Murder: True Crime Stories

In this episode of Murder: True Crime Stories, Carter Roy investigates the Smiley Face Killers theory, a controversial claim that a hidden network of predators is responsible for the drowning deaths of dozens of young men across the United States. What authorities have often ruled accidental drownings, some investigators argue may be something far more coordinated and sinister. The theory points to clusters of college-aged men found in rivers and lakes, often after nights out with friends, with graffiti of smiley faces reportedly discovered near several recovery sites. Supporters believe the similarities are too consistent to ignore. Critics counter that the markings are common urban graffiti and that the circumstances reflect tragic but explainable patterns involving alcohol and water. As families search for answers and law enforcement agencies push back against the theory, the case raises unsettling questions about pattern recognition, confirmation bias, and the power of narrative in the age of viral true crime. Is there evidence of an organized killing network, or has a modern myth taken hold in the absence of certainty?

Head over to our Murder True Crime Stories YouTube channel to WATCH our video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@MurderTrueCrimeStories

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75 years after the Rosenberg trial gripped the nation, its legacy still sparks debate about justice, fear, and political power. In Part 2 of this two-part special, Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes turns to the courtroom battle that would cement Julius and Ethel Rosenberg’s place in history and ignite decades of controversy. Carter Roy is joined again by Vanessa Richardson, host of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes, to break down the prosecution’s strategy, the defense’s uphill fight, and the testimony that shaped the jury’s decision. Against a backdrop of anti-Communist hysteria and the looming threat of nuclear annihilation, the case raises urgent questions about due process, loyalty, and the influence of public opinion. As the verdict is delivered and the sentence shocks the world, the fallout reverberates far beyond the courtroom. Public protests, international appeals, and lingering doubts ensure that the Rosenberg case endures as one of the most polarizing chapters of Cold War history.

Head over to our Murder True Crime Stories YouTube channel to WATCH our video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@MurderTrueCrimeStories

If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Murder True Crime Stories to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Murder True Crime Stories is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios

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At the height of Cold War paranoia, one American couple stood accused of betraying their country in a case that would divide a nation. In Part 1 of this two-part special, Murder: True Crime Stories examines the explosive investigation that placed Julius and Ethel Rosenberg at the center of an alleged atomic spy ring. Carter Roy is joined by Vanessa Richardson, host of Conspiracy Theories, Cults, and Crimes, to unravel the earliest cracks in a story shaped by fear, ideology, and the race for nuclear dominance. As the United States grappled with the threat of Soviet expansion, whispers of stolen secrets and hidden allegiances began to fuel a rapidly intensifying manhunt. What began as quiet suspicion soon escalated into sweeping accusations, mounting pressure, and a tightening circle of scrutiny around family and friends. The tension reaches a breaking point with a pivotal arrest, a moment that reshapes the investigation and sets the stage for one of the most controversial espionage trials in American history.

Head over to our Murder True Crime Stories YouTube channel to WATCH our video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@MurderTrueCrimeStories

If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Murder True Crime Stories to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Murder True Crime Stories is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios

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Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts!

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Serial killers. Unsolved murders. Investigations that gripped America. If you think you know these cases, think again.

America's Most Infamous Crimes is a Crime House original hosted by Katie Ring. Each week, we go deep on one of the most notorious true-crime cases in American history. Not the quick recap version, but the full story told across multiple episodes every Tuesday through Thursday.

We break down:


What happened: the crimes, the victims, and the evidence


How investigators closed in: the breakthroughs, the dead ends, and the mistakes


Why it still matters: the lasting impact on American law, culture, and justice

From the serial killers who terrorized entire cities to the cold cases that still don't have answers, this is the podcast that takes you beyond the headlines and inside the investigation.

New episodes drop every Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday.

America’s Infamous Crimes is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For more, Follow us on Instagram at @Crimehouse

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In this episode of Murder: True Crime Stories, Carter Roy examines the disappearance of Joseph Force Crater, the New York Supreme Court justice who walked out of a Manhattan restaurant in 1930 and was never seen again. What began as a routine summer evening quickly spiraled into one of the most baffling missing persons cases in American history. As newspapers seized on the story, the vanishing judge became front-page news across the country. Rumors of political corruption, backroom deals, organized crime, and secret affairs swirled through New York City at the height of Tammany Hall power. Witness accounts conflicted. Leads evaporated. Evidence surfaced and then seemed to disappear just as quickly. Despite grand jury investigations, nationwide searches, and years of speculation, no body was ever found and no clear answers emerged. Was Joseph Force Crater the victim of a calculated murder, a casualty of political scandal, or the architect of his own disappearance? Nearly a century later, his fate remains one of true crime’s most enduring mysteries.

Head over to our Murder True Crime Stories YouTube channel to WATCH our video episodes: https://www.youtube.com/@MurderTrueCrimeStories

If you’re new here, don’t forget to follow Murder True Crime Stories to never miss a case! For Ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Murder True Crime Stories is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios

🎧 Need More to Binge? 

Listen to other Crime House Originals Clues, Crimes Of…, Serial Killers & Murderous Minds, Crime House 24/7, and more wherever you get your podcasts!

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