We’ve heard many stories of “cursed lands''. Usually, it’s surrounding a colonizer building on indigenous American land who is then dealt a nasty curse, think Poltergeist. Cursed land stories only continue the misconceptions surrounding what are perceived as “mysterious” cultures like indigenous Americans or gypsies. If a piece of land isn’t cursed, can it still harbor evil? Can a location continually be a draw for those that wish others harm? Today I’ll be telling the stories of Barbara Tucker,...
Sep 13, 2021•1 hr 5 min•Ep. 67
Today’s case shows you how an average American family can have dark secrets behind closed doors. A couple once totally in love can turn on each other for lust or money, or to avoid the inconvenience that breaking up can inflict. What exactly can make some turn from committing to spending the rest of their life with someone to plotting to commit the murder of that same person? How can one person be totally in love only to find out the object of their affection wants them dead? This is the story o...
Aug 31, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 66
More often than not, a case appears to be cut and dry. At the very least, a death is usually obvious as to if it was caused by an accident, by the victim, or by foul play. But in today’s case, none of those answers are clear. Was Cindy James a tortured victim that was hunted and haunted for 7 years by a perpetrator who eventually caused her death, or were her own mental health issues causing her to attack herself? I’ll let you decide as I walk you through the evidence of the stalking and killing...
Aug 17, 2021•1 hr 11 min•Ep. 65
Can livestock be the perfect coverup for murder and the TV tropes about pigs true? After a farmhand goes missing in southwestern Oregon the gruesome details around his “disappearance” begin to unfold. Is it possible that a female serial killer remained hidden in the farmland of the Rogue Valley avoiding detection and preying on the nomadic locals that helped her on her farm? In today’s case, we talk about the infamous Susan Monica and the details around her 2014 arrest for the murders of Robert ...
Aug 03, 2021•54 min•Ep. 64
When people hear “Murder” they usually think of a gun, knife, or strangulation. What if the murder weapon is a combination of choices, actions, and a vehicle? Every day, an average of 102 lives are lost due to car crashes in the US, 27 of which are due to an impaired driver. That breaks down to about 1 death every 14 minutes. Car accidents are just that right, accidents? What if what caused the accident was avoidable? What if political connections led to an alleged murderer being released? Would...
Jul 20, 2021•52 min•Ep. 63
In the early 1980s, several girls went missing in the Salem, Oregon area. Some disappeared with hardly a trace while others turned up dead. An 18-year-old recent high school graduate disappeared while delivering pizzas on the night of July 4th, 1982 leaving behind her car with the engine still running. The hunt for her abductor would lead those working on the case down many paths, but no one expected how it would be connected to multiple murders years later. In today’s episode, we explore the ca...
Jul 06, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 62
When a lesbian couple went missing for three days in Medford, Oregon, concerns for their safety were immediate. Roxanne and Michelle were partners and vocal supporters of gay rights. When their bodies were discovered, it led investigators down a path of destruction left behind by a homophobic man obsessed with an exotic dancer who had already committed another hate-fueled murder mere weeks before he was caught by police. Today’s story is about the murders of Roxanne Ellis, Michelle Abdil, and Sc...
Jun 22, 2021•1 hr•Ep. 61
Waldport, Oregon is a small quiet town along the Pacific Coast located south of Newport. With a little over 2,000 permanent residents, your chances of being a victim of a violent crime are pretty low, but it happens. While we were all reeling from the immediate aftereffects of the terrorist attacks of 9/11, no one was prepared for the shocking case that would rock this small coastal town in December of 2001. In today’s case, we explore the details around the first case of family annihilation in ...
Jun 08, 2021•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 60
Murder in the Rain is packing their bags and heading over the pond for CrimeCon UK in September! In preparation of our big trip, we had a lovely chat with Caprice from The Unseen Podcast. We talk about it all; what got us interested in true crime, why we started a podcast, cases that made an imprint on our heart, and the struggles and wins thereafter. We're very excited to meet Caprice from The Unseen Podcast in person! If you want to join us in all the true crime podcast glory, get your tickets...
Jun 03, 2021•45 min
May is Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women awareness month. Today, Alisha will be telling the story of 19-year-old Barbara Whitesell; a teenager excited to start the next phase of her life whose only priorities were her friends and family. When Barbara’s body is discovered in a church’s field, those family members start to look at her friends as potential suspects. Was her friend responsible for her death or will new technology tell the truth of what happened that awful night? Find out in toda...
