Two decades before the Lindbergh baby became America’s most famous missing child, four-year-old Bobby Dunbar, went missing in Opelousas, Louisiana, setting in motion one of the strangest kidnapping stories in the nation’s history. In the summer of 1912, the Dunbar family took a trip to Swayze Lake in St. Landry Parish, where Bobby wandered off and disappeared. The boy’s disappearance was followed by an eight-month search across the American south, until Bobby was ostensibly found in the company of William Walters, a handyman traveling through the Mississippi. Bobby’s parents were elated to have their son back after such a long absence, but the problem was, very few people seem convinced that the boy was in fact Bobby Dunbar. After extensive news coverage of the search, Walters’ trial for kidnapping, and the joyful return of Bobby to his family, interest in the case began to fade, but for the Dunbar family, questions remained about Bobby’s identity. Had the Dunbars, in their desperation to find their son, unintentionally kidnapped someone else’s child? Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Crowley Post-Signal. 1913. "Charges fell to ground." , April 11: 5. Daily Advertiser. 1914. "Walters' trial at Opelousas." , April 21: 1. —. 1914. "Supreme court frees Walters." , June 30: 1. McThenia, Tal, and Ira Glass. 2008. "The Ghost of Bobby Dunbar." Chicago, IL: Chicago Public Media, March 14. New York Times. 1912. "$6,000 for missing boy." , November 10: 1. —. 1912. "Kidnapped boy murdered." , December 15: 14. Ray, S.W. 1914. "Opelousas jury hears life story of other mother." , April 23: 8. St. Landry Clarion. 1912. "No trace of lost Bob Dunbar." , September 7: 1. —. 1912. "Robert Dunbar, 4 years old, mysteriously disappears." , August 31: 4. —. 1914. "Asks that fair play be given to the accused." , April 18: 1. —. 1914. "Fair play for Walters." , April 18: 1. Times-Democrat. 1913. "Recognizes playmates." , April 26: 1. —. 1913. "Does not identify boy." , April 22: 1. —. 1913. "Dunbar boy talking." , May 20: 4. —. 1913. "Hunting for kidnappers." , April 27: 1. —. 1913. "Is not Bruce Anderson." , April 26: 1. —. 1913. "Now believes boy hers." , May 3: 1. —. 1912. "Scores search for missing lad." , August 25: 1. —. 1912. "Suspicion turns toward negroes." , September 2: 1. —. 1913. "Movements of Tinker." , May 23: 1. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Today we are joined by Emmy award winning film directors, Chapman & Maclain Way to discuss the wild story behind their Netflix Documentary "The Kings of Tupelo: A Southern Crime Saga". This documentary was expertly crafted and features the often unbelievable folklore surrounding the 2013 Presidential Ricin Attacks. Haven't watched it yet? Check it out by visiting https://www.netflix.com/title/81903247 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
After his arrest, investigators would learn that, by the time he appeared on the game show, he was also a killer. In the year that followed, Alcala would go on to murder several other women until he was finally caught and convicted for his crimes. At his trial, Rodney Alcala was found guilty of eight murders, among other crimes, but he is suspected of several other murders, perhaps as many as one hundred or more. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1980. "Forest worker tells of grisly body find, fingers defendent ." , March 23: 7. —. 1980. "Witness in Alcala trial admits lying." , March 26: 44. —. 1980. "Jury deliberate murder charge." , April 30: E3. Brown, Doug. 1980. "Jury asks for the death penalty." , May 9: 32. —. 1980. "Prosecution rests case in penalty part of Alcala trial." , May 8: 63. CBS News. 2024. "Rodney Alcala: The Killing Game." Dunn, Edward. 1977. "Oneida woman slain in L.A." , November 15: 1. Esquivel, Paloma. 2010. "Alcala gets death penalty." , March 10: 72. Falcon, Gabriel. 2010. March 10. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240814201903/https://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/08/dating.game.killer/index.html. Hicks, Jerry. 1986. "Alcala again given death sentence in slaying of girl, 12." , June 21: 50. —. 1986. "Alcala asks jury to spare him, insists he isn't a murderer." , June 19: 141. Jarlson, Gary. 1979. "Hunt for missing girls spreads to Oxnard." , June 28: 10. —. 1979. "In search for girl's killer, time is the principal foe." , July 14: 22. Kaye, Peter. 1981. "The long, painful path to justice." , June 18: 19. Kirkman, Edward. 1971. "Fear of a new sex killing spurs 6 on trail." , August 8: 75. Levenson , Michael, and Eduardo Medina. 2021. "'Dating Game killer,' who preyed on woman in 1970s, dies in prison." , July 26. Liff, Mark, Joseph Martin, and Paul Meskil. 1977. "Attorney urges FBI to hunt daughter." , July 31: 3. Los Angeles Times. 1980. "Alcala defense wtiness's story repeated to jury." , April 30: 42. —. 1979. "The Southland." , June 22: 30. —. 1977. "Police now see link in strangulation murders of 10 LA women." , December 1: 22. Moynihan, Colin. 2012. "Convicted killer pleads guilty to 2 New York murders." , December 15: 20. OC Weekly. 2010. January 21. Accessed November 19, 2024. https://www.ocweekly.com/rodney-alcalas-murderous-romp-through-polite-society-brings-him-to-an-orange-county-courtroom-again-6402172/. Pelisek, Christine. 2010. "Rodney Alcala: the fine art of killing." , January 21. Reyes, David. 1986. "Man convicted second time in murder of girl." , May 29: 43. Sands, Stella. 2011. New York, NY: St. Martin's. Secret, Mosi. 2011. "After decades, charges in 2 Manhattan murders." , January 27: 24. Smith, David. 2024. "The terrifying true story behind Woman of the Hour." , October 22. 1984. 36 Cal. 3d 605 (Supreme Court of California, August 23). Weinstein, Henry. 2003. "New trial, new charge in old cases." , June 28: 32. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
At the time of his appearance on The Dating Game in 1978, Alcala was a convicted sexual predator who had served time for sexual assault and had only avoided a charge of attempted murder on a technicality. After his arrest, investigators would learn that, by the time he appeared on the game show, he was also a killer. In the year that followed, Alcala would go on to murder several other women until he was finally caught and convicted for his crimes. At his trial, Rodney Alcala was found guilty of eight murders, among other crimes, but he is suspected of several other murders, perhaps as many as one hundred or more. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1980. "Forest worker tells of grisly body find, fingers defendent ." Daily Breeze (Torrence, CA), March 23: 7. —. 1980. "Witness in Alcala trial admits lying." Los Angeles Times, March 26: 44. —. 1980. "Jury deliberate murder charge." Oakland Tribune, April 30: E3. Brown, Doug. 1980. "Jury asks for the death penalty." Los Angeles Times, May 9: 32. —. 1980. "Prosecution rests case in penalty part of Alcala trial." Los Angeles Times, May 8: 63. CBS News. 2024. "Rodney Alcala: The Killing Game." 48 Hours . Dunn, Edward. 1977. "Oneida woman slain in L.A." Post-Standard (Syracuse, NY), November 15: 1. Esquivel, Paloma. 2010. "Alcala gets death penalty." Los Angeles Times, March 10: 72. Falcon, Gabriel. 2010. Convicted serial killer won on 'Dating Game'. March 10. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240814201903/https://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/08/dating.game.killer/index.html. Hicks, Jerry. 