

Killer Psyche
Wondery | Treefort Media
When a shocking crime occurs, people ask “Why?” Was it about power, ego, or revenge? On Killer Psyche, retired FBI agent Candice DeLong draws on her decades of experience to reveal why these murderers and criminals committed these heinous acts. She will reveal fascinating new details about what drove these people, including cases she was close to. Candice will share specific psychological methods and profiling techniques that experts use to understand the deepest part of the most complex, fascinating, and twisted minds, from the Unabomber to Alex Murdaugh to Mary Bell.Need more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Join Wondery+ in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts, or Spotify. Start your free trial by visiting http://link.wondery.com/KillerPsycheLinks now.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Aug 26, 2025 • 43min
Encore: Leopold & Loeb Part II
In the second half of this two-part episode, former FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong continues to explore the case of Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, two young men who murdered 14-year-old Bobby Franks. 19-year-old Nathan and 18-year-old Richard sought to commit what they called ""the perfect murder."", In this episode, Candice focuses not only on the the murderers' psyche, but also on the role psychiatry played in their trial. Killer Psyche releases new episodes weekly. You can listen to Killer Psyche one week early and ad-free by subscribing to Wondery+ in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterNeed more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 19, 2025 • 37min
Encore: Leopold & Loeb Part I
In the first half of this two-part episode, former FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the case of Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold, two young men who murdered 14-year-old Bobby Franks. 19-year-old Nathan and 18-year-old Richard sought to commit what they called "the perfect murder." Candice dives deep into the psyches of the two men who perpetrated one of the most sensational crimes of the 20th century.Killer Psyche releases new episodes weekly. You can listen to Killer Psyche one week early and ad-free by subscribing to Wondery+ in Apple Podcasts or the Wondery app.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 12, 2025 • 53min
Encore: Cindy White, Part II
In the second half of this two-parter, former FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong digs deeper into the case of Cindy White. We learn the real reasons that 18 year old Cindy White set the fire that took the lives of 6 people, including four children. Using both court documents and her own interviews with Cindy, Candice delves into what could have driven Cindy to commit this deadly crime - and the miscarriage of justice that ensued. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Aug 5, 2025 • 38min
Encore: Cindy White, Part I
In the first half of this two-parter, former FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong digs into the case of Cindy White. 1n 1975, 18 year old Cindy set a fire that took the lives of 6 people, including four children. Using both court documents and her own interviews with Cindy, Candice delves into what could have driven Cindy to commit this deadly crime.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterNeed more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 29, 2025 • 41min
Encore: Susan Polk, Part I: Deadly Therapy
In the first half of this two-part episode, former FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong digs into the case of Susan Polk. When she was just 15, a troubled and lonely Susan sought the help of a psychologist named Dr. Felix Polk. Instead, she wound up marrying her therapist, and eventually, killing him. In part one, we learn about the history that drew Susan to her future husband, and what set them both on the road to disaster.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterNeed more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 22, 2025 • 48min
David Berkowitz: The Son of Sam
In the season finale of Killer Psyche, retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong dives into the infamous case of David Berkowitz, the “Son of Sam.” Between 1976 and 1977, Berkowitz wreaked havoc on the boroughs of New York with a string of shootings that took the lives of six people and wounded several others. Even more shocking was his motive: a demonic dog told him to kill. But was David Berkowitz truly psychotic, or was his claim of insanity all an act? Candice delves into the rage and resentment brewing in Berkowitz from early in his life, and shares fascinating details from his interviews with FBI profiling pioneers Robert Ressler and John Douglas.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterNeed more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 15, 2025 • 36min
Real Crime, Real Stories: The Making of Amazon's 'Ballard' with Michael Connelly and LAPD Veteran Mitzi Roberts
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong sits down with bestselling author Michael Connelly and veteran LAPD detective Mitzi Roberts to discuss Ballard, the new Prime Video series expanding Connelly’s gritty “Harry Bosch” universe. The show’s lead, Renee Ballard, is inspired by Mitzi’s real-life work tracking down killers – like the infamous Samuel Little – and shaped by her decades-long career on the force. Candice explores how Mitzi’s pursuit of justice and Connelly’s storied career as an author merged to bring Ballard to life, and how truth and fiction can collide to tell gripping stories on the screen.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterNeed more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 8, 2025 • 52min
Alex Murdaugh: A Southern Legacy of Murder & Mendacity
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong speaks with Wall Street Journal national affairs reporter and New York Times bestselling author Valerie Bauerlein to discuss the whirlwind case of Alex Murdaugh. In 2023, Alex – a respected attorney and patriarch of the ultra-powerful Murdaugh family dynasty – was convicted of murder in the deaths of his wife, Maggie, and his son, Paul. Candice and Valerie discuss what it was like to be in the courtroom, what Valerie learned about Alex and the Murdaugh family’s influence in South Carolina’s lowcountry, and how her reporting and exclusive access came together in her book, The Devil at his Elbow: Alex Murdaugh and the Fall of a Southern Dynasty.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterNeed more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jul 1, 2025 • 56min
Andrea Yates: The Murder of Five Angels
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong delves into the heartbreaking case of Andrea Yates. On a summer morning in 2001, inside the quiet Houston home she shared with her family, Andrea systematically drowned her five young children in the bathtub. Candice examines how untreated postpartum psychosis, religious delusions and years of mental health warnings culminated in this unimaginable act. She explores how a devoted mother became the architect of a tragedy that shocked the nation; and, how systemic failures left Andrea teetering on the edge until it was far too late.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterNeed more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 24, 2025 • 48min
Gertrude Baniszewski: The "Torture Mom"
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the chilling case of Gertrude Baniszewski. In the fall of 1965, behind the walls of her modest Indiana home, Gertrude masterminded the systematic torture and murder of teenage Sylvia Likens – encouraging her own children and neighborhood kids to join in the abuse. Candice investigates how Gertrude’s simmering resentment and deep-seated rage transformed her into the mastermind behind one of the most disturbing group crimes ever committed, and how the unthinkable violence against Sylvia went unchecked.Be the first to know about Wondery’s newest podcasts, curated recommendations, and more! Sign up now at https://wondery.fm/wonderynewsletterNeed more Killer Psyche? With Wondery+, enjoy exclusive episodes, early access to new ones, and they’re always ad-free. Start your free trial in the Wondery App or visit wondery.app.link/TI5l5KzpDLb now.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.