In Custody Killers

Robert Hansen became one of Alaska’s most infamous serial killers after abducting women, flying them into the wilderness and hunting them before murdering them. Nicknamed “The Butcher Baker” because he outwardly lived as a quiet family baker while secretly committing brutal murders, Hansen terrorized Anchorage and surrounding areas throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. The case shocked investigators because Hansen appeared to be an ordinary husband, business owner and outdoorsman while hiding a sadistic double life. Authorities later discovered he targeted vulnerable women, particularly sex workers and dancers, before using Alaska’s remote wilderness as a personal hunting ground. His crimes became one of the most disturbing serial murder cases in American history and inspired numerous books, documentaries and films.

Ryan Gene Erickson was a Catholic priest in Wisconsin who was identified after his death as the likely perpetrator of the 2002 double murder of funeral director Daniel O'Connell and mortuary science intern James Ellison. The two men were shot inside O'Connell's funeral home in Hudson, Wisconsin, on February 5, 2002. Investigators eventually developed evidence linking Erickson to the killings, including his knowledge of previously unreleased crime-scene details and an alleged admission to a church deacon. Police questioned him in late 2004 and searched his rectory, but Erickson died by suicide on December 19, 2004, before he could be arrested. In October 2005, a judge ruled there was probable cause to conclude that Erickson had committed the murders.

Shawn “Mickey” Stines is a former Letcher County, Kentucky, sheriff charged with the murder of District Judge Kevin Mullins, his former boss and friend. On September 19, 2024, Stines entered Mullins’ chambers at the Letcher County Courthouse in Whitesburg and shot him multiple times. Surveillance footage captured the shooting, and Stines surrendered to police immediately afterward. He has pleaded not guilty and is pursuing a mental-health defence, with his attorneys arguing that he lacked the capacity to intend to kill Mullins. As of August 2026, Stines remains in custody without bail awaiting trial.

Tamika Chesser became the focus of one of Australia’s most shocking criminal investigations after being charged over the alleged murder and dismemberment of her partner in South Australia in 2025. The former reality television contestant and model was accused of killing her boyfriend, Julian Story, inside their Port Lincoln home before allegedly attempting to burn and conceal parts of his remains. The gruesome allegations generated intense national media attention due to Chesser’s past appearance on Australian television and the disturbing details surrounding the case. Investigators described the crime scene as confronting and complex, while reports surrounding Chesser’s mental state, alleged psychosis and detention inside a psychiatric facility added further controversy and public fascination to the investigation.

William Harp became widely known after the tragic murder of his daughter, Katlyn Harp, in a deeply disturbing family violence case in West Virginia. The case shocked local communities because the crime involved a father killing his own child and later attempting to conceal aspects of the investigation. Authorities described the murder as brutal and emotionally devastating, with evidence later revealing a history of abuse and violence inside the household. The case generated major regional media attention and highlighted ongoing concerns surrounding domestic violence, child abuse and failures to protect vulnerable children from family members.

Zachary Harp became publicly known following his involvement in the investigation into the death of his sister, Katlyn Harp, in West Virginia. The deeply disturbing family murder case generated outrage because multiple household members were accused in connection with the abuse and killing of the teenage victim. Authorities alleged Zachary Harp participated in violence and abuse directed toward Katlyn before her death. Prosecutors described the case as involving severe mistreatment within the household, with evidence pointing to prolonged abuse and efforts to conceal what occurred. The investigation shocked the local community and drew significant regional media attention.