In this first part of a two-episode special, Unlawful Acts unearths the beginnings of one of America’s most chilling true-crime cases — the story of Herb Baumeister, the wealthy Indiana businessman who hid a horrifying secret behind the gates of his estate, Fox Hollow Farm.

Beneath the surface of suburban success, Baumeister lived a double life — one of control, deception, and deadly obsession. As young men from Indianapolis began disappearing, no one could have imagined the dark truth that would soon surface.

From his early psychological unraveling to the first signs of violence, this episode traces the disturbing evolution of a killer who hid in plain sight.

Step inside the walls of Fox Hollow Farm — where the line between respectability and evil begins to blur.

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In this haunting episode of Unlawful Acts, we unravel the terrifying case of Richard Cottingham, better known as The Torso Killer—a man whose crimes shocked even the most seasoned investigators. Operating throughout the 1970s and 80s in New Jersey and New York, Cottingham targeted women in a spree of sadistic violence that included torture, mutilation, and dismemberment.

Known for leaving behind only the torsos of his victims, Cottingham evaded capture for years while living a seemingly normal life as a husband, father, and computer operator. But behind closed doors, he was committing some of the most brutal and disturbing murders in modern history.

We examine the chilling methods, the forensic breakthroughs that exposed him, and his twisted confessions that continue to surface even decades later.

This is not just a story of murder—it’s a descent into madness.

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In this deeply unsettling episode of Unlawful Acts, we investigate the cold and calculated crimes of Alexander Pichushkin, infamously known as The Chessboard Killer. Operating in Moscow’s Bitsa Park, Pichushkin set out to murder one person for every square on a chessboard—64 victims in total.

What began with a single act of revenge spiraled into a horrifying spree targeting the elderly, the vulnerable, and those who trusted him. With shocking intelligence and a complete lack of remorse, Pichushkin documented his kills and played a deadly game with the lives of strangers.

We explore his twisted psychology, the failures that allowed him to continue for years, and the chilling legacy of one of Russia’s most prolific modern serial killers.

This is a story of obsession, manipulation, and murder—played move by move.

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In this nightmarish episode of Unlawful Acts, we investigate the chilling double life of John Wayne Gacy—beloved community member by day, sadistic serial killer by night. Known as the “Killer Clown” for performing at children's parties as Pogo the Clown, Gacy used charm, status, and manipulation to lure young men and boys into his suburban Chicago home—never to be seen again.

We retrace the horrifying trail of over 30 murders, the twisted psychology behind his crimes, and the shocking discoveries made beneath his house of horrors. From his political connections to his gruesome confessions, this episode reveals how a predator can walk among us—smiling, smiling, always smiling.

Step behind the mask of the Killer Clown—and into one of the darkest chapters in American criminal history.

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In this disturbing episode of Unlawful Acts, we delve into the terrifying mind of Edmund Kemper—one of America’s most calculating serial killers, known as the Co-Ed Killer. Towering at 6’9” with an IQ of 145, Kemper used his intelligence, charm, and sheer physical power to manipulate and murder with chilling precision.

We explore his troubled childhood, his early killings at just 15, and the brutal spree that followed his release—targeting young female hitchhikers across California. From necrophilic fantasies to the horrifying murder of his own mother, Kemper’s story is a psychological descent into pure evil.

This episode pulls no punches as we dissect the methods, motivations, and madness behind a killer who sought not just control—but complete domination.

Step inside the fractured mind of the Co-Ed Killer—and discover the horror that hid in plain sight.

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On this episode of Unlawful Acts, we descend into the nightmarish world of Ed Gein—the killer and grave robber whose twisted crimes inspired horror legends like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. From his isolated farmhouse in Plainfield, Wisconsin, Gein dug up corpses, crafted grotesque trophies, and ultimately turned to murder. Join us as we unravel the disturbing psychology of a man whose obsession with death and his mother created one of the darkest legacies in American crime.

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On this episode of Unlawful Acts, we uncover the twisted story of Jerry Brudos—the “Shoe Fetish Killer.” Behind closed doors, his obsession with women’s shoes and lingerie escalated into abduction, murder, and grotesque trophies. What began as a strange fixation turned into a string of brutal killings that shocked the nation. Join us as we expose the double life of a man whose darkest desires left a trail of terror and death.

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Known as the Muswell Hill Murderer, Dennis Nilsen is one of Britain’s most chilling serial killers. Between 1978 and 1983, Nilsen lured young men into his London flats, where he carried out brutal murders — often keeping the bodies for days, sometimes longer.

In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we uncover:

How Nilsen evaded police for years while killing at least 15 men

The disturbing details of his obsession with the dead

The shocking discovery that led to his capture

What made him one of the UK’s most terrifying predators

This is the haunting story of Dennis Nilsen — a man who hid his darkest secrets behind the closed doors of suburban London.

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In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we expose the twisted double life of Rodney Alcala, a charming photographer who hid his identity as a ruthless predator. Alcala earned national attention when he appeared on the hit TV show The Dating Game in the middle of his murder spree, smiling on camera while living as a serial killer off-screen. Behind his charisma lay a history of manipulation, brutality, and countless victims whose stories shocked the world. We’ll explore his disturbing crimes, the chilling evidence that finally brought him to justice, and how he became forever known as “The Dating Game Killer.”

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