True Crime Obsessed

In 1930 4 SUPER grumpy people moved to the Galapagos Islands’ most deserted, most isolated, most remote outpost (that is Patrick you’re hearing having the GAYEST panic attack at the thought). Not only did the all HATE each other, they were bored to death. Enter the Baroness and her two….boyfriends? Gay best friends? Slaves? Nobody really knows, BUT WHO CARES BECAUSE THEY WERE FABULOUS AND FUN AND THE BARONESS IS TOTALLY NOT HERE FOR YOUR SHIT. But then people started to disappear. And die. Coincidence? We may never know.LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 10 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!Looking for our Advertisers / Promo Codes? Go Here! We now have a whole page of our site for you to check out and GET. THOSE. DISCOUNTS!

Look, the specifics of this story are confusing AF. BUT at the heart of it, we’re dealing with a murder, a wrongful conviction, a false confession and A. WOMAN. NAMED. SHAWN. (She’s garbage, but we’re obsessed with the gender swapping name situation.).With his execution just 48 hours away, Anthony Porter's life was saved by a Northwestern University journalism class. Their re-investigation of the crime for which he was convicted-a double homicide in a Chicago park-led to the discovery of the real killer, Alstory Simon, whose confession exonerated Porter. If it all sounds too good to be true, it's because, as compellingly argued here, Porter actually is guilty, Simon is an innocent man and both are just pawns in a much larger plan.LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 7 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!Looking for our Advertisers / Promo Codes? Go Here! We now have a whole page of our site for you to check out and GET. THOSE. DISCOUNTS!

We hate to insult garbage by calling Anthony Weiner garbage...but we can't think of another word. DING!Anthony Weiner did a lot for the people of New York as a Congressman from 1999 - 2011. HOWEVER it all went off the rails when he started SEXTING women WHO WEREN'T HIS WIFE (A quick timeout: his wife is Huma Abedin: brilliant woman, close adviser to Hilliary Clinton, and human-who-will-not-stand-for-your-shit). His resignation from Congress was quickly followed by a run for Mayor of New York City and, because (some) men will be (some) men, MORE DICK PICS TO WOMEN WHO AREN'T HIS WIFE CAME OUT! Huma isn't having it, neither is NYC, AND NEITHER is his chief advisor, Kueen Amit Bagga in her mustard yellow pants. LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 6 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!

YOU GUYS! It’s our final installment and all our friends are here! Boring Jane! The Lawyer Who Can’t Stop Crying! Bagwan(shhhhhhh)! And SHEELA! Hey Girl!Basically, everyone goes to jail, The Lawyer really needs to seek psychiatric attention or at the very least hydrate because HE LITERALLY CAN’T STOP CRYING, Lunny Press Relations gets poisoned, Boring Jane abandons her kids, and Sheela has a secret hot tub. This one is bonkers and we sort of can’t stop laughing. You’re welcome. LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 5 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!

The lawyer is still crying, The Australian is still boring, Sheela is still not to be messed with.This episode, which covers episodes 3 & 4 of the Netflix series, is jam-packed with guns, poisonings, voter fraud, enraged homeless people, attempted assassinations, and, of course, THE HOLLYWOOD CROWD. Oh my God, you guys, The. Hollywood. Crowd.LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 4 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!

YOU GUYS!! MAJOR LIVE SHOW NEWS! CLICK HERE FOR INFO AND TICKETS!!Another bonkers cult-doc, you guys!Attend the tale of Bhagwan Shree Rajneesh, a guru who rose to prominence in India in the nineteen-seventies, and collapsed into infamy in Oregon the decade after. But actually forget about him because everybody knows this shit is actually allllllllllll about his Lieutenant, er personal secretary, Sheela. In episodes 1 and 2, we watch in…horror? Confusion? as this band of religious lunatics? Chosen people? Weirdos? take over the small town of Antelope, Oregon (population 50) and try to build a community of thousands in the wilderness. Iiiiiiiiiiiiiiit doesn’t go great, you guys. LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon!We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 3 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!

This one has it all, you guys: Garbage Cops, False Convictions, And An 80s Home Perm Gone Seriously Wrong (oh AND two IDIOTS riding a TANDEM BIKE in CENTRAL PARK at 10 PM in 1989. whatever, we'll get there.)In 1989, five black and Latino teenagers were arrested and charged for brutally attacking and raping a white female jogger in Central Park. News media swarmed the case, calling it "the crime of the century." But the truth about what really happened didn't become clear until after the five had spent years in prison for a crime they didn't commit. With THE CENTRAL PARK FIVE, this story of injustice finally gets the telling it deserves. LOOKING FOR MORE TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 - 3 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!

