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In the latest episode of "Hidden Killers," hosted by Tony Brueski, a compelling discussion unfolds with Defense Attorney and Host of the podcast Defense Diaries, Bob Motta. The conversation centers on Asa Ellerup, the wife of Rex Heuermann, the alleged Long Island serial killer. A critical element of the discussion is the controversial documentary being produced about Ellerup by 50 Cent's G Unit production team, set to air on Peacock.
 
 Ellerup, who filed for but has not completed a divorce from Heuermann, presents an enigmatic figure. Despite not being charged with any crime, her actions and the impending documentary raise eyebrows. Brueski and Motta delve into the implications of such a documentary, especially considering the ongoing trial of her husband. Motta, with his legal expertise, offers a critical perspective on the situation.
 
 Motta expresses skepticism about the documentary's intent, suspecting it aims to link Ellerup to the crimes or prove her complicity. The documentary, he argues, is unlikely to be a sympathy piece for Ellerup. Instead, Motta sees it as an investigative tool designed to expose any involvement or knowledge Ellerup might have had in her husband's alleged crimes. He warns of the potential pitfalls, drawing parallels to the infamous "The Jinx" documentary, which played a pivotal role in Robert Durst's conviction.
 
 The conversation turns to the recent discovery of Ellerup's DNA on one of the victims, a development that significantly heightens the intrigue surrounding her. This new evidence, if substantiated, could place Ellerup in an incriminating position. Motta and Brueski speculate on the nature of this DNA evidence and its potential implications for Ellerup.
 
 Motta criticizes Ellerup’s decision to participate in the documentary, considering it a grave mistake. He argues that her participation in the documentary, particularly in light of the new DNA evidence, could be detrimental to her case. Motta anticipates that law enforcement will be keen to subpoena the documentary footage, which could reveal crucial details not yet known to the public or the police.
 
 Brueski raises the point that Ellerup has not been officially questioned by the police, suggesting that law enforcement might be biding their time, waiting for her to reveal more through the documentary. Motta concurs, seeing the documentary as a potential goldmine of information for prosecutors.
 
 The conversation highlights the complex web of legal, ethical, and public perception issues surrounding the Heuermann case. Motta’s insights reveal the potential risks and consequences of Ellerup’s involvement in the documentary, especially in the context of the ongoing investigation into her husband’s alleged crimes.
 
 As the discussion concludes, Brueski and Motta agree on the poor optics of Ellerup's decision to participate in the documentary. They emphasize the precarious position she finds herself in, with the documentary potentially serving as a tool for her incrimination.
 
 The interview leaves the audience pondering the intricate dynamics at play in the Heuermann case and the role of media in shaping public perception and potentially influencing legal outcomes. With Ellerup's actions under scrutiny and the documentary's production underway, the case continues to captivate and intrigue, raising as many questions as it answers.



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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen a

The Alex Murdaugh case continues to unravel layers of complexity, this time involving not only the mother, Becky Hill, accused of jury tampering but also her son, Jeffrey Colton Hill, who faces wiretapping charges. This development begs the question: Is this mere coincidence or a deeper-rooted issue of systemic corruption?
 
 Robin Dreeke, a retired FBI Special Agent, shared his insights with Tony Brueski on the "Hidden Killers" podcast, dissecting the implications of these allegations. The optics, as Dreeke points out, are "absolutely horrible" for both Becky and her son, especially when placed within the context of the ongoing Murdaugh trial.
 
 Jeffrey Colton Hill's arrest for wiretapping, while working within the same bureaucratic system as his mother, adds a dubious layer to an already convoluted case. While the details of the wiretapping are yet to be fully disclosed, including the identities of the intercepted individuals, speculation is rife about its connection to the Murdaugh case.
 
 Dreeke is skeptical of a direct collusion between mother and son, suggesting instead that Jeffrey’s actions might stem from a learned behavior. "You have him doing bad behavior because he learned at home, potentially, or someplace around his life that kind of behavior of kind of the system exists, as I say, it should exist around me," he explains.
 
 The conversation also delved into the possible impact of these new developments on Alex Murdaugh's case. While the prospect of a retrial looms large, Dreeke and Brueski discussed the implications of the alleged misconduct within the court system. "Dumb people doing dumb things and making profound impacts on all of those around them," Dreeke summarizes, highlighting the far-reaching consequences of individual actions in high-profile cases.
 
