Criminally Obsessed

Criminally Obsessed
  • 4.7 (30)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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. 3D AGO

    Investigating Murdaugh Unanswered Questions As Appeal Decision Looms

    What comes to mind when you hear the name ‘Murdaugh’? A legal dynasty spanning generations? A boat crash? An unsolved homicide? A double murder on a South Carolina property twice the size of Central Park? Stolen money? A dead housekeeper?  How about all of the above?  Senior Investigative Reporter Anne Emerson spoke with Wall Street Journal reporter Valerie Bauerlein, who wrote a bestselling book on the Murdaugh saga - here's what Valerie had to say:  “There's something endlessly fascinating about the Murdaugh case. And it's not Alex Murdaugh. It's not the human being Alex Murdaugh. It is this sprawling dynasty, and the way that power worked for them and for Alex in particular, and how he used it, and what he was willing to sacrifice to keep it.”  In our last interview, we talked with Valerie about Stephen Smith’s unsolved murder – a thread in this knotted saga that we’ll never stop pulling on. But as it always goes with the Murdaughs... there’s more to discuss and unending twists. Anne and Valerie weave theories, analysis, and predictions for a deep dive into where the Murdaugh saga stands today. Listen for Valerie’s thoughts on Alex Murdaugh’s appeal, and when she thinks we’ll hear about his potential new trial...    Catch up on all things Murdaugh with our previous coverage:  Criminally Obsessed Murdaugh YouTube episode playlist  Listen to our previous episode with Valerie: Murdaugh Country Mystery: What The Hell Happened To Stephen Smith?  The Murdaugh Murders, Money & Mystery | A Criminally Obsessed Podcast Check out our exclusive interview with Tommy Moore  Watch our interview with Stephen’s mom, Sandy, and his twin sister, Stephanie  Get Valerie’s book, "The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty” Get Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson's book, “Within the House of Murdaugh: Amid a Unique Friendship, Blanca and Maggie” Learn more about Mal’z Palz, the animal rescue charity for Mallory Beach

    28 min

  2. 4D AGO

    Murdaugh Country Mystery: What The Hell Happened To Stephen Smith?

    If the crimes of the Murdaugh family are a knot, there’s one thread we’ll never let go of here at Criminally Obsessed – the unsolved homicide of Stephen Smith. He was found dead on a rural South Carolina road in 2015, and we’ve followed the case through all its twists and turns.  We’ve spoken with the people closest to Stephen, including his mom, Sandy, and twin sister, Stephanie. Despite moments of hope during a long investigation – an exhumation of Stephen’s body, an independent autopsy, and a ruling of Stephen’s death as a homicide – we still need answers.   Senior Investigative Reporter Anne Emerson catches up with reporter Valerie Bauerlein - Anne and Valerie reported Alex Murdaugh’s murder trial together in 2023. Since then, Valerie wrote a book on all things Murdaugh, "The Devil at His Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty.” In this interview, we try to untangle the questions on all our minds: What happened to Stephen Smith? Are we closer to answers? Will we ever know?  Catch up on all things Murdaugh with our previous coverage: Criminally Obsessed's YouTube Channel The Murdaugh Murders, Money & Mystery | Criminally Obsessed  Our exclusive interview with Tommy Moore  Our interview with Stephen’s mom, Sandy, and his twin sister, Stephanie

    45 min

  3. 5D AGO

    These 5 Murdaugh Prosecutors Can't Speak Now — But They Spoke With Us (Part 2)

    Who is the real Alex Murdaugh? Before the guilty verdict… before the appeal… there were secrets no one saw coming. Even the prosecutors who helped convict him for the murders of his wife Maggie and son Paul say the full picture is more complicated than many realized. Behind the influence and legacy: financial crimes, alleged schemes, and a hidden opioid addiction that stunned South Carolina and drew national attention. In part 2 of Anne Emerson's exclusive archival interview, the prosecution team breaks down: • The most credible witnesses in the Murdaugh murder trial • How Murdaugh’s financial crimes factored into motive • What they believe ultimately convinced the jury This interview was recorded just after the 2023 conviction. Currently, these prosecutors cannot speak publicly about the case, as the South Carolina Supreme Court is considering Murdaugh’s appeal to overturn his double murder convictions. Oral arguments were heard February 11, 2026. No timeline has been set for a decision, but the outcome could determine whether Alex Murdaugh is granted a new trial. As the legal battle continues, this rare insider perspective is essential for anyone following the Alex Murdaugh case. How soon do you think a decision will come? Let us know in the comments. Learn more about the AG's investigation into former Colleton County Sheriff Andy Strickland: AG charges Andy Strickland with public corruption amid sex, drugs & abuse of power probe Former Colleton Co. sheriff given probation, public service through plea deal

    1h 24m

  4. 6D AGO

    These 5 Murdaugh Prosecutors Can't Speak Now — But They Spoke With Us (Part 1)

    Three years after Alex Murdaugh was found guilty of murdering his wife Maggie and son Paul, his case is once again at a critical turning point. The South Carolina Supreme Court is now weighing whether his conviction could be overturned — and a possible retrial could be on the horizon. In this rare and exclusive 2023 interview from the archives, five members of the prosecution team break down the trial, key testimony, and the timeline that led to Murdaugh’s conviction to our senior investigative reporter, Anne Emerson, who was in the courtroom for the duration of the trial. This interview was recorded just days after the verdict — and these prosecutors cannot speak publicly now, due to the ongoing appeal. Their insights remain one of the only in-depth looks into the state’s case. With hindsight, some of their comments — especially about Murdaugh’s financial crimes — take on new meaning today, as those issues are now central to his appeal.

