Bryan Kohberger: The Selfie, The School Paper, and The Psychology of a Killer | 2025 Year in Review

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we turn the lens away from the accused and toward the people who’ve been living in the shadow of one of the nation’s most haunting murder cases — the family of Bryan Kohberger. In this gripping three-part deep dive, Tony Brueski uncovers the emotional and legal crossroads facing Kohberger’s parents and sisters as the Idaho murder trial looms. What happens when the system turns its gaze toward the family of the accused? What did they know, and when? We begin with the latest bombshell: both Bryan Kohberger’s father and sister may be called as witnesses by the prosecution. Why would the state take the extraordinary step of subpoenaing family members? Could they have seen something—heard something—that adds weight to the timeline? Using verified court filings and public statements, Tony breaks down what this means for a case already teetering between the personal and the procedural. Then we go inside the Kohberger home in the tense weeks before Bryan’s arrest. One sister reportedly noticed unsettling behavior—something that made her question the brother she thought she knew. What did she see? What did she say? And how did those private moments of suspicion and fear evolve into public testimony? This episode also examines the psychology of proximity — how families of alleged killers experience guilt by association, media intrusion, and unbearable moral conflict. Are they victims of circumstance, silent witnesses to horror, or both? Along the way, former prosecutor Eric Faddis joins Tony to dissect the unnerving behavior captured on surveillance footage after the murders — Kohberger shopping at Albertson’s and Costco, the infamous mirror selfie, and possible online activity as “Papa Rodger.” Could these details show a man spiraling, or someone savoring the aftermath? From the quiet dread inside the Kohberger home to the bizarre post-crime trail that keeps resurfacing, this is the story of a family entangled in the making of a modern American tragedy. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Families, and The Fallout That Defined the Year. #BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #EricFaddis #PapaRodger #TrueCrimePodcast #KohbergerFamily #WitnessList #CourtroomDrama #CriminalPsychology #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday #JusticeForVictims Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

30 Marras 43min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, this full-length special brings together all four parts of our deep investigation into the case of Donna Adelson — the grandmother, mother, and alleged mastermind at the center of one of Florida’s most shocking murder-for-hire conspiracies. This is the complete, unbroken story — from the private family dynamics that prosecutors say sparked a deadly plot, to the public trial that could end with Donna spending the rest of her life behind bars. We begin inside the Adelson family, where Donna’s influence allegedly shaped everything — including her children’s decisions and the years-long feud with Florida State law professor Dan Markel. The state claims Donna’s control and obsession with family “image” turned toxic, driving the financial schemes, the $1 million relocation bribe offer, and the custody-fueled resentment that ultimately led to murder. Next, we break down Donna’s public and private narrative control — from the coded language in her jail calls to her tone-shifting conversations designed to manipulate both family and public perception. Even behind bars, her words carry weight, painting herself as a misunderstood matriarch while sidestepping accountability. Then comes her biggest gamble yet — the possibility of testifying in her own defense. Alongside Defense Attorney Eric Faddis, we explore the psychology, confidence, and potential ego behind that decision. Could Donna’s instinct for control be the very thing that exposes her to devastating cross-examination? We also examine how prosecutors plan to connect the dots — from the financial transactions to Katherine Magbanua, to Luis Rivera’s testimony about “the lady” ordering the hit, to the one-way ticket to Vietnam that speaks louder than words. Finally, we look at the aftermath: the intergenerational trauma facing the Adelson grandchildren, the moral collapse of a family once built on privilege and perception, and the lasting stain this case leaves on every name attached to it. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases That Defined a Year of Power, Psychology, and Justice. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #CharlieAdelson #KatherineMagbanua #EricFaddis #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #FloridaCrime #MurderForHire #CourtroomDrama #JusticeForDanMarkel #HiddenKillersYearInReview #AdelsonTrial #FamilyCrime Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

