Stuff They Don't Want You To Know

The Horrifying Mysteries of Chicago's Ripper Crew

Dec 5, 2025
Delve into the chilling tale of Chicago's Ripper Crew, a group responsible for gruesome murders in the early '80s. The hosts explore the dark context of corruption and the satanic panic that surrounded these crimes. Hear accounts from survivors that broke the case, and the shocking revelations from the suspects, including claims of supernatural compulsion. Unearth the disturbing connections to notorious figures like John Wayne Gacy, and ponder the psychological mechanisms that turned ordinary men into violent criminals.
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INSIGHT

Ordinary Men, Extraordinary Violence

  • The Ripper Crew were ordinary, adrift men who formed a violent cult centered on Robin Gecht's influence.
  • Their crimes combined opportunistic abductions with ritualized mutilation and alleged cannibalism tied to a vague belief in power from pain.
ANECDOTE

Survivor Who Broke The Case

  • Angel York survived a brutal van attack and described the red Dodge van and multiple men inside.
  • Her testimony gave investigators the lead that linked the van to the suspects and broke the case open.
INSIGHT

Fearful Recantation Under Gecht's Gaze

  • Three perpetrators claimed Gecht had a supernatural compulsion over them and recanted under his sight.
  • Their fear and immediate recantation suggested intense psychological control, not just legal pressure.
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