Nightmares

On April 18, 2019, 57-year-old Wilfred Guzman was at home when a familiar visit turned into a savage fight for survival. By the time police forced their way inside Apartment 16, they found blood in every room and signs that the attack had unfolded with whatever was within reach: kitchen knives, forks, spoons, even a small television. Detectives quickly pieced together what happened. What they couldn’t understand was how an ordinary late-night visit had turned so vicious. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 26 May 2026

A plot to find a million dollars in buried fortune ends in unthinkable violence. Mary was caught in the middle of it all. She shouldn’t have survived the desert, but when she did, she led the authorities to a scene of deliberate mayhem. At the center of it all is Adam Nayeri, and a plan built on a belief that was never real. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 23 May 2026

In November 2012, freshly divorced auto shop manager Dave Kroupa thought he was navigating the casual dating scene in Omaha, Nebraska until one short relationship ended and the stalking began. For the next three years, the messages grew more violent, more personal, and more terrifying, all coming from a woman who refused to let him go. But as detectives dug into the case, they uncovered a truth that forced Dave to confront a chilling possibility: the nightmare stalking him had been much closer than he ever imagined. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 20 May 2026

On a quiet January morning in rural Pennsylvania, Rhonda Smith went to work at her church and never came home. What started as a shocking act of violence inside a place of worship slowly unraveled into something far more personal. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered whispered jealousies, blurred boundaries, and a devotion that may have crossed a dangerous line. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 1 April 2026

On March 12, 2000, in Spearfish, South Dakota, nineteen-year-old Chester Allan Poage agrees to a night that seems harmless… until it isn’t. In a secluded pocket of the Black Hills, it’s hard for a trusting kid like Chester to tell the difference between friends and predators. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 25 March 2026

In October 2013, fourteen-year-old Abby Hernandez vanished on her walk home from school in rural New Hampshire. Months passed, searches faded, and a letter arrived that changed how the public understood her disappearance. When Abby finally came home, the truth forced a reckoning with certainty, judgment, and what survival actually looks like when escape is not possible. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 11 March 2026

When an 83-year-old woman is found dead inside her quiet Old Greenwich home, investigators start piecing together the final months of her life, and the unraveling of her son, Erik Soelberg. What first appears to be a private family tragedy reveals a disturbing descent shaped by isolation, certainty, and a voice that never challenged his fears. This episode examines how belief hardens, reality fractures, and how one ordinary house became the setting for an irreversible outcome. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 4 March 2026

It's March 2006 in Villa Park Illinois and nineteen-year-old Rose thinks she’s found an escape, until a woman vanishes and the search starts pointing somewhere darker. As detectives close in, Rose is forced to replay every late-night call, every story, every “coincidence,” realizing the truth was being rehearsed right in front of her. By the time the case breaks, Rose understands she was never just a witness… Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 24 February 2026

Thirteen-year-old Thad Phillips fell asleep on his couch—and woke up in a nightmare. Trapped in a decaying house with a smiling teen and sinister intentions, he would spend two harrowing days fighting to survive when all hope seemed lost. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 18 February 2026

James Rackover looked like someone who had it all. He had style, status, and a last name that carried weight. But the truth behind the image was darker. When a man goes missing after a night in Manhattan, investigators start to uncover the kind of past James hoped no one would find. He wasn’t who he said he was. And he wasn’t done breaking the rules. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 4 February 2026

A teenage girl’s discovery of a human skull on Iowa’s Greenbelt River Trail led investigators to the murder of missing 29-year-old Angela Nicole Bradbury. The case unraveled into a chilling confession by Nathan James Gilmore, whose digital trail and coded clues revealed a cold, deliberate killing. What began as a missing person report ended as one of Iowa’s most disturbing murder cases. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 28 January 2026

When a devastating fire consumed the lives of an affluent British family, suspicions arose, pointing fingers at those who knew business tycoon Chris Foster and may have wanted him dead. As detectives sifted through the ashes and debris, they uncovered even more secrets buried within the Shropshire mansion. From hidden affairs and financial troubles to long-buried grudges and shattered dreams, investigators didn’t know which direction to look in next until the killer was revealed in the family’s own CCTV footage. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 21 January 2026

62-year-old Kathy Hughes Anderson spent her career tending to trees, preserving beauty and order across the towns she served. In retirement, she brought that same quiet dedication to her life at home - until one December evening when a stranger walked through her front door. Kathy had no idea who he was. But Francis Wolke had been convinced he needed to kill to join the one percent. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 14 January 2026

17-year-old Linda Bury’s home life was a mess, so she turned to social media to reinvent herself. There she met Joshua Mebane and this unassuming, wealthy monster would change her life forever. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 7 January 2026

