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Father Wants Us Dead

In 1971, a mild-mannered accountant and Sunday school teacher from New Jersey named John List murders his wife, mother and three children — only to disappear and begin a new life entirely on the other side of the country. Now, two veteran journalists go inside the mind of the killer, learn about the doomed family, and revisit the 18-year-quest to bring List to justice — a saga even more bizarre and twisted than ever previously reported.Check out our other podcasts:Someone's Hunting Us - The story of a serial killer you've never heard of and the women who took him down.In the Shadow of Princeton - When the grande dame of Princeton is murdered, one investigator sees a conspiracy.

  1. 20

    SOMEONE'S HUNTING US: A new series from the creators of Father Wants Us Dead

    The creators of 'Father Wants Us Dead' bring you a new true crime series about a serial killer you've never heard of and the women who took him down: Someone's Hunting Us. In 2016, a serial killer was preying on Black women and girls he thought no one would miss — and getting away with it. Police in New Jersey never suspected that Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, a nerdy-looking, polite young man from a law enforcement family, was the one stalking the streets and dating apps for his next target. Like 'Father Wants Us Dead' — called one of the best true crime podcasts of all time by Entertainment Weekly — 'Someone's Hunting Us' is a deeply-reported story that honors the victims, investigates the investigators and gets inside the mind of a killer that fooled everyone. ----------- Check out our website for more about our reporting, plus photos and video footage, including Khalil Wheeler-Weaver’s full interrogation video: ⁠⁠⁠https://someoneshuntingus.com⁠⁠⁠ Have a question, an idea for our next show, or other feedback? You can contact us on our website or at [email protected]. Someone's Hunting Us is a production of NJ Advance Media, the #1 local news organization providing reporting for NJ.com and The Star-Ledger. The podcast is reported, written, produced and hosted by Daysi Calavia-Robertson, a columnist covering communities of color, and Rebecca Everett, an investigative crime reporter and podcaster. Our executive producers are Christopher Kelly, Jessica Beym, Jeff Roberts, and Jess Mazzola. The podcast is recorded by Alex Graves at Sound on Sound Studios in Montclair, New Jersey. The episode was mixed by Blake Maples, who also composed our music. James‬‭ Shapiro is our associate audio engineer.‬ Special thanks to EqualSpace in Newark, where several of our interviews were recorded. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. 19

    Coming Soon: Someone's Hunting Us

    Here's the trailer for our new podcast, "Someone's Hunting Us," which drops Feb. 10. In 2016, a serial killer was preying on Black women and girls he thought no one would miss — and getting away with it. Police in New Jersey never suspected that Khalil Wheeler-Weaver, a nerdy-looking, polite young man from a law enforcement family, was the one stalking the streets and dating apps for his next target.The journalists behind “Father Wants Us Dead” — called one of the best true crime podcasts of all time by Entertainment Weekly — bring you a deeply-reported true crime story of a serial killer hiding in plain sight and the women who took him down.  Follow "Someone's Hunting Us" at the links below to get notified when the episodes drop Feb. 10. Apple Podcasts Spotify Amazon Music Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. 18

    Feed drop: Introducing 'American Shrapnel'

    From our sister news site AL.com comes 'American Shrapnel.' The Olympics explode on a July night in 1996. The largest pipe bomb the country has ever seen. A string of bombings shakes Atlanta for the next year. Thousands of photos and videos produce one blurry image of the attacker, a photo so grainy the FBI called him “Blob Man.” Agents zero in on the wrong man, the media follows suit, and the real bomber slips away. Until Birmingham. In Alabama, the Blob Man finally makes a misstep. He detonates another bomb, but this time someone sees something. A college student asks himself a question: Why, when everyone else is rushing to see what happened, is that man running away? That curious student breaks open what was then the largest manhunt in U.S. history: the search for Eric Robert Rudolph.  Years pass. No trace. Does he have help? Is he planning more attacks? In American Shrapnel, the latest podcast from the Murrow-winning Alabama Media Group, join 2x Pulitzer Prize winner John Archibald and award-winning journalist Becca Andrews as they track the path of destruction — from the bombings, through the manhunt, and back to the twisted politics that fueled it. You’ll hear the stories of survivors, radicals and heroes. This isn’t a story of the past. The anger that fueled it has only grown stronger today. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. 17

    INTRODUCING: IN THE SHADOW OF PRINCETON

    An excerpt of the first episode of the new podcast by the creators of Father Wants Us Dead. The matriarch of a prominent Princeton family is found stabbed to death in her locked basement in 1989. Why would anyone want to kill Cissy Stuart, one of the Ivy league town’s most well-known characters? The shocking investigation sprawls across decades, as police turn their attention from a serial attacker, to her son, to a group of Princeton University students who said they were at a Grateful Dead concert at the time of the killing. The hot-blooded investigator sees a conspiracy. Is he way off base? Or does privilege let you get away with murder? Listen to In the Shadow of Princeton exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/in-the-shadow-of-princeton. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. 16

