How can a woman be in two places at once? For four years, Cari Farver was a ghost. To her mother, she was a series of cruel and erratic text messages. To her boyfriend, she was a voyeuristic nightmare watching from the shadows. To the police, she was a "runaway" whose digital footprint suggested she was alive and well.

But Cari Farver wasn't running. She had been erased.

In this week’s episode, Carrie and Mandy peel back the digital curtain on one of the most sophisticated identity thefts in criminal history. We dive into the brilliant life of Cari Farver, a powerhouse programmer whose own expertise was weaponized against her memory.

We journey through the staggering scale of a "Digital Mountain" where 1.2 million fragments of data—including 15,000 emails and 50,000 texts—were meticulously crafted to bury a murder under a mountain of code. We uncover the "Garage Secret," the agonizing reality of a car that sat for three long years in a family garage, holding the evidence of a "legal death" while a mother was systematically gaslit by her daughter's killer. You’ll hear how the investigation finally cracked the case using "Linguistic DNA," tracing a single, recurring one-letter spelling mistake that unmasked the monster hiding behind the screen. Finally, we look at the legacy of this tragedy through "Cari’s Law," a hard-fought legislative victory ensuring that in the eyes of the law, a text message can never again be used as a substitute for proof of life.

Join us as we discuss the relentless work of forensic investigator Tony Kava and the mother who refused to stop fighting for the truth.

Listen now to hear how a digital ghost was finally brought back to earth.

#CariFarver #TheDigitalGhost #TrueCrime #MonstrousPodcast #DigitalForensics #JusticeForCari

Is a "simple, taunting, circle" the signature of a cross-country serial killer cell, or is it just statistical noise?

This week on Monstrous, Carrie and MawMaw dive into the chilling and controversial Smiley Face Killers Theory.

Since 1997, hundreds of college-aged, athletic men have vanished from bars, only to be found weeks later in frigid rivers. While police often rule these as accidental "Last Mile" drownings, retired detectives and forensic experts point to a darker pattern: ligature marks, the presence of GHB, and the impossible physics of "fixed lividity."

We break down the cornerstone cases of Patrick McNeill, Dakota James, and Tommy Booth, and explore why the FBI remains skeptical. Is it a decentralized network of killers operating on the dark web, or a tragic combination of alcohol and the environment?

In this episode, we discuss:

• The forensic anomalies that "accidents" can't explain.

• The significance of the smiley face graffiti.

• The "Last Mile" problem and the "Hydrocution" response.

• Institutional barriers: Why police are incentivized to close these files.

Have a theory? Email us at monstroustcpod@gmail.com or find us on Facebook.

Listen now and remember: Watch for monsters... and don’t kill people.

In a small town nestled in Ohio, a series of poison pen letters unleashed chaos and fear that would linger for decades. The Circleville letters represent a dark chapter in American history, showcasing the lengths one individual would go to in order to destroy lives and reputations. This week we delve into the harrowing story behind this campaign of terror, the psychological motivations of the writer, and the tragic consequences that followed. The Circleville letters, a notorious case of anonymous harassment that spanned decades, targeting a community and leading to tragic outcomes. We explore the psychological profile of the perpetrator, the nature of the letters, the community's response, and the failures of the investigation that allowed the writer to remain anonymous. We also highlight the profound impact of the letters on the victims and the community, as well as the tragic consequences that ensued from the investigation's shortcomings. Carrie and MawMaw delve into the mysterious death of Ron Gillespie, the subsequent investigation, and the ongoing terror campaign represented by the Circleville letters. They explore the suspicious circumstances surrounding Gillespie's death, the failures of the sheriff's department, and the wrongful conviction of Paul Freshour. Lastly they highlight the political motivations behind the investigation, the mishandling of forensic evidence, and the chilling threats faced by Mary Gillespie. Ultimately, they raise questions about justice, accountability, and the enduring legacy of the Circleville letters.