Episodes

  • Velma Barfield: History's First Female Lethal Injection

    Velma Barfield: History's First Female Lethal Injection
    Jun 4 2026
    Get my list of essential true crime documentaries HERE Velma Barfield: The “Grandmother” Serial Killer, Arsenic Poisonings, and America’s First Female Lethal Injection Rae profiles Velma Barfield, a little-known serial killer who killed at least four people and became the first woman executed in the U.S. in 22 years and the first ever by lethal injection. The episode examines competing explanations: sociopathy, addiction-driven fraud, and dissociative identity disorder. Before detailing her death row conversion, and attempted clemency by Governor Jim Hunt, and execution on November 2, 1984. 00:00 Serial Killer You Never Suspected 00:59 Velma Barfield Overview 01:58 Content Warning And Support 02:58 Abuse And Invisibility 04:24 Marriage And Medical Spiral 07:07 Bodies Begin To Pile Up 10:32 Caretaker Deaths And Fraud 11:37 Arsenic Autopsy Breakthrough 12:42 Why Did She Kill 18:51 Death Row And Execution 21:42 Monster Or System Failure 23:10 Wrap Up And Next Steps Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    26 mins
  • The Yogurt Shop Murders: Inside HBO's Final Episode (With Detective Dan Jackson)

    The Yogurt Shop Murders: Inside HBO's Final Episode (With Detective Dan Jackson)
    May 28 2026
    Rae Review featuring Detective Dan Jackson — the Austin Police cold case detective who solved the 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders. For 34 years, the murders of Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison, Jennifer Harbison, and Eliza Thomas went unsolved. The case landed on Dan Jackson's desk on his very first day in the cold case unit. He never imagined he'd be the one to answer the question on the billboards: who killed these girls? Three years later, using DNA and ballistics, he identified serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers as the man who did it. Detective Jackson joins Rae to talk about the science that finally cracked it, who Brashers really was, the promise he made to one victim's mother, and the phone call he made to the original 1991 detective before the news broke. Following our conversation with director Margaret Brown, whose HBO series The Yogurt Shop Murders just aired its final episode, The End of Wondering. Content note: discusses violence against young girls, sexual assault, and wrongful convictions. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • The Yogurt Shop Murders: Inside HBO's Final Episode (With Director Margaret Brown)

    The Yogurt Shop Murders: Inside HBO's Final Episode (With Director Margaret Brown)
    May 21 2026
    Documentary filmmaker Margaret Brown joins Rae on Dark Stories to talk about the Yogurt Shop Murders - the 1991 case that haunted Austin, Texas for over three decades. The fifth and final episode, "The End of Wondering," premieres Friday, May 22, 2026 on HBO and HBO Max. On December 6, 1991, four teenage girls, Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison, Jennifer Harbison, and Eliza Thomas, were murdered at an "I Can't Believe It's Yogurt!" shop in Austin, Texas. The case sat unsolved for 34 years. Four men were wrongfully accused. One was killed by police before his name was cleared. Then in September 2025, the case was finally solved. Margaret spent three and a half years with the families. She joins Rae to talk about grief, resolution, the wrongfully accused, and what it means when the truth finally comes. Content note: discusses violence against young girls, sexual assault, and wrongful convictions. The HBO Original documentary series The Yogurt Shop Murders continues with a new 90-minute fifth episode, "The End of Wondering," directed by Margaret Brown ("Descendant"), from A24 and Fruit Tree. The episode debuts Friday, May 22 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on HBO and HBO Max. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    36 mins
  • Neighbor's Dogs Killed Her: The Tragic Case of Diane Whipple | Mini Episode

    Neighbor's Dogs Killed Her: The Tragic Case of Diane Whipple | Mini Episode
    Apr 15 2026
    This video discusses the tragic case of Diane Whipple, who was fatally attacked by her neighbor's dogs. The footage highlights the court case, People vs. Knoller, which resulted in the first conviction of murder for a dog owner due to their pets' actions in U.S. history. This true crime story explores the complexities of animal attack incidents and criminal justice, raising important questions about dog owner mistakes and accountability in such cases. Viewer discretion is advised due to the graphic nature of the story. For more, visit raereview.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    10 mins
  • The Gisèle Pelicot Story: Shame Has to Change Sides

    The Gisèle Pelicot Story: Shame Has to Change Sides
    Apr 1 2026
    When Gisèle Pelicot found out what had been done to her, she made a decision that nobody expected. Part Two covers the trial, the 50 men, the verdict, and what Gisèle Pelicot did that no law could have required her to do and why it matters for every woman who comes after her. She waived her anonymity. She demanded a public trial. She sat in that courtroom every single day and she made them look at her. This is what accountability actually looks like. And it's because of her. Credits: Video editor / Sound Design: gavin.mc.cabe.sound@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    44 mins
  • The Gisèle Pelicot Story: 72 Men Said Yes

    The Gisèle Pelicot Story: 72 Men Said Yes
    Mar 27 2026
    For almost ten years, Dominique Pelicot was considered a model husband. He was also drugging his wife unconscious and inviting strangers into their home to assault her while she slept. He filmed all of it. He organized all of it. And he did it so carefully that Gisèle had no idea. Part One covers the marriage, the decade of abuse, how it was finally uncovered, and the moment investigators realized exactly how far this went. Content warning: this episode contains detailed discussion of drug-facilitated assault. Listen with care. Part Two drops Wednesday. 🔔 Subscribe for more deep‑dives into true crime and dark history. For more dark stories like these or to get in touch, check out my TikTok, Instagram or visit my website at RaeReview.com. Hosted by Mercury Podcasts. See for information about the collection and use of personal data for advertising. Credits: Video editor / Sound Design: gavin.mc.cabe.sound@gmail.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • She Was Tortured for Your Right to Vote

    She Was Tortured for Your Right to Vote
    Mar 18 2026
    On November 15, 1917, 33 women were beaten, brutalized, and tortured at the Occoquan Workhouse for one simple demand: the right to vote. This is the true story of Alice Paul, the Night of Terror, and how the most horrific night in suffrage history became the catalyst for the 19th Amendment. This is a story they don't teach you in school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    38 mins
  • The Forgotten Kennedy: Why did Rosemary have a Lobotomy?

    The Forgotten Kennedy: Why did Rosemary have a Lobotomy?
    Mar 11 2026
    Today, Rae tells the story of the tragic life of Rosemary Kennedy, the sister of JFK, who underwent a botched lobotomy at the age of 23. The discussion highlights the 'Kennedy Curse,' the family's history of misfortune, and the societal pressures that led to Rosemary's tragic fate. It explores her early life, the circumstances surrounding her lobotomy, and the devastating aftermath that left her incapacitated. The conversation serves as a poignant reminder of the historical treatment of mental health and the impact of family legacy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    13 mins