    COMING SOON: IN THE SHADOW OF PRINCETON

    From the creators of FATHER WANTS US DEAD comes a gripping new true crime series dropping June 5. The matriarch of a prominent Princeton family is found stabbed to death in her locked basement in 1989. Why would anyone want to kill Cissy Stuart, one of the Ivy league town’s most well-known characters? The shocking investigation sprawls across decades, as police turn their attention from a serial attacker, to her son, to a group of Princeton University students who said they were at a Grateful Dead concert at the time of the killing.  The hot-blooded investigator sees a conspiracy. Is he way off base? Or does privilege let you get away with murder?  Listen to In the Shadow of Princeton starting June 5 exclusively and ad-free by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/in-the-shadow-of-princeton/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. 15

    Feed drop: Introducing Firecracker

    “Firecracker, a new true crime podcast from NJ.com's sister news site Syracuse.com, is a deep dive into a horrific 27-year-old crime. When police saw what was left of Carol Ryan’s body, dumped in the driveway of a suburban compost site in September of 1996, they wondered what weapon could cause that level of devastation. The truth was grislier than anyone imagined. Carol’s only son blames police. After hundreds of interviews, investigators couldn’t make any leads stick. Three cops believe they know the man who killed Carol. He’s still out there. But they haven’t been able to prove it. The lead detective calls it the greatest regret of his career.  This six-part podcast from syracuse.com explores the death and life of Carol Ryan and the chilling effect her unsolved murder had on a community. Reporter Katrina Tulloch spent over a year digging into the case, interviewing 30 people including law enforcement, medical professionals, industry experts, witnesses and people who knew Carol.   The podcast outlines how Carol spent the hours leading up to her murder, how first responders bungled the crime scene, the challenges police have faced in trying to find her killer, and how DNA technology could break open the case any day.  “Firecracker” is available exclusively and ad-free on Wondery+, the premium podcast subscription from Wondery. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  7. 14

    BONUS: The Watcher

    The real story of The Watcher, Westfield’s other boogeyman, whose mysterious letters inspired the hit Netflix series. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Check out Reeves Weideman's New York Magazine article from 2018 and his most recent update to the story. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  8. 13

    BONUS: Pulling back the curtain

    The hosts take you behind the scenes of the creation of the “Father Wants Us Dead” podcast and discuss never-before-heard interviews and outtakes from the show. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  9. 12

    BONUS: Postcards from the edge

    Our hosts answer your questions and reveal more surprising details from the cutting room floor. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  10. 11

    A word about season one

    Our hosts have some exciting news in store for “Father Wants Us Dead” fans. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  11. 10

    Episode 9: Sympathy for the devil

    50 years later, two reporters try to understand what drove John List to commit such atrocities — and the real cost. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  12. 9

    Episode 8: Judgment Day

    Back in New Jersey to stand trial, John List makes one last attempt to stay free. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  13. 8

    Episode 7: The old lady and the tabloids

    18 years after the murders, a tip from an unlikely source leads authorities to John List's doorstep. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  14. 7

    Episode 6: America's Most Wanted

    With the trail gone cold, police try one last gambit to find their man. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  15. 6

    Episode 5: The Talented Mr. List

    As police frantically search for the mysterious killer, John List slips out of one identity and into another. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  16. 5

    Episode 4: Mopping up the blood

    Step by terrible step, John List systematically kills each member of his family — and then confesses everything. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  17. 4

    Episode 3: The man at the train station

    As family and financial worries mount, John List carries on an elaborate charade — all the while contemplating the unthinkable. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  18. 3

    Episode 2: The boogeyman of Westfield

    John List moved his family to New Jersey seeking a better life, but this seemingly ordinary accountant will turn out to be the scariest neighbor his town has even seen. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  19. 2

    Episode 1: The mansion turned morgue

    In a quiet, well-to-do New Jersey suburb in December 1971, police make a shocking discovery that sends the community reeling — and launches a national manhunt for a fugitive mass murderer. ------- 'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community. New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21. For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  20. 1

    Trailer: Father Wants Us Dead

    In 1971, a mild-mannered accountant and Sunday school teacher from New Jersey named John List murders his wife, mother and three children — only to disappear and begin a new life entirely on the other side of the country. Now, two veteran journalists go inside the mind of the killer, learn about the doomed family, and revisit the 18-year-quest to bring List to justice — a saga even more bizarre and twisted than ever previously reported.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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ABOUT THIS SHOW

In 1971, a mild-mannered accountant and Sunday school teacher from New Jersey named John List murders his wife, mother and three children — only to disappear and begin a new life entirely on the other side of the country. Now, two veteran journalists go inside the mind of the killer, learn about the doomed family, and revisit the 18-year-quest to bring List to justice — a saga even more bizarre and twisted than ever previously reported.Check out our other podcasts:Someone's Hunting Us - The story of a serial killer you've never heard of and the women who took him down.In the Shadow of Princeton - When the grande dame of Princeton is murdered, one investigator sees a conspiracy.

HOSTED BY

NJ.com

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many episodes does Father Wants Us Dead have?

Father Wants Us Dead currently has 20 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.

What is Father Wants Us Dead about?

In 1971, a mild-mannered accountant and Sunday school teacher from New Jersey named John List murders his wife, mother and three children — only to disappear and begin a new life entirely on the other side of the country. Now, two veteran journalists go inside the mind of the killer, learn about...

How often does Father Wants Us Dead release new episodes?

Father Wants Us Dead has 20 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.

Where can I listen to Father Wants Us Dead?

You can listen to Father Wants Us Dead on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.

Who hosts Father Wants Us Dead?

Father Wants Us Dead is created and hosted by NJ.com.
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