Gérard Labuschagne and Paul Vivare joined by world-renowned arson investigator Ed Nordskog to dissect the chilling case of Justin Caruso, a serial arsonist whose crimes spanned three US states.

Caruso’s fires weren’t random. He staged them to look accidental, inserted himself into investigations, and sought recognition as a “hero.” One blaze killed a 74-year-old man in Mesa, Arizona; another nearly claimed the life of an elderly woman just a week later.

Nordskog, who personally analysed the case, explains how investigators uncovered Caruso’s evolving M.O. andexposed the psychology driving his crimes. Gérard provides forensic insight into Hero Syndrome, fire-setter psychology, and why arson cases remain among the most complex to prosecute.

In this episode:
🔥The fatal Mesa fire and its investigation.
🔥How fires in Arizona, Texas, and Massachusetts were linked.
🔥The psychology of fire-setters and Hero Syndrome.
🔥Why this case became the IAAI’s International Case of the Year.

📩 Questions, comments, or sponsorships: profilerafricainfo@gmail.com
🌍More: plotshift.co.za

For more information on guest Ed Nordskog visit: www.arsonprofiler.com

In January 2003, Cape Town was rocked by one of the most brutal mass murders in South African history. Inside a massage parlour called Sizzlers, ten men were bound, tortured, and executed. Nine died. One man — Quinton Taylor — miraculously survived.

This was the Sizzlers Massacre: a crime of staggering cruelty, officially recognised as a hate crime against the queer community. The killers, Adam Woest and Trevor Theys, claimed it was a robbery gone wrong — but the evidence revealed something far darker.

In this gripping episode of Profiler Africa, host Paul Llewellyn is joined by South Africa’s leading true crime voice, Nicole Engelbrecht — author of Sizzlers: The Hate Crime That Tore Sea Point Apart. Through Nicole’s meticulous research and rare survivor testimony from Quinton Taylor, we revisit that night, unpack the leader–follower dynamic behind the violence, and confront the uncomfortable questions the case still raises — especially as one of the killers now seeks parole.

🎧 Listen Now on Spotify & Apple Podcasts

📚 Read the Book: Sizzlers: The Hate Crime That Tore Sea Point Apart by Nicole Engelbrecht
🎙 Nicole’s Podcast: True Crime South Africa — available wherever you get your podcasts

🔗 Support Profiler Africa

• Patreon: patreon.com/profilerafrica

• Buy Me a Coffee: coff.ee/profiler

📲 Connect with Us

• Instagram, Facebook & X: @ProfilerAfrica

• Email: profilerafricainfo@gmail.com

💡 Don’t miss an episode — follow & subscribe now, and remember… trust nobody.

This week on Profiler Africa, Paul Viv and Dr. Gerard Labuschagne sit down with Nicole Engelbrecht – South Africa’s leading true crime voice, creator of the chart-topping True Crime South Africa podcast, and author of multiple acclaimed books.

In Part 1 of this exclusive two-part interview, Nicole opens up about leaving corporate life to build a victim-first media platform, her journey as an author, and the ethics of telling stories of tragedy.

The discussion shifts to one of South Africa’s most haunting school attacks – the Morné Harmse “Samurai Sword” case – and his controversial release on parole. Nicole shares her in-depth research from Samurai Sword Murder, while Gerard unpacks the failures of risk assessment in South Africa’s parole system.

In this episode:

• Nicole’s journey into true crime and victim-focused storytelling

• The parole controversy surrounding Morné Harmse

• Systemic challenges in South Africa’s parole and justice system

• How the Sizzlers Massacre shaped Nicole’s advocacy

🎧 Part 2 next week: A deep dive into the Sizzlers Massacre.

For questions or sponsorships: profilerafricainfo@gmail.com
Website: plotshift.co.za