Mind of a Serial Killer - MURDEROUS MINDS: An Oscar-Worthy Murder Pt. 1

Episode Date: May 26, 2025

He was a struggling actor with big dreams—and even bigger secrets. Dan Wozniak couldn’t afford the life he wanted, so he lied, manipulated, and schemed to get it. In this episode, we trace his troubled past, toxic romance, and twisted friendships that set the stage for a double homicide. Killer Minds is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Killer Minds! Instagram: @killerminds | @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is Crime House. Lots of kids, especially around Los Angeles, dream of becoming an actor. Whether it's on the stage or on the big screen, the city is full of young people hoping to become the next big thing. Dan Wozniak was definitely one of those kids. When he was young, Dan fell in love with the theater. And when he grew up, he knew that's what he wanted to do with his life. However, Dan's career didn't turn out the way he hoped.

Broke, bitter, and still hungry for the good life, he went down a much darker path to get what he wanted. And to hide the depths of his evil, Dan was ready to put on the performance of a lifetime. The human mind is fascinating. It controls how we think, how we feel, how we love, and how we hate. And sometimes the mind drives us to do something truly unspeakable. This is Killer Minds, formerly known as Mind of a Serial Killer, a Crime House original. Every Monday and Thursday, we'll be taking deep dives into the minds of history's most

notorious serial killers and murderers. The show is still the same, the name just changed. And if you're interested in more true crime stories from this week in history, check out Crime House The Show. Every episode covers multiple cases unified by the same theme, so every week you get something a little different. At Crime House, we want to express our gratitude to you, our community, for making this possible. Please support us by rating, reviewing, and following Killer Minds wherever you get your

podcasts. Your feedback truly matters. And to enhance your Killer Minds listening experience, subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode ad-free and instead of having to wait for each episode of a two-part series, you'll get access to both at once, plus exciting Crime House bonus content. I'm Vanessa Richardson. And I'm Dr. Tristan Engels. As Vanessa takes you through our subject's stories, I'll be helping her dive into these killer's minds as we try to understand how someone can do such horrible things.

A warning. This episode contains descriptions of murder and potential sexual assault. Listener discretion is advised. This is the first of two episodes on Daniel Wozniak, a struggling theater actor who couldn't afford the wedding of his dreams, until he unleashed a plot that turned his fantasy nuptials into a living nightmare. In today's episode, we'll take you through Daniel's strict upbringing, his failed attempt to make it as a stage actor,

and his horrendous crimes that seemed straight out of a dramatic play. And as Vanessa goes through the story, I'll be giving analysis on things like how Daniel's experiences as a child turned him into a compulsive liar, his problematic relationships and obsession with the spotlight, and whether someone's troubled past is an indicator

of future violence. And next time, we'll take you through the twisting investigation that revealed Daniel's elaborate plan to get his dream wedding, the terrible crimes he committed in the process, and his eventual downfall and capture. And as always, we'll be asking the question, what makes a killer? Hey, it's Vanessa. And if you love Killer Minds, where we take you deep into the psychology of history's most chilling murders, then you have to check out Clues with

Morgan Absher and Kailyn Moore. Every Wednesday, Kailyn and Morgan take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever, clue by clue. And one thing I find really interesting about Clues is how they break down the ways that even the smallest pieces of evidence can crack a case wide open. From serial killers to shocking murders, Clues dives into all the forensic details and brilliant sleuthing of the world's most infamous cases. Clues is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Just search Clues wherever you listen to podcasts.

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you'll be ready for anything this Truck Month. Truck Month is on now. Ask your GMC dealer for details. Moving out on your own for the first time can be thrilling. Whether you're heading off to college or starting a job in a new city, there's nothing like beginning your life as an adult. And when the time came for Daniel Wozniak to make his mark on the world, he was especially ready for a fresh start.

