Inside the Explorer Program: How Cops Used Mentorship to Exploit Sandra Birchmore

Five HUGE WAYS Sandra Birchmore Was Failed by the People Meant to Protect Her Description: Sandra Birchmore thought she was joining something safe—something built to guide and empower her future. What she got was years of grooming, manipulation, and ultimately, death. At 23, Sandra was found dead in her apartment. Initially ruled a suicide, her death was almost swept away as another statistic. But when federal authorities looked deeper, they uncovered something far more disturbing: Sandra had been involved for years with Officer Matthew Farwell—a man twice her age who met her when she was just 13 through the Stoughton Police Explorer Program. Prosecutors now say he strangled her to silence her and staged the scene to look like suicide. In this episode, retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke joins us to unpack the five key failures that made this tragedy possible. From negligent oversight and toxic leadership to peer silence and institutional cowardice, we break down how Sandra was abandoned not just by one person—but by a system designed to protect her. Robin outlines how grooming works within trusted institutions, how “mentorship” becomes a mask for abuse, and why departments that prioritize convenience over ethics become complicit. He explains how fear of professional backlash often keeps good officers from speaking up—and why failing to confront one predator often empowers more. This isn’t just an indictment of one cop. It’s a case study in what happens when leadership fails, accountability collapses, and victims are left to fend for themselves inside a system that should’ve had their back. Sandra Birchmore didn’t fall through the cracks. She was pushed. And in this episode, we show you who pushed her—and how we stop it from happening again. #SandraBirchmore #RobinDreeke #LawEnforcementFailure #TrueCrimePodcast #FBIBehavioralAnalysis #Grooming #InstitutionalNeglect #HiddenKillers #TonyBrueski #ExplorerProgram Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Kohberger & Anne Taylor – What It’s Like To Defend A Murderer, Attorney Bob Motta Explains Description: What’s it really like to defend someone accused of the unthinkable? In this episode, criminal defense attorney Bob Motta gets brutally honest about what happens when you represent a client like Bryan Kohberger. From the public backlash to the private psychological toll, Motta breaks down the reality of standing beside a man accused of one of the most gruesome college town massacres in recent memory. We dig into Anne Taylor’s legal posture, her defense tactics, and what it means to be the last line of protection between a defendant and a potential death sentence—even when public opinion is overwhelmingly against you. Is it just about due process? Or does defending someone like Kohberger require a certain mindset? Motta doesn’t sugarcoat the burden and ethical complexities of the role, especially in a case this high-profile and this emotionally volatile. If you’ve ever wondered how any lawyer can walk into court and say “Not Guilty” for someone like Kohberger—this episode will answer that question. #BryanKohberger #DefenseAttorney #AnneTaylor #TrueCrimeLaw #BobMotta #KohbergerCase #CriminalDefense #KohbergerGuiltyPlea #HiddenKillersPodcast #TrueCrimeDiscussion    Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872 

Inside the Explorer Program: How Cops Used Mentorship to Exploit Sandra Birchmore Description: What happens when a program meant to inspire young people becomes a pipeline for abuse? Sandra Birchmore joined the Stoughton Police Explorer Program at age 13, believing it would shape her future. Instead, it allegedly became the beginning of years-long grooming by a man in uniform—and silence from those around him. In this chilling episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott breaks down the dark psychology behind mentorship-based grooming, how power and trust are weaponized, and why institutional silence is often the predator’s best defense. We’re pulling back the curtain on how these programs fail—and how young lives are destroyed in the process. #SandraBirchmore #ExplorerProgram #PoliceGrooming #YouthAbuse #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimeDeepDive #MentorshipExploitation #InstitutionalFailure #HiddenKillersPodcast #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Will Bryan Kohberger Explain The Motive For His Crimes In Court? The nation remains haunted by Bryan Kohberger’s chilling murders, but a crucial piece remains unknown: why did he commit these horrific crimes? Attorney Eric Faddis joins us to discuss whether Kohberger is likely to reveal his true motives when he addresses the court, and what his potential explanation could mean for survivors, families, and the public craving answers. With extensive legal experience on both sides of criminal cases, Eric Faddis examines how defendants typically handle the sensitive issue of motive during sentencing hearings, and whether Kohberger’s legal team would encourage him to explain himself—or remain silent. Faddis offers listeners a clear view of how a statement of motive could impact Kohberger’s sentencing, public perception, and legacy. Could admitting the "why" behind his actions serve any tactical benefit, or is silence his strongest card left to play? Beyond the legal strategies, we dive into the emotional and psychological stakes at play. Faddis discusses what it would mean for the families if Kohberger attempts to justify, rationalize, or explain his motives publicly. We also explore how a lack of motive affects public understanding of such crimes and what legal experts look for in cases like this to help unravel a killer’s inner reasoning. As we await Kohberger’s possible courtroom statement, Eric Faddis provides crucial legal and psychological insights, unpacking why we, as a society, are obsessed with understanding the minds of murderers. Join us for a powerful exploration into the significance of motive and how one criminal’s explanation—or silence—can shape our collective understanding of justice. Hashtags: #BryanKohberger #CrimeMotive #IdahoMurders #CourtroomDrama #LegalInsights #AttorneyEricFaddis #CriminalMindset #PsychologyOfCrime #SentencingHearing #TrueCrimePodcast    Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872 

