An 18-year-old college freshman, full of creativity and ambition, walked out of her dorm room one cold February night and never made it back. Her family knew something was wrong immediately, but from the start, the investigation into her disappearance was plagued with delays and unanswered questions.

In 1954, one of the most sensational murder cases in American history began when Marilyn Sheppard was brutally murdered in her Ohio home. Her husband, respected osteopath Dr. Sam Sheppard (often referred to incorrectly as "Shepherd"), claimed a "bushy-haired intruder" was responsible. Prosecutors, however, were convinced it was a cold-blooded domestic murder.

We dive into the facts of this decades-long fight for justice:

• The Crime Scene: We detail the chaotic scene in the Sheppards' home and the initial story told by Dr. Sheppard: that he woke up to a struggle, pursued a mysterious intruder, was knocked unconscious, and awoke to find his wife dead.

• The Media Frenzy: The local press became judge, jury, and executioner, constantly publishing sensational, front-page headlines that declared Dr. Sheppard guilty before the trial even began. This relentless media pressure would later be cited as a violation of his rights.

• The Trial: Dr. Sheppard was convicted in a highly charged atmosphere. However, his defense never stopped fighting, and 12 years later, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the massive, prejudicial publicity had violated his constitutional right to a fair trial.

• The Cultural Impact: The story of the accused doctor and the fugitive hunt became the direct inspiration for the popular 1960s television series and the 1993 movie, The Fugitive.

Join us as we cover the initial investigation, the controversial Supreme Court ruling, the 1966 retrial that finally secured Sam Sheppard's acquittal, and the lingering debate over who truly killed Marilyn Sheppard.

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We are traveling back to the early 1900s to meet one of the most prolific and cold-blooded female serial killers in American history: Belle Gunness. A seemingly respectable widow in La Porte, Indiana, Belle used lonely hearts ads to lure wealthy, unattached men to her farm, promising love and companionship.

It was just before sunrise on a quiet September morning in Phoenix City, Alabama, when 30-year-old Eric Nealms stepped outside, heading to work like he did every morning. But someone was already waiting. This week, we explore the shocking, premeditated murder of a man who was deeply loved and is still desperately missed by his family.

After a night out with friends in July of 2021, 23-year-old Destiny McClain was waiting for food at a taco truck outside a busy nightclub in Phoenix, Arizona, when tragedy struck. She was shot and killed, leaving behind a heartbroken family and many questions about whether this was a random act of violence or if she had been targeted.

On July 9, 1975, an aspiring actor named Kelsey Grammer boarded a flight to Colorado Springs to identify the body of his younger sister, Karen Grammer. Before he became known as Frasier Crane, Kelsey was a big brother whose world was shattered when Karen was murdered just weeks before her 19th birthday.

Jennifer Kesse was a 24-year-old woman with a bright future who vanished from her home in Orlando, Florida, in January 2006. She had just returned from a trip and spoke to her family the night before. When she failed to show up for work, her family immediately knew something was wrong.

In 1922, a beautiful showgirl named Clara Phillips shocked Los Angeles when she committed a gruesome murder with a hammer. This is the twisted tale of the "Tiger Woman," a name given to Phillips after her crime. The violent act was fueled by a jealous rage over a rumored affair.

We revisit the chilling case of Dr. Amy Bishop, the Harvard-educated neuroscientist and mother of four who committed a mass shooting at the University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in 2010. Her life was a shocking mix of bizarre incidents, including a prior connection to a pipe bomb, a public physical altercation over a booster seat, and the unexpected violence she unleashed on her colleagues.

On Mother’s Day 2020, Suzanne Morphew, a wife and mother battling cancer, allegedly went for a bike ride near her home in the Colorado Mountains and vanished. What began as a missing persons case quickly unraveled into a web of confusing secrets, including an affair, deleted messages, and the shocking discovery of tranquilizer darts.

