2d ago · Bonus

Jack the Ripper: The Autumn of Terror | Halloween Special

London, 1888. The streets of Whitechapel are dark. Gas lamps flicker through the fog. And somewhere in the shadows, a killer is hunting. Over the course of just ten weeks, five women would be brutally murdered, their deaths sending shockwaves through Victorian London and creating one of the most infamous unsolved mysteries in history. His name? Jack the Ripper. But who was the man behind the murders? How did he manage to evade Scotland Yard? And after nearly 140 years of investigations, suspects, mysterious letters, and even modern DNA claims, are we any closer to knowing his identity? In this special Halloween episode of While the House Sleeps, we're traveling back to the autumn of 1888 for a chilling, in-depth look at the Whitechapel murders. We'll explore the lives of the five women at the center of the case, reconstruct the timeline of the murders, examine the investigation and the infamous letters signed by Jack the Ripper, and take a closer look at the suspects and theories that have kept this mystery alive for generations. Because behind one of history's most notorious names were five real women whose stories deserve to be told. Mary Ann Nichols. Annie Chapman. Elizabeth Stride. Catherine Eddowes. Mary Jane Kelly. Five lives lost. One unidentified killer. And a mystery that still haunts London. 🎃 This Halloween, turn down the lights, grab your headphones, and step into Victorian Whitechapel. 🎧 Enjoying While the House Sleeps? Make sure to follow the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen! New episodes feature everything from quick, chilling Case in 20 stories to immersive, full-length true crime deep dives. And if this episode keeps you up at night, consider leaving a five-star rating or sharing it with a fellow true crime lover. It helps more listeners discover the show! Content warning: This episode contains detailed descriptions of murder, mutilation, historical autopsy findings, violence against women, and discussions of poverty and exploitation. Listener discretion is advised.

5d ago

Case in 20: Dorothy Jane Scott | A Stranger's Obsession

For months, 32-year-old single mother Dorothy Jane Scott had been receiving terrifying phone calls from an unidentified man. Sometimes he claimed to love her. Other times, he threatened to kill her. Then, on May 28, 1980, Dorothy disappeared from a California hospital parking lot after taking a coworker to get medical attention. Hours later, her car was found burning in an alley. But the most disturbing part? The phone calls didn't stop. For years, Dorothy's family received calls from a man claiming to know what had happened to her. And even after her remains were discovered in 1984, the caller was never identified. In this episode of Case in 20, we're diving into Dorothy Jane Scott's disappearance, the anonymous stalker who terrorized her family, and the questions that remain unanswered more than four decades later. Who was the man on the phone? And how did he know so much about Dorothy's final night? Dorothy's murder remains unsolved. 🎧 Love true crime that goes beyond the headlines? Make sure you're following While the House Sleeps on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. From quick, chilling cases to full-length deep dives, there's always another story waiting. And trust me, you won't want to miss what's coming next. Have information about this case? Contact the Orange County Sheriff's Department at 714-647-7000. While the House Sleeps — because some stories stay with you long after the lights go out. Content warning: This episode discusses stalking, threats, abduction, and murder.

Oct 25

Jennifer Pan: The Perfect Daughter's Deadly Secret

On November 8, 2010, a frantic 911 call came from a quiet home in Markham, Ontario. A mother had been murdered. A father was fighting for his life. And their daughter, Jennifer Pan, had somehow survived. At first, it looked like a home invasion gone horribly wrong. But as investigators began piecing together what happened that night, they uncovered something far more disturbing. Years of deception. A secret relationship. A carefully constructed double life. And a betrayal that would destroy an entire family. In this week's deep dive, we're going back to the beginning of Jennifer Pan's story. From the expectations placed on her growing up and the elaborate lies she told to the night everything came crashing down, we'll walk through the investigation, the evidence, and the shocking truth behind one of Canada's most infamous crimes. Because sometimes the greatest danger isn't a stranger breaking into your home. Sometimes it's someone you trust enough to let inside. This episode contains discussions of murder, violence, and family trauma. Listener discretion is advised. Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and I'll catch you in the next one, While the House Sleeps.

