The Gilgo Beach Murders: The Case Against Rex Heuermann

True Crime Today
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Mar 6, 2026 • 14min

Rex Heuermann Part 4: THE ALLEGED HUNT — LISK's Burner Phones and Gilgo Four Victim Selection

Part 4 of 5: How prosecutors say the alleged Gilgo Beach Killer selected, contacted, and killed his victims along Long Island.July 2009. Amanda Barthelemy, fifteen years old, received a call from her missing sister's phone. A man's voice asked: "Do you know what I did to your sister?"Over the following weeks, the man called seven times. He described what he'd done. On August 26, he said: "You won't see her again. I killed her."In this episode, we examine the alleged LISK hunting pattern that prosecutors say links Rex Heuermann to seven Long Island murders over three decades.The Gilgo Four and other victims share characteristics. All were sex workers. All were petite—the planning document allegedly notes "small is good." All advertised on Craigslist. All were allegedly contacted via burner phones. All allegedly disappeared when the alleged Long Island Serial Killer's family was traveling.According to court documents, investigators found no instance where Heuermann's personal phone was in a different location than burner phones used to contact the Gilgo Beach victims. The FBI traced calls to "the box"—a small area of Massapequa Park.Heuermann's house was inside the box.Suffolk County prosecutors also allege fake email accounts under names like John Springfield and Thomas Hawk—used to create profiles and contact sex workers. Even in 2022, investigators watched the alleged Gilgo Beach Killer add money to burner phones.And the alleged taunting went beyond phone calls. Prosecutors say LISK searched obsessively for the Ocean Parkway investigation. For photos of victims. For photos of their families.DA Tierney: "His intent was specifically to locate these victims, to hunt them down, to bring them under his control, and to kill them."Rex Heuermann has pleaded not guilty. The Gilgo Beach trial is September 2026.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #GilgoBeachKiller #LongIslandSerialKiller #GilgoFour #BurnerPhones #TauntingCalls #GilgoBeachMurders #OceanParkway
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Mar 5, 2026 • 16min

Rex Heuermann Part 3: THE FAMILY — LISK's Wife Says Hero, Daughter Says Gilgo Beach Killer

Part 3 of 5: The family fracture that defines the Long Island Serial Killer case.Asa Ellerup was married to Rex Heuermann for nearly three decades. In the Peacock documentary, she called him her "hero" and said Suffolk County police have "the wrong man." Their daughter Victoria has reached the opposite conclusion—telling producers she believes her father is "most likely the Gilgo Beach serial killer."Same house. Same twenty-seven years. Two completely different realities about LISK.In this episode, we examine what the alleged Gilgo Beach Killer's family saw and missed, why mother and daughter diverged, and what prosecutors say may have connected them to the alleged crimes without their knowledge.According to court documents, every murder Heuermann is charged with allegedly occurred when his family was out of town. Wife in Iceland, Maryland, New Jersey—each absence allegedly corresponded with a victim's disappearance along Ocean Parkway.But the connection runs deeper. Female hairs found on multiple victims' remains were allegedly consistent with DNA from Asa and Victoria. Neither is accused of involvement. Prosecutors say the hair was transferred from Rex's clothing.The women in the alleged Long Island Serial Killer's life were allegedly linked to murder victims without knowing.Victoria spoke with Kerri Rawson, BTK's daughter, about what it means to have an alleged killer for a father. By the documentary's release, she'd reached her conclusion about the Gilgo Beach murders.Asa still plans to attend every day of the LISK trial. Still calls Rex her husband.The trial is September 2026. Both will be in that courtroom—one believing innocent, one believing guilty.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #GilgoBeachKiller #LongIslandSerialKiller #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #GilgoBeachMurders #OceanParkway #SuffolkCounty
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Mar 4, 2026 • 16min

Rex Heuermann Part 2: THE BLUEPRINT — Inside the Alleged LISK Planning Document

Part 2 of 5: The document prosecutors say proves everything about the Gilgo Beach murders.Hidden on one of fifty-eight hard drives seized from Rex Heuermann's Massapequa Park basement, forensic analysts found a deleted Microsoft Word file titled HK2002-04. According to court documents, it allegedly contained eighty-seven details prosecutors call LISK's "blueprint for serial murder."In this episode, we examine every section of the alleged Long Island Serial Killer's planning document and its connection to the Gilgo Beach victims.According to bail applications and court filings, the document allegedly contained: "Supplies": cutting tools, acid, hair nets, tarps, cat litter "TGR" (targets): notes that "small is good" for victims "DS" (dump sites): including Mill Road in Manorville, where Jessica Taylor and Valerie Mack were found "Body Prep": "remove head and hands, remove ID marks like tattoos" "Things to Remember": "hit harder," "heavy rope for neck—light rope broke" Jessica Taylor was found along Ocean Parkway decapitated with mutilated tattoos. The methodology allegedly matches.The Gilgo Beach Killer's document also allegedly referenced pages in FBI profiler John Douglas's Mindhunter—passages about perpetrator psychology and crime scene behavior. Prosecutors allege LISK studied how serial killers get caught.When Suffolk County investigators returned to the home, infrared examination allegedly revealed physical evidence matching the document: adhesive residue on paneling, push pins in drop ceilings.DA Tierney: "The exact method by which these murders were committed in excruciating detail in that document is in some cases identical to the methodology used to murder the victims."Rex Heuermann has pleaded not guilty. The Gilgo Beach trial is September 2026.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #LISK #GilgoBeachKiller #LongIslandSerialKiller #GilgoBeachMurders #PlanningDocument #OceanParkway #JessicaTaylor #ValerieMack
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Mar 3, 2026 • 14min

Rex Heuermann Part 1: THE MASK — The Alleged Gilgo Beach Killer's Psychology

Part 1 of 5: How did Rex Heuermann—the man prosecutors call LISK—allegedly hide in plain sight for thirty years?This is the beginning of our comprehensive series examining the case against Rex Heuermann, the Manhattan architect charged with the Gilgo Beach murders. Seven victims between 1993 and 2010. Remains discovered along Ocean Parkway starting in December 2010. He's pleaded not guilty to all charges. His trial is set for September 2026.In this episode, we examine the psychology of compartmentalization—the phenomenon that allegedly allowed the Long Island Serial Killer to live as a family man while prosecutors say he was hunting victims whenever his wife and children were out of town.His ex-wife Asa Ellerup still calls him her "hero." In the Peacock documentary, she said: "I know what bad men are capable of doing. Not my husband. You have the wrong man."Their daughter Victoria has reached a different conclusion. According to documentary producers, she now believes her father is "most likely the Gilgo Beach serial killer."Forensic psychologist Scott Bonn explains that killers like BTK and the Green River Killer had "the ability to flip a switch and go from family man to sadistic killer." Former FBI agent Robin Dreeke suggests predators often select partners for traits that make them less likely to investigate red flags.According to Suffolk County prosecutors, every murder the alleged Gilgo Beach Killer is charged with occurred during windows when his family was traveling. Wife in Iceland, Maryland, New Jersey, Virginia—each absence allegedly corresponded with a victim's disappearance.Same house. Same twenty-seven years. Two completely different conclusions about who LISK really is.The mask, if prosecutors are right, didn't slip for three decades.Join Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8-vxmbhTxxG10sO1izODJg?sub_confirmation=1Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/TrueCrimePodThis publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoBeachKiller #LISK #LongIslandSerialKiller #GilgoBeachMurders #OceanParkway #SuffolkCounty #MassapequaPark #GilgoFour
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Jan 20, 2026 • 14min

Rex Heuermann Trial September 2026 — Defense Files 178-Page Motion to Dismiss Costilla Charge and Expose Bittrolff Connection

The biggest development in the Gilgo Beach case since Rex Heuermann's arrest. On January 13, 2026, Judge Timothy Mazzei finally set a trial date — right after Labor Day, September 2026. But the defense dropped a massive 178-page omnibus motion the night before that could change everything.Defense attorneys Michael Brown and Danielle Coysh are asking the court to dismiss the Sandra Costilla murder charge entirely. Costilla was killed in 1993 — the oldest case on the indictment. The prosecution's evidence linking Heuermann to her death: a single hair on her outer shirt. Not on her body. Not in a vehicle. Not in his home. The defense argues there's no eyewitness testimony, no surveillance, no digital evidence, no phone records, no fingerprints, no confession, and no murder weapon.They're also demanding all discovery related to convicted killer John Bittrolff, who's serving time for two Long Island murders with the same victim profile and geography. A former prosecutor previously stated Bittrolff was "probably responsible" for Costilla's death.The motion challenges twenty search warrants and argues the pizza crust DNA collection violated Heuermann's Fourth Amendment rights — a novel argument that could set precedent for how DNA evidence is collected in New York.Meanwhile, Andrew Dykes was just arrested in December for the murder of "Peaches" — long assumed to be a Gilgo victim. Different killer. Same beach.DA Ray Tierney says he's confident. Prosecution responds March 3rd. Defense replies March 17th. Trial begins September 2026. Seven murder charges. Life without parole on the line.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #GilgoBeachMurders #LongIslandSerialKiller #SandraCostilla #JohnBittrolff #AndrewDykes #Peaches #GilgoBeachTrial #LISKJoin Our SubStack For AD-FREE ADVANCE EPISODES & EXTRAS!: https://hiddenkillers.substack.com/Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872This publication contains commentary and opinion based on publicly available information. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Nothing published here should be taken as a statement of fact, health or legal advice.
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Dec 31, 2025 • 44min

