Rex Heuermann's Burlap, Hair, and Pizza: The Forensic Breaks That Nailed the Gilgo Suspect

Rex Heuermann's Burlap, Hair, and Pizza: The Forensic Breaks That Nailed the Gilgo Suspect

The DNA Breakthrough & What Comes Next Rex Heuermann's Burlap, Hair, and Pizza: The Forensic Breaks That Nailed the Gilgo Suspect

After years of dead ends, the case against Rex Heuermann broke open with a slice of pizza. Surveillance teams tailing him in 2023 collected a discarded crust, extracting DNA that matched hairs found on the burlap sacks wrapped around the Gilgo Beach victims. Not just his hair—familial matches tied back to his wife and daughter, consistent with the chaotic, unclean hoarder house investigators uncovered.

Forensic science has now caught up with cold cases. Whole-genome sequencing—a powerful new tool—can analyze even hairs without roots, building a near-complete profile. Defense lawyers fought to keep it out, calling it “untested.” But the court just ruled: it’s in. Jurors may not understand the science, but they’ll understand this: it’s precise, it’s definitive, and it ties Rex Heuermann to the crime scene.

We dig into what that means: how genome sequencing strengthens forensic cases, why it will likely become the new courtroom standard, and why Rex’s arguments about “new science” may backfire. And we ask: what about Asa? Did she know nothing, or was she so trauma-bonded and compartmentalized that denial became her survival? Her claim that “I still feel Rex is here” after the house raid shows a connection that goes beyond ordinary loyalty.

From DNA on pizza crust to notes in the basement, the walls are closing in. The trial date hasn’t been set, but with DNA admitted, the odds of Rex Heuermann ever walking free again are vanishing. This is the turn from cold case to courtroom reality—and it’s decades in the making.

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#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LongIslandSerialKiller #DNAEvidence #WholeGenomeSequencing #HiddenKillers #ColdCaseSolved #TrueCrime #PizzaCrustDNA #CourtroomDrama

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Episoder(500)

Donna Adelson on Trial: Mastermind Or Losing Her Mind?

Donna Adelson on Trial: Mastermind Or Losing Her Mind?

Donna Adelson on Trial: Mastermind Or Losing Her Mind? A grandmother. A custody battle. A cold-blooded killing. And now, a trial that could finally reveal who really orchestrated the murder of Dan Markel. In this comprehensive episode of Hidden Killers, Tony Brueski sits down with defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis to break down the most compelling elements of the case against Donna Adelson. From the emotionally distant testimony of her own children… to the 44 paychecks she allegedly signed for a murder-for-hire intermediary… to a suspicious one-way ticket to Vietnam… this case is stacked with bizarre twists and damning behavior. But is it enough to convict? Eric and Tony explore the strategies on both sides of the courtroom—how the prosecution is painting Donna as the mastermind, and how the defense is desperately trying to reframe her as a grandmother in over her head. If you want to understand the psychology, the evidence, and the legal stakes of one of the most fascinating murder trials in recent memory, this is the episode that brings it all together. Hashtags: #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #MurderForHire #TrueCrimePodcast #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #EricFaddis #AdelsonTrial #MastermindOrMom #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

6 Sep 46min

FBI Profiler Reveals Twisted Mother-Son Bond Between Donna & Charlie Adelson

FBI Profiler Reveals Twisted Mother-Son Bond Between Donna & Charlie Adelson

FBI Profiler Reveals Twisted Mother-Son Bond Between Donna & Charlie Adelson The most disturbing part of the Donna Adelson case isn’t just the murder. It’s her deeply unhealthy emotional grip on her son, Charlie. In this final chapter of our four-part interview, retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke helps us unpack the enmeshed, codependent dynamic that may have fueled a murder-for-hire plot. We explore the psychology of emotional incest—not sexual, but psychological—and how Donna used fear, guilt, and lifelong programming to keep her son obedient into his 40s. This was no ordinary mother-son relationship. This was psychological domination dressed up as maternal love. Robin walks us through the patterns of grooming, control, and total emotional fusion that made Charlie the perfect foot soldier for a plan he may not have even questioned. We talk about Wendy’s role, Harvey’s absence, and the chilling possibility that this family has been living in Donna’s shadow for decades. This isn’t just a crime—it’s a generational collapse. And now, the entire Adelson empire is falling apart, one testimony at a time. Subscribe for more expert analysis, only on Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski. Hashtags: #DonnaAdelson #CharlieAdelson #FBIProfiler #TrueCrimeToday #FamilyControl #Codependency #MurderPlot #RobinDreeke #HiddenKillers #PsychologicalAbuse 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

5 Sep 20min

Donna Adelson Trial: Prosecution Rebuttal Hammers Final Blows | Hidden Killers Live

Donna Adelson Trial: Prosecution Rebuttal Hammers Final Blows | Hidden Killers Live

