Criminally Obsessed

On the night of April 1, 2006, the 27-year-old Ohio State medical student Brian Shaffer went out with friends to the Ugly Tuna Saloona. Surveillance cameras captured him inside, laughing and socializing. But when the night ended, something chilling became clear—Brian was never seen leaving. His friends searched for him that night but eventually went home without answers. From that moment on, Brian Shaffer was never seen or heard from again. An intense investigation followed, with massive searches, national attention, and a reward that eventually reached $100,000. But in the years since, no confirmed sightings, no financial activity, and no answers have ever surfaced. Criminally Obsessed’s @AnneTEmerson talked to former detective John Hurst about Brian’s disappearance, what we know 20 years later, and why people who have information on Brian's disappearance might hesitate to come forward. If you have tips in the disappearance of Brian Shaffer, call the Columbus Police Department at 614-645-4545. Share Brian’s missing person poster from the FBI: fbi.gov/wanted/vicap/m…

An Arizona child who went missing in 1994 has been found alive. Investigators say Christina Maria Plante was 13 when she disappeared. She was last seen leaving her home to visit her horse at a nearby stable. The Gila County Sheriff's Office says its cold case unit looked into her disappearance and found her alive and well, now an adult. However, the sheriff's office says it's not releasing more details out of respect for her privacy and safety. #truecrime #found #missing

Marla Waldman-Conn was 7-years-old when her mom was murdered in their Long Island home. For years, she wasn’t really allowed to talk about it. Her dad remarried. The years went by. Her mom’s case went cold. She was told to forget about it. But she had to find out who killed Barbara Waldman, because she was someone, her mom and her life mattered. So she set out to learn everything she could about investigating murders. And she saw the words, BE PERSISTENT. She became relentless and admits she was obsessed, but that drive paid off. Her mom’s case was reopened after 50 years and solved in 2026. Thomas Generazio, a sanitation worker who lived 3.7 miles away, bound and shot Barbara Waldman. So how did Marla solve her mom’s case? What was that connection she made that became the aha moment in the investigation? Investigative Reporter Anne Emerson delves into the case and relives that moment with Marla where she knew it was Thomas and there was no denying it. We also hear what's next for Marla, because her search for justice goes beyond her mother's murder. We'll keep you updated on her efforts to find other victims, because as she told us about Generazio, "he's been many places and done many things. I know there are others". Learn more about the case and how Marla found answers after 50 years: facebook.com/TheDentistsWif… #truecrime #coldcase

A Texas Grand Jury has indicted James Dolphs Elmore Jr. for manslaughter and felony evidence tampering in the death of Laura Miller, one of the victims in the infamous "Texas Killing Fields" homicides. Elmore was also indicted on additional evidence tampering charge in the murder of Audrey Cook, another Killing Fields victim. The Killing Fields refers to a 25-acre area in League City, Texas, off Interstate 45 near Galveston. More than 30 bodies of mostly young women were discovered there between the 1970s and 1990s. The indictment comes as part of a renewed push by investigators to solve the multiple killings. Texas authorities say a second man was also likely to face charges as a result, but he recently took his own life in a hospital. That man, Clyde Hedrick, had long been considered a prime suspect and was previously convicted of manslaughter in the death of Killing Fields victim Ellen Beason. Hedrick died before he could be charged, but the Galveston County District Attorney’s Office still presented evidence against him to the grand jury and believes he would've been indicted. #truecrime

Grandmas gone wild?! bit.ly/47yGR0T

When it comes to escape vehicles, that's a wild choice... bit.ly/41EB1Yg

Rex Heuermann was arrested in 2023 in connection to the Gilgo Beach murders. The case dates back more than a decade, when the disappearance of a woman in Long Island, New York led to the discovery of multiple bodies along the South Shore, bringing the known victim count to seven. He is now expected to plead guilty on April 8, 2026. Investigative reporter Kristin Thorne joins Criminally Obsessed’s @AnneTEmerson to share what struck her the first time she saw Heuermann — a towering presence compared to the petite victims he’s accused of targeting — and to break down the chilling details that helped investigators close in. From the evidence that tied him to the case to the disturbing “notes to self” that allegedly outlined careful planning, we also explore the question that still lingers: could there be more victims? Watch Part 1 of our conversation with Kristin Thorne to hear how it all started and what led investigators to Rex Heuermann “Lock The Doors” — Reporter’s Firsthand Account Of The Gilgo Beach Serial Killer Case: youtube.com/watch?v=3ltzfJ…

The godmother of a 3-year-old Rochester boy is livid that his mother has been given a lighter sentence for her role in his death. In July of 2020, Andrea Lipton left her son, Kei’mere “Moochie” Marshall, in the car of her boyfriend, Anthony Love, while she was at work. Police say Love beat Kei’mere so severely that he suffered from fractured pelvis, a lacerated spleen, and internal bleeding. Doctors say “it was as if he had been hit by a car.” Several days later, Kei’mere fell unconscious and passed away after a short stint at a local hospital. Love and Lipton were both charged with manslaughter and would plead guilty to their charges. In 2022, Love was sentenced to 25 years in prison, while Lipton was sentenced to 7.5 to 15 years. However, due to New York’s Domestic Violence Survivor’s Justice Act, Lipton’s case was re-evaluated in March 2026. Due to the abuse Lipton suffered at the hands of Love during their relationship, the court showed leniency towards Lipton and gave her a new sentence of 6 years in prison. #truecrime #victimimpact

