Episode 113: Gary Heidnik | The Pastor & The Pit

About this episode

This episode explores the dark story of Gary Heidnik, a self-proclaimed pastor who committed unimaginable cruelty while maintaining a facade of religious leadership.

Behind the doors of a North Philadelphia rowhome, a self-proclaimed pastor was building something far darker than a congregation. While neighbors attended Sunday services upstairs, women were chained in a pit beneath the floorboards. This is the story of manipulation, control, and unimaginable cruelty — and how one survivor finally ran.

People in this episode

Hosts: Laci Bean, Lola Robbins

Topics covered

• manipulation
• control
• survivor story
• true crime
• religion
• spirituality

Keywords

• Gary Heidnik
• North Philadelphia
• true crime
• survivor
• manipulation
• religion
• spirituality

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Sunday services

Places: North Philadelphia

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• Episode 112: Soldiers of Christ | Disciples of Violence · April 28, 2026 · 1h 3m
• Episode 111: Natalie Maribel | The Night She Didn’t Come Home · April 14, 2026 · 1h 7m
• Episode 110: Heaven's Gate | Boarding the Mothership · March 31, 2026 · 1h 8m
• Episode 109: Nathaniel Levi Bar-Jonah | The Man Who Ate Children · March 17, 2026 · 1h 47m