The Misery Machine - podcast cover

The Misery Machine

The Misery Machinethemiserymachine.podbean.com
There’s a problem with True Crime. Creators idolize perpetrators, shame victims, or are completely checked out on cases while they focus on other things. However, we can’t forget there are victims who lost their lives and families who are still grieving to this day. Furthermore, many True Crime outlets spend their time focusing on themselves or rambling, instead of getting right to the facts of the case. We hear you, this is frustrating. The Misery Machine focuses on cases the media fails to give proper attention to. We want to help give those a voice that never got to have one, to begin with. We also cover aspects of cases that other podcasts might look the other way on, and the way that these cases impact their communities for generations. It’s not enough to simply cover a case, our platform must be used to make a difference.
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Episodes

The Disappearance of Ludger Belanger | Missing in Washington Maine

This week, Yergy and Drewby delve deep into the mysterious disappearance of Ludger Belanger, which has gone unsolved for the last 45 years. Belanger lived in Washington, Maine with his wife Linda at the time of his disappearance. He worked as a heavy equipment mechanic at Bridge Construction in Windsor, working on diesel engines, but at the time of his disappearance was between jobs, and Linda had a job as a waitress at Ho Ho Chinese Restaurant on Western Avenue in Augusta. They had three daught...

Dec 07, 20201 hr 3 min

BURNED ALIVE FOR WANTING LOVE? The Horrific Case of Suzanne Capper [GRAPHIC] | Manchester True Crime Stories

This week, Drew and Yergy discuss the horrific torture and murder of Suzanne Capper, which was committed in Greater Manchester, England in December of 1992. Sixteen-year-old Suzanne Jane Capper died in Withington Hospital on December 18th 1992, from multiple organ failure while in a coma arising from 80% burns after she was deliberately set on fire days prior. Before her death, Capper related that she had previously been kidnapped and kept prisoner for seven days at a house in Moston, Manchester...

Nov 30, 202044 min

The Tragic Death of Judith Barsi

This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss the tragic life and death of Judith Eva Barsi, who was an American child actress of the 1980s. The child of Hungarian immigrants, Barsi was very small for her age, and often played much younger roles. She began her career in television, making appearances in commercials and television series such as Punky Brewster, as well as in the films Jaws: The Revenge, The Land Before Time and All Dogs Go to Heaven, providing the voices for animated characters in the latt...

Nov 16, 202028 min

The Ken & Barbie Killers | Paul Bernardo & Karla Homolka | The Scarborough Rapist

This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss Paul Bernardo and his wife Karla Homolka, a seemingly unlikely pair of Canadian killers. Known as the “Ken and Barbie Killers” for their good looks, the young couple induced fear throughout southern Ontario in the 1990s with a string of sex attacks and killed at least three minors between 1990 and 1992 before they were arrested. Bernardo is known for initially committing a series of rapes in Scarborough, Ontario, a suburb of Toronto, between 1987 and 1990. Whi...

Nov 09, 202047 min

The Case of Andrea Balcer | RIP Tony & Ali Balcer | Halloween - Winthrop, Maine (TRAGIC)

This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss another local case taking place in the early morning hours of Halloween 2016, in the small town of Winthrop, Maine. Andrea Balcer, a 17 year old student with a seemingly bright future ahead of her, snaps, leaving her mother Ali, father Tony, and their family dog dead in her wake. The only survivor of the horror was Christopher, Andrea's then 24 year old brother. We discuss the known theories as to why Andrea may have committed such heinous acts, and how her ac...

Nov 02, 202036 min

The Life & Tragic Death of Elliott Smith | "Mr. Misery" | Romanticism of Self Harm in the 2000's

This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss the life and death of Elliott Smith, who was an American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist. Smith was born in Omaha, Nebraska, raised primarily in Texas, and lived much of his life in Portland, Oregon, where he first gained popularity. Smith's primary instrument was the guitar, though he also played piano, clarinet, bass guitar, drums, and harmonica. Smith was a drinker and drug user. He was diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder a...

Oct 26, 202043 min

CALL TO ACTION: WHERE IS BRITTANY OMSTEAD? (URGENT PLEASE HELP)

***MISSING*** Brittany Omstead 23 years old From Butler, PA Last seen Friday, 10/23/2020 at 10:30am 5'4 and of average build Curly blonde hair and blue eyes. Was thought to be last seen wearing a hoodie and sweatpants. Was supposed to be a bridesmaid in a wedding today, however her dress is still hanging up at her residence. Her vehicle and cell phone were also left at her residence. Investigating Agencies: Pennsylvania State PD (Butler County) - (724) 284-8100 Butler County Sheriff - (724) 284-...

Oct 24, 20202 min

The Dnepropetrovsk Maniacs (2020 revisited) | The Hammer Brothers | Ukraine's Most Infamous Spree Killings

A year later, Drewby and Yergy revisit the case of the Dnepropetrovsk Maniacs, who are Ukrainian serial killers responsible for a string of murders in Dnipropetrovsk (now known as Dnipro) in June and July of 2007. The case gained additional notoriety because the killers made video recordings of some of the murders, with one of the videos leaking to the Internet, subsequently going viral and leading to worldwide attention. Two 19‑year-old locals, Viktor Sayenko, and Igor Suprunyuk, were arrested ...

Oct 19, 202048 min

Ronnie McNutt Revisited: An Interview with Josh Steen from JustUsGeeks.com |#ReformForRonnie

This week, Drewby and Yergy revisit the tragic case of Ronnie McNutt with a very special guest, Josh Steen from JustUsGeeks.com. Josh was a personal friend of Ronnie's that worked with him over the years creating content for their podcast, and was one of the folks that unfortunately witnessed his final moments. We were privileged to have him sit down with us for an interview to set the record straight about who Ronnie was as a person and what went on that evening, and shed some light on his move...

Oct 12, 20201 hr 43 min

The Disappearance of Kimberly Moreau: Missing in Maine

This week, Drewby and Yergy shift gears to a local case that has haunted the community of Jay, Maine for 3 decades - one that we hope will soon be solved so that she can be laid to rest and her family can have some long deserved closure. This week we are discussing the disappearance of Kimberly Moreau. Kim Moreau was a beautiful 17 year old girl that went missing from the small mill town of Jay, ME after skipping her junior prom following a fight with her then boyfriend. It is alleged that she s...

Oct 05, 202040 min

The Life & Death of Ian Curtis: Love Will Tear Us Apart

As Suicide Prevention Month comes to a close, Yergy and Drewby discuss the life and death of Ian Curtis, who was an English singer-songwriter and musician. He was the lead singer and lyricist of the post-punk band Joy Division and recorded two albums with the group: Unknown Pleasures (1979) and Closer (1980). Curtis was known for his bass-baritone voice, dance style, and songwriting typically filled with imagery of desolation, emptiness, and alienation. Curtis suffered from severe epilepsy and d...

Sep 28, 202050 min

The Death of R. Budd Dwyer: Murdered by the State of Pennsylvania?

In keeping up with Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Drewby and Yergy delve into the case of Robert Budd Dwyer, an American politician who served as the 30th State Treasurer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He served from 1965 to 1971 as a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives and from 1971 to 1981 as a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate representing the state's 50th district. Dwyer then served as the 30th Treasurer of Pennsylvania from January 20, 1981, to Ja...

Sep 21, 202033 min

The Tragic Death of Ronnie McNutt | We're in a Suicide Epidemic | How the Internet Exploits Suicides

September is Suicide Prevention Awareness Month. In light of this very important month, Drewby and Yergy discuss the tragic death of Ronnie McNutt, and young veteran from Mississippi, who took his own life on August 31, 2020 while on a Facebook livestream that was not taken down for many hours, despite many reports from people watching. Unfortunately, the footage got into the hands of internet trolls who decided to splice the footage into innocent videos and post them to TikTok, with the intent ...

Sep 13, 202038 min

Dennis Nilsen: The UK's Jeffrey Dahmer | The Muswell Hill Murderer | The Kindly Killer

Happy Labor Day! This week, Drewby and Yergy take another trip across the pond and delve into the horrors of Dennis Nilsen, whose crimes bear striking similarities to that of our own Jeffrey Dahmer. We also discuss the upcoming 3 part miniseries "Des," starring David Tennant as Dennis Nilsen - which we are very excited for. Dennis Andrew Nilsen was a Scottish serial killer and necrophile who murdered at least twelve young men and boys between 1978 and 1983 in London, England. Convicted of six co...

Sep 07, 202031 min

Gloria Ramirez: The Toxic Lady - Medical Malady or Mass Hysteria?

This week, Drewby and Yergy review the mysterious case of Gloria Ramirez, a cervical cancer victim, whose brief but dramatic emergency room stay in Riverside, California and untimely death baffled the medical community in the mid 90's due to medical workers falling very ill just by being in the presence of her and her body, prompting concern that her body had turned into a chemical weapon, and this was further highlighted as a possibility due to her alleged self-administration of Dimethyl sulfox...

