EP. 245 - TEXAS: The Murder of Athena Strand

EP. 246 - SERIAL KILLER: THE TORSO KILLER - RICHARD COTTINGHAM PART 1

When firefighters rushed to a hotel room in December of 1979, they had no idea they were stumbling into the den of a serial killer. On the bed, they discovered the bodies of two women — their heads and hands cut off, and their torsos set on fire and left on display for first responders to find. It was the first glimpse into the madness of Richard Cottingham, the Torso Killer. Little did first responders know, his reign of terror went back decades, leaving a twisted trail that, to this day, we haven’t uncovered the full truth behind. Even now, as he sits in jail, we’re left to wonder: How many victims did he truly have?  - Sources:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb] Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl [https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl] -Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844] -Amazon/Audible - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files] -Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101 [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101] -iHeart - https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/] -PocketCast - https://pca.st/dpdyrcca [https://pca.st/dpdyrcca] -CastBox - https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us [https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us] - Stay Connected: Join the Murder in America fam in our free Facebook Community for a behind-the-scenes look, more insights and current events in the true crime world: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701] If you want even more Murder in America bonus content, including ad-free episodes, come join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica [https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica] Instagram: https://instagram.com/murderinamerica/http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/ [http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/] Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica [https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles [https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles] and https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen [https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen] Feeling spooky? Follow Colin as he travels state to state (and even country to country!) investigating claims of extreme paranormal activity and visiting famous haunted locations on The Paranormal Files Official Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel [https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel] - (c) BLOOD IN THE SINK PRODUCTIONS 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

EP. 245 - TEXAS: The Murder of Athena Strand

"Are you a kidnapper?" Those are some of the last words that Athena Strand ever said. She was just 7 years old, standing in the back of a FedEx van, where an adult had told her she was safe, that things would be okay. But things would never be okay again. The man driving the van was not only a predator... but a killer. And his plans for Athena would be captured on camera, leading to one of the most horrific trials in modern history. A trial that still has everyone asking: How could someone be so evil?  - Sources:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb] Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl [https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl] -Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844] -Amazon/Audible - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files] -Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101 [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101] -iHeart - https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/] -PocketCast - https://pca.st/dpdyrcca [https://pca.st/dpdyrcca] -CastBox - https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us [https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us] - Stay Connected: Join the Murder in America fam in our free Facebook Community for a behind-the-scenes look, more insights and current events in the true crime world: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701] If you want even more Murder in America bonus content, including ad-free episodes, come join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica [https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica] Instagram: https://instagram.com/murderinamerica/http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/ [http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/] Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica [https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles [https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles] and https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen [https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen] Feeling spooky? Follow Colin as he travels state to state (and even country to country!) investigating claims of extreme paranormal activity and visiting famous haunted locations on The Paranormal Files Official Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel [https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel] - (c) BLOOD IN THE SINK PRODUCTIONS 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

EP. 244 - ILLINOIS: TIMOTHY BUSS: THE CHILD KILLER WHO WAS RELEASED… AND KILLED AGAIN

No one thought a 13-year-old boy was capable of such evil. But when 5-year-old Tara Sue Huffman was discovered bludgeoned to death, all the evidence pointed to neighbor, middle-schooler Timothy Buss, being her killer. After just 12 years of incarceration, Timothy returned to his hometown a reformed man. But not long after his release, another child disappeared. And this time, no one doubted what he was capable of.  - Sources:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb] Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl [https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl] -Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844] -Amazon/Audible - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files] -Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101 [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101] -iHeart - https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/] -PocketCast - https://pca.st/dpdyrcca [https://pca.st/dpdyrcca] -CastBox - https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us [https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us] - Stay Connected: Join the Murder in America fam in our free Facebook Community for a behind-the-scenes look, more insights and current events in the true crime world: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701] If you want even more Murder in America bonus content, including ad-free episodes, come join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica [https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica] Instagram: https://instagram.com/murderinamerica/http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/ [http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/] Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica [https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles [https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles] and https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen [https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen] Feeling spooky? Follow Colin as he travels state to state (and even country to country!) investigating claims of extreme paranormal activity and visiting famous haunted locations on The Paranormal Files Official Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel [https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel] - (c) BLOOD IN THE SINK PRODUCTIONS 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

