Psychopedia is a captivating true crime podcast hosted by Investigator Slater, where she passionately takes you deep into the darkest recesses of the human psyche each week. A professional investigator by day, Slater uses her investigative expertise to uncover the chilling, hidden details behind each true crime case presented. Even if you think you’ve heard about a particular case before, prepare for a fresh, eye-opening perspective that dives deeper into the facts, psychology, criminology, and the dark truths you never knew. Every episode is presented with the utmost respect for the victims, while keeping you hooked with pop quizzes designed to engage and entertain (and give you a glimpse into Slater's own twisted mind). Prepare for a truly immersive experience—because this is true crime like you've never heard it before. Instagram + TikTok: @psychopediapod @investigatorslater. A podcast in partnership with Podcast Nation. 266078
A 28-year-old female teacher. Multiple teenage boys. And a case that forces us to confront one uncomfortable question: Why is society so much slower to recognize abuse when the predator is a woman and the victim is a teenage boy? In this episode, we examine the case of Rebecca Joynes, a former teacher convicted of sexually abusing teenage students she was entrusted to protect. We break down the evidence presented in court, the grooming behaviors that allowed the abuse to continue, the lasting impact on the boys at the center of the case, and the psychological dynamics that make female sexual offending uniquely misunderstood. This episode also explores the societal double standards that can prevent male victims from being recognized, believed, and supported. Please Follow/Subscribe wherever you are listening! Now on YouTube! Subscribe to @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! (Patreon.com/Psychopediapod) AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, Girl On Gore Season 2, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, a place to request cases, and much more! JOIN ME EVERYWHERE! Instagram: https://bit.ly/4f8eAlH TikTok: https://bit.ly/4oXXIl9 Patreon: https://bit.ly/3SDv7W8 Spotify: https://bit.ly/44FzT88 Apple: https://bit.ly/4uXQj6F Website: https://www.psychopediapod.com/ \ ==SPONSORS== AquaTru : Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code PSYCHOPEDIA. NOCD : To learn more about starting OCD therapy with NOCD, go to NOCD and book a free call with their team. Quince : Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP193: The Skara Cannibal
1 hr 10 min
Trigger warning: This episode discusses domestic violence, homicide and cannibalism. Please listen with caution. On November 12, 2010, Isakin Drabbad, aka The Skara Cannibal, walked into his girlfriend's bedroom carrying a knife and committed one of the most brutal homicide cases in modern Scandinavian history. After fatally slashing Helle Christensen's throat, Isakin violated her body, decapitated her, dismembered her remains, and removed portions of her flesh, which he later cooked and consumed. The cannibalism is certainly what made headlines...but it wasn't the full story. It was merely the final, devastating expression of a mind that had been unraveling for years. Please Follow/Subscribe wherever you are listening! Now on YouTube! Subscribe to @investigatorslater Join my Patreon family! You get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, Girl On Gore Season 2, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, a place to request a case, and much more! Patreon.com/Psychopediapod JOIN ME EVERYWHERE! Instagram: https://bit.ly/4f8eAlH TikTok: https://bit.ly/4oXXIl9 Patreon: https://bit.ly/3SDv7W8 Spotify: https://bit.ly/44FzT88 Apple: https://bit.ly/4uXQj6F Website: https://www.psychopediapod.com/ ==SPONSORS== AquaTru : Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code PSYCHOPEDIA. NOCD : To learn more about starting OCD therapy with NOCD, go to NOCD and book a free call with their team. Quince : Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP192: "BIG Girls Wanted" — Content House or Fetish Farm?
