Criminally Obsessed

Criminally Obsessed

Criminally Obsessed goes deeper — inside the investigations, the courtroom drama, and the human stories at the center of the country’s biggest true crime cases. We track breaking developments, uncover overlooked details, and bring clarity to the chaos — always with compassion for victims and the people whose lives are forever changed. Host Anne Emerson brings more than 30 years of award-winning investigative reporting to every episode. She’s covered the nation’s most high-profile trials firsthand, conducted interviews with some of the biggest names in the true crime world — from Amanda Knox to Elizabeth Smart — and has trusted sources connected to the cases dominating the national conversation.

  1. 2h ago

    Murdaugh Murder Timeline: Could Time of Death Be Completely Wrong?

    Could Maggie and Paul Murdaugh’s time of death create reasonable doubt for Alex Murdaugh? As his defense prepares for a second murder trial, attorney Dick Harpootlian is signaling that the timeline of the June 2021 murders at Moselle could become a major issue.  We had to speak with an expert who could tell us how time of death is actually determined… and is there room for error?  In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with Joseph Scott Morgan, Death Investigator and host of the podcast Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan, who helped create the national standards for determining time of death. He helps us understand the physical process coroners and medical examiners use to narrow down that timeframe, and examines the coroner’s actions in the Murdaugh murders with his expert perspective - what he did, and more importantly, what he didn’t do during that examination. Alex Murdaugh’s case returns to court on Friday August 14th for a retrial hearing, when Judge Debra McCaslin could rule on where the new South Carolina murder trial will be held, along with other pending motions. Join Anne and former South Carolina Attorney General Charlie Condon to watch and analyze the hearing live tomorrow here on Criminally Obsessed.  Subscribe and turn on notifications so you don’t miss our courtroom livestreams, the latest developments in the Alex Murdaugh retrial, and expert perspective with those closest to the case.

  2. 1d ago

    Elizabeth Siders Will Be Evaluated: Is She Competent to Stand Trial?

    Is Elizabeth Siders competent to stand trial in the Ohio “House of Horrors” Case? As the Lindsay Clancy trial puts maternal mental health and criminal responsibility under a national microscope, another mother at the center of a major criminal case is facing psychological evaluation.  Elizabeth Siders, who faces 16 child endangerment charges in the Vinton County, Ohio case, has been ordered to undergo a competency evaluation. But what does a competency test actually involve?  Today, we hear from an expert who takes us inside the evaluation process, and shares parts of it that took us by surprise.  In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with forensic psychologist Dr. Leslie Dobson, who has administered many competency evaluations herself. She describes components of the test we’d never heard before, like taking part in a mock trial, and explains what happens after a defendant is found incompetent. With Dr. Dobson’s expert perspective, we learn what professionals will be looking for in Elizabeth Siders. The Siders case continues to move forward, with Gary Siders Jr. due back in court Thursday, August 13th on public indecency charges. We’ll keep you updated on the latest developments - Turn on your notifications and subscribe to Criminally Obsessed so you never miss our coverage of the Ohio “House of Horrors” investigation, the Lindsay Clancy trial, and the biggest true crime cases.

  3. 2d ago

    The Doctors, the Village, the Medicine: Criminologist Explains What Went Wrong

    What went wrong in Lindsay Clancy’s life? As the trial continues into week three, we’re breaking down the circumstances that led to the deaths of the Clancy children on January 24th, 2023, and asking the question: Was this the result of a perfect storm?  In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with criminologist and victimologist Dr. Nicky Jackson to examine the forces that collided in Lindsay Clancy’s life at exactly the wrong time. We break down all the contributing factors, from her support system of family and friends to the doctors overseeing her prescriptions and mental health. As Lindsay’s ex-husband Patrick Clancy faces growing public scrutiny, we analyze his account of confusion over Lindsay’s condition, and ask whether this outcome could have been prevented.  Dr. Jackson lends her expert perspective to compare the Lindsay Clancy case to the Andrea Yates case, in which Andrea Yates was found not guilty by reason of insanity in 2006 in the drowning deaths of her five children. Two decades later, as Lindsay Clancy seeks the same verdict from a Massachusetts jury, could this trial affect change to prevent future tragedies? We’re streaming every day of the Lindsay Clancy trial live on Criminally Obsessed. Turn on your notifications and subscribe for continuing trial coverage, expert insight, courtroom analysis, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines.

  4. 3d ago

    Patrick Clancy Isn't on Trial - So Why Are People Blaming Him?

    Week three of the Lindsay Clancy trial: why is Patrick Clancy under fire? And is the prosecution to blame?  On day 10 of the trial, Lindsay Clancy's former mental health providers testified that they never observed signs of psychosis or heard thoughts of self-harm or harm to others, as the defense argued they may have missed indicators of severe postpartum mental illness in the months before her three children died. A lot of online speculation has shifted toward Lindsay Clancy's former husband, with some questioning Patrick Clancy’s role in the events that led to the deaths of the Clancy children on January 24th, 2023. Are people blaming Patrick Clancy because the prosecutors got it wrong? Today’s expert says he would have done things differently.  In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson asks criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor Jack Rice how he would have presented the case against Lindsay Clancy, and hears his reaction to the latest developments in the trial. Jack Rice explains why, in his opinion, this case should have been handled differently from the beginning and whether prosecutors made the right decision by pursuing first-degree murder charges. Together, they discuss the public’s reaction to Patrick Clancy, and whether the scrutiny is a consequence of how the prosecution has framed the case.  Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing Lindsay Clancy trial coverage, true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines.

  5. Aug 6

    3 Lindsay Clancy Trial Bombshells: The Nanny, Dear Diary and Lindsay Speaks

    Three big moments that could change everything in the Lindsay Clancy trial? This week, jurors heard emotional testimony from the Clancy family's former nanny, Elaine “Lainey” Rossi, and listened as Lindsay Clancy's private journal entries were read aloud in court. And, for the first time, we heard Lindsay herself speak.  Today’s guest has been there every day inside the courtroom, witnessing it all in person. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson is joined by Lauren Matthias, host of the Hidden True Crime podcast, who shares her experience inside the courtroom of the Lindsay Clancy murder trial. Sitting just feet from Lindsay, the attorneys, and the jury, Lauren reveals the moments cameras don't fully capture. We break down the three biggest developments from this week's testimony, including the nanny's description of Lindsay as a “wonderful mom,” the journal entries documenting her feelings of being “completely overwhelmed” and “drowning” while trying to care for her three children, and Lindsay's appearance before the judge outside the jury's presence. Lauren also reveals what Lindsay’s defense attorney Kevin Reddington told her during a courtroom recess, and why this case has become so personal to him. If you're following the Lindsay Clancy trial and the latest courtroom developments in one of America's most closely watched true crime cases, this conversation takes you inside the courtroom for firsthand perspective on this week’s biggest moments. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing Lindsay Clancy trial coverage, true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. Watch or listen to Hidden True Crime Find postpartum resources and mental health support:  https://www.mavidahealth.com/ https://988lifeline.org/ or dial 988 for 24/7 support #LindsayClancy #LindsayClancyTrial #TrueCrime #PostpartumPsychosis #CourtCase #Massachusetts #Duxbury #CrimeAnalysis

  6. Aug 5

    Forensic Psychologist: Why Lindsay Clancy’s Case Should Never Have Gone To Trial

    Lindsay Clancy Trial: Why is a forensic psychologist calling the prosecution a "witch hunt"? As the Lindsay Clancy murder trial continues in Massachusetts, the fiercest debate is no longer about what happened inside the Clancy home in Duxbury. It's about whether this case ever belonged in a criminal courtroom at all. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with forensic psychologist Dr. Leslie Dobson, who says prosecutors had another option in this case that they chose not to pursue - and explains why she believes they chose the wrong path.  Lindsay Clancy's defense does not dispute that her actions led to the deaths of her three children or challenge the physical evidence. Instead, the defense maintains she was suffering from severe postpartum psychosis and should not be held criminally responsible under the law. Dr. Dobson explains why offering Lindsay Clancy a plea and civil commitment - not a murder trial - could have been a more appropriate path. She also weighs in on the harrowing evidence jurors have heard, including the 911 call that courtroom insiders have described as one of the most emotionally wrenching trial moments they have ever witnessed. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing Lindsay Clancy trial coverage, true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines. Learn more about Dr. Leslie Dobson’s work: https://drlesliedobson.com/ Find postpartum resources and mental health support:  https://www.mavidahealth.com/ Repro Psych Academy - Expertly Managing Women's Mental Health https://988lifeline.org/

  7. Aug 4

    Kohberger Wants His Guilty Plea Reversed. Families Say: "Bring It On."

