In this episode I’ll tell you about a case that got worldwide media attention due to the bizarre circumstances, the heinous nature of the crime, and the venue at which it occurred - a high school prom. Resources: Melissa Drexler, murderpedia.com https://murderpedia.org/female.D/d/drexler-melissa.htm “Before Prom Night, a Suspect was the Girl Next Door” by Abby Goodnough and Bruce Weber for The New York Times, July 2, 1997. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/02/nyregion/before-prom-night-a-suspect-w...
Sep 19, 2022•25 min•Ep. 255
A student residing with three roommates on an Indiana college campus finds herself mired in a tense living situation. An unusual set of circumstances soon turns deadly. Resources: Murder Loves Company: Dorm Living Nightmare, Season 1, Episode 1, The Investigation Discovery Channel, (2019). Liette Martinez Obituary, Las Cruces-Sun News, April 22, 2008. A series of articles regarding this case can be found in the Albuquerque Journal, April 18, 2008 - Sept. 19, 2008. See Privacy Policy at https://a...
Sep 12, 2022•27 min•Ep. 254
Kitty LeRoy was a sharpshooter, cardsharp, dancer, and entrepreneur. She became a well-known entertainer in the Old West and ran with legends like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock. But her fierce temper and fiery personality often made her dangerous to be around. You may have never heard of Kitty LeRoy before but after this episode you won’t soon forget her. Resources: “Kitty LeRoy: Lady Gambler and Gunfighter” by Kathy Weiser for Legends of America, Feb 2020. https://www.legendsofamerica.com...
Aug 22, 2022•21 min•Ep. 253
In 1819, Lavinia Fisher and her husband John were accused poisoning and murdering multiple guests of their Charleston, South Carolina inn and sentenced to hang. But were the Fishers really serial killers or is the legend simply a tall tale concocted to entertain tourists? The true story of who Lavinia Fisher was and why she was hanged may shock you. Resources: Lavinia Fisher: Legends of America, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/sc-laviniafisher/ Murder and Mayhem in the Holy City, Pat Hendrix, T...
Aug 15, 2022•37 min•Ep. 252
In this series we’ll step back in history to learn about some of the history’s first female outlaws. In this episode I’ll tell you about Sally Skull, ranch owner, horse trader, fandango dancer, and gunslinger. Some say Sally’s quick temper - and even quicker hand with a gun - was responsible for the mysterious disappearances of two of her five husbands. Resources: “The legendary Sally Skull was a gun-slinging, foul-mouthed Texas horse trader”, Allison Ehrlich for the Corpus Christi Caller Times,...
Aug 01, 2022•26 min•Ep. 251
A young girl leaves her hometown of Ohio for the Big Apple with her heart set on a career as a Broadway dancer. Instead, she meets a young man who becomes obsessed with controlling her life. Unable to let her go, Paul Cortez commits a shocking crime. Resources: The People v. Paul Cortez, New York Court of Appeals filing, April 8, 2013. https://casetext.com/brief/e970db1d-the-people-respondentvpaul-cortez-appellant-brief “A dancer’s secret life and savage murder, Keith Morrison/NBCNews.com, Jan 1...
Jul 25, 2022•37 min•Ep. 250
This week’s episode details a murder that, at first glance, appears to be a cut-and-dried case of a lover’s quarrel turned deadly. Upon investigation, it is discovered to be a much more thought-out and sinister plan. When authorities uncover the real killer he turns out to be an actor who attempted to parlay his skills as a performer to pull off “the perfect crime”. Sources: “Actor is held in double slaying.” Los Angeles Times , 29 05 2010, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104583077/actor-is-held...
Jul 18, 2022•30 min•Ep. 249
In this month’s series “Final Curtain Call” a film or theater actor is connected to a sensational crime. In 1973, The Exorcist was released in theaters. Moviegoers were shocked by the film’s graphic depiction of a little girl possessed by a demon. But one movie extra, Paul Bateson, had demons of his own which lead him to commit an act of violence and become a prime suspect in a series of grisly murders. Resources: Paul Bateson: The ‘Mindhunter’ Murderer Who Appeared in ‘The Exorcist’ - https://a...
Jul 11, 2022•21 min•Ep. 248
Harry Uzoka was a rising star who’d broken into the world of high-end modeling against all odds. But another model envious of his success began a rivalry which lead to a violent showdown that no one saw coming. Resources Adey, Linda. “Remembering Harry.” BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/remembering_harry_uzoka_the_murder_of_a_model . Accessed 8 June 2022.Balogun, Simi. “FAB Editorial: Ty Ogunkoya & Harry Uzoka Featured In Paper Magazine.” FAB, 21 February 2014, http://fabmaga...
