Once Upon A Crime

Marine wife Erin Corwin was just 19 years old when she disappeared in California’s Joshua Tree National Park. Nearly two months later, her body was found in an abandoned mine in the unforgiving desert, and suspicions quickly fell on a fellow Marine. Here’s a preview of the new podcast, “48 Hours: NCIS”, which merges the award-winning journalism of one of the most celebrated true crime news programs with the world’s #1 TV franchise, to bring you the real-life cases that NCIS agents will never forget. Host CBS News correspondent Natalie Morales untangles this twisted story of infidelity and betrayal that led to Erin’s tragic end. Listen early and ad-free right now by subscribing to 48 Hours+ on Apple Podcasts. 

In this first story, we’ll go back over one hundred years to learn about a Romeo and Juliet story that ended in cold-blooded murder.  On the property where the killing took place now sits a stone building known by locals as “The Witch’s Castle.”  Some say that the restless spirits of the murdered man, his widow, and the killer roam the area on nights when the moon is full.

This is the story of the murder of Mortimer Stump and the haunting of The Witch’s Castle. 

Resources: 

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-witches-castle-portland-oregon 

https://www.mckenzieriverreflectionsnewspaper.com/story/2013/24/2/history/mystery-surrounds-portland-s-first-public-execution/830.html 

https://themorbidlibrary.com/2021/09/10/the-haunted-the-witchs-castle/ 

http://balchipedia.wikidot.com/danford 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/900596109/?match=1&terms=mortimer%20stump 

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1088419076/?match=1&terms=%22anna%20stump%22

Links:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com 

In this special Halloween episode, horror comes to a family in the middle of the night.  But unlike ghostly tales, this was all too real and was the last thing they’d ever expected as they invited the monster into their home. 

Resources: 

https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Bay-Area-suspect-allegedly-bludgeoned-victims-3217121.php

https://www.therotundaonline.com/remembering-associate-professor-of-sociology-dr-debra-s-kelley/article_2fab25df-a3f5-527c-ba59-cf14588b4e00.html

Slain mom, teen had counseling over music - https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32992286

Links: 

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

In July 1993, Mia Zapata, a rising star in the genre of punk rock music, joined what is morbidly referred to as “The 27 Club” - artists and celebrities whose lives ended at the age of 27. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse all qualify. But like other members of this unfortunate club, Mia Zapata didn’t die as the result of a drug overdose or by her own hand.  She was murdered on the streets of Seattle just before she reached success with her band, The Gits.

In this episode, I’ll detail the life, death, and lasting legacy of Mia Zapata.

Resources: 

Mia Zapata and The Gits: A Story of Art, Rock, and Revolution, Steve Moriarty, (2024) https://amzn.to/3T2cjgv 

https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/a44362322/a-cross-between-janis-joplin-and-johnny-rotten-remembering-mia-zapata-of-the-gits/

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/mia-zapata-murderer-dead-1170206/

https://web.archive.org/web/20130406042509/http://thegits.com/?page_id=410

https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/singer-s-killer-gets-37-years-1143741.php

“Mia: Mia Zapata left her Louisville roots for a shot at success with her band, The Gits. But death ended her dream, and her killer is still at large,” James Nold, Jr., The Courier-Journal, Oct. 9, 1993. 

Links: 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com 

In 1975, a renowned drummer who played with some of the most prominent artists of the 1960s and ‘70s was found shot and killed after an apparent botched robbery. 

But some suspected Al Jackson, Jr. had been set up for murder.  Was his soon-to-be ex-wife involved in his slaying? Was a friend’s relationship with a wanted fugitive to blame?  Or was he privy to sensitive music business information that made him a target? 

Resources: 

https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/25/al-jackson-jr-memphis-sunset-the-mysterious-death-of-stax-heartbeat 

http://staxrecords.free.fr/aljacksonpage.htm

https://torontosun.com/news/world/hunter-murder-music-and-the-memphis-sound-of-stax-volt

http://vancouverdrummer.blogspot.com/2017/09/al-jackson.html

Links: 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com 

What makes a serial killer? Mind of a Serial Killer takes you deep into the twisted minds of history’s most notorious serial killers. Every Monday, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels, a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, combines gripping true crime storytelling with expert psychological analysis to answer the question - what makes a serial killer? From Jeffrey Dahmer to Ted Bundy, explore not only their chilling crimes but the dark psychology behind them. Follow Mind of a Serial Killer wherever you get your podcasts!

