Episode
The Casting Call Killer: The Tragedy of Kristi Johnson
- Podcast
- Forensic Files Unsealed
- Published
- Sep 19, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3037
- Processing state
not_requested
Actions
POST https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/forensic-files-unsealed-6989771/episodes/the-casting-call-killer-the-tragedy-of-kristi-johnson/transcription-requests
Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode.GET https://stenobird.com/podcast/forensic-files-unsealed-6989771/the-casting-call-killer-the-tragedy-of-kristi-johnson.md
Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource.
Summary
This episode details the tragic case of Kristi Johnson, a young woman who moved to Hollywood to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. In 2003, she disappeared after being lured to a fake audition by Victor Paleologus, a serial predator who posed as a casting agent for a James Bond film. The narrative outlines how Paleologus used the same deceptive tactics on multiple women, promising fame to manipulate them into dangerous situations. Although forensic evidence was scarce, testimony from other survivors proved vital in securing a prison sentence for her murder. The episode also highlights the long-term efforts of Kathy Dabono, a former target who later obtained the killer's DNA and confession to assist cold case investigations. Ultimately, the account serves as a somber warning about the vulnerabilities of aspiring artists chasing dreams in a city where predators often hide behind false promises. Content Warning: This podcast contains discussions of homicide, violence, abuse, and other graphic themes related to real-life criminal events. It is intended for mature audiences and listener discretion is advised. This episode includes AI-generated content.