True Crime Brewery

No one really knows what happens between two people in a marriage. But after events in the home of couple Mary and Matthew Winkler led to a deadly shooting, everyone had an opinion. Mary and Matthew had married young. Matthew was a preacher for the Church of Christ in a small town in Tennessee. Depending on who you’re talking to, Matthew was either a devoted family man or an abusive deviant and Mary was either a long-suffering victim or a repressed and vindictive wife.Join us at the quiet end for The Wife of a Preacherman. In 2006, Mary Winkler became involved in a financial scam. She wrote bad checks and opened a separate bank account almost certainly without Matthew’s knowledge. Then, just days before Matthew would learn about her banking escapades, he was on their bedroom floor, bleeding to death, while Mary took their three children and left town in the family van. This should be an interesting discussion today because Dick and I have some different takes on what happened and if the punishment fit the cri

When Jeanne Dominico woke up on the morning of August 6, 2003, she didn’t expect to die that day. She was a hard-working divorced mom of two teenagers, so every day was busy. After working one of her three jobs, Jeanne would go home to fix dinner and clean up the house for her son, Charlie, and her daughter, Nicole. Nothing was more important to Jeanne than her children.For the past three years or so, 43-year-old Jeanne had been in a loving relationship with a co-worker named Chris McGowen. He got along well with Jeanne’s children and they planned a future together as a family. But in the months leading up to August 6, Jeanne had been having trouble with 14-year-old Charlie, who was hanging with a rough crowd, and 16-year-old Nicole, who had become obsessed with a new boyfriend.Join us at the quiet end for First Comes Love, Then Comes Murder. It was Chris McGowen who called the police after finding Jeanne unresponsive in her home. Interviews with Chris and Jeanne’s ex-husband were done that evening, but Charl

On a chilly January morning in 2002, 12-year-old Ashley Pond disappeared on her way to her school bus stop in Oregon City, Oregon. Two months after Ashley disappeared, Miranda Gaddis, age 13, also vanished while on her way to the same bus stop. Miranda and Ashley were good friends and they lived in the same apartment complex. They were both friends with Mallori Weaver too, the daughter of local man Ward Weaver III.Join us at the quiet end for On the Way to the Bus Stop. After Miranda’s disappearance, the FBI put together a task force to search for both girls. While some were holding out hope that they had run away and would soon return, law enforcement and family members alike soon believed that the girls had been abducted. Ashley’s mom believed that Ward Weaver was responsible. And she had good reason to believe that. Just five months before her disappearance, Ashley had accused Weaver of molesting her. While the two girls were missing, he dug a hole in his yard and covered it with cement. And, as public opi

The day of July 22, 2007 had been a typical Sunday for the Petit family of Cheshire, Connecticut. But on that summer day, a convicted felon out on parole noticed mother Jennifer Hawke-Petit and her 11-year-old daughter, Michaela, shopping at a neighborhood grocery store. Michaela had taken an interest in cooking and she was choosing ingredients for the family dinner she would prepare that night.After following the mother and daughter home, the convict and another career criminal plotted out a ruthless home invasion for the Petit home. They would return that night, terrorizing the family and leaving all but one family member murdered with their house in flames.Join us at the quiet end for The Cheshire Murders. The murders of Jennifer and her two daughters Michaela and Hayley occurred after hours of torment and sexual assault. By the time husband and father, Bill Petit, was able to escape to get help, it was too late. This crime left the town of Cheshire shocked and disturbed. After the story made the national

Whenever we hear of a case of a healthcare professional purposefully hurting a patient, I feel outraged. When the patients hurt are children, it’s ten times worse. The case of Genene Jones, LVN, is one of the most reprehensible instances of child abuse and murder in recent history. During her time working in a pediatric intensive care unit and then in a pediatric office, Genene was responsible for multiple codes and deaths. But Genene didn’t do it all on her own. If not for the willingness of physicians and hospital administrators to look the other way, she could not have gotten away with it and the children she killed would still be alive.Join us at the quiet end for In the Arms of Evil. Genene Jones is the deeply disturbed serial killer nurse who was the inspiration for the psychotic nurse in Stephen King’s book and movie Misery. And her actions were definitely in line with the horror genre. Genene Jones actually took pleasure from putting the children in her care at risk and she got a sick thrill from kill

