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We Would Be Dead

A weekly true crime podcast that finds humanity in the darkness, humor in the history and the devil in the details.
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Episodes

Missing Pieces (The Murder of Kitty Genovese) [REBROADCAST, EPISODE 115]

Happy Pride Month Fiends! This week we are going to rebroadcast some of our previous pride month episodes before releasing a brand new episode. If you are all caught up with WWBD, please take the time to relisten to this tragic episode on kitty Genovese and historical significance of her case. ----------------- On March 27th 1964, the headline: "37 Who Saw Murder Didn't Call the Police; Apathy at Stabbing of Queens Woman Shocks Inspector" was splashed across the cover of the New York times. The ...

Jun 26, 20251 hr 50 min

Misguided Confidence (The Men, The Ice Pick & The History of the Lobotomy)

We've all heard the sinister stories of mental healthcare's terrifying past. The Snake Pits, the cages, the overmedication, but nothing is cloaked in more mystery and dread than the ice pick lobotomy. Whether it's that terrifying scene in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest or the heartbreaking story of Rosemary Kennedy, we all can conjure up a horrifying image of this barbaric procedure with little effort. The Man in the white lab coat and cap, his sunglasses gleaming, ice pick in hand. The patient...

Jun 05, 20251 hr 57 minEp. 207

"Rabbit Rabbit" (Mary Toft, The Woman Who Gave Birth To Rabbits)

In the summer of 1726, In the little Village of Godalming, a 25 year old servant woman claimed to give birth to rabbits. Surgeons, nobles, and even the King believed her at first, but the truth, or a version of it that the public can embrace, always has a way of coming out. For years, history thought they had solved the mystery of "The Rabbit Breeder", but beneath the hoax lies a darker tale of pain, power, and control.This is the true story of monstrous birth — and the woman behind it. This is ...

May 02, 20251 hr 30 minEp. 206

Gone In 60 Seconds (The Mysterious Death of Tiffany Valiante)

She was smart, athletic, and full of life — until one summer night in 2015 when 18-year-old Tiffany Valiante vanished from her family’s New Jersey home. Just hours later, her body was found miles away on train tracks under suspicious circumstances. Was it suicide, as authorities claimed — or something far more sinister? In this, our second most requested episode, we dig into the tangled timeline, mysterious evidence, and the burning questions that still haunt this case. What really happened to T...

Apr 18, 20252 hr 9 minEp. 205

Pew Pew Kaboom (Elmer McCurdy The Carnival Cadaver) [REBROADCAST EPISODE 80]

Hey fiends! This week we are rebroadcasting one of our fan favorite (and ours) episode on Elmer McCurdy. We will be back next week with an all new episode. ENJOY! -------------- On December 8th, 1976, the crew of the hit televisions show The Six Million Dollar Man made a gruesome discovery. While shooting in a fun house in Long Beach, California, they accidentally broke the arm off an orange day glow dummy only to discover that is wasn't a dummy at all, it was the mummified remains of a human ma...

Apr 10, 20251 hr 20 min

Where Are They Now? (Updates)

Often, case we cover continue to evolve long after we close the book on them. That's why periodically we check in and update them! This week we have updates on the Dephi Murders, Sheila Keen Warren (the clown killer), and the disappearance of Asha Degree. Special thanks to all our fiends who pass along articles so we can stay up to the minute on everything! Here's hoping 2025 gives us even more answers in its second half. Click To Learn More Updates on Asha Degree https://www.wbtv.com/2025/02/18...

Apr 03, 20251 hr 33 minEp. 204

A Wail on the Wind (The Death of Ellen Poe Langley)

In the early morning hours of May 1st 1849 Ellen Poe Langley drew her last breath. Once a wealthy doctor's wife, she passed away alone, locked in a tiny room in a stifling attic. For years Her husband Dr. Charles Langley had gotten away with keeping her locked away, desperately ill and slowly starving, and now it seemed, he would get away with murder. Or would he? This year's St. Paddy's day episode shows the importance of one's truth and the miraculous way Ellen's has survived all these years. ...