In this episode, a young Ohio man begins playing music before he is barely out of diapers. He and his brothers would form a band and shoot to the top of the charts. They were hometown heroes and certified music stars, but a baffling turn of events would end in a double tragedy.  

This is chapter one in the Rocktober series, “Murdered Musicians” - Zapped - The Life and Death of Funk Musician Roger. 

Resources: 

https://www.dayton.com/news/local/icon-lost-one-dayton-most-gut-wrenching-murders-years-ago/g0LamsZlgO9s7NvR6Ar6cM/

https://www.daytondailynews.com/what-to-know/troutman-brothers-shot-dead-recording-artist-believed-victim-in-murder-suicide/HDHRGKMFV5BP5DQVK53FIE7DX4/

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/zapp-brothers-found-dead-90905/

https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local/photos-roger-troutman-and-the-legendary-zapp-band-through-the-years/s5jkHsjNadR3ym8L3YLK9H/

https://vimeopro.com/user15889254/unsung/video/301288752 

https://www.grunge.com/931330/the-tragic-1999-murder-of-funk-legend-roger-troutman-explained/

https://ohtravel88.wordpress.com/2020/06/14/the-tragic-stories-of-roger-larry-troutman-and-ray-combs/

Links: 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

On a dark night in April 1989, a young man named Chip Flynn was shot in a Florida orange grove. His ex-girlfriend Kim was the only surviving witness and claimed a Black man had robbed, kidnapped, and killed Chip. A year later, Crosley Green was sentenced to death by an all-white jury for Flynn's murder. After 32 years behind bars, a judge ruled Green was wrongfully convicted — so why is he still in prison? Here’s a preview of the new “48 Hours” podcast, “Murder in the Orange Grove: The Troubled Case Against Crosley Green” which offers the most comprehensive deep dive into this shocking case that leaves one man fighting desperately for his freedom. "48 Hours" correspondent Erin Moriarty has followed this controversial case for 25 years, delving into inconsistencies — from coerced confessions to allegations of a racial hoax — that challenge the integrity of the verdict. You can hear the rest of this episode by searching for “Murder in the Orange Grove: The Troubled Case Against Crosley Green”wherever you get your podcasts.

A formerly peace-loving man becomes obsessed with extreme political conspiracy theories. David DePape falls down a rabbit hole, consuming ever-more radical views on YouTube, blogs, and social media posts.  

A perfect storm of factors will cause him to carry out a baffling and horrific attack after breaking into the home of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Resources: 

“Paul Pelosi attack: From nudist activism to online hate, suspect David DePape’s strange descent,” Rachel Swan, Dustin Gardiner, and Sarah Ravani, The San Francisco Chronicle, November 16, 2023. 

“Where is Nancy?: Here’s what happened, minute by minute, inside the Pelosi home,” Megan Cassidy, The San Francisco Chronicle, November 3, 2022. 

“David DePape Sentenced after Conviction on Assault and Attempted Kidnapping Charges,” Press Release, Office of the Attorney General, May 17, 2024.

“Gypsy Taub Speaks Out About Ex-Boyfriend David DePape,” Jay Barmann, SFist.com, October 31, 2022. 

“Ex-wife of man who attacked Paul Pelosi is barred from court,” Brian Krans, KQED, June 18, 2024. 

Links: 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Dani After Dark - Watch my interview on “Dani After Dark” on YouTube - https://youtu.be/_krzF5A1t7I?si=1dY4TgRrQA3DtrLC

In this month’s series, “The Politics of Murder,” we’ll take a look at cases where violent acts are perpetrated upon political figures.  In this episode, a disgruntled man whose life is unraveling due to his own actions places the blame on the policies of one political party.  His random act of violence will turn a pleasant day at a ballpark into ten minutes of horror and chaos.  

Sources: 

https://www.secretservice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2020-06/Hodgkinson.pdf

https://www.washingtonian.com/2018/05/28/terrifying-story-of-the-congressional-baseball-shooting-steve-scalise/

https://www.politico.com/news/2021/04/21/2017-baseball-field-shooting-fbi-conculsion-483993

Links: 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

In this month’s series, “The Politics of Murder,” we’ll take a look at cases where violent acts are perpetrated upon political figures.  First up, a young man begins to lose his grip on reality and fixates on a congressperson whom he targets for assassination.  Jared Lee Loughner’s mass shooting at a community political event will spark debate regarding violent political rhetoric, gun control laws, and the state of mental health care in the U.S.  