    Trying to take back his guilty plea: Bryan Kohberger wants another bite at the apple. After admitting under oath that he murdered four University of Idaho students in 2022 - Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin - Bryan Kohberger is asking an Idaho court to undo the guilty plea that spared him from the death penalty. After being sentenced to life in prison, he has now filed for post-conviction relief, raising new questions in this high-profile true crime case: How is this even possible? Could he actually walk free?  And why are some victims' families saying "bring it on" to a new trial? In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson speaks with former Idaho Attorney General Dave Leroy, who has spent decades in Idaho's legal system, to break down the latest developments in the University of Idaho murder case. What happens if Kohberger actually gets a second chance? We revisit the powerful victim impact statements delivered at his sentencing and learn why today’s guest says Kohberger's attempt to withdraw his guilty plea reflects a narcissistic desire for control.  Dave Leroy has personal connections to this case - he visited the house at 1122 King Road in Moscow, Idaho years before it became one of the most infamous crime scenes in the country, and he even knows some of Bryan Kohberger’s defense team personally.  Today, he examines Bryan Kohberger's latest legal move with his expert perspective. Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing Bryan Kohberger coverage, true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, and exclusive interviews that go beyond the headlines.

  8. Aug 3

    Facts vs Rage: Can Lindsay Clancy's Jury Stay Unbiased?

    What does it take to be a juror in the Lindsay Clancy trial? As week two begins in the Lindsay Clancy murder trial, jurors are facing one of the hardest assignments in the criminal justice system: separating heartbreaking evidence from the law. They have already heard Patrick Clancy's emotional 911 call, watched first responders struggle through testimony, and seen evidence from inside the Duxbury, Massachusetts home where 5-year-old Cora, 3-year-old Dawson, and 8-month-old Callan died in January 2023.  Today’s expert explains what it takes to separate emotion from fact in cases that push jurors to their limits. In this episode of Criminally Obsessed, investigative reporter Anne Emerson sits down with Jury Consultant and Body Language Expert Susan Constantine to discuss the emotional toll trials like this take on juries. She has spent years studying how juries respond in some of America's most emotionally devastating trials. She attended the Casey Anthony trial in 2011, and worked with the jury consulting firm that helped select jurors for Andrea Yates' retrial in 2006, where Yates was ultimately found not guilty by reason of insanity in the drowning deaths of her five children.  We revisit and react to some of the most brutal evidence the jury has seen so far in the Lindsay Clancy trial, like the prosecutor holding up the exercise bands used in the deaths of the children and the pajamas they had on the night they died. Right before the jury heard the 911 call, the judge instructed them to separate their emotions from the facts in the audio they were about to hear - Susan offers her expert perspective on whether this was a realistic expectation. The jury will ultimately decide whether Lindsay Clancy should be convicted in the deaths of her children or found not guilty by reason of insanity based on her defense of postpartum psychosis. Before they reach that verdict, they must answer a difficult question: how do you judge a case this heartbreaking based on the evidence alone? Subscribe to Criminally Obsessed for continuing Lindsay Clancy trial coverage, true crime investigations, courtroom analysis, and exclusive interviews with the experts behind today's biggest cases. Learn more about Susan Constantine’s work

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About

Criminally Obsessed goes deeper — inside the investigations, the courtroom drama, and the human stories at the center of the country’s biggest true crime cases. We track breaking developments, uncover overlooked details, and bring clarity to the chaos — always with compassion for victims and the people whose lives are forever changed. Host Anne Emerson brings more than 30 years of award-winning investigative reporting to every episode. She’s covered the nation’s most high-profile trials firsthand, conducted interviews with some of the biggest names in the true crime world — from Amanda Knox to Elizabeth Smart — and has trusted sources connected to the cases dominating the national conversation.