In this episode of Crime Chats, Hilary leads us through the baffling and deeply unsettling death of Gareth Williams, a brilliant mathematician and intelligence officer found dead in a locked duffel bag in his London flat in 2010.

We explore who Gareth was beyond the headlines and unpack the media narratives that quickly emerged after his death. From espionage theories to sensational speculation, we examine what was reported, what doesn’t add up, and why some explanations fall apart under closer scrutiny.

Using insights from the DSM-5, we also discuss and challenge the psychological assumptions that were publicly attached to Gareth. Were these assumptions evidence-based or simply convenient storytelling?

This is a case filled to the brim with unanswered questions and conflicting theories. As sad as it is, it's doubtful we'll ever know the truth.

🧠 What we discuss

• Who Gareth Williams was as a person at work and in his personal life
• His amazing career and work as a mathematician and intelligence officer
• The timeline of events leading up to his death and after
• The major theories surrounding his death
• Media coverage and how the narrative evolved
• Psychological claims made about Gareth and whether they hold up
• How DSM-5 criteria helps contextualize (and question) those claims

🔎 Case themes

• Unexplained death
• Intelligence community secrecy
• Media framing
• Psychological speculation
• Forensic uncertainty

📚 Sources & References

• https://www.cnn.com/2012/05/02/world/europe/uk-spy-mystery-death
• https://www.swissinfo.ch/eng/no-new-evidence-found-after-review-into-death-of-british-spy-found-in-bag/72256555
• https://www.ladbible.com/news/uk-news/mi6-spy-gareth-williams-death-body-red-flags-906710-20250816
• https://www.bbc.com/weather/articles/cz60081dpyxo#:~:text=On%20Monday%2C%20many%20parts%20of,east%20Wales%20and%20eastern%20Scotland.&text=As%20well%20as%20heat%20by,heatwave%20days%20in%20southern%20England
• https://www.lbc.co.uk/article/spy-in-the-bag-gareth-williams-was-murdered-claims-investigator-who-tried-to-loc-DWzQRK_2/
• https://shorturl.at/cFirx

💬 Join the conversation

What theory do you find most convincing, and why? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

In this episode of Crime Chat, we explore the mysterious death of John Bender, whose wife was tried for his murder on three separate occasions, ultimately culminating in an acquittal.

We discuss John's life before meeting Ann, the events that happened leading up to his death, and walk through each of the three trials and their outcomes. We also take a closer look at John and Ann Bender’s mental health diagnoses, referencing the DSM-5 to better understand how mental illness may have influenced behavior, perception, and legal responsibility.

⚠️ Content Warning

This episode discusses violent crime, homicide, family tragedy, and allegations of wrongdoing. All information is based on publicly available court records, reporting, and podcast investigations. Allegations and alternative theories are discussed for informational purposes only. Individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.

🔍 Questions We Discuss

• Was John Bender’s death a tragic accident, or was there criminal intent involved?

• Why did this case go to trial three separate times, and what changed each time?

• To what extent should mental health diagnoses impact criminal responsibility?

• Did cultural and legal differences in Costa Rica affect the outcome of the case?

• Were there warning signs leading up to John’s death that were overlooked?

• Has justice truly been served — or does this case still leave too many questions unanswered?

📚 Sources & References

• Investigative work and claims presented in the podcast Hell in Heaven: A Mysterious Death in Paradise, hosted by journalist, Becky Milligan
• Love and Madness in the Jungle by Ned Zemen (article published in Outside online magazine)

🗣️ Join the Conversation

What do you think? This case is anything but straightforward.

In this episode of Crime Chat, we discuss one of the most disturbing family annihilation cases in recent U.S. history. The tragic and terrible crimes of Robert and Michael Bever.

We walk through the events leading up to the 2015 massacre in Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, where two teenage brothers carried out a brutal attack on their own family. We examine the timeline of the crime, the aftermath, and how the case shocked a community — not just because of the violence, but because of the ages of the perpetrators and the warning signs that appeared to go unnoticed.

Throughout the episode, we talk through what is known about the brothers’ background, reported influences, online activity, and the broader questions this case raises about radicalization, mental health, family dynamics, and accountability. We also discuss the legal outcomes and sentencing, including how the justice system handled the case given the ages of those involved.

This is a difficult case with no easy explanations. Our goal is not to sensationalize, but to understand how something so unthinkable could happen — and what, if anything, can be learned from it.

⚠️ Content Warning

This episode includes discussion of extreme violence, homicide, family annihilation, and crimes involving minors. Listener discretion is strongly advised.

All information discussed is based on publicly available reporting and court records. We do not speculate beyond what has been documented.

💬 Join the Conversation

This case raises difficult questions with no simple answers.

What do you think contributes most to cases like this — environment, ideology, mental health, or something else entirely?