 The question remains: how will these latest developments influence the already intricate Murdaugh saga? With a mother and son embroiled in allegations of wrongdoing, the case transcends beyond a single individual's actions, hinting at a possible pattern of behavior within the system itself. As the judicial process unfolds, the public and legal experts alike will be watching closely to see how these revelations play out in court.
 
 In a case marked by unexpected twists and turns, the involvement of Becky and Jeffrey Hill adds yet another layer of intrigue. Will their alleged actions impact the outcome of the Murdaugh case? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain – the Murdaugh case continues to challenge our perceptions of justice, ethics, and the law.
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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

In a heart-wrenching courtroom scene, relatives who believed their loved ones may have been among the 190 decomposing bodies discovered at the Return to Nature Funeral Home watched as the owners, Jon and Carie Hallford, appeared before a judge to face a litany of disturbing charges. The Colorado Springs-based funeral home's facility in Penrose, a quiet Rocky Mountain town, became the epicenter of an unprecedented scandal that has left families in turmoil.
 
 Accused of abusing corpses, theft, money laundering, and forgery, the Hallfords stood in orange jail clothes and handcuffs, remaining silent during a brief court hearing. The revelations surrounding the funeral home have sent shockwaves throughout the community.

 The disturbing discovery unfolded when investigators unearthed dozens of stacked bodies at the facility, with some dating as far back as 2019, according to federal affidavits. Families who entrusted their loved ones to the funeral home were told that their relatives had been cremated, but court records allege that they received substitute materials, not their loved ones' ashes.
 
 Heather DeWolf, a grieving mother, attended the hearing and held up a photo of her late son, Zach DeWolf, who passed away at the age of 33 in 2020. Return to Nature had handled her son's remains, and she expressed her profound grief and disbelief: "I don’t view them honestly as human at this point. I don’t believe a human could do this." She recalled the heartbreaking moment she rocked a container, thinking it held her son's ashes, only to question its contents now.
 
 While the FBI has privately told many families that their loved ones were among the decaying bodies, the full extent of how the bodies were mishandled remains unknown to the public. Defense attorneys have objected to the unsealing of affidavits, and the decision on whether to make them public awaits a future judge's ruling.


The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has announced plans to demolish the Return to Nature funeral home in Colorado, where authorities uncovered the nearly 200 decaying bodies.  Initially, the Fremont County Department of Public Health & Environment declared the funeral home a public health risk, and now the EPA is stepping in to address the hazardous situation. The agency had scheduled an evaluation of the property in mid-November, but the decision to demolish the building in January 2024 was announced last week. The goal is to remove biological and hazardous materials discovered within the structure safely.
 
 The Hallfords were arrested in Oklahoma, where they had allegedly fled to avoid prosecution. They are currently in police custody, held on a $2 million bond each, and face numerous charges, including about 190 counts of abuse of a corpse, theft, money laundering, and forgery.
 
 Jon Hallford is represented by the public defender's office, which has declined to comment on the case. Carie Hallford is being represented by attorney Michael Stuzynski, who has also declined to comment.
 
 In the aftermath of the grim discovery, authorities have been working diligently to identify the remains. Various methods, including fingerprints, dental records, medical hardware, and DNA, are being employed to establish the identities of those affected. 


The shocking revelations have raised questions about the practices of Return to Nature Funeral Home, which offered cremations and "green" burials without embalming fluids. The company, founded in 2017, faced numerous financial crises, including missed tax payments, eviction notices, and lawsuits from suppliers.
 
 When state officials reached out to Jon Hallford after receiving reports of a foul odor, he admitted to having a "problem" at the site and claimed to practice taxidermy there, according to an order dated October 5. However, the extent of the problem and the circumstances surrounding the bodies' mishandling have yet to be fully disclosed to the public.
 
 The FBI's involv

After nearly half a century of uncertainty, the Orange County Sheriff’s Department has revealed a breakthrough in the case of a murdered teenager found in Southern California in 1974. Through the use of investigative genetic genealogy, authorities have identified the victim as Michael Ray Schlicht, bringing renewed attention to a case that may link him to notorious serial killer Randy Kraft.
 
