118: [Hannah Vanderhorst] Something So Sinister // Part 1
Content warning: assault, sexual assault, rape, serial rape, and nonconsensual pornography.
Hannah Vanderhorst is a special education teacher and administrator living in Denver, Colorado. Having moved to the city in 2016, just before going through a breakup, Hannah turned to dating apps to expand her social circle and look for potential love. However, an October 2019 date changed her trajectory forever. It was on this date that she became a victim of a serial sexual predator, although she wouldn’t find that out until over three years after her assault. Hannah would then join a taxing legal battle to receive justice, witness legal change elicited by her and others’ experiences, and work to heal from the trauma. The Broken Cycle Media team is grateful that Hannah was willing to so selflessly share her story to bring awareness to our listeners.
Sources:
Maass, B. (2024, October 26). Cardiologist Stephen Matthews sentenced to 158 years for drugging, sexually assaulting Colorado women he met on dating apps. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/colorado/news/stephen-matthews-sentenced-158-years-drugging-sexually-assaulting-women-met-dating-apps-cardiologist/
For a list of related resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources
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30:29
Presenting: CRIME HOUSE TRUE CRIME STORIES
Content warning: abduction, kidnapping, violence, gun violence, robbery, assault, and murder.
Crime House True Crime Stories is the ultimate destination for true crime fans. Every episode features two notorious cases from that week in crime history, tied by a common theme like infamous serial killers, mysterious disappearances, tragic murders, and more. Every Monday, uncover the full stories behind the headlines as host Vanessa Richardson takes you through high-profile investigations like the murder of Gabby Petito, the kidnapping of Elizabeth Smart, and the mass suicide of the Heaven's Gate cult. Follow Crime House True Crime Stories — a Crime House Original — wherever you listen to podcasts.
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6:02
117: [Joan Hoyt] A Danger to Society
Content warning: pedophilia, sexual sadism, paraphilia, psychopathy, brutality, child sexual abuse material, rape, sexual assault, torture, and murder.
Joan Hoyt is a business professional and family woman from Santa Cruz, California. Although she has proudly served her county as a juror before, a 2024 jury duty assignment opened her eyes to the harsh realities of a criminal justice process she would have never thought was real prior. Her assignment included listening to the heartbreaking facts of Madyson Middleton’s gruesome 2015 murder, then deeming whether Madyson’s murderer should be released from juvenile incarceration in February of 2025, only ten years later. And when the jurors learned this process will occur every two years in perpetuity because of laws placed in effect after Madyson’s murder, Joan and her fellow jurors began using all they witnessed as fuel towards making legal change. The Broken Cycle Media team is so deeply grateful Joan was willing to share her unique perspective with us today, and that she continues to fight for justice for Madyson and so many others. This episode is dedicated in loving memory of Madyson Middleton.
Sources:
California Supreme Court Upholds Law Protecting 14–15-Year-Olds from Transfer to Adult Court. (2022, July 27). National Center for Youth Law. https://youthlaw.org/news/california-supreme-court-upholds-law-protecting-14-15-year-olds-transfer-adult-court
Chun, M. (2025, February 28). Juror in Gonzalez trial urges reform of state bill that prevented him from being charged as adult, allows repeat chances for release. Lookout Santa Cruz. https://lookout.co/juror-in-adrian-gonzalez-trial-urge-reform-of-state-bill-that-prevented-him-from-being-charged-as-adult-allows-repeat-chances-for-release/story
Santa Cruz jury denies release of man convicted of murdering 8-year-old Maddy Middleton. (2025, February 20). ABC7 San Francisco. https://abc7news.com/post/maddy-middleton-death-santa-cruz-jury-denies-release-adrian-gonzalez-man-convicted-murdering-raping-8-year-old-girl/15934976/
For a list of related resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources
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39:27
116: [Victoria Latham] No Legal Precedent // Part 3
Content warning: fraud and professional abuse.
As shared in part one of her story, Victoria Latham is an established professional living in South Carolina. At the encouragement of her friend Lauren (who will also be sharing her perspective on the following episodes), Victoria has joined us to share about her experiences working for a burgeoning technology company that collapsed after its founder was charged with and sentenced for twenty counts of wire fraud amounting to over nine million dollars. It was Victoria’s diligent evidence collection and courage to report that deeply contributed to prosecutors’ success. However, this is the first time Victoria will have shared at-large about all that she’s navigated in the process. The Broken Cycle Media team is extremely grateful for all of Victoria and Lauren’s time, energy, and care in walking us through what was a very layered battle for justice.
Victoria's Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/victorialatham
Oliver Pluff & Co: http://www.oliverpluff.com
Sources:
Charleston man and business indicted in federal court in over $9M. (2019, May 15). https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/charleston-man-and-business-indicted-federal-court-over-9m-fraud
Neel, M. a. S. M. R. S. C. (2021, November 30). ARIN taking a hard line on fraud pays off in Precedent-Setting criminal trial and conviction. American Registry for Internet Numbers. https://www.arin.net/blog/2021/11/30/hard-line-fraud-pays-off/
For a list of related resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources
Thank you again to Green Chef for sponsoring this episode. Don't forget to try the number one meal kit for eating well! Go to greenchef.com/wcnfree and use the code WCNFREE to get started with free salads for two months plus 50% off your first box.
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47:19
115: [Victoria Latham] Who Do I Report This To? // Part 2
Content warning: fraud and professional abuse.
As shared in part one of her story, Victoria Latham is an established professional living in South Carolina. At the encouragement of her friend Lauren (who will also be sharing her perspective on the following episodes), Victoria has joined us to share about her experiences working for a burgeoning technology company that collapsed after its founder was charged with and sentenced for twenty counts of wire fraud amounting to over nine million dollars. It was Victoria’s diligent evidence collection and courage to report that deeply contributed to prosecutors’ success. However, this is the first time Victoria will have shared at-large about all that she’s navigated in the process. The Broken Cycle Media team is extremely grateful for all of Victoria and Lauren’s time, energy, and care in walking us through what was a very layered battle for justice.
Sources:
Charleston man and business indicted in federal court in over $9M. (2019, May 15). https://www.justice.gov/usao-sc/pr/charleston-man-and-business-indicted-federal-court-over-9m-fraud
Neel, M. a. S. M. R. S. C. (2021, November 30). ARIN taking a hard line on fraud pays off in Precedent-Setting criminal trial and conviction. American Registry for Internet Numbers. https://www.arin.net/blog/2021/11/30/hard-line-fraud-pays-off/
For a list of related resources and non-profit organizations that can help, please visit http://www.somethingwaswrong.com/resources
What happens after the experiences of true crime survivors have been shared with the world? Does the media truly capture all it entails to survive such tragedy in the public eye? What comes after the convictions are in, the cameras stop rolling, and the court of public opinion has spoken? Can sharing our stories lead to justice, and is there ever really justice?
These questions and many more are discussed on the new true crime docuseries podcast brought to you by Broken Cycle Media (https://www.brokencyclemedia.com/) .
What Came Next (http://www.instagram.com/whatcamenext_podcast) is co-created and produced by Something Was Wrong (http://www.somethingwaswrong.com) ’s Tiffany Reese and host, award-winning writer, victim advocate and true crime survivor Amy B. Chesler (http://www.amybchesler.com) .
On What Came Next (http://www.instagram.com/whatcamenext_podcast) , you’ll hear firsthand accounts from those impacted, with behind the scenes insights about what came next for survivors after their stories were shared with the world, and how the media impacts crime victims and their loved ones.
USA