Culprit

Calista and Theresa Whitney
  • 1.0 (1)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Fortnightly

* Rebranded! * We admit it. We’re fascinated by true crime. And if you’re reading this, we bet you are too. Join mother-and-daughter hosts Theresa and Calista for a new intriguing/upsetting case every other week!

  1. 3 days ago

    Episode 53 - Chisako Kakehi: Widow by Design

    For nearly two decades, Chisako Kakehi watched on as her partners passed away one by one. Although she claimed that she had been “doomed by fate” to endure these tragedies, after the death of her fourth and final husband, Isao Kakehi, in 2013, the Japanese authorities finally became suspicious enough to perform a postmortem. After the autopsy confirmed that he hadn’t died from natural causes, investigators began digging into her past, ultimately discovering a series of poisonings that had made Chisako a very wealthy widow indeed. Sources: https://www.cnn.com/2021/09/25/asia/japan-black-widow-killer-intl-hnk-dst  https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/30/asia/japan-black-widow-serial-killer-intl-hnk/index.html https://edition.cnn.com/2014/11/21/world/asia/japan-black-widow-murder/index.html  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-30125055  https://www.euronews.com/2014/11/19/seven-time-widow-arrested-on-suspicion-of-poisoning-fourth-husband-with-cyanide https://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-black-widow-death-row-inmate-chisako-kakehi-dead/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-charges-serial-widow-in-1-of-6-ex-partner-deaths/ https://www.cbsnews.com/news/japan-arrests-serial-widow-in-suspected-poisoning/ https://www.dw.com/en/japans-black-widow-murderer-dies-while-on-death-row/a-71167848 https://www.dw.com/en/japans-black-widow-sentenced-to-death-for-killing-partners/a-41281696  https://people.com/black-widow-serial-killer-japan-11752221 https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/east-asia/article/2118708/japans-black-widow-serial-killer-sentenced-death-murdering-three  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-40586289  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-41898623 https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2021/06/29/Japan-black-widow-serial-killer-death-penalty/3311624983733/ https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2017/11/07/Japans-black-widow-sentenced-to-death/5591510073147/ https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2014/12/10/Japan-prosecutors-charge-black-widow-with-husbands-murder/4441418236988/  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170710/p2a/00m/0na/011000c  https://www.kobe-u.ac.jp/en/campus-life/regional-guide/kobe/  https://discover.osaka-info.jp/en/articles/jinaicho-kaizuka  https://www.kupi.com/en-ae/explore/japan/itami  https://www.izeria.com/en/places/p-hbtglune/Muko  https://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20170626/p2a/00m/0na/011000c  https://www.news.com.au/world/asia/black-widow-i-wanted-to-kill-him-out-of-deep-hatred/news-story/79a8cdd0623df6d5e634afd3c2dca8d6   https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/nov/07/japans-black-widow-sentenced-to-death-for-murdering-a-string-of-lovers  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/20/millionaire-widow-seven-dead-partners-arrested-japan-poison  https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/killer-wives-8-most-infamous-black-widow-murderers-249561/chisako-kakehi-249599/  https://www.vice.com/en/article/japans-black-widow-arrested-again-after-poisoning-her-eighth-male-victim/  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-39599188  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-17702029  https://japantoday.com/category/crime/black-widow-sentenced-to-death-for-murder-of-3-men  https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/japan-performed-no-executions-in-2023-making-u-s-the-only-g7-country-to-use-capital-punishment-last-year  https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/16351757  https://borgenproject.org/elderly-poverty-in-japan-2/  https://www.theguardian.com/world/article/2024/jul/01/life-at-the-heart-of-japans-solitary-deaths-epidemic-i-would-be-lying-if-i-said-i-wasnt-worried  https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/salaryman  https://www.staysafeonline.org/articles/why-do-scammers-target-older-adults

  2. 12 July

    Episode 52 - Robert Wood: Loathsome Loser

    Murder and arson in the small Eastern Washington town of Newman Lake were rare. Neighbors looked out for each other and couldn’t have imagined that a member of their community, a single dad who was caring for two of his six children, would ever do what he was accused of, but how well do we really know our neighbors? What could drive a mild-mannered, middle-aged man to commit such a heinous act? Financial stress can cause people to do unimaginable things.Sources: https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=hbojAAAAIBAJ&sjid=mtAFAAAAIBAJ&pg=3097%2C1925661 https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=42NWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=HfIDAAAAIBAJ&pg=5907%2C8450 https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990601/2963955/arson-slaying-suspect-dies-in-apparent-suicide----spokane-county-man-accused-of-strangling-son https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19990309/2948477/did-boy-pay-deadly-price-for-fathers-debts----money-mattered-most-to-man-accused-of-killing-son-for-insurance-accusers-say  https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1999/feb/13/boy-strangled-father-focus-of-probe-robert-wood/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1999/feb/24/wood-arrested-as-suspect-in-sons-death-prosecutor/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1999/may/14/accused-killer-charged-with-job-related-thefts/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1999/feb/27/prosecutors-formally-charge-dad-wood-accused-of/ https://forensictales.com/a-cereal-killer/

