Rex Heuermann’s “Hero” Moment: The Family, the Denial & the Psychology of Living With a Monster | 2025 Year in Review

Rex Heuermann’s “Hero” Moment: The Family, the Denial & the Psychology of Living With a Monster | 2025 Year in Review

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


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Inside Jury Selection At Brian Walshe Murder Trial And The Mountain Of DAMNING EVIDENCE

Inside Jury Selection At Brian Walshe Murder Trial And The Mountain Of DAMNING EVIDENCE

The final hearing before the murder trial of Brian Walshe wasn’t just a procedural stop — it was a preview of the evidence the jury may hear, the strategies both sides are preparing, and the enormous fight over what parts of Brian Walshe’s digital life will be allowed into this courtroom. In this episode of Hidden Killers, we break down exactly what happened inside that Dedham courtroom: the arguments, the evidence battles, the tense moments, and the pieces of the investigation prosecutors say reveal a chilling timeline leading up to and immediately after Ana Walshe vanished. Prosecutors are pushing to admit a massive amount of digital evidence, including the now-infamous Google searches allegedly made in the hours surrounding Ana’s disappearance. These searches include questions about decomposition, DNA, dismemberment, body disposal, and even inheritance — all allegedly made on Brian’s phone or a child’s iPad during the exact window when Ana stopped communicating with anyone. Add to that the physical evidence prosecutors say they recovered: blood in the Walshe home, a damaged knife, surveillance footage of Brian purchasing cleaning supplies, and trash bags recovered from a transfer station containing a hacksaw, a rug, clothing, and personal items linked to Ana. It’s the kind of circumstantial mountain that prosecutors believe tells a complete story even without a recovered body. But the defense is pushing back hard, especially on the digital material. They want explicit content removed. They want alleged “cheating-spouse” searches kept away from the jury. They argue the state is trying to inflame emotions rather than prove facts. And they plan to lean into the gaps: no body, no confirmed cause of death, and alternative explanations for some of the evidence. This hearing made one thing clear: when jury selection starts, this trial will revolve around what the jury is allowed to see — and how those decisions shape the story each side tells. Subscribe for more daily breakdowns, expert commentary, and updates as the trial begins. #BrianWalshe #AnaWalshe #CrimeUpdates #HiddenKillers #CourtHearing #TrialCoverage #TrueCrimeAnalysis #DigitalEvidence #JusticeSystem #TrueCrimeCommunity 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

19 Marras 202518min

Break the Case: Stepmother Breaks Silence, “My Child May Face Charges” in Anna Kepner Cruise Death

Break the Case: Stepmother Breaks Silence, “My Child May Face Charges” in Anna Kepner Cruise Death

The tragic death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard the Carnival Horizon cruise ship has now escalated into a deeply complex FBI investigation, and newly uncovered court documents are shedding dramatic new light on the case. What began as a heartbreaking loss during a family vacation has quickly turned into a potential homicide inquiry involving a juvenile suspect, a custody battle, and allegations from Anna’s own relatives that she was murdered—not the victim of an accident or overdose. This breaking true crime story unfolds against the backdrop of a cruise ship returning to Miami, where FBI agents immediately boarded to secure the scene, interview passengers, and preserve evidence. According to the timeline, Anna was found unresponsive by a maid and pronounced dead just minutes later by the medical examiner. But the most shocking development comes from a recently filed court document in which Anna’s stepmother, Chantel Hudson, requested a delay in her custody hearing. Her reasoning: one of her minor children may face criminal charges connected to the ongoing federal investigation. This statement, coming directly from sworn records, supports what Anna’s grandmother and uncle have been saying since the beginning—that Anna did not die by accident. Their claims suggest she suffered a violent death aboard the ship, one involving disturbing details that point toward foul play. The FBI’s involvement, and the mention of a minor as a potential suspect, has triggered a slower process while federal authorities determine whether the juvenile should be charged as an adult or if the case will be handed to Miami-Dade prosecutors. As investigators work through witness statements, cruise ship logs, and forensic evidence, the case continues to gain national attention. Anna Kepner was a high-achieving Florida teen preparing for graduation and a future in the military. Her sudden death on what was meant to be a celebratory holiday trip has sent shockwaves through her community and ignited urgent questions about cruise ship safety, FBI procedures, and the fate of the juvenile at the center of this unfolding investigation. #truecrime #breakingnews #AnnaKepner #FBIinvestigation #CarnivalHorizon #justiceforAnna #crimescene #newsupdate #murderinvestigation #juvenilecrime 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

19 Marras 202525min

The Delphi Timeline Is Falling Apart — What Investigators Said Under Oath

The Delphi Timeline Is Falling Apart — What Investigators Said Under Oath

In this episode, I sit down with defense attorney and trial analyst Bob Motta to examine the most explosive development yet in the Delphi case: the collapse of the timeline investigators built around the murders of Abby and Libby. For years, the timeline was treated as settled. But when you read the depositions, the cracks spread fast. Bob and I break down how witness statements were reshaped, how the search-warrant affidavit reframed crucial descriptions, and how timelines were tightened or loosened depending on who was writing the report. This isn’t conjecture — it’s sworn testimony. Bob walks us through the most glaring issues: a witness who described a young man and an older car, yet was portrayed to the judge as having seen something “consistent” with Richard Allen; investigators who can’t agree on when the FBI was involved; conflicting testimony about the time of death; missing documentation around the bullet that ties Allen’s gun to the case; symbolic elements at the crime scene ignored or downplayed; and third-party suspects whose movements and statements were never thoroughly pursued. This interview digs into why these inconsistencies matter — not emotionally, but legally. How does a conviction stand when the foundation beneath it shifts every time you compare one deposition to another? How does an affidavit remain valid when key information was omitted or altered? And how does the public reconcile the clean version of the case with the messy, disjointed reality revealed behind closed doors? This isn’t about guilt or innocence — it’s about whether the system followed its own rules. And according to the depositions, the timeline wasn’t built on solid ground. It was built on selective memory, contradictory claims, and investigative shortcuts that now threaten the entire structure of the case. #DelphiCase #TrueCrimeNews #LegalBreakdown #RichardAllenCase #Depositions #CourtRecords #CrimeInvestigation #TimelineAnalysis #HiddenKillers #JusticeReview 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

19 Marras 202535min

Delphi Investigators’ Behavior Makes No Sense — Ret FBI Robin Dreeke Breaks It Down

Delphi Investigators’ Behavior Makes No Sense — Ret FBI Robin Dreeke Breaks It Down

In today’s episode, former FBI Special Agent and Chief of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, Robin Dreeke, joins me for a breakdown unlike anything you’ve heard about the Delphi case. Forget the sanitized, press-conference version of this investigation. Robin and I go deep into the human psychology behind the breakdown — the way investigators acted, reacted, remembered, forgot, contradicted each other, shut out certain leads, and emotionally locked onto others. The depositions don’t just reveal evidence issues. They reveal behavioral issues. And Robin reads those better than anyone. Why did two lead investigators swear under oath to completely opposite stories about the FBI’s involvement? How does a team forget or “not recall” something as significant as an early BAU ritual-indicator assessment? Why would symbolic elements at the crime scene be brushed aside? Why would red-flag behavior from potential suspects be minimized? Why were sticks left for days, evidence untested, witness statements reframed, and major investigative steps glossed over? Robin walks us through the behavioral patterns that show up when an investigative system is overwhelmed — from narrative lock, to tunnel vision, to fear-based decision making, to the emotional need to force coherence onto an incoherent case. We discuss cognitive contamination, leadership collapse, internal factioning, memory distortion, and the psychological pressure that quietly reshapes how investigators interpret facts. This episode isn’t about guilt or innocence. It’s about how the people behind the Delphi investigation functioned — and dysfunctioned. And why that matters. If you want to understand why this investigation feels so fractured, and what the depositions really reveal about the team that built the case, Robin’s analysis is absolutely essential. #Delphi #DelphiMurders #BehavioralAnalysis #RobinDreeke #TrueCrime #InvestigationBreakdown #Psychology #JusticeSystem #HiddenKillers #RichardAllen 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

19 Marras 202522min

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