THE SUSAN REINERT MURDER: HOW A TEACHER PROGRAMMED A KILLING (PART 1)

Send us Fan Mail In June 1979, a teacher’s body was found in the trunk of a car in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Susan Reinert had been drugged, beaten, and suffocated. Her two children—Karen, 11, and Michael, 10—were gone. They have never been found. This is the story of William Bradfield—a charismatic English teacher who inspired devotion, loyalty, and obedience from everyone around him. For months before Susan’s murder, Bradfield told friends exactly what was going to happen. He named the victim. He named the killer. And when it finally did happen, he already had an alibi waiting. Part one of this series examines how Bradfield built a cult-like inner circle of teachers and former students, how he manipulated women into believing they were his future wife, and how he used psychological programming to turn witnesses into accomplices—without ever asking them to act. What you’ll hear: How Bradfield predicted Susan Reinert’s murder months before it happened The cult-like control he exercised over colleagues and protégés The inheritance, insurance policies, and financial motive behind the crime The alibi weekend that investigators would later call “designed to be remembered” Why Susan’s children vanished—and why their fate still haunts this case Content warning: violence against women and children. Have a tip or case suggestion? 📧 [email protected] 🌐 crimery.show (coming soon) Support the show CRIMERY Tip line & inquiries: [email protected] If you found this episode valuable, follow, rate, and review in your podcast app it really helps others find the show. Legal: Everyone mentioned is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Content may include descriptions of violence. Listener discretion advised. ©2025 CRIMERY. All rights reserved.