Aug 31, 202031 min

The Horrific Torture Killing of Kelly Anne Bates

Due popular demand by our viewers, we recount the tragic death of Kelly Anne Bates - an English teenager who was murdered in Manchester, England at the age of 17 by her abuser and live in partner, James Patterson Smith, who was roughly 30 years her senior. She was tortured by him over a period of four weeks, including having her eyes gouged from their sockets up to three weeks before her death, before being bludgeoned over the head and drowned in a bathtub. The murder inquiry was headed by Detec...

Aug 24, 202024 min

The Death of Kendrick Johnson: Accident or FBI Cover Up?

This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss the tragic death of Kendrick Johnson, conspiracy theories related to his untimely death, the gross mishandling of his case at the hands of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, and how the legal system has yet again failed a person of color. On January 11, 2013, the body of Kendrick Johnson was discovered inside a vertical, rolled-up mat in the gymnasium of Lowndes High School in Valdosta, GA where he was a student. KJ, as he was known by family and friends, wa...

Aug 17, 202036 min

Where is Ashley Morin?

As we've talked about in previous episodes, the treatment of Indigenous and First Nations people, specifically women, in Canada is unacceptable. Today we're sharing a case with you courtesy of our friends at Occultae Veritatis Podcast. If you have any information, please utilize the links below. Tipline Email: shorturl.at/pHKMX Saskatchewan Crime Stoppers: 1-800-222-8477 https://www.p3tips.com/tipform.aspx?ID=206# https://www.facebook.com/bringashleymorinhome/ https://saskatoon.ctvnews.ca/timeli...

Aug 05, 202031 min

Maine's First Shark Related Death

This week, Yergy and Drewby report on Maine's first shark related death that took place on July 27th in the town of Harpswell, on the quaint Bailey Island - a place Yergy and Drewby both grew up visiting. 63-year-old Julie Dimperio Holowach, a New York native who, while staying at her summer home in Harpswell, was tragically killed by a great white shark while she was swimming in the ocean. We cover the facts of the case as made public by the media, and give our own tips as locals on how to stay...

Aug 03, 202025 min

The Life of Billy Herrington ♂ Aniki ♂ Gachimuchi ♂ レスリングシリーズ ♂ 哲学 ♂ 森の妖精 ♂ 妖精哲学

This week, Yergy and Drewby take a break from true crime to pay tribute to the legend known as Billy Herrington, highlighting his early work in male adult entertainment, and his unexpected rise to internet fame in Asia, and later the rest of the world, through the internet phenomena of Gachimuchi. Billy Herrington was born in North Babylon, New York, and grew up on Long Island learning karate from his father, who was a sensei. He had interests in boxing, wrestling and martial arts, but did not s...

Jul 27, 202036 min

Jeffrey Dahmer & The Effect on the Milwaukee LGBT Community

It's our anniversary! Thank you so much to all of our listeners that have been with us on this crazy ride. We appreciate all that you do and cannot wait to see what this next year brings. To help celebrate, this week we are releasing the heavily anticipated "Dahmer Episode" guest starring the one and only Eddy! Jeffrey Dahmer and his crimes in the late 80's and early 90's shook the US. The murders of almost 2 dozen men and boys, many gay men of color, sent waves of fear through the city of Milwa...

Jul 20, 20201 hr 3 min

Mary Kay Letourneau | The Media Going Easy on Women Predators | Do Abused Boys Get the Support They Deserve?

Drewby and Yergy cover the recent death of Mary Kay Letourneau, who was an American school teacher (and tabloid fixture of the 1990's) who pleaded guilty in 1997 to two counts of felony second-degree rape of a child, Vili Fualaau, who was 12 or 13 at the time, had been her sixth-grade student, and had allegedly also taught him in second grade. While awaiting sentencing, she gave birth to Fualaau's child, a daughter named Audrey Lokelani. With the state seeking a six-and-a-half-year prison senten...

Jul 13, 202028 min

Mr. Hands | The Enumclaw Horse Sex Case | 2 Guys 1 Horse

This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss in great detail the Enumclaw horse sex case, which was a series of incidents in 2005 involving Kenneth Pinyan, an engineer who worked for Boeing and resided in Gig Harbor, Washington; James Michael Tait, a truck driver; and other unidentified men. Pinyan and Tait filmed and distributed zoophilic pornography of Pinyan receiving anal sex from a stallion under the alias " Mr. Hands ". After engaging in this activity on multiple occasions over an unknown span of t...