Daniel, whose friends called him Dan, was born on March 23, 1984, in Long Beach, California. But instead of getting to enjoy everything the coastal city had to offer, Dan was kept on a tight leash. His mom, Mary Ann, was really strict. According to family friends, she made sure Dan was on a precise schedule. Whenever he was out of the house, she called Dan nonstop to check on him.

So all parents want to ensure the safety of their children, even when their children become adults who have to be responsible for their own lives. It's an instinct that will forever be there, and it's normal. But when it becomes abnormal is when it's excessive or controlling, and it hinders their child's ability to develop their own identity or sense of independence. Parents who are extremely strict, overprotective, and overinvolved in their child's life

are often referred to as helicopter parents because, like helicopters, they hover over their children. They involve themselves in every aspect of their child's life are often referred to as helicopter parents because like helicopters they hover over their children. They involve themselves in every aspect of their child's life, they control their friend groups, schedule all of their activities, and excessively worry about them. Their entire world revolves around their child. But when helicopter parenting becomes extreme, it can lead to decreased self-esteem, underdeveloped coping skills, poor decision-making, entitlement, and poor emotional regulation in children. What are some ways that kids and teens cope with having a helicopter parent?

Children respond to helicopter parents in different ways because there are varying degrees of control that parents take and in various ways. And how they react or cope will depend on their age and the stage of development they're in. At this point in the story, it sounds like Dan is a teenager because she's checking on him when he goes out of the house. So he has some autonomy. A teenager is more likely to use deception to gain control over aspects of their life because this is an age where they're beginning to experience those different levels of autonomy and individuality. And with that comes new perspectives, which causes them to compare. So Dan is likely comparing his parents' parenting styles to his peers, seeing his friends having freedoms or independence that he's not having.

So if they see that their parents aren't willing to make adjustments, then lying is likely what they'll resort to. In Dan's case, he definitely responded to Mary Ann's strictness with dishonesty. By the time he got to high school, he wasn't interested in following her rules. He started lying to her about what he was doing, particularly when it came to his girlfriend, Brittany. The two of them had bonded over their shared love of theater class. For Dan, it was likely an escape from his mom's scrutiny. It was also a great way to spend time with Brittany, because Marianne wouldn't let him spend a lot of time with

her outside of school. However, Dan hung out with Brittany more than he let on, which could be expected for a lot of kids his age. But Dan wasn't honest about other things going on in his relationship either. Although he was two years older than her, Dan told Marianne he and Brittany were the same age. Ultimately, the relationship didn't last. When Dan turned 18 and graduated high school in 2002, he was ready for more independence. And that meant leaving his life in Long Beach behind.

He broke up with Britney, packed his bags, and set out on his own. But while many of his peers went off to college, Dan embarked on a different path. He was going to make it as a stage actor. However, it doesn't seem like he was willing to risk everything and move to a theater hot spot like New York, and he apparently wasn't interested in going to LA and trying out film and TV. Instead, Dan decided to stay relatively local and move to a town called Costa Mesa.

Located in Orange County, about 40 miles south of downtown Los Angeles, Costa Mesa was home to a few community theaters. It was the perfect launch pad for someone like Dan, and he was willing to put in the work. When he wasn't rehearsing or performing, he was probably busy auditioning. So like many struggling actors, that meant money was tight. But Dan wasn't really interested in taking on any side gigs to get by.

He didn't let anyone in Costa Mesa know this though. If anyone asked, he lied and told people he was a manager at a Verizon store. In reality, Dan reportedly stayed afloat by constantly making excuses to borrow money from his friends, including some he'd just met. So as a minor, Dan learned that lying was the easiest way for him to get what he wants

or gain control over his life, which may have started as a means of survival at home, but has turned into a pattern in adulthood. I mean, he's lying to people he doesn't have to lie to about being a manager at a Verizon store. He's also lying for financial gain. So when lying becomes pathological, it's become persistent, compulsive, and pervasive, and causes significant impairment in functioning or poses a risk to themself. So in Dan's case, lying to friends about working to borrow money that he has no means of paying back can certainly