The town of Chickasha, Oklahoma was shaken to its core when they heard the news that two were dead, one of which was a four year old child, and another was seriously maimed. Their outrage grew when they learned the name of the culprit was Lawrence Paul Anderson, a career criminal that should have never been out of prison. But nothing prepared them for when he confessed to his crimes and revealed they were far worse than first presumed. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 1 January 2026

Subscribe Now to This Doesn't Happen to People Like Me on Apple Podcasts and Spotify. Show kicks off March 3rd, 2025.  Available ad-free at swordandscale.com/plus

Transcribed - Published: 21 February 2025

Kimberly Cargill was evil personified. She abused her children for years, circumventing the system to keep them in her clutches. Finally, the state caught on and what she did to keep from trouble was worse than the abuse itself. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 27 November 2024

In the tiny, rural village of Emerson, Nebraska, where only about 800 people live nestled in the northern, rolling hills, a series of inexplicable events begins to unfold. What seems like an ordinary morning turns into a nightmare as a young mother stumbles upon clues that hint at foul play on her boyfriend’s property. As the clues quickly mount, the truth reveals itself to be far worse than anyone could have imagined. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 20 November 2024

In San Fernando Valley, whispers of occult dealings and the lingering legacy of Charles Manson and Richard Ramirez still cast eerie shadows. This is where the chilling tale of Ron Baker's tragic demise beckons. Two years of haunting silence shroud the truth behind his untimely death, but as a relentless detective peels back layers of deception, a malevolent web begins to unravel. In the heart of Chatsworth, where an ominous tunnel bears silent witness, the dark secrets of that fateful night converge. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 13 November 2024

Tammy thought she met the man of her dreams when she started dating Joseph Oberhansley. He was younger than her and she found him handsome. But when he slowly became controlling and she discovered the secret of his horrible past she broke it off. Only then did Joe reveal his true self and Tammy never stood a chance. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 6 November 2024

The report of local businessman Tom Merriman’s death may have been overstated but when officers with the Solana Beach Police Department searched for Tom and couldn’t find him they were sent into high alert. The search for Tom would reveal a long-time betrayal and a motive for his murder for the most unlikely of suspects. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 30 October 2024

In July 2020, 33-year-old tech entrepreneur Fahim Saleh was found dismembered down to his torso in his New York City apartment. Bank statements would reveal who had the motive to commit such a heinous murder. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 23 October 2024

When a 46-year-old woman calls 9-11 for help after a sudden home birth, suspicions are raised when she shows no signs of labor. Police would soon discover the grisly truth behind the baby’s unexpected birth. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 16 October 2024

Cameron Kirk was a sad, depressed middle-aged man who found himself living back at home with his mother, Paula Kirk. Things had never been good between the two, but as her drinking increased, so did his resentments and it would all end in a gruesome murder.  Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 9 October 2024

A long-time dream turns into a nightmare for a Virginia man trapped in a cabin in the Oklahoma woods. Kia Aster had the highest hopes when he met a stranger at the airport. But what he thought would be a quick and painless trip landed him in the emergency room bleeding, collapsed, and unconscious. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 2 October 2024

In December of 2014, 19-year-old Jessica Chambers was set on fire in her car on an old country road in her rural Mississippi town. Jessica survived long enough to give a few clues as to who committed this unspeakable crime, but it would prove near impossible to apprehend her killer. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 25 September 2024

Colleen and Rob McKernan were set up by common friends and had a quick, whirlwind romance. But her controlling ways would turn fatal as she learned the hard way that you can’t change anyone, no matter how hard you try. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 18 September 2024

When 15-year-old Joanna Dennehy first met 20-year-old John Treanor in her hometown of St. Albans, Hertfordshire in the United Kingdom, the romance was like something out of “Trainspotting”. It predictably descended into madness over the course of 12 years, because Joanna had been hiding a secret. It was one that jeopardized the lives of everyone in her orbit. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 11 September 2024

A quaint township in Pennsylvania is shaken to its core when three dead bodies are discovered lying in a perfect line in their backyard. The police don’t immediately know what happened to Elizabeth Daub and her parents but it appears to be an execution-style killing. A bullet for each of them to the back of the head. But then strange documents and the discovery of chilling YouTube videos cast a different light on the God-fearing family. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 4 September 2024

When recent college graduates Kelsey Chang and Eva Liu decided to take a celebratory trip to Europe before starting their careers, neither young woman could have prevented the horrors that awaited them when they got to Germany. It’d be a trip that would change their lives forever. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 28 August 2024

88 elderly lives are in peril after the Quaker’s Hill Nursing Home goes up in flames. Who started the fire, and why? This is the story of one of Australia’s worst mass murderers. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 21 August 2024

Engulfed in the horrorcore scene, 20-year-old Richard McCroskey made a name for himself, singing about satanism, suicide, murder, and rape online. After releasing songs titled “Murderous Rage,” “Infamy,” and “I Kill People for Real,” Richard made some internet friends of the same ilk. When Richard traveled halfway across the country to meet those friends in person, he learned that sometimes life imitates art. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 14 August 2024

