As we close out the year, we’re stepping away from a single case and opening the files on Dead Ends itself. This Christmas special is a looser, more reflective episode — a chance to look back at the stories that stayed with us, the moments that shocked us, and the cases we still can’t stop thinking about.

We revisit some of the most memorable investigations we’ve covered this year, share our favourite moments behind the scenes, and reflect on how researching these cases has changed the way we see true crime.

But this episode isn’t just about endings. To balance the darkness, we also shine a light on something we don’t talk about often enough — the people who survived. We explore powerful stories of near misses, quick thinking, and sheer resilience — cases where victims escaped, fought back, or trusted their instincts and lived to tell the story.

It’s a reminder that while many trails go cold, not all stories end in tragedy.

• A recap of the cases we covered this year
• The moments that shocked, frustrated, or stayed with us the longest
• Behind-the-scenes reflections and unexpected discoveries
• Listener interactions and the impact of the community
• Stories of victims who escaped attempted murder
• Why survival stories matter in true crime

This week’s mini episode explores two haunting cases that continue to raise the same question: how can something so shocking remain unresolved?

Erica covers the disappearance of Suzie Lamplugh, a 25-year-old London estate agent who vanished in broad daylight in 1986 after arranging a house viewing with a man she referred to as “Mr Kipper.” Despite a prime suspect and decades of investigation, Suzie was never found — and her case forever changed personal safety practices across the UK.

Pete takes us back to 1912 Iowa, to the Villisca Axe Murder House, where eight people — including six children — were brutally murdered in their sleep. The crime shocked a nation, produced a long list of suspects, and remains one of America’s most infamous unsolved mass murders.

Two cases. Two eras. And suspects that many believe were hiding in plain sight.

This mini episode includes discussion of abduction, murder, and violence against adults and children. Listener discretion is advised.

Do you think these cases had obvious suspects from the start? We want to hear your thoughts.

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On a freezing January night in rural Northumberland, 28-year-old taxi driver Evelyn Foster picked up a male passenger for what should have been a routine fare. Hours later, she was found severely burned beside her smouldering car on a remote stretch of road.

Before she died from her injuries, Evelyn gave a disturbing account of an attack — one involving a mysterious man, a struggle, and a fire that consumed everything except the unanswered questions.

Despite a large-scale investigation, conflicting witness statements, and Evelyn’s own fading testimony, no one was ever charged. This case remains one of the most debated and enigmatic murders in early 20th-century Britain.

• Background on Evelyn Foster and the community she lived in
• The last confirmed sightings of Evelyn on the night of her attack
• The discovery of her burning vehicle and injuries
• Evelyn’s dying account and why it became controversial
• The mysterious passenger: what we know and what doesn’t add up
• Police theories vs. public speculation
• Why this case went cold — and why some believe it was never solved
• Our theories and discussion

In this week’s episode, we dive into one of the most unsettling and complex cases we’ve ever covered — a story involving a missing mother, a wealthy family, an unsolved murder, and a son at the centre of it all.

When 54-year-old Linda Carman vanished during a fishing trip with her son Nathan in 2016, the incident was initially labeled a tragic accident at sea. But as investigators dug deeper, troubling inconsistencies emerged — linking her disappearance to a much earlier tragedy: the unsolved 2013 murder of Nathan’s grandfather, real-estate mogul John Chakalos.

Over time, Nathan Carman became the focus of a sprawling investigation involving inheritance disputes, family fractures, insurance battles, and federal criminal charges. But before the case could ever reach a courtroom, it ended in yet another unexpected twist.

This episode unpacks the full timeline, the evidence, the suspicions, and the questions that still remain.

• Background on the Carman and Chakalos families
• The 2013 murder of John Chakalos
• The disappearance of Linda Carman
• The rescue at sea
• Investigative red flags
• Fraud and murder indictments
• Nathan’s death in custody
• Unresolved mysteries

In May 2006, 32-year-old Rey Rivera ran out of his Baltimore home after receiving a sudden, urgent phone call — and was never seen alive again. Six days later, his body was found in a locked, unused conference room at the historic Belvedere Hotel, discovered only because of a mysterious hole in the roof above him.

