On this episode of True Crime Sleep Stories, we explore the chilling truth that monsters rarely look the part. They wear friendly smiles, live next door, or even share your home as family or partners, the people meant to love and protect us. Beneath the trimmed hedges and warm porch lights of ordinary suburbs, unimaginable darkness can hide in plain sight. Settle in under the covers as we slowly unpack four cases where trust was shattered, innocence violated, and the facade of normalcy crumbled.
Before we begin, a heartfelt note: researching and writing this episode left me deeply unsettled. The brutality, the betrayal by those closest to the victims, and the violation of such profound trust truly broke my heart. My deepest sympathies go out to everyone impacted by these horrific crimes, as always. True crime podcasting can take a real emotional toll, especially with so much heaviness in the world right now. So next time, I think we'll shift to something completely different and lighter. We could all use a pallet cleanser, right? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on social media. What type of case should we cover?
Heists? Cons? White collar crimes? Something silly?

This episode delves into four haunting cases of hidden evil in everyday homes:

The Ken and Barbie Killers (Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka) — A seemingly perfect Canadian couple whose charm masked serial rapes and the torture-murders of three young women, including Homolka's own sister.
The John List Family Annihilation — In 1971, a devout accountant and Sunday school teacher in affluent Westfield, New Jersey, methodically killed his wife, mother, and three children in their grand home before vanishing for 18 years under a new identity.
The Caffey Family Murders — In rural Alba, Texas, in 2008, 16-year-old Erin Caffey orchestrated the brutal killing of her mother and two younger brothers over a forbidden romance, with her boyfriend and accomplices carrying out the violence while the house burned.
The Iowa City Sueppel Murders — On Easter Sunday 2008, former banker Steven Sueppel bludgeoned his wife and four children to death in their quiet Iowa City home amid financial shame and impending charges, before taking his own life.

These stories build on the theme: you can never judge a book by its cover. Evil often hides behind the most disarming disguises.
As you drift toward sleep, carry this quiet reminder: cherish the light you see in the world, the warmth of smiles, the comfort of familiar faces, but remember that the people who seem the safest can sometimes hide the deepest shadows.
If these stories moved you (or unsettled you), subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. It helps us keep sharing these haunting tales.
Thank you for spending this quiet night with us. We'll meet you in the shadows next time—something gentler on the horizon. Until then, stay safe out there, and lock your doors. Goodnight. 🌙

SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON!
If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime
--- --- --- ---
Thank You for Listening
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe.
--- --- --- ---
Buy The Books:
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ
--- --- --- ---
Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink
Social Media:
FACEBOOK:
facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories
INSTAGRAM:
instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories
Instagram.com/kellibrink
YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime
APPLE PODCASTS:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201
SPOTIFY:
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TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl

#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation 

Welcome to True Crime Sleep Stories.
On July 10, 2016, 27-year-old DNC staffer Seth Rich was shot twice in the back in Washington, D.C.'s Bloomingdale neighborhood, just one block from his apartment. Police called it a botched robbery (however... nothing was stolen, signs of struggle), but the case remains unsolved nearly ten years later.

Weeks after his death, WikiLeaks released over 20,000 internal DNC emails, sparking questions about whether Seth may have been a source. Julian Assange's unprompted mention of Seth's murder on Dutch TV, a $20,000 WikiLeaks reward, and since-retracted private investigator claims of evidence linking him to WikiLeaks keep the mystery alive.

Seth was a young man from Omaha who moved to D.C. to make democracy work better for regular people. Whether or not he ever touched those emails, his death in the middle of one of the most explosive political moments of the decade feels too coincidental to dismiss outright. His story isn't about picking sides. It's about asking whether we still live in a country where asking hard questions can cost you everything.
Who killed Seth Rich?

Thank you for helping us keep the light on these shadows.
Sweet dreams, stay curious, and lock your doors. See you in the next deep dive.

SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON!
If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime
--- --- --- ---
Thank You for Listening
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe.
--- --- --- ---
Buy The Books:
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ
--- --- --- ---
Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink
Social Media:
FACEBOOK:
facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories
INSTAGRAM:
instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories
Instagram.com/kellibrink
YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime
APPLE PODCASTS:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201
SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669
TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl

#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation 

In this episode of True Crime Sleep Stories, we explore the haunting case of Herb Baumeister, a suburban Indianapolis businessman and family man who hid a deadly secret.
 
Over the course of more than a decade, he is believed to have murdered numerous young men—many last seen at gay bars in central Indiana—and buried their remains on his 18-acre estate, Fox Hollow Farm.

The discovery of thousands of bone fragments in 1996 revealed the scale of the horror, yet many questions remain unanswered nearly 30 years later.

SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON!
If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime
--- --- --- ---
Thank You for Listening
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe.
--- --- --- ---
Buy The Books:
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ
--- --- --- ---
Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink
Social Media:
FACEBOOK:
facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories
INSTAGRAM:
instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories
Instagram.com/kellibrink
YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime
APPLE PODCASTS:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201
SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669
TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl

#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation 

Welcome back to True Crime Sleep Stories. This episode is a recording from a recent Iowa show I took part in for a great community cause...

On June 9, 1912, in quiet Villisca, Iowa, the Moore family and two young guest sisters, the Stillinger girls, returned home from church, happy. In the dead of night, with the whole town darkened by a power issue, someone slipped inside with an axe from their own shed.

Eight people (six children) were brutally murdered in their sleep. The killer covered windows, draped mirrors, ate from the pantry, and left a slab of bacon beside the weapon. He lingered for hours before vanishing at dawn.

Despite suspects, trials, and over 100 years of investigation, no one was ever convicted. The case remains unsolved.

The Villisca house stands today as a museum and one of America’s most haunted sites... cold spots, slamming doors, children’s laughter that stops, and whispers on recordings.

Settle in, get cozy, and let this true Iowa mystery carry you to sleep. Sweet dreams… and maybe leave a light on tonight.

Thank you for listening.
Stay safe out there.

SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON!
If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive.

Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime
--- --- --- ---
Thank You for Listening
If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe.
--- --- --- ---
Buy The Books:
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj
True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ
--- --- --- ---
Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink
Social Media:
FACEBOOK:
facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories
INSTAGRAM:
instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories
Instagram.com/kellibrink
YOUTUBE:
https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime
APPLE PODCASTS:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201
SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669
TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl

#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation