Bad Things: True Crime

On February 1, 2026, Nancy Guthrie — the 84-year-old mother of NBC Today anchor Savannah Guthrie — vanished from her Tucson home in the middle of the night. What investigators found has left them baffled: an armed masked suspect on doorbell footage, blood on the porch, ransom notes sent to the media instead of the family, and DNA from an unknown male recovered miles from the scene. 17 days later, Nancy has not been found.Was this a targeted kidnapping? A burglary that spiraled catastrophically? An inside job? Or something else entirely? The FBI has received over 40,000 tips, offered a $100,000 reward, and cleared the entire Guthrie family — but no suspect has been named. The ransom demands made no sense. The deadlines came and went. And the person on that doorbell camera understood forensics... but moved like an amateur.In this episode, we walk through every piece of evidence, every theory investigators are pursuing, and the one question that haunts this case: Where is Nancy Guthrie?

In this episode, we dive into one of the most haunting questions in American history: What did Bobby Kennedy really believe about who killed his brother, President John F. Kennedy?Officially, the Warren Commission concluded that Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. Case closed.But privately? That’s where the story becomes far more complicated.After the assassination in 1963, Robert F. Kennedy never publicly challenged the lone gunman narrative. As Attorney General—and later a U.S. Senator—he had enormous political reasons to avoid igniting a national crisis. Yet those closest to him would later suggest he never believed Oswald acted alone.The episode explores:Why Bobby reportedly suspected organized crime—particularly the Mafia.His deep and personal hatred of mob bosses like Carlos Marcello, whom he had aggressively prosecuted and even deported.The strange claim Marcello allegedly made years later: that killing JFK was retaliation for Bobby’s war on organized crime.The CIA and Cuba angle—especially tensions surrounding anti-Castro operations after the Bay of Pigs.Why Bobby quietly sent intermediaries to investigate possible mob involvement instead of publicly reopening the case.And why, despite his private suspicions, he chose silence.We also examine Bobby’s own assassination in 1968—and how his death permanently sealed whatever conclusions he may have reached.Was it the Mafia seeking revenge? Rogue intelligence actors? A broader conspiracy hidden beneath Cold War tensions? Or something even more complex?This episode doesn’t offer easy answers. Instead, it reconstructs Bobby Kennedy’s mindset—his grief, his political constraints, and the dangerous enemies he knew his brother had made.More than anything, it leaves us with a chilling possibility:If Bobby believed Oswald wasn’t the real story… how close did he get to the truth before he was killed himself?The mystery remains open.

On Thanksgiving Day 1934, three-year-old Rita Lent vanished from her family’s rural Ohio farm without a sound or a witness. Months later, her body was found—but the sheriff made a shocking claim: she hadn’t been dead since the day she disappeared.In this episode of Bad Things, we retrace the timeline, examine the investigation, and ask the question that still haunts the case: what most likely happened to Rita Lent?

Mekayla Bali disappeared in 2016 after being seen multiple times in and around her hometown, acting as if she were waiting for someone who never arrived. Surveillance footage shows her visiting shops, changing locations, and making requests that suggest a plan—but one she never explained to anyone. Her phone went silent shortly after, cutting off the only clear thread investigators had to follow. Despite extensive searches and countless tips, no trace of her has ever been found. Whatever happened to Mekayla Bali seems to hinge on a final decision no one witnessed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Blair Adams left Canada in 1996 convinced someone was trying to kill him, and within days, he was dead in a Knoxville construction site. He was found with his money scattered around him, his body partially undressed, and injuries that didn’t clearly explain how he died. Investigators ruled it an accident, but the scene raised more questions than answers. No suspects were ever named, and no clear motive was established. Decades later, the death of Blair Adams still feels like the final chapter of a story missing its middle. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Julie Ward vanished in Kenya’s Masai Mara in 1988, and what was later found were not answers but fragments that only deepened the mystery. Official explanations shifted repeatedly, from animal attack to accident, even as forensic evidence pointed toward deliberate human involvement. Key details were ignored, altered, or buried, raising questions about whether the truth was intentionally obscured. Despite years of investigation and relentless pressure from her family, no one has ever been held accountable. What remains is the unsettling possibility that the full story of Julie Ward was never meant to come out. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, we examine the unresolved disappearance of Asha Degree, a nine-year-old girl who vanished from her home in Shelby, North Carolina, in the early hours of February 14, 2000.Asha was last seen leaving her house alone in the middle of the night during a cold rainstorm. Multiple motorists later reported seeing a small child walking along Highway 18, several miles from her home. When one driver tried to approach her, the child ran into the nearby woods.More than a year later, Asha’s backpack was discovered buried along the same highway, wrapped in plastic. Its contents raised new questions and suggested that someone may have been involved in her disappearance.Despite extensive searches, national media coverage, and decades of investigation, no confirmed suspects have ever been named. Authorities continue to believe that Asha did not survive, but the circumstances surrounding why she left her home — and who she may have encountered — remain unknown.More than twenty years later, the case of Asha Degree remains one of the most disturbing and puzzling child disappearance cases in American history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 1995, 27-year-old morning news anchor Jodi Huisentruit vanished outside her apartment in Mason City, Iowa while heading to work before dawn. Her belongings — including her car key, high heel, and blow dryer — were found scattered in the parking lot, suggesting a sudden struggle. Despite national attention, multiple suspects, and years of investigation, no trace of Jodi has ever been found. In this episode, we cut through conflicting leads, suspicious behavior, and decades of unanswered questions to uncover what most likely happened to Jodi Huisentruit. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In November 2025, 18-year-old Anna Kepner from Titusville, Florida boarded the Carnival Horizon for what should have been a celebratory trip. But on November 7, while the vessel was at sea, her life abruptly ended — and the cause remains undisclosed. With the ship returning to Miami the next day and the FBI opening an investigation amid minimal public updates, questions swirl around what really happened aboard that cruise. In this episode, we cut through cruise-line secrecy, jurisdictional complexity, and scant evidence to uncover what most likely happened to Anna Kepner. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In May 1995, hotel staff at Oslo’s luxurious Plaza Hotel discovered the body of an unidentified woman in Room 2805. She had been shot through the head, and all labels had been removed from her clothing. There were no fingerprints, no passport, and no record of anyone seeing her check in. Norwegian police ruled it a suicide — but the evidence didn’t add up. For nearly three decades, investigators and amateur sleuths have tried to uncover who she was and what really happened in that room. In this episode, we cut through conflicting clues, strange details, and official silence to uncover what most likely happened to the Oslo Plaza Woman. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August 2010, 31-year-old Gareth Williams — a British intelligence expert working with MI6 and GCHQ — was found dead inside a locked duffel bag in the bathtub of his London flat. There were no signs of struggle, no fingerprints on the bag, and no clear explanation for how he could have sealed himself inside. The bizarre discovery sparked international headlines and speculation ranging from espionage gone wrong to a meticulously staged cover-up. In this episode, we cut through official reports, conflicting evidence, and years of mystery to uncover what most likely happened to Gareth Williams. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In January 1947, the mutilated body of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short was discovered in a vacant lot in Los Angeles — severed in half and posed in a way that shocked the nation. The press dubbed her The Black Dahlia, and the case quickly became one of the most infamous unsolved murders in American history. Over the decades, hundreds of suspects, false confessions, and sensational theories have emerged, but no one has ever been convicted. In this episode, we cut through media myth, police corruption, and decades of speculation to uncover what most likely happened to Elizabeth Short — the Black Dahlia. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In July 1937, aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart vanished over the Pacific Ocean while attempting to become the first woman to fly around the world. Despite one of the largest search efforts in history, neither Earhart nor her navigator, Fred Noonan, were ever found. For decades, theories have ranged from crash-and-sink to secret missions and survival on remote islands. In this episode, we cut through speculation, historical myths, and modern discoveries to uncover what most likely happened to Amelia Earhart. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In August 2019, financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein was found dead in his Manhattan jail cell while awaiting trial on federal trafficking charges. His death was officially ruled a suicide — but the circumstances surrounding it sparked global outrage and endless conspiracy theories. From broken cameras to missing guards and powerful connections, the story became one of the most controversial deaths of the 21st century. In this episode, we cut through speculation, evidence, and conflicting narratives to uncover what most likely happened to Jeffrey Epstein. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In 1987, two teenagers—Kevin Ives and Don Henry—were found dead on a set of train tracks in Alexander, Arkansas. The official story said they’d fallen asleep there after smoking marijuana. But when the autopsies were questioned, witnesses started disappearing, and rumors of drug drops and political cover-ups began to spread.In this episode, we break down one of Arkansas’s most controversial cold cases—tracing the events of that night, the explosive grand jury testimonies, and the theories that still divide locals nearly forty years later.Join us as we ask: what really happened to the boys on the tracks? Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In November 1965, journalist and television personality Dorothy Kilgallen was found dead in her New York City townhouse. Officially ruled an accidental overdose, her death raised immediate suspicion — because just before she died, Kilgallen had been investigating the assassination of President John F. Kennedy and claimed she was on the verge of exposing new information. Her notes vanished, witnesses contradicted one another, and questions have lingered for decades. In this episode, we cut through rumor, speculation, and Cold War intrigue to uncover what most likely happened to Dorothy Kilgallen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On November 17–18, 2018, 18-year-old Odin André Hagen Jacobsen vanished after a night out in Trondheim, Norway. Cameras tracked him walking alone through the city’s early-morning streets, pausing at the docks and seemingly wandering without destination. Two days later his phone, passport, bank-card and workout clothes were found hidden near a pier — and months later partial, burned items turned up at a lake some 20 km away. With no clear signs of what happened next, the case shifted from missing-person to suspected homicide. In this episode, we cut through security-camera footage, scattered clues and unanswered questions to explore what most likely happened to Odin André Hagen Jacobsen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In March 2011, 24-year-old Rebecca Coriam vanished while working aboard the Disney Wonder cruise ship as it sailed off the coast of Mexico. Security footage showed her last moments — a brief conversation on a phone, followed by her disappearance into restricted crew areas. But what happened next has never been fully explained. With limited investigation, missing evidence, and unanswered questions, her case remains one of the most mysterious disappearances at sea. In this episode, we cut through official reports, conflicting testimonies, and cruise line secrecy to uncover what most likely happened to Rebecca Coriam. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In December 2002, Laci Peterson — eight months pregnant — vanished from her home in Modesto, California. Her husband, Scott Peterson, quickly became the focus of national attention as inconsistencies in his story began to surface. When the bodies of Laci and her unborn son were later discovered, Scott was charged and eventually convicted of their murders. But decades later, questions about evidence, motive, and media influence still linger. In this episode, we cut through sensational headlines, conflicting narratives, and courtroom drama to uncover what most likely happened to Laci Peterson. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October 1967, Roger Patterson and Bob Gimlin emerged from the forests of Northern California with a short strip of film that would become the most famous piece of “Bigfoot” evidence ever captured. The grainy footage of a large, apelike figure walking through Bluff Creek has fueled decades of fascination, debate, and scientific scrutiny. Was it proof of a hidden species — or an elaborate hoax? In this episode, we cut through folklore, eyewitness claims, and expert analysis to uncover what most likely happened behind the Patterson–Gimlin film. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In November 1991, media tycoon Robert Maxwell was found dead in the waters off the Canary Islands after mysteriously disappearing from his luxury yacht, the Lady Ghislaine. His sudden death left behind not only unanswered questions, but also the collapse of his financial empire and revelations of massive fraud. For decades, speculation has swirled: was it suicide, accident, or something more sinister? In this episode, we cut through conspiracy theories, conflicting reports, and international intrigue to uncover what most likely happened to Robert Maxwell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On November 22, 1963, President John F. Kennedy was shot and killed while riding in a motorcade through Dallas, Texas. Within hours, Lee Harvey Oswald was arrested — but his murder just days later only fueled decades of suspicion. From the Warren Commission to countless conspiracy theories, the case has remained one of the most debated events in modern history. In this episode, we cut through conflicting accounts, political intrigue, and decades of speculation to uncover what most likely happened in the assassination of JFK. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In December 1900, a supply ship arrived at the remote Flannan Isles Lighthouse off the coast of Scotland — only to find the three keepers had vanished without a trace. The clocks had stopped, meals were left unfinished, and the lighthouse was eerily deserted. For more than a century, theories have ranged from rogue waves to foul play and the supernatural. In this episode, we cut through legend, speculation, and maritime mystery to uncover what most likely happened to the Flannan Isles lighthouse keepers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In March 1932, the infant son of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh was taken from his crib in the family’s New Jersey home. The case sparked a nationwide frenzy, from ransom notes to a massive manhunt, until the child was later found dead. Years of investigation led to the arrest and conviction of Bruno Richard Hauptmann — but questions about the evidence and the trial have lingered for nearly a century. In this episode, we cut through conspiracy theories, courtroom drama, and historical myths to uncover what most likely happened in the Lindbergh kidnapping. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In September 2007, 14-year-old Andrew Gosden left his home in Doncaster, England, skipped school, and took a train to London. He was last seen on CCTV leaving King’s Cross station — and then vanished without a trace. Despite nationwide searches and years of investigation, no clear answers have ever emerged. In this episode, we cut through speculation, dead ends, and haunting clues to uncover what most likely happened to Andrew Gosden. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In May 1993, three eight-year-old boys were found murdered in a wooded area of West Memphis, Arkansas. Within weeks, three local teenagers — later known as the West Memphis Three — were arrested and convicted in a case fueled by panic, controversy, and claims of satanic ritual. For decades, doubts about the investigation and evidence have divided the public. In this episode, we cut through hysteria, conflicting theories, and legal twists to uncover what most likely happened in West Memphis. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In October 2005, photographer Teresa Halbach vanished after an appointment at the Avery family salvage yard in Wisconsin. Days later, her remains were discovered on the property — and Steven Avery, already known for a prior wrongful conviction, was arrested for her murder. The case became the center of worldwide debate after Making a Murderer, raising questions about justice, corruption, and truth. In this episode, we cut through media narratives, legal battles, and controversy to uncover what most likely happened to Teresa Halbach. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In November 2007, British student Meredith Kercher was found murdered in the apartment she shared with Amanda Knox in Perugia, Italy. What followed was a controversial investigation and a media firestorm that painted Knox and her boyfriend as suspects in a case that dragged on for years. In this episode, we cut through sensational headlines, courtroom battles, and shifting narratives to uncover what most likely happened the night Meredith Kercher was killed. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In June 1994, Nicole Brown Simpson and Ron Goldman were brutally murdered outside Nicole’s Los Angeles home. Just days later, former football star O.J. Simpson was charged with the crime — setting off a televised trial that gripped the world. In this episode, we cut through media frenzy, courtroom drama, and decades of debate to uncover what most likely happened the night of the murders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On a summer morning in 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally murdered with an axe in their Fall River, Massachusetts home. Suspicion quickly fell on Andrew’s daughter, Lizzie Borden, sparking one of the most sensational trials in American history. In this episode, we cut through folklore, conflicting testimony, and more than a century of speculation to uncover what most likely happened in the Borden house that day. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April 2006, medical student Brian Shaffer walked into a Columbus, Ohio bar — and was never seen leaving. Despite security cameras, eyewitness accounts, and years of investigation, his disappearance remains one of the strangest mysteries of the 21st century. In this episode, we cut through theories, dead ends, and unanswered questions to uncover what most likely happened to Brian Shaffer. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On Christmas night 1996, six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey was reported missing from her family’s home in Boulder, Colorado. Just hours later, her body was discovered in the basement — and the investigation that followed became one of the most infamous unsolved cases in American history. In this episode, we cut through decades of media frenzy, conflicting evidence, and competing theories to uncover what most likely happened to JonBenét Ramsey. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In April 2014, Dutch students Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon set out on a hike in the jungles of Panama — and never returned. Weeks later, a series of disturbing discoveries deepened the mystery, from their abandoned belongings to haunting photographs and scattered remains. In this episode, we cut through years of speculation, conflicting timelines, and chilling theories to uncover what most likely happened to Kris and Lisanne in the Panamanian wilderness. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In December 2001, novelist Michael Peterson called 911 to report that his wife, Kathleen, had fallen down the stairs in their North Carolina home. But what first appeared to be a tragic accident quickly turned into a murder investigation — and a courtroom battle that would span decades. In this episode, we cut through sensational theories, high-profile documentaries, and shocking twists to uncover what most likely happened on the night Kathleen Peterson died. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In January 1999, 18-year-old Hae Min Lee vanished after leaving her high school in Baltimore County, Maryland. Weeks later, her body was discovered in a shallow grave, and her ex-boyfriend, Adnan Syed, was convicted of her murder. For over two decades, the case has been a lightning rod for debate — reignited by the hit podcast Serial and a wave of new evidence. In this episode, we cut through years of conflicting accounts, courtroom drama, and public speculation to uncover what most likely happened to Hae Min Lee. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In May 2007, three-year-old Madeleine McCann vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal — and the world has been searching ever since. What happened that night? In this episode, we cut through years of theories, contradictions, and media frenzy to break down the most likely explanation behind one of the most famous disappearances in history. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In December 2017, 70-year-old Paddy Moriarty left his local pub in the remote Australian outback town of Larrimah — and was never seen again. He and his dog, Kellie, vanished without a trace, leaving behind only unanswered questions and a community full of bitter feuds. In this episode, we explore the strange circumstances, the colorful cast of characters, and the tangled web of small-town rivalries that may hold the key to what happened. Using firsthand accounts, police reports, and Occam’s razor, we break down the most plausible theory behind one of Australia’s most baffling mysteries.If you enjoy small-town drama, unsolved mysteries, and a touch of dark humor, this is one you won’t forget. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In March 1998, Amy Lynn Bradley mysteriously vanished from her family’s cruise vacation in the Caribbean, leaving behind disturbing clues and haunting questions. Was Amy abducted and forced into human trafficking, did she fall overboard by accident, or could something even darker have occurred aboard the ship? In this episode of Bad Things, we unpack the unsettling details, evaluate compelling eyewitness accounts, and determine What Most Likely Happened. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In February 2004, 21-year-old Maura Murray vanished after crashing her car on a remote road in New Hampshire. Nearly two decades later, her disappearance remains shrouded in mystery. Did she intentionally walk away to start a new life, fall victim to foul play, or simply succumb to the elements? In this episode of Bad Things, we retrace Maura’s final known movements, examine key theories and evidence, and determine What Most Likely Happened. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.