Over the past few weeks, we’ve told the stories of the presumed victims of Mike DeBardeleben, those who were murdered or are believed to have lost their lives at his hands.

This week, we turn to the stories of several known survivors. Through their experiences, we see the breadth of DeBardeleben’s crimes, the brutality he inflicted, and the varying degrees of justice the survivors received.

The victims we’ve discussed, both those who were killed and those who survived, likely represent only a fraction of the true scope of Mike DeBardeleben’s crimes and depravity.

Purchase Stephen Michaud’s book “Beyond Cruel” - https://books.apple.com/us/book/beyond-cruel/id6503722963

Source:

• Michaud, Stephen, Beyond Cruel: The Chilling True Story of America’s Most Sadistic Killer, May 1994, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

Save $20 on a Buzzsprout paid plan using this referral link!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2372693

Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

On July 12, 1979, a fire at the Hill Top Motel in Red Oak, Iowa, claimed the life of 3-year-old Keara Coshow. Despite known suspicions of child abuse from Keara's stepmother, Karen, and Keara being nearly blind from an injury many suspect was inflicted upon her by her stepmother, investigators ruled the fire and Keara's death a tragic accident.

The investigation was reopened in 2007 and closed in 2010 with the same conclusion: the fire and Keara's death were an accident.

But, in 2025, the Iowa Attorney General's Office released a deck of Iowa Cold Case cards, and I was surprised to find Keara's face among them, with her being labeled "homicide victim", and the card stating the fire was ruled arson.

I reached out to the Iowa Attorney General's Office and the Iowa Cold Case Unit to request clarification. The Iowa Cold Case Unit responded, and in this episode, I give an update on what they told me: they DON'T know why there is a discrepancy. But they are looking into this case, which I consider a win.

If you have ANY INFORMATION at all, please contact the Iowa Cold Case Unit:

Their email: coldcase@ag.iowa.gov

Listen to my previous episode on Keara Coshow: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cardinal-crimes/id1781462994?i=1000695493302

Or watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/WInjK111ydE?si=YW1dTfJ0UVzArgua

Sources:

• Voicemail & phone conversation with Iowa Cold Case Investigator Chad Lovig, November 2025
• Roy Marshall, Investigation Report Case #7907361, State of Iowa Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division
• State of Iowa Death Certificate (certified reproduction of original record), Keara Coshow, Issued April 23, 2007.
• Jon Mathis, Closing and Disposition Record Case #0706806, Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Investigation
• Iowa Cold Cases Playing Cards, 1st Edition, Iowa Office of the Attorney General, Department of Corrections, Sheriff's & Deputies Association, Iowa Police chiefs Association, Iowa County Attorneys Association, April 16, 2025
• Jody Ewing, Keara Coshow Case Summary, Iowa Cold Cases, https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/keara-coshow/
• Rossi, R., Lodise, M., Lancia, M., Bacci, M., De-Giorgio, F., & Cascini, F. (2014). Trigemino-cardiac reflex as lethal mechanism in a suicidal fire death case. Journal of forensic sciences, 59(3), 833–835. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12408

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

Save $20 on a Buzzsprout paid plan using this referral link!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2372693

Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

This week, we continue our deep dive into the suspected victims of serial predator Mike DeBardeleben. The women we’ve discussed so far were all real estate agents targeted while showing homes to male clients. But today’s case breaks that pattern entirely.

In this episode, we examine the murder of Joe Rapini, who was taken hostage alongside his roommate, David Starr. What followed was a calculated and terrifying bank robbery and extortion scheme. Under explicit threats, David, a bank manager, was forced to withdraw nearly $38,000 from his own vault to satisfy the masked gunman’s demands.

But even after the money was delivered, Joe Rapini was killed.

The extortion money was never recovered. And although Mike DeBardeleben emerged as a prime suspect, he was never formally charged in the case.

Join us as we unpack the timeline, the unanswered questions, and what links this case to one of the most methodical criminals we’ve ever covered.

Purchase Stephen Michaud’s book “Beyond Cruel” - https://books.apple.com/us/book/beyond-cruel/id6503722963

Sources:

• Phillips, Kate & Mandelaro, Doug, Bank audit shows $37,000 ransom, April 20, 1983, The Times Union
• Phillips, Kate & Martelle, Scott, Extortion victim eulogized; ransom drop site revealed, April 19, 1983, The Times Union
• Meade, Laura, Trail is cold but search goes on for man’s killer, June 1, 1983, The Democrat and Chronicle
• Meade, Laura, Gunman wanted 3rd hostage, April 20, 1983, The Democrat and Chronicle
• Meade, LauraHostage slaying baffles police, April 16, 1983, The Democrat and Chronicle
• Redmond, Jim, Body found after Greece extortion try, April 15, 1983, The Democrat and Chronicle
• Search for leads in slaying, April 19, 1983, The Democrat and Chronicle
• Phillips, Kate, Witnesses sought in extortion and slaying, April 18, 1983, The Democrat and Chronicle
• Monroe slaying brings in FBI, April 16, 1983, Press and Sun Bulletin
• Police hunt clues in extortion murder, April 16, 1983, The Ithaca Journal
• Phillips, Kate & Mandelaro, Doug, $25,000 ransom drop, 1 dead in bank drama, April 15, 1983, The Times Union
• Michaud, Stephen, Beyond Cruel: The Chilling True Story of America’s Most Sadistic Killer, May 1994, St. Martin’s Paperbacks

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

Save $20 on a Buzzsprout paid plan using this referral link!: https://www.buzzsprout.com/?referrer_id=2372693

Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson