Once Upon A Crime | True Crime

In this special holiday episode Esther and Lorena discuss the Netflix series "The Watcher" with Tim and Lance from Crawlspace Podcast.  We compare and contrast this fictionalized version of the true mystery "The Watcher House".  In 2014, Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased a home in New Jersey.  Soon afterward they began receiving letters from an anonymous person who said they were watching the house and young family.  When the letters became threatening they questioned whether they should give up their dream home. Resources: A link to an article about this case with photos of the house: https://www.cnn.com/2019/08/12/us/the-watcher-house-stalker-trnd/index.html Esther covered this case on Halloween Tales: Volume 2 in 2017, Episode #64. Link here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/once-upon-a-crime-true-crime/id1122650415?i=1000393914220 Here's a link to the Netflix series: https://g.co/kgs/gvwymw Esther was recently a guest on Crawlspace. Listen here: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/335-once-u

For many people around the world, ringing in the new year brings with it the promise of new hope, a fresh start, and renewed possibilities.  But each year of Ricky Javon Gray’s short life brought only violence, brutality, and death ending in a shocking murder spree over New Year’s weekend 2006. Resources “The Visitors” by Melissa Scott Sinclair for Style Weekly, October 20, 2010. https://www.styleweekly.com/richmond/the-visitors/Content?oid=1381013 “Man convicted of grisly murders of Virginia couple, daughters” Associated Press, August 17, 2006.  “String of Slayings Shatters Richmond” by Carol Morello for The Washington Post, Jan 15, 2006. “Gray v. Commonwealth”, Supreme Court of Virginia, Decided June 8, 2007. Retrieved from FindLaw.com. “Cold Blooded” on YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck1M87CT1Tk “Lawyers describe childhood abuse as ‘sexual slavery’ as they argue Ricky Gray should be spared from death” by Gary A. Harki for PilotOnline.com, Dec 13, 2016.  “Ricky Gray’s execution took more t

On Christmas Eve, 1985 a grim discovery was made on a frozen field outside of Chester, Nebraska.  The body of a child had been abandoned. The mystery of who the anonymous child who locals dubbed “Little Boy Blue” would take two years to solve. When the responsible party was identified, investigators began to suspect that an Amish man, Eli Stutzman, just might be a serial killer. Resources: Mystery of 'Little Boy Blue' solved - UPI Archives Crimes of Eli Stutzman, aka The Amish Serial Killer, investigated on ID (monstersandcritics.com) Eli Stutzman | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers Friday marks 25 years since Christmas Eve tragedy - Hebron Journal Register STUTZMAN, DANIEL, LITTLE BOY BLUE - Thayer County, Nebraska | LITTLE BOY BLUE STUTZMAN, DANIEL - Nebraska Gravestone Photos (nebraskagravestones.org)  Eli Stutzman Part 01 : Barn Fires & Bodies - YouTube Eli Stutzman Part 02 : Little Boy Blue - YouTube The Amish Serial Killer Eli Stutzman Was Anything But Provincial (ranker.com)\ Typ

A young mother goes missing after a Thankgiving Day shopping trip in 2018. After meticulous detective work on the part of several law enforcement agencies answers come to light.  The perpetrator would be someone no one would suspect - least of all Kelsey Berreth the victim. This case has us pondering the question do we really know the dark thoughts of the people closest to us? Resources:  https://www.insideedition.com/kelsey-berreth-case-what-to-know-about-the-missing-colorado-mom-last-seen-on-thanksgiving-day-49154 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/crime-courts/patrick-frazee-s-ex-girlfriend-reveals-kelsey-berreth-s-last-n1078236 https://people.com/crime/people-magazine-investigates-kelsey-berreth-murder/ Application and Affidavit for Arrest Warrant.pdf (state.co.us) Patrick Frazee's Mom Did Not Make 'Witch Is Dead' Facebook Post | Crime News (oxygen.com) Kelsey Berreth remains possibly found as tooth fragment found at killer fiance Patrick Frazee farm | Daily Mail Online Human tooth found near burne

