Criminal Motives

Matthew Phifer
  • 4.8 (117)
  • True Crime
  • Updated Semiweekly

Welcome to Criminal Motives, a true crime Youtube Channel where therapy meets investigation.I'm a therapist reacting to real life true crime events, analyzing not only the facts but also the human behavior behind them. Each episode, we will dissect current cases with compassion, professional insight, and a deep dive into the motivations behind the headlines. If you're drawn to gripping stories and thoughtful analysis, you're in the right place. Let's explore the minds behind the crimes together.

  1. 5d ago

    The Photos And Videos Of Nolan Wells Are Going Viral — But Nobody Is Asking If They're Actually Real

    New photos and videos of Nolan Wells are going viral. But are they actually credible? And what are the people closest to Nolan his friends and his football coach actually saying about what happened on Horn Island on July 4th?In this episode Matt Phifer reacts to the latest footage and gives his full unfiltered breakdown including some serious concerns about the way Ben Crump is handling this investigation and why it could actually hurt Nolan's family in the long run.🔔 Subscribe so you never miss an episode:👉 [https://youtube.com/@criminalmotives?si=IZgj-XDG0V26lkiP📝 Stay updated on this case — join my free Substack:👉 substack.com/@criminalmotives🧠 If this episode brought something up for you personally — real support is available. Get 15% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp:👉 betterhelp.com/mattphiferNolan Wells was 18 years old. A football player at Southwest Mississippi Community College. A graduate of Ocean Springs High School. He went to Horn Island on July 4th with friends and never came home. His body was found on the island two days later. His family has retained civil rights attorney Ben Crump and is demanding a full investigation and independent autopsy.But since then new questions have emerged about the videos and photos circulating online. Nolan's closest friend Tracestin Shepherd has spoken out publicly and is pushing back on nearly everything Ben Crump has claimed. His football coach has weighed in on who Nolan was as a person. And retired detective Matt Irvine breaks down what investigators are actually looking for and how long this is going to take.Matt Phifer also breaks down why the riptide theory deserves more serious consideration than it's getting — and why Ben Crump's handling of this investigation may be doing more harm than good for the family he's supposed to be helping.

  2. Jul 7

    27 Dead Children. 1 Conviction. The Case Atlanta Closed Without a Trial.

    Atlanta called itself "the city too busy to hate." Then, between 1979 and 1981, at least 29 Black children and young adults were murdered — and the city's response became almost as controversial as the killings themselves.This episode follows the case from the first bodies found off Niskey Lake Road, through the mothers who forced a reluctant city to act, the fiber evidence that built a case with no fingerprints and no murder weapon, the night on the James Jackson Parkway Bridge, and the trial of Wayne Williams — a man convicted of two murders while 27 other cases were closed without ever going before a jury.📝 Want the deeper dive — case files, contested evidence, and everything that didn't fit in this episode? Join the Substack:👉 https://substack.com/@criminalmotives🔔 New episodes every day:👉 https://youtube.com/@CriminalMotives📚 Guides & Resources:👉 https://stan.store/MatthewPhiferMSeD— Sponsors & Affiliates —🧠 Get 15% off therapy with BetterHelp:http://betterhelp.com/mattphifer🎬 Try Opus Clips for free:https://www.opus.pro/?via=criminalmotives💰 Bring your finances together with Monarch — 50% off:https://monarch.com/referral/174kyzqlww?r_source=share* This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.— Connect With Me —TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@phifermediahqInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattphifercoachingThreads: https://www.threads.com/@mattphifercoachingFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BS47jva1w— Listen to the Podcast —Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/criminal-motives/id1493583482Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TfiV6cmNj6tcyXGsanv0t— Video Credits —This episode uses archival footage and interview clips from:- 11Alive – Atlanta Child Murders coverage- CNN Special Report – Atlanta Child Murders (feat. Soledad O'Brien)- CBS News – Atlanta Child Murders Special Report, 1981 (Dan Rather)- Hezakya News & Films – 1983 Special Report- Hezakya Newz – Atlanta Child Murders: Wayne Williams, Part 1- William Scarbrough – Reclamation: The Story of the Atlanta Child Murders- Shannon Holmes – The Investigators: 1979 Wayne Williams- Black Drop – Wayne Williams Killer Documentary, 2018- Obscure Citizen – Atlanta's Very Own Boogeyman- Unpredictable – Atlanta Child Murders Explained

