Dark Matters: True Crime

Dahmer: Nature Loads the Gun

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

Shadows of Control: The Psychology of Stalking

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.

Beyond the PhD: Building a Career as an Expert Witness

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.

The Corpse Collector: Inside the Mind of a Predator

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.

They Let the Patients Run a Haunted House?!

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.

The Toothpaste Incident, Insights from the Case Files

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.

Mapping the Darkness

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

Confessions Without Bodies, Findings from the Larry Hall Case Files

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

Consulting, Courtrooms, and Cold Cases, A Forensic Psychologist’s Roadmap

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.

Shining a Light on Dark Matters, An Introduction to Forensic Psychology

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.