True Crime Sleep Stories

On tonight's episode of True Crime Sleep Stories... Joseph Kallinger, a Philadelphia shoemaker and father of seven, was shaped by severe childhood abuse and untreated mental illness. In 1974–1975, delusions of divine commands led him, and tragically, his 12-year-old son Michael, into a brief but devastating crime spree. This episode honors the victims: José Collazo (age 10) Joseph Kallinger Jr. (Joey, age 13) Maria Fasching (age 21) We also remember the survivors of multiple terrifying home invasions across Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey... families bound, robbed, and traumatized over hours. Told with respect and care, focusing on their lives, courage, and the human cost. Sweet dreams, stay safe, and lock your doors tonight. See you in the shadows. 🌑 Support on Patreon for bonus episodes, early access & ad-free listening. 💤 SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content, join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps so much! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime JOIN US AT CRIMECON 2026! Use code "SLEEP" for your discounted tickets. --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

Tonight on True Crime Sleep Stories, we revisit one of the most haunting public service announcements in American television history: the nightly reminder that began airing in the late 1960s... “It’s 10 p.m. Do you know where your children are?” What started as a simple, well-meaning nudge amid rising urban crime and changing family dynamics slowly took on a darker resonance as the 1970s and 1980s brought wave after wave of heartbreaking child disappearances and exploitation cases. In this episode, we trace the PSA’s origins and quietly walk through some of the era’s most infamous tragedies: the Houston “Candy Man” murders, the Chowchilla school bus kidnapping, Etan Patz’s disappearance that launched the milk carton campaign, the Atlanta Child Murders, Adam Walsh’s abduction, Johnny Gosch’s vanishing, and the hidden horrors uncovered on North Fox Island. We also draw subtle parallels to modern cases like Jeffrey Epstein’s island, showing how patterns of power, isolation, and predation have persisted across decades. These are stories of vulnerability exploited in everyday moments. Paper routes at dawn, bus stops on the last day of school, toy aisles in busy malls. And of the progress born from tragedy: Amber Alerts, immediate-response laws, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and a cultural shift toward greater awareness and protection. Crimes against children are, without question, among the most horrific and heartbreaking offenses imaginable. They shatter families, communities, and our collective sense of safety in ways few other crimes can. This episode is handled with care and respect... no graphic details, no sensationalism, just the facts, the human impact, and the quiet reflection on how far we’ve come while still needing to stay vigilant. Sweet dreams, stay safe, and lock your doors tonight. See you in the shadows. 🌑 Support on Patreon for bonus episodes, early access & ad-free listening. 💤 SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content, join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps so much! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime JOIN US AT CRIMECON 2026! Use code "SLEEP" for your discounted tickets. --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

Welcome to True Crime Sleep Stories. In the summer of 1983, 15-year-old Emanuela Orlandi, a Vatican citizen and daughter of a papal household employee, left home for a routine music lesson in Rome... and never returned. What began as a simple missing person case quickly unraveled into one of the most enduring mysteries of our time, weaving together cryptic phone calls, terrorist demands, mafia connections, Vatican scandals, and decades of unanswered questions. Join us in this soothing yet haunting episode as we gently explore the layers of tragedy and intrigue surrounding Emanuela's disappearance... still unsolved after more than 40 years, with investigations reopened in recent years and new developments emerging as late as 2025. This is one of Europe's most perplexing cold cases. Sweet dreams, and thanks for listening to True Crime Sleep Stories. 🌙 Support on Patreon for bonus episodes, early access & ad-free listening. 💤 SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime JOIN US AT CRIMECON 2026! Use code "SLEEP" for your discounted tickets. --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

In 1984, Japan was gripped by one of its strangest true crime sagas: a shadowy group calling themselves the "Monster with 21 Faces" kidnapped a candy company president from his bathtub, demanded millions in ransom, then escalated to taunting letters, arson, acid bombs, and actual cyanide-laced sweets placed on store shelves. They terrorized massive brands like Ezaki Glico (makers of Pocky) and Morinaga, forcing nationwide recalls and widespread panic over everyday treats. For 17 months, they outsmarted Japan's elite police force... and then vanished forever. No arrests. No motive fully explained. If you've ever wondered how something as innocent as candy could become a tool of terror, settle in. Sweet dreams... or maybe not. 🍫 Have you heard of this case before? Drop a comment, tell us your thoughts, theories, or which unsolved mystery you'd like next! Sweet dreams, and thanks for listening to True Crime Sleep Stories. 🌙 Support on Patreon for bonus episodes, early access & ad-free listening. 💤 SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime JOIN US AT CRIMECON 2026! Use code "SLEEP" for your discounted tickets. --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

