The Smiley Face Killers: A Chilling Theory of Unsolved Tragedies

Ricky Atkinson’s journey is one of grit, crime, and redemption. Growing up as a mixed-race boy in 1960s Toronto, he faced harsh racism and poverty. Torn between his father’s law-abiding life and the allure of his uncle's flashy criminal world, Ricky chose both paths. He became the leader of the Dirty Tricks Gang, notorious for sophisticated heists and tactical maneuvers, earning millions while evading police with cunning strategies like spike belts. Ricky’s life of crime saw him spend half his years in prison, yet inside, he found a spark of change. From co-founding the Black Inmates Friends Association to producing an inmate-run TV show, he worked to inspire others. Today, Ricky teaches boxing and pottery, warning youth of the dangers of crime. His story reflects a fight against systemic injustice and personal demons, proving redemption is possible even for the most hardened lives. Tune in to Crime After Dark here:  Spotify Apple Podcasts Author: Hope T. Huge thanks to our sponsors: Acorns: Head to acorns.com/crimehub or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! Acorns Early: Head to acornsearly.com/crimehub or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! SelectQuote: Go to SelectQuote.com/crimehub today to find the right life insurance for you. Shopify: Go to shopify.com/crimehub to take your retail business to the next level today. * * * EXPLICIT CONTENT DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content not limited to intense themes, strong language, and graphic depictions of violence intended for adults 18 years of age or older. These stories are NOT intended for children under the age of 18. Parental guidance is strongly advised for children under the age of 18. Listener discretion is advised. #crimehub #truecrime #truecrimepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1980s, women with red hair began vanishing along highways in the Bible Belt, their bodies discarded in shallow graves or along desolate roads. Truck driver Jerry Leon Johns was arrested after his brutal attack on a young dancer went awry, linking him to at least one of the infamous "Redhead Murders." Spanning six states, 14 victims, and decades of unanswered questions, this chilling true crime saga explores the patterns of a predator, the lives of the victims, and the enduring mystery: Was Johns the Redhead Killer—or is he still out there? Tune in to Crime After Dark here:  Spotify Apple Podcasts Author: Mike Colucci Huge thanks to our sponsors: Acorns: Head to acorns.com/crimehub or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! Acorns Early: Head to acornsearly.com/crimehub or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! SelectQuote: Go to SelectQuote.com/crimehub today to find the right life insurance for you. Shopify: Go to shopify.com/crimehub to take your retail business to the next level today. * * * DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #crimehub #truecrime #truecrimepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1850s North Carolina, schoolmaster Clement Lassiter’s fateful journey turns deadly when he crosses paths with Reverend George Carawan, a charismatic preacher with a violent past. After Lassiter’s body is discovered in a shallow grave, a sensational trial exposes dark secrets, fiery tempers, and shocking betrayal. A haunting tale of honor, vengeance, and the sinister legacy of a man of God. Tune in to Crime After Dark here:  Spotify Apple Podcasts Author: Jake Bible Huge thanks to our sponsors: Acorns: Head to acorns.com/crimehub or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! Acorns Early: Head to acornsearly.com/crimehub or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! SelectQuote: Go to SelectQuote.com/crimehub today to find the right life insurance for you. Shopify: Go to shopify.com/crimehub to take your retail business to the next level today. * * * DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #crimehub #truecrime #truecrimepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Edwin Alonzo Boyd, a former soldier and family man, transformed into one of Canada’s most infamous criminals. Initially seen as a charming "Robin Hood," Boyd led a gang of armed robbers in the 1950s, orchestrating elaborate heists while evading capture. His life of crime included daring prison escapes, violent shootouts, and a reputation as a cunning master of disguise. The public fascination with Boyd turned to horror after a police detective’s death, sealing his gang’s fate. Later in life, Boyd hinted at a chilling secret—a possible connection to an unsolved double murder from 1947. Though he confessed to journalist Brian Vallée, Boyd escaped final justice, taking the full truth to his grave in 2002. Tune in to Crime After Dark here:  Spotify Apple Podcasts Huge thanks to our sponsors: Acorns: Head to acorns.com/crimehub or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! Acorns Early: Head to acornsearly.com/crimehub or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! SelectQuote: Go to SelectQuote.com/crimehub today to find the right life insurance for you. Shopify: Go to shopify.com/crimehub to take your retail business to the next level today. * * * DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #crimehub #truecrime #truecrimepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1995, a woman checked into Oslo's luxurious Radisson Blu Plaza Hotel under the name Jennifer Fairgate. Days later, she was found dead in her locked hotel room, sparking one of Scandinavia's most perplexing mysteries. Was it suicide, murder, or something more sinister? With falsified identities, erased clues, and whispers of espionage, the case remains shrouded in secrecy. Who was Jennifer Fairgate, and what secrets did she carry to Room 2805? This is the chilling, unsolved story of a locked-door mystery that continues to baffle investigators and true crime enthusiasts alike. Tune in to Crime After Dark here:  Spotify Apple Podcasts Huge thanks to our sponsors: Acorns: Head to acorns.com/crimehub or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! Acorns Early: Head to acornsearly.com/crimehub or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! SelectQuote: Go to SelectQuote.com/crimehub today to find the right life insurance for you. Shopify: Go to shopify.com/crimehub to take your retail business to the next level today. * * * DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #crimehub #truecrime #truecrimepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Philadelphia, 1876: Bananas first captivated the American public at the World’s Fair, but their journey to supermarket shelves is steeped in blood and corporate greed. This episode uncovers the dark history of the United Fruit Company—now Chiquita Brands—and its role in government overthrows, civil wars, and massacres across Latin America. From the 1928 Banana Massacre in Colombia to the CIA-backed Guatemalan coup of 1954, we peel back the layers of history’s most controversial fruit. A chilling tale of power, exploitation, and the high cost of a seemingly simple snack. Tune in to Crime After Dark here:  Spotify Apple Podcasts Author: Mike Colucci Huge thanks to our sponsors: Acorns: Head to acorns.com/crimehub or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! Acorns Early: Head to acornsearly.com/crimehub or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! SelectQuote: Go to SelectQuote.com/crimehub today to find the right life insurance for you. Shopify: Go to shopify.com/crimehub to take your retail business to the next level today. * * * DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #crimehub #truecrime #truecrimepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1930s and 40s, an unassuming candy shop in Brownsville, Brooklyn, doubled as the headquarters for Murder Inc., the Mafia's secretive enforcement arm. Led by ruthless figures like Louis “Lepke” Buchalter and Albert “Mad Hatter” Anastasia, this group of killers carried out hundreds of hits with chilling efficiency, shaping the underworld of organized crime. Discover how the mob’s "middlemen for murder" rose to power, upheld their deadly code, and eventually met their own violent demise. Author: Mike Colucci Huge thanks to our sponsors: Acorns: Head to acorns.com/crimehub or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! Acorns Early: Head to acornsearly.com/crimehub or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! SelectQuote: Go to SelectQuote.com/crimehub today to find the right life insurance for you. Shopify: Go to shopify.com/crimehub to take your retail business to the next level today. * * * DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #crimehub #truecrime #truecrimepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the shadowy streets of the 1920s Jazz Age, John and Mabel Carroll—dubbed the "Millionaire Bandits"—charmed and conned their way across America. From daring post office heists to masterminded escapes, their criminal exploits captivated the nation. John’s audacious prison breakout to rescue his dying wife became a sensational story of love and defiance. This true crime tale unravels the Carrolls’ legacy, blending romance, rebellion, and a fading dream of freedom. Author: Jake Bible Huge thanks to our sponsors: Acorns: Head to acorns.com/crimehub or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! Acorns Early: Head to acornsearly.com/crimehub or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! SelectQuote: Go to SelectQuote.com/crimehub today to find the right life insurance for you. Shopify: Go to shopify.com/crimehub to take your retail business to the next level today. * * * DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #crimehub #truecrime #truecrimepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On November 21st, 1974, Birmingham, England, was forever scarred by one of the most devastating terrorist attacks in its history. Two bombs tore through crowded pubs, killing 21 people and injuring nearly 200. In the wake of the explosions, six innocent men—later known as the Birmingham Six—were wrongfully convicted, victims of police brutality, fabricated evidence, and anti-Irish sentiment. Decades later, their story remains a chilling reminder of justice gone awry. Who really planted the bombs, and why has the truth remained elusive for so long? Join us as we delve into the events of that fateful night, the miscarriage of justice, and the ongoing investigation into one of England’s darkest chapters. Author: Mike Colucci Huge thanks to our sponsors: Acorns: Head to acorns.com/crimehub or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! Acorns Early: Head to acornsearly.com/crimehub or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! SelectQuote: Go to SelectQuote.com/crimehub today to find the right life insurance for you. Shopify: Go to shopify.com/crimehub to take your retail business to the next level today. * * * DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #crimehub #truecrime #truecrimepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the summer of 1960, four teenagers embarked on a carefree camping trip to the serene shores of Finland's Lake Bodom. What began as a weekend of love and laughter turned into one of the country’s most haunting murder mysteries. By morning, three were brutally slain, and the lone survivor, Nils Gustafsson, had no memory of the attack—only a shadowy figure with glowing red eyes. Decades of theories, suspects, and shocking DNA evidence have done little to solve the case, leaving haunting questions about the true identity of the killer. Join us as we unravel the chilling story of the Lake Bodom murders and explore whether the monster still walks among us. Author: Mike Colucci Huge thanks to our sponsors: Acorns: Head to acorns.com/crimehub or download the Acorns app to start saving and investing for your future today! Acorns Early: Head to acornsearly.com/crimehub or download the Acorns Early app to get started. Sign up now and your first month is on us! SelectQuote: Go to SelectQuote.com/crimehub today to find the right life insurance for you. Shopify: Go to shopify.com/crimehub to take your retail business to the next level today. * * * DISCLAIMER: This episode contains explicit content. Parental guidance is advised for children under the age of 18. Listen at your own discretion. #crimehub #truecrime #truecrimepodcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices