Serial Killers & Murderous Minds

Serial Killers & Murderous Minds

"Serial Killers & Murderous Minds" takes you deep into the psychology of history’s most chilling murderers. From infamous serial killers to ruthless cult leaders, deadly exes, and terrifying spree killers. Every Monday and Thursday, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels, a clinical and forensic psychologist, blend gripping true crime storytelling with expert psychological analysis to uncover what drives people to kill. From the calculated minds of serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy to crimes of passion and cold-blooded murders, "Serial Killers & Murderous Minds" goes beyond the headlines to explore the twisted psychology behind the crimes. What fuels their darkness? How do their minds work? And most hauntingly—could they have been stopped? "Serial Killers & Murderous Minds" is a Crime House Studios original. New episodes drop every Monday and Thursday. Follow "Serial Killers & Murderous Minds" wherever you get your podcasts, and follow us at @Crimehouse on social media.

Episodes

Introducing: 10 to Life with Annie Elise

February 18, 2026 • 50 mins
With over 500 million downloads, 10 to Life is one of the leading true crime podcasts and YouTube channels covering the cases everyone is talking about — and the ones no one else is. If you love deep dives, real-time updates, and the full story behind the headlines, don’t miss 10 to Life. 🎙️ Listen to 10 to Life every Tuesday wherever you get your podcasts.  Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/annie-elise/id6463443612 ...
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Cyberstalking to Contract Killing Pt. 1 with Annie Elise

February 16, 2026 • 60 mins
In this episode of Serial Killers and Murderous Minds, true crime creator Annie Elise brings a case that has stayed with her—the murder-for-hire of Kendra Hatcher. Annie opens the episode by sharing what drew her so deeply to this disturbing story and why it stands out to her as a chilling example of emotional fixation spiraling out of control. Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels then examine how jealousy, entitlement, and u...
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The FBI Affair Murder Pt. 2

February 12, 2026 • 55 mins
Behind the badge, Mark Putnam was hiding a devastating secret. When an affair threatened his career and family, desperation took over—with fatal consequences. This episode examines the psychological toll of pressure, fear, and entitlement as Putnam crossed an irreversible line. As investigators close in, the carefully maintained image of a model agent collapses, exposing a shocking betrayal of trust and duty. It’s the story of how ...
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The FBI Affair Murder Pt. 1

February 9, 2026 • 50 mins
From childhood, Mark Putnam dreamed of becoming an FBI agent—and he achieved it through relentless ambition and fierce competitiveness. But when pressure mounted and his personal boundaries blurred, his need to protect his career spiraled into catastrophe. This episode traces Putnam’s rise through the Bureau, his struggle to prove himself, and the risky decisions that pulled him into an illicit relationship with an informant. What ...
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The American Bluebeard Pt. 2

February 5, 2026 • 52 mins
As suspicions around Helmuth Schmidt grow, neighbors, loved ones, and authorities begin to notice the cracks in his carefully constructed lies. Multiple identities, missing women, and chilling discoveries point to a pattern far more sinister than fraud alone. This episode follows the unraveling of Schmidt’s crimes as bystanders finally step in, leading to shocking revelations beneath the surface of his home. It’s a haunting look at...
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The American Bluebeard Pt. 1

February 2, 2026 • 57 mins
In the early 1900s, a charming German immigrant used lies, fake identities, and newspaper marriage ads to lure women into his web. What began as romance quickly turned into manipulation, financial ruin, and disappearance. Known as “The American Bluebeard,” Helmuth Schmidt built a double life fueled by control, deception, and a growing appetite for risk. As his lies multiplied and his behavior escalated, the women closest to him pai...
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MURDEROUS MINDS: The Mysterious Romanov Family Assassination Pt. 2

January 29, 2026 • 51 mins
In the early hours of July 17, 1918, the Romanov family was led into a basement—and history was forever changed. In the gripping conclusion, Killer Minds unpacks the brutal execution of the former royals, the chaotic cover-up that followed, and the decades of rumors that convinced the world at least one child survived. From false Anastasia claims to groundbreaking DNA discoveries nearly a century later, this episode examines why hu...
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MURDEROUS MINDS: The Mysterious Romanov Family Assassination Pt. 1

January 26, 2026 • 48 mins
For nearly 300 years, the Romanov family ruled Russia under the belief that their power was divinely ordained. But as war, poverty, and political unrest spread, that illusion of control began to crumble. In Part 1, Killer Minds traces the rise and fall of Czar Nicholas II, the growing resentment toward the monarchy, and the revolutionary forces determined to erase the Romanovs forever. Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels expl...
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SERIAL KILLER: Sante Kimes Pt. 2

January 22, 2026 • 51 mins
What happens when loyalty becomes a weapon? In Part 2, Killer Minds reveals how Sante Kimes pulled her son Kenny into an escalating series of crimes—culminating in cold-blooded murder. From the killing of a banker in the Bahamas to the brutal death of New York socialite Irene Silverman, this episode examines the twisted bond that kept Kenny obedient and the psychological grip Sante never loosened. As investigators closed in, their ...
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SERIAL KILLER: Sante Kimes Pt. 1