  3. 28 June

    Episode 51 - Garry Davis: Psychic? More Like Psychopathic

    Garry Davis had been fired, terminated, or deregistered from five of the six aged care facilities at which he had previously worked, including from one for posting, “I hate old people,” on Facebook. Despite all this, the 26-year-old had not only gotten a job at SummitCare Wallsend, but after just three years, he had already secured a senior position on the wing from which three elderly residents were taken to the hospital for hypoglycemia over two days in October 2013, a coincidence that caught the attention of a vigilant endocrinologist, and soon after, the police.Sources: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-22/aged-care-killer-garry-davis-wrongful-conviction-serial-killer/105043288  https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/motive-a-mystery-in-nursing-home-insulin-murders-davis-sentenced-to-40-years/32h8vx5vc https://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/nsw-aged-home-worker-found-guilty-of-murdering-two-residents/pyxyfccee  https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/sep/28/nsw-aged-care-worker-guilty-of-and-attempted-of-dementia-patients https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-nursing-home-carer-garry-davis-sentenced-to-at-least-30-years-jail-murder-attempted-murder/da977f05-4a31-41bd-ac21-57c1378e2909 https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/former-nursing-home-worker-garry-davis-jailed-for-40-years-over-murder-of-two-residents-20161213-gt9xa5.html https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/nurse-garry-davis-guilty-of-murdering-dementia-pair-with-insulin-in-agedcare-home-20160928-grqah5.html  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-16/could-aged-care-killer-garry-davis-have-killed-elizabeth-eifler/105042672 https://www.cbsnews.com/news/australia-nursing-home-worker-prison-insulin-murder-elderly-patients/ https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-murder-accused-predicted-deaths/6fc068a7-1007-4e95-ae89-1c5fcf4d813d https://www.9news.com.au/national/nsw-nurse-accused-of-murdering-elderly-patients-with-insulin-claimed-they-died-from-food-poisoning/dc9da3af-d253-440b-a281-b013c33530a9 https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-09-28/nursing-home-employee-garry-davis-found-guilty-of-murder/7883704 https://catherinehenrylawyers.com.au/client-stories-2/mother-murdered-by-a-nursing-assistant-our-clients-story/  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12-19/nurse-refused-bail-over-alleged-nursing-home-double-murder-in-n/5979942  https://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-08-31/summitcare-alleged-killer-sent-text-predicting-deaths-court-told/7793484 https://www.australia.com/en-us/places/sydney-and-surrounds/guide-to-newcastle.html  https://www.high-school-australia.com/newcastle-lake-macquarie/  https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/midazolam-oral-route/description/drg-20072182

  4. 14 June

    Episode 50 - Judith Hyams: Judging Judy

    Though the 1960s were a time of change that saw women becoming more vocal about their rights and lack thereof, access to reproductive choice was still years away. When Judy Hyams found herself unexpectedly pregnant, she turned to a family friend whom she trusted. After all, he was a doctor. Things became murky after Judy was introduced to someone who promised they could help her. Years later, a true crime show would shed light on the case but provide no new answers. Sources: https://unsolvedmysteries.fandom.com/wiki/Judy_Hyams https://charleyproject.org/case/judith-carole-himes https://www.facebook.com/PIFortheMissing/posts/on-this-date-judith-carol-hyams-sometimes-spelled-himes-went-missing-on-septembe/386415725381250/ https://websleuths.com/threads/fl-judith-hyams-22-coral-gables-14-sept-1965.61731/page-2 https://mysterydelver.com/judging-judy/ https://reprorights.substack.com/p/before-roe-america-had-abortion-squads https://bioethicstoday.org/blog/abortion-welcome-to-the-sixties/ https://enewspaper.latimes.com/infinity/article_share.aspx?guid=04f0b513-fc12-45fb-bbeb-86ed47d25dff https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/23/health/abortion-lessons-jane-wellness https://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2010/03/12/the-1960s-a-decade-of-change-for-womenhttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/powerful-complicated-legacy-betty-friedans-feminine-mystique-180976931/

