Unlawful Acts
Every story has two sides—the version we hear, and the version buried beneath the surface. Unlawful Acts is a weekly true crime podcast hosted by Susan Davis, offering condensed yet compelling storytelling that dives deep into some of the world’s most fascinating criminal cases. From elusive serial killers to decades-old mysteries, each episode peels back the layers to uncover the truths often left untold.But this isn’t just about the crimes—it’s about the people: the families who never stopped searching, the detectives who chased justice across years and continents, and the overlooked patterns hiding in plain sigh...
Episodes
The Butcher of Plainfield – Ed Gein
On this episode of Unlawful Acts, we descend into the nightmarish world of Ed Gein—the killer and grave robber whose twisted crimes inspired horror legends like Psycho and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. From his isolated farmhouse in Plainfie…
The Shoe Fetish Killer – Jerry Brudos
On this episode of Unlawful Acts, we uncover the twisted story of Jerry Brudos—the “Shoe Fetish Killer.” Behind closed doors, his obsession with women’s shoes and lingerie escalated into abduction, murder, and grotesque trophies. What began…
The Man Who Slept with Corpses - Dennis Nilsen
Known as the Muswell Hill Murderer, Dennis Nilsen is one of Britain’s most chilling serial killers. Between 1978 and 1983, Nilsen lured young men into his London flats, where he carried out brutal murders — often keeping the bodies for days…
The Dating Game Killer – Rodney Alcala
In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we expose the twisted double life of Rodney Alcala, a charming photographer who hid his identity as a ruthless predator. Alcala earned national attention when he appeared on the hit TV show The Dating Game …
The NFL Player Turned I-5 Killer – Randall Woodfield
In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we dive into the shocking story of Randall Woodfield, a former NFL player whose athletic promise hid a terrifying secret. Known as the I-5 Killer, Woodfield stalked and murdered women along the West Coast d…
The Nation’s Kill Kit Killer – Israel Keyes
In this chilling episode of Unlawful Acts, we uncover the disturbing crimes of Israel Keyes, a man who turned murder into method. Keyes buried weapons and tools across the United States, creating hidden caches that allowed him to strike whe…
Bind, Torture, Kill: Part 2 - Dennis Rader
In Part Two of Unlawful Acts’ deep dive into Dennis Rader, the “BTK Killer,” we pick up with the chilling aftermath of his crimes and the decades-long hunt to bring him to justice. We’ll examine how Rader managed to elude capture for so lon…
Bind, Torture, Kill: Part 1 – Dennis Rader
In this chilling episode of Unlawful Acts, we dive into the twisted mind of Dennis Rader, the man who terrorized Kansas for decades under the name “BTK”—short for Bind, Torture, Kill. Rader lived a double life: devoted family man and church…
The Meanest Man in America - Donald Henry Gaskins
In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we confront the violent legacy of Donald Henry Gaskins, a man whose sadistic crimes earned him the title “The Meanest Man in America.” From a troubled childhood in rural South Carolina to a lifetime of thef…
The Internet's First Serial Killer - John Edward Robinson
In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we expose the twisted crimes of John Edward Robinson, a seemingly ordinary Kansas businessman who became known as “The Internet’s First Serial Killer.” Using early online chat rooms and personal ads, Robins…
The Butcher Baker's Alaskan Hunting Games - Robert Hansen
In this chilling episode of Unlawful Acts, we step into the frozen wilderness of Alaska to uncover the horrifying crimes of Robert Hansen, the so-called “Butcher Baker.” By day, Hansen was a quiet family man and respected baker—but in the s…
The Cross-Country Crimes of The Beauty Queen Killer - Christopher Wilder
In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we follow the deadly trail of Christopher Wilder, a charming yet sadistic predator who earned the nickname “The Beauty Queen Killer.” In 1984, Wilder embarked on a cross-country murder spree, luring young w…
Satanic Rituals & a City in Terror - The Chicago Ripper Crew
In this horrifying episode of Unlawful Acts, we revisit the reign of terror unleashed by the Chicago Ripper Crew—a sadistic group of men driven by satanic rituals and unimaginable cruelty. Between 1981 and 1982, they abducted, tortured, and…
America’s Deadliest Serial Killer - Samuel Little
In this episode of Unlawful Acts, we confront the staggering crimes of Samuel Little, the man the FBI has called the most prolific serial killer in U.S. history. Over four decades, Little preyed on society’s most vulnerable—often targeting …
Charming Neighbor, Cold-Blooded Killer - Michael Gargiulo
In this gripping episode of Unlawful Acts, host Susan Davis unravels the chilling story of Michael Gargiulo, known as “The Boy Next Door Killer.” Outwardly charming and seemingly ordinary, Gargiulo concealed a dark obsession—methodically st…
The Twisted Secrets of the Toybox Killer - David Parker Ray
In this disturbing episode of Unlawful Acts, we delve into the dark world of David Parker Ray, a man suspected of torturing and killing dozens of women inside a soundproof trailer he chillingly called his “Toybox.” Ray’s sadistic methods, r…
Cop By Day & Killer By Night - Gerard Schaefer
On this episode of Unlawful Acts, we uncover the horrifying double life of Gerard Schaefer—a Florida law enforcement officer who used his badge to lure victims into deadly traps. By day, Schaefer upheld the law; by night, he committed some …
Trailer
Every story has two sides—the version we hear, and the version buried beneath the surface. Unlawful Acts is a weekly true crime podcast hosted by Susan Davis, offering condensed yet compelling storytelling that dives deep into some of the w…