Donna Adelson Trial: Prosecution Rebuttal Hammers Final Blows | Hidden Killers Live Round three in the Donna Adelson trial belonged to the state — and prosecutor Georgia Cappleman did not hold back. In this final segment of Hidden Killers Live with Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels, we cover the prosecution’s rebuttal closing argument and the aftermath as the jury heads into deliberations. Highlights include: Cappleman dismantling the defense’s contradictions — from the “TV repair” code to Donna’s planner and 44 checks signed with her name. The infamous “two of us” wiretap line, used to tie Donna directly into the conspiracy. The chilling email where Donna claimed Dan Markel’s young son wasn’t sad about his father’s murder — a window into her cold, narcissistic mindset. A fiery finale where Cappleman reminds jurors: it’s powdered sugar — she’s covered in it. Panel breakdown of the defense’s collapse, Donna’s narcissism on full display, and speculation on what this means for Wendy and Harvey Adelson. Predictions on jury deliberations, verdict timing, and the psychological fallout of a narcissist facing collapse. Do you think Georgia Cappleman’s rebuttal sealed Donna Adelson’s fate? Let us know in the comments. Watch Hidden Killers Live weekdays, 10AM–Noon CST, for real-time courtroom coverage, sharp analysis, and unfiltered panel reactions. Hashtags: #DonnaAdelson #AdelsonTrial #DanMarkel #GeorgiaCappleman #ClosingArguments #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #MurderForHire #JusticeForDanMarkel #CourtroomDrama 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

5 Sep 36min

Donna Adelson Trial: Defense Closing Meltdown Continues! | Hidden Killers Live

Donna Adelson Trial: Defense Closing Meltdown Continues! | Hidden Killers Live

Donna Adelson Trial: Defense Closing Meltdown Continues! | Hidden Killers Live After more than two hours of the prosecution hammering Donna Adelson, her defense team finally took the floor — and what followed was one of the most bizarre, scattered closings we’ve seen in a high-profile murder trial. In this segment of Hidden Killers Live with Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels, we watch as defense attorney Jackie Fulford attempts to convince jurors Donna Adelson had no role in the 2014 murder of Dan Markel. Instead, what came out was: A grievance-laden monologue that felt more like Donna speaking through her attorney than a legal defense. Odd poster board exhibits and an overhead “artist rendering” that looked more like grade-school projects than courtroom evidence. A “Top Ten List” of names Donna allegedly called Dan Markel — presented as if insulting him somehow proved she wasn’t guilty. Repeated attempts to shift blame to Charlie, Wendy, and even Rob Adelson, while insisting Donna was just a meddling mom. The defense’s claim that relocation wasn’t a motive because “it was over a year earlier” — directly clashing with the state’s evidence of continued pressure and Donna’s obsession with control. Moments where Fulford seemed to echo Donna’s narcissism and rage, airing family grievances instead of laying out a coherent defense strategy. Our panel reacts in real time, ripping apart the weak strategy, the spectacle in the courtroom, and the sense that Donna’s team did more to bury her than to save her.  Do you think the defense helped or hurt Donna Adelson in their closing? Let us know in the comments.  Catch Hidden Killers Live weekdays, 10AM–Noon CST, for the latest true crime trials, analysis, and raw courtroom moments. Hashtags: #DonnaAdelson #AdelsonTrial #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #CourtroomDrama #ClosingArguments #DefenseFail #MurderForHire #JusticeForDanMarkel 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

5 Sep 37min

Was Donna Adelson the Mastermind? Or Just a Meddling Mom?

Was Donna Adelson the Mastermind? Or Just a Meddling Mom?

Was Donna Adelson the Mastermind? Or Just a Meddling Mom? Was Donna Adelson the criminal architect of a murder-for-hire plot—or just an overbearing grandmother caught in the crossfire of her son’s bad decisions? In this pivotal episode, Hidden Killers host Tony Brueski is joined by legal expert Eric Faddis to unpack the prosecution’s boldest claim: that Donna didn’t just know about the plot to kill Dan Markel—she engineered it. We dive into new testimony suggesting Donna consulted mid-plot, pressured her children, and manipulated the situation with military precision. But is that enough to prove orchestration… or just meddling? Eric breaks down the legal difference between being the “mastermind” and simply being “involved,” and how jurors are being asked to separate motherly concern from criminal intent. This is the crux of the case—and it could determine whether Donna Adelson spends the rest of her life behind bars. Hashtags: #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #Mastermind #MurderTrial #TrueCrimeAnalysis #EricFaddis #TonyBrueski #CriminalIntent #AdelsonCase #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

