Does a Clean Bedroom Help Brian Walshe — or Destroy His Defense? Defense Attorney Bob Motta Gives Insight

The death of 18-year-old Anna Kepner aboard a cruise ship has left behind a trail of conflicting stories — and at the center of it is a blended family dynamic that now looks very different depending on who’s doing the talking. Parents and grandparents describe harmony, closeness, and three teenagers who were “the three amigos.” Yet teens who actually lived inside that home describe something else entirely: aggression, chokeholds, tension, and behavior reframed by adults as “just playing.” On today’s episode of Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down what these contradictions reveal about denial, family image-management, and the difference between outside perception and lived experience. Shavaun explains why teens often have a more accurate read on the emotional temperature of a home than parents do — especially in blended families where adults may be overly invested in a narrative of unity. She walks us through the psychology of minimizing aggression, why “roughhousing” becomes the excuse of choice, and the gender dynamics that shape which behaviors get dismissed and which get flagged. We also look at why an outsider — in this case, Anna’s ex-boyfriend — might actually provide a more reliable account than adults with emotional or reputational skin in the game. And how cabin assignments made by a travel agent, not the kids themselves, may speak volumes about parental blind spots. This segment is a deep dive into credibility, emotional truth, and the patterns families cling to long after red flags have been waving in plain sight. #AnnaKepner #HiddenKillers #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #FamilyDynamics #BlendedFamilies #CruiseShipCase #TonyBrueski #PsychologicalInsight #TeenPerspective 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

11 Dec 18min

Donna Adelson is officially back in South Florida — just not the way she planned. According to Florida Department of Corrections records, the convicted mastermind behind the Dan Markel murder-for-hire has been transferred from the Ocala reception center to Homestead Correctional Institution in Miami-Dade County. It's the exact placement her defense team requested at sentencing, when Judge Stephen Everett recommended she be housed close to her husband Harvey. The woman who allegedly funded a contract killing because she couldn't accept her grandchildren living in Tallahassee is now thirty miles from her former life, behind razor wire, serving life without parole. Her son Charlie Adelson is serving his own life sentence in South Dakota after being transferred in 2024 over security concerns. Katherine Magbanua remains at Lowell Annex in Ocala.  The hitmen are locked up. Five people convicted. Eleven years from murder to final judgment. But one question refuses to go away: What about Wendi? Prosecutors identified Dan Markel's ex-wife as an unindicted co-conspirator in court documents. She testified at every trial under limited immunity. She has repeatedly and consistently denied any involvement in or knowledge of the plot. She has never been charged. State Attorney Jack Campbell said his office would "make decisions in the coming weeks" after Donna's conviction — and months later, no decision has been announced. Meanwhile, Donna's "jailhouse daughter" has been talking publicly about the family fractures behind bars, the strain between mother and daughter, and Donna's fears about Harvey's deteriorating health. The Markel family is still fighting for access to their grandchildren under the Markel Act — the law that exists because of this case. This is where the story sits. For now. #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #WendiAdelson #HomesteadPrison #MurderForHire #TrueCrime #AdelsonFamily #FloridaCrime #JusticeForDanMarkel #TrueCrimeNews 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

11 Dec 25min

Bryan Kohberger is reportedly telling prison staff he’ll “harm himself” if they don’t move him out of J-Block — and the wording of that threat is raising eyebrows. Not “end his life.” Not “I’m in crisis.” The phrase is specific, conditional, and attached to a demand. And in corrections psychology, that distinction matters. Today on Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to break down what this behavior actually signals. Is Kohberger genuinely overwhelmed inside Idaho’s most restrictive housing unit? Or is this a strategic form of pressure meant to regain a sense of control he no longer has? From Day 2, Kohberger began testing the system — complaining about food, noise, harassment, and ultimately escalating to self-harm threats when lower-level grievances didn’t get traction. Shavaun explains what this escalation pattern typically indicates: a person accustomed to getting results through pressure, resistance, or emotional leverage. But even with concerns about manipulation, prison staff are doing exactly what protocol requires — removing ligature risks, tightening supervision, documenting behavior. Shavaun walks us through why institutions must treat every threat seriously, even when the individual making it has a history of calculated behavior. We also explore the psychological payoff of using self-harm threats as leverage. Even if he doesn’t get transferred, Kohberger may still gain exactly what he wants: attention, disruption, and power over the environment. For someone who built an identity around control, that’s currency. This conversation offers a rare look into the psychological realities behind bars — and why a threat doesn’t always mean what it appears to mean on the surface. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #PrisonPsychology #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePodcast #TonyBrueski #JBlock #PrisonBehavior #CriminalMindset #ControlTactics 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