EP 243 - TEXAS: THE DARKEST CRIME IN TEXAS HISTORY: The Gang Killings of Elizabeth Peña and Jennifer Ertman

Elizabeth Peña and Jennifer Ertman were just two teens enjoying a walk home on a hot summer night on June 24th, 1993. When they took a shortcut home, they stumbled upon the aftermath of the unthinkable: A violent gang initiation. What happened to them afterward is the stuff of nightmares.   - Sources:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb] Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl [https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl] -Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844] -Amazon/Audible - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files] -Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101 [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101] -iHeart - https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/] -PocketCast - https://pca.st/dpdyrcca [https://pca.st/dpdyrcca] -CastBox - https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us [https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us] - Stay Connected: Join the Murder in America fam in our free Facebook Community for a behind-the-scenes look, more insights and current events in the true crime world: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701] If you want even more Murder in America bonus content, including ad-free episodes, come join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica [https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica] Instagram: https://instagram.com/murderinamerica/http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/ [http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/] Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica [https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles [https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles] and https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen [https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen] Feeling spooky? Follow Colin as he travels state to state (and even country to country!) investigating claims of extreme paranormal activity and visiting famous haunted locations on The Paranormal Files Official Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel [https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel] - (c) BLOOD IN THE SINK PRODUCTIONS 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]

EP. 242 - ARIZONA: Three Serial Killers, One City: Phoenix’s Summers of Terror Part 2 (The Baseline Killer & Serial Shooters)

Part 2 of this series brings us to the unmasking of the Baseline Killer, a man who terrorized Phoenix for over a year. His name was Mark Goudeau. A father. A husband. A hardworking member of the community. But beneath it all, he was the monster stalking the streets. As 2005 turned to 2006, his thirst for murder and violence only grew, and police knew they had to stop him before it was too late.  - Sources:https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb [https://docs.google.com/document/d/1eTYeCoYyxm58DXXdoFbHQyWHlWbcH9iKGIefFcQToW4/edit?tab=t.y2yayotxnlcb] Listen to our new show, "THE CONSPIRACY FILES"!: -Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl [https://open.spotify.com/show/5IY9nWD2MYDzlSYP48nRPl] -Apple Podcasts - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/id1752719844] -Amazon/Audible - https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files [https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/ab1ade99-740c-46ae-8028-b2cf41eabf58/the-conspiracy-files] -Pandora - https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101 [https://www.pandora.com/podcast/the-conspiracy-files/PC:1001089101] -iHeart - https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/ [https://iheart.com/podcast/186907423/] -PocketCast - https://pca.st/dpdyrcca [https://pca.st/dpdyrcca] -CastBox - https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us [https://castbox.fm/channel/id6193084?country=us] - Stay Connected: Join the Murder in America fam in our free Facebook Community for a behind-the-scenes look, more insights and current events in the true crime world: https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701 [https://www.facebook.com/groups/4365229996855701] If you want even more Murder in America bonus content, including ad-free episodes, come join us on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica [https://www.patreon.com/murderinamerica] Instagram: https://instagram.com/murderinamerica/http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/ [http://instagram.com/murderinamerica/] Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/ [https://www.facebook.com/people/Murder-in-America-Podcast/100086268848682/] Twitter: https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica [https://twitter.com/MurderInAmerica] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles [https://www.tiktok.com/@theparanormalfiles] and https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen [https://www.tiktok.com/@courtneybrowen] Feeling spooky? Follow Colin as he travels state to state (and even country to country!) investigating claims of extreme paranormal activity and visiting famous haunted locations on The Paranormal Files Official Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel [https://www.youtube.com/c/TheParanormalFilesOfficialChannel] - (c) BLOOD IN THE SINK PRODUCTIONS 2026 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices [https://megaphone.fm/adchoices]