Criminal Mischief

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The Murder Chronicles is now CRIMINAL MISCHIEF with Carolyn and Branden. From the creative team that brought you The Shadow Girls and The Devil Within, hosts Carolyn Ossorio and Branden Morgan team up to give you a double dose of true crime each and every week. First, Carolyn trains her investigative eye on the darkest corners of the human condition to bring you a weekly story that is terrifying and intriguing with the type of access that only a veteran journalist could achieve. Then Carolyn is joined by Branden for a weekly bonus episode to have a lively (and less professional…) discussion about the case. Criminal Mischief is sure to be your new true crime obsession. Go ahead… scratch the itch.

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Today · 26 min
E|200 House of Horrors
Criminal Mischief - House of Horrors Carolyn Ossorio investigates the developing case surrounding Philadelphia’s so-called “House of Horrors.” Authorities are investigating an Olney home in connection with at least seven missing women, as police and the FBI work through disturbing physical and digital evidence recovered during the investigation. With no remains yet confirmed at the property, Carolyn separates what investigators actually know from the speculation surrounding a case that is still unfolding. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 15 · 35 min
E|199 Taken - The Jaycee Dugard Story (Bonus)
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Jaycee Dugard: 18 Years Stolen Special Guest: Paul Holes On June 10, 1991, eleven-year-old Jaycee Dugard was walking toward her school bus stop near her home in Meyers, California, when a car approached. A man emerged, incapacitated her with a stun gun and pulled her into the vehicle. Jaycee's stepfather witnessed the abduction and gave chase, but within moments she was gone. For the next 18 years, Jaycee remained a captive of Phillip and Nancy Garrido, hidden largely in a concealed compound of sheds, tents and makeshift structures behind their Antioch, California, home. She endured years of abuse and gave birth to two daughters while still being held captive. All the while, the outside world continued searching for the little girl who seemed to have vanished without a trace. Then, in 2009, the case broke open in an almost unbelievable way. Garrido's increasingly bizarre behavior brought him to the attention of authorities, eventually leading investigators to question the identities of the young women and girls accompanying him. On August 26, 2009, Jaycee finally revealed who she was. Eighteen years after her kidnapping, Jaycee Dugard had been found alive. This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio revisits the extraordinary investigation into Jaycee's disappearance and recovery with special guest Paul Holes, the legendary cold-case investigator and forensic criminologist whose career has included work on some of California's most notorious crimes. Carolyn and Paul examine the case through an investigator's eyes: the initial abduction, the enormous search for Jaycee, the behavior of Phillip Garrido, and the disturbing opportunities authorities had to discover what was happening years before Jaycee was finally rescued. They explore how a registered sex offender under supervision managed to conceal a kidnapped child on his own property, what investigators can learn from the failures surrounding the case, and how seemingly insignificant observations can ultimately crack an investigation wide open. But this is also a story about something far more important than the people who abducted Jaycee. It is about survival. Jaycee Dugard emerged from eighteen years of captivity, reunited with her family and began the difficult process of reclaiming a life that had been interrupted when she was eleven years old. Her story remains one of the most extraordinary survival stories in modern American criminal history—and an enduring reminder that a missing-person case is never simply a file waiting to be closed. Listen & Follow: Follow Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode. Rate & Review: If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review. It remains one of the best ways to help other true-crime listeners discover the show. Watch & Subscribe: Watch Criminal Mischief on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications for new episodes, interviews and investigations. Join the Conversation: Have a case you think Carolyn should investigate? Send your stories and tips to info@eviocreative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 15 · 1 hr 11 min
E|199 Taken - The Jaycee Dugard Story
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF Jaycee Dugard: 18 Years Stolen Special Guest: Paul Holes On June 10, 1991, eleven-year-old Jaycee Dugard was walking toward her school bus stop near her home in Meyers, California, when a car approached. A man emerged, incapacitated her with a stun gun and pulled her into the vehicle. Jaycee's stepfather witnessed the abduction and gave chase, but within moments she was gone. For the next 18 years, Jaycee remained a captive of Phillip and Nancy Garrido, hidden largely in a concealed compound of sheds, tents and makeshift structures behind their Antioch, California, home. She endured years of abuse and gave birth to two daughters while still being held captive. All the while, the outside world continued searching for the little girl who seemed to have vanished without a trace. Then, in 2009, the case broke open in an almost unbelievable way. Garrido's increasingly bizarre behavior brought him to the attention of authorities, eventually leading investigators to question the identities of the young women and girls accompanying him. On August 26, 2009, Jaycee finally revealed who she was. Eighteen years after her kidnapping, Jaycee Dugard had been found alive. This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio revisits the extraordinary investigation into Jaycee's disappearance and recovery with special guest Paul Holes, the legendary cold-case investigator and forensic criminologist whose career has included work on some of California's most notorious crimes. Carolyn and Paul examine the case through an investigator's eyes: the initial abduction, the enormous search for Jaycee, the behavior of Phillip Garrido, and the disturbing opportunities authorities had to discover what was happening years before Jaycee was finally rescued. They explore how a registered sex offender under supervision managed to conceal a kidnapped child on his own property, what investigators can learn from the failures surrounding the case, and how seemingly insignificant observations can ultimately crack an investigation wide open. But this