Murder Mindset

About Murder Mindset

Dark. Investigative. Unflinching. Dive deep into the minds of killers with Murder Mindset, a true crime podcast exploring the psychological, social, and behavioral forces that turn ordinary people into murderers. Each season focuses on a distinct type of crime, from familicide and crimes of passion to deadly love triangles, unraveling the patterns, motives, and warning signs often hidden in plain sight. Through detailed case studies, expert insights, and survivor perspectives, Murder Mindset goes beyond sensational headlines to examine why these crimes happen—and the impact they leave behind

Publisher

Kelsey C

Category

true crime

Language

en

Explicit

Yes

First episode

4 Jan 2026

Latest episode

23 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

14 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   23 Aug 2026

   Behind the Lens of Malice

   On June 4, 2008, a digital camera recovered from a washing machine in Mesa, Arizona, revealed the unthinkable: a sequence of photographs documenting the final moments of Travis Alexander's life. The 30-year-old motivational speaker and Prepaid Legal salesman was found five days later in his shower—his throat slashed, 27 stab wounds across his body, and a gunshot wound to the forehead. His ex-girlfriend, Jodi Arias, initially denied involvement, then claimed self-defense, then testified she had no memory of the killing. The prosecution argued premeditation: a stolen gun, dyed hair, removed license plates, and a trail of deleted text messages. The trial became a media sensation—18 days of Arias's testimony, explicit phone recordings played in open court, and a jury that ultimately convicted her of first-degree murder but deadlocked on the death penalty. This episode of Behind the Lens of Malice goes beyond the headlines. We examine the forensic timeline reconstructed from metadata on that camera's memory card. We hear from friends who watched Travis navigate a relationship marked by escalating control and surveillance. And we ask: when a murder is photographed frame by frame, what does the lens reveal about the psychology of the killer—and the vulnerability of the victim? Behind the Lens of Malice — where evidence speaks louder than alibis.

2. 

   16 Aug 2026

   Terror in the Workplace

   In 1984, 22-year-old engineer Laura Black began her career at ESL Incorporated in Sunnyvale, California—unaware that a brief introduction to coworker Richard Farley would ignite a four-year campaign of terror. What started as unwanted romantic advances escalated into relentless stalking: over 200 letters, surveillance at her home and gym, stolen personnel files, and copied keys to her desk. Despite Laura's repeated rejections and ESL's eventual termination of Farley in 1986, the harassment continued. The breaking point came in February 1988 when Laura secured a restraining order hearing scheduled for February 17. Farley arrived a day early—heavily armed and determined. On February 16, he forced his way into ESL's Building M5, methodically hunting for Laura while gunning down anyone in his path. Seven employees died. Four were wounded, including Laura, who survived a shotgun blast to the shoulder. The standoff ended only when Farley surrendered in exchange for food and a soft drink. Farley was convicted of seven counts of first-degree murder and sentenced to death. But the case's legacy extends far beyond the courtroom. Laura Black's ordeal—alongside the murder of actress Rebecca Schaeffer—forced California to enact the nation's first anti-stalking laws, fundamentally reshaping how the legal system recognizes and responds to obsession-based violence. This episode examines how institutional failures allowed a predictable tragedy to unfold, the forensic psychology of erotomania, and the survivor whose courage changed the law.

3. 

   9 Aug 2026

   The Price of Proximity

   On July 18, 1989, 21-year-old actress Rebecca Schaeffer opened the door of her West Hollywood apartment expecting a script courier — instead, she found Robert John Bardo, an obsessed fan who had stalked her for three years and shot her point-blank in the chest. In this episode of "The Price of Proximity," we trace how Bardo tracked Schaeffer down using a private investigator who legally obtained her home address through California DMV records for just 250 dollars — a chilling loophole that existed at the time. We unpack the investigation that followed, including Bardo's arrest a day later in Tucson, Arizona, after he was found running into traffic while confessing to the killing, and his eventual conviction for first-degree murder resulting in a life sentence without parole. Beyond the crime itself, this episode examines Schaeffer's lasting legacy: her death directly led to California's first-ever anti-stalking law in 1990 and the federal Driver's Privacy Protection Act in 1994, reforms that reshaped how the justice system treats stalking victims nationwide. We also explore the "proximity paradox" at the heart of celebrity culture — how the same visibility that builds a career can expose a person to fatal risk from a fan who mistakes obsession for intimacy.

4. 

   2 Aug 2026

   The Shattered Stage

   A life can change in an instant when admiration turns into fixation. In this episode of Fatal Fixation, we examine the murder of Darrell Abbott and the disturbing dynamics that emerge when boundaries are ignored. Through the case, we explore warning signs of escalating obsession, the impact on loved ones, and the lasting consequences of violence driven by entitlement. Content note: This episode discusses homicide, stalking behaviors, and violence.

5. 