Sources: 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tucson_shooting

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/08/arizona.shooting.suspect/

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/09/arizona.shooting.investigation/index.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/27/gabby-giffords-shooting-records/2024589/

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/01/15/arizona.shooting.images/index.html

https://edition.cnn.com/2012/11/08/justice/arizona-loughner-sentencing/index.html

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/03/27/gabby-giffords-shooting-records/2024589/

https://www.cnn.com/2012/08/07/us/arizona-loughner-plea/index.html 

https://theweek.com/articles/488172/arizona-massacre-should-sarah-palin-share-blame

Links: 

Once Upon a Crime on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Before Ted Bundy became a collective symbol of a real-life boogeyman and the person who helped coin the term “serial killer,” he was a son, a brother, a grandson, and a cousin - someone with friends and family members who loved him and never could have suspected the evil that lay within him and would come to destroy so many lives. 

In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with one of those family members - someone who grew up with Ted Bundy and with whom he shared a close relationship.

Edna Cowell Martin knew Bundy as “cousin Ted.”  Having to face the horror of what her cousin had done and the chaos of the media circus surrounding his arrest, trial, and execution, Edna and her family chose to remain anonymous…until now.  

Edna’s new memoir, “Dark Tide: Growing Up with Ted Bundy,” reveals new details of his life, personality, and family relationships through his cousin Edna’s memories, photographs, and letters from Bundy himself.  We learn what it was like for his family members to grapple with the realization that a person they loved and thought they knew well was one of the most infamous serial killers in U.S. history. 

***

You can purchase the book “Dark Tide: Growing Up with Ted Bundy” at the link below or ask for it at your favorite independent bookstore. 

https://amzn.to/3SQ3MNR

One listener will win a copy of the book.  To enter, go to our Instagram page, look for the “Dark Tide” post, and follow the instructions to have a chance to win. Good luck!  https://www.instagram.com/OnceUponaCrimePod/

A young woman grows up hearing stories about her abusive grandfather. She takes it upon herself to learn the whole truth about him. In the course of her investigation, shocking revelations come to light, and she begins to ask the question - was Jim Mordecai a serial killer?

Sources:

The Truth About Jim, 2024, Skye Borgman, director. Distributed by HBO Max. 

https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-woman-suspects-relative-was-serial-killer-uncovering-family-secrets 

https://www.the-sun.com/news/10391888/truth-about-jim-mordecai-hbo-sierra-barter/

https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-reviews/the-truth-about-jim-docuseries-1234968110/ 

https://www.businessinsider.com/jim-mordecai-zodiac-killer-the-truth-about-jim-sierra-barter-2024-2 

https://www.theeducationisthub.com/jim-mordecai/ 

Links.

Once Upon a Crime on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

In this month’s series, “Buried Family Secrets,” I’ll share stories about family secrets that hid decades-old murders and may have prevented the killers from facing justice. Fortunately, in each case, one family member dared to share the truth so justice could be served. 

In this first episode, when Lloyd Ford disappears in 1980, his wife claims he’s run off with another woman. But her 12-year-old knows the truth and will be forced to keep her mother’s deadly secret for over two decades. 

Sources: 

The Devil You Know, Season 3, Episode 5. (2012) Director: Mary Bissell

https://www.idahopress.com/news/gough-admits-to-1980-murder/article_cf5cb179-e997-57c2-bd80-08239f2f9b3e.html

https://thecinemaholic.com/judy-gough-where-is-lloyd-fords-wife-now/

Links:

Once Upon a Crime on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

A Devil Went Down to Georgia: Race, Power, Privilege, and the Murder of Lita McClinton, written by Deb Miller Landau, is the story of the murder-for-hire of Lita McClinton Sullivan in 1987.  

Lita was a beautiful, accomplished woman from a respected Atlanta family. Her interracial marriage to millionaire Jim Sullivan in 1970s Georgia was noteworthy in itself. Their differences fueled their deep attraction for each other in the beginning—she was a college-educated, Black debutante from the South. He was a white entrepreneur from working-class Boston, ten years her senior.  

They fell in love and soon married.  But, before long, Lita found herself trapped in a marriage with a controlling man who treated her as a possession. When Lita filed for divorce from Jim Sullivan a decade later, it set off a series of events that ended in her violent death and subjected her family to a decades-long search for justice. 

I spoke with Deb Miller Landau about this decades-old murder case detailed in her book, available now in your favorite bookstore or online retailer. 

Links: 

The author’s website - www.debword.com and Instagram https://www.instagram.com/dml_author/

A Devil Went Down to Georgia: Race, Power, Privilege and the Murder of Lita McClinton, Deb Miller Landau, Pegasus Books, 2024. ISBN 9781639366835 

To purchase the book on Amazon - https://amzn.to/4dk0zOD

In this week’s episode, a young woman, newly engaged and expecting a baby, goes for a morning run in the serene beachfront town of Ceiba, Puerto Rico, and finds herself trapped in a nightmare.  Still finding the inner courage to keep her wits about her, the terrified woman’s actions would help solve her own murder.

Sources: 

“Kidnap Victim Called Fiancee Before Slaying,” SFGate.com, Feb 7, 2009.

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Kidnap-victim-called-fiance-before-slaying-3173177.php 

“Murder in Puerto Rico,” Latitude38.com, Feb 6, 2009.

https://www.latitude38.com/lectronic/murder-in-puerto-rico/ 

“Puerto Rican Indicted in Pregnant Woman’s Slaying,” SavannahNow.com, Feb 5, 2009.

https://www.savannahnow.com/story/news/2009/02/06/puerto-rican-indicted-pregnant-womans-slaying/13603126007/ 

“Puerto Rican Man Gets 105 Years in Killing of Pregnant San Jose Native,” Associated Press, June 1, 2009. 

https://coastalcourier.com/news/state-national/puerto-rican-gets-105-years-for-killing-savannah-woman/ 

Links: 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

In this month’s series, “Resorting to Murder,” I share cases proving that murder never takes a holiday.

This week’s case tells the story of a rocky mother-daughter relationship, a fight over an inheritance, and a cold-blooded murder that occurred at a luxury resort.  Was the murder of socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack the desperate act of an abused child or spurred on by an entitled young woman’s greed?

Sources: 

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2015/12/09/heather-mack-accuses-slain-mom-of-cheating-her-out-of-inheritance/

https://people.com/heather-mack-suitcase-killer-everything-to-know-7509623 

Heather Mack discusses her relationship with mother: Exclusive (people.com)

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/american-couple-sentenced-to-prison-for-bali-suitcase-murder/ 

https://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/interviews-with-bali-suitcase-killers-uncovers-disturbing-details-behind-the-gruesome-murder/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3838671/Body-Suitcase-killer-Tommy-Schaefer-claims-ex-Heather-Mack-does-drugs-drinks-sex-female-prisoners-daughter-close-speaking-time-conviction-letter-friends.html

Links: 

Once Upon a Crime on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

In this month’s series, I’ll share cases of vacations that turned deadly.  Even in the most serene and beautiful locations, murder never takes a holiday.  

This week, an award-winning television producer, his beautiful and successful Brazilian-born wife, and young children take a family vacation to a tropical resort.  When Monica Beresford-Redman is found murdered just yards from their hotel suite, her husband becomes the main suspect.  

Was the circumstantial evidence all pointing to Bruce Beresford-Redman as the murderer merely a series of coincidences or proof of his guilt?  Was he a victim of terrible luck, or did he resort to murder? 

Sources: 

48 Hours: Bruce Beresford-Redman: The Verdict, Season 28, Episode 22, 2015. 

In the Matter of the EXTRADITION OF Bruce Ainsley BERESFORD-REDMAN. United States District Court, Ninth Circuit, California, C.D. California. Dec. 2, 2010. 

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bruce_Beresford-Redman

https://abcnews.go.com/US/documents-detail-beresford-redman-death-mexico/story?id=12815694

https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/beresford-redman-cancun-murder-tv-producer/2419136/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7453793/Survivor-producer-jailed-wifes-death-spotted-release.html

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/a-survivor-producer-a-dead-2-755386/

Links: 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

CrimeCon UK - September 21st and 22nd in London. Get your discounted ticket by using my discount code ONCEUPON when you purchase your ticket at www.crimecon.co.uk. 