Inside the Mind of Rex Heuermann: The Architect Who Allegedly Built a Double Life of Horror | 2025 True Crime

He looked like the guy next door — the dependable architect in a button-down shirt, the dad carrying groceries, the man waving from the driveway. But prosecutors say Rex Heuermann was also living a second life beneath that suburban shell: the man behind the Gilgo Beach murders, one of the most disturbing serial-killer cases in modern history.In this psychological deep dive, Hidden Killers host Tony Brueski exposes the mental architecture of control, deception, and compartmentalization that behavioral experts say may allow someone to construct two worlds that never touch. From high-functioning psychopathy to strict operational secrecy, Tony explores how a person can design blueprints by day and allegedly engineer terror by night — all while maintaining a façade so ordinary that no one close to him ever sees the cracks forming.Heuermann’s environment reflected his pathology: the soundproof basement, the meticulously organized tools, the rigid routines that enabled a double life to thrive. This episode breaks down how predators weaponize normalcy — and why the people closest to them often become the last to know.But there’s another layer: the family. As the case moves toward trial, questions loom about whether his ex-wife Asa Ellerup or his daughter could be called to testify. Tony is joined by defense attorney and former prosecutor Eric Faddis to unpack the emotional and legal stakes of family testimony, jury bias, and the impact of years of media coverage on a case already carved into the public consciousness.This episode blends behavioral profiling with legal strategy to show how monsters hide in plain sight — and how the justice system tries to reveal what the façade so carefully concealed.Because evil doesn’t always lurk in shadows. Sometimes, it stands at the front door smiling.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #SerialKillerPsychology #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #BehavioralAnalysis #TrueCrimePodcast #AsaEllerup #FamilyTestimony #CriminalMindWant to comment and watch this podcast as a video?Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872
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Dec 30, 2025 • 1h 3min

Inside the Gilgo Evidence Room: Doll, Cage, DNA — And the ONE Trial That Could Decide Everything | 2025 True Crime

In this powerful breakdown of the Gilgo Beach case, Tony Brueski and retired FBI Special Agent Jennifer Coffindaffer take listeners inside the evidence story prosecutors will present to a single jury—now that a judge has ruled all seven murder charges against Rex Heuermann will be tried together. This ruling reshapes the entire strategy on both sides of the courtroom, giving the state a sweeping narrative arc while handing the defense the ammunition to argue prejudice, jury overload, and unfair consolidation.We begin with the evidence tour: the infamous large doll, the cage, the secret room, the basement storage vault, and the forensic haul investigators collected during the search warrant execution. Coffindaffer walks through how prosecutors will try to connect these items to time, transfer, and intent—and why the defense will insist none of it is meaningful unless tied to scientifically grounded timelines and corroboration. The rule is simple: seized items aren’t guilt until they’re connected to the crime.Then we dive into the science. Whole genome hair sequencing may be “new to this courtroom,” but it’s not new to forensic research. The state will rely on validation studies and conservative conclusions; the defense will call it junk science. This battle could determine whether key DNA evidence even makes it to the jury box.We also explore the family factor: could Heuermann’s daughter testify? Would Asa Ellerup take the stand? And how would their emotional presence—or absence—shape juror perception?Finally, former prosecutor and defense attorney Eric Faddis breaks down the legal stakes of joinder: seven counts, one jury, decades of alleged conduct, and a trial timeline stretching realistically toward 2027. This isn’t just strategy—it’s a marathon requiring clean science, disciplined storytelling, and a jury willing to follow every step.This is the full picture: the evidence, the science, the strategy, and the stakes.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #HiddenKillers #DNAEvidence #ForensicScience #JenniferCoffindaffer #EricFaddis #TrueCrimeNews #SerialKillerTrial #TonyBrueskiWant to comment and watch this podcast as a video?Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872
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Dec 29, 2025 • 27min

All Seven Murders in One Trial: The Rex Heuermann Ruling That Changes EVERYTHING | 2025 True Crime

