in Clearwater, Florida. 

Eight-year-old Zachary Bernhardt was asleep in his bedroom when his mother, Leah Hackett, stepped out of their apartment on Drew Street. It was the middle of the night, but Leah said insomnia had gotten the best of her. She went for a walk, maybe a swim in the apartment complex’s pool, hoping the movement and cool water would help her settle her racing thoughts.

She claimed she was only gone 15 minutes. But when she returned just after 4 a.m., her son was gone. No signs of a struggle. No broken windows. Just an empty bed where Zachary should have been.

Clearwater Police launched an immediate and extensive search of the area. Officers scoured the apartment complex, the surrounding woods, and nearby retention ponds. K-9 units, helicopters, volunteers—every available resource was deployed.  But they found nothing. No witnesses. No clues. No trace of Zachary.

As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into years, suspicion quietly began to turn inward. Some investigators believe Leah Hackett knows more than she’s ever disclosed. She's always denied involvement—claimed she’s innocent, and that she, too, wants answers. Since then, she’s moved out of state, avoiding much of the public spotlight.

Zachary’s father? He was never involved in his life—and has never been considered a suspect.

So what really happened that night? Did someone sneak into the apartment while Leah was out? Or is there something in her story that doesn’t quite add up? Over two decades later, there are still no answers. No leads. No closure. Just a little boy who vanished without a trace.

Sources:

https://int-missing.fandom.com/wiki/Zach_Bernhardt?source=post_page-----5c7d19bb7b6f---------------------------------------

https://charleyproject.org/case/zachary-michael-cole-bernhardt

https://websleuths.com/threads/fl-zachary-michael-cole-bernhardt-8-clearwater-11-sept-2000.11639/

https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2021/missing-in-the-shadows-of-9-11

https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/09/28/police-boy-s-mother-knows-more/

https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pasco/florida-woman-awaits-answers-23-years-after-her-8-year-old-nephew-disappears-in-clearwater?

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In this crossover episode, Serial Napper and Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast join forces to dive deep into two of the most haunting and baffling true crime cases in recent memory.

🎙️ Nikki from Serial Napper takes a closer look at the heartbreaking case of Jelani Day, a graduate student whose body was discovered under suspicious circumstances in Illinois. Despite widespread attention, key questions remain unanswered. Who was Jelani, and what really happened to him?

🎙️ Kaydra from Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast investigates the mysterious death of Phoebe Handsjuk, a 24-year-old woman who was found at the bottom of a garbage chute in a luxury Melbourne apartment building. Was it a tragic accident… or something far more sinister?

🧩 Join us as we break down the facts, examine the theories, and ask the tough questions about two cases that continue to confound investigators and devastate families.

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She was just 14. A soft-spoken girl who loved her cat, sketched her dreams in notebooks, took guitar lessons, and had just begun to explore who she was—experimenting with makeup, thinking about high school, maybe even college. Her name was Emily Pike. She was a daughter. A sister. A beloved member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe.

And on a quiet night in January 2025, she disappeared.

Emily had been placed in a group home in Mesa, Arizona—a place that was supposed to keep her safe after surviving unthinkable trauma. Instead of healing, Emily finds isolation. She cried to go home. She ran. She broke. And then, she vanished.

Two weeks later, her body was found—stuffed in trash bags, dumped off the side of U.S. Highway 60 near Globe. Like she was nothing. Like her life never mattered. But it did. And it still does.

What happened to Emily Pike is more than a tragedy—it’s a warning. A flashing red light on a system riddled with neglect. A system where vulnerable Indigenous youth too often vanish into silence. Three potential suspects. No arrests. And a family, a tribe, and a nation demanding to know: Who failed Emily? And who killed her?

This episode isn’t just about a murder. It’s about how the system, designed to protect our most vulnerable, didn’t just let Emily fall through the cracks—it threw her to the wolves.

Sources:

https://www.abc15.com/news/local-news/what-led-up-to-emily-pikes-placement-in-foster-care?utm_source=chatgpt.com

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/local/arizona/2025/03/29/slain-teen-emily-pike-honored-san-carlos-memorial-service/82697107007/

https://www.wideopencountry.com/mom-speaks-out-after-14-year-old-found-dismembered/ 

https://www.azfamily.com/2025/03/05/former-roommate-describes-what-happened-before-emily-pikes-mesa-disappearance/

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In the age of social media and online connections, it's easy to believe that relationships—no matter how far apart—can flourish, even across continents. But for one 19-year-old woman, an online romance with a charming young Englishman would take a dark and tragic turn.

Ashley Wadsworth, a bright, adventurous teen from Vernon, B.C., had spent years building a connection with Jack Sepple, a young man from the U.K. Their relationship had blossomed online. In November of 2021, Ashley left Canada to start a new chapter of her life, meeting Jack in person for the first time. Ashley's journey seemed like the dream of a young woman eager to explore the world, her social media filled with updates of beautiful sights and happy memories.

But behind the photos of Ashley’s bright smile and the excitement of her travels, a darker story was unfolding—a story that would end in heartbreak. Just months after arriving in the U.K., Ashley Wadsworth was dead. Her family and friends, who had followed her journey from afar, would soon learn of a chilling truth about the man she had chosen to trust.

What led to Ashley’s tragic death? Why did no one stop Jack Sepple before it was too late? This is the story of Ashley Wadsworth—a young woman full of promise whose tragic fate was sealed by an online relationship gone horribly wrong.

Sources:

https://macleans.ca/society/online-dating-ashley-wadsworth-abuse-violence/

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-63119427

https://www.dignitymemorial.com/en-ca/obituaries/vernon-bc/ashley-wadsworth-10581527

https://globalnews.ca/news/8594921/ashley-wadsworth-death-uk-friend-text/

https://www.independent.co.uk/topic/ashley-wadsworth?CMP=ILC-refresh

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