A gifted grad student. A city on edge. And a composite sketch that changed everything.

Melissa unpacks the 2003 murder of Ottawa’s Ardeth Wood, from her disappearance to the forensic artistry that led investigators to her killer, Chris Myers.

This episode of Murder Unscripted explores how one powerful drawing helped bring justice — and how art and science combined to solve a chilling Canadian true crime case.

Dr. Katherine Ramsland sits down to discuss haunted crime scenes, paranormal forensics, and HBO’s The Serial Killer’s Apprentice What happens when true crime crosses into the paranormal?

In this spine-chilling episode of Murder Unscripted, forensic psychologist and author Dr. Katherine Ramsland explores haunted crime scenes, paranormal forensics, and the eerie mysteries behind real-life haunted institutions. From the terrifying Todville Murder Mansion and the dark past of The Dozier School for Boys, to the ghostly echoes of Pennhurst Asylum, Ramsland reveals how the dead may still speak through forensic evidence. We also dive into her creative process, her books, the making of HBO’s hit documentary The Serial Killer’s Apprentice, as well as her candid thoughts on the growing flood of AI-generated true crime content.

If you love true crime, psychology, the supernatural, and paranormal investigation, this episode is a must-watch.

📚 About Katherine Ramsland: Dr. Ramsland is a forensic psychologist, professor, and author of over 70 books, including works on serial killers, crime scene forensics, and the supernatural. She is also one of the creative forces behind HBO’s hit documentary, "The Serial Killer’s Apprentice."

#KatherineRamsland #ParanormalForensics #HauntedCrimeScenes #MurderUnscripted #TrueCrimePodcast #TheSerialKillersApprentice #ForensicPsychology #HauntedLocations #TrueCrimeAndParanormal #TodvilleMurderMansion #DozierSchool #PennhurstAsylum #GhostsAndCrime #RealHauntedPlaces #ParanormalInvestigation #TrueCrimeCommunity #CrimeDocumentary #SupernaturalEvidence #AIInTrueCrime #DarkHistory __________________________________________________________________________ 🎙️

Welcome to Murder Unscripted — the weekly true-crime podcast where veteran producer Ed Hydock (Forensic Files, Cold Case Files & many more) teams up with his bestie - super-sleuth fan Melissa Spivey - to explore real life murder investigations. Our unique dynamic resonates with both seasoned true-crime fans and those new to the genre, while our unscripted interviews with detectives, forensic scientists, prosecutors, and victims’ families bring you far beyond recycled headlines - immersing you in the world of true-crime like no one else.

🔍 Expect deep dives into obscure stories, serial killers, cold cases, DNA breakthroughs & courtroom drama, plus Friday Minis, Shorts and live Q&As. Built on Insight, Integrity & Advocacy, we keep victims front-and-center, while adding a touch of humor to brighten even the darkest tales.

👉 New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe, join the MU Crew & tap the bell!

🌐 For more information about us and the show, visit our website at: www.MurderUnscriptedPod.com

E-mail us at: murderunscriptedpod@gmail.com Follow us on socials

👇 FB - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557418124048

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/murderunscripted/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@murderunscripted

⚠️ Graphic details; listener discretion advised.

#TrueCrime #MurderUnscripted #ColdCase #UnsolvedMysteries #ForensicScience #VictimAdvocacy 🕵️‍♀️🩸

In 1991, Salem’s “Official Witch,” Laurie Cabot, claimed she could see where missing woman Martha Brailsford was hidden. Days later, police recovered the body, and arrested neighbor Thomas Maimoni for her murder.

This chilling true crime story blurs the line between witchcraft, intuition, and justice.

When Martha Brailsford went missing after a day of sailing, Salem police faced a mystery with no leads — until famed witch and psychic Laurie Cabot stepped in. Her visions led searchers toward the harbor, where Brailsford’s body was later discovered weighted with an anchor. Soon after, police arrested Tom Maimoni, who was convicted of second-degree murder in 1993.

🎧 Listen & Subscribe

🎙️ Murder Unscripted

📺 Watch → https://www.youtube.com/@MurderUnscriptedPod/videos

🔔 Subscribe for weekly true crime deep dives

📚 Sources

Counterpoint: A Murder in Massachusetts Bay

– Margaret Press Unsolved Mysteries

– Martha Brailsford

Patheos: “The True Story of a Witch Who Solved a Murder”

Massachusetts Parole Board records (public summaries)

Local Salem & Boston reporting archives

🔖 Hashtags #TrueCrime #SalemWitch #LaurieCabot #MarthaBrailsford #PsychicDetective #Witchcraft #SalemMassachusetts #UnsolvedMysteries #MurderUnscripted

🔑 Keywords Martha Brailsford disappearance, Tom Maimoni conviction, Laurie Cabot Salem witch, psychic helps police, witch solves murder, Salem Massachusetts true crime, 1991 murder case, paranormal crime story, psychic detective, true crime podcast episode ___________________________________________________________________________

🎙️ Welcome to Murder Unscripted — the weekly true-crime podcast where veteran producer Ed Hydock (Forensic Files, Cold Case Files & many more) teams up with his bestie - super-sleuth fan Melissa Spivey - to explore real life murder investigations. Our unique dynamic resonates with both seasoned true-crime fans and those new to the genre, while our unscripted interviews with detectives, forensic scientists, prosecutors, and victims’ families bring you far beyond recycled headlines - immersing you in the world of true-crime like no one else.