Howard Blum Reveals New Details Of Kohberger's Car Ride To PA With His Dad Description: In one of the most chilling post-crime journeys in recent memory, Bryan Kohberger and his father drove nearly 2,500 miles cross-country from Pullman, Washington to Albrightsville, Pennsylvania — shoulder to shoulder, in the same white Hyundai Elantra investigators were scrambling to identify. In this episode, Howard Blum breaks down what really happened in that car, and why the trip might have been more than just a holiday homecoming. It might’ve been a slow-motion psychological unraveling. Blum reveals exclusive insights into what Michael Kohberger may have noticed during the ride: his son’s erratic behavior, route changes due to apparent paranoia, and the moment they were stopped by police not once — but twice. Why didn’t the father ask questions? Did he already suspect something? Or was this an episode of quiet denial playing out across state lines? With Robin Dreeke offering a behavioral read on the body language and emotional tension of the ride, this episode explores how Michael Kohberger — a man who had already seen his son battle heroin addiction, weight loss obsession, and social dysfunction — may have begun to put the pieces together too late. Was the drive east a form of emotional containment, or the beginning of an internal reckoning for a father watching his son spiral? We examine the guilt, the confusion, and the quiet dread of a parent who may have realized too late that the son sitting next to him might be a killer — and why that ride may now become a pivotal chapter in the larger story of this case. Hashtags: #KohbergerCarRide #BryanKohberger #HowardBlum #TrueCrimeToday #IdahoFour #HiddenKillers #WhiteHyundaiElantra #MoscowMurders #TrueCrimePodcast #FBIAnalysis Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Donna Adelson: Inside the New Evidence That Could Seal Her Fate  What does a Boca Raton grandma, an undercover FBI sting, a murder-for-hire plot, and a one-way ticket to Vietnam have in common? One name: Donna Adelson. In this in-depth breakdown, we follow the trail of evidence prosecutors say links Donna to the 2014 killing of her ex-son-in-law, Florida State law professor Dan Markel. This isn’t just a story of family dysfunction—it’s a forensic, digital, and financial autopsy of a conspiracy that took nine years to build and is now coming to a boiling point in a Florida courtroom. We lay out every major piece of evidence the prosecution will use: from the bombshell jail phone calls, to Luis Rivera’s testimony about “the lady” ordering the hit, to Katherine Magbanua’s claim that Donna hand-delivered a moldy envelope full of cash to Charlie the night of the murder. We break down the flurry of phone calls between co-conspirators, the Lexus bought with blood money, the call logs and financial spikes that map out the plot like a blueprint, and yes—Donna’s attempted flight to a non-extradition country with her husband just days after her son was convicted. This isn’t speculation. This is the receipts. And in this episode, we walk you through how they all add up—to a conspiracy prosecutors say Donna Adelson helped fund, plan, and cover up. If you're looking for a true crime case where the evidence tells the story... this is the one. Hashtags: #DonnaAdelson #DanMarkel #MarkelMurder #JusticeForDan #AdelsonFamily #MurderForHire #TrueCrimePodcast #WiretapEvidence #MagbanuaTestimony #LuisRivera #VietnamEscape #ConspiracyToMurder #DarkSideOfPrivilege #FloridaCrime  Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872 

Ret. FBI Robin Dreeke on the Culture of Fear That Let Sandra Birchmore’s Abuser Operate Freely Description: How does a police officer groom a teenager for years—under supervision—and no one says a word? That’s the question at the heart of the Sandra Birchmore case. In 2021, Sandra was found dead. Local authorities quickly called it a suicide. But federal prosecutors now allege that Officer Matthew Farwell, who had been intimately involved with Sandra since her teens, actually murdered her to cover up years of exploitation and control. And yet, the most chilling part of this case isn’t just the alleged crime—it’s how many people saw something and stayed silent. Fellow officers, supervisors, and department leaders looked the other way as red flags piled up. Some resigned. Others let their certifications quietly expire. No one stepped forward. No one sounded the alarm. In this episode, retired FBI Special Agent Robin Dreeke explains how fear-based culture within law enforcement agencies enables predators like Farwell. Robin breaks down the psychological pressure points: why officers stay quiet, how loyalty morphs into complicity, and how departments learn to rationalize abusive behavior as just another “gray area.” We also explore the psychology of silence—how fear of losing a job, disrupting status quo, or challenging someone in power keeps people quiet. Robin gives powerful insight into what real accountability looks like, what leadership failure feels like on the inside, and why these kinds of cases don’t just happen—they’re built over time through neglect, denial, and fear. This isn’t just about one department. It’s about a culture that exists in too many places—and the consequences it leaves behind. #SandraBirchmore #RobinDreeke #PoliceCulture #CultureOfFear #TrueCrimeInvestigation #FBIBehavioralAnalysis #HiddenKillersPodcast #TonyBrueski #SystemicAbuse #GroomingInLawEnforcement Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872

