What happens when a young woman is found stabbed more than twenty times inside her locked apartment—and authorities still call it a suicide? How does a 2011 Philadelphia “locked-room” death keep sparking controversy, lawsuits, and new reviews more than a decade later? In this episode, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco, joined by guest host Debbie Dowling‑Wahba, unpack the haunting case of Ellen Greenberg— a 27‑year‑old first-grade teacher found dead in Apartment 603 with a knife in her chest and dozens of wounds, yet officially ruled a suicide.

From the snowy January evening when Ellen’s fiancé, Sam Goldberg, says he returned from the gym to a door latched from the inside, to the shocking autopsy findings, a reversed homicide ruling, and a 2025 reinvestigation that again declared suicide, our panel walks through every twist in one of Pennsylvania’s most hotly debated true crime cases. We follow Ellen’s parents’ relentless quest to prove their daughter was murdered, and the legal battles they launched against the city and medical examiner’s office to challenge what they see as a cover‑up and a catastrophic failure of justice.

Tune in to hear:

The night of January 26, 2011: How a Philadelphia snowstorm, a “locked” Apartment 603, and a frantic 911 call led to the discovery of 27‑year‑old teacher Ellen Greenberg with a knife in her chest and more than twenty stab wounds.

Autopsy vs. investigation: Why the medical examiner initially ruled Ellen’s death a homicide, then reversed it to suicide after a closed‑door meeting with Philadelphia police – and how that change shut down a full murder investigation.

Parents turned investigators: How Josh and Sandy Greenberg hired top forensic experts and a former prosecutor who argue that Ellen’s wounds, bruises, and possible spinal injury are far more consistent with homicide than self‑harm.

Lawsuits and a bombshell affidavit: The 2019 and 2022 civil suits accusing officials of a cover‑up, and the 2025 affidavit where the original pathologist says Ellen’s manner of death should not be classified as suicide.

The 2025 review that kept “suicide” on the death certificate: What Philadelphia’s new 32‑page medical examiner report says about hesitation wounds, lack of defensive injuries, and why it still calls this a suicide – and why our panel and many true crime followers remain unconvinced.

Our panel’s debate: Could this really be a bizarre, self‑inflicted death – or is Apartment 603 a staged crime scene and an unsolved Philadelphia murder?

⚖️ Disclaimer: Debate the News: True Crime is for informational and discussion purposes only. We are not attorneys, law enforcement officers, medical professionals, or forensic experts. While we research each case, the show is recorded live with minimal editing; any factual errors are unintentional. Any individuals, businesses, and organizations mentioned who have not been convicted of a crime are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. This episode includes discussion of graphic violence and suicide; listener discretion is strongly advised. If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help may be available in the U.S. via the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Guest and audience views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts.

Speakers:

→ Adrienne Barker — Host

→ Joseph Lobosco — Host

→ Debbie Dowling‑Wahba — Guest Host

→ Mariana Thomas — Guest Contributor

→ Maria — Guest Contributor

→ Shauna — Guest Contributor

→ "Mama K" — Guest Contributor

Credits:

“Debate The News: True Crime”

Created by: Jonathan...

What happens when a rising pop artist’s secret relationship with a 14‑year‑old collides with a missing‑person case—and a body found in a Tesla’s front trunk in Los Angeles? In this episode of Debate The News: True Crime, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco examine the unfolding D4vd (David Anthony Burke) & Celeste Hernandez case—an LAPD death investigation with no charges filed as of November 18, 2025. We trace the timeline from repeated runaways in 2024 to the grisly discovery in September 2025, and debate what the available facts—and gaps—really suggest.

Tune in to hear:

• Early 2024 – Runaways & a secret older “friend”: Fifteen‑year‑old Celeste Rivas Hernandez repeatedly runs away from her Lake Elsinore, CA home as her family pleads for her return. Her mother suspects an older friend named “David.”
• April 5, 2024 – Found in Hollywood: Police locate Celeste ~80 miles away in Hollywood and return her home. Family learns she had been in contact with 20‑year‑old David Anthony Burke (stage name: D4vd), and a former teacher later says Celeste spent about a month with him before police intervened.
• May 2024 – Double life intensifies: Celeste runs away again; she and David reportedly get matching “SHHH” finger tattoos. Friends claim they thought she was 19 because of fake IDs and 18+ events. She eventually returns home.
• Jan 2, 2025 – Last confirmed alive image: After this date, Celeste is scarcely seen in Lake Elsinore and is believed to have secretly rejoined David in LA as his career surges (debut album Withered releases April 2025; major tour planned).
• May–July 2025 – The Tesla starts moving: Neighbors notice David’s Tesla being shuffled to different curb spots (apparently to avoid the 72‑hour rule). On July 29, the SUV is parked one last time on Bluebird Avenue as David departs by tour bus for the first leg of the Withered Tour.
• Aug 27–Sep 5, 2025 – From chalk to tow: Tires are chalked on Aug 27; a 72‑hour citation is issued Sep 3; the Tesla is towed Sep 5 to a Hollywood impound lot.
• Sep 8, 2025 – Discovery in the frunk: A tow‑yard employee reports a powerful odor. Police open the front trunk (frunk) and find a black duffel containing the badly decomposed remains of a young female, quickly identified as Celeste—one day after what would have been her 15th birthday. The Medical Examiner cannot immediately determine cause or time of death, though she likely died weeks earlier.
• Sep 17, 2025 – Warrants & swatting: LAPD searches David’s Hollywood Hills rental, seizing electronics and personal items; a swatting hoax hits his family home in Texas the same day.
• Sep 19–24, 2025 – Career in freefall: Tour canceled by sponsors/management; his social media goes quiet; a Texas property is transferred to his mother; movers clear out the LA rental as the lease ends. Police name no suspect and suggest the only potential crime known so far could be concealment of a death if Celeste died accidentally.
• October 2025 – Defense...

The Hollywood Hills Bling Ring was an audacious series of celebrity burglaries in 2008–2009, where a group of fame-obsessed California teens led by Rachel Lee and Nick Prugo raided the homes of Hollywood’s rich and famous. The crew stalked stars like Paris Hilton, Lindsay Lohan, Orlando Bloom, and others – slipping into luxury mansions to steal designer clothes, jewelry, and cash (totaling around $3 million in loot) while the unsuspecting celebrities were away. This episode unpacks how this teenage crime spree unfolded, how social media and lax security enabled it, and the media frenzy and debates about fame, security, and justice that followed.

• October 2008: Rachel Lee and Nick Prugo commit the first Bling Ring burglary at Paris Hilton’s Los Angeles mansion. Exploiting an unlocked door, they sneak in and make off with about $3,600 in cash. Hilton’s home would be hit five times in total over the coming months, culminating in accomplice Roy Lopez Jr. stealing nearly $2 million in Hilton’s jewelry.
• February 2009 (Oscars Night): The crew targets Audrina Patridge while she’s attending the Academy Awards. They steal a laptop, passport, jewelry, and designer clothes worth about $43,000. Surveillance footage captures Lee and Prugo in the act.
• Spring 2009: Actress Rachel Bilson is hit multiple times, with burglars stealing between $130,000 and $300,000worth of designer items.
• July 13, 2009: The biggest heist: the group robs Orlando Bloom and Miranda Kerr’s home, making off with $500,000 in luxury goods.
• August 23, 2009: Lee, Prugo, and Tamayo hit Lindsay Lohan’s house, stealing $130,000 in clothing and jewelry. Surveillance footage of Prugo helps authorities identify the culprits.
• September–October 2009: Police arrest all seven members of the Bling Ring. Prugo’s confession is key to unraveling the case. Stolen goods are recovered from multiple homes.
• 2009–2013: Each suspect receives varying sentences. Some serve jail time, while others receive probation. Lenient plea deals result in short stints for many, despite the scale of the crimes.

Our panel debated whether celebrity negligence contributed to the burglaries or if full blame belongs to the Bling Ring teens. The consensus: no matter how careless a homeowner may be, invading someone’s home and stealing is never justified. Social media’s role was also highlighted, with the group using public posts to track victims’ whereabouts, prompting a broader conversation about digital privacy and real-world safety.

We also questioned whether justice was truly served. Despite repeated felonies and emotional harm to the victims, most perpetrators received probation or minimal jail time. The light sentencing and post-crime fame raise ethical concerns about how media and society reward infamy—turning criminals into celebrities.

⚖️ Disclaimer: Debate The News: True Crime Edition is for informational and discussion purposes only. We are not attorneys, law enforcement officers, or forensic experts. While we research each case thoroughly, the show is recorded live with little to no editing; any factual errors are unintentional. All individuals mentioned who have not been convicted in a court of law are presumed innocent until...

