When Killers Get Caught: A True Crime Podcast

Ransom Storytelling Studios LLC
  • 4.5 (105)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Now in its fourth season, When Killers Get Caught is a true crime podcast hosted by Brittany Ransom that focuses not just on what happened, but why. Each week explores infamous and overlooked cases, unsettling mysteries, and the psychology behind violent crime, following the trail until the moment everything falls apart. This is a show about motive, consequence, and the thin line between ordinary life and unthinkable acts. Starting February 2026, subscribers (Case Closers) will also get exclusive mini-episodes with shorter, deep-cut cases and listener submissions.

  1. 1D AGO

    When a Myth Becomes a Command: Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier

    In 2014, the quiet suburb of Waukesha, Wisconsin, was shattered by a crime that defied logic. Two 12-year-old girls lured their best friend into the woods for a birthday game of hide-and-seek only to leave her for dead as a "sacrifice" to a fictional internet character known as Slender Man. In Episode 96, Brittany Ransom dives deep into the haunting psychology behind Morgan Geyser and Anissa Weier. We trace the trail from the dark corners of Creepypasta forums to the chilling police interrogation rooms where the truth finally caught up. In this episode, Brittany examines: The "Folie à Deux": How a shared delusion turned two vulnerable children into attempted killers. The Architecture of a Myth: Why the Slender Man resonated so deeply with a generation raised online. The Miracle of Resilience: The incredible survival and recovery of Payton "Bella" Leutner, who crawled out of the woods to tell her story. Justice vs. Treatment: The controversial legal battle over early-onset Schizophrenia and the girls' journey through the mental health system. Was this tragedy preventable, or was it a "perfect storm" of mental illness and digital isolation? Follow and join the conversation: 📱 TikTok:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@caughtpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/whenkillersgetcaught⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Submit your questions to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CaseCloserSubmissions@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be part of the discussion. Music featured in this podcast is used with permission from Myuu.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/1Uda2ci⁠⁠⁠ For advertising and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Brittany Ransom at ⁠⁠caughtpodcast@gmail.com

    39 min

  2. APR 2

    BTK: The Killer Who Lived a Perfect Life Next Door

    Dennis Rader looked like the last person you would ever suspect. A church leader. A husband. A father. A man trusted by his community. But behind that ordinary life was something far more calculated. Known as BTK, Bind, Torture, Kill, Rader terrorized Wichita, Kansas in the 1970s before disappearing for decades. He didn’t get caught because he slipped up during a crime. He got caught because he needed to be seen. In this episode, Brittany Ransom breaks down the psychology behind one of America’s most infamous serial killers. From the early fantasies that shaped him, to the methodical murders that built his identity, to the ego-driven mistake that finally exposed him. This isn’t just a story about violence. It’s about control. About duality.  And about how someone can live an ordinary life while hiding something unthinkable. Because Dennis Rader didn’t stand out. He blended in. And that’s exactly what made him so dangerous. Follow and join the conversation: TikTok:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@caughtpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ nstagram:⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/whenkillersgetcaught⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now Active: Subscription-Only Content on Patreon. Have a case, story, or idea you’d like us to explore? Submit it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CaseCloserSubmissions@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be part of the discussion. Music featured in this podcast is used with permission from Myuu.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/1Uda2ci⁠⁠⁠ For advertising and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Brittany Ransom at ⁠⁠caughtpodcast@gmail.com

    48 min

  3. MAR 26

    Gary Plauché: The Father Who Killed His Son’s Abuser on Live TV

    On March 16, 1984, inside a Baton Rouge airport, a man stepped forward, raised a gun, and shot another man in the head, on live television. That man was Gary Plauché. The victim? The man accused of kidnapping and abusing his 11-year-old son. But this case is more than a shocking moment caught on camera. It’s a story about trust, grooming, trauma, and the devastating reality of what happens when the system moves slower than a parent’s pain. In this episode, we break down how a trusted karate instructor manipulated an entire family, how the abuse escalated, and the fifteen-day nightmare that ended in a California motel. We examine the psychological toll on both father and son, the legal case that followed, and the national debate that still divides people decades later. Was Gary Plauché a criminal… or a father pushed past his breaking point? And when justice feels out of reach—who decides what justice really looks like? ⚠️ Content Warning: This episode includes discussion of child sexual abuse. This is When Killers Get Caught where we examine the people, the psychology, and the moments behind the most extreme acts of violence… and what happens when the truth finally catches up. Follow and join the conversation:📱 TikTok:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@caughtpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 Instagram:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/whenkillersgetcaught⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now Active: Subscription-Only Content on Spotify and Patreon. Have a case, story, or idea you’d like us to explore? Submit it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CaseCloserSubmissions@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be part of the discussion. Music featured in this podcast is used with permission from Myuu.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/1Uda2ci⁠⁠ For advertising and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Brittany Ransom at ⁠caughtpodcast@gmail.com