After serving 20 years for a crime he didn’t commit, Chris Tapp was fully exonerated in the murder of Angie Dodge and began rebuilding his life, using his experience to become an advocate for the wrongfully convicted. But in a tragic twist, Chris was found unconscious at a party in Las Vegas in 2023 and later died from his injuries.

In the summer of 1965, Houston, Texas, police performed a welfare check that led to the discovery of one of the most disturbing crime scenes in the state's history. The dismembered bodies of Fred and Edwina Rogers were found chillingly placed inside their own refrigerator. The couple's son, Charles Rogers, vanished without a trace and remains the only suspect in this brutal case.

We revisit a disturbing case from South Texas about a mother who took her role as protector to the extreme, resulting in the tragic death of an innocent teenage boy in Brownsville, Texas. The story, which began in 2020, centered on a shocking act of violence fueled by a parent's ultimate act of perceived defense.

Before he was the Notorious B.I.G., Christopher Wallace was a kid from Brooklyn with big dreams. His rise to rap superstardom was meteoric, but it was cut short on March 9, 1997, when he was shot and killed in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles. He was just 24 years old. Despite multiple witnesses, FBI investigations, and decades of speculation, his murder remains unsolved. Theories include gang retaliation, corrupt LAPD officers, and revenge for Tupac's death. This episode explores Biggie's life, the East Coast-West Coast rivalry, and the mystery that haunts hip-hop history.

On October 21, 2021, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of the Western film Rust when a gun held by Alec Baldwin discharged during a rehearsal. The bullet struck Halyna in the chest, and she died from her injuries. She was 42 years old. How did a live round end up in a prop gun? Who was responsible? In Part 1, we explore the events leading up to Halyna's death, the chaotic production, the unqualified armorer, and the critical safety failures that turned a routine rehearsal into a fatal disaster.

In Part 1, we explored the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust. In Part 2, we dive into the investigations and trials. Where did the live ammunition come from? Who was responsible? Investigators uncovered cost-cutting, unqualified staff, and ignored safety protocols. Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was forced to juggle two jobs. Alec Baldwin claimed he never pulled the trigger. The assistant director admitted he didn't check the gun. This episode examines the criminal charges and the difficult question of accountability when a preventable tragedy occurs.

On June 19, 1982, James and Virginia Campbell were shot to death in their Houston home while they slept. The shocking answer to who killed them: their own daughter Cindy and her boyfriend David West. Cindy stood to inherit money and was willing to murder her parents to get it—while her young children slept down the hall. This case features one of the most incredible undercover investigations in true crime history, as a 23-year-old private investigator befriended David West for months to extract a confession. A chilling story of greed, betrayal, and family murder.

In early 2018, 25-year-old Trish Haynes told her family she was heading to New Hampshire to clear up a court matter. Then she vanished. Four months later, a shocking discovery was made: a jawbone sealed inside a washing machine at the bottom of Grant Pond. Trish had been raised by her devoted grandparents and had dreams of modeling. She had a big heart and saw the best in everyone. Despite ample circumstantial evidence, no one has ever been held accountable for her murder. This is Trish's story, told with the help of her family.

In October 2016, Bianca Rudolph was found dead from a gunshot wound in a Zambian safari cabin. Her husband Larry claimed it was an accident, but investigators discovered a pattern of infidelity, a long-term affair with his office manager Lori Milliron, and nearly $5 million in life insurance payouts. This update episode covers the full story—from the suspicious death to the investigation, trial, and verdict. Larry Rudolph was convicted of murder and mail fraud. Lori was convicted as an accessory. Justice for Bianca came years later, but it finally came.

This is where it all began. In 2017, our very first episode covered the Casey Anthony case. Eight years later, we're revisiting this infamous story with fresh perspective and updated information. In 2008, two-year-old Caylee Anthony disappeared from Orlando. Her mother Casey waited 31 days to report her missing. When Caylee's remains were found, Casey was charged with murder. The trial shocked the nation. Recently, Casey re-emerged on social media, rebranding herself as an advocate. This renewed episode is our definitive deep dive into one of the most controversial cases in true crime history.