  5. 31 May

    Episode 49 - Alexandre Despallières: Flirting with Fame

    When Australian music mogul Peter Ikin died in November 2008, his civil partner, Alexandre Despallières, was quick to claim his inheritance. Although investigators didn’t view Peter’s death as suspicious, his friends had questions about the man who had waited only days to cremate him. In the wake of a damning toxicology report, the investigation into Peter’s death was reopened, but when all was said and done, Alex wouldn’t just end up as the prime suspect, he would be unmasked as a master manipulator whose goal to secure wealth and fame placed him at the center of a series of suspicious deaths.Sources: https://www.bfmtv.com/police-justice/il-s-inventait-des-vies-alexandre-despallieres-potentiel-empoisonneur-en-serie-mort-avant-son-proces_AN-202206130194.html https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/olivier-metzner-peter-ikin-qui-etait-alexandre-despallieres-leur-sulfureux-amant-7900184715  https://www.lejdd.fr/Societe/exclusif-le-maitre-et-lassassin-une-enquete-fouillee-sur-olivier-metzner-et-son-sulfureux-amant-4110046 https://www.smh.com.au/culture/celebrity/long-wait-for-justice-for-peter-ikin-s-friends-as-husband-charged-over-death-20200527-p54wux.html  https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/a-dead-man-a-forged-will-a-ps10m-inheritance-and-a-ruined-reputation-8026886.html  https://francerent.com/destinations/Bois-Colombes?srsltid=AfmBOooR2qa05Nwl02feiVoV9ERg8TCtaio6ZSGctodcvz0i3GafV9_B  https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/sex-manipulation-poison-possible-serial-120000440.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHgLXBSwiKvLah6dMYcrK__tGyFiRy6COvtdWtRK0P8OuLkPE8Bpuo9PNVvl9HKhGpnY9TI9UhOXzrEfZZr9cFG8z6tH4B9dMrVlF2yFKb5YZthlZVxftIIyKyynLqTyOhT1ygdbgpzU8k3tH3ia99YKf6BVts7clikCF8btNbrJ https://www.clivedenhouse.co.uk/  https://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/celebrity/xanadu-on-ice-for-livvy-20100910-1557d.html  https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/alexandre-despallieres-qui-etait-peter-ikin-le-producteur-de-musique-qu-il-est-soupconne-d-avoir-tue-7900318135 https://www.francetvpro.fr/contenu-de-presse/76002776 https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/mort-d-olivier-metzner-qui-etait-ce-celebre-avocat-qui-a-mis-fin-a-ses-jours-sur-son-ile-7900173867 https://www.thetimes.com/best-law-firms/profile-legal/article/olivier-metzner-the-forged-will-and-a-pop-star-lover-accused-of-murder-x5hgj863nz9  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/mar/17/french-lawyer-olivier-metzner-found-dead  https://www.dailyjournal.com/article/382561-franz-kafka-enemy-of-the-kafkaesque  https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/deces-de-peter-ikin-pourquoi-cette-affaire-est-un-veritable-naufrage-judicaire-7900129259  https://www.ouest-france.fr/societe/justice/alexandre-despallieres-qui-devait-etre-juge-en-juin-pour-assassinat-est-mort-2f24e4b8-8e83-11ec-8142-04af4be3c211 https://www.rtl.fr/actu/justice-faits-divers/affaire-olivier-metzner-pourquoi-le-suicide-du-celebre-avocat-reste-mysterieux-7900182927 https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10521109/He-partnered-music-boss-probably-killed-cheated-justice-dying.html https://incompliancemag.com/invention-powers-devices-by-recycling-wasted-electromagnetic-energy/  https://www.sortiraparis.com/en/what-to-visit-in-paris/history-heritage/articles/343409-yvelines-where-does-the-name-of-this-department-number-78-come-from-formerly-known-as-seine-et-oise  https://www.verywellhealth.com/acetaminophen-vs-paracetamol-uses-efficacy-side-effects-7508943

