Dark Matters: True Crime

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  Decoding the Criminal Brain: Inside Neurocriminology w/ Dr. Jerrod Brown 30.08.2026 51dk

  Dark Matters Episode 16 Interview with Dr. Jerrod Brown What truly drives a person to commit extreme acts of violence? In this episode of Dark Matters, Dr. Eric Hickey sits down with professor and forensic trainer Dr. Jerrod Brown to explore neurocriminology—a multidisciplinary field bridging neuroscience, psychology, and criminal justice. From prenatal development and adverse childhood experiences to head injuries, glucose metabolism, and nutrition, Dr. Brown breaks down the biological and environmental puzzle pieces behind complex human behavior. Together, they examine classic case studies like Charles Whitman to illustrate how hidden physiological factors can shape violent behavior. Dr. Browns BioJerrod Brown, PhD, MA, MS, MS, MS, MS, MS, CTTS, EFC, CFNC, CZT, CART, GCPain, is a professor, trainer, researcher, consultant, and founder and CEO of the American Institute for the Advancement of Forensic Studies (AIAFS). He has extensive experience teaching collegiate courses and consulting with caregivers, professionals, and organizations on autism spectrum disorder (ASD), fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD), confabulation, suggestibility, trauma and adversity, alexithymia, executive dysfunction, criminal recidivism, traumatic brain injury (TBI), and youth firesetting.Jerrod has completed six master’s degree programs and holds graduate certificates in numerous areas, including pain management, applied pediatric nutrition, medical biochemistry, exercise prescription, neuroscience and the law, neuropsychology, ASD, dyslexia, other health disabilities, and TBI. Some of his professional certifications include Lifestyle Medicine, Functional Nutrition, Adult Sleep Coaching, Tobacco Treatment Specialist, Executive Functions Consultant, Brain Story, Digestive Health, Autism Direct Support, and FASD Trainer.Jerrod has conducted more than 400 workshops, webinars, and on-demand trainings for professional and student audiences. He has published numerous articles and book chapters, contributed to multiple media outlets, and is regularly featured on national and international podcasts. He is also a 2013 graduate of the FBI Citizens Academy, Minneapolis Division.
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  Crossing Dangerous Boundaries 30.08.2026 29dk

  Dark Matters Episode 15 Dr. Eric Hickey reflects on his decades as a professor and program dean, examining cautionary cases where doctoral students crossed critical professional lines with incarcerated offenders. From unexpected personal attachments to career-ending violations, Dr. Hickey breaks down how intelligent, highly educated individuals fall victim to inmate manipulation and why academic success alone cannot protect against psychological exploitation. Links Mentioned https://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=6282 https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/white-supremacist-gets-26-to-life-in-killing-of-child-molester/
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  Public Paraphilias: Predators in Plain Sight 30.08.2026 24dk

  Dark Matters Episode 14 Public spaces are designed for convenience, but predators view them through a very different lens. Host Dr. Eric Hickey breaks down how offenders exploit everyday environments, targeting distracted individuals in places like greeting card sections, parking lots, and store aisles. From viral exposures to non-consensual acts of frottage and public assault, this episode examines the psychology of public paraphilias, the permanent digital trail of these crimes, and practical ways to stay situationally aware. Articles Mentioned  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/ng-interactive/2026/jul/20/dollar-tree-sexual-assault-goonerhttps://www.phillyburbs.com/story/news/crime/2026/08/10/gooning-anthony-oates-falls-dollar-tree-exposure-lewd-crime-assault-bucks-county-police-trenton/91243491007/https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/san-diego-woman-suing-dollar-tree-over-gooning-incidents-here-across-the-country/4060517/https://www.denverpost.com/2026/08/18/gooning-dollar-tree-colorado-lawsuit/
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  Tales from the Passenger Seat: Hitchhikers, Convicts, and Killers 15.08.2026 29dk

  Dark Matters Episode 13What leads a criminal psychologist to pull over for a high-risk stranger on a dark, stormy night? Dr. Eric Hickey dives into his personal history on the road, detailing how he turned passenger-seat conversations into rare psychological studies of recently released offenders. This episode explores the dynamics of threat assessment, the psychology of compartmentalizing violent crime, and the painful process required for genuine behavioral change.
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  Mind Games Behind Bars: The Ed Kemper Interview 15.08.2026 22dk

