Insanity defense
Subject in True Crime
Insanity defense has come up in 5 episodes across 4 podcasts in TMT, including Morbid, Danny Jones Podcast, Serialously with Annie Elise. 2 people have made recorded remarks about it.
What people said
Annie EliseTrue crime podcaster and host of Serialously and 10 to Life
Elise argues it seems contradictory that Exantus was found legally insane for the murder but guilty of assaults in the same incident.
“how do you say that someone was legally insane when they committed the murder, but not insane when they assaulted the others in that same incident?”
Serialously with Annie Elise: 417: Grey’s Anatomy Inspired Murder: He Walked Inside, Then Took a Knife from the Kitchen | Logan Tipton (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 41:01
Elise explains that the prosecution argued Exantus's behavior resulted from synthetic drugs, while the defense cited a blood test showing only an inactive marijuana component.
“They claimed Ronald wasn't suffering from mental illness at all, that his behavior, it was all the result of synthetic drugs that can cause psychosis”
Serialously with Annie Elise: 417: Grey’s Anatomy Inspired Murder: He Walked Inside, Then Took a Knife from the Kitchen | Logan Tipton (Jul 6, 2026) · Listen from 37:47
Karen KilgariffAmerican comedian, writer, and co-host of My Favorite Murder
Kilgariff said the Spooner trial is believed to be among the first uses of the insanity defense in America.
“It's also believed to be one of the first times the insanity defense is used”
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark: 539 - It Keeps Getting Ruined (Jul 2, 2026) · Listen from 38:14
Coverage over time
Podcasts
- Morbid · 2 episodes
- Danny Jones Podcast · 1 episode
- Serialously with Annie Elise · 1 episode
- My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark · 1 episode
Episodes
#433 - Charlie Kirk's Autopsy, Egyptian Planes & Erika Kirk's Darkest Secret | Baron ColemanDanny Jones Podcast · Sep 21, 2026 · 2 h 54 min
Danny Jones and lawyer-turned-podcaster Baron Coleman dissect doubts about the Charlie Kirk assassination, TPUSA, Erika Kirk, HIV criminal defense, and media narratives.
George Hassell: The Family AxemanMorbid · Jul 23, 2026 · 56 min
Morbid hosts Alaina Urquhart and Ash Kelley recount the life and crimes of George Hassell, who murdered two families in California and Texas before his 1928 execution.
417: Grey’s Anatomy Inspired Murder: He Walked Inside, Then Took a Knife from the Kitchen | Logan TiptonSerialously with Annie Elise · Jul 6, 2026 · 56 min
Annie Elise recounts the 2015 stabbing of six-year-old Logan Tipton in Kentucky by Ronald Exantus, his insanity acquittal, early release, and the family's push for Logan's Law.
539 - It Keeps Getting RuinedMy Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark · Jul 2, 2026 · 1 h 4 min
Karen Kilgariff recounts the 1778 murder of Joshua Spooner and execution of his pregnant wife Bathsheba, and Georgia Hardstark tells the story of the 1876 Kentucky meat shower.
- Dr. Ohta & the Killer Prophet
Morbid · Jun 11, 2026 · 1 h 7 min
Morbid hosts Ash Kelley and Alaina Urquhart recount the 1970 murders of the Ohta family and Dorothy Cadwallader by John Linley Frazier in Santa Cruz County.