In the early 1980s, a serial killer terrorized the Twin Cities, and after every attack he called 911. Sobbing. Confessing. Begging police to find him before he killed again. His name was Paul Michael Stephani. The recordings of his calls are haunting, but Stephani was caught because one of his victims fought back.

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©2026 Convergent Content, LLC

We tend to measure destruction in body counts and blast radii. But some of the most catastrophic forces ever unleashed on humanity came from words on paper. We're counting down five documents that changed the course of history including the Malleus Maleficarum, Cigarette Papers, General Order #11, and more.

Turns out the pen really is mightier than the sword.

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On February 20, 1948, detectives in Copenhagen are called to Peter Bangs Vej 74 after a couple had been brutally murdered in their apartment. The crime scene contained strange clues and details, and they sparked decades of conspiracy theories. The notorious case of Vilhelm and Inger Jacobsen is still unsolved.

Find information on the case at https://www.dobbeltmordet.dk/Register/

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Theme Music by Matt Glass

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©2026 Convergent Content, LLC

On January 12, 1983, hitchhikers Michael Bear Carson and his wife Suzan murdered their driver, John Hellyar, in view of other motorists. After a high speed chase and their arrest, the couple would admit during a five hour press conference that they were on a mission from a higher power to kill witches. However, this strange true crime case of “The San Francisco Witch Killers” is not about one just one murder. The couple were convicted for three murders, but should be considered suspects in many more unsolved cases. With special guest, Darren Coyle.

Visit www.darrencoyle.com

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This Canadian ghost story involves an alleged murder in the dense forests of New Brunswick in the 1820s. Ever since, the sounds of Whoops, Calls, and Screams can be heard from the vengeful ghost. The truth behind this campfire tale, though, is hard to discern, and may involve crazy hermits, a hit song, and a hurricane.

Read the 19th century article that influenced the legend here.

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William Bradford posed as a photographer to lure women into the Mojave Desert, promising them careers as models. Bradford was convicted of two murders but he is assumed to be an even more prolific serial killer because he left behind a trove of pictures of unidentified women who have not been found.

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In 1589, a quiet German farming community was gripped by terror. Villagers swore they were being hunted by the mythical werewolf. Soon local farmer Peter Stumpp was arrested and accused of this heinous werewolfery. He confessed, under torture, and what followed became one of the most infamous and disturbing executions in history. Was Stumpp an actual supernatural beast, or a human killer shaped by one of history’s darkest eras?

A true crime tale wrapped in folklore, this is a case where horror, belief, and reality collide.

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A re-release of a classic episode. In 1921 police caught Carl Großmann in a frightening, murderous act that caused the papers to label him the "Berlin Butcher". Großmann is a notorious serial killer but his claim to fame today (selling sausages made of human meat) may be entirely made up.

This episode is released in memory of our special guest, Sarah Lovett, co-host of "True Crime ABCs" who recently passed away. Her show is still available to enjoy at https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-abcs/id1698385786

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LINKS: https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/the-berlin-butcher/ https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Carl_Gro%C3%9Fmann https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtDxdt5L2aQ https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/grossmann-georg.htm https://www.amazon.com/Psychology-Extreme-Violence-Clare-Allely/dp/036748093X/ref=asc_df_036748093X/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=533463736693&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=730500286153011470&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031201&hvtargid=pla-912353148443&psc=1&mcid=7b1b02f229193eb48ace7e3fc08875f5&gclid=CjwKCAiAlcyuBhBnEiwAOGZ2S8EGOvGTdlBw5bDqY06TbDBPwPOInPNrs-T7gbtVYlgs1Kn42CjYmRoCD_4QAvD_BwE