The Consult is a true crime podcast that examines behavior exhibited before, during, and after the commission of a criminal act. Consultants are retired FBI profilers who worked the cases.
In part 4 of our series on the disappearance of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, we bring our analysis to a close. Drawing from the timeline, Sam McDonald’s account, and Ashley’s victimology, we assess what the known facts—and the gaps—may suggest about wh
In Part 3 of our series on the disappearance of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, we conclude our analysis of Sam McDonald’s account. From there, we shift our focus to Ashley’s victimology, looking at her lifestyle, relationships, and behavioral patterns to
We continue working through the timeline of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner's disappearance in June 2017, with a focus on the account provided by the individual who claimed to be the last person to see her.
In this multi-part series, we examine the disappearance of Ashley Loring HeavyRunner, a 20-year-old woman from the Blackfeet Nation who vanished in June of 2017. Joined by journalist and podcast host Jayson Blair, we walk through the timeline of Ashl
In Part 3 of our case study on Jeffrey Dahmer, we turn to his psychological evaluation. Forensic psychologist Dr. Paige Wilcoxson joins us again. Part 3 of 3.
In Part 2 of our case study on Jeffrey Dahmer, we move beyond the timeline of the crimes and examine his developmental background. We look at his childhood, family dynamics, early behaviors, and periods of isolation to understand how his trajectory d
We begin our analysis of Jeffrey Dahmer by reviewing the timeline of his crimes and the circumstances surrounding each victim. As we walk through the series of murders, we examine the investigative context at the time and discuss several missed oppor
We conduct a behavioral linkage analysis to examine the question of whether two of the most infamous unsolved cases in American criminal history—the murder of Elizabeth Short, known as the Black Dahlia, and the Zodiac killings—could have been committ
In this special episode of The Consult, I’m joined by retired FBI agent Jerri Williams, host of FBI Retired Case File Review, to revisit my favorite film of all time, The Silence of the Lambs.
In Part 2, we move away from the basic facts and discuss the characteristics of the offender, based on the actions taken inside the store and the sequence of events.
Retired FBI agent Geoffrey Kelly, the longtime case agent on the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum heist—the largest art theft in history—joins the show.
LOVE MURDER: A marriage that begins with a chance encounter in the 1960s spans two decades of ambition, volatility, and mounting strain, before a sudden death in a hotel room during a work trip is ruled an accident and quietly put to rest—until incon
We examine the 2019 murder of Elizabeth “Liz” Barraza, who was shot and killed in her driveway in Tomball, Texas while setting up for a garage sale. Mike Morford of the Criminology podcast joins us again as we discuss our impressions of the Ring came
We examine the 2019 murder of Elizabeth “Liz” Barraza, who was shot and killed in her driveway in Tomball, Texas, while setting up for a garage sale. Mike Morford of the Criminology podcast joins us for this three-part series.
We examine the concept of targeted violence (e.g., mass attacks, school shootings, lone-actor attacks, and assassinations) and how it differs from spontaneous or impulsive acts of violence.
In Part 2 of our analysis of The Murders of Dr. and Mrs. Littlefield, we turn to Paul Dwyer’s final confession in which he directly implicated Deputy Sheriff Francis Carroll in the murders.
In part 1 of our analysis of The Murders of Dr. and Mrs. Littlefield, we examine the circumstances surrounding the deaths of Dr. James Littlefield and his wife, Lydia, in 1937. Their bodies were discovered in their car in North Arlington, New Jersey,
In our third and final part on the missing and murdered women of Grand Rapids, Investigative Reporter Susan Samples from WOOD TV8 joins us again as we take a closer look at long-haul trucker Garry Artman. Artman was convicted of one of the Grand Rapi
In this bonus episode, Tiffany Link, Collections Curator for the Maine Historical Society and co-curator of the exhibition “Notorious: Maine Crime in the Public Eye, 1690–1940” joins the show.
