A big Halloween party at an apartment complex in Redmond, Washington. Themed rooms and costumed partygoers. But by the end of the party, one of the hosts is dead. The police look to the partiers as the prime suspects: was it the guy in the devil mask, the bank robber, the construction worker? As investigators comb through forensic evidence, witness testimony, DNA, and even consult with a psychic, they zero in on one suspect in particular. But for what reason? Host and reporter Matthew Shaer (Over My Dead Body) returns to the scene of the crime, speaks with everyone about a night that still haunts them years later. It’s a series about race and policing, mislaid justice, cutting-edge science, and the kinds of weighty choices that cops and prosecutors make every day -- choices that, once made, are difficult to reverse. Listen here: wondery.fm/Suspect_MakesAKiller 

What Makes a Killer

Introducing Suspect

It's May 1990, and convicted murderer Jack Unterweger is about to charm his way out of prison. After teaching himself how to read and becoming a well-known children's author, Unterweger had convinced the Austrian public that he was a changed, reformed man. But it was a ruse, and his release would only lead to the death of at least nine more women in both Austria and the United States. He was once again on the loose, on top of the world, and not trying to hide it from anyone. But no one suspected it was him. This episode is sponsored by: Vodacast Best Fiends IPVanish Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

S3 Ep13: Jack Unterweger

<div>It's May 1990, and convicted murderer Jack Unterweger is about to charm his way out of prison. After teaching himself how to read and becoming a well-known children's author, Unterweger had convinced the Austrian public that he was a changed, reformed man. But it was a ruse, and his release would only lead to the death of at least nine more women in both Austria and the United States. He was once again on the loose, on top of the world, and not trying to hide it from anyone. But no one suspected it was him.<br> <br> This episode is sponsored by:<br> <a href="https://vodacast.com/">Vodacast</a><br> <a href="https://bestfiends.com/">Best Fiends</a><br> <a href="https://www.ipvanish.com/what">IPVanish</a><br> <br> Original music by <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ben-krejci">Ben Krejci</a>, <a href="https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/">Lee Rosevere</a>, <a href="https://www.kai-engel.com/">Kai Engel</a>, and <a href="https://www.danielbirchmusic.com/">Daniel Birch</a>.<br> <br> Licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</a>.</div>

13: Jack Unterweger

It’s 2010 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Local man, Stephen Griffiths has just returned home from a night out with a woman in tow. Seconds later, she's seen on security footage running for her life away from his apartment. Griffiths, seen with a crossbow, chases after her and shoots her, before dragging the woman back inside his apartment. She is never to be seen alive again. But he doesn't try to hide this. In fact, he flaunts it, with the hopes of living up to his idol–the Yorkshire Ripper. This episode is sponsored by: PrettyLitter - promo code: WMAK Warby Parker Vodacast Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

S3 Ep12: Stephen Griffiths, The Crossbow Cannibal

<div>It’s 2010 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Local man, Stephen Griffiths has just returned home from a night out with a woman in tow. Seconds later, she's seen on security footage running for her life away from his apartment. Griffiths, seen with a crossbow, chases after her and shoots her, before dragging the woman back inside his apartment. She is never to be seen alive again. But he doesn't try to hide this. In fact, he flaunts it, with the hopes of living up to his idol–the Yorkshire Ripper.<br><br>This episode is sponsored by:<br><a href="https://www.prettylitter.com/">PrettyLitter</a> - promo code: <strong>WMAK</strong><br><a href="https://www.warbyparker.com/quiz?utm_campaign=2021Q2&amp;wpsrc=Podcast&amp;singular=59085__2021Q2&amp;utm_content=Audio&amp;utm_source=WhatMakesaKiller&amp;cvosrc=Podcast.WhatMakesaKiller.2021Q2&amp;utm_medium=Podcast">Warby Parker</a><br><a href="https://vodacast.com/">Vodacast</a><br><br>Original music by <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ben-krejci">Ben Krejci</a>, <a href="https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/">Lee Rosevere</a>, <a href="https://www.kai-engel.com/">Kai Engel</a>, and <a href="https://www.danielbirchmusic.com/">Daniel Birch</a>.<br><br>Licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</a>.</div>

It’s 2010 in Bradford, West Yorkshire. Local man, Stephen Griffiths has just returned home from a night out with a woman in tow. Seconds later, she's seen on security footage running for her life away from his apartment. Griffiths, seen with a crossbow, chases after her and shoots her, before dragging the woman back inside his apartment. She is never to be seen alive again. But he doesn't try to hide this. In fact, he flaunts it, with the hopes of living up to his idol–the Yorkshire Ripper.This episode is sponsored by:PrettyLitter - promo code: WMAKWarby ParkerVodacastOriginal music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, and Daniel Birch.Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

12: Stephen Griffiths, The Crossbow Cannibal

Yosemite National Park, located in the picturesque Sierra Nevada mountains, was all but serene for five months in 1999. Fear ran rampant as four women were viciously murdered. The prime suspect was 37-year-old Cary Stayner, a handyman at a local lodge. After being arrested in July of that same year, he astonished everyone with what he did next. This episode is sponsored by: IPVanish PrettyLitter - Promo code: WMAK Vodacast Original music by Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, JOHNWALLY, Ben Krejci, Kevin MacLeod, Magmi.Soundtracks, and Lee Rosevere. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

S3 Ep11: Cary Stayner, the Yosemite Park Killer

<div>Yosemite National Park, located in the picturesque Sierra Nevada mountains, was all but serene for five months in 1999. Fear ran rampant as four women were viciously murdered. The prime suspect was 37-year-old Cary Stayner, a handyman at a local lodge. After being arrested in July of that same year, he astonished everyone with what he did next. <br><br>This episode is sponsored by: <br><a href="https://www.ipvanish.com/what">IPVanish</a> <br><a href="https://www.prettylitter.com">PrettyLitter</a> - Promo code: <strong>WMAK <br></strong><a href="https://vodacast.com">Vodacast</a> <br><br>Original music by <a href="https://www.danielbirchmusic.com">Daniel Birch</a>, <a href="https://www.kai-engel.com">Kai Engel</a>, <a href="https://freesound.org/people/JOHNWALLY">JOHNWALLY</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ben-krejci">Ben Krejci</a>, <a href="http://incompetech.com/">Kevin MacLeod</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-109561028">Magmi.Soundtracks</a>, and <a href="https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com">Lee Rosevere</a>. <br><br>Licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</a>.</div>

11: Cary Stayner, the Yosemite Park Killer

On December 2nd 2015, Horst Kroner boarded a plane to Thailand, intending to spend his vacation sleeping with various women. While he was away, neighbors became increasingly concerned about the whereabouts of Kroner's wife. They didn't know it yet, but two days before his trip, the man had viciously murdered his wife, bludgeoning her to death while she slept before hiding her body. This episode is sponsored by: Vodacast StoryWorth Best Fiends Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel,  Scott Holmes, Kevin MacLeod, Chris Zabriskie, and Daniel Birch. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

S3 Ep10: Horst Kroner

<div>On December 2nd 2015, Horst Kroner boarded a plane to Thailand, intending to spend his vacation sleeping with various women. While he was away, neighbors became increasingly concerned about the whereabouts of Kroner's wife. They didn't know it yet, but two days before his trip, the man had viciously murdered his wife, bludgeoning her to death while she slept before hiding her body. <br><br>This episode is sponsored by: <br><a href="https://vodacast.com/">Vodacast</a> <br><a href="https://storyworth.com/what">StoryWorth</a> <br><a href="https://bestfiends.com/">Best Fiends</a> <br><br>Original music by <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ben-krejci">Ben Krejci</a>, <a href="https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/">Lee Rosevere</a>, <a href="https://www.kai-engel.com/">Kai Engel</a>,  <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes">Scott Holmes</a>, <a href="http://incompetech.com/">Kevin MacLeod</a>, <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/20120125203216346">Chris Zabriskie</a>, and <a href="https://www.danielbirchmusic.com/">Daniel Birch</a>. <br><br>Licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/">Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</a>.</div>

10: Horst Kroner

On August 19th 1987, the citizens of Hungerford in Berkshire woke up to a seemingly picturesque summer's day. While a mother sat in a park with her children, she was approached by a young man named Michael Ryan. As she turned to face him, Michael Ryan shot her. What followed was a day of terror, as the town was thrown into chaos and authorities were inundated with conflicting information. As they desperately tried to locate the killer, Michael Ryan continued to claim victims. This episode is sponsored by: Vodacast Daily Harvest - Promo code: WHAT Original music by Ben Krejci, Lee Rosevere, Kai Engel, Kevin MacLeod, Sergey Cheremisinov, Chris Zabriskie, and Daniel Birch.

S3 Ep9: Michael Ryan

<div>On August 19th 1987, the citizens of Hungerford in Berkshire woke up to a seemingly picturesque summer's day. While a mother sat in a park with her children, she was approached by a young man named Michael Ryan. As she turned to face him, Michael Ryan shot her. What followed was a day of terror, as the town was thrown into chaos and authorities were inundated with conflicting information. As they desperately tried to locate the killer, Michael Ryan continued to claim victims. <br><br>This episode is sponsored by: <br>Vodacast <br><a href="https://www.daily-harvest.com/">Daily Harvest</a> - Promo code: <strong>WHAT <br><br></strong>Original music by <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ben-krejci">Ben Krejci</a>, <a href="https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com/">Lee Rosevere</a>, <a href="https://www.kai-engel.com/">Kai Engel</a>, <a href="http://incompetech.com/">Kevin MacLeod</a>, <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Sergey_Cheremisinov">Sergey Cheremisinov</a>, <a href="https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Chris_Zabriskie/20120125203216346">Chris Zabriskie</a>, and <a href="https://www.danielbirchmusic.com/">Daniel Birch</a>.</div>