is also a story about something far more important than the people who abducted Jaycee. It is about survival. Jaycee Dugard emerged from eighteen years of captivity, reunited with her family and began the difficult process of reclaiming a life that had been interrupted when she was eleven years old. Her story remains one of the most extraordinary survival stories in modern American criminal history—and an enduring reminder that a missing-person case is never simply a file waiting to be closed. Listen & Follow: Follow Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an episode. Rate & Review: If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star rating and review. It remains one of the best ways to help other true-crime listeners discover the show. Watch & Subscribe: Watch Criminal Mischief on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications for new episodes, interviews and investigations. Join the Conversation: Have a case you think Carolyn should investigate? Send your stories and tips to info@eviocreative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 8 · 44 min
E|198 Bad Blood (Bonus)
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF BAD BLOOD: The Hatfields and the McCoys Long before true crime had podcasts, documentaries, or cable television, America had the Hatfields and the McCoys—two Appalachian families whose names became synonymous with hatred, revenge and the terrifying arithmetic of blood answering blood. This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio heads into the mountains along the West Virginia–Kentucky border to separate history from legend in perhaps the most famous family feud in American history. The story emerged from a region still carrying the scars of the Civil War, where divided loyalties, economic competition and family allegiance could turn an argument into something considerably more dangerous. The Hatfields, led by William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield, lived largely on the West Virginia side of the Tug Fork. Across the river in Kentucky were the McCoy's, including patriarch Randolph “Randall” McCoy. What followed has been reduced over the years to a wonderfully American caricature: two groups of angry hillbillies shooting at one another over a stolen pig. The truth was considerably darker. Carolyn follows the feud through disputed property and timber, the infamous hog trial, forbidden romance, political and economic tensions, murder and retaliation. She examines the 1882 killing of Ellison Hatfield, the brutal execution of three McCoy brothers in retaliation, and the escalation that ultimately transformed a local vendetta into a national sensation. At the center of the story is also one of its strangest tragedies: Roseanna McCoy and Johnse Hatfield, two young people who crossed the family divide and discovered that romance isn't particularly easy when practically everyone at Thanksgiving is armed. Then came the New Year's Night Massacre of 1888, when members of the Hatfield faction attacked the McCoy home, setting it ablaze and killing two of Randall McCoy's children. By then, the feud had moved far beyond family grievance. Governors became involved, posses crossed state lines, courts wrestled with extradition, and the dispute eventually reached the United States Supreme Court. But Bad Blood isn't simply about who killed whom. It's about how violence becomes inheritance. Carolyn digs beneath more than a century of exaggeration to examine how the Hatfield–McCoy feud became American folklore, and why the names of two families from Appalachia still describe any conflict so bitter that the original grievance almost stops mattering. Because eventually there comes a point when nobody is fighting over a pig, a piece of timber or something somebody said years ago. They're fighting because the other family is the other family. And once blood becomes the debt, somebody always believes there's another payment due. LISTEN • FOLLOW • WATCH Follow Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts and leave us a 5-star rating and review to help more true-crime listeners discover the show. Watch and subscribe on the Evio Creative YouTube channel, turn on notifications, and join Carolyn each week as she digs beyond the familiar headlines and into the people, evidence and history behind the crime. This week on Criminal Mischief: BAD BLOOD — The Hatfields and the McCoys. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 8 · 33 min
E|198 Bad Blood
CRIMINAL MISCHIEFBAD BLOOD: The Hatfields and the McCoys Long before true crime had podcasts, documentaries, or cable television, America had the Hatfields and the McCoys—two Appalachian families whose names became synonymous with hatred, revenge and the terrifying arithmetic of blood answering blood. This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio heads into the mountains along the West Virginia–Kentucky border to separate history from legend in perhaps the most famous family feud in American history. The story emerged from a region still carrying the scars of the Civil War, where divided loyalties, economic competition and family allegiance could turn an argument into something considerably more dangerous. The Hatfields, led by William Anderson “Devil Anse” Hatfield, lived largely on the West Virginia side of the Tug Fork. Across the river in Kentucky were the McCoys, including patriarch Randolph “Randall” McCoy. What followed has been reduced over the years to a wonderfully American caricature: two groups of angry hillbillies shooting at one another over a stolen pig. The truth was considerably darker. Carolyn follows the feud through disputed property and timber, the infamous hog trial, forbidden romance, political and economic tensions, murder and retaliation. She examines the 1882 killing of Ellison Hatfield, the brutal execution of three McCoy brothers in retaliation, and the escalation that ultimately transformed a local vendetta into a national sensation. At the center of the story is also one of its strangest tragedies: Roseanna McCoy and Johnse Hatfield, two young people who crossed the family divide and discovered that romance isn't particularly easy when practically everyone at Thanksgiving is armed. Then came the New Year's Night Massacre of 1888, when members of the Hatfield faction attacked the McCoy home, setting it ablaze and killing two of Randall McCoy's children. By then, the feud had moved far beyond family grievance. Governors became involved, posses crossed state lines, courts wrestled with extradition, and the dispute eventually reached the United States Supreme Court. But Bad Blood isn't simply about who killed whom. It's about how violence becomes inheritance. Carolyn digs beneath more than a century of exaggeration to examine how the Hatfield–McCoy feud became American folklore, and why the names of two families from Appalachia still describe any conflict so bitter that the original grievance almost stops mattering. Because eventually there comes a point when nobody is fighting over a pig, a piece of timber or something somebody said years ago. They're fighting because the other family is the other family. And once blood becomes the debt, somebody always believes there's another payment due. Follow Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts and leave us a 5-star rating and review to help more true-crime listeners discover the show. Watch and subscribe on the Evio Creative YouTube channel, turn on notifications, and join Carolyn each week as she digs beyond the familiar headlines and into the people, evidence and history behind the crime. This week on Criminal Mischief: BAD BLOOD — The Hatfields and the McCoys. LISTEN • FOLLOW • WATCH Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 1 · 47 min
