Amityville, Nova Scotia, Ohio, and more: 7 investigative and brutal true crime podcasts about massacres

We’ve rounded up several podcasts deep-diving into massacres and some of the most brutal murder cases of all time. Some of these podcasts involve entire families who were violently killed at once. Tune in for shows exploring new forensic evidence breaking open previously closed cases like the K-Town killings.

Most of these bingeable shows reveal bombshell information and new interviews from officials involved in the cases.

The Piketon Massacre

In 2016, 8 Rhoden family members were killed in Pike County, Ohio. The victims were a 16-year-old boy and 6 adults, shot in the head inside their homes, and the 8th victim was killed in his trailer near Piketon. The largest mass murder in Ohio history launched a massive criminal investigation across 4 crime scenes. 2 years later, the Wagner family was charged with the crimes and awaited 4 capitol murder trials. KT Studios’ team went to Pike County to investigate, as “The Piketon Massacre” hosts told Podsauce last year.

Very Scary People

In 1974, murders devastated the waterfront town of Amityville, New York. 6 DeFeo family members were shot at home in their beds, and the only survivor was their oldest son, 23-year-old Ron DeFeo Jr. “Very Scary People” recounts the grisly story in 6 episodes and is hosted by Donnie Wahlberg (New Kids on the Block, Saw, The Sixth Sense, etc.).

This podcast features officers from the case, Amityville residents, journalists who arrived at the crime scene, and authors to share the case’s facts outside the exaggerated, haunted interpretations seen in Amityville Horror films, media, and shows.

Strangeland

“Strangeland” is an investigative series examining crimes in immigrant neighborhoods. Hosted by journalist Ben Adair and interpreter Sharon Choi, season 1 dove into K-Town, California’s triple murder from 2003. 30-year-old mother, Chi Hyon Song, her child, and the family’s nanny were murdered inside their apartment.

LAPD detectives suspected Song’s husband was the perpetrator, yet he was cleared, and the case ran cold. New evidence was uncovered in 2008 thanks to a law enforcement DNA database. Tune in to hear what new connections were made in this case. All 10 episodes, presented by audiochuck, are now streaming.

The Pink Moon Murders

Calvary Audio presents “The Pink Moon Murders,” a true crime podcast examining the murder of 8 Rhoden family members in Appalachian, Ohio. If you’ve binged “The Piketon Massacre,” you’ll learn even more about this case with newly found information.

Host, Ohio native, and former National Geographic journalist/author David Raterman investigated the case, interviewed Rhoden survivors, friends, and community members. He also spoke with prosecutors and police officers involved in the case, people who were previously issued gag orders from the judge.

13 Hours Inside the Nova Scotia Massacre

In 2020, 22 people were killed in 13 hours, and the tragedy became the worst shooting spree in Canadian history. “13 Hours Inside the Nova Scotia Massacre” discusses the crimes committed over 13 episodes with host and Global News Halifax reporter Sarah Ritchie. This Curiouscast series investigates what happened and if law enforcement could have done anything differently while the shooter, posing as a police officer, was on the loose for almost a day.

Murder in Illinois

A family road trip turned into a massacre as detailed in iHeartPodcasts’ series, “Murder in Illinois.” Season 2 follows the arrest of Chris Vaughn, the father and only survivor from the incident. Chris claimed that he does not remember anything from that fatal day. New forensic evidence is presented throughout the series. Who killed the Vaughn family? Both seasons are now streaming.

The Murders at White House Farm: The Podcast

HBO Max and iHeartPodcasts released “The Murders at White House Farm: The Podcast,” a gruesome 7-episode companion to the TV series. 5 family members were killed in a town outside Essex, England in 1985. Police believed Sheila Caffell shot her adoptive parents and twin sons before shooting herself.

Sheila was previously diagnosed with schizophrenia. However, several facts did not add up. Her brother, Jeremy Bamber, became a person of interest. This series delves into the complex nature of this case with host Lauren Bright Pacheco, the TV show’s creators, and author of The Murders at White House Farm, Carol Ann Lee.