In 2012, a woman was found with her hands bound in the Mojave Desert. She led authorities to a grisly crime scene where a barbaric attack had taken place. This moment marked the beginning of an international manhunt and a sting operation that turned a once-devoted wife into an informant.
Authorities zeroed in on the so-called mastermind behind the attack: Hossein Nayeri, a charming man who had ties to the emerging medical marijuana industry in California. Told with police tapes, secretly recorded informant calls and footage of a prison break, “Devil in the Desert" unravels a crime so brutal that it still haunts investigators today.
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Host [Host Name] explores the frozen-in-time McStay family home, launching a years-long mystery in this interview episode.
16 Jun 2026TRANSCRIPT
Introducing "The Snare"
In this interview, host [Host Name] explores how police questioning of Chris Tapp in Idaho Falls sets him on an unexpected life path.
28 Apr 2026TRANSCRIPT
Introducing "Blood and Water"
Today, we're sharing something a little different. This is the first episode of the latest true crime podcast from 20/20 and ABC Audio, "Blood and Water."
A woman fails to show up to work. When investigators are called to her home, they find a gruesome crime scene.
To hear the rest of the series, follow "Blood and Water" on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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10 Mar 2026TRANSCRIPT
Introducing "Bridge of Lies"
Host Juju Chang investigates the disappearance of 19-year-old Sarah Stern after her abandoned car sparks a search for answers.
5 Nov 2025TRANSCRIPT
Introducing "The Hand in the Window"
Now that "Devil in the Desert" has come to a close, we're sharing the first episode of our new series from 20/20 and ABC Audio, "The Hand in the Window."
A 911 call becomes the first step in an investigation that would reveal sinister and shocking crimes.
To catch new episodes early, follow "The Hand in the Window" for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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25 Sept 2025TRANSCRIPT
Introducing "Vanished: What Happened to Vanessa"
Today, we're sharing something special with you. This is the first episode of the latest true crime podcast from 20/20 and ABC Audio, "Vanished: What Happened to Vanessa."
In episode one, Private First Class Vanessa Guillén shows up for work one morning at the Fort Hood Army base and disappears without a trace. When she stops responding to text messages, her tight-knit family in Houston immediately sounds the alarm. Who was Vanessa Guillen? How did this strong 20-year-old soldier suddenly go missing on a military base? And why does she inspire an international movement?
To catch new episodes early, follow "Vanished: What Happened to Vanessa" for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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29 Aug 2025TRANSCRIPT
Bonus: The Third Man
This bonus episode of Devil in the Desert will explore the perspective of the elusive third man involved in the crime of violent kidnapping and torture: Ryan Kevorkian. Matt Gutman and "Start Here" host Brad Mielke tell the story of the one person willing to share a first-hand account from the night of the crime, using never-before-heard police interview tape of Kevorkian himself.
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30 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Introducing "Cold Blooded: Mystery in Alaska"
Now that "Devil in the Desert" has come to a close, we're sharing the first episode of our latest series from 20/20 and ABC Audio, "Cold Blooded: Mystery in Alaska."
A welfare check leads to the discovery of a body — and some strange clues.
To hear the whole six-episode series, follow "Cold Blooded: Mystery in Alaska" for free on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
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22 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Catching Nayeri
Hossein Nayeri and two other fugitives are on the run. Would Nayeri ever face justice?
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15 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
Getaway
The wife of Hossein Nayeri is the key to luring him back from Iran. But can investigators trust her?
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8 Jul 2025TRANSCRIPT
The Witness
This episode explores what Hossein Nayeri's wife may know regarding his involvement in the crime against Mary Barnes and Michael, potentially revealing crucial details.
1 Jul 2025
Control
This episode of "Devil in the Desert" examines how a former high school wrestling star became the main suspect in a brutal crime.
24 Jun 2025
A Neon Sign For Crime
Investigators follow a neighbor's observation of suspicious activity, uncovering the initial clue in a criminal case.
17 Jun 2025
Cat and Mouse
Authorities investigate the brutal torture and murder of a man in the Mojave Desert, sparking a decade-long pursuit for justice.
2 Jun 2025TRANSCRIPT
Introducing "Devil in the Desert"
This episode introduces the "Devil in the Desert" podcast series, which unravels a brutal crime involving Hossein Nayeri and an international manhunt in the Mojave Desert.
Inside a recent episode
Introducing 'What Happened to the McStays?'
Published 11 Aug 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] The kids, they were growing up to be surfer dudes too. They definitely took after Joey, you know, wanting to be close to the ocean. Another big part of the McStay's lives was Joseph's work. Earth-inspired products. It sold elaborate custom decorative waterfalls. These were large-scale standalone objects, often six feet tall. Water would be pumped invisibly to the top of tall glass panes and then cascade down into pools that sparkled with hidden light fixtures. Earth-inspired products also had an online retail side where they sold pre-manufactured water features. Gina Watson worked for one of Joseph's manufacturing partners. […]
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