The Crime Shack

They spent their life savings to save a boy from a harsh Ukrainian orphanage, then one night, everything inside their quiet Florida home went violently wrong. In this episode, I unravel the story of Robbie and Jennifer Tower, the son they adopted as a teen, the unsettling red flags leading up to a bloody crime scene, and the courtroom showdown that left everyone questioning how well we can ever truly know the children we bring into our homes. RESOURCES: forgave-him-for-everything-adoptee-from...

A small-town run on a warm July evening should have been routine for 20-year-old Mollie Tibbetts. Instead, it became the last time anyone would see her alive. What unfolded next gripped the nation: a massive search, hidden clues, and a chilling story that unraveled in the courtroom. In this episode, we step into Mollie’s final hours, the investigation that shocked Iowa, and the twisted defense that left more questions than answers. Follow / Support The Crime Shack and Host Michelle Pen...

In the tranquil setting of Lake Oconee, Georgia, the peaceful existence of Russell and Shirley Dermond was violently disrupted by a sinister act that baffled investigators and sent shockwaves through the community. Picture this: a quiet lakeside home, a retired couple enjoying their golden years. But in 2014, their serene life took a dark turn when Russell was found decapitated and Shirley was nowhere to be found. Was it a targeted attack? A botched robbery? Or something even more sinis...

On April 11, 1981, a mother and two teenage boys were found brutally murdered in their cabin at the Keddie Resort, in the small town of Keddie, California. The woman's youngest daughter was missing and presumed abducted from the scene, until a shocking discovery three years later. The investigation into what became known as the "Keddie Cabin Murders" has been marked by a series of missteps and controversies. Despite extensive investigations and a multitude of suspects, no one has been...

During the early morning hours of July 20, 2016 the body of Craig Rideout was found in a wooded field in Yates County, New York. His remains were wrapped in a tarp, and his face and hands had been disfigured by some kind of caustic chemical in order to mask his identity. Investigators were baffled as to who would want to murder this father of seven, but numerous missteps from the suspects would lead them directly back to Craig’s own family. Invisawear Safety Jewelry: The 'smart' jewelr...

In 1983, an accusation was made by the parent of a toddler who attended a Southern California preschool. That single accusation launched an investigation that resulted in hundreds of children bringing accusations of abuse and satanic rituals against the small family-run business. The controversial case and ensuing trials would go down as one of the longest and most expensive criminal investigations in American history. Were hundreds of children actually abused, or did an overzealous in...

In 2011, Josh Hilberling fell to his death from his 25th-floor apartment in Tulsa Oklahoma. Digging into Josh and his wife Amber's volatile relationship would lead investigators to question whether or not this was simply an accident, or if it was murder. This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. Get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase by visiting athleticgreens.com/EMERGING. Invisawear Safety Jewelry: The 'smart' je...

8 year old Cherish Perrywinkle went shopping with her mom Rayne and two younger sisters at a Florida Walmart on June 21, 2013, when they were approached by a seemingly generous stranger. Within a couple of hours, surveillance video would show Cherish walking out of Walmart with the stranger, never to be seen alive again. This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. Get a FREE 1 year supply of immune-supporting Vitamin D AND 5 FREE travel packs with your first purchase by visiting athleticg...

“Somebody came in, they broke in and just stabbed me and my children!” On June 6, 1996, Darlie Routier and her two sons, Devon and Damon, were attacked by an unknown intruder in the middle of the night. Darlie's husband Darin and her infant son Drake were asleep upstairs at the time, and were unharmed. An investigation into the brutal attack revealed disturbing evidence that questioned Darlie’s account of the events of that night. This episode is sponsored by Athletic Gre...

On Mother's Day 2020, 49-year-old Suzanne Morphew went for a bike ride in Salida, Colorado, and never returned. She was reported missing, and the investigation that proceeded over the next two years appeared to point to a clear cause for her disappearance; but digital and vehicle forensic technology, sketchy politics, and a chipmunk alibi put doubt in authority's assumptions about what had actually happened to Suzanne. This episode is sponsored by Athletic Greens. Get a FREE 1 year sup...

A respected Utah doctor. A devoted wife found dead in her bathtub. And a family whose picture-perfect life was built on lies. When Michele MacNeill died just days after cosmetic surgery, authorities ruled it an accident, but her daughters refused to believe it. What followed was a shocking unraveling of deceit, fraud, and murder that would expose the true darkness behind Dr. Martin MacNeill’s carefully crafted image. This episode dives deep into the secrets he thought he’d buried...and the fa...

Two men broke into the Caffey family home in Alba Texas on March 1, 2008 and went on a murderous rampage that left two young children and their mother dead. The investigators, and the father who survived the tragic event, were shocked when they learned who orchestrated and planned the horrendous killing spree. Invisawear Safety Jewelry: The 'smart' jewelry that could save your life! Listener Supported Support the show Follow / Support The Crime Shack and Host Michelle Pense: Websit...