Howard Blum Breaks Down What He Believes Kohberger Said To His Parents The Morning Of The Idaho Tragedy Description: In this gripping episode, NYT bestselling author and investigative journalist Howard Blum joins Hidden Killers to dissect a moment that could hold the emotional key to understanding the entire Bryan Kohberger case: a 6 a.m. phone call made just hours after the University of Idaho murders, from Bryan to a phone registered to his father, Michael Kohberger. What was said on that call? Why does it matter? And how did it shape everything that followed — from the legal strategy to the plea deal? According to Blum’s exclusive reporting, Bryan may have spent the bulk of that conversation speaking to his mother, and the contents of the call sent ripples through the family that changed the course of the case. Blum walks us through what his sources revealed about the emotional state of the Kohberger household, and how the mother’s refusal to accept a guilty plea — possibly based on what was said during that call — may have delayed the prosecution’s path forward. This episode doesn’t just unpack speculation. It connects the behavioral shifts, the timeline of events, and the ripple effect that one 54-minute call may have had on the lives of everyone involved — including the defense's strategic collapse and the looming threat of testimony from the parents themselves. With Robin Dreeke offering behavioral insight and Tony Brueski guiding the conversation, we explore how the most private conversation of Kohberger’s life may become one of the most revealing. Hashtags: #BryanKohberger #IdahoFour #HowardBlum #TrueCrimePodcast #MoscowMurders #KohbergerParents #PhoneCallEvidence #HiddenKillers #CrimePsychology #TrueCrimeToday Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872  

Behind The Curtain Of Anne Taylor & Bryan Kohberger’s Choice To Plead Guilty Description: In this episode, veteran defense attorney Bob Motta pulls back the curtain on one of the most shocking twists in the Bryan Kohberger case—his decision to plead guilty. Alongside Anne Taylor, Kohberger’s defense attorney who has been under intense public scrutiny since day one, this calculated move signals the end of a potential death penalty trial, but the beginning of a much deeper conversation. Why now? Why plead guilty after nearly three years of court battles and defense delays? What internal discussions might have taken place between Taylor, Kohberger, and his family behind closed doors? And what does this say about Taylor’s strategy all along? Bob Motta, a defense attorney who understands the psychology of the courtroom and the human element behind legal decisions, brings sharp insight into what likely led to this dramatic pivot. We explore whether Taylor’s goal was always to save Kohberger’s life rather than win a trial, and what it means for the families who were robbed of a public reckoning in court. This is a raw, no-fluff, deeply informed conversation about power, legal strategy, and the high-stakes reality of defending the accused in one of the most disturbing murder cases in recent history. #BryanKohberger #AnneTaylor #TrueCrimePodcast #KohbergerPleaDeal #BobMotta #DefenseAttorney #HiddenKillers #KohbergerTrial #KohbergerUpdate #JusticeForTheVictims  Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video? Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872 

The Sandra Birchmore Case – How Police Groomers Kept Her Silent for Years Description: For years, Sandra Birchmore tried to tell people what was happening to her—about the older police officer who was “in a relationship” with her since she was 15, about the abuse, about the lies. No one listened. In this episode, psychotherapist Shavaun Scott joins us to dissect how grooming operates under the radar when the abuser is a man with a badge—and the trust of the system. We explore how predators manipulate their victims into silence, what keeps victims loyal to their abusers, and why law enforcement institutions are uniquely vulnerable to this kind of cover-up. Sandra didn’t stay silent because she was weak. She stayed silent because the system made her believe she had no other choice. Until it was too late. #SandraBirchmore #Grooming #PoliceCorruption #ShavaunScott #TrueCrimePsychology #ExplorerProgram #PredatorProtection #VictimSilencing #HiddenKillersPodcast #TonyBrueski Want to comment and watch this podcast as a video?  Check out our YouTube Channel. https://www.youtube.com/@hiddenkillerspod Instagram https://www.instagram.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Facebook https://www.facebook.com/hiddenkillerspod/ Tik-Tok https://www.tiktok.com/@hiddenkillerspod X Twitter https://x.com/tonybpod Listen Ad-Free On Apple Podcasts Here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/true-crime-today-premium-plus-ad-free-advance-episode/id1705422872