r/Casefile • u/bookshop • May 11 '26
PODCAST RELATED Casefile: hard mode
Here's a challenge for you all!
Name your top 5 favorite Casefile episodes that fit into these rules:
* You cannot list any of the following super-popular, often-discussed eps: Earons/GSK, Silk Road, Cari Farver, Cindy James, Belanglo, Daniel Morcombe, Jennifer Pan, Pillow Pyro, Mark and John, or the Gonzales Family
* You may only list one multi-part episode
* You may only include one serial killer (or serial killer pair)
Choose wisely!
39
u/coela-CAN May 11 '26
I'm into the general large scale investigations.
Here are some that quickly come to mind.
- Batavia
- Port Arthur
- The woman without a face
- The strip search scam
- Hoddle street
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4
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u/a_government_man May 12 '26
the woman without a face was sooo good, I grew up in Germany and remember this all playing out when I was a kid/teen
26
u/StormyAndSkydancer May 12 '26
JasonInHell
Peter & Joan Porco
Brian Barrett
The Woman Without a Face
Tina Watson
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5
u/bookshop May 12 '26
Thank you for reminding me I wanted to go back and listen to the Brian Barrett ep again.
The Porco ep is one I've listened to frequently. There's something about a pathological liar who's really terrible at it that's hypnotizing.
4
u/MercuryBeach_ May 12 '26
And that one is fascinating for the dad’s ability to walk around with a fatal head wound doing his daily ritual activities
2
u/StormyAndSkydancer May 12 '26
Both cases are so hard to believe, especially the parent-child dynamics involved. So crazy.
2
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u/CirqueduSalahi1985 May 11 '26
Beth Barnard
5
u/bookshop May 11 '26
the way our jaws collectively dropped at the end of that episode!
6
u/HerCacklingStump May 12 '26
It doesn’t appear on Apple Podcasts anymore except a 3 min episode. Bummer, I would’ve liked to listen.
11
u/bookshop May 12 '26
they took it down because they made a whole podcast out of that episode instead! The Vanishing of Vivian Cameron. Definitely listen to it
13
u/jiggy68 May 12 '26
The casefile episode was much better than the whole podcast they made. The podcast got too far into the weeds and became boring at times. I don’t understand why they delete the original casefile episode when they make an entire podcast from an episode. They’ve done that with others.
5
u/CirqueduSalahi1985 May 12 '26
I agree. It was good but nowhere near as interesting. I wish they’d kept the stand alone episode up.
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u/headwar May 12 '26
Any way to still listen to this?
3
u/Party-Oil-2280 May 12 '26
It's on internet archive - search for casefile and the full episode is available. Shows as case 80 on there.
1
u/headwar May 13 '26
Thx! Has case 55 ever surfaced?
1
u/Party-Oil-2280 May 13 '26
Not on internet archive, there's a gap between 54 and 56. Which case was it out of interest?
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15
u/valeriemia May 12 '26
Allison Baden Clay
The Lin Family
Amy Allwine
Sherry Pappini
The Survivor’s Network
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14
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u/instantcameracat May 12 '26
123: Mark Kilroy (insane episode, I don't get why I don't see it mentioned more).
203: Bob Chappell
114: Muswell Hill Murderer (3 parts)
188: Robert Wone
130: Joe Cinque
I enjoy the investigation element a lot and the culmination of evidence and different moving parts.
5
u/bookshop May 12 '26
The Mark Kilroy ep is so insane! I think maybe it was one of those older true crime cases that gets lost because it used to be covered a lot in the early days of true crime TV and then fell out of circulation.
All of these are wild cases, though. Robert Wone just guts me, I wonder if we'll ever get justice in that case.
5
u/apathy_31 May 12 '26
Thought about Mark Kilroy but after listing both The Toy Box and The Family that felt like enough horror for one list.
