Shows
Murder UUNLV Fight Night: The Death of Nathan ValenciaHe agreed to fight in a fraternity boxing match. The following night he was dead.A college student steps into the ring for a charity boxing event—just days before his 21st birthday. Hours later, he suffered a fatal brain injury. The match was organized by a fraternity, held off-campus, and widely attended by students. University officials were aware the event was happening but did not intervene.There was no licensed referee, no paramedics on standby, and no official oversight. In this episode of Murder U, we examine the death of UNLV student Nathan Valencia, the fa...2025-08-0515 minMurder UAbducted in Auburn: Aniah Blanchard’s StoryA college student vanishes after a late-night stop at a gas station. Nineteen-year-old Aniah Blanchard had just texted a friend when she pulled into a convenience store in Auburn, Alabama—and was never seen again. Her car was found days later, abandoned and damaged, miles away from where she disappeared.As investigators pieced together the timeline, surveillance footage showed a man inside the store at the same time as Aniah. He had a violent criminal history and was out on bond for attempted murder. But did their paths actually cross? What started as a missing persons case quickly tu...2025-07-2918 minMurder URoad to Revenge: The Jared Bridegan AmbushA father is gunned down after pulling over to move a tire. Jared Bridegan had just dropped off his twin children at his ex-wife Shanna Gardner's home when he stopped on a quiet Jacksonville Beach road. His two-year-old daughter was still in the back seat when someone opened fire, killing Jared in what looked like a senseless act of violence. But police quickly realized this was no random attack. As detectives began to unravel the case, they found themselves drawn into a tangled web of custody disputes, strained relationships, and carefully concealed resentment. What began as a search f...2025-07-2218 minMurder UKristin Smart: The Last Walk Home(00:00:00) The Last Walk Home
(00:01:19) Who was Kristin?
(00:03:33) The night of May 24, 1996
(00:05:28) Early investigation missteps
(00:05:55) Who is Paul Flores?
(00:08:47) A family that wouldn’t stop
(00:09:52) A podcast changes everything
(00:10:45) A new interest
(00:11:07) Backyard searches & secret recordings
(00:11:55) Flores family secrets
(00:12:24) The push for justice
(00:16:05) What really happened?
Kristin Smart left a Cal Poly frat party and was never seen again. The nineteen-year-old freshman was last spotted walking back to campus with fellow student Paul Flores, who claimed he left her near his dorm. Kristin's face was soon splashed across mi...2025-07-1519 minMurder UBurned Alive: The Katie Autry CaseWhen 18-year-old Katie Autry was found barely alive inside her Western Kentucky University dorm room, it triggered a frantic search for her killers. Katie had been beaten, assaulted, and set on fire in a crime so vicious it stunned the world. Detectives soon focused on two young men with ties to the area, unraveling a web of shifting stories, surprising alibis, and a trial that left many wondering if the full truth ever came out.In this episode of Murder U, we examine the evidence, the contradictions that clouded the case, and the lasting impact on c...2025-07-0825 minMurder UThe Rock-Throwing Murder: Alexa Bartell’s Final DriveA single rock, hurled from a passing car, turned an ordinary drive home into a fatal ambush. Nineteen-year-old Alexa Bartell was on the phone with a friend when it happened — the last words anyone would hear from her. What started as a reckless thrill for three teenagers ended in an unthinkable tragedy that shattered a family and shocked the entire community.In this episode of Murder U, we trace the devastating final moments of Alexa’s life and the chaotic hours that followed as investigators raced to piece together what happened. From scattered debris on a Colorado highway to a...2025-07-0115 minMurder UBFF Betrayal: The Skylar Neese MurderShe thought they were her best friends... until they led her into the woods and pulled out the knives.In this episode of Murder U, we examine the shocking murder of 16-year-old Skylar Neese, an honors student from Star City, West Virginia, who vanished after slipping out of her bedroom window one summer night. For months, her disappearance remained a mystery—until one of the killers broke down and confessed to a crime so cold and calculated, it stunned the country. We follow the unraveling friendship between Skylar, Shelia Eddy, and Rachel Shoaf, and how petty tee...2025-06-2428 minMurder UCampus Stalker Murder: Lauren McCluskey’s StoryShe thought she was dating a fellow college student. He was actually a 37-year-old convicted sex offender using a fake name.In this episode of Murder U, we investigate the heartbreaking case of Lauren McCluskey, a 21-year-old track star at the University of Utah who tried everything she could to stay safe—reporting threats, breaking off the relationship, even calling campus police more than 20 times. But when her cries for help went unanswered, it ended in tragedy.We walk through Lauren’s final weeks, the system failures that led to her death, and the shocking revelations that...2025-06-1723 minMurder UThe Deadly Pact: Soering and HaysomTwo brilliant students at the University of Virginia. One forbidden romance. And a secret so dark, it ended in blood.In 1985, the mutilated bodies of Derek and Nancy Haysom were found in their Virginia home. Their daughter, Elizabeth Haysom, and her boyfriend, Jens Soering, quickly became the focus of a case that would span decades, cross international borders, and spark global controversy. In this episode of Murder U, we unravel the shocking story of Jens Soering and Elizabeth Haysom—two elite scholars whose deadly obsession led to a gruesome double murder and a tangled legal saga that still ma...2025-06-1021 minMurder UThe Lacrosse Killing: Murder of Yeardley LoveShe was a star athlete, weeks away from graduating from the University of Virginia. He was her ex-boyfriend, a fellow lacrosse player, and increasingly volatile. Then, on May 3, 2010, Yeardley Love was found brutally beaten in her campus apartment.In this episode of Murder U, we examine the violent murder that shocked the collegiate sports world and sparked national conversations about dating violence, toxic masculinity, and institutional blind spots. We explore the disturbing behavior of George Huguely leading up to the killing, the warning signs that were ignored, and the heartbreaking aftermath for Yeardley’s family and community.2025-06-0321 minMurder UTexas Sniper: America’s First Mass ShooterOn August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman climbed to the top of the University of Texas tower with a footlocker full of guns. By the time it was over, 16 people were dead, dozens more were wounded, and America had experienced its first modern mass shooting.In this episode of Murder U, we trace Whitman’s life from gifted child and former Marine to the deeply disturbed killer who changed the way police, schools, and the public responded to mass violence.We explore his childhood trauma, psychiatric red flags, suicide letters, and the brain tumor discovered during his autopsy. We al...2025-05-2729 minMurder URE-RELEASE The Idaho College Murders - Part 2The mystery gripped the nation—four University of Idaho students murdered in their off-campus home, and for weeks, no suspect in sight. Then, investigators made a stunning discovery: Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old PhD student studying criminology at Washington State University, became the focus of a sweeping multi-state investigation.In this second part of our true crime podcast series, we revisit the turning point in the case. From forensic evidence to digital trail analysis, we break down how law enforcement identified and arrested Kohberger—and explore the unsettling theories about what may have motivated the Idaho college murders.2025-05-2034 minMurder URE-RELEASE The Idaho College Murders - Part 1In November 2022, four University of Idaho students were found brutally murdered in their off-campus home — stabbed to death as they slept. Weeks passed with no arrest. Then came Bryan Kohberger, a 28-year-old criminology PhD student no one expected.In Part 1 of this two-part Murder U episode, we trace the night of the killings, the victims’ final hours, and the investigation that led to Kohberger’s arrest. Who is he, and how did investigators link him to the crime? Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-u--6152042/support.2025-05-1326 minMurder UMurder on Spring Break: The Brittanee Drexel CaseShe was texting her boyfriend one minute… and gone the next. What happened to Brittanee Drexel would haunt Myrtle Beach for thirteen years—until her killer finally confessed, and his accomplice revealed a disturbing truth.In this episode of Murder U, we examine how 17-year-old Brittanee Drexel vanished while walking alone at night during an unsanctioned spring break trip in South Carolina. As rumors swirled, false confessions surfaced, and pressure mounted, law enforcement struggled to make an arrest—until investigators circled back to Raymond Moody, a convicted sex offender whose name had quietly surfaced early in the case. We fol...2025-05-0719 minMurder UThe Cheerleader Killing: The Murder of Kirsten CostasA popular cheerleader. A desperate classmate. And a lie that would turn deadly. When 15-year-old Kirsten Costas answered an invitation to a secret club dinner, she had no idea it was a trap. Hours later, she was bleeding to death on a neighbor’s porch, and the hunt for her killer would expose a world of jealousy, obsession, and betrayal lurking beneath the surface of suburban Orinda, California. In this episode of Murder U, we dive deep into the chilling case that inspired the Lifetime movie Death of a Cheerleader. We follow Kirsten’s final hours, the bizarre clues investigators unco...2025-04-2917 minMurder UThe Vanishing of Alissa Turney: A Desert MysteryWhen 17-year-old Alissa Turney vanished from her Phoenix high school in 2001, her stepfather claimed she ran away to California. But her abandoned phone, untouched paycheck, and sudden silence told a darker story. Two decades later, a shocking arrest turned this cold case into a courtroom cliffhanger. Was this a teenage runaway—or a carefully staged cover-up of an unsolved disappearance?In this episode of Murder U, we trace the final hours of Alissa’s life, the strange behavior of her stepfather, Michael Turney, and the relentless efforts of her sister, Sarah Turney, whose viral true crime podcast helped brin...2025-04-2215 minMurder UKent State Massacre: From Protest to TragedyOn May 4, 1970, a student protest against the Vietnam War at Kent State University ended in unimaginable violence when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire on a crowd of unarmed demonstrators. In just 13 seconds, four students were killed and nine others wounded—some of them bystanders simply walking to class. What led to such a deadly confrontation on an American college campus? Who gave the order to fire—and was there an order at all? In this episode of Murder U, we examine the escalating tensions of that weekend, the confusion and panic in the moments before the shooting, and...2025-04-1515 minMurder UThe Uber Murder - University of South CarolinaWhen 21-year-old Samantha Josephson called for an Uber after a night out, she thought she was heading home safely. Instead, she stepped into a car driven by a predator. Nathaniel Rowland saw an opportunity — and Samantha never made it out alive. In this episode, we unpack the chilling case that shocked the nation, examine the hunt for a killer, and explore the safety changes sparked by Samantha’s tragic murder.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-u--6152042/support.2025-04-0818 minMurder UMonday Morning Sniper - Grover Cleveland School ShootingIn 1979, 16-year-old Brenda Spencer became the first juvenile mass school shooter when she killed two staff members and wounded eight children at Grover Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego. She took careful aim at the young students and fired from her house across the street. When asked why she did it, she cooly replied that she “Didn’t like Mondays.”Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-u--6152042/support.2025-04-0117 minMurder UFemale Gunman: The Abundant Life MassacreDecember 16, 2024. Abundant Life Christian School in Madison, Wisconsin. A quiet study hall turns into a war zone when 15-year-old Natalie “Samantha” Rupnow opens fire—killing a student, a teacher, and ultimately herself.In this chilling episode of Murder U, we unpack the first juvenile female mass school shooting in 45 years. Who was Samantha Rupnow, and how did her obsession with violence go unnoticed? From troubling online posts and a disturbing manifesto to a potential link with a California man planning a simultaneous attack, this story is more than a tragedy—it’s a wake-up call. Female school shooters are rare...2025-03-2520 minMurder UMass Murder At NIUOn February 14, 2008, Northern Illinois University became the site of a devastating mass shooting when a former student walked into a packed lecture hall and opened fire. Within minutes, six people were dead, including the gunman, and nearly two dozen others were injured. Who was the shooter, and what led him to carry out such a brutal attack? What warning signs were missed? In this episode of Murder U, we examine the tragic events of that day, the gunman’s troubled past, and the long-lasting impact on the victims, their families, and the NIU campus. Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on...2025-03-1823 minMurder UCold-Blooded Cold Case-The Murder Of Sophie SergieIn April 1993, 20-year-old Sophie Sergie was found brutally murdered in a dorm bathroom at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. The crime sent shockwaves through the campus, but despite an intense investigation, the case went cold for nearly three decades. Who could have committed such a heinous act? And why did it take so long to uncover the truth?In this episode, we unravel the chilling details of Sophie’s final night, the frustrating dead ends that plagued investigators, and the groundbreaking DNA technology that finally led to an arrest in 2019. How did a genealogical breakthrough expose a suspect wh...2025-03-1121 minMurder UDismembering Mom and DadIn July 2021, Chandler Halderson reported his parents, Bart and Krista, missing from their Wisconsin home. What began as a search for a missing couple quickly turned into a chilling murder investigation when dismembered remains were discovered. As detectives uncovered Chandler's web of lies about his education and career, a dark motive emerged. In this episode, we unravel the shocking details of the Halderson family murders, exploring how deception, betrayal, and brutal violence shattered a seemingly ordinary family.Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & Tiktok Suicide Prevention Hotline: 988 SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357 National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799...2025-03-0418 minMurder UA Killer Betrayal - The Murder Of Alexis CrawfordOn October 30th, 2019, Clark Atlanta University senior Alexis Crawford was heard laughing and in good spirits during her last conversation with her mother, Tammy Crawford. Yet, in the days that followed, silence replaced that joyful exchange. On Friday, November 1st, around 10:45 p.m., the Crawford family filed a missing person report, their growing dread hinting at an unspeakable tragedy. Exactly a week later, Alexis’s body was discovered in a plastic bin at a local park. Her promising life, cut tragically short just before graduation, now serves as a chilling tale of friendship, lust, jealousy, deception, and the horrifying consequences of...2025-02-2518 min
Murder UThe Murder of Jennifer CaveWhen 21-year-old Jennifer Cave went out with her friend Colton Pitonyak in Austin, Texas, she never made it home. The next morning, her body was found in Colton’s apartment. She was brutally murdered and dismembered. As police closed in, he fled to Mexico with his accomplice, Laura Hall, setting off a shocking case of crime, cover-up, and betrayal. What led a promising college student to such brutality? And how far would his accomplice go to protect him? Join me as we uncover the chilling truth behind Jennifer Cave’s murder.Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & Tiktok2025-02-1823 minMurder URE-RELEASE The Deadly DaughterJennifer Pan’s parents had her life mapped out—straight A’s, top universities, and a future they approved of. But behind their proud smiles, Jennifer was drowning in lies, fabricating degrees and achievements to meet impossible expectations. When the truth threatened to unravel, she made a chilling choice: to eliminate the source of her pressure once and for all. Was she a victim of extreme parental control, or a master manipulator willing to kill for her own freedom?Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & TiktokSuicide Prevention Hotline: 988 SAMHSANational Helpline: 1-800-662-4357Nationa...2025-02-1125 minMurder URE-RELEASE The Murder Of Laken RileyLaken Hope Riley, a vibrant University of Georgia student, was tragically killed while jogging on a popular campus running path. Her shocking murder sent ripples of fear through the college community. As investigators scrambled for leads, security camera footage became the crucial puzzle piece that revealed the identity of her killer. Join us as we delve into the details of Laken's life, the investigation, and the disturbing truth that came to light.Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & TiktokSuicide Prevention Hotline: 988 SAMHSA National Helpline: 1-800-662-4357National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233M...2025-01-2920 minMurder URE-RELEASE The Mother KillerSuspended from her dream school, college sophomore Sydney Powell went to shocking lengths to hide the truth from her family, culminating in the brutal murder of her mother, Brenda Powell. What made Sydney Powell snap? In this episode, we delve into the lies, psychological turmoil, and courtroom drama surrounding this devastating case, exploring whether justice was truly served.Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & TiktokSuicide Prevention Hotline: 988 SAMHSANational Helpline: 1-800-662-4357National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233Murder U is an Abnormia Original PodcastBecome a supporter of this p...2024-12-3125 minMurder URE-RELEASE The Faculty MassacreWhen a routine faculty meeting at the University of Alabama turns into a scene of unimaginable horror, the world is left wondering what hapened to Dr. Amy Bishop—a brilliant neurobiologist whose denial of tenure ignited a deadly rampage. In this episode, we delve into the twisted path that led to the shooting, uncovering long-buried secrets from her past, including the mysterious death of her brother decades earlier. Was this an isolated act of desperation, or the culmination of a lifetime of unchecked violence? Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & TiktokSuicide Prevention Hotline: 988 SAMHSANational Help...2024-12-1828 minMurder URE-RELEASE The Fatal FraternityWe're taking a break for the Holidays! Enjoy this re-released episode. The violent hazing of Baruch College freshman Michael Deng during a secret fraternity retreat ended in a tragedy that shocked the nation. As the Asian American pledge fought for his life, fraternity members scrambled to cover up their actions, leading to a chilling tale of loyalty, fear, and betrayal. This episode delves into the culture of hazing, the consequences of silence, and the devastating impact on Michael’s family and community." Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & TiktokSuicide Prevention Hotline: 988 SAMHSA Natio...2024-12-1022 minMurder URE-RELEASE Killer ProfessorWe're taking a break for the Holidays! Enjoy this re:released episode. In 2004, a Psychology professor at the University of Arizona made a shocking revelation to his students: when he was a student at Swarthmore College in 1955, he committed a murder. How was he allowed to go from a killer to a beloved husband, father, and professor? He claimed he was pushed to kill. Follow us at: @MurderUPodcast on Instagram & TiktokSuicide Prevention Hotline: 988 SAMHSANational Helpline: 1-800-662-4357National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233Murder U is an Abnormia Original Pod...2024-12-0324 minMurder UApalachee High ShootingA mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, leaves four dead and eight wounded in the worst school shooting in Georgia history. The apprehended suspect, Colt Gray, attended the school for less than a week, and days later, in a surprising twist, his father, Colin Gray, is also arrested and charged with second-degree murder, among other charges. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-u--6152042/support.2024-11-1226 minMurder UDeaf School MurdersAt a prestigious university for the deaf, two students are murdered in the same dorm building within five months, and investigators believe the killer could be targeting members of the LGBTQ+ community until one of the witnesses becomes the prime suspect in these shocking and senseless murders. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-u--6152042/support.2024-11-0519 minMurder UThe Virginia Tech MassacreOn April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech became the scene of a tragic event when 32 people were murdered in one of the deadliest school shootings in American history. The massacre left the campus and the nation grappling with immense grief and shock, haunted by lingering questions and subtle signs that hinted at the storm to come. The Virginia Tech community would forever be marked by this profound tragedy, a day that reshaped understandings of campus safety, mental health awareness, and the resilience of those left behind.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/murder-u--6152042/support.2024-10-2935 min