The working title for this one was: “Three Gays Rob a Bank”. And we have an idea for the sitcom version.In August 1972, John Wojtowicz attempted to rob a Brooklyn bank to finance his lover's sex-reassignment surgery. The act resulted in a fourteen-hour hostage situation that was broadcast on TV. Three years later Al Pacino portrayed his crime in DOG DAY AFTERNOON.Directors Allison Berg and Frank Keraudren began filming THE DOG in 2002 and continued for ten years. Drawing upon extraordinary archival footage, the film shuffles between the 1970s and the 2000s. We gain a historic perspective on New York's gay liberation movement, in which Wojtowicz played an active role. In later footage, he remains a subversive force, backed by the unconditional love of his mother Terry, whose wit and charm infuse the film. How and why the bank robbery took place is recounted in gripping detail by Wojtowicz and various eyewitnesses.Looking for more TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig AND with Asia Mcclain--Adnan's alibi witness! Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episodes 1 and 2 are live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!

WHY. ARE. THEY. ALL. HOARDERS?Heads Up! This episode of TCO covers parts 3 & 4 of the Netflix series. To hear our coverage of the first two episodes of the Netflix series,go here!In this episode, we watch Marjorie just berate the soul out of her lawyer via Skpye, learn that the filmmaker’s unhealthy (and possibly unethical?) relationship with Marjorie is off the rails, we learn who the masterminds behind the pizza-delivery-bank-heist were (maybe), we meet more hoarders, AND we posit that meathead Jerry from the FBI and Jason Zwick from ATF are in a relationship? Maybe? Whatever, it’s all awful but we make you laugh. Looking for more TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig. Now we're covering "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. Episode 1 is live now! We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!

Let us paint a picture:The weirdest bank robbery in history, a collar-bomb, a cane-gun, three dead men, and two homes so hoard-ey they required hazmat suits. Ladies and gentlemen, we give you “Evil Genius.”In 2003 in Erie, Pennsylvania, a robbery gone wrong and a terrifying public murder capture the nation's attention, and a bizarre collection of Midwestern hoarders, outcasts, and lawbreakers play cat-and-mouse with the FBI. Eventually, a middle-aged mastermind named Marjorie Diehl-Armstrong -- once a town beauty, now a woman grappling with mental illness -- is arrested. But 15 years later, this documentary proves there’s more to the conspiracy and murders than was ever thought. Looking for more TCO? Check out our bonus episodes on Patreon! We covered "Serial" episode-by-episode and capped the series off with an interview with Rabia Chaudry--Adnan's friend who brought his story to Sarah Koenig. Up next: our episode-by-episode coverage of "The Staircase." We also have extended outtakes for our episodes and two other full bonus episodes--ALL COMMERCIAL FREE! Join here!

There are no two ways about it, Harvey Milk looked great in a T-Shirt. Happy Pride, everyone! Let's talk about some gay stuff! (don't worry, this one is super true-crimey too.). In 1978, Harvey Milk became one of the first openly gay elected officials in the US when he won a seat on the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. 11 months later Milk and Mayor George Moscone were gunned down in their offices by Dan White, another of the city's Supervisors. This doc tells the story of Milk's rise to prominence and circumstances that led to the double assassination. This one is full of the gayest gays (Hey Girls!), The smartest lesbians (Hey Girls!), a FABULOUS pair of seashell earrings, and a union guy who, just trust us on this, gets a pass on calling Harvey Milk a "Fruit." Oh AND this case gives us "The Twinkie Defense," which is exactly as bullshit as it sounds. Looking for more TCO? We're on Patreon! And we're covering "Serial" episode-by-episode--we're currently up to episode 10 and it's bonkers. After "Serial," we're diving into "The Staircase" episode-by-episode. In addition, hear our two other full bonus episodes, extended outtakes from our episodes, and 8 mini-episodes (which are basically funny stories about everything from the time Patrick's kid went missing in the middle of the night to Gillian and Patrick's misadventures at CrimieCon). Check it all out here!

