logo
episode-header-image
Jun 2025
32m 11s

The Real-Life Horror That Inspired 'Scre...

Breanna Heim
About this episode

This week on Hot On The Case, we head to Gainesville, Florida, where a quiet college town was plunged into terror during the summer of 1990.

College students were supposed to be settling into dorm life and new routines. Instead, a series of brutal murders left an entire community paralyzed with fear. Doors were double-locked, rumors spread like wildfire, and the entire town held its breath.

Who would be next?

A case so horrifying it would later inspire one of the most iconic horror films of all time.

Join us as we dive into the chilling true story behind the Gainesville Ripper.

Up next
Oct 30
The Most Sadistic Serial Killer You've Never Heard Of
In this week's investigation Hot On The Case travels to Houston, Texas to uncover the horrifying case of Dean Corll, infamously known as "The Candy Man". Alongside his accomplices David Brooks and Elmer Wayne Henley, Corll committed some of the worst acts imaginable. Despite an a ... Show More
48m 4s
Oct 23
The Sinister Napa Valley Halloween Killer
Try Rocket Money for FREE or unlock more features with premium at https://RocketMoney.com/BreannaIn this week's investigation Hot On The Case travels to Napa, California, where Halloween night took a terrifying turn for a group of roommates. What starts as an ordinary night quick ... Show More
44m 31s
Oct 16
This Family Fled A "Haunted House" & Mysteriously Disappeared
In this week's investigation Hot On The Case dives into the mysterious disappearance of the Jamison family who vanished without a trace in rural Oklahoma. When their abandoned truck was recovered with their belongings still inside, the circumstances surrounding this true crime ca ... Show More
47m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Jan 2023
Uncovering the Horrifying Crimes of the Gainesville Ripper: Campus Killer and Inadvertent Icon
Uncovering the Horrifying Crimes of the Gainesville Ripper: Campus Killer and Inadvertent Icon Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices 
56m 23s
Oct 2022
261: Scream: The True Story (aka The Murders of The Gainesville Ripper)
"Scream" is everyone's favorite scary movie, but did you know it's based on a true story? It's inspired by the life and murders of Danny Rolling, aka "The Gainesville Ripper". Rolling admits to killing at least 8 people during his reign of terror in the early 90s, but he claims t ... Show More
50m 54s
Oct 2025
140. The Gainesville Student Murders
On this episode, Payton dives into the true crime case that inspired the classic slasher hit Scream. Links: Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/murderwithmyhusband NEW MERCH LINK: https://mwmhshop.com Discount Codes: https://mailchi.mp/c6f48670aeac/oh-no-media-discount-codes Twitch: ... Show More
34m 20s
Oct 2025
Halloween Special: The 'Scream' Killer
For Halloween this year we are bringing back one of your favorites. In 1996, a new horror movie with an innovative twist would reinvigorate the slasher genre. But behind the fictional Ghostface was an inspiration steeped in reality. A man in a makeshift mask who stalked and torme ... Show More
48m 31s
Oct 2022
“Ghostface” from Scream
In 1996, a new horror movie with an innovative twist would reinvigorate the slasher genre. But behind the fictional Ghostface was an inspiration steeped in reality. A man in a makeshift mask who stalked and tormented teenage girls during a three-day murderous rampage. A man known ... Show More
48m 6s
Jul 2022
S4 Ep9: Danny Rolling
In late August 1990, freshman roommates Christina Powell and Sonja Larson were excitedly preparing for their first semester at the University of Florida in Gainesville. But they would never make it to the start of the school year. Hidden in the shadows, outside of their apartment ... Show More
49m 14s