E|197 What Happened to Dee Warner? (Bonus)
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF What Happened to Dee Warner? On April 25, 2021, Dee Warner vanished from her home in Lenawee County, Michigan. The 52-year-old mother of five seemingly disappeared without a trace following an argument with her husband, Dale Warner. Her phone went silent. Her family couldn't reach her. And as the hours became days and the days became months, one question began to consume everyone who loved her: Where was Dee? In this episode of Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio chronicles the disappearance of Dee Warner and the investigation that would eventually transform a missing-person case into a murder prosecution. Using interview clips, investigative audio and courtroom recordings, Carolyn reconstructs the increasingly tense search for Dee as family members pushed for answers and investigators began focusing their attention closer to home. Suspicion increasingly surrounded Dee's husband, Dale, and the circumstances of the couple's relationship and Dee's final hours became critical pieces of the investigation. But for years, one essential piece of the case remained missing. Dee herself. Then, more than three years after she disappeared, investigators searching the Warner property made the discovery Dee's family had feared from the beginning: human remains concealed inside a sealed tank. The remains were subsequently identified as Dee's, finally answering the question of where she had been while opening an entirely new chapter in the pursuit of justice. This is a story about a disappearance, a family unwilling to stop searching, an investigation that stretched across years, and the mounting suspicion surrounding the man who was supposed to know Dee better than anyone. Carolyn takes us inside the interviews, the evidence and the courtroom as the case against Dale Warner unfolds and the horrifying truth about what happened to Dee finally emerges. IN THIS EPISODE The disappearance of Dee Warner • Her final hours at the Warner property • The growing suspicions surrounding Dale Warner • The family's fight to keep Dee's case alive • Investigators' search for physical evidence • Interview and courtroom recordings from the case • The discovery of Dee's remains • The murder case that followed Listen & Follow: Follow Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an investigation. Rate & Review: If you're enjoying the show, please leave a five-star rating and review. It helps Criminal Mischief reach more true-crime listeners. Watch & Subscribe: Watch Criminal Mischief and more original programming on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications for new episodes and clips. Have a story or case you think Carolyn should investigate? Send tips and suggestions to info@eviocreative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
September 1 · 48 min
E|197 What Happened To Dee Warner?
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF What Happened to Dee Warner? On April 25, 2021, Dee Warner vanished from her home in Lenawee County, Michigan. The 52-year-old mother of five seemingly disappeared without a trace following an argument with her husband, Dale Warner. Her phone went silent. Her family couldn't reach her. And as the hours became days and the days became months, one question began to consume everyone who loved her: Where was Dee? In this episode of Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio chronicles the disappearance of Dee Warner and the investigation that would eventually transform a missing-person case into a murder prosecution. Using interview clips, investigative audio and courtroom recordings, Carolyn reconstructs the increasingly tense search for Dee as family members pushed for answers and investigators began focusing their attention closer to home. Suspicion increasingly surrounded Dee's husband, Dale, and the circumstances of the couple's relationship and Dee's final hours became critical pieces of the investigation. But for years, one essential piece of the case remained missing. Dee herself. Then, more than three years after she disappeared, investigators searching the Warner property made the discovery Dee's family had feared from the beginning: human remains concealed inside a sealed tank. The remains were subsequently identified as Dee's, finally answering the question of where she had been while opening an entirely new chapter in the pursuit of justice. This is a story about a disappearance, a family unwilling to stop searching, an investigation that stretched across years, and the mounting suspicion surrounding the man who was supposed to know Dee better than anyone. Carolyn takes us inside the interviews, the evidence and the courtroom as the case against Dale Warner unfolds and the horrifying truth about what happened to Dee finally emerges. IN THIS EPISODE The disappearance of Dee Warner • Her final hours at the Warner property • The growing suspicions surrounding Dale Warner • The family's fight to keep Dee's case alive • Investigators' search for physical evidence • Interview and courtroom recordings from the case • The discovery of Dee's remains • The murder case that followed Listen & Follow: Follow Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss an investigation. Rate & Review: If you're enjoying the show, please leave a five-star rating and review. It helps Criminal Mischief reach more true-crime listeners. Watch & Subscribe: Watch Criminal Mischief and more original programming on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications for new episodes and clips. Have a story or case you think Carolyn should investigate? Send tips and suggestions to info@eviocreative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 25 · 34 min
E|196 A Scandal In Bohemia (Bonus)
