The Diddy Verdict: Guilty, Not Guilty, and What It Says About Justice in 2025 | Year in Review Special

Tonight on Hidden Killers, we sit down with psychotherapist Shavaun Scott to examine one of the most psychologically alarming missing-child cases in recent memory: the disappearance of nine-year-old Melodee Buzzard — and the unraveling mental state of her mother, Ashlee Buzzard, whose behavior seems to be spiraling far past “odd” and into a realm of fractured reality. This is a case defined by contradictions, delusion-like narratives, and a system trapped in its own limitations. Ashlee has claimed her house is bugged, that strangers are monitoring her, that law enforcement is tracking her every move, and that a mystery couple from a zoo — whose names she can’t provide — is caring for Melodee. Meanwhile, she’s deleting accounts, swapping plates, dismantling her digital life, and creating what looks disturbingly like a symbolic stand-in for Melodee on a pillow inside the home. And through all of this, Melodee hasn’t been heard from in nearly two months. Tonight, Shavaun breaks down the psychological red flags: • What paranoia and impaired reality-testing actually look like • Why her story shifts from day to day • What the “shrine” on the couch signals clinically • Whether the flight behaviors suggest panic, planning, or manic unraveling • Why calm, controlled behavior can mask severe internal instability • The danger to a child depending on a parent whose reality is fractured But the bigger story is the systemic failure: Why hasn’t Ashlee been detained? Why no psychiatric hold? Why can’t the system intervene when a child is missing and a parent is unraveling? Shavaun walks us through the brutal truth: unless someone meets the impossibly narrow legal standard of “imminent danger,” mental-health and child-welfare systems are often legally powerless — even when the red flags are blinking in neon. If you’re following the Buzzard case, this is the conversation you need to hear. #HiddenKillers #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #TrueCrime #MissingChild #Psychology #MentalHealthCrisis #SystemFailure #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott 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

This case isn’t just tragic — it’s claustrophobic. A cabin. A blended family. A teenager found hidden under a bed. And every adult involved spiraling in a different direction while the FBI tries to reconstruct what happened in those critical early moments. Tonight on Hidden Killers, retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke joins me to break down one of the most complex psychological environments we’ve seen in a long time: the death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner on board a cruise ship returning to Miami. We start with the concealment. Not found in a hallway. Not found collapsed. Hidden. Wrapped. Placed under a bed. Robin explains what concealment commonly signals in juveniles and why — contrary to popular belief — it doesn’t automatically equate to malicious intent. Panic can look like guilt. Shock can look like deception. Fear can fuel catastrophic decisions. Then there’s the 16-year-old stepsibling — the one now labeled a suspect — and his reported claim that he “doesn’t remember what happened” and was an “emotional wreck.” Robin walks us through the behavioral possibilities behind that statement: trauma, dissociation, avoidance, overwhelm, or genuine blackout under stress. Next, we dismantle the family chaos that erupted online: the biological mother melting down on TikTok, the grandmother calling it murder, the father staying silent, relatives sniping at each other publicly. Robin explains how investigators sift through emotional noise, identify authentic behavior patterns, and avoid being pulled into the whirlpool of family dysfunction. Finally, we look at what matters next: timeline consistency, nonverbal cues from the juvenile, whether stories shift, and what the autopsy reveals about intent, panic, or something in between. This is a conversation about behavior, not blame — and it may be the clearest breakdown of this case you’ll hear anywhere. #HiddenKillers #AnnaKepner #TrueCrimeAnalysis #RobinDreeke #BehavioralScience #FBIProfiler #CruiseCase #FamilyDynamics #CrimeInvestigation #JuvenileBehavior 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 18min

The case that shocked the country just took an even darker turn. New details have emerged about who Morgan Geyser escaped with, how she was able to break free from a supposedly supervised group home, and the massive systemic failures that let her travel across state lines before anyone realized she was gone. What we’re learning now raises disturbing questions about supervision, risk assessment, and why someone with her violent history was ever placed in a neighborhood without warning. Tonight, we break down everything that’s happened since her capture in Illinois — including the surprising statements from the man found with her. He claims she fled “because of him,” revealing a relationship that should never have been allowed in the first place. We examine what this connection tells us about her mindset, the breakdown of boundaries in her supervised release, and how a person once committed after a delusion-fueled attack was able to form this kind of attachment without the system catching it. We walk through the escape minute-by-minute:  • The GPS monitor alert labeled as a “malfunction.”  • The hours-long delay before anyone checked her location.  • The missing-person report not reaching police until the next morning.  • And the capture behind a truck stop more than 150 miles away. We look at what investigators have uncovered, what the group home missed, and why the Department of Corrections treated a tamper alert like a tech glitch instead of a high-risk event. And then — what happens next. Geyser has waived extradition. Wisconsin is preparing to take her back. Her conditional release is on the brink of being revoked. Multiple agencies are now under scrutiny, and lawmakers are already pushing for major changes to how high-risk supervised releases are handled. This isn’t just an escape. It’s a case study in how optimism, secrecy, and blind spots can collide in ways that put entire communities at risk. And it’s a story that’s far from over. Join us as we dig into the timeline, the failures, the psychology, and the fallout. #MorganGeyser #SlenderManCase #HiddenKillers #TrueCrimeNews #Wisconsin #CrimeAnalysis #JusticeSystem #PublicSafety #TrueCrimeToday #CrimeUpdates 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 22min

Tonight on Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us unravel two cases that shouldn’t be connected — but absolutely are. On one side: Ashlee Buzzard, a mother spiraling into paranoia, delusion, secrecy, and destabilization as her nine-year-old daughter, Melodee, remains missing. On the other: Morgan Geyser, the Slender Man attacker who escaped a state placement, cut her ankle monitor, crossed state lines with a 42-year-old man, and was found behind a truck stop. Two wildly different cases. One identical problem: a system incapable of responding to psychological danger until AFTER the damage is done. Shavaun takes us deep into the psychology behind both crises. In the Buzzard case, we look at fractured reality, shifting stories, conspiracy fears, digital erasure, symbolic “shrines,” and the psychological danger created when a child’s safety depends entirely on a parent who may no longer be tethered to shared reality — yet shows just enough calm to avoid involuntary intervention. In the Geyser case, we dig into the illusion of “recovery,” the fragility of delusion-based offenders, hidden addresses, overlooked red flags, troubling adult relationships, and the near-disastrous consequences of placing someone with her history in an unsecured neighborhood with nothing but a GPS bracelet — a bracelet that failed the moment it mattered. Both cases ask the same chilling questions: • Why can’t the system intervene before irreversible harm? • Why is “imminent danger” defined so narrowly it becomes meaningless? • How can someone be deeply unstable yet still appear compliant enough to avoid detection? • How many red flags does it take before a child or community is protected? This is a conversation about psychology, danger, and systemic blind spots — and why families, victims, and entire neighborhoods keep getting blindsided by crises everyone saw coming but nobody was legally allowed to stop. #HiddenKillers #MelodeeBuzzard #AshleeBuzzard #MorganGeyser #SlenderMan #TrueCrime #MentalHealthCrisis #SystemFailure #TonyBrueski #ShavaunScott 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 56min

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