Special Criminals
A podcast focusing on criminal cases where the subjects have been diagnosed with mental illnesses or disabilities. We discuss how these diagnoses and factors may have affected them or their crimes. We look at these crimes and criminals through an educational lens and dive into the specifics of their mental illnesses or disabilities.
Episodes
Welcome back for episode 14! This week, as a throwback Thursday episode, we discuss a man who committed an unthinkable crime against his family and then disappeared for almost 18 years. He was finally found thanks to an episode of America's Most Wanted after he had remarried and started fresh. Join us as we dive into the case of John List. Stay tuned to hear more!
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Welcome back for episode 13! This week, we discuss a few missing persons cases from the east coast. The first one is still considered missing, Tonita Michelle Brooks out of Durham, North Carolina. The other three men went missing during the winter in New Jersey and were later found dead. We also discuss a lack of awareness and a lack of appropriate response to these types of situations within the police force and others. Stay tuned...
Welcome back for episode 12! This week, we discuss a case where a friendship went too far. The two teenagers, Juliet and Pauline, became fast friends but it quickly turned to obsession. After committing a horrible crime, the two girls tried to start over living separate lives. Stay tuned as we dive into the case of obsessive friendship and murder. Keep listening to hear more!
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Welcome back for episode 11! This week, we discuss a recent tragedy that was perpetrated by a man with a long history of mental illness and crime. Admittedly, his childhood was extremely troublesome and he received a diagnosis of a mental illness at a very young age. However, he then began a life of crime at the early age of 17. Unfortunately, all of this led to a tragic mass murder right before the holidays in 2021. Stay tuned as ...
Welcome back for episode 10! This week, we discussed the well-known unsolved death of Elisa Lam. Back in 2013, Elisa started acting strangely while on vacation with friends. Soon after, a security camera in the Hotel Cecil’s elevator captured her acting in a bizarre manner. That footage would be the last time Elisa was seen alive. A couple weeks later, her body was found in one of the hotel’s water tanks. No one is exactly sure how...
Welcome back for episode 9! This week, we discuss the long time cold missing persons case of Nicholas Barclay. Last seen in San Antonio, TX when he was 13 years old, this young boy went missing during somewhat understandable circumstances. Three years later, he was found! His family was thrilled to have him back in their lives. But just as he was settling back in, a discovery was made about his true identity. Stay tuned to hear mor...
Welcome back for episode 8! This week, we discuss the Yuba County Five, AKA the Boys of Yuba County. They were a group of five adult men who all had intellectual disabilities or psychiatric conditions. After going to a basketball game in a neighboring city, they never returned. Their journey seemed to take them well out of their way and would not have led them home. Join us as we dive into this missing person/unsolved case. Stay tu...
Welcome back for episode 7! Sorry we missed last week! This week, we discuss an infamous celebrity musician, John Simon Ritchie, better known as Sid Vicious. He lived a tragic and troubled life that included drug addiction, self harm, suicide attempts, assault charges, and even murder charges. His partner in crime, Nancy Spungen, also struggled with mental health. Join us as we discuss the often romanticized story of Sid and Nancy ...
Welcome back for episode 6! This week, we discuss a bizarre missing person case. After two failed attempts, a 13-year-old girl was finally abducted by a man she had never met. Her abductor’s immediate obsession with her, after only seeing her once, resulted in the death of her parents and led to her being held captive for 88 days before she managed to escape. Listen in as we discuss the kidnapping of Jayme Closs. Stay tuned to hear...
Welcome back to episode 5! This week, we discuss Ricky McCormick, a famously unsolved murder case with an extremely odd but intriguing component to his case. To this day, his murder and the cryptic notes found on his body have never been solved. Stay tuned to hear more!
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Welcome back for episode 4! This week, we discuss Chris Benoit, a famous professional wrestler who murdered his wife and child after suffering repeated blows to the head over the course of his career. Even though warning signs were present, Chris was still actively performing until his death in 2007. Listen in as we discuss what contributed to his actions. Stay tuned to hear more!
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Welcome back for episode 3 everyone! This week, we discuss a MISSING PERSON case - Hannah Upp. She disappeared without a trace twice and was found. Then, after a set of hurricanes hit the Virgin Islands where she lived, Hannah disappeared one final time. However, this time she was never found. To this day, Hannah is still considered missing. Listen in as we explore her mental state that lead to her disappearances, the patterns in h...
Welcome back for episode 2 everyone! We are changing the cases we discuss, so join us this week as we discuss Victor of Aveyron, also known as "The Wild Boy of Aveyron." Victor is one of the most well-known cases of feral children. He was studied for over half his life in order to determine whether or not he could be "rehabilitated," learn language, and follow societal norms in order to be successful in the &quo...
Welcome back everyone! We are so happy to be here. As we change the focus of the cases we discuss, join us this week for our first even celebrity subject, T.J. Miller. His career was on an upward trajectory until a brain malformation was discovered. After that, he seemed to be on a downhill slide that landed him in legal troubles. Stay tuned to hear more!
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This week, we discuss David Ray Conley III, a man who broke into his former home and did the unthinkable. Through court testing, it appears he may have had an intellectual disability. Stay tuned to hear more!
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Follow us on social media @specialcriminals on Facebook and Instagram. Twitter @SpecialCrimePod.
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This week, we discuss James Terry Roach, an intellectually disabled man from South Carolina who committed violent crimes with some friends. His case got attention and support from the United Nations, Mother Teresa, and former president Jimmy Carter. But did it help? Stay tuned to hear more!
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This week, we discuss Blazej Kot, a PhD student who went through some rough times, took some new medication, and then completely snapped. Will the jury believe his defense? Stay tuned to hear more!
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Follow us on social media @specialcriminals on Facebook and Instagram. Twitter @SpecialCrimePod.
You can also send us an ema...
This week, we discuss Alan Matheny, a man who committed a heinous murder in broad daylight while the neighbors watched. But then he went to court and presented an interesting and new (to this podcast) diagnosis. Stay tuned to hear more!
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Follow us on social media @specialcriminals on Facebook and Instagram. Twitter @SpecialCrimePod.
This week, we discuss Thomas Bartlett “Bart” Whitaker, a young man from a wealthy family who was ready to throw it all away. In court, his defense discusses his mental health concerns. Stay tuned to hear more!
Please give us a rating and leave a review! Every review counts and helps us out.
Follow us on social media @specialcriminals on Facebook and Instagram. Twitter @SpecialCrimePod.
You can also send...
This week, we discuss David “Bucky” Brooks, a man described as uneducated and disabled who was also accused of murder. And his bad luck didn’t stop there. Stay tuned to hear more!
Please give us a rating and leave a review! Every review counts and helps us out.
Follow us on social media @specialcriminals on Facebook and Instagram. Twitter @SpecialCrimePod.
You can also send us an email at specialcriminals@gm...
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