9: Michael Ryan

April 7th, 2016, police were called to the Peabody Estate in South London after receiving complaints from tenants about a putrid smell. The two police officers knocked on the door of 49-year-old Stefano Brizzi’s apartment and waiting for them inside was a gruesome sight. The body belonged to 59-year-old police officer Gordon Semple. The officers would soon find out that Semple had met his killer while using a dating app. This episode is sponsored by: Warby Parker Original music by Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, iamdead324, JOHNWALLY, klankbeeld, Ben Krejci, KRISTIANKULTA, Kevin MacLeod, Magmi.Soundtracks, and Lee Rosevere. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

S3 Ep8: Stefano Brizzi

<div>April 7th, 2016, police were called to the Peabody Estate in South London after receiving complaints from tenants about a putrid smell. The two police officers knocked on the door of 49-year-old Stefano Brizzi’s apartment and waiting for them inside was a gruesome sight. The body belonged to 59-year-old police officer Gordon Semple. The officers would soon find out that Semple had met his killer while using a dating app. <br><br>This episode is sponsored by: <br><a href="https://www.warbyparker.com/what">Warby Parker</a> <br><br>Original music by <a href="https://www.danielbirchmusic.com">Daniel Birch</a>, <a href="https://www.kai-engel.com">Kai Engel</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/iamdead324">iamdead324</a>, <a href="https://freesound.org/people/JOHNWALLY">JOHNWALLY</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/klankbeeld">klankbeeld</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ben-krejci">Ben Krejci</a>, <a href="https://freesound.org/people/KRISTIANKULTA">KRISTIANKULTA</a>, <a href="http://incompetech.com/">Kevin MacLeod</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/user-109561028">Magmi.Soundtracks</a>, and <a href="https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com">Lee Rosevere</a>. <br><br>Licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</a>.</div>

8: Stefano Brizzi

In the summer of 1996, all of Belgium was in shock when two young girls who had been kidnapped, raped, and tortured were rescued from a makeshift dungeon below a house in Marcinelle. As the weeks passed, the bodies of four other young girls were found buried at properties linked to the same man. It was the beginning of a terrible nightmare for the entire nation. With the help of his wife, Michelle Martin, convicted pedophile Marc Dutroux's unhealthy desire for young girls had turned deadly. This episode is sponsored by: Best Fiends HelloFresh - Promo code: 12WHAT PrettyLitter - Promo code: WMAK Original music by Almusic34, Daniel Birch, Kai Engel, iamdead324, JOHNWALLY, klankbeeld, Ben Krejci, KRISTIANKULTA, Kevin MacLeod, cognito perceptu, and Lee Rosevere. Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License.

S3 Ep7: Marc Dutroux

<div>In the summer of 1996, all of Belgium was in shock when two young girls who had been kidnapped, raped, and tortured were rescued from a makeshift dungeon below a house in Marcinelle. As the weeks passed, the bodies of four other young girls were found buried at properties linked to the same man. It was the beginning of a terrible nightmare for the entire nation. With the help of his wife, Michelle Martin, convicted pedophile Marc Dutroux's unhealthy desire for young girls had turned deadly. <br><br>This episode is sponsored by: <br><a href="https://bestfiends.com">Best Fiends</a> <br><a href="https://www.hellofresh.com/12what">HelloFresh</a> - Promo code: <strong>12WHAT <br></strong><a href="https://www.prettylitter.com">PrettyLitter</a> - Promo code: <strong>WMAK <br><br></strong>Original music by <a href="https://freesound.org/people/Almusic34">Almusic34</a>, <a href="https://www.danielbirchmusic.com">Daniel Birch</a>, <a href="https://www.kai-engel.com">Kai Engel</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/iamdead324">iamdead324</a>, <a href="https://freesound.org/people/JOHNWALLY">JOHNWALLY</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/klankbeeld">klankbeeld</a>, <a href="https://soundcloud.com/ben-krejci">Ben Krejci</a>, <a href="https://freesound.org/people/KRISTIANKULTA">KRISTIANKULTA</a>, <a href="http://incompetech.com/">Kevin MacLeod</a>, <a href="https://freesound.org/people/cognito%20perceptu">cognito perceptu</a>, and <a href="https://leerosevere.bandcamp.com">Lee Rosevere</a>. <br><br>Licensed under <a href="https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0">Creative Commons: By Attribution 4.0 License</a>.</div>

7: Marc Dutroux

A look into the life and crimes of the world’s most infamous serial killers. Featuring interviews with family members, forensic experts, law enforcement, and witnesses. From John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer to the “Night Stalker” Richard Ramirez and the Butcher of Plainfield, Ed Gein–What Makes a Killer explores how they became killers.

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What Makes a Killer

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