11 Dec 15min

A grand jury is actively hearing evidence in the death of 14-year-old Celeste Rivas Hernandez — and what's coming out of that Los Angeles courthouse is raising serious questions about who knew what and when. Robert Morgenroth, the head of D4vd's record label Mogul Vision and president of his touring company, reportedly testified for three days. He was overheard telling his attorney that prosecutors grilled him on why he didn't call police — and his response was that he "didn't feel it was his responsibility" and "just wanted to continue with the tour."  Now a female witness is facing arrest after refusing to appear, with Deputy D.A. Beth Silverman seeking a body attachment to compel her testimony. She shares an attorney with Morgenroth. D4vd remains a suspect in the eyes of LAPD's Robbery-Homicide Division. Investigators reportedly have tracking data placing him in a remote area of Santa Barbara County in the middle of the night during Spring 2025 — the window when Celeste is believed to have died. A second suspect has been identified who allegedly helped with the dismemberment. Celeste's remains were found in D4vd's abandoned Tesla on September 8, 2025. No cause of death has been determined. The pressure is mounting — and the inner circle is cracking. ⚠️ LEGAL NOTICE: D4vd has not been arrested or charged with any crime. He is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law. All information sourced from law enforcement officials speaking to NBC, ABC, TMZ, and other media outlets. 🔔 Subscribe and hit the bell for updates on this case. #D4VD #CelesteRivas #GrandJury #TrueCrime #BreakingNews #LAPD #CelesteRivasHernandez #DavidAnthonyBurke #RobertMorgenroth #JusticeForCeleste 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

11 Dec 17min

The prosecution has officially rested its case in the Brian Walshe murder trial after eight days of testimony — and Day 8 delivered some of the most emotional moments yet. Two of Ana Walshe's closest friends took the stand, painting a picture of a woman at her breaking point just days before she allegedly died at the hands of her husband. Gem Mutlu, a family friend and the last known person to see Ana alive besides Brian, testified about spending New Year's Eve 2022 with the couple at their Cohasset home. He described a festive evening where all three signed a champagne box with hopeful messages about the year ahead — Ana writing "We are the authors of our lives" and Brian adding "To the best triumvirate ever." But Mutlu also revealed that Ana had confided in him days earlier about serious marital problems, the toll of her commute between D.C. and Massachusetts, and the weight of Brian's ongoing federal fraud case. When Brian called Mutlu three days later to report Ana missing, Mutlu said his tone was "not panicked" — calm and even-keeled, despite claiming his wife had vanished. Alissa Kirby, Ana's best friend from Washington, D.C., broke down on the stand as she recounted their last night together on December 29, 2022. According to Kirby, Ana was exhausted, upset, and "at a breaking point." She testified that Ana had told Brian she loved him "not as much" anymore and was "falling out of love." Kirby also revealed that Brian's mother had allegedly consulted a psychic who said Ana was having an affair — something Ana found both ridiculous and frightening, telling Kirby that Diana Walshe had never liked her and wanted her "out of the picture." Jurors also saw additional surveillance footage of Brian purchasing cleaning supplies at Home Depot — including 12-pound bags of baking soda later found on blood-stained carpets in the trash — and disposing of items at a Brockton apartment complex dumpster. Brian's federal probation officer testified about his strict home confinement conditions, noting he submitted no approved outings for January 1, 2023, the day prosecutors allege Ana was killed. After the prosecution rested, the defense filed a motion for a directed verdict of not guilty, arguing insufficient evidence of premeditation and that prosecutors failed to prove Brian even knew about Ana's affair. Judge Diane Freniere denied the motion, ruling there is sufficient evidence for the jury to decide. The defense begins calling witnesses Thursday — and the question on everyone's mind is whether Brian Walshe himself will take the stand to explain the internet searches, the cleanup supplies, and the lies. #BrianWalshe #AnaWalshe #WalsheTrial #TrueCrime #MurderTrial #CohassetMurder #Day8 #ProsecutionRests #GemMutlu #AlissaKirby 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

