In the late 1980s, Canada was on edge. A violent predator known as the Scarborough Rapist was stalking women, leaving fear in his wake — and no one knew who he was.

In Part One of Ken and Barbie Killers: The Evil Duo, we trace the origins of one of Canada’s most disturbing true crime cases. We begin with the attacks that terrified Scarborough, then follow the fateful meeting of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka — two people whose psychological needs and darkest impulses aligned in the most dangerous way possible.

As their relationship deepens, so does the violence. We explore their backgrounds, how they hid in plain sight, and how their need for control and validation spiraled into something unthinkable. The episode builds toward the devastating betrayal at the heart of this case — the death of Karla’s younger sister, Tammy — and the chilling reality that the crimes did not stop there.

This episode examines how evil can grow quietly, how love can become a weapon, and how the most dangerous monsters are sometimes the ones who look the most normal.

Part Two will pick up with the investigation, arrests, trials, and the psychological reckoning that followed.

⚠️ Listener discretion advised.

In this episode of Straight to the Case, we unravel one of the strangest and most unsettling poisoning cases in modern true crime — the death of David Castor.

What was first ruled a suicide quickly unraveled into something far more sinister. Antifreeze. A staged scene. A so-called confession letter that raised more questions than answers. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a chilling pattern of manipulation, control, and calculated deception that turned a quiet family home into the center of a deadly mystery.

We walk through the timeline of David’s final days, the forensic red flags that couldn’t be ignored, and the shocking truth that ultimately came to light — a truth that would expose a plot years in the making and force everyone involved to ask: how far can someone go to get away with murder?

This is Poisoned: David Castor — a case where nothing is accidental, and the truth was hidden in plain sight.

Just after the holidays, a family of four vanished without a trace.

Their home looked lived in. Their dogs were left behind. Their phones, wallets, and passports never moved.

At first, investigators believed the McStay family had chosen to leave—possibly crossing the border to start a new life. Media speculation followed, searches slowed, and the case quietly drifted into the background.

But years later, the truth would surface in the most devastating way.

In this episode of Straight to the Case, we examine the disappearance of Joseph, Summer, Gianni, and Joseph Jr. McStay—how assumptions shaped the investigation, how the story the public accepted delayed answers, and how the case was ultimately brought to trial.

This is a story about silence, trust, and what happens when a case is allowed to sit too long.

And sometimes, the truth doesn’t come until years after everyone stops looking.

Ref:

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/california-familys-disappearance-ended-grisly-desert-discovery/story?id=125815324

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/20-20/id987967575?i=1000730088528

https://people.com/mcstay-family-vanished-desert-graves-abc-episode-11823394

https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/charles-merritt-mcstay-family-murders-search-warrants-unsealed/52907/?amp=1

https://www.oxygen.com/true-crime-buzz/what-clue-revealed-mcstay-familys-killer-as-charles-merritt

Bryce Laspisa was a college student with no known enemies, no history of running away, and no clear reason to disappear. But over the course of a single night, a series of strange decisions, missed warnings, and unanswered phone calls would lead to a mystery that still haunts his family—and investigators—today.

In this episode of Straight to the Case, we walk step by step through Bryce’s final known movements, the baffling behavior that raised red flags, and the moments where intervention might have changed everything. We examine the theories, the evidence, and the haunting question at the center of it all: did Bryce vanish by choice, by accident, or did something far darker happen?

Some cases end with answers. This one leaves you staring at the gaps, wondering what was missed—and what may never be known.

Listener discretion advised.

Ref:

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna229928

“Disappeared” Road to Nowhere 2016

https://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-castaic-lake-body-coronor-20130912-story.html

When we talk about evil, we usually point to the choices someone makes. They had options, and they still chose to do something horrific. But it always raises the question: is evil purely a decision, or can something else push a person toward those dark acts? Is it outside influence… or a lie the mind tells itself to avoid responsibility?

A lot of the cases I cover happened decades ago, and the era itself adds shock value. Medicine was still evolving, laws were being rewritten, and technology was nowhere near where it is today. It was a time when people were trying to understand the things they feared the most.

But the story I’m telling you today became something bigger — a case that shaped how true crime tries to explain the unexplainable.

This is Son of Sam: The Evil Inside.

In this episode of Straight to the Case, we’re examining the haunting disappearance of 18-year-old Kelsey Smith. A quick trip to a local Target should’ve been routine — instead, it turned into a nightmare that unfolded in real time.

Security footage, a frantic family, and a race against the clock pushed investigators into one of the most urgent searches they’d ever faced. What happened in those final moments? And how did a single piece of evidence break this case wide open?

This is a story about danger hiding in plain sight… and a community determined to bring answers home.

This is The Disappearance of Kelsey Smith.

“#Textmewhenyougethome” season 2 episode 5 Kelsey Smith

This week on Innocent or Guilty, we’re diving into the case of Darlie Routier — a story that shook an entire community and still sparks debate decades later. Two young boys attacked in their own home, a mother left injured, and a narrative that split the nation in half.

The prosecution called it a cold-blooded crime. The defense argued it was a rushed investigation built on assumptions. And the public? Still divided.

In this episode, we walk through what was presented in court, what’s never sat right with investigators and supporters on both sides, and why this case continues to raise more questions than answers.

Was Darlie Routier a guilty mother… or a woman wrongfully accused? We lay out the story — you decide.

Ref:

https://www.injusticewatch.org/archive/2019/darlie-lynn-routier-remains-in-prison-awaiting-long-overdue-dna-testing/

https://forensicfilesnow.com/index.php/tag/drake-routier/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/48-hours/id965818306?i=1000624733802

https://youtu.be/VZcC0N9HZMM?si=bwXSYqlbIiwPtWle

https://youtu.be/9pgJPOK8rIQ?si=HO-sS3z9efyVO19M.

In this episode of Case File, Jewel takes the mic solo to break down Hulu’s Murdaugh: Death in the Family — episode by episode.

Jewel walks you through the docuseries exactly the way it unfolds, while calling out what the show gets right, what it changes, and the real facts behind one of the most shocking Southern scandals of our time. From the boat crash, to the housekeeper’s death, to the Stephen Smith case, to the murders of Maggie and Paul — this is the Murdaugh story stripped down to the truth.

Jewel also brings you up to date on where the case really stands today, including Alex Murdaugh’s trial, convictions, and what life looks like for him now.

If you’ve watched the series, or if you’re just trying to understand the real story behind the headlines, this breakdown gets straight to the point. No fluff — just the facts, the timeline, and the downfall of a dynasty.

Tune in and dive deep with Jewel in this Case File episode.