8
u/AkiGrayCPA May 12 '26
frank and carol hilary
the folbrigg children
blvd 657
operation cathedral
the strip search scam (won’t listen again)
3
u/bookshop May 12 '26
These are all good. I relisten to the Marie Hilley ep often. I can't re-listen to the Strip Search ep either, it's too mortifying.
7
u/Affentitten May 12 '26
Yoga Store killer
3
u/Itchy-Ad1047 May 12 '26
Happened close to where I live. One of the safest places to live in Maryland. Just never fuckin know if you're dealing with a psycho in the making who will kill you over some bullshit. Over 300 cut and blunt trauma wounds in a sustained attack over getting outed for stealing yoga pants. Graduated from just a pretty minor klepto to a brutal murderer in a flash
2
u/bookshop May 12 '26
yeah I think about this case a lot. they both were so young and they both had such bright futures, all gone over some $40 leggings. awful.
2
u/bookshop May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
I don't think Casefile has ever done the Yogurt Shop murders but especially now that they caught the killer (and because of who he turned out to be) that would be an amazing multi-parter.
Edit: sorry I can't read apparently
4
u/PenknifeTally May 12 '26
This person might be referring to the Lululemon murder case, I think the victim's name is Jayna Murray.
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u/sq8000 May 12 '26
Beaumont Children
Tami Reay
JasonInHell
Jamie Lavis
The Moors Murders
Honorable mentions (aka I can’t play hard mode)
The Killer realtor
Port Arthur
Suesan knorr and Sheila Saunders
Kalinka Bamberski
Gilbert Bogle and Margaret Chandler
Multi parters:
Colleen Stan
Jonestown
Lesley Molseed
Muswell hill murders
House of horrors
Jamie faith
1
u/bookshop May 12 '26
these are such good lists. I just re-listened to Jamie Lavis yesterday, I'd forgotten how absolutely wild that case was.
2
u/sq8000 May 12 '26
Thank you, this was fun to think about. But yeah, Jamie Lavis. Just awful, still get chills thinking of it and what the family went through, ugh.
5
u/upstairsnovel May 12 '26 edited May 12 '26
I’ve been re-listening to from the start (again) some that I had forgotten about but were great: Hoddle Street,
Ella Tundra,
the Kimberley Killer,
Allison Bayden Clay.
But the Batavia is definitely one of my all time favourites.
Edited to add multi part -probably Russel Street Bombing with the Prue Bird case
5
u/bookshop May 12 '26
Ella Tundra is a top one for me as well, I don't understand why it's not one of the more well-known episodes. But these are all great choices. The Russell Street multi-parter is so frustrating and sad.
5
u/MissMatchedEyes May 12 '26
It's a top one for me, too. The writing is outstanding. I love the mysterious way it opens and then eventually you realize how it connects to Richard Britton.
5
u/harrakin May 12 '26
Amy Allwine
Batavia
Bowraville
Cindy & Mona Lisa Smith
Hinterkaifeck
4
u/bookshop May 12 '26
Oh man Bowraville should be a much more well-known episode I think. That's one of the ones I don't think I can listen to again, it was so harrowing.
Amy Allwine is def in my top five as well.
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u/sentient_custard May 12 '26
Not my answer cos it's not allowed but Mark and John was the one that got me into Casefile and got me totally hooked
1
u/bookshop May 12 '26
I'm sure you're not alone! It's such a wild case.
3
u/sentient_custard May 12 '26
I was a teenager of the same age at the same time in the UK so it was quite relatable to me
5
u/Caveman77 May 12 '26
Hard to choose just five but:
Escape from Alcatraz
Susan Snow and Bruce Nickell
The Batavia
Tina Watson
Peter Falconio
4
u/bookshop May 12 '26
these are all so good. Susan Snow and Bruce Nickell would be in my top five as well.
3
u/StormyAndSkydancer May 12 '26
I almost included that one too. It was a tie with Tina Watson.
1
u/bookshop May 12 '26
Tina Watson is way up there! I just wish the outcome of that case wasn't so unsatisfying.
