John Crutchley, the ‘Vampire Rapist,’ seems one step ahead of police at all times as they struggle to prove he was a serial killer responsible for killing numerous local women. And why are we, as a society, obsessed with murder?

John Crutchley, the &lsquo;Vampire Rapist,&rsquo; seems one step ahead of police at all times as they struggle to prove he was a serial killer responsible for killing numerous local women. And why are we, as a society, obsessed with murder?

An unsympathetic victim, a prosecutor's conviction playbook, a missing mother of two and a tale of lie after lie after lie. Across four seasons, Murder on the Space Coast has explored each of these heartbreaking true-crime stories based in Central Florida.

An unsympathetic victim, a prosecutor's conviction playbook, a missing mother of two and a tale of lie after lie after lie. Across four seasons, Murder on the Space Coast has explored each of these heartbreaking true-crime stories based in Central Florida.

True-crime stories from Florida's Space Coast

Murder On The Space Coast

In 1983, vampire rapist John Crutchley moved to Brevard County.  Two months after he moved here, 18-year-old actress Tammy Lynn Leppert ("Spring Break," "Scarface") disappeared. What happened to the aspiring model and actress is still a mystery. Tammy's story is featured in the special three-episode podcast "Murder on the Space Coast: Obsessed with Murder." It's available Dec. 8 on floridatoday.com, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, Google Play, and several other podcast sites.

In 1983, vampire rapist John Crutchley moved to Brevard County.&nbsp; Two months after he moved here, 18-year-old actress Tammy Lynn Leppert ("Spring Break," "Scarface") disappeared. What happened to the aspiring model and actress is still a mystery. Tammy's story is featured in the special three-episode podcast "Murder on the Space Coast: Obsessed with Murder." It's available Dec. 8&nbsp;on&nbsp;<a href="http://www.floridatoday.com/" data-auth="NotApplicable">floridatoday.com</a>, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, Soundcloud, iHeartRadio, Google Play, and several other podcast sites.

Murder on the Space Coast: Obsessed with Murder

An unsympathetic victim, a prosecutor's conviction playbook, a missing mother of two, a family of liars and a murder in an orange grove. Across multiple seasons, Murder on the Space Coast has explored each of these heartbreaking true-crime stories based in Central Florida.

An unsympathetic victim, a prosecutor's conviction playbook, a missing mother of two, a family of liars and a murder in an orange grove. Across multiple seasons, Murder on the Space Coast has explored each of these heartbreaking true-crime stories based in Central Florida.

Mini Season Episode Two: One Step Ahead

After 23 years in prison for a murder many believe he did not commit, Jeff Abramowski's conviction was overturned and he was released from custody. The state has yet to announce whether it will retry the Melbourne man again for the 2002 murder of Cortney "Dick" Crandall in Palm Shores.

After 23 years in prison for a murder many believe he did not commit, Jeff Abramowski's conviction was overturned and he was released from custody. The state has yet to announce whether it will retry the Melbourne man again for the 2002 murder of Cortney "Dick" Crandall in Palm Shores.

Season 4 Update: Abramowski released from prison

Bonus episode: FLORIDA TODAY's John A. Torres explains a bit of the backstory of our journey to telling you about the Gayden case.

Bonus episode: FLORIDA TODAY's John A. Torres explains a bit of the backstory of our journey to telling you about the Gayden case.

How We Got Here

Episode 5: Dr. Gayden uses his opiate-induced influence on underage girls.

Episode 5: Dr. Gayden uses his opiate-induced influence on underage girls.

Mini Season Episode Two: One Step Ahead

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Murder On The Space Coast

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