    53 min

  5. MAR 19

    "Everybody Is Redeemable" — Why Baby Lucia's Parents Forgave Drunk Driver

    This episode is hard to watch, but impossible to forget. We mean it when we say you’ll need tissues for this conversation. Lucia Iris Seifried was a giggly 9-month-old with bright blue eyes and a big personality. Her parents, Matthew and Rebecca Seifried, remember her ‘sweet giggle that could light up a room’. On April 26, 2025, the family was enjoying an evening outside together - Lucia playing in the grass - when a drunk driver tore through their yard in Allegan, Michigan going 50 miles per hour.   “We're sitting in our front yard and just enjoying the sunset,” Matthew, Lucia’s father, tells investigative reporter Anne Emerson in this emotional interview. “And we hear a big pickup truck's engine revving, and we look up and it's coming straight for us. And it ended up hitting Lucia head on and running her over.”  In a moment, their lives changed forever. But what comes next is something few people may be able to comprehend. Instead of anger or revenge, Lucia’s parents chose grace. They asked prosecutors to seek the minimum sentence against Terry Lee Boss and in a plea deal; he was given just 13.5 years in prison. They spoke directly to him in court - and forgave him.    Matthew and Rebecca share what helped them get there: the signs they've received, the faith that carries them, and the perspective that may challenge how you think about grief, justice, and mercy. It raises a difficult question: if this happened to YOUR family member, YOUR child, to someone YOU love… could you forgive?  Learn more about the incredible work being done in Lucia’s memory: https://luciairis.org/

    55 min

  6. MAR 18

    "Cold" 16-Year-Old Killers — Skylar Neese Lead Detective Reveals Dark Case Details

    “Methodical.” “Cold.” “Premeditated.” These are words West Virginia State Police Sergeant Ronnie Gaskins uses to describe 16-year-old Skylar Neese’s killers, fellow 16 year olds Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf. But these girls weren’t just teens; they were also Skylar's so-called ‘best friends.’   Sergeant Gaskins was the lead investigator in the shocking 2012 murder case, and is now back in the spotlight with the release of a new Hulu documentary, Friends Like These: The Murder of Skylar Neese.   In this interview, Ronnie gives our host, Senior Investigative Reporter Anne Emerson, his chilling inside perspective on a case that still unsettles the investigators who unraveled it. He reacts to previously unshared details from Skylar’s father, Dave, including a moment Dave nearly took matters – literally -- into his own hands. The conversation also brings disturbing evidence to light that raises alarming questions, like why was Skylar’s necklace, discovered by one of the suspect’s mothers, mailed to Dave Neese -- was this a token stolen from Skylar at the murder scene? What are her killers truly capable of? And what will happen if - and possibly when - they are released from prison?

    53 min

  7. MAR 17

    Skylar Neese's Dad Tells All About The "Friends" Who Killed His Daughter

    Dave Neese’s daughter, Skylar Neese, was stabbed in the back by her two best friends in 2012.  They attacked her with kitchen knives and left her in the middle of the woods.  For six months, no one knew what happened to Skylar Neese.  Meanwhile, Rachel Shoaf and Shelia Eddy went back to life as normal teenagers acting as if nothing ever happened.  Dave and his wife, Mary, were beside themselves.  They couldn’t eat or sleep.  They had to find their daughter.  She was their whole WORLD. They were devastated. Why did she leave? Where was she? Would she ever come home?  Eventually, Rachel couldn’t carry the guilt anymore, broke down and confessed to the murder.  She told police she and Shelia killed Skylar because she threatened to expose their physical relationship and took police to her body.   Dave and Mary were in disbelief.  How could her best friends do this to their daughter?  Then Dave became enraged.  He told Senior Investigative reporter Anne Emerson something he hasn’t told anyone else—he had a plan for revenge.  Find out why he didn’t go through with it and what happened after.  For more from Skylar's family, read Dave Neese's poem “Forever 16” published in this article from The Dominion Post in 2022.

    51 min

  8. MAR 16

    “Where’s The Justice?” — Murdaugh Housekeeper Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson Fears Overturned Murder Conviction

    “I would be devastated!”  Blanca Turrubiate-Simpson has a lot of opinions about Alex Murdaugh’s appeal to overturn his double murder conviction. She was one of the family’s housekeepers for years.  The South Carolina State Supreme Court heard oral arguments from both the defense and prosecution on February 11th, 2026.  While the Justices mull over their decisions, Blanca isn’t backing down from believing Alex killed his wife and son and that he had help cleaning the scene.    In this episode, she goes even further as to why she believes someone was there when Alex returned to the kennels at Moselle the night of June 7, 2021.  She says people need to pay attention to the kennel video and asks what are the dogs telling us.  Blanca has fiercely defended her friend Maggie and Paul Murdaugh when people have questioned her about their character and only wants justice for Alex’s victims. Senior Investigative Reporter Anne Emerson asks Blanca if there was a new trial—would she testify.  And what, if anything, might she do differently if called to the stand.    Listen to part one of this conversation with Blanca: "I Refuse To Be Intimidated" — Murdaugh Housekeeper Responds to Criticism    Watch our previous interviews with Blanca on our YouTube Channel   Read Blanca’s New York Times Bestselling book: Within the House of Murdaugh: Amid a Unique Friendship, Blanca and Maggie   Follow on Facebook: House of Murdaugh

    32 min
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4.7
out of 5
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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.

Information

  • Creator
    Criminally Obsessed
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    32
  • Copyright
    © Sinclair Inc.
  • Show Website
    Criminally Obsessed

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