In this episode of Once Upon A Crime, we delve into the horrific story of Christian Longo, a man who portrayed himself to his family, friends, and community as a devoted husband, loving father, and successful businessman while leading a double life. He lived a life of lies and deception.  When he could no longer keep up the facade, he disposed of his old life in favor of a new one…by destroying his entire family.

This is the second installment of the 'Deadly Dads' series, highlighting fathers who became nightmares for their families.

00:00 Introduction

01:32 The Discovery Of Bodies

03:06 Investigations and Christian Longo's Lies

06:09 Family Background and Financial Deception

09:38 A Life of Crime and On The Run

11:58 Final Crimes and Capture

17:05 Trial, Sentencing, and Aftermath

Sources:

State v. Longo, Filed Nov. 9, 2006, Supreme Court of the State of Oregon

“The Journalist and the Murderer,” Michael Finkel, Vanity Fair Magazine, June 2005. 

“Longo Prosecutors Offer Motive,” Andrew Kramer, Associated Press, March 12, 2003

“The Pretender: The Case of Christian Longo”, 48 Hours, CBS News, Original air date May 31, 2005. 

Links: 

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Our YouTube Channel - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

In this first episode of season 9 I’ll share the harrowing story of family annihilator, Ronald Gene Simmons. Known for his obsessive need for control and order, Simmons carried out a meticulously planned series of murders in December 1987, ultimately killing 14 of his family members and two others. This episode captures the disturbing details of his life, his manipulative and abusive behavior, and his final act of violent retaliation that led to his arrest, trial, and eventual execution in 1990. 

Sources: 

“Zero at the Bone,” authors Bryce Marshall and Paul Williams, Pocket Star Books, New York, NY, 1991. https://archive.org/details/zeroatbone00mars/page/n5/mode/2up?view=theater 

https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s1/simmons-ronald-gene.htm

https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/ronald-gene-simmons-3731/ 

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/362847782_Defending_Ronald_Gene_Simmons_A_Question_and_Answer_Session_with_Attorney_John_Harris

Links:

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast/

We kick off the ninth season of Once Upon a Crime with an episode that dives into the chilling case of Michael Cummins, a 25-year-old from Westmoreland, Tennessee, who committed one of the state's most horrific mass murders. Cummins, who had a history of mental health issues and violent behavior, murdered eight people, including six family members, in 2019.

Resources: 

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2019/04/30/sumner-county-killings-micheal-cummins-family-victims/3622442002/

​​https://www.newschannel5.com/news/westmoreland-murder-suspect-armed-and-on-the-run

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2019/04/29/sumner-county-killings-who-suspect-michael-lee-cummins-tennessee-homicide-mass-murder/3609438002/

https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/news/brain-scans-of-tennessee-man-who-admits-to-killing-eight-convince-prosecutors-to-drop-death-penalty

Links: 

Once Upon a Crime on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Amanda Hayes, an actress known for roles on The Sopranos and The Stepford Wives, was convicted of conspiring with her husband, Grant Hayes, to murder Laura Ackerson, his ex-wife and mother of his two children.  The murder  and its cover-up would be one of the most grisly crimes investigators had ever encountered.  Sources:  Bitter Remains, author Diane Fanning, Berkley Books, 2016.  See No Evil: Who killed Laura Ackerson and where are they now?  ID’s See No Evil: Who killed Laura Ackerson and where are they now? (sportskeeda.com) Amanda Hayes: Deadly Women -  https://deadlywomen.fandom.com/wiki/Amanda_Hayes 

In history, there have been several monarchs known as “Mad Kings” - monarchs who were plagued by erratic and even violent behavior often attributed to mental illness. King Eric the XIV of Sweden is one such ruler. While intellectually brilliant, King Eric suffered from extreme paranoia, which led to erratic, violent, and even murderous behavior. Sources:  Disturbed Facts About Eric XIV Of Sweden, The Butcher King - Factinate Eric XIV, King of Sweden, Britannica.com  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Erik-XIV Karin Mansdotter, wikipedia.com  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karin_Månsdotter

