After Dark: The Route 40 Killer

After Dark: The Route 40 Killer

Author: True Crime Campfire March 20, 2026 Duration: 45:38
Every night in the city, there are people out looking for something. Usually it’s just fun and excitement, but there are also those who go out looking to fulfill darker desires, who view the night city as a hunting ground where they will get what they want, no matter what. And sometimes, what they want is a nightmare of pain and suffering that shocks the conscience. Note: This episode is about a serial killer, and the descriptions of his crimes are more graphic than most. Listener discretion is advised. Join us for Wet Hot Bad Magic Summer Camp 2026 in September! Visit badmagicproductions.com for tickets and more info. Registration is now open for CrimeWave 2.0! Visit crimewaveatsea.com/CAMPFIRE to get your discount code for $100 off your cabin and a private meet-and-greet with us! The cruise is Feb. 8-12, 2027. Sources: Delaware Online: https://www.delawareonline.com/in-depth/news/2020/12/14/delaware-murder-serial-killer-shirley-tinker-ellis-catherine-dimauro-steven-brian-pennell/5804258002/ https://www.delawareonline.com/in-depth/news/2020/12/15/after-2-murders-detective-knew-we-have-serial-killer-steven-pennell-route-40-killer/5857068002/ https://www.delawareonline.com/in-depth/news/2020/12/16/delaware-rookie-cop-working-undercover-comes-face-face-evil-steven-pennell-route-40-killer/5937449002/ https://www.delawareonline.com/in-depth/news/2020/12/17/suspect-discovers-listening-device-his-van-steven-pennell-route-40-killer/3667098001/ https://www.delawareonline.com/in-depth/news/2020/12/18/serial-killer-takes-his-secrets-grave-steven-pennell-route-40-killer/5793180002/ Delaware Today: https://delawaretoday.com/life-style/route-40-delaware-serial-killer/ NY Times: https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/15/us/delaware-carries-out-first-execution-since-46.html Court papers: https://law.justia.com/cases/delaware/supreme-court/1992/604-a-2d-1368-5.html Follow us, campers! Patreon (join to get all episodes ad-free, at least a day early, an extra episode a month, and a free sticker!): https://patreon.com/TrueCrimeCampfire https://www.truecrimecampfirepod.com/ Facebook: True Crime Campfire Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/truecrimecampfire/?hl=en Twitter: @TCCampfire https://twitter.com/TCCampfire Email: truecrimecampfirepod@gmail.com MERCH! https://true-crime-campfire.myspreadshop.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gather round the True Crime Campfire with Katie and Whitney, where the stories are dark but the atmosphere is surprisingly warm. This isn't your standard procedural recap; it's a narrative journey into the human condition, exploring societal undercurrents and the strange, often forgotten corners of history through the lens of true crime. You can settle in for a long, chilling tale with their first season, a deep dive into the bizarre case dubbed The Puppet Master and the Prince of Darkness. Or, if you prefer your mysteries in weekly installments, their second season serves up a new stranger-than-fiction story with every episode. What makes this podcast so compelling is the balance struck by the hosts: their meticulous research provides a solid foundation, while their natural chemistry and well-timed comic relief make even the most complex cases accessible and strangely welcoming. The storytelling is seamless, pulling you into each twist without sensationalism. It’s the kind of show that makes a long drive disappear or turns a household chore into an immersive experience, proving that the most haunting stories are often those told with a human voice and a thoughtful perspective.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

True Crime Campfire
Podcast Episodes
The Heir: The Murder of Ben Novack Jr. Pt 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:03:42
In Part One of this story last week, we followed the rise to riches of hotel owner Ben Novack Sr. and his glamorous model wife Bernice, and the spoiled yet lonely life of their son Benji. When we left off, Ben and Bernic…
The Heir: The Murder of Ben Novack, Pt 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:09
It has sometimes been said that great wealth is a curse—usually by people who have never had to go hungry, but there is something to it. The idea of the miserable millionaire goes back much further than Ebeneezer Scrooge…
The Princess and the Poisoner: The Crimes of Arthur Waite [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:07
There are some crimes and schemes that must be just about as old as humanity itself. I’m sure handsome scammers have been wooing the daughters of wealthy families for about as long as the concepts of marriage and inherit…
Freefall: The Crimes of Emile Cilliers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:44
In his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, Oscar Wilde tells the story of a handsome young man who makes a deal with the Devil—his soul, in exchange for eternal youth and beauty. But there is a portrait of Dorian in the at…
The Secret Life: The Murder of Stefanie Rabinowitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:30
It’s almost impossible to know someone perfectly. Everyone has their private thoughts and hidden moments from their past, and this is usually no problem at all, it’s all just inconsequential things. Usually, but not alwa…
Creep: Serial Killer Wayne Nance Pt 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:06:39
When we left you at the end of part 1, Wayne Nance had begun his career as a serial killer with the murder of Donna Pounds. As much as he tried to blend into normal society—joining the Navy, working as a bouncer at a bus…
Creep: Serial Killer Wayne Nance Pt 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:29
In the 1970s in Missoula, Montana, there was a brief epidemic of unsolved violent murders that shocked the small city down to its roots. A dark rumor spread quickly—the deaths must be the work of some sinister Satanic cu…
The Gray Man: The Crimes of Russell Williams, Pt 2 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:43
Our homes are supposed to be where we’re the safest. It’s where we’re our most vulnerable. Last week, we told you about someone who would use that vulnerability to his advantage. This week, as the story continues, his mo…
The Gray Man: The Crimes of Russell Williams Pt 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:47
In the military, a “gray man” refers to a service member who neither outperforms or underperforms his or her comrades. Someone who seamlessly fits into the group and gets the job done and doesn’t get unwanted attention w…
Labyrinth: The Murder of Re'mano Campbell [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:59
I don’t know about you, campers, but I like to have emergency plans for any eventuality. For example, what if I find myself in the center of a maze with only my wits to get out? What would I do? Of course, the secret to…