Very Scary People

ID

In the late-80s and early 90s, the quaint suburbs of Toronto, Canada were blind-sided by an unprecedented flurry of violent crimes: a serial rapist on the loose and young girls vanishing… only to later discover their dead bodies, dismembered. As separate investigations developed, police across the region followed leads pointing to a young, blond-haired blue-eyed duo.

Over seven episodes, host Donnie Wahlberg traces the twisted path of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka – a couple from Toronto that appeared loving and wholesome but had everybody fooled. We’ll explore how the boy and the girl next-door captivated Canada and became the killers known as “Ken and Barbie.”

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Our Editor's Take

Very Scary People is a six-part true crime podcast about a mansion, a mass murder, and a ghost story. The podcast comes from the HLN TV show of the same name.

Donnie Wahlberg hosts the Very Scary People podcast. The singer and actor is famous for performing with New Kids on the Block and starring in the CBS show Blue Bloods and. He shows a different side of his talents with this series.

Amityville is a sleepy village in Long Island, New York. But it became an infamous town in 1974. One day that fall, police discovered the DeFeo family murdered. Someone killed six family members in the middle of the night, when they were sleeping. Only Ronald DeFeo Jr., the eldest son, survived. He claimed innocence at first, saying he thought the Mafia did the killings. Then he admitted to the terrible truth. But he later claimed that he heard voices in the house telling him to kill. Very Scary People tells the story of this terrible crime. The podcast also talks about DeFeo's issues with addiction and mental illness.

But there is much more to this story. George and Kathy Lutz bought the house. They fled the property after less than a month. The couple claimed scary paranormal activity haunted the home. The Lutzes ended up telling their story in The Amityville Horror book. Hollywood made a movie by the same name. The Very Scary People podcast reveals the family's story as well.

Donnie guides listeners through every detail of this complicated story. The podcast helps untangle mysteries along the way. The show talks about how DeFeo's past may have contributed towards his shocking actions. It also discusses whether the Dutch Colonial house had ghosts haunting it. The show reveals what the house is like today.

This true crime podcast may keep listeners interested through all the episodes. Even those who think they knew all about Amityville may learn something new with this comprehensive podcast. Very Scary People is a frightening listen.

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Introducing: Very Scary People

Introducing: Very Scary People

In 1974, a mass murder shook the sleepy waterfront town of Amityville, New York. One November night, police found the DeFeo family shot dead, face down in their beds. Only one survived: Ron DeFeo Jr., the eldest son with a troubled past. In this six-part series, host Donnie Wahlberg untangles the dark and complicated story of what happened that night, and unearths how these grisly murders sparked an infamous haunted tale.Starting March 18, 2022To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 2

S2 Ep.1: Blond Hair Blue Eyes

S2 Ep.1: Blond Hair Blue Eyes

A beautiful young couple, Karla Homolka and Paul Bernardo, are getting married on the shores of Lake Ontario in the suburbs of Toronto, Canada. Meanwhile, in the neighboring town of Scarborough, locals are gripped with fear and the police are at a loss: a serial rapist is at large, showing no signs of stopping. Host Donnie Wahlberg traces the perpetrator's steps, only to find them leading back to the blond-haired blue-eyed groom. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep.2: Call 911

S2 Ep.2: Call 911

Paul Bernardo is questioned by police after receiving multiple anonymous tips in response to a composite sketch of the Scarborough Rapist published in the local newspaper. At the same time, he’s falling in love with Karla Homolka and spending time with her family in the quiet town of St. Catharines. During their first holiday together, tragedy strikes close to home, her sister is found dead. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep.3: Kristen French

S2 Ep.3: Kristen French

The Saint Catharine’s community is rattled by a tragedy of their own. Sixteen-year-old, Kristen French, goes missing while walking home from school. The case quickly draws national attention and sparks a massive search effort.  Eerie similarities are found between Kristen’s case and another teenage girl, Leslie Mahaffy, who was murdered just a year earlier. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep.4: The DNA Sample

S2 Ep.4: The DNA Sample

A long-shelved DNA sample in the case of the Scarborough Rapist is finally tested. The sample matches Paul Bernardo. And after a physically violent dispute between Karla and Paul that sends Karla to the hospital, the police get more details about just how monstrous Paul can be. The police start to zero in on Paul for the murders of Leslie and Kristen. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep.5: The Videotapes

S2 Ep.5: The Videotapes

Law enforcement gain a very helpful tip. They tirelessly search Karla and Paul’s little pink house for video tape evidence that would prove all of their suspicions and be enough to convict Paul of murder. As the investigation develops, it turns out that Karla isn’t as innocent as she’s let on.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep.6: Tammy Homolka

S2 Ep.6: Tammy Homolka

Now that long sought-after video tapes are finally in the hands of the police. Karla has one final, shocking confession that leads investigators to revisit the night of her little sister Tammy’s untimely death. It turns out, Tammy’s death wasn’t an accident. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S2 Ep.7: Ken vs. Barbie

