Unlawful Acts

From the streets of Memphis to the heart of Mexico's drug trafficking networks, Craig Petties built a criminal empire that generated enormous wealth, violence, and fear. What began as a local drug operation evolved into an international organization with connections to one of the world's most powerful drug cartels.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, Susan and Jocelyn examine the rise and fall of Craig Petties, the notorious Memphis drug kingpin who became one of the FBI's most wanted fugitives.

Petties transformed his operation into a sophisticated trafficking network responsible for distributing massive quantities of cocaine and marijuana throughout the United States. With connections to Mexico's Sinaloa Cartel, his organization used intimidation, violence, and murder to protect its territory and maintain control.

As federal investigators closed in, Petties fled to Mexico, where he continued directing his criminal enterprise while evading American authorities. For years, he lived as a fugitive, overseeing an operation that stretched across international borders.

But behind the money, luxury, and influence was a trail of violence. Federal investigators eventually uncovered an extensive criminal conspiracy involving drug trafficking, money laundering, and multiple murders, leading to Petties' capture and prosecution.

How did Craig Petties rise from a Memphis street dealer to an international drug kingpin? How did he maintain control of his organization while hiding in Mexico? And what ultimately brought his criminal empire crashing down?

This is the story of Craig Petties, the Memphis drug empire, and the federal investigation that exposed one of the most notorious criminal organizations in Tennessee history.

Everyone lies. The evidence doesn't.

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In 1989, the disappearance of an American college student in Mexico would expose one of the most disturbing murder investigations in modern history. What authorities uncovered at a remote ranch outside Matamoros revealed a deadly cult, ritual killings, and a leader who believed supernatural forces could protect him from the law.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, Connie and Jocelyn investigate the case of Adolfo Constanzo, the self-proclaimed spiritual leader and criminal mastermind known as the Godfather of Matamoros.

Constanzo built a following through a violent distortion of spiritual traditions, convincing drug traffickers and members of his inner circle that his rituals could provide protection, wealth, and immunity from law enforcement. Alongside Sara Aldrete, known as La Madrina, he established a dangerous organization whose practices escalated into kidnapping and murder.

The case began to unravel when 21-year-old University of Texas student Mark Kilroy disappeared during spring break in Matamoros. His disappearance sparked an investigation that eventually led authorities to Rancho Santa Elena, where they discovered human remains and evidence of ritual killings.

As investigators closed in, Constanzo and his followers fled, setting off a manhunt that would end in a deadly confrontation in Mexico City.

Who was Adolfo Constanzo? How did he convince his followers to participate in such horrific crimes? What role did Sara Aldrete play in the cult? And how did the disappearance of Mark Kilroy finally expose the organization?

This is the story of Adolfo Constanzo, the Cult of Matamoros, and the investigation that uncovered a terrifying intersection of manipulation, organized crime, and ritual murder.

Everyone lies. The evidence doesn't.

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Inside an ordinary Philadelphia home, six women were held captive in a basement, hidden from the outside world. For months, the horrifying reality of what was happening behind those walls remained a secret.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, Susan and Jocelyn examine the disturbing case of Gary Heidnik, a self-proclaimed religious leader whose crimes shocked Philadelphia and the nation in 1987.

Behind his public persona, Heidnik kidnapped and imprisoned six women inside his home. Two of the women were murdered, while the others endured months of captivity under terrifying conditions.

The case took a dramatic turn when Josefina Rivera, one of the surviving women, convinced Heidnik to allow her outside the home. She seized the opportunity to contact police, leading investigators to the house and exposing the crimes that had remained hidden inside.

How did Gary Heidnik manage to conceal his crimes for so long? What happened inside the Philadelphia home? And how did Josefina Rivera's courage ultimately bring an end to the nightmare?

This is the story of Gary Heidnik, the Philadelphia basement murders, and the survivors whose determination helped bring a killer to justice.

Everyone lies. The evidence doesn't.

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On Halloween afternoon in 2010, a 16-year-old boy returned to his family's home in rural Ohio and discovered a horrifying scene. At first, he thought it was an elaborate Halloween prank. But what he found was no decoration. Three members of his family had been murdered.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, Susan and Jocelyn examine the Liske Family Murders, a shocking triple homicide that devastated a family and stunned the small community of Martin, Ohio.