May 25, 2021•40 min•Ep. 59
In today’s episode, you’ll learn about two cases of missing children who disappeared under incredibly suspicious circumstances. Cody Haynes was 11 years old when he disappeared from his bedroom in Kittitas, WA leaving his stuffed animals in his bed to look like he was asleep. In the days that followed, it became clear that Cody didn’t just run away and his father looked more and more like he might have something to do with his disappearance. Sky Metalwala and his mother were on their way to the ...
May 11, 2021•46 min•Ep. 58
When the Whitman family wagons made their way to the Pacific Northwest, they were literal trailblazers. Not only were they some of the first non-native people to cross the Rocky Mountains, they included the first white woman to make it so far West. Accomplishments aside, the Whitman’s brought more than their own curiosity and sense of adventure. They also brought religion, other settlers, and eventually death. As the white man took over more and more land, the Native American’s asked, then begge...
Apr 27, 2021•32 min•Ep. 57
Introducing the Murder in the Rain 2-year anniversary special! We’ll give you some updates on cases from the past year, talk about some listener messages and feedback, and what we’ve learned this year! We'd like to tell you all how much we appreciate and adore you! We are regularly overwhelmed by the messages of support and suggestions and in the very best way! Keep it coming! Please send us your suggestions and feedback to murderintherain@gmail.com As always, if you feel inclined to support us,...
Apr 20, 2021•1 hr 25 min
Angela McAnulty was no stranger to trauma after growing up in a household of abuse and tragically losing her mother to murder in 1973. After being arrested for drugs and having her children taken away, she went to jail and then got clean in the hopes of restarting her life. However when the opportunity came, rather than a reunion filled with laughter, love, and the start of a wonderful new beginning, she became a monster. In today’s case, you’ll learn the horrific story of what happened to 15 ye...
Apr 13, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 56
In 2020, Asian American and Pacific Islanders in the United States were faced with a barrage of hate crimes. From getting punched while walking to the store to spat at by strangers passing, fear is rippling through the AAPI community, rightfully so. While his death was not targeted because of his heritage, the loss of Matthew Choi was a huge loss in Portland. Everyone from his Korean family and friends to the local foodies that loved his kimchi were hurt and scared by the senseless taking of his...
Mar 30, 2021•32 min•Ep. 55
In 1977, a young woman was kidnapped by a seemingly safe-looking couple while hitchhiking from Oregon to California. For over seven years she would be held against her will, suffering daily whippings, rapes, and other unimaginable tortures. When she was finally able to make her escape, the public was horrified and baffled. Horrified after hearing the details of her life of captivity in a box and baffled that this young woman wouldn’t take advantage of her small bouts of freedom to run for her li...
Mar 16, 2021•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 54
This week’s story isn’t about moving, and the murder doesn’t take place in the northwest (I know!), but its origins do. So let’s Haul...ass to Ridgefield, Washington, 1943 where fate would have two lovers meet, start a company that would change how we move, lead to one of the most public and expensive family feuds in modern history and leave a family destroyed by suicide and murder. Today I’m talking about the ubiquitous brand, U-haul, and the murder of its founder’s daughter-in-law, Ava Shoen. ...
Mar 02, 2021•34 min•Ep. 53
Valentine’s Day is usually a day for lovers, one where they can dote on each other and express their love in the form of special time and presents. But in today’s episode we learn that for some, the happiness of Valentine’s Day can be replaced with heartache, fear, and even death. Gerald Dean Krein Jr. was a depressed man who desired to take others down with him when he was ready to complete suicide. He planned an extravagant sex and suicide party for Valentine's Day 2005. Miles away and years p...
Feb 16, 2021•53 min•Ep. 52
In the last few weeks, we’ve seen just how much can happen when a group of white supremacists gets together. In 2011, the terror came not from a large group, but a young couple with shared beliefs in hatred. Once they found each other through white supremacist groups, Joey Pederson and Holly Grisby went on a 10-day spree of terror through Washington, Oregon, and California that would leave four dead and the west coast shaken. Want to cut down some stress and eat great? Try Gobble! Gobble is a de...
Feb 02, 2021•38 min•Ep. 51
The man now known as “The Longview Serial Killer” was once a child victim to a time in our history where native children were plucked out of their homes to be adopted out to white middle-class families. The little boy who was affectionately called “Joey” by his adoptive mother, grew up to be a terrifying nightmare to many children in the Pacific Northwest. Today’s case is about Joseph Kondro. He found the vulnerable, the less fortunate, and the impressionable and lulled them into safety with his...
