In 1975, a renowned drummer who played with some of the most prominent artists of the 1960s and ‘70s was found shot and killed after an apparent botched robbery. But some suspected Al Jackson, Jr. had been set up for murder. Was his soon-to-be ex-wife involved in his slaying? Was a friend’s relationship with a wanted fugitive to blame? Or was he privy to sensitive music business information that made him a target? Resources: https://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/nov/25/al-jackson-jr-memphis-sun...
Oct 14, 2024•25 min•Ep. 334
What makes a serial killer? Mind of a Serial Killer takes you deep into the twisted minds of history’s most notorious serial killers. Every Monday, hosts Vanessa Richardson and Dr. Tristin Engels, a Clinical and Forensic Psychologist, combines gripping true crime storytelling with expert psychological analysis to answer the question - what makes a serial killer? From Jeffrey Dahmer to Ted Bundy, explore not only their chilling crimes but the dark psychology behind them. Follow Mind of a Serial K...
Oct 10, 2024•21 min•Ep. 358
In this episode, a young Ohio man begins playing music before he is barely out of diapers. He and his brothers would form a band and shoot to the top of the charts. They were hometown heroes and certified music stars, but a baffling turn of events would end in a double tragedy. This is chapter one in the Rocktober series, “Murdered Musicians” - Zapped - The Life and Death of Funk Musician Roger. Resources: https://www.dayton.com/news/local/icon-lost-one-dayton-most-gut-wrenching-murders-years-ag...
Oct 07, 2024•25 min•Ep. 333
On a dark night in April 1989, a young man named Chip Flynn was shot in a Florida orange grove. His ex-girlfriend Kim was the only surviving witness and claimed a Black man had robbed, kidnapped, and killed Chip. A year later, Crosley Green was sentenced to death by an all-white jury for Flynn's murder. After 32 years behind bars, a judge ruled Green was wrongfully convicted — so why is he still in prison? Here’s a preview of the new “48 Hours” podcast, “Murder in the Orange Grove: The Troubled ...
Sep 25, 2024•14 min•Ep. 358
A formerly peace-loving man becomes obsessed with extreme political conspiracy theories. David DePape falls down a rabbit hole, consuming ever-more radical views on YouTube, blogs, and social media posts. A perfect storm of factors will cause him to carry out a baffling and horrific attack after breaking into the home of the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Resources: “Paul Pelosi attack: From nudist activism to online hate, suspect David DePape’s strange descent,” Rachel Swan, Dustin Ga...
Sep 23, 2024•29 min•Ep. 332
In this month’s series, “The Politics of Murder,” we’ll take a look at cases where violent acts are perpetrated upon political figures. In this episode, a disgruntled man whose life is unraveling due to his own actions places the blame on the policies of one political party. His random act of violence will turn a pleasant day at a ballpark into ten minutes of horror and chaos. Sources: https://www.secretservice.gov/sites/default/files/reports/2020-06/Hodgkinson.pdf https://www.washingtonian.com/...
Sep 16, 2024•42 min•Ep. 331
In this month’s series, “The Politics of Murder,” we’ll take a look at cases where violent acts are perpetrated upon political figures. First up, a young man begins to lose his grip on reality and fixates on a congressperson whom he targets for assassination. Jared Lee Loughner’s mass shooting at a community political event will spark debate regarding violent political rhetoric, gun control laws, and the state of mental health care in the U.S. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Tucson_s...
Sep 09, 2024•38 min•Ep. 330
Before Ted Bundy became a collective symbol of a real-life boogeyman and the person who helped coin the term “serial killer,” he was a son, a brother, a grandson, and a cousin - someone with friends and family members who loved him and never could have suspected the evil that lay within him and would come to destroy so many lives. In this episode, I have the pleasure of speaking with one of those family members - someone who grew up with Ted Bundy and with whom he shared a close relationship. Ed...
Aug 26, 2024•56 min•Ep. 329
A young woman grows up hearing stories about her abusive grandfather. She takes it upon herself to learn the whole truth about him. In the course of her investigation, shocking revelations come to light, and she begins to ask the question - was Jim Mordecai a serial killer? Sources: The Truth About Jim, 2024, Skye Borgman, director. Distributed by HBO Max. https://www.foxnews.com/us/california-woman-suspects-relative-was-serial-killer-uncovering-family-secrets https://www.the-sun.com/news/103918...
Aug 19, 2024•40 min•Ep. 328
In this month’s series, “Buried Family Secrets,” I’ll share stories about family secrets that hid decades-old murders and may have prevented the killers from facing justice. Fortunately, in each case, one family member dared to share the truth so justice could be served. In this first episode, when Lloyd Ford disappears in 1980, his wife claims he’s run off with another woman. But her 12-year-old knows the truth and will be forced to keep her mother’s deadly secret for over two decades. Sources:...