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF A Scandal in Bohemia A Dramatic Reading by Carolyn Ossorio This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio trades police reports, crime scenes and courtroom testimony for gaslit streets, royal secrets and the fog-shrouded world of 221B Baker Street. Settle in for a special dramatic reading of “A Scandal in Bohemia,” Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes story and the unforgettable introduction of Irene Adler. When a mysterious masked visitor arrives at Baker Street, Sherlock Holmes finds himself drawn into an exceedingly delicate problem. A powerful European king is preparing to marry, but somewhere in London exists a photograph capable of destroying the match—and perhaps considerably more. The photograph belongs to Irene Adler, an American opera singer and former lover who has absolutely no intention of surrendering it. Holmes accepts the challenge with his customary confidence. There will be surveillance, disguises, deception and an elaborate trap designed to reveal exactly where Adler has hidden the evidence. There is only one problem. Irene Adler is playing the game, too. First published in 1891, “A Scandal in Bohemia” endures because Doyle does something remarkable with the Sherlock Holmes formula: he gives the world's most famous detective an adversary capable of seeing the board every bit as clearly as he does. This isn't a tale of grisly murder or elaborate violence. Its weapons are intelligence, observation, manipulation and the dangerous assumption that you've already figured out the person standing across from you. And for Holmes, Irene Adler will forever become simply: “The Woman.” Turn down the lights and join Carolyn for a journey into Victorian London and one of the most celebrated adventures in the Sherlock Holmes canon. 🎧 LISTEN & FOLLOW Listen to Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts and hit Follow so you never miss a new investigation, interview or special episode. ⭐ RATE & REVIEW Enjoying the show? Leave Criminal Mischief a 5-star rating and review. It takes less than a minute and makes an enormous difference in helping new listeners discover the show. 📺 WATCH & SUBSCRIBE Watch episodes, clips and original content from Criminal Mischief and the entire Evio Creative network on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you know when something new drops. 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Have a case Carolyn should investigate, a story she should read, or something strange you think deserves a closer look? Join the conversation across the Evio Creative social channels. 📧 STORIES, TIPS & CASE SUGGESTIONS Send listener stories, case suggestions, tips and feedback to info@eviocreative.com. Criminal Mischief is an Evio Creative production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 25 · 1 hr 4 min
E|186 A Scandal In Bohemia
CRIMINAL MISCHIEF A Scandal in Bohemia A Dramatic Reading by Carolyn Ossorio This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio trades police reports, crime scenes and courtroom testimony for gaslit streets, royal secrets and the fog-shrouded world of 221B Baker Street. Settle in for a special dramatic reading of “A Scandal in Bohemia,” Arthur Conan Doyle’s classic Sherlock Holmes story and the unforgettable introduction of Irene Adler. When a mysterious masked visitor arrives at Baker Street, Sherlock Holmes finds himself drawn into an exceedingly delicate problem. A powerful European king is preparing to marry, but somewhere in London exists a photograph capable of destroying the match—and perhaps considerably more. The photograph belongs to Irene Adler, an American opera singer and former lover who has absolutely no intention of surrendering it. Holmes accepts the challenge with his customary confidence. There will be surveillance, disguises, deception and an elaborate trap designed to reveal exactly where Adler has hidden the evidence. There is only one problem. Irene Adler is playing the game, too. First published in 1891, “A Scandal in Bohemia” endures because Doyle does something remarkable with the Sherlock Holmes formula: he gives the world's most famous detective an adversary capable of seeing the board every bit as clearly as he does. This isn't a tale of grisly murder or elaborate violence. Its weapons are intelligence, observation, manipulation and the dangerous assumption that you've already figured out the person standing across from you. And for Holmes, Irene Adler will forever become simply: “The Woman.” Turn down the lights and join Carolyn for a journey into Victorian London and one of the most celebrated adventures in the Sherlock Holmes canon. 🎧 LISTEN & FOLLOW Listen to Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts and hit Follow so you never miss a new investigation, interview or special episode. ⭐ RATE & REVIEW Enjoying the show? Leave Criminal Mischief a 5-star rating and review. It takes less than a minute and makes an enormous difference in helping new listeners discover the show. 📺 WATCH & SUBSCRIBE Watch episodes, clips and original content from Criminal Mischief and the entire Evio Creative network on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you know when something new drops. 💬 JOIN THE CONVERSATION Have a case Carolyn should investigate, a story she should read, or something strange you think deserves a closer look? Join the conversation across the Evio Creative social channels. 📧 STORIES, TIPS & CASE SUGGESTIONS Send listener stories, case suggestions, tips and feedback to info@eviocreative.com. Criminal Mischief is an Evio Creative production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 18 · 29 min
E|195 A Conversation With Dr. Eric Hickey (Bonus)
Inside the Criminal Mind: Dr. Eric Hickey What creates a serial killer? Why do some offenders escalate from fantasy to violence while millions of people with dark thoughts never cross that line? And after decades of studying the most dangerous criminals in America, can we actually identify the warning signs before somebody kills? This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio sits down with renowned criminal psychologist and criminologist Dr. Eric Hickey for a deep conversation about the psychology of murder, serial offenders, predatory violence and the uncomfortable realities behind the people responsible for some of society's most disturbing crimes. Dr. Hickey has spent decades studying serial murderers and their victims, interviewing offenders and examining the psychological, behavioral and environmental forces that can contribute to extreme violence. His research has challenged many of the convenient assumptions popular culture has built around serial killers—including the idea that there is a single psychological