5 Sep 16min

Wendy Adelson Testimony, “Soft Memory,” and Prosecutors’ Next Moves

Wendy Adelson Testimony, “Soft Memory,” and Prosecutors’ Next Moves

Wendy Adelson Testimony, “Soft Memory,” and Prosecutors’ Next Moves Wendy Adelson has always been at the center of motive in the Dan Markel murder case—but so far, she’s avoided charges. In this episode of Hidden Killers, Tony Brueski and retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer take a closer look at Wendy’s latest courtroom performance and the evidence stacking around her. On the stand, Wendy’s testimony was a showcase of selective memory—she couldn’t recall conversations, details, or context that anyone else would find unforgettable. Yet her ex-boyfriend testified that she openly admitted Charlie had looked into hiring a hitman. She denied direct involvement, but admitted she despised her ex, adding fuel to suspicions. Overlay that with Donna’s potential to flip if convicted, and Wendy’s position looks perilous. Donna knows the family conspiracy better than anyone, and she could sink both Harvey and Wendy if she chooses. For prosecutors, that’s leverage. Coffindaffer explains how investigators evaluate testimony like Wendy’s—when “I don’t recall” crosses from strategy into obstruction, and why prosecutors might be building a case quietly in the background. Are they already monitoring her communications, waiting for a mistake? Is Wendy truly untouchable, or simply next in line once Donna’s trial concludes? Wendy benefited the most from Markel’s death—custody, freedom, financial stability—but her credibility continues to erode. This conversation cuts through the evasions to ask: will Wendy finally face charges, or can she keep dancing on the line? Featuring: Tony Brueski & retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer Keywords: Wendy Adelson, Dan Markel case, Donna Adelson trial, Charlie Adelson, testimony analysis, selective memory, ex-boyfriend testimony, law professor, prosecution strategy, Hidden Killers Hashtags: #WendyAdelson #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #JenniferCoffindaffer #TrueCrime #AdelsonFamily #FloridaCrime #Testimony #Investigation #Conspiracy 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

5 Sep 12min

Big Breakdown - Donna Adelson's Bad Week In Court

Big Breakdown - Donna Adelson's Bad Week In Court

Big Breakdown - Donna Adelson's Bad Week In Court Donna Adelson just had the kind of week in court you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy—unless your last name happens to be Markel. In this Big Breakdown, we take you inside the courtroom for a front-row seat to one of the most revealing stretches in Donna Adelson’s murder-for-hire trial. The prosecution came out swinging with bombshells that shook the courtroom—from incriminating testimony and surveillance clips to undercover FBI tactics that turned up the pressure. And Donna? Her reactions say just as much as her defense does. This episode dives into why this past week might be a turning point in the case. We explore how the prosecution methodically dismantled the defense narrative, what psychological tells we saw from Donna in court, and what experts believe about the strategy behind both sides. It’s not just about what was said—it’s about what wasn’t said, and how the jury might interpret it. Tony Brueski is joined by top-tier analysts and legal insiders to unpack the most damning testimony, the emotional tone in the courtroom, and the optics that could influence the outcome of the trial. If you’ve been following the saga of the Adelson family and the murder of Dan Markel, this is a pivotal moment. And if you’re just tuning in, now’s the time to catch up—because things are only getting more intense from here. Subscribe for daily true crime breakdowns and expert insight you won’t find anywhere else. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #TrueCrimePodcast #CourtroomDrama #MurderForHire #TrialUpdate #TonyBrueski #HiddenKillersPodcast #LegalAnalysis #BigBreakdown 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

5 Sep 1h 48min

Donna Adelson Trial: Defense Closing Argument Meltdown | Hidden Killers Live

Donna Adelson Trial: Defense Closing Argument Meltdown | Hidden Killers Live

Donna Adelson Trial: Defense Closing Argument Meltdown | Hidden Killers Live After more than two hours of the prosecution hammering Donna Adelson, her defense team finally took the floor — and what followed was one of the most bizarre, scattered closings we’ve seen in a high-profile murder trial. In this segment of Hidden Killers Live with Tony Brueski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels, we watch as defense attorney Jackie Fulford attempts to convince jurors Donna Adelson had no role in the 2014 murder of Dan Markel. Instead, what came out was: A grievance-laden monologue that felt more like Donna speaking through her attorney than a legal defense. Odd poster board exhibits and an overhead “artist rendering” that looked more like grade-school projects than courtroom evidence. A “Top Ten List” of names Donna allegedly called Dan Markel — presented as if insulting him somehow proved she wasn’t guilty. Repeated attempts to shift blame to Charlie, Wendy, and even Rob Adelson, while insisting Donna was just a meddling mom. The defense’s claim that relocation wasn’t a motive because “it was over a year earlier” — directly clashing with the state’s evidence of continued pressure and Donna’s obsession with control. Moments where Fulford seemed to echo Donna’s narcissism and rage, airing family grievances instead of laying out a coherent defense strategy. Our panel reacts in real time, ripping apart the weak strategy, the spectacle in the courtroom, and the sense that Donna’s team did more to bury her than to save her. Do you think the defense helped or hurt Donna Adelson in their closing? Let us know in the comments. Catch Hidden Killers Live weekdays, 10AM–Noon CST, for the latest true crime trials, analysis, and raw courtroom moments. Hashtags: #DonnaAdelson #AdelsonTrial #DanMarkel #HiddenKillers #TrueCrime #CourtroomDrama #ClosingArguments #DefenseFail #MurderForHire #JusticeForDanMarkel 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

5 Sep 1h 19min

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