Aug 12, 2024•30 min•Ep. 327
A Devil Went Down to Georgia: Race, Power, Privilege, and the Murder of Lita McClinton , written by Deb Miller Landau, is the story of the murder-for-hire of Lita McClinton Sullivan in 1987. Lita was a beautiful, accomplished woman from a respected Atlanta family. Her interracial marriage to millionaire Jim Sullivan in 1970s Georgia was noteworthy in itself. Their differences fueled their deep attraction for each other in the beginning—she was a college-educated, Black debutante from the South. ...
Aug 09, 2024•47 min•Ep. 357
In this week’s episode, a young woman, newly engaged and expecting a baby, goes for a morning run in the serene beachfront town of Ceiba, Puerto Rico, and finds herself trapped in a nightmare. Still finding the inner courage to keep her wits about her, the terrified woman’s actions would help solve her own murder. Sources: “Kidnap Victim Called Fiancee Before Slaying,” SFGate.com, Feb 7, 2009. https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/Kidnap-victim-called-fiance-before-slaying-3173177.php “Murder in P...
Jul 29, 2024•18 min•Ep. 326
In this month’s series, “Resorting to Murder,” I share cases proving that murder never takes a holiday. This week’s case tells the story of a rocky mother-daughter relationship, a fight over an inheritance, and a cold-blooded murder that occurred at a luxury resort. Was the murder of socialite Sheila von Wiese-Mack the desperate act of an abused child or spurred on by an entitled young woman’s greed? Sources: https://www.chicagotribune.com/2015/12/09/heather-mack-accuses-slain-mom-of-cheating-he...
Jul 22, 2024•35 min•Ep. 325
In this month’s series, I’ll share cases of vacations that turned deadly. Even in the most serene and beautiful locations, murder never takes a holiday. This week, an award-winning television producer, his beautiful and successful Brazilian-born wife, and young children take a family vacation to a tropical resort. When Monica Beresford-Redman is found murdered just yards from their hotel suite, her husband becomes the main suspect. Was the circumstantial evidence all pointing to Bruce Beresford-...
Jul 15, 2024•24 min•Ep. 324
In this episode of Once Upon A Crime, we delve into the horrific story of Christian Longo, a man who portrayed himself to his family, friends, and community as a devoted husband, loving father, and successful businessman while leading a double life. He lived a life of lies and deception. When he could no longer keep up the facade, he disposed of his old life in favor of a new one…by destroying his entire family. This is the second installment of the 'Deadly Dads' series, highlighting fathers who...
Jun 24, 2024•26 min•Ep. 323
In this first episode of season 9 I’ll share the harrowing story of family annihilator, Ronald Gene Simmons. Known for his obsessive need for control and order, Simmons carried out a meticulously planned series of murders in December 1987, ultimately killing 14 of his family members and two others. This episode captures the disturbing details of his life, his manipulative and abusive behavior, and his final act of violent retaliation that led to his arrest, trial, and eventual execution in 1990....
Jun 17, 2024•46 min•Ep. 322
We kick off the ninth season of Once Upon a Crime with an episode that dives into the chilling case of Michael Cummins, a 25-year-old from Westmoreland, Tennessee, who committed one of the state's most horrific mass murders. Cummins, who had a history of mental health issues and violent behavior, murdered eight people, including six family members, in 2019. 00:00 Celebrating a Milestone: 8 Years of Once Upon a Crime 00:47 Start of Season 9: Family Annihilators 01:35 Case Overview: Michael Cummin...
Jun 10, 2024•26 min•Ep. 321
In the final episode of Season Eight of 'Once Upon A Crime,’ I delve into the case of Robert Durst, a wealthy New York real estate heir with a mysterious and criminal past. His involvement in several crimes, including the disappearance of his wife Kathie in 1982, the execution-style murder of his friend Susan Berman in 2000, and the murder and dismemberment of his neighbor Morris Black in Galveston, Texas in 2001, was famously told in the HBO documentary series “The Jinx,” in 2015. “The Jinx, Pa...
May 24, 2024•21 min•Ep. 358
This month in Once Upon a Crime’s “Best Of” series, we highlight significant episodes as the podcast rounds off its eighth year. This week, I’ve chosen to revisit a story from 2018 about the serial murders of over 500 women in Juarez, Mexico, between 1993 and 2011. You’ll hear about the disturbing pattern of disappearances and murders of young women from that city. The episode also discusses the widespread negligence and victim-blaming by the police, the negative impacts of labeling women based ...
May 20, 2024•20 min•Ep. 363
This Best Of episode of Once Upon a Crime revisits the mysterious disappearance of Jeanine Sanchez Harms from Campbell, California, in 2001. This case is unique for a number of reasons, including its proximity to my hometown and studio and the shocking, unforeseeable conclusion. It also stands out due to its 'no body murder' status and complex detective work. Jeanine, recently divorced, goes missing after a night out involving a somewhat reluctant date and interaction with several individuals, i...
