True Crime Recaps

Amy Townsend, Chris Nathan
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  • TRUE CRIME
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All the crime in half the time!® Because you've got a lot of mysteries to solve. Subscribe so you never miss a recap with Chris Nathan and Amy Townsend. Watch video episodes three times a week @truecrimerecaps on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat.

  1. 1D AGO

    A Stepmother, A Plea Deal, and a Child's Testimony That Changed Everything

    Alexis Von Yates, a stepmother from the United States, faced serious criminal charges involving the prolonged abuse of her young stepson. Authorities alleged a sustained pattern of mistreatment carried out within the family home, a setting where the child had no means of escape and no immediate protection. The case drew significant public attention once details began to emerge through the legal process. Investigators built a case relying heavily on witness accounts, medical documentation, and the testimony of those close to the family. The evidence presented a troubling picture of a child left vulnerable within a household that was meant to provide safety. Prosecutors moved forward with multiple charges reflecting the severity and duration of the alleged conduct. Alexis Von Yates ultimately entered a guilty plea as part of a negotiated agreement with prosecutors. The plea deal, as is common in cases of this nature, resolved the matter without a full trial while still resulting in a criminal conviction on record. Sentencing followed the terms established through the agreement between defense and prosecution. The case raises broader questions about the systems meant to protect children inside the home, including how abuse of this nature can go undetected for extended periods. It also opens a wider conversation about how plea agreements in child abuse cases are structured and whether the outcomes adequately reflect the harm done to survivors. Follow True Crime Recaps for weekly cases examining real investigations and the justice system.

    20 min

  2. 3D AGO

    The Soham Murders: Holly Wells, Jessica Chapman, and the Case That Changed Britain

    In August 2002, ten year old Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman vanished from the quiet town of Soham in Cambridgeshire, England. The two best friends were last seen entering the home of Ian Huntley, the caretaker at their local secondary school and the partner of their former teaching assistant, Maxine Carr. What followed was one of the most closely watched missing persons investigations in British history. As a nationwide search unfolded, Huntley made repeated media appearances presenting himself as a cooperating witness. Thirteen days after the girls disappeared, their remains were discovered near an airfield in Suffolk. Forensic evidence and inconsistencies in Huntley's account placed him at the center of the investigation, leading to his arrest alongside Maxine Carr. In December 2003, Ian Huntley was convicted of the double murder and sentenced to two life terms. Maxine Carr was convicted of perverting the course of justice for providing Huntley with a false alibi. The judge confirmed Huntley must serve a minimum of 40 years before parole consideration. Follow True Crime Recaps for weekly cases examining real investigations and the justice system.

    15 min

  3. 6D AGO

    The Hillside Strangler Case: Los Angeles’ Most Terrifying Killer Duo

    In the late 1970s, Los Angeles was gripped by terror as young women began disappearing from the streets, only to be found brutally murdered in the hills above the city. Known as the Hillside Strangler, the killer, or killers, posed as police officers to lure victims before assaulting and strangling them. The case turned out to involve two men: Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, cousins whose partnership became one of the most infamous serial killer duos in American history. Their methods were calculated and horrifying: abducting women, assaulting them, and then dumping their bodies in public areas across Los Angeles.The investigation was long and complex, complicated further by Kenneth Bianchi’s multiple personality claims and deceptive testimony. Despite the challenges, justice was eventually served: Angelo Buono was convicted on nine counts of murder and died in prison, while Kenneth Bianchi remains incarcerated with multiple life sentences, though he retains the possibility of parole.

    20 min

  4. MAR 12

    The Truth Came Out After 17 Years: Mike Williams’ Wife Married the Man Who Killed Him

    In December 2000, 31-year-old Mike Williams left home before sunrise for a duck hunting trip on Lake Seminole. Later that day, his boat was discovered drifting on the water with no sign of him. Investigators quickly assumed he had fallen into the lake and been eaten by alligators: a tragic but believable explanation in the Florida wilderness. With no body and no clear evidence of foul play, the case was ruled an accident.But Mike’s mother never believed that story. She knew her son rarely hunted alone and began raising questions almost immediately. While she spent years pushing authorities to take another look, something else unfolded that made the case even more unsettling. Mike’s widow, Denise Williams, eventually married Mike’s best friend, Brian Winchester, the same man who had been with him the morning he vanished.Seventeen years later, the truth finally surfaced. Brian confessed that the hunting trip had been part of a murder plot involving a secret affair and a massive life insurance payout. What had long been believed to be a deadly wildlife encounter was actually a carefully planned killing that remained hidden for nearly two decades.