Oct 21

Case in 20: Alison Botha | The Woman They Couldn't Silence

On December 18, 1994, 27-year-old Alison Botha was heading home after a night out with friends in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. It should've been just another night. Instead, she was abducted outside her apartment by two men who would go on to commit one of the most horrific attacks I've ever covered. Alison was sexually assaulted, stabbed more than 30 times, and had her throat slashed so severely that her attackers were convinced there was no way she could survive. And yet, somehow, she did. What gets me about this case isn't just the severity of Alison's injuries. It's the fact that she was still conscious, still fighting, and somehow managed to get herself to a place where someone could find her. I genuinely don't know how she did it. In this episode of Case in 20, we're talking about what happened to Alison that night, the two men responsible, how they were brought to justice, and the controversy surrounding their eventual release on parole. But we're also talking about the life Alison went on to build, because as horrific as this case is, I don't want her story to be remembered only for what those men did to her. Content Warning: This episode includes discussions of sexual assault, kidnapping, attempted murder, and graphic injuries. Please listen with care. 🎙️ While the House Sleeps — True crime stories that stay with you long after the lights go out. Turn off the lights, lock the doors, and I'll catch you in the next one… While the House Sleeps.

Oct 14

Case in 20: Cari Farver | The Most Twisted Catfish You've Never Heard Of

One woman disappears. The threatening messages keep coming. And for years, everyone thinks they know who's behind them. In November 2012, 37-year-old Cari Farver vanished from Omaha, Nebraska, shortly after beginning a relationship with a man named Dave Kroupa. But what happened next made this case anything but an ordinary missing persons investigation. Text messages, emails, threats, and a relentless campaign of harassment made it appear that Cari was alive, angry, and determined to make everyone around her miserable. Except Cari wasn't sending those messages. In this episode of Case in 20, we're unpacking the disappearance of Cari Farver, the years of deception that followed, and the disturbing truth investigators eventually uncovered. Because sometimes the person everyone is looking for isn't the person they should be afraid of. I'm Terri, and this is While the House Sleeps. 🎧 New true crime episodes featuring deep dives, disturbing mysteries, and the cases that stay with you long after the house goes quiet. Content Warning: This episode discusses murder, stalking, harassment, and psychological manipulation. Follow While the House Sleeps for more true crime stories.

Oct 11

Lizzie Borden: The Woman Behind the Axe

Lizzie Borden took an axe and gave her mother forty whacks... You've probably heard the rhyme. But how much do you actually know about the woman behind it? On August 4, 1892, Andrew and Abby Borden were brutally murdered inside their Fall River, Massachusetts home. Their daughter, Lizzie, would become the center of one of the most sensational murder investigations in American history. There was no shortage of suspicion. A complicated family dynamic, conflicting statements, a shocking crime scene, and questions that investigators struggled to answer. And then there was Lizzie herself. Was she a calculated killer who managed to escape justice? Or was she a woman condemned in the court of public opinion long before a jury ever heard her case? In this deep dive, we're going far beyond the nursery rhyme. We're exploring the Borden family, the tensions inside their home, the events leading up to that August morning, the investigation, the evidence, and the trial that captivated a nation. And more than 130 years later, we're still asking the same question. Did Lizzie Borden get away with murder? Grab your coffee, settle in, and let's get into it. I'm Terri, and this is While the House Sleeps. 🎧 Follow While the House Sleeps for more immersive true crime deep dives, unsolved mysteries, and our Case in 20 series. 🖤 If you enjoyed this episode, leaving a rating or review is one of the best ways to help this little podcast grow. Let's talk: Do you think Lizzie was guilty, or do you believe someone else was responsible? Content warning: This episode discusses graphic violence and homicide.

Oct 5 · Bonus

SPOOKY SEASON BONUS: The House Before the Haunting: The Real Amityville Murders

Welcome to spooky season, night shift crew! 🎃 Before The Amityville Horror became one of the most famous haunted-house stories in America, something very real - and far more horrifying - happened inside 112 Ocean Avenue. On November 13, 1974, six members of the DeFeo family were found murdered in their beds. The only surviving member of the immediate family, 23-year-old Ronald “Butch” DeFeo Jr., would eventually confess to killing his parents and four siblings. But that should've been the end of the story. Instead, a little over a year later, George and Kathy Lutz moved into the house with their children... and stayed for just 28 days. What they claimed happened during those 28 days would inspire a bestselling book, a massive horror franchise, and decades of arguments over what actually happened inside the Amityville house. In this spooky season bonus episode of While the House Sleeps, we're going back to where the Amityville story actually begins: the DeFeo family murders. We're talking about the night of the murders, Butch DeFeo's changing stories, the strange details that still fuel speculation, the Lutz family's claims, and the controversy surrounding the haunting that made 112 Ocean Avenue infamous. Because before Amityville became a horror story... it was a crime scene. 🎙️ While the House SleepsHosted by Terri Nation Content warning: This episode discusses the murders of adults and children, family violence, and other disturbing subject matter. Listener discretion is advised.