1986. "Alcala again given death sentence in slaying of girl, 12." Los Angeles Times, June 21: 50. —. 1986. "Alcala asks jury to spare him, insists he isn't a murderer." Los Angeles Times, June 19: 141. Jarlson, Gary. 1979. "Hunt for missing girls spreads to Oxnard." Los Angeles Times, June 28: 10. —. 1979. "In search for girl's killer, time is the principal foe." Los Angeles Times, July 14: 22. Kaye, Peter. 1981. "The long, painful path to justice." Daily Breeze (Torrence, CA), June 18: 19. Kirkman, Edward. 1971. "Fear of a new sex killing spurs 6 on trail." Daily News (New York, NY), August 8: 75. Levenson , Michael, and Eduardo Medina. 2021. "'Dating Game killer,' who preyed on woman in 1970s, dies in prison." New York Times, July 26. Liff, Mark, Joseph Martin, and Paul Meskil. 1977. "Attorney urges FBI to hunt daughter." Daily News (New York, NY), July 31: 3. Los Angeles Times. 1980. "Alcala defense wtiness's story repeated to jury." Los Angeles Times, April 30: 42. —. 1979. "The Southland." Los Angeles Times, June 22: 30. —. 1977. "Police now see link in strangulation murders of 10 LA women." Sacramento Bee, December 1: 22. Moynihan, Colin. 2012. "Convicted killer pleads guilty to 2 New York murders." New York Times, December 15: 20. OC Weekly. 2010. Rodney Alcala's murderous romp through polite society brings him to an Orange County courtroom again. January 21. Accessed November 19, 2024. https://www.ocweekly.com/rodney-alcalas-murderous-romp-through-polite-society-brings-him-to-an-orange-county-courtroom-again-6402172/. Pelisek, Christine. 2010. "Rodney Alcala: the fine art of killing." LA Weekly, January 21. Reyes, David. 1986. "Man convicted second time in murder of girl." Los Angeles Times, May 29: 43. Sands, Stella. 2011. The Dating Game Killer: The True Story of a TV Dating Show, a Violent Sociopath, and a Series of Brutal Murders. New York, NY: St. Martin's. Secret, Mosi. 2011. "After decades, charges in 2 Manhattan murders." New York Times, January 27: 24. Smith, David. 2024. "The terrifying true story behind Woman of the Hour." The Guardian, October 22. The People v. Rodney James Alcala. 1984. 36 Cal. 3d 605 (Supreme Court of California, August 23). Weinstein, Henry. 2003. "New trial, new charge in old cases." Los Angeles Times, June 28:32. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Weirdos! We're giving you a fresh batch of listener tales brought TO you, BY you, FOR you, FROM you, and ALLLLL about you! Today we have ghostly peaches, possessed dogs (question mark?), dolls in a wall, and someone who is plagued with terrible promotions! Don't forget to check out the VIDEO from this episode available on YouTube on 1/30/2025! If you’ve got a listener tale please send it on over to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line :) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When Cheryl Bradshaw appeared on the popular game show in 1978, she was charmed by bachelor number one, Rodney Alcala, and by the end of the episode, she’d chosen him to take her on a date. However, just minutes after the episode finished taping, Cheryl met bachelor number two in person backstage and was immediately uncomfortable and quickly contacted producers of the show to cancel the date. What Bradshaw didn’t know at the time was that, in doing so, she had narrowly avoided spending an evening in the company of one of America’s most notorious serial killers. At the time of his appearance on in 1978, Alcala was a convicted sexual predator who had served time for sexual assault and had only avoided a charge of attempted murder on a technicality. After his arrest, investigators would learn that, by the time he appeared on the game show, he was also a killer. In the year that followed, Alcala would go on to murder several other women until he was finally caught and convicted for his crimes. At his trial, Rodney Alcala was found guilty of eight murders, among other crimes, but he is suspected of several other murders, perhaps as many as one hundred or more. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1980. "Forest worker tells of grisly body find, fingers defendent ." , March 23: 7. —. 1980. "Witness in Alcala trial admits lying." , March 26: 44. —. 1980. "Jury deliberate murder charge." , April 30: E3. Brown, Doug. 1980. "Jury asks for the death penalty." , May 9: 32. —. 1980. "Prosecution rests case in penalty part of Alcala trial." , May 8: 63. CBS News. 2024. "Rodney Alcala: The Killing Game." Dunn, Edward. 1977. "Oneida woman slain in L.A." , November 15: 1. Esquivel, Paloma. 2010. "Alcala gets death penalty." , March 10: 72. Falcon, Gabriel. 2010. March 10. Accessed November 18, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240814201903/https://edition.cnn.com/2010/CRIME/03/08/dating.game.killer/index.html. Hicks, Jerry. 1986. "Alcala again given death sentence in slaying of girl, 12." , June 21: 50. —. 1986. "Alcala asks jury to spare him, insists he isn't a murderer." , June 19: 141. Jarlson, Gary. 1979. "Hunt for missing girls spreads to Oxnard." , June 28: 10. —. 1979. "In search for girl's killer, time is the principal foe." , July 14: 22. Kaye, Peter. 1981. "The long, painful path to justice." , June 18: 19. Kirkman, Edward. 1971. "Fear of a new sex killing spurs 6 on trail." , August 8: 75. Levenson , Michael, and Eduardo Medina. 2021. "'Dating Game killer,' who preyed on woman in 1970s, dies in prison." , July 26. Liff, Mark, Joseph Martin, and Paul Meskil. 1977. "Attorney urges FBI to hunt daughter." , July 31: 3. Los Angeles Times. 1980. "Alcala defense wtiness's story repeated to jury." , April 30: 42. —. 1979. "The Southland." , June 22: 30. —. 1977. "Police now see link in strangulation murders of 10 LA women." , December 1: 22. Moynihan, Colin. 2012. "Convicted killer pleads guilty to 2 New York murders." , December 15: 20. OC Weekly. 2010. January 21. Accessed November 19, 2024. https://www.ocweekly.com/rodney-alcalas-murderous-romp-through-polite-society-brings-him-to-an-orange-county-courtroom-again-6402172/. Pelisek, Christine. 2010. "Rodney Alcala: the fine art of killing." , January 21. Reyes, David. 1986. "Man convicted second time in murder of girl." , May 29: 43. Sands, Stella. 2011. New York, NY: St. Martin's. Secret, Mosi. 2011. "After decades, charges in 2 Manhattan murders." , January 27: 24. Smith, David. 2024. "The terrifying true story behind Woman of the Hour." , October 22. 1984. 36 Cal. 3d 605 (Supreme Court of California, August 23). Weinstein, Henry. 2003. "New trial, new charge in old cases." , June 28: 32. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On December 1, 1994, nineteen-year-old Melissa Witt planned to meet her mother at a Fort Smith, Arkansas bowling alley, but by all appearances, she only made it as far as the parking lot. Two days later, investigators discovered Melissa’s car abandoned in the Bowling World parking lot, a trail of blood leading away from the vehicle. Six weeks later, animal trackers located Melissa’s nude body in an isolated part of the Ozark National Forest and the hunt was on to find her killer. In the thirty years since Melissa Witt’s murder, a number of strong suspects have popped up on investigators’ radars, including serial killer Charles Ray Vines, yet to this date no one has been charged with her death. After three decades of unanswered questions, Witt’s family are desperate to know, what happened to Melissa on the night she went missing, and will detectives ever be able to hold her killer responsible for her tragic death? IF YOU HAVE INFORMATION REGARDING THE MURDER OF MELISSA WITT, PLEASE CALL THE FORT SMITH POLICE DEPARTMENT AT 479-709-5116 OR EMAIL THEM AT INFO@FORTSMITHPD.ORG. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Alvey, Tina. 1995. "Fort Smith teen's body found near Turner Bend." , Janaury 19: 4. Associated Press. 1995. "Man questioned about girl; police say he's not a suspect." , June 14: 6. Cavallier, Andrea. 2024. "A teenager was snatched from the parking lot of a bowling." , August 10. Kilby, Brenda. 1996. "Long-sought man awaits questioning ." , May 6: 29. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On October 13, 1972, a chartered aircraft carrying forty-five passengers, including 19 members of the Old Christians’ Club rugby team, departed from Montevideo, Uruguay bound for Santiago, Chile. About an hour into the flight, the copilot incorrectly believed the plane had gotten off course and requested permission from air traffic control in Santiago to begin his descent and course correct. However, when the plane began descending out of the cloud cover, the copilot realized he’d been wrong about their position and were in fact dangerous close to the Andes mountains. The pilots attempted to pull the plane back up, but they were unsuccessful and the crashed directly into the mountain. Ultimately, sixteen of the forty-five passengers survived the crash of flight 571, spending seventy-two days in an isolated, untraveled part of the Andes. They endured extremely harsh conditions including sub-zero temperatures, exposure to freezing wind, and most significantly, starvation. The survivors were eventually rescued after two passengers hiked three days out of the mountains, using only materials from the wreckage to aid in the trek, where they eventually found help. In the years since the crash, the story of Uruguayan Air Force Flight 571 has become one of the most famous tales of survival and human endurance. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1972. "16 survive 2 months in Andes after crash." , December 23: 2. —. 1972. "Crash survivors resorted to cannibalism." , December 27: 2. —. 1972. "16 Air crash survivors found after 69 days in icy Andes." , December 23: 1. Benales, Carlos. 1972. "Andes survivors solved problem of food, shelter." , December 31: 9. Campbell, Matthew. 2022. "Fifty years on, 'Alive' team say eating flesh was awful but they got used to it." , October 16. Godfrey, Chris. 2023. "My plane crashed in the Andes. Only the unthinkable kept me and the other starving survivirs alive." , December 4. Lilliston, Lynn. 1974. "Andes crash survivors tell their story." , May 5: 179. Read, Piers Paul. 1974. New York, NY: J.B. Lippincott Company. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In the winter of 1924, the boroughs of New York City were plagued by a series of robberies ostensibly committed by a young couple. This was not the first time a woman had been involved in armed robberies; however, rather than be a reluctant participant in the crimes, it appeared as though the traditional roles were reversed and the young woman was the mastermind behind the hold-ups. The press quickly caught on and soon the “Bobbed Haired Bandit,” as she came to be known in the papers, was grabbing headlines across the country. Starting with the robbery of grocery store in early January, the Bandit’s crimes got bigger as weeks passed, as did her personality. Not only did the criminal pair become famous for their exploits and fashion, but also for the ways in which she taunted the police with notes daring them to come after her. In time, the NYPD’s inability to catch the bandit began to reflect very poorly on Mayor Richard Enright, who was ridiculed by both the bandit and the public. Finally, in late April, the Bobbed Haired Bandit and her partner were arrested in Florida, having fled New York earlier in the month after a robbery in which someone was shot. To everyone’s surprise, the couple wasn’t quite the Jazz Age antiheros everyone was expecting, but a young newly married couple who were desperately in need of money at a time when employment was hard to come by. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Brooklyn Daily Times. 1924. "Bob Hair Bandit and man shoot National Biscuit Co. cashier." , April 1: 3. Brooklyn Eagle. 1924. "Bobbed-haired girl held as boro bandit in crime roundup ." , February 6: 1. —. 1924. "Bobbed Haired Bandit may be a boy; cusses like sailor but has feminine feet." , February 3: 5. —. 1924. "Girls let their hair grow fearing they'll be taken for Bobbed-Hair Bandit." , February 24: 78. —. 1924. "Hold bob-haired girl as pal of alleged bandits." , February 7: 2. —. 1924. "New gunwoman defies police to catch her." , January 16: 1. Dorman, Marjorie. 1924. "The Bobbed-Hair Bandit is a revolt." , March 16: 95. Duncombe, Stephen, and Andrew Mattson. 2006. New York, NY: NYU Press. Getty, Frank. 1924. "'Fish peddling bums" victims of Bobbed-Haired Bandit." , January 24: 1. Johnson, Nunnally. 1924. "One word after another." , February 21: 16. New York Times. 1924. "2-gun girl bandit holds up a grocery." , February 24: 1. —. 1924. "Alienists to test Cooney for sanity." , April 25: 19. —. 1924. "Bobbed Bandit gets ten years in prison; warns other girls." , May 7: 1. —. 1924. "Bob-Haired Bandit attempts a murder." , April 2: 21. —. 1924. "Girl bandit proudly describes 10 crimes." , April 23: 1. —. 1924. "Hold-up girl gets $600 from grocer." , January 23: 10. Times Union. 1924. ""Bobbed Haired Bandit" annoucnes her "getaway" for neighboring state." , January 22: 1. —. 1924. "200 police fail to trap bobbed haired girl bandit." , January 27: 1. —. 1924. "Enright may try himself to nab Bobbed-Hair Bandit." , March 23: 1. —. 1924. "Ex-chorus girl arrested as chain store bandit." , January 15: 1. —. 1924. "Note writers want Helen Quigley freed." , January 22: 3. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In February 1942, Gordon Cummins, a twenty-eight-year-old Royal Air Force Serviceman, murdered four women and attempted to murder two others over a six-day period in London, leading the press to dub him “The Blackout Ripper.” At a time when the fear of imminent bombings was high and London was on high alert, authorities nonetheless launched an investigation and, quite remarkably, were able to catch Cummins quickly, thereby preventing any further murders; yet the question remains, how was it that a brutally violent killer manage to kill so many people in such a short amount of time and barely attract attention of the police and press? Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Bolton News. 1942. "Is 'killer' at large?" , February 14: 1. Campbell, Duncan. 2010. "London in the blitz: how crime flourished under cover of the blackout." , August 28. Driscoll, Margarette. 2022. "Ranmpage of the Blackout Ripper." , November 24. Evening Standard. 1942. "Accused of murder of 4 women." , March 26: 8. Evening Telegraph. 1942. "'Killer' theory in wave of London murders." , February 14: 8. Herald Express. 1942. "Cadet's defense in murder trial." , April 28: 1. Hull Daily Mail. 1942. "London murders." , February 11: 1. Imperial War Museum. n.d. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-nation-at-a-standstill-shutdown-in-the-second-world-war. Liverpool Daily Post. 1942. "Another London murder." , February 14: 1. Storey, Neil. 2023. South Yorkshire, England: Pen and Sword. The Citizen. 1942. "Cadet sent for trial." , March 27: 1. —. 1942. "'Evidence was overwhelming'." , June 9: 8. —. 1942. "Fresh Jury to be sworn in." , April 24: 1. The Times. 1942. "Airman charged with three murders." , March 13: 2. Venning, Annabel. 2017. "The Blackout Ripper; under cover of the Blitz." , January 29. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In response to the onset of German bombing raids during World War II, many of England’s most vulnerable citizens evacuated or were temporarily evacuated out of urban areas to safer, more rural parts of the country. Those who remained in the cities would ultimately spend years enduring wartime blackouts, periods where the city was plunged into complete darkness in order to prevent German bombers from easily identifying their targets. The blackouts were a significant inconvenience and safety risk for everyone, but for at least one Londoner, they offered a perfect opportunity to enact his darkest fantasies. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Bolton News. 1942. "Is 'killer' at large?" , February 14: 1. Campbell, Duncan. 2010. "London in the blitz: how crime flourished under cover of the blackout." , August 28. Driscoll, Margarette. 2022. "Ranmpage of the Blackout Ripper." , November 24. Evening Standard. 1942. "Accused of murder of 4 women." , March 26: 8. Evening Telegraph. 1942. "'Killer' theory in wave of London murders." , February 14: 8. Herald Express. 1942. "Cadet's defense in murder trial." , April 28: 1. Hull Daily Mail. 1942. "London murders." , February 11: 1. Imperial War Museum. n.d. https://www.iwm.org.uk/history/the-nation-at-a-standstill-shutdown-in-the-second-world-war. Liverpool Daily Post. 1942. "Another London murder." , February 14: 1. Storey, Neil. 2023. South Yorkshire, England: Pen and Sword. The Citizen. 1942. "Cadet sent for trial." , March 27: 1. —. 1942. "'Evidence was overwhelming'." , June 9: 8. —. 1942. "Fresh Jury to be sworn in." , April 24: 1. The Times. 1942. "Airman charged with three murders." , March 13: 2. Venning, Annabel. 2017. "The Blackout Ripper; under cover of the Blitz." , January 29. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On January 12, 1983, the Sonoma County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a frantic driver who reported they’d just witnessed a shooting on the side of the side of the road in Fulton, California and the shooters had fled the scene a pickup truck. Deputies quickly located the truck and were led on a forty-five minute high-speed chase through Sonoma and Napa counties before finally being apprehended and identified as Michael and Suzan Carson. The Carsons were held on a charge of murdering the truck’s original owner, Jon Charles Hellyar, but they refused to say a word to police. In time, however, Michael and Suzan Carson began to talk and eventually held a press conference during which they revealed a great deal about themselves and even went so far as to make ambiguous confessions to other recent murders in Northern California. In the months that followed their arrest, Michael and Suzan Carson reveled in their notoriety and the media attention their statements captured. In addition to the murder of Hellyar, they would also be convicted of two other murders, claiming themselves to be Muslim warriors on a mission to rid the world of witches and other practitioners of dark magic, earning them the nickname “The San Francisco Witch Killers.” Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1983. "Couple complains their trial didn't get enough publicity." , April 28: 29. Brewster, Rod. 1983. "Carsons claim their killings were 'will of God'." , May 4: 1. —. 1983. "Carson's preliminary hearing on murder stats." , March 4: 2. Daily Beast. 2020. "Daughter of serial 'witch kiler': if he goes free, 'someone else will be dead'." , May 27. —. 2015. "Witch-killers' family: Keep them in Jail." , December 3. Manes, George. 1983. "Probe of suspects widens." , January 30: 1. Napa Valley Register. 1983. "Chase probe continues." , January 18: 2. Navarro, Mireya. 1984. "'Good witch' to the rescue." , May 30: 11. —. 1984. "Remorseless 'witch-killers' get 25 to life." , July 2: 15. Reynolds, Richard D. 1988. San Francisco, CA: Squibob Press. Saludes, Bony. 1985. "Carson says trial unfair." , June 19: 2. San Francisco Examiner. 1984. "Carson comptent for trial." , January 9: 14. Sharpe, Ivan. 1983. "Couple boasts to police of killing 3 'witches in holy war'." , April 28: 24. United Press International. 1984. "Guilty verdict in 'witch' murder." , June 5: 2. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Happy New Year, weirdos, and we're celebrating the holidays with Holiday tales brought TO you, BY you, For you, FROM you, and ALLLLL about you! Today we have boogens, a Hanukkah haunting, horrible Fourth of July discovery, delivery people getting waaaaay much more than a tip, and messages from Beyond sent via ornament! Don't forget to check out the VIDEO from this episode available on YouTube on 1/2/2025! If you’ve got a listener tale please send it on over to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line :) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When a girl walking on a Provincetown, Massachusetts beach discovered the decomposing body of a young woman in the summer of 1974, it began an investigation into what would become one of the most notorious cold cases in the state’s history. The victim—who would remain unidentified for nearly five decades—and her killer were the source of much speculation, with theories ranging from an extra in Jaws to the victim of the local mob. After decades of mystery, DNA from the remains of “the Lady of the Dunes” was subject to extensive genetic matching and was finally identified as thirty-seven-year-old California resident Ruth Terry. A year later, authorities in Massachusetts announced their main suspect in the murder was Guy Muldavin, Terry’s husband at the time of her death. Muldavin died in 2002 and thus couldn’t be prosecuted for the crime, so the case was finally closed. Identifying Ruth’s killer brought an end to one of the most enduring murder mysteries in Massachusetts, yet identifying the Lady of the Dunes and her killer turned out to the be the beginning of a new mystery. Indeed, investigators soon learned this might not have been Muldavin’s first murder, but one of several mysterious disappearances that traced back to him. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Abrams, Norma, and Sidney Kline. 1960. "Nab village Casanova onb grisly find." , December 2: 33. Associated Press. 1960. "Woman's remains found in search of old Seattle home." , August 31: 1. —. 1950. "Police probe for clues in beach killing." , June 19: 1. —. 1961. "Rockwell says resentment le to life of deception." , October 25: 11. —. 1960. "Rockwell on hunger strike; seeks death." , December 3: 1. —. 1961. "Rockwell's wife not sure she will remain married." , October 20: 2. Cavallier, Andrea, and Sheila Flynn. 2023. "'Lady of the Dunes' killer identified after nearly 50 years." , August 30. Dowd, Katie. 2022. "California man questioned in double murder linked to 'Lady of the Dunes' victim Ruth Marie Terry." , November 3. McClatchy Newspaper Service. 1950. "Sea search is started for missing girl." , June 20: 1. McClatchy Newspapers Service. 