American Nightmares: The Canal Murders artwork

True Crime · Gamut Podcast Network

American Nightmares: The Canal Murders

by Gamut Podcast Network

SEASON 6 AVAILABLE NOW. NEW EPISODES DROP EVERY TUESDAY. 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 6 - The Canal Murders In the early 1990s, a serial killer stalked the canals of Phoenix, Arizona — a violent psychopath whose grisly methods chillingly echoed the macabre signature of Jack the Ripper. Two brutal homicides. A city gripped by fear. And a killer who hid in plain sight for decades while Arizona's most infamous cold case went unsolved. Now, host Brian Peter Falk is determined to get to the bottom of this twisted tale, digging deep into the evidence, the victims, and the secrets buried beneath the surface. Solving two murders is just the beginning — because the deeper you go, the darker it gets. 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 - 22 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.

Chart trend

Position in the True Crime chart (US), last 90 days.

#4
all-time peak
8
days in the top 10 since Sep 2025

Chart positions

Where American Nightmares: The Canal Murders ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Sep 16, 2026).

#111 NEW True Crime US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

One of my favorite podcasts. I love the calm, caring demeanor of the narrator and the fact that the family is participating.

Shawneff · Jun 2024

I listen and watch a lot of true crime content. This is an amazing example of a top tier investigative journalist. The context provided when referring to the investigations and the science available during each step of the investigation is in depth and allows you to really connect to the story. The victims are represented so respectfully. The sensitivity and care taken with witnesses, professionals, and the family/ friends of the victims is honestly unparalleled compared to all the other true crime content I listen and watch. It’s honestly so refreshing to have victims of violent crimes being treated like humans, while not mocking them or insinuating they brought their deaths on themselves. You can tell everyone who works on this really care about what they’re doing.

Ray0fSunshine · Dec 2023

WTOP American Nightmare Series has been such a great informative easy to listen to podcast. Having newly moved to the DMV area I found it interesting that all of this heartbreak & terror happened in a place I now call home. The narrator Paul did such a great job of laying out the facts & I felt like I was tracking right along with the investigation. I came into series 3 first & look forward to going back & listening to series 1&2.

StacRos33 · Oct 2023

I’ve only heard season three, and it was so well-done that I definitely will go straight to seasons one and two and listen to those as well. This podcast synthesized a lot of complex information and was presented so professionally. I love the the host’s voice and delivery. He is easy to listen to, unlike some other crime podcast hosts who sound inauthentic or sensationalize the cases they’re describing. He didn’t waste time on insignificant details, either. There was no fluff here at all. He got great interviews too; everyone he interviewed contributed useful and interesting details.

Gina Carlese · Apr 2023

I enjoyed listening to season one but for whatever reason season 2 had ads like every 2 min. It stops mid sentence for an ad. It was so jarring I thought it was a big but it seems like it’s a common issue. I couldn’t listen anymore.

Ggggajdbcjc · Jan 2024

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