iHeartPodcasts and Coolfire Studios have announced the launch of a new true-crime podcast titled “The Peacemaker.” The eight-part series is set to premiere on Tuesday, October 14, with episodes released weekly. It will be available on the iHeartRadio app and other major podcast platforms.
Hosted by investigative journalists Ben Westhoff and Ryan Krull, “The Peacemaker” investigates a series of suicides that occurred at Truman State University in Missouri between 2016 and 2017. The university, often referred to as the “Harvard of the Midwest,” experienced several student deaths, many involving members of the Alpha Kappa Lambda (AKL) fraternity.
Central to the story is Brandon Grossheim, who served as house manager at AKL. Grossheim was friends with all of the victims and discovered some of their bodies. After these events, he began relationships with some victims’ girlfriends and wore clothing belonging to one victim. He was expelled from his fraternity and now faces civil lawsuits related to the deaths. Opinions about his involvement remain divided; while some see him as a supportive peer who tried to help classmates in distress, others question his repeated presence at multiple death scenes.
As suspicions increased, law enforcement interviewed Grossheim multiple times. The podcast aims to examine whether he played any role in the incidents or if he was simply caught in a tragic sequence of events. Through exclusive interviews and detailed reporting, Westhoff and Krull seek to uncover new information about this case, which continues to spark debate within the college community and among families affected by the losses.
According to iHeartPodcasts: “Through exclusive interviews and on-the-ground reporting, hosts Westhoff and Krull will expose new revelations and never-told details, going deeper than anyone has before on this disturbing case—one that continues to divide a college town, perplex the devastated families of the bereaved, and raise urgent questions about mental health, responsibility and justice.”
Listeners can access the trailer for “The Peacemaker” now via iHeartRadio’s website or embedded audio players.
Ben Westhoff is an investigative journalist known for his work on drugs, culture, and poverty. His books include “Fentanyl, Inc.” He has contributed articles to publications such as The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal.
Ryan Krull has covered stories across St. Louis and Missouri for a decade through outlets like Riverfront Times and St. Louis Magazine.
Coolfire Studios is based in St. Louis and produces content ranging from documentaries to branded entertainment for national brands.