Mar 21, 20251 hr 56 minEp. 203

Leprechaun (30 Minute Horror Movie)

Ok fiends, it's almost St. Patrick's day so this month we're recapping the 1993 classic (and this one really is a classic) Leprechaun! This Episode is one that our patrons have had access to since 2021 and we are now very excited to make it available to everyone. We did record a new 30 Minute Horror Movie on Leprechaun 4: In Space and you can find it over on our Patreon! Back to this episode on the very first Leprechaun - The film features a very young Jennifer Anniston, the guy that played Fran...

Mar 13, 202535 min

A Tragedy of Errors (The Murder of Abraham Shakespeare)

This is the story of Abraham Shakespeare, the man who won the lottery then disappeared. This case is a rags to riches story, a mysterious disappearance, an episode of Catfish and a murder mystery all rolled up into one. This case case has so many twists and turns that we cab't even summarize it, you just have to hear it to believe it. Click To Learn More Hulu Documentary: Web of Death, Jackpot Murder ABC News article Probable Cause Affidavit Florida Woman Marries Ferris Wheel Florida woman accus...

Mar 06, 20252 hr 7 minEp. 202

Ravenous (Swift Runner & The Wendigo) [REBROADCAST EPISODE 91]

Hey fiends! This week's rebroadcast goes out to all our Yellowjackets fans! If you're knee deep in fan theories but you're unfamiliar with the Wendigo, you need to give this episode a listen! If you have no idea what I'm talking about...listen anyway, this episode is one of our best! Be prepared to sleep with the lights on for a while though, because this is a scary one! _________________________ "The Wendigo lives in the most frightening of places, a place from which there is no escape. Once th...

Feb 27, 20251 hr 19 min

One Sneaker (The Disappearance of Mark Himebaugh, Part 2)

It's our 200th episode (part 2) , so today we will be covering our number one most requested case, The Disappearance of Mark Himebaugh. On November 25th 1991, Mark disappeared from the Sunray Beach neighborhood in Del Haven NJ. The only evidence search teams ever found was his left sneaker. He has been missing ever since. Anyone with Information regarding the disappearance of Mark Himebaugh is urged to contact the Middle Township Police Department at 609-465-8700, the National Center for Missing...

Feb 20, 20251 hr 46 minEp. 201

One Sneaker (The Disappearance of Mark Himebaugh, Part 1)

It's our 200th episode, so today we will be covering our number one most requested case, The Disappearance of Mark Himebaugh. On November 25th 1991, Mark disappeared from the Sunray Beach neighborhood in Del Haven NJ. The only evidence search teams ever found was his left sneaker. He has been missing ever since. "In chaos theory, the butterfly effect is the sensitive dependence on initial conditions in which a small change in one state of a deterministic nonlinear system can result in large diff...

Feb 06, 20251 hr 10 minEp. 200

Antimatrimony (The Murder of Charles Bravo)

Tighten up your corsets and starch those high collars because this week we’re going old timey! The mystery of who killed Charlie Bravo has captured the minds of both armchair and career detectives, as well as numerous true crime authors for over a century. This case has it all, money, accents, love affairs, victorian pseudoscience and a murder most foul. On April 18th, 1876 Charles Bravo leapt from his bed in the middle of the night and cried out to his wife for hot water. Within minutes he was ...

Jan 23, 20251 hr 40 minEp. 199

The Man, The Myth, The Monster (Count Dracula) [REBROADCAST OF EPISODE 133]

This week we are rebroadcasting our episode on Count Dracula! The Nosferatu craze has gotten ahold of us too. Enjoy! ----------- There is much about the myth of the vampire that science will never understand. They crawl from their graves, blood running from their mouths trailing mist in search of innocent victims to join them in monstrosity. They are alluring in their terror and terrifying in their allure, and human kind will never cease to wonder if they are simply a legend, or if there is much...

Jan 09, 20251 hr 51 min

Lost in Flames (The disappearance of the Sodder children)

On Christmas Eve 1945 in the quiet little town of Fayetteville West Virginia, Jennie Sodder awoke just after one in the morning to find her little farm house filled with smoke, flames licking the walls of her husband's office. She rushed to wake and alert her husband and 9 children. It was clear that they needed to escape quickly. Once out on the lawn Jennie saw her husband, two daughters and two son's, which left 5 children in the house, trapped, or so they thought. No trace of those five child...

Jan 02, 20251 hr 56 minEp. 198

Haunted (A Christmas Carol) [REBROADCAST]

We promised we aren't becoming a rebroadcast podcast haha. We will be back soon with a brand new episode! Until then, enjoy our holiday spooky cheer with another best of Christmas WWBD episode! ----------- There is no phrase one can utter that draws a more visceral christmas response, than Bah, Humbug. And so it is with great joy and depth of feeling that this holiday season we bring you an exploration into this the most famous and meaningful of ghost stories. It may be decked with Holly and fro...

Dec 24, 20241 hr 53 min

You Have to Want It (The Tragedy of JonBenét Ramsey) [REBROADCAST EPISODE 94]]

Hello Fiends! With the new Netflix documentary, "Cold Case: Who Killed JonBenét Ramsey", we thought we should rebroadcast our coverage of the case! We will be back next week with an all new episode! ---------- "People ask me all the time how I think of such dark stories every week. Well, I say, I just take any scenario and think of the worst possible outcome. It’s there if you want it, but you have to want it." This week we take a look at a crime that captured a nation. The murder of 6-year-old ...

Dec 12, 20242 hr 23 min

Believe (The Origins of Santa) [REBROADCAST EPISODE 95 ]

To start off the holiday season we are sharing one of our favorite episodes from a few years ago, in which we ruin Santa for you. ENJOY! -------- We’re back once again to ruin Christmas! This year we’ll explore the dark and fascinating origins of everyone favorite jolly gift giver, Santa Claus. We’ll explore where our modern Santa came from and meet his merry gang of elves, reindeer, monsters and ham babies. So mind your manners and be sure to watch out, Santa Claus is coming to town! Click to l...

Dec 06, 20241 hr 34 min

Silent Scream, Part 2 (The Murders of Danny Rolling)

Gainesville Florida is the biggest college town in the sunshine state, but in August of 1990 a dark cloud descended over it. Five people were brutally mutilated and murdered in four short days. All the crime scenes bore the same graphic hallmarks, and local police quickly realized they had a serial killer on their hands. As the media descended on Gainesville, the police were racing the clock to uncover the identity of the so called Gainesville Ripper. This week we bring you part two of the horri...

Nov 28, 20241 hr 30 minEp. 197

Silent Scream, Part 1 (The Gainesville Ripper Murders)

Gainesville Florida is the biggest college town in the sunshine state, but in August of 1990 a dark cloud descended over it. Five people were brutally mutilated and murdered in four short days. All the crime scenes bore the same graphic hallmarks, and local police quickly realized they had a serial killer on their hands. As the media descended on Gainesville, the police were racing the clock to uncover the identity of the so called Gainesville Ripper. This week we bring you part one of the horri...

Nov 21, 20241 hr 1 minEp. 196

Prima Belladonna (Part 2: Gironima Spana) [REBROADCAST EPISODE 150]

Poison artisans Giulia Tofana and Gironima Spana took all the power held hostage in their time by men and placed it in the hands of women. Join us as we go deep into the rise and fall of the world’s most infamous poison and sought after skin care line: Aqua Tofana. Last week we told Guilia's story and this week we tell Gironima's. Gironima Spana was a savvy business woman who took the recipe for Aqua Tofana and created an empire run by women for women. Empires however, have a tendency to fall. I...

Nov 14, 20241 hr 23 min

Prima Belladonna (Part 1: Giulia Tofana) [REBROADCAST EPISODE 149]

We wanted to end women’s history month with a bang, so we decided to deliver this much requested case in a way you’ve probably never heard it before, the way it actually happened. What was once thought to be the story of one woman, is actually that of a mother daughter dynasty. Poison artisans Giulia Tofana and Gironima Spana took all the power held hostage in their time by men and placed it in the hands of women. Join us as we go deep into the rise and fall of the world’s most infamous poison a...

Nov 14, 20241 hr 20 min

The Pit (The Murders of Su Hong)

In a quiet rural village in China, a respected local doctor, Su Hong, harbors secrets darker than anyone could imagine. When two brothers suddenly vanish, a police investigation reveals twisted layers of deceit, desperation, and revenge buried in the doctor’s root cellar. What starts as a missing person’s case unravels into a chilling tale of betrayal, hidden violence, and a woman pushed to the edge by the very people she trusted. As the truth comes to light, the village—and the nation—must reck...