  3. Jun 26

    'I Didn't Kill Her on the Side of the Road' — How Taylor Parker Gaslit an Entire Investigation

    I Didn't Kill Her on the Side of the Road' — How Taylor Parker Gaslit an Entire InvestigationNetflix's Maternal Instinct covers one of the most disturbing true crime cases in recent memory — but the body cam footage and interrogation recordings reveal something the documentary can't show you. As a therapist, I break down Taylor Parker's Cluster B behavior, her sophisticated gaslighting tactics, and the subtle but chilling phrase that Wade picked up on before everything fell apart.15% off Therapy with Betterhelp: http://betterhelp.com/mattphiferCriminal Motives with Matt Phifer — Behavioral analysis of true crime cases through the lens of psychology and human behavior.Karmelo Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Y8_j0njFdfqMf7mYIOXjmpmMr0CITh6🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every day:👉 https://youtube.com/@CriminalMotives?si=7jL5n87VfmGSWH9p📝 Get case files and deeper dives, join my substack:👉 https://substack.com/@criminalmotives📚 Guides & Resources:👉 https://stan.store/MatthewPhiferMSeD🧠 Get 15% off therapy with BetterHelp:http://betterhelp.com/mattphiferTry Opus Clips for free:https://www.opus.pro/?via=criminalmotivesBring your finances together with Monarch and get 50% off: https://monarch.com/referral/174kyzqlww?r_source=share* This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Connect With Me:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@phifermediahq?_t=ZP-90n4J40rjWJ&_r=1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattphifercoaching?igsh=MW5weWJmampndmh3NA%3D%3D&utm_source=qrThreads:https://www.threads.com/@mattphifercoaching?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BS47jva1w/?mibextid=wwXIfrPodcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/criminal-motives/id1493583482Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TfiV6cmNj6tcyXGsanv0t?si=oyvsQ6UwTwGeZYYacaaOmgVideo Credit: @EWUBodycam

  4. Jun 24

    Karmelo Anthony Said He Did It On Camera — So Why Are People Still Debating This?

    Karmelo Anthony Said He Did It On Camera — So Why Are People Still Debating This?For the first time since the verdict the evidence from the Karmelo Anthony trial is public. The surveillance footage from the track meet. The body cam video of his arrest. The knife. And the moment Karmelo Anthony looked at a police officer and said "I'm not alleged. I know how this goes. I did it." In this episode Matt Phifer reacts to the newly released footage alongside Court TV's Cody Thomas who was inside the courtroom for the entire trial and then gives his full unfiltered breakdown of what the evidence actually tells us and what people on both sides of this case are still getting wrong.In This Episode:The 911 calls from the track meet — and the chaos of Austin Metcalf's final momentsThe surveillance footage breakdown — what you can actually see and what you can'tKarmelo Anthony's body cam arrest — the crying, the calm, and what it all meansThe knife — why it matters more than people realizeWhy being a victim doesn't give you the right to respond however you wantKarmelo Anthony's appeal — and whether it actually has a chance15% off Therapy with Betterhelp: http://betterhelp.com/mattphiferCriminal Motives with Matt Phifer — Behavioral analysis of true crime cases through the lens of psychology and human behavior.Karmelo Playlist:https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Y8_j0njFdfqMf7mYIOXjmpmMr0CITh6🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every day:👉 https://youtube.com/@criminalmotives?si=7jL5n87VfmGSWH9p📝 Get case files and deeper dives, join my substack:👉 https://substack.com/@criminalmotives📚 Guides & Resources:👉 https://stan.store/MatthewPhiferMSeD🧠 Get 15% off therapy with BetterHelp:http://betterhelp.com/mattphiferTry Opus Clips for free:https://www.opus.pro/?via=criminalmotivesBring your finances together with Monarch and get 50% off: https://monarch.com/referral/174kyzqlww?r_source=share