How does a hip‑hop mogul who built Bad Boy Records end up fighting for his freedom in a Manhattan federal courtroom? And why did a jury acquit Sean “Diddy” Combs on RICO and sex‑trafficking counts yet convict him on two Mann Act (interstate prostitution) charges—sending him to federal prison while he appeals?

In “Bad Boy: The United States vs Sean Combs,” hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco walk you through the federal prosecution of one of music’s most famous figures: from Cassie Ventura’s 2023 civil suit and the coast‑to‑coast HSI raids to the eight‑week trial, a split verdict on July 2, 2025, and a 50‑month sentence on October 3, 2025, followed by an expedited appeal to the Second Circuit.

Tune in to hear:

2008–2017 – Alleged “freak‑off” pattern: Witnesses describe near‑weekly sessions involving male escorts (paid ~$1,500–$6,000), drugs, recording, and escalating violence when women resisted—allegations central to the government’s narrative of control and coercion.

Nov 16–17, 2023 – Cassie Ventura lawsuit & the spark: Ventura files a civil suit alleging rape, years of abuse, and coerced encounters; it settles the next day. The filing galvanizes federal interest and opens the door to a broader probe.

Late 2023–Early 2024 – More accusers, mounting scrutiny: Additional civil filings surface. Combs publicly denies the claims as “money grabs,” even as he steps back from corporate roles; investigators keep digging.

Mar 26, 2024 – HSI raids in L.A. & Miami: Agents seize electronics and other materials and obtain 2016 hotel video appearing to show Combs grabbing and dragging Ventura; a guard later testifies Combs tried to bribe him—key pieces prosecutors frame as obstruction and corroboration.

Sept 7, 2024 – SDNY indictment: Prosecutors unseal charges including RICO conspiracy, sex trafficking, and Mann Act transportation. Bail is denied amid witness‑tampering concerns; Combs remains at MDC Brooklyn, with a third bail bid rejected in late November 2024.

Apr–May 2025 – Jury selected; trial opens (≈8 weeks): Government presents 34 witnesses. Ventura testifies over four days; a second ex (“Jane”) testifies six days. Escort Daniel Philip corroborates payments; staff describe hush efforts around the 2016 video. Music artist Kid Cudi recounts a 2012 home breach and car firebombing the government casts as retaliation; an ex‑Bad Boy employee alleges Ventura was detained for hours; Ventura’s mother describes a loan after threats. Defense frames Combs as a voyeur in a consensual lifestyle, not a trafficker. Combs does not testify.

July 2, 2025 – Mixed verdict: The jury acquits Combs on RICO and sex‑trafficking counts but convicts him on two Mann Act counts for arranging interstate travel for paid sex acts—less severe than life‑eligible trafficking counts but still felonies.

Sept 30, 2025 – Post‑trial motions denied: The judge upholds the verdict, writing that the government proved interstate paid sex “many times over” and rejecting arguments that lack of profit negated prostitution.

Oct 3, 2025 – Sentencing: The court imposes 50 months in prison, 5 years’ supervised release, and a $500,000 fine, crediting roughly 12 months served; BOP projects release May 8, 2028. Combs apologizes in court; his lawyers condemn reliance on “acquitted conduct.” He’s later transferred to FCI Fort Dix...

What happens when a Wall Street icon and former NASDAQ chairman engineers “steady” returns that never existed? How did the split‑strike conversion myth, fake DTC trade records, and a locked‑down back office (“House 17”) conceal the largest Ponzi scheme in history—until a 2008 liquidity panic forced a confession? In this episode, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco—joined by guest host Mekey Gabriel—map the full Bernie Madoff timeline, the red flags the SEC missed, the collapse, the prosecutions, and the unprecedented victim‑recovery effort (SIPA & DOJ’s Madoff Victim Fund).

Tune in to hear:

