Bryan Kohberger: The Selfie, The School Paper, and The Psychology of a Killer | 2025 Year in Review

Idaho prosecutors have responded to Lori Vallow Daybell's appeal with a 59-page filing that systematically rejects every constitutional claim she raised. The convicted child killer argued her Sixth Amendment rights were violated when the court removed her attorney Mark Means. Prosecutors revealed Means simultaneously represented both Lori and her co-defendant husband Chad Daybell — with Chad paying the legal fees and sharing privileged information. That's a textbook conflict of interest, and the court was right to intervene. Her speedy trial claim falls apart under scrutiny: 353 days of delay came from her own competency evaluations, and she requested the venue change that added months to the timeline. The state's brief is blunt — she caused most of the delay, then complained about it. The Arizona evidence she wanted excluded proved the "dark spirit" murder pattern that connected Charles Vallow's death to the killings in Idaho. Same MO, same actors, same financial motive. Forensic testimony established JJ Vallow died of asphyxiation with a plastic bag over his head and duct tape binding his body. Tylee Ryan's remains were burned beyond recognition. Their mother collected Social Security benefits for months after they were dead. Chad Daybell sits on death row. Lori Vallow is serving three consecutive life sentences. This appeal won't change that.#LoriVallowDaybell #ChadDaybell #BreakingNews #TrueCrime #IdahoMurders #Appeal #CultMom #JJVallow #TyleeRyan #CourtNewsJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

14 Jan 14min

True Crime Today brings you FBI analysis of the two cases everyone's talking about. The Brendan Banfield double murder trial is happening now in Fairfax County, Virginia. And sources just revealed that Nick Reiner admits killing his parents but claims he's the victim of a conspiracy. Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer joins us to examine both.The Banfield case has problems before testimony even begins. Officer Brendan Miller — the department's digital forensics expert — analyzed 60 devices and concluded Christine Banfield controlled the FetLife account, not her husband. His findings were peer-reviewed and confirmed. Then he was transferred. Deputy Chief Brusch allegedly told him he'd never work another digital forensics case. The lead detective was reassigned. Prosecutor Eric Clingan was removed after being cited for drinking at 8 a.m. The state's case now depends on Juliana Peres Magalhaes, who flipped after a year in jail and gets to go home to Brazil if she delivers testimony that convicts Banfield.The Reiner case may take years to resolve. Nick's schizoaffective medication was reportedly changed a month before the murders because he complained about weight gain. Sources say the meds still aren't working. The murder weapon hasn't been found. LAPD sealed the autopsy reports on Christmas Eve. Nick checked into a Santa Monica hotel after the alleged killings. Dr. Drew Pinsky said the 30-day treatment stints his family paid for were "almost meaningless" for someone with his condition.Coffindaffer explains what both investigations reveal about how cases go right — and how they go wrong.#BrendanBanfield #NickReiner #TrueCrimeToday #JenniferCoffindaffer #FBI #AuPairMurder #RobReiner #MurderTrial #InsanityDefense #TrueCrimeNewsJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

14 Jan 46min

Juliana Peres Magalhães, former Banfield au pair, took the stand in the murder trial of Brendan Banfield, the former IRS agent charged with four counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan. Prosecutors allege Banfield and the family's au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, lured Ryan to their Herndon home through a fetish website and staged the killings as a home invasion.The defense argues digital forensics contradict the catfishing theory and that investigators who disagreed were reassigned. Banfield faces life without parole if convicted. The four-week trial continues in Fairfax County.#TrueCrimeToday #BrendanBanfield #AuPairAffair #MurderTrial #ChristineBanfield #JosephRyan #FairfaxCounty #JulianaMagalhaes #Justice #BreakingJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

14 Jan 1h 48min

Dr. Meghan Kessler, Forensics Pathologist, took the stand in the murder trial of Brendan Banfield, the former IRS agent charged with four counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan. Prosecutors allege Banfield and the family's au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, lured Ryan to their Herndon home through a fetish website and staged the killings as a home invasion.The defense argues digital forensics contradict the catfishing theory and that investigators who disagreed were reassigned. Banfield faces life without parole if convicted. The four-week trial continues in Fairfax County.#TrueCrimeToday #BrendanBanfield #AuPairAffair #MurderTrial #ChristineBanfield #JosephRyan #FairfaxCounty #JulianaMagalhaes #Justice #BreakingJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