30 Marras 1h 1min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting one of the most disturbing and debated questions of the year: Was Bryan Kohberger just a socially awkward PhD student obsessed with criminology—or a meticulous killer hiding in plain sight? In this full-length breakdown, Tony Brueski sits down with former felony prosecutor and defense attorney Eric Faddis, and later, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott, to unravel both sides of the psychological and legal battlefield surrounding the Idaho student murder case. From disappearing cell phone signals to Amazon receipts allegedly showing purchases of masks and knives months before the crime, the evidence paints a chilling picture of intent and foresight. Prosecutors say these details form a digital breadcrumb trail of premeditation—a methodical pattern that includes turning off his phone during the murders, changing his license plates afterward, and buying a new knife sharpener like it was just another household necessity. Faddis breaks down how prosecutors could use this mountain of circumstantial evidence to prove intent and pattern, while the defense may counter with claims of coincidence—or even neurodivergence, arguing that Kohberger’s socially awkward behavior is being misinterpreted as malice. Could an autism spectrum defense help humanize him in front of a jury—or would it risk sounding like an excuse for cold, calculated planning? Then, Shavaun Scott joins Tony for the darker dive — exploring the unsettling parallels between Kohberger’s alleged actions and cinematic killers like Patrick Bateman (American Psycho) and Norman Bates (Psycho). From his mirror selfie and sterile composure to online alter egos like “Papa Rodger” commenting about the murders in real time, they examine how narcissism, ego, and obsession with control may have blended into performance. Was Kohberger studying criminology to understand crime—or to perfect it? And if these clues were left on purpose, what was the endgame: to prove superiority, or to be remembered? 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Minds, and The Obsessions That Defined the Year. #BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #EricFaddis #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #AmericanPsycho #PapaRodger #CriminalPsychology #CourtroomDrama #Premeditation #AutismDefense #Idaho4 #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday #JusticeForVictims Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

30 Marras 32min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit one of the most surreal and unsettling trials in modern American true crime — the Arizona murder trial of Lori Vallow Daybell, the so-called Doomsday Mom who’s decided to defend herself in court while accused of orchestrating the murder of her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. This episode pulls listeners straight into the Chandler, Arizona home where it all happened: two bullets, one body, and forty-seven silent minutes before anyone called for help. Tony Brueski and Defense Attorney Bob Motta (Defense Diaries) dissect the prosecution’s opening narrative — one of delusion, greed, and cold calculation — and the defense’s bizarre self-representation strategy that’s turning the courtroom into a psychological sideshow. Prosecutors allege Lori conspired with her brother, Alex Cox, to kill Charles for a $1 million life insurance payout and to clear the way to marry her apocalyptic “soulmate,” Chad Daybell. The evidence? Texts invoking scripture to justify murder (“I will be like Nephi”), phone records revealing coordination, and chilling forensic details showing Charles was shot twice — the second bullet fired downward after he collapsed. Firefighters testified the scene looked staged: no CPR, no struggle, and an eerily spotless floor. Lori, meanwhile, was running errands — Burger King, Walgreens, dropping off her son — as her husband’s body cooled on the tile. But this isn’t just about evidence; it’s about ego and delusion on trial. Motta breaks down Lori’s decision to act as her own lawyer — fumbling through legal jargon, cross-examining witnesses who seem to know more law than she does, and repeatedly trying to exclude “inconvenient” evidence from the record. As he puts it, Lori’s courtroom presence is “less Harvard Law, more hostage to her own hubris.” The prosecution, for its part, is playing this round differently — keeping the talk of “zombies” and dark spirits to a minimum while focusing on motive, money, and manipulation. The goal: strip away the spiritual theatrics and reveal the human greed underneath. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Trials, The Delusions, and The Darkness That Defined the Year. #LoriVallowDaybell #CharlesVallow #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #BobMotta #DefenseDiaries #TrueCrimePodcast #DoomsdayMom #ChadDaybell #MurderTrial #CourtroomDrama #ReligiousDelusion #ApocalypticBeliefs #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