A missing person’s case in Columbus, Ohio, grows cold.  It seemed that what happened to 20-year-old Ashley Howley would remain a mystery until a psychic medium connected with the spirit of the missing girl.  Did Ashley Howley return from beyond to solve her own murder?  Resources: A Vision of Murder: Professional Psychic Medium, Shelly Stewart-Soldan, The Citizen Online, Oct 9, 2023.  Missing woman’s family left to wait, The Columbus Dispatch, April 5, 2008. Metro Detroit psychic says she communicates with the dead, Gus Burns, mLive.com, April 14, 2014. www.Kristyrobinett.com  Restless Souls, Season 1-Ep 1, Investigation Discovery Channel, April 14, 2014.  Ashley Lyn Howley, Porchlight USA, June 11, 2007  Man Pleads Guilty to 3 Slayings, 10TV.com, July 22, 2008.  Tipster in killing portrayed as out to avoid prosecution, The Columbus Dispatch, July 27, 2008.  Triple killer gets life without parole, The Columbus Dispatch, July 22, 2008. Offender Detail: Robert MacMichael II, Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, Feb 7, 2022. 

1. Frightful (https://www.itsfrightful.org/)
2. Marooned (https://visitmarooned.com/)
3. Rotten to the Core (https://www.itsrottentothecore.com/)mur
4. Murder, She Told (https://www.murdershetold.com/)
5. Obscura (https://www.itsobscura.com/)
6. Crimelines (https://linktr.ee/crimelines)
7. Once Upon a Crime (https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/)
8. The Trail Went Cold (https://www.trailwentcold.com/)
9. Foul Play: Crime Series (https://www.itsfoulplay.com/)

Shelly Knotek has been called “America’s Most Evil Mom”. She abused, tortured, and humiliated her children and partners, but her control and abuse went beyond her own family members. One-by-one people she took into her home as boarders also found themselves trapped and unable to escape her abuse. This is part one of a two-part episode. To get Part 2 early and ad free, become a Patreon member of Once Upon a Crime at www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime.  Resources: If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood - Gregg Olsen https://murderpedia.org/female.K/k/knotek-michelle.htm https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/876416/shelly-knotek-abuse-daughters-serial-killer/ https://casetext.com/case/state-v-knotek Snapped: Season 10, Episode 19 Couple Held in Woman’s 1994 Disappearancehttps://apnews.com/article/1ba1a2ceca7d8bbbc82506c3b1b488b5

A young man who identifies with as an Incel carries out a mass shooting at an Arizona mall while livestreaming it via Snapchat. Special thanks to Dr. Sohom Das for lending his expertise in this episode. Check out his YouTube Channel A Psych for Sore Minds for more insights into the criminal mind and the psychology of true crime! https://www.youtube.com/c/APsychForSoreMinds Resources: “Dark Side: The Westgate Shooting” by Erica Stapleton for News 12 Phoenix, Feb 18, 2021. “‘God had such mercy’: Mother of 19-year-old Westgate shooting victim speaks about son’s recovery” by BrieAnna J. Frank for The Arizona Republic, May 23, 2020. “A Mass Shooter Live-streamed his Attack on Snapchat at an Arizona Mall” by David Gilbert for Vice News, May 21, 2020. “This real-life Air Force superhero saved 28 people from an active shooter in Arizona” by David Roza for Task and Purpose, May 27, 2021. “Armando ‘Junior’ Hernandez: Glendale Westgate Shooting Suspect Arrested” by Emliy Bicks fr The Heavy, May 21, 2020. Links: CrimeCon - www.crimecon.com and www.crimecon.co.uk - Use promo code ONCEUPON22 for 10% off your registration. Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

An heiress builds a grand mansion as a showplace on a hill in the San Francisco Bay Area. But, it would become a white elephant and an eyesore during its long history. And, in 1985, it became a house of horrors for two young women.

Resources: People v. Raley, Supreme Court of California Appeal, June 18, 1992. Retrieved from Findlaw.com. “Yesterday’s Crimes: The Hillsborough Mansion Murder” by Bob Calhoun for SF Weekly, Jan 30, 2018. “Carolands mansion murder: Survivor Laurie McKenna speaks, 20 years later” by Howard Mintz for San Jose Mercury News, Sept 16, 2014. The Heiress and Her Chateau: Chateau Carolands of California” (2014), Directors: Catherine Ryan and Gary Weimberg, Luna Productions.