   27 May 2026

   Murder Mindset: Fatal Fixation | Official Season 2 Trailer

   This August, Murder Mindset returns with Fatal Fixation, a haunting new season exploring the dangerous line between obsession, control, and violence. From missed warning signs to escalating boundaries and the devastating aftermath of fixation turned fatal, this season examines the cases that reveal how quickly attention can become something far more dangerous. Featuring stories of lives upended by relentless pursuit, Fatal Fixation pulls back the curtain on the chilling realities behind obsession-driven crimes. Some fixations fade. Others destroy. Murder Mindset: Fatal Fixation premieres August 2026.

6. 

   22 Mar 2026

   The Powell Explosion

   In the snowy suburbs of West Valley City, Utah, 28-year-old Susan Cox Powell vanished on December 6, 2009, leaving behind two young sons, Charlie and Braden, and a husband, Josh Powell, who quickly became the prime person of interest. What began as a baffling missing-persons case spiraled into one of the most haunting family tragedies in modern true crime: a web of coercive control, financial strain, voyeuristic crimes by Josh's father Steve Powell, custody battles, and a deliberate 2012 explosion in Graham, Washington, that claimed the lives of Josh and his boys in a premeditated murder-suicide. Join host Kelsey Coffey for this single-narrator deep dive into the Powell family saga. Through verified timelines, court records, police investigations, and forensic details, we reconstruct Susan's documented fears—including her chilling 2008 letter warning of non-accidental death—the Utah probe into her disappearance, the Washington child-welfare crisis triggered by Steve Powell's child pornography conviction, and the supervised visit that ended in flames. Victim-centered and trauma-aware, this episode humanizes Susan as a devoted mother, Charlie and Braden as vibrant children caught in escalating danger, and exposes systemic gaps in risk assessment across law enforcement and courts. Explore the patterns of intimate partner abuse, the red flags in Josh's post-disappearance behavior—from implausible camping stories to evasive interviews—and the haunting question: how did so many warnings fail to save three lives? With no speculation, no audio clips, just public records and investigative reporting, we trace the fault lines of control, isolation, and accountability that define this unresolved case. Perfect for fans of methodical true crime narratives unpacking familicide, coercive dynamics, and justice system failures. Listen if you dare—but listener discretion advised for discussions of child victims, domestic homicide, and murder-suicide.

7. 

   15 Mar 2026

   Roadside Reckoning

   In the pre-dawn darkness of June 14, 2007, a red Ford Expedition sat abandoned on a secluded frontage road off I-55 in Channahon, Illinois—inside, Kimberly Vaughn and her three young children lay dead from close-range gunshot wounds, while husband Christopher Vaughn limped away bloodied, claiming his wife had shot him and the kids before turning the gun on herself. What began as a promised family surprise trip to a Springfield waterpark ended in a forensic nightmare that divided investigators, tore apart a suburban Oswego family, and led to four life sentences without parole after a contentious 2012 trial. On this episode of Murder Mindset, I unravel the documented escalations—from strip club lies and Yukon escape fantasies to bloodstain clashes and dancer testimonies—probing the psychological unraveling behind a roadside reckoning that still sparks innocence claims today. Through verified trial records, autopsy details, and witness accounts, we trace the Vaughn family’s unraveling: a devoted mother’s criminal justice dreams, an “absent father’s” detachment, and evidence gaps—like Kimberly’s migraine meds with FDA-noted suicide risks—that fueled defense theories of her as perpetrator. Victim-centered and trauma-aware, this two-hour documentary honors Abigayle, Cassandra, and Blake’s stolen futures while dissecting prosecution proofs against Christopher: self-inflicted wounds, mismatched DNA on seatbelt latches, and a 9mm handgun practiced just days prior. No graphic sensationalism—just steady tension, forensic breakthroughs, and system reflections on belief, accountability, and familicide’s shadow. Listener discretion advised for discussions of intimate partner strain and child victims.

8. 

   6 Mar 2026

   Bodies on the Coast

   In December 2001, the quiet Oregon coast became the stage for one of the most chilling family annihilations in modern true crime: Christian Longo strangled his wife Mary Jane and their three young children—Zachery (4), Sadie (3), and Madison (2)—before dumping their bodies in suitcases and coastal waters near Newport. What followed was a brazen flight to Mexico, where he posed as a New York Times reporter, weaving lies even as investigators pieced together his trail of discarded family belongings, stolen vehicles, and pre-planned alibis. Hosted by Kelsey Coffey, this single-narrator deep dive reconstructs the verified timeline from court records and contemporaneous reporting: the escalating deceptions, financial collapse, and identity-shifting that isolated Mary Jane and the kids; the precise recovery of bodies from Embarcadero Marina and Waldport's Highway 34 bridge; the Lincoln County Circuit Court trial (CC 016441) ending in guilty pleas, convictions, a 2003 death sentence (later commuted to life without parole in 2022), and the human cost that lingers for Mary Jane's family. Victim-centered and trauma-aware, we trace how image-management masked coercive control, why warning signs hid in plain sight, and the mechanics of an investigation that turned everyday witnesses into key evidence—without speculation, graphic details, or sensationalism. Perfect for fans of methodical escalation breakdowns and forensic timelines. Content Warning: Discussions of familicide, child victims, and intimate partner homicide.

9. 