30 Marras 59min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re breaking down the most calculated—and sometimes downright desperate—moves by Donna Adelson, the matriarch at the center of Florida’s most infamous murder-for-hire case. In one of the year’s most revealing episodes, Tony Brueski exposes how Donna’s defense team has spent months trying to slow, stall, and spin the inevitable. From filing motions to disqualify the judge, to claiming Tallahassee’s residents are too “emotionally informed” to serve on a jury, to arguing that routine evidence is somehow “prejudicial,” this has become a masterclass in delay tactics. And it’s not working. We unpack six of the most aggressive attempts Donna’s lawyers have made to derail the prosecution—from re-deposing witnesses based on so-called “new evidence” to claiming the court of public opinion makes a fair trial impossible. The result? A defense strategy that’s running out of time and credibility, one filing at a time. Then, Tony dives into the next looming spectacle: the possibility of Donna taking the stand in her own defense. It’s a high-risk, high-ego move that could either humanize her or expose her as the manipulative force prosecutors say she’s always been. Could her trademark confidence charm jurors—or will it read as arrogance under pressure? We break down the evidence she’d have to face if she testifies: The million-dollar bribe offer to relocate Dan Markel closer to the Adelsons. Her alleged plan to use religion as leverage in custody disputes. The stream of checks to Katherine Magbanua, a convicted go-between in the murder plot. And the FBI “bump” recording, hinting at Donna’s knowledge of the crime. This episode reveals the anatomy of a defense that seems more focused on optics than outcome—and a defendant whose belief in her own brilliance may be her final undoing. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases Where Justice Refused to Wait. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderForHire #CourtroomDrama #FloridaCrime #LegalStrategy #CharlieAdelson #KatherineMagbanua #YearInReview #JusticeForDanMarkel #HiddenKillersYearInReview Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

29 Marras 51min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re diving into one of the most disturbing intersections of true crime and psychology yet — the family of Rex Heuermann, the accused Gilgo Beach serial killer, and their shocking public defense of a man prosecutors call one of the most prolific murderers in modern history. In this powerful two-part special, Tony Brueski unpacks the emotional, psychological, and ethical fallout from Peacock’s new documentary The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets — including Asa Ellerup’s chilling confession that she still calls her accused killer husband her “hero.” Heuermann’s family — wife Asa, daughter Victoria, and son Christopher — sit down for the first time on camera, describing their life before and after the 2023 arrest that turned their world upside down. Despite overwhelming forensic evidence — including DNA links, hair fibers from family members found on victims, and a manifesto allegedly detailing murder methods — Asa insists on her husband’s innocence, calling prison visits their “first dates.” Tony Brueski explores how denial, trauma bonding, and cognitive dissonance shape these responses — and why victims’ families are calling the documentary “a slap in the face.” Legal experts weigh in on the $1 million payday allegedly tied to the family’s cooperation and how this could spark an expansion of New York’s Son of Sam laws to block profiting from criminal notoriety. Then, retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke joins Tony to analyze how killers like Heuermann hide in plain sight — and how families miss the signs. Dreeke explains the “truth-default state,” why spouses detect lies only about half the time, and how suburban normalcy becomes the perfect camouflage for horror. The conversation delves into the terrifying psychology of compartmentalization, exploring how someone can live a double life so convincing that even their loved ones see only the mask. From Heuermann’s alleged burner phones to his meticulous planning during family trips, it’s a case study in deception — and the human mind’s desperate need to believe what feels safe. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Psychology, and The Families That Shook America. #RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #GilgoBeachMurders #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #RobinDreeke #TrueCrimePodcast #SerialKillerFamily #PsychologicalDenial #HouseOfSecrets #LISK #CriminalPsychology #SonOfSamLaw #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

