Murder Under the Big Top: The Story of Lobster Boy

Tonight’s case is one that rattled a small seaside town in Ireland — and left the entire country asking: how can someone vanish without a trace… in their own home? The last time anyone outside of her household saw Tina Satchwell alive was on March 19, 2017. She and her husband, Richard, were browsing through bargains at a local car boot sale. By all accounts, it was just a regular Sunday. No drama. No suspicious behaviour. Nothing that would suggest that just one day later, Tina would be gone. According to Richard, Tina asked him to make a trip to Aldi the following morning, March 20. He left their home in Youghal around 10 a.m., grabbed a few things from the store, and got back at 2 p.m. But when he walked through the door, Tina wasn’t there. Her keys were on the floor. Her phone was on the table. Her beloved dogs were still inside the house, alone. But she… was gone. It wasn’t until four days later that Richard contacted Tina’s family — and then the Gardaí — to report her missing. He claimed she’d taken off with two suitcases, a stash of cash totalling around €26,000, and seemingly no plan to come back. That’s when the mystery deepened. Despite extensive investigations, forensic searches, and even international tips, every lead led to a dead end. Tina Satchwell had vanished — and no one could figure out how or why. But just when everyone began to believe this case might remain unsolved forever… a shocking discovery turned everything upside down. Sources: https://www.irishexaminer.com/news/spotlight/arid-41639983.html https://www.irishtimes.com/crime-law/2023/10/13/tina-satchwell-case-a-timeline-of-the-investigation-into-her-disappearance/  https://extra.ie/2019/01/05/news/real-life/tina-satchwell-richard-satchwell-missing-cork https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/killer-satchwell-murdered-wife-tina-35316575 https://uk.news.yahoo.com/tina-satchwell-lovely-girl-whose-122613561.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAADFT6Qni2katPdaXiZ1xxMS4d4R8joN6u_NBPQIyfJ2s5tzwMGSYrTVx2l8EVE4xWX6MOhJt6XZdw4b4ydL2WMuvZUdyyTL3vZvuagovm_h1EYg44KaBCusTOSH4OtVTqqKzCtEk9A6-uc4r-rlAnHboe0RyIhuT-8pxEHblNkUh https://www.thejournal.ie/the-body-under-the-stairs-inside-the-garda-operation-to-catch-the-killer-of-tina-satchwell-6717059-May2025/ Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Jun 43min

Picture this: a young girl, clearly distressed, was found loitering near the General Post Office on bustling O’Connell Street. She’s alone, silent, and seemingly terrified. When two police officers in Ireland approach her, she doesn’t — or won’t — speak English. But she somehow manages to get one thing across: she’s 14 years old. The only other clues? Some haunting doodles of an airplane, a bed, and a gun. Not exactly the kind of thing you’d find in your average teen’s sketchbook. Authorities begin to suspect she might be a victim of sex trafficking. It’s not long before Interpol and the Missing Persons Bureau get involved, and the media latches on. Headlines scream: Who is GPO Girl? With no solid leads and a growing public obsession, the police make a bold move — they go public. Her photo, snapped on the sly, is released… and when the sun rises on the southern hemisphere, the real story finally comes to light. Because GPO Girl? Yeah, she wasn’t a teenager. She wasn’t trafficked. And she definitely wasn’t who she claimed to be. She was Samantha Azzopardi — a 25-year-old Australian woman with a suitcase full of lies and a long history of reinvention. Her stint in Dublin was just one chapter in a globe-trotting tale of deceit, delusion, and downright bizarre behaviour.  Sources: https://www.news.com.au/national/victoria/courts-law/principal-predator-malka-leifer-and-schoolgirl-conwoman-samantha-azzopardi-shared-kiss-behind-bars/news-story/22def31a59175d16bcd00cdc4b5b7a20 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-57284621 https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/she-even-managed-to-fool-gardai-true-crime-series-con-girl-exposes-the-many-lives-and-lies-of-samantha-azzopardi/42357359.html https://www.irishtimes.com/news/ireland/irish-news/missing-teenage-girl-found-in-dublin-identified-as-25-year-old-australian-1.1586181 https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/may/29/disturbed-au-pair-who-created-false-identities-given-two-years-jail-in-victoria https://www.crave.ca/FR/tv-shows/con-girl https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/the-downfall-of-australias-baby-faced-serial-scam-artist/YRWIFKNC6FHLCUSHVNCB25JBX4/#google_vignette https://www.telegraph.co.uk/tv/0/con-girl-true-story-what-happened-samantha-azzopardi/ https://www.womensweekly.com.au/news/samantha-azzopardi-true-story/ Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

