Monstrous

Carrie Canny and Mandy Garthwaite

Monstrous is a true crime and mystery podcast that also dives into legends, hauntings, and all things spooky and spine-tingling. Our show resonates with listeners who love not only true crime, but also the thrill of the unexplained. Hosted by two friends brought together by our sons — one a Southern storyteller with a passion for crime, the spine-tingling, and the unknown, but has a firm line with messing with the dead while the other is a Midwesterner with a love for true crime, an appetite for the spooky, and a passion for learning about the other side Join us every Monday as we cover murders, serial killers, cold cases, mysteries, cults and all things monstrous. Listener Discretion Is Advised.

  1. 15H AGO

    Danielle and Kennedy Hoyle

    In February 2022, the "village" of Whitehaven in Memphis, Tennessee, was shattered by a crime that defied the natural order. When 27-year-old Danielle Hoyle was found in a roadside ditch next to her idling Chevy Cruze, the city's heart stopped—not just for the loss of a devoted mother, but for the 2-day-old infant, Kennedy, who was missing from the backseat. Join Carrie and MawMaw as they dismantle the "double life" of Brandon Isabelle. We dive deep into the forensic "Invisible Proof"—from the microscopic "diamonds on the asphalt" to the complex hydraulic physics of the Mississippi River. We also look at the landmark 2026 legal landscape, discussing how The Debbie and Marie Act, Abrial’s Law, and Savanna’s Law have turned this tragedy into a "Triple-Threat" of protection for women and children across Tennessee. Listen for: · The digital trail that broke a 25th-birthday alibi. · The "70/30" interrogation moment that chilled investigators. · Why a 147-year sentence was calculated down to the hour of a newborn's life. Resources & Links: • Safety Template: Head over to our Facebook page to download the pinned Missing Persons Media Sheet mentioned in this episode. Save it to your phone—we hope you never need it. • Domestic Violence Support: National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-SAFE (7233) or text "START" to 88788. • Crisis Support: Text HOME to 741741. Connect with us: Follow us on Facebook and TikTok at monstrous tc pod. Have a case suggestion or a listener tale? Email us at monstroustcpod@gmail.com.

    1h 37m
  2. JAN 27

    Cari Farver: The Digital Ghost

    How can a woman be in two places at once? For four years, Cari Farver was a ghost. To her mother, she was a series of cruel and erratic text messages. To her boyfriend, she was a voyeuristic nightmare watching from the shadows. To the police, she was a "runaway" whose digital footprint suggested she was alive and well. But Cari Farver wasn't running. She had been erased. In this week’s episode, Carrie and Mandy peel back the digital curtain on one of the most sophisticated identity thefts in criminal history. We dive into the brilliant life of Cari Farver, a powerhouse programmer whose own expertise was weaponized against her memory. We journey through the staggering scale of a "Digital Mountain" where 1.2 million fragments of data—including 15,000 emails and 50,000 texts—were meticulously crafted to bury a murder under a mountain of code. We uncover the "Garage Secret," the agonizing reality of a car that sat for three long years in a family garage, holding the evidence of a "legal death" while a mother was systematically gaslit by her daughter's killer. You’ll hear how the investigation finally cracked the case using "Linguistic DNA," tracing a single, recurring one-letter spelling mistake that unmasked the monster hiding behind the screen. Finally, we look at the legacy of this tragedy through "Cari’s Law," a hard-fought legislative victory ensuring that in the eyes of the law, a text message can never again be used as a substitute for proof of life. Join us as we discuss the relentless work of forensic investigator Tony Kava and the mother who refused to stop fighting for the truth. Listen now to hear how a digital ghost was finally brought back to earth. #CariFarver #TheDigitalGhost #TrueCrime #MonstrousPodcast #DigitalForensics #JusticeForCari