29 Marras 42min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re going beyond the headlines to examine the psychological machinery behind one of the most explosive celebrity trials of the decade — Sean “Diddy” Combs and the disturbing allegations that have shattered his empire. In this powerful two-part special, Tony Brueski is joined by psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to break down the alleged behavioral profile of Diddy — not from a place of gossip, but through a clinical lens. Scott explores whether Combs’ reported actions align with narcissistic personality traits, psychopathic tendencies, and patterns of coercive control often seen in long-term cycles of abuse. From alleged emotional domination and financial control to threats, surveillance, and sexual coercion, Scott unpacks how power and pathology intertwine — and how high-profile abusers weaponize influence, fear, and fame to keep victims silent. It’s a chilling look at how manipulation can masquerade as charisma, and how the psychology of celebrity can distort accountability on a global scale. Then, in the second half, Tony delivers a full breakdown of the most pivotal week of the Diddy federal trial (June 12–16, 2025) — a stretch of testimony and evidence that could decide whether the hip-hop mogul spends life in prison or walks free. Among the bombshell moments: Six firearms with defaced serial numbers found near alleged “freak-off” supplies. Homeland Security’s discovery of AR-15 parts, drugs, and lubricants allegedly tied to a sex-trafficking operation. The emotional testimony of “Jane,” who confronted Diddy in court after describing years of abuse and coercion. Immunity witness Jonathan Perez, Diddy’s former assistant, whose drug procurement testimony both strengthened and complicated the government’s case. Kanye West’s surreal courthouse appearance, adding a spectacle to an already volatile trial. And the controversial dismissal of Juror #6, a decision now under scrutiny for potential bias. Together, these two lenses — the psychological and the procedural — reveal the full picture of a man once untouchable, now facing the reckoning of his own creation. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases That Redefined Power, Psychology, and Justice. #DiddyTrial #SeanCombs #ShavaunScott #TonyBrueski #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimePodcast #PsychologicalAbuse #FederalTrial #CelebrityJustice #CoerciveControl #Narcissism #Psychopathy #PowerAndControl #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

29 Marras 41min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting two of the most revealing — and overlooked — aspects of the Bryan Kohberger murder case: the expert witness controversy that could undermine his alibi, and the forgotten evidence that may end up sealing his fate. In this episode, Tony Brueski takes you inside the defense’s biggest gamble — building an alibi around a cell phone expert, Sy Ray, whose credibility has already been questioned in open court. In a prior case, a judge described Ray’s phone-mapping analysis as “a sea of unreliability.” Now, Kohberger’s legal team is betting his freedom on that same technology. Could this backfire spectacularly? Or will it be enough to cast reasonable doubt on the state’s timeline? We break down how Sy Ray’s controversial techniques — once criticized for their lack of scientific rigor — are being reintroduced to explain why Kohberger’s phone allegedly wasn’t near the murder scene. But with prosecutors armed with months of cell tower data, GPS pings, and digital forensics, the question becomes: is the alibi built on data, or desperation? Then we dig into the unsealed warrant documents that reveal a treasure trove of physical evidence the media barely mentioned — items that paint a far more disturbing picture than the headlines ever did. Investigators recovered: A blood-stained mattress cover, Human and animal hair, A student ID card found in his parents’ home, A mysterious handwritten note to his father, Black shoes, vacuum debris, and a mountain of trace evidence. Add to that Kohberger’s Amazon purchases, deleted computer files, and surveillance footage — and suddenly, the case doesn’t hinge on one knife sheath. It’s a mosaic of digital and physical evidence converging on one man. Tony Brueski breaks down what this means for the defense, the prosecution, and the future of high-tech forensics in American trials. Because when expert credibility collapses and overlooked evidence resurfaces, justice becomes a battle not just of facts — but of who the jury believes. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, the Evidence, and the Experts That Defined the Year. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #SyRay #IdahoMurders #TrueCrimePodcast #DigitalForensics #CellTowerData #CourtroomDrama #DNAEvidence #CriminalJustice #UnsealedWarrants #ForensicAnalysis #YearInReview #TrueCrimeToday #JusticeForVictims Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

29 Marras 1h 18min