Afleveringen
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Atlanta, 1911.
As the city grew into the "Gateway to the New South," a killer stalked its streets in the dark.
Young Black women began disappearing on their walks home from work. Their bodies were found near railroad tracks, vacant lots, and alleyways throughout the city. Their throats had been cut. Their cases received little attention.
Newspapers eventually gave the unknown offender a chilling nickname:
The Atlanta Ripper.
More than a century later, the murders remain unsolved.
In this episode of The Murder Mind: Crime Traveler, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez revisits one of America's earliest serial murder investigations. Drawing from his own experience working homicide in Atlanta, Vince examines the victims, the investigation, the witness accounts, and the failures that allowed a killer to vanish into history.
Who was the Atlanta Ripper?
How many women were truly victims?
And why did these murders go unsolved?
Subscribe for new episodes of Crime Traveler, where we revisit homicide investigations from across America and explore how detectives worked to solve them.
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In August 1989, 16-year-old Yusuf Hawkins traveled to Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, to look at a used car with friends.
He never made it home.
What followed became one of the most infamous homicide cases in New York history — a case involving racial tension, mob violence, organized crime connections, conflicting witness testimony, and questions that remain decades later.
In this episode of The Murder Mind: Crime Traveler, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez revisits the murder of Yusuf Hawkins and examines the investigation through the eyes of a homicide detective.
Did investigators identify the right shooter?
Could organized crime involvement have changed the direction of the case?
And why are people still questioning the outcome more than 35 years later?
Join Vince as he breaks down the evidence, the witnesses, the suspects, and the lasting controversy surrounding one of Brooklyn's most significant murder cases.
Subscribe for new episodes of Crime Traveler, where we revisit homicide investigations from across America and explore how detectives worked to solve them.
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In 1987, police entered an ordinary Philadelphia row house… and discovered something almost impossible to believe.
What they found inside became one of the most disturbing criminal investigations in American history.
Hidden beneath the home was a secret that shocked investigators — and changed the lives of the women trapped there forever.
In this episode of The Murder Mind: Crime Traveler, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez takes you through the investigation step by step — examining how detectives uncovered the truth, the decisions that broke the case open, and the warning signs that were missed.
This isn't a story about monsters.
It's a story about how evil can hide in places that look completely ordinary.
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In 1941, retired railroad worker Philip Peters was found beaten to death inside his locked Denver home.
There was no forced entry.
No missing valuables.
No clear suspect.But what investigators discovered months later turned this case into one of the most terrifying homicide stories in American history.
The killer had never left.
In this episode of The Murder Mind: Crime Traveler, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez takes you inside the shocking true story of Theodore Edward Coneys — the man secretly living inside the victim's attic while police searched for a murderer.
A hidden intruder.
A locked-room mystery.
And a house that was never truly empty. -
Cold Case Episode 1 – Unsolved for 10+ Years
A late-night walk in southeast Atlanta turns into a nightmare when three friends are suddenly confronted by a gunman. Within seconds, shots are fired — and one man doesn't survive.
In this episode of The Murder Mind: Cold Case, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez breaks down what really happened that night, using the actual 911 call, witness interviews, and crime scene evidence to reconstruct a case that has remained unsolved for more than a decade.
Detectives quickly realized this wasn't just a single, random act of violence. Similar robberies had already taken place that same night — pointing to a possible crew targeting victims in the area.
Despite multiple witnesses, surveillance footage, and a detailed suspect description, no one has ever been identified or charged in the murder of 33-year-old Patrick Cotrona.
This episode explores:
• The real 911 call from the night of the shooting
• How a robbery escalated into murder
• The pattern of connected crimes across the city
• Key evidence recovered at the scene
• Why this case went coldSomeone knows what happened that night.
If you have any information about this case, please contact Crime Stoppers. You can remain anonymous.
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Episode 6 of Case #5 – Vanishing Act (Final)
After years of investigation, setbacks, and new evidence, Detective Vince Velazquez finally brings the case of Shaquilla Weatherspoon to its conclusion.
A key witness comes forward with critical information that exposes a major lie and reshapes the timeline of the night Shaquilla was killed. With mounting evidence and a clear picture of what happened, investigators move forward with an arrest.
But the case takes an unexpected turn when a missing trial transcript leads to a retrial — forcing detectives and prosecutors to prove the case all over again.
In the final episode of Vanishing Act, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez breaks down how the investigation ultimately led to justice, and how the truth held up — even years later.
This episode explores:
• The witness that changed everything
• How detectives prove deception
• How circumstantial cases lead to convictions
• What happens when a conviction is overturned
• How justice is secured after years of setbacksThe Murder Mind is a true crime series told from the perspective of a retired homicide detective Vince Velazquez, revealing what actually happens behind the scenes of murder investigations.