This week I’ll discuss the Nicole Brown/Ron Goldman murders with my sister, Yolanda. We’ll go over the evidence, timeline, and motivation for the crimes that all point to OJ Simpson as the killer. We’ll also discuss why the jury may have decided to acquit Simpson of the double homicide even in the face of overwhelming evidence of his guilt.

Resources: Evidence Dismissed: The Inside Story of the Police Investigation of O.J. Simpson, authors: Tom Lange, Phillip Vanatter, Dan Moldea, ©️1997, 2016. (If) I Did It: Confessions of the Killer, written by O.J. Simpson and Pablo Fenjves, introduction by Fred and Kim Goldman, Beaufort Books, New York, ©️2007. The OJ Simpson Case (1995), retrieved from Famous-Trials.com, https://famous-trials.com/simpson “What Happened to Al Cowlings, O.J. Simpson’s Former Teammate and White Bronco Driver?”, Luke Norris for Sportscasting.com, August 11, 2020. https://www.sportscasting.com/what-happened-to-al-cowlings-o-j-simpsons-former-teammate-and-white-bronco-driver/ “Murder Timeline, June 12, 1994,” retrieved from BobAugust.com. http://www.bobaugust.com/timeline3.htm “Inside the Short, Tragic Life of Nicole Brown Simpson and Her Hopeful Final Days,” by Natalie Finn for E!Online, June 12, 2019. Chronology of O.J. Simpson Case, The Associated Press, Jan 21, 1995. “5 other pieces of evidence that pointed to OJ as the killer,” by Debbie Lord for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Mar 4, 2016.

In this episode I break down the myths and realities of infamous serial killer, Edmund Emil Kemper, “The Co-Ed Killer”. My special guest is Emerson Murray, author of The Murder Capital of the World. You can find out more about Emerson and purchase the book at www.emersonmurray.com/murder-capital-of-the-world

To enter a drawing to receive a copy of Murder Capital of the World sign up for texts from OUAC by texting “OUAC” to 408-676-1770 (Texting rates may apply. U.S. listeners only are eligible for this giveaway. Text messaging provided by Text Sanity). Deadline to enter drawing is December 22nd. Winners will be randomly chosen December 23rd.

A young girl living outside of New Delhi, India is found murdered in her own bedroom in a high-security apartment building with her parents sleeping mere feet away. Was her murder an inside job or caused by an unknown intruder? Join us for this “whodunit” that has been called the “JonBenet Ramsay case of India”.

Resources: “Behind Closed Doors: How a 13-Year-Old’s Murder Ignited Class Warfare” by Nick Schager for The Daily Beast, July 14, 2019. “Arushi murder case: A timeline of events”, The Hindu, October 12, 2017. “2008 Noida double murder case”, retrieved from Wikipedia.com. The Talwars: Behind Closed Doors (2017), Directed by P.A. Carter for HBO Asia and Star World.

Links Get links to all our social media at our website www.truecrimepodcast.com

The mysterious disappearance of a 4-year-old from her own bedroom takes a bizarre twist and rumors and conspiracy theories soon follow. This case would come to be known as “The JonBenet Ramsey Case of Mexico.”

Resources: “Resignation in Mexican missing girl Paulette case”, BBC News, May 26, 2010 “Mexico Shocked by Discovery of Girl’s Body,” CBS News, April 5, 2010 Misterios favoritos en espanol/Unresolved Mysteries, reddit.com - https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/80s8r6/request_misterios_favoritos_en_espanol_what_are/

In this bonus episode, you’ll hear the live show from CrimeCon UK in London. Esther discusses the motivations and psychology behind mass shooters with Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Sohom Das, host of the YouTube channel A Psych for Sore Minds.

Check out True Crime Week on Stitcher where they are kicking off the spookiest month of the year with the creepiest and crawliest True Crime Podcasts. Check out their curated homepage to find your next True Crime Pod obsession. If you’re on your phone you can download Stitcher in your app store or go to Stitcher.com

For tickets to CrimeCon UK, June 11-12, 2022 go to www.crimecon.co.uk. You can still use ONCEUPON21 for 10% off your pre-sale tickets.

For info on CrimeCon in Las Vegas in May 2022 go to www.crimecon.com.