pose a risk to himself personally, and it can impair him professionally and legally. He's also showing some of the risk factors I mentioned, in particular, that entitlement. So when we go back to his childhood, his entire childhood was scheduled, controlled, and planned. And as a child, he's grown accustomed to that. And as a result, can develop that sense of entitlement from having people manage everything for them,

and this explains why he has no interest in working a job that isn't acting. It's also worth noting pathological lying is not a disorder, but rather a symptom of one, and it is very commonly found in antisocial personality disorder and narcissistic personality disorder. LESLIE KENDRICK-KLEIN Regardless of what motivated him to lie, it seems like Dan was heading down a bad path. He was dishonest with his mom, his friends, and maybe himself because it seems like the thing that was really holding Dan back was a worrisome substance habit. After moving out to Costa Mesa, Dan had settled into an apartment complex that was known for

parties. It was full of young people like himself. Some were young professionals. Others were students at nearby Orange Coast Community College. Many of them embraced the phrase, work hard, play hard. And Dan was no exception. Before long, he was spending whatever money he did have on drugs and booze. Deceit is commonly found in addiction as well, because the lies hide the addiction from loved ones, which then enables that deception even more.

Well, he wasn't the only one. Over the next few years, Dan partied with people in his complex and formed a close group of friends. They spent almost every waking moment together, like they were a second family to each other. And by 2007, when Dan was 23, there was a new addition to the group, his new girlfriend, 20-year-old Rachel Buffett.

Like Dan, Rachel was a star in the local theater scene. She was a literal princess. She played the Little Mermaid and Alice in Wonderland at nearby Disneyland. Dan was smitten with her, and the feelings were mutual. It wasn't long before their on-stage chemistry evolved off-stage as well, and they started dating. When Dan introduced Rachel to his friends, they welcomed her with open arms, but they soon realized this was no fairy tale romance.

Dan and Rachel had a toxic relationship. They drank a lot and reportedly did ecstasy and other heavy drugs. They were prone to substance-fueled arguments, usually about how Dan flirted with other women, including some of his exes. According to their friends, Rachel sometimes hit Dan, and he would shake or grab her aggressively. They behaved like this openly, which forced other people to step in and diffuse things. So this raises concerns regarding intimate partner violence. The dynamic that you described, Vanessa, indicates to me that there is not only abuse occurring,

but there's also reactive abuse occurring. When there's an established pattern of abuse, the individual enduring that abuse begins to react to it in aggressive ways, thus the term reactive abuse. An abusive behavior is learned, and abusers have similar personality traits. They lack self-esteem, they are entitled, oversensitive, lack emotional regulation, insecure, and often have unrealistic expectations of relationships and their partners. Dan has been exhibiting these traits for some time. We know he's entitled, he's definitely manipulative, he's a pathological liar, he has poor self-esteem,

he lacks emotional regulation, and he's unrealistic in his expectations and relationships because of that early childhood model he had. But also this can deeply affect the group dynamic. It's hard to witness that and even harder to feel safe intervening in the moment as a friend or outsider, and that becomes more complicated when you're friends with both of them. So if you witness this kind of behavior, provided it isn't life-threatening or requiring any kind of immediate intervention, it's always best to address it privately with your friend

in a supportive and nonjudgmental way. Inform them of what you saw and why it was concerning to you and offer your support however it will be received. I always advise people to visit the National Domestic Abuse Hotline at thehotline.org. I feel like people are often ashamed when their relationship involves even a small amount of physical abuse and they try to hide it from their friends and family. What does it say about Dan and Rachel that they openly fought like this?

