#37: City Under Siege - The Search for The Phoenix Serial Shooters

Content warning: This episode contains descriptions of violence against humans and animals.Between May 2005 and August 2006, Phoenix, Arizona lived in fear as two men in a silver Toyota Camry hunted victims at random. They killed eight people and countless animals in what they called "Random Recreational Violence"—shooting pedestrians, bicyclists, homeless men, dogs, and horses across the metropolitan area.The breakthrough came from an unlikely source: Detective Cliff Jewell, known as the "pet detective," matched .22-caliber shell casings from a dog shooting to those found at human murder scenes, proving the animal attacks and homicides were connected. His discovery launched an investigation complicated by the simultaneous hunt for another serial killer, the Baseline Rapist, draining resources and creating unprecedented panic.The case broke when two informants came forward with crucial information. Surveillance captured the suspects prowling Phoenix in the early morning hours, circling pedestrians like prey. Inside their apartment, police found an arsenal of weapons, a map marking their crimes, and a note reading "homicidal maniac, drug taking God among mortals."This episode examines the 15-month reign of terror, the forensic detective work that connected dozens of seemingly random attacks, and the trial where one suspect maintained his innocence while the other confessed, stating he deserved to die for what they'd done.Victims remembered: Tony Mendez, Reginald Remillard, David Estrada, Nathaniel Shoffner, Marco Carillo, Jose Ortiz, Claudia Gutierrez-Cruz, James Hodge, Robin Blasnek, and over twenty survivors.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/nightwatch-files--6484889/support.📷 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nightwatchfiles/ⓕ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61573576827447&sk=about www.nightwatchfiles.comSUPPORT THE SHOW & LISTEN AD-FREEJoin our Patreon and unlock ad-free episodes directly in Apple Podcasts or Spotify after you connect your Patreon account. You can also join the Supporters Club for an ad-free experience.Both go for just $3/month, sign up from the links below.Ad-Free EpisodesPatreon: patreon.com/NightwatchFilesApple (after joining): bit.ly/4i7XcNWSpotify (after joining): bit.ly/4oVVEsTSupporters Club: bit.ly/497ciAmSupport UsKo-Fi: https://ko-fi.com/nightwatchfilesMerch Shop: https://nightwatchfiles.com/storeProduction note: The host’s voice is digitally generated and extensively edited to meet our quality standards. All stories, research, and scripts are created by real people.