Very Scary People

In 1974, a mass murder shook the sleepy waterfront town of Amityville, New York. One November night, police found the DeFeo family shot dead, face down in their beds. Only one survived: Ron DeFeo Jr., the eldest son with a troubled past. In this six-part series, host Donnie Wahlberg untangles the dark and complicated story of what happened that night, and unearths how these grisly murders sparked an infamous haunted tale.Starting March 18, 2022To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the late-80s and early 90s, the quaint suburbs of Toronto, Canada were blind-sided by an unprecedented flurry of violent crimes: a serial rapist on the loose and young girls vanishing… only to later discover their dead bodies, dismembered.  As separate investigations developed, police across the region followed leads pointing to a young, blond-haired blue-eyed duo.  Over seven episodes, host Donnie Wahlberg traces the twisted path of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka – a couple from Toronto that appeared loving and wholesome but had everybody fooled. We’ll explore how the boy and the girl next-door captivated Canada and became the killers known as “Ken and Barbie.”   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

If you enjoyed Very Scary People, you may also like Unraveled: The Long Island Serial Killer, from ID.The Unraveled investigation continues with a 5-episode deep dive series. In this deep dive, we're going beyond the headlines to discuss several topics in more detail. These topics include the call Suffolk County didn’t want you to hear, and what it tells us about the night the entire Long Island serial killer saga began. Along with Rex Heuermann’s digital footprint, and Asian Doe and Sugar Bear and how these outlier cases connect to the broader investigation. Then we'll dig into other unsolved cold cases that are getting a new life since the arrest of Heuermann.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After Ron DeFeo Jr. finds his parents and younger siblings dead in their Amityville, New York, home, police begin to search for the killer. Host Donnie Wahlberg and local journalist Joel Martin revisit that horrific evening in 1974, the crime scene and the investigation — all in hopes of answering a question heavy on residents' minds: “Who would murder an entire family in the dead of night?”To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As the community reels from the shocking DeFeo murders, residents pack an Amityville church to mourn the loss of the family. Host Donnie Wahlberg dives deep into DeFeo history, only to find out that this picture-perfect family had very violent secrets.To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As police continue their search for the killer of the DeFeos in Amityville, they discover the family's connections to organized crime. Host Donnie Wahlberg reveals how these mob ties came to light. It's a turning point in the case which brings police one step closer to their top suspect.To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Amityville detectives shift all their attention to a single suspect in the murders of the DeFeo family: the oldest son, Ron DeFeo Jr. Following hours of intense interrogation, the sole surviving family member breaks. But Ron Jr.'s confession dredged up new details, complicated questions, and more secrets.To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nearly a year after the grisly Amityville murders, Ron “Butch” DeFeo Jr.'s fate would rest in the hands of a New York jury. But even in front of a judge, Ron Jr. was a chameleon; his story continued to evolve. One conflicted juror recounts the disturbing trial while host Donnie Wahlberg considers the question: Will the inconsistencies in Ron Jr.'s story spare him from life behind bars?To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Found guilty of killing his parents and siblings in their home, Ron DeFeo Jr. is sentenced to six counts of second-degree murder. But the convicted killer finds new fame in prison. Back in Amityville, the story of the gruesome massacre at 112 Ocean Avenue is taking on a life of its own. Host Donnie Wahlberg untangles the story of how the Dutch colonial home that was once a bloody crime scene becomes a permanent piece of horror — and pop culture — history.To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A beautiful young couple, Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo, are getting married on the shores of Lake Ontario in the suburbs of Toronto, Canada. Meanwhile, in the neighboring town of Scarborough, locals are gripped with fear and the police are at a loss: a serial rapist is at large, showing no signs of stopping. Host Donnie Wahlberg traces the perpetrator's steps, only to find them leading back to the blond-haired blue-eyed groom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Bernardo is questioned by police after receiving multiple anonymous tips in response to a composite sketch of the Scarborough Rapist published in the local newspaper. At the same time, he’s falling in love with Karla Homolka and spending time with her family in the quiet town of St. Catharines. During their first holiday together, tragedy strikes close to home, her sister is found dead.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The Saint Catharine’s community is rattled by a tragedy of their own. Sixteen-year-old, Kristen French, goes missing while walking home from school. The case quickly draws national attention and sparks a massive search effort.  Eerie similarities are found between Kristen’s case and another teenage girl, Leslie Mahaffy, who was murdered just a year earlier. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

A long-shelved DNA sample in the case of the Scarborough Rapist is finally tested. The sample matches Paul Bernardo. And after a physically violent dispute between Karla and Paul that sends Karla to the hospital, the police get more details about just how monstrous Paul can be. The police start to zero in on Paul for the murders of Leslie and Kristen.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Law enforcement gain a very helpful tip. They tirelessly search Karla and Paul’s little pink house for video tape evidence that would prove all of their suspicions and be enough to convict Paul of murder. As the investigation develops, it turns out that Karla isn’t as innocent as she’s let on.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Now that long sought-after video tapes are finally in the hands of the police. Karla has one final, shocking confession that leads investigators to revisit the night of her little sister Tammy’s untimely death. It turns out, Tammy’s death wasn’t an accident. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Paul Bernardo finally gets his day in court and the trial becomes a national spectacle. With limited physical evidence of murder, it’s Karla’s word again his. Host Donnie Wahlberg takes us through the nearly 5-month trial that captivated all of Canada and the aftermath of the violent saga of the Ken and Barbie Killers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.