Five police officers are clearing a flat in Batley Carr, West Yorkshire. They've already searched 1,800 properties. This is just another one.

Then Detective Constable Nick Townsend crouches beside a divan bed and hears a small voice coming from inside it. A nine-year-old girl wriggles out of a hidden slot in the base. Tear-streaked. Terrified. Blinking.

She says: "I'm Shannon."

Shannon Matthews had been missing for 24 days. The search had gripped the UK. A community of working-class women on a Dewsbury council estate had organised themselves into one of the most extraordinary missing-child campaigns the country had ever seen — fundraisers, search parties, TV appearances, tears.

And then Shannon told the officer one more thing. He's under the bed. The man. He's where I was.

What followed would freeze the room, break the community, and become one of the most shocking betrayals in modern British true crime.

This week on You're Killing Me, Shawnee covers the kidnapping of Shannon Matthews — the case that asked who we extend sympathy to, who we believe, and what happens when the person who should protect you is the one who put you in danger.

Topics: Shannon Matthews | UK true crime | Dewsbury | missing child | Karen Matthews | Michael Donovan | West Yorkshire | British true crime | working class | YKM

New episodes every Monday. Follow so you never miss one.

In 2006, the quiet city of Medicine Hat, Alberta became the centre of one of Canada’s most horrifying family murders.

Twelve-year-old Jasmine Richardson and her 23-year-old boyfriend, Jeremy Steinke, were accused of brutally murdering Jasmine’s mother, father, and eight-year-old brother inside their family home — a crime so shocking it immediately made international headlines.

What began as an online relationship built around dark fantasies, vampire culture, and teenage rebellion quickly spiralled into obsession, isolation, and violence. Investigators uncovered disturbing messages between the pair discussing murder, running away together, and a belief that they were destined to be together no matter who stood in the way.

In this episode, we break down the full case: Jasmine’s upbringing, her relationship with Jeremy, the warning signs missed by the adults around them, the night of the murders, the police investigation, interrogation details, and the trial that followed.

We also explore the psychological manipulation, online influence, and emotional vulnerability that turned a deeply unhealthy relationship into one of the most disturbing crimes in Canadian history.

This episode contains discussions of child victims, graphic violence, and family homicide.

On May 31st, 2014, in Waukesha, Wisconsin, two 12-year-old girls lured their best friend into the woods and stabbed her 19 times — all to prove their loyalty to a fictional internet character known as Slenderman.

This is the story behind one of the most disturbing cases in modern true crime.

We follow Payton Leutner — the girl who survived — and the two friends who believed they had no choice but to kill her. From the rise of creepypasta and the Slenderman myth, to the months of planning, the attack itself, and the chilling police interrogations where both girls calmly explained why they did it.

We also examine the evidence uncovered during the investigation, including disturbing drawings, search histories, and the belief system that turned fiction into something dangerously real.

Then, we break down the trial — and the mental health diagnoses that changed everything.

This episode contains discussions of attempted murder, childhood mental illness, and graphic violence.

In 2001, British backpackers Peter Falconio and Joanne Lees were traveling through the Australian outback when they were flagged down by a stranger on a remote highway. What happened next became one of Australia's most infamous unsolved mysteries. Peter was shot and killed—his body never found. Joanne escaped and hid in the desert for five hours while a killer hunted her with a torch and a dog. This case inspired the horror film Wolf Creek and led to Australia's "no body, no parole" law. Join us as we uncover the terrifying true story of Bradley Murdoch, the DNA evidence that convicted him, and the secret he took to his grave.

#TrueCrime #PeterFalconio #JoanneLees #AustralianOutback #WolfCreek #UnsolvedMystery #BradleyMurdoch #StuartHighway #BackpackerMurder #TrueCrimePodcast

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

In February 2021, a 19-year-old named Brian Cohee drove his car into the Colorado River — with a murdered man's remains in the boot. The next morning, his mother Terri went to clean his room and found something she will never unsee.

This is the true crime story of Warren Barnes — Grand Junction, Colorado's beloved "Reading Man" — and the teenager who spent six months planning his murder, believing nobody would notice Warren was gone. He was catastrophically wrong.

In this episode: a driveway confession caught on bodycam, a nearly two-hour police interrogation where Brian was eager to talk, a jury trial centred on an insanity plea, and a community that proved — within one business day — exactly how wrong Brian Cohee's calculations were.

Warren Barnes was 69 years old. Unhoused. Known by everyone on his block. He finished a book every single day, showed up at the Shell station before 5:30am every morning, and greeted everyone who passed him the same way: "And you also."

His story deserves to be told right.

Watch the body cam of this footage on the Explore with Us Youtube page: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pvrp87VXtD4

True crime | Murder case | Colorado | Homeless victim | Teen killer | Bodycam footage | Insanity plea | Victim advocacy | Community justice | Grand Junction Colorado | Brian Cohee | Warren Barnes

The Miracle Survival of Alison Botha: A True Crime Story of Unbelievable Resilience

⚠️ CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains graphic descriptions of sexual assault, extreme violence, and near-fatal injuries. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

On December 18, 1994, 27-year-old Alison Botha was abducted from outside her Port Elizabeth, South Africa apartment by two men who would subject her to one of the most brutal attacks in South African history. What happened next defies medical explanation and stands as one of the most remarkable survival stories ever documented.

The Attack:Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger, known as the "Noordhoek Ripper Rapists," sexually assaulted Alison before attempting to murder her in the most horrific way imaginable. They slashed her throat 16 times—nearly decapitating her—and stabbed her abdomen more than 30 times, causing her intestines to spill from her body. They left her for dead in an isolated area near Summer Strand.