The Gilgo Beach case just took a seismic turn. A judge has ruled that all seven murder charges against Rex Heuermann will be combined into one massive, high-stakes trial — a decision that reshapes the legal battlefield and raises the pressure on everyone involved. In today’s episode, Tony Brueski and defense attorney/former prosecutor Eric Faddis break down what this ruling really means for the prosecution, the defense, and the jury tasked with navigating one of the most disturbing serial murder cases in American history.We examine why combining the charges could create a devastating narrative advantage for prosecutors, who will now be able to present a sweeping pattern of alleged behavior instead of siloed incidents. But this strategy also risks unfair prejudice, especially in a case already saturated with headlines, documentaries, and public speculation. Eric explains how jurors may psychologically struggle to separate evidence tied to each victim once everything is presented together.Then we turn to the wildcard that could influence the entire trial: Heuermann’s family. Could his ex-wife, Asa Ellerup, be compelled to testify? Would their daughter take the stand? And what about the documentary footage that captured intimate, raw emotional moments — could that become part of the evidentiary record?This episode explores the legal complexities of spousal testimony, impeachment risk, and whether family cooperation helps or hurts the defense. We also break down jury selection, the challenges of finding impartial jurors in New York, and the role advanced DNA techniques may play in establishing — or undermining — the state’s case.The ruling to consolidate the charges is not just procedural. It is transformational. If you’re following the Gilgo Beach case, this is the turning point you need to understand.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeach #HiddenKillersLive #TrueCrimePodcast #SerialKillerCase #AsaEllerup #DNAEvidence #TrueCrimeNews #Justice #EricFaddisWant to comment and watch this podcast as a video?Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872
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Dec 28, 2025 • 38min

Five Most Disturbing Clues Found in Rex Heuermann’s Home | 2025 True Crime

Step inside the darkness investigators uncovered in the Massapequa Park home of alleged Gilgo Beach serial killer Rex Heuermann. In this episode, we break down five of the most disturbing pieces of evidence seized from inside that ordinary-looking suburban house—items that paint a chilling psychological portrait of a man prosecutors say lived a double life for decades. From the child-sized doll encased in glass to the portrait of a bruised woman, the 87-entry “kill plan” digital file, the nearly 300-gun basement vault, and the massive collection of extreme digital content, each object reflects themes of control, violence, secrecy, and fantasy. These aren’t rumors—these items were documented in court filings and discussed publicly by investigators.But the horror inside the home is only half the story.The case now barrels toward a critical turning point on July 17, when a pivotal Frye hearing will determine whether the prosecution’s whole genome sequencing evidence is allowed at trial. Prosecutors say this cutting-edge DNA method connects hairs found on victims to Heuermann and his family members. The defense calls it “magic”—too new, too untested, too unreliable. If the judge rejects the science, the state loses one of its strongest forensic links. If the judge allows it, the defense may have nowhere left to run.We also examine what else could surface at the hearing: potential links to additional victims, revelations from the mountain of digital devices seized from the home, and whether the court will force this into five separate trials or one massive showdown.If you follow the Gilgo Beach case, this is essential context—the physical evidence, the psychological implications, and the legal battle that could reshape everything.#RexHeuermann #GilgoBeachMurders #EvidenceBreakdown #DNAEvidence #FryeHearing #TrueCrimeAnalysis #SerialKillerCase #HiddenKillers #ForensicUpdate #LongIslandCrimeWant to comment and watch this podcast as a video?Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872
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Dec 27, 2025 • 37min

10 Signs Rex Heuermann’s Family Missed — FBI & Psych Experts Reveal the Truth! | 2025 True Crime

How does a family live beside an alleged serial killer for nearly three decades without realizing the monster in their own home? In this powerful episode, two top behavioral experts—retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke and psychotherapist Shavaun Scott—break down the psychological blind spots, emotional dynamics, and manipulation patterns that may explain how Rex Heuermann hid a double life from those closest to him.Robin Dreeke opens the conversation with an FBI-level behavioral analysis of Asa Ellerup, Heuermann’s longtime wife. He explores the subtle traits predators often look for in partners: trust over curiosity, stability over confrontation, and a tendency to rationalize red flags instead of investigating them. Dreeke explains how “truth-default mode” and compartmentalization allow serial offenders to mask their darkest impulses while maintaining the appearance of normal family life. We analyze key moments from the Peacock documentary that reveal how Asa’s behaviors, reactions, and emotional patterns may have made her vulnerable to deception—not complicit in it.Then we shift to their daughter, Victoria, whose heartbreaking journey unfolds in real time. Shavaun Scott walks us through the psychological shock of realizing a beloved parent may be responsible for unimaginable violence. From Victoria’s “love and hate can coexist” confession to her disturbing trauma-processing artwork, we explore ambiguous loss, identity shattering, and the impossible emotional math children of accused killers must reconcile. Victoria’s shift from admiration to believing her father is “most likely guilty” is one of the most honest and devastating arcs in true-crime storytelling.This episode exposes not only how evil hides in plain sight—but how it fractures the#GilgoBeach #RexHeuermann #AsaEllerup #VictoriaHeuermann #TrueCrimeAnalysis #FBIBehavioralAnalysis #RobinDreeke #ShavaunScott #SerialKillerFamily #HiddenKillersWant to comment and watch this podcast as a video?Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspodInstagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspodX Twitter https://x.com/tonybpodListen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

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