1 hr 3 min
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses the difficult topic of sexual abuse. Listener discretion advised. "Big Girls Wanted: Escaping Pearadise" has taken the internet by storm, and it's easy to see why. Beyond the allegations themselves, it forces us to confront a number of uncomfortable but important conversations. In this episode we dive deep into Pearadise, the viral content house in Las Vegas built around "BBW" (Big Beautiful Women) that's igniting debates about body positivity, feederism, fetish culture, and online fame. Is Pearadise creating a space where plus-sized women can thrive and take control of their image, or is it blurring the line between empowerment and exploitation? From the business model and growing backlash to the lawsuit and allegations of sexual abuse, we examine every side of the Pearadise controversy. The opinions expressed in this episode are my own and are based on publicly available information, court records, interviews, and other source material available at the time of recording. Where allegations of abuse, misconduct, or criminal behavior are discussed, they are presented as allegations unless they have been proven in a court of law or otherwise established by reliable evidence. This episode is intended for commentary, analysis, and educational purposes and should not be interpreted as a definitive statement of fact regarding any disputed claim. Join my Patreon family! You get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, Girl On Gore Season 2, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, a place to request a case, and much more! https://bit.ly/3SDv7W8 JOIN ME EVERYWHERE! Instagram: https://bit.ly/4f8eAlH TikTok: https://bit.ly/4oXXIl9 Patreon: https://bit.ly/3SDv7W8 Spotify: https://bit.ly/44FzT88 Apple: https://bit.ly/4uXQj6F Website: https://www.psychopediapod.com/ ==SPONSORS== AquaTru : Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code PSYCHOPEDIA. NOCD : To learn more about starting OCD therapy with NOCD, go to NOCD and book a free call with their team. Quince : Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP191: Killing for CLOUT: The Casanova Killer (Part 2)
59 min
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses SA, child homicide, and graphic violence. Listener and viewer discretion advised. Serial killer Paul John Knowles was desperate to leave behind a legacy and to go out in a blaze of glory. Linked to the deaths of at least 18 people, the "Casanova Killer" recorded a "kill tape" confession detailing one of the deadliest multi-state killing sprees in American history. Guilty of assault, murder, and attempted necrophilia, Paul was driven by his desire to become famous for the heinous crimes he committed. In Part 2, we continue to explore his horrific crimes and examine the psychology and criminology behind one of America's most prolific serial killers. Join my Patreon family! You get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, Girl On Gore Season 2, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, a place to request a case, and much more! https://bit.ly/3SDv7W8 JOIN ME EVERYWHERE! Instagram: https://bit.ly/4f8eAlH TikTok: https://bit.ly/4oXXIl9 Patreon: https://bit.ly/3SDv7W8 Spotify: https://bit.ly/44FzT88 Apple: https://bit.ly/4uXQj6F Website: https://www.psychopediapod.com/ ==SPONSORS== AquaTru : Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code PSYCHOPEDIA. NOCD : To learn more about starting OCD therapy with NOCD, go to NOCD and book a free call with their team. Quince : Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP190: "MORE BRUTAL" than Ted Bundy - Paul John Knowles, The Casanova Killer (Part 1)
1 hr 3 min
Trigger Warning: This episode discusses SA, child homicide, and graphic violence. Listener and viewer discretion advised. Now on YouTube! Watch + subscribe: @investigatorslater Paul John Knowles is an American serial killer linked to the deaths of at least 18 people. He recorded a chilling "kill tape" confession detailing his murders and carried out one of the deadliest multi-state killing sprees in American history in just a matter of months. Known as the "Casanova Killer" because of his conventionally handsome appearance, Paul murdered men, women, and children, sexually assaulted many of his victims, and even attempted to commit necrophilia. In Part 1, we explore his troubled upbringing and the events that transformed him into one of America's most prolific serial killers. Join my Patreon family! You get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, Girl On Gore Season 2, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, a place to request a case, and much more! https://bit.ly/3SDv7W8 JOIN ME EVERYWHERE! Instagram: https://bit.ly/4f8eAlH TikTok: https://bit.ly/4oXXIl9 Patreon: https://bit.ly/3SDv7W8 Spotify: https://bit.ly/44FzT88 Apple: https://bit.ly/4uXQj6F Website: https://www.psychopediapod.com/ ==SPONSORS== AquaTru : Go to AquaTru.com now for 20% off (your purifier) using promo code PSYCHOPEDIA. NOCD : To learn more about starting OCD therapy with NOCD, go to NOCD and book a free call with their team. BetterHelp : Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp Quince : Make your summer wardrobe feel easier. Go to Quince for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP189: Five Wives and a False Prophet: Nathan Chasing Horse and "The Circle" Cult
1 hr 10 min
