He was the man no one suspected — confident, intelligent, and ambitious.

But behind the smile was a void.

In this special 90-minute investigation, When the Lies Began unravels the chilling psychology of Ted Bundy, one of the most manipulative and deceptive serial killers in history.

From his ordinary childhood and rise as a law student and political volunteer to the cross-country murders that shocked America, Daniel and Claire expose how Bundy’s charm became his weapon — and his lies became his armor.

Daniel walks us through the verified timeline: Bundy’s calculated abductions across seven states, the police blunders that let him escape twice, and the forensic breakthroughs that finally ended his reign of terror.

Claire dissects the mind beneath the mask — exploring the narcissism, psychopathy, and sexual sadism that defined Bundy’s pathology. Together, they reveal how intellect and charisma can camouflage predation, and how society’s fascination with “the charming killer” still blurs the line between horror and celebrity.

This episode integrates forensic and psychological analysis, examining:

• The mechanics of psychopathy and narcissistic grandiosity

• The role of charm and mimicry as tools of manipulation

• Bundy’s paraphilic control patterns and sadistic compulsions

• The failure of empathy and systemic denial that allowed him to thrive

• His courtroom theatrics, confessions, and final rationalizations before execution

Emotionally, the episode moves through four acts:

1. Shock — The murders that shattered the illusion of normalcy.

2. Tension — The chase, the escapes, and his seductive self-defense in court.

3. Outrage — The spectacle of his manipulation and media obsession.

4. Reflection — The legacy of a killer who forced the world to question what evil looks like.

As Bundy’s life ends in Florida’s electric chair, When the Lies Began doesn’t glorify him — it dissects him.

Because the story of Ted Bundy isn’t just about murder; it’s about society’s blindness to danger wrapped in confidence, politeness, and a smile.

He lived in plain sight. A quiet neighbor, polite and unassuming. But behind closed doors lay a twisted secret life of murder, dismemberment, and horror. From his first kill in 1978 to the discovery of his apartment in 1991, Jeffrey Dahmer wove a tapestry of deception — hiding in plain sight while evil consumed him.

In this episode, Daniel and Claire trace Dahmer’s life chronologically: childhood fascination with anatomy, early murders, escalating depravity, police encounters ignored, and the chilling discovery in Apartment 213. But this is not just a retelling. It’s an exploration of pathology, power, and the lies we tell ourselves. We dig into narcissism, manipulation, fantasy, trauma, and the failure of systems to intervene.

They seemed perfect: two young lovers, traveling the country in a converted van, documenting it all online. But behind the curated photos and glowing captions, something darker was growing.

In the summer of 2021, 22-year-old Gabrielle “Gabby” Petito and her fiancé, Brian Laundrie, embarked on a cross-country “van life” journey. Their trip earned them admiration across social media—until Gabby disappeared. On September 11, her mother filed a missing persons report. Brian returned home without her, claiming nothing.

Investigators later uncovered a chilling timeline of deceit, abuse, and silence. Bodycam footage from Moab, Utah showed Gabby distraught and apologetic, while Brian remained composed. Texts sent to Gabby’s mother were later believed to have been fabricated to obscure the truth. On September 19, authorities found Gabby’s remains in Wyoming; the official cause of death: homicide by strangulation and blunt force trauma. Brian, meanwhile, was named a person of interest, and days later vanished himself. His remains were discovered in Florida — nearby was a notebook containing a confession: “I ended her life. I thought it was merciful.”

In early 2025, 34-year-old transgender man Sam Nordquist disappeared from upstate New York. For weeks, family and friends searched desperately. Suspects close to Sam denied involvement and told investigators they had no idea where he was. But prosecutors now say that while those lies spread, Sam was being held captive, tortured, and brutalized until his death.

