Killer Psyche

30 years after ""The Unabomber's"" arrest, Ted Kaczynski's ideas are more alive than ever, cited by killers like Luigi Mangione, debated by philosophers and celebrated by people who see him as a prophet rather than a murderer. Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong, who sat alone with him hours after his capture, will share all-new anecdotes about Kaczynski's case, his capture, her own (not entirely accurate) portrayal in Michael Mann's film ""The Insider,"" and how we can still gain valuable insights from his case three decades later. This episode also details Ted's death, his strange afterlife in the culture, and a reckoning with the uncomfortable questions his legacy forces us to ask. Candice serves as our guide through both the past and the present — and reflects on the person she believes is the true hero of the story: David Kaczynski, the brother whose agonizing decision to turn Ted in may have saved countless lives. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Killer Psyche ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. 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 Luka Magnotta, known as the Butcher of Montreal. In the spring of 2012, a shocking video showing the murder of a university student named Jun Lin began circulating across the internet, setting off a chain of events that would horrify an entire nation. What investigators uncovered was a killer unlike any other: a deeply troubled, fame-obsessed man whose lifelong hunger for notoriety would ultimately become both his motive and his undoing. Candice examines how a turbulent childhood, a history of severe mental illness, and an obsessive need to be seen at any cost culminated in one of the most disturbing crimes in Canadian history. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Killer Psyche ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. 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 picks up where the nightmare left off. After escaping custody twice, Ted Bundy fled to Tallahassee, Florida, where his violence escalated to its most savage and frenzied, including a brutal late-night attack on the Chi Omega sorority house left two young women dead and three others savagely beaten, and weeks later, twelve-year-old Kimberly Leach became his youngest known victim. But Bundy's arrogance proved to be his final undoing, and when Florida authorities closed in, there would be no more escapes. Candice examines the trials that followed. They were spectacles unlike anything the American justice system had ever seen, the first to be televised nationally, presided over by a defendant who fired his attorneys, cross-examined witnesses, and proposed marriage on the stand, convinced to the end that his charm could beat the evidence. It couldn't. On January 24, 1989, after years of manipulation, confessions and last-minute attempts to trade victim locations for more time, Ted Bundy was executed in the electric chair at Florida State Prison-- finally, irrevocably stopped by the system he had spent his entire adult life outrunning. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Killer Psyche ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. 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 explores the disturbing case of Ted Bundy, one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. In the early 1970s, young women began vanishing from college campuses and sunlit streets across the Pacific Northwest. When the truth finally came to light, it revealed a killer unlike any other: a handsome, charming law student who weaponized trust itself, approaching his victims in broad daylight with a smile and a request for help. By the time investigators across multiple states connected the disappearances, the body count stretched from Washington to Utah to Colorado and beyond. Candice examines how a childhood built on secrets and identity deception, a devastating romantic rejection, and years of escalating paraphilic fantasy converged to create one of history's most organized and methodical predators, and how for Bundy, getting caught was never the end of anything — it was just the beginning. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Killer Psyche ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. 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 murders of legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michelle Singer Reiner. Candice walks through what investigators say happened during the final hours before the couple were found stabbed to death inside their Brentwood home, and why their own son, Nick Reiner, quickly became the prime suspect in the case. She breaks down the timeline of the killings, Nick’s movements after the crime, and the troubling history of addiction and severe mental health struggles that may play a central role in the investigation. Then, Candice is joined by former Los Angeles prosecutor and legal analyst Josh Ritter, who explains the legal process now unfolding, from Nick Reiner’s arraignment to the possibility of an insanity defense and whether prosecutors may seek the death penalty. Together they explore how courts evaluate competency, the difference between mental illness and legal insanity, and what evidence could ultimately determine whether this case ends in prison, a psychiatric institution, or a lengthy jury trial. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Killer Psyche ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app. 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 Mary Ann Cotton, the Victorian-era poisoner who used arsenic to systematically eliminate husbands, stepchildren, and even her own children across nearly two decades in Northeast England. Behind the facade of a grieving widow was a calculating killer who collected insurance payouts and cleared the path to her next financial and romantic opportunity with each death. Candice digs into what drove Mary Ann to view her own families as disposable and how her modus operandi and the time period allowed her to stay under the radar for so long -- killing at least 21 people in the process. 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 Westley Allan Dodd, a serial child killer who terrorized the Pacific Northwest in the late 1980s. Beneath his quiet, unassuming exterior lurked violent fantasies he meticulously documented, revealing a calculated escalation from voyeurism and assault to murder. As Dodd’s compulsions intensified and his need for control deepened, he carried out crimes that shocked communities and exposed the limits of rehabilitation. Candice explores the psychology of a sexual sadist, the warning signs that preceded his attacks, and how his own chilling confessions provided rare insight into the mind of a predator. 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 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.