For nearly two decades, women began disappearing along the Green River in Washington State. Many were young, vulnerable, and living on the margins of society. Their cases were overlooked, their names forgotten—until investigators uncovered a pattern that would lead to one of the most prolific serial killers in American history.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we break down the crimes of the Green River Killer, the massive investigation that spanned decades, and the man at the center of it all: Gary Ridgway. From his early life and disturbing psychology to the forensic breakthroughs that finally brought him to justice, this is the full story behind the case that haunted a generation.

Who were the victims?

This is the true story of the Green River Killer.

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In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we dive into one of the most shocking mass murder cases in California history. Juan Corona was a quiet farm labor contractor in the small town of Yuba City—until authorities uncovered a gruesome secret buried in the orchards. Between 1970 and 1971, Corona lured vulnerable migrant workers to their deaths, leaving behind a trail of violence that stunned the nation.

As investigators began to dig, the scale of the horror came into focus. Body after body was discovered, many brutally attacked with a machete, turning the rural farmland into a chilling crime scene. Questions quickly arose about Corona’s mental health, his past, and whether warning signs had been missed.

In this episode, we explore the investigation, the disturbing evidence, the courtroom battles, and the legacy of one of America’s deadliest serial killers.

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On this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the disturbing case of Mark Barton, the day trader whose financial losses and unraveling personal life culminated in one of the most shocking mass shootings in Atlanta history.

In July 1999, Barton carried out a brutal series of attacks that began inside his own home and ended in two brokerage offices, leaving multiple victims and a city searching for answers. What appeared to be a story about money and market losses quickly revealed a much darker past—one filled with violence, deception, and earlier suspicious deaths.

This episode explores Barton’s troubled history, the warning signs that went unnoticed, and the events that led to the tragic shootings. We break down the timeline, the psychology behind the crimes, and how this case continues to be remembered as one of the most chilling examples of financial desperation turning into mass violence.

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In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the case of Russell Williams, a man trusted with national security, elite power, and absolute authority — who was living a violent double life in plain sight.

Known publicly as “The Base Commander,” Williams was a decorated colonel in the Canadian Air Force, commanding one of the country’s most important military bases. Privately, he was committing a series of escalating crimes fueled by control, secrecy, and compulsion — burglaries, sexual violence, and murder — all while maintaining the image of discipline and honor.

This episode traces how unchecked authority, entitlement, and secrecy allowed Williams to operate undetected, how investigators finally connected the dots, and why his calm demeanor during interrogation remains one of the most chilling aspects of the case.

Unlawful Acts explores not just what he did — but how someone so trusted was able to become so dangerous, and what this case reveals about power, blind spots, and the lies we accept when someone wears a uniform.

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For more than two decades, Los Angeles was haunted by a predator hiding in plain sight. Known as the Grim Sleeper, Lonnie Franklin Jr. murdered women across South Los Angeles while living a seemingly ordinary life as a father, neighbor, and friend.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the full scope of Franklin’s crimes — from the earliest victims to the long gaps that earned him his chilling nickname. We explore how systemic failures, overlooked victims, and advances in forensic genealogy ultimately led to his arrest, and what this case reveals about serial offenders who evade capture for decades.

This is not just the story of a killer — it’s an examination of how violence persists in the shadows, how communities are failed, and how justice can arrive far too late.

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Aileen Wuornos shocked the world when she was arrested for killing seven men along Florida highways in the late 1980s and early 1990s. Branded by the media as a monster and sensationalized as a femme fatale, Wuornos quickly became one of the most infamous figures in true-crime history.

But behind the headlines lies a far more complex and disturbing story—one shaped by severe childhood abuse, abandonment, mental illness, and life on the margins of society. As a sex worker living on the road, Wuornos claimed her killings were acts of self-defense. Prosecutors argued they were calculated murders driven by rage and desperation.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we examine the full arc of Aileen Wuornos’ life—from her traumatic upbringing to her crimes, trials, and eventual execution—while unpacking how gender, media narratives, and public fear influenced the way her story was told. We ask the uncomfortable questions: Was Wuornos purely a predator, a victim of circumstance, or something far more complicated?

This is not just the story of a killer—it’s a deeper look at how society decides who is beyond redemption.

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For more than 40 years, Joseph DeAngelo terrorized California — committing dozens of home invasions, sexual assaults, and murders while evading every attempt to stop him.

Known to the public as The Golden State Killer, DeAngelo operated across multiple jurisdictions, constantly evolving his methods. He stalked neighborhoods, studied victims, taunted law enforcement, and vanished without leaving evidence strong enough to identify him. Investigators suspected he was highly trained — possibly law enforcement or military — but the case went cold for decades.

On this episode of Unlawful Acts, we break down:

Who Joseph DeAngelo really was

The timeline of crimes spanning Northern and Southern California

How his behavior escalated from burglary to rape to murder

The psychological profile behind his need for control and fear

Why law enforcement failed to catch him for so long

How genetic genealogy finally exposed the man hiding in plain sight

This case reshaped criminal investigations forever and proved that time does not protect predators.

Justice didn’t come quickly — but it came.

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In Part 2 of our DC Snipers series, Unlawful Acts shifts deeper into the heart of Washington, D.C., as the attacks escalate and the city descends into fear. With the nation’s capital on edge, random shootings continue to strike gas stations, sidewalks, schools, and parking lots—turning everyday routines into calculated risks. Investigators scramble to connect the dots as conflicting witness accounts, misleading clues, and mounting political pressure complicate the manhunt.

This episode focuses on the DC-area crimes themselves: the victims’ stories, the psychological warfare created by the randomness of the attacks, and the massive law enforcement response that still struggled to stop the violence. As John Allen Muhammad and Lee Boyd Malvo refine their methods, the pattern becomes clearer—but only in hindsight. Part 2 exposes how close authorities were to the truth, how far off they sometimes were, and how an entire region lived under the shadow of an unseen sniper.

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In Part 1 of our deep dive into the DC Snipers, we trace the origins of the killers long before the terror began. This episode uncovers John Allen Muhammad’s troubled past, his descent into instability, and the events that set the stage for his deadly partnership with 17-year-old Lee Boyd Malvo. We explore their early connection, the psychological grip Muhammad held over Malvo, and the twisted father-son dynamic that fueled their path toward violence.

From their movements across the country to the planning that would later paralyze an entire region, Part 1 lays the groundwork for understanding how two lives converged into one of the most chilling criminal collaborations in American history. This is the story before the shots — the making of the DC Snipers.

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