Bodies in the Bayou | Could there be a serial killer in Houston?

Skip straight to the case: (13:39) In the first ten months of 2025, at least 16 bodies have been pulled from bayous in the Houston area.  In 2024, 24 bodies were found. The increasing number of bodies being found has led people to speculate - is there a serial killer operating in Houston, Texas? Over 90% of our Instagram followers believe that a serial killer is operating in the area. 19 of the deaths were men, three were women. The ages are varied with the majority falling between 29 to 55 years old. Read our blog for this case - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2025/10/09/is-there-a-serial-killer-in-houston/ This episode is sponsored by: Rula - Thousands of people are already using Rula to get affordable, high-quality therapy that’s actually covered by insurance.  Visit Rula.com/tcs to get started. Join us on Patreon for ad-free episodes.  We also release exclusive weekly content to our community - Patreon.com/truecrimesociety Be sure to favorite us on Instagram so that you do not miss the latest crime news - Instagram.com/truecrimesociety

Timestamp to skip straight to the case: (8:31) Welcome back to another episode of the True Crime Society Podcast. In July 2021, Katie and Bowie were taking  a late-night walk through Piedmont Park in Atlanta, Georgia.   This was their routine as Katie worked as a bartender. When Katie did not arrive as scheduled to pick up her partner Emma from work, Emma set out to look for her.  She used a phone tracking app and discovered that Katie’s phone was in Piedmont Park.  Emma went to the park and there she discovered the lifeless bodies of both Katie and Bowie.   Katie had been brutally stabbed to death - she had 50 stab wounds to her face, neck and torso.  The letters F A T had also been carved into her body. Now, four years later, the murders of Katie and Bowie remain unsolved.  A $25,000 reward is being offered for information in the case. Read our blog for Katie and Bowie here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2025/08/11/the-unsolved-murder-of-katie-janness-and-her-dog-bowie/ This episode is sponsored by: Skylight - Say goodbye to sticky notes and calendar confusion with Skylight. The Skylight Calendar is here to keep your family organized!  Go to MySkylight.com/tcs for $30 off your 15 inch calendar. Join our Patreon community for exclusive, ad-free weekly content - Patreon.com/truecrimesociety Follow us on all social media - search ‘True Crime Society’. 

Skip the intro - (3:30) It is a story that we now hear all too often.   A child is missing for years before anyone notices and reports it to authorities.  We have covered many cases like this in the past - Harmony Montgomery and Oakley Carlson to name but two. Hayden Manis is also one of these children.   Hayden was around five years old when he went missing from  his home in Muncie, Indiana in either 2019 or 2020 (stories differ).  He was not reported missing for four to five years. Hayden’s extended family realized that he was missing in 2024.  When Hayden’s father Dustin was questioned about his son’s whereabouts, he gave conflicting stories.  Dustin died in December 2024 from a drug overdose and left no clue as to what happened to Hayden. Last week, we covered Hayden’s background and the lead up to his disappearance.  Be sure to listen to Part One of Hayden’s story first.   As of October 2025, Hayden remains missing. Read Hayden’s blog here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2025/09/07/the-lonely-life-and-disappearance-of-hayden-manis/ Be sure to follow us on all social media including Reddit and Tiktok - just search ‘True Crime Society’  Join our Patreon community for weekly exclusive content and all episodes are ad-free - Patreon.com/truecrimesociety

Timestamps: (10:06) - D4VD (15:30) - Hayden Manis It is a story that we now hear all too often.   A child is missing for years before anyone notices and reports it to authorities.  We have covered many cases like this in the past - Harmony Montgomery and Oakley Carlson to name but two. Hayden Manis is also one of these children.   Hayden was around five years old when he went missing from  his home in Muncie, Indiana in either 2019 or 2020 (stories differ).  He was not reported missing for four to five years. Hayden’s extended family realized that he was missing in 2024.  When Hayden’s father Dustin was questioned about his son’s whereabouts, he gave conflicting stories.  Dustin died in December 2024 from a drug overdose and left no clue as to what happened to Hayden. In this episode of the True Crime Society Podcast, we tell part one of Hayden Manis’ story.  We run through the background of the case and the early stages of the investigation into Hayden’s disappearance. Read our blog for Hayden Join us next week for Part Two as we discuss what has happened in the investigation to date. This episode is sponsored by: Quince - Keep it classic and cozy this fall cool—with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to Quince.com/tcs for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns.  Be sure to follow us on all social media including Reddit and Tiktok - just search ‘True Crime Society’  Join our Patreon community for weekly exclusive content and all episodes are ad-free - Patreon.com/truecrimesociety