S2 Ep.7: Ken vs. Barbie

Paul Bernardo finally gets his day in court and the trial becomes a national spectacle. With limited physical evidence of murder, it’s Karla’s word again his. Host Donnie Wahlberg takes us through the nearly 5-month trial that captivated all of Canada and the aftermath of the violent saga of the Ken and Barbie Killers. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 1

S1 Ep. 1: Small Town Murder

S1 Ep. 1: Small Town Murder

After Ron DeFeo Jr. finds his parents and younger siblings dead in their Amityville, New York, home, police begin to search for the killer. Host Donnie Wahlberg and local journalist Joel Martin revisit that horrific evening in 1974, the crime scene and the investigation — all in hopes of answering a question heavy on residents' minds: “Who would murder an entire family in the dead of night?”To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep.2: Meet The DeFeos

S1 Ep.2: Meet The DeFeos

As the community reels from the shocking DeFeo murders, residents pack an Amityville church to mourn the loss of the family. Host Donnie Wahlberg dives deep into DeFeo history, only to find out that this picture-perfect family had very violent secrets.To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep.3: Mob Ties

S1 Ep.3: Mob Ties

As police continue their search for the killer of the DeFeos in Amityville, they discover the family's connections to organized crime. Host Donnie Wahlberg reveals how these mob ties came to light. It's a turning point in the case which brings police one step closer to their top suspect.To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep.4: The Confession

S1 Ep.4: The Confession

Amityville detectives shift all their attention to a single suspect in the murders of the DeFeo family: the oldest son, Ron DeFeo Jr. Following hours of intense interrogation, the sole surviving family member breaks. But Ron Jr.'s confession dredged up new details, complicated questions, and more secrets.To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep.5: The People v. Ronald DeFeo Jr.

S1 Ep.5: The People v. Ronald DeFeo Jr.

Nearly a year after the grisly Amityville murders, Ron “Butch” DeFeo Jr.'s fate would rest in the hands of a New York jury. But even in front of a judge, Ron Jr. was a chameleon; his story continued to evolve. One conflicted juror recounts the disturbing trial while host Donnie Wahlberg considers the question: Will the inconsistencies in Ron Jr.'s story spare him from life behind bars?To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

S1 Ep.6: Everyone Loves A Good Ghost Story

S1 Ep.6: Everyone Loves A Good Ghost Story

Found guilty of killing his parents and siblings in their home, Ron DeFeo Jr. is sentenced to six counts of second-degree murder. But the convicted killer finds new fame in prison. Back in Amityville, the story of the gruesome massacre at 112 Ocean Avenue is taking on a life of its own. Host Donnie Wahlberg untangles the story of how the Dutch colonial home that was once a bloody crime scene becomes a permanent piece of horror — and pop culture — history.To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Other

Introducing: Very Scary People

Introducing: Very Scary People

In 1974, a mass murder shook the sleepy waterfront town of Amityville, New York. One November night, police found the DeFeo family shot dead, face down in their beds. Only one survived: Ron DeFeo Jr., the eldest son with a troubled past. In this six-part series, host Donnie Wahlberg untangles the dark and complicated story of what happened that night, and unearths how these grisly murders sparked an infamous haunted tale.Starting March 18, 2022To learn more about how HLN protects listener privacy, visit cnn.com/privacy Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Introducing Very Scary People: The Ken and Barbie Killers

Introducing Very Scary People: The Ken and Barbie Killers

In the late-80s and early 90s, the quaint suburbs of Toronto, Canada were blind-sided by an unprecedented flurry of violent crimes: a serial rapist on the loose and young girls vanishing… only to later discover their dead bodies, dismembered. As separate investigations developed, police across the region followed leads pointing to a young, blond-haired blue-eyed duo. Over seven episodes, host Donnie Wahlberg traces the twisted path of Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka – a couple from Toronto that appeared loving and wholesome but had everybody fooled. We’ll explore how the boy and the girl next-door captivated Canada and became the killers known as “Ken and Barbie.” Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

What to Listen to Next - Mind of a Monster: The Butcher Baker

What to Listen to Next - Mind of a Monster: The Butcher Baker

If you enjoyed Very Scary People, check out a new podcast from ID - Mind of a Monster: The Butcher Baker. Listen to episode 1, We Called Her Eklutna Annie here.1980s Alaska: a swirling, chaotic mix of oil workers, dancers, sex workers and old-school cops. On the seedy 4th Avenue strip in Anchorage, nicknamed the world's longest bar, women start to go missing, plucked from the street or the bars and never seen again. In this 7-part series, Dr. Michelle Ward investigates the case of one of the US's most prolific, but not widely known, serial killers. She'll talk to survivors, criminology experts and the police on the ground, uncovering audio tapes, police reports and old newspaper articles, all to reveal the killer's identity as it happened. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.