Obscura: A True Crime Podcast

• MURDERED: Jessica Lunsford | Homosassa, Florida 2005 Part 02

  [Part 2 of 2]On February 24th, 2005, nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford vanished from her bedroom in Homosassa, Florida—taken through an unlocked door while her family slept. The girl who was afraid of the dark, who couldn't sleep without her stuffed purple dolphin, was about to become the center of one of the most heartbreaking cases in American true crime history.Jessica was a cheerful third-grader who loved singing, helping others, and spending time with her dachshund, Corky. She lived with her father Mark and grandparents Ruth and Archie in a small community where neighbors knew each other. The night she disappeared, she'd just returned from church, been tucked into bed by her grandmother, and fell asleep clutching her favorite toy. By morning, both Jessica and her dolphin were gone.This case matters because it exposed critical failures in sex offender monitoring and directly resulted in Jessica's Law—legislation that now protects children across the United States with mandatory minimum sentences and lifetime electronic monitoring for predators.Content Warning: This episode contains detailed discussion of child abduction, sexual assault, and murder. It includes graphic details about the victim's captivity and death. Listener discretion is strongly advised.In This Episode:The Investigation: How law enforcement conducted a massive three-week search involving hundreds of volunteers, bloodhounds, helicopters, and multiple agencies—while Jessica was hidden just 65 yards from her home the entire time.The Perpetrator: John Evander Couey, a registered sex offender with a history of violence who was living with his sister next door to Jessica, and how systemic failures allowed him to reoffend.The Aftermath: The heartbreaking discovery, Couey's confession, his death before execution, and how Jessica's death led to the creation of Jessica's Law and Jessie's Place Children's Advocacy Center—saving countless children through strengthened protections.Resources: If you or someone you know needs support, please contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visit www.missingkids.org. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) provides 24/7 support at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Jessie's Place in Citrus County continues Jessica's legacy by providing free services to abused and traumatized children—learn more about their vital work and how to support them.This episode was meticulously researched using court documents, police reports, forensic testimony, and news archives from the investigation and trial. All facts have been verified against primary sources.Support Obscura: Obscura is an independent production dedicated to uncovering forgotten cases with unflinching detail. Join our Black Label community on Patreon for bonus episodes, extended cuts, ad-free listening, and exclusive research materials at https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast. Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• MURDERED: Jessica Lunsford | Homosassa, Florida 2005 Part 01

  On February 24th, 2005, nine-year-old Jessica Lunsford vanished from her bedroom in Homosassa, Florida—taken through an unlocked door while her family slept. The girl who was afraid of the dark, who couldn't sleep without her stuffed purple dolphin, was about to become the center of one of the most heartbreaking cases in American true crime history.Jessica was a cheerful third-grader who loved singing, helping others, and spending time with her dachshund, Corky. She lived with her father Mark and grandparents Ruth and Archie in a small community where neighbors knew each other. The night she disappeared, she'd just returned from church, been tucked into bed by her grandmother, and fell asleep clutching her favorite toy. By morning, both Jessica and her dolphin were gone.This case matters because it exposed critical failures in sex offender monitoring and directly resulted in Jessica's Law—legislation that now protects children across the United States with mandatory minimum sentences and lifetime electronic monitoring for predators.Content Warning: This episode contains detailed discussion of child abduction, sexual assault, and murder. It includes graphic details about the victim's captivity and death. Listener discretion is strongly advised.In This Episode:The Investigation: How law enforcement conducted a massive three-week search involving hundreds of volunteers, bloodhounds, helicopters, and multiple agencies—while Jessica was hidden just 65 yards from her home the entire time.The Perpetrator: John Evander Couey, a registered sex offender with a history of violence who was living with his sister next door to Jessica, and how systemic failures allowed him to reoffend.The Aftermath: The heartbreaking discovery, Couey's confession, his death before execution, and how Jessica's death led to the creation of Jessica's Law and Jessie's Place Children's Advocacy Center—saving countless children through strengthened protections.Resources: If you or someone you know needs support, please contact the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children at 1-800-THE-LOST (1-800-843-5678) or visit www.missingkids.org. The Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) provides 24/7 support at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673). Jessie's Place in Citrus County continues Jessica's legacy by providing free services to abused and traumatized children—learn more about their vital work and how to support them.This episode was meticulously researched using court documents, police reports, forensic testimony, and news archives from the investigation and trial. All facts have been verified against primary sources.Support Obscura: Obscura is an independent production dedicated to uncovering forgotten cases with unflinching detail. Join our Black Label community on Patreon for bonus episodes, extended cuts, ad-free listening, and exclusive research materials at https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast. Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• MURDERED: Christine McGowan | Apopka, Florida 1990

