Killer Psyche

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the chilling case of Chris Watts, the seemingly devoted husband and father who killed his pregnant wife, Shanann, and their two young daughters in 2018. Beneath the picture-perfect surface of their Colorado home was a troubling combination of financial pressure, marital discord, and a secret affair. And as Chris began envisioning a future unburdened by responsibility, emotional detachment and his own self-interest gave way to an act of irreversible violence. Candice explores the mindset of a family annihilator, the calculated calm Chris maintained as suspicion mounted, and how a desire for reinvention led to the destruction of his entire family. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong unpacks the disturbing case of Janie Lou Gibbs, a churchgoing mother whose quiet devotion masked a deadly secret. In 1960s Georgia, Janie poisoned her husband, her sons, and her infant grandchild – one by one – while their deaths were dismissed as illness and tragedy. Candice examines how trust, faith, and familiarity allowed Janie to hide in plain sight until an autopsy finally exposed the truth. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong dives into the devastating murder of Playboy model and rising star Dorothy Stratten by her estranged husband, Paul Snider, in 1980. As Dorothy’s career took off, Snider’s sense of insecurity and resentment grew, giving way to increasingly erratic and concerning behavior. And when Dorothy moved to reclaim her autonomy and step out from under his influence, Snider’s desperation turned violent. Candice explores how obsession, entitlement, and possessive rage culminated in the tragic killing of a young woman on the brink of stardom. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the disturbing case of Donna Adelson, a domineering and deeply enmeshed mother whose obsessive need for control allegedly culminated in the murder-for-hire of her former son-in-law, Florida State University law professor Dan Markel. What began as a bitter custody dispute following Markel’s divorce from Adelson’s daughter, Wendi, escalated into a years-long campaign of manipulation, psychological warfare, and resentment fueled by Donna’s refusal to accept court-imposed boundaries. Candice explores how enmeshment, entitlement, and an intolerance for loss of control can distort family dynamics; and how a grandmother’s fixation on access and dominance ultimately led prosecutors to accuse her of orchestrating a deadly conspiracy that shattered an entire family. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the chilling case of Arthur Gary Bishop, a devout Mormon and trusted member of his Utah community whose outward normalcy concealed a violent predator. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Bishop abducted and murdered at least five young boys in Salt Lake City, Utah. Known to those around him as quiet and unassuming, Bishop secretly harbored obsessive sexual fantasies and a deep need for control – and as his feelings intensified, those fantasies turned lethal. Candice explores how years of hidden obsession and unchecked compulsion ultimately erupted into a pattern of calculated, predatory violence, and how a killer hiding in plain sight was finally exposed. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the tragic and highly publicized case of John Thomas Sweeney, whose obsessive control and escalating violence led to the murder of actress Dominique Dunne in 1982. After a volatile and abusive relationship, Sweeney strangled Dunne outside her Los Angeles home, a crime that exposed devastating gaps in how the justice system addressed domestic violence and intimate partner abuse at the time. Candice unpacks the psychological warning signs, coercive dynamics, and entitlement-driven rage that defined Sweeney’s behavior, and why Dominique Dunne’s death became a turning point in the national conversation about accountability, stalking, and victim protection. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong unpacks the disturbing case of Karla Faye Tucker, a woman whose early life of addiction, sexual exploitation, and chaos culminated in a brutally sadistic double murder. High on drugs and fueled by rage, Karla and her boyfriend Danny Garrett broke into an apartment in Houston, Texas, where Karla murdered Jerry Dean with a pickax, later admitting the killing gave her sexual pleasure, before a second victim, Deborah Thornton, was also slain. But the story did not end with conviction and a death sentence. While on death row, Karla claimed to have undergone a profound religious transformation, igniting a national debate over redemption, punishment and whether genuine change is possible after unimaginable violence. Candice examines the psychological fractures, paraphilic pathology and identity disturbances that shaped Karla’s life, and why her case remains one of the most polarizing capital punishment stories in American history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this encore episode, retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the case of Dennis Rader, also known as BTK. Over 17 years, Rader tortured and murdered 10 people, while playing a game of cat and mouse with law enforcement and the media. Candice digs into how one of the most infamous killers in history, was able to mask himself as loving father, church group president, and a government worker until his arrest in 2005. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the second half of this two-part episode, retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong answers questions from listeners about her time in the FBI and her countless interviews with violent offenders. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the first half of this two-part episode, retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong answers questions from listeners all about the human psyche and her time as a psychiatric nurse. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the heartbreaking murder-suicide of Phil and Brynn Hartman, whose seemingly charmed life masked a growing storm. Within their home, Brynn battled addiction, insecurity and a fragile sense of identity that increasingly threatened the stability of their marriage. As tensions mounted, emotional volatility turned dangerous, culminating in a night of irreversible violence. Candice explores the psychological fractures that led Brynn to kill the man she loved, and how their relationship became a chilling example of what can happen when untreated turmoil meets opportunity for harm. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong unravels the horrifying case of Gwendolyn Graham and Cathy Wood, also known as the “Lethal Lovers.” Inside the walls of a Michigan nursing home, their romance became intertwined with violence, as the pair used murder as a way to deepen their emotional and sexual bond. Over several months, vulnerable patients became targets in a shared, intimate thrill – a lethal fusion of affection, manipulation, and desire. Candice explores how their toxic dependency escalated into a series of killings, and how a relationship built on control, obsession, and the pursuit of shared gratification spiraled into one of the most disturbing partnerships in criminal history. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the chilling case of Elliot Rodger, the self-described “supreme gentleman” whose violent resentment toward women exploded into a deadly rampage in Isla Vista, California, in 2014. While frequenting self-validating incel forums online, offline, Rodger struggled with social rejection, mental-health crises, and a growing obsession with punishing the people he believed had wronged him. By the time the violence erupted, six people were dead and fourteen more injured. Candice explores how alienation, narcissism, and extremist online communities converged to create a perfect storm; and how Rodger’s attack marked a turning point in understanding grievance-based violence, misogynistic extremism, and the psychology behind modern lone-actor killers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the horrifying case of Katherine Knight, the first woman in Australian history to be sentenced to life in prison without parole. In 2000, Knight brutally murdered her partner, John Price, in a crime so gruesome it shocked the nation. Known for her violent temper and turbulent relationships, Knight’s life was marked by jealousy, control, and explosive rage. When Price tried to leave her, that rage reached its deadly peak. Candice explores how deep-seated trauma and a pattern of escalating violence culminated in one of Australia’s most chilling crimes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the shocking case of Ali Abulaban, known online as “JinnKid,” and later, as ""The TikTok Murderer."" In October 2021, the social media influencer brutally killed his estranged wife, Ana, and her friend, Ray Barron, inside a San Diego high-rise apartment. At first, Abulaban appeared to have it all: fame, followers and a picture-perfect family. But beneath the curated clips and comedy skits was a man consumed by jealousy, rage and a desperate need for validation. His obsession with his online persona was so overpowering that he secretly recorded his wife- and even captured the sound of her final moments. Candice explores how ego, fame and control collided in a digital age tragedy that blurred the line between reality and performance with deadly consequences. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the disturbing case of Ed Kemper, known as “The Co-Ed Killer.” In the early 1970s, young women began vanishing from the streets of Northern California. When the truth finally came to light, it revealed a killer unlike any other: a towering, soft-spoken man whose charm and intellect hid monstrous impulses. By the time he was caught, eight people – including his own mother – were dead. Only later would investigators learn that Kemper’s knack for violence began years earlier. Candice examines how deep resentment, emotional isolation, and a fractured relationship with his mother fueled one of the most chilling killing sprees of the decade, and how his later cooperation with the FBI helped shape modern criminal profiling. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong dives into the infamous case of Bryan Kohberger. In November 2022, four University of Idaho students were brutally murdered in their off-campus home, kicking off a six-week manhunt that captivated the world. When investigators traced DNA evidence and digital data back to Kohberger, a criminology PhD student studying the psychology of killers, the story took an even darker turn. Candice examines how Kohberger’s lifelong social isolation, feelings of rejection, and status as an outcast may have fueled a deep psychological need for power and control, and how his fascination with criminal minds may have ultimately led him to become one himself. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong dives into the murders of 14 year-old Libby German and 13 year-old Abigail Williams. After five years, Richard Allen has been arrested for the "delphi murders." Candice also speaks with journalist Susan Hendrix, who covered the case and has written a new book about it entitled, "Down the Hill: My Descent into the Double Murder in Delphi." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In part 2 of this 2 part episode, former FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong discusses how she joined the FBI and started as a profiler. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In part 1 of this 2 part episode, former FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong discusses how she joined the FBI and started as a profiler. She revisits some of the cases that impacted her early career, and the lessons she's learned along the way. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.