The Therapist Behind Ruby Franke: Inside Netflix's "Evil Influencer" Documentary

In this 2025 Year-in-Review Hidden Killers special, Tony Brueski breaks down one of the most talked-about courtroom moments of the year: the opening statements in the high-stakes murder-for-hire trial of Donna Adelson. From the prosecution’s meticulously crafted narrative to the defense’s chaotic stumble out of the gate, this episode captures the full shockwave of a trial Florida—and the nation—can’t stop watching. Prosecutors came out swinging, painting Donna not as a grieving grandmother swept into family conflict, but as the driving force behind the plot to kill Florida State law professor Dan Markel. They laid out motive, money, resentment, and years of escalating family turmoil. Emails revealed Donna’s relentless pressure to relocate her daughter Wendi and the grandchildren to South Florida—pressure she once described as something she would “never, never, never give up” on. When persuasion failed, the State argues, she turned to a six-figure murder contract. The prosecution previewed phone records, financial trails, incriminating communications, and Donna’s attempted one-way trip to Vietnam—presented not as coincidence, but as a calculated escape once the walls began to close in. Then came the defense. Their opening statement—highly anticipated after the State’s precision—landed with a thud. Instead of offering a coherent counter-narrative, the defense drifted, circled, and repeated the same hollow refrain: “There is no evidence.” Attorney Jackie Fulford attempted to cast Donna as an innocent grandmother caught in her son Charlie’s orbit, but the argument lacked structure, clarity, and force. Jurors appeared disengaged. Moments meant to reassure instead highlighted inconsistencies the prosecution is eager to exploit. This unified breakdown captures the full scope of a pivotal moment in the 2025 trial landscape: a prosecution ready for battle and a defense already fighting to regain footing. Is Donna Adelson the mastermind prosecutors claim—or is the defense simply outmatched from day one? #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #MurderTrial #CourtroomDrama #TrialCoverage #FloridaCrime #TrueCrimeCommunity #JusticeForDan 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

25 Des 1h 27min

Relive the jaw-dropping DoorDash driver twist that rocked the Bryan Kohberger saga in this pulse-pounding deep dive from Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review – a look back at the biggest cases of the year. Back in June 2025, a DUI arrest bodycam confession ignited true crime chaos: A delivery driver claimed she parked next to Kohberger's white Hyundai Elantra outside the off-campus house minutes before the November 2022 Idaho student murders. Was it him lurking in the shadows, or a case of mistaken identity? As Kohberger now rots on four life sentences post-July guilty plea, we dissect her chilling account—delivering food to victim Xana Kernodle around 4 a.m., spotting a suspicious figure by a white car matching his, and the eerie timeline clash with phone pings and security cams. This Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski: True Crime Today retrospective uncovers the frenzy: Prosecutors subpoena her records, defense scrambles to debunk as "unreliable," and leaks reveal she ID'd Kohberger from photos during her 2024 arrest. Dive into the red flags—her delayed report, alcohol-fueled recall, and how it bolsters the prosecution's premeditation narrative alongside the Ka-Bar sheath DNA and Amazon buys. But does this "mystery witness" (aka "MM" in docs) crack the case wide open, or fuel third-party theories? We break down bodycam footage breakdowns, expert takes on eyewitness fallibility, and why it amplified pre-trial media storms leading to the Boise venue shift. Fast-forward to 2025 fallout: This bombshell fed the Goncalves' November WSU lawsuit, slamming university oversight of Kohberger's creepy campus behavior. True crime obsessives, this is gold—probe delivery dash cams, victim timelines, and if one late-night drop-off sealed a killer's fate. Packed with unfiltered analysis, it's your essential rewind on the #Idaho4 enigma. #BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #DoorDashDriver #Idaho4 #TrueCrime #KohbergerWitness #HiddenKillers2025 #CrimeYearInReview #EyewitnessDrama #ForensicTwist #XanaKernodle #TrueCrimePodcast #MurderMystery 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

25 Des 39min

🔍 What does true crime guru Howard Blum now believe about Bryan Kohberger's fractured family and twisted motives? Paired with retired FBI behavior chief's razor-sharp breakdown of that abrupt July 2025 guilty plea – in this riveting rewind from Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review – a look back at the biggest cases of the year. Blum unpacks the emotional rifts: Dad's uneasy post-murder road trip, sibling silences, and how Kohberger's criminology obsession birthed the #Idaho4 nightmare – sheath DNA damns, Amazon premed slips, and WSU stalking ghosts that universities ignored. FBI vet dissects the plea pivot: Ego-crushing evidence avalanche forced the "guilty" gasp, dodging death row but igniting family "betrayal" howls over the 48-hour deal. This Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski: True Crime Today mashup hits November 2025 fresh: Yesterday's Goncalves WSU lawsuit blasts overlooked red flags, fueling restitution wars – $30K fund freezes and urn payback snarls from the November 5 hearing. Autism alibis? Shredded. Third-party mirages? Vanished. True crime truth-hunters, this duo delivers: Insider theories meet behavioral bombs on a killer's collapse. Did family fractures forge the fiend? Your essential 2025 decode of dodged executions and lingering lies in the Idaho inferno. #BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #HowardBlum #FBIBreakdown #TrueCrime #KohbergerPlea #Idaho4 #HiddenKill 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