Police called it suicide. His family and friends called it impossible. And almost everything about the scene — the trajectory, the injuries, the neatly placed belongings, and a cryptic note taped behind his computer — raised more questions than answers.

In this episode, we explore Rey’s life, the strange circumstances of his disappearance, the unsettling connections to his employer, and the theories that continue to divide investigators nearly two decades later.

• Who Rey Rivera was — his life, dreams, and relationships
• The timeline of his disappearance and discovery
• The Belvedere Hotel scene, and why the physics don’t make sense
• The enigmatic note taped behind his computer
• The involvement of Stansberry & Associates
• Official explanations vs. the theories that challenge them

This week’s mini takes us across the North of England for four haunting hometown murders — two from Burnley and two from Stockport — each separated by decades but linked by brutality, tragedy, and lingering questions.

Erica explores the unsolved 1904 killing of Susan Westwell, an eccentric elderly woman murdered in her Burnley cottage, along with the 1963 death of Albert Porter, another Burnley local whose case still raises doubts and mysteries after 60 years.

Pete takes us to Stockport with two disturbing cases of young women: Suzanne Capper, whose 1992 torture and murder shocked the entire nation, and Florence Maye Bussy, a lesser-known but heartbreaking case from 1957 that left the community devastated.

Four towns, four tragedies — and the stories that still echo through the places they called home.

What We Cover:

Burnley Cases (Erica):

• Susan Westwell (1904) — a reclusive money-lender murdered in her cottage, surrounded by hidden stashes of gold and silver.
• Albert Porter (1963) — a puzzling death with unanswered questions and conflicting accounts

Stockport Cases (Pete):

• Suzanne Capper (1992) — one of the most shocking torture-murder cases in modern British crime history
• Florence Maye Bussy (1957) — a haunting case of a young woman whose death rocked her community

⚠️ Content Warning:

This episode includes discussion of murder, torture, and disturbing historical details. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

Join the Conversation: Have thoughts or theories about any of these cases? We’d love to hear them — send us your thoughts or case suggestions.

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In November 1969, Sister Cathy Cesnik, a 26-year-old nun and teacher at Baltimore’s Archbishop Keough High School, vanished after leaving her apartment to run a simple errand. Two months later, her body was found miles away, beaten and left in the woods.

For decades, the case remained a mystery — until former students came forward with chilling allegations. They claimed that Sister Cathy had discovered a web of sexual abuse and corruption within the church, and that her murder may have been part of a deliberate effort to silence her.

In this episode, we trace the timeline of her disappearance, the investigation that went cold, and the decades of secrets and survivors that eventually brought the truth into the light. From 1969 to The Keepers, we explore one of the most shocking and heartbreaking crimes ever connected to the Catholic Church.

What We Cover:

• The disappearance and discovery of Sister Cathy Cesnik
• The culture and climate of 1960s Baltimore
• The alleged abuse at Archbishop Keough High School
• The church’s response — and decades of silence through cover ups
• Renewed investigations sparked by Netflix’s The Keepers

On April 15th, 2004, 38-year-old Patrice Endres, a mother and salon owner from Cumming, Georgia, disappeared in the middle of her workday. In a narrow 13-minute window, she vanished without a trace — leaving her salon door unlocked, her lunch half-eaten, and her car still parked outside.

Eighteen months later, her remains were discovered just miles from where she went missing. But what happened in those missing minutes has never been explained.

In this episode, we trace Patrice’s final moments, explore the search for answers, and unpack the theories — from her husband’s unsettling behavior to serial killers who crossed through Georgia at the time. Two decades later, her case still leaves behind more questions than answers.

What We Cover:

• The disappearance and timeline of April 15th, 2004
• The discovery of Patrice’s remains and what evidence was found
• The investigation and theories surrounding her husband, Rob Endres
• Serial killer confessions and false leads
• Why Patrice’s case still remains unsolved