In 2021, an online hunter group helped bring a 66-year-old predator to justice – but his activities proved to be just the tip of the iceberg. What police discovered on his phone helped expose a Merseyside ring that was systematically hurting a little girl and sharing warped desires to hurt children. Even more shocking, the main perpetrator of this was female. This is what happens when we ignore the fact that women can be sex offenders. This is the case of Vicki Bevan.

In 1994, South Carolina, a 15-year-old girl was killed in a truly horrific way, when a sexual assault turned deadly. The murder weapon – a pipe bomb. Even more shocking, the perpetrators of the crime were all minors. For some reason, her killing has largely been forgotten – but it’s a story that needs to be heard. This is what happens when unsupervised teenage behaviour escalates out of control. This is the murder of Melanie Richey.

In 2001, Dundee, Scotland, a woman walking her dog was brutally murdered. Police assumed a maniac stalker must be responsible. When the true perpetrator was identified, it shocked the nation – a 15-year-old boy with no previous convictions. 16 years later, after more than half a lifetime in prison, he would be given a second chance at freedom – only to reoffend in the most brutal of ways. This is what happens when a natural -born psychopath cannot be reformed. This is the case of Robbie McIntosh.

The worst crimes are those committed against children – the most vulnerable members of our society. In 2017, unexplained injuries began appearing on a toddler’s body. Her guardian searched desperately for an answer, unaware that the perpetrator was hiding in plain sight. This is what happens when a babysitter becomes a killer. This is the murder of Lilly Hanrahan.

In 2018, Massachusetts, 20-year-old Brandon Chicklis disappeared. His severely decomposed body was discovered weeks later. The investigation that followed soon became a media sensation, with reports of a blood-obsessed dominatrix, disturbing collections of animal parts and an S&M treehouse. This is what happens when a dark obsession crosses the threshold between fantasy and reality. This is the case of Julia Enright.