Felonious Florida

The terror that Florida's Pillowcase Rapist inflicted on his victims is unimaginable. It can take years and, for some, a lifetime to heal from the trauma. In this special episode, advocates and one of the rapist's victims talk about the process of recovery and what it takes just to feel safe again. Plus, updates on the case against the accused rapist.

Show notes:

If you or somebody you know has been a victim of sexual violence, you can get confidential support from the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Find them online at RAINN.org. Or call the toll-free number at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

To report tips about the cases featured in any of our episodes, contact the FBI's anonymous tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit FBI.gov.

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An unexpected break comes nearly 40 years after the last known attack of one of South Florida’s most wanted fugitives. And it reveals new details about the crime spree that shook South Florida. The identity of the notorious Pillowcase Rapist is finally revealed.

Show notes:

If you or somebody you know has been a victim of sexual violence, you can get confidential support from the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Find them online at RAINN.org. Or call the toll-free number at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

To report tips about the cases featured in any of our episodes, contact the FBI's anonymous tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit FBI.gov.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

After five years and dozens of terrifying attacks, the rapist makes his first big mistake. But publicity comes with a price. When the attacks come to an abrupt stop, Detective Simmons and his investigators are left wondering if the case has gone cold.

Show notes:

If you or somebody you know has been a victim of sexual violence, you can get confidential support from the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Find them online at RAINN.org. Or call the toll-free number at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

To report tips about the cases featured in any of our episodes, contact the FBI's anonymous tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit FBI.gov.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A rogue killer cop confesses. A flasher draws scrutiny. A man rapes two elderly women. Are any of these potential suspects the Pillowcase Rapist? A new type of blood testing may carry the answer. It’s the most significant clue yet in the case.

Show notes:

If you or somebody you know has been a victim of sexual violence, you can get confidential support from the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Find them online at RAINN.org. Or call the toll-free number at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

To report tips about the cases featured in any of our episodes, contact the FBI's anonymous tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit FBI.gov.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

With public pressure mounting to capture the rapist, Detective Simmons tries a long-shot tactic to catch the suspect in the act. Meanwhile, other important clues surface including a shoe print left in the dirt. Police are starting to get a clearer picture of the elusive rapist.

Show notes:

If you or somebody you know has been a victim of sexual violence, you can get confidential support from the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Find them online at RAINN.org. Or call the toll-free number at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

To report tips about the cases featured in any of our episodes, contact the FBI's anonymous tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit FBI.gov.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

As the police strain under Miami’s deadly cocaine-fueled crime wave, the Pillowcase Rapist is striking with impunity. After a school teacher is raped in her apartment in late 1983, Detective Simmons and his team are stunned to learn that the suspect returned to her apartment a second time — a brazen and unsettling escalation by the rapist.

Show notes:

If you or somebody you know has been a victim of sexual violence, you can get confidential support from the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Find them online at RAINN.org. Or call the toll-free number at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

To report tips about the cases featured in any of our episodes, contact the FBI's anonymous tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit FBI.gov.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the early morning hours of Sept. 6, 1981, a young flight attendant is jolted out of her sleep and raped by an intruder who hid his face with a pillowcase. But this is just the beginning of a terrifying spree across Miami. A young detective named Dave Simmons takes over the cases and quickly realizes that he’s dealing with one of Florida’s most prolific serial rapists.

Show notes:

If you or somebody you know has been a victim of sexual violence, you can get confidential support from the National Sexual Assault Hotline. Find them online at RAINN.org. Or call the toll-free number at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

To report tips about the case featured in any of our episodes, contact the FBI's anonymous tip line at 1-800-CALL-FBI (225-5324) or visit FBI.gov.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An elusive serial rapist is on the prowl in South Florida during the height of Miami’s cocaine-fueled crime wave in the early 1980s. He is a cunning, dangerous predator who stalks women, then ambushes them late at night in the safety of their own homes. He becomes known as the Pillowcase Rapist for the way he hides his identity. None of his victims ever sees his face and he leaves behind virtually no clues. For four decades, he evades capture despite one of the most ambitious crime-stopping efforts in South Florida history. Now, an extraordinary stroke of luck may have finally cracked the case. Who was the man beneath the pillowcase? And how did he escape capture for so many years?

Season 4 of Felonious Florida, "In the Darkness," is coming March 14 exclusively on Wondery Plus. Find Wondery Plus on Apple Podcasts or in the Wondery app.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's a case with an ending almost as stunning as the scene where it all began — 33 years ago in the doorway of a home in a gated community of Wellington, Florida. A killer dressed as a clown fired a single bullet into the face of Marlene Warren, a soft-spoken mom from the midwest. For three decades, the case sat as one of Florida's most notorious unsolved murders. But after the face behind the white paint is finally revealed, hopes begin to falter that Marlene's murder would ever be truly solved. The story Felonious Florida brought you in Season 2 comes to an end.

