True Crime Fans Club

It was supposed to be an evening of celebration. Instead it ended with a missing persons case and a near-death experience at the hands of someone Connor Deserly thinks may have been trying to kill him. He wonders if that person could be the killer dubbed the Rainey Street Ripper, who is rumored to stalk a popular entertainment district in Austin, Texas.

This year, there have been at least five dead bodies found in or around Lady Bird Lake near downtown Austin. For years now, locals and tourists alike have been floating rumors of a serial killer, sometimes called the "Rainey Street Ripper," who allegedly kills people out in the area.

Fears of a serial killer dubbed the “Rainey Street Ripper” have disturbed people in the Austin area as bodies continue to wash up from a stretch of water. Texas authorities said 13 dead bodies, 11 men and two women, have been recovered from the Colorado River and Lady Bird Lake in the past two years. Law&Crime’s Jesse Weber discusses the rumors of rampant serial killings that have Texas residents on high alert.

For well over a year now, police have been pulling bodies from Austin's Lady Bird Lake. While the police are adamant that these deaths and recoveries are unconnected, the rapidly growing body count has led many to speculate that there is more to the story. Fears of a serial killer dubbed the "Rainey Street Ripper" have flooded the internet as web sleuths attempt to do what the police cannot, and track down a person they believe is abducting men from the city's popular bar areas. The question is, does this alleged killer actually exist?

Today, we explore the story of the AUSTIN SERIAL KILLER, a string of murders that have NEVER been acknowledged by the AUSTIN POLICE DEPARTMENT. In this documentary we speak with family members of victims, exploring the history of murder and exposing a direct connection between our host, Colin, and the crimes. This is our most important, and most disturbing episode to date. Viewer discretion is advised.

Terrified Austin locals say they’re ‘125%’ certain there’s a Rainey Street Ripper after 10th body pulled from lake

Supposedly, the first “Smiley Face Killers” victim was Patrick McNeill, a Fordham College senior, who left a New York City bar in 1997. His body was found a month later in the East River. Kevin Gannon, the detective on the McNeill case, promised the victim’s bereaved parents that he would find out the answers to the questions surrounding their son’s death.

A true crime podcast offering compelling discussion on cold cases, murder, missing persons, breaking news, and most wanted criminals.
Steve is the host, bringing vast knowledge from his law enforcement point of view. He is a retired Crime Scene Investigator, handling all manners of death.

We will focus on families and communities who need help finding missing persons, identifying homicide victims, locating persons of interest, and bringing attention to active and cold cases. We will work with analysts and law enforcement to generate new interests and leads while utilizing our new technologies. Through these efforts, we hope to bring some comfort, justice, and closure to cases.