    26 min

  4. MAR 19

    The Serial Killer of Nazi Paris: Dr. Marcel Petiot and the Escape Network Murders

    During World War II, desperate refugees flooded Nazi-occupied Paris searching for a way to escape. A respected doctor named Marcel Petiot claimed he could help. Under the alias Dr. Eugène, Petiot created a fake escape network called Fly-Tox, promising to smuggle Jews, resistance fighters, and fugitives out of France to safety in South America. Instead, he murdered them. When police searched his home in 1944, they discovered one of the most horrifying crime scenes in French history burned remains, quicklime pits, and suitcases belonging to people who believed they were about to start a new life. In this episode of When Killers Get Caught, Brittany Ransom revisits the chilling story of the doctor the French press would call “Dr. Satan.” How did Marcel Petiot hide his crimes in the chaos of Nazi-occupied Paris?How many victims did he really kill?And how did one of history’s most brazen serial killers finally get caught? Follow and join the conversation:📱 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@caughtpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/whenkillersgetcaught⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now Active: Subscription-Only Content on Spotify and Patreon. Have a case, story, or idea you’d like us to explore? Submit it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CaseCloserSubmissions@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be part of the discussion. Music featured in this podcast is used with permission from Myuu.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/1Uda2ci⁠ For advertising and sponsorship inquiries, please contact Brittany Ransom at caughtpodcast@gmail.com

    39 min

  5. MAR 12

    Samuel Little: The Most Prolific Serial Killer in U.S. History and the 68 Women Still Nameless

    Samuel Little is believed to be the most prolific serial killer in United States history, confessing to 93 murders across multiple states between the 1970s and early 2000s. For decades, many of his victims remained unidentified, their disappearances overlooked as Little traveled from city to city targeting vulnerable women. In this episode, we examine the disturbing case of Samuel Little and the women whose lives were taken during his forty-year killing spree. After his arrest in 2012, investigators uncovered shocking confessions from Little that revealed a pattern of violence stretching across the entire country. Many of his victims were Black women, women living in poverty, sex workers, or women struggling with addiction people whose disappearances often received little attention from authorities at the time. One of the most haunting pieces of evidence in this case came from detailed sketches Little drew from memory of the women he killed. These drawings have helped investigators identify some victims and reopen cold cases that had been unsolved for decades. But many of the women in those sketches are still unknown. Today, 21 victims have been identified, while dozens more remain Jane Does, and several still cannot be connected to any missing persons case. Their faces are known—but their names are not. This episode focuses not just on the crimes themselves, but on the lives of the women who were ignored, forgotten, or never reported missing. It is a story about systemic failure, forgotten victims, and the ongoing effort to finally give these women the recognition and justice they deserve. If you’re interested in true crime, unsolved murders, cold cases, and the Samuel Little investigation, this episode explores one of the most disturbing and heartbreaking serial killer cases in modern American history. Follow and join the conversation:📱 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@caughtpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/whenkillersgetcaught⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now Active: Subscription-Only Content on Spotify and Patreon. Have a case, story, or idea you’d like us to explore? Submit it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CaseCloserSubmissions@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be part of the discussion. Music featured in this podcast is used with permission from Myuu.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/1Uda2ci

    30 min

  6. MAR 5

    Son of Sam: The David Berkowitz Case | How a Serial Killer Terrorized New York City

    In the summer of 1976, New York City was gripped by fear. A serial killer known as “Son of Sam” began targeting young couples sitting in parked cars, using a .44 caliber Bulldog revolver in a series of sudden, execution-style shootings. Over the course of a year, David Berkowitz murdered six people and wounded seven others, sending shockwaves through the city. In this episode of When Killers Get Caught, host Brittany Ransom examines the full story of the Son of Sam case, from the first shootings in the Bronx to the taunting letters sent to police and journalist Jimmy Breslin. We explore the psychology behind Berkowitz’s crimes, his claims about a demon-possessed dog ordering the murders, and the investigation that ultimately led to his arrest after a simple parking ticket. You’ll also learn how this case changed American culture, inspired the “Son of Sam laws,” and fueled one of the earliest modern media frenzies around a serial killer. This episode covers:• The Son of Sam murders timeline (1976–1977)• The psychology and background of David Berkowitz• The infamous letters and demon dog story• How police identified and arrested the killer• The trial, sentencing, and where Berkowitz is today If you enjoy true crime psychology, serial killer investigations, and deep dives into infamous cases, this episode is for you. 🎧 Subscribe to When Killers Get Caught for deep dives into solved, unsolved, and morally unresolved cases that shaped history. Follow and join the conversation:📱 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@caughtpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/whenkillersgetcaught⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now Active: Subscription-Only Content on Spotify and Patreon. Have a case, story, or idea you’d like us to explore? Submit it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CaseCloserSubmissions@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be part of the discussion. Music featured in this podcast is used with permission from Myuu.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/1Uda2ci

