Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes
Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes is a true crime and conspiracy theories podcast about the people who take belief too far and the deadly consequences that follow. Hosted by Vanessa Richardson, two weekly episodes unpack real stories of murderous cults, criminal cover-ups, mass manipulation, and twisted conspiracies. From Jonestown and Heaven’s Gate to CIA mind control experiments, presidential assassinations, and the Octopus Murders. This is true crime at the intersection of faith, fear and manipulation. Follow now for new episodes every Wednesday and Friday. This is a Crime House Original, powered by PAVE Studios.
Episodes
February 4, 2026 • 37 mins
In the 1980s and 1990s, a secretive spiritual order spread across Europe and Canada, promising enlightenment, cosmic destiny, and rebirth among the stars. Instead, it led to one of the most disturbing cult tragedies in modern history. In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes, Vanessa Richardson investigates the Order of the Solar Temple, its charismatic leaders Joseph Di Mambro and Luc Jouret, and the blend of New ...
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January 30, 2026 • 41 mins
A string of high-profile killings involving tech leaders sparked fears that Silicon Valley’s elite were being hunted—but the truth is far more complicated. In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes, Vanessa Richardson examines the so-called “Tech Bro Murders,” unpacking the brutal deaths of entrepreneur Fahim Saleh, Cash App co-creator Bob Lee, and rising tech leader Pava LaPere. Through each case, the episode revea...
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January 28, 2026 • 36 mins
What if reality isn’t real at all? In this episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes, Vanessa Richardson explores Simulation Theory — the unsettling idea that our world may be an advanced computer program. Tracing the concept from ancient philosophy and science fiction to modern thinkers like Nick Bostrom and today’s tech leaders, this episode examines why millions believe we’re living in a simulation, the so-called “glitch...
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January 23, 2026 • 38 mins
In December 1969, the Rolling Stones set out to create the West Coast’s answer to Woodstock — a free concert meant to celebrate peace, music, and the spirit of the era. Instead, the Altamont Speedway Free Festival descended into chaos. With the Hells Angels hired as security, a massive, unruly crowd, and mounting violence throughout the day, the event spiraled toward tragedy. When 18-year-old Meredith Hunter was killed during the S...
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January 21, 2026 • 42 mins
In the summer of 1969, a fringe commune led by ex-convict Charles Manson unleashed a wave of brutality that stunned the nation and marked the violent end of the 1960s counterculture. In this episode, Vanessa Richardson traces Manson’s path from a troubled childhood to the creation of his devoted “Family,” revealing how he manipulated vulnerable followers with drugs, apocalyptic prophecy, and promises of revolution. As the Tate-LaBi...
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January 16, 2026 • 37 mins
In 1930, New York Supreme Court Justice Joseph Force Crater stepped into a cab in Manhattan—and was never seen again. His sudden disappearance sparked national panic, fed decades of conspiracy theories, and exposed the shadowy world of political corruption surrounding Tammany Hall. In this episode, Vanessa Richardson unravels Judge Crater’s final days, from mysterious cash withdrawals to secret meetings, showgirl entanglements, and...
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January 14, 2026 • 38 mins
When two Pennsylvania judges secretly took millions in kickbacks from private juvenile detention centers, thousands of kids paid the price. From minor misbehavior to harmless pranks, children were funneled into for-profit facilities under Judge Mark Ciavarella’s “zero-tolerance” courtroom—while he and his colleague Michael Conahan grew wealthier by the day. In this episode, Vanessa Richardson unpacks the shocking “Kids for Cash” co...
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January 7, 2026 • 40 mins
When 31-year-old MI6 codebreaker Gareth Williams was found dead inside a padlocked sports bag in his London apartment, investigators were left with a scene as baffling as it was chilling. With no signs of forced entry, almost no forensic evidence, and a timeline clouded by secrecy, his death sparked worldwide speculation: Was it a tragic accident, a covert assassination, or something far stranger? In this episode, Vanessa Richardso...
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Crime House Best of 2025 - MISSING: The Martin Family from Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore
January 3, 2026 • 71 mins
Happy New Year! This year across Crime House, we released over 600 episodes. While we are proud of all of them, one episode rose above the rest and was voted on as Crime House’s Best Episode of 2025.
It’s the case of the missing Martin Family, from Clues with Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore.
This episode takes us back to December 1958. The Martin Family was as picture-perfect as they come during the holidays: Santa suits, candy c...