• 1960–1990 – Rise & credibility: Madoff founds Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities (1960), becomes a respected market maker and later NASDAQ chairman (1990)—status that opened doors to wealthy clients and institutions.
• “Strategy” vs. sham: He markets a split‑strike conversion approach (blue‑chip stocks hedged with options) to explain smooth gains, but staff fabricate blotters, DTC reports, and statements; an isolated system (“House 17”) churns out fake records.
• 2000–2008 – Red flags & regulator misses: Whistleblower Harry Markopolos shows the returns are mathematically impossible; SEC receives credible tips but never independently verifies trading or runs a true Ponzi exam.
• Dec 10–11, 2008 – Collapse & confession: Amid crisis‑era redemptions, Madoff tells his sons, “There is no innocent explanation… I have been running a massive Ponzi scheme,” and is arrested.
• Mar 12, 2009 – Guilty plea: Pleads to 11 federal felonies (securities fraud, investment‑adviser fraud, mail/wire fraud, money laundering, false statements, perjury, ERISA theft).
• Jun 29, 2009 – Sentencing: 150 years in prison; $170B forfeiture judgment. Statements showed about $65B in “balances,” but true principal losses ≈ $17.5B—the key yardstick for SIPA recoveries.
• 2010–2014 – Prosecutions & clawbacks: Trustee pursues net winners, feeder funds, and institutions; a $7.2B recovery from a major investor’s estate (2010). JPMorgan’s 2014 deferred‑prosecution sends $1.7B to victims (part of $2.6B) and triggers AML reforms. Five longtime BLMIS staffers are convicted; Peter Madoff receives 10 years.
• 2010s–2025 – SIPA recoveries: Trustee Irving Picard has recovered or reached agreements for ≈$14.8B and distributed ≈$14.58B to allowed claims; a 16th pro‑rata distribution ($76.8M) in Feb 2025. June 2025 settlement with two Luxembourg funds poised to add $498.3M (pending court approval).
• 2013–2025 – DOJ Madoff Victim Fund (MVF): By late 2024, $4.3B paid to 40,930 victims in 127 countries (≈93–94% of eligible losses). In April 2025, DOJ notes total compensation to Madoff victims across programs has surpassed $12B.
• Apr 14, 2021 – Madoff dies in federal custody at age 82. By Oct 2025, direct and indirect recoveries remain historically large—though not uniform—and some matters continue.

Debate & analysis — Who knew, who failed, and why it persisted:

• Family knowledge: The advisory arm was walled off (the infamous Floor 17), with even family reportedly blocked from access. We weigh ignorance vs. manipulation and strict role‑segregation inside BLMIS.
• Regulatory failure vs. super‑conman: The SEC’s missed chances vs. the reforms that followed. Was this purely a master con—or also a case study in deference to prestige?
• Liquidity killed the lie: 2008 redemptions exposed the scheme because “income” wasn’t coming from trading at all.
• Feeder funds & hidden exposure: Many victims didn’t know they had indirect Madoff exposure until the collapse.
• Psychology of exclusivity: The “you’re lucky to be in” scarcity pitch short‑circuited due diligence—even for sophisticated investors.

Disclaimer:

Debate The News: True Crime Edition is for informational and

What happens when Halloween’s most infamous mask crosses from the screen into real life? How do murders involving a Michael Myers mask — from a random stabbing to a double homicide, a drifter’s home invasion, and an unsolved suburban shooting — expose the dark psychology of disguise, opportunity, and fear on October 31?

In this episode, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco dissect The "Halloween" Murders — four chilling cases in South Carolina, West Virginia, and Texas — and debate the "copycat" effect, mask curfews, and whether Halloween truly fuels violent crime. This true crime podcast breakdown explores how a fictional horror movie character became real‑world cover for murder, and what brought each killer (or suspect) to justice.

⚖️ Disclaimer: Debate the News: True Crime Edition is for informational and discussion purposes only. We are not attorneys, law enforcement officers, or forensic experts. While we research each case, the show is recorded live with little to no editing; any factual errors are unintentional. All individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. Listener discretion is advised. Guest and audience views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts.

Speakers:

→ Adrienne Barker — Host

→ Joseph Lobosco — Host

→ Jonathan Howard — Guest Contributor

→ Debbie Dowling-Wahba — Guest Contributor

Credits:

“Debate The News: True Crime”

Created by: Jonathan Bing, Adrienne Barker and Joseph R. Lobosco

Producers: Adrienne Barker, Joseph R. Lobosco, Danielle Paci, Jonathan Bing

Writers: Adrienne Barker & Joseph R. Lobosco

Editor: Joseph R. Lobosco

Cover Art: Joseph R. Lobosco

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production

📍 Recorded Live on Chatter Social

Download the Chatter Social app: (for iOS / for Android)

What happens when a global worship brand is built over a fault line of secrecy, abuse, and money? How did Hillsong Church’s meteoric rise—from chart‑topping music to celebrity pews—collide with allegations of child sexual abuse concealment, volunteer exploitation, LGBTQ exclusion, and a leadership implosion that shook the megachurch world?

In this episode, hosts Adrienne Barker and Joseph Lobosco—with guest Host Heather Ford—unpack Scandals of Hillsong: from Brian & Frank Houston to Carl Lentz and Hillsong NYC/Dallas; from the 2014–2015 Royal Commission findings to 2023 parliamentary accusations about lavish spending; and the August 2023 courtroom verdict that capped a decades‑long saga. This is a hard‑hitting true crime podcast deep dive into a megachurch’s rise, reckoning, and fallout.

Tune in to hear:

1983 – Origins & brand power: Brian and Bobbie Houston found Hills Christian Life Centre in Sydney; worship music and a sleek brand fuel global growth—long before hidden scandals erupt.

Late 1999 – Confession, non‑reporting & hush money: Brian confronts father Frank Houston, who admits to historic child sexual abuse; leaders handle it internally, don’t go to police, and arrange a payout—Frank is quietly retired and later dies in 2004 without charges.

2014–2015 – Royal Commission findings: The inquiry concludes Brian failed to report Frank’s offenses and had a conflict of interest; investigators cite multiple victims across Australia and New Zealand, and police later bring concealment charges against Brian.

2015 – LGBTQ controversy: After two male choir members in Hillsong NYC get engaged, leadership states Hillsong “welcomes all people” but “does not affirm all lifestyles,” barring openly gay couples from leadership roles.

2010s – Volunteer exploitation claims: Former members describe grueling unpaid labor and leaders using volunteers for personal errands, stoking backlash over a “cool Christianity” brand built on free work.

Nov 4, 2020 – Carl Lentz fired: Hillsong announces Lentz’s dismissal for “leadership issues,” breaches of trust, and “moral failures”; he admits infidelity as an outside review probes broader misconduct in NYC.

Jan–Feb 2021 – Dallas implosion: Pastors Reed & Jess Bogard abruptly resign and Hillsong Dallas is shuttered amid serious allegations; a leaked report later details a rape accusation tied to earlier NYC years and wider culture concerns.

Feb 2021 → Apr 2022 – NYC report & leaks: An independent investigation delivered to Hillsong’s global board details inappropriate sexual relationships, nepotism, intimidation, wage violations, and explicit images circulating among leaders; a former nanny publicly alleges years of abuse by Lentz.

Jan–Mar 23, 2022 – Leadership crisis: While stepping aside to fight a concealment charge, Brian faces two internal misconduct complaints (inappropriate texts to a staffer; a drunken hotel‑room incident) that breach Hillsong’s code of conduct; he resigns on March 23, 2022.

Spring–Fall 2022 – Disaffiliations: In the wake of Brian’s exit, at least nine of Hillsong’s 16 U.S. campuses break away and rebrand; pastors and leaders worldwide resign as oversight and culture come...

In this episode, we discuss cases related to the popular "Scream" horror movie franchise and its fictional "Ghostface" character.

What you'll hear:

→ Case timeline: From late‑90s California to Belgium, the U.K., Idaho, and New York City.

→ Discussion & debate: Copycats, costumes & culpability - why offenders reach for a mask and what it says about our society & culture. The ethics of horror—creative freedom vs. social responsibility—and the psychology of notoriety, thrill‑seeking, and “scripted” violence.

Debate the News: True Crime Edition is for informational and discussion purposes only. We are not attorneys, law enforcement officers, or forensic experts. While we research each case, the show is recorded live with little to no editing; any factual errors are unintentional. All individuals mentioned who have not been convicted in a court of law are presumed innocent until proven guilty. Listener discretion is advised. Guest and audience views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the hosts.

→ Adrienne Barker — Host

→ Joseph Lobosco — Host

→ Jonathan Howard — Guest Contributor

→ Angie aka Angiesworld — Guest Contributor

→ Leslie — Guest Contributor

Credits:

"Debate The News: True Crime"

Created by: Jonathan Bing, Adrienne Barker and Joseph R. Lobosco

Producers: Adrienne Barker, Joseph R. Lobosco, Danielle Paci, Jonathan Bing

Writers: Adrienne Barker & Joseph R. Lobosco

Editor: Joseph R. Lobosco

Cover Art: Joseph R. Lobosco

Special Thanks: Nelson, Lea, Nawzil, and the entire Chatter Social team

Theme Song: Alaina Cross — “Karma” [NCS Release]

Music provided by NoCopyrightSounds

Free Download/Stream: ncs.io/karma

Watch: ncs.lnk.to/karmaAT/youtube

🎧 A Debate the News: True Crime Production

📍 Recorded Live on Chatter Social

Download the Chatter Social app: (for iOS / for Android)