If they are showing this side of their relationship to their close friends, it's likely a milder version of what's occurring in private. We already know that Dan is emotionally manipulative. He's preying upon the people closest to him for personal gain, financial gain. So he's likely emotionally manipulative to Rachel too. With that often comes gaslighting, and it's not uncommon for victims of gaslighting to seek validation from others in different ways, especially over a period of time. So anyone who's being gaslit knows

that if they attempt to address their concerns with their abuser, they would just continue to distort their reality. So on some level, Rachel may want their friends to witness some of Dan's behavior. She may be hoping that if they call out Dan's behavior as an objective party, he will finally believe her experience and take accountability. But also, their arguments are substance-fueled, and we need to factor in how disinhibiting substances can be. People have less control over impulses, emotions, and behaviors when they're under the influence. And not to mention, substance use greatly increases the risk of violence against others, especially in intimate partner violence.

Well, even though Dan and Rachel's friends witnessed some pretty bad moments in their relationship, they still didn't have the full picture. Dan let Rachel see a side of himself that no one else could. For example, she was the only person who knew that his job at Verizon was a lie. But Rachel accepted him, flaws and all. Their relationship kept getting more serious. They moved in together, and by 2009, after two years or so of dating, Dan decided to take it to the next level. He proposed, and Rachel said yes. But Dan's new fiancé didn't know everything Dan was hiding, and she was about to find

out that he had some very dark secrets. What's better than a well-marbled ribeye sizzling on the barbecue? A well-marbled ribeye sizzling on the barbecue that was carefully selected by an Instacart shopper and delivered to your door. A well-marbled ribeye you ordered without even leaving the kiddie pool. Whatever groceries your summer calls for, Instacart has you covered. Download the Instacart app and enjoy $0 delivery fees on your first three orders.

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Every Wednesday, Morgan and Kaylin take you deep into the world of the most notorious crimes ever, clue by clue. And one thing I find really interesting about Clues is how they break down the ways that even the smallest pieces of evidence can crack a case wide open. From serial killers to shocking

murders, Clues dives into all the forensic details and brilliant sleuthing of the world's most infamous cases. If you're looking for a show that has compelling storytelling, crime scene analysis, and a new perspective through some of the world's most puzzling true crime cases, then you have to check out Clues. Clues is a crime house original powered by Pave Studios. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Just search Clues wherever you listen to podcasts. Wendy's most important deal of the day has a fresh lineup.

Pick any two breakfast items for $4. New four-piece French toast sticks, bacon or sausage wrap, biscuit or English muffin sandwiches, small hot coffee, and more. Limited time only at Participating Wendy's Taxes Extra. By 2009, 25-year-old Dan Wozniak was engaged to his now-fiance, 22-year-old Rachel Buffett. The two of them had a lot of chemistry, but their relationship was also extremely volatile. Rachel was well aware that Dan wasn't the most honest guy. She accepted that side of him, but now that they were going to be married, it seems like

she wanted to find out more about him. So at some point in 2009, she decided to snoop around in his things. We don't know if she was looking for something specific, but we do know that she unlocked the safe where Dan kept his pistol. But the safe held more than a gun. There was also a video. Rachel didn't recognize it, so she popped it into a player, and what she saw was shocking. It was a video of Dan and his high school ex-girlfriend, Brittany, having sex.

Rachel could tell that it was recorded in the past, when Dan and Brittany were still dating, but still, she was livid. Rachel confronted Dan, screaming at him and demanding answers. Dan insisted it wasn't what it looked like. He swore he wasn't keeping it for pleasure. It was more like an insurance policy. If he was ever in dire financial straits, he planned to use the tape to extort Brittany's family.

So this is what we call revenge porn. It's a form of sexual abuse, and it is illegal. In my experience, individuals who have traits of narcissism or sadism are more commonly found to be perpetrators of this kind of behavior. And the reasons for doing it vary. Not all of it is for financial gain. But the act of extortion is highly emotionally manipulative, because it involves using fear and intimidation.

And extortionists tend to be people who need power and control over others, and they're greedy. So now we know that pathological lying is common with people who have antisocial personality disorder or narcissistic personality disorder, and that people who use sexual images to extort others are typically narcissistic personality disorder, and that people who use sexual images to extort others are typically narcissistic, we are starting to see a pattern of possible personality traits emerging here for Dan. One thing was for sure, the plan was a long time in the making. Dan had remained close with Brittany's parents ever since they'd broken up, seven years earlier, almost like he was staying in their lives just in case he needed to use the sex tape to his advantage.

