In today’s episode, we are diving deep into the dark, chaotic, and unexpectedly hilarious world of Navessa Allen's massive viral hit, Lights Out. It's a book that asks the ultimate "what if" question: What happens when you accidentally manifest your favorite internet stalker kink?

We break down the morally grey chemistry, the heavy trauma both characters carry, the line between internet fantasy and reality, and why a literal serial killer's son might actually be the ultimate "cinnamon roll" book boyfriend. Plus, we talk about Fred—the real star of the book.

Content Warning:

This episode contains deep-dive discussions of dark romance themes, including cyberstalking, breaking and entering, and explicit BDSM/kink. The plot also deals heavily with the psychological trauma of being the child of a serial killer, graphic descriptions of emergency room medical trauma, grief over the loss of a parent, and a secondary plot involving non-consensual stalking, violence, and graphic body disposal. Listener discretion is strongly advised if you are sensitive to themes of stalking or violent trauma.

Music:

https://uppbeat.io/t/albert-behar/forbidden-desire

License code: NI6EC2P4IWFH367C

When the "Zoo Man" was finally caught, the legal battle that followed became even more bizarre than the crimes themselves. Thomas Huskey’s defense claimed he wasn't responsible for the murders; instead, they pointed the finger at "Kyle," a violent, British-accented alter ego who allegedly emerged during the killings. Join us as we examine the controversial use of Dissociative Identity Disorder in the courtroom, the validity of "Kyle," and how a series of legal technicalities allowed a suspected serial killer to escape the death penalty—even after a confession

Content Warning:

This episode covers a highly disturbing case file out of Knoxville, Tennessee. The discussion of Thomas Huskey includes graphic depictions of predatory behavior targeting sex workers, severe sexual sadism, and the post-mortem concealment of victims. The episode also touches on complex and controversial legal testimonies regarding severe trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder. Listener discretion is advised.

Music from:

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/graveyard-tango

License code: 6CU5MIMVDNS2IMAJ

To her neighbors in Sacramento, California, Dorothea Puente was a sweet, grandmotherly figure. She wore floral dresses, baked homemade cookies, and ran a boarding house for the unhoused, elderly, and the mentally ill. She was looked at as a neighborhood saint - until the stench of death began wafting from her immaculate rose garden. This week, we dive into the chilling story of one of America’s most deceptive female serial killers.

Content Warning:

This episode discusses themes of elder abuse, the exploitation of vulnerable adults, poisoning, and human decomposition. It may not be suitable for all audiences, so listener discretion is advised.

Music:

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/graveyard-tango

License code: 6CU5MIMVDNS2IMAJ

For decades, Richard Cottingham was convicted of only a handful of murders, but the true scale of his trail of blood is only now coming to light. From his initial arrest in 1980 to his shocking 2026 confession regarding the 1965 murder of Alys Jean Eberhardt, Cottingham has spent his life in prison slowly doling out the truth to investigators. Join us as we explore his unique "cat-and-mouse" relationship with detectives, the forensic breakthroughs solving 60-year-old cold cases, and the chilling possibility that his true victim count may reach into the triple digits.

Content Warning:

This episode covers a highly disturbing case file out of Knoxville, Tennessee. The discussion of Thomas Huskey includes graphic depictions of predatory behavior targeting sex workers, severe sexual sadism, and the post-mortem concealment of victims. The episode also touches on complex and controversial legal testimonies regarding severe trauma and Dissociative Identity Disorder. Listener discretion is advised.

Music:

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/graveyard-tango

License code: 6CU5MIMVDNS2IMAJ

In late 2007, a shadow fell over the national forests of Georgia, Florida, and North Carolina. When 24-year-old Meredith Emerson went hiking with her dog on New Year’s Day and never returned, a massive manhunt revealed a predator hiding in plain sight. Gary Hilton wasn't just a drifter; he was a cold-blooded killer who stalked the trails he knew by heart. This week, we follow the harrowing search for Meredith, the heartbreaking discovery of the Bryants in Pisgah National Forest, and the "Beast of Blood Mountain" who turned the Great Outdoors into a graveyard.

Content Warning:

Before we step into the woods, be advised that this episode contains graphic accounts of predatory tracking, psychological terror, blunt-force trauma, and the post-mortem desecration of human remains. It is intended for mature audiences only, and listener discretion is strongly advised.

CourtTV Gary Hilton Interview

Music:

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/graveyard-tango

License code: 6CU5MIMVDNS2IMAJ

How did an unlicensed "doctor" get away with killing dozens of people in plain sight? Linda Hazzard exploited a legal loophole to practice her lethal brand of alternative medicine for decades. Behind her claims of "ridding the body of toxins" lay a calculated scheme of forgery, greed, and psychological manipulation. Join us as we dissect the investigation into Hazzard’s clinic, the shocking forensic evidence of bodies weighing less than 50 pounds, and the systemic failures that allowed her to continue her practice even after a manslaughter conviction.

Content Warnings:

This discussion includes graphic accounts of severe emaciation, fatal neglect, financial exploitation of the dying, and primitive medical procedures. We advise listener discretion, especially for those sensitive to themes of medical trauma, starvation, or abuse.

Music from :

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/graveyard-tango

License code: 6CU5MIMVDNS2IMAJ

In 1961, Portland was rocked by a crime so gruesome it felt like a horror movie: a woman’s remains found scattered in a swamp, meticulously dismembered. The man responsible, Richard Marquette, became the first person ever added as the "11th name" to the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted list. He was caught, convicted, and sentenced—but the story didn't end there. Twelve years later, Marquette was paroled, and within months, the nightmare began all over again. This week, we trace the dark history of a man who couldn't stop killing and the systemic failures that allowed him to strike twice.

Content Warning:

This episode contains detailed descriptions of a fatal stabbing, severe physical violence, and the systematic dismemberment and concealment of human remains. It is intended for mature audiences only, and listener discretion is strongly advised.

Music:

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/graveyard-tango

License code: 6CU5MIMVDNS2IMAJ

In 1946, Chicago was a city gripped by a unique kind of terror. A killer was stalking the streets, leaving behind a signature that would haunt the headlines for decades: a plea scrawled in red lipstick on a victim’s wall that read, "For heavens sake catch me before I kill more I cannot control myself." When 17-year-old University of Chicago student William Heirens was arrested for a routine burglary, the police claimed they had their man. But beneath the confession lies a story of "truth serum," brutal interrogations, and a young man who spent 65 years in prison maintaining his innocence.

This episode covers the case of William Heirens, also known as the Lipstick Killer. It contains detailed discussions of graphic violence, murder, the victimization of children, and bodily dismemberment. It is not be suitable for all audiences, listener discretion is strongly advised.

Music:

https://uppbeat.io/t/oliver-massa/graveyard-tango

License code: 6CU5MIMVDNS2IMAJIntermission song:

https://uppbeat.io/t/albert-behar/forbidden-desire

License code: NI6EC2P4IWFH367C