   14 Feb 2026

   Easter Sunday Massacre

   Uncover the chilling truths behind one of America's most devastating family massacres—an event rooted in untreated mental illness, family secrets, and deadly calculations. How did normal holiday joy turn into horror? And more importantly, how can we recognize the warning signs before tragedy strikes? In this intense episode of Murder Mindset, we delve into the 1975 Easter Sunday massacre in Hamilton, Ohio—where James Rupert, a man crippled by childhood trauma and mental illness, murdered his entire family, including eight children, in cold precision. You'll explore the complex web of family dynamics, financial desperation, and paranoid delusions that led to this nightmare—details that reveal how grief, repression, and untreated mental illness can escalate into unimaginable violence. We break down: The dark history of James Rupert's childhood and how relentless family pressure fueled his fractured mind The detailed forensic scene and what the blood spatter reveals about premeditation and calculation The subtle warning signs the family missed—paranoia, financial withdrawal, obsession with weapons—that could have prevented the tragedy The legal strategies and psychiatric defenses used in three trials spanning nearly a decade, revealing the blurred lines between insanity and intent Crucial lessons on recognizing family crises and intervening before it's too late This case is a stark reminder: violence often hides behind closed doors, masked by normalcy. Families in crisis can seem fine from the outside until the unthinkable happens. The story of James Rupert challenges us to listen more deeply, act more compassionately, and understand that mental health issues and warning signs are more common—and more dangerous—than most realize. Perfect for true crime enthusiasts, mental health advocates, and anyone haunted by the question: Could this happen in my own family? Because understanding this terrifying trajectory may be the key to preventing the next tragedy.

10. 

    1 Feb 2026

    Fire on North 74th Place

    Case: Robert William Fisher Date of Crime: April 10, 2001 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona Status: UNSOLVED FUGITIVE (Active FBI Case) Reward: $100,000 (FBI) Content Warnings: Familicide, intimate partner violence, graphic descriptions of homicide, child victims Case Type: Triple homicide + arson, domestic violence, control-driven familicide

11. 

    25 Jan 2026

    Over the Edge

    Some people don’t snap all at once. They unravel quietly—piece by piece—until one moment changes everything. In this gripping episode of Murder Mindset, we explore the psychological descent that leads ordinary lives to cross an unforgivable line. Through a chilling case study, we trace the warning signs no one took seriously, the escalating behaviors hidden in plain sight, and the final, devastating act that left a community searching for answers. Was it rage? Control? Fear of abandonment? Or something far darker beneath the surface? “Over the Edge” examines how emotional pressure, fractured relationships, and unchecked manipulation can push someone beyond the point of no return. With a focus on behavioral red flags, motive analysis, and the aftermath for those left behind, this episode asks the uncomfortable question: Could this tragedy have been prevented? ⚠️ Listener discretion advised: This episode contains themes of violence, psychological abuse, and domestic trauma. If you enjoy episodes that dive deep into motive, mindset, and the anatomy of a crime, this one will stay with you long after the final line.

12. 

    18 Jan 2026

    The Man Who Left the Lights On

    The front door unlocked. The television is still murmuring. Every light in the house was burning long past midnight. It’s the kind of scene that suggests someone meant to come right back… but never did. In this haunting episode of Murder Mindset, we unravel the unsettling disappearance of a man whose life appeared perfectly ordinary—until the night he vanished without warning. No forced entry. No goodbye. No immediate answers. Just a trail of subtle details investigators nearly overlooked—and someone who knew far more than they admitted. As the timeline tightens and the contradictions pile up, what begins as a missing person case evolves into something far darker. Secrets emerge. Relationships fracture. And the meaning behind those lights left on becomes chillingly clear. This episode explores how perception can mislead, how routine can conceal danger, and how one small, eerie detail can become the key to exposing the truth. Because sometimes, the most terrifying crime scenes aren’t marked by chaos… They’re marked by silence. 🎙️ Murder Mindset — where the psychology behind the crime is just as important as the evidence left behind.

13. 

    11 Jan 2026

    Christmas Eve Bloodline

    This episode delves into the chilling details of the Carnation Christmas Eve Murders, exploring how deep-seated resentment and financial desperation can lead to madness. We examine the psychological manipulation that bound the perpetrators together and the prosecution's theory of premeditated intention.

14. 

    4 Jan 2026

    American Murder Next Door

    Behind manicured lawns and quiet cul-de-sacs, some families hide unimaginable darkness. Murder Mindset: Bloodlines Broken opens with one of the most chilling familicide cases in modern American history—the Watts family murders. In this gripping trailer for Episode 1, American Murder Next Door, we peel back the illusion of the “perfect life” to expose the psychological fractures, lies, and control that culminated in an unthinkable act of violence. What drives someone to annihilate their own family? How do warning signs go unnoticed—by neighbors, friends, even loved ones? And why does this case continue to haunt the national consciousness years later? Through investigative narration, behavioral analysis, and unsettling audio cues, this trailer sets the tone for a season that examines familicide not as isolated horror—but as a pattern rooted in psychology, power, and secrecy. This is not a retelling. This is an examination of motive, manipulation, and the mindset behind the crime. 🎧 Murder Mindset: Bloodlines Broken — where family ties don’t just break… they snap.

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