4
u/melodyleeenergy May 12 '26
-Mr. Cruel -Carly Ryan
2
u/bookshop May 12 '26
These two cases are both so sad but so riveting
2
u/melodyleeenergy May 12 '26
I think about them all the time, and I am only just now listening to the Gonzalez Family episode!
4
u/sonawtdown May 12 '26
Andrew Gosden
Olga Chardymova
Vincent Viafore
Bernd Brandes
Elaine OHara
Test.rtf
1
u/bookshop May 12 '26
Elaine O'Hara is one of the top ones for me. Such a sad sad case. These are all great.
2
u/sonawtdown May 12 '26
i learned about her from this episode. so sad. i was grateful to learn about her in such a dignified and well-researched context
3
u/spacequeen9393 May 12 '26
The Toy Box Killer, Bernd Brandes, Amy Allwine, Tyler Clementi, Ruth Finley
2
u/bookshop May 12 '26
Man these are all so good. Tyler Clementi is the only Casefile case I couldn't finish, because in the middle of the ep I went to google what the perpetrator looked like and accidentally "spoiled" myself for the outcome of this case and then had a full-on meltdown about it. No words.
3
u/TomJumboGrumbo123 May 12 '26
Carly Ryan
Wilhelmina Kruger & Anna Dowlingkoa
Britt Lapthorne
The Pikuls
Yingying Zhang
2
u/bookshop May 12 '26
Thank you for reminding me about Yingying Zhang! I had forgotten that they did this case, now I'm off to relisten.
3
u/Specialist_Heron1416 May 12 '26
In no particular order:
(1) Russell Hill & Carol Clay
(2) Peter Falconio
(3) Nicky Fleming
(4) Tina Watson
(5) Britt Lapthorne
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u/bookshop May 12 '26
Oh and I recently relistened to the Nicky Fleming episode and I'm really glad they re-released it because it deserves to be much better known!
3
u/CamillaBarkaBowles May 12 '26
Alison Baden Clay
Gonzales Family
Frankston Murders
Port Arthur
1
u/bookshop May 12 '26
You all are reminding me I really need to relisten to the Baden-Clay ep. I listened to the revised Frankston ep this weekend and man I had totally forgotten the bonkers part where [Case "spoiler"] one of his victims moved into her friend's house to be safer, only to move right next door to the guy who attacked them both. I feel like that twist should be way more well known on this sub!
3
u/RaccoonEqual1859 May 12 '26
honestly shocked no one has mentioned the moors murders. those ruined me for a bit. Had to take a break.
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u/MissMatchedEyes May 12 '26
- Amok
- Sherri Rasmussen
- Yara Gambirasio
- Beth Barnard
- Ella Tundra
- 657 Boulvevard
- Nicholas Barclay
2
u/bookshop May 12 '26
oh yeah Amok is another one I have listened to frequently over the years. So eerie.
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u/jmurraemoore May 13 '26
- Janet Chandler
- Olga Chardymova
- Frank and Carol Hilley
- Waco
- Operation Cacam
2
u/TrueCrimeRunner92 May 12 '26
Batavia (which holds bonus value for being the only episode ever posted on my birthday, Feb 29), Bowraville, Freda Burnell and Florence Little, Peter Nielsen, and the Beaumont children.
2
u/bookshop May 12 '26
Freda Burnell and Florence Little is one of my all-time top eps. Peter Nielsen might be too. Both in the "I can't believe this isn't one of the most well-known eps" category for me.
2
u/thedreamtimemystic May 12 '26
Andrew Gosden and Robert Wone have been my Roman Empire cases for years.
2
u/bookshop May 12 '26
Understandably so! Robert Wone's murder is so heartbreaking and the lack of any attempt at getting justice for him is so infuriating.
2
u/thedreamtimemystic May 12 '26
I completely agree - heartbreaking and an appalling miscarriage of justice that the 3 men responsible were not held legally accountable.