  Dark Matters Episode 12 Serial killers often seek total control, even behind bars. In this episode, Dr. Eric Hickey breaks down the infamous locked-room encounter between serial murderer Ed Kemper and pioneering FBI profiler Bob Ressler. Through the lens of criminal psychology, Dr. Hickey explores how intelligent predators manipulate interviewers, test physical boundaries, and play dangerous psychological mind games with those attempting to study them.
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  The West Side Park Murders 19.07.2026 31dk

  Dark Matters Episode 11 In this episode, criminal psychologist Dr. Eric Hickey takes listeners behind the scenes of two starkly different homicide investigations. He begins with a devastating, unsolved double shooting from his time in Muncie, Indiana, involving two teenagers targeted in what should have been a safe haven. Dr. Hickey recalls his tense, face-to-face interview with the prime suspect who ultimately slipped through the fingers of the law. He then contrasts this cold case with his experience inside a California Supermax prison interviewing the serial killer behind the MacArthur Park murders, exploring how distinct psychological motivations and trauma dictate who gets caught and who evades justice. Purchase Serial Murderers and Their Victims https://a.co/d/0gHOwVnm
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  A Walk on the Dark Side interview with Dr. Marshall Jones 11.07.2026 49dk

  Dark Matters Episode 10  True crime isn't just about the crime itself; it's about the professionals who dedicate their lives to understanding it. This week on Dark Matters, Dr. Eric Hickey is joined by his first guest, Dr. Marshall Jones of the Florida Institute of Technology. Drawing from decades of combined experience, these two veteran behavioral analysts trade hard-earned insights from the trenches of the criminal justice system. Dr. Jones discusses bridging the gap between clinical academia and front-line law enforcement , the dangers of confirmation bias in behavioral research , and the grim realities of tracking criminal phenomena across the country. It’s an unfiltered look at the grit, the science, and the relentless curiosity required to walk on the dark side.    Connect with Dr. Marshall Jones https://hopeforheroes.com/dr-marshall-jones/
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  The Frog Boys 08.07.2026 12dk

  Dark Matters Episode 9  A community plunged into panic, an intensive military search, and a mystery that lay hidden for over a decade. This episode of Dark Matters tackles the complex case of the "Frog Boys". Dr. Eric Hickey breaks down the timeline, analyzes why initial search efforts fell short, and explores how an elusive individual managed to evade justice for over thirty years.
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  Canada's Darkest Pen Pal 06.07.2026 17dk

  Dark Matters Episode 8 Clifford Olson wasn't just a brutal killer; he was a master manipulator desperate for the spotlight. In this installment of Dark Matters, Dr. Eric Hickey breaks down the psychology of a monster who refused to be forgotten. From calling into Dr. Hickey's graduate university classes to orchestrating a massive, authenticated hoax claiming involvement in the Green River killings, discover the lengths a predator will go to maintain control from behind bars. Step into the dark side and learn how forensic psychologists handle the mind games of a highly dangerous sociopath.
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  Dahmer: Nature Loads the Gun 09.05.2026 42dk

  Dark Matters Episode 7 Dr. Eric Hickey shares the remarkable story of how a chance encounter in California led to rare, personal interviews with Jeffrey Dahmer’s closest family members. This episode details his private conversations with Dahmer’s brother, David, and his mother, Joyce Flint. Through these unique accounts, the episode provides an unprecedented look at the Dahmer family's internal struggles with depression, the profound impact of childhood abandonment, and how those closest to the killer have processed the devastating reality of his crimes. Links to videos mentionedhttps://youtu.be/I2m0tM16uOY?si=nF4tlPuQzyUGcerJhttps://youtu.be/EwH3CuECEwA?si=t8Ev0dxOUr45gigH To purchase Serial Murderers and their Victims (7th Edition)https://a.co/d/eeQcIsS
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  Shadows of Control: The Psychology of Stalking 30.04.2026 1sa 10dk

  Dark Matters Bonus EpisodeDr. Eric Hickey explores how stalking serves as a harbinger of violence in failed relationships, focusing on the offender’s relentless need for power and control. From the "Hearts Stalker" who used gasoline to mark his territory to the "School Bus Stalker" who turned a diamond ring into a tool of terror, this episode deconstructs the pathological need to dominate another person's life.Compilation of the Stalking Series originally posted to YouTube.
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  Beyond the PhD: Building a Career as an Expert Witness 28.04.2026 1sa 3dk

