Crimes of the Centuries

Singing his way through the 1950s and early 1960s, appealing to audiences across a segregated music industry, churning out hits of dreamy quality like “You Send Me” and inspirational fortitude like “A Change Is Gonna Come,” Sam Cooke was more than an artist. He lived – and died – a legend. So how did he end up shot in a Los Angeles motel in 1964? In this episode, we’ll trace the tale: start to finish.

In November 1958, duck hunters at Cowan Lake State Park stumbled upon a burned body so badly damaged it was nearly unrecognizable. It belonged to Louise Bergen, a 32-year-old Cincinnati mother whose disappearance had already set off whispers of secret relationships and divided loyalties. What followed became one of the most notorious murder cases in the city's history—featuring a shocking confession, a death sentence, and a prosecutor who refused to look at evidence that might have told a different story. (Note: This episode was recorded live at the Fitton Center for Creative Arts in Hamilton, Ohio.)Additional note: A regular listener and relative of the prosecutor mentioned in this story, C. Watson Hover, reached out to correct my pronunciation of his surname. I said "hover," as in "hoverboard." The correct pronunciation is the word "over" with an H. Thank you, Lisa, for letting me know! Crimes of the Centuries is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comOrder the Crimes of the Centuries book at your favorite bookstore or at www.centuriespod.com/book!

In the years after September 11, 2001, one survivor’s story rose above nearly all others. She said she had escaped from the South Tower, lost the man she loved on the 99th floor, and lived with injuries that would never fully heal. Her account became central to how the world understood survival, grief and resilience after the attacks. But when a reporter began asking routine questions ahead of an anniversary, the story quietly unraveled. Crimes of the Centuries is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comOrder the Crimes of the Centuries book at your favorite bookstore or at www.centuriespod.com/book!

In August 1966, three unarmed London police officers pulled over a suspicious car on Braybrook Street in Shepherd's Bush in West London. Within minutes, all three were dead—shot in cold blood by three career criminals who'd rather kill than go back to prison. The murders shocked Britain and sparked a months-long manhunt for Harry Roberts, who managed to evade capture while his face was plastered across every newspaper in the country. Crimes of the Centuries is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comHave you read the Crimes of the Centuries book? Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book!

In 1976, a woman survived a brutal kidnapping and stabbing in a San Diego parking lot. The man accused of the attack was Edgar Smith—once a cause célèbre, hailed as a wrongfully convicted intellectual. His release had been celebrated by writers, editors and influential public figures who believed they had corrected a grave injustice. What followed was not redemption but reckoning. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comHave you read the Crimes of the Centuries book? Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book!

In 1957, Edgar Smith was sentenced to death for the murder of a teenage girl in New Jersey. From his prison cell, he began writing letters, essays and arguments build a case not in court, but on the page. One of those letters landed on the desk of William F. Buckley Jr. Others found their way into elite literary circles. Soon, a condemned man had powerful allies, a book deal and a growing audience convinced the system had gotten it wrong. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.com

In 1931, Adolf Hitler’s 23-year-old niece, Geli Raubal, was found dead in the Führer's Munich apartment. Authorities ruled it a suicide. But the evidence didn’t settle easily—and neither did the silence that followed. Some journalists tried to make sense of the story but had trouble as the case files were quickly sealed. So they reported on emerging contradictions in the evidence and disagreements among witnesses. Within a few years, the people who tried to challenge Hitler’s version of events would pay a devastating price."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.com

Sherri Rasmussen had been married for just three months when she was brutally murdered in her California home. Police quickly decided the case was a burglary gone wrong—and then stopped looking. It would take more than 20 years before a new detective took a fresh look and realized the killer had been hiding in plain sight all along. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.com

In October 1964, a Washington socialite was shot execution-style on the Georgetown towpath. She had been JFK's lover. Her ex-husband worked for the CIA. Her diary vanished. And the man accused of killing her was acquitted. What really happened to Mary Pinchot Meyer?"Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.com