In Part 2 of our 3-part series on the missing and murdered women connected to the Division Avenue area of Grand Rapids, Michigan, we continue our discussion with Investigative Reporter Susan Samples from WOOD TV8.
In this final follow-up episode, we continue our examination of Bryan Kohberger, considering the latest released investigative materials and supplemental reports.
Larry Harnisch, retired Los Angeles Times reporter and a leading subject-matter expert on the Black Dahlia case, joins the show to discuss his decades-long research into the 1947 murder of Elizabeth Short, detailing his investigative approach and eff
In the third and final part of our analysis of the Black Dahlia case, we discuss our observations of the offender. Based on the crime scene, autopsy findings, and what we know about Elizabeth Short, we develop a profile of the person responsible for
In the second part of our analysis of the Black Dahlia case, we examine the victimology of Elizabeth Short. Who was she, and what can her life tell us about the person who killed her?
We begin our analysis of one of the most infamous unsolved murders in American history—the Black Dahlia case. In this episode, we focus on the crime scene and autopsy of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short, whose body was discovered on January 15, 1947, in a
Dr. Ann Burgess joins the show to discuss her book Expert Witness: The Weight of Our Testimony When Justice Hangs in the Balance. An internationally recognized pioneer in the assessment and treatment of trauma and abuse victims, Dr. Burgess collabora
In this episode of The Consult, I talk with Áine Cain and Kevin Greenlee, hosts of the Murder Sheet podcast and authors of Shadow of the Bridge: The Delphi Murders and the Dark Side of the American Heartland.
In this final episode of our three-part analysis of the West Memphis Three case, we bring together everything we’ve learned about the murders of Michael Moore, Steve Branch, and Christopher Byers on or about May 5, 1993, and share our overall assessm
In this episode, we look at the autopsies and victimology of the three boys: Michael Moore, Steve Branch, and Christorpher Byers. We review what the medical examiner found, the condition of the bodies, and the significance of the injuries.
In this episode, Alyssa and Michael McFarland, hosts of Tragedy: A True Crime Podcast, join the show. We discuss the unsolved murder of George “Jody” Kilgore, who was stabbed in his driveway, in broad daylight, on October 6, 2014. He was 50 years old
We continue our analysis of the case of Karina Holmer, a 20-year-old au pair from Sweden who was last seen outside a nightclub in Boston in the early morning hours of June 22, 1996. On the afternoon of June 23, the upper half of her body was found in
In this episode, we begin our examination of the June 1996 murder of Karina Holmer, a young au pair from Sweden working in the United States. Karina was last seen alive in the early morning hours of Saturday, June 22, in downtown Boston. The next day
In this episode, I’m joined by Investigator Rita Curley from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst Equal Opportunity Office. In addition to her work as an investigator, Rita draws on her years in law enforcement to train officers on how to recogni
We discuss the murders of four University of Idaho students: Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin. The students were killed in Moscow, Idaho, on November 13, 2022. We are covering this case now because Bryan Kohberger rece
In this final installment, we continue our consultation with cold case investigator Jennifer Bucholtz and arson expert Alan Haskins from the American Military University Cold Case Team.
Cold case investigator Jennifer Bucholtz and arson investigator Alan Haskins return for Part 2 of our discussion about the 2008 unsolved murder of Linda Malcom in Port Orchard, Washington.
In this episode, Retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley is joined by Detectives Andrew Houghton and Matt Vartanian from the Elgin Police Department Cold Case Unit.
We’re joined once again by Ashland Oregon Police Chief Tighe O'Meara to discuss the 2011 unsolved murder of David Michael Grubbs. This time, we present our profile of the offender.
Retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley talks with geographic profiler Douglas MacGregor about his background and how geographic profiling can aid investigations.
In Part 4 of our series on the Zodiac Killer, we continue our discussion with Zodiac expert Michael Butterfield for a deep-dive discussion into the personality and behavioral characteristics of the infamous, unidentified serial killer.