30 Mai 45min

What happens when obsession crosses the line into destruction? When fantasy becomes more important than family? And when one man’s delusion spirals so far out of control… it ends in bloodshed? Night after night, Grant Amato sat in the dim glow of his family’s computer screen, utterly captivated by a woman thousands of miles away — a Bulgarian webcam model named Silvie. She danced. She posed. She told him everything he wanted to hear… for a price. And Grant? He paid it. Thousands of dollars. Hours of his time. His job. His dignity. And eventually… much, much more. When the money ran out, he stole from the people who loved him the most — his own family. Hoping to keep the fantasy alive, he lied. Again. And again. Until his family had had enough. They begged him to get help. They gave him a choice: leave Silvie… or leave their home. Grant chose neither. Instead, prosecutors say, he chose murder. On a quiet night in January 2019, in the suburb of Chuluota, Florida, Grant Amato’s mother, father, and brother were found brutally gunned down in their home. But that’s not where this story ends. Because here we are — in 2025 — and somehow, somehow, Grant Amato’s name is back in the headlines… this time, tied to a murder-for-hire plot targeting Ghost Adventures star Aaron Goodwin. Sources: https://www.orlandosentinel.com/2019/07/12/obsession-money-lies-tore-grant-amatos-family-apart-a-jury-will-decide-whether-he-killed-them/ https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/amato-family-murders https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/01/29/he-spent-bulgarian-cam-girl-police-say-obsession-led-massacre/  https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/5700189/Amato-Affidavit.pdf https://www.primevideo.com/region/na/detail/0IDCFBRXWU1XDTN2F6ZTNTGUPO/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r https://people.com/ghost-adventure-star-wife-in-love-man-serving-life-massacring-family-11698136 Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 Mai 33min

It all began on Friday morning, May 2nd, 2025. Lilly, who’s just six years old, and her little brother Jack, only four, were last seen around 10 a.m. near their home on Gairloch Road in Lansdowne Station, Pictou County. Their mother, Malehya, and stepfather, Daniel, were asleep with their baby in another room. Meanwhile, Lilly and Jack were supposed to quietly play by themselves. Daniel, the stepdad, said that he had last heard the kids playing around 10 a.m. He even told them to keep it down so the baby—and the parents—could get some sleep. At some point, though, the house fell silent. You know that uneasy feeling when kids suddenly get too quiet? That’s what triggered Daniel to check on them. When he did, they were gone.  They weren’t in the room, not in the backyard—just gone. The family believes Lilly and Jack must have slipped out through the sliding door and somehow made their way beyond the fenced yard. Considering how heavily wooded the area is, authorities suspect the siblings wandered into the forest. But despite a massive search effort—150 people, dogs, drones, thermal imaging, and the Nova Scotia Guard—there’s still no sign of them. But as more time passes, questions are starting to arise. Some people are finding the circumstances around the children’s disappearance suspicious. How could two young kids slip out unnoticed in the middle of the morning? Why were the parents asleep while the kids were left unsupervised? And how likely is it that two little ones could make it so far into the dense forest without leaving any trace? This is a developing story, and the details seem to be changing by the day.  Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Lilly and Jack is asked to contact Pictou County District RCMP at 902-485-4333. To remain anonymous, contact Nova Scotia Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), submit a secure web tip at www.crimestoppers.ns.ca Sources: https://crimetimelines.com/missing-siblings-lily-jack-sullivan-nova-scotia-2025/ https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/missing-children-pictou-county-lily-jack-sullivan-1.7527613 https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/pictou-county-missing-children-lily-jack-sullivan-may-7-1.7528438 https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/video/9.6753206 https://globalnews.ca/news/11175272/missing-children-ns-day-10/  https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-nova-scotia-missing-children-pictou-updates-timeline/ Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

16 Mai 34min

Tonight, we’re talking about a crime that rocked the small village of Romeoville, Illinois. It was a quiet Sunday evening in September 2023 when police pulled up to a quaint blue home on Concord Avenue. The neighbourhood was calm and peaceful, but what they found inside was anything but. As officers moved through the dark, quiet house, their flashlights revealed overturned furniture, deceased pets, and something way worse: an entire family had been brutally murdered. Zoraida Bartolomei, her husband Alberto Rolon, and their two young sons, Adriel and Diego, were all found dead in their own home — executed in cold blood. At first, the police thought it was a targeted home invasion. It certainly appeared so at first glance; their belongings looked like they had been rummaged through, and there was spray paint on the walls. But as they dug deeper, they uncovered a twisted story that no one saw coming — one filled with manipulation, cartel ties, jealousy, and one of the most bizarre catfishing schemes you could imagine. It’s a case that shocked not just the tight-knit community but the entire country. We’re talking infidelity, paranoia, and way more death than any small town should ever see.  Sources: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/romeoville-murders-catfish-motive_n_670e9236e4b094567cfe6423 https://abc7chicago.com/post/red-flags-led-2023-mass-murder-romeoville-family-planned-nathaniel-huey-jrs-fiance-emalinda-palomo-files-show/15394243/ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12543891/nathanial-huey-partner-ermalinda-palomo-romeoville.html https://www.nbcchicago.com/news/local/police-docs-paint-horrifying-picture-of-what-led-to-shocking-romeoville-quadruple-murder/3565458/ Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Mai 34min