Most people in a situation like this would end things right then and there, but not Rachel. Instead of breaking up with Dan, she forgave him. After all, their finances were precarious and their upcoming wedding, along with the honeymoon, wasn't going to be cheap, But neither of them had jobs, and local theater productions in Costa Mesa didn't exactly pay well, if at all. Whatever money they did have, they spent on partying. Because of this, they were also constantly on the brink of eviction. So it seems like Rachel appreciated Dan's foresight.

But it wasn't long before Dan put all their plans at risk. That same year, in 2009, he got a DUI and spent a night in jail. Now, on top of rent and their other bills, Dan had to pay for all the legal costs associated with the resulting legal troubles. Even if he went through with the scheme to extort his ex-girlfriend's family, it would be hard to get enough money to cover it all. He complained about his legal and financial situation one night while they hung out with friends in their building's hot tub.

Once Dan finished his diatribe, 25-year-old Sam Herr chimed in. He said that in the grand scheme of things, Dan's situation wasn't all that bad, especially compared to what Sam had been through. Sam also lived in the apartment complex and was a student at the local community college. But before that, he'd been in the military. He'd served on the front lines in Afghanistan, risking his life every day. In fact, Sam's job was to literally put himself in the line of fire. When his unit was in combat, it was his job to run between their positions and repair faulty equipment.

His friends knew what Sam had endured, so when he spoke up, they all listened. But Sam didn't have a war story to tell them. He had a story from his younger days, before he enlisted in the army. Prior to joining the military, Sam ran with a rough crowd. When he was about 19 years old, he'd been accused of luring another young man his age to an abandoned business park. And then a dozen or so gang members attacked and killed the young man. Sam was actually charged with murder for his role in the attack, and he spent two years

in prison as he awaited trial. However, in the end, there were issues with the evidence, and he was acquitted. The experience was a massive wake-up call for him. Guilty or not, Sam truly regretted what had happened. He vowed to turn his life around, which was why he joined the Army. And by that night in the hot tub in 2009, it seemed like he had. This reminds me of my experience when I worked with veterans about 15 years ago. A lot of them shared with me that they joined the military

because they were headed down a wrong path, much like Sam, and they were looking to escape their violent neighborhoods, avoid gang affiliation, or to get out of poverty or their home environment so that they had a chance to do better for themselves. And many of them succeeded in that, which was great to see, because with the right intervention, the right support,

the right encouragement, new environments, you certainly can change your path. That being said, the reality is that past behavior is the best predictor for future violence, which makes it that much harder for people like Sam to feel like they can truly leave their past behind and be seen for the person they became. Unfortunately, this is the statistics and this is why when we do violent risk assessments we have to consider their history of violence. We have to look at how many incidents, how

severe they were, how many incarcerations. All of this is considered and understandably when we're concerned about public safety, like when we do parole evaluations. A history of serious violence like murder is definitely a serious risk marker for future violence in most cases. Suddenly, Sam's friends realized his life was more complicated than they'd thought. Dan definitely took Sam's perspective to heart. Especially considering that he knew things about Sam the others didn't, like the fact that Sam was still dealing with PTSD from his time in the military. That didn't mean Sam had given up on the army though.

He wanted to make a career out of it. He'd saved over $60,000 from his career so far and was using some of that money on furthering his education. He wanted to get an advanced degree so he could continue climbing the ranks, and he was just as loyal to his friends as he was to his fellow soldiers, especially Dan. Sam was always willing to help Dan out, including giving him money. It's not clear if he ever helped pay Dan's rent, but at some point, Sam apparently did give Dan $100 for a wedding-related expense. But the generosity didn't go both ways.