May 17, 2024•18 min•Ep. 357
This episode of 'Once Upon a Crime' revisits a popular series from Season 1 titled 'The Day the Music Died,' focusing on the tragic endings of musical icons, including Selena Quintanilla Perez. The episode explores Selena's rise to fame as a star in Tejano music, her groundbreaking achievements, and her untimely death at 23. Additionally, it delves into Selena's early life and career, her family's influence, the formation of Selena y Los Dinos, and her significant impact on Tejano and pop music....
May 13, 2024•13 min•Ep. 357
In the final series for season eight of Once Upon A Crime, we provide a retrospective look at the most compelling episodes from the show's archive, particularly highlighting those that newer listeners might have missed. This episode revisits the story of Betty Broderick from Season 1, part of the 'A Woman Scorned' series, which delves into crimes committed by women against their romantic partners. Betty Broderick's tumultuous marriage, marked by jealousy, arguments, and ultimately, her husband's...
May 10, 2024•16 min•Ep. 361
We’re wrapping up Season 8 on the way to Once Upon a Crime’s 9th birthday! We’re sharing six of our “Best Of” Episodes from the archives to celebrate eight years of true crime podcasting. First up, you’ll hear a clip from one of our most popular episodes released as discussions with everyone’s favorite co-host, my sister, Yolanda. We’ll break down the O.J. Simpson case with details you may not have heard before. Links: Season 6: Episode 225: Breaking Down the O.J. Simpson Case with Yolanda - htt...
May 06, 2024•26 min•Ep. 359
In the last chapter of the series “Manipulated to Murder,” I’ll share a story about a predator who hid behind a false identity to manipulate young and impressionable teens into committing the senseless murder of a vulnerable young woman. Sources: https://law.alaska.gov/press/releases/2024/011124-Schilmiller.html https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/6154251/Schilmiller-Court-Docs-061419.pdf https://lawandcrime.com/crime/catfished-killer-takes-plea-deal-in-2019-death-of-best-friend-murdered-in-e...
Apr 29, 2024•23 min•Ep. 320
Pamela Smart became a household name - not for being the next Barbara Walters as she’d hoped but for orchestrating the cold-blooded murder of her husband - using her teenage lover as the trigger man. The case became a media sensation when it hit the news cycle in 1990. It was such a high-profile case that millions watched the trial unfold live on television. It was the very first time a murder trial in the U.S. received “gavel-to-gavel” coverage on a newly launched cable television channel dedic...
Apr 22, 2024•41 min•Ep. 319
In this month’s series, we’ll look at people who were manipulated into committing murder. First up, we’ll take a look at a case where a mother pressures her child to kill his father. That fact alone would make this story truly horrible but it was not the last murder Marie Witte orchestrated. The next one would be as cold-hearted as it was gruesome. Sources: https://murderpedia.org/female.W/w/witte-hilma.htm https://thecinemaholic.com/how-did-paul-witte-die-where-are-eric-witte-and-hilma-marie-wi...
Apr 15, 2024•37 min•Ep. 318
In this final episode of “Tarnished Hollywood,” I’ll share a story about a promising young actor who ran afoul of the law. His decision to immerse himself in gang culture at the expense of an acting career would lead to a life sentence in a prison cell and a brutal and bizarre end to his life at the age of 36. Sources: https://chicagodefender.com/how-an-infamous-boyz-n-the-hood-cameo-led-to-real-life-murder/ https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/kevin-roby/ See Privacy Policy at https:/...
Mar 25, 2024•29 min•Ep. 317
Amanda Hayes, an actress known for roles on The Sopranos and The Stepford Wives, was convicted of conspiring with her husband, Grant Hayes, to murder Laura Ackerson, his ex-wife and mother of his two children. The murder and its cover-up would be one of the most grisly crimes investigators had ever encountered. Sources: Bitter Remains, author Diane Fanning, Berkley Books, 2016. See No Evil: Who killed Laura Ackerson and where are they now? ID’s See No Evil: Who killed Laura Ackerson and where ar...
Mar 18, 2024•44 min•Ep. 316
Danny Masterson is an American actor best known for his role in That 70’s Show . In 2020, he was charged with raping three women in 2001 and 2003. Masterson and his victims were all members of the Church of Scientology. The church’s policies and threats toward the victims caused a 20-year delay in bringing the crimes to justice. Sources: A Timeline of Danny Masterson’s Controversies , Skyler Caruso for People.com , Sept 7, 2023 https://people.com/tv/danny-masterson-charged-rape-timeline-of-alleg...
Mar 11, 2024•42 min•Ep. 315
...1 historic steam train... ...9 exceptional true crime podcasts... ...9 tales woven with the spirit of Women's Day... ...Will YOU unravel the mysteries aboard? This International Women's Day, join Shane Waters and Wendy Cee on an unprecedented journey through the heart of England to Crimecon UK in London. Mysteries on the True Crime Express is not just a podcast episode; it's an immersive voyage into the depths of true crime, history, and the indomitable spirit of women. Aboard this old-world ...
Mar 08, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 358