Jun 27, 2022•27 min•Ep. 247
In light of the ongoing tragedies of frequent mass shootings in America, I’ve decided to make this week’s episode one of hope and heroism. In this story, a young girl becomes an unlikely hero when she acts upon a hunch derailing an evil plot before it could begin. Resources “De Anza bomber receives 7-year prison sentence” | News | losaltosonline.com .” Los Altos Town Crier, 3 April 2022, https://www.losaltosonline.com/news/de-anza-bomber-receives-7-year-prison-sentence/article_53662dd7-5f2f-5b74...
Jun 20, 2022•29 min•Ep. 246
In 1996, the longest and most expensive investigation in the FBI’s history was successfully solved when Theodore Kaczynski was identified as “The Unabomber” 18 years after he began building and planting bombs at various locations. Three people were killed and several others injured before he was brought to justice. A new book titled “Madman in the Woods” recounts the experiences of its author Jamie Gehring regarding Kaczynski who she knew as “Ted” the eccentric neighbor who lived in a one-room c...
Jun 13, 2022•42 min•Ep. 245
Christopher Wilder posed as a photographer to lure beautiful young women with the promise of modeling work. Those who take him up on his offer - and even those that didn’t - found themselves victims of a serial rapist who soon graduated to serial murder. Resources: https://listverse.com/2019/08/07/10-shocking-facts-about-the-beauty-queen-killer/ https://allthatsinteresting.com/christopher-wilder https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Christopher_Wilder https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Wi...
Jun 06, 2022•37 min•Ep. 244
A young woman who creates a YouTube channel to advocate for animal rights and veganism becomes disgruntled with the social media platform when she feels she is being targeted for discrimination. But, no one imagined that her anger would spiral into a random act of violence. Resources: “Sleeping in Car and Visiting Gun Range: How YouTube Attacker Spent Final Hours” by Daisuke Wakabayashi, Matthew Haag and Elizabeth Dias for The New York Times, April 4, 2018. MVPD Statement Regarding Officers’ Int...
May 23, 2022•28 min•Ep. 243
In this episode, a young man who dubs himself “Mr. Anime” gains a large following as a critic and reviewer on YouTube.. But, he’ll later admit to harboring dark fantasies most of his life after he commits a shocking act of violence against his closest family members. Resources: “Mr. Anime Loves God and His Family” by Jeannette Garrett for Crime Magazine. “Parents, brother each had high-powered rifle wounds” by Mike Glenn and Cindy George for The Houston Chronicle, Mar 21, 2012. https://www.daily...
May 16, 2022•26 min•Ep. 242
This week I have a special episode diving into the topic of the psychology of mass killers. What prompts someone to commit mass murder against random strangers? How did Columbine become a cultural touchstone that inspired others to plan and execute their own mass shooting sprees? What can we do to slow down the number and frequency of these types of crimes, if anything? I'll get answers to some of these questions from psychotherapist and author, P. Shavaun Scott, author of The Minds of Mass Kill...
May 09, 2022•50 min•Ep. 241
A young couple on a quest for internet fame record a prank for their YouTube channel with tragic results. Resources: YouTube Prankster Jailed, BBC News, March 15, 2018 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43410816 The Last Moments Before a YouTube Stunt Went Fatally Wrong, Buzzfeed News, June 22, 2018. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tasneemnashrulla/failed-youtube-stunt-killing-videos Who Was Pedro Ruiz?, The Sun, March 15, 2018 https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/3908168/pedro-ruiz-youtube-...
May 02, 2022•24 min•Ep. 240
This is part 2 of a 2-part- episode. As we continue the story, Shelly and Dave Knotek have isolated themselves, their three daughters, nephew, and a boarder, Kathy Loreno, in their Ramond, Washington home. The torture and abuse Kathy endured would come to a shocking conclusion in July of 1994. 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...
May 01, 2022•34 min•Ep. 239
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, ...
Apr 11, 2022•48 min•Ep. 238
In this month’s series, we’ll take a look at the fascinating phenomenon of narcissistic family cults - a family unit that exhibits all the hallmarks of a traditional cult group but is led by a narcissistic family member - usually a parent. In this episode, a couple with thirteen children spend decades isolating themselves from the outside world. The public would be shocked when it was discovered their children had been subjected to long-term ritualistic abuse, neglect, and deprivation in one of ...
Apr 09, 2022•59 min•Ep. 237
A young man’s racist ideology lead him to take the lives of 51 people and injure dozens more all while recording and uploading a video of the murders to Facebook Live. Resources: Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques on 15 March 2019. https://christchurchattack.royalcommission.nz “Massacre Suspect Traveled the World but Lived on the Internet” by David D. Kirkpatrick for The New York Times, March 15, 2019. “NZ gunman to stay silent at sentencing after famil...