From Amber's other podcast, titled What If They're Wrong? After the Accusation: After charges against former death row inmate Elwood Jones were dismissed, Ohio Supreme Court Justice Joe Deters—the former prosecutor who originally secured Jones’ conviction—went on talk radio insisting Jones was still guilty. The next day, phone records show Justice Deters had a 10-minute call with his former colleague, Hamilton County Coroner Dr. Lakshmi Sammarco. Four days later, the coroner announced false forensic evidence about the victim—evidence that collapsed within 24 hours. Through phone logs, text messages, and public records obtained exclusively for this investigation, this episode reveals the coordination between a sitting justice, former prosecutors and county officials after the case was supposed to be closed. What If They're Wrong? After The Accusation is published early and ad-free for subscribers over at www.grabbagcollab.com.

In October 1982, journalist Lester Kinsolving asked the White House press secretary about a mysterious disease that had already killed hundreds of Americans. The response? Laughter. For years, as the death toll climbed into the tens of thousands, President Ronald Reagan said nothing. His administration did less. This is the story of what happens when a government decides some lives don't matter—and the activists, doctors, and ordinary people who refused to let their community die in silence."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.com

In the industrial villages of 19th-century England, death was common—but not this common. Over two decades, Mary Ann Cotton married, buried, and moved on with chilling regularity as children, husbands, and relatives died from what doctors called “gastric fever.” Only when forensic chemistry advanced—and one parish officer heard her say too much—did her pattern come into focus.

The massacre at My Lai was one of the most lethal attacks on civilians carried out by American troops in Vietnam. For more than a year, the Army’s official line held firm: it was an encounter with the enemy. Only when a soldier wrote dozens of letters, and a reporter refused to let the story die, did the truth reach the public. This episode explores the events of that day and the long road to accountability.

In May 1983, a young Oregon mother arrived at a Springfield hospital with a horrifying story: a stranger had flagged her down on a dark road and shot her and her three children. One child was dead, the other two clinging to life. But hospital staff noticed something strange about Diane Downs: She was superficially injured, eerily calm and oddly focused on her ruined vacation and blood-stained car. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a trail of obsession, manipulation, and diaries revealing a case of betrayal and unthinkable violence that would shock America. Episode Sponsors:Quince. Treat yourself to bedding built to last. Get free shipping and 365-day returns when you shop at https://quince.com/CENTURIES.Home Chef. Make home cooking easier and more delicious. Get 50% off your first box, free shipping, and free dessert for life at https://homechef.com/COTC.ButcherBox. Quality proteins delivered when you need them. Get free steak in every box for a year PLUS $20 off your first box at https://butcherbox.com/COTC.

For this holiday week, we're releasing an episode that initially was available only to subscribers through GrabBagCollab.com and Apple Podcasts. In the 1970s, Gary Glitter was a glam rock sensation: sequins, stadium anthems, and screaming teenage fans. But like Jimmy Savile, he used fame as a weapon. This bonus episode unpacks his rise, fall, and the disturbing legacy he left behind."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.com

On April Fools Day 1999, 26-year-old Yvonne Layne was found murdered in her Alliance, Ohio home. David Thorne, her ex-boyfriend and father of one of her children, was instantly a suspect. Another young man admitted to the murder, and David breathed a sigh of relief, until the confessed murderer fingered David; “He paid me to do it.” David was sentenced to life without parole. Two decades later, Pulitzer winner and podcast host, Maggie Freleng (Bone Valley Season 3: Graves County, Wrongful Conviction, Suave) launched a “live” investigation into David's conviction alongside Jason Baldwin (himself wrongfully convicted as a member of the West Memphis Three). Maggie had come to believe that the entire investigation of David was botched by the tiny local police department, or worse, covered up the real killer. Was Maggie correct? Was David’s claim of innocence credible? In Death and Deceit in Alliance, Maggie recounts the case that launched her career, and ultimately, “broke” her.” New episodes of Death and Deceit in Alliance will be available every Tuesday and Friday starting on December 2 wherever you get your podcasts. To binge the entire season, ad-free, subscribe to True Crime Clubhouse on Apple podcasts.

