logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2023
1h 13m

EP16: Mommy Is a Murderer

Tank Sinatra & Investigator Slater
About this episode

To the outside world, Shelly Knotek presented like the perfect mother.  She had three lovely daughters, cheerful family photos covering every wall of their farmhouse, and a glowing smile for anyone who glanced in her direction.  But then, psychopaths are known to be master manipulators.  Because Shelly's three lovely daughters were quite literally dying inside.  The cheerful photos on the walls were stage props.  And the smile that Shelly expertly presented was nothing more than a mask she wore to disguise a predatory grin.  Shelly subjected her daughters, as well as many of their houseguests, to unrelenting physical violence, sexual abuse, psychological torture...and sometimes, death.  Her goal was to humiliate her subjects in a variety of cruel and unusual ways, and to break them down in such a way that would enable her to maintain absolute power and control.  Shelly was like a twisted puppetmaster out of a nightmare...and she was absolutely RUTHLESS.  Check out this outrageous case, and please listen with caution!

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
May 28
EP127: Brittany Murphy's Mysterious Death: Accidental? As if!
Brittany Murphy’s shocking death at just 32 was not only a tragic loss but also the spark of countless conspiracy theories, from claims of foul play at the hands of her husband to whispers of a government cover-up linked to a national security whistleblower. Some have even drawn ... Show More
1h 14m
May 22
Tank Made It This Far: He's A Real One!
Oh Tank….look what you made me do, look what I made for you. Thank goodness there’s an “episode” about you and you’re not dead! Anyway, you’ll always have a place at Psychopedia. THANK YOU for giving us the gift of you for two years! Catch you in the sunlight, Macrohost. To learn ... Show More
7m 19s
May 21
EP126: Starvation Death Cult
In April 2023, Kenyan authorities uncovered a waking nightmare: hundreds of shallow graves scattered across the forest floor in Shakahola. What began as ten bodies quickly ballooned into over 400—most of them women and children, many brutally mutilated, raped, or missing organs l ... Show More
1h 26m
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
Shelly Knotek: Mother, Manipulator, Murderer
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong delves into the chilling case of Shelly Knotek, a woman who hid monstrous cruelty behind a facade of kindness. For years, Shelly inflicted years of abuse, control, and torture on her own family and friends – completely undete ... Show More
51m 34s
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
Oct 2024
The Monster Behind the Mask: Charlie Brandt 1
When Charlie Brandt was a child, he murdered his mother and tried to kill his father and sister. For the rest of his life, he hid this terrible secret from the world. When the truth finally came to light in 2004, an even more frightening secret was revealed: Charlie Brandt was a ... Show More
53m 59s
Apr 14
MURDEROUS MINDS: The Model Student Murderer Pt. 1
Jennifer Pan seemed like the perfect daughter—straight A’s, trophies, and a future in medicine. But behind closed doors, the pressure was suffocating. In 2010, she decided there was only one way out: murder. This is the twisted story of how a model student turned into a killer. K ... Show More
1 h
Dec 2024
The Angel of Death: Elizabeth Wettlaufer 2
For years, "Angel of Death" serial killer Elizabeth Wettlaufer flew under the radar. Because she made her murders look like death from natural causes, nobody suspected she was killing her elderly nursing patients. But a lifetime of shame and guilt was weighing on Elizabeth. And b ... Show More
51m 7s
Jun 24
Gertrude Baniszewski: The "Torture Mom"
Retired FBI agent and criminal profiler Candice DeLong explores the chilling case of Gertrude Baniszewski. In the fall of 1965, behind the walls of her modest Indiana home, Gertrude masterminded the systematic torture and murder of teenage Sylvia Likens – encouraging her own chil ... Show More
48m 13s
Apr 17
MURDEROUS MINDS: The Model Student Murderer Pt. 2
Jennifer Pan’s lies were finally unraveling—and she was desperate to regain control. When her parents discovered the truth, she didn’t beg for forgiveness. She planned their murder. In this episode, we follow the investigation, the shocking confession, and the trial that stunned ... Show More
53m 49s
Mar 2025
SERIAL KILLER: "The Dark Strangler" Pt. 1
Known for his hulking frame and olive complexion, Earle Leonard Nelson was known as the Dark Strangler. In the early 20th century, this terrifying serial killer targeted older women in San Francisco. He charmed his way into their homes... then murdered them with his bare hands. K ... Show More
59m 58s
Oct 2024
Jeffrey Dahmer Pt. 1
In this four-part series, unlock the disturbing secrets behind one of history’s most notorious serial killers: Jeffrey Dahmer. Explore his early years and troubled childhood, uncovering the chilling motivations that drove him to become a cold-blooded murderer. Don’t miss this dee ... Show More
51m 29s
Feb 2025
Ted Bundy Pt. 1
Ted Bundy is one of America's most infamous serial killers, infamous for his charm, intelligence, and shocking brutality. Preying on young women, Bundy terrorized college campuses across the Pacific Northwest during the 1970s, carefully hiding his dark, violent side behind a mask ... Show More
53m 53s