profile capable of explaining who becomes a predator and why. Carolyn and Dr. Hickey explore the complicated intersection of nature and nurture, childhood trauma, fantasy, sexual motivation, power and control, and the process through which violent behavior can escalate. They also examine the differences between psychopathy and other forms of personality pathology, why manipulation can be such an effective weapon for predatory offenders, and what investigators can—and cannot—learn from criminal profiling. The conversation also tackles the mythology surrounding serial killers themselves. Movies, television and true crime have helped create an image of the serial murderer as a calculating criminal mastermind operating several moves ahead of everyone around him. Reality is considerably messier. Dr. Hickey explains what decades of research tell us about intelligence, compulsion, opportunity and the mistakes offenders make when fantasy collides with the real world. And perhaps most importantly, Carolyn turns the discussion toward the victims. Behind every psychological profile and behavioral theory are real people whose lives were taken, families permanently altered and communities left searching for explanations that may never feel sufficient. It's an unusually candid conversation about evil, psychology and the limits of our ability to understand the people capable of extraordinary violence. This week on Criminal Mischief. 🎧 LISTEN & FOLLOW Listen to Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts and hit Follow so every new investigation and interview lands automatically in your feed. ⭐ RATE & REVIEW If you're enjoying Carolyn's investigations, leave Criminal Mischief a 5-star rating and review. It takes less than a minute and remains one of the most effective ways to help new listeners discover the show. 📺 WATCH & SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE Watch Criminal Mischief and more original programming from across the network on the Evio Creative YouTube Channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss new interviews, investigations and episodes. 📧 HAVE A CASE WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE? If there's a case, investigation or criminal-justice story you think Carolyn should examine, send your tips, suggestions and listener feedback to mailto:info@eviocreative.com. The evidence tells a story. Carolyn follows where it leads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 18 · 1 hr 29 min
E|195 An Interview With Dr. Eric Hickey
Inside the Criminal Mind: Dr. Eric Hickey What creates a serial killer? Why do some offenders escalate from fantasy to violence while millions of people with dark thoughts never cross that line? And after decades of studying the most dangerous criminals in America, can we actually identify the warning signs before somebody kills? This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio sits down with renowned criminal psychologist and criminologist Dr. Eric Hickey for a deep conversation about the psychology of murder, serial offenders, predatory violence and the uncomfortable realities behind the people responsible for some of society's most disturbing crimes. Dr. Hickey has spent decades studying serial murderers and their victims, interviewing offenders and examining the psychological, behavioral and environmental forces that can contribute to extreme violence. His research has challenged many of the convenient assumptions popular culture has built around serial killers—including the idea that there is a single psychological profile capable of explaining who becomes a predator and why. Carolyn and Dr. Hickey explore the complicated intersection of nature and nurture, childhood trauma, fantasy, sexual motivation, power and control, and the process through which violent behavior can escalate. They also examine the differences between psychopathy and other forms of personality pathology, why manipulation can be such an effective weapon for predatory offenders, and what investigators can—and cannot—learn from criminal profiling. The conversation also tackles the mythology surrounding serial killers themselves. Movies, television and true crime have helped create an image of the serial murderer as a calculating criminal mastermind operating several moves ahead of everyone around him. Reality is considerably messier. Dr. Hickey explains what decades of research tell us about intelligence, compulsion, opportunity and the mistakes offenders make when fantasy collides with the real world. And perhaps most importantly, Carolyn turns the discussion toward the victims. Behind every psychological profile and behavioral theory are real people whose lives were taken, families permanently altered and communities left searching for explanations that may never feel sufficient. It's an unusually candid conversation about evil, psychology and the limits of our ability to understand the people capable of extraordinary violence. This week on Criminal Mischief. 🎧 LISTEN & FOLLOW Listen to Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts and hit Follow so every new investigation and interview lands automatically in your feed. ⭐ RATE & REVIEW If you're enjoying Carolyn's investigations, leave Criminal Mischief a 5-star rating and review. It takes less than a minute and remains one of the most effective ways to help new listeners discover the show. 📺 WATCH & SUBSCRIBE ON YOUTUBE Watch Criminal Mischief and more original programming from across the network on the Evio Creative YouTube Channel. Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don't miss new interviews, investigations and episodes. 📧 HAVE A CASE WE SHOULD INVESTIGATE? If there's a case, investigation or criminal-justice story you think Carolyn should examine, send your tips, suggestions and listener feedback to mailto:info@eviocreative.com. The evidence tells a story. Carolyn follows where it leads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 4 · 37 min
E|194 Espionage (Bonus)