Trigger Warning: This episode contains discussions of domestic abuse and child SA. Please listen with caution. Five wives. A revered spiritual leader. A celebrated actor whose role in Dances with Wolves made him famous around the world. For decades, Nathan Chasing Horse cultivated an image as a respected medicine man and cultural figure - but behind the scenes was a sprawling web of sexual abuse, manipulation, and control. Nathan Chasing Horse used his spiritual authority to convince followers that he possessed supernatural powers, that he could see the future, and that young girls were destined to become his wives. What emerged was a story that sounds less like a religious community and more like a cult: one built on fear, obedience, and the unchecked power of a man who was treated as untouchable — until survivors finally spoke out and brought his reign of abuse crashing down. FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! FOLLOW Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP 188: Greenbrier Ghost: The Spectral Snitch (ft. Kaelyn Moore of Heart Starts Pounding)
1 hr 22 min
FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening!This week I was joined by special guest Kaelyn Moore of Heart Starts Pounding and Clues podcasts!In 1897, in a small town in West Virginia, a 23-year-old woman named Elva Zona Heaster Shue was found dead under mysterious circumstances and quickly laid to rest. Her tragic story might have ended there, if not for what happened next. According to local legend, Zona returned from the grave and appeared to her mother night after night to describe in chilling, accurate detail how her husband had murdered her and broken her neck. What followed was an investigation, an exhumation, and one of the strangest murder trials in American history. Because this remains the only known case in American legal history in which the testimony of a ghost helped send a killer to prison.Find Heart Starts Pounding! @heartstartspounding FOLLOW Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP 187: d4vd: "Romantic Homicide"
1 hr 15 min
TRIGGER WARNING: Please note that this episode contains discussions of pedophilia, grooming, and graphic violence involving a 14-year-old girl. Additionally, please note that this investigation remains active and ongoing. Ergo (noice): all statements regarding alleged conduct discussed in this episode are allegations only, and all individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law. The name d4vd used to mean viral music and sold-out concerts. Now, it's at the center of one of the most disturbing criminal cases in recent memory. David Anthony Burke, known to the world as d4vd, presently stands charged with first-degree murder with special circumstances, continuous sexual abuse of a child, and unlawful mutilation of human remains in connection with the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez. Prosecutors allege he groomed Celeste for years — beginning when she was just 11 years old — and ultimately killed her after she threatened to expose their so-called "relationship" (which is to say: the abuse). He then allegedly dismembered her body with a chainsaw and left her remains to decompose inside his Tesla for months, lying to anyone who noticed the smell. All the while, he allegedly continued performing to sold-out crowds and selling tickets to national and world tours. The details of this case are as astonishing as they are heartbreaking - please listen with caution. FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! FOLLOW Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP186: Craig's List (Serial?) Killer
1 hr 12 min
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of child sexual abuse. Please listen with caution. According to 18-year-old killer Miranda Barbour, between the ages of thirteen and eighteen she participated in a cross-country satanic killing spree that claimed at least twenty-two victims. While those claims have never been substantiated, what was proven in court was the brutal murder of 42-year-old Troy LaFerrara. Using a fake Craigslist ad offering sex, Miranda lured Troy to a meeting under false pretenses. Then, she and her husband, Elytte Barbour, carried out a savage and premeditated attack that left Troy dead in a ditch on the side of the road. In the aftermath, Miranda stunned investigators by claiming she was not "just" a murderer, but a serial killer whose body count stretched across the country. Whether those confessions were fact, fantasy, or something in between remains a matter of debate, but the tragic murder of Troy LaFerrara was horrifyingly real. FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! FOLLOW Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP185: Mormon Sex in Chains: Joyce McKinney
1 hr 13 min
Former beauty queen, ex-Mormon, and alleged “love-obsessed” Joyce McKinney flew across the world, handcuffed her ex-lover to a bed in rural England, and forced him into what the British press dubbed “sex in chains.” But beneath the campy headlines and late-1970s media circus was something far darker and stranger: a disturbed woman who insisted she was rescuing the man she loved from a religious cult, a kidnapped Mormon missionary who was tortured and sexually assaulted for three days, tabloid hysteria, countless aliases, fugitive drama, and a case so outrageous it blurs the line between true crime, psychological obsession, and a full-blown fever dream. Buckle up…this episode is a doozy! FOLLOW/SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! FOLLOW Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP184: Waffle House Massacre: The Taylor Swift-Obsessed Shooter
