Female killers are among the most compelling and misunderstood figures in true crime. The following ten podcast episodes — drawn from some of the genre's best series — shine a light on women who crossed the line into murder, exploring their motives, methods, and the investigations that brought them to justice.

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Something About Cari

→ Shanna Golyar and the Murder of Cari Farver — click to read about the episode

This episode covers one of the most disturbing cases of female obsession in recent memory. Shanna Golyar became so consumed by jealousy over Cari Farver that she allegedly murdered her and then impersonated her online for years — sending thousands of fake messages to keep suspicion at bay. The episode examines how a seemingly ordinary woman carried out an elaborate, deeply calculated cover-up that fooled investigators for a long time.

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Danish Murder Cases

→ A Mother's Deadly Plans — click to read about the episode

This episode from the long-running Danish Murder Cases series investigates a chilling case in which a mother devised a deadly plan against those around her. The podcast explores the psychological profile of a woman capable of lethal premeditation within the closest of family circles, raising difficult questions about motive, mental state, and how such cases are handled within the Danish justice system.

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Danish Murder Cases

→ The Pediatrician from Bornholm Kills Her Lover's Family — click to read about the episode

A respected pediatrician from Bornholm is at the center of this disturbing Danish case. Trusted with the lives of children professionally, she allegedly turned murderous in her private life — targeting her lover's family. The episode examines how a woman in a position of care and authority could plan and carry out such extreme violence, and how the investigation ultimately exposed her.

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Danish Murder Cases

→ When Women Kill — Criminal Women, Part 3 — click to read about the episode

Part of an ongoing series examining female criminality in Denmark, this episode takes a direct look at cases where women have committed homicide. Experts and investigators analyze patterns in female violence — including the types of victims targeted, methods used, and how female perpetrators are treated by the Danish legal system compared to their male counterparts.

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Danish Murder Cases

→ Female Perpetrator Convicted of Murder in Bed — click to read about the episode

This episode examines a disturbing Danish case in which a woman murdered a victim in one of the most intimate settings imaginable. The episode explores the circumstances leading up to the killing, the forensic investigation, and the legal proceedings that resulted in a murder conviction — offering a nuanced look at how premeditation and opportunity collided in this unusual case.

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Danish Homicide Cases

→ The Minds of Criminal Women and the Assault on a Nurse — click to read about the episode

This episode dives deep into the psychology of criminal women, using a brutal assault on a nurse as a starting point to explore broader questions about female violence. Experts examine what motivates women to commit violent crimes, how they differ from male offenders, and what the Danish justice system has learned from studying female perpetrators over decades of criminal case work.

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Danish Murder Cases

→ Kristina Antivakis Investigates Women's Path into Crime — click to read about the episode

Criminologist Kristina Antivakis joins the podcast to trace the trajectories that lead women into serious crime, including murder. Drawing on research and real Danish cases, she explores the social, psychological, and situational factors that distinguish female offenders — and why women who kill are so often overlooked or underestimated by investigators and the public alike.

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Not a Very Good Murderer

→ Ronan Farrow's Investigation of Celia Doane — click to read about the episode

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Ronan Farrow investigates the strange and darkly comic case of Celia Doane, a woman whose murder plot was anything but professional. The episode unravels how Doane's plan fell apart spectacularly, exposing her intentions before she could carry them out fully. It raises unsettling questions about what drives ordinary people — and women in particular — to contemplate lethal violence.

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Dateline NBC

→ Sarah Hartsfield Convicted of the Murder of Joseph Hartsfield — click to read about the episode

Dateline NBC covers the conviction of Sarah Hartsfield for the murder of her husband Joseph — a case involving betrayal, financial motive, and cold calculation within a marriage. The episode follows the investigation that unraveled Sarah's carefully constructed facade, presenting testimony and forensic evidence that ultimately convinced a jury she had killed the man she was supposed to love.

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Secrets We Keep

→ Killer Charm: The Murder of Bruce Saunders in Queensland — click to read about the episode

This Australian true crime episode explores the murder of Bruce Saunders in Queensland, a case in which a woman's charm and manipulation played a central role. The episode investigates how the killer used personal relationships and psychological control to orchestrate violence, and how investigators in Queensland eventually pieced together the truth behind a death that was initially far from straightforward.