In this episode of The Missing Files, host Una Graham investigates the chilling true crime case of Belle Gunness, known as "Hell's Belle," one of America’s most prolific female serial killers. Set against the backdrop of late 19th-century immigration and rural Indiana life, this narrative explores how Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth reinvented herself as Belle to lure men to their deaths. Listeners will discover the meticulous methods used by a woman who posed as a gentle homemaker while hiding a violent past in Chicago butchery shops. This is not just a story about murder; it is an examination of insurance fraud, identity erasure, and the systemic failures that allowed her crimes to go undetected for years.

The episode delves deep into the timeline of Belle’s atrocities, from the suspicious fires that destroyed her Chicago candy store and home to the calculated murders of her husbands, Mads Sørensen and Peter Gunness. Each death was accompanied by substantial insurance payouts, fueling her relocation to La Porte, Indiana, where she purchased a pig farm. Through newspaper personal ads, she lured single men seeking wealth and companionship, only to have them vanish without a trace. The narration highlights the eerie silence of the farmhouse, where trunks belonging to missing victims remained untouched, serving as silent witnesses to a pattern of greed and manipulation. We explore the forensic discoveries made after the 1908 fire that revealed headless bodies and acid-dissolved remains, confirming the existence of at least fourteen victims, though speculation suggests the number could be much higher.

Beyond the gore and mystery, this episode emphasizes the human cost of Belle Gunness’ actions. It honors the memory of victims like Henry Gurholt, John Moe, and Jennie Olson, whose lives were stolen by a predator who understood the value of human life only in terms of financial gain. The story raises critical questions about criminal justice, the role of media in exposing hidden crimes, and the psychological profile of a killer who operated with such cold precision. By weaving together public records, coroner reports, and historical context, Una Graham provides a comprehensive look at a case that shocked the nation and remains a dark chapter in American true crime history. This investigation serves as a reminder to bear witness to those who were erased, ensuring their stories are not forgotten.

Tune in to hear the full, tense-cinematic retelling of Belle Gunness’ rise and fall. If you found this investigation compelling, please support the show via the link below to help us continue uncovering the truth behind unsolved mysteries and historical injustices.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Gunness · https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/belle-gunness-americas-first-female-serial-killer-180968566/ · https://www.jstor.org/stable/24433890

More from The Missing Files: https://humanitymedia.org/the-missing-files-4

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belle_Gunness

Topics: belle gunness true crime, hell's belle serial killer, la porte indiana murders, female serial killers history, insurance fraud true crime, missing files podcast una graham, 19th century american criminals, cold case investigations, true crime mysteries, criminal justice failures, historical true crime stories, victims of serial killers

#truecrime #serialkiller #belleGunness #mystery #investigation #history #podcast #unsolved #justice #documentary #criminals #forensics

Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/the-missing-files-4/2026-09-09.txt

In this episode of The Missing Files, host Una Graham dissects the harrowing case of Joseph James DeAngelo Jr., known as the Golden State Killer. This narrative explores how a decorated police officer used his badge to hunt monsters while secretly becoming one of them. We trace DeAngelo’s journey from a traumatic childhood in New York and Germany through his service in the Navy and his career as a burglary-unit officer in California. The episode details his reign of terror across multiple decades, beginning with the Visalia Ransacker burglaries, escalating to the East Area Rapist crimes in Northern California, and culminating in the Original Night Stalker murders in Southern California. By examining the psychological profile of a killer who hid in plain sight, we understand the profound betrayal felt by victims who trusted the uniform he wore.

The core of this investigation focuses on the forensic breakthrough that finally caught a ghost: Forensic Genetic Genealogy. For years, the DNA evidence collected under California’s new database sat unused because it could not match a direct suspect in criminal records. This episode explains how investigators pivoted to public genealogy databases like GEDmatch, linking crime scene DNA to distant relatives to build family trees and narrow the suspect pool. We cover the pivotal moments of the investigation, including the $50,000 reward, the identification of DeAngelo through genetic tracing, and his eventual arrest at his Citrus Heights home in 2018. This technological shift marked a historic turning point in solving cold cases, proving that science remembers what memory forgets.

Beyond the mechanics of the capture, we confront the complex reality of justice. Despite being linked to over 120 burglaries, dozens of rapes, and thirteen murders, DeAngelo avoided charges for many sexual assaults due to statutes of limitations. He pleaded guilty to murder and kidnapping counts to avoid the death penalty, receiving life without parole. Yet, for the survivors and families of the victims, the legal resolution offered limited closure. We reflect on the human cost behind the statistics—the shattered lives, the stolen safety, and the resilience of those who waited lifetimes for answers. This story is not true crime entertainment; it is a testament to the evolution of criminal justice and a reminder to bear witness to the truth.

Join Una Graham as she brings these forgotten voices back into the light. If you value deep, respectful investigations into criminal justice history, please support The Missing Files by visiting our website link in the show notes. Your support helps us continue to honor victims and explore the complexities of the law. Thank you for listening, and remember: keep looking at the record.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_James_DeAngelo

More from The Missing Files: https://humanitymedia.org/the-missing-files-4

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_James_DeAngelo

Topics: golden state killer, joseph james deangelo, forensic genetic genealogy, east area rapist, original night stalker, visalia ransacker, true crime podcast, dna evidence cold cases, gedmatch dna, criminal justice system, unsolved mysteries solved, police corruption true crime, california serial killer

#GoldenStateKiller #TrueCrimeCommunity #ForensicScience #ColdCaseSolved #JusticeForVictims #DNAInvestigation #SerialKillerProfile #CriminalJustice #PodcastRecommendation #HistoricalTrueCrime #SurvivorStories #MissingFiles

Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/the-missing-files-4/2026-09-08.txt

In this chilling episode of The Missing Files, host Una Graham dissects the enduring mystery of the Isdal Woman, a case that has baffled investigators since November 1970. When hikers in Bergen, Norway, discover a charred female body in the Isdalen valley—known locally as 'Death Valley'—they uncover not just a tragedy, but a meticulously constructed erasure of identity. This deep-dive investigation explores how the victim systematically destroyed all identifying marks on her belongings, burned her own clothes, and seemingly took her life through a combination of phenobarbital overdose and carbon monoxide poisoning. Yet, the presence of bruises on her neck and the removal of her teeth by police suggest a narrative far more complex than simple suicide.

Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isdal_Woman

More from The Missing Files: https://humanitymedia.org/the-missing-files-4

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Isdal_Woman

Topics: isdal woman true crime, bergen norway cold case, unsolved mysteries history, cold war spy theories, forensic anthropology cases, norwegian criminal justice history, identity theft historical cases, true crime podcast investigations, missing persons cold cases, famous unsolved disappearances, crime scene analysis details, historical mystery documentaries

#IsdalWoman #TrueCrime #ColdCase #UnsolvedMystery #NorwayHistory #BergenNorway #CrimePodcast #ForensicScience #MissingFiles #HistoricalMystery #Investigation #ColdWarEspionage

Transcript: https://cdn.humanitymedia.org/transcripts/the-missing-files-4/2026-09-07.txt