
Killer Psyche
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.
Latest episodes

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.

Jun 23, 2025 • 6min
Listen Now: Liberty Lost
In Evangelical homes across the United States, sex outside of marriage is a sin against God. So, when Abbi becomes pregnant at 16, her devout parents hide her away at the Liberty Godparent Home, a little-known facility for pregnant teens on the campus of Liberty University. The Home says it helps girls decide what comes next – whether that’s parenting their babies or placing them for adoption. But inside the facility, the girls hear a different message: God wants their babies to go to more “deserving” Christian couples. Some girls will find the strength to fight back. Others will have no choice but to give in. And some, like Abbi, will turn their grief into resistance – and take a stand against the system before more mothers lose their children to adoptions they never wanted. From Wondery, host and reporter T. J. Raphael tells a startling true story of young love, coercion, and defiance – and the dangerous resurgence of maternity homes in post-Roe America.Listen to Liberty Lost: Wondery.fm/LibertyLost_See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Jun 17, 2025 • 49min
Harry Thaw & the Murder of Stanford White
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the case of Harry Thaw, the wealthy heir who gunned down architect Stanford White in front of hundreds of witnesses. The motive? A toxic mix of jealousy and vengeance over Thaw’s wife, Evelyn Nesbit, a young model and actress who had been sexually assaulted by White years earlier. The case ignited a national scandal, revealing a world of exploitation, obsession, and privilege among New York’s elite. Candice examines how Thaw’s deep-seated insecurities, violent temper, and fixation on revenge collided in a deadly way.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 10, 2025 • 49min
Judy Buenoano: The Black Widow of Florida
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong dives into the chilling case of Judy Buenoano, a woman who earned the nickname “The Black Widow of Florida” after a string of suspicious deaths in her life. Over nearly a decade, Judy concealed her crimes behind a mask of composure and caregiving, using poison, drowning, and even car bombs to eliminate those closest to her. But when Judy’s overconfidence led authorities straight to her, her elaborate web of lies began to unravel – leading to her demise. Candice explores how greed, compulsive lying, and a ruthless need for control allowed Judy to kill without remorse.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 3, 2025 • 46min
Michael Peterson & the Staircase Murder
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong examines the puzzling and polarizing case of Michael Peterson, the novelist accused of murdering his wife, Kathleen, after she was found dead at the bottom of a staircase in their home in 2001. What at first appeared to be a tragic fall quickly unraveled into a complex investigation filled with secrets, lies, and stunning revelations about Peterson’s past – and his double life. Candice investigates how Peterson’s narcissistic need for admiration and control may have been the psychological undercurrent that led to his undoing.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.

May 27, 2025 • 49min
Donato Bilancia: The Monster of the Riviera
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong dives into the chilling case of Donato Bilancia, dubbed “The Monster of the Riviera.” Over a span of just seven months, Bilancia went on a shocking killing spree across northern Italy, claiming the lives of 17 victims – both men and women, strangers and acquaintances alike. But what drove a compulsive gambler and seemingly unremarkable man to become one of Italy’s most prolific serial killers? Candice delves into the psychological torment behind Bilancia’s actions, uncovering how feelings of inadequacy, betrayal, and deep-seated rage erupted into a campaign of terror that left a nation reeling.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.

May 20, 2025 • 51min
Christopher Dorner: The Mind Behind the Manhunt
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong dives into the chilling case of Christopher Dorner, a decorated Navy veteran and former LAPD officer who waged a deadly campaign against the very department he once served. In 2013, Dorner launched a series of targeted attacks on law enforcement officers and their families, leaving Southern California on edge for nearly two weeks – and causing the LAPD to launch their largest manhunt to date. Candice explores how Dorner became entrenched in a growing sense of perceived injustice, and how his psychological descent turned him from a protector of the public into one of its most feared threats.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.

May 13, 2025 • 49min
Candy Montgomery: A Sudden Snap or a Calculated Act?
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong dives into the controversial case of Candy Montgomery. In 1980, Candy was accused of committing the brutal axe slaying of her close friend, Betty Gore, following an affair she had with Betty’s husband. She confessed to the crime…so why was she ultimately found not guilty? Candice explores how an unconventional psychological assessment became the hallmark of Candy’s defense, and what kind of social and psychological factors may have contributed to the jury’s decision.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.

May 6, 2025 • 43min
Goidsargi Estibaliz Carranza Zabala: The Ice Cream Killer
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the case of Goidsargi Estibaliz Carranza Zabala, also known as the “Ice Cream Killer.” To the outside world, she was just a friendly ice cream shop owner in Vienna. But behind the counter, Carranza was living a lie. Between 2008 and 2010, she murdered both her ex-husband and her boyfriend, hiding their remains in the basement freezer beneath the shop. Candice explores the psychological unraveling that led to these calculated killings, and how Carranza’s soft-spoken demeanor masked a capacity for cold-blooded violence.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.