When Pranks Turn Deadly

When Pranks Turn Deadly

Author: Moms and Mysteries Podcast November 20, 2025 Duration: 44:39
Imagine hearing sirens outside your home, stepping onto your porch, and being shot by police—all because of a prank call from a thousand miles away. This is exactly what happened to Andrew Finch in Wichita, Kansas, in a tragic "swatting" incident that shocked the nation .In this Thursday episode, we're diving into shocking stories where pranks, online feuds, and marketing stunts spiraled into tragedies. From a $1.50 Call of Duty bet that led to a fatal swatting, to teens throwing a sandbag from an overpass that killed a passenger, to a YouTube stunt where a girlfriend shot her boyfriend through a book—these cases remind us that pranks can have deadly consequences. We also cover the Aqua Teen Hunger Force bomb scare that shut down Boston in 2007, and more stories that prove sometimes, a joke isn't funny at all. These are cautionary tales about the dangers of chasing views, seeking revenge, and underestimating consequences. New episodes every Tuesday and Thursday! Follow us on Instagram: @momsandmysteries Join our Patreon: patreon.com/momsandmysteries Visit our website: momsandmysteries.com #TrueCrime #Podcast #FloridaMoms #PranksGoneWrong #Swatting #AndrewFinch #YouTubePranks #OnlineDanger #DeadlyPranks #TrueCrimeThursday Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Between school drop-offs and grocery runs, Mandy and Melissa found a shared obsession with the unanswered questions lurking in the shadows. Moms and Mysteries: A True Crime Podcast is the result: a conversation that feels like sitting at a kitchen table with two friends who are deeply curious about the human condition. Their perspective is uniquely grounded, examining each story not just for its shock value, but for the societal threads and personal tragedies that weave it together. You’ll hear them discuss everything from the strangely specific weirdness of a Florida crime to a globally known cold case, always with a blend of empathy and a dash of necessary, dark humor. This isn't a clinical report; it's a twice-weekly deep dive fueled by a lifelong fascination with mysteries, both big and small. The tone is warm, the research is thorough, and the conversation is the kind you get hooked on. New episodes of this true crime podcast arrive every Tuesday and Thursday, ready to be your companion during a commute or while folding laundry. They’ve been asking "how did this happen?" since they were kids, and now they’re pulling up a chair for you to join that ongoing, compelling discussion.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Moms and Mysteries: A True Crime Podcast
Podcast Episodes
The Teenage CEO Who Scammed Wall Street: Barry Minkow [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:00
At 16, Barry Minkow started a carpet cleaning company in his parents' garage. By 21, he was one of the youngest CEOs of a publicly traded company in America, with a business valued at over $200 million. But the entire em…
The Scott Family Massacre: The Trial of Amy Vilardi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:53
On Halloween weekend in 2015, a quiet community in Pendleton, South Carolina, was shattered by a brutal quadruple homicide. Four members of the Scott family were found dead in their home, the victims of a savage knife an…
[Missing] The Disappearance of Lars Mittank [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:42
In July 2014, 28-year-old German tourist Lars Mittank walked into Varna Airport in Bulgaria, preparing to fly home after a vacation. He had suffered a minor ear injury and needed a quick medical check before his flight.…
A Birthday Party in Hocking Hills [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:14
A birthday party at a rental cabin in the scenic Hocking Hills of Ohio should have been a night of celebration. But fueled by alcohol and jealousy, the night spiraled into a violent confrontation that left a young father…
The Betrayal of Skylar Neese [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:26
In 2012, 16-year-old Skylar Neese vanished without a trace from her Star City, West Virginia home. What initially seemed like a runaway case soon unraveled into a story of unimaginable betrayal. Her two best friends, She…
The Lindsay Shiver Story: A Murder Plot in Paradise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:47
In the summer of 2023, police in The Bahamas were investigating a local bar burglary when they accidentally discovered a shocking murder-for-hire plot in a series of WhatsApp messages. The alleged target was Robert Shive…
[Florida Files] The Suitcase Murder: The Trial of Sarah Boone [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:55
In February 2020, Sarah Boone zipped her boyfriend, Jorge Torres Jr., into a suitcase during what she claimed was a drunken game of hide-and-seek. She then filmed him as he suffocated, taunting him and ignoring his pleas…