When a Fortune 500 Company Became the Harasser Criminal Mischief – eBay's Campaign of Intimidation What happens when one of the world's largest technology companies decides it doesn't like what a journalist is writing? For one Massachusetts couple, the answer was months of harassment, surveillance, intimidation, and psychological warfare. This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio investigates one of the strangest corporate crime stories in recent American history: the federal criminal case against eBay and the extraordinary campaign carried out against the publishers of the online newsletter EcommerceBytes. When Ina and David Steiner published articles critical of eBay's leadership and business practices, company executives didn't simply issue a statement or dispute the reporting. Instead, members of eBay's own Global Security team launched an astonishing harassment campaign designed to terrorize the couple into silence. Anonymous threats. Late-night deliveries. Disturbing packages. Constant surveillance. Online intimidation. And plans that investigators would later describe as escalating far beyond anything anyone expected from a publicly traded corporation. Using courtroom recordings, police interviews, FBI evidence, witness testimony, and the defendants' own admissions, Carolyn reconstructs the conspiracy from its inception through the federal investigation, guilty pleas, and sentencing of those involved. Along the way, she explores the corporate culture that allowed the campaign to flourish, the executives who authorized it, and the legal questions that continue to surround one of Silicon Valley's most shocking scandals. At its heart, this isn't simply a story about corporate misconduct. It's about the freedom of the press, the abuse of power, and what can happen when criticism becomes something an organization believes must be eliminated instead of answered. Because sometimes the most dangerous criminals don't wear masks. They wear employee badges. 🎧 Listen & Follow Listen to Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts, and be sure to follow so you never miss an investigation. ⭐ Rate & Review If you're enjoying Criminal Mischief, please leave a 5-star rating and review. It helps more listeners discover the show and supports independent investigative journalism. 📺 Watch on YouTube Watch full episodes, exclusive interviews, and companion content on the Evio Creative YouTube Channel. 📱 Join the Conversation Follow us on social media and join the discussion. Share your thoughts, suggest future investigations, and connect with other listeners who love digging beneath the headlines. 📧 Have a Story? Know of a case that deserves another look? Email us anytime at info@eviocreative.com. Your tip could become the focus of a future investigation. 🕵️ New Episodes Every Week Real crimes. Real investigations. Real consequences. Every week on Criminal Mischief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
August 4 · 37 min
E|194 Espionage
When a Fortune 500 Company Became the HarasserCriminal Mischief – eBay's Campaign of Intimidation What happens when one of the world's largest technology companies decides it doesn't like what a journalist is writing? For one Massachusetts couple, the answer was months of harassment, surveillance, intimidation, and psychological warfare. This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio investigates one of the strangest corporate crime stories in recent American history: the federal criminal case against eBay and the extraordinary campaign carried out against the publishers of the online newsletter EcommerceBytes. When Ina and David Steiner published articles critical of eBay's leadership and business practices, company executives didn't simply issue a statement or dispute the reporting. Instead, members of eBay's own Global Security team launched an astonishing harassment campaign designed to terrorize the couple into silence. Anonymous threats. Late-night deliveries. Disturbing packages. Constant surveillance. Online intimidation. And plans that investigators would later describe as escalating far beyond anything anyone expected from a publicly traded corporation. Using courtroom recordings, police interviews, FBI evidence, witness testimony, and the defendants' own admissions, Carolyn reconstructs the conspiracy from its inception through the federal investigation, guilty pleas, and sentencing of those involved. Along the way, she explores the corporate culture that allowed the campaign to flourish, the executives who authorized it, and the legal questions that continue to surround one of Silicon Valley's most shocking scandals. At its heart, this isn't simply a story about corporate misconduct. It's about the freedom of the press, the abuse of power, and what can happen when criticism becomes something an organization believes must be eliminated instead of answered. Because sometimes the most dangerous criminals don't wear masks. They wear employee badges. 🎧 Listen & Follow Listen to Criminal Mischief wherever you get your podcasts, and be sure to follow so you never miss an investigation. ⭐ Rate & Review If you're enjoying Criminal Mischief, please leave a 5-star rating and review. It helps more listeners discover the show and supports independent investigative journalism. 📺 Watch on YouTube Watch full episodes, exclusive interviews, and companion content on the Evio Creative YouTube Channel. 📱 Join the Conversation Follow us on social media and join the discussion. Share your thoughts, suggest future investigations, and connect with other listeners who love digging beneath the headlines. 📧 Have a Story? Know of a case that deserves another look? Email us anytime at info@eviocreative.com. Your tip could become the focus of a future investigation. 🕵️ New Episodes Every Week Real crimes. Real investigations. Real consequences. Every week on Criminal Mischief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 28 · 31 min
E|192 The Pike County Massacre: Part Three (Bonus)
Criminal Mischief Episode 3: The Pike County Massacre — Judgment Day After nearly a decade of investigation, courtroom battles, and shocking family betrayals, the Pike County Massacre finally reaches its conclusion. In the final chapter of Carolyn Ossorio's exhaustive investigation into one of the most disturbing family murder conspiracies in American history, the Wagners begin turning on one another. Plea agreements are negotiated behind closed doors. Testimony once thought impossible becomes the prosecution's most devastating weapon. Parents testify against children. Sons testify against mothers. The carefully constructed image of an ordinary Ohio farming family collapses under the weight of its own lies. Carolyn follows every major development—from the strategic deals that unraveled the Wagner family's defense, through the emotional courtroom testimony that revealed how eight members of the Rhoden family were systematically hunted and executed, to the convictions and sentences that finally brought a measure of justice to Pike County. But this episode isn't simply about guilty verdicts. It's about obsession disguised as love, control masquerading as family loyalty, and the devastating consequences of a belief that one family had the right to decide another family's future. Carolyn also explores the lingering questions that remain, the emotional scars carried by the survivors, and why the Pike County Massacre continues to haunt investigators, prosecutors, and the community that lived through one of the largest homicide investigations in Ohio history. After weeks of exclusive interviews, meticulous reporting, and thousands of pages of court records, Criminal Mischief concludes its definitive examination of the Pike County Massacre. Justice may have finally arrived—but some wounds never truly heal. New episodes of Criminal Mischief are available wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow the show so you never miss an investigation, and watch exclusive content on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 28 · 43 min