  Dark Matters Episode 5 In this episode of Dark Matters, Dr. Eric Hickey breaks down the realities of becoming a forensic psychology consultant and expert witness. Earning your PhD is just the beginning. Dr. Hickey shares his personal journey from a half-page resume to a 45-page CV, outlining the essential steps for success in the field. Learn the value of field experience , the importance of publishing , and the critical differences between licensed clinicians and investigative behavioral analysts. Tune in to discover how forensic experts use their aggregate knowledge to help law enforcement solve crimes.
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  The Corpse Collector: Inside the Mind of a Predator 25.04.2026 21dk

  Dark Matters Episode 4 Dr. Eric Hickey takes us into the dark psychology of necrophilia and criminal paraphilia, exploring how childhood trauma can evolve into dangerous obsessions. In this episode of Dark Matters, we examine the thin line between fantasy and crime, discussing chronoparaphilia, the psychology of incels, and Dr. Hickey’s theory of Relational Paraphilic Attachment.
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  They Let the Patients Run a Haunted House?! 22.04.2026 8dk

  Step inside the Haunted Castle of Provo, a Halloween spook alley run by hospital patients in the late 70s and early 80s. In this firsthand story, Dr. Hickey recalls security duties, unforgettable scares, and a community that lined up for fear and spectacle, then wrestles with the complicated legacy of using a psychiatric setting for entertainment and charity.
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  The Toothpaste Incident, Insights from the Case Files 20.04.2026 7dk

  This episode revisits an Indiana case from my early career, a tragic toothpaste incident that shocked a community and demanded careful reasoning. I break down how we narrowed suspects, why appearances can mislead, and what clues point to revenge rather than attention seeking. We also cover practical traits of critical thinkers, from truth seeking to checking bias, and how asking better questions moves a case forward.
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  Mapping the Darkness 20.04.2026

  Dark Matters Episode 6 What happens when an offender's fantasy world collides with reality?. Dr. Eric Hickey delves into the psychological "map" of a sadistic predator, analyzing how specific victim criteria and escalating behavior provide a blueprint for investigators. From the clinical significance of the PCLR scale to the chilling reasons behind a sudden change in an offender’s behavior, this episode uncovers the motivations behind unthinkable acts and the science used to stop them.To purchase Serial Murderers and their Victims (7th Edition)https://a.co/d/eeQcIsS
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  Confessions Without Bodies, Findings from the Larry Hall Case Files 24.11.2025 18dk

  Dark Matters Episode 3A cramped room, a small table, and a man who believes one promise will buy him a visit to his mother. Dr. Eric Hickey opens the Larry Hall case file from the interviewer’s chair, guiding you moment by moment through a conversation that tilts between cooperation and control. As the deal unravels, patterns emerge, and a clinical picture takes shape, revealing why certain offenders cannot lead investigators to closure even when they speak freely. No sensationalism, just a clear look at the mind across the table and the choices that keep people safe in the room.To purchase Serial Murderers and their Victims (7th Edition)https://a.co/d/eeQcIsS
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  Consulting, Courtrooms, and Cold Cases, A Forensic Psychologist’s Roadmap 19.10.2025 26dk

  Dr. Eric Hickey maps the real path into forensic psychology, from early criminology dreams to graduate training in a state hospital forensic unit, to consulting with the U.S. military, testifying in court, and working high profile cases like the Wayne Williams investigation. He shares chance encounters that shaped his work, including meeting Jeffrey Dahmer’s brother, explains why critical thinking and neutrality matter when interviewing psychopaths, and previews future guests, offenders and victims alike, on Dark Matters.
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  Shining a Light on Dark Matters, An Introduction to Forensic Psychology 18.09.2025 22dk

  Dark Matters EP 1In this kickoff to Dark Matters, Dr. Eric Hickey offers a guided tour of forensic psychology, what it is, where it came from, and why it matters. He charts the field’s growth, from early behavioral units and rough profiling, to modern research, advanced risk assessment, and geographic prediction. Drawing from decades of experience across investigations, research, and consultation, he discusses homicide, sex crimes, and criminal paraphilia, the value of partnerships with law enforcement, and the skills needed to do the work, empathy, boundaries, and critical thinking. With candid stories from hospitals, prisons, courtrooms, and cold cases, this introduction previews a season of informed conversations that illuminate the darkest corners to help save lives.