For two decades, the small Illinois town of Dixon couldn't afford new trucks, fresh asphalt, or summer pools. Meanwhile, their trusted treasurer lived like royalty—breeding champion horses, dripping in diamonds, and cruising the country in a $2 million RV. When the truth came out, it was the largest municipal fraud in U.S. history."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comDON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Quince. Give a gift they’ll actually use and love. Go to https://quince.com/CENTURIES for free shipping and 365-day returns.

When two wealthy brothers from the same family were murdered three years and 8,000 miles apart, it seemed too strange to be coincidence. But behind both crimes lay the same forces—greed, arrogance, and the illusion of control."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comDON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Home Chef. Make dinnertime easy again. Get 50% off your first box and free dessert for life at https://homechef.com/COTC.)ButcherBox. Free steak for a year plus $20 off your first box at https://butcherbox.com/COTC.DripDrop. Fast, science-backed hydration that actually tastes good. Get 20% off at https://dripdrop.com with code COTC.Hims. Simple, online access to personalized care. Visit https://hims.com/COTC for your free online visit

A boy’s discovery in the Yellow River launched one of the South’s most shocking murder investigations. What authorities found on John S. Williams’s farm in 1921 exposed a brutal system hiding in plain sight. The Georgia case made national headlines and forced Americans to confront how easily cruelty had survived just beneath the surface of everyday life."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comDON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Ollie. Take the guesswork out of your dog’s well-being. Go to ollie.com/cotc and use code cotc to get 60% off your first box!Galatea. Your next obsession-worthy romance is waiting. Visit https://galatea.com/COTC for an extra 25% off.Storyworth. Capture your family’s memories before they’re lost. Visit https://storyworth.com/cotc to save $10 or more.

In 1985, Christie’s auctioned off a dusty Bordeaux engraved with the initials “Th.J.” The seller claimed it had once belonged to Thomas Jefferson, and the bottle fetched an astonishing $157,000. It was a record-setting sale that turned the wine world upside down — and raised a bigger question: had history truly been uncorked, or had wealthy collectors just bought into a very expensive story?"Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comDON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Miracle Made. Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made!Go to https://trymiracle.com/COTC and use the code COTC to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF.Rula. Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/cotc #rulapodQuince. Give a gift they’ll actually use and love with Quince. Go to Quince.com/centuries for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too.DripDrop. Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code COTC.

He gave up comfort for a calling, left Spain for the wilds of California, and walked thousands of miles to bring the Gospel to Indigenous people. Father Junípero Serra is revered by some as a saintly hero — the man who brought Catholicism to the West Coast. But to others, he represents something far darker: a symbol of colonization, forced assimilation, and cultural destruction."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comDON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:ButcherBox. As an exclusive offer, our listeners can get free steak in every box for a year PLUS $20 off your first box when you go to ButcherBox.com/COTCDripDrop. Right now, DripDrop is offering podcast listeners 20% off your first order. Go to dripdrop.com and use promo code COTCHims. To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit Hims.com/COTCMiracle Made. Upgrade your sleep with Miracle Made!Go to https://trymiracle.com/COTC and use the code COTC to claim your FREE 3 PIECE TOWEL SET and SAVE over 40% OFF

He was the BBC’s quirky golden boy — cigar in hand, tracksuit on, always ready to raise money for charity. Margaret Thatcher lobbied to get him knighted. The Queen pinned the honor on him. And all the while, Jimmy Savile was one of Britain’s most prolific sexual predators."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comDON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Galatea. Right now, Galatea is offering our listeners an extra 25% off on top of an already-irresistibly-affordable subscription when you go to GALATEA.COM/COTC.Beam Dream. Go to shopbeam.com/COTC, use code COTC, and get up to 50% off during Beam’s Cyber Sale. You can grab Dream for just $32.50—But here’s the catch—Dream is only available at this price until it sells out.Storyworth. Give your loved ones a unique keepsake you’ll all cherish for years—Storyworth Memoirs! Right now, save $10 or more during their Holiday sale when you go to STORYWORTH.com/cotc! That’s STORYWORTH dot com slash cotc to save $10 or more on your order!Ollie. Take the guesswork out of your dog's well-being. Go to ollie.com/cotc and use code cotc to get 60% off your first box!