In fact, after that night in the hot tub, Dan hatched a plan to take everything from Sam, because Dan knew Sam wasn't hurting for money and he was willing to do whatever it took to get it. Hi there I'm Ryan Reynolds and I have a list of things I like to have on set. It's just little things like two freshly cracked eggs scrambled with crispy hash browns, sausage crumble and creamy chipotle sauce from Tim Hortons. From my writer to Tim's menu, try my new scrambled eggs loaded breakfast box. In May 2009, 25-year-old Dan Wozniak was living his best life in Costa Mesa, California. He was booking local theater gigs, partying with his friends, and he was engaged to his

fellow stage actor, 22-year-old Rachel Buffett. Their marriage was coming up soon, on the 28th of May. The problem was, Dan was flat broke, and he couldn't afford to pay for the dream wedding he and Rachel wanted. But Dan had a plan for that. And it involved his close confidant, 26-year-old Sam Herr, along with a young woman named Julie Kibuishi. Sam and 23-year-old Julie had met during their studies at Orange Coast Community College.

They quickly grew close, and by 2010, Sam had introduced her to his friends a few times, including Dan. Sam's friends sometimes wondered if he and Julie had feelings for each other, but they assured everyone they were more like siblings. Sam's trust for Julie ran deep. Besides Dan, Julie seemed to be his only friend who knew that Sam dealt with PTSD. That might be why Julie dropped everything one night when she thought Sam was struggling. On the evening of May 21, 2009, Julie was out to dinner with her brother and his new fiancé to celebrate their engagement. The couple asked Julie to be in the wedding and even gave her a tiara to wear on the day.

But shortly before midnight, their good time was interrupted when Julie received a series of texts from Sam. He said he was distraught and needed someone to talk to. He asked Julie to come over alone. He also asked her not to tell anyone where she was going. Julie promised she wouldn't. She said goodbye to her brother and his fiance, then headed for Sam's apartment.

So when someone's experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder, the brain's fear center, the amygdala, is activated. The body begins releasing chemicals to prepare for a fight or flight response. Episodes of PTSD can range in severity, and there are even instances where individuals experience transient psychosis, transient meaning very short-lived. For example, back in my time working with veterans, I witnessed this with a Vietnam War veteran.

They were having a flashback of a combat experience from their service in Vietnam, and the flashback was so severe, they were experiencing visual and auditory hallucinations that were directly related to that traumatic memory. It was as if they were literally transported back into that moment in time. And though transient psychosis is not as common as other symptoms of PTSD, the reality is the more prolonged your exposure is to a life-threatening situation or a series of life-threatening situations, the more severe the PTSD symptoms could be. and veterans are at a higher risk of developing PTSD

and experiencing severe episodes like this. We don't know if Sam partied as heavily as Dan, for example, but if he had been drinking or doing drugs, what risks could that have posed for him and anyone around him? Yeah, unfortunately, substance abuse is highly comorbid with individuals who have PTSD. There's a lot of self-medicating that occurs. And as I mentioned before, substances are disinhibiting.

So when people are under the influence, they're less in control of their impulses, emotions, and behaviors. It also diminishes judgment. Suicidal thinking is also very common with individuals with PTSD, especially those with combat exposure who also have survivor's guilt. So if someone is experiencing a flashback or episode is under the influence and suicidal, they're at a very high risk of being a danger to themselves or others as a result and when it concerns a veteran or anyone in law enforcement, they likely have access to firearms,

putting them at an imminent need for intervention. This is why it makes sense for Julie to be so quick and willing to want to go to Sam. Julie knew Sam struggled with PTSD, and she had every reason to think he might be in a bad place with those texts. And if he needed someone to talk to, she was happy to be there for him. But she wasn't the only one concerned about Sam. The same night Julie went over to his apartment, Sam's parents, Steve and Raquel, were also worried