By March, a grand jury indicted seven people on charges of first-degree murder, conspiracy, and hate crimes. Court documents describe a prolonged ordeal and multiple suspects pointing fingers at each other while denying responsibility. The case has shocked the LGBTQ+ community and raised questions about hate-driven violence, complicity, and the lies that prolonged Sam’s suffering.

In 2019, Lori Vallow told everyone her children, JJ and Tylee, were “safe.” Her new husband, doomsday author Chad Daybell, preached apocalyptic prophecies of light and dark spirits. But behind their confident smiles and spiritual claims lay a terrifying truth.

JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan were missing for months, while Lori and Chad evaded questions, married in Hawaii, and reassured worried friends and investigators. Lori’s husband, Charles Vallow, was dead. Chad’s wife, Tammy Daybell, had died suddenly. And Lori’s brother, Alex Cox, who played a mysterious role in all of it, was also gone.

The trail of lies collapsed in June 2020 when police discovered the children’s remains buried in Chad Daybell’s backyard in Rexburg, Idaho.

In this episode, Daniel and Claire take listeners through the chilling timeline of the “Doomsday Mom” and her husband: from religious obsession and false visions, to multiple suspicious deaths, to the devastating betrayal of two innocent children. They examine the cult-like grip of Chad’s teachings, Lori’s escalating deceptions, and the ultimate question: when did the lies begin?

On the night of November 8, 2010, Jennifer Pan made a frantic 911 call claiming masked intruders had broken into her family home, tied her up, and shot her parents. Her mother, Bich Ha, was killed. Her father, Huei Hann, was critically injured but survived. Jennifer appeared to be the sole victim who escaped unharmed.

But as investigators dug deeper, her story began to unravel. Cell phone records didn’t match her claims. Her statements contradicted physical evidence. And then came the revelation: the “home invasion” had been staged. Jennifer Pan had orchestrated the attack with her boyfriend Daniel Wong, after years of deception about her school, jobs, and secret double life.

In this episode, Daniel and Claire break down the timeline of Jennifer Pan’s life and lies — from forged report cards and fake diplomas to the staged crime that shocked Canada. They explore the cultural pressures of “tiger parenting,” the elaborate performance Jennifer sustained for nearly a decade, and how investigators pieced together the truth.

When did the lies begin? With a high school report card? With a secret romance? Or with the phone call that was supposed to make her look like a victim?

In November 1957, police entered a small farmhouse in Plainfield, Wisconsin, searching for missing hardware store owner Bernice Worden. In the shed, they found her body — mutilated, headless, strung up like a deer. But what they uncovered inside the home was even more disturbing: furniture made of skin, masks crafted from human faces, and organs preserved in jars.

This episode unravels the double life of Edward Gein, the man who appeared to be a harmless handyman and neighbor while secretly grave robbing, murdering, and creating a house of horrors. Daniel and Claire take listeners through his strict and warped childhood, the domineering influence of his mother, the suspicious death of his brother, the murders of Mary Hogan and Bernice Worden, and the shocking police discovery that stunned the world.

How long did the lies last? Were his neighbors blinded by pity, denial, or fear? And how did his crimes go on to inspire some of the most iconic horror characters of all time — Norman Bates, Leatherface, and Buffalo Bill?

When did the lies begin? With his quiet smile? With his obsession over his mother? Or with the silence of a community that didn’t want to see the truth?

In October 1994, Susan Smith claimed that a Black man had carjacked her vehicle with her two young sons inside. For nine agonizing days, she stood in front of TV cameras, crying and begging for their safe return. America believed her. Volunteers searched, police investigated, and the nation held its breath.

But Susan Smith already knew the truth. There was no carjacker. No kidnapping. She had rolled her car into John D. Long Lake, drowning her children, Michael and Alex.

This episode examines one of the most infamous crimes of the 1990s: the lies that manipulated a community, the racial scapegoating that fueled national outrage, and the devastating confession that shattered public trust. Daniel and Claire break down the timeline, the inconsistencies, the trial, and the lasting question: When did the lies begin?