For true crime enthusiasts who find themselves both fascinated and unnerved by the dark side of America’s natural spaces, Park Predators has become essential listening. Hosted by Delia D’Ambra, this gripping podcast explores the chilling reality that national parks, state parks, and wilderness areas, places we associate with beauty, peace, and escape, can also become scenes of violence and tragedy.
Each episode meticulously examines a different case, weaving together investigative journalism, survivor accounts, and expert analysis to uncover how these crimes unfolded in settings where help is often miles away and danger can lurk behind any trail marker. With hundreds of episodes released since its launch, the series has built a devoted following drawn to D’Ambra’s thorough research and respectful storytelling. Here is a list of the most compelling, shocking, and masterfully told episodes that showcase why Park Predators has earned its place among the top true crime podcasts.
The Road Trip
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In 2010, an elderly couple began a road trip across Canada, but their journey and lives were tragically ended by a violent killer. The shock of the double murder and the lengthy legal proceedings left a lasting impact on people in Alberta, and the location of Lyle and Marie McCann remains unknown.
The Stepfather
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When a teenage boy with special needs in California goes missing, authorities race to locate him. After his body is later found in a shallow grave in a national park filled with rare plant life, investigators begin focusing on a suspect much closer to home.
The Sanctuary
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In 2015, a young man is found stabbed to death outside a historic church in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, sparking widespread rumors. The killers’ identities shock both his loved ones and the Cherokee community who viewed the area as sacred.
The Marine
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In June 2018, when a decomposed body is discovered in the California desert, investigators work to identify the victim. The unfolding trail of secrets, lies, and illicit relationships exposes a dark story of how far a young man was willing to go for love.
The Campfire
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When five teenagers travel to a remote Iowa nature preserve and only one survives, investigators are committed to tracking down the three killers who appear to have escaped justice.
The Worker
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In April 1995, two troubled teenagers fleeing the law in Payette National Forest cross paths with an unsuspecting forest service employee and carry out a shocking act.
(BONUS) The Newlywed
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Soon after their wedding, 21-year-old Jordan Graham pushed her husband of eight days, Cody Johnson, off a cliff in Glacier National Park. What was meant to be a bonding hike ended in tragedy, and the aftermath deeply affected their small religious Montana community. It became one of only two recorded modern murders within the vast park.
The Pilot
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When an elderly couple disappeared from their charred campsite during a romantic getaway in the Australian wilderness, investigators soon identified an unlikely suspect—a distinguished airline pilot.
The Afterlife (Part 1)
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When a college student is brutally killed on a well-traveled hiking trail in Prescott National Forest during summer 1987, investigators struggle to identify the perpetrator. The case remains unsolved for decades before a breakthrough emerges. This is the first of two episodes examining Cathy Sposito’s murder.
The Mountaineer
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A seasoned French climber is kidnapped in an Algerian national park, sparking an international crisis. Global leaders pursue the suspected perpetrators, but many disappear into hiding and remain at large today.
The Musician
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When a prominent Colorado musician vanishes in February 2020, police rapidly link him to a horrific find in Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests. The network of violence surrounding the victim and his planned meeting with a woman reveals a deadly third individual responsible for an unthinkable crime.
The Plot
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When a 43-year-old medical student is found dead in Big Bend National Park, investigators uncover a strange case connecting to a young man whose extraordinary tale involves death, devastation, and fate.
The River
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The Rothgeb family’s 1984 rafting trip ends with a mother and daughter dead and father David accused of double murder. His secret life leads to conviction, but opinion remains divided on whether he was framed or guilty.
The Pioneer
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When a pioneer and companion are killed while prospecting for silver in the American West, the lone survivor blames Native Americans. However, evidence suggests the survivor and other settlers seeking wealth may have committed the double murder.
The Hunter
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Between late 2007 and early 2008, drifter Gary Michael Hilton killed four victims across three East Coast states, using remote park trails and campgrounds to stalk his prey. After his arrest, investigators suspected his crimes may extend far beyond these known murders.
Read our review of Park Predators