Writer, researcher, and podcaster Michael Butterfield returns for Part 2 of our discussion on the Zodiac case. In this episode, we focus on the chilling attack at Lake Berryessa on September 27, 1969. The victims were college students Cecelia Shepard
Writer, researcher, and podcaster Michael Butterfield joins us to examine the series of murders
attributed to the person who called himself the Zodiac.
Retired FBI agent and senior polygraph examiner George Olivo joins The Consult to separate fact from fiction when it comes to the polygraph examination.
Jason Usry, host of the new podcast Inconceivable: The Story of Temujin Kensu, joins The Consult to discuss his investigation into the 1986 murder of Scott Macklem. Temujin Kensu was convicted of the crime, but many believe he was wrongfully convicte
We continue our in-depth examination of Ellen Greenberg’s death. In this episode, we analyze and debate the autopsy findings, exploring the key findings and their implications. Part 2 of 4.
In this episode of The Consult, we begin our examination of the death of Ellen Greenberg, a 27-year-old teacher found dead in her Philadelphia apartment in 2011. Initially ruled a homicide, her manner of death was later changed to suicide - despite 2
In this episode, retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley talks with Heidi Miller and Erin Ryan of the Sherry Black Foundation. Heidi’s mother, Sherry Black, was brutally murdered in 2010, and her case remained unsolved for years. Through perseverance and f
In this episode, FBI profiler Julia Cowley is joined again by Detective Ben Pender of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Department to discuss the 2010 murder of Sherry Black in South Salt Lake City, Utah. Ben provides a step-by-step account of the inves
In this episode of The Consult, retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley is joined by Detective Ben Pender of the Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Department to discuss the 2010 murder of Sherry Black in South Salt Lake City, Utah. Sherry, the owner of a local bo
In this episode of The Consult, retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley talks with former FBI Assistant Director Frank Figliuzzi to discuss his book, Long Haul: Hunting the Highway Serial Killers. They explore the chilling reality of transient predators op
We conclude our discussion with writer Jeffrey Cintolo about the unsolved murder of 19-year-old Theresa Corley. Theresa’s body was found on December 8, 1978, in a gully alongside Interstate 495 in Bellingham, Massachusetts.
We continue our discussion with writer Jeffrey Cintolo about the unsolved murder of 19-year-old Theresa Corley. Theresa’s body was found on December 8, 1978, in a gully alongside Interstate 495 in Bellingham, Massachusetts. Jeffrey is writing a book
In this episode of The Consult, we delve into the unsolved murder of Theresa Corley, a 19-year-old woman whose body was discovered on December 8, 1978, in a gully alongside Interstate 495 in Bellingham, Massachusetts. Joining us is writer Jeffrey Cin
Jack Fox, the host of Never A Truer Word on YouTube, joins Julia Cowley for an in-depth discussion on statement analysis. They discuss its significance, Jack’s methodology, common indicators of truthfulness and deception, and the challenges involved
In this episode, we profile the murderer of John and Geraldine Magee, who were found shot to death in their Andover, Massachusetts home on December 14, 2011. The Magee’s Lexus SUV was also stolen and found on fire in the North End of Boston.
Brett Talley, co-host of The Prosecutors and Legal Briefs podcasts, joins Julia Cowley for an insightful discussion on ethics in true crime. We explore the responsibilities of creators when presenting sensitive cases, the balance between storytelling
In Part 2 of our analysis of the JonBenét Ramsey case, we continue our look at this infamous unsolved murder. We explore victimology, behavioral analysis concepts, and examine the offender profile. Part 2 of 2.