Dr. Das’s YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/APsychForSoreMinds

In this final chapter of “Buried Truth” I share a story of one of the most rare categories of criminal - the female serial killer. Behind her grandmotherly exterior, Dorothea Puente was hiding some very dark secrets very close to home. This is the case of “The Killer Landlady”.  Resources:  Newspapers.com: Dorothea Puente by Julia Scheeres for TruTV.com, Jailed Landlady: I Didn’t Kill Anyone - The Sacramento Bee - Nov 18, 1988, Puente Guilty of Killing 3 - The Sacramento Bee - Aug 27, 1993, Murderous Landlady Puente Dies - The Sacramento Bee - March 28, 2011 The Life and Deaths of Dorothea Puente by Martin Kuz for Sactown Magazine, 2009.  "Sacramento serial killer’s former home renovated, ready for visits" - David Bienick for KCRA3, August 29, 2013 "Tours, documentary focus on Sacramento house of murderer Dorothea Puente" - Ryan Lillis for The Sacramento Bee, Sept 1, 2015  California Superior Court (Sacramento County) case files for The People v. Dorothea Montalvo Puente - Retrieved from The Online Archive of California - oac.cdlib.org  Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

In Part 2 of this 3-part mini-series, I’ll continue the story about a random series of attacks that took place on hiking trails in northern California beginning in 1979, soon after David Carpenter was released from prison for an earlier violent crime spree. After three women were found murdered on Mount Tamalpais, investigators began to suspect that a serial killer was on the loose and targeting local hikers.  This is the case of “The Trailside Killer”.  Resources: The Sleeping Lady: The Trailside Murders Above the Golden Gate by Robert Graysmith, Penguin Books, (1990) People v. Carpenter, Supreme Court of California, Nov 29, 1999.  “The Frightening Case of the Trailside Killer”, Strange Outdoors, November 27, 2020.  Links: Website: www.truecrimepodcast.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

In 2002, two paintings were stolen from The Van Gogh Museum worth $30 million dollars. The investigation into this crime would involve law enforcement in several countries. Special investigators in both art crimes and organized crime units would also be brought in to solve the case of the missing Van Goghs.  Resources:  Documentary: Stealing Van Gogh (2018), Julian Hendy, Director. “How 20 Stolen Van Gogh Paintings were Recovered” by Erik Shilling for Atlas Obscura, Sept. 30, 2016. https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/how-20-stolen-van-gogh-paintings-were-recovered-35-minutes-after-a-heist “As Stolen Van Goghs Return to View, a Thief Tells All” by Nina Siegal for The New York Times, Mar 19, 2017. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/19/arts/design/van-gogh-museum-theft-octave-dunham.html “Italian police bust drug trafficking Camorra Clan”. Posted on Gangsters, Inc., Mar 21, 2017. https://gangstersinc.ning.com/profiles/blogs/italian-police-bust-drug-trafficking-camorra-clan-and-retrieve-st “How Two Stolen Van Gogh Paintings Made it Home After a 14-Year Saga” by Isaac Kaplan for Artsy.Net, Mar 21, 2017. https://www.artsy.net/article/artsy-editorial-two-stolen-van-gogh-paintings-made-14-year-saga

To celebrate reaching 200 episodes we created a bonus episode to answer listener questions. Thanks everyone for submitting them!

Links: www.Patreon.com/onceuponacrime

To listen to our "haunted" episode go to Episode #108 - Haunted Homicides: The LaLaurie Mansion. Some hear a "ghost" at minute 20 or so.

The Scott Peterson episodes with my sister, Yolanda is #71 and #72 - The 12 Crimes of Christmas - Laci Peterson, Part 1 and 2.

Special thanks to Lorena Garcia for co-hosting this episode with me and to all the listeners who sent in questions!

A mother seeks help for her special needs child, but a church prayer service ends tragically.  

Several resources were used in the research for this episode including:

Book:

True Stories of Law and Order by Kevin Dwyer and Jure Fiorillo 

Articles: 

Death by Exorcism by David Krajicek for the New York Daily News, October 8, 2006

Sponsor: 

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On this bonus episode I take you along with me to CrimeCon 2019 in New Orleans and my travels to New York City and Toronto for the Toronto True Crime Film Festival.  

#CrimeCon #NewOrleans #TorontoTrueCrimeFilmFestival #truecrimedocumentaries #NewYorkCity 

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