True Crime Recaps

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Hosts and storytellers Chris Nathan and Amy Townsend piece together the most gripping true crime cases the world can't stop talking about. From infamous serial killers to today's headline-making mysteries, they break it all down with thorough research, smart commentary, and the signature format that built their channel: All the crime in half the time.®

  1. 1d ago

    They Seemed Like the Perfect Neighbours

    Gerald and Alice Uden looked like a typical older couple living a quiet life in rural Missouri. Friendly neighbors. Churchgoing. The kind of people who blend into small-town life without a second thought. But behind that ordinary exterior was a decades-long trail of cold cases, missing persons, and two separate murder investigations that would eventually collide into one disturbing truth. The first case dates back to the mid-1970s, when Alice Uden claimed she shot her abusive husband, Ronald Holtz, in self-defense before disposing of his body in an abandoned mine shaft. Years later, Gerald Uden’s ex-wife Virginia and her two young sons disappeared in 1980 after leaving to meet him for a hunting trip and were never seen again. The vehicle they were last in was later found burned with evidence of violence inside, but with no bodies recovered, the case went cold for decades. It wasn’t until the 2000s that investigators began reopening both cases, eventually recovering Ronald Holtz’s remains from a Wyoming mine shaft. That discovery led to Alice’s arrest and conviction for his murder. Soon after, Gerald confessed to killing Virginia and the boys, claiming he disposed of their bodies in remote locations, but they were never recovered. In the end, both were convicted, both gave conflicting accounts, and both spent their final years in prison as the truth remained partially buried somewhere in the American West. #TrueCrimeRecaps #GeraldUden #AliceUden #RonaldHoltz #VirginiaUden #RichardUden #ReganUden #UdenMurders #OzarksCrime Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  2. 2d ago

    Oregon's Most Haunting Missing Family Mystery Still Has No Answers

    A relaxing Labor Day camping trip in Oregon turned into one of the state's most haunting unsolved mysteries. In September 1974, Richard and Belinda Cowden and their two young children disappeared from their campsite near Carberry Creek without leaving behind any signs of a struggle. Their truck, belongings, fresh milk, wallets, and even their valuables were still sitting exactly where they should have been, but the family had vanished. After one of the largest searches in Oregon history failed to uncover a single clue, hope slowly faded. Then, seven months later, hikers made a gruesome discovery deep in the forest. Hidden inside a secluded cave and scattered across a nearby hillside were the remains of the missing family. The shocking crime scene raised even more questions than answers, including whether the victims had been held somewhere before they were killed. Investigators eventually focused on violent ex-con Dwain Lee Little, whose criminal past, connection to the area, and possible access to the suspected murder weapon made him the leading suspect. Yet despite decades of investigation, no one has ever been charged with the murders of the Cowden family. In this episode of True Crime Recaps, we examine the evidence, the suspects, and the disturbing mystery that continues to haunt Oregon more than 50 years later. #TrueCrimeRecaps #CowdenFamily #RichardCowden #BelindaCowden #DavidCowden #MelissaCowden #DwainLeeLittle Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  3. Jul 25

    When Does Walking Away Become a Crime?

    In January 2025, experienced climber Thomas Plamberger and his girlfriend, 33-year-old Kerstin Gurtner, set out to climb Austria's tallest mountain via the technical Stüdlgrat route. As a winter storm moved in, temperatures dropped below zero and visibility disappeared, but the couple continued climbing despite worsening conditions. Even after a rescue helicopter repeatedly flew overhead, Thomas never signaled that they needed help. Just 50 meters below the summit, Kerstin became too exhausted and disoriented to continue. Thomas later said they agreed he would climb over the summit and descend the easier route while she waited. Prosecutors argued he abandoned her without leaving vital emergency gear, then didn't call for help until he reached a mountain hut hours later. By the time rescuers reached Kerstin the following morning, she had died from exposure. Investigators used GPS data, rescue call records, and witness testimony to challenge Thomas's version of events. The court also heard from an ex-girlfriend who testified that Thomas had abandoned her on the same mountain years earlier. In 2026, he was convicted of grossly negligent manslaughter after the judge ruled that, as the more experienced climber, he had a duty to protect Kerstin and that his decisions contributed to her death. #TrueCrimeRecaps #AlpineDivorce #ThomasPlamberger #KerstinGurtner #MountainTragedy #Hiking Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  4. Jul 23