While Crimes Of The Centuries is dark this week, please enjoy this special episode of the podcast, More Like Ancient Fail-iens, where Amber Hunt was a special guest!Whether you are in your enormous underground city hiding from battling sky gods or run into an ant-person who just feels more comfortable beneath the earth’s surface, you, too, have had your life affected by underground aliens. Brandon and Toby are joined by esteemed journalist Amber Hunt to explore the reality behind these subterranean visitors.You can find more episodes of More Like Ancient Fail-iens, wherever you get your podcasts, or early and ad-free over at www.grabbagcollab.comFollow Grab Bag Collab on Instagram and Facebook.

In August 1967, George Lincoln Rockwell — founder of the American Nazi Party and one of the most hated men in America — was shot by a sniper while doing laundry at a suburban strip mall. His murder made international headlines. The funeral descended into chaos. Conspiracy theories emerged immediately. And then...America forgot. But Rockwell's death had lasting impact: It shattered American neo-Nazism into the decentralized, leaderless cells we see today."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes and more over at www.grabbagcollab.comDON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Rula. Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/cotc #rulapod Cornbread Hemp. Right now, COTC listeners can save 30% on their first order! Just head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout. Hiya Health. We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best-selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/COTC. This deal is not available on their regular website. Monsters Among Us. Whether you’re a skeptic or a true believer, Monsters Among Us is the perfect podcast to fuel your fascination with the paranormal and send shivers down your spine. Listen to Monsters Among Us Podcast now on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts!

When Horst Wessel died in 1930, he was an obscure 22-year-old member of the SA. Within months, Joseph Goebbels had elevated him into a saint of the Third Reich, complete with a theme song that would echo through rallies, classrooms, and pogroms. This episode traces how a violent street thug became the most famous Nazi martyr — and why his name still matters in extremist circles today.Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Beam Dream. FOR A LIMITED TIME Beam is giving my listeners their best offer yet: up to 40% off. So with my discount code, COTC, you can get their best selling dream powder for just $39 dollars. Go to shopbeam.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout.Hims. To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, go to Hims.com/COTC for your free online visit.Butcherbox. As an exclusive offer, our listeners can get free protein in every box for a year PLUS $20 off your first box when you go to ButcherBox.com/COTC to get this limited time offer and free shipping always.

London in the early 1930s was captivated by the Bright Young Things — aristocratic sons and daughters whose glittering parties and endless scandals filled the tabloids. Among them was Elvira Mullens Barney, a socialite whose beauty and notoriety made her one of the set’s most talked-about figures. But on the morning of May 31, 1932, the headlines turned deadly. Her lover, Michael Scott Stephen, was found shot in her West End flat. Was it murder, a tragic accident, or something in between?"Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Cornbread Hemp. Right now, COTC listeners can save 30% on their first order! Just head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout. Galatea. Right now, Galatea is offering our listeners an extra 25% off on top of an already-irresistibly-affordable subscription when you go to GALATEA.COM/COTC. Ollie. Take the guesswork out of your dog's well-being. Go to ollie.com/cotc and use code cotc to get 60% off your first box!

