The Cheat Sheet: Outbreaks and Obsessions

Sam McGuire studies conspiracy theories. He is a master's graduate from OCAD University in Toronto, Ontario. We were fortunate enough to get to talk to him about conspiracy theories, their prevalence in true crime, and how we can try to help people break the cycle of conspiratorial thinking.In new segment, True Crime Wave, we’ll be talking about issues endemic to true crime. At its best, true crime offers the audience a way to learn about stories of crime, social issues, legal realities, and the real human beings at the heart of cases. It can be educational and compassionate and cathartic and thoughtful and incisive, and it can help raise awareness of cases. Good true crime can show case all kinds of different perspectives. It can center journalism, advocacy, legal analysis, investigative approaches, the experiences of survivors or victims’ families, and more. That is all very good. But too often, we see true crime devolve. We have seen online mobs, harassment, conspiracy theories, ethics-washing, and more. True crime won’t get better on its own. We think talking about these things will help. Check out Sam's Master's thesis here: https://openresearch.ocadu.ca/id/eprint/4061/Check out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsBuy our book on Delphi here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

16 Marras 20251h 10min

The Cheat Sheet is The Murder Sheet's segment breaking down weekly news and updates in some of the murder cases we cover. In this episode, we'll talk about cases from California, New York, Indiana, and Ohio.NBC New York's coverage of the recently solved murder of Ann Lustig and the identification of Steven Briecke as the killer: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/long-island/smudge-crime-scene-helped-long-island-police-solve-1997-cold-case-murder/6416940/CBS's coverage of the recently solved murder of Ann Lustig and the identification of Steven Briecke as the killer:https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/ann-lustig-rape-murder-cold-case-solved/Law & Crime's coverage of the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and the controversy around David Anthony Burke, or D4Vd: https://x.com/LawCrimeNetwork/status/1988267978261921882?s=20KTLA's coverage of the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and the controversy around David Anthony Burke, or D4Vd: https://ktla.com/news/local-news/private-investigator-claims-to-know-who-was-driving-d4vds-abandoned-tesla/Los Angeles Magazine's coverage of the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and the controversy around David Anthony Burke, or D4Vd: https://lamag.com/news/lapd-stands-by-no-further-crimes-confirmed-in-death-of-celeste-rivas-hernandez/Men's Journal's coverage of the death of Celeste Rivas Hernandez and the controversy around David Anthony Burke, or D4Vd: https://www.yahoo.com/news/articles/police-issue-telling-statement-d4vd-224248558.htmlThe Indianapolis Star's coverage of the shooting death of Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez:https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2025/11/05/house-cleaner-maria-florinda-rios-perez-guatemalan-shot-killed-whitestown-indiana/87110514007/WTHR's coverage of the shooting death of Maria Florinda Ríos Pérez: https://www.wthr.com/article/news/crime/indiana-stand-your-ground-law-whitestown-shooting/531-f9a66029-28ab-4428-af16-6493ec8a7ae610 TV's coverage of the alleged murder of Mary Hill by her husband James Hill: https://www.10tv.com/article/news/local/court-documents-detail-events-leading-to-attempted-murder-suicide-upper-arlington-home/530-37a02902-4c27-4059-b58f-d51f4ca54afdFind discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.Bad things happen, even in the places you should be most safe. We know that from covering true crime. That is why investing in a home security system is paramount to your peace of mind. That is why we rely on Simplisafe every day. Simplisafe beats out all the traditional home security systems. The other systems ar reactive. They let you know after someone’s broken in. It’s too late at that point. Well, Simplisafe goes further. Thanks to their AI-powered cameras and live monitoring agents, they can detect and confront potential intruders before the break in even begins. They’ll tell those intruders to clear off, that police are on the way, and set of alarms and lights. Simplisafe protects your home and prevents crime from even happening. We know because we rely on Simplisafe. We’ve gotten threats over our reporting on crime cases. So we take our personal safety pretty seriously. We’ve used Simplisafe for years and are very impressed with their range of options. They’re also great on customer service. You can cancel any time. There’s a 60 day money back guarantee. No hidden fees, either. This month only, take 50% off any new system. This is one of the best prices you will ever see for SimpliSafe—don’t miss it. Hit SIMPLISAFE dot com slash MSHEET—again, that’s SIMPLISAFE dot com slash MSHEET and lock in your discount. There’s No Safe Like SimpliSafe. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

14 Marras 20251h

Several court exhibits associated with Richard Allen's defense's Odinism theory have become public. They mostly feature well-trod ground around the debunked theory that Norse pagans sacrificed Liberty German and Abigail Williams on February 13, 2017. But they do feature a few interesting insights, including an interview between Kathy Allen and police.Find discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLCSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Marras 20252h 1min

In 2022, Bryan Kohberger murdered University of Idao students Madison Mogen, Kaylee Goncalves, Ethan Chapin, and Xana Kernodle at a home in Moscow, Idaho. Kohberger pled guilty and received four life sentences. He was also ordered to pay restitution to the victims' families for funeral expenses. On November 5, 2025, Kohberger's defense team, Latah County prosecutor Bill Thompson, and Judge Steven Hippler had a hearing about further expenses. Find discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLCSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Marras 202533min

