When John Darwin vanished off the British coast, the world believed he had drowned. But his faked death sparked a scandal that exposed deep deception, insurance fraud, and international travel under stolen identities. Decades later, a similar scheme played out in Wisconsin, involving Ryan Borgwardts. In this episode, we unravel the secrets behind two shocking cases of fake deaths and real betrayals.

SOURCES:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XSISObvwgOg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8jnky0mCug

https://www.cnn.com/2024/12/11/us/wisconsin-kayaker-ryan-borgwardt-custody

https://fox11online.com/news/local/man-accused-of-faking-his-own-death-to-face-another-status-conference-ryan-borgwardt-green-lake-county-kayak-europe-charges-obstruction-restitution-search-missing

https://apnews.com/article/kayaker-wisconsin-faked-death-borgwardt-marriage-87b937bb47d07dc83958541070f73f55

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Darwin_disappearance_case

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/apr/15/john-darwin-the-thief-his-wife-and-the-canoe-insurance-scam-itv-drama

In this episode of Beneath the Surface, we examine the murder of Mississippi businessman Kirby Carpenter, whose success in gold and silver trading may have made him a target. After his body was found outside his home in 2022, police eventually charged his girlfriend Caitlin Spence and her parents with murder and conspiracy. We explore the twisted family dynamics, the missing precious metals, and new 2025 updates—including Caitlin’s plea deal and testimony against her parents.

SOURCES:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLAPz1f5vj_eRWCjIBE-Cqdf3OrO9zUPuj&si=ET_ongk002g07cBN

https://www.facebook.com/share/1Hnem77Jvx/

https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/crime/2024/04/19/three-former-area-residents-indicted-in-murder-of-mississippi-businessman-kirby-carpenter-144924/

https://www.explorevenango.com/crime/2024/07/23/court-denies-bail-for-three-suspects-in-kirby-carpenter-murder-case-592864/

https://www.explorejeffersonpa.com/crime/2025/04/18/caitlin-spence-pleads-guilty-to-accessory-charge-in-carpenter-murder-will-testify-against-parents-162261/

When Amy Allwine was found dead, it seemed like suicide. But digital evidence from the dark web exposed a disturbing murder-for-hire plot linked to Besa Mafia and Bitcoin. As investigators peeled back the layers, a tale of betrayal, encrypted browsers, and a double life came to light—revealing her killer was someone she trusted most.

In 1997, Joe Cinque was drugged and killed by his girlfriend, Anu Singh, during a farewell dinner party in Canberra—while their guests looked on. This shocking case of premeditated murder, mental illness, and bystander silence has haunted Australia’s true crime community for decades. We explore the disturbing events, the controversial court ruling, and the lasting legacy of a crime that asked: how could so many know, and do nothing?

In 1998, 23-year-old Amy Lynn Bradley vanished from a Royal Caribbean cruise ship without a trace. Was it an accident—or something far more sinister?

Join us as we investigate the timeline, the strange behavior of the ship's crew, disturbing sightings in Curaçao, and the chilling possibility of human trafficking. This is one of the most haunting maritime mysteries ever recorded—and Amy’s family still hasn’t stopped searching.

Before Dorothy Jane Scott disappeared, she was plagued by unsettling phone calls from an unknown stalker. After she vanished, the calls didn’t stop. Who was behind them, and what really happened to Dorothy? Join us as we unravel this chilling mystery.

SOURCES:

https://youtu.be/iMDUZm6k3ms?si=6siMXfdjXfq1D9_5

https://youtu.be/N-sgUmjfruc?si=N6zg2HF0gXNQsGy-

https://youtu.be/3XVp8L8a0Mo?si=jwF1ihpJKSWGELTy

https://www.ocsheriff.gov/page/may-1980-dorothy-jane-scott

https://thecinemaholic.com/dorothy-scott-murder-how-did-she-die-who-killed-her/

From fake charities to false identities, some influencers will do anything for fame and fortune. We’re exposing cases of social media figures who scammed their followers—whether by faking illnesses, running bogus charities, or trying to reinvent themselves after getting caught. How did they pull it off, and why do people keep falling for it?

SOURCES:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Gibson

https://people.com/where-is-belle-gibson-now-8785836

Netflix- The Search for Instagram’s Worst Con Artist

60 Minutes Australia https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tCN2Uvyz72k

https://www.wsfa.com/2024/12/12/athens-tiktok-influencer-accused-racking-up-nearly-1m-donations-fake-charity/

https://whnt.com/news/athens/athens-woman-charged-with-nearly-million-dollar-charity-fraud/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Zimmer_(internet_personality)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ObpQpDcpv8c

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm10462012/

https://www.acpsk12.org/theogony/2019-2020/he-finally-came-clean-sort-of/#:~:text=Before%20this%2C%20his%20legal%20name,but%20it%20was%20quite%20misleading.

Three lighthouse keepers vanished from Eilean Mor in 1900, leaving behind only strange clues and unanswered questions. Was it a storm, something supernatural, or something even darker? We dive into the chilling mystery that still haunts this remote Scottish island

SOURCES:

https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofScotland/The-Eilean-Mor-Lighthouse-Mystery/

https://www.9news.com.au/national/flannan-isles-lighthouse-keepers-disappearance-mystery/f354bc14-9108-4ec4-b2b8-a6fe8038b451

https://www.nls.uk/exhibitions/eca-2020/background/flannan-isles-mystery-transcript/