One of our most requested cases, the murder of six-year-old JonBenét Ramsey, has sparked endless debate and sensational reporting over the years. In this episode, we strip away the noise, speculation, and media frenzy to get back to the basics. Join
In 2014, the Broaddus family purchased what they thought was their dream home in Westfield, NJ, only to be terrorized by an anonymous letter writer known as “The Watcher.” In this episode, we do a behavioral analysis of The Watcher letters to examine
We tell the eerie story of "The Watcher" case, an unsettling true crime mystery. In 2014, the Broaddus family purchased what they thought was their dream home in Westfield, New Jersey, only to find themselves targeted by an unknown letter-writer call
In this episode, retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Sercer, Susan Kossler Drew, and Bob Drew are joined by Josiah Ward and Daniel Bright, the hosts of Next of Kin: The Untold Story of Jim Duckett. This is part 2 of 2 of our analysis of the 20
In this episode, retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Sercer, Susan Kossler Drew, and Bob Drew are joined by the hosts of "Next of Kin: The Untold Story of Jim Duckett." Josiah Ward and Daniel Bright provide an overview of the crime, and we rev
Retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley sits down with cold case detective Ken Mains to explore the 1995 abduction of Jodi Huisentruit, a popular Mason City, IA news anchor. Ken recently visited the crime scene, and shares his theory as to who took Jodi. J
This is the second and final part of retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley’s discussion with retired Sergeant Dan Kraus of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and Senior Investigator John Krummenacker of the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office.
In this episode, retired FBI profiler Julia Cowley is joined by retired Sergeant Dan Kraus of the Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office and Senior Investigator John Krummenacker of the Clackamas County District Attorney’s Office. Together, they discuss t
Crystal Merrill, a key witness in Temujin Kensu's 1987 trial for the murder of Scott Macklem, recently shared a transcript of Kensu's 2010 commutation hearing with us. She believed it would be useful in further "profiling" Kensu. Although we hadn't p
In this episode, retired FBI agent Julia Cowley talks with retired Detective Lieutenant Herb Welser of the Port Huron Police Department. Following his retirement, Herb delved into the investigation of Scott Macklem’s murder, uncovering several red fl
We continue our analysis of the murder of Scott Macklem, who was shot in the parking lot of St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Michigan, on November 5, 1986. Many people believe that Fred Freeman, now known as Temujin Kensu, was wrongl
We analyze the murder of Scott Macklem, who was shot in the parking lot of St. Clair County Community College on November 5, 1986. Many people believe that Fred Freeman, now known as Temujin Kensu, was wrongly convicted of this crime. In this episode
We analyze the murder of Scott Macklem, who was shot in the parking lot of St. Clair County Community College on November 5, 1986, in Port Huron, MI. Many people believe Fred Freeman, now known as Temujin Kensu, was wrongly convicted. In this episode
In this episode of The Consult, we continue our deep dive into the world of missing persons with a special guest, Ed Dentzel, the creator and host of Unfound, a podcast dedicated to shedding light on missing person cases. Ed shares his background and
In this episode of The Consult, we dive deep into the world of missing persons with a special guest, Ed Dentzel, the creator and host of Unfound, a podcast dedicated to shedding light on missing person cases. Ed shares his background and what led him
We continue our examination the unsolved murder of Willie Earl “Bo” Bedford, who was murdered on December 22, 2001, just outside the Columbiana, Alabama city limits. Deputies Bob O’Connor and Alton Sizemore of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office Cold
We examine the unsolved murder of Willie Earl “Bo” Bedford, who was murdered on December 22, 2001, just outside the Columbiana, Alabama city limits. Deputies Bob O’Connor and Alton Sizemore of the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office, Cold Case Unit join u
On February 22, 1972, 19-year-old Shirley Elizabeth Whitten and 26-year-old Roger Dale Higgins were found stabbed to death in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Wildwood, Florida. The case remains unsolved. Join retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Serc
On February 22, 1972, 19-year-old Shirley Elizabeth Whitten and 26-year-old Roger Dale Higgins were found stabbed to death in the Oak Grove Cemetery in Wildwood, Florida. The case remains unsolved. Join retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Serc
We continue our discussion about the 1969 disappearance of William “Bill” Campbell Underhill with retired Minneapolis Police sergeant Holly Keegel and her sister Heidi Hilton, a retired small business owner. This is part 3 of 3.