Happy Pride Month, Everyone! Now let's talk about a gay club kid who was super mean to people, became addicted to drugs, and murdered AND DISMEMBERED a fellow club-goer, shall we? Did I mention that he stuffed the body in a box LIVED WITH IT IN HIS APARTMENT FOR A WEEK, and then threw it into the Hudson River? No? Ugh, we'll get to it. Glory Daze follows the rise and fall of club kid Michael Alig. From his humble beginnings as busboy in 1984 to his eventual reign as King of New York City nightlife, to his (sweet deal of a) prison sentence for murder. And as if that wasn't enough, get ready for some bonkers cameos from Patricia Field, Michael Musto, and Amanda Lepore (In A Limo! For No Apparent Reason!) Looking for more TCO? We're on Patreon! And we're covering "Serial" episode-by-episode--we're currently up to episode 9 and it's bonkers. In addition, hear our two other full bonus episodes, extended outtakes from our episodes, and 8 mini-episodes (which are basically funny stories about everything from the time Patrick's kid went missing in the middle of the night to Gillian and Patrick's misadventures at CrimieCon). Check it all out here!

You Guys, I Swear to God this is what this movie is about….In 2004, John Wood had his left leg amputated after a single-engine plane crash that left him badly injured. He somehow convinced the doctors to let him keep the leg (!!!!!), he mummified it—yes MUMMIFIED IT—and eventually put it in a storage locker. In 2007 Shannon Whisnant unwittingly bought the leg when he purchased the contents of John’s storage locker after months of unpaid rent. Shannon—who should have been horrified—saw the leg as a money-making opportunity. He branded himself “The Leg Man” and tried to turn the leg into a tourist attraction. After learning what had become of his leg (HIS LEG, YOU GUYS), John decided to try to get it back. And the most ridiculous and disgusting custody battle the world has ever known was born.Looking for more TCO? We're on Patreon! And we're covering "Serial" episode-by-episode--we're currently up to episode 9 and it's bonkers. In addition, hear our two other full bonus episodes, extended outtakes from our episodes, and 8 mini-episodes (which are basically funny stories about everything from the time Patrick's kid went missing in the middle of the night to Gillian and Patrick's misadventures at CrimieCon). Check it all out here!

You guys, Gillian HATED this one, so, you know, buckle up this one is frikin' great. Meet the White family--the most notorious pill popping, gun slinging, bad-tattoo-giving-while-hammered-in-the-kitchen, clan in all of West Virginia. For one year, the hot dummies behind MTV's "Jackass" followed them around with cameras to see what would happen. And Guess What Happens???!!!......really nothing. But somehow it's awesome. Drugs are done, dances are tapped (which should be super gay and fabulous, but definitely isn't), kids are removed by child protective services (thank God), attempted murders are admitted to, people go to jail, and one pair of sisters have an EPIC EXPERIENCE at the Taco Bell drive thru. This one is not to be missed.ALSO! Check out our Patreon for our weekly bonus content! We're covering "Serial" episode-by-episode. We're currently up to Episode 7 and honestly we're pretty over Sarah Koenig and her self righteous nonsense. But in this episode, we meet Diedre Enright of The Innocence Project AND THERE'S FINALLY AN ADULT IN THE ROOM. Via our Patreon feed, you can also check out our weekly extended outtakes (the ones from this week are epic), as well as our other Full Bonus Episodes, and mini-episodes. Subscribe right now and immediately get like 22 new episodes in your Patreon podcast feed.

In June of 2003, college basketball star Patrick Dennehy vanished. For weeks leading up to the disappearance, Patrick had complained to friends, family, and teammates that he was in danger, but he was vague about the details. The FBI was called in to investigate and what they uncovered not only shocked Patrick's tight knight group of friends, but also threatened to upend the institution of college basketball at Baylor University by exposing the corruption at it's core.This one is bonkers, you guys.

Meet the dirtiest cop in New York City history. In the 1980s, Michael Dowd patrolled the mean streets of one of the toughest precincts in Brooklyn. He also headed a ruthless criminal network that stole money and drugs, ultimately resulting in the city's biggest ever corruption scandal. In this explosive true crime saga, Dowd tells all as he relives his days as a criminal with a badge. The story that unfolds is a riveting real-life thriller full of larger-than-life personalities, stunning double crosses, and epic downfalls. Also, Gillian explains Queens to us, we get all the Queenss-related accents and impersonations, and Patrick is just a Kueen. Don't forget to check out all of our Patreon bonus content! We're covering Serial episode-by-episode! Subscribe now and instantly get access to 7 full bonus episodes, 7 mini-episodes, and the extended outtakes from this episode and the previous 4! Click here for access!