    19 min

  5. MAR 10

    Mother-of-Ten Amanda Wixon Kept a Girl Captive and Forced Her Into Modern-Day Slavery

    In March 2021, police in Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire made a discovery that would shock even seasoned officers. A woman in her early forties was found severely malnourished, terrified, and living in conditions described as prison-like inside an ordinary family home. Prosecutors later revealed that she had been brought into the home at just 16 years old and allegedly held captive for more than two decades. The woman responsible was 56-year-old Amanda Wixon.According to investigators, the victim was subjected to years of forced labor, violence, and extreme control. She was made to clean for hours daily, cook, run errands, and care for Wixon’s ten children, all while being denied proper food, hygiene, medical care, and freedom. Prosecutors detailed repeated assaults, including strangulation and beatings. Meanwhile, Wixon claimed government benefits in the victim’s name for years. Neighbors later said they hadn’t seen the woman in years, unaware of what was happening behind closed doors.On January 21, 2026, at Gloucestershire Crown Court, Wixon was convicted of multiple charges, including forced or compulsory labor and false imprisonment. She denied the allegations and showed no remorse following the verdict. Today, the survivor is rebuilding her life: attending college and living with a foster family, but continues to cope with the lasting trauma of the abuse. What allowed this to go unnoticed for so long remains one of the most disturbing questions of all.#TrueCrimeRecaps #AmandaWixon #FalseImprisonment #ForcedLabor

    9 min

  6. MAR 7

    The Candy Heiress Who Vanished and the Mob Behind It

    Helen Brach was the wealthy heiress to the Brach candy fortune, living a life of privilege in Chicago. In February 1977, she traveled to the Mayo Clinic for a routine medical visit and was expected to return home shortly afterward. Instead, she vanished. Her houseman claimed she returned home briefly before leaving for Florida, but investigators quickly noticed inconsistencies in his story. Suspicious purchases appeared soon after, including a large meat grinder and an unusually thorough cleaning of her home. As detectives dug deeper, they uncovered a web of financial fraud and organized crime. Forged checks were traced to people in Helen’s inner circle, and she had become entangled with Richard Baily, a con artist linked to the Chicago horse racing mob. Authorities believed Baily and associates targeted wealthy women through horse investment scams, and Helen had reportedly planned to expose the operation. Over the decades, multiple informants claimed Helen was murdered and her body destroyed, including one account suggesting she was killed and incinerated at a steel mill in Indiana. Despite extensive investigations and millions of dollars tied to the case, no one has ever been charged. Nearly fifty years later, Helen Brach remains one of the wealthiest missing women in American history and one of Chicago’s most enduring mysteries.

    27 min

  7. MAR 5

    He Staged His Ex Wife’s Home Invasion Then Tried to Be the Hero

    On New Year’s Eve 2021, Morgan Metzer woke up inside her Canton, Georgia home to a masked intruder standing in her doorway. The man assaulted her, zip tied her, and dragged her outside into the freezing cold before fleeing. Moments later, her ex husband Rodney Metzer arrived and called 911, presenting himself as the man who had come to help. Investigators quickly began questioning how he appeared at the scene at exactly the right moment. As detectives examined phone records, surveillance footage, and online activity, prosecutors say a disturbing plan emerged. Rodney had allegedly faked a terminal cancer diagnosis in an attempt to win Morgan back after their divorce. When that failed, investigators say he researched how to disguise his voice, restrain someone, and secretly accessed her home security system before the attack. Faced with mounting evidence, Rodney Metzer pleaded guilty to charges related to the home invasion and assault. He was sentenced to 70 years, including 25 years in prison followed by decades of probation. What began as a terrifying break in ultimately revealed a calculated attempt to manipulate and control the situation, with Rodney positioning himself as the hero of a crime he allegedly planned himself.

    18 min

  8. MAR 3

    The Baseline Killer Spree That Proved No One Was Safe Anywhere in Phoenix

    In 2005 and 2006, Phoenix was overtaken by fear as a series of sudden, violent attacks spread across the city. People were assaulted, robbed, kidnapped, and killed in parking lots, gas stations, restaurants, and quiet neighborhoods. There was no pattern, no specific victim type, and no warning, making everyday life feel dangerous.As the attacks escalated, police realized they were hunting one person responsible for dozens of crimes. The suspect became known as the Baseline Killer, a man who moved quickly, changed disguises, and struck without predictability. Despite a massive investigation, he continued attacking for more than a year.The case finally broke when DNA from an early assault produced a match and a survivor recognized the suspect from a police sketch. Investigators arrested Mark Goudeau, who was later convicted of nine murders and dozens of other crimes, bringing one of Arizona’s most terrifying crime sprees to an end.#TrueCrimeRecaps #BaselineKiller #PhoenixCrime #MarkGoudeau #ColdCaseSolved

    19 min
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About

All the crime in half the time!® Because you've got a lot of mysteries to solve. Subscribe so you never miss a recap with Chris Nathan and Amy Townsend. Watch video episodes three times a week @truecrimerecaps on YouTube, Facebook, TikTok, and Snapchat.

Information

  • Creator
    Amy Townsend, Chris Nathan
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    303
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Amy Townsend, Chris Nathan
  • Show Website
    True Crime Recaps

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