Pastor David Evans and his wife, Kristie, were stars in their little town of Ada, Oklahoma. They were good Christians devoted to their church and their community, but once they became empty nesters, they started dabbling in sin and it all ended in murder. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 7 August 2024

In the idyllic town of Shakopee, where the Minnesota River winds its peaceful course, and a community finds solace, tranquility turns to terror when a horrifying crime rocks the neighborhood to its core. A young woman witnesses a night-marish scene right outside her home and shares it, sending shockwaves through the town and beyond. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 31 July 2024

It took over four years to identify the remains of Ryan Zimmerman. Understanding how and why he was killed would force authorities to untangle a twisted knot of love, sex, and gender transitioning. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 24 July 2024

On the bleak day following Thanksgiving in 2022, the tranquility of La Sierra South, a Riverside, California neighborhood, was shattered. Within the confines of a close-knit cul-de-sac, panic ensued. A series of frantic 911 calls echoed through the air, detailing a mysterious vehicle, an active kidnapping, and ultimately, a raging house fire. The community stood at the precipice of chaos, gripped by a chain of events that would forever alter their lives. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 17 July 2024

How to listent to Sword and Scale Nightmares Season 2... swordandscale.com Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 26 June 2024

In 2016, a notorious Polish librarian took flight to the island of Malta after brutally mutilating a beautiful language teacher named Katarzyna Jaroszyńska. Police were thrust onto a dark journey into the twisted mind of a brilliant and sadistic murderer. Baffled at the savage crime, detectives must uncover the truth and bring the elusive killer to justice. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 7 December 2023

When a promising young actress is raped and murdered in her childhood bedroom, her family and the police department are stunned as to who could have done this. Two linking crimes eventually lead to the same unassuming suspect. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 23 November 2023

During some of Romania’s toughest times under Communist control, a vampire stalked the streets after midnight seeking out prey to satisfy his urges for blood and death. While the crimes were initially ignored to spare the country’s reputation, Ion Rimaru would finally be caught and named the Butcher of Bucharest. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 9 November 2023

18-year-old Aprina Paul was a nursing student following her dreams when she mysteriously went missing. Her mother Alice Larrue never gave up hope, even when Aprina’s killer continued to harass her. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 26 October 2023

Mormons and entrepreneurs Tony and Katherine Butterfield were the kind of people who gave a leg up to anyone who needed it. They invited jobless citizens to work for their landscaping company and homeless ones into their home. So on the morning of April 18th, 2020 no one could believe it when screams were heard coming from their house, and the pair were discovered fatally wounded while their three small children wondered what just happened. Detectives assumed a disgruntled ex-employee came for revenge even in the quiet town of West Jordan. But the motive for this slaughter was far more insidious. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 12 October 2023

In Tennessee in 2005 a jury was faced with a difficult question. What would you do if you were in Kim Cunningham’s place? It was a difficult question to answer. After the law failed her once Kim gunned down a man in broad daylight before turning herself in. She claimed it was all for her kids. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 28 September 2023

In the spring of 2006, a bubbly young woman with close ties to friends and family suddenly goes missing, leaving behind all of her personal belongings and a ransacked apartment. When Christina Eubanks turns up dead, everyone wants the truth. But the truth won’t come so easily and jurors would find themselves wondering if the victim was spontaneoulsy struck or if she was slain over a dirty secret. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 14 September 2023

Neighbors in a Santa Cruz beachside bungalow are alarmed when a strange smell starts emitting from one apartment building. No one could have imagined what happened inside. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 31 August 2023

In 2008, something strange started happening in Omaha, Nebraska. Multiple members of Creighton University Medical Center’s pathology department were targeted in violent crimes. Five years later, it happened again. Police and people in the community were scratching their heads. How could anyone have a grudge against a group of doctors? Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 17 August 2023

Not hearing from her sister in a while Pamela Powel called the police. Upon a welfare check the police would discover her home was empty. It wasn’t just Alison Sapikowski that was missing, it was her husband James, and her high school-aged son Adam. When the police began canvassing the neighborhood asking questions they would reveal a most shocking reason the Sapikowskis were nowhere to be found. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 3 August 2023

In June of 1977, Yale students Terri Jentz and Avra Goldman are on a cross-country biking trip when a terrifying attack changes their lives forever. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 20 July 2023

When Kent law enforcement arrived at 67-year-old David Fuller’s home on December 3rd, 2020, they expected to put an end to a 33-year-old murder investigation. They never expected that closing this case would shatter the lives of over 100 additional families in the process. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 6 July 2023

While police search a small Pentecostal church for kidnapped Baby Brandon, another disturbing case emerges… one involving the horrifying exorcism of Arely Proctor. Get commercial free access to over a decade of Sword and Scale's true crime podcasts at http://swordandscale.com

Transcribed - Published: 22 June 2023