In 2000, the novel “Sarah” was published. It was written by a homeless teenaged hustler named JT LeRoy. Nobody had ever met him—his only correspondence with press and publishers was over the phone or fax machine—and still he became the literary sensation of the time. He was dubbed a ‘wunderkind,’ an ‘it boy’ and ‘the literary voice of his generation.’ He became a best-selling author and sold the film rights to his books. The only thing was, he didn’t actually exist. On January 9, 2006 The New York Times sent shockwaves through the literary world when it unmasked JT LeRoy, whose tough prose about a sordid childhood had captivated icons and luminaries internationally. It turned out that he was the creative expression of 40-year-old San Francisco former phone-sex operator turned housewife, Laura Albert. Author: The JT LeRoy Story takes us down the infinitely fascinating rabbit hole of how Laura Albert--like a Cyrano de Bergerac on steroids--breathed not only words, but life, into her avatar for a decade. Albert's epic and entertaining account plunges us into a glittery world of rock shows, fashion events, and the Cannes red carpet where LeRoy becomes a mysterious sensation.Also, our best friend Courtney Love (call us, girl!) Is back in a big, cocaine-infused way. Oh, how we’ve missed her.You Guys! We're creating WEEKLY FULL BONUS EPISODES via our Patreon feed. We're currently covering "Serial" season 1 episode-by-episode. The firs 4 episode of "Serial" plus 2 full bonus episodes (covering "The Queen of Versailles" and "Madonna: Truth or Dare") are now available.NEXT WEEK'S EPISODE: The Seven Five. Check out the Trailer here!

In 2006, three Duke University lacrosse players were accused of rape. The men were presumed guilty by the much of school's student body, the faculty, and when the story became national news, the country. If convicted, the accused men faced decades of mandatory jail time without the possibility of parole. The District Attorney who was trying the case was determined to put them away at all cost and was willing to break the law to do it. But the men were innocent. The victim had lied. The question was, would the men be able to prove. It.In related-ish news. These lacrosse players had the filthiest bathroom on Earth. There is photographic evidence. And we go in on it. Because it’s disgusting.Have you heard? We're covering "Serial" episode-by-episode via our Patreon feed! Check it out! You'll also find hilarious extended outtakes from recent episodes, 2 other full bonus episodes, and 7 mini episodes! Join our Patreon community today and see what everyone is talking about!NEXT WEEK'S EPISODE: Author: The JT Leroy Story. Check out the trailer here

Kate Logan, an Evangelical missionary, was in The Dominican Republic on a break from her second year of film school when she stumbled upon Escuela Caribe, an American-operated, faith-based reform school that aims to "cure" teens of homosexuality and purge "ungodly" influences though "Christian milieu therapy." She set out to document the 'good work' the school was doing, but quickly realized that the kids she was documenting were in serious danger at the hands of their 'house fathers.' Kate then embarks on a year long journey of helping one of the students, David, escape.

There really aren't words to describe how much both Gillian and Patrick hated this film. H.A.T.E.D. Also, they both agree, this MIGHT be their best episode. These ladies are hilarious when they're furious. Whatever, Garbage Bert meets Linda. He's disgusting, she's gorgeous. He's also insane, she's basically normal. He's rich, she likes him for his money and they date. But then she finds out that he's married. She finds someone else and he hires two guys to THROW ACID IN HER FACE. She's scarred and blinded. He goes to jail. But after he gets out her GARBAGE FRIENDS decide TO SET THEM UP ON A DATE (Like, I can't) and after five months THEY GET ENGAGED. And then THEY GET MARRIED. Fine, whatever, they deserve each other. Did you hear? We're covering 'Serial' episode-by-episode via our Patreon feed! Our first episode is live now! Check it out and join our Patreon community here!

YOU GUYS!! Our new podcast, "My So-Called Podcast" is live! It's hilarious and fun--it's TCO for "My So-Called Life." HEAR OUR TRAILER HERE! And e'd love for you to check out our episodes! Find "My So-Called Podcasts wherever you get your podcasts!

We've been keeping a secret from you. We haven't liked it. But it's time for us to come out about the fact that WE'RE MAKING A PODCAST ABOUT MY SO CALLED LIFE! It's called "MY SO-CALLED PODCAST" and you're going to love it. Imagine the format of True Crime Obsessed, but for "My So-Called Life"--all the flannel, floppy hair, drama, under aged drinking, and JORDAN CATALANO! Listen to this teaser and then go wherever you get your podcasts to listen to the full promo! And subscribe! We love you, that's why we're asking you to, like, join us on this journey....or whatever.You can also stream the promo here!