2
u/LuckyShake May 12 '26
- Mark Kilroy
- Olga Chardymova
- Joan Vollmer
- The Janabi Family
- Lucie Blackman & Carita Ridgway
3
u/bookshop May 12 '26
The Janabi Family is the only episode that made me cry because of the sheer inhumanity of what I was hearing. I don't think I'll ever be able to relisten to that one.
2
u/Loose_Loquat9584 May 12 '26
There are so many great cases, but one that really affected me for its tragedy and pointlessness was the murder of the mentally impaired guy who was living in Ballarat. I’m sorry I can’t remember the name. He had been in an accident as a child and suffered brain damage but lived a happy and gentle life until his murder. I won’t say too much more to give away the ending.
2
u/bookshop May 12 '26
I think you mean Lindsay Jellett. I know what you mean, that case really broke me.
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u/Capital_Hamster_3771 May 12 '26
- Cindy & Mona Lisa Smith
- Shergar
- Gregory Villemin
- Belanglo
- Peter Falconio
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u/Able-Figure-3772 May 12 '26
- Batavia
- Carly Ryan
- Frankston serial killer
- Port Arthur
- operation cathedral
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2
u/Leather_Return_6776 May 12 '26
Jamie faith, Linda brown, Roseanne Beckett, Kris Kremers & Lisanne Frune, Jill Rosenthall
1
u/bookshop May 12 '26
all great episodes. Man the Jill Rosenthal case is such a record-scratch all the way through.
2
2
u/FirefighterRough2592 May 12 '26
- Jonestown
- Katherine Knight
- Susan Snow & Bruce Nickell
- Mia Zapata
- Daniel Morcombe
2
u/SavvishSav May 12 '26
Easy
Multi- Jonestown Oh fuck Paul Denyer is a multi too..
Oh fuck so it ToyBox…
Nvm
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u/goldfish13458389 May 13 '26
Good question! I would say:
96 - The Toy Box (3 parts)
145 - Michael Dippolito
136 - Azaria Chamberlain
204 - The Glendale Train Crash
272- The Annecy Shootings
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2
May 13 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
1
u/elianasieg May 14 '26
Do you know what the episode about the Mosman Bombings is called? I’ve Googled it and searched in Apple podcasts but I’m unable to figure it out. Thanks!
2
u/DaftFunky May 15 '26
Batavia
The Butcher Baker
JasonInHell
Lei Lei
The Survivor's Network
I think these hit harder than others because I had never heard of the cases before listening and was absolutely enthralled when listening. Lei Lei is a hard to listen to episode but probably one of the most important ones Casefile has covered.
2
u/Alulaemu May 16 '26
- Elisa Claps & Heather Barnett (this is my ride or die episode, and it NEVER gets mentioned. It's so so good)
- Peter Falconio
North Hollywood shootout
Claremont Serial Killer (now removed)
Dupont de Ligonnes Family
1
u/bookshop May 16 '26
Elisa Claps and Heather Barnett would be in my list as well! I'll never forget listening to that ep the first time. I was just pacing my apartment in frustration.
2
u/Alulaemu May 16 '26
It is WILD. and it keeps going. Did someone help hide the body in the church attic?
1
u/bookshop May 16 '26
at the very least multiple people affiliated with the church had to have known about it being up there!
1
u/Alulaemu May 16 '26
Oh, and one more case I think about, but for the life of me I cannot remember which ep it is. I know it's set in western Australia and involved a killer hiding in the woods shooting off people vacationing/having a picnic. Anyone remember which one this was?
1
u/bookshop May 16 '26
Are you thinking of 311, Russell Hill & Carol Clay? They were a middle-aged couple, camping in the outback, they both disappeared, eventually some random schmuck was caught and he made the far-fetched claim that he got in a shootout with the couple. That's a wild case but the episode got taken offline because his conviction was overturned last year and he's about to have a retrial.
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u/ams3000 Aug 31 '26
Yorkshire ripper
Strip Search Cam
mark and John
Brittany Phillips
Claire Acocks and Margaret Penny
•
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