In this special episode, I speak with author Gareth Russell. His new book, The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Years of British History at Hampton Court, gives us a look at the storied history of what is called the most beautiful palace in England. But, behind the walls of Hampton Court, true tales of intrigue, sex scandals, assassination plots, and murder played out among the royals and court members. Links: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Gareth-Russell/500660891 https://...
Mar 05, 2024•47 min•Ep. 314
In history, there have been several monarchs known as “Mad Kings” - monarchs who were plagued by erratic and even violent behavior often attributed to mental illness. King Eric the XIV of Sweden is one such ruler. While intellectually brilliant, King Eric suffered from extreme paranoia, which led to erratic, violent, and even murderous behavior. Sources: Disturbed Facts About Eric XIV Of Sweden, The Butcher King - Factinate Eric XIV, King of Sweden, Britannica.com https://www.britannica.com/biog...
Feb 27, 2024•38 min•Ep. 313
This month, we’re taking a peek at royal families. What secrets and scandals lie behind these noble houses? In this week’s episode, I’ll tell you about an illicit affair an heir to the British throne engaged in with a French courtesan during WWI. Marguerite Alibert retained evidence of her affair with Prince Edward that she would later use as blackmail when she was on trial for the murder of another prince. Sources: Marguerite Alibert: Courtesan, Murderess and Blackmailer of a King - Historic My...
Feb 13, 2024•32 min•Ep. 312
In this month’s series, we’ll take a look at the dark side of royalty. I will detail crimes, sex scandals, and even murders that have occurred within royal families. First up, a member of the British royal family, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York’s reputation is muddied when his close, personal friend, Jeffrey Epstein, is exposed as a sex trafficker of underage girls. Prince Andrew will fall even further into disgrace when one of Epstein’s victims accuses him of sexual assault while she was a min...
Feb 06, 2024•36 min•Ep. 311
In the summer of 1984, a young woman kidnapped in Northern California finally makes her escape after seven years of violence, torture, imprisonment, and coercive control. While free from the physical restraints of her horrific experience, the emotional battle is just beginning. The investigation and legal battles unfold while the victim, Colleen Stan, attempts to rebuild her life. Resources: True Crime Documentary: The Girl in the Box - YouTube The 'Girl In The Box' Case And The Tragic Story Of ...
Jan 30, 2024•54 min•Ep. 310
In 1977, a young woman kidnapped by a married couple while hitchhiking is taken to their home and imprisoned for the next seven years. During this time the woman is subjected to depraved torture, sensory deprivation, and sexual abuse. Deep and pervasive brainwashing and coercive control make it less and less likely she will ever escape, despite one of her captors eventually telling her the terrible truth which could facilitate her breaking free. Resources: True Crime Documentary: The Girl in the...
Jan 23, 2024•45 min•Ep. 309
In this first part of a 3-part episode, I share an infamous kidnapping case that began in 1977 in northern California. The kidnapping of Colleen Stan become famously, and chillingly, known as “The Girl in the Box” case. It’s an incredible story of unprecedented evil but also one of faith, strength, and the courage of a young girl to survive a horrific nightmare at the hands of the worst kind of predator. Sources: True Crime Documentary: The Girl in the Box - YouTube The 'Girl In The Box' Case An...
Jan 16, 2024•47 min•Ep. 308
As we wrap up 2023, I ask the question, “What was your true crime obsession this year?” In this episode, I’ll find out what true crime cases your favorite true crime podcasters were talking about. You’ll hear my discussions with Tyler from Minds of Madness, Michael from True Crime Guys , Leroy from Excuse Me, That’s Illegal , Jerri from FBI Retired Case File Review , and Eric, from True Consequences . I’ll also share the most exciting milestones and events for Once Upon a Crime in 2023 and tell ...
Dec 19, 2023•1 hr 38 min•Ep. 307
In 1958, 19-year-old Starkweather went on a killing spree that shocked the nation. He took his 14-year-old girlfriend, Caril, with him. The story of that crime spree has become a legend in true crime history, and Starkweather and Fugate have been portrayed as villains on par with Bonnie and Clyde. In this episode, I revisit this case by speaking with best-selling true crime author Harry MacLean. His new book Starkweather: The Untold Story of the Killing Spree That Changed America takes a compreh...
Dec 12, 2023•47 min•Ep. 306
In this month’s episodes, I’ll wrap up 2023 by discovering what listeners, podcasters, and other true crime experts list as their “true crime obsessions” this year. This week, I’m privileged to talk to veteran true crime journalist, correspondent, podcaster, and celebrity Erin Moriarty. Erin has been a correspondent for 48 Hours on CBS Television for over three decades. Her award-winning true crime podcast My Life of Crime has returned for season four. I’ll talk with Erin about her life as a tru...