As Gillian Says: "this is 'My Kid Could Paint That,' but with wine, meets 'The Queen of Versailles.' And I hated it." Rudy Kurniawan has charisma, pockets full of cash, and an uncanny memory for vintages. He earns the reputation of a wine savant by surrounding himself with some of high society’s most fervent wine connoisseurs. But when Bill Koch – a top US collector – and Laurent Ponsot – a Burgundian wine producer – discover suspicious bottles, a humorous and suspenseful investigation begins into one of the most ingenious cons of our time.Join our Patreon community to check out our 2 commercial-free full bonus episodes and our 7 mini episodes! And we're adding more content every week!

How not Awesome would it be if a group of weirdo Nazis tried to take over your town? That's exactly what happened to the 24 (yes twenty four) residents of Leith, North Dakota. As you might have guessed,the bad-ass residents of Leith were not having it and an all out war was waged to run the Nazis out of town. Maybe they shouldn't have been Nazis, you know?Join our Patreon community to find our monthly full bonus episodes and our weekly mini episodes! Later this week we'll be dropping full bonus episode number 2--"Madonna: Truth or Dare." We are on record that this might be the funniest episode we've ever made! You can join our Patreon Community here!

The hero bell and the garbage bell both got a workout with this one..."How To Survive A Plague" is a riveting, powerful telling of the story of the grassroots movement of activists, many of them in a life-or-death struggle, who seized upon scientific research to help develop the drugs that turned HIV from a mostly fatal infection to a manageable disease. Ignored by public officials, religious leaders, and the nation at large, and confronted with shame and hatred, this small group of men and women chose to fight for their right to live by educating themselves and demanding to become full partners in the race for effective treatments. Around the globe, 16 million people are alive today thanks to their efforts.Be sure to check out the hilarious bonus content we're creating via Patreon! We have a whole bunch of mini episodes--we upload at least one per week--and one FULL Bonus episode all about the bat shit doc "The Queen of Versailles." Our next FULL bonus episode will be out within the next few days and it's all about Madonna's "Truth or Dare." We promise April's full bonus episode will be slightly less gay.

It's a sports doc…but stick with us, you guys, it's also super murderey.When billionaire John Du Pont decides to build the United States' premiere wrestling training facility on his property in Pennsylvania, he attracts the sport's top athletes and coaches to come live and train there. As the athletes and their families begin to create an idyllic 'sports utopia,' Du Pont devolves into a state of constant paranoia. As his mental state deteriorates and goes unchecked, Du Pont becomes suspicious and distrustful of the athletes who've come to depend on him--a combination that results in a brutal and senseless murder.For even more TCO, find our weekly bonus mini episodes and our monthly Full Bonus Episodes on our Patreon page!

A decade after making the documentary film “Aileen Wuornos: The Selling of a Serial Killer” about serial killer Aileen Wuornos, director Nick Broomfield was subpoenaed as a witness for Aileen’s final appeal in overturning her death sentence. When he became a participant in Aileen’s legal fight, Broomfield decided made this new documentary which looks at Aileen's violent, tortured childhood in Troy, Michigan and her subsequent years on the road as a hitch-hiking prostitute which culminated in her committing seven murders in the span of one year. For the documentary, Aileen granted Broomfield exclusive interviews in order to share her side of the story—conspiracy theories and all—as she prepared to be executed. YOU GUYS! Our very first full bonus episode will be available via Patreon THIS WEEK! We're covering "The Queen of Versailles," a completely bonkers doc about a family of billionaires who begin construction on the biggest home in America just before the economy tanked in 2009. BTW, Gillian HATED this doc, which ALWAYS makes for the funniest episodes! Join our Patreon community here!

Kidnapping! Murder! Swindling Rich People! Fancy Art Shenanigans! This one has it all.Christian Gerhartsreiter, a man eventually known as "Clark Rockefelle," lived a life of deception; the FBI called it "the longest-running con in FBI history." After ingratiating himself into New York society and marrying a top banker with a Harvard MBA, "Clark" settled into his new luxurious life. The two had a daughter before they divorced after 13 years. When his wife won custody, a distraught Clark abducted his beloved daughter. Ironically, it was the search for the missing child that not only exposed a web of lies and multiple identities, but a double murder committed decades earlier . Check out our Patreon where you'll find mini bonus episodes (2 there now!), monthly bonus full episodes (first one coming this week!), exclusive videos (we're gonna watch Unsolved Mysteries and talk about it) and more! Join our Patreon Community!

On August 1, 1966, a sniper rode the elevator to the top floor of the iconic University of Texas Tower and opened fire, holding the campus hostage for 96 minutes in what was a previously unimaginable event. Based entirely on first person testimonies from witnesses, heroes, and survivors, TOWER combines archival footage with rotoscopic animation to tell the story of that day. The film highlights the fear, confusion, and visceral realities that changed the lives of those present, and the rest of us, forever - a day when the worst in one man brought out the best in so many others.For this one, you guys, the garbage bell is magically transformed into the hero bell. And there's a whole lot of dinging.