👉 Listen to the full Vanishing Act case from Episode 1 to see how the investigation unfolded.
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Episode 5 of Case #5 – Vanishing Act
Detective Vince Velazquez closes in on a key suspect in the murder investigation of Shaquilla Weatherspoon as phone records, interviews, and forensic evidence begin to expose critical inconsistencies.
When confronted with the evidence, the suspect's story begins to fall apart — forcing Vince to reevaluate what really happened the night Shaquilla disappeared.
As the case appears to be running out of leads, an unexpected DNA development suddenly gives the investigation new life and introduces a possible new direction.
In Episode 5 of Vanishing Act, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez explains how investigators:
• Detect deception during interviews
• Use phone records as evidence
• Apply investigative pressure on suspects
• Handle cases when they go cold
• Follow new DNA leadsThe Murder Mind is a true crime series told from the perspective of a real homicide detective, revealing what actually happens behind the scenes of murder investigations.
Subscribe to follow the investigation as the case unfolds.
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Detective Vince Velazquez continues the investigation into the murder of Shaquilla Weatherspoon as new interviews, alibis, and phone records begin to reshape the case.
As multiple suspects are questioned, Vince must determine who is telling the truth — and who may be hiding something. With several romantic relationships, jealousy, and secrets emerging, the case becomes more complex than anyone expected.
In Episode 4 of Vanishing Act, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez explains how detectives evaluate suspects, verify alibis, and use investigative strategy to move closer to the truth.
The Murder Mind is a true crime series told by a real homicide detective, revealing what actually happens behind the scenes of murder investigations.
Subscribe for new episodes.
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Detective Vince Velazquez uncovers a shocking new suspect in the murder investigation of Shaquilla Weatherspoon.
As the case deepens, a secret affair, hidden jealousy, and new forensic evidence force Vince to consider whether the victim's husband was the only person with motive — or if another man had something to hide.
In Episode 3 of Vanishing Act, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez reveals how real murder investigations evolve when new suspects emerge and evidence changes the direction of the case.
This episode explores:
• The psychology of jealousy crimes
• How detectives identify new suspects
• What forensic clues can reveal
• How love triangles can turn deadlyThe Murder Mind is a true crime series told from the perspective of a real homicide detective, revealing what actually happens behind the scenes of murder investigations.
Subscribe for new episodes every week.
#TrueCrime
#MurderInvestigation
#DetectiveStories
#CrimeDocumentary
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As the investigation into the murder of Shaquilla Weatherspoon continues, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez begins focusing on the person closest to the victim — her husband.
In this episode of Vanishing Act, Vince breaks down the police interview, the domestic violence history, and the search of Roy McKinney's home as detectives try to determine if he is involved in her murder.
But despite mounting suspicion, detectives find no clear evidence — and a new suspect may emerge.
This is Episode 2 of Case #5.
Subscribe so you don't miss the next chapter of this investigation.
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A missing persons case quickly turned into a homicide investigation when Atlanta police discovered the abandoned car of 29-year-old Shaquilla Weatherspoon.
Retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez walks through the shocking evidence in this case: a smashed car window, a gun belt found in a dumpster, and the discovery of a decomposed body in southwest Atlanta.
What begins as a missing persons investigation soon reveals disturbing clues that suggest the crime scene may have been staged — and detectives quickly turn their attention to the person closest to the victim.
This is Episode 1 of Case #5 on The Murder Mind, a true crime series told from the perspective of the detective who worked the case.
New episodes drop every Monday at 6 PM EST.
Subscribe so you don't miss the next episode in this investigation.
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The Murder Mind: Crime Traveler is a journey back to the scenes of history's most haunting crimes, where every street holds a secret and every shadow has a story.
She Was LAPD. She Killed for Love. | The Stephanie Lazarus Case
In 1986, 29-year-old nurse Sherri Rasmussen was brutally murdered inside her Los Angeles condo. Police believed it was a burglary gone wrong. They were wrong. More than 20 years later, DNA evidence exposed a shocking truth — the killer was LAPD detective Stephanie Lazarus, a former girlfriend of Sherri's husband.
In this episode of The Murder Mind: Crime Traveler, retired homicide detective Vince Velazquez breaks down:
• The staged burglary
• The overlooked red flags
• The bite mark DNA breakthrough
• The undercover sting
• The arrest inside LAPD headquarters
• And how tunnel vision buried the case for 23 years
This is one of the most disturbing police-involved murder cases in modern history.
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I opened the door and came face to face with the murder suspect. In less than two seconds, one of us almost died. This is the final episode of the Murder Trap investigation.