 On September 14, 1974, the lifeless body of a young man was discovered, and at the time, his cause of death was tragically attributed to accidental alcohol and diazepam intoxication. However, this tragic story took a darker turn in 1980 when investigators noted multiple homicides in 1978 with similar intoxication causes of death. These victims were found within close proximity to Schlicht's location, yet he remained unidentified, known only as "John Doe."
 
 Randy Kraft, infamously labeled "The Scorecard Killer," was arrested during a routine traffic stop in 1983, where police found a deceased man in the passenger seat amid beer bottles and lorazepam tablets. Kraft would later be convicted in 1989 of 16 murders in Southern California, and authorities suspect his involvement in up to 60 deaths between 1972 and 1983. The gruesome details of his crimes, which included torture, sexual assault, and mutilation, earned him his chilling moniker.
 
 Despite his conviction, Kraft has remained on death row at San Quentin State Prison. However, the discovery of tissue samples from Schlicht's unidentified remains brought renewed hope for answers. These samples were submitted to a laboratory to construct a DNA profile. After months of diligent genealogy work, investigators successfully traced the lineage to Schlicht's grandparents.
 
 Authorities then reached out to a granddaughter of the grandparents, who disclosed that she had last seen her brother, Michael Ray Schlicht, in April 1974 when he was just 17 years old. To confirm this revelation, investigators journeyed to Kansas City to obtain a DNA sample from Schlicht's mother, which ultimately led to the positive identification of the once enigmatic "John Doe."
 
 The Orange County Sheriff's Department has reclassified Schlicht's death as a homicide, reopening a case that had long remained unsolved. The investigation is ongoing as authorities delve into the circumstances surrounding Schlicht's murder and his potential connection to Randy Kraft's reign of terror.
 
 This discovery not only brings closure to Schlicht's family after decades of uncertainty but also raises questions about other unsolved cases from that era that may be linked to Kraft. As investigators continue their work, they remain committed to seeking justice for the victims and their families.
 
 The identification of Michael Ray Schlicht is a testament to the power of modern forensic techniques and the dedication of law enforcement in pursuing justice, even after many years have passed.
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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com

A jury in Denton County on Tuesday found 39-year-old Jay A. Rotter, a former deputy with the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office, guilty of murdering his special-needs girlfriend, Leslie Hartman. The 46-year-old woman, a paraplegic and popular artist in the area, was shot in the temple with Rotter's service weapon in August 2020. Rotter then attempted to stage her death as a suicide.
The Denton County Criminal District Attorney's Office announced the jury's decision, revealing that Rotter was convicted of one count of murder. The same jury sentenced him to 30 years in a state correctional facility.
Rotter had initially called 911, reporting that Hartman had suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound inside her home on Robinwood Lane. However, the evidence presented during the trial painted a different picture. First responders found Hartman dead, with Rotter covered in blood from the waist down.
According to the Denton Police Department, Rotter claimed that his girlfriend unexpectedly shot herself while he was watching a movie at his desk in a bedroom. He was subsequently arrested on a $1 million bond. Hartman, confined to a wheelchair due to injuries from a past car crash, had been living with Rotter for about six months. The investigation revealed damning evidence from Rotter's cellphone, particularly messages on the Discord app around the time of Hartman's death. In a message that was never sent but later recovered from drafts, Rotter allegedly wrote, "I TOLD HER. LISTEN. ONE SHOT ONLY. THEY CALL IT IN AFTER AND THEY CAN." Another message mentioned shooting a "9 millie in this f—— hippy."
Prosecutors argued that Rotter's statements to officers contradicted the evidence at the scene, pointing to the lack of gunshot residue or blood splatter on Hartman's hands, covered by a blanket. Rotter, on the other hand, had both gunshot residue and blood on his hands, suggesting an attempt to wash them.
During the trial, Rotter's defense claimed the messages were about shooting a milk bottle in the backyard and argued there was no history of domestic violence between the couple. However, the jury deliberated for only three hours before convicting Rotter, rejecting the defense's arguments.
Rotter, who joined the sheriff's office in 2005 and was fired in 2020 following the shooting, now faces a lengthy prison sentence. Sheriff Bill Waybourn expressed shock and sadness over the incident, stating, "We believe in the criminal justice process, and the truth will prevail."

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The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com