A four-year-old girl, whose paintings are compared to Kandinsky, Pollock, and even Picasso, has sold $300,000 dollars worth of paintings. Is she a genius of abstract expressionism, a tiny charlatan, or an exploited child whose parents have sold her out for the glare of the media and the lure of the almighty dollar? This one's a dozy, but hey, nobody gets murdered!Do you know someone who would love TCO? Tweet them and us (@truecrimeobsess) using #GetObsessed and let us playfully harass them until the check us out!This week's sponsor is Songfinch and Patrick is OBSESSED! This week's palate cleanser is the song Patrick had Songfinch write for Daisy's 4th birthday. If you love it, tweet them (@Sonfinch) and tell them that you heard it on TCO

BEWARE THE SLENDERMAN tells the story of the internet's elusive Boogeyman and two 12-year-old girls who would kill for him. Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier lured their best friend into the woods, stabbed her 19 times, then set out on an odyssey to meet the tall and faceless man known online as Slenderman. Shot over 18 months with heartbreaking access to the families of the would-be murderers, the film plunges deep down the rabbit hole of their crime, a Boogeyman. and our society's most impressionable consumers of media. The entrance to the internet can quickly lead us to its dark basement, within just a matter of clicks. How much do we hold children responsible for what they find there?Find all of our episodes at our website and follow us on twitter!

Strangeness is afoot. Most people don't notice the hundreds of cryptic tiled messages about resurrecting the dead that have been appearing in city streets over the past three decades. But Justin Duerr does. For years, finding an answer to this long-standing urban mystery has been his obsession. He has been collecting clues that the tiler has embedded in the streets of major cities across the U.S. and South America. But as Justin starts piecing together key events of the past he finds a story that is more surreal than he imagined, and one that hits disturbingly close to home.

In the 1960s, Gerald Foos bought a motel in Colorado, furnished the rooms with louvered vents that allowed him to spy on his guests, and kept a journal of their sexual encounters and more (including maybe a murder?). Over the course of 30 years, celebrated writer Gay Talese coxes Gerald’s story out of him and finally convinces Gerald to let him publish it. But when the story gets out, questions are raised and nothing is as it seems.

The world couldn't keep its eyes off two athletes at the 1994 Winter Games in Lillehammer - Nancy Kerrigan, the elegant brunette and Tonya Harding, the feisty blonde engulfed in scandal. Just weeks before the Olympics on January 6, 1994 at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships, Kerrigan was stunningly clubbed on the right knee by an unknown assailant and left wailing, "Why, why, why?" As the bizarre "why" mystery unraveled, it was revealed that Harding's ex-husband, Jeff Gillooly, had plotted the attack with his misfit friends to literally eliminate Kerrigan from the competition. Now two decades later, The Price of Gold takes a fresh look at the worldwide spectacle that elevated the popularity of professional figure skating and has Harding still facing questions over what she knew when she knew it.

Meet Joyce McKinney, a former Miss Wyoming with an IQ of 168. 30 years ago, she fell in love with a young Mormon named Kirk. When Kirk disappeared and then turned up a few months later in the UK, Joyce was convinced he’d been kidnapped and was being held against his well. Determined to get him back, Joyce set off on a journey that would lead her across the globe, into jail, and onto the front pages of the most popular tabloids of the time. Her crusade for love took her through a surreal world of kidnapping, manacled Mormons, risqué photography, magic underwear, and celestial sex. Oh AND to the 1977 after party for the film “Saturday Night Fever.”“Tabloid,” directed by the genius Errol Morris, is a portrayal of a phenomenally driven woman whose romantic obsessions and delusions catapult her over the edge into scandal, fame, and an unimaginable life.

It's not what you think. After stumbling upon a bizarre "competitive endurance tickling" video online, wherein young men are paid to be tied up and tickled, reporter David Farrier reaches out to request a story from the company. But the reply he receives is shocking-the sender mocks Farrier's sexual orientation and threatens extreme legal action should he dig any deeper. So, like any good journalist confronted by a bully, he does just the opposite: he travels to the hidden tickling facilities in Los Angeles and uncovers a vast empire, known for harassing and harming the lives of those who protest their involvement in these films. The more he investigates, the stranger it gets, discovering secret identities and criminal activity. Discovering the truth becomes Farrier's obsession, despite increasingly sinister threats and warnings. With humor and determination, Farrier and co-director Dylan Reeve summon up every resource available to get to the bottom of this tickling worm hole.