1950. "Kidnaping is suspected in beach killing." , June 23: 1. —. 1950. "State detective is called into beach death case." , June 22: 1. Murphy, Shelley. 2023. "DA says husband killed 'Lady'." , August 29: 1. NBC News 10. 2022. "Man eyed in Lady of ther Dunes murder had a dark side." , November 11. Reynolds, Ruth. 1961. "Too many women, too many lies." , December 24: 38. Rule, Ann. 2007. New York, NY: Pocket Books. Sacramento Bee. 1950. "Humboldt beach slaying may join long list of county's unsolved mysteries ." , June 30: 22. —. 1963. "Lie test plan is dropped in hunt for bones." , April 3: 47. San Francisco Examiner. 1963. "Con tells of killing lovers." , March 22: 22. —. 1963. "Girl-killer's search for grave fails again." , March 25: 3. —. 1963. "'Murderer' can't find victim." , April 2: 3. The Doe Network. 2017. May 17. Accessed November 25, 2024. https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/119ufma.html. United Press. 1950. "Waitress sought for questioning in state beach death mystery." , June 19: 4. Wood, John B. 1974. "The baffling case of the body on Cape dunes." , December 22: 1. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode was that was originally published as Episode 240. We are revisiting it as a refresher before we update the case next Monday! We hope that you have a happy and safe holiday! We’re bringing you to one of our favorite vacation spots: Provincetown Mass. Only we aren’t sunbathing and playing volleyball on the beach, we’re here to solve a cold case, y’all. The Lady of the Dunes, as she’s known, was discovered on July 26, 1974, in the tall grass at the Race Point Dunes. Throughout the past 47 years investigators have worked tirelessly following up on leads and exhuming her body every time some kind of new technology comes up. To this day they still don’t know who killed the woman, or more importantly, who the woman even is! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode is a fan favorite that was originally published as Episode 476. We hope that you have a happy and safe holiday! Juliane Koepcke's story will have you questioning any recent complaint you've made. This woman was the sole survivor of a plane crash in 1971. After the plane went down, she continued to survive in the AMAZON RAINFOREST among hundreds and hundreds of predators. It took 11 days for her to be rescued and when you hear what Julianne faced within those 11 days, you will be a changed human. When I Fell From the Sky by Juliane Koepcke https://www.amazon.com/When-Fell-Sky-Miraculous-Survival/dp/B00NBL2ASU/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=when+i+fell+from+the+sky%2C+juliane+koepcke&qid=1672867433&sprefix=when+i+fell%2Caps%2C122&sr=8-4 List of books to help with fear of flying OR just education on flying and flying mechanics! Cockpit Confidential by Patrick Smith https://www.amazon.com/Cockpit-Confidential-Everything-Questions-Reflections/dp/1452665389/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=cockpit+confidential&qid=1672867313&sprefix=cockpit+con%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-4 Soar by Tom Bunn https://www.amazon.com/Soar-Breakthrough-Treatment-Fear-Flying-ebook/dp/B00MJD6W94/ref=sr_1_5?keywords=cockpit+confidential&qid=1672867313&sprefix=cockpit+con%2Caps%2C84&sr=8-5 Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References BBC. 2012. March 24. Accessed November 30, 2022. https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-17476615. 1998. Directed by Werner Herzog. Performed by Juliane Koepcke. Koepcke, Juliane, and Beate Rygiert. 2011. Translated by Ross Benjamin. Green Bay, WI: TitleTown Publishing, LLC. New York Times. 1951. "Colombia Plane Crashes: 27 killed when Lansa Craft Falls." , March 22: 13. —. 1970. "Peru panel studies crash fatal to 99." , April 13: 2. —. 1971. "Plane Carrying 93 Missing Over the Mountains of Peru." , December 25: 20. United Press. 1948. "2 Britons Among 30 Dead In Colombian Air Crash." , December 16: 16. Wigg, Richard. 1972. "Girl's ordeal starts a jungle search." , January 6: 5. Williams, Sally. 2012. "The woman who fell to earth." , March 17. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On the morning of April 10, 1936, Nancy Evans Titterton, novelist and wife of NBC Radio executive Lewis Titterton, was found sexually assaulted and strangled to death in the bathtub of her apartment in Beekman Place, a prominent New York City apartment building. Upon first inspection, the crime scene yielded few clues—a fingerprint in the bathroom, a length of rope used to bind her hands, and little else. Within a week, detectives were no closer to solving the case than they were on day one, until a break finally came when the rope and a single horsehair was traced to a local upholstery shop, and ultimately to an apprentice upholsterer named John Fiorenza, who, along with his boss, Theodore Kruger, discovered Nancy’s body while delivering a piece of furniture. Eventually, Fiorenza confessed to assaulting and murdering Nancy Titterton, but claimed temporary insanity. At the trial, the jury rejected Fiorenza’s defense and he was found guilty and he was executed in January 1938. Although the case of Nancy Evans Titterton may seem rather straightforward, it stands as an early example of science and law enforcement coming together to solve a case that had previously seemed destined to remain unsolved. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! REFERENCES New York Times. 1937. "Clemency is asked for John Fiorenza." , January 12: 3. —. 1936. "Fiorenza counsel accuses a 'fiend'." , May 21: 7. —. 1936. "Fiorenza doomed to electric chair." , June 6: 34. —. 1936. "Fiorenza insane, alienst swears." , May 26: 48. —. 1936. "Fiorenza's mother sets up an alibi." , May 23: 34. —. 1936. "Plea of insanity by Fiorenza likely." , April 23: 5. —. 1936. "Scientists study clues to slayer of Mrs. Titterton." , April 12: 1. —. 1937. "Titterton slayer is put to death." , January 22: 42. —. 1936. "Upholdwerter's aide confesses murder of Mrs. Titterton." , April 22: 1. —. 1936. "Woman writer, 34, found strangled in bathtub in home." , April 11: 1. Schechter, Harold. 2014. New York, NY: Little A Publishing . Times Union. 1936. "Countess tells of prowler knocking on door 8 hours before writer was strangled." , April 11: 1. —. 1936. "Arraigned and denied bail, he then retraces flght." , April 22: 1. —. 1936. "Fiorenza guilty in first degree." , May 28: 1. —. 1936. "Johnnie was a good boy, sobs mother of slayer." , April 21: 1. —. 1936. "Hunt mysterious prowler." , April 12: 1. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When thirty-four-year-old St. Paul housewife Carol Thompson was murdered in the spring of 1963, her entire neighborhood was shocked by the evil that had invaded their middle-class neighborhood. As far as anyone knew, Carol was a happily married mother of four who appeared to have it all, but the cruel brutality of her murder suggested someone had hated her enough to kill her. When investigators began to dig deeper into Carol’s life and background, they found the truth was that, far from the happy façade she showed the world, Carol Thompson’s life was anything but happy. In the weeks that followed her death, investigators would uncover an unexpectedly complicated conspiracy involving several well-known criminals, all leading back to the one person no one wanted to suspect. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! REFERENCES Associated Press. 1963. "Slaying details related in court." , November 27: 49. —. 1963. "Woman is linked to 'hire' murder." , November 5: 17. 2016. Directed by Tony Glazer. Performed by Chloe Boxer and Christine Connor. Cesnik, Jim. 1963. "'Cotton' Thompson--as father, friend." , June 25: 1. Letofsky, Irv. 1963. "Never an acquittal vote." , December 7: 1. Letofsky, Irv, and Jim Cesnik. 1963. "City man held in Phoenix in Thompson slaying case." , April 20: 1. Minneapolis Star. 1963. "FBI to check policies on Mrs. Thompson's life." , April 3: 1. —. 1963. "St. Paul mother 'critical' after stabbing in home." , March 6: 1. —. 1963. "Thompson arrested in wife's slaying." , June 21: 1. Presbrey, Paul. 1963. "Thompson killing gun identified." , April 10: 1. Roberts, Sam. 2015. "T. Eugene Thompson dies at 88; crime stunned St. Paul." , September 6: 28. Romer, Sam. 1963. "Interview with captured suspect." , April 20: 1. Rudick, Irvin. 1963. "Anderson told Sharp he slew Mrs. Thompson." , April 23: 1. Star Tribune. 1963. "Police seek clues in St. Paul slaying." , March 7: 1. —. 1963. "Police want more talk with victim's mate." , March 23: 1. —. 1963. "Statement also lists his assets." , March 27: 1. Thompson, William. 2007. Nepean, ON: Borealis Books. United Press International. 1963. "Thompson trial told of insurance." , November 6: 29. Young, Douglas. 1963. "Husband of slain St. Paul woman explains $1,061,00 in insurance." , March 27: 1. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Weirdos!! It’s our second SPECIAL BONUS EPISODE brought to YOU by our friends at Audible! Today we’re joined by a member of the PodFam, Spencer Henry from Cult Liter, Obitchuary & Gossip's Bridle! Join us while we chat about Jim Clemente & Peter McDonnell “Blue Beard”! Join the “Weirdos’ Audiobook Club" AND the conversation as we talk about the Title that dramatizes true events in a radio style drama! Hear about the productions origins, as well as the immense effort put into creating such an immersive experience. Haven’t listened yet? Don’t worry about it, friend! Go to Audible.com/weirdos for YOUR free trial! And don’t forget to click the episode post on Instagram to comment YOUR favorite aspects of the production, and discuss with other Weirdos who enjoyed the title, as well! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When Kathryn Wombacher suspected her husband, Walter Andrew, of having an affair in the spring of 1920, she hired a private detective to follow him on one of his many “out-of-town” trips that he’d taken in their short marriage. However, rather than follow Walter out of town, the private detective tracked the man less than a mile from his home in Hollywood, where he discovered that Walter had indeed been carrying on a relationship with another woman—but that was to be the least of Kathryn’s worries. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! REFERENCES Associated Press. 1920. "Police search for Montana girl is commenced ." , April 1: 1. —. 1920. "Alleged wife believes Huirt 'woman hater'." , April 15: 1. —. 1920. "Nine 'wives' killed by Bluebeard." , May 11: 7. Cameron, Jim. 2014. "The horrifying marriage career of James "Bluebeard" Watson." , October 31. Dowd, Katie. 2019. "'Object, matrimony': The forgotten tale of the West Coast's first serial bride killer." , October 4. Hoag, Ernest, and Edward Williams. 1922. "The Case of J.P. Watson, the Modern Bluebeard." 348-359. Los Angeles Evening Express. 1920. "Huirt's latest wife here to clear mystery." , April 14: 1. Los Angeles Times. 1920. ""I'm crazy!" Bluebeard cries to the public." , May 4: 15. —. 1920. "Watson confesses four wife-murders; married nearly a score of women." , April 30: 1. —. 1920. "Watson's real name Boyd?" , April 27: 17. —. 1920. "Watson's story of early life." , April 30: 1. —. 1920. "Whoesale bigamy bared." , April 11: 1. Rasmussen, Cecelia. 1997. "Quiet man left trail of dead wives." , August 31. Sacramento Bee. 1920. "Watson given life sentence for murder of Nina Lee Deloney." , May 10: 1. San Francisco Chronicle. 1920. "Burying ground of 'Bluebeard' thought found." , April 20: 6. Whitaker, Alma. 1930. "Bluebeard's treasure hunt blows up--bang." , November 30: 19. Zdeb, Chris. 2014. "Serial killer, bigamist had ties to Edmonton." , May 10: 2. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
In late 1931, several Native trappers in Aklavik, Northwest Territories, reported to the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) that a newly arrived white man, Albert Johnson, had been tampering with their traps. The RCMP dispatched two officers to Johnson’s remote cabin, but he refused to speak with them, so they left to get a warrant to search his home. When the officers returned and tried to gain entry, Johnson fired a shotgun blast through the cabin door, wounding one of the RCMP officers. The incident quickly escalated when a posse of RCMP officers returned and tossed dynamite into the cabin, initiating a firefight in which one officer was killed, and a manhunt that would last more than month and unfold across more than 150 miles of some of the roughest terrain in the world. In the end, Albert Johnson would not be taken alive. And while his death may have ended the wild pursuit across the Yukon territory, it was just the beginning of another mystery that would endure into the twenty-first century. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! REFERENCES Canadian Press. 1932. "Long chase of slayer." , February 18: 3. Edmonton Journal. 1932. "Cornered by pursuers, wounded and fighting to last, Johnson slain." , February 18: 1. —. 1932. "Think Mad Trapper hiding in Arctic wilderness cabin." , January 27: 1. Journal, Edmonton. 1932. "Eyewittness tells story last desperate stand trapper Albert Johnson." , February 19: 1. New York Times. 1932. "Mad, hunted trapper kills constable." , February 1: 38. North, Dick. 2005. New York, NY: Lyons Press. Roden, Barbara. 2022. "The Mad Trapper part 3: Shootout on the Eagle River." , December 8. —. 2022. "The Mad Trapper part 5: The mystery of Albert Johnson endures to this day." , December 22. —. 2022. "The Mad Trapper part II: A tragic manhunt plays out." , December 1. —. 2022. "The Mad Trapper, Part I: a man of mystery arrives in the Arctic." , November 24. Thompson Reuters. 2021. "Scientists narrow search for mysterious Mad Trapper to Sweden." , July 30. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