The Pike County Massacre - Part Three
Criminal MischiefEpisode 3: The Pike County Massacre — Judgment Day After nearly a decade of investigation, courtroom battles, and shocking family betrayals, the Pike County Massacre finally reaches its conclusion. In the final chapter of Carolyn Ossorio's exhaustive investigation into one of the most disturbing family murder conspiracies in American history, the Wagners begin turning on one another. Plea agreements are negotiated behind closed doors. Testimony once thought impossible becomes the prosecution's most devastating weapon. Parents testify against children. Sons testify against mothers. The carefully constructed image of an ordinary Ohio farming family collapses under the weight of its own lies. Carolyn follows every major development—from the strategic deals that unraveled the Wagner family's defense, through the emotional courtroom testimony that revealed how eight members of the Rhoden family were systematically hunted and executed, to the convictions and sentences that finally brought a measure of justice to Pike County. But this episode isn't simply about guilty verdicts. It's about obsession disguised as love, control masquerading as family loyalty, and the devastating consequences of a belief that one family had the right to decide another family's future. Carolyn also explores the lingering questions that remain, the emotional scars carried by the survivors, and why the Pike County Massacre continues to haunt investigators, prosecutors, and the community that lived through one of the largest homicide investigations in Ohio history. After weeks of exclusive interviews, meticulous reporting, and thousands of pages of court records, Criminal Mischief concludes its definitive examination of the Pike County Massacre. Justice may have finally arrived—but some wounds never truly heal. New episodes of Criminal Mischief are available wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow the show so you never miss an investigation, and watch exclusive content on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 21 · 26 min
E|191 The Pike County Massacre - Part Two (Bonus)
Criminal Mischief The Pike County Massacre – Episode Two: The House of Wagner For more than two years, investigators searched for the people responsible for one of the most shocking mass murders in modern American history. The evidence was painstakingly collected, hundreds of interviews were conducted, and countless theories—from drug cartels to family feuds—were examined. Yet as detectives slowly assembled the pieces, one family kept appearing at the center of the puzzle. The Wagners. In this second episode, Carolyn Ossorio follows the investigation as law enforcement begins narrowing its focus to a family that, from the outside, appeared hardworking, successful, and deeply devoted to one another. But behind that carefully maintained image was a rigid hierarchy led by Angela Wagner—a mother whose influence over her husband and sons has become one of the most unsettling aspects of the case. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a family dynamic defined by loyalty, control, and an unwavering belief that blood came before everything else. Prosecutors would ultimately argue that this culture of obedience helped lay the groundwork for an unimaginable crime. This episode explores the custody dispute involving Hanna Rhoden and Jake Wagner, the mounting evidence that began pointing investigators toward the Wagner family, and the painstaking detective work that transformed suspicion into one of the largest criminal investigations in Ohio history. We also examine how years of planning, digital evidence, forensic breakthroughs, and witness interviews gradually dismantled the appearance of an ordinary Appalachian family. As the circle tightens around the Wagners, one question begins to overshadow every other: Was this simply a custody battle that spiraled into violence—or had an entire family convinced themselves that murder was the only acceptable solution? Criminal Mischief is hosted by investigative journalist Carolyn Ossorio and is part of the Evio Creative podcast network. If you're enjoying the series, please follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who appreciates deeply researched true crime. For episode updates and more original podcasts, visit Evio Creative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 21 · 40 min
E|191 The Pike County Massacre - Part Two
Criminal Mischief The Pike County Massacre – Episode Two: The House of Wagner For more than two years, investigators searched for the people responsible for one of the most shocking mass murders in modern American history. The evidence was painstakingly collected, hundreds of interviews were conducted, and countless theories—from drug cartels to family feuds—were examined. Yet as detectives slowly assembled the pieces, one family kept appearing at the center of the puzzle. The Wagners. In this second episode, Carolyn Ossorio follows the investigation as law enforcement begins narrowing its focus to a family that, from the outside, appeared hardworking, successful, and deeply devoted to one another. But behind that carefully maintained image was a rigid hierarchy led by Angela Wagner—a mother whose influence over her husband and sons has become one of the most unsettling aspects of the case. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a family dynamic defined by loyalty, control, and an unwavering belief that blood came before everything else. Prosecutors would ultimately argue that this culture of obedience helped lay the groundwork for an unimaginable crime. This episode explores the custody dispute involving Hanna Rhoden and Jake Wagner, the mounting evidence that began pointing investigators toward the Wagner family, and the painstaking detective work that transformed suspicion into one of the largest criminal investigations in Ohio history. We also examine how years of planning, digital evidence, forensic breakthroughs, and witness interviews gradually dismantled the appearance of an ordinary Appalachian family. As the circle tightens around the Wagners, one question begins to overshadow every other: Was this simply a custody battle that spiraled into violence—or had an entire family convinced themselves that murder was the only acceptable solution? Criminal Mischief is hosted by investigative journalist Carolyn Ossorio and is part of the Evio Creative podcast network. If you're enjoying the series, please follow the show, leave a rating and review, and share this episode with someone who appreciates deeply researched true crime. For episode updates and more original podcasts, visit Evio Creative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 14 · 35 min