    33 min

  7. FEB 26

    The Assassination of Fred Hampton: COINTELPRO, the Black Panther Party & the 1969 Chicago Police Raid

    On December 4, 1969, a pre-dawn police raid at 2337 West Monroe Street in Chicago left 21-year-old Black Panther leader Fred Hampton dead. Authorities called it a shootout. Evidence later suggested something far more deliberate. In this episode of When Killers Get Caught, Brittany Ransom examines the assassination of Fred Hampton, chairman of the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party and a rising national leader targeted under the FBI’s COINTELPRO program. We break down the role of informant William O’Neal, the alleged drugging of Hampton, the 99 shots fired during the raid, and the 13-year legal battle that exposed federal coordination with local law enforcement. But this story goes beyond one night. We explore Hampton’s Rainbow Coalition, his community programs like the Free Breakfast Program, and why multiracial, working-class solidarity was viewed as a threat by powerful institutions. This episode also connects the political climate of the 1960s — including the Civil Rights Movement, Vietnam War protests, and urban uprisings — to ongoing conversations about government surveillance, police violence, and state power today. Was this a tragic raid gone wrong or a calculated political execution? The truth always leaves a trail. If you’re interested in true crime, political history, FBI surveillance, civil rights, and the psychology of state violence, this episode is essential listening. 🎧 Subscribe to When Killers Get Caught for deep dives into solved, unsolved, and morally unresolved cases that shaped history. Follow and join the conversation:📱 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@caughtpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/whenkillersgetcaught⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now Active: Subscription-Only Content on Spotify and Patreon. Have a case, story, or idea you’d like us to explore? Submit it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CaseCloserSubmissions@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be part of the discussion. Music featured in this podcast is used with permission from Myuu.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/1Uda2ci

    23 min

  8. FEB 19

    Emmett Till: The 1955 Murder That Sparked the Civil Rights Movement | Black History Month True Crime

    In 1955, 14-year-old Emmett Till traveled from Chicago to Mississippi and never came home. In this Black History Month episode of When Killers Get Caught, Brittany Ransom examines the kidnapping and murder of Emmett Till, the trial that followed, and the decision that forced America to confront the brutal reality of racial violence under Jim Crow. This case was legally “solved.” Arrests were made. A trial was held. But justice was never truly served. Emmett Till’s death became a catalyst for the Civil Rights Movement, influencing activists, reshaping public awareness, and exposing the deadly consequences of racism in the American South. In this episode, we explore: The historical context of Mississippi in 1955 The accusation that led to Till’s abduction The controversial trial and acquittal How Mamie Till’s courage changed history Why the case remains morally unresolved decades later This is more than a true crime story. It’s a case that forced a nation to look at itself. 🎧 Subscribe to When Killers Get Caught for deep dives into solved, unsolved, and morally unresolved cases that shaped history. Follow and join the conversation:📱 TikTok: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.tiktok.com/@caughtpodcast⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/whenkillersgetcaught⁠⁠⁠⁠ Now Active: Subscription-Only Content on Spotify and Patreon. Have a case, story, or idea you’d like us to explore? Submit it to ⁠⁠⁠⁠CaseCloserSubmissions@gmail.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ and be part of the discussion. Music featured in this podcast is used with permission from Myuu.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://spoti.fi/1Uda2ci

    35 min
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4.5
out of 5
105 Ratings

About

Now in its fourth season, When Killers Get Caught is a true crime podcast hosted by Brittany Ransom that focuses not just on what happened, but why. Each week explores infamous and overlooked cases, unsettling mysteries, and the psychology behind violent crime, following the trail until the moment everything falls apart. This is a show about motive, consequence, and the thin line between ordinary life and unthinkable acts. Starting February 2026, subscribers (Case Closers) will also get exclusive mini-episodes with shorter, deep-cut cases and listener submissions.

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