Dec 05, 2023•40 min•Ep. 305
A missing person’s case in Columbus, Ohio, grows cold. It seemed that what happened to 20-year-old Ashley Howley would remain a mystery until a psychic medium connected with the spirit of the missing girl. Did Ashley Howley return from beyond to solve her own murder? Resources: A Vision of Murder: Professional Psychic Medium, Shelly Stewart-Soldan, The Citizen Online, Oct 9, 2023. Missing woman’s family left to wait, The Columbus Dispatch, April 5, 2008. Metro Detroit psychic says she communicat...
Nov 28, 2023•31 min•Ep. 304
The family of a missing man turns to a psychic in a desperate attempt to locate him. Rosemarie Kerr’s psychic predictions as to the fate of Andre Daigle would prove to be so accurate that she was later called to testify at his murder trial. Resources: “A Mysterious Murder and a Psychic Detective,” JournalOnline, March 19, 2022, https://journal.com.ph/a-mysterious-murder-and-a-psychic-detective/ State v. Horne, Court of Appeal of Louisiana, Fifth Circuit, Dec. 13, 1989 https://www.casemine.com/ju...
Nov 14, 2023•24 min•Ep. 303
Two ten-year-old girls went missing in Soham, Cambridgeshire, England in 2002. After one of the most extensive searches in British criminal history, one of the girls’ parents consults a psychic in a desperate attempt to find them. When the perpetrator is identified, Dennis McKenzie’s predictions about what happened to the girls will be eerily accurate. Resources: Soham Murders, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soham_murders “I’m the Soham Psychic” - https://www.express.co.uk/expressyourself/135069/...
Nov 07, 2023•29 min•Ep. 302
Theresa Cross Knor was jealous, controlling, and abusive to her partners and children. After murdering one husband and getting away with it, her children became her next targets. She would make her children complicit in the murders of two of their siblings and would almost get away with murder again. Resources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theresa_Knorr Theresa Knorr: The Mother Who Burned Her Daughter Alive, from The Lineup, May 9, 2019 Theresa Knorr: Murderpedia Mother’s Day, Denis McDougal, ...
Oct 30, 2023•53 min•Ep. 301
..1 eerie corn maze... ...9 haunting figures... ...9 spine-tingling tales... ...Will YOU find your way out? This holiday season, step into a labyrinth of shadows and suspense with Shane Waters as your guide. In this chilling collaboration, you'll encounter the hosts of 9 acclaimed true crime podcasts, each offering a dark tale and a life lesson to send shivers down your spine. This is not just a special episode; it's an immersive journey through a maze of twisted paths and unsolved mysteries. So...
Oct 23, 2023•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 300
This week I’m continuing the series “A Family Affair,” detailing cases of a parent involving their children in murder plots. This time a mother and daughter team up to murder family members for financial profit and to rid themselves of the “burden” of caring for them. This is the case of Diane and Rachel Staudte aka “The Antifreeze Murders”. Stay tuned at the end of the episode for a special bonus! I interviewed Laurah Norton, friend, and fellow podcaster, about her new book “Lay Them to Rest: O...
Oct 16, 2023•49 min•Ep. 299
In this month’s series “A Family Affair,” I’ll share cases in which children are manipulated into involvement in criminal offenses - even murder - at the direction of a parent. First up, lust and greed spur a man to manipulate his 14-year-old daughter into committing murder. Later, when facing a lengthy prison sentence, loyalty to her father causes Cinnamon Brown to keep her father’s secret…at first. Resources: The Real Murders of Orange County: Stolen Youth, Season 3, Episode 9, July 21, 2023, ...
Oct 09, 2023•56 min•Ep. 298
A 19-year-old college student dies as a result of a fraternity hazing incident at Pennsylvania State University in 2017. It will result in the largest criminal indictment of a fraternity in American history. RESOURCE LINKS: “Penn State is Still Keeping Secrets on Frat Row” - https://video.vice.com/en_us/video/penn-state-drinking/5a74f2a3f1cdb375f62d5ddd “What Happened the Night of Beta Theta Pi’s Bid Acceptance Night” - https://onwardstate.com/2017/05/05/what-happened-the-night-of-beta-theta-pis...
Sep 25, 2023•34 min•Ep. 297
In this month’s series, I detail crimes that happened on school campuses. In 1996, a 14-year-old walked into his 8th-grade math class and opened fire. This early school shooting would shock his community and spark a nationwide debate about violence in the media, school bullying, mental health, and gun control. But what was the real reason Barry Loukaitis brought terror to his classroom? Sources: State v. Loukaitis, Appeal from the Superior Court for Grant County, Decided July 2, 1996. https://ca...
Sep 18, 2023•43 min•Ep. 296
LIVE FROM U.K. Tune in to this special bonus episode. We're pleased to offer you this special episode in collaboration with the amazing and very popular true crime podcast Minds of Madness! Esther and Tyler co-host this episode to unravel the mysteries surrounding this gruesome case from the U.K. Links: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s7-ep287-the-long-con-the-murder-of-mee-kuen-chong/ https://mindsofmadnesspodcast.com/listen/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Priva...