Jul 06, 202038 min

Mary Cowan | The Borgia of Maine | Maine's First Serial Killer

This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss the little known case of Mary Cowan, who arguably is Maine's first serial killer. We also touch base on her connections to Lewiston. Mary A. Cowan, known as The Borgia of Maine, was an American serial killer who poisoned two husbands (Willis W. Bean, and George H. Taylor), and four children between 1884 and 1894 (Gracie, Alice and Mabel Bean - as well as stepson Willis Cowan), and attempted to murder a third husband (Elias Cowan). Convicted of killing her step...

Jun 29, 202036 min

The Mysterious Death of Elisa Lam | The Cecil Hotel Controversies | The Real Dark Water

This week, Drewby and Yergy discuss the tragic death of Elisa Lam, a Canadian student at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, and the mysterious circumstances surrounding her death. The body of Elisa Lam was recovered from a water tank atop the Cecil Hotel in Downtown Los Angeles on February 19, 2013. She had been reported missing at the beginning of the month. A maintenance worker at the hotel discovered the body when investigating guest complaints of problems with the water supply....

Jun 22, 202050 min

The Murder of Charlie Howard | Maine's Most Notorious Hate Crime | The Real Adrian Mellon

In honor of Pride month, this week, Drewby and Yergy discuss the tragic case of Charlie Howard, a young gay man that was murdered in Bangor, ME in 1984, who never really received justice due to his sexual orientation. As Howard and his boyfriend, Roy Ogden, were walking down the street, three teenagers, Shawn Mabry, James Baines, and Daniel Ness, harassed, assaulted, and murdered Howard for being gay. The youths chased the pair, yelling homophobic epithets, until they caught Howard and threw him...

Jun 08, 202037 min

GRAPHIC: The Murder of Sylvia Likens | Do Women Get Lighter Sentences For Child Murder? | Bystander Apathy | Indiana's Most Sadistic Case

This week, Drewby and Yergy cover the tragic story of Sylvia Likens. We draw comparisons to her case and that of Junko Furuta, and discuss the phenomena of bystander apathy, why no one in power stepped in to assist, why neighbors were apathetic despite numerous instances of public child abuse, and why neighborhood kids considered the ordeal to be some sort of funny sideshow or game, despite there being dozens of witnesses to her torture. The murder of Sylvia Likens was a child murder which occur...

Jun 01, 20201 hr 2 min

The Disappearance of Randy Leach | 1980's Satanic Panic | Do Small Town Police Mishandle Cases?

This week, Yergy and Drewby tackle another listener suggestion (thank you, Amir!) - the unsolved disappearance of Randy Leach. We discuss the hard facts, and ponder whether or not the combination of the 1980's "Satanic Panic" phenomena and shoddy police work rendered his case unsolvable. Randy was a senior at Linwood High School (Linwood, Kansas) in 1988. He left his home at 6:30 p.m. to attend a friend's pre-graduation party which took place on a farm owned by Annie Erwin, the mother of one of ...

May 25, 202032 min

James Hicks Part 2 | The Murder of Lynn Willette | Maine's Only Serial Killer

This week, Yergy and Drewby conclude the case of James Rodney Hicks, arguably Maine's only known serial killer - and speculate as to why Hicks got away with his crimes for so long. On 1 November 2000, Maine's Penobscot County grand jury formally charged confessed killer James Hicks, 49, with the murders of Jerilyn Towers and Lynn Willette. Hicks served six years of a 10-year prison sentence for killing his first wife, 23-year-old Jennie Hicks, who disappeared from the couple's Carmel home in 197...

May 04, 202038 min

James Hicks Part 1 | The Murders of Jennie Cyr Hicks & Jerilyn Towers | Maine's Only Serial Killer

This week, Yergy and Drewby discuss the crimes of James Rodney Hicks, arguably Maine's only known serial killer. On 1 November 2000, Maine's Penobscot County grand jury formally charged confessed killer James Hicks, 49, with the murders of Jerilyn Towers and Lynn Willette. Hicks served six years of a 10-year prison sentence for killing his first wife, 23-year-old Jennie Hicks, who disappeared from the couple's Carmel home in 1977. Hicks was not arrested for her murder until 1983 and was convicte...

Apr 20, 202039 min
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