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?

In this episode of Crime Chat, Lisa leads a deep dive into the White House Farm murders thay occurred on August 7th, 1985 and the conviction of Jeremy Bamber in October of 1986. We walk through the full timeline of the case: from the 1985 killings of five members of the Bamber family, through Jeremy Bamber’s arrest, trial, and conviction and then onto his decades of appeals.

We break down the prosecution’s case, the evidence (mostly circumstantial) used to secure a conviction, and the questions that have surrounded this case for forty years. From less-than-stellar police work to dubious witness testimony, this case continues to baffle to this day.

We also discuss new evidence and alternative interpretations presented by the podcast Blood Relatives, whose host has spent years re-examining the case from the very beginning. This modern re-investigation raises serious questions about whether critical evidence was overlooked (or deliberately skipped) and if police tunnel vision may have ruined an innocent man's life. Will we ever know what really happened at Whitehouse Farm on that fateful night?

This episode explores facts, appeals, and evolving perspectives, not definitive conclusions. The goal is to examine why the Jeremy Bamber case remains one of the most debated convictions in British criminal history.

⚠️ 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 the original investigation handled properly?
• How much weight should be given to modern re-investigations?
• Can a conviction still be valid if key evidence is disputed?

📚 Sources & References

• Trial records and appellate decisions related to Jeremy Bamber
• Historical reporting on the White House Farm murders
• Investigative work and claims presented in the podcast Blood Relatives

🗣️ Join the Conversation

What’s your take on the Jeremy Bamber case? Do you believe the conviction should be re-examined?

In Part 2 of our Diddy series, we dive into the allegations and theories surrounding the murders of Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G. as presented in the docuseries, Sean Combs: The Reckoning.

We walk through the claims and long-standing suspicions discussed by interviewees, focusing on how power, money, and silence in the music industry have shaped public understanding of these cases.

While both murders remain officially unsolved, the docu-series raises questions about influence, rivalries, and behind-the-scenes dynamics that continue to fuel debate decades later.

This episode is a discussion of allegations and perspectives, not conclusions. We talk through what’s been said and our personal opinions given what we have heard.

⚠️ Content Warning

This episode discusses violent crime, homicide, alleged criminal activity, and sensitive historical events. All allegations discussed are based on publicly available reporting and docuseries interviews. Individuals mentioned are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law.

📚 Sources & Context

• Docuseries interviews discussing Tupac Shakur and The Notorious B.I.G.
• Public reporting and historical coverage of both murders
• Commentary from journalists, former associates, and investigators

🗣️ Join the Conversation

What do you think about the allegations discussed in this episode? Did anything surprise you—or raise new questions?

In Part 1 of our Diddy 2-part series, we break down the trial-related testimony and allegations surrounding Sean “Diddy” Combs, while also unpacking what the docuseries interviews reveal about his early career, rise to power, and long-discussed character traits.

We talk through key witness testimony connected to the trial, including reactions to the widely circulated hotel surveillance video involving Diddy and Cassie, and discuss why this evidence has become such a central and disturbing part of the case. Along the way, we reference insights from interviews featured in the docu-series that paint a picture of Diddy’s behavior behind the scenes during his early days in the music industry.

This episode focuses on what’s been alleged, testified to, and publicly discussed—and how these pieces fit into the broader legal and cultural conversation surrounding the trial.

We do not cover the Tupac and Biggie angle here. That deserves (and will get) its own dedicated episode (be sure to check out Part 2)

⚠️ Content Warning: This episode discusses alleged abuse, violence, and disturbing footage. All information discussed is based on publicly available reports and testimony. Allegations are discussed for informational purposes only.

📚 Sources & References

• Seam Combs: The Reckoning (docuseeries on Netflix)
• Reporter coverage of Sean Combs' criminal trial
• Be sure to check out the 90s diss tracks! (The ones we mentioned are listed below)
  • Tupac - Hit 'Em Up
  • Biggie - What's Beef?

🗣️ Join the Conversation

• What part of this case lives rent-free in your mind?
• Let us know if there's a case you can't stop thinking about and we'll be sure to add it to our list of things to chat about!