E|190 The Pike County Massacre (Bonus)
Criminal Mischief The Piketon Massacre: Bloodline (Part One) On the morning of April 22, 2016, the quiet farming community of Piketon, Ohio awoke to one of the most shocking murder scenes in modern American history. Eight members of the Rhoden family, spanning multiple generations, were found executed across four separate homes in a rural corner of Pike County. Some were discovered in their beds. Others had been shot at close range while sleeping. Three young children—including an infant just days old—were found alive inside the homes, somehow spared while nearly everyone around them had been systematically murdered. It was a crime scene unlike anything investigators had ever encountered. In this opening chapter of our multi-part investigation, Carolyn Ossorio takes you back to those first chaotic hours through original police interviews, emergency dispatch recordings, and courtroom testimony, reconstructing the terrifying discovery exactly as investigators experienced it. Who found the victims? How could eight members of the same family be murdered in a single night without anyone hearing—or stopping—it? And why did detectives immediately suspect this wasn't simply a murder... ...but an execution? Part One follows investigators as they identify each victim, piece together the timeline of the killings, and begin searching for a killer—or killers—who have vanished into the hills of southern Ohio. By the end of this episode, the victims have names. The crime scenes have been documented. But the people responsible remain free. In This Episode • The quiet rural community of Pike County before the murders. • The first 911 calls and the discovery of the victims. • Police body camera audio, interviews, and courtroom recordings. • The lives of the eight Rhoden family members. • Why investigators immediately believed the murders were carefully planned. • The first hours of one of the largest homicide investigations in Ohio history. Part Two continues the investigation as detectives begin uncovering motives, family conflicts, and a custody battle that would eventually expose one of the most astonishing murder conspiracies in modern true crime history. 🎙️ Hosted by Carolyn Ossorio Presented by Evio Creative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 14 · 30 min
E|190 The Pike County Massacre - Part One
Criminal Mischief The Piketon Massacre: Bloodline (Part One) On the morning of April 22, 2016, the quiet farming community of Piketon, Ohio awoke to one of the most shocking murder scenes in modern American history. Eight members of the Rhoden family, spanning multiple generations, were found executed across four separate homes in a rural corner of Pike County. Some were discovered in their beds. Others had been shot at close range while sleeping. Three young children—including an infant just days old—were found alive inside the homes, somehow spared while nearly everyone around them had been systematically murdered. It was a crime scene unlike anything investigators had ever encountered. In this opening chapter of our multi-part investigation, Carolyn Ossorio takes you back to those first chaotic hours through original police interviews, emergency dispatch recordings, and courtroom testimony, reconstructing the terrifying discovery exactly as investigators experienced it. Who found the victims? How could eight members of the same family be murdered in a single night without anyone hearing—or stopping—it? And why did detectives immediately suspect this wasn't simply a murder... ...but an execution? Part One follows investigators as they identify each victim, piece together the timeline of the killings, and begin searching for a killer—or killers—who have vanished into the hills of southern Ohio. By the end of this episode, the victims have names. The crime scenes have been documented. But the people responsible remain free. In This Episode • The quiet rural community of Pike County before the murders. • The first 911 calls and the discovery of the victims. • Police body camera audio, interviews, and courtroom recordings. • The lives of the eight Rhoden family members. • Why investigators immediately believed the murders were carefully planned. • The first hours of one of the largest homicide investigations in Ohio history. Part Two continues the investigation as detectives begin uncovering motives, family conflicts, and a custody battle that would eventually expose one of the most astonishing murder conspiracies in modern true crime history. 🎙️ Hosted by Carolyn Ossorio Presented by Evio Creative. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
July 7 · 29 min
E|189 Deal With The Devil (Bonus)
Criminal Mischief: The Monkey's Paw Some stories entertain. Some stories linger. And a very rare few change the course of horror forever. This week on Criminal Mischief, Carolyn Ossorio narrates one of the most influential horror stories ever written: The Monkey's Paw by W. W. Jacobs. First published in 1902, The Monkey's Paw introduced generations of readers to one of literature's most terrifying ideas—that every wish comes with a price. What begins as a simple family gathering around the fireplace slowly transforms into an unforgettable meditation on fate, grief, and the dangerous temptation to change what should never be changed. Its influence stretches across more than a century of popular culture, inspiring countless novels, films, television episodes, and perhaps most famously, Stephen King's Pet Sematary. Join Carolyn as she brings this timeless Gothic classic to life in a dramatic reading that reminds us why some stories never grow old... because the fears they explore never disappear. Sometimes the greatest horror isn't receiving exactly what you wished for. It's realizing the cost after it's too late. Follow Criminal Mischief 🎙️ Follow Criminal Mischief wherever you listen to podcasts. ⭐ If you enjoy the show, please leave a rating and review—it helps other true crime and mystery fans discover us. 📺 Watch exclusive video content and more original series on the Evio Creative YouTube channel. 📧 Have a case, mystery, or historical story you'd like Carolyn to investigate? We'd love to hear from you at mailto:info@eviocreative.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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