When police were called to the scene of shooting at the Castillion Apartments in Los Angeles on April 20, 1968, they assumed the victim, twenty-two-year-old Cheryl Perveler, had been shot in a robbery gone wrong. However, when they began looking into her personal life, they soon realized Cheryl’s killer could have been much closer to home. In most cases of individual murders, detectives always look at the spouse first, and in this case, there was a lot to look at. Cheryl had recently married Paul Perveler, a former Los Angeles Police officer with a checkered past and an obvious obsession with wealth and power. Yet the more they investigated Paul Perveler, the more detectives began to suspect they didn’t have just one murder on their hands, and it was starting to look like Cheryl’s death was the culmination of a larger and far more shocking conspiracy than anyone had expected. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! REFERENCES Braxton, Greg. 1982. "Woman asks public to keep killer ex-husband jailed." , September 19: 529. Bugliosi, Vincent, and Ken Hurwitz. 2004. New York, NY: W.W. Norton and Company. 2017. Performed by Christine Connor and Elise Graves. Eintoss, Ron. 1969. "Death penalty asked in insurance murders." , February 25: 26. —. 1969. "Jury asks death for Perveler, life in prison for girlfriend." , February 26: 29. El Sereno Star. 1966. "Gun victim found in house fire." , December 15: 1. Farr, Bill. 1986. "Ex-officer in prison for killing fails in parole bid." , August 30: 2. Haynes, Roy, and Dial Torgerson. 1968. "Murder charges filed against pair in double indemnity case." , May 3: 3. Los Angeles Times. 1968. "Ex-officer, woman ask seperate trials." , November 15: 41. Newton, Tom, and Dial Torgerson. 1968. "Ex-policeman, woman accused of killing mates for insuarance." , May 2: 1. The Register. 1969. "First degree murder asked in mates case." , February 5: 15. United Press International. 1969. "Dual murder case goes to jury soon." , February 12: 11. Valley Times. 1968. "Transcript says alleged killer told of slaying." , May 21: See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode is a Fan Favorite that was originally published as Episode 401. We hope that you continue to have a happy and safe holiday! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Happy Thanksgiving! Pull up a chair and get ready for a brand new batch of tales brought TO you, BY you (Salad Fingers & the Sims thief), For you, FROM you, and ALLLLL about you! Today we have some wild tales about break ins, child snatching, horrifying close calls, and our GIRL from Brockton! Don't forget to check out the VIDEO from this episode available on YouTube on 11/28/24! If you’ve got a listener tale please send it on over to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line :) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
This episode is a fan favorite that was originally published as Episode 476. We hope that you have a happy and safe holiday! When musician Bobby Mackey opened Bobby Mackey’s Music World in 1978, he had hoped for nothing more than to open a small nightclub where audiences could enjoy the traditional country music he had devoted his life to for decades. Yet before the club was even opened, it was apparent to Bobby, his wife Janet, and manager Carl that whatever the new night club was going to be, it would be anything but normal. In the decades since it opened, Bobby Mackey’s Music World has gained a reputation, not just as a one of Kentucky’s enduring country western clubs, but as one of America’s supposedly most haunted locations. Indeed, Bobby Mackey’s is said to be the home of several spirits whose lives revolved around, and in some cases ended on the property, including the ghosts of a lovesick showgirl, a headless pregnant woman, and the two Satan-worshipping men who took her head. Thank you to the glorious David White for research assistance :) References Associated Press. 1978. "State to probe fire at club near Newport." Courier-Journal, July 10: 6. —. 1993. "Legality of lawsuit blaming bar for ghost antics to be decided." Messenger-Inquirer, October 23: 17. Caraway, Robin. 2006. "Wilder nightclub site has storied past." Cincinnati Post, July 17: 14. Chicago Chronicle. 1896. "Pearl Bryan's story." Chicago Chronicle, May 10: 33. Cincinnati Enquirer. 1979. "Kentucky closes Mackey's club, citing faulty wiriing, sprinkler." Cincinnati Enquirer, December 16: 26. —. 1978. "Wilder police chief wants state to close Hard Rock Cafe." Cincinnati Enquirer, January 17: 17. Hensley, Douglas. 2005. Hell's Gate: Terror at Bobby Mackey's Music World. Denver, CO: Outskirts Press. Moores, Lew. 1993. "Court filing by club's lawyer is poetry in motion." Cincinnati Enquirer, October 22: 26. 2005. A Haunting. Television. Directed by Joe Wiecha. Performed by New Dominion Pictures. Wecker, David. 1991. "Bobby Mackey demon story: truth or bull." Cincinnati Post, July 9: 11. Wolfson, Andrew. 2022. "A twisted tale: A failed abortion, a beheading and pennies left heads up at a grave." Courier Journal, May 4. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On November 2, 2016, thirty-four-year-old so-called “Supermom” Sherri Papini went out for a run near her home in Redding, California, and disappeared without a trace. Three weeks later, on Thanksgiving Day, Sherri was discovered on the side of the road in a nearby county, where she said her captors had released her. In the days that followed, Sherri claimed she had been kidnapped by two unknown Latin American women, who physically abused her, including branding her on the shoulder with the word “Exodus.” The case garnered considerable attention from the local and national media, but when it came to details on her abductors and their motives, Sherri was surprisingly tight-lipped, giving the police and FBI little to work with. In March 2022, more than five years after her supposed abduction, the nation was shocked to learn that federal agents had arrested Papini and charged her with faking her own kidnapping. A month later, Sherri pleaded guilty to the charges and was sentenced to more than a year in prison. The news was stunning and left everyone wondering, why would a seemingly ordinary and ostensibly happy mother orchestrate such a bizarre hoax? Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References ABC News. 2016. "Missing California mom found alive after captor abandons her in restraints, sheriff says." , November 24. Ayestas, Jonathan. 2024. "Sherri Papini has yet to pay $300,000 fine for faked 2016 California kidnapping." , March 26. Bella, Timothy. 2022. "A mother said she was kidnapped. Now she admits it was all a hoax." , April 13. Bever, Lindsey, and Kristine Guerra. 2016. "Missing California mother found alive three weeks after her apparent abduction, police say." , November 25. Bonvillian, Crystal. 2022. "Feds detail how missing mom branded, starved self in 2016 kidnapping hoax." , March 9. CBS News, Sacramento. 2016. "Full text of November 30 press conference about Sherri Papini's abduction." , November 30. Federal Bureau of Investigation. 2022. Criminal complaint, Los Angeles, CA: Federal Bureau of Investigation. Gumbel, Andrew. 2022. "California jogger Sherri Papini staged own violent kidnapping, FBI says." , March 4. —. 2016. "Kidnapping, reverse ransom and a bounty: the strange case of Sherri Papini." , December 30. Hurley, Beven. 2022. "Why did it take five years to charge 'supermom' Sherri Papini with fabricating her own abduction?" , March 4. Larimer, Sarah. 2016. "California mother was 'branded' and covered in bruises after apparent abduction, husband says." , November 29. Longoria, Sean. 2016. "Mother of 2 goes missing near Redding." , November 4: 1. —. 2016. "Audio tells of Papini response." , November 27: 1. Sabalow, Ryan. 2016. "Familty of 'supermom' holds on to hope." , November 12: 1. —. 2016. "Keep an open mind in unusual kidnap story, experts say." , December 3: B1. —. 2016. "Relative defends husband of missing 'supermom'." , November 9: A14. —. 2017. "Sheriff's office silent on Papini details." , January 31. —. 2016. "'Supermom' hasn't been seen since taking a jog." , November 8: A4. Sandhu, Amber. 2016. "Missing mom sought." , November 5: 1. Serna, Joseph. 2016. "A setback in kidnapping case?" , December 1: B3. Shulman, Alayna. 2016. "Sherriff gets help in search." , November 8: 1. —. 2017. "Will 2018 bring more Papini details?" , December 28: 6. Solis, Nathan. 2022. "Tale of abduction by Latinas fueled racial unease." , March 6: B2. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
On April 25, 2004, Broadmoor Hospital inmate Peter Bryan attacked a killed fellow inmate Richard Loudwell, a man awaiting sentencing for the murder of an eighty-two-year-old woman. The fact that the murder occurred in England’s most famous and supposedly secure psychiatric hospital was shocking, but more shocking was that this was Bryan’s third murder, and the second in as many months. Indeed, just two months earlier, while he was under the care of doctors and social workers in an open in-patient mental health hospital, Bryan left the facility in February and a few hours later he’d killed, dismembered, and partially cannibalized forty-three-year-old Brian Cherry. Peter Bryan’s murders were highly sensationalized by the press, particularly the tabloids, who fueled the ongoing moral panic over the abysmal state of England’s mental health system. While the reporting did little more than exacerbate the public’s growing anger with the government, they nonetheless highlighted a very important question everyone wanted answered: How was a man with Bryan’s mental health and criminal history able to get released institutional care, and moreover, why was he not under surveillance when he murdered a third time—this time in heavily guarded psychiatric hospital? REFERENCES Bennetto, Jason. 2005. "Care in the community patient sought `buzz' from killing and eating his victims." , March 16. Bowcott, Owen. 2009. "Cannibal who killed three had seemed normal, NHS finds." , September 3. Chelsea News. 1994. "Grudge ended in murder." , March 3: 1. Cheston, Paul. 2005. "Cannibal set free to kill in London." , March 15. Feller, Grant. 1993. "Police hunt evil King's Road murderer." , March 24: 3. Garvey, Geoff, and Peter Dobbie. 1993. "Girl battered to death in King's Road." , March 19: 73. Mishcon, Jane, Tim Exworthy, Stuart Wix, and Mike Lindsay. 2009. Mental Health Treatment Review, London, England: National Health Service (NHS). Raif, Shenai, and Andrew Barrow. 2005. "Triple-killer 'cannibal' told: you'll never be freed." , March 14. Tendler, Stewart, and Laura Peek. 2004. "Cannibal fears after body found cut apart." , February 19. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
At first glance, there wasn’t much to the mild and unassuming Jerry Brudos; however, when investigators looked into his background, they discovered several arrests for theft, prowling, and sexual assault. And the more they learned about Brudos’ life, the more certain they became that he was the man they were looking for. Ultimately, Jerry Brudos was convicted of the murders of Jan Whitney, Karen Sprinker, and Linda Salee and given three life sentences. His capture and incarceration were a big relief to the women of Oregon, but his cooperation with law enforcement and the FBI would prove invaluable as the latter established what would eventually become the Behavioral Analysis Unit. References Associated Press. 1969. "Fisherman's grim discovery started search for slayer." , June 30: 21. —. 1969. "Coed provided first lead in murder case." , June 4: 11. Capital Journal. 1969. "Salem student, 19, feared kidnaped." , March 29: 1. Carbonell, Dan De. 2006. "36 years later, killer's death relieves victims' families." , March 29: 2. Leibman, Faith H. 1989. "Serial Murderers: Four Case Histories." 41-45. Long, James. 1969. "Photo found in Brudos' home shows girl hanging by rope." , June 7: 1. Morrison, Allen. 1969. "Brudos tells of attacks, killings." , June 28: 1. —. 1969. "Indicted in death of Miss Sprinkler." , June 5: 1. Olmos, Robert. 1969. "Crews widen river search for clues in girls murders." , May 15: 19. Oregon Journal. 1968. "2 teen-age girls missing." , February 6: J7. Oregonian. 1968. "Help sought in search." , December 23: 24. —. 1969. "Office aide disappears ." , April 26: 14. Painter, John. 1969. "Sudden shift in plea signals end of trial." , June 28: 1. —. 1969. "Tests stall state trial of Brudos." , June 6: 1. Roby, Larry. 1969. "Parole agency explains eligibilty of Brudos." , July 2: 15. —. 1969. "Judge discloses warrant details on Brudos." , June 6: 1. Rule, Ann. 1983. New York, NY: Random House. Statesman Journal. 1969. "Brudos home alleged site of 2 slayings." , June 18: 1. Wong, James. 1969. "Somebody probably saw Linda Salee's killer--but will the person speak up?" , May 15: 5. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Over the course of 1968 and well into 1969, several young women in Salem, Oregon went missing and would later turn up dead—all murdered and showing signs of having been tortured. Many of the cases bore certain similarities, but it wasn’t until investigators questioned the friends of one of the victims, Karen Sprinker, that they came to identify a suspect and eventually arrested thirty-year-old Jerome “Jerry” Brudos. At first glance, there wasn’t much to the mild and unassuming Jerry Brudos; however, when investigators looked into his background, they discovered several arrests for theft, prowling, and sexual assault. And the more they learned about Brudos’ life, the more certain they became that he was the man they were looking for. Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research and Writing support! References Associated Press. 1969. "Fisherman's grim discovery started search for slayer." , June 30: 21. —. 1969. "Coed provided first lead in murder case." , June 4: 11. Capital Journal. 1969. "Salem student, 19, feared kidnaped." , March 29: 1. Carbonell, Dan De. 2006. "36 years later, killer's death relieves victims' families." , March 29: 2. Leibman, Faith H. 1989. "Serial Murderers: Four Case Histories." 41-45. Long, James. 1969. "Photo found in Brudos' home shows girl hanging by rope." , June 7: 1. Morrison, Allen. 1969. "Brudos tells of attacks, killings." , June 28: 1. —. 1969. "Indicted in death of Miss Sprinkler." , June 5: 1. Olmos, Robert. 1969. "Crews widen river search for clues in girls murders." , May 15: 19. Oregon Journal. 1968. "2 teen-age girls missing." , February 6: J7. Oregonian. 1968. "Help sought in search." , December 23: 24. —. 1969. "Office aide disappears ." , April 26: 14. Painter, John. 1969. "Sudden shift in plea signals end of trial." , June 28: 1. —. 1969. "Tests stall state trial of Brudos." , June 6: 1. Roby, Larry. 1969. "Parole agency explains eligibilty of Brudos." , July 2: 15. —. 1969. "Judge discloses warrant details on Brudos." , June 6: 1. Rule, Ann. 1983. New York, NY: Random House. Statesman Journal. 1969. "Brudos home alleged site of 2 slayings." , June 18: 1. Wong, James. 1969. "Somebody probably saw Linda Salee's killer--but will the person speak up?" , May 15: 5. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Just because October is over doesn't mean that Spooky Season needs to end!! Today, our friend Bridget Marquardt drops by to tell us about her NEW PODCAST-- "Ghost Bunny" available everywhere you find podcasts, NOW! On today's show Bridget shares spine tingling ghostly encounters she had, and Ash & Alaina talk about ABSOLUTELY TERRIFYING games that none of US would want to play... like ever! For more games, check out 'Dangerous Games to Play in the Dark' by Lucia Peters! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.