We continue our discussion about the 1969 disappearance of William “Bill” Campbell Underhill with retired Minneapolis Police sergeant Holly Keegel and her sister Heidi Hilton, a retired small business owner. We discuss the General Assessment Question
In today’s episode, retired Minneapolis Police sergeant Holly Keegel, and her sister Heidi Hilton, a retired small business owner, join retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Sercer, Susan Kossler Drew, and Bob Drew, to discuss the case of Willia
In this episode, we answer listener questions about the unsolved murder of Robert Wone.
If you have any information about the murder of Robert Wone, please contact the Metropolitan Police Department at (202) 727-9099, or if you wish to remain anonym
We continue our analysis of the unsolved murder of Robert Wone, a Washington, DC attorney, who was murdered on August 2, 2006, while staying the night at the home of a college friend.
If you have any information about the murder of Robert Wone, plea
We begin our analysis of the unsolved murder of Robert Wone, a Washington, DC attorney, who was murdered on August 2, 2006, while staying the night at the home of a college friend.
If you have any information about the murder of Robert Wone, please
This is the third and final part of our discussion with David Greer and Craig Brownstein, the Editors of the Who Murdered Robert Wone website. We continue our discussion of the suspects and evidence; exploration of theories; and the challenges that l
David Greer and Craig Brownstein, the Editors of the Who Murdered Robert Wone website, join us again as we continue our analysis of the unsolved murder of Robert Wone. In this episode, we continue to explore the complex relationships between the thre
In today’s episode, David Greer and Craig Brownstein, the Editors of the Who Murdered Robert Wone website, join us as we delve deep into the perplexing case of the murder of Robert Wone. In this episode, we explore the intricate relationships between
On August 2, 2006, Robert Wone, a Washington D.C. attorney, planned to work late and stay at the home of friends rather than commute home that night. Within 79 minutes of arriving, he was found stabbed to death in their guest room. Retired Assistant
On August 2, 2006, Robert Wone, a Washington, D.C. attorney, planned to work late and stay at the home of friends rather than commute home that night. Less than an hour and a half after arriving, he was found stabbed to death in the guest room. In th
On November 18, 2010, Diane Zaleski was found murdered in her home in Union Township, New Jersey. This episode is part 2 of 2, and Lt. Michael Manochio of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office (UCPO) joins us again to discuss the profile done by the F
On November 18, 2010, Diane Zaleski was found murdered in her home in Union Township, New Jersey. In this episode, Lt. Michael Manochio of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office (UCPO) joins retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Sercer, Susan Koss
On September 8, 2009, Yale University PhD student Annie Le was murdered by her co-worker, Raymond Clark, III, in a Yale School of Medicine research lab building. In this episode of The Consult, retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Sercer, Susan
On the night of September 8, 2009, Yale University PhD student Annie Le was reported missing by her roommate after she did not come home. The last sighting of Annie was when she arrived at her job located in a Yale School of Medicine research lab bui
On April 15, 1992, Lisa Ziegert was abducted from her job at a card shop and found murdered four days later in a wooded area in Agawam, Massachusetts. This was one of the highest profile unsolved murder cases in the history of the state. In this epis
This episode of The Consult is a continuation of retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Sercer, Susan Kossler-Drew, and Bob Drew’s discussion of serial murder.
Music: "Light in the Basement" by John Hanske. You can listen to John’s music here: S
In this episode of The Consult, retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Sercer, Susan Kossler Drew, and Bob Drew discuss serial murder – including its characteristics, motivations, and myths.
Music "Light in the Basement" by John Hanske. You can
In this episode, we assess the true nature of the JonBenét Ramsey ransom note, with the aim of providing insight into the personality traits and characteristics of the author.
Music by John Hanske. You can listen to John’s music on Spotify.