January 19, 2026 • 58 mins
Sante Kimes spent her entire life reinventing herself—using charm, deception, and manipulation to get whatever she wanted. In Part 1, Killer Minds follows Sante’s troubled childhood, escalating cruelty, and decades-long career as a con artist who moved effortlessly between fraud, abuse, and exploitation. As her schemes grew bolder, so did her need for control—especially over her youngest son, Kenny. Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Trist...
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MURDEROUS MINDS: Jimmy Hoffa Pt. 2

January 15, 2026 • 51 mins
Jimmy Hoffa’s bid to reclaim his power ended the moment he climbed into a car outside Detroit’s Machus Red Fox restaurant — and vanished forever. In the gripping conclusion of this two-part series, Killer Minds follows the frantic investigation into Hoffa’s disappearance, the mob figures and union rivals with motives to silence him, and the tangled web of dead ends, false confessions, shifting alliances, and chilling leads that spa...
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MURDEROUS MINDS: Jimmy Hoffa Pt. 1

January 12, 2026 • 51 mins
Before he became the center of one of America’s greatest unsolved mysteries, Jimmy Hoffa was a tough kid from the Midwest who learned early that respect had to be fought for. In this episode, Killer Minds traces Hoffa’s climb from overworked warehouse teenager to the most powerful labor leader in the country — and the dangerous alliances he forged along the way. As his influence grew, so did his enemies, drawing Hoffa deeper into c...
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SERIAL KILLER: The Death House Landlady Pt. 2

January 8, 2026 • 48 mins
In the shocking conclusion to the Dorothea Puente story, Killer Minds uncovers how a seemingly warm, grandmotherly caretaker manipulated an entire community while murdering the vulnerable people she vowed to protect. As Dorothea’s fraud escalates into calculated killings, Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels trace her descent into a chilling cycle of deception, exploitation, and control. From forging letters to grieving famili...
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SERIAL KILLER: The Death House Landlady Pt. 1

January 5, 2026 • 57 mins
Before she became one of America’s most notorious female serial killers, Dorothea Puente was a master of reinvention — a woman who survived a traumatic childhood, escaped into elaborate lies, and learned to weaponize trust. In Part 1, Killer Minds traces Dorothea’s tumultuous early life, from abuse, abandonment, and shapeshifting identities to the scams, marriages, and manipulations that set the stage for her deadly crimes. Vanessa...
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Crime House Best of 2025 - MISSING: The Martin Family from Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore

January 3, 2026 • 71 mins
Happy New Year! This year across Crime House, we released over 600 episodes. While we are proud of all of them, one episode rose above the rest and was voted on as Crime House’s Best Episode of 2025. It’s the case of the missing Martin Family, from Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore.  This episode takes us back to December 1958. The Martin Family was as picture-perfect as they come during the holidays: Santa suits, candy c...
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BEST OF 2025: The Night Stalker Pt. 2

January 1, 2026 • 41 mins
Happy New Year! As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited to bring you even more fascinating cases and gripping investigations. More importantly, we'd like to thank you for listening, and making 2025 an unforgettable year, your support and curiosity keep us coming back week after week. Please enjoy our Best of 2025 selection, The Night Stalker! Killer Minds will be back next week with a brand new episode. Richard Ramirez believed S...
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BEST OF 2025: The Night Stalker Pt. 1

December 29, 2025 • 50 mins
Happy New Year! As we look ahead to 2026, we’re excited to bring you even more fascinating cases and gripping investigations. More importantly, we'd like to thank you for listening, and making 2025 an unforgettable year, your support and curiosity keep us coming back week after week. Please enjoy our Best of 2025 selection, The Night Stalker! Killer Minds will be back next week with a brand new episode.Richard Ramirez, "The Night...
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MURDEROUS MINDS: Jim Jones Pt. 2

December 25, 2025 • 58 mins
The conclusion of the Jim Jones story follows his unraveling as defections, scandals, and mounting scrutiny push the cult leader to flee the U.S. and establish the isolated Jonestown settlement—where his paranoia, drug-fueled delusions, and absolute control escalate to catastrophic levels. As Congressman Leo Ryan attempts to investigate, Jones’s fears explode into violence, culminating in the airstrip ambush and the mass poisoning ...
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The Smiley Face Killers with Dr. Tristin Engels | Crime House Crossover | From Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes

December 24, 2025 • 52 mins
Dr. Engels joins Vanessa in this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes for a Crime House crossover!  Dozens of young men, all found drowned. A single eerie clue near every crime scene: a painted smiley face. Uncover the dark origins of the Smiley Face Killers theory — a decades-long investigation that suggests a nationwide ring of serial murderers might still be active. Follow Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes o...
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MURDEROUS MINDS: Jim Jones Pt. 1

December 22, 2025 • 51 mins
In the first part of this two-episode deep dive, Killer Minds traces the rise of Jim Jones—from a lonely, attention-seeking child in Indiana to a charismatic preacher who built the Peoples Temple and laid the groundwork for one of history’s most infamous cults. Vanessa Richardson recounts how Jones blended social justice messaging with manipulation, staged miracles, and psychological control to amass thousands of devoted followers,...
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