Jan 19, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 50
Small, tight, confined spaces. Not many people like them and most of us have been feeling claustrophobic while stuck at home. One of those small places would be the final resting place for 4 women in the Portland area. It seems shocking and unexpected, especially for Portland, but many people end up having their bodies stuffed in the trunks of cars. In this episode, Murder in the Rain will share four stories about women who were taken, killed, and hidden in their own trunks. Looking to relax? Ke...
Jan 05, 2021•39 min•Ep. 49
It’s the holiday season and many of us are celebrating with a Christmas tree and the promise of Santa’s visit. While this is normally a happy time for us all, it’s a time for great sadness for one family in Washington State. Ed and Minnie Maurin were an elderly couple who disappeared just before a Christmas party in 1985. Their bodies would later be discovered and the entire town would be left asking what really happened to them. The case quickly grew cold and for over 30 years we were left wond...
Dec 22, 2020•56 min•Ep. 48
Kurt Cobain. A household name synonymous with grunge, the 90’s and unfortunately, suicide. Although it’s yet to be proven otherwise, for 26 years rumors have persisted that someone besides Kurt took his life. In this week’s episode, Murder In The Rain will examine Kurt’s childhood, his history of mental health and addiction struggles and the so-called evidence presented by a private detective with his own agenda, preventing Kurt from resting in peace. So did Kurt hate his life and want to die or...
Dec 08, 2020•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 47
In today’s case, Emily will talk about how childhood bullying can be more dangerous than hurt feelings and tears. The impact of bullying stretches from depression and anxiety, to alcohol and drug abuse, and in some cases, the trauma is too much to come back from. This is one of those stories; how a teenage decision to get a little bit of revenge impacts an entire community. This is the story of Reena Virk and how a group of peers lured her out and attacked her. For additional information and sou...
Nov 24, 2020•56 min•Ep. 46
In Seattle, thousands of houseless persons have died from the elements or violence through the years. Today, Alisha will be telling the stories of two of those folx; Daniel Alberto and Davina Garrison. One case closed while the other, 15 years later, remains unsolved. Preyed upon for their perceived weakness and disregarded as a nuisance, Anitra Freeman joins the show to discuss the perilous reality faced by today’s houseless population and the work she does with ShareWheel.org to provide shelte...
Nov 10, 2020•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 45
This Halloween brings you all treats, it’s no trick! In our second new episode of the week, Emily tells the tale of an infamous murder at her alma mater, Oregon State University. Could a notorious and “handsome” serial killer make an appearance? We’ll also get kinda spooky with several stories of local hauntings. For additional information visit this week’s MITR blog . If you are clamoring for more MITR, join us on Patreon ! We have extra Halloween content and you’ll get social media shout-outs,...
Oct 29, 2020•20 min
This Halloween brings you all treats, it’s no trick! In this week’s first of TWO all-new episodes, Alisha tells us tales from a few of Oregon’s mental health institutions. Not only stories of the abuse and horrors experienced by the clients, but in honor of Halloween, she’ll be sharing her own encounter with a possible ghost and other paranormal tales that seem to accompany these types of facilities. For additional information and sources visit this week’s MITR blog . If you are clamoring for mo...
Oct 27, 2020•33 min•Ep. 43
Since 1849 there have been 110 executions in Washington State. In recent years, capital punishment was abolished in the state, however, not in time to save the lives of the three men we’ll discuss today. In today’s case, Emily tells you the events that resulted in the three most recent executions in Washington State. Three men who were deemed too monstrous to keep their lives; one child rapist, one violent repeat offender and one torturer. This week’s episode is brought to you from SimpliSafe. G...
Oct 13, 2020•54 min
Systemic racism might be a new term for a lot of people, but today we’re going to dive into the judicial side of it. In this episode, Alisha will hold our hands through Oregon’s historically racist laws, but this time it’s to celebrate their undoing! By revisiting the infamous murders of a couple caught up in the Portland mob, we’ll learn about racist roots as to why this law was created in the first place, the lives it affected for nearly a century and how its being overturned will continue to ...
Sep 29, 2020•36 min•Ep. 41
Three-year-old Karly Sheehan was being abused. Despite multiple investigations into her home life and several people who loved her trying to intervene, her young life was stolen from her. In today’s episode, Emily will describe what happened to little Karly. Joining us in the episode is Karen Spears Zacharias, the author of Karly Sheehan: True Crime Story Behind Karly’s Law. Her book offers a unique perspective from someone who was very close to the Sheehan family. If you want to show your suppo...
Sep 15, 2020•1 hr 45 min•Ep. 40