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January 1, 2026 • 38 mins
The investigation into the disappearance of Olivia Hope and Ben Smart intensifies in this second episode, following detectives as they seize on 26-year-old Scott Watson as their primary suspect despite mismatched witness descriptions, a missing boat, and no bodies ever found. Carter and Vanessa examine the controversial forensic hair evidence, disputed scratch marks, shifting witness identifications, jailhouse informants, and the p...
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December 30, 2025 • 39 mins
The first episode of this New Year’s two-part special retraces the final hours of 17-year-old Olivia Hope and 21-year-old Ben Smart, who rang in 1998 at a massive party at New Zealand’s Furneaux Lodge before mysteriously vanishing. Through eyewitness accounts, detailed timelines, and growing concerns from loved ones, Carter Roy and guest host Vanessa Richardson unravel the pair’s movements that night—from youthful excitement and ro...
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December 24, 2025 • 45 mins
On Christmas Eve 1945, the Sodder family’s home burned to the ground — and five of their children vanished without a trace. No bodies were ever recovered, sparking decades of suspicion, strange sightings, and unanswered questions. Was it a tragic house fire, a deliberate act of arson, or something even more sinister? In this episode, Vanessa Richardson unpacks the mysterious events of that night, the baffling evidence left behind, ...
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December 17, 2025 • 48 mins
In this chilling episode, Vanessa Richardson unravels one of Russia’s most enduring mysteries: the 1959 Dyatlov Pass Incident, where nine experienced hikers were found dead under bizarre and increasingly inexplicable circumstances. Torn tents, barefoot footprints in the snow, massive internal injuries, missing body parts, traces of radiation, and eyewitness accounts of strange lights in the sky fueled decades of speculation—ranging...
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December 10, 2025 • 51 mins
Dozens of young men, all found drowned. A single eerie clue near every crime scene: a painted smiley face.
In this chilling crossover with Killer Minds, host Vanessa Richardson and forensic psychologist Dr. Tristin Engels uncover the dark origins of the Smiley Face Killers theory — a decades-long investigation that suggests a nationwide ring of serial murderers might still be active.
Were these tragic deaths accidents, or the wor...
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December 3, 2025 • 49 mins
In the early 1900s, self-proclaimed “Doctor” Linda Burfield Hazzard promised to cure any disease through fasting. Instead, her methods led to a trail of emaciated bodies and stolen fortunes in the woods of Washington State.
Join Vanessa Richardson as she exposes the deadly world of Starvation Heights — a sanitarium built on greed, deception, and starvation disguised as salvation.
If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Consp...
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November 26, 2025 • 46 mins
In the 1970s, residents of Circleville, Ohio, began receiving hundreds of anonymous letters — filled with threats, accusations, and terrifying secrets.What started as a small-town scandal spiraled into a decades-long mystery involving murder, blackmail, and a botched investigation.Join Vanessa Richardson as she unravels one of America’s strangest unsolved cases — the chilling story of The Circleville Letter Writer.
Conspiracy Th...
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November 19, 2025 • 48 mins
What began as a self-help movement for ambitious women became one of the most disturbing cults in modern history.
Led by so-called guru Keith Raniere, NXIVM lured in Hollywood stars, heiresses, and professionals — only to trap them in a secret society built on control, blackmail, and abuse.
Join Vanessa Richardson as she unravels how NXIVM’s “executive success” seminars turned into a nightmare of branding, manipulation, and moder...
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November 12, 2025 • 45 mins
In 1945, the quiet village of Lower Quinton, England, was rocked by a brutal killing. Seventy-four-year-old Charles Walton was found dead in a field — pinned to the ground with his own pitchfork, his body marked in what looked like ritual sacrifice.
Was it a crime of passion… or something darker?
Join Vanessa Richardson as she investigates one of Britain’s most chilling unsolved murders — where wartime paranoia, black magic, and ...
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November 5, 2025 • 46 mins
In 1997, the world lost its most beloved royal — but decades later, the question remains: Was Princess Diana’s death truly an accident… or was she silenced?In this gripping episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes, Vanessa Richardson unpacks the life, legacy, and mysterious death of Princess Diana. From her fairy-tale romance and public heartbreak to her chilling prediction that someone would stage her fatal “accident,” th...
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October 29, 2025 • 47 mins
In 1947, the mutilated body of 22-year-old Elizabeth Short was found in Los Angeles, shocking the nation and spawning a media firestorm. Dubbed “The Black Dahlia,” her case became one of the most infamous unsolved murders in American history. This episode of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, & Crimes unravels the secrets, suspects, and sinister theories that still haunt Hollywood nearly 80 years later.
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