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

William Foster goes from pimping his high school sweetheart to building one of Florida’s largest trafficking empires. His fortune is made off dozens of girls — some of them underage — stripping and selling themselves for sex. But a monster hurricane off the coast of Florida would threaten to bring it all down. Plus, the search for Sophie Reeder intensifies.

Binge listen to Felonious Florida: Innocence Sold early and ad-free exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ and enjoy exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. You can find Wondery+ in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, and www.wondery.com/felonious

Human trafficking help and resources

If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also get more information and submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST. FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information that is provided to the CyberTipline.

Parents and caregivers of children who have been victims of sex or labor trafficking can find help and resources through the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crimes. 

If you have information on the disappearance of Sophie Reeder or any other case you’ve heard in this podcast, contact Crime Stoppers USA at 1-800-222-TIPS. Tips can be made anonymously.

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A staff mentor at a group foster home lures away two teenage residents to be sold for sex in hotel rooms from the Florida Keys to Tampa. A car crash in the middle of the night offers what may be their only chance to escape — but their captor isn't finished with them yet.

Binge listen to Felonious Florida: Innocence Sold early and ad-free exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ and enjoy exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. You can find Wondery+ in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, and www.wondery.com/felonious

Human trafficking help and resources

If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also get more information and submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST. FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information that is provided to the CyberTipline.

Parents and caregivers of children who have been victims of sex or labor trafficking can find help and resources through the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crimes. 

If you have information on the disappearance of Sophie Reeder or any other case you’ve heard in this podcast, contact Crime Stoppers USA at 1-800-222-TIPS. Tips can be made anonymously.

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A 13-year-old girl disappears from her mother’s apartment, only to return a week later beaten, raped, and with a rose tattoo on her neck. She barely escaped her terrifying ordeal. But within hours, police have her in handcuffs — she's under arrest for crimes her captors forced her to commit.

Binge listen to Felonious Florida: Innocence Sold early and ad-free exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ and enjoy exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. You can find Wondery+ in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, and www.wondery.com/felonious

Human trafficking help and resources

If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also get more information and submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST. FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information that is provided to the CyberTipline.

Parents and caregivers of children who have been victims of sex or labor trafficking can find help and resources through the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crimes. 

If you have information on the disappearance of Sophie Reeder or any other case you’ve heard in this podcast, contact Crime Stoppers USA at 1-800-222-TIPS. Tips can be made anonymously.

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Shanika Ampah was a straight-A girl from a home with two loving parents. But a horrifying tragedy struck and by the age of just 11, she was lured by predators and taken on the road to be sold as a product out of a tractor trailer. For seven years she endured horror no girl ever should — until one day when she catches a break.

Binge listen to Felonious Florida: Innocence Sold early and ad-free exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ and enjoy exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. You can find Wondery+ in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, and www.wondery.com/felonious

Human trafficking help and resources

If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also get more information and submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST. FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information that is provided to the CyberTipline.

Parents and caregivers of children who have been victims of sex or labor trafficking can find help and resources through the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crimes. 

If you have information on the disappearance of Sophie Reeder or any other case you’ve heard in this podcast, contact Crime Stoppers USA at 1-800-222-TIPS. Tips can be made anonymously.

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Nobody knows when 16-year-old Marina Ralph entered room 334 of an Extended Stay hotel in Florida, or what happened to her while there. What we do know is that Marina was terrified of something. The only person who might have known what happened to her was a friend she met at school — but now, both girls are dead.

Binge listen to Felonious Florida: Innocence Sold early and ad-free exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ and enjoy exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. You can find Wondery+ in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, and www.wondery.com/felonious

NOTE: This episode was updated on Jan. 6, 2023, to reflect new developments in the case of Barbara Lechler's granddaughter, Ivy.

Human trafficking help and resources

If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also get more information and submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST. FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information that is provided to the CyberTipline.

Parents and caregivers of children who have been victims of sex or labor trafficking can find help and resources through the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crimes. 

If you have information on the disappearance of Sophie Reeder or any other case you’ve heard in this podcast, contact Crime Stoppers USA at 1-800-222-TIPS. Tips can be made anonymously.

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

There have been some updates to cases featured in Season 3 of Felonious Florida: Innocence Sold. In a special episode, host David Schutz is joined by the reporters who brought you Season 3 as well as two special guests to hear what's happened in the past two months. The team also talk the challenges of reporting on these difficult cases and the issues of child sex trafficking raised in our investigation.

Binge listen to Felonious Florida: Innocence Sold early and ad-free exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ and enjoy exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. You can find Wondery+ in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, and www.wondery.com/felonious

Human trafficking help and resources

To find more information about Angine Moss' non-profit organization Hosanna4Youth, visit their website Hosanna4Youth.org.

