Serial Killers

He had no pattern. No victim type. No consistent MO. And he killed across the country. Nicknamed the “Casanova Killer” for his good looks, Paul John Knowles confounded the police. Greg and Vanessa dig into Knowles troubled childhood and disrespect for authority, then try to unpack a confusing man who described himself as both Jonathan Livingston Seagull and Bonnie and Clyde. SPONSORS! Talkspace - To sign up or to learn more, go to Talkspace.com/sk and to show your support for this podcast, use code SK to get $30 off your first month. THE SINNER - Premieres, Wednesday, August 2nd at 10, 9 central, only on USA Network. Detroit - Starring John Boyega, Anthony Mackie and Algee Smith, and directed by Academy-Award Winner Kathryn Bigelow, DETROIT premiers in theaters August 4th. Blue Apron - Check out this week’s menu and get your first THREE meals FREE—WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BLUEAPRON.COM/KILLERS

“The Boogey Man”, AKA Albert Fish, attacked over 100 children, many of them unidentified. A traumatic childhood created a twisted old man, tormented by religious delusions and sick sexual fantasies. Greg and Vanessa explore the kidnapping and murder of Grace Budd, which led to Fish’s downfall, his shocking confessions, and his eventual execution. SPONSORS! Talkspace – Use coupon code SK to get $30 off your first month, visit Talkspace.com/sk Thumbtack.com The Sinner – Premieres, Wednesday, August 2nd at 10, 9 central, only on USA Network

Albert Fish preyed on young children in the early 1900s, molesting, murdering, and even cannibalizing them. He wasn’t caught until the 1930s, when three of his most horrifying crimes came to light. This week, Greg and Vanessa discuss Fish’s tumultuous childhood, his paraphilic disorders, and two of his most infamous victims. SPONSORS! Talkspace - For a special offer for our listeners, visit Talkspace.com/sk. Blue Apron - Check out this week’s menu and get your first THREE meals FREE—WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BLUE APRON.COM/KILLERS

These sadistic killers notoriously recorded the audio of their final murder; a recording so disturbing, half the courtroom broke down in tears. Prior to the recording, Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris plotted to kill a girl of every age from thirteen to nineteen, and got halfway through their plan. Greg and Vanessa discuss organized killers, and why this pair chose to leave their final victim in a place she was sure to be found. INTRODUCING…Stick around after the show for a special interview with Edgar-Award Winning Author Meg Gardiner where we discuss how she writes about the psychology of serial killers and detectives in her new book, UNSUB. Moving forward, we will occasionally interview crime writers at the end of Serial Killer episodes, ensuring we do not ruin your experience but giving you the option to hang around and listen to more content!

Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris terrorized the streets Southern California during their five month killing-spree in 1979, taking the lives of at least five teenage girls. Greg and Vanessa dive into the psychology of this “gruesome twosome”, and the factors that can cause an inmate to leave prison ready to commit even more despicable crimes. SPONSORS! Carvana - Skip the dealership and buy a car online. Check out Carvana.com/SERIAL to learn more Simplisafe - Go to SIMPLISAFE dot com slash LISTEN and get a special 10% discount when you order today Blue Apron - Check out this week’s menu and get your first THREE meals FREE—WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BLUE APRON.COM/KILLERS

If there’s no body, there’s no murder. At least, that’s what John George Haigh thought the legal term “corpus delicti” meant. Haigh dissolved his victims in acid, earning the nickname “The Acid Bath Murderer”. This organized and “paranoiac” killer went after people he knew, aiming to steal their money. Greg and Vanessa follow Haigh’s pattern of murders, and the arrogance that helped the police to bring him in. SPONSORS! Carvana - Go to Carvana.com/SERIAL for the new way to buy a car! Audible - Start a 30-day trial and your first Audible book is free. Learn more at Audible.com/KILLERS Astonishing Legends - Visit favorite podcast directory and search for Astonishing Legends. Or visit astonishinglegends.com to start listening right now.

John George Haigh poured his victims’ bodies down the sewer. A narcissistic killer, Haigh had a severe lack of empathy which led him to kill people, rob them, and dissolve their bodies in acid. This week, Greg and Vanessa explore narcissistic personality disorder, the insanity defense, and the factors in Haigh’s early life that led to him murdering one of his few friends. SPONSORS! Thumbtack - Thumbtack makes it easy to find pros for pretty much anything you need done. Download the app or try it now at thumbtack dot com. That’s thumbtack dot com BlueApron - Check out this week’s menu and get your first THREE meals FREE—WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BLUE APRON.COM/KILLERS.

