logo
episode-header-image
May 2023
1h 16m

EP12: Murder, Magic, and Witchy Viagra

Tank Sinatra & Investigator Slater
About this episode

Parenthood is tricky.  Do too much for your child, and you’re a helicopter parent; do too little, and your kid lacks sufficient support.  Finding the right balance is an art…or in this case, witchcraft.  Leonarda Cianciulli was a serial killer and black magic practitioner from Italy who devoted her entire life to protecting her son from a damning curse she truly believed would kill him.  Can we really fault a mother for doing whatever she thinks it will take to save her child from evil?  Yes, yes we can, because Leonarda’s depraved, immoral, and unlawful acts were (mis)guided by her belief in the “law of equivalent exchange;” that is, to save her son’s life, she'd have to take another life.  Leonarda’s maternal drive led her directly towards a very sharp ax, ritualistic human sacrifice, and cannibalism.     

Instagram: @psychopediapod @tank.sinatra @investigatorslater   TikTok: @psychopediapod   Website: www.psychopediapodcast.com

To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Up next
Oct 31
EP152: Slit-Mouthed Woman: Am I Pretty? (feat. Bridget Marquardt of Ghost Bunny and Girls Next Level podcasts)
Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! (www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod) Join to get AD FREE episodes, merch discounts, exclusive content, behind-the-scenes, private group chats, and much more! In this episode, I'm joined by special guest Bridget Marquardt of Ghost Bunny ... Show More
1h 29m
Oct 29
EP151: They Came Through the Mirror: The Real Candyman Murder [SPOOKYPEDIA]
Join the Patreon family!! You'll get AD FREE episodes, merch discounts, exclusive content, behind-the-scenes, private group chats, and much more! (www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod) You know the legend: say his name five times in the mirror and Candyman appears. But before the hook- ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 22
EP150: McKamey Manor: Fear Fetish
Please consider supporting the show on Patreon! (www.Patreon.com/PsychopediaPod) Join to get AD FREE episodes, merch discounts, exclusive content, behind-the-scenes, private group chats, and much more! TRIGGER WARNING: This episode discusses sexual abuse, physical violence, and t ... Show More
1h 19m
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2023
EP. 96 TEXAS - Kevin Davis: The Boy Who Murdered His Mom and Raped Her Corpse
The bond between a mother and child is unlike anything in this world and protecting your child from danger is a biological characteristic that humans have experienced since the beginning of time. As a parent, you not only want to protect your children from the dangers in the worl ... Show More
58m 27s
May 2025
Italy’s Infamous Soap-Maker: The Woman Who Turned Her Victims into Teacakes
During World War II, a desperate woman seeking love went to a local fortune teller for help—and vanished. What no one knew was that Leonarda Cianciulli, a beloved soapmaker and grieving mother, was performing human sacrifices in a twisted attempt to save her son from the horrors ... Show More
47m 57s
Jan 2025
Serial Killer Grandparents: Ray and Faye Copeland 1
After a lifetime of petty crimes, Ray Copeland turned to murder in the 1980s as part of a scheme to defraud cattle auctions. Although his wife Faye might not have participated in the violence herself, she seemed to be in on the scheme. But the Copelands weren't sophisticated kill ... Show More
43 m
Nov 2024
The Angel of Death: Elizabeth Wettlaufer 1
Growing up in a strict religious household, Elizabeth Wettlaufer had to repress her sexual identity. The years of lies took a toll on her, and she turned to substance abuse to cope. As a nurse, Elizabeth had easy access to drugs -- and she spiraled out of control. Eventually, the ... Show More
1h 4m
Jul 2024
Gilles de Rais: The World’s First Serial Killer or a Wrongly Convicted Martyr?
In 15th-century France, Gilles de Rais, a wealthy nobleman and celebrated war hero, descended into madness and infamy. Initially known for his bravery alongside Joan of Arc, he became notorious for the abduction, torture, and murder of over 140 children. His heinous crimes were d ... Show More
42m 10s
Apr 2025
The Stanford Murders | Four Bodies, Two Killers, & One Satanic Link
In 1974, 19-year-old newlywed Arlis Perry was found brutally murdered in Stanford Memorial Church—ritually posed with candles, sexually violated, and pierced with an ice pick—sparking wild theories of satanic cults, the Son of Sam, and a coast-to-coast conspiracy. But after 44 ye ... Show More
39m 42s
Aug 2023
Teenage Nightmare: The Murder of Jeanne Dominico
When a hard-working and dedicated single mother is brutally murdered in her own home, no one could possibly imagine who would want her dead. Soon the police realize that some people close to her had motive, and when the eventual murder (or murderers) are revealed, it's a shock to ... Show More
1h 40m
Aug 2023
Lucy Letby: The Serial Killer Nurse
Discover the shocking story of Lucy Letby, a seemingly caring nurse who turned out to be a serial killer. Uncover her chilling crimes, the hospital's failures, and how she evaded suspicion for so long. Prepare to be captivated by this bone-chilling tale. Sponsor:RocketMoney.com/C ... Show More
44m 12s
Feb 2025
REWIND | The Weleetka Murders
Two young girls shot dead in a town of less than 1000 people. With local law enforcement stumped, they turned to the renowned FBI Behavioral Analysis Unit for answers. Julia Cowley is a retired FBI criminal profiler with a twist - she's a forensic scientist too. In this episode w ... Show More
51m 35s
Oct 2
Honor and Tragedy
20-year-old Arizona college student Noor Almaleki died from injuries caused by an unlikely hit-and-run driver: her father. But while he claimed it was an accident, police believed it was premeditated murder, a so-called "honor killing," because Noor had embarrassed the family and ... Show More
43m 49s