    Inside One of Ohio's Most Disturbing Investigations

    Police in Hamden, Ohio thought they were serving a misdemeanor warrant for indecent exposure when they entered the Siders family home on June 30, 2026. Instead, investigators say they discovered 16 children, ranging from 18 months to 18 years old, living in horrific conditions inside a home filled with garbage, human waste, and overwhelming filth. Authorities allege many of the children were confined to a single 12-by-12-foot room, several were unable to communicate, and nine required emergency medical treatment, with two flown to a children's hospital. Ohio's attorney general described the scene as "pure evil." The investigation revealed Gary Siders Jr. married Elizabeth Russell in 2008 after she became pregnant at just 15 years old. According to her attorney, Elizabeth has given birth to all 16 children found in the home and had been isolated from the outside world since leaving school in the ninth grade. The case has sparked widespread debate over whether she should be viewed solely as one of the accused or also as a victim. Investigators also found the family had spent years moving from county to county, limiting contact with schools, neighbors, and extended relatives before settling in rural Vinton County. Gary Siders Jr., Elizabeth Russell, Gary Siders Sr., and Christina Siders have each been charged with 16 felony counts of child endangerment and have pleaded not guilty. Authorities say additional charges remain possible as the investigation continues. While three defendants remain jailed on $300,000 bond, Gary Siders Sr. was released for medical treatment and will be monitored if discharged. Meanwhile, all 16 children remain in state care as officials work to provide medical treatment, counseling, and long-term support. #TrueCrimeRecaps #GarySidersJr #ElizabethRussell #GarySidersSr #ChristinaSiders #OhioHouseOfHorrors #HamdenOhio #SidersCase Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  5. Jul 21

    The Mystery of Nolan Wells' Final Hours

    Eighteen-year-old Nolan Wells had just graduated from high school, signed to play college football, and spent Fourth of July weekend on Horn Island with friends. According to investigators, everyone returned to the mainland except Nolan. Two days later, his body was found on the island, launching an investigation that has drawn national attention and left his family searching for answers. As detectives worked to piece together Nolan's final hours, conflicting accounts emerged about what happened before he disappeared. A viral video shared by the Wells family's attorney has fuelled widespread speculation online, but investigators have not confirmed whether it is authentic or connected to Nolan's case. Questions also remain about Nolan's phone, the timeline of events, and what happened during his final hours. At the time of this video, authorities say they have found no evidence that a crime was committed and believe Nolan may have drowned, although the investigation remains active. Nolan's family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump, requested an independent autopsy, and continues to ask anyone who was on Horn Island that day to come forward with photos or videos that could help investigators. As this is an active and developing case, the information discussed in this video is based on publicly available statements from investigators, attorneys, family members, and news reports available at the time of recording. Some details remain disputed, and new information may emerge as the investigation continues. #TrueCrimeRecaps #NolanWells #HornIsland #Mississippi #Developing Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

  6. Jul 16

    20 Years After Her Fall They Arrested Her Husband Mid Yoga Class

    For nearly twenty years, David Vander Meer insisted his wife Bernadette's death was nothing more than a tragic accident. During what was supposed to be a romantic tenth anniversary trip to Zion National Park, Bernadette plunged from the cliffs of Angels Landing while the two were hiking before sunrise. With little evidence to contradict his account, investigators closed the case, and David collected hundreds of thousands of dollars in life insurance proceeds. Everything changed when former members of David's youth ministry began speaking to investigators years later. Their allegations painted a disturbing picture of grooming, secret relationships with teenage girls, hidden cell phones, suspicious financial activity, and a marriage that was already falling apart before the fatal hike. As detectives reopened the investigation, witnesses described statements and events that prosecutors believed pointed to a carefully concealed homicide rather than a tragic fall. In June 2026, U.S. Marshals arrested David during a yoga class in Las Vegas, charging him with first-degree murder and insurance fraud connected to Bernadette's death. Before he could be extradited to Utah to stand trial, he died by suicide in his jail cell just three days after his arrest, ending the criminal case and leaving Bernadette's family without the courtroom answers they had waited nearly two decades to hear. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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About

Hosts and storytellers Chris Nathan and Amy Townsend piece together the most gripping true crime cases the world can't stop talking about. From infamous serial killers to today's headline-making mysteries, they break it all down with thorough research, smart commentary, and the signature format that built their channel: All the crime in half the time.®

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