On the night of April 21–22, 2016, something unimaginable unfolded in rural Pike County, Ohio. Across four separate homes in Sunfish Township near Piketon, eight members of the Rhoden family were found shot to death — some while they slept, in what investigators would later describe as a cold, calculated, execution-style massacre. Three young children, including two infants and a toddler, were miraculously left unharmed amid the carnage. 

The bodies of seven adults and a 16-year-old boy were discovered in three adjacent trailers; the eighth victim lay dead in a nearby camper. Local law enforcement quickly called in the Ohio Attorney General’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation, launching what would become one of the largest and most complex criminal investigations in the state’s history. 

As police pieced together the scenes, unsettling questions mounted. At some crime locations, investigators found large marijuana grow operations, sparking speculation about drug involvement. Officials publicly denied early claims of cartel involvement but remained tight-lipped on motive as the grim count rose. 

For years, the case went cold — a rural community gripped by fear, rumor, and unanswered questions. Then in November 2018, four members of the local Wagner family were arrested and charged with multiple counts of aggravated murder in connection with the killings. Prosecutors later presented evidence that the murders were tied to a custody dispute, as one of the victims had been involved with a member of the Wagner family. 

This episode unpacks the victims, the victims’ voices, and the web of motives, from the first 911 calls in the early morning light to the trial years later. We’ll trace how a sleepy corner of southern Ohio became the site of a shocking massacre, and how a patient investigation finally brought charges against those accused of shattering eight lives and reverberating grief through an entire community.

Sources

Associated Press. “Mother and Son Get Lengthy Sentences for Roles in Killings of 8 Family Members in Pike County.” WOSU Public Media, 3 Jan. 2025,

https://www.wosu.org/news/2025-01-03/mother-and-son-get-lengthy-sentences-for-roles-in-killings-of-8-family-members-in-pike-county?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

Ohio Attorney General’s Office. “Pike County Homicides: Family Arrested.” Ohio Attorney General, Nov. 2018,

https://www.ohioattorneygeneral.gov/Media/News-Releases/November-2018/Pike-County-Homicides-Family-Arrested?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

“Pike County Massacre: Timeline — A Full History of the Pike County Murders.” WCPO Cincinnati,

https://www.wcpo.com/news/pike-county-massacre/timeline-a-full-history-of-the-pike-county-murders?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

“Pike County Murder Trial: Opening Statements, Evidence & Testimony.” WCPO Cincinnati,

https://www.wcpo.com/news/pike-county-massacre/pike-county-murder-trial-opening-statements-start-first-trial-for-2016-massacre?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

Rodriguez, Ricardo. “Family of Four Charged in Pike County Murders.” WOSU Public Media / Associated Press, 13 Nov. 2018,

https://www.wosu.org/news/2018-11-13/family-of-four-charged-in-pike-county-murders?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

“Pike County Shootings.” Wikipedia,

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pike_County_shootings?utm_source=chatgpt.com.

East London. A quiet churchyard. A body mistaken for someone sleeping.

What begins in 2014 as a suspected overdose unravels into one of the most disturbing serial murder cases in modern British history.

In this episode, we follow the chilling timeline of Stephen Port, a seemingly ordinary man who used dating apps to lure young men back to his flat in Barking. Behind closed doors, he drugged them with lethal doses of GHB. Some were assaulted. All were left near the same churchyard wall by St Margaret’s Church.

Four young lives were taken:

• ​ Anthony Walgate
• ​ Gabriel Kovari
• ​ Daniel Whitworth
• ​ Jack Taylor

As the pattern sharpened, questions grew louder. Why were the deaths treated as overdoses? Why were families dismissed when they raised alarms? And how many warning signs were overlooked before the truth forced its way into the light?

From the first 999 call to the verdict at the Old Bailey, this episode explores not only the calculated cruelty of a serial predator, but the institutional failures that allowed him to continue.

This is a story about vulnerability, accountability, and the cost of missed connections in the digital age

The Grindr Killer: The Case of Stephen Port

This episode was researched using court records, inquest findings, and reporting from the following outlets:

• Trial proceedings from the Old Bailey (R v Stephen Port, 2016)

• Official statements from the Crown Prosecution Service

• Inquest findings and disciplinary outcomes reported by the Independent Office for Police Conduct

• Reporting by BBC News, including coverage of the 2016 trial and 2021 inquest

• Investigative reporting from The Guardian

• Court and sentencing coverage from Sky News and The Independent

Additional context drawn from victim impact statements and public inquest records related to the deaths of:

Anthony Walgate, Gabriel Kovari, Daniel Whitworth, and Jack Taylor.

In the 1970s, women across Texas, California, and Nevada disappeared after nights that began in bars and ended in silence.

At the center of it all was Carroll Edward Cole — a quiet, soft-spoken drifter who blended in easily. Born in 1938 in Sioux City, Iowa, Cole later described a childhood marked by instability, alleged abuse, and deep resentment toward his mother. Whether every claim was true or distorted through memory, what is certain is that his rage followed him into adulthood.

