Donna Adelson: Delay, Denial, and the Gamble of a Lifetime | 2025 Year in Review

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re revisiting the question that haunts this case — can studying crime actually teach someone how to commit it? When Bryan Kohberger, a Ph.D. student in criminology, was arrested for the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students, the irony was inescapable. The man studying the psychology of killers was suddenly accused of becoming one. But what makes this case so disturbing isn’t just the alleged crime — it’s the meticulous planning prosecutors say went into  it. In this two-part deep dive, Tony Brueski is joined by former felony prosecutor Eric Faddis and retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke to dissect the chilling contradictions of Kohberger’s mind and methods. Faddis unpacks the mountain of circumstantial evidence: Amazon receipts for a combat knife, face mask, and sheath bought months before the murders; a phone that conveniently “went dark” the night of the killings; license plates swapped just days after; and trash runs in gloves at four in the morning. The prosecution says this wasn’t just murder — it was an attempt at the perfect one. But can a defense argument of social awkwardness or autism spectrum behavior humanize a suspect accused of such precise brutality? Then, Dreeke dives into the psychology. What happens when curiosity about crime becomes a compulsion to control? Was Kohberger’s alleged “research” into how criminals feel during their acts a window into his own fascination? From eerily timed online posts to that infamous mirror selfie that mirrors American Psycho and Psycho, Dreeke and Brueski explore how fantasy, narcissism, and obsession may have fused into something monstrous. And what about those alleged rap lyrics and digital “breadcrumb trails”? Were they bravado, confession, or taunt? When someone studies the mechanics of murder for years, do they start to believe they can outsmart the system that taught them? 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Psychology, and The Obsession That Defined the Year. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #EricFaddis #RobinDreeke #TrueCrimePodcast #IdahoMurders #Criminology #AmericanPsycho #AutismDefense #BehavioralAnalysis #CourtroomDrama #PerfectMurder #CriminalPsychology #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

1 Joulu 40min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit the opening week of one of the most sensational murder trials in America — the Arizona case of Lori Vallow Daybell, the self-proclaimed “Doomsday Mom” now defending herself against charges of conspiracy to murder her fourth husband, Charles Vallow. In this two-part breakdown, Tony Brueski teams up with former prosecutor and defense attorney Eric Faddis and retired FBI Behavioral Analysis Chief Robin Dreeke to unpack the chaotic courtroom drama, bizarre legal strategy, and psychological meltdown that have turned this trial into both a legal cautionary tale and a study in delusional self-belief. In part one, Tony and Eric dissect the prosecution’s sharp, disciplined opening statement — a methodical narrative of motive, manipulation, and murder. Prosecutors allege Lori conspired with her brother, Alex Cox, to eliminate Charles for a $1 million life insurance policy and clear the path to marry apocalyptic author Chad Daybell. With evidence including religious texts misused to justify killing, texts to Alex invoking scripture (“I will be like Nephi”), and forensic proof that Charles was shot twice — one bullet fired after he collapsed, the state paints a chilling picture of faith twisted into fanaticism. Then comes the chaos. Lori, representing herself, opens with rambling monologues, misplaced objections, and narcissistic cross-examinations that seem designed more to satisfy curiosity than to construct a defense. Her fixation on her late husband’s private life leaves jurors bewildered and prosecutors almost amused. As Faddis notes, “It’s like watching someone try to build a house without knowing what a hammer does.” Part two turns darker, as Robin Dreeke analyzes the devastating testimony of Alex Cox, now deceased but still very much present in the trial through recordings, statements, and evidence. Dreeke explores how narcissism, shared delusion, and familial loyalty intertwine in Lori’s world — and how her brother’s past words now serve as the prosecution’s most powerful witness. Was Lori’s courtroom confidence a sign of faith — or pure delusion? And how does a woman who once claimed divine authority handle being her own undoing? 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Trials, The Psychology, and The Crimes That Defined the Year. #LoriVallowDaybell #CharlesVallow #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #EricFaddis #RobinDreeke #TrueCrimePodcast #DoomsdayMom #CultPsychology #CourtroomDrama #SelfRepresentation #ChadDaybell #FamilyConspiracy #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

1 Joulu 33min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we revisit the shocking moment that shattered the illusion of Adelson family unity — Wendi Adelson’s refusal to testify for her mother, Donna, in one of Florida’s most explosive murder-for-hire trials. In a stunning pretrial twist, Donna’s defense team tried to subpoena her daughter, Wendi, hoping her testimony might humanize Donna or counterbalance the prosecution’s narrative. But Wendi’s lawyers fought back, arguing that testifying could incriminate her — and the judge agreed. The subpoena was tossed, meaning Wendi will not be forced to take the stand. It’s a moment that speaks volumes without a word being spoken. While Charlie Adelson, already convicted and serving life for his role in the 2014 murder of Florida State law professor Dan Markel, steps forward to testify for his mother, Wendi stays silent. In a case built on loyalty, control, and manipulation, this silence may say more than any testimony ever could. Tony Brueski and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott break down what this fracture reveals about the psychology of the Adelson family — how fear, guilt, and self-preservation drive behavior when the walls close in. They analyze how jurors are likely to interpret the sibling contrast: one child taking the stand for loyalty, another staying quiet to save herself. Does Wendi’s silence protect her, or does it make her look complicit? Then, defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis joins Tony to explore how this new dynamic could shift courtroom strategy. Could Donna’s team now push harder to put her on the stand herself, hoping to fill the emotional vacuum left by Wendi’s absence? And what will the state do with a family now publicly divided — a daughter refusing to help her mother, a son defending her from a prison cell? This isn’t just a trial about murder. It’s about the collapse of a dynasty built on influence and image, where loyalty has finally given way to self-preservation. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases That Exposed the Truth Behind the Facades. #DonnaAdelson #WendiAdelson #CharlieAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott #EricFaddis #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderTrial #CourtroomDrama #FamilyBetrayal #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

30 Marras 37min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re unpacking one of the most haunting psychological stories to emerge from the Gilgo Beach murders — the steadfast denial of Asa Ellerup, estranged wife of accused serial killer Rex Heuermann. Even as prosecutors present a mountain of evidence — DNA matches, hair fibers from family members found on victims, burner phones, and a detailed murder planning document — Asa still calls her husband her “hero.” She describes visiting him in jail as feeling like “a first date.” She smiles when she hears his voice. She insists their home — where police say the murders were plotted — could never be a crime scene. In this gripping psychological breakdown, retired FBI Behavioral Analyst Robin Dreeke joins Tony Brueski to dissect how trauma, denial, and love can merge into something that looks like loyalty but is really self-preservation. Dreeke explains how 27 years of marriage built what he calls a “truth infrastructure” — a psychological foundation so powerful that admitting betrayal feels more dangerous than believing the lie. He unpacks the mechanics of trauma bonding, cognitive dissonance, and protective blindness, explaining how the human brain often rejects unbearable truth to preserve emotional stability. Dreeke also explores how financial stress, illness, and media exploitation may amplify Asa’s denial — especially as she battles cancer, navigates public scrutiny, and faces criticism for participating in the Peacock documentary The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets. Then, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins Tony to analyze the most disturbing moments captured on camera — including Rex’s recorded jail calls and Asa’s telling body language. Why does she close her eyes when confronted with evidence? Why does she describe love as something that would “hurt him”? Scott reveals how guilt, dependency, and unresolved trauma often trap partners of predators in cycles of emotional paralysis. Together, Dreeke and Scott piece together a portrait not just of denial — but of the psychological collateral damage left behind when a family’s reality is shattered by unimaginable truth. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Crimes, The Psychology, and The Human Blind Spots That Defined the Year. #AsaEllerup #RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachMurders #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #RobinDreeke #ShavaunScott #TraumaBonding #SerialKillerPsychology #Denial #CognitiveDissonance #TrueCrimePodcast #LongIslandSerialKiller #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 53min

As part of our Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review series, we’re unpacking one of the most controversial and conversation-shifting verdicts of the decade — the federal trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs. After months of disturbing testimony, celebrity appearances, and viral evidence — including the now-infamous surveillance video showing Diddy assaulting Cassie Ventura — the jury delivered a verdict that stunned the nation. Diddy was found guilty on two federal counts of transporting women across state lines for prostitution, yet acquitted on the most serious charges of sex trafficking, racketeering, and conspiracy. In this special episode, Tony Brueski and attorney Eric Faddis break down exactly what happened inside that courtroom — the evidence, the emotional testimony, and the legal strategies that defined the trial. How could a case so full of damning details end in such a divided result? Was this the justice system doing its job… or an indictment of how power and celebrity still distort accountability? Eric Faddis, a former prosecutor turned defense attorney, walks us through the legal nuance — how burden of proof, technical definitions, and jury psychology intersected to create this outcome. Together, Tony and Eric dissect the split verdict’s cultural implications, asking whether this moment signals a deeper societal fatigue with #MeToo-era accountability. Did jurors no longer see psychological coercion as “real” violence? Did prosecutors overestimate how far public empathy extends for survivors of celebrity abuse? Or was this verdict less about the facts — and more about America’s shifting comfort with power, money, and moral gray zones? We also explain why Diddy remains behind bars despite the partial acquittal, and what comes next as he faces a sentencing phase that could carry up to 20 years in federal prison. Will Judge Arun Subramanian set a precedent — or fold to the same cultural machinery that kept Diddy protected for decades? This isn’t just a verdict recap. It’s a postmortem on justice in 2025. 🎙️ Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski — 2025 Year in Review: The Cases That Redefined Accountability, Power, and Public Conscience. #DiddyVerdict #SeanCombs #CassieVentura #EricFaddis #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #TrueCrimePodcast #CelebrityJustice #MeTooBacklash #FederalTrial #SexTraffickingCase #JusticeSystem #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 36min

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