On November 9, 1971, a man named John List got to work killing his entire family. After killing his wife Helen, his mother Alma, and his children Patricia, John Frederick, and Frederick, he vanished. In 1989, List was arrested and ultimately convicted of the murders.Today, we speak with a longtime listener with a unique perspective on this case: He corresponded with John List while the family annihilator served his life sentence in prison.Shoutout to Andy — one of our beloved patrons — who was kind enough to come on the show. Thank you, Andy!Check out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsPre-order our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.Don’t you hate feeling like people are constantly trying to scam you?Yeah. I’m always getting scammy phone calls and texts and emails. It’s everywhere. So annoying and stressful. There are a lot of scammers out there. But the good news is our sponsor Cash App has your back. Scammers know the holidays are busy for everyone which can make us all targets for scams. That’s why Cash App builds in protection to help keep your money safe while you’re checking off your shopping list. If you’re about to send money to someone for a deal that’s too good to be true and Cash App flags it as a potential scam, they'll warn you before you send the money. Cash App also gives you an extra layer of protection with features like Security Lock. You can require a PIN, Face ID, or fingerprint, to unlock your account and move money so even if someone gets a hold of your unlocked phone at holiday party, your money is right where you left it. ● Gift yourself some peace of mind this holiday season and download Cash AppWe love to use Cash App. It’s easy and intuitive. We’ve used it at holiday festivals for treats, at farmer’s markets to get delicious watermelons this summer, and to split bills with friends after a night out. For a limited time only, new Cash App customers can use our exclusive code to earn some additional cash. For real. Just download Cash App, use our exclusive referral code SECURE10 in your profile, send $5 to a friend within 14 days, and you’ll get $10 dropped right into your account. Terms apply. That’s Money. That’s Cash App. Cash App is a financial services platform, not a bank. Banking services provided by Cash App’s bank partner(s). Prepaid debit cards issued by Sutton Bank, Member FDIC. Promotions provided by Cash App, a Block, Inc. brand. Visit cash.app/legal/podcast for full disclosures.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

9 Marras 20251h 4min

The Cheat Sheet is The Murder Sheet's segment breaking down weekly news and updates in some of the murder cases we cover. In this episode, we'll talk about cases from New Jersey, Washington, Oklahoma, Canada, and Australia.NJ.com’s coverage of the disappearance of Kevin Collins Jr.: https://www.nj.com/salem/2025/11/nj-moms-desperate-8-month-search-for-her-missing-son-inspires-fundraiser.htmlTinisha Hall’s Change.org petition on the disappearance of her son, Kevin Collins Jr.: https://www.change.org/p/help-find-my-kevin-collins-demand-action-demand-answersThe BBC’s coverage of convicted child rapist Steven van de Velde: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly9z3r1dmzoThe National Post’s coverage of the conviction of Qin Shen for the attack on Jing Lu: https://nationalpost.com/news/b-c-appeal-attempted-murder-courtroomNews9’s coverage of the murder of Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Howard Crumley and the denied parole of Hubert Wilkinson: https://www.news9.com/crime/commutation-denied-for-man-convicted-in-1970-murder-of-oklahoma-highway-patrol-trooperKATU’s report on the death of a man known as Arslan and the arrest of Raylin Marie Benzie: https://katu.com/news/local/court-docs-woman-met-man-for-sex-at-ilani-casino-drugged-him-with-fentanyl-killing-himFind discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

7 Marras 202559min

On November 5, 1986, Temujin Kensu murdered Scott Macklem. For decades, Kensu and his allies have put out rumors about Scott having a dark side, in an effort to point to other possible killers. So what's the truth about Scott? Was he rapist? Was he involved in drugs? On today's episode, we will hear from five friends of Scott. They will debunk some myths about their murdered friend.Find discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

5 Marras 20251h 28min

On November 5, 1986, Temujin Kensu murdered Scott Macklem. For decades, we've mostly heard Kensu's story. Meanwhile, Scott's been lost in discussion of his own killing. So who was Scott Macklem? On today's episode, we will hear from five friends of Scott. They will share what Scott was like as a person.In tomorrow's episode, we will hear from them again as they debunk some of the myths spread about Scott.Find discounts for Murder Sheet listeners here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/discountsCheck out our upcoming book events and get links to buy tickets here: https://murdersheetpodcast.com/eventsOrder our book on Delphi here: https://bookshop.org/p/books/shadow-of-the-bridge-the-delphi-murders-and-the-dark-side-of-the-american-heartland-aine-cain/21866881?ean=9781639369232Or here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/Shadow-of-the-Bridge/Aine-Cain/9781639369232Or here: https://www.amazon.com/Shadow-Bridge-Murders-American-Heartland/dp/1639369236Join our Patreon here! https://www.patreon.com/c/murdersheetSupport The Murder Sheet by buying a t-shirt here: https://www.murdersheetshop.com/Check out more inclusive sizing and t-shirt and merchandising options here: https://themurdersheet.dashery.com/Send tips to murdersheet@gmail.com.The Murder Sheet is a production of Mystery Sheet LLC.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

4 Marras 20251h