about him, but for different reasons. They had no idea about the messages Julie had gotten from Sam. All they knew was that Sam was supposed to come visit them at their home in nearby Anaheim Hills. And he hadn't shown up that evening, as promised. By the next morning, there was still no word from Sam, so Steve drove over to his son's apartment to check on him. Steve had an extra key, and when he let himself in, Sam wasn't there. Sam's keys and wallet were gone, too. Steve knew something was wrong. Sam would never take off without telling his parents where he was going. He walked through the living room, looking for any sign that something was amiss. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary until he stepped

into the bedroom. A body was slumped on the ground next to Sam's bed. It was a young woman. She was partially kneeling and her pants were pulled down. There was blood everywhere. Steve could tell it had come from her head. Exposure to a sudden unexpected event like a violent crime scene generally causes emotional shock. A shock reaction will vary by person,

and typically people experience disbelief or numbness, confusion and disorientation, anxiety, fear, and sometimes difficulty concentrating. Some people can process an unexpected crime scene like this and go right into action, and others may freeze and have a difficult time processing what they're seeing. How someone will react to something like this will depend largely on past experiences, personality traits, and coping mechanisms. We hear a lot of examples about people who think they're seeing a doll or a mannequin or something like that.

Is there some kind of mental block we have, like something to protect us from something so terrible? In some sense, yeah, but this can also be explained by the concept of a schema. A schema is a mental framework that helps organize and interpret information, experiences in the world around us. For example, the most rudimentary one I can think of, when children learn about birds and they see that birds fly, they have established a schema. Birds are things that fly. When they see a plane for the first time, they will initially think it's a bird because it too is flying. This is a concept called centration. But now back to this example. Most people don't have regular exposure or experience being

around deceased individuals, so when they are suddenly seeing one unexpectedly and not in a typical setting such as a funeral home, it will take them longer to interpret what they're seeing. They immediately apply a framework that is established for them. And when you see a body that's not moving or breathing in a natural environment, most would immediately assume it's a mannequin, or a doll, or a statue, until they can orient themselves to what they actually are seeing.

Well, in this instance, Steve was able to process what he was seeing, although he didn't immediately recognize the young woman. He managed to collect himself enough to call 911. Investigators from Costa Mesa PD quickly arrived and inspected the scene. One of them was Detective Mike Cohen. When he inspected the body, Cohen immediately noticed a gunshot wound in the young woman's head and when he looked closer he found a message written on the back of her

sweatshirt in black marker. It said, All yours, F you. Judging by that message, officers began to think this was a love triangle gone wrong. And there was another odd detail that stood out. There was a tiara on the young woman's head. Detective Cohen knew there had to be other clues somewhere in Sam's apartment. He went into the kitchen where Steve hadn't looked. There, he spotted a purse sitting on the counter. Cohen briefly rummaged through the purse

and found the woman's ID. It was Julie Kibuishi, and Sam was nowhere to be found. From the looks of it, Sam had killed Julie and made a run for it, but that couldn't have been further from the truth. In reality, the whole thing was staged like a scene straight Thanks so much for listening. Come back next time for the conclusion of our story on Dan Wozniak. Killer Minds is a Crime House original powered by Pave Studios. Here at Crime House, we want to thank each and every one of you for your support.

If you like what you heard today, reach out on Instagram at Killer Minds. And don't forget to rate, review, and follow Killer Minds wherever you get your podcasts. Your feedback truly makes a difference. And to enhance your listening experience, subscribe to Crime House Plus on Apple Podcasts. You'll get every episode of Killer Minds ad-free, along with early access to each thrilling two-part series and exciting CrimeHouse bonus content. Killer Minds is hosted by me, Vanessa Richardson, and Dr. Tristan Engels, and is a CrimeHouse

original powered by Pave Studios. This episode was brought to life by the Killer Minds team. Max Cutler, Ron Shapiro, Alex Benedon, Lori Maranelli, Natalie Pertsovsky, Sarah Camp, Sarah Batchelor, Sarah Tartiff, and Carrie Murphy. Thank you for listening. How can one tiny clue change everything? Kaylin Moore and Morgan Absher break it all down on their new show, Clues. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Just search Clues wherever you listen to podcasts.