Oct 4

Case In 20: Brian Shaffer | Last Seen, Never Found

A man walks into a bar. Security cameras capture him on his night out. But when the bar closes, he's nowhere to be found. Nearly two decades later, nobody knows what happened to him. On April 1, 2006, 27-year-old Ohio State medical student Brian Shaffer disappeared after a night out in Columbus, Ohio. Despite an extensive investigation, countless theories, and years of speculation... his disappearance remains unsolved. For the very first episode of Case in 20, we're digging in to one of the most baffling missing-person cases I've ever come across. We'll walk through Brian's final known movements, the surveillance footage that made this case famous, the investigation, and the questions that still don't have answers. Because the more you look into Brian's disappearance, the more complicated this case becomes. Welcome to Case in 20, a new series from While the House Sleeps, where we explore cases that deserve your attention in shorter, 20-minute (or less) episodes. I'm Terri, and I'm so glad you're here. If you enjoy the episode, follow While the House Sleeps, leave a rating, and share it with a fellow true crime lover. Every listen helps this little podcast grow.

Sep 27

The Yogurt Shop Murders: A Fire, Four Victims, & 35 Years of Questions

On December 6, 1991, four teenage girls walked into an Austin, Texas yogurt shop. They would never walk back out. Hours later, firefighters responding to a blaze inside the I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! shop discovered a crime scene that would haunt Austin for decades. Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison, and Eliza Thomas had been murdered. What followed was a case filled with questionable confessions, convictions that wouldn’t hold, DNA that complicated everything, and one devastating question that still remains more than three decades later: Who killed the Austin Yogurt Shop Four? In this deep dive, we’re going back to the beginning—walking through the girls’ final hours, the crime scene, the investigation, the suspects and confessions, the trials, the DNA evidence, and the theories surrounding one of Texas’ most haunting unsolved cases. Four girls.One night.Thirty-five years of unanswered questions. This is the Yogurt Shop Murders. While the House Sleeps is a true-crime podcast examining the cases that stay with you long after the house goes quiet. Content warning: This episode discusses the murders of minors, sexual assault, and graphic violence. 🎧 Headphones on. Lights low. Let’s get into it.

Sep 13

Jennifer Kesse: The Surveillance Footage That Should Have Solved Everything

On January 24, 2006, 24-year-old Jennifer Kesse was supposed to show up for work in Orlando, Florida. She never arrived. Two days later, Jennifer’s car was found abandoned just over a mile from her condo. Surveillance footage captured an unidentified person parking the car and walking away-but in a nearly unbelievable stroke of bad luck, fence posts obscured the person’s face as the camera captured each image. In this episode of While the House Sleeps, we’re going deep into Jennifer’s disappearance: who she was before she became the center of a missing-person case, her final known hours, the strange circumstances surrounding her condo complex, the surveillance footage, the mysterious worker known as “Chino,” the major theories, and the Kesse family’s decades-long fight for answers. We’ll separate what we know, what investigators believe, and what remains theory- because twenty years later, there are still details in Jennifer’s case that just don’t sit right. Jennifer Kesse remains missing, and her case remains an active investigation. Anyone with information is encouraged to contact the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. While the house sleeps… let’s get into it.

While the House Sleeps

Episodes

Jack the Ripper: The Autumn of Terror | Halloween Special

Case in 20: Dorothy Jane Scott | A Stranger's Obsession

Jennifer Pan: The Perfect Daughter's Deadly Secret

Case in 20: Alison Botha | The Woman They Couldn't Silence

Case in 20: Cari Farver | The Most Twisted Catfish You've Never Heard Of

Lizzie Borden: The Woman Behind the Axe

SPOOKY SEASON BONUS: The House Before the Haunting: The Real Amityville Murders

Case In 20: Brian Shaffer | Last Seen, Never Found

The Yogurt Shop Murders: A Fire, Four Victims, & 35 Years of Questions

Jennifer Kesse: The Surveillance Footage That Should Have Solved Everything

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