Dark Matters: True Crime

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

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/

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.