56 min
On April 22, 2018, a partially naked young man named Travis Reinking opened fire with an AR-15 rifle at a Waffle House in Antioch, Tennessee, killing four innocent people and injuring others. He had a documented history of erratic behavior, including delusions that Taylor Swift was stalking him, as well as a 2017 arrest in Washington, D.C., after attempting to breach White House security. That incident led to his arrest and the confiscation of his firearms, weapons that were later returned to his father and ultimately given back to him. This devastating case is not just about the horror of that night, but about the warning signs that preceded it, and the dangerous intersection of mental illness, access to assault-style weapons, and systemic failure. FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! FOLLOW Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
Introducing Family Lore
3 min
Looking for more mystery to fill your week? While this isn’t a Psychopedia production, we're excited to introduce you to another podcast we think you’ll enjoy. Family Lore is a weekly narrative podcast that celebrates and investigates ancestral mystique. Each episode begins with a guest sharing a fascinating family legend, followed by a historical deep-dive to uncover the truth and meaning behind the tale. Available now. https://link.pscrb.fm/f0281/FLFD To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP183: The Comic Book Killer: Scripted, Skinned and Scalped
1 hr 0 min
In May 2016, Blake Leibel - a Canadian comic book creator and aspiring Hollywood filmmaker -brutally murdered his girlfriend, Iana Kasian, in their Los Angeles apartment. Iana’s body bore injuries so horrific they seemed ripped from the pages of Blake’s own graphic novel, Syndrome , which depicted eerily similar acts of torture and mutilation. This tragic case is widely regarded as one of the most gruesome and sadistic murders Los Angeles has ever seen. Please listen with caution. FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! FOLLOW Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP182: Twitter Killer: Japanese Serial Killer Takahiro Shiraishi
1 hr 6 min
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of suicide and may be distressing to hear. Please listen with caution.In 2017, a series of disappearances began to ripple through Zama, just outside Tokyo. The victims were young women between the ages of 17 and 26 who all left behind the same digital footprint: Twitter posts expressing a desire to die. What no one realized at the time was that those posts had drawn the attention of a murderous predator. By the end of that year, the investigation led police to a single apartment, where a scene of calculated horror was waiting: nine dismembered bodies with severed heads and mutilated limbs found scattered and hidden in boxes. At the center of it all was Takahiro Shiraishi, later known as “The Twitter Killer,” a man who turned vulnerability into a hunting ground and despair into a lethal weapon. FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! FOLLOW Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP181: TikTok Cancer Scammer: Madison Russo Fakes Cancer for Clicks
59 min
From 2022 to 2023, 19-year-old Madison Russo documented what she claimed was a relentless fight for her life, drawing in thousands of followers and raising nearly $40,000 on GoFundMe. She said she was battling acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Stage 2 pancreatic cancer, and a tumor “the size of a football” wrapped around her spine. The story was catastrophic by design, and people responded exactly as you would expect. They donated, they shared, they rooted for her, watching closely as she posted photos and updates that felt intimate and urgent. Except none of it was real. Not the diagnoses, not the symptoms, not the scans. What looked like a medical nightmare was a performance, constructed piece by piece, persuasive enough to convince strangers around the world to invest in a fight that never existed. And when it finally unraveled, the only thing Maddie had actually built was a very real trail of deception. FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! Follow Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP180: Serial Killer Nun: Holy Hellhouse
1 hr 8 min
Abbess Mariam, better known as “Mother Rasputin,” has been described as one of the most prolific female serial killers in modern history. She cloaked herself in the authority of a Greek Old Calendarist Orthodox abbess while running something far darker than a monastery. Between 1939 and 1950, she was found guilty of a staggering range of crimes, including multiple murders and fraud, but the charges barely capture the reality inside her compound in Keratea, Greece. Hundreds of people - mostly women - arrived there seeking refuge, faith, and safety, and instead found solitary confinement, empty plates, and discipline that escalated into ritualized cruelty. Mariam ruled with a mix of spiritual theater and calculated brutality, presenting herself as divinely guided while systematically breaking down (and killing) the very people who trusted her. Sadistic, controlling, and untethered from any moral boundary, she has been described as one of the most prolific female serial killers in modern history. FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! Follow Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP179: Meet Me. Hurt Me. Kill Me.