  5. Jun 17

    Karmelo Anthony's Own Defense May Have Cost Him Everything

    15% off Therapy with Betterhelp: http://betterhelp.com/mattphiferCriminal Motives with Matt Phifer — Behavioral analysis of true crime cases through the lens of psychology and human behavior.🔔 Subscribe for new episodes every [DAY]:👉 https://youtube.com/@criminalmotives?si=7jL5n87VfmGSWH9p📝 Get case files and deeper dives, join my substack:👉 https://substack.com/@criminalmotives📚 Guides & Resources:👉 https://stan.store/MatthewPhiferMSeD🧠 Get 15% off therapy with BetterHelp:http://betterhelp.com/mattphiferTry Opus Clips for free:https://www.opus.pro/?via=criminalmotivesBring your finances together with Monarch and get 50% off: https://monarch.com/referral/174kyzqlww?r_source=share* This post contains affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.Connect With Me:TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@phifermediahq?_t=ZP-90n4J40rjWJ&_r=1Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mattphifercoaching?igsh=MW5weWJmampndmh3NA%3D%3D&utm_source=qrThreads:https://www.threads.com/@mattphifercoaching?igshid=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BS47jva1w/?mibextid=wwXIfrPodcast:Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/criminal-motives/id1493583482Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3TfiV6cmNj6tcyXGsanv0t?si=oyvsQ6UwTwGeZYYacaaOmgVideo Credit: @lawandcrime

  6. Jun 11

    Karmelo Anthony Had a Right to Defend Himself — So Why Is He Going to Prison?

    Karmelo Anthony Had a Right to Defend Himself — So Why Is He Going to Prison?A Texas jury took less than 3 hours to find Karmelo Anthony guilty of murdering Austin Metcalf and then sentenced him to 35 years in the same afternoon. What does a verdict this fast actually tell us about the case, the evidence, and the community it came from?This case isn't just about a track meet it's about what happens when someone believes that being victimized gives them unlimited permission to respond however they choose. If today's episode stirred something in you, talking to someone can help.💙 Get 15% off your first month with BetterHelp: http://betterhelp.com/mattphifer🔔 Subscribe so you never miss a breakdown: https://youtube.com/@criminalmotives?si=LBiSZH66mUvoVO1E📰 Read the full analysis on Substack: https://substack.com/@criminalmotives🛒 Resources, merch & more: https://stan.store/matthewphiferIn this episode, Matt Phifer host of Criminal Motives breaks down the full Karmelo Anthony guilty verdict and 35-year sentence in the murder of Austin Metcalf. From the closing arguments and the "sudden passion" defense to the emotional moment Karmelo's mother took the stand minutes after the verdict, we cover every major beat. Matt connects the courtroom dynamics to a pattern he sees constantly: the dangerous confusion between having a right and having unlimited, responsibility-free permission to act on it. If you've had opinions about this case, this episode will either challenge or confirm them either way, you'll leave with more clarity.In This Episode:- Why the jury reached a guilty verdict in under 3 hours and what that speed signals-The "sudden passion" defense explained and why the prosecution dismantled it-Rights vs. responsibility: the core behavioral pattern at the center of this trial-The emotional penalty phase including Karmelo's mother's plea from the stand-What this case means beyond the courtroom and the trauma it leaves for everyone involvedVideo Credit: @LawAndCrime

  7. Jun 9

    Every Single Witness Said It Wasn't Self-Defense — Even The Ones Karmelo's Team Called

    Every Single Witness Said It Wasn't Self-Defense — Even The Ones Karmelo's Team CalledThe defense has rested. Karmelo Anthony will not take the stand. And twelve jurors are about to decide the rest of his life — armed with one question nobody in that courtroom answered: why was there a knife at a track meet in the first place?🧠 If this case brought up something personal about conflict, fear, or a moment that changed everything in your own life — real support is available.Get 15% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp:👉 http://betterhelp.com/mattphifer🔔 New episodes every day — Subscribe so you never miss a case breakdown:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@CriminalMotives📝 Get exclusive case updates, court documents & bonus analysis — join my free Substack:👉 https://substack.com/@criminalmotivesAfter four days of testimony and 27 witnesses, the Karmelo Anthony murder trial is heading into closing arguments with the defense having rested their case — and Karmelo choosing not to testify in his own defense. In this episode, behavioral analyst Matt Phifer breaks down what that silence really signals, why not one single witness — including the defense's own — believed this was self-defense, and what the unanswered knife question tells us about the psychology behind this entire case. This isn't just a legal breakdown. It's a deep dive into the behavior, the decision making, and the human patterns that brought two seventeen year olds to a moment that changed everything.In This Episode:Why Karmelo Anthony choosing not to testify is more significant than most people realizeNot one witness — prosecution or defense — said they believed this was self-defenseThe knife question the defense never answered and why that silence is dangerousWhat the jury is carrying emotionally into that deliberation room tomorrowWhy a self-defense claim with a weapon against an unarmed person is an almost impossible argument to makeVideo Credit: @lawandcrime

  8. Jun 9

    Michael Jackson Was Found Not Guilty — His Behavior Was Still Indefensible

    Michael Jackson Was Found Not Guilty — His Behavior Was Still IndefensibleNetflix just dropped Michael Jackson: The Verdict — but the most damning parts of this story didn't make the cut. Behavioral analyst Matt Phifer breaks down everything the documentary left out, and what Michael Jackson's admitted behavior tells us regardless of what a jury decided.Get 15% off your first month of therapy with BetterHelp:👉 http://betterhelp.com/mattphifer🔔 New episodes every day — Subscribe so you never miss a case breakdown:👉 https://www.youtube.com/@CriminalMotives📝 Get exclusive case updates, & bonus analysis — join my free Substack:👉 https://substack.com/@criminalmotivesNetflix's Michael Jackson: The Verdict covers the charges, the trial, and the shocking not guilty verdict — but conveniently skips over Wade Robson's recanted testimony, the $20 million settlement, and the post-trial allegations that continued to surface for years. In this episode, behavioral analyst Matt Phifer reviews everything the doc missed and sits down with former federal prosecutor Nema Romani to break down why the prosecution lost despite having multiple witnesses. Matt also gives his behavioral analyst perspective on why Michael Jackson's admitted behavior — sharing a bed with children — was a boundary violation regardless of what happened in that courtroom.In This Episode:The critical evidence Netflix chose to leave out of Michael Jackson: The VerdictWhy the prosecution lost despite multiple victims and witnesses testifyingWade Robson testified in Michael's defense under oath — then reversed course entirely in 2013The $20 million settlement and what it signals from a behavioral standpointWhy a not guilty verdict is not the same as innocent — and why the behavior matters either way

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4.8
out of 5
117 Ratings

About

Welcome to Criminal Motives, a true crime Youtube Channel where therapy meets investigation.I'm a therapist reacting to real life true crime events, analyzing not only the facts but also the human behavior behind them. Each episode, we will dissect current cases with compassion, professional insight, and a deep dive into the motivations behind the headlines. If you're drawn to gripping stories and thoughtful analysis, you're in the right place. Let's explore the minds behind the crimes together.

Information

  • Creator
    Matthew Phifer
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    66
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Matthew Phifer
  • Show Website
    Criminal Motives

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