In this True Crime Sleep Stories bonus episode, host Kelli shares a real, personal mystery she first told on The Disclosure Lounge podcast. On a pitch-black "Black Moon" night in August 2025, while tent camping alone along a river, something intelligent moved through the darkness—circling, watching, making deliberate sounds that still haunt me months later. Was it Bigfoot? Something otherworldly? A prankster? Or simply the woods playing tricks? No real crime in this episode, just the slow, primal build of unease that lingers long after the story ends. Close your eyes… breathe deep… and drift into the night with me. Sweet dreams. 🌑 Support on Patreon for bonus notes, scripts & ad-free listening. 💤 SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime JOIN US AT CRIMECON 2026! Use code "SLEEP" for your discounted tickets. --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

In this episode of True Crime Sleep Stories, we explore the unsolved 1987 disappearance of 16-year-old Theresa Ann Bier from Fresno, California. What began as an exciting day trip into the Sierra Nevada mountains—searching for the legendary Bigfoot—ended in mystery when the man she went with returned alone with shifting stories that eventually settled on an extraordinary claim: Bigfoot had taken her to join a hidden colony in underground caves. No trace of Theresa was ever found in the vast, remote wilderness near Shuteye Peak and Ghost Canyon. No body, no definitive evidence, and no resolution after nearly four decades. This episode moves through her troubled early life, the chaotic circumstances leading to the trip, the bizarre investigation, and the lingering questions If you have any information—no matter how small—about Theresa Ann Bier's disappearance, please contact the Fresno Police Department at 559-498-1265. Even tips from decades ago could provide closure. Next time: Another chilling tale from the shadows… drift off with us again soon. Support on Patreon for bonus notes, scripts & ad-free listening. 💤 SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime JOIN US AT CRIMECON 2026! Use code "SLEEP" for your discounted tickets. --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

Tonight on True Crime Sleep Stories, we explore the life and crimes of Robert Christian Hansen, the Anchorage baker known as the “Butcher Baker.” The shy Iowa native built a normal life in Alaska: bakery owner, family man, bush pilot, and avid hunter. From the early 1970s to 1983, he abducted dozens of women, mostly sex workers and dancers, chained and assaulted some in a hidden basement space at home, and released others under threats. Over 30 survived. At least 17 (likely more) did not. He flew or drove them to remote wilderness, released them as prey, and hunted them with rifle and knife, burying bodies and keeping trophies. The case broke in 1983 when survivor Cindy Paulson escaped his basement and fled from an airport. Her story, ballistics, and a secret map led to his arrest and confession. Hansen received 461 years without parole and died in prison in 2014. Sweet dreams. New episodes weekly, subscribe now. Support on Patreon for bonus notes, scripts & ad-free listening. 💤 SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