Alexander Pichushkin’s favorite book was How to Win Friends and Influence People, which he used to charm his victims into following him into the woods. He was charged with 49 murders, but was upset the authorities didn’t verify a higher kill count. Pichushkin idolized Russia’s most prolific serial killer, Andrei Chikatilo, and wanted to go down as an even more prolific killer. Greg and Vanessa examine how Pichushkin’s desire for validation was the only reason he was caught. SPONSORS! Casper – Go to casper.com/KILLERS to get $50 off any mattress

Alexander Pichushkin tracked his murders by marking X’s on his favorite chessboard. Luring victims into a park before bludgeoning them with a blunt object, Pichushkin also earned the nickname “The Bitsevsky Park Maniac”. This week, Greg and Vanessa look into the effects of frontal lobe damage on a child’s brain, and how alcoholism, a porn addiction and a love for chess shaped a prolific killer. SPONSORS! Tile - Get yours today at gettile.com/serial and save up to thirty percent per TILE on a multi-pack. Plus, free shipping! And, because TILE makes the perfect gift, for a limited time, get a FREE GIFT BOX with a multi-pack order. Blue Apron - Check out this week’s menu and get your first THREE meals FREE—WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to blueapron.com/killers

The Zodiac Killer held San Francisco in a grip of terror in the 1960’s largely due to the letters and ciphers he sent the newspapers and police. Greg and Vanessa dig into the meaning of the mysterious messages, and try to figure out how a killer who mailed the authorities clues was never caught. They also take a look at the phenomena of false confessions. SPONSORS! Tile - Act now to get free shipping and save thirty percent per TILE on a multi-pack and, for a limited time, get a FREE GIFT BOX! Go to: gettile.com/serial Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories – New episodes out now! Subscribe and listen on your favorite podcast directory!

He’s one of the most notorious serial killers in US history, and we don’t even know his real name. A “thrill killer”, the Zodiac targeted couples, but they weren’t the only victims of his terror spree. This week, Greg and Vanessa dive into the Zodiac Killer’s crimes and examine how his methods of murder showed a need for attention. SPONSORS! Mommy Dead and Dearest – Watch HBO’s latest true crime documentary, premiering Monday, May 15 at 10pm on HBO. Tile - Go to gettile.com/serial and save up to thirty percent per TILE on a multi-pack. Plus, free shipping! And for a limited time, get a FREE GIFT BOX with a multi-pack order. Blue Apron - Check out this week’s menu and get your first THREE meals FREE—WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to blueapron.com/killers

Donald “Pee Wee” Gaskins was so disturbed, he had classifications for the types of murders he’d commit- “coastal” or “serious.” The “Redneck Charles Manson” killed hitchhikers for pleasure, but also committed grudge murders on victims he knew. Greg and Vanessa explore Donald’s misogyny and examine the claims he made in his memoir. SPONSORS! Tile – Go to gettile.com/serial and save up to thirty percent per TILE on a multi-pack, and get free shipping! And for a limited time, you’ll get a FREE GIFT BOX with your multi-pack order.

A killer so vicious he managed to kill twice while in prison, earning the nicknames “The Meanest Man in America” and “The Redneck Charles Manson”, Donald Henry Gaskins terrorized the American South in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s. This week, Greg and Vanessa dig into Donald’s need for dominance and his position in prison hierarchies. SPONSORS! Bosch - Season 3 now streaming on Amazon Prime! Blue Apron - Check out this week’s menu and get your first THREE meals FREE—WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BLUEAPRON.COM/KILLERS True Crime Garage – Listen and subscribe on iTunes, Stitcher, TrueCrimeGarage.com and other podcast platforms! Patreon - Donate to our Patreon campaign and get access to part 2 of the Donald Gaskins right now!

The Axeman drove New Orleans to hysteria, but he also drove the citizens to play loud jazz music. Greg and Vanessa analyze this odd request, as well as police prejudice in investigating the case. Later, they read a letter from the killer, purporting his demonic association. What psychological factors led the Axeman to claim to be “From Hell”? SPONSORS! Bosch - Stream season 3 on Amazon Prime, NOW Hunt a Killer - Use the code ’KILLERS' and get 10% off when you sign up at huntakiller.com Texture – Get 14 days of Texture for free when you go to Texture.com/SERIALKILLERS

In the early 1900’s, the Axeman of New Orleans chiseled his way into homes to kill his sleeping victims. Then he’d vanish; leaving the corpse, the weapon, and sometimes his own bloody clothes behind. Greg and Vanessa examine the concept of overkill in this disorganized killer. Then they ask the question: Was the narcissistic Axeman part of the mafia, a German spy, or a demon from hell? SPONSORS! Bombas - Go to Bombas.com/SERIAL to get 20% off your first order. Bosch- Stream season 3 on Amazon Prime, April 21st. Blue Apron - Get your first THREE meals FREE—WITH FREE SHIPPING—by going to BLUEAPRON.COM/KILLERS