  6. 10 May

    Episode 48 - Tom DiBartolo: Murder in the Park

    Marriage and children had never gotten in the way of Tom DiBartolo doing what he wanted, and what he wanted was to flout his position as a Spokane County deputy and have sex with his various mistresses. It had always been easy; his wife, Patty, took care of the house and the kids and he slept with whomever he wanted, knowing enough to tell the women what they wanted to hear. Recently though, things had changed. Patty was threatening divorce and there was no way he could pay child support for his five kids and have enough money left for himself. Sources: https://www.khq.com/news/former-spokane-co-deputy-dibartolo-released-from-prison-after-serving-sentence-for-wifes-1996-murder/article_dd7611e8-4d14-11ea-bfd8-0f4dc36b8699.html https://apnews.com/general-news-c7d752944a0e5bddab0192b136ca79c7 https://www.montanarightnow.com/former-spokane-deputy-tom-dibartolo-jailed-after-work-release-suspension-while-serving-sentence-for-wifes/article_97f79c1d-ccf6-5363-96c8-638fb5797b13.html https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/70565058/patricia_ann-dibartolo https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19971215/2578236/exceptional-sentence-sought-for-ex-deputy-in-wifes-murder https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/19970214/2523998/family-wants-father-accused-of-slaying-mother-kept-in-jail https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/oct/21/judge-opens-dibartolo-trial-phase-jury-selection/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/nov/05/witness-for-dibartolo-cant-refer-to-hearsay-judge/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/nov/06/dibartolo-portrayed-as-lustful-killer-trial/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/nov/07/dibartolo-showed-no-emotions-to-news-of-wifes/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/nov/07/dibartolo-showed-no-emotions-to-news-of-wifes/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/dec/11/dibartolo-case-goes-to-jury-prosecution-paints/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/aug/27/affair-lands-dibartolo-back-in-jail-cops-say-he/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/sep/25/money-the-motive-say-dibartolo-prosecutors-they/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/nov/20/dibartolo-story-questioned-prosecutors-re/ https://www.kxly.com/news/former-deputy-convicted-of-murder-is-back-in-yakima-records-show/article_b6694bc8-1ccb-5f6f-afdb-d3f71b10a18f.html https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/mar/08/deputy-accused-of-interfering-in-investigation/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/nov/30/dibartolos-turn-nears-at-murder-trial-more-than/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/nov/09/community-mourns-murdered-mother-law-officers/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/apr/19/dibartolo-loses-job-as-deputy-sheriff-goldman/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1998/jan/16/man-once-accused-in-dibartolo-murder-shot-police/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/feb/14/son-wants-deputy-kept-behind-bars-oldest-children/ https://www.kxly.com/news/12-years-later-dibartolo-still-fighting-for-freedom/article_6cd1242a-95d5-5114-8f50-266375920c88.html https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/apr/29/ex-deputys-offenses-detailed-sheriff-alleges/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/nov/25/girlfriends-offer-possible-motive-in-dibartolo/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/dec/16/dibartolo-verdict-delivers-message-officers-say/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/nov/27/police-spied-on-dibartolo-videotape-shows/ https://www.spokesman.com/stories/1997/dec/03/dibartolo-weeps-for-slain-wife-i-felt-like-i-had/

  7. 26 Apr

    Episode 47 - Count Carl von Cosel: Corpse Preservation 101

    Count Carl von Cosel believed he had met his soulmate when he laid eyes on Maria Elena Milagro de Hoyos in 1930. From the start, though, their romance had its share of problems. First, they were both already married, but Carl could easily pretend neither of their spouses existed. Second, Elena had been diagnosed with the then-fatal prognosis of tuberculosis, but even after she died, Carl wasn’t deterred. He simply stole her corpse, made it suitable for cohabitation, and lived with her body for the next seven years until his shocking secret was discovered. Sources: https://allthatsinteresting.com/carl-tanzler  https://www.kqed.org/pop/106807/meet-carl-von-cosel-the-man-who-slept-next-to-his-crushs-corpse-for-7-years  https://mbird.com/everyday/digging-up-death-the-macabre-story-of-count-carl-von-cosel-and-us/ https://the-line-up.com/carl-tanzler-the-man-who-slept-with-a-corpse  https://www.wlrn.org/culture/2018-02-11/a-love-that-would-not-die-key-west-tells-its-most-macabre-legend https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-11-18/marija-pericic-new-novel-exquisite-corpse-carl-tanzler/102995556  https://www.moas.org/Key-West--Southernmost-USA-6-22114.html  https://historyhub.info/twists-in-a-twisted-tale-the-exploitation-defilement-and-murder-of-elena-hoyos/ https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/history/rudolph-valentino  https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/plague-gallery/  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2820065/#:~:text=Crowded%20into%20tenements%20where%20the,working%20places%20must%20be%20improved.  https://www.flickr.com/photos/escriteur/23829890671  https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7241456/  https://www.thisamericanlife.org/610/transcript  https://iapsop.com/archive/materials/rosicrucian_digest/rosicrucian_digest_v17_n2_1939_mar.pdf https://www.kwahs.org/exhibit/ghosts-of-east-martello/  https://www.historicmysteries.com/history/carl-tanzler-in-love-with-the-dead/9617/ https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11299445/#:~:text=It%20is%20advised%20to%20have,a%20minimum%20value%20of%2098%25.  https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17434440.2023.2170783#d1e199

  8. 8 Apr ·  Bonus

    A Quick Announcement

    Hey, everyone. We wanted to drop in to let you know that a new episode won’t be coming out on April 12, but we’ll be back with the case of Carl Tänzler on April 26.

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Ratings & Reviews

About

* Rebranded! * We admit it. We’re fascinated by true crime. And if you’re reading this, we bet you are too. Join mother-and-daughter hosts Theresa and Calista for a new intriguing/upsetting case every other week!

Information

  • Creator
    Calista and Theresa Whitney
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    54
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Calista and Theresa Whitney
  • Show Website
    Culprit