Who killed Marsha P. Johnson? When the beloved, self-described "street queen" of NY's gay ghetto was found floating in the Hudson River in 1992, the NYPD chalked it up as a suicide and refused to investigate. But Marsha was a lover of life and many who knew her refused to believe she would have taken her own life. Now, a quarter century later, at a time of unprecedented visibility and escalating violence in the transgender community, Marsha's old friend and fellow activist Victoria Cruz has taken it upon herself to reexamine what happened to Marsha. Dipping deep into jaw-dropping archival footage of another era of New York City life, The Death and Life of Marsha P. Johnson follows as this champion pursues leads, mobilizes officials, and works to tell the story of Marsha's life and get to the bottom of Marsha's death.

Our most requested episode to date, and it was a doozy! But don't worry, we found a way to laugh through our rage.In 2001, Dr. Andrew Bagby was shot dead by jealous ex-girlfriend Dr. Shirley Turner. Shortly thereafter, Bagby's friends and family were hocked to learn that Turner was pregnant with Bagby's son. Hoping to create a film that would serve as both a memorial to Bagby and an introduction to the father the boy would never know, Bagby's bwst friend Kuenne quickly began production on a film celebrating the life of his late friend. Meanwhile, upon learning that Turner had fled to Newfoundland, Bagby's devastated parents uprooted their entire lives and relocated to the easternmost providence of Canada in order to fight for the custody of their newborn grandson, Zachary. However, the Canadian government freed Turner on bail and she maintained custody of Zachary as she awaited extradition to the United States. The situation took a devastating turn during that crucial time and tragedy ensued.

In May 2003, 16-year-old Martha Puebla was shot in the head on the doorstep of her Los Angeles home, days after testifying in a gangland murder trial. Police arrested 24-year-old Juan Catalan at gunpoint, alleging that he’d carried out the hit for his gangster brother Mario. Not only did Catalan not commit the crime, but he had an alibi. At the time of Puebla’s cold-blooded killing, he was at Dodger Stadium with his six-year-old daughter. Frustratingly, though, Catalan’s lawyer couldn’t find clear enough TV footage to prove it. Catalan faced death row if found guilty at trial. Even worse, the prosecuting attorney was unbeaten in murder cases and nicknamed “Sniper” because she liked to pick off defendants with the death penalty. Then came the head-spinning twist. It just so happened that an episode of the HBO show “Curb Your Enthusiasm” was also being shot at the ballpark that night. Finding Juan in the episode was the last hope this innocent man’s life.

Thomas Montgomery, a 47-year-old, married factory worker was playing a game online when a beautiful 18-year-old teenager named Jessi, screen name talhotblond, texted him ‘hello.’ He was instantly hooked. In order to keep her attention, he lied and pretended to be a buff, brave 18 year old soldier, screen name marinesniper.The online romance was epic, but the fantasy blew up when the teenager found out who Montgomery really was. For revenge, she started up an online affair with one of Montgomery's co-workers, 22 year-old Brian Barrett. When Jessi pits the men against each other, the levels of desire and deceit escalate and mind games result in real-life murder. But even then, the story isn’t over and the truth about talhotblond’s is revealed.

In 1999, writer John Krakauer stopped at a gas station in Colorado City, AZ, a place he had never been. What he found was a town frozen in time, with women in long prairie dresses and hairstyles that rang of the 1800s. The curious sight led him on a journalistic investigation into a modern day 'prophet' named Warren Jeffs and the cult-like FLDS (Fundamentalist Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints). When the investigation of Warren Jeffs sends him on the run, he winds up in the number two spot on the FBI's 10 Most Wanted List. The number one spot being occupied by Osama Bin Laden. The manhunt for Jeffs uncovers his 'religion's most vile atrocities including the forced marriages of underage girls, rape, and polygamy. Fun, right? But fear not, we play a LOT of "The Book of Mormon" in this one.

On Sunday, July 26, 2009, Diane Schuler left the campgrounds in upstate New York where she was vacationing with her family and set off towards home on Long Island. With her were five young children: her son, her daughter, and three nieces. Four hours later, she drove the wrong way on the Taconic State Parkway for nearly two miles – eventually crashing into an oncoming SUV, killing herself and seven others. Nine days after her deadly crash, Diane’s toxicology report revealed she had a blood-alcohol content of .19% – the equivalent of ten drinks and more than twice the legal limit – as well as a high blood level of THC, the active ingredient in marijuana. In sharp contrast to the toxicology report, Schuler had no known history of substance abuse or psychological problems and was generally known as a loving and stable wife and mother. In the aftermath, Diane Schuler was portrayed as a reckless drunk and a mother who cracked. But was she the monster the public made her out to be? Or the perfect wife and mother described by so many who knew her?

Growing up on Staten Island, filmmakers Joshua Zeman and Barbara Brancaccio had often heard the legend of ‘Cropsey.’ For the kids in their neighborhood, Cropsey was the escaped mental patient who lived in the old abandoned Willowbrook Mental Institution, who would come out late at night and snatch children off the streets. Later as teenagers, the filmmakers assumed Cropsey was just an urban legend. That all changed in the summer of 1987 when a 12-year-old girl disappeared from their community. The police quickly connected this disappearance to several other children who'd gone missing in the area. The hunt for the abductor would lead authorities to the real-life boogeyman living in their midst.

When the curtain rose on the murder trial of Pamela Smart 23 years ago, the stage was set for the birth of reality TV. Accused of plotting the 1990 murder of her husband Gregory, 22-year-old Smart was subsequently convicted in the first fully televised, gavel-to-gavel court case, which has inspired TV shows, books, plays and feature films. This documentary takes another look at everything we think we know about the case. Is it possible that Pamela had nothing do to with the murder? That her teen aged lover killed her husband in a jealous rage without Pamela's knowledge? The evidence is shockingly compelling. Join us on this bonkers romp through one of the most thought provoking true crime documentaries we've ever seen.

An amateur documentary filmmaker named Thierry is on a mission to track down and film the elusive and anonymous street artist named Banksy. When Thierry finds him, Banksy turns the camera on the filmmaker and hilarity, mystery, shenanigans, and some pretty frikking impressive art ensue. BUT SERIOUSLY YOU GUYS, ARE WE BEING PUNKED? Is the whole thing an elaborate piece of performance art? Is it real? And WHO is Banksy? We have lots of thoughts and opinions. We're flipping tables and taking the bait. Join us!

A bunch of altruistic hot people join a cult in 1980s West Hollywood, what could possibly go wrong? Using footage shot by the cult's (known as The Buddahfield) in-house documentarian, we follow these lovable gorgeous weirdos as they slowly become disenchanted by their 'master' 'lord' 'leader' 'prophet' who claims to have a direct line to God. It all, inevitably, falls apart. Lives are ruined, faiths are shaken, and fruit salads are painstakingly made.

In the early morning hours of March 13, 1964, 28-year-old Kitty Genovese was murdered in front of her building in Kew Gardens, Queens. According to the New York Times story that followed, 38 people watched the murder happen and did nothing. 50 years later, her brother is on a mission to uncover the truth. Is it possible that nobody tried to help her? Did she really die scared and alone? Why was she attacked? Could she have been saved?Through his investigation her brother gets to know her in a way he never knew her in life. Also, you guys, this episode is VERY Queens-centric and Gillian, our resident Queen...s.... (former) resident is our guide. We learn about Diners and cigar clubs, and bars that open at 8 am. And get ready for the accents and to #BeAnEarWitness.

Johnny Gosch was 12-years-old when he disappeared while on his paper route on September 5, 1982. There were FIVE witnesses, but the local police (and eventually FBI) declared there was no crime. Over the years, Johnny's parents never gave up hope that they would find him. This documentary tells the tale of the world's most ferocious mother, Noreen Gosch (who gives GREAT documentary), a horrendously managed investigation, a weirdo who might know where Johnny is, a possible sex ring (and we cannot even with that), and maybe (MAYBE!) a return by Johnny himself. This one's a doozy, you guys!

Jesus Camp follows a group of children as they attend an evangelical Christian summer camp, where they are taught that they have "prophetic gifts" and can "take back America for Christ. The film claims that it "documents and does not judge." But Gillian and Patrick sure do! Get ready for some good old fashioned speaking in tongues, Jesus hip-hop, climate change denial, and a complete dismissal of science, some SUPER intense kiddos, and even a dance number or two! But leave your "Harry Potter" books at home, because...well...you'll see.

Amanda Knox was an 21 year old exchange student in rural Italy when she and her boyfriend were arrested for and convicted of killing her roommate, Meredith Kercher. It took nearly five years, almost all of which she spent behind bars, to clear her name. In this bonkers documentary from Netflix, Amanda herself takes us through the entire journey. We also hear from a human-garbage 'journalist,' A lead prosecutor who's tight with God, and a defense attorney who's zingers are the stuff of legend. This is part 1 of our 2-part series on this documentary.