Killer Psyche

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the tragic and highly publicized case of John Thomas Sweeney, whose obsessive control and escalating violence led to the murder of actress Dominique Dunne in 1982. After a volatile and abusive relationship, Sweeney strangled Dunne outside her Los Angeles home, a crime that exposed devastating gaps in how the justice system addressed domestic violence and intimate partner abuse at the time. Candice unpacks the psychological warning signs, coercive dynamics, and entitlement-driven rage that defined Sweeney’s behavior, and why Dominique Dunne’s death became a turning point in the national conversation about accountability, stalking, and victim protection. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong unpacks the disturbing case of Karla Faye Tucker, a woman whose early life of addiction, sexual exploitation, and chaos culminated in a brutally sadistic double murder. High on drugs and fueled by rage, Karla and her boyfriend Danny Garrett broke into an apartment in Houston, Texas, where Karla murdered Jerry Dean with a pickax, later admitting the killing gave her sexual pleasure, before a second victim, Deborah Thornton, was also slain. But the story did not end with conviction and a death sentence. While on death row, Karla claimed to have undergone a profound religious transformation, igniting a national debate over redemption, punishment and whether genuine change is possible after unimaginable violence. Candice examines the psychological fractures, paraphilic pathology and identity disturbances that shaped Karla’s life, and why her case remains one of the most polarizing capital punishment stories in American history. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the chilling case of Elliot Rodger, the self-described “supreme gentleman” whose violent resentment toward women exploded into a deadly rampage in Isla Vista, California, in 2014. While frequenting self-validating incel forums online, offline, Rodger struggled with social rejection, mental-health crises, and a growing obsession with punishing the people he believed had wronged him. By the time the violence erupted, six people were dead and fourteen more injured. Candice explores how alienation, narcissism, and extremist online communities converged to create a perfect storm; and how Rodger’s attack marked a turning point in understanding grievance-based violence, misogynistic extremism, and the psychology behind modern lone-actor killers. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the shocking case of Ali Abulaban, known online as “JinnKid,” and later, as ""The TikTok Murderer."" In October 2021, the social media influencer brutally killed his estranged wife, Ana, and her friend, Ray Barron, inside a San Diego high-rise apartment. At first, Abulaban appeared to have it all: fame, followers and a picture-perfect family. But beneath the curated clips and comedy skits was a man consumed by jealousy, rage and a desperate need for validation. His obsession with his online persona was so overpowering that he secretly recorded his wife- and even captured the sound of her final moments. Candice explores how ego, fame and control collided in a digital age tragedy that blurred the line between reality and performance with deadly consequences. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the disturbing case of Ed Kemper, known as “The Co-Ed Killer.” In the early 1970s, young women began vanishing from the streets of Northern California. When the truth finally came to light, it revealed a killer unlike any other: a towering, soft-spoken man whose charm and intellect hid monstrous impulses. By the time he was caught, eight people – including his own mother – were dead. Only later would investigators learn that Kemper’s knack for violence began years earlier. Candice examines how deep resentment, emotional isolation, and a fractured relationship with his mother fueled one of the most chilling killing sprees of the decade, and how his later cooperation with the FBI helped shape modern criminal profiling. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the second episode of our two-parter, retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong continues the case of Sante and Kenneth Kimes, a mother-son duo whose criminal exploits shocked the nation. Candice digs deeper into the complicated and potentially incestuous relationship between mother and son, and how their dynamic contributed to their cycle of grift and murder. Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletter Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.