Into the Madness

A Killer’s Game, a Woman’s Obsession, a Dark Conspiracy

By: Trevor Aaronson

Narrated by: Trevor Aaronson

On July 4, 2022, a shooter climbed onto a rooftop in Highland Park, Illinois, and opened fire on a Fourth of July parade below, killing seven people and wounding dozens more. Prosecutors charged Robert “Bobby” Crimo III with the mass shooting. But this attack was part of something even more insidious. Bobby had created an elaborate game—complete with cryptic videos, a book of numbers, and an eerie online presence—designed to seed a conspiracy theory about the massacre.

Into the Madness is a deep dive into the events leading up to the mass shooting and the story of a woman who became a confidant to Crimo and the final player in his game. Drawing from dozens of interviews and more than 48 hours of recorded calls with Bobby, investigative journalist Trevor Aaronson tells a story that will challenge everything you think you know about mass shootings, conspiracy theories, and the fragile boundary between reality and illusion.

The series explores the rise of nihilistic violence, the role of technology in fostering extremism, and America’s collective descent into conspiracy thinking. Into the Madness will leave you questioning where the truth ends—and the madness begins.

Into the Madness is an Audible Original, produced by Trevor Aaronson and Western Sound.

Warning: This program contains graphic descriptions of violence and death, as well as recordings of a man accused of committing mass murder. Listener discretion is advised.

©2025 Trevor Aaronson (P)2025 Audible Originals, LLC.

Interesting story and perspectives.

This was a really crazy but familiar story…one that has been told before. But the author digs deep into the paradox this story presents, and holds a mirror that shows how it reflects society in the current moment. I highly recommend this read. Very illuminating and insightful self reflection for both the author and the reading audience.

Facinating

Everything about this story is so interesting. Very well written!!! Off to look up the case.

to much of his political views

interjection of his political views unnecessary to tell the story, otherwise decent . didn't finish book

Political nonsense

His political bias is strong and it ruined the story which was otherwise very interesting.

Well written but indulgent

Maybe I missed it because I couldn’t get through it all because this story seems like exactly what mass murderers want. Special attention for some perceived deeply tragic and unacknowledged pain they think they feel more than the average person. Seven people were slaughtered and Jamie’s pursuit to “understand” the perp reeks of fangirl with self esteem issues, all at the expense of her obsession’s victims. Aaronson writes well but would do better by an investment in the stories of those who were slayed.

Great Book. Delusion Personified

Great story. Genuinely felt sorry for this girl. Until I realized she’s a grown woman living in a fictional reality. Sad truths about the state of society. “None of this is real.”

Left with a depressing reality

The ending almost justifies this creepy story. Why wasn’t this man identified as mentally ill sooner? We keep seeing one tragedy after another and can’t find a cure because too many people are living in a toxic reality fueled by war games, violent movies and social media.

Good listen

This girl is almost more scary than Bobby. How creepy, she is. Whew. Interesting crazy chick

Lack of credibility

I honestly could not finish this audiobook and had to skip through sections in the last half. I felt that the female character was as misguided, gullible and had a range of complex issues of her own. She tried to fit all aspects of the killer’s story into her belief system while ignoring glaring facts.

Twisted true crime in todays weird world

I like the investigative journalism… it’s really hard to see what’s real… the author did a good job showing what is real and how easy it is to go down the rabbit hole … without judgement…