Cover Up: Body Brokers

In the 1970s, John Todd exploded onto the evangelical scene with a shocking claim: a secret group of devil-worshiping elites called the Illuminati were planning a violent world takeover, and Christians needed to arm themselves against them to protect their families and way of life. But none of it was true—so why did the idea spread so quickly? Dive into John Todd’s dark and distorted world with journalist Paul Murphy on Cover Up: The Conspiracy Tapes. Featuring sensational tales of witchcraft and human sacrifice from recorded tape of John Todd’s original testimony, this story unravels the threads of Todd’s deceptions, and traces his legacy as an originator of modern day conspiracy theories. Available now wherever you get your podcasts. Subscribers to The Binge can listen to all episodes of Cover Up: The Conspiracy Tapes right now, completely ad-free. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the wake of 9/11, a series of letters laced with a deadly powder called anthrax appeared on the desks of prominent journalists and politicians in New York City and Washington D.C. Five people were killed, and seventeen more were infected. It was the worst case of bioterrorism in American history, setting off a surge of finger pointing, xenophobia, and fear. But what started as an unprecedented case soon turned into an unsettling mystery. Who had sent these letters? And why? On season 4 of Cover Up, we trace the FBI’s costly investigation into the attacks, which was stacked with a seemingly endless series of false leads, damaging leaks, and embarrassing blunders. Through revealing interviews with victims, agents, and suspects, we unpack the case in its messy entirety, all with an eye toward the question that remains today: Did the FBI identify the true killer, or is this case still unresolved? Subscribe now to unlock all shows on The Binge and you’ll be the first to access Cover Up: The Anthrax Threat as soon as it drops on March 1, 2024. A Campside Media & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A judge makes a decision in the case against Megan and Shirley. The people they deceived try to figure out a way to honor the ashes of unknown people. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: Body Brokers, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Just click ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Cover Up: Body Brokers show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Campside Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The community of Montrose reels after learning what was going on inside Megan’s funeral home. But Megan is out and about, acting as if everything is normal. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: Body Brokers, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Just click ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Cover Up: Body Brokers show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Campside Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Families discover the truth about the ashes Megan returned to them. A person close to Megan wrestles with an unfathomable betrayal. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: Body Brokers, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Just click ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Cover Up: Body Brokers show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Campside Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The FBI comes to Sunset Mesa, and Shirley does something no one sees coming. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: Body Brokers, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Just click ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Cover Up: Body Brokers show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Campside Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Real life former body broker Philip Guyett takes us inside the murky world where people buy and sell body parts for money. A reporter’s questions spark an investigation into Sunset Mesa. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: Body Brokers, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Just click ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Cover Up: Body Brokers show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Campside Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A look into Megan’s first funeral home job and her early years. Who is Shirley Koch, Megan’s mother and second-in-command at Sunset Mesa? Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: Body Brokers, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Just click ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Cover Up: Body Brokers show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Campside Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A widow whose husband is cremated at Megan Hess’ Sunset Mesa Funeral Home gets an odd feeling. The widow’s daughter calls Megan to confront her. Unlock all episodes of Cover Up: Body Brokers, ad-free, right now by subscribing to The Binge. Plus, get binge access to brand new stories dropping on the first of every month — that’s all episodes, all at once, all ad-free. Just click ‘Subscribe’ on the top of the Cover Up: Body Brokers show page on Apple Podcasts or visit GetTheBinge.com to get access wherever you get your podcasts. A Campside Media and Sony Music Entertainment production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For eight years, Megan Hess ran Sunset Mesa Funeral Home in the small town of Montrose, Colorado. She promised clients discounts on normally expensive cremations, a seeming kindness in a town where many are poor. But in the back of the funeral home, Megan’s elderly mother Shirley was actually dismembering the dead. And then Megan was selling the body parts – heads, torsos, legs – to companies that claim to do medical research. The families who trusted Megan –- they had no idea what she was really up to. When they came to pick up the ashes of their loved ones, they instead received a mixture of ashes of various people. They had no idea of their betrayal until some received a strange phonecall from the FBI. Megan and Shirley were body brokers, trading on a dark network where people buy and sell bodies. What exactly were the two women after? Who was really buying those stolen bodies, and why? Subscribe now to unlock all shows on The Binge and you’ll be the first to access Cover Up: Body Brokers as soon as it drops on January 2, 2024. A Campside Media & Sony Music Entertainment production. Find out more about The Binge and other podcasts from Sony Music Entertainment at sonymusic.com/podcasts and follow us @sonypodcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices