Virginia Giuffre’s New Book & The Quiet Panic of the Powerful

Donna Adelson & Betty Broderick Parallels in Narcissistic Courtroom Theater In the Trial of Donna Adelson, many courtroom observers can’t help but notice echoes of infamous cases from the past. One of the most striking comparisons? Betty Broderick, the once “perfect wife and mother” who shocked America in 1989 when she murdered her ex-husband and his new wife. Just like Donna Adelson, Betty positioned herself as the victim — rewriting the narrative to justify her actions and refusing to show remorse. This segment from Hidden Killers Live with Tony Bruski, Stacy Cole, and Todd Michaels takes viewers back to Betty Broderick’s testimony, dissecting her chilling cadence and matter-of-fact storytelling. The panel explores how Betty framed her double murder not as a crime but as an act of “self-preservation.” They note how narcissistic defendants often try to control perception — a trait now being scrutinized in Donna Adelson’s own demeanor in court. The conversation also highlights the performative aspect of these trials: the calculated facial expressions, the selective memory lapses, and the unsettling calm in recounting horrific acts. Betty’s testimony, at times almost rehearsed, feels eerily familiar when placed alongside Donna’s tightly controlled courtroom posture. Why does this matter? Because jurors don’t just weigh evidence — they watch behavior. The Adelson family matriarch’s strategy to present herself as the protector of her children is undermined by a long trail of wiretaps, coded conversations, and now, the shadow of cases like Betty Broderick’s. History shows that narcissists often overestimate their ability to manipulate a jury. This true crime analysis doesn’t just revisit Betty Broderick — it uses her story as a psychological mirror to understand Donna Adelson, offering a deeper look into how narcissism and courtroom theatrics collide in high-stakes trials. 🏷 Hashtags #DonnaAdelson #BettyBroderick #DanMarkel #TrueCrimeAnalysis #CourtroomDrama #NarcissismOnTrial #HiddenKillers #AlecMurdoch #CrimeDocumentary #TrialCoverage 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

3 Sep 29min

Bryan Kohberger’s Creepiest Moments: Seven Witnesses Speak Out Before Bryan Kohberger was arrested for the brutal murders of four University of Idaho students, there were warnings—unsettling, personal, and deeply chilling. In this gripping episode, we uncover the stories of seven individuals who encountered Kohberger in the months leading up to the crime. They didn’t know what he was capable of—but they all walked away with the same haunting feeling: Something wasn’t right. From a barista who was stunned when Kohberger said her name without ever being told… To a hotel clerk who watched him explode with rage, then flirt, then casually talk about knives… To classmates who heard him ask in a study group: “What do you think goes through someone’s mind while they’re stabbing someone?” These aren’t vague red flags. They’re first-person accounts—now backed by police interviews, unsealed documents, and new investigative reporting. Each one offers a chilling window into Kohberger’s escalating behavior and his quiet obsession with control, violence, and fear. He wasn’t just hiding in plain sight. He was rehearsing. This episode explores the full timeline of these encounters—what they saw, what they missed, and why none of them added up until it was far too late. If you're interested in the psychology of a killer, missed warning signs, or the unraveling of one of the most disturbing true crime cases in recent history—this is the episode to watch. Subscribe for more in-depth, emotionally grounded analysis of high-profile true crime cases. New episodes daily from Hidden Killers with Tony Brueski. #BryanKohberger #IdahoMurders #TrueCrime #HiddenKillers #KohbergerTrial #CrimePsychology #CreepyEncounters #StalkingBehavior #MoscowMurders #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

3 Sep 12min

The FULL Donna Adelson Extravaganza: FBI Profiler Robin Dreeke Dissects Donna, Wendy & Charlie Adelson’s Narcissistic Lives In this explosive deep dive, retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke, former head of the Counterintelligence Behavioral Analysis Program, joins Hidden Killers Live to unravel the tangled psychology of the Adelson family. At the center of this discussion: Donna Adelson’s obsessive control, Charlie Adelson’s dangerous insecurities, and Wendy Adelson’s revealing slip-ups that pointed investigators toward a murder-for-hire plot. The episode begins with comparisons between Jackie Fulford, Donna’s so-called “doppelgänger attorney,” and the broader Adelson pattern of surrounding themselves with mirrors of their own self-image. Dreeke describes this as the classic “echo chamber” — a family environment where validation replaces reality, breeding narcissism, paranoia, and control. From there, the conversation turns to the police interrogation of Dr. Jeffrey Lacoste, Wendy Adelson’s ex-boyfriend. His testimony is not only haunting but also deeply telling. Lacoste recalls Wendy confiding that her brother Charlie had “looked into options” for getting rid of Dan Markel. He describes Charlie openly talking about money, hitmen, and how much it would cost — chilling disclosures that made Charlie the first suspect to enter his mind when news of Dan’s murder broke. Robin Dreeke dissects Lacoste’s credibility, noting his remarkable memory for dates, his consistent disclosure tempo, and his vulnerability as a man still under Wendy’s spell. Dreeke explains how narcissistic family systems thrive on manipulation, impulsivity, and a desperate need for external validation — traits seen across Donna, Wendy, and Charlie. The discussion also explores Charlie Adelson’s bizarre associations with Green Berets, criminal circles, and the Latin Kings, questioning why a wealthy dentist would gravitate toward such company. Dreeke suggests this was Charlie’s way of masking insecurity, rebelling against his mother’s dominance, and fabricating an image of power. This is not just a story of one murder — it’s a case study in how toxic family dynamics, unchecked narcissism, and impulsive decisions can escalate into tragedy. Hashtags #DanMarkel #AdelsonFamily #WendyAdelson #CharlieAdelson #DonnaAdelson #TrueCrime #MurderForHire #FBIProfiler #RobinDreeke #CourtCase 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

3 Sep 1h 56min

Donna Adelson Trial: Private Investigators Tarana Kahn & Eddie Varnes The Trial of Donna Adelson pressed forward today with testimony from two private investigators, Tarana Kahn and Eddie Varnes, who each offered critical insight into the defense’s strategy and the timeline of events surrounding the 2014 murder of law professor Dan Markel. Kahn and Varnes were brought in as part of the defense team’s efforts to reframe the investigation and sow doubt about the Adelson family’s alleged role in the murder-for-hire plot. Their testimony zeroed in on investigative procedure, evidence handling, and the reliability of witnesses who tied the Adelsons to the crime. Both investigators suggested there were gaps in how law enforcement gathered and interpreted information, raising questions about whether the narrative against Donna Adelson had been too narrowly focused from the start. But the prosecution was ready. They used cross-examination to underscore that while private investigators can surface alternative theories, they do not operate under the same legal standards or evidentiary safeguards as state investigators. Jurors watched as the credibility of these defense witnesses was tested in real time. Were they uncovering genuine blind spots in the case—or simply muddying the waters for Donna Adelson? What made this testimony particularly compelling is how it speaks to the broader defense playbook. Instead of outright denying the mountain of wiretaps and coded conversations implicating the Adelson family, the strategy appears aimed at creating just enough uncertainty that one or two jurors might hesitate. Kahn and Varnes are crucial to that approach, providing the “alternative story” Donna’s attorneys desperately need the jury to consider. This segment highlights the delicate dance between defense-hired experts and prosecutors determined to expose bias. With each exchange, jurors are left to decide: Are these investigators uncovering truths, or simply performing damage control for a family accused of orchestrating murder? 🏷 Hashtags #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #TrueCrime #TrialCoverage #HiddenKillers #PrivateInvestigator #CourtroomDrama #MurderForHire #JusticeForDan #AdelsonTrial 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

2 Sep 21min