On this episode of True Crime Sleep Stories, we explore the chilling truth that monsters rarely look the part. They wear friendly smiles, live next door, or even share your home as family or partners, the people meant to love and protect us. Beneath the trimmed hedges and warm porch lights of ordinary suburbs, unimaginable darkness can hide in plain sight. Settle in under the covers as we slowly unpack four cases where trust was shattered, innocence violated, and the facade of normalcy crumbled. Before we begin, a heartfelt note: researching and writing this episode left me deeply unsettled. The brutality, the betrayal by those closest to the victims, and the violation of such profound trust truly broke my heart. My deepest sympathies go out to everyone impacted by these horrific crimes, as always. True crime podcasting can take a real emotional toll, especially with so much heaviness in the world right now. So next time, I think we'll shift to something completely different and lighter. We could all use a pallet cleanser, right? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments or on social media. What type of case should we cover? Heists? Cons? White collar crimes? Something silly? This episode delves into four haunting cases of hidden evil in everyday homes: The Ken and Barbie Killers (Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka) — A seemingly perfect Canadian couple whose charm masked serial rapes and the torture-murders of three young women, including Homolka's own sister. The John List Family Annihilation — In 1971, a devout accountant and Sunday school teacher in affluent Westfield, New Jersey, methodically killed his wife, mother, and three children in their grand home before vanishing for 18 years under a new identity. The Caffey Family Murders — In rural Alba, Texas, in 2008, 16-year-old Erin Caffey orchestrated the brutal killing of her mother and two younger brothers over a forbidden romance, with her boyfriend and accomplices carrying out the violence while the house burned. The Iowa City Sueppel Murders — On Easter Sunday 2008, former banker Steven Sueppel bludgeoned his wife and four children to death in their quiet Iowa City home amid financial shame and impending charges, before taking his own life. These stories build on the theme: you can never judge a book by its cover. Evil often hides behind the most disarming disguises. As you drift toward sleep, carry this quiet reminder: cherish the light you see in the world, the warmth of smiles, the comfort of familiar faces, but remember that the people who seem the safest can sometimes hide the deepest shadows. If these stories moved you (or unsettled you), subscribe, rate, and review us on your favorite platform. It helps us keep sharing these haunting tales. Thank you for spending this quiet night with us. We'll meet you in the shadows next time—something gentler on the horizon. Until then, stay safe out there, and lock your doors. Goodnight. 🌙 SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social...

Welcome to True Crime Sleep Stories. On July 10, 2016, 27-year-old DNC staffer Seth Rich was shot twice in the back in Washington, D.C.'s Bloomingdale neighborhood, just one block from his apartment. Police called it a botched robbery (however... nothing was stolen, signs of struggle), but the case remains unsolved nearly ten years later. Weeks after his death, WikiLeaks released over 20,000 internal DNC emails, sparking questions about whether Seth may have been a source. Julian Assange's unprompted mention of Seth's murder on Dutch TV, a $20,000 WikiLeaks reward, and since-retracted private investigator claims of evidence linking him to WikiLeaks keep the mystery alive. Seth was a young man from Omaha who moved to D.C. to make democracy work better for regular people. Whether or not he ever touched those emails, his death in the middle of one of the most explosive political moments of the decade feels too coincidental to dismiss outright. His story isn't about picking sides. It's about asking whether we still live in a country where asking hard questions can cost you everything. Who killed Seth Rich? Thank you for helping us keep the light on these shadows. Sweet dreams, stay curious, and lock your doors. See you in the next deep dive. SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

In this episode of True Crime Sleep Stories, we explore the haunting case of Herb Baumeister, a suburban Indianapolis businessman and family man who hid a deadly secret. Over the course of more than a decade, he is believed to have murdered numerous young men—many last seen at gay bars in central Indiana—and buried their remains on his 18-acre estate, Fox Hollow Farm. The discovery of thousands of bone fragments in 1996 revealed the scale of the horror, yet many questions remain unanswered nearly 30 years later. SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

Welcome back to True Crime Sleep Stories. This episode is a recording from a recent Iowa show I took part in for a great community cause... On June 9, 1912, in quiet Villisca, Iowa, the Moore family and two young guest sisters, the Stillinger girls, returned home from church, happy. In the dead of night, with the whole town darkened by a power issue, someone slipped inside with an axe from their own shed. Eight people (six children) were brutally murdered in their sleep. The killer covered windows, draped mirrors, ate from the pantry, and left a slab of bacon beside the weapon. He lingered for hours before vanishing at dawn. Despite suspects, trials, and over 100 years of investigation, no one was ever convicted. The case remains unsolved. The Villisca house stands today as a museum and one of America’s most haunted sites... cold spots, slamming doors, children’s laughter that stops, and whispers on recordings. Settle in, get cozy, and let this true Iowa mystery carry you to sleep. Sweet dreams… and maybe leave a light on tonight. Thank you for listening. Stay safe out there. SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case#Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

In this episode of True Crime Sleep Stories, we drift into one of the internet's most delightfully absurd "conspiracy theories": the long-running joke, sparked by comedians Tom Segura and Christina Pazsitzky on their podcast Your Mom's House, that country music legend Garth Brooks might be hiding a very dark secret. From emotional Facebook Lives and endless tears, to the infamous Chris Gaines alter ego, massive stadium tours where people gomissing, and that unforgettable catchphrase, "Where are the bodies, G?" we explore the origins of this theory. Go to Patreon for an even deeper dive, video content, and photos: SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case #Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