58 min
TRIGGER WARNING: This episode contains discussions of suicide and may be distressing to hear. Please listen with caution. In the tragic and recent case of Sonia Exelby, a vulnerable woman in the UK went online to arrange for her own death. Sadly, she connected with a sadistic man in the U.S. named Dwain Hall, who framed her murder as mercy while investigators uncovered evidence of manipulation, coercion, internet predation, and calculated cruelty. Sonia was struggling, emotionally and psychologically, and Dwain positioned himself as a "mentor" who truly understood her pain. But text messages, recordings, and witness testimony painted a different picture: he was a predator who isolated Sonia from support systems, reinforced her belief that death was the only option, and meticulously documented her "consent" as insurance against exactly this kind of investigation. What Dwain called mercy, prosecutors called premeditated murder. This complex case is truly heartbreaking - please listen with caution! FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! Follow Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP178: Burned, Not Silenced: The Woman Who Testified From Beyond the Grave
57 min
This is the extraordinary case of Judy Malinowski, the first person in American history to testify from beyond the grave at her own murder trial. In 2017, Judy's life was shattered when her boyfriend doused her in gasoline and set her on fire. She was left to endure nearly two years of relentless pain, dozens of surgeries, and the heartbreak of not being able to raise her two children. Determined to be heard and to advocate on behalf of other survivors/victims, Judy worked with prosecutors to record her testimony from her hospital bed - forever preserving her voice, her memory, and her account of what happened. After her death, that testimony was played in court, allowing her to confront her killer and help secure his conviction in a way that had never been done before. This episode traces Judy's unbelievable fight for justice, the legal impact of her groundbreaking case, and the strength of a woman who ensured that her own words would be used to help bring down the man who killed her. FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! Follow Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP177: Krugersdorp Cult (Part 2): A Satan-Influenced Cult of Killers
57 min
In Part 2 of our in-depth coverage of the "Devilsdorp" cult, the brutal murders introduced in Part 1 take on a new meaning. What initially appeared to be isolated, occult-linked attacks starts to reveal a far more calculated pattern. Because this was never about religion. As the case progresses into trial, Part 2 unpacks the roles of those involved in the gruesome murders of 11 individuals and explores the psychology of Cecilia Steyn - the dark force at the center of it all. For Cecilia, the carnage was a test of power measured by how far she could push others to prove her control. FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! Follow Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
EP176: Krugersdorp Cult (Part 1): A Satan-Influenced Cult of Killers
59 min
A pentagram-shaped town. A string of cult murders. Between 2012 and 2016, the town of Krugersdorp became “Devilsdorp.” At the center was Cecilia Steyn, a manipulative, "Ted Bundy-esque" figure who claimed to be a 42nd-generation witch with supernatural powers, infiltrating a Christian ministry and slowly tightening her grip on a group of devoted followers. Through staged attacks, psychological control, and fabricated threats of a satanic enemy, she convinced them to protect her at all costs...even if it meant killing. When her authority was challenged, Cecilia retaliated by forming a splinter group, “Electus per Deus,” and orchestrating a series of calculated murders that were initially dismissed as random occult violence. But beneath the surface, this wasn’t chaos - it was total control. And it was only the beginning... FOLLOW AND SUBSCRIBE to Psychopedia wherever you are listening! Follow Investigator Slater on Instagram + TikTok: @investigatorslater Join our Patreon family! ( www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod ) On Patreon, you get AD FREE episodes, exclusive true crime content, behind-the-scenes pics/vids, private group chats, and much more! To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .
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