14 Jan 59min

Michael Gibbons, Fairfax County Police Lt., took the stand in the murder trial of Brendan Banfield, the former IRS agent charged with four counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan. Prosecutors allege Banfield and the family's au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, lured Ryan to their Herndon home through a fetish website and staged the killings as a home invasion.The defense argues digital forensics contradict the catfishing theory and that investigators who disagreed were reassigned. Banfield faces life without parole if convicted. The four-week trial continues in Fairfax County.#TrueCrimeToday #BrendanBanfield #AuPairAffair #MurderTrial #ChristineBanfield #JosephRyan #FairfaxCounty #JulianaMagalhaes #Justice #BreakingJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

14 Jan 21min

Zachary Beckner, Fairfax Co. Police Officer, took the stand in the murder trial of Brendan Banfield, the former IRS agent charged with four counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of his wife Christine Banfield and Joseph Ryan. Prosecutors allege Banfield and the family's au pair, Juliana Peres Magalhães, lured Ryan to their Herndon home through a fetish website and staged the killings as a home invasion.The defense argues digital forensics contradict the catfishing theory and that investigators who disagreed were reassigned. Banfield faces life without parole if convicted. The four-week trial continues in Fairfax County.#TrueCrimeToday #BrendanBanfield #AuPairAffair #MurderTrial #ChristineBanfield #JosephRyan #FairfaxCounty #JulianaMagalhaes #Justice #BreakingJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

14 Jan 27min

True Crime Today examines the twisted logic behind Nick Reiner's reported belief that he's the victim of a conspiracy. Sources told TMZ that Nick admits to killing his parents Rob and Michele Reiner—but allegedly doesn't understand why he's incarcerated. He reportedly believes the people who put him behind bars are conspiring against him.Tony Brueski argues that Nick is actually correct. There has been a conspiracy. For 32 years.The conspiracy was every system that protected Nick from consequences. More than 18 rehab stays where he'd get clean just long enough to leave and use again. Doctors who changed his schizoaffective disorder medication because he complained about weight gain. Treatment facilities that took the Reiners' money and released him after 30 days—long enough to detox, not long enough to treat the underlying illness. A family that had "grown used to" behavior that alarmed everyone else.The conspiracy was FOR Nick Reiner, not against him. And it worked beautifully until December 14th, when he allegedly killed the only two people willing to keep it running.Now the conspiracy has flipped. Alan Jackson walked away. The family isn't funding the defense. Prosecutor Habib Balian—who handled Menendez and Durst—is on the case. For the first time in Nick's life, the system is working against him instead of for him.To someone who's never faced real accountability, that probably does feel like persecution. But that's not conspiracy. That's justice. And the only question now is whether it finally sticks.#NickReiner #RobReiner #TrueCrimeToday #Conspiracy #Murder #InsanityDefense #Justice #TrueCrime #Accountability #MentalHealthJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

14 Jan 14min

The prosecution's case against Brendan Banfield lives or dies with Juliana Peres Magalhaes. She's the only witness who says he planned the murders. She's also the woman who took a plea deal that lets her walk free if she delivers. Retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer joins True Crime Today to analyze the credibility of a star witness with everything to gain and nothing to lose. Juliana was charged with murder. She spent a year in jail telling police the same story Brendan did — that Joseph Ryan was an intruder and they shot him in self-defense. Then she changed her story. She pleaded guilty to manslaughter. She got time served. She gets deported to Brazil. Her sentencing is scheduled after Banfield's trial to ensure continued cooperation. In a letter from jail, she wrote that she was "heartbroken for doing this to Brendan" and that she loved him. But she wanted to be with her mother again. Coffindaffer has worked with cooperating witnesses throughout her FBI career. In this interview, she explains how prosecutors prepare a witness whose motivation to lie is obvious, what corroborating evidence the jury should demand, and how the defense will try to destroy Juliana's credibility on cross-examination. The prosecution claims Juliana was reluctant and told it was "too late to back out." The defense says she's lying to save herself. The jury decides.#BrendanBanfield #TrueCrimeToday #JulianaPeresMagalhaes #JenniferCoffindaffer #FBI #AuPairMurder #PleaDeal #StarWitness #MurderTrial #TrueCrimeNewsJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISDOES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.

13 Jan 11min