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Crime Countdown

Who’s the worst serial killer? Where’s the creepiest cult? What’s the coldest of all cold cases? If you’re a true crime fan, you’ve probably asked yourself some of these questions. Well, Parcast thinks you deserve answers… or at least some passionate opinions. And they’ve enlisted co-hosts Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart from the hit podcast Morbid to get to the bottom of things. Welcome to their Parcast original series, Crime Countdown. Every Monday, Ash and Alaina discuss ten unsettling true crime stories centered around a common theme. With the help of the Parcast research gods, they’ll try to shock, surprise, and one-up each other—debating each case and their rankings with a hint of humor to lighten the mood. These best friends may not be experts. And they may not always agree. But… they’re counting down anyway.

JFK Assassination Theories

Crime Countdown

  • 1.2K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 32:05

The murder of America's 35th president, followed by the murder of his killer, and the untimely death of his killer's killer, left the U.S. in a tailspin. Ash and Alaina tackle the ten most believable theories that surfaced in the wake of the chaos.

Obsessed Stalkers

Crime Countdown

  • 1.2K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 35:52

We've all done some light stalking: looking up a new acquaintance on Facebook, searching for a crush on Google... But there's nothing light about today's ten crimes. Ash and Alaina examine the creepiest stalkers, and their disturbing psychology.

Greatest Art Heists

Crime Countdown

  • 1.2K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 33:48

Exciting. High-profile. And usually, no one dies! Alaina and Ash dish up ten art heists, and try to figure out why this is one crime that keeps getting labeled "cool."

Halloween Murders

Crime Countdown

  • 1.6K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 40:49

No one bats an eye when they see gore or dead bodies on Halloween... and some cold-blooded killers use that to their advantage. Alaina and Ash recount Halloween night's most unsettling crimes.

Haunted Murder Sites

Crime Countdown

  • 1.4K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 44:53

The only thing creepier than a room where someone was murdered? That room being haunted. Ash and Alaina present the top ten murders where the victim’s death was just the beginning…

Stolen Body Parts

Crime Countdown

  • 1.3K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 40:28

Stealing a dead body? Unsettling. Stealing a single dead finger? Simply bizarre. Ash and Alaina count down the weirdest thefts of disembodied skulls, limbs, and internal organs.

Unforgettable Crimes of 1995

Crime Countdown

  • 1.1K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 34:42

25 years ago, most of our listeners were probably paying more attention to their Beanie Babies than to true crime. So Ash and Alaina dive into ten of 1995's crimes you may have missed... and the ones we'll never forget.

Introducing Blind Dating

Crime Countdown

  • 1.5K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 19:06

Can you meet the love of your life doing a socially distanced podcast in your living room? There’s only one way to find out! Every Wednesday on Blind Dating, host Tara Michelle introduces one hopeful single to two strangers in a voice-only virtual hangout. They’ll chat, flirt, and make the case for why they deserve a second date. But once a match is made and the cameras are turned on, will the new connection be strong enough to last? Enjoy the first episode of Blind Dating, then follow Blind Dating free on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts! 

Royal Killers

Crime Countdown

  • 1.2K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 39:25

Today’s criminals ruled with bone-crushing fists. Ash and Alaina’s top ten royal killers include a queen who protected her siblings, a king who had his wives beheaded, and vile forms of torture that could only be the result of absolute authority.

New! Incredible Feats with Dan Cummins

Crime Countdown

  • 1.2K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 05:17

Humanity’s most daring achievements are coming together in the new Spotify Original from Parcast! Every weekday, Incredible Feats introduces you to a new story of jaw-dropping physical strength, mental focus, and bizarre behavior. Join comedian Dan Cummins as he profiles the people who turned the impossible into the incredible, breaking records and making history along the way.  Enjoy this exclusive clip from our first episode, and stay tuned for episodes on daredevils, ultramarathoners, performance artists and more! To find more Parcast Network originals, search “Parcast Network” on Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts.

Killer Texans

Crime Countdown

  • 1.2K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 36:24

"Don't Mess With Texas" never rang truer than in these ten criminal cases. Alaina and Ash dive into the Lone Star State's most notorious killers.

Lottery Scams

Crime Countdown

  • 1.1K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 43:18

A chance of luck, a stroke of fortune, a twist to beat the odds… The lottery represents hopes and dreams—but not everyone's willing to wait for their lucky day. These criminals set out to rig the system through cons, theft, and even murder. Ash and Alaina stack up the ten most striking lottery scams.

Shocking Daytime Murders

Crime Countdown

  • 1.2K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 32:30

What drives a person to kill in front of witnesses? Ash and Alaina explore the tales and motives of shameless criminals who killed in broad daylight. The only thing more shocking than the brutality of these slayings is the fact that some remain unsolved.

Dangerous Moms

Crime Countdown

  • 1.6K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 40:16

"Maternal" typically means warm and loving... These moms were anything but. Alaina and Ash dive into the top ten dangerous moms, including a cheer mom gone crazy, the notorious Casey Anthony, and unthinkable baby-killers.

Daring Prison Breaks

Crime Countdown

  • 1.3K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 36:40

From Alcatraz to the Tower of London, prisons are built to keep people in. But today's criminals dodged bullets, swam miles, changed their names—and even their faces—to gain freedom. Alaina and Ash decide which prisoner took the biggest risk… and if it paid off.

Hotel Crimes

Crime Countdown

  • 2K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 32:35

Is there anything creepier than finding a dead body in your hotel room? Whether you believe they're haunted or not, some hotels have stains that can't be cleaned. Alaina and Ash check into hotels linked to cases of mob hits, arson, and mysterious disappearances.

Serial Killer Letters

Crime Countdown

  • 3.1K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 35:29

There are two types of serial killers: Those who never want to be known, and those who crave infamy. The second group are the letter writers: the ones who add to the horror and confusion with manifestos and threats. Alaina and Ash review the ten most chilling letters, and killers who wrote them.

Zodiac Killer Theories

Crime Countdown

  • 2.4K views
  • over 3 years ago
  • 36:43

He may be the most famous serial killer of all time, but we still don't know who he is. Ash and Alaina round up the most chilling Zodiac Killer suspects, and try to uncover how a notorious murderer with multiple eyewitnesses escaped prosecution.

Unsolved Murders: 1970s

Crime Countdown

  • 1.8K views
  • almost 4 years ago
  • 39:03

Despite fifty years of investigation, a question mark still remains next to these crimes. But just because there's no answer doesn't mean there isn't disturbing evidence... or creepy suspects. Ash and Alaina dive into unsolved murders that are anything but groovy.

Fatal Romances

Crime Countdown

  • 1.4K views
  • almost 4 years ago
  • 37:44

Shakespeare wrote that Iove is blind, but in these criminal cases, love is blinding. Ash and Alaina dive into obsessive, dangerous love stories—including a murdered queen, an outlaw couple and a few Beyoncé references.