Nov 07, 20241 hr 4 minEp. 195

Welcome to Thrill House (An Original Story by Holly Knapp)

Dear Fiends, We cordially invite you to spend some time with the terrifying spirits of Thrill house. We hope you enjoy this original gothic horror story! Consider it a treat from us to you. Happy Halloween! Click to Learn More The WWBD Team Holly Knapp, Co-Host Leslie Weidel, Co-Host Jon Katity, Composer & Audio Engineer WWBD Merch Buy your WWBD swag here! Join the Conversation...

Oct 31, 202452 minEp. 194

Consumed (Mercy Brown and the New England Vampires)

On a sunny day in November of 1990 three young boys decide to sneak off and play in the gravel pits at a local landscaping store for the afternoon. Little did they know that they were about to open a doorway into the world of colonial American vampires. This week we plunge head first into the strange and mysterious practice of vampire exhumations. Along the way we'll uncover the stories of a serial killer hiding in a sleepy Connecticut town, an ancient family graveyard that seemed to appear from...

Oct 24, 20241 hr 41 minEp. 193

Daddy's Home (The Burari Deaths)

We're starting off spooky season with one of the most haunting cases in true crime history. This case, referred to internationally as “The Burari Deaths” walks the thin line between devotion and madness, faith and delusion, mortal and paranormal. At 7:15 AM on July 1st, 2018 Gurcharan Singh went outside to meet his neighbor, Lalit Chundawat, for their morning walk. That morning however, Lalit was not waiting for him. The normally bustling Chundawat household and general store stood dark and quie...

Oct 11, 20242 hr 10 minEp. 192

Dragonflies (The Murder of Laci and Connor Peterson, Part 2)

Sorry for leaving you all with a crazy cliff hanger last week but it had to be done! When we left off Laci Peterson had gone missing from her Modesto CA home on Christmas Eve day 2002. After a cursory investigation authorities had their eyes on her husband scott. This week we'll see how a pair of burglars with the worst luck in the world threw this case for a loop, a loop that could only be closed by a starting confession from Scott's unaware lover Amber Frey. We'll reveal what became of Laci an...

Sep 26, 20241 hr 53 minEp. 191

Dragonflies (The Disappearance of Laci and Connor Peterson, Part 1)

On Christmas Eve morning 2002 Scott Peterson said goodbye to his pregnant wife Laci, got in his car and left to go golfing. When he returned home late that afternoon Laci was gone. Friends and family members leapt into action furiously trying to find Laci. Little did they know that they would find themselves launched into a horrifying media circus. Soon after, Laci's loved ones began to realize that maybe they devil they knew was far more terrifying than the devil they didn't. Click To Learn Mor...

Sep 19, 20241 hr 28 minEp. 190

Copycat (The Friday the 13th Killer with Jon Katity) [REBROADCAST OF EPISODE 167]

OH MAN! IT'S FRIDAY THE 13TH!! Remember last year when Leslie had just had her baby so she sent her husband, our composer and editor, Jon, in to take her place?! If you don't, well lucky you, because we are rebroadcasting our Friday the 13th episode that Holly and Jon recorded on 10.13.23. And if you do remember, well you get to enjoy twice!!! Jon's knowledge of the Friday the 13th franchise is reason enough to listen to this episode (again)! HAPPY FRIDAY THE 13TH FIENDS!!!!!!!! ----- Hey there ...

Sep 13, 20241 hr 30 min

True Crime TLDR: The Career Girls Murder

It's a Lesliesode!!! This week's double sized TLDR takes you through the murders of Emily Hoffert & Janice Wylie, deemed the Career Girls Murder. It's a windy, twisty road that finally leads us to justice - but not without really f-ing up first. Click To Learn More https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1963/08/29/89957611.pdf?pdf_redirect=true&ip=0 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Whitmore_Jr.#:~:text=(May%2026%2C%201944%20%E2%80%93%20October,1966%20ruling%20in%20Miranda%20v....

Aug 22, 20241 hr 6 minEp. 189
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