American Nightmares - Gardens of Evil: Inside The Zion Society Cult
Gamut Podcast Network
<p>Every headline hides a deeper story. <em>American Nightmares</em> 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.</p><p><br></p><p>Season 5 - Gardens of Evil: Inside the Zion Society Cult</p><p>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. </p><p><br></p><p>Season 4 - 22 Hours: A Second Look</p><p>Host Megan Cloherty returns for a new season of <em>American Nightmares</em>. 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.</p><p><br></p><p>Season 3 - Unknown Subject</p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>Season 2 - Murder in a Safe Place</p><p>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.</p><p><br></p><p>Season 1 - 2 Hours: An American Nightmare</p><p>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.</p>
Rank History (30 days)
Recent Episodes
20 episodesCLOSER LOOK, E3: Understanding The Why and How
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 leave, as Arvin Shreve’s behavior grew increasingly disturbing.Through deeply personal accounts, survivors reveal how fear, control, and religious rhetoric were used to strip away identity and maintain power within the group. Andrea and Amber speak to the lasting emotional impact—from the trauma inflicted on children to the psychological scars that linger into adulthood.Centered on survivor voices, A Closer Look continues to add depth and perspective to the story of Zion—offering validation, understanding, and resources for those navigating similar experiences.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
CLOSER LOOK, E2: When Memories Return And Puzzles Are Solved
What happens when you return to the place where it all began?In Episode 2 of Gardens of Evil – A Closer Look Inside The Garden, hosted by Mike King, survivors revisit the neighborhoods where their childhoods were shaped, and where trauma still lingers beneath the surface.As memories resurface, experts help explain why trauma doesn’t follow a linear path. Dr. Judy Ho breaks down how abuse disrupts memory, leaving survivors with fragmented and emotional recall, while Dr. Patrice Berry explores the critical role of validation, empathy, and safe support systems in the healing process.For the first time, we also hear from the partners of survivors... those who stand beside them in the aftermath. Rocky and David share what it means to support someone you love through trauma, without judgment, and without trying to “fix” what can’t be undone.This episode is about memory, resilience, and the quiet power of being believed—and what it takes to begin healing when the past is still present.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
CLOSER LOOK, E1: Get Over It, Kids are Resilient
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 the Zion Society cult. Survivors describe a childhood defined by constant monitoring, shame, and control—where even a child’s body weight was tied to spiritual worthiness.Host Mike King speaks with survivors about the lifelong effects of coercive control: broken trust, complicated family relationships, and the challenges of parenting after trauma. Cult expert and sociologist Dr. Janja Lalich also joins the conversation to explain how cult recruitment works, why people stay, and why it can take decades for survivors to rebuild their lives.This episode is dedicated to victims of child abuse, to those who escaped destructive mind control, and to the advocates who fight every day to protect children.If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual abuse, help is available. Support your local Children’s Advocacy Center and organizations that serve survivors.Use code NIGHTMARES at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Shimmer Face Oil with your first purchase. #JonesRoadBeauty #adSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S5 E7 - Standing Tall
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 can to avoid re-traumatizing those who do testify. Finally, our story ends 35 years later, as several of the survivors meet at the opening of a new Children’s Justice Center in Ogden. They learn how their experiences have changed laws to better protect child victims and find healing together.Use code NIGHTMARES at jonesroadbeauty.com to get a Free Shimmer Face Oil with your first purchase. #JonesRoadBeauty #adSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S5 E6 - Tell Me Everything
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 get a Free Shimmer Face Oil with your first purchase. #JonesRoadBeauty #adSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S5 E5 - Deliver Us From Evil
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: secure the children, secure the evidence, and arrest the “head of the snake.” Inside the spotless houses and perfectly manicured yards, investigators find signs of a militant system built on control—hidden portals, stockpiles, meticulously organized drawers of lingerie, and evidence meant to corroborate witness accounts of sexual exploitation.Social workers rush the children into protective custody, but the emotional reality is more complicated than the outside world expects: some of the kids don’t experience the raid as a rescue at all. And just as the case seems to crack open, one urgent question threatens everything that comes next—where is Arvin Shreeve?See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S5 E4 - The Buyer