  Apopka, Florida. October 30, 1990. When 10-year-old Christine McGowan's stepfather entered her bedroom to wake her for school—he found her lifeless body face down in bed, the sheets beneath her soaked in blood. The door to their home stood slightly ajar. His white construction truck—keys left in the ignition the night before—had vanished.Christine McGowan was a child who spent her afternoons watching her neighbor at The Lighthouse Mission halfway house craft decorative wooden boats. She stood in the autumn sun asking if she could watch him work, fascinated by his woodworking skill. She had no way of knowing that Elmer Leon Carroll—the seemingly harmless craftsman next door—was a twice-convicted child molester living under pastoral supervision. On the night of October 29, 1990, Carroll's schizophrenic delusions reached a breaking point. Witnesses at Lockhart Tavern watched him drink beer after beer, wrapping his jacket around a chair and holding long conversations with it about demons, devils, and the coming apocalypse. Hours later, he entered the McGowan home through an unlocked door.This case exposes the catastrophic failures of Florida's 1990s halfway house system and sex offender monitoring. Carroll had served approximately two years and four months of a six-year sentence for child molestation, then served just over seven years for a second offense—both times released with minimal supervision directly into residential neighborhoods. The Lighthouse Mission placed a known predator with untreated severe mental illness next door to a family with a young daughter. The investigation moved swiftly—Carroll was apprehended within hours after stealing the family's truck—but the preventable nature of Christine's death haunted the community for years. Her case became a catalyst for examining how convicted sex offenders with documented psychiatric disorders were supervised after release.This episode contains detailed discussion of child sexual assault, graphic autopsy testimony, and descriptions of fatal violence against a child. This content may be disturbing. Listener discretion is strongly advised.Key Details:The Investigation: Wildlife officer Carl Young spotted Carroll walking on State Road 520 away from the stolen truck just hours after the murder. A box cutter, razor blade, and keys matching the stolen vehicle were found in his possession.Forensic Evidence: Medical examiner Dr. Thomas Hegert testified that Christine died from asphyxiation due to manual strangulation—a process taking 3-4 minutes during which she remained conscious for 1-2 minutes. The autopsy revealed severe sexual trauma and blunt force injury to her head.The Penalty Phase: The jury recommended death by unanimous 12-0 vote. Carroll was executed on May 29, 2013—nearly 23 years after Christine's murder. He refused to make a final statement, and Christine's family members watched him die.Resources: If you or someone you know has experienced childhood sexual abuse, the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline provides confidential 24/7 support at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or online at rainn.org. The Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline offers crisis intervention and professional counseling at 1-800-422-4453.Credits: Research, writing, and narration by Justin Drown. Production and sound design by Justin Drown. This episode utilized court documents, medical examiner testimony, and contemporary news reporting from the Orlando Sentinel.Support Obscura: Join our community at patreon.com/obscurapodcast for ad-free episodes, extended cuts, and exclusive Black Label cases. Visit mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura for full episode archive and case resources.Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• BLACK LABEL: The First Authenticated Snuff Film