Timestamp to skip to the case" (5:12) Canadian man Robert William Pickton is a serial killer also known as ‘The Pig Farmer’ or ‘The Butcher.’  He and his brother were raised by their parents on a pig farm that was described as a ‘creepy looking place.’ A 600lb (275kg) boar roamed freely around the farm.  When Robert’s parents died, he and his siblings inherited the pig farm.   Under the guise of throwing huge parties, Robert lured many vulnerable women to the property.  From the 1990’s onward, more than 60 women disappeared from the Downtown Eastside of Vancouver.  Robert would end up confessing to the murder of 49 women. He ended up being convicted of 6 of those. Read our blog for this case If you’re looking for a new true crime podcast, be sure to check out ‘Crime Salad.’ Husband-and-wife duo Ashley and Ricky have been hosts since 2018.  They dive deep into both well-known and lesser-covered cases.  Search ‘Crime Salad’ wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to follow us on all social media including Reddit and Tiktok - just search ‘True Crime Society’  Join our Patreon community for weekly exclusive content and all episodes are ad-free This episode is sponsored by- Skylight - Skylight Calendar was designed to help you ditch the chaos of family life.  Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to SkylightCal.com/tcs

Crime doesn’t take a day off. And neither does Crime House Daily. Hosted by self-defense instructor and advocate for victims, Katie Ring, Crime House Daily is coming to you twice every weekday, covering the biggest crime stories as they  unfold. Morning episodes give you the need-to-know. The latest headlines, breaking developments, and where things are going next. Evening episodes go deeper. Into the people, the evidence, and the moments that matter most. The pursuit of justice never stops. And with Crime House Daily, you won’t have to either. Follow Crime House Daily on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or listen here: https://link.podtrac.com/bs6yo2u4

Timestamp to skip straight to the case: (11:40) Clinton and Cristen Brink moved with their two young daughters from South Dakota to Arkansas in mid 2025.  They moved for a fresh start and to be closer to family. On Saturday July 26, 2025, the family headed to the beautiful Devil’s Den State Park to hike and explore the area. While they were hiking, the family came across Andrew McGann.  Andrew allegedly fatally attacked Clinton.  Cristen took their daughters to safety before returning to try to help her husband.  She was also then brutally murdered. Andrew has pleaded not guilty to two counts of capital murder.  His trial is currently scheduled for November 2025. Terrifyingly, authorities have said that this appears to have been a totally random attack.  No motive has been made public. Read our blog for the case Be sure to follow us on your preferred podcast platform so that you never miss an episode. Join us on Patreon for exclusive weekly episodes and all content ad-free Follow ‘True Crime Society’ on all social media platforms - TikTok, Instagram, Reddit.  This episode is sponsored by: IQBar - The Ultimate Sampler Pack is a great way to try all IQBAR products and flavors: you get 9 IQBARs, 8 IQMIX sticks, and 4 IQJOE sticks.  IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners twenty percent off all IQBAR products—including the sampler pack—plus FREE shipping. To get your twenty percent off, text CRIME to 64-000

