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Mind of a Monster: The Cross-Country Killer

True Crime

Latest episode

61 episodes

Ep.6: 11 Skulls
17/02/2026 | 39 mins.
When he realizes that his demands are not going to be met, incarcerated serial killer Israel Keyes pulls off one final power play. To identify other victims Keyes murdered, frustrated investigators must try and piece together remaining clues. Do his paintings of skulls mean anything, or is he having the last laugh? The investigation into his secret crimes continues to this day. 

Speaking with journalists and detectives, Dr. Michelle Ward looks into potential victims of The Cross-Country Killer – and explores new information discovered in 2024. 
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep.5: Confessions
10/02/2026 | 43 mins.
After getting caught using the victim’s bank card, Israel Keyes admits to killing local girl Samantha Koenig and disposing of her body in a frozen lake. When he gives a horrific blow-by-blow description of how he did it, investigators realize they have caught a very experienced serial killer. But Keyes won’t reveal any more victims unless they meet his impossible demands. 

Speaking with detectives and experts, Dr. Michelle Ward investigates how this master of discretion abandoned his rules and ended up getting caught.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep.4: Samantha
03/02/2026 | 41 mins.
In Anchorage, Alaska, 18-year-old Samantha Koenig is abducted while working at a coffee stand, sending panic through the city. Police initially struggle to find a solid lead – until the kidnapper delivers a ransom note. Following the trail down to Texas, FBI agents finally catch up with the suspect – a man called Israel Keyes. But he claims to know nothing about the girl’s disappearance.

Speaking with witnesses and detectives, Dr. Michelle Ward explores the search for Samantha – and investigates how this crime differs from the typical Israel Keyes MO.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep.3: Hunting Grounds
27/01/2026 | 44 mins.
In the remote mountains of north-west Washington, Israel Keyes splits his time between taking care of his young family and hunting for victims. When he travels to visit family members in other states, The Cross-Country Killer discovers fresh hunting grounds and develops new methods of killing in secret. Increasingly emboldened, his murder spree culminates in a horrendous attack on a suburban couple. 

Speaking with witnesses and detectives, Dr. Michelle Ward investigates how Keyes perfects his MO – and then deviates from it in search of sustaining the adrenaline high. 
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Ep.2: A Double Life
20/01/2026 | 40 mins.
After an isolated childhood in the woods, Israel Keyes realises he’s a psychopath – with an urge to rape and kill. When he distances himself from his ultra religious family, he finds a new home in the Army – where his survivalist skillset is appreciated. But his uncontrolled sadism leads to a series of violent encounters that almost get him caught, and he realizes he must set boundaries for himself – and plan a more covert method of killing. 

Dr. Michelle Ward explores how Israel Keyes separates his life into two parallel personalities – the regular family guy and the sadistic serial killer. 
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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About Mind of a Monster: The Cross-Country Killer

Across the 2000s and early 2010s, family man and trusted construction worker Israel Keyes is living a double life. He is also a master murderer who selects victims at random, carries out untraceable kills and covers his tracks with precision.  In this 6-part series, hear through recorded interviews how one of the US's most prolific, but not widely known, serial killers perceived himself and how he committed these horrific killings. Criminal psychologist Dr. Michelle Ward talks with friends and colleagues of Israel Keyes, investigators and detectives from the case, all to uncover the dark world of The Cross-Country Killer.  Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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