On October 31, 2010, William Liske Jr., Susan Liske, and Derek Griffin were found murdered inside their home. Susan's youngest son, Devon Griffin, made the devastating discovery.

Investigators quickly focused on William "B.J." Liske Jr., whose history of family conflict and serious mental health struggles became central to understanding the events leading up to the murders.

As authorities pieced together the timeline, they uncovered troubling details about the family's relationships, the events of that Halloween morning, and the search that ultimately led to B.J. Liske's arrest.

What happened inside the Liske family home? What drove a son to turn against his own family? And how did a day associated with costumes and make-believe become the setting for a real-life nightmare?

This is the story of the Liske Family Murders, a Halloween tragedy that left three people dead, a family shattered, and a community searching for answers.

Everyone lies. The evidence doesn't.

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Los Angeles thought it was hunting a single serial killer. The truth was even more disturbing: there were two—and they were cousins.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, Susan and Jocelyn examine the crimes of Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, the two men who became known as the Hillside Stranglers.

During the late 1970s, women and girls were murdered across the Los Angeles area, with several victims' bodies discovered on hillsides. The similarities between the cases led investigators and the press to initially believe one killer was responsible. Instead, the investigation would eventually expose a deadly partnership between Bianchi and Buono.

The case took another turn after Bianchi moved to Washington state, where two more women were murdered. When investigators closed in, Bianchi claimed to suffer from multiple personality disorder as part of an elaborate insanity defense. But under scrutiny, his performance began to unravel.

How did two cousins become partners in murder? How were investigators able to connect them to the Hillside Strangler killings? And how did Bianchi's failed insanity defense ultimately become part of the case against them?

This is the story of Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono—the Hillside Stranglers—and the investigation that revealed Los Angeles wasn't searching for one killer, but two.

Everyone lies. The evidence doesn't.

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On Halloween night in 2004, three roommates in Napa, California, returned home after an evening together. By morning, two of them—Leslie Mazzara and Adriane Insogna—had been brutally murdered inside their home. Their third roommate survived, but investigators were left with a terrifying question: who entered the house that night, and why?

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, Connie and Jocelyn examine the Napa Valley murders and the investigation that eventually led authorities to Eric Copple.

With no obvious suspect and seemingly little explanation for the attack, investigators worked through physical evidence, interviews, and DNA while the case remained unsolved for months. The breakthrough would ultimately come from an unexpected connection to the victims and evidence that pointed directly toward Copple.

What drove him to enter the home that night? How did investigators finally identify him? And what happened when the killer realized authorities were closing in?

This is the story of Leslie Mazzara, Adriane Insogna, and the Napa Valley murders—a case that shattered a seemingly peaceful California community and revealed that the person responsible was closer than investigators initially knew.

Everyone lies. The evidence doesn't.

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For decades, the murders of four women in Northern California remained separated by time, geography, and unanswered questions. But investigators would eventually uncover a disturbing connection—and a suspect hiding in plain sight.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, Susan and Jocelyn examine the case of Joseph Naso, the convicted serial killer whose victims included Roxene Roggasch, Carmen Colon, Pamela Parsons, and Tracy Tafoya. Investigators noticed an eerie pattern: each victim's first and last names began with the same letter, earning Naso the nickname “The Alphabet Killer.”

The investigation took an extraordinary turn when authorities searching Naso's home discovered photographs, handwritten writings, and a cryptic list containing references to women and locations. Prosecutors would use evidence accumulated over decades to build the case against him.

How did investigators finally connect Naso to murders committed years apart? What did the writings and photographs discovered among his possessions reveal? And could the mysterious list point to additional crimes beyond the four murders for which he was convicted?

This is the story of Joseph Naso and the Alphabet Killer case—a decades-long investigation involving cold cases, forensic evidence, disturbing records, and questions that remain long after his conviction.

Everyone lies. The evidence doesn't.

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Behind the doors of 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester, England, investigators uncovered one of the most disturbing crime scenes in British history.

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Behind the glamour of Hollywood and the neon lights of the Sunset Strip, a terrifying series of murders was unfolding.

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