Every headline hides a deeper story. American Nightmares pulls you into the most unsettling true crime cases—one season, one case at a time. These are the crimes that kept detectives awake, shattered families, and left entire communities on edge.Told through raw interviews, gripping investigative detail, and cinematic storytelling, each season reveals how these nightmares unfolded—and the long road to uncovering the truth. You may think you know the story. You don’t. Season 5 - Gardens of Evil: Inside the Zion Society Cult It looked like a quiet small-town neighborhood, defined by manicured lawns and flower gardens. But behind the façade, more than a hundred residents were part of the Zion Society, a secretive cult that hoarded weapons and groomed children for sexual abuse under the control of an unassuming, soft-spoken leader. When a young woman escaped and went to authorities, the truth finally began to unravel. Season 4 - 22 Hours: A Second Look Host Megan Cloherty returns for a new season of American Nightmares . In the upcoming season, we revisit the story that launched the series: a D.C. power couple, their 10-year-old son, and their housekeeper—held hostage for nearly 24 hours before being murdered inside their own home. Now, 10 years after the crime and 6 years since we first told the story, Season 1 returns with all-new content, fresh interviews, and exclusive updates that shed new light on a case that still resonates today. Season 3 - Unknown Subject For nearly a decade, he crept in the shadows, attacking women in the middle of the night — and then vanished. The 1998 murder of a brilliant scientist near Georgetown University marked a terrifying escalation. Investigators had DNA linking him to multiple crimes, but for years, he had no name — only the label “Unknown Subject.” This season uncovers the chilling case of the Potomac River Rapist, and the patrol cop who finally cracked it. Season 2 - Murder in a Safe Place In a quiet hospital just outside Washington, D.C., a 50-year-old nurse named Sherry Crandell was raped and murdered inside her workplace — a place that was supposed to be safe. With DNA, fingerprints, and even a witness to the crime, police had evidence — but no suspect. This season revisits the cold case that continues to baffle investigators and devastate a family, more than two decades later. Season 1 - 2 Hours: An American Nightmare One of the most shocking crimes in modern American history: a prominent couple, their 10-year-old son, and their housekeeper taken hostage and brutally murdered in their Washington, D.C. home. Over the course of 22 horrifying hours, they endured torture and terror before their killers tried to burn the evidence. This award-winning debut season revisits the infamous Mansion Murders, exposing new details and the twisted logic behind a senseless act of violence.

PodSkip has analyzed 1 episode of American Nightmares - Gardens of Evil: Inside The Zion Society Cult, averaging 3.0 ads per episode (0% of runtime).

Episodes

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CLOSER LOOK, E3 - Understanding The Why and How
Apr 14, 2026
Following the story of Zion, survivors share the moments, memories, and manipulation that couldn’t be fully captured the first time. Jackie and Ron reflect on the turning point that led them to…
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CLOSER LOOK, E2 - When Memories Return And Puzzles Are Solved
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CLOSER LOOK, E1 - Get Over It, Kids are Resilient
Mar 31, 2026
After the events of Gardens of Evil, the story doesn’t end for the survivors. In the first episode of our bonus series A Closer Look, we examine the lasting psychological impact of growing up inside…
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S5 E7 - Standing Tall
Mar 17, 2026
Arvin, Carla and others see their day in court, but was justice served? Most of the Zion Society children are either uncooperative or unable to testify. Mike King and Reed Richards do everything they…
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S5 E6 - Tell Me Everything
Mar 10, 2026
The media descends on Northwood. The Zion Society children are interviewed, but many refuse to cooperate. Mike King gets a surprise call from Cedar City. Use code NIGHTMARES at jonesroadbeauty.com to…
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S5 E5 - Deliver Us From Evil
Mar 03, 2026
Seventy Ogden police officers gather in the dark and move into Northwood at dawn, hitting multiple Zion Society homes at the exact same moment. The plan is simple on paper and terrifying in practice…
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S5 E4 - The Buyer
Feb 24, 2026
Jeff Peterson has spent years trying to pull his kids out of the Zion Society - until the cult’s hunger for money creates an opening. When his ex-wife Carla asks for help selling the group’s lingerie…
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S5 E3 - The Alpha
Feb 17, 2026
From inside the Zion Society, Erin (heard in rare archival audio) explains how predators exploit vulnerability - love-bombing, isolation, and religion used as camouflage. In Northwood subdivision…
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S5 E2 - To Hell And Back
Feb 10, 2026
Investigator Mike King is officially assigned to investigate Erin’s allegation - quietly, urgently, and under the threat of destroyed evidence and stockpiled weapons. But Erin’s aunt isn’t waiting…
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S5 E1 - What Lies Beneath
Feb 03, 2026
Welcome to a new season of American Nightmares! A pristine neighborhood in Ogden, Utah hides something rotten. When a couple moves into Northwood subdivision in 1981, they’re welcomed with free…
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Introducing Gardens of Evil - New True Crime Series
Jan 26, 2026
NEW True Crime Series from Gamut Podcast Network. Gardens of Evil: Inside the Zion Society Cult begins February 3rd. It was just another quiet neighborhood in small town America. At least, that's how…
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S2 E10 - Answered Prayers
Jan 14, 2026
He was known as the Terror of East Baltimore who wrote poetry and went to readings. A convicted criminal at 15 who started a prison riot. That's just a some of what we've learned about Edward…
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S2 E9 - Needle in a Haystack
Jan 13, 2026
How did a 2012 murder in Baltimore, a name from an obituary, and DNA entered into an ancestry database lead to solving the 1998 murder of Sherry Crandell? See Privacy Policy at…
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Paul Wagner sits down with Mike King to discuss the Sherry Crandell case
Dec 23, 2025
In this bonus episode, Mike King (American Nightmares: Garden of Evil, Season 5 - Coming Feb 3) sits down with investigative journalist Paul Wagner (American Nightmares: Murder in a Safe Place…
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Introducing Profiling Evil: Summer Wells Abducted, Murdered, or an Accident?
Dec 19, 2025
Welcome back for Day 3 of our special preview of Profiling Evil, hosted by Mike King. In this episode, we dive deep into the mystery surrounding the disappearance of 5-year-old Summer Wells. Was she…
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Introducing Profiling Evil: Las Vegas Massacre, The Dark Legacy of Stephen Paddock
Dec 18, 2025
Did you enjoy Megan's conversation with Mike King? Check out a special bonus episode of Mike's show: Profiling Evil. On October 1, 2017, America faced an unfathomable tragedy. Stephen Paddock opened…
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Introducing Profiling Evil: Chad Daybell Letter Number Nine, The Spirit Woman in Black
Dec 17, 2025
Welcome to Profiling Evil! In this episode, Chad Daybell drops Letter #9 about his “third near-death experience” from 2017, complete with a Spirit Woman in Black, a minute-long blackout where family…
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Part 2: Megan Cloherty Talks with Gardens of Evil Host Mike King
Dec 16, 2025
This is part 2 of the special crossover episode with Mike King, criminal profiler - host of Profiling Evil and who's story is the subject of our next season of American Nightmares: Gardens of Evil…
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Part 1: Megan Cloherty Talks with Gardens of Evil Host Mike King
Dec 12, 2025
This is a special crossover episode with Mike King, criminal profiler - host of Profiling Evil and who's story is the subject of our next season of American Nightmares: Gardens of Evil.. Megan and…
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S4 E14 - Appeal Denied: A Second Look
Nov 25, 2025
This is 22 Hours: A Second Look, where we revisit our original season alongside host Megan Cloherty. In this final episode, Megan continues her conversation with Abigail. She opens up about her…
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S4 E13 - The Appeal: A Second Look
Nov 18, 2025
This is 22 Hours: A Second Look, where we revisit our original season with host Megan Cloherty. In this episode, you’ll hear the final portion of Megan’s conversation with the prosecutors on the…
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Prelude: Gardens of Evil
Nov 13, 2025
NEW True Crime Series from Gamut Podcast Network. Gardens of Evil: Inside the Zion Society Cult begins February 3rd. It was just another quiet neighborhood in small town America. At least, that's how…
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BREAKING: Major Breakthrough in Sherry Crandell Case from Season 2
Nov 12, 2025
Megan Cloherty joins Paul Wagner, the host of American Nightmares: Murder in a Safe Place to discuss a major breakthrough in the Sherry Crandell case. On Monday investigators confirmed that the case…
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S4 E12 - The Breakdown Q&A #2: A Second Look
Nov 11, 2025
This is 22 Hours: A Second Look, where we revisit our original season with host Megan Cloherty. In this episode, Megan is joined by Jack Moore and Julia Ziegler to answer listener questions. This was…
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S4 E11 - Life Without: A Second Look
Nov 04, 2025
This is 22 Hours: A Second Look, where we revisit our original season with host Megan Cloherty. In this episode, you'll hear what happened when Megan reached out to Daron Wint in prison. You'll learn…
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S4 E10 - The Verdict: A Second Look
Oct 28, 2025
This is 22 Hours: A Second Look, where we revisit our original season with host Megan Cloherty. In this episode, Megan is joined once again by Abigail Savopoulos. Abigal shares stories about her…
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S4 E9 - Brother Vs. Brother: A Second Look
Oct 21, 2025
This is 22 Hours: A Second Look, where we revisit our original season with host Megan Cloherty. In this episode, Megan is joined once again by co-creators Jack Moore and Julia Ziegler to discuss how…
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S4 E8 - The Breakdown Q&A #1: A Second Look
Oct 14, 2025
This is 22 Hours: A Second Look, where we revisit our original season with host Megan Cloherty. This is the episode where we invite listeners questions about the case. Megan explains why this episode…
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S4 E7 - Cross: A Second Look
Oct 07, 2025
This is 22 Hours: A Second Look, where we revisit our original season with host Megan Cloherty. In this episode, Megan is joined again by co-creators Jack Moore and Julia Ziegler to pull back the…
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