In today’s episode, I’ll share three strange and intriguing true crime cases currently in the news - a suspected serial killer hunting for victims in a small California town, a gruesome discovery on a local walking trail, and a bizarre discovery unearthed in a San Francisco Bay Area mansion’s back garden. Resources:  “Suspect is Arrested in Series of Killings in Stockton, Calif., Police Say”, Eduardo Medina, The New York Times, Oct 15, 2022 “Stockton serial killings: Everything we know now about suspect Wesley Brownlee”, Daniel Macht, Hilda Flores, KCRA 3, Oct 19, 2022 “Timeline: Stockton police arrest suspect linked to six serial killings”, Gabriel Porras, ABCNews.go.com, Oct 16, 2022 “What we’re learning about victims of the Stockton serial killings” Maricela DelaCruz, KCRA 3, Oct 19, 2022  “Coroner IDs Woman Found on Fire in Antioch, Suspects in Custody”, Bay City News, Oct 24, 2022 “Antioch Police Say Two Arrested in Homicide Case of Woman Found Burned on Mokelumne Trail”, East County Today, Oct 24,

A Nightmare Before Halloween, Part 2 …1 campfire… …1 dark forest… …31 bone-chilling stories… …Will YOU survive the night? This Halloween season, enter the woods for a unique and truly epic podcast experience! Around the campfire Shane Waters will introduce 31 crime podcast hosts, including Once Upon a Crime. Each host brings a new, nerve-wracking true story to the circle. It’s an extra special, two part, five-hour, Halloween event, but before hitting play you might want to ask yourself…can you really handle this much murder and mayhem? So, pull up to the fire and brace yourself for ‘A Nightmare Before Halloween’ …but be warned… …bad things happen in these woods…. Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance: In this Part 2 Episode:  - True Crime Island [https://tinyurl.com/y6kk2npj] - Based on a True Story [https://tinyurl.com/37axzn5z] - The Asian Madness Podcast [https://tinyurl.com/yckkxbjn] - Sistas Who Kill [https://linktr.ee/Sistas.Who.Kill.Podcast] - Hometown History [https://link.chtb

…1 campfire… …1 dark forest… …31 bone-chilling stories… …Will YOU survive the night? This Halloween season, enter the woods for a unique and truly epic podcast experience! Around the campfire Shane Waters will introduce 31 crime podcast hosts, including Once Upon a Crime. Each host brings a new, nerve-wracking true story to the circle. It’s an extra special, two part, five-hour, Halloween event, but before hitting play you might want to ask yourself…can you really handle this much murder and mayhem? So, pull up to the fire and brace yourself for ‘A Nightmare Before Halloween’ …but be warned… …bad things happen in these woods…. Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance: In this Part 1 Episode:  - Foul Play: Crime Series [https://link.chtbl.com/foulplay] - Murder She Told [https://tinyurl.com/55473exk] - Crime Salad [https://tinyurl.com/4pbtdtpc]   - Crimelines [https://linktr.ee/crimelines] - Frightful [https://link.chtbl.com/frightful] - Reverie True Crime [https://linktr.ee/paigeelmore]

N.W.A. became one of the most influential hip-hop artists of all time and became one of the first rap groups to reach platinum status with their debut album Straight Outta Compton.  In 1989, they took the stage in front of a crowd of over 20,000 fans in Detroit, Michigan.  But the group had been forbidden from performing one of their most controversial songs. When they chose to do so anyway, all hell broke loose. Resources:   “The real story behind N.W.A.’s ‘Straight Outta Compton’ Detroit riot” by Lee DeVito for Detroit Metro Times, August 17, 2015.   https://www.metrotimes.com/music/the-real-story-behind-nwas-straight-outta-compton-detroit-riot-2362596 “Retired Detroit Sergeant recalls telling N.W.A. they couldn’t play ‘F*** tha Police’ at 1989 concert” by John Counts for Michigan Live, August 27, 2015.   https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2015/08/former_detroit_sergeant_recall.html “The famous 1989 Detroit concert by N.W.A., then and now” by Julie Hinds for Detroit Free Press, August 13, 2015.  

Robert Smith formed the band The Cure with his schoolmates when he was still in middle school.  They found early success and soon began touring around the world.  But their sobriety and mental health began to suffer from the strain while on tour.  It all came to a dramatic end on stage in Brussels in 1982. Resources: “The Crack Up” by Tonino Cagnucci, October 11, 2014. https://thecuretc.wordpress.com/2014/10/11/the-crack-up-2/ “The ‘one time’ Robert Smith was really frightened with ‘The Cure’” by Jordan Potter for Far Out Magazine, August 20, 2022. https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/time-robert-smith-really-frightened-the-cure/ The Story of “The Cure” (2004), More Music Shows, May 15, 2020, YouTube. https://youtu.be/9W7vOJC1qLI

In our first “Rocktober” episode of the month I’ll tell you the story of the Bad Boy of Rock and Roll - Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses.  In July of 1991, Guns N’ Roses was on its 28-month “Use Your Illusion” tour when the lead singer got into a fight with a fan kicking off a 3-hour riot in St. Louis, Missouri.  Guns N’ Roses would be banned from performing in St. Louis for years and face criminal and civil charges as a result. Resources:  “Guns N’ Roses: The St. Louis Incident” https://youtu.be/1qVzAA-v3qM “Looking Back at the Riverport Riot” by David Durchholtz for Billboard, July 26, 2017 “Reclusive Rocker Breaks His Silence” Luke Bainbridge for The Guardian, Oct 25, 2008 “Axl Rose’s Tragic Real-Life Story” by Rob Smith and Brian Boone for The Grunge, August 30, 2022. 