  EXTREME CONTENT WARNING: This BLACK LABEL episode contains graphic descriptions of extreme consensual violence, disturbing audio recordings, and dark web investigation. Rated 10/10 for intensity. Not suitable for all listeners.In February 2025, footage emerged on dark web forums and Telegram channels documenting what investigators believe may be the first authenticated case of consensual extreme violence captured on film and publicly distributed. The alleged victim, identified by online investigators as Nguyễn Xuân Đạt, a Vietnamese man born March 10, 1989, had spent years openly advertising an extreme fetish on pornography websites and fetish forums. His Facebook biography reportedly read: "Likes to be decapitated." He allegedly wrote: "I'm looking for my executioner."VERIFICATION NOTE: This case remains officially unconfirmed by Vietnamese law enforcement as of November 2025. The victim's identity, location details, and case circumstances are based on open-source intelligence community investigations, not official police statements or mainstream journalism. VICE reported on this case in August 2025 as "the first established media outlet to report on its existence," but no Vietnamese news organizations have independently verified these events. All details presented in this episode are alleged and unverified by authorities.According to available evidence, the individual believed to be Nguyễn suffered from severe physical health issues that left him dependent on his parents. Between January 25 and February 24, 2025, the alleged events occurred. The resulting footage—filmed from multiple camera angles—was distributed through underground channels. Internet investigators have analyzed regional accents, identified distinctive details, and traced the content's spread from Vietnamese underground forums to Chinese extreme content marketplaces.This case represents only the third alleged instance of consensual homicide motivated by mutual extreme gratification—and potentially the first where video evidence entered public circulation. The two verified previous cases occurred in Germany: In 2001, Armin Meiwes killed and consumed engineer Bernd Jürgen Brandes after meeting him on the Cannibal Café forum. That footage remained sealed as evidence. In 2013, former police officer Detlev Günzel found his willing victim on the website Zambian Meat, filming a 50-minute video that also never leaked publicly. The alleged Vietnamese case represents an unprecedented breach of that precedent.OBSCURA'S APPROACH:Justin presents this case with complete unflinching detail while acknowledging the severe verification limitations. This BLACK LABEL episode includes authentic audio from the investigation, explores the psychology behind extreme sadomasochistic communities, examines the dark web's role in facilitating these encounters, and addresses the ethical implications of reporting unverified extreme content. Unlike mainstream true crime that sanitizes or sensationalizes, Obscura provides scholarly analysis with primary source documentation—or clearly identifies when official documentation does not exist.This is BLACK LABEL content: no censorship, complete forensic detail, disturbing audio evidence, and the full complexity of cases that exceed mainstream podcast boundaries. For listeners who demand the complete truth without editorial softening.ACCESS BLACK LABEL EPISODES:- Patreon BLACK LABEL: https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast/- Apple Podcasts Premium: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/channel/black-label/id6443660911- RedCircle Premium: https://app.redcircle.com/shows/8136b701-6bed-4cc9-bfb2-0013a2822e00/exclusive-contentVisit Obscura's website: https://www.mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura/Support the show on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/obscuracrimepodcast/If you're enjoying Obscura, please leave a 5-star rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Your reviews help other listeners discover forgotten cases and support independent true crime journalism.Obscura: A True Crime Podcast is an independent production researched, written, and narrated by Justin Drown. New episodes every Wednesday.Our Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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• Black Label + Halloween Specials

  In January 2025, Nguyen Dat, a 35-year-old Vietnamese man living in Ha Dong, voluntarily sought his own execution—fulfilling a years-long sexual obsession with decapitation. Through extreme pornography forums and dating apps, Nguyen publicly advertised his desire to be beheaded, eventually connecting with an unnamed butcher who shared his fatal fetish.The killing occurred between January 25 and February 24, 2025, in a makeshift execution chamber. Graphic video footage—leaked to Vietnamese and Chinese Telegram groups—shows Nguyen's decapitation as he reached sexual climax. The butcher then dismembered his body with professional precision, documenting the process across 11 videos and 98 photographs. Evidence suggests the killer cannibalized Nguyen's remains, cooking parts of his body into Vietnamese dishes. When concerned citizens reported the leaked footage to authorities, they discovered Nguyen had been missing for five years.This case represents only the third confirmed consensual homicide motivated by mutual sexual gratification—and the first where execution footage was publicly leaked. Obscura examines this disturbing intersection of extreme fetishism, voluntary death, and the dark corners of online subcultures where such transactions occur.[BLACK LABEL CONTENT WARNING: This episode contains extremely graphic descriptions of violence, dismemberment, and cannibalism.]Explore more obscure true crime cases at mythsandmalice.com/show/obscura. Join Obscura on Patreon to unlock the entire back catalogue ad-free, plus exclusive Black Label premium episodes—darker, longer cases released monthly. Dive deeper into the cases mainstream media forgot.KEYWORDS: true crime, true crime podcast, Nguyen Dat, Vietnam crime, consensual homicide, voluntary execution, cannibalism case, Ha Dong Vietnam, decapitation, dismemberment, sexual homicide, extreme fetish, guro, murder case, Armin Meiwes, Zambian Meat case, 2025 crime, obscure true crimeOur Sponsors:* Check out Chime: https://chime.com/OBSCURA* Check out Kensington Publishing: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com* Check out Mood and use my code OBSCURA for a great deal: https://mood.com* Check out Progressive: https://www.progressive.comSupport this podcast at — https://redcircle.com/obscura-a-true-crime-podcast/exclusive-contentAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

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