Mar 28, 2022•31 min•Ep. 236
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’: M...
Mar 21, 2022•31 min•Ep. 235
A disgruntled, former television station employee takes out his revenge during a live news broadcast. Resources: “Ex-Broadcaster Kills 2 on Air Virginia Shooting” by Michael D. Shear, Richard Perez-Pena, and Alan Blinder, The New York Times, August 26, 2015. “Vester Lee Flanagan: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know”, Tom Cleary, Heavy.com , April 8, 2021. “A Life of Listing Grievances, and Then Virginia Gunman’s Final Homicidal Explosion”, Michael D. Shear and Sarah Maslin Nir, The New York Times, Aug...
Mar 14, 2022•33 min•Ep. 234
A bizarre and terrifying crime spree has been on the rise in the UK for the past several years. In this episode, I’ll share stories illustrating how acid attacks have increasingly been used to retaliate against a romantic partner once a relationship ends. Resources: “Acid Attacks on the Rise in the U.K.”, Joanna Kakissis/ NPR, Aug 6, 2017. “Acid Attacks: What has led to the rise and how can they be stopped?”, George Mann /BBC News , July 14, 2017. “Jealous woman is jailed for 14 years after scar...
Feb 28, 2022•26 min•Ep. 233
In this special episode, Esther sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jake Halpern to talk about Season 2 of his podcast Deep Cover: Mob Land. They also discuss podcast storytelling and Jake reveals which well-known actor makes a surprise guest appearance on Deep Cover in Season 2. Links: Listen to Deep Cover on Pushkin.fm - https://www.pushkin.fm/show/deep-cover/ Become a Pushkin+ member to binge all episodes of Deep Cover ad-free. You will also have ad-free access to more than 20 Pushki...
Feb 21, 2022•43 min•Ep. 232
In this episode, I’ll share with you one of the craziest “love” stories you’ve ever heard - right in time for Valentine’s Day. Burt Pagach meets Linda Riss in 1957 and quickly becomes obsessed with her. When she breaks off the relationship he plots a despicable act for revenge. Resources: “Burt and Linda Pugach: The story behind Crazy Love”, Amy Turner for The Sunday Times, June 29, 2008. “CityPeople; A Sort of Love Story”, Mark Fass for The New York Times, March 21, 2004. Crazy Love (2007), Dir...
Feb 14, 2022•41 min•Ep. 231
A 22-year-old recent graduate of a New Zealand University breaks off a short-lived relationship. Her ex would take deadly revenge on her in one of the most horrific attacks ever perpetrated in the country’s recent history. Resources: “Own Evidence Seals Fate” by John Hartevelt for Stuff.co.nz , July 23, 2009. “Success accompanied by stress: Weatherston” by Kay Sinclair for the Otago Daily Times, July 9, 2009. “The Day Sophie Died: A Mother’s Untold Story” by Lesley Elliott for NzHerald.co.nz , J...
Feb 06, 2022•37 min•Ep. 230
One family appears to have it all - success, wealth, a happy family life, and a beautiful ocean-view home on the California coast. But, trouble behind the scenes tears the family apart and the story of the Sachs family will end in a shocking murder. Resources: Shadow of Death, CBS/48 Hours, October 15, 2016. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/48-hours-investigates-andra-and-brad-sachs-murders-shadow-of-death/ “Capistrano killings: In marriage, divorce, death, couple never parted,” by Salvador Hernande...
Jan 31, 2022•33 min•Ep. 229
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...
Jan 24, 2022•37 min•Ep. 228
July 27, 2001 Jeanine Sanchez Harms went missing after a night out with friends in Campbell, California. A man she'd only become acquainted with that night, Maurice Xavier Nasmeh, would be suspected of involvement in her disappearance. After a problematic investigation and numerous delays, the case would end in a shocking conclusion. Resources: " Whatever Happened to Jeanine Harms?" by Loren Stein for MetroActive New s, March 20, 2003. Jeanine Sanchez Harms , The Charley Project. "Jeanine Harms ...
Jan 17, 2022•43 min•Ep. 227
On the last episode of the year, Lorena and I break down the case of family annihilator, Chris Watts. Resources: “Chris Watts: A Complete Timeline of the Murder of His Wife and Daughters” by Rachel Change for Biography.com , Sept 29, 2020. https://www.biography.com/news/chris-watts-wife-daughters-murder-mistress-confession-timeline “New Christopher Watts confession details how he murdered his wife, two daughters” by Elise Schmelzer for The Denver Post , March 7, 2019. https://www.denverpost.com/...
Dec 20, 2021•1 hr 56 min•Ep. 226