25 Des 1h 27min

In today’s episode, we break down the stunning split narrative unfolding around the Gilgo Beach murders—one fueled by Netflix’s Gone Girls, the other by Peacock’s explosive new documentary The Gilgo Beach Killer: House of Secrets. At the center of both? Asa Ellerup, the ex-wife of accused serial killer Rex Heuermann, whose reactions are raising eyebrows across the true crime world. After watching Gone Girls, Asa reportedly began wondering whether her former husband might be a fall guy—an extraordinary claim considering the decades of corruption inside Suffolk County law enforcement. From former Police Chief James Burke’s violent cover-ups to DA Thomas Spota’s obstruction charges, the county’s history is messy enough to make anyone question official narratives. But in a dramatic turn, Peacock’s documentary shows a different Asa—one calling Rex her “hero,” defending him emotionally, and describing prison visits as “first dates.” The family reportedly received substantial payment for their participation, raising ethical questions and potential legal consequences under proposed updates to New York’s Son of Sam laws. We examine the forensic battle unfolding in court, including the high-stakes Frye hearing over whole genome sequencing—a cutting-edge DNA method prosecutors say ties hairs from victims to Heuermann or members of his household. The defense, meanwhile, argues the science is untested in New York and should be excluded. Add to that:  • Over 200 firearms found in a hidden vault  • Significant damage to the Heuermann home during searches  • The children’s firsthand accounts of living with an accused killer  • Statements that could be used at trial This case now sits at the chaotic intersection of true crime media, family psychology, forensic science, and a justice system still trying to outrun its own corruption. And if Asa’s reaction is any indication, the story is far from settled. #GilgoBeachMurders #RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #TrueCrimeNews #LongIslandSerialKiller #HiddenKillers #DNAEvidence #DocumentaryAnalysis #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

24 Des 45min

Assistant State Attorney Georgia Cappleman took center stage in the Donna Adelson trial and delivered one of the most consequential closing arguments of the entire case — a summation built on motive, timing, and a digital trail prosecutors say Donna cannot outrun. Cappleman told jurors the path to the truth was simple: “Follow the evidence and find her guilty.” And with that, she walked them step by step through the 2014 murder-for-hire plot that left FSU law professor Dan Markel dead in his driveway. Her message was direct. For Donna Adelson, relocation wasn’t a hope — it was a mission. Years of emails, texts, and phone calls revealed that she viewed Wendi’s move to South Florida as non-negotiable. When the courts refused to give her what she wanted, prosecutors argue Donna and her family turned to a criminal solution, with Charlie acting as the conduit to the hitmen. Cappleman emphasized patterns, not speculation:  • Coordinated timing across phone calls  • Code-like phrasing in text messages  • Shifting money between family members  • The language of control and urgency embedded in Donna’s communications  • A timeline that aligns motive, opportunity, and movement “Innocent people don’t talk in code,” she reminded jurors — a line that cut through the courtroom. Using clear, memorable visuals, she tied every exhibit back to the same through-line: motive → method → meaning. Each piece of evidence reinforced the last, forming the narrative prosecutors want jurors to carry into deliberations: Donna Adelson wasn’t on the periphery — she was at the center. The defense insists Donna is merely a “meddling mother-in-law,” not a murderer. But Cappleman argued the pattern is unmistakable: when legal avenues failed, Donna allegedly chose the illegal one. This clip matters because it captures the prosecution’s final roadmap — the distilled narrative the jury will confront as they decide Donna Adelson’s fate. #DonnaAdelsonTrial #GeorgiaCappleman #DanMarkel #ClosingArguments #TrueCrime #FloridaJustice #CourtroomDrama #MurderForHire #HiddenKillers 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