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 line, “Sweet Things,” Jeff hires a private investigator to pose as a Las Vegas buyer and go undercover inside Northwood.What she captures on camera changes everything. But there’s a catch: Jeff’s custody deal comes with a vow of silence - until Detective Mike King’s investigation collides with Jeff’s case, freeing him to talk. With corroboration in hand and the clock ticking, Mike prepares to raid the quiet neighborhood at dawn.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S5 E3 - The Alpha
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 recruiter and enforcer Carla tightens her grip, controlling access to Arvin Shreeve and pushing new women through a coded doctrine of “Zion vs. Babylon,” obedience, and fear.Meanwhile, Jeff Peterson’s family is torn apart when his wife disappears into the cult with their children. Jeff’s custody battle becomes a desperate negotiation - money, legal threats, and silence agreements - while Erin begins describing what’s happening behind closed doors: coercion, sexual control, and escalating punishment for resistance. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S5 E2 - To Hell And Back
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 for law enforcement. She drives into Northwood to reach Erin and her young daughter - and is met with intimidation and violence from Shreeve and his followers. As Erin’s family fights to pull her out, the cult’s control tightens…and the clock starts ticking.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S5 E1 - What Lies Beneath
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 landscaping, shared supplies, and a sense of family - until the community’s leader, Arvin Shreeve, reveals a secret doctrine of polygamy and sexual manipulation.Nearly a decade later, on July 9, 1991, a woman walks into the Weber County Attorney’s Office and confesses to detective Mike King that she was part of the Zion Society, a cult she says was abusing children.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Introducing Gardens of Evil - New True Crime Series
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 it looked. But the immaculately groomed yards, trimmed hedges, and brightly colored flower gardens hid an insidious secret.More than a hundred residents were members of a cult called The Zion Society. Hiding in plain sight, they hoarded guns and ammunition. They created, sold, and modeled sexy lingerie. They took children away from parents and groomed them for sexual abuse.Their beliefs were centered around satisfying the perverted desires of one man - their leader: an unassuming, soft-spoken landscaper. Neighbors knew something was amiss, but it wasn't until a brave young woman broke away from the secretive group and confessed to authorities that everything began to unravel for this dangerous cult. This is the story of that unraveling told by the people who lived it.Subscribe to Gardens of Evil: Inside the Zion Society Cult:https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gardens-of-evil-inside-the-zion-society-cult/id1748894795https://open.spotify.com/show/5w7xyH8ttWZKc64D9q08H4See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2 E10 - Answered Prayers
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 Watts/Baari Shabazz — the man police say is responsible for the 1998 murder of Sherry Crandell. A man Sherry's oldest son calls a monster.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S2 E9 - Needle in a Haystack
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 https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Paul Wagner sits down with Mike King to discuss the Sherry Crandell case
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, Season 2) to revisit the Sherry Crandell case — and to unpack the long road that led to justice.Together, they break down the original investigation, the controversial hospital-wide DNA dragnet, and the relentless efforts of a retired detective who refused to let Sherry’s case fade into obscurity. The conversation also explores how Wagner’s reporting helped keep pressure on the case when leads ran dry and answers seemed impossible.Most importantly, they examine the 2025 breakthrough that finally identified Edward Barry Watts — also known as Baari Shabazz — as Sherry Crandell’s killer through investigative genetic genealogy. Paul and Mike discuss what this moment means for Sherry’s family, the ethical questions surrounding genetic genealogy, and the growing power of this technology to solve violent crimes once thought unsolvable.#ProfilingEvil #MurderInASafePlace #AmericanNightmares #SherryCrandell #PrinceGeorgesHospital #CheverlyMaryland #ColdCase #GeneticGenealogy #BaariShabazz #EdwardWatts #BernieNelson #FBI #HospitalMurder #VictimJustice #TrueCrimePodcast #InvestigativeJournalism See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Introducing Profiling Evil: Summer Wells Abducted, Murdered, or an Accident?
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 abducted, did she suffer a tragic accident, or could there be foul play involved? We examine the various theories, possible suspects, and the heartbreaking question: Could Summer still be alive, just waiting to be found like other children who have reappeared decades later? Join us as we look into this unsolved case, and ask the difficult questions surrounding her fate. #SummerWells #TrueCrime #MissingChildren #UnsolvedMysteries #Abduction #TrueCrimeCommunity #FindSummerWells #ColdCases #TrueCrimeTheories #JusticeForSummerWells See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Introducing Profiling Evil: Las Vegas Massacre, The Dark Legacy of Stephen Paddock
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 fire from his Mandalay Bay Hotel suite, killing 60 and injuring over 800 during the Route 91 Harvest Festival. Despite extensive investigations, his motives remain unclear, leaving a trail of unanswered questions.In this deep dive, Profiling Evil's Twisted Tales unravels the layers of Stephen Paddock's life—from his troubled childhood under the shadow of a criminal father to his calculated and chilling final act. What shaped this man? How did a seemingly ordinary life end in unthinkable violence? Join us as we explore the intricate psychological, familial, and societal factors that defined one of the most infamous mass shootings in U.S. history. Stay tuned as we connect the dots, uncover hidden truths, and learn from these dark tales. Don’t forget to LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and RING the BELL for more crime insights. Visit ProfilingEvil.com for podcasts, videos, and more. Together, we’ll unravel the mysteries. #LasVegasShooting #StephenPaddock #Route91HarvestFestival #MandalayBay #LasVegasMassacre #MassShooting #ProfilingEvil #TrueCrime #CrimeDocumentary #GunViolence #PsychologyOfViolence #CriminalProfiling #TwistedTales #CrimeStories #ProfilingEvilTwistedTalesSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Introducing Profiling Evil: Chad Daybell Letter Number Nine, The Spirit Woman in Black
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 says he turned purple, and a “fiery dart” that he and Tammy interpreted as a spiritual weapon. Let’s unpack how this letter fits Chad Daybell’s Death Row Marketing Plan. It’s a rebranding campaign that uses religious imagery, paranormal claims, and nostalgia to push the public away from the facts that Chad Daybell was convicted of murdering his wife, Tammy Daybell, JJ Vallow and Tylee Ryan. Shortly after Tammy’s death he secretly married Lori Vallow in Hawaii while JJ and Tylee were buried on his property. Walk through the manipulation tactics, the psychology, spiritual bypassing, magical thinking, dissociation, impression management, and the quiet sales pitch back to his books and speaking circuit. We’ll keep JJ, Tylee, Tammy, Charles Vallow, Brandon Boudreaux, and Colby Ryan front and center, where they belong.#ChadDaybell #LoriDaybell #LoriVallow #TammyDaybell #JJVallow #TyleeRyan #CharlesVallow #BrandonBoudreaux #ColbyRyan #AlexCox #MelanieGibb #ZulemaPastenes #DaybellLetters #Letter9 #ThirdNDE #WomanInBlack #FieryDart #IdahoMurdersSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Part 2: Megan Cloherty Talks with Gardens of Evil Host Mike King
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..Megan and Mike sit down for an in-depth conversation about her time reporting on the Savopoulos family murders and the case against Daron Wint. Then the roles reverse. Megan turns the mic on Mike to talk about the upcoming Season 5 of American Nightmares: Gardens of Evil, premiering February 3rd. Mike offers a first look at the investigation, the survivors who came forward, and the disturbing truths behind a hidden religious community.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Part 1: Megan Cloherty Talks with Gardens of Evil Host Mike King
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 Mike sit down for an in-depth conversation about her time reporting on the Savopoulos family murders and the case against Daron Wint. Then the roles reverse. Megan turns the mic on Mike to talk about the upcoming Season 5 of American Nightmares: Gardens of Evil, premiering February 3rd. Mike offers a first look at the investigation, the survivors who came forward, and the disturbing truths behind a hidden religious community.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
S4 E14 - Appeal Denied: A Second Look
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 feelings on the prosecution of Daron Wint, whether forgiveness is possible, and the questions she’d ask the man who killed her parents and brother.Original Episode-The D.C. Court of Appeals has denied Daron Wint a retrial in his quadruple murder conviction. Hosts Megan Cloherty and Jack Moore sit down to talk about the three-judge panel's decision.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.