After serving in the U.S. Army and drifting between states, Cole began killing in the early 1970s. His victims were adult women, many of whom he met socially before strangling them. Authorities ultimately confirmed at least 16 murders, though Cole claimed more.

Sexual violence was confirmed in multiple cases.

Unlike many serial offenders, Cole did not deny his actions. When arrested in Las Vegas in 1980, he confessed. He waived appeals. He told authorities he would kill again if released. He asked for the death penalty.

On December 6, 1985, Carroll Edward Cole was executed in Nevada’s gas chamber.

This episode traces his life chronologically — from childhood instability to multi-state murders, to arrest, confession, trial, and execution — examining the psychology of a man who believed death was the only way to stop himself.

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Cited Sources

1. Newton, Michael. The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers. Checkmark Books, 2006.

2. Ramsland, Katherine. The Human Predator: A Historical Chronicle of Serial Murder and Forensic Investigation. Berkley Books, 2005.

3. “Carroll Edward Cole.” Murderpedia. Accessed 2026.

4. State of Nevada v. Carroll Edward Cole, Nevada Supreme Court records.

5. Nevada Department of Corrections – Execution Records (December 6, 1985).

6. Associated Press archives, 1980–1985 coverage of Cole’s arrest, confession, and execution.

In this episode of Three Voices One Crime, we delve into the chilling 1995 murder of Colleen Slemmer by 18-year-old Christa Pike, a case that stands as one of Tennessee’s most notorious crimes. Pike, alongside her boyfriend Tadaryl Shipp and friend Shadolla Peterson, lured Slemmer to a secluded area under the pretense of resolving tensions. Instead, Slemmer was subjected to a brutal 30-minute assault involving stabbing, beating, and the carving of a pentagram into her chest, culminating in her death by a chunk of asphalt. Pike’s subsequent behavior, including keeping a piece of Slemmer’s skull as a souvenir, shocked the nation.

We explore Pike’s troubled background, marked by abuse and mental health issues, and discuss the legal proceedings that led to her becoming the youngest woman sentenced to death in the U.S. since the reinstatement of capital punishment. The episode also examines the disparities in sentencing among the perpetrators and the ongoing debates surrounding Pike’s scheduled execution on September 30, 2026.

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Cited Sources:

1. Death Penalty Information Center. “Tennessee’s Execution of Christa Pike Would Make Her the First Woman to be Executed in the State in Over 200 Years.” October 6, 2025. 

2. Wikipedia contributors. “Christa Pike.” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Accessed February 9, 2026. 

3. People Magazine. “Tenn. Woman Set for Execution Decades After Luring Classmate to Her Death as Teen, Carving Pentagram on Victim.” October 3, 2025. 

4. WBIR. “Only woman on TN death row sues state over execution method, claiming it violates her rights and religious beliefs.” January 13, 2026. 

5. The Guardian. “The deadliest wait: five women on death row.” November 28, 2025. 

6. AP News. “Tennessee court sets execution date for the state’s only woman on death row and 3 male inmates.” October 1, 2025. 

7. KOMO News. “Woman murdered classmate, carved pentagram into chest, kept piece of skull as ‘souvenir’.” October 5, 2025. 

8. Volopedia. “Job Corps Student Murdered on Agriculture Campus.” Accessed February 9, 2026. 

9. U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit. “Pike v. Gross.” August 22, 2019. 

10. Hitched 2 Homicide. “Christa Pike. The Devil in the Details.” November 6, 2024. 

Southern California, late 1970s. The freeways were supposed to represent freedom… movement… escape. But for dozens of teenage boys, stepping into the wrong car meant they would never make it home.

As hitchhiking culture thrived and thousands traveled California’s highways each day, a predator blended seamlessly into the flow of traffic. He looked ordinary. Approachable. Safe.

He wasn’t.

Over the course of several terrifying years, bodies began appearing along remote roads, construction sites, and canyon edges. Many victims were never immediately identified. Some were barely teenagers.

Investigators quickly realized something chilling:

This was not random.

This was organized.

And the killer was growing more confident.

In this episode, we follow the full timeline of the man later known as The Freeway Killer, unpacking how he found his victims, why it took so long to stop him, and the disturbing network of accomplices who helped carry out the crimes.

But even more importantly, we tell the stories of the young lives taken far too soon.

Because they were never meant to become headlines.

They were meant to grow up.

Drive those same highways.

And make it home.

This is the story of the Freeway Murders.

Listener discretion is advised.

• Newton, Michael. The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers.

• Ramsland, Katherine. “William Bonin – The Freeway Killer.” Crime Library / TruTV archives.

• California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation offender records.

• Los Angeles Times historical archives (1979–1982 coverage).

• FBI Serial Killer Statistics & Behavioral Analysis resources.