Jay Orbin lived to be exactly forty-five years old. He was murdered on September 8, 2004, which was his forty-fifth birthday. It was just over a month later when his decomposing torso was found in a Rubbermaid container in the Phoenix desert.Everyone would agree that Jay had been kind and hard-working. He was a self-made man and a loving father. Unfortunately, he was married to a conniving and cold-hearted woman who would stop at nothing to get what she wanted. Jay met his future wife, Marjorie, while she was working at a Phoenix strip club. She was just Jay’s type-- a beautiful, blonde, big-breasted, exotic dancer. Soon he was calling her “the love of his life.”Join us at the quiet end for What She Wanted: The Plot to Kill Jay Orbin. Jay and Marjorie married and eventually had a child together. But Marjorie wasn’t cut out for long-term monogamy. She had multiple extramarital affairs while married to Jay and she soon wanted him out of her way. But leaving him was not an acceptable solution for Marjorie, who w

Russ Faria was a normal, working guy, in love with his wife, Betsy, when he was framed for her murder. He was convicted and spent years in prison before an acquittal was won by his attorney, Joel Schwartz. This story was enough for a true crime book or an episode of Dateline, but it was just the beginning. It turns out that the person responsible for framing Russ and brutally murdering Betsy was her "friend" Pam Hupp, who is now in prison for another murder.Join us at the quiet end today for this bonus episode, an interview with defense attorney Joel Schwartz. We recommend that you listen to our November 2021 episode on this case titled "Pam's Path to Prison" before listening to this interview. After listening, we recommend that you read Joel's book "Bone Deep" about this case and his work in getting Russ Faria out of prison for a crime he didn't commit. You can find the book on Joel's website https://joeljschwartz.com/ along with more information on the case!Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.sp

On May 27, 1978, a crime took place in the Lowcountry town of Walterboro, South Carolina, that created a cloud of fear and sadness over everyone who lived there. Hometown girl, twenty-six-year-old Gwendolyn Elaine Fogle, was attacked in her home, sexually assaulted and brutally murdered.That Saturday evening, Elaine had babysat for friends, arriving at their home at about 6:45 p.m. She was happy and excited over her plans to visit with her mom and dad the next day and celebrate her mom’s birthday. At 11:15 p.m., Elaine headed home from babysitting. Hours later, when her roommate came home, she was met by a shocking and bloody scene.Join us at the quiet end for A Murder in Lowcountry. For decades, evidence remained in storage at the Walterboro Police Department. Elaine’s murder was a cold case for thirty-seven years. But then, in May 2015, with advancements in DNA and fingerprint technology, investigators were able to solve the case in just four months.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.

After sharing a celebratory birthday dinner with her family, 57-year-old Susan Sutton and her husband John were attacked in their home by a masked gunman. Because credit cards, jewelry, and cash were found out in the open and undisturbed, investigators believed early on that this was an inside job. John Sutton was a successful civil attorney who had made some enemies over the years. Susan was loved by everyone, or at least that what’s most people believed. But when investigators learned that Susan had been involved in an extramarital romance with John’s business partner, they thought they may have found a suspect with a strong motive for the crime. When the business partner failed a polygraph, suspicions against him grew.Join us at the quiet end for Blinded. The plot to kill John and Susan Sutton seemed to be well-planned and professionally carried out, possibly a case of murder-for hire. But who was behind it? The case seemed like it might never be solved, until the murder weapon turned up on a man with long

Edith Meyer was born on Independence Day and soon went by the nickname “Pen.” It suited her, because Pen was her own person. At age 55, Pen was living her best life in the small town of Goshen, New Hampshire. She was a recovering alcoholic and known for her helpfulness and compassion towards others in the program.Join us at the quiet end for One Day at a Time. Sadly, it was Pen’s concern for others and her willingness to go out of her way for a friend that led to her untimely death. Over many years of giving council to her friends in Alcoholics Anonymous, she was bound to gain some enemies. But Pen would not let that dissuade her from doing what she saw as the right thing. She had an innate sense of right and wrong and a deeply held respect for life, something her killer lacked.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crime-brewery--4126935/support.

Candace Mossler was a well-known socialite in Houston, Texas, in the 1960s. She was charming and attractive in a Marilyn Monroe type of way, with a voluptuous figure, an easy smile, and a soft, breathy voice, much like the late actress. She was a woman who could have anything she wanted, until what she wanted threatened to end her lavish lifestyle.Candice lived in a three-story mansion in one of the city’s most exclusive neighborhoods, purchased by her much older, wealthy financier husband, Jacques Mossler. While Candace loved parties and hosting charity events with famous performers and the Houston elite, Jacques preferred to work. He spent much of his time in Miami, where much of his business was done.Join us at the quiet end for The Incestuous Wife. Candace and the Mossler’s six children were visiting Jacques in Miami when she went to the hospital for one of her frequent migraines. She took the children along with her. When they returned to Jacques’ Miami apartment, they found him dead and covered wit

Shayna Hubers called 911 on October 12, 2012 to report that she had killed her boyfriend in self-defense. According to Shayna, Ryan Poston had beaten her and he was reaching for a gun when she grabbed it and shot him. She said that Ryan was throwing her around the room like a ragdoll, into furniture, the walls, and onto the floor. He was evil, she said, and he deserved what he got.But evidence did not support Shayna’s version of events. Family, friends, and acquaintances would come forward to describe a very different reality from what Shayna had described; a reality where Shayna was obsessed with Ryan and he was a kind man who had been trying to break up with her for months. Join us at the quiet end for Loved to Death. Ryan Poston was a 29-year-old attorney with a bright future ahead. He even had a date with a beauty queen planned for the night he was killed. But Shayna claimed that he had a dangerous temper and that she was a victim of domestic violence. Was it possible that only Shayna had seen this dark s

On the day she died, Patricia Blakely Kimble was both in love with and afraid of her husband Ted. After years of loving him and hoping for his love in return, the two were married in the spring of 1994. Ted’s father, a Baptist pastor, officiated. It was the happiest day of Patricia’s life, but for Ted the marriage was only a necessary step to further his career. His boss had told him that he could take over his business once he found a wife and settled down.Just over a year into the Kimble marriage, Ted had already checked out. He wasn’t affectionate and he began purchasing life insurance on Patricia without her consent. Deeply religious, Patricia was torn between her devotion to her wedding vows and the concerns she had for her safety.Join us at the quiet end for In the House of the Holy. Two days after his wife perished in a house fire, Ted tried to collect on her life insurance. When he was turned away because Patricia had never taken the required medical exam, he was enraged. The police took note o

It was a frigid December afternoon in 1986 when Jerry Tobias was found dead in the back of his pickup. The 31-year-old oil field worker was curled up in the fetal position on the truck bed’s bare metal floor, wearing only blue jeans, a flannel shirt, and cowboy boots. Join us at the quiet end for False Witness. Jerry’s death was a mystery. The first clue was inside the cab of his truck, where police found a fresh package of expensive steaks from a local butcher shop. Not much of a lead. But, from that day forward, the investigation into the death of Jerry Tobias was shady. With multiple conflicts of interest, incompetent forensics experts, and a psychotic star witness, the prosecution’s case was often absurd. In fact, it would have been comical, if not for the many lives that were ravaged by it.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crime-brewery--4126935/support.

In 2017, 45-year-old Lloyd Neurauter told his 19-year-old daughter, Karrie, that he couldn’t afford to pay child support to her mother, Michele, anymore. He shared his plan A and plan B with Karrie: He could either murder Karrie’s mother or he would take his own life. Lloyd was definitely leaning toward murdering Michele. But he couldn’t do it alone. He needed help.Join us at the quiet end for The Good Daughter. Karrie Neurauter was a successful college student, due to graduate in just one year, when she agreed to help her father get away with the murder of her mother. She assisted in the set-up, an alibi, the cover-up, and getting her 14-year-old sister out of the way. Today we’re talking about the Neurauter family dynamics, Lloyd’s cold-blooded plans, and the reasons why Karrie made the choices she did.Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/true-crime-brewery--4126935/support.

In the early morning hours of June 19, 1982, Virginia and James Campbell were sound asleep when intruders entered their home through a window and entered their bedroom. As their grandsons slept nearby, six rounds were fired into the defenseless couple. The two young boys ran to their live-in housekeeper’s room for help and she called 911.When first responders arrived at the Campbell home in Houston, Texas, the intruders had gone and Virginia and James were dead. Everyone who knew the Campbells’ peculiar daughter, Cindy, suspected that she was somehow involved, but the evidence was scarce. Cindy attended her parents’ funeral, but she was not welcomed with any enthusiasm from the family. She further implicated herself when she did all she could to collect on her inheritance. Join us at the quiet end for Betrayal in Blood. As Cindy focused on legal maneuvers to get her parents’ possessions and money, other family members hired a private investigator to get to the truth. The PI quickly saw Cindy’s boyfriend, Davi

Kirsty Grabham died in a brutal act of domestic violence perpetrated by her husband, Paul, in 2009. Her death is all the more heartbreaking for her family because Kirsty had fallen into a life of drug addiction, prostitution, and violence, months earlier. They could see that Kirsty was in danger and they were helpless to save her.Kirsty’s mother, Cathy, and her sisters, Sonya and Hayley, were devastated when Kirsty went missing. She had last been seen at a nightclub, arguing with her husband. Paul claimed that Kirsty had left him and run off, but her family knew better.Join us at the quiet end for Casualties: The Lost Lives of Hayley & Kirsty. Losing a child, especially to violence, is one of the worst things a human being can experience. But sometimes, we forget about how the murder of a loved one damages and changes a family forever. In Cathy’s case, the death of Kirsty set off a series of painful experiences and additional loss from which she would never fully recover.Become a supporter of this p

On December 27, 2011, in a small town outside of St. Louis, Missouri, Russ Faria called 911. His wife, Betsy, was lying in a pool of blood, dead, with a kitchen knife protruding from her neck. The house was in disarray, with shopping bags and Christmas decorations scattered on the floor.Russ had been at game night with some friends that evening. When he returned home to the horrific, heartbreaking scene, Russ said, his first thought was that Betsy had taken her own life. Considering Betsy’s history of depression and her prolonged battle with cancer, it was the only thing that made any sense to him. But then, first responders found over 50 stab wounds in Betsy’s body. A search of the house turned up a pair of Russ’s slippers in the bedroom closet, stained with Betsy’s blood. This was a homicide. And Russ Faria was the prime suspect.Join us at the quiet end for Pam’s Path to Prison. As it turns out, Betsy Faria’s murder was just the beginning in a chain of bizarre events involving Betsy’s friend, Pam Hupp. Pam

Christine Paolilla was an outsider at Clear Lake High School. Looking different and lacking self-confidence, she was brutally teased and bullied. Christine was awkward, near-sighted, and she had alopecia, requiring her to wear thick glasses and wigs. But then, Christine was befriended by two pretty, popular girls: Rachael Koloroutis and Tiffany Rowell. They helped Christine improve her appearance and she seemed like a new person with a new lease on life. In 2003, she was voted “Miss Irresistible” by her classmates. But on July 18, 2003, Christine’s helpful new friends, Rachael and Tiffany, were gunned down, along with two young men, at Tiffany’s house. At first, it appeared to be a drug-related mass murder, but law detectives saw indications of a crime fueled by intense hatred and jealousy. Join us at the quiet end for A Malignant Envy. These murders went unsolved for years before any arrests were made. By then, Christine was in a dysfunctional relationship with a heroin addict she’d met in rehab. When she le

Beth Lochtefeld was smart and hardworking. By the time she reached her 40s, she had good friends, she had travelled the world, and she was professionally successful. All that was missing was a partner with whom to share her life. Enter Tom Toolan III. At age 37, Manhattanite Tom was well-educated, handsome, and appeared successful in his own right. But he had secrets. His life was spiraling out of control and he would try to pull Beth into that spiral with him.By the time Beth broke up with Tom Toolan, it was too late for her to escape him unscathed. He went into an alcohol-enhanced rage and held her against her will in his apartment overnight before she was able to escape while he slept.Join us at the quiet end for No Safe Harbor. After fleeing Toolan’s New York apartment, Beth fled to Nantucket and stayed at her brother’s house on the island, hiding from him. Once she felt like the coast was clear, she took refuge in her own Nantucket rental. But once she entered, she would never be seen alive again.Become