24 Des 2h 30min

The Richard Allen interrogation at the center of the Delphi murders case has become one of the most fiercely debated moments in modern true crime. This episode dives deep into the alleged tactics investigators used during the October 13th and October 26th interviews—tactics that raise serious questions about procedure, ethics, and the integrity of the investigative process. From the unclear communication of Allen’s custodial status to the inconsistent reinforcement of his Miranda rights, the groundwork for a fair interview was shaky before questioning even began. What unfolded next, according to filings and reports, was an interrogation environment shaped by psychological pressure rather than objective fact-finding. Detectives allegedly exaggerated the strength of video evidence, invoked threats of severe punishment, hinted at possible leniency, and used accusatory language that appeared to treat guilt as a foregone conclusion. Layer in leading questions, hypothetical scenarios, and repeated dismissal of Allen’s denials, and the structure of the conversation shifts from discovery to direction—guiding Allen toward a specific narrative instead of pursuing clarity. Throughout it all, Richard Allen continued to deny involvement in the Delphi murders, even as investigators relied heavily on contested ballistics claims presented as definitive proof. For many observers, these tactics raise legitimate concerns about due process, coercion, and the heightened risk of a false confession. In this episode, we break down why these interrogation techniques matter, what they reveal about the broader Delphi investigation, and how they may shape the pursuit of justice in one of the most heartbreaking cases in recent memory. #DelphiCase #RichardAllen #TrueCrimeNews #InterrogationAnalysis #JusticeMatters #CrimeInvestigation #LegalBreakdown #TrueCrimePodcast #HiddenKillers #DueProcessRights 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

24 Des 1h 1min

In this full-length Hidden Killers special, Tony Brueski brings together the complete story of Donna Adelson, the woman prosecutors say sat at the center of one of Florida’s most cold-blooded murder-for-hire conspiracies. With three co-conspirators already convicted—including her son Charlie—Donna is now the final alleged architect heading toward trial, and this episode lays out the entire case: the family pressure, the money trail, the coded prison calls, and the psychology of a matriarch accused of pulling the strings. We begin with the internal dynamics of the Adelson family, where prosecutors argue Donna exercised powerful influence over major decisions, including the bitter custody dispute with Dan Markel. We examine the alleged $1 million relocation offer, the threatening language about religious upbringing, the burst of phone calls on the day of the murder, and the suspicious financial pipeline prosecutors say flowed from the Adelsons to Katherine Magbanua—all pieces the state will use to argue Donna wasn’t a bystander, but a driving force. Tony, alongside legal analyst Eric Faddis, breaks down the prosecution’s likely strategy: emphasizing the established conspiracy convictions of others, introducing Donna’s coded language on jail calls, highlighting the abrupt Vietnam one-way ticket, and showing jurors a pattern of decisions that point to intent. At the same time, we explore how the defense may try to reframe Donna as a sympathetic grandmother swept into chaos she didn’t create. We also dive into Donna’s public and private narrative control—interrogating her recorded jail calls, emotional shifts, strategic omissions, and the way she shapes conversations with family members still outside the system. Even from behind bars, her influence continues. Finally, we look ahead to the fallout: the psychological toll on the Markel children, the Adelson grandchildren’s future, the long-term identity fracture of carrying a notorious last name, and the intergenerational trauma that will ripple long after the verdict is read. This is more than evidence. This is a story of power, manipulation, loyalty, and the catastrophic consequences of a single decision that changed two families forever. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #CharlieAdelson #KatherineMagbanua #FloridaCrime #ProsecutionStrategy #EricFaddis #FamilyDynamics 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

24 Des 1h 1min

🔍 Unravel the terrifying psychology behind the Idaho student murders with retired FBI profiler Robin Dreeke in this riveting deep dive from Hidden Killers 2025 Year in Review – a look back at the biggest cases of the year. As Bryan Kohberger serves four consecutive life sentences after his July 2025 guilty plea, we revisit the behavioral red flags that doomed his defense—from premeditated Amazon knife buys to DNA matches that obliterated third-party theories. Dreeke, ex-head of the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit, exposes Kohberger's victim selection tactics, autism claims' fatal flaws, and the gap between real profiling and TV drama. Drug deal alibis? Dismantled. Leaked Dateline phone pings and selfies? Timeline killers. What do these clues say about capital cases like this? This Hidden Killers With Tony Brueski: True Crime Today year-end special spotlights the prosecution's unbreakable evidence: Ka-Bar sheath DNA, venue fights in Boise, and jury safeguards that sealed his fate. Post-sentencing, fresh drama unfolds with the Goncalves family's November 19, 2025, lawsuit against Washington State University over Kohberger's pre-murder red flags, plus restitution battles—like the $30K victim fund and urn reimbursements ordered after the November 5 hearing. These breakdowns tie pre-trial psych insights to why his "innocence" ploy collapsed, demanding university accountability in the #Idaho4 nightmare. True crime fans, essential viewing: Probe a criminology student's monstrous turn, sentencing fallout, and looming civil suits that could reshape campus safety. Packed with expert autopsies of evidence and motives, it's a 2025 must for decoding high-stakes horrors. #BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #FBProfiler #RobinDreeke #TrueCrime #KohbergerLifeSentence #Idaho4 #ForensicPsychology #MurderMystery #TrueCrimePodcast #BehavioralAnalysis #HiddenKillers2025 #CrimeYearInReview #WSULawsuit 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

24 Des 46min