CyberScout

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eye-masked Crook holding surfboard, Mona Lisa, and a large book in his pants.

episode 14
Jewel heists and Book Bandits

Between Murph the Surf and the Book Bandit, was anything safe?! We talk about one of a famous theft of the Star of India sapphire by Jack Murphy, who went on to commit murder... and become a motivational speaker. Then tour the world of book theft, with the tale of Stephen Blumberg - the most prolific book thief of the 20th century. Hell! He could be the most prolific doorknob thief, too!

A hardboiled detective looks at a A fly dressed as a police officer, pointing down at a maggot smiling from the belly of a dead person

episode 13
Tell-Tale Bugs!

A whirlwind tour through the fascinating, gruesome world of Forensic Entomology! A parade of flies and beetles visit a body as it succumbs to nature. And they tell a fascinating story that can helps convict - or exonerate people! Vincent Brothers couldn't hide his murderous ways from a tell-tale grasshopper. And Steven Truscott's name was cleared, in part, by half-century old maggots.

Killer Miller - old-timey business card, saying Dirty Deeds, Dirty Cheap, atop money and shotgun shells

episode 12
Killer Miller

In the closing years of the Wild West, Jim Miller ran rampant in Texas as a killer for hire, a trusty double-barrel shotgun as his favorite weapon. Among many victims, he killed his brother-in-law, took part in a bloody feud in Pecos, and hired the best lawyers to help him escape every time—until frontier justice finally got the best of him in Oklahoma.

Alcatraz Swim club - men in striped clothes, jumping into the water

episode 11
Alcatraz Swim Club

In 1962, three men escaped Alcatraz - something that was supposedly impossible. They were never seen again, and people still debate whether they survived. We walk through the escape, and a few other escapes that prove it was entirely possible. In fact, the first recorded escape attempt was a partial success - with one man swimming across the bay in the 1860s.

spilled teacup. tea droplets in shape of skull and bones

episode 10
Poisonous Men

We break the myth of the Female Poisoner by bringing you a few tales of men who chose this way to kill. A modern day poisoning by George Trepal—It doesn't take a Mensa member to realize poisoning your neighbors isn't the way to handle a spat. But George must've missed class that day! Then, join us for a tale from poison's Victorian heyday - Have a little Thomas Neill Cream with that tea!

Satanic Panic illustration - lady runs away from devil offering bouquet of flowers

episode 9
Satanic Panic

Take a long winding road through the history of Satanism, from word origins to a 1980s Satanic Panic! Along the way, we visit witch trials, Aleister Crowley, Jack Parsons and, of course, the Church of Satan--founded by Anton LaVey. A longer episode, but a devil of a good time!

Fake crimes and Hoaxes - man's feet, on ground with spilled bottles of ketchup

episode 8
Fake crimes!

Some things are not what they seem! Roger Touhy spent thirty years in prison for the faked kidnapping of "Jake the Barber" Factor. The Balloon Boy Hoax had a nation riveted in suspense for a night. Fast food will never be the same after hearing about the finger found in a bowl of Chili. And, the Tovrea Castle murder that never was!

Voodoo craze - a voodoo doll and chicken embrace each other while holding knives and pins.

episode 7
Voodoo Craze

Vodoun, or 'voodoo,' is a respectable religion like any other. We discuss the the undeserved reputation of zombies, human sacrifice, and spooky shenanigans—with it's origin in events like the Affaire de Bizoton, the ax murderer Clementine Barnabet, and a voodoo craze of the early 20th Century. It carries on in stories like Zack and Addie's tragic New Orleans romance.

Musical mayhem

episode 6
Musical Mayhem

Murder and Mayhem in the world of rock and pop music. We start with Ozzy's antics and Bill Preston's insurance fraud. Then we dive into the disappearance of Walter Scott, a 1960s one-hit-wonder who sang about the cheater, strangely predicting the circumstances of his own demise. Creepy! From there, Michelle discusses Jam Master Jay and Charles digs into the tragic story of Pantera's Dimebag Darell.