Optophobia

In the Season 4 finale, co-hosts Lydia CoffeeMaté and Jeffrey Dalmer discuss what we've learned after a deep dive into the story behind the 1989 Judd Nelson serial killer film, "Relentless." In airing his theory about "Relentless" director William Lustig's connection to mind control program MK-Ultra, Dalmer puts himself in the CIA's crosshairs, with dire results. *** Credits: Erin Murray [https://witdc.org/people/erin-murray/] played Lydia CoffeeMaté. Erin performs with Madeline [https://witdc.org/ensembles/madeline/], a Washington Improv Theater house ensemble, and The Lodge [https://www.facebook.com/thelodgeimprov/]. Follow her on Instagram at @eurniebmurray [https://www.instagram.com/eurniebmurray/]. Jamal Newman [https://witdc.org/people/jamal-newman/] played Jeffrey Dalmer. Jamal performs with Lena Dunham [https://witdc.org/ensembles/lena-dunham/] and NIXON [https://www.facebook.com/nixonimprov/]. You can follow him on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hell0newman/?hl=en] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/hell0newman?lang=en] at @hell0newman, and find him at jamalnewman.com [https://www.jamalnewman.com/]. Produced by Tim Townsend. Theme music by Bart Warshaw [http://www.bartwarshaw.com/]. Cover art by Claire Smalley [http://clairesmalley.com/]. Website by Chance Griffin. Website artwork by Nicole Bennett [http://www.nbendesign.com/].

With O'Boisies, Pizzarias, and Tato Skins, flavor architect Rosemary Caraway was winning awards in the 1980s for her work on the Keebler Company’s savory line of snacks. But when the company began favoring its sweet line instead, the “Relentless”-inspired Snack Aisle Strangler struck. *** Credits: Erica Johnson [https://witdc.org/people/erica-johnson/] played Rosemary Caraway. Erica performs with Washington Improv Theater house ensemble Lena Dunham [https://witdc.org/ensembles/lena-dunham/]. Erin Murray [https://witdc.org/people/erin-murray/] played Lydia CoffeeMaté. Erin performs with Madeline [https://witdc.org/ensembles/madeline/], a Washington Improv Theater house ensemble, and The Lodge [https://www.facebook.com/thelodgeimprov/]. Follow her on Instagram at @eurniebmurray [https://www.instagram.com/eurniebmurray/]. Produced by Tim Townsend. Theme music by Bart Warshaw [http://www.bartwarshaw.com/]. Cover art by Claire Smalley [http://clairesmalley.com/]. Website by Chance Griffin. Website artwork by Nicole Bennett [http://www.nbendesign.com/].

Some "Relentless"-inspired would-be serial killers have been celebrities. When Marrissa Horn, a tea shop owner from L.A. began dating SisQó, she had no idea that a visit to Victoria's Secret together would inspire the R&B legend's greatest hit, nor that he might try to use the song as a murder weapon. *** Credits: Andrea Quach [https://witdc.org/people/andrea-quach/] played Marrissa Horn. Andrea is a member of The Quitters [https://www.facebook.com/thequittersdc/] and Washington Improv Theater ensemble team The Lineup [https://witdc.org/ensembles/the-lineup/]. Follow her on Instagram @andy___q [https://www.instagram.com/andy___q/?hl=en]. Jamal Newman [https://witdc.org/people/jamal-newman/] played Jeffrey Dalmer. Jamal performs with Lena Dunham [https://witdc.org/ensembles/lena-dunham/] and NIXON [https://www.facebook.com/nixonimprov/]. You can follow him on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hell0newman/?hl=en] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/hell0newman?lang=en] at @hell0newman, and find him at jamalnewman.com [https://www.jamalnewman.com/]. Produced by Tim Townsend. Theme music by Bart Warshaw [http://www.bartwarshaw.com/]. Cover art by Claire Smalley [http://clairesmalley.com/]. Website by Chance Griffin. Website artwork by Nicole Bennett [http://www.nbendesign.com/].

Growing up on the road alongside her saleswoman mom, Jeri Jones believed she had a serene, peace-loving nature. But then, at 15, she watched "Relentless" and a something savage began stirring inside her. Armed with common household implements as agents of mischief and with a Rolodex she found while Dumpster diving as a guide, her rampage began. *** Credits: Jenny Koch [https://witdc.org/people/jenny-koch/] played Jeri Jones. Jenny performs with Washington, D.C. improv teams The Quitters [https://www.facebook.com/thequittersdc/] and The Lodge [https://www.facebook.com/thelodgeimprov/]. Erin Murray [https://witdc.org/people/erin-murray/] played Lydia CoffeeMaté. Erin performs with Madeline [https://witdc.org/ensembles/madeline/], a Washington Improv Theater house ensemble, and The Lodge [https://www.facebook.com/thelodgeimprov/]. Follow her on Instagram at @eurniebmurray [https://www.instagram.com/eurniebmurray/]. Produced by Tim Townsend. Theme music by Bart Warshaw [http://www.bartwarshaw.com/]. Cover art by Claire Smalley [http://clairesmalley.com/]. Website by Chance Griffin. Website artwork by Nicole Bennett [http://www.nbendesign.com/].

Around the time Darrell Klep first saw "Relentless" in the late 1980s, he also began his career as a farmer. Eventually, he started working weekend farmer's markets, following his customers and sitting in his car outside their homes. Creepy? Yes. Coincidence? Probably not. *** Credits: Sean Paul Ellis [https://witdc.org/people/sean-paul-ellis/] played Darrell Klep. Sean performs with Washington Improv Theater ensemble team Nox! [https://witdc.org/ensembles/nox/] Check out his podcasts "Saturday Mourning Cartoons [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ep-290-animaniacs-reboot-review-saturday-mourning-cartoons/id907973889]" where we reviews cartoons from your childhood with a critical adult lens. And "The Bureau [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-bureau/id1497218007]," an improvised FBI podcast. Follow him on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/seanpaulellis/?hl=en] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/seanpaulellis?lang=en] at @seanpaulellis. Jamal Newman [https://witdc.org/people/jamal-newman/] played Jeffrey Dalmer. Jamal performs with Lena Dunham [https://witdc.org/ensembles/lena-dunham/] and NIXON [https://www.facebook.com/nixonimprov/]. You can follow him on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/hell0newman/?hl=en] and Twitter [https://twitter.com/hell0newman?lang=en] at @hell0newman, and find him at jamalnewman.com [https://www.jamalnewman.com/]. Produced by Tim Townsend. Theme music by Bart Warshaw [http://www.bartwarshaw.com/]. Cover art by Claire Smalley [http://clairesmalley.com/]. Website by Chance Griffin. Website artwork by Nicole Bennett [http://www.nbendesign.com/].