17 episodes

In 1971, a mild-mannered accountant and Sunday school teacher from New Jersey named John List murders his wife, mother and three children — only to disappear and begin a new life entirely on the other side of the country. Now, two veteran journalists go inside the mind of the killer, learn about the doomed family, and revisit the 18-year-quest to bring List to justice — a saga even more bizarre and twisted than ever previously reported.

Father Wants Us Dead NJ.com

    • True Crime
    • 4.6 • 3K Ratings

In 1971, a mild-mannered accountant and Sunday school teacher from New Jersey named John List murders his wife, mother and three children — only to disappear and begin a new life entirely on the other side of the country. Now, two veteran journalists go inside the mind of the killer, learn about the doomed family, and revisit the 18-year-quest to bring List to justice — a saga even more bizarre and twisted than ever previously reported.

    The mansion turned morgue

    The mansion turned morgue

    In a quiet, well-to-do New Jersey suburb in December 1971, police make a shocking discovery that sends the community reeling — and launches a national manhunt for a fugitive mass murderer.
    -------
    'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community.
    New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21.
    For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 36 min
    The boogeyman of Westfield

    The boogeyman of Westfield

    John List moved his family to New Jersey seeking a better life, but this seemingly ordinary accountant will turn out to be the scariest neighbor his town has even seen.

    -------
    'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community.
    New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21.
    For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 43 min
    The man at the train station

    The man at the train station

    As family and financial worries mount, John List carries on an elaborate charade — all the while contemplating the unthinkable.

    -------
    'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community.
    New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21.
    For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 50 min
    Mopping up the blood

    Mopping up the blood

    Step by terrible step, John List systematically kills each member of his family — and then confesses everything.

    -------
    'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community.
    New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21.
    For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 48 min
    The Talented Mr. List

    The Talented Mr. List

    As police frantically search for the mysterious killer, John List slips out of one identity and into another.

    -------
    'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community.
    New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21.
    For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 47 min
    America's Most Wanted

    America's Most Wanted

    With the trail gone cold, police try one last gambit to find their man.

    -------
    'Father Wants Us Dead' is a serial investigative true crime podcast from NJ.com and The Star-Ledger about John List, the accountant and Sunday school teacher who killed his mother, wife and three kids in their Westfield, New Jersey mansion 50 years ago. John List left behind a confession letter, explaining why what he'd done was right, and disappeared to start a whole new life, eluding authorities for nearly two decades. The loss of those innocent lives, the horror and the fear, forever scarred this quiet New Jersey community.
    New episodes will be released each Tuesday through June 21.
    For more about the show or to see photos of the List family and the crime scene, visit www.fatherwantsusdead.com.
    Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    • 37 min

Customer Reviews

4.6 out of 5
3K Ratings

3K Ratings

Ladyvivian07 ,

Amazing in depth story telling

Loved this podcast .. kept delivering from beginning to end . Easy to follow and not another true crime podcast that fills in time with unnecessary commentary. Considering listening to it all over again. Great job ladies 🥳

AllisonJoyceM ,

Binged this podcast!!

They did such an amazing job telling this case. Absolutely incredible. 100% recommend!

Megan Haley ,

Needs work

Two podcasters can make or break a podcast. This was the latter. Too annoying with the little banter back and forth. I tried to listen as I’ve never heard the story but the voices, tone, saying each other’s names all the time…couldn’t get past all that. I realize anyone can call themselves journalists but I hope you two use it with a grain of salt in describing yourselves.

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