Gather close on this frosty December night for a special holiday bonus episode of True Crime Sleep Stories. We’re stepping away from real cases tonight to bring you something delightfully dark and festive: a twisted true crime parody of the beloved classic poem, 'Twas the Night Before Christmas. Imagine the quiet anticipation of Christmas Eve… but instead of reindeer on the rooftop, shadowy figures descend the chimney. Evidence bags hang by the fire. A blood-spattered moon illuminates the snow. And a sinister crew of history’s most infamous killers arrives in a black unmarked van. This chilling, rhyming retelling blends holiday cheer with macabre true crime flair — perfect for drifting off to uneasy dreams under the glow of your Christmas lights. No real murders tonight… just a little festive fright to tingle your spine. SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! If you enjoyed this bonus episode and want more exclusive content (including ad-free episodes, bonus stories, and behind-the-scenes insights), join our Patreon community at patreon.com/kellibrink. Your support helps keep the shadows alive. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case #Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

In this chilling holiday-season episode of True Crime Sleep Stories, we delve into the brutal 1979 murder of 18-year-old Michelle Martinko in a Cedar Rapids mall parking lot. For nearly four decades, her killer lived freely just an hour away, until groundbreaking DNA technology and genetic genealogy finally brought justice. Host Kelli Brink shares the full story, including eerie coincidences, lingering questions, and her own shocking personal connection to the case. As always, lock your doors and hold your loved ones close this holiday season. Thank you for listening to True Crime Sleep Stories. Goodnight. 🌙 SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case #Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

Welcome to True Crime Sleep Stories On Christmas Eve 1945, a devastating fire destroyed the Sodder family home in Fayetteville, West Virginia. George and Jennie Sodder escaped with four of their ten children, but five siblings—Maurice (14), Martha (12), Louis (9), Jennie (8), and Betty (5)—vanished in the flames. No remains were ever found. What followed was a lifetime of questions, strange clues, and a family's unwavering belief that their children may have survived. Join host Kelli Brink as she explores one of America's most enduring unsolved mysteries. SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case #Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

On a quiet Thanksgiving night in 2013, while Seattle slept off its turkey dinners, two ordinary plumbers executed the the most audacious wine theft in Pacific Northwest history. Over 13 meticulous hours, Samuel Harris and Luke Thesing cut through walls, disabled cameras, and walked away with more than $648,000 worth of rare Bordeaux, California Cabernets, and priceless collectibles, only to be undone by a city tow truck and their own explosive overconfidence. This is the true story of the spiral notebook titled “The Plan,” spray-painted security lenses, gas lines sliced, and the single camera they never saw. It’s a caper so perfectly planned and hilariously botched it feels scripted, except every detail actually happened. Pour yourself a (legally purchased) glass, dim the lights, and let me walk you through the night two men tried to steal Thanksgiving… and almost burned down half of SoDo trying to cover it up. Sweet dreams, and Happy Thanksgiving. Cheers! ❤️ SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case #Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

A gentle note before we begin This week’s episode is 100% original crime fiction—a cozy, atmospheric holiday thriller I wrote especially for you. If you’re strictly here for real-life cases, feel free to save this one for a night when you’re in the mood for a creative bedtime story. Next time we’ll return to our usual true-crime format. But if you love a resourceful heroine, glittering empty mansions, and justice served with a side of Midwestern politeness… you’re in exactly the right place. About the story Sarah “Sunny” Jensen was once one of Chicago’s most trusted luxury real-estate agents. After a brutal divorce leaves her secretly living in her own vacant listings, one November night in a breathtaking Winnetka mansion she stumbles upon something monstrous hiding behind the Christmas lights: a high-society trafficking ring using the city’s empty homes as staging points. With nothing but her ring of master keys, and the kind of grit that comes from growing up in the Heartland, Sunny dismantles the operation, saves four terrified girls, loses her real estate license…and accidentally launches an entirely new chapter of her life. Part thriller, part love letter to women who refuse to stay down. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart Creating these stories—whether pulled from real headlines or spun straight out of my imagination—is the source of great joy in my life. Knowing you’re here listening, blanket pulled high, means the world to me. Thank you for letting me be part of your wind-down ritual. About the ads I keep every ad in the first few minutes so the story itself is never interrupted. Those few ads are what allow me to keep the podcast free for everyone, week after week. If you’d prefer an ad-free experience (I completely understand!), you can join our Patreon family for just $5/month at patreon.com/kellibrink. This will give you instant access to every episode ad-free the moment it’s finished, plus exclusive bonus stories and behind-the-scenes notes. Your support in any form keeps the lights on and the stories flowing. Should “The Keys She Kept” become a full novel (or series)? Sunny still has an entire key ring of empty houses and a new job recovering missing people… Let me know in the comments wherever you listen! Reply with YES if you want more of Sunny Jensen’s adventures! Thank you for being here with me in the dark. Change your alarm codes this season… just in case. Sweet dreams, Kelli ❤️ SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case #Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