🔍 Expect deep dives into obscure stories, serial killers, cold cases, DNA breakthroughs & courtroom drama, plus Friday Minis, Shorts and live Q&As. Built on Insight, Integrity & Advocacy, we keep victims front-and-center, while adding a touch of humor to brighten even the darkest tales.

👉 New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe, join the MU Crew & tap the bell!

🌐 For more information about us and the show, visit our website at: www.MurderUnscriptedPod.com

E-mail us at: murderunscriptedpod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials 👇

FB - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557418124048

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/murderunscripted/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@murderunscripted

⚠️ Graphic details; listener discretion advised.

For over a century, the Dozier School for Boys in Marianna, Florida operated under the guise of reform. But behind its walls, countless young boys endured abuse, neglect, and unimaginable atrocities at the hands of those meant to protect them.

In this episode, we uncover:

📜 The disturbing history of the Dozier Reform School

⚠️ The horrifying abuse and crimes that took place behind closed doors

🗣️ The powerful voices of survivors who lived to tell their stories

🪦 The tragic discoveries of unmarked graves and the legacy that still haunts Florida today

This is not just history — it’s a story of survival, resilience, and the fight for justice.

We open our October block with one of Texas’ most chilling stories: the Todville Murder Mansion in Seabrook. Built by William “Bill” List, this eerie mansion became the site of his twisted crimes—until one victim turned the tables and killed him inside his own home.

In this episode, we uncover the dark history of List’s reign of terror, the murder that ended it, and why the ruins of Todville Mansion are still whispered to be haunted.

👉 Follow Murder Unscripted for weekly true crime stories that blur the line between history and the paranormal.

What is it really like to face death every single day? In this episode, we sit down with Shannon Bradley Byers — a former death investigator with the Gwinnett County Medical Examiner’s Office in Georgia, and a cherished friend of Murder Unscripted. With her unique and deeply personal perspective, Shannon shares:

🕵️‍♀️ “The case that haunts her” — one that has stayed with her long after leaving the field

💔 How repeated exposure to death led to PTSD and lasting trauma

⚰️ What it truly means to investigate the end of life, and how it changes a person forever. This is an intimate and raw conversation about the human side of death, resilience, and coping with the weight of tragedy.

👉 Have you ever wondered how people in forensic careers manage the emotional toll of their work? Share your thoughts in the comments below — we’d love to hear from you. Watch til the end for a fun mini game which you can play along with at home!

If you enjoy true crime interviews, forensic insights, and real stories from the people behind the cases, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell 🔔 so you never miss an episode of Murder Unscripted.

Be sure to follow us on socials, including Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/MurderUnscripted/

#️⃣ #TrueCrime #DeathInvestigator #Forensics #MurderUnscripted #PTSD #Trauma #ColdCase #TrueCrimePodcast #MedicalExaminer #ShannonBradleyByers ___________________________________________________________________________ 🎙️

Welcome to Murder Unscripted — the weekly true-crime podcast where veteran producer Ed Hydock (Forensic Files, Cold Case Files & many more) teams up with his bestie - super-sleuth fan Melissa Spivey - to explore real life murder investigations. Our unique dynamic resonates with both seasoned true-crime fans and those new to the genre, while our unscripted interviews with detectives, forensic scientists, prosecutors, and victims’ families bring you far beyond recycled headlines - immersing you in the world of true-crime like no one else.

🔍 Expect deep dives into obscure stories, serial killers, cold cases, DNA breakthroughs & courtroom drama, plus Friday Minis, Shorts and live Q&As. Built on Insight, Integrity & Advocacy, we keep victims front-and-center, while adding a touch of humor to brighten even the darkest tales.

👉 New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe, join the MU Crew & tap the bell!

🌐 For more information about us and the show, visit our website at: www.MurderUnscriptedPod.com

E-mail us at: murderunscriptedpod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials 👇

FB - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557418124048

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/murderunscripted/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@murderunscripted

⚠️ Graphic details; listener discretion advised. #TrueCrime #MurderUnscripted #ColdCase #UnsolvedMysteries #ForensicScience #VictimAdvocacy 🕵️‍♀️🩸

Is this America's most sadistic crime ever? In this episode of Murder Unscripted, we unpack the harrowing 1993 killings of the Luna family in west Phoenix, Arizona. Prosecutors said Richard Kenneth Djerf targeted the household in a revenge plot tied to an earlier burglary dispute involving Albert Luna Jr., a former coworker. Djerf later pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Albert Luna Sr., Patricia “Patsy” Luna, 18-year-old Rochelle, and 5-year-old Damien—and was sentenced to death in 1996.