During the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 27, 1995, Iowa television news anchor Jodi Huisentruit was abducted outside her Mason City apartment as she rushed to get to work. Since that day, there have been no signs of Jodi. In today’s episode, J
During the early morning hours of Tuesday, June 27, 1995, Iowa television news anchor Jodi Huisentruit was abducted outside her Mason City apartment as she rushed to get to work. Since that day, there have been no signs of Jodi. In today’s episode, J
In October 2008, filmmaker, aspiring screenwriter, and wannabe serial killer, Mark Twitchell, pretended to be a woman on an online dating website and lured Johnny Altinger to a rented garage under the pretense of a romantic encounter. Instead, Twitch
Israel Keyes was a highly mobile serial killer who murdered Bill and Lorraine Currier in June 2011 and Samantha Koenig in February 2012. Keyes is also suspected of murdering several other people. He died by suicide in December 2012. Listen as retired
On February 2, 2012, 18-year-old Samantha Koenig was reported missing from her place of employment, a coffee stand in Anchorage, Alaska. Security camera footage obtained by investigators showed she was abducted the night before as she prepared for cl
On June 9, 2011, Lorraine and William Currier were discovered missing from their home in Essex, Vermont. There were indications they were abducted, but the answers as to what happened did not come until almost a year later when serial killer Israel K
On Monday, August 2, 2010, Philip DiMartino was found murdered in his San Francisco apartment. Philip had been stabbed 48 times and with such force some of his ribs were broken. Listen as retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Sercer, Bob Drew, a
On Monday, August 2, 2010, Philip DiMartino was found murdered in his San Francisco apartment. Philip had been stabbed 48 times and with such force some of his ribs were broken. Listen as retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Sercer, Bob Drew, a
On Sunday morning, October 1, 2006, Marie Warren's grandson called the Lapeer County Sheriff's Office to report his grandmother missing. Shortly thereafter, just as investigators were securing the crime scene, Ms. Warren's body was found approximatel
On Monday, July 18, 1988, Jane Gilboy was found murdered in her home in Franklin, Massachusetts. She was brutally beaten and her throat was cut just as she arrived home from work at 4:15 p.m. Jane's murder remains unsolved. Listen as retired FBI prof
In 2009, a serial rapist struck in several small towns in Texas. He was dubbed the Twilight Rapist because his attacks occurred in the early morning hours. This offender became one of the most wanted men in Texas, and a task force was created by the
In 2009, a serial rapist struck in several small towns in Texas. He was dubbed the Twilight Rapist because his attacks occurred in the early morning hours. This offender became one of the most wanted men in Texas, and a task force was created by the
In this episode of The Consult, retired FBI profilers Julia Cowley, Angela Sercer, Susan Kossler Drew, and Bob Drew discuss the process of profiling, or criminal investigative analysis, and the important concepts to consider when conducting a crimina
On June 8, 2008, Skyla Whitaker, age 11, and Taylor Paschal-Placker, age 13, were murdered while walking down a dirt road in rural Weleetka, Oklahoma. They were shot multiple times with two different guns. In this episode of The Consult, retired FBI
On June 8, 2008, Taylor Paschal-Placker, age 13, and her best friend, Skyla Whitaker, age 11, were murdered while walking down a dirt road in rural Weleetka, Oklahoma. They were shot multiple times with two different weapons. In this episode of The C
This is the conclusion of the 3-part series of profiling Joe DeAngelo – the serial burglar, rapist, and murderer also known as the Golden State Killer, East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, and Visalia Ransacker. Retired FBI profilers Julia Cowle
Known as the East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, and Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo terrorized California from 1974 - 1986. He was infamous for breaking into homes, ransacking them, and sexually assaulting female victims when their
Known as the East Area Rapist, Original Night Stalker, and Golden State Killer, Joseph James DeAngelo terrorized California from 1974 - 1986. He was infamous for breaking into homes, ransacking them, and sexually assaulting female victims when their