    1h 22m
  3. JAN 5

    The Circleville Letters

    In a small town nestled in Ohio, a series of poison pen letters unleashed chaos and fear that would linger for decades. The Circleville letters represent a dark chapter in American history, showcasing the lengths one individual would go to in order to destroy lives and reputations. This week we delve into the harrowing story behind this campaign of terror, the psychological motivations of the writer, and the tragic consequences that followed. The Circleville letters, a notorious case of anonymous harassment that spanned decades, targeting a community and leading to tragic outcomes. We explore the psychological profile of the perpetrator, the nature of the letters, the community's response, and the failures of the investigation that allowed the writer to remain anonymous. We also highlight the profound impact of the letters on the victims and the community, as well as the tragic consequences that ensued from the investigation's shortcomings. Carrie and MawMaw delve into the mysterious death of Ron Gillespie, the subsequent investigation, and the ongoing terror campaign represented by the Circleville letters. They explore the suspicious circumstances surrounding Gillespie's death, the failures of the sheriff's department, and the wrongful conviction of Paul Freshour. Lastly they highlight the political motivations behind the investigation, the mishandling of forensic evidence, and the chilling threats faced by Mary Gillespie. Ultimately, they raise questions about justice, accountability, and the enduring legacy of the Circleville letters.

    1h 59m
  4. 12/29/2025

    The Vanishing Skyjackers

    In our final, decisive flight of 2025, Carrie and MawMaw are strapping on detective hats and analyzing technical blueprints to close the year on the most audacious acts of air piracy in American history. We’re stepping away from typical horrors to explore a brief, terrifying era when the sky became a frontier for high-stakes criminals—and one aircraft, the Boeing 727, became the perfect getaway vehicle. In this episode, we dissect the three archetypes of the skyjacking era: The Legend (D.B. Cooper): The man who turned Seat 18C into a heist scene, vanishing into a 1971 storm with $200,000 and leaving behind nothing but a J.C. Penney tie and 60 volumes of FBI mysteries.The Copycat (Richard Floyd McCoy Jr.): A Green Beret who pulled off a "perfect" $500,000 jump only to be undone by a deposit slip and... a sandwich?The Ghost (Wilhelm Specht): The chaotic precursor who proved the human will to escape is absolute, using a simple pen knife to cut his way out of a pressurized cabin at 24,000 feet.From the physics of "Exit Trauma" and the forensic secrets hidden in titanium particles, to Carrie’s theory on a ground accomplice, we are unraveling why the mystery of D.B. Cooper still haunts the Pacific Northwest 54 years later. Plus: We share an incredible listener fact from dragongirl15dragon94 regarding our Sodder Children investigation! In This Episode: The Technical Trap: How the "Cooper Vane" ended an era of crime.Forensic Deep Dive: The microscopic particles that might finally name a suspect in 2026.The Suspects: Analyzing Robert Rackstraw vs. Kenneth Christiansen.The IRS Footnote: Why the government still wants its taxes from a man who vanished.Thank you for an incredible 2025! We’ll see you in 2026 as we kick things off with a town terrorized by a mysterious writer. Listener Discretion is Advised: This episode contains topics and language that may not be suitable for all listeners and may be triggering for some. Connect with us: Rate & Review: If you love the show, please leave us five stars!Submit a Case/Story: Send your suggestions and "Listener Tales" to our email monstroustcpod@gmail.comJoin the Community: Follow our Facebook http://facebook.com/profile.php?id=6156164145715

    1h 30m

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
5 Ratings

About

Monstrous is a true crime and mystery podcast that also dives into legends, hauntings, and all things spooky and spine-tingling. Our show resonates with listeners who love not only true crime, but also the thrill of the unexplained. Hosted by two friends brought together by our sons — one a Southern storyteller with a passion for crime, the spine-tingling, and the unknown, but has a firm line with messing with the dead while the other is a Midwesterner with a love for true crime, an appetite for the spooky, and a passion for learning about the other side Join us every Monday as we cover murders, serial killers, cold cases, mysteries, cults and all things monstrous. Listener Discretion Is Advised.

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