On the night of May 12, 2003, 16-year-old Martha Puebla sat outside her home in Sun Valley, California, sharing a quiet moment with a friend. Within minutes, her life was stolen by a gunman who asked for her by name before firing multiple shots and disappearing into the night. What seemed like a cold, calculated execution quickly unravelled into a web of investigative missteps, courtroom drama, and one extraordinary twist of fate. Join me as we explore the murder of Martha Puebla — a tragic case that led detectives down a winding path of gang retaliation, eyewitness errors, and a young man falsely accused. Juan Catalan was arrested for Martha’s murder, based on shaky testimony and a grainy photo lineup. But just as his case seemed destined for a grim ending, an unlikely piece of evidence surfaced — hidden in the background of a popular TV show being filmed the night of the murder. This is a story of justice nearly derailed — and the miracle that saved an innocent man from death row. Sources: https://www.dailynews.com/2008/07/02/la-gang-member-gets-life-for-killing-teenage-girl/ https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-interrogate2-2008jul02-story.html https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2004/06/07/face-in-the-crowd https://studylib.net/doc/18288765/1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10-11-12-13-14-15-16-17-18-19-20-21-22- Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2 Mai 34min

The date was September 11th, 2000, in Clearwater, Florida.  Eight-year-old Zachary Bernhardt was asleep in his bedroom when his mother, Leah Hackett, stepped out of their apartment on Drew Street. It was the middle of the night, but Leah said insomnia had gotten the best of her. She went for a walk, maybe a swim in the apartment complex’s pool, hoping the movement and cool water would help her settle her racing thoughts. She claimed she was only gone 15 minutes. But when she returned just after 4 a.m., her son was gone. No signs of a struggle. No broken windows. Just an empty bed where Zachary should have been. Clearwater Police launched an immediate and extensive search of the area. Officers scoured the apartment complex, the surrounding woods, and nearby retention ponds. K-9 units, helicopters, volunteers—every available resource was deployed.  But they found nothing. No witnesses. No clues. No trace of Zachary. As the days turned into weeks, and the weeks into years, suspicion quietly began to turn inward. Some investigators believe Leah Hackett knows more than she’s ever disclosed. She's always denied involvement—claimed she’s innocent, and that she, too, wants answers. Since then, she’s moved out of state, avoiding much of the public spotlight. Zachary’s father? He was never involved in his life—and has never been considered a suspect. So what really happened that night? Did someone sneak into the apartment while Leah was out? Or is there something in her story that doesn’t quite add up? Over two decades later, there are still no answers. No leads. No closure. Just a little boy who vanished without a trace. Sources: https://int-missing.fandom.com/wiki/Zach_Bernhardt?source=post_page-----5c7d19bb7b6f--------------------------------------- https://charleyproject.org/case/zachary-michael-cole-bernhardt https://websleuths.com/threads/fl-zachary-michael-cole-bernhardt-8-clearwater-11-sept-2000.11639/ https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2021/missing-in-the-shadows-of-9-11 https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2000/09/28/police-boy-s-mother-knows-more/ https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pasco/florida-woman-awaits-answers-23-years-after-her-8-year-old-nephew-disappears-in-clearwater? Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

25 Apr 32min

In this crossover episode, Serial Napper and Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast join forces to dive deep into two of the most haunting and baffling true crime cases in recent memory. 🎙️ Nikki from Serial Napper takes a closer look at the heartbreaking case of Jelani Day, a graduate student whose body was discovered under suspicious circumstances in Illinois. Despite widespread attention, key questions remain unanswered. Who was Jelani, and what really happened to him? 🎙️ Kaydra from Perplexity: A Mystery Podcast investigates the mysterious death of Phoebe Handsjuk, a 24-year-old woman who was found at the bottom of a garbage chute in a luxury Melbourne apartment building. Was it a tragic accident… or something far more sinister? 🧩 Join us as we break down the facts, examine the theories, and ask the tough questions about two cases that continue to confound investigators and devastate families. Follow me here: ► YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@SerialNapper/ ► Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/serialnappernik/ ► Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/SerialNapper/ ► TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@serialnappernik  *Go Ad-Free on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/SerialNapper * I will be in London at CrimeCon UK and I would love to meet you! Use my discount code NAPPER10 for 10% off the ticket price! Visit https://www.crimecon.co.uk/Our Sponsors:* Check out Mood.com and use my code SERIALNAPPER to save 20% off your first order. https://mood.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

23 Apr 1h 11min