Sep 16, 2023•41 min•Ep. 356
In this month’s series, I detail crimes that happened on school campuses. In this episode, A 14-year-old high school student commits a horrific act of rape and murder in a school bathroom. Was Philip Chism mentally ill, as his defense would later claim, or was he faking it to get away with murder? Sources: https://allthatsinteresting.com/philip-chism https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2015/12/17/12-questions-about-the-philip-chism-trial-answered/ https://www.masslive.com/politics/2013/09/gov...
Sep 11, 2023•32 min•Ep. 295
In this week’s episode, a successful, young entrepreneur gains a large following on Instagram by sharing her photos and videos of her life’s milestones over the years. Alexis Sharkey’s followers only saw the best times - fun with friends, professional achievements, and glamorous trips. But, in 2020, her life quickly took a dark turn hidden behind the idyllic images posted on social media. Sources: https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10066217/Husband-influencer-killed-year-dead-gunshot-wound...
Aug 28, 2023•36 min•Ep. 294
This week, I’ll tell you about a rising singing star who began her career on YouTube before making it to Hollywood to compete on a nationally televised talent show. Christina Grimmie had a bright future ahead of her as an entertainer in 2016 when an obsessed fan cut her career short with an unprovoked act of violence. Resources: The cold-blooded murder of Christina Grimmie was Orlando's most tragic and shocking crime ... for about 26 hours (orlandoweekly.com) Christina Grimmie Murdered At Concer...
Aug 21, 2023•31 min•Ep. 293
This month I’ll be detailing true crime cases that involved rising stars who made names for themselves in social media. In this first episode, a young comedian boasts almost a million followers on TikTok alone. But Ali Abulaban’s out-of-control jealousy and possessiveness will lead to a double murder charge instead of internet stardom. Resources: https://fox5sandiego.com/news/local-news/tiktok-star-accused-of-double-murder-speaks-to-fox-5-from-jail/ https://lionessrue.medium.com/the-tiktok-star-...
Aug 07, 2023•20 min•Ep. 292
Sheila Davalloo made it a habit of looking outside her relationships for passion and sex. But she soon turned cold toward her secret lovers once these relationships became routine. That is until she met a man who rejected her for a new love interest. That’s when her attraction turned into a deadly obsession. Sources: Sheila Davalloo | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers Sheila Davalloo:Tangled Web, Love, Lies, Murder (wickedness.net) Murder of Anna Lisa Raymundo by Sheila Davalloo feature...
Jul 31, 2023•30 min•Ep. 291
In this week’s episode, Lorena joins me to discuss another true crime that resulted from a love triangle. Betty Gore was brutally murdered with an axe in the summer of 1980 in her small town of Wylie, Texas. The community would initially be terrified that a psychotic axe murderer was on the loose. But the reality would shock them even more when it was discovered a respected and well-liked member of the local church choir had wielded the axe, killing Betty Gore with 41 whacks. This is the case of...
Jul 24, 2023•1 hr 32 min•Ep. 290
In this episode, two people in committed relationships become infatuated with one another. When one of their spouses is murdered, investigators quickly zero in on the star-crossed lovers. However, investigators will find it challenging to prove who killed Marlene Warren due to the baffling description of the attacker. Sources: A Clown At The Door | A Court TV Special Michael Warren Now: Where is Marlene Warren's Ex-Husband Today? Update ( thecinemaholic.com ) What happened to Marlene Warren? | T...
Jul 10, 2023•31 min•Ep. 289
In this episode we’ll revisit the Michael Peterson case aka “The Staircase Murder”. My guest, author Tiddy Smith, will discuss an alternate theory to explain the death of Kathleen Peterson detailed in his new book Death by Talons. Links: Tiddy Smith’s Author Page: https://wildbluepress.com/death-by-talons-tiddy-smith-true-crime/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/SmithTiddy https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponACrime See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://a...
Jul 03, 2023•47 min•Ep. 288
On June 10th, 2021, an elderly woman vanished without a trace from her own home in Wembley, London. 16 agonizing days later, and a staggering 200 miles away, visitors exploring the seaside town of Salcombe stumbled across a horrific scene. There amidst the beauty of the coastal landscape, lay a headless body. Join us to unravel the mysteries surrounding this gruesome case. We're pleased to offer you this special episode in collaboration with the amazing and very popular true crime podcast Minds ...
Jun 11, 2023•45 min•Ep. 287
We’re celebrating our 7th anniversary of the podcast by bringing you 7 case updates of crimes we’ve covered since 2016. Thank you all so much for making this crazy true crime ride possible! Episodes referenced: Episode 1: Lost and Found: Jaycee Dugard Date released: June 9, 2016 Link to episode: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/episode-072-the-12-crimes-of-christmas-laci-peterson-part-2/ Episode 71 & 72: The 12 Crimes of Christmas: Laci Peterson Date released: December 18, 2017 Links to epis...
Jun 05, 2023•28 min•Ep. 286