If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also get more information and submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST. FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information that is provided to the CyberTipline.

Parents and caregivers of children who have been victims of sex or labor trafficking can find help and resources through the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crimes. 

If you have information on the disappearance of Sophie Reeder or any other case you’ve heard in this podcast, contact Crime Stoppers USA at 1-800-222-TIPS. Tips can be made anonymously.

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When 15-year-old Sophie Reeder disappears from her Florida home, it appears at first that she has run away. But clues begin to emerge that something terrible has happened to Sophie. Then more cases surface that expose a violent world that lures in girls like Sophie and tears their lives apart — or leaves them dead and often forgotten. The mystery of Sophie Reeder's fate hinges on one thing: If somebody out there knows what happened to her, why haven't they come forward?

Binge listen to Felonious Florida: Innocence Sold early and ad-free exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ and enjoy exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. You can find Wondery+ in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, and www.wondery.com/felonious

Human trafficking help and resources

If you are a human trafficking victim or have information about a potential trafficking situation, call the National Human Trafficking Resource Center (NHTRC) at 1-888-373-7888 or text 233733. NHTRC is a national, toll-free hotline, with specialists available to answer calls from anywhere in the country, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also get more information and submit a tip on the NHTRC website.

If you believe a child is involved in a trafficking situation, submit a tip through the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children’s CyberTipline or call 1-800-THE-LOST. FBI personnel assigned to NCMEC review information that is provided to the CyberTipline.

Parents and caregivers of children who have been victims of sex or labor trafficking can find help and resources through the Department of Justice’s Office for Victims of Crimes. 

If you have information on the disappearance of Sophie Reeder or any other case you’ve heard in this podcast, contact Crime Stoppers USA at 1-800-222-TIPS. Tips can be made anonymously.

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a new 6-part season, Felonious Florida investigates the mysterious disappearance of a 15-year-old Fort Lauderdale girl. Sophie Reeder was first treated as a runway, but clues begin to emerge within days that point to a devastating possibility: Sophie had entered a violent world where death is always lurking and young lives are shattered forever. Her case leads our reporters to others with striking similarities — and these are their terrifying stories.

Binge listen to Felonious Florida: Innocence Sold early and ad-free exclusively with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ and enjoy exclusives, binges, early access, and ad-free listening. You can find Wondery+ in the Wondery app, Apple Podcasts, and www.wondery.com/felonious

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

It's the murder case that launched the Felonious Florida podcast in 2018. There's been a verdict in the trial of Pablo Ibar, accused of murdering Butch Casey, Sharon Anderson and Marie Rogers in South Florida in 1994. It's the fifth time a jury has considered evidence against a suspect in the brutal home invasion — but this time, it's not the remarkable 22-minute video recording of the murders that's the key to the case. There's new evidence against Pablo. Will his high-powered defense team find a way to overcome it?

Be sure to listen to Episodes 1-4 of the first season of the show before listening to this update — start with the episode titled The Executions.

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The early days of the search for the killer clown focus on Marlene Warren's husband, Michael, and the repo woman who worked on his used car lot, Sheila Keen. There appeared to be motive: An insurance payout, investment properties, a lavish home and an affair. But there's little or no hard evidence. As Michael goes to prison for illegal activities on his lot, the investigation into his wife's murder goes ice cold. Until 27 years later, when the secret lives of a married Virginia couple are exposed, and the alleged killer clown is finally unmasked.

See photos, video and read more about the Encino Murders at FeloniousFlorida.com

Thank you to our sponsors:

Audible — Get a 30-day trial and a free audiobook when you visit them at www.audible.com/florida

SimpliSafe — Get your home security system with no hidden fees or contracts at www.SimpliSafe.com/florida

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When Marlene Warren answered a morning knock on her front door on Memorial Day weekend in 1990, a clown delivering flowers and balloons was smiling back at her. But her delight instantly turned to horror when the clown pulled a gun and put a bullet in her face. Police jumped on the trail of the killer clown almost immediately, and our reporters found that the investigation led them into the darkest corners of the Sunshine State — from loansharking and drug smuggling to prostitution and seedy affairs. But as a mountain of circumstantial evidence piled up and two possible suspects emerged, the case went ice cold.

See photos, video and read more about the Encino Murders at FeloniousFlorida.com

Thank you to our sponsors:

Audible — Get a 30-day trial and a free audiobook when you visit them at www.audible.com/florida

SimpliSafe — Get your home security system with no hidden fees or contracts at www.SimpliSafe.com/florida

Listen to Felonious Florida on the Wondery App or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad-free and be the first to binge the newest season. Unlock exclusive early access by joining Wondery+ in the Wondery App or on Apple Podcasts. Start your free trial today by visiting https://wondery.com/links/felonious-florida now.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.