In this episode of the Grizzly True Crime podcast, we examine one of the most disturbing criminal cases in modern Japanese history — the case of Takahiro Shiraishi, known internationally as Japan’s Twitter Killer.

Between August and October of 2017, Shiraishi used Twitter to target young people expressing despair and emotional distress. What began as online conversations quickly turned into manipulation, exploitation, and ultimately murder. Over the span of just nine weeks, nine victims were lured to his apartment near Tokyo.

This episode explores:

• how social media was weaponized to groom vulnerable victims
• the psychological manipulation used to gain trust
• what investigators discovered inside Shiraishi’s apartment
• how the case unfolded, from arrest to conviction
• and the long-term impact this case had on online safety and mental-health awareness in Japan

Listener discretion advised: This episode contains discussions of violence, sexual assault, and exploitation. This content is intended for mature audiences.

This is an audio-only deep dive focused on education, context, and honoring the victims — while highlighting the real dangers of online predation

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In this episode of Grizzly True Crime, we take a careful, fact-based look at the case of Madeline Soto, a 13-year-old girl whose disappearance and death exposed years of alleged abuse.

Using police records, court filings, and Stephan Sterns’ own statements to investigators, this episode walks through the confirmed timeline, the household dynamics leading up to Madeline’s death, and the evidence investigators say contradicts Sterns’ account. We also examine how the investigation unfolded, the community response, and why this case highlights the warning signs that are too often missed in child abuse cases.

This episode prioritizes accuracy, context, and respect for Madeline and her family.

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Thanks for listening! You can find more deep-dive episodes on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GrizzlyTrueCrime

Support the show: https://patreon.com/grizzlytruecrime

Buy Me a Coffee: https://buymeacoffee.com/truecrimegisela

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The Skelton brothers case involves the disappearance of three young boys—Andrew Ryan Skelton (aged 9), Alexander William Skelton (aged 7), and Tanner Lucas Skelton (aged 5)—from Morenci, Michigan, on or around November 26, 2010. The boys were last seen at their father John Skelton's home during a Thanksgiving visitation amid a contentious divorce and custody dispute with their mother, Tanya Zuvers, who had primary custody.

John Skelton failed to return the boys as scheduled, leading Zuvers to report them missing. He provided inconsistent accounts, initially claiming he had given them to an unidentified woman named Joann Taylor or to an underground organization to protect them from their mother. Investigators found no evidence supporting these claims, and cell phone records placed him traveling briefly into Ohio before returning home.

Authorities charged Skelton with unlawful imprisonment in 2011. He pleaded no contest and received a sentence of 10 to 15 years, which he served at Bellamy Creek Correctional Facility. Extensive searches across Michigan and Ohio yielded no trace of the boys, and potential leads, such as juvenile remains discovered in Montana in 2017, proved unrelated.

In March 2025, following a petition by Tanya Zuvers, a Lenawee County probate judge declared the brothers legally deceased as of November 26, 2010, providing closure for the family. However, the judge determined there was insufficient clear and convincing evidence to attribute murder to John Skelton in that civil proceeding.

As Skelton approached his scheduled release on November 29, 2025, prosecutors filed new charges on November 12, 2025, including three counts of open murder and three counts of tampering with evidence. These developments prevented his release and advanced the case toward potential trial. A preliminary examination, originally considered for earlier dates, has been scheduled for May 11, 2026, to allow review of extensive evidence.

The boys' remains have not been recovered, and the case remains active under Michigan State Police investigation. Law enforcement has consistently expressed belief that John Skelton holds key information regarding the boys' fate. The matter continues to profoundly affect the Morenci community and the family.

Support the show

Thanks for listening! You can find more deep-dive episodes on my YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@GrizzlyTrueCrime

Support the show: https://patreon.com/grizzlytruecrime

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New episode coming soon! Stay safe, Gisela K.