11 Dec 26min

Twelve hours after Maggie and Paul Murdaugh were gunned down at the Moselle kennels, their housekeeper Blanca Simpson walked through the front door of the family home. What she found inside would haunt her — and raise questions that the official investigation never answered. In part four of this exclusive interview — the longest and most intense segment of the series — Blanca describes receiving the phone call from Alex, the slow-motion drive to the property with the radio turned off, and stepping into a house that felt different. Cold. Wrong. The pajamas were laid out in the laundry room doorway — but with underclothes that Maggie never wore to bed. A single wedding band was found under the driver's seat of Maggie's Mercedes — but Maggie wore three rings, and if she removed one, she removed all of them. A beach towel from the house ended up in Alex's Suburban. And Alex himself came to Blanca days later, pacing and disheveled, asking if she remembered what shirt he was wearing that morning. She remembered. It wasn't the one he claimed. This segment covers the evidence that made Blanca start piecing things together — the phone data showing Alex's sudden burst of movement, the dogs that never barked at any stranger, and her growing belief that someone helped Alex clean up after the murders. If you've been following this series, this is the episode where everything clicks into place. Blanca isn't speculating wildly — she's connecting details that only someone inside that house would notice. Part five is the finale, where I ask her directly: Did Alex Murdaugh pull the trigger? Her answer is immediate. Subscribe now so you don't miss the conclusion. #MurdaughMurders #AlexMurdaugh #MaggieMurdaugh #PaulMurdaugh #BlancaSimpson #Moselle #MurdaughEvidence #TrueCrime #MurdaughTrial #CrimeScene 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

11 Dec 30min

Two teenage boys in Stillwater, Oklahoma. Both charged with first-degree rape. Both charged with strangulation. Both were 17 at the time of the alleged crimes. Both attacked teenage girls they were dating. One of them walked out of court with community service. The other is sitting in jail on $30,000 bond, facing five years to life. What's the difference? Jesse Mack Butler was convicted on ten rape-related charges in 2025. One of his victims nearly died—her doctor testified she was thirty seconds from death during a strangulation attack. Police found videos on his phone of the assaults. He faced 78 years in prison. He got 150 hours of community service. Butler's father is the former Director of Operations for Oklahoma State football. The judge who granted him youthful offender status holds two degrees from OSU. A state lawmaker has called for a grand jury investigation, saying the deal "smacks of political favor." Now there's a second case. Canyn Rion Porter was charged in December 2025 with first-degree rape and strangulation. The allegations are strikingly similar. But Porter doesn't have family connections to OSU. He doesn't have a private attorney. He applied for a public defender. So what happens now? Does Porter get the same deal Butler got? Or does he go to prison while Butler stays home under a curfew? Either answer raises serious questions about how justice works in Payne County—and who it works for. In this video, I break down both cases, the controversial youthful offender statute, the family connections that have people asking questions, and what these cases tell us about accountability in America. The question isn't just what happens to Jesse Butler or Canyn Porter. It's what happens to the next girl. #JesseButler #CanynPorter #Stillwater #StillwaterOklahoma #OklahomaState #OSU #PayneCounty #YouthfulOffender #JusticeSystem #TrueCrime #TrueCrimeNews #CriminalJustice #JJHumphrey #CommunityService #TwoTierJustice 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

11 Dec 21min

While threatening self-harm, Bryan Kohberger is reportedly reaching out to serial offenders across the country — trying to build relationships with the very people he once studied academically. It’s a pattern that has stunned investigators and raised deeper questions about identity, belonging, and psychological validation. Today on Hidden Killers, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott helps us untangle what this behavior reveals. Why would someone convicted of killing four college students seek connection not with family, supporters, or advocates — but with other violent offenders? What does that choice of outreach tell us about how he sees himself and the world around him? Sources say Kohberger views himself as “above” the general prison population. He expected notoriety, maybe even dark fascination, when he entered the system. Instead, he got contempt — rejection from inmates who taunt him, mock him, and refuse to engage. For someone craving recognition, rejection can feel like psychological collapse. So why turn to serial offenders? Shavaun explores whether this is about validation, identity fusion, or the need to belong to a group he believes mirrors his own self-image. She also explains the recognizable profile of individuals who study violent offenders not to prevent harm — but because they identify with them emotionally or intellectually. Kohberger’s behavior is happening in tandem with his escalating demands and self-harm threats. These aren’t random, disconnected acts, Shavaun says — they’re part of a larger pattern: a man whose sense of identity relies heavily on external reinforcement. And inside prison, he’s not getting the reaction he believed he deserved. We also discuss why he clings so tightly to the “why” behind his crime — the one thing prosecutors never demanded and the one thing he refuses to give up. #BryanKohberger #HiddenKillers #SerialOffenders #ShavaunScott #PrisonPsychology #TonyBrueski #CriminalIdentity #StatusDynamics #TrueCrimeAnalysis #PsychologicalProfiling 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

11 Dec 19min