The Impossible Survival:Despite catastrophic injuries that should have killed her within minutes, Alison refused to die. With her throat slashed and her intestines exposed, she:

• Wrote her attackers' names in the sand as evidence
• Crawled toward the road while holding her organs inside her body
• Stood and walked when crawling became too slow—even as her head flopped backward and her vision went black
• Laid across the middle of the road to ensure passing cars would see her
• Survived 90 minutes from attack to rescue

Veterinary student Tiaan Eilerd stopped to help, potentially saving her life by tucking her exposed thyroid back into her throat. After 3.5 hours of emergency surgery, doctors said they'd never seen anyone survive injuries this severe.

The Aftermath:This episode covers:✓ The full timeline of the attack and rescue✓ Details of the trial and life sentences for Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger✓ Alison's remarkable recovery and journey as a motivational speaker✓ Her marriage to Tienie Botha and the birth of her two sons—despite doctors saying pregnancy was impossible✓ The controversial 2023 parole release of her attackers (without notifying Alison)✓ Her 2024 brain aneurysm and ongoing medical needs✓ The February 2025 parole cancellation following public outcry✓ How you can support Alison's recovery through the Back-a-Buddy fundraiser

Trigger Warnings: Sexual assault, graphic violence, near-decapitation, disembowelment, medical trauma

Resources:

• RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
• Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741
• Alison's Fundraiser: backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-alison-botha-in-her-time-of-need

Sources:

• "I Have Life: Alison's Journey" by Marianne Thamm
• Court documents and trial transcripts
• Medical reports and expert testimony
• Documentary: "Alison" (2016)

Join us on "You're Killing Me" as we explore one of the most incredible survival stories in true crime history. This is Alison Botha's story—and it will leave you speechless.

Support Alison here: https://www.backabuddy.co.za/campaign/help-alison-botha-in-her-time-of-need~2

#TrueCrime #SurvivalStory #AlisonBotha #SouthAfrica #TrueCrimePodcast #YoureKillingMe #PortElizabeth #MiracleStory #Survivor #TrueCrimeCommunity

The Murder of Shad Thyrion | Taylor Schabusiness Case | Green Bay Dismemberment | You're Killing Me Podcast

EPISODE DESCRIPTION:

At 3:23 AM on February 23rd, 2022, a mother in Green Bay, Wisconsin made a discovery that would horrify even the most seasoned homicide investigators. When Tara Thyrion went to check on her 24-year-old son Shad in the basement of their home, she found a bucket covered with a beach towel. What was inside would change her life forever.

This is the complete breakdown of the Shad Thyrion murder case—a crime that unfolded over 24 hours in a place that should have been safe.

WHAT WE COVER:

• The timeline: February 21-23, 2022—from a normal night to an unthinkable crime scene
• Who Shad Thyrion was: A 24-year-old Green Bay resident, a son who was exactly where he was supposed to be
• Taylor Schabusiness: The woman Shad knew from school, her troubled background, and her disturbing obsession with Jeffrey Dahmer
• The basement: What happened during those 24 hours, based on police interrogation and confession transcripts
• The discovery: How police followed bloody footprints through the snow and the horrific evidence they found
• The dismemberment: Medical examiner findings and the extent of post-mortem mutilation
• The trial: Courtroom violence, psychiatric evaluations, and a verdict delivered to a defendant who smirked
• The aftermath: Prison attacks, continued violence, and a life sentence that doesn't stop the pattern

CONTENT WARNING:This episode contains detailed discussion of murder, strangulation, dismemberment, sexual assault, necrophilia, drug use, and extreme violence. It also discusses mental health issues and incarceration. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

WHY THIS CASE MATTERS:

This isn't an unsolved mystery. There are no unanswered questions about who did this or why. What makes this case significant is what it reveals about sustained violence, the failure of supervision systems, and the people left to carry the aftermath.

Shad Thyrion was not a statistic. He was a son who spent time in a basement that was supposed to be his safe space. His mother went looking for him and found certainty in its most brutal form.

We tell this story with respect for Shad's life and honesty about the crime that ended it.

EPISODE DETAILS:🎙️ Hosted by Shawnee & Joel Harris📅 Original Crime Date: February 23, 2022⚖️ Verdict: July 26, 2023 - Guilty, Life Without Parole📍 Location: Green Bay, Wisconsin

FOLLOW YOU'RE KILLING ME:New episodes weekly covering cases that deserve deeper analysis—from investigation to verdict and beyond.

Subscribe, rate, and review to help others find responsible true crime coverage.

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SOURCES:This episode is based on court documents, police reports, autopsy findings, trial testimony, news coverage from local Green Bay media, and official case records.

Taylor Schabusiness, Shad Thyrion, Green Bay murder, Wisconsin true crime, dismemberment case, 2022 murder, Jeffrey Dahmer obsession, true crime podcast, You're Killing Me podcast, criminal psychology, violent crime, courtroom attacks, life without parole

🎄 He sees you when you’re sleeping.

But Santa was never the only one watching.

Long before Christmas became soft and sparkly, winter was brutal — and obedience was enforced with fear.

In this special Christmas episode of You’re Killing Me, Shawnee dives into the dark, blood-soaked origins of Krampus — the horned enforcer who followed Saint Nicholas, dragging bad children away in sacks, beating them with birch rods, and reminding entire villages what happened when rules were broken.

We trace Krampus from ancient pagan winter gods and the goddess Perchta, through the Church’s weaponisation of fear, to modern-day Krampusnacht — where masked figures still roam Alpine streets, chains rattling, bells screaming, leaving bruises, broken bones, and silence behind.

This isn’t a festive fairy tale.

It’s a story about punishment, control, conditional love — and why some monsters survive because we keep giving them a body.

Listener discretion advised.