Timestamp to skip the chat: (4:38) Tamika Chesser is a former reality star, best known for her appearance on ‘Beauty and The Geek.’  Over the past few years, Tamika’s family have said that she was struggling with her mental health.   In June 2025, police were called to the home that Tamika shared with her partner, Julian Story, following reports of a fire.  When they entered the property, some of Julian’s remains were found in the bathroom.  His head was missing.  Tamika was said to be in a catatonic state when she was taken into custody. Julian’s head was located in scrub by a man walking his dog in late July 2025.   In July 2019,  Jessica Camilleri was living with her mother Rita in Sydney, Australia.   Jessica had a life-long history of mental illness.  In the weeks prior to the murder, Jessica had decided to stop taking her medication and was opting to seek out natural alternatives. On the day of July 20, 2019,  tensions between Jessica and Rita escalated.   Rita lost control of her daughter and threatened to call authorities to have her taken to a facility.  This enraged Jessica and she ended up stabbing her mother over 100 times.  Jessica then decapitated her mother and carried the head down the street.  When Jessica was arrested, she asked police "Can I ask, is my mum dead? Don't think I'm insane, but you can't bring her back to life?" You can read our blog for these cases here - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2025/09/01/the-cases-of-tamika-chesser-and-jessica-camilleri/ Be sure to follow us on our social media - Reddit, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.  Search ‘True Crime Society’ on all platforms. We have over 200 Patreon exclusive episodes available This episode is sponsored by: IQBar - The Ultimate Sampler Pack is a great way to try all IQBAR products and flavors: you get 9 IQBARs, 8 IQMIX sticks, and 4 IQJOE sticks.  IQBAR is offering our special podcast listeners twenty percent off all IQBAR products—including the sampler pack—plus FREE shipping. To get your twenty percent off, text CRIME to 64-000.

Timestamp to skip intro chat: (2:15) In the early 1970’s, 42 boys vanished from the Houston Heights area of Texas. Dean Corll lived in the area and worked for the family company, Corll Candy Company.  In 1970, he began a three-year killing spree, along with his accomplices David Owen Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley. All of their victims were males, aged between 13-20.  The three men tortured and abused their victims before viciously murdering them. Their rampage ended in 1973 when Elmer killed Dean following an altercation.  He called police and said "Y'all better come here right now! I just killed a man!" Dean, Elmer and David have been conclusively linked to 29 murders. Read our blog for this case - https://truecrimesocietyblog.com/2025/08/17/dean-corll-and-the-candyman-murders/ Thank you to Lauren for this episode suggestion.   This episode is sponsored by- Skylight - Skylight Calendar was designed to help you ditch the chaos of family life.  Skylight is offering our listeners $30 off their 15 inch Calendars by going to SkylightCal.com/tcs Be sure to follow us on all social media including Reddit and Tiktok - just search ‘True Crime Society’  Join our Patreon community for weekly exclusive content and all episodes are ad-free - Patreon.com/truecrimesociety

Timestamp to skip intro: (11:57) Madeline Soto had just celebrated her 13th birthday in February 2024.   She had a small party with her grandmother Yolanda, and a few friends.   She had been spending a lot of time with her grandmother.   When Madeline had to go back to the home of her mother, Jennifer Soto, she cried. Madeline and Jennifer were living in a condo with many roommates.  One of the people living there was Stephan Sterns.   Stephan and Jennifer had a relationship for years, but according to her, as of February 2024, they were no longer intimate.   Despite this, the sleeping arrangements in the home meant that Madeline and Stephan would share a bed.  Jennifer had her own separate bedroom.  This was explained because apparently the teen needed human contact to sleep and Jennifer needed her own space. On February 26, 2024, Jennifer went to collect Madeline from school.  She allegedly discovered that Madeline had not attended classes that day. A search began for the teen.  Her body was found in a wooded area five days later. Stephan would end up being charged with Madeline’s murder.  He was also charged with multiple counts of heinous crimes relating to children.   In July 2025, Stephan was sentenced to 21 concurrent life sentences with no chance of parole for the role he played in Madeline’s abuse and murder. Read our blog for Madeline here This episode is sponsored by: Quince - Elevate your fall wardrobe essentials with Quince. Go to Quince.com/tcs for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns. Be sure to follow us on all social media platforms - Reddit, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook.  Just search for ‘True Crime Society.’ Join us on Patreon for weekly exclusive content.   All content on Patreon is ad-free - patreon.com/truecrimesociety