100 Missing Hawaiians. 3 Murders. One Arrest. Are These All Connected?

Reasonable Doubt in 'The Crash' Case? New Public Records Raise Red Flags

SHOULD MACKENZIE SHIRILLA HAVE WALKED FREE? And is her personality the reason she didn’t? The Ohio teen was convicted of intentionally crashing her car at 100 miles per hour and killing her boyfriend, Dominic Russo, and friend, Davion Flanagan in 2022. As the world reexamines the case in Netflix’s newly released documentary “The Crash,” Mackenzie’s intentions, mindset, and personality are major discussion points.  She was convicted of murder. End of story, right? But what if the evidence is not as straightforward as it seems? In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Anne Emerson sits down with criminal defense attorney and true crime creator Stephanie Giancristofaro, who says there is reasonable doubt in the Mackenzie Shirilla murder case… and that she can prove it. She believes public opinion may be influenced as much by Shirilla's personality and behavior, as by the actual evidence presented in court. And if this case had been decided by a jury instead of a judge, would the outcome have been different? We break down the key issues at the center of the Ohio case, including newly released public records that raise fresh questions about what happened that day. This is not a case about whether Mackenzie Shirilla is likable. It is a conversation about the criminal justice system, and whether the evidence truly proves murder beyond a reasonable doubt. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for more true crime analysis, case breakdowns, and exclusive interviews. And after you watch “The Crash” on Netflix, let us know what YOU think.

100 Missing Hawaiians. 3 Murders. One Arrest. Are These All Connected?

HAWAII’S MISSING PERSON MYSTERY: WHY ARE PEOPLE VANISHING ON THE BIG ISLAND? And is a new arrest taking us one step closer to uncovering the secrets hiding in paradise?  Nearly 100 people have disappeared from Hawaii’s Big Island in just the last five years, many seemingly without a trace. Now, a recent arrest is drawing even more attention to the island’s darker side. Jacob Daniel Baker is facing murder charges in three separate deaths.  In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Anne Emerson sits down with investigative reporter Kristin Thorne, whose Law & Crime documentary Vanished in Paradise: Dark Secrets on the Big Island has drawn more than 1.2 million views on YouTube. In it, Kristin investigates the disappearance of Kelly Gravitt and other missing person cases on the island, but in our conversation she shares new details that did not make it into the documentary.  Could the arrest of Jacob Daniel Baker lead to answers in the Big Island’s dark mysteries? Watch Vanished in Paradise: Dark Secrets of Hawaii’s Big Island [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-nc9TalADk&t=3s]

Mackenzie Shirilla “Loves Being Hated” - A Psychological Deep Dive

The Netflix documentary The Crash has reignited debate around one of the most shocking true crime cases in recent memory: the conviction of Mackenzie Shirilla. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Anne Emerson talks with forensic psychologist Dr. John Delatorre to unpacks not only what may have been going on in Mackenzie's mind, but also her parents, Steve and Natalie Shirilla. Drawing from the documentary, courtroom evidence, and Mackenzie's behavior before and after the crash, Dr. John explores whether this was an impulsive act fueled by rage, entitlement, and immaturity—or something far more calculated.   We dive deep into the toxic relationship dynamics between Mackenzie and her boyfriend Dom, the role her family may have played in shaping her worldview, and the warning signs that many believe were overlooked long before the deadly crash. Dr. John breaks down concepts like entitlement, impulsivity, narcissistic traits, and the impact of parenting styles, while explaining why he believes Mackenzie's actions don't necessarily fit a traditional self-destruction profile. The discussion also tackles her controversial social media activity, prison behavior, and the ongoing public fascination with the case.   Is Mackenzie “hell on wheels” as the judge described her? Dr. John offers his unfiltered analysis of one of the most polarizing true crime stories in recent years, examining how personality, privilege, relationships, and decision-making collided with devastating consequences.   Do you believe the crash was premeditated, an impulsive act gone horribly wrong, or something else entirely? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Related links: Petition, "Dom and Davion's Law" - Victims Before Influencers: Modernize Son of Sam Laws [https://www.change.org/p/dom-and-davion-s-law-victims-before-influencers-modernize-son-of-sam-laws] Davion Flanagan’s Memorial Scholarship Fund [https://www.gofundme.com/f/davion-flanagan] Change The Game for Dom Foundation [https://www.gofundme.com/f/change-the-game-for-dom-foundation?attribution_id=sl:73ac8074-6889-48b5-b509-8fbc82aa6bd5&lang=en_US&ts=1779905627&utm_campaign=man_sharesheet_dash&utm_content=amp17_control-amp20_control&utm_medium=customer&utm_source=copy_link&fbclid=IwVERDUASOUw9leHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAo2NjI4NTY4Mzc5AAEephTda_pn3fOSF7mXZwlJ0Gll2PbOHbOV0CgDLse3ippSTz-_lYVE466kQgU_aem_8vflVyM3m2YM8japi5S7-Q]

New True Crime Documentary Asks: Did Celeste Beard Actually Orchestrate Her Texas Media Mogul Husband’s Murder?

“HE BUILT THIS STATION AND HE WAS MURDERED” This observation led CBS Austin news anchor Walt Maciborski down a rabbit hole. He was fascinated by the murder of his station’s founder, multimillionaire Texas media mogul Steven Beard. Beard was shot by Tracey Tarlton in 1999 while in his bed – but Tracey’s motive has long been in dispute. Beard’s wife, Celeste, is in prison for orchestrating his murder. Some call her a “Trophy Wife,” while others say she was framed by a jilted lover – none other than the trigger person, Tracey. Walt is featured in the latest Criminally Obsessed original true crime documentary, “Celeste: Trophy Wife or Framed for Life [https://youtu.be/elklCEJYPHg%E2%81%A0],” which premieres June 5 on YouTube. Walt also produced a companion podcast, “Love, Lies and a Shotgun Shell [https://flow.page/loveliesshotgunshell]," which can be heard wherever you listen to podcasts. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, Anne Emerson talks with Walt about what is known as the trial of the century in Austin and his curiosity around this wild case.

5 Reasons This Mom Could Be A Serial Killer: Forensic Psychologist

Did this mom poison her family at Thanksgiving dinner? And even worse, could she be a serial killer? North Carolina investigators are asking if Gudrun Casper-Leinenkugel could be the rare female serial killer. Authorities say Gudrun poisoned wine served at a Thanksgiving gathering, killing her daughter Leela Livis and sickening two others. But as investigators dug into her past, they uncovered another death from 2007 involving the same chemical and began examining additional suspicious deaths of people connected to her. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative journalist Anne Emerson sits down with forensic psychologist Dr. Joni Johnston to do a deep dive into the psychology behind the allegations and explain why female serial killers often look very different from the serial killers most people imagine. Why do female serial killers often target people closest to them? Why is poison such a common weapon? And does Gudrun fit the profile investigators are now considering? Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for exclusive true crime interviews, expert analysis on the true crime stories you're following, and the latest developments in the shocking Thanksgiving poisoning case.