In the fog-choked alleys of 1888 Whitechapel, a phantom killer stalked the most vulnerable women of Victorian London. Five brutal murders – Mary Ann Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowes, and Mary Jane Kelly – turned the East End into a nightmare and gave the world its first modern serial-killer legend: Jack the Ripper. Tonight we walk those blood-soaked streets again. We’ll meet the women behind the headlines, explore the desperate poverty that made them targets, follow the frustrated police hunt, and examine the letters that taunted Scotland Yard. Finally, we’ll look at the 21st-century breakthrough that many believe has finally unmasked the Ripper after 137 years, and the lingering doubts that keep the mystery alive. Dim the lights, lock your doors, and let the story carry you into the shadows. SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case #Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

Thanksgiving 2012 was meant to be a quiet day for 64-year-old Byron David Smith in Little Falls, Minnesota. After suffering at least six burglaries in the prior year—including one the night before, he sat armed in his darkened basement, waiting. When two teenagers, Haile Kifer & Nicholas Brady, entered his home, he opened fire. The entire sequence was captured on over six hours of audio and video, recordings that revealed not just the shootings, but chilling taunts and “finishing shots” after the intruders were down. Smith claimed he acted in self-defense under Minnesota’s castle doctrine. Prosecutors argued it was premeditated murder. The case became a flashpoint in debates over fear, lethal force, and the limits of protecting one’s home. SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case #Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation

G’day to our Aussie listeners (and everyone else) - this one’s for you! In the quiet Hunter Valley town of Aberdeen, in Australia, beloved miner and father John Price trusted the wrong person. What began as a volatile relationship ended in a crime so shocking it earned Katherine Knight the title of Australia’s most horrific female murderer. From her traumatic childhood to her chilling expertise in an abattoir (a slaughterhouse where animals are processed for meat), we trace the red flags ignored until it was too late. This is a sobering look at untreated mental illness, domestic abuse, and a betrayal that scarred a family forever. SUPPORT THE SHOW ON PATREON! Trigger Warning: This episode discusses domestic violence, murder, acts of desecration following death, and has profanity. It is intended for mature audiences and may be disturbing. Listener discretion is advised. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for creepy stories to help you drift off to sleep: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime --- --- --- --- Thank You for Listening If you liked this episode, don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and recommend True Crime Sleep Stories to your fellow true crime enthusiasts. Follow along for more dark and mysterious tales to ease you into your evening. And as always, stay curious and stay safe. --- --- --- --- Buy The Books: True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 1: https://amzn.to/3Z8jx5L True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 2: https://amzn.to/4kAthhj True Crime Sleep Stories, Volume 3:https://amzn.to/3H9xfPQ --- --- --- --- Support the show by joining Patreon https://www.patreon.com/KelliBrink Social Media: FACEBOOK: facebook.com/truecrimesleepstories INSTAGRAM: instagram.com/truecrimesleepstories Instagram.com/kellibrink YOUTUBE: https://www.youtube.com/@SleepyTimeCreepyTime APPLE PODCASTS: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-sleep-stories/id1649396201 SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/show/3qDUjSgEY2T6KMHrFoLTaQ?si=f532504c83f34669 TIKTOK: @truecrimeirl Support usSuggest a case #Truecrimepodcast #sleepstories #unsolvedmysteries #truecrimerelaxation