🔎 Why it matters now: The case has re-entered headlines with Arizona officials moving to carry out Djerf’s sentence; an execution by lethal injection is scheduled for October 17, 2025.

🎧 What you’ll hear: • A concise, narrative retelling of the seven hours inside the Luna home • The burglary motive and how a co-worker dispute escalated to mass murder • The investigative trail, plea, and decades of appeals on Arizona’s death row

💬 Join the discussion What responsibilities do courts and the public have when cases resurface decades later? Should execution dates revive wider reviews of old investigations? Drop your thoughts below—we read every comment.

👍 Support the show If this episode helped you understand the case, like, subscribe, and share with a true-crime friend.

Tap the 🔔 to get notified when new episodes drop.

🔑 Keywords Richard Djerf, Luna Family Murders, Phoenix 1993, Arizona Death Row, True Crime Podcast, Quadruple Homicide, Execution Date 2025, West Phoenix, Safeway Burglary Motive, Murder Unscripted

#TrueCrimePodcast #LunaFamily #RichardDjerf #Phoenix #Arizona #ColdCase #DeathRow #Justice #CrimeHistory #MurderUnscripted _________________________________________________________________________ 🎙️ Welcome to Murder Unscripted — the weekly true-crime podcast where veteran producer Ed Hydock (Forensic Files, Cold Case Files & many more) teams up with his bestie - super-sleuth fan Melissa Spivey - to explore real life murder investigations. Our unique dynamic resonates with both seasoned true-crime fans and those new to the genre, while our unscripted interviews with detectives, forensic scientists, prosecutors, and victims’ families bring you far beyond recycled headlines - immersing you in the world of true-crime like no one else.

🔍 Expect deep dives into obscure stories, serial killers, cold cases, DNA breakthroughs & courtroom drama, plus Friday Minis, Shorts and live Q&As. Built on Insight, Integrity & Advocacy, we keep victims front-and-center, while adding a touch of humor to brighten even the darkest tales.

👉 New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe, join the MU Crew & tap the bell!

🌐 For more information about us and the show, visit our website at: www.MurderUnscriptedPod.com

E-mail us at: murderunscriptedpod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials 👇

FB - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557418124048

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/murderunscripted/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@murderunscripted

⚠️ Graphic details; listener discretion advised.

#TrueCrime #MurderUnscripted #ColdCase #UnsolvedMysteries #ForensicScience #VictimAdvocacy 🕵️‍♀️🩸

To skip the banter, jump to 2:18

The 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders remain one of the most haunting unsolved crimes in Texas history. In this episode, we investigate how four men — Forrest Welbourne, Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen, and Maurice Pierce — became central figures in the case.

We cover:

🕵️‍♂️ How each suspect was connected to the crime scene

⚖️ The controversial false confessions and coerced interrogation tactics

🔗 The wrongful convictions, overturned verdicts, and what happened to the men later

📌 The current status of the Austin cold case and why the Yogurt Shop Murders remain unsolved over 30 years later

👉 Do you think the suspects were innocent victims of bad police work, or do you believe they knew more than they admitted? Let us know in the comments!

If you’re fascinated by true crime podcasts, cold case investigations, and unsolved mysteries, don’t forget to like, subscribe, and hit the bell 🔔 to catch every new episode of Murder Unscripted.

#TrueCrime #YogurtShopMurders #AustinTexas #UnsolvedMystery #MurderUnscripted #ColdCase #FalseConfession #WrongfulConviction #TrueCrimePodcast #TexasCrime _________________________________________________________________________

🎙️ Welcome to Murder Unscripted — the weekly true-crime podcast where veteran producer Ed Hydock (Forensic Files, Cold Case Files & many more) teams up with his bestie - super-sleuth fan Melissa Spivey - to explore real life murder investigations. Our unique dynamic resonates with both seasoned true-crime fans and those new to the genre, while our unscripted interviews with detectives, forensic scientists, prosecutors, and victims’ families bring you far beyond recycled headlines - immersing you in the world of true-crime like no one else.

🔍 Expect deep dives into obscure stories, serial killers, cold cases, DNA breakthroughs & courtroom drama, plus Friday Minis, Shorts and live Q&As. Built on Insight, Integrity & Advocacy, we keep victims front-and-center, while adding a touch of humor to brighten even the darkest tales.

👉 New episodes every Tuesday. Subscribe, join the MU Crew & tap the bell!

🌐 For more information about us and the show, visit our website at: www.MurderUnscriptedPod.com

E-mail us at: murderunscriptedpod@gmail.com

Follow us on socials 👇

FB - https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61557418124048

Insta - https://www.instagram.com/murderunscripted/

TikTok - https://www.tiktok.com/@murderunscripted

Reddit - www.reddit.com/r/murderunscripted/

⚠️ Graphic details; listener discretion advised. #TrueCrime #MurderUnscripted #ColdCase #UnsolvedMysteries #ForensicScience #VictimAdvocacy 🕵️‍♀️🩸