After two months of chasing a suspect known only as "the Jamaican," the case comes to a head when I locate him at a house in Atlanta. What happens next turns into a split-second life-or-death decision. The suspect is taken into custody and agrees to speak. During the interview, he admits to shooting Wali Muhammad and reveals the motive behind the killing. But the biggest surprise comes later — fingerprints confirm his real identity and link him to another murder in another state. This episode shows how real homicide investigations actually end: not with a dramatic chase, but with decisions made in seconds that stay with you forever. ▶️ Hosted by retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez ▶️ Real case. Real interrogation. Real outcome. 📌 Listener discretion advised -
After five weeks, I finally had the suspect's name — and it led nowhere. What happened next told me he was still dangerous and still active.
In Episode 7 of Murder Trap, the investigation takes a hard turn. After weeks of chasing a man known only as "the Jamaican," I finally get a full name from a key witness: Nathaniel Payne. But when I run that name through every law enforcement database, it comes back as a complete dead end.
No record.
No immigration history.
Nothing.
At the same time, I learn the suspect is still out on the street — armed andcommitting violent robberies — meaning the threat hasn't stopped.
This episode breaks down how suspects disappear behind false identities, why setbacks are common in real homicide investigations, and how persistence can turn a dead end into a breakthrough.
📌 Stay tuned for Episode 8 to see how this case finally breaks open.
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I was standing over the victim's body when the suspect was eating lunch a block away.
This is a real Atlanta homicide investigation I worked as a detective.
In Murder Trap: Episode 6 of The Murder Mind, I go deeper into the real homicide investigation of Wali Muhammad, shot and killed inside a drug house on Bouldercrest Road, and the case heats up.
The timeline begins to expose something disturbing — shortly after the murder, the suspect stops to eat lunch. It appears that while I'm processing the crime scene, he's sitting at McDonald's.
Through witness interviews, phone records, and an anonymous tip, I begin to tighten the timeline and uncover the real identity of the man everyone only knows as "the Jamaican."
This episode breaks down how killers behave immediately after a murder — and how small details can crack a case wide open.
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In this gripping episode of The Murder Mind, retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez walks viewers through a real-life murder investigation that takes a shocking turn at a taxi hub. A business card, a Jamaican accent, and phone records tied to the victim lead to Jerome Smith — and then to a mysterious figure known only as "The Jamaican." As the investigation unfolds, explosive witness statements, hidden motives, a missing .357 murder weapon, and a trail leading straight back to the crime scene on Bouldercrest raise one chilling question: is Jerome telling the truth, or is he the killer hiding in plain sight? This is a raw, step-by-step look at how detectives build a homicide case when facts, lies, and danger collide.
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A real murder investigation unfolds as retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez recounts the chilling timeline leading to the murder of Wali Muhammad. Missing money from a trap house, a Jamaican suspect known only as "May," a heated confrontation just days before the killing, and a haunting phone call moments before the murder all collide. From Christmas Eve tensions to subpoenaed phone records and a shocking lead tied to a Jamaican accent, this episode exposes motive, identity, and a breakthrough that pushes the case in a new direction.
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A key witness returns—this time with an attorney. In this episode of The Murder Mind, Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez conducts a second recorded interview with Rick Smith after uncovering inconsistencies surrounding a car left behind the crime scene on Bouldercrest Road. As lies unravel, new names surface, attorneys intervene, and a mysterious Jamaican suspect emerges through street intel, phone records, and the victim's final calls. A shocking true crime investigation that brings Detective Velazquez closer to the truth behind a deadly trap house murder.
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A brutal homicide on Bouldercrest Road sets off a chain reaction of lies, hidden identities, and dangerous clues. Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez investigates the murder of 25-year-old Wali Muhammad, beginning with the mysterious 911 caller who claims to be a witness — and quickly becomes a person of interest. As the investigation unfolds, a trap house is exposed, nicknames replace real names, and a prime suspect known only as "Jamaican" emerges after reports of an argument moments before the gunshots. The case intensifies when a red Chevy Caprice is found behind the murder scene, leading to a tense interview with its owner, Rick Smith, whose story begins to unravel under careful questioning. This episode dives deep into real investigative strategy — locking suspects into statements, identifying inconsistencies, tracking aliases, and applying pressure without tipping your hand. Featuring real interviews, real tactics, and real consequences, this is true crime from the detective's perspective.
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Retired Atlanta homicide detective Vince Velazquez walks listeners through one of the most dangerous and shocking cases of his career—a brutal shooting inside a Southeast Atlanta trap house on Bouldercrest Road. Within 30 minutes of the murder, evidence begins to surface: anonymous 911 calls from pay phones, a victim shot directly through the heart, multiple firearms, drugs, missing money, and clues pointing to a violent shootout. As the investigation unfolds, questions mount. Who was the victim? Who made the anonymous calls? And who walked away alive? This is the beginning of one wild ride—don't miss the this episode of The Murder Mind.
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