On December 30, 2025, Columbus, Ohio, was shaken by the tragic deaths of Dr. Spencer Tepe and his wife, Monique Tepe, found shot in their home while their two young children remained unharmed. The investigation led to Monique’s ex-husband, Dr. Michael McKee, a vascular surgeon from Chicago, who was charged with their murders.

Court documents reveal a history of abuse and threats from McKee towards Monique, including statements that he could “kill her at any time” and that she would “always be his wife.” Surveillance footage placed McKee near the Tepe residence weeks before the murders, and his vehicle was tracked from Columbus to Rockford, Illinois, where he was arrested. A weapon linked to the killings was found in his home.

In this episode, we delve into the details of the case, exploring the events leading up to the murders, the investigation, and the broader implications regarding domestic violence and the justice system.

Sources:

• ABC7 Chicago: “Chicago surgeon threatened to kill ex-wife before fatally shooting her, her husband: court docs” 

• ABC News: “Ex-husband charged in Ohio couple’s double murder enters not guilty pleas” 

• WLWT: “Docs: Suspect threatened ex-wife, went to her home weeks before Ohio couple was killed” 

• Fox News: “WATCH: Surgeon accused of killing ex-wife and her dentist husband appears unfazed during jail booking” 

• ABC7 Chicago: “Ohio dentist and wife killed: Booking video released of Michael McKee, surgeon of Chicago charged in Spencer, Monique Tepe murders” 

The Dardeen Family Murders

Ina, Illinois is the kind of town where people sleep with their doors unlocked and expect to wake up the same way they went to bed.

In November 1987, that trust was shattered.

Inside a small home on Locust Street, police discovered one of the most disturbing crime scenes in modern Illinois history. Keith Dardeen, his wife Elaine, their two-year-old son Peter, and a newborn baby boy were all murdered inside their own home. The baby had been born just hours before the attack and never even given a name.

There were no signs of forced entry.

Nothing appeared stolen.

And no one in town reported hearing screams, gunshots, or a struggle.

The brutality of the crime stunned investigators, while the absence of clear evidence left them chasing theories for decades. Some believed the murders were the work of a serial killer passing through Southern Illinois. Others pointed to a local suspect who would later confess, then withdraw his statement, leaving behind more doubt than closure.

Despite national attention and years of investigation, the Dardeen family murders remain unsolved.

This episode walks through the family’s lives, the night everything went silent, the investigation that followed, and the theories that still refuse to disappear.

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📚 Sources Cited

• Illinois State Police – Public case summaries and historical investigative references

• The Southern Illinoisan – Original and retrospective local reporting on the Dardeen murders

• Associated Press (AP News) – Coverage of the crime and later suspect confessions

• Chicago Tribune – In-depth reporting and case retrospectives

• Unsolved Mysteries (NBC, 1989 episode) – National exposure and investigative commentary

• FBI ViCAP Program – Serial-offender pattern comparison references

• A&E / Cold Case Files – Background material on unsolved family homicide cases

• True-crime reference books and archives on unsolved Midwestern murders

The House on Cromwell Street

Behind the neat brick exterior of 25 Cromwell Street in Gloucester stood one of the most violent households in modern British history.

This episode traces the lives of Fred West and Rose West from their early childhoods through the slow construction of a marriage defined by control, sexual violence, and murder. Long before police ever dug beneath the floorboards, warning signs were everywhere: fractured families, early abuse, coercive relationships, and a home that functioned less like a residence and more like a closed system designed to isolate victims.

Told in strict chronological order, this episode follows Fred’s upbringing, Rose’s adolescence, and the way their lives collided in the late 1960s. As their relationship deepened, so did the violence. Children, lodgers, and young women passed through their lives one by one, each entering the Wests’ orbit at a specific moment when power, opportunity, and secrecy aligned.

Every victim is named and situated in time, with investigators’ findings presented exactly as they became known. Sexual violence is addressed factually and clearly where confirmed. When details are unknown or disputed, that uncertainty is stated directly.

This is not a story about a single crime scene. It is the story of a house, a marriage, and the years it took for buried truths to surface.

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📚 Sources & Research References

Books

• Howard Sounes, Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors

• John Bennett, The Cromwell Street Murders

• Carol Ann Lee, Fred & Rose West: The House of Horrors

Court Records & Official Documents

• Gloucestershire Constabulary case files and excavation reports (1994–1995)

• Crown Prosecution Service trial transcripts: R v Rose West (1995)

• Home Office summaries on the Cromwell Street investigation

Documentaries & Broadcast Journalism

• Fred and Rose West: A British Horror Story — BBC

• Fred & Rose West: The Real Story — Channel 5

• ITV News archival reporting on the Gloucester excavations and trial coverage

Newspapers & Long-Form Reporting

• The Guardian — contemporaneous reporting and post-trial analysis

• The Independent — investigative features on Cromwell Street

• BBC News — timeline reconstructions and court reporting

Academic & Expert Commentary

• British Journal of Criminology articles on coercive control and domestic serial offending

• Criminological analyses of partner-assisted homicide in the UK