In this episode, I’ll cover a case that sparked a national debate and shone a spotlight on discrepancies in the justice system regarding the treatment and rights of survivors of sexual assault.  Brock Turner was a first-year student at Stanford University when he was accused of sexually assaulting a young woman. The media portrayal of the perpetrator and the leniency he received at sentencing would fuel public outrage regarding this highly publicized case. Resources: Know My Name: A Memoir, Chanel Miller, Penguin Books, 2019.  “Know My Name: Chanel Miller’s Story”, 60 Minutes, CBS, May 3, 2021. https://youtu.be/PTvHn2_0evo “Sentence in Stanford Assault Case Sparks Outrage”, Richard Gonzalez, NPR, June 6, 2016. “Thes Brock Turner Headlines are Beyond Tone Deaf”, Julie Sprankles, Bustle.com, June 6, 2016. 

In this episode I’ll tell you about a case that got worldwide media attention due to the bizarre circumstances, the heinous nature of the crime, and the venue at which it occurred - a high school prom. Resources: Melissa Drexler, murderpedia.comhttps://murderpedia.org/female.D/d/drexler-melissa.htm “Before Prom Night, a Suspect was the Girl Next Door” by Abby Goodnough and Bruce Weber for The New York Times, July 2, 1997. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/02/nyregion/before-prom-night-a-suspect-was-the-girl-next-door.html

A student residing with three roommates on an Indiana college campus finds herself mired in a tense living situation. An unusual set of circumstances soon turns deadly. Resources: Murder Loves Company: Dorm Living Nightmare, Season 1, Episode 1, The Investigation Discovery Channel, (2019). Liette Martinez Obituary, Las Cruces-Sun News, April 22, 2008. A series of articles regarding this case can be found in the Albuquerque Journal, April 18, 2008 - Sept. 19, 2008. 

Kitty LeRoy was a sharpshooter, cardsharp, dancer, and entrepreneur.  She became a well-known entertainer in the Old West and ran with legends like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock. But her fierce temper and fiery personality often made her dangerous to be around. You may have never heard of Kitty LeRoy before but after this episode you won’t soon forget her. Resources:  “Kitty LeRoy: Lady Gambler and Gunfighter” by Kathy Weiser for Legends of America, Feb 2020.  https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-kittyleroy/ “Kitty LeRoy: Untimely Death” by Greta for Explore Dallas History, Dec 29, 2018.  https://exploredallashistory.com/kitty-leroy-untimely-death/ “Kitty LeRoy was a Jig Dancer and Much More” by Marshall Trimble for True West Magazine, August 3, 2016.  https://truewestmagazine.com/kitty-leroy-was-a-jig-dancer-and-much-more/ “Wild Women Wednesday: Kitty LeRoy” by Chris Enss for Cowgir Magazinel, Dec 30, 2015. https://cowgirlmagazine.com/wild-women-wednesday-kitty-leroy/ Boudoirs to Brothels: Th

In 1819, Lavinia Fisher and her husband John were accused poisoning and murdering multiple guests of their Charleston, South Carolina inn and sentenced to hang.  But were the Fishers really serial killers or is the legend simply a tall tale concocted to entertain tourists? The true story of who Lavinia Fisher was and why she was hanged may shock you. Resources: Lavinia Fisher: Legends of America, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/sc-laviniafisher/ Murder and Mayhem in the Holy City, Pat Hendrix, The History Press, Charleston, South Carolina, 2006. Six Miles to Charleston: The True Story of John and Lavinia Fisher, Bruce Orr, The History Press, Charleston, South Carolina, 2010. 

In this series we’ll step back in history to learn about some of the history’s first female outlaws. In this episode I’ll tell you about Sally Skull, ranch owner, horse trader, fandango dancer, and gunslinger. Some say Sally’s quick temper - and even quicker hand with a gun - was responsible for the mysterious disappearances of two of her five husbands.  Resources:  “The legendary Sally Skull was a gun-slinging, foul-mouthed Texas horse trader”, Allison Ehrlich for the Corpus Christi Caller Times, March 17, 2022.  https://www.caller.com/story/news/special-reports/building-our-future/throwback/2022/03/17/tbt-sally-skull-gun-slinging-foul-mouthed-texas-horse-trader/7006359001/ “Two Sixshooters and a Sunbonnet”, Dan Kilgore for Publications of the Texas Folklore Society, Legendary Ladies of Texas.  http://sonsofdewittcolony.org/texwomen.htm Scull, Sarah Jane Newman (Sally) (1817 - unknown), Texas State Historical Association.  https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/scull-sarah-jane-newman-sally “Sa

A young girl leaves her hometown of Ohio for the Big Apple with her heart set on a career as a Broadway dancer. Instead, she meets a young man who becomes obsessed with controlling her life. Unable to let her go, Paul Cortez commits a shocking crime.  Resources: The People v. Paul Cortez, New York Court of Appeals filing, April 8, 2013.  https://casetext.com/brief/e970db1d-the-people-respondentvpaul-cortez-appellant-brief  “A dancer’s secret life and savage murder, Keith Morrison/NBCNews.com, Jan 15, 2006.  https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10868185  “The Last Dance”, 48 Hours, May 4, 2006, retrieved from CBSNews.com https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-last-dance/ 

This week’s episode details a murder that, at first glance, appears to be a cut-and-dried case of a lover’s quarrel turned deadly.  Upon investigation, it is discovered to be a much more thought-out and sinister plan.  When authorities uncover the real killer he turns out to be an actor who attempted to parlay his skills as a performer to pull off “the perfect crime”. Sources: “Actor is held in double slaying.” Los Angeles Times, 29 05 2010,    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104583077/actor-is-held-in-double-slaying/. “Actress convicted of lying to police about ex-fiance's double murder pleads innocence in  interrogation tapes.” ABC News, 30 May 2019,  https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/actress-convicted-lying-police-fiances-double-murder- pleads/story?id=63234575 . Accessed 4 July 2022. “As coldblooded as a murderer gets.” Los Angeles Times, 09 01 2016,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104976453/as-coldblooded-as-a-murderer-gets/. Berg, Tom. “Justice delayed: Why it took more than 5 years for trial of

In this month’s series “Final Curtain Call” a film or theater actor is connected to a sensational crime.  In 1973, The Exorcist was released in theaters. Moviegoers were shocked by the film’s graphic depiction of a little girl possessed by a demon.  But one movie extra, Paul Bateson, had demons of his own which lead him to commit an act of violence and become a prime suspect in a series of grisly murders.  Resources: Paul Bateson: The ‘Mindhunter’ Murderer Who Appeared in ‘The Exorcist’ -  https://allthatsinteresting.com/paul-bateson   The Exorcist Serial Killer -  https://www.truecrimeedition.com/post/paul-bateson Bag Murders and The Last Call Killer Put in Focus the Dangers the NY LGBTQ+ Community Faces, Inside Edition Online - https://www.insideedition.com/how-the-bag-murders-and-the-last-call-killer-put-in-focus-the-dangers-the-new-york-lgbtq-community Rites Held for Addison Verrill, Variety Reporter Killed in Robbery, The New York Times,  Sept 20, 1977. Arthur Bell, 51, a Columnist, Homosexual

Harry Uzoka was a rising star who’d broken into the world of high-end modeling against all odds. But another model envious of his success began a rivalry which lead to a violent showdown that no one saw coming. Resources Adey, Linda. “Remembering Harry.” BBC, https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/resources/idt-sh/remembering_harry_uzoka_the_murder_of_a_model. Accessed 8 June 2022.Balogun, Simi. “FAB Editorial: Ty Ogunkoya & Harry Uzoka Featured In Paper Magazine.” FAB, 21 February 2014, http://fabmagazineonline.com/fab-editorial-ty-ogunkoya-harry-uzoka-featured-paper-magazine/. Accessed 8 June 2022.Okeowo, Alexis. “The Tragedy of Harry Uzoka.” The New York Times, 23 April 2021, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/04/20/magazine/harry-uzoka-murder-george-koh.html. Accessed 8 June 2022.“Two charged over stabbing of male model.” London Evening Standard, 16 01 2018, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/103618163/two-charged-over-stabbing-of-male-model/. MUSIC CREDITS: Missing (Loopable) by Dave DevilleLink: https://filmmusic