16 years ago, a missing woman in Long Island, New York, led investigators to a chilling discovery along Gilgo Beach: the skeletal remains of multiple women, many of them sex workers. For years, the suspect remained unidentified—until 2023, when police arrested an architect, husband, and father accused of nearly unthinkable acts of violence. Now, the Long Island serial killer suspect, Rex Heuermann, is expected to plead guilty on April 8, 2026. Investigative reporter Anne Emerson, joined by investigative reporter Kristin Thorne, who's been reporting on this case since the initial discoveries, revisits how the Gilgo Beach killings were first uncovered and how the shabby state of his home might have hinted at dark secrets. To see the full conversation with Kirstin, watch the latest episode of Criminally Obsessed at the link in bio. #truecrime #gilgobeach #criminallyobsessed

The man was a forward for the Providence College basketball team... and allegedly threatened his ex-girlfriend with a gun. bit.ly/4bUt6Ld

The #LongIslandSerialKiller case - also known as the #GilgoBeach murders - is back in the spotlight. We’ve learned that Rex Heuermann, accused of seven murders, is expected to plead guilty to these grisly crimes on April 8th, 2026. What began 16 years ago with a missing woman in Long Island, New York led investigators to a chilling discovery along Ocean Parkway: the skeletal remains of multiple women, many of them sex workers, in what would become one of the most disturbing serial killer cases in recent true crime history. For years, the suspect known as LISK remained unidentified - until 2023, when police arrested an architect, husband, and father accused of nearly unthinkable acts of violence. Now, with a potential guilty plea looming, Senior Investigative Reporter Anne Emerson revisits how the Gilgo Beach killings were first uncovered. Joined by Investigative Reporter Kristin Thorne who has covered the case since the initial discoveries, part one of this interview breaks down the origins of the Long Island Serial Killer investigation and what could come next in this shocking case. #truecrime

Nicholas Sias is finally feeling vindication... bit.ly/4ccCCKW

Jean Jape, a mother of two, hasn't been seen by her family or friends since November 1997. At the time of her disappearance, Jape and her daughter were living with Jape's parents in Manitowoc, WI. Jape's daughter, Melissa Scharenbroch, said she got a letter that appeared to be from her mother one month after her disappearance. Because of that letter, Manitowoc police say Jape's family canceled the missing person report. While authorities always knew Jape was still missing almost three decades later, it wasn't until this past fall that the case was picked up again. Police released age progression photos of Jape, hoping someone knows what happened to her and will come forward. Police say Jape was dating a man named Robert Darrel Davidson. He was wanted on sexual assault charges out of Milwaukee at the time. Davidson has also been missing for about 30 years, just like Jape. If you have information about Jape, contact Detective Eric Schultz at (920) 686-3599 or Capt. Cooper Schmidt at (920) 686-6585. Anonymous tips may also be submitted through Crime Stoppers by calling (920) 683-4466. #unsolved #disappearance #missingperson

According to the prosecutor, the man and his 25-year-old girlfriend "were smoking meth that entire weekend to build up the courage to kill that girl." They then murdered the 16-year-old the man was involved with in order to protect his reputation after he got her pregnant... bit.ly/41yeHiY

A teacher in McDowell County, West Virginia, has been arrested after a student reported him for sexual assault. Authorities say the abuse happened between October and December 2025. Tyree Donell Baker, 27, now faces 30 counts of serious criminal charges, including sexual abuse by a person in position of trust, sexual contact against students by a school employee, and solicitation of a minor. Baker allegedly forced the student to have sexual encounters, and threatened to harm the student and their family — and even himself — if the student refused to do what he asked or told anyone about what happened. McDowll County deputies say security video inside the school showed Baker walking with the victim into his classroom alone during a free period after checking the student out of gym class. The gym teacher told investigators this happened multiple times. Baker is in jail with bond set at $1 million. #truecrime #predator

A Brooklyn daycare director has taken a heel turn now that police are saying she embezzled nearly $3 million dollars of tuition fees for luxury items like WWE tickets. #truecrime

Officers with the San Bernardino Police Department responded to a reported kidnapping in February and were quickly able to locate the suspect. Body-worn camera footage of the arrest showed officers ordering the man out of the vehicle before taking him into custody. Video also showed one of the officers helping a little girl out of the back of a squad car and carrying her inside the station to her waiting mother. Investigators said the man was known to the little girl’s mother and that the pair had previously dated. He has since been arrested and charged with felony kidnapping. #truecrime #caughtoncamera

A North Carolina community is shaken after a woman was arrested for the brutal murder of her baby. Barnardsville Fire Department and Buncombe County EMS responded to a stabbing call on March 26. When they arrived, they discovered a 10-month-old child suffering from multiple stab wounds. The child was taken to a hospital where he was pronounced dead. The baby’s mother, 34-year-old Ciara Frederick, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and two counts of assault with a deadly weapon. Police haven’t confirmed if any other individuals were with Frederick at the time of the stabbing, but did confirm that the baby’s father lived at the home where the stabbing occurred. #truecrime

Update: The search is still on for the Vero Beach homicide suspect... bit.ly/4dJ6KyH