Before he smiled on national television, Rodney Alcala was already hiding something monstrous.

In Part 1, Silent Motive pulls back the curtain on Alcala’s early life — from his fractured childhood and disturbing psychological profile to the brutal 1968 assault on eight-year-old Tali Shapiro that first exposed his darkness.

We trace his release, his move across the country under fake names, and the beginnings of a killing spree that would stretch from Los Angeles to New York.

It’s a story of charm weaponized, of victims who trusted a camera lens — and a justice system that kept giving the Devil another chance.

Trigger Warning: Graphic descriptions of sexual assault and homicide.

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Because even in the quiet… there’s always a motive.

In December 2009, Susan Powell — a devoted mother and wife — vanished from her Utah home without a trace. What began as a missing person’s case quickly spiraled into something darker: a husband’s bizarre alibi, a father-in-law’s twisted obsession, and a tragedy that no one saw coming.

In this episode, Silent Motive dives deep into the Powell family’s tangled secrets — from Susan’s haunting final journal entry to the investigation that would uncover lies, control, and the unthinkable.

Listener discretion is advised. This episode contains discussion of domestic violence and abuse.

If you or someone you know needs help, please contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788. You are not alone.

In April 1974, a small HiFi stereo shop in Ogden, Utah, became the site of one of the most shocking crimes in American history. What began as a simple robbery turned into hours of terror, torture, and death. The victims were bound, forced to drink Drano, and left in a scene that would haunt detectives for decades.

In this episode of Silent Motive, we uncover the brutal truth behind the HiFi Murders — from the men who planned it to the survivors who lived to tell their story. We’ll explore the twisted psychology behind the crime, the investigation that shook the Air Force community, and the haunting legacy it left behind.

🔪 Content Warning: This episode contains detailed descriptions of violence and torture that may not be suitable for all listeners.

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💀 New episodes weekly — uncovering the crimes that refuse to stay buried.

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He seemed quiet… almost invisible. But behind closed doors, Ed Gein’s farmhouse hid horrors beyond imagination. In this episode of Silent Motive, we peel back the layers of one of America’s most disturbing true crimes — the man who inspired Psycho, The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and The Silence of the Lambs.

From Gein’s twisted devotion to his mother to the gruesome discoveries that shocked a nation, this story explores how isolation, obsession, and madness turned a small-town man into a living nightmare.

Listen now — if you dare — to the chilling truth behind the legend of Ed Gein.

Two families. Two homes. One unshakable darkness.

In this episode of Silent Motive, we uncover the chilling true stories behind The Watcher House and The Amityville Horror—where obsession, fear, and the unknown collide. From cryptic letters to whispered hauntings, these are the real-life nightmares that prove evil doesn’t always need a face… sometimes, it just needs an address.

In this episode of Silent Motive, we examine the tragic murder of Karina Vetrano, a young woman whose life was stolen while on an evening jog through Spring Creek Park in Queens, New York. What began as a routine run turned into a case that shook the city and left her community searching for answers.

We’ll retrace the timeline of events, uncover the frantic investigation, and follow the evidence that eventually led detectives to the man responsible. Along the way, we’ll explore the role of forensic science, the impact on Karina’s family, and the larger questions this case raised about safety and justice.

This is the story of a vibrant life cut short, a community torn apart, and a trial that delivered long-awaited closure.

Few cases have terrified the public - and baffled investigators - quite like the Zodiac Killer. From the late 1960s through the early 1970s, a mysterious figure stalked Northern California, leaving behind victims, cryptic letters, and coded messages that still remain unsolved.

In this debut episode of Silent Motive, we dive deep into:

• The Zodiac's known victims and possible additional crimes
• The chilling letters and ciphers sent to newspapers
• Suspects who came under investigation - and why none were convicted
• The enduring legacy of fear and fascination surrounding this case

Decades later, the Zodiac Killer's identity is still unknown. Could the truth still be uncovered?

🔔Subscribe to Silent Motive for more deep-dive true crime and unsolved mysteries.

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