Despite police informants thwarting one of his deadly plans, cult leader Jeffrey Lundgren’s appetite for violence couldn’t be satiated. When one target was out of reach, he simply shifted his sights to another — this time, a family who trusted him completely. They had followed him to Ohio believing he was a prophet of God, searching for salvation. What they found instead was a man who believed that some sins could only be cleansed through blood atonement — and a group of followers willing to do his bloody bidding."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Cornbread Hemp. Right now, COTC listeners can save 30% on their first order! Just head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout. Butcher Box. Right now, ButcherBox is offering our listeners $20 off their first box and free protein for a year. Go to ButcherBox.com/cotc to get this limited time offer and free shipping always.Rula. Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/cotc #rulapod

In 1980s Ohio, Jeffrey Lundgren wasn’t just studying scripture — he was twisting it into something dangerous. To outsiders, he was a soft-spoken tour guide at a historic church site. But behind closed doors, Lundgren was preaching a radical new theology, gathering followers and slowly convincing them that he spoke for God. His target? The Kirtland Temple — once the holiest site in the Latter Day Saint movement."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and TwitterEpisode Sponsors:Quince. Make your bed the coziest place in the house this fall—with Quince. Go to Quince.com/centuries for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Now available in Canada, too. Hiya Health. We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/COTC. Cornbread Hemp. Right now, COTC listeners can save 30% on their first order! Simply head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout.

For a brief, dazzling moment in early 1990s New York, biographer Lee Israel became one of the most notorious literary forgers of all time. Out of money, out of friends, and with a sick cat to care for, Israel turned her biographer’s research skills and her sharp wit toward a new craft: fabricating letters from Dorothy Parker, Noël Coward, Louise Brooks, and more. Her forgeries fooled collectors, corrupted archives and spread into the market as “authentic” pieces of history. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Galatea. Right now, Galatea is offering our listeners an extra 25% off on top of an already-irresistibly-affordable subscription when you go to GALATEA.COM/COTCButcherbox. As an exclusive offer, our listeners can get free protein in every box for a year PLUS $20 off your first box when you go to ButcherBox.com/COTC and free shipping always.

It was the score of all scores: a $6 million haul in cash and jewels lifted from JFK Airport in 1978. The headlines called it the Lufthansa heist; Martin Scorsese’s Goodfellas turned it into legend. But the real story was messier: dozens of suspects, no recovered loot, and a trail of bodies that grew almost as fast as the FBI’s frustration. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Rula. Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/cotc #rulapod Cornbread Hemp. Right now, COTC listeners can save 30% on their first order! Just head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout. Home Chef. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering my listeners FIFTY PERCENT OFF and free shipping for your first box PLUS free dessert for life! Go to HomeChef.com/COTC

In the piney woods of East Texas in 1910, a mob of white men stormed through the Black community of Slocum, murdering dozens — possibly hundreds — of unarmed residents. The killers faced almost no consequences, and the survivors were silenced by fear. Over a century later, even basic recognition of the Slocum Massacre remains a battle. This is the story of the slaughter Texas tried to forget, and the people still fighting to be remembered."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Hungry Root. For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Visit Hungryroot.com/COTC and enter code COTC. Ollie. Take the online quiz and introduce Ollie to your pet. Visit: https://www.ollie.com/cotc today for 60% off your first box of meals! #ToKnowThemIsToLoveThemCornbread Hemp. Right now, Crimes of the Centuries listeners can save 30% on their first order! Just head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout.

Crime doesn’t take a day off. And neither does Crime House Daily. Hosted by self-defense instructor and advocate for victims, Katie Ring, Crime House Daily is coming to you twice every weekday, covering the biggest crime stories as they unfold. Morning episodes give you the need-to-know. The latest headlines, breaking developments, and where things are going next. Evening episodes go deeper. Into the people, the evidence, and the moments that matter most. The pursuit of justice never stops. And with Crime House Daily, you won’t have to either. Follow Crime House Daily on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or listen here: https://link.podtrac.com/yywvpyfg

When a major German magazine announced it had uncovered Adolf Hitler’s long-lost diaries, the world took notice. But what began as a journalistic coup turned into a scandal that rattled media empires — and left a permanent stain on the truth. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. Join us for video versions of the podcast on YouTube, and follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)! Episode Sponsors: ButcherBox. As an exclusive offer, our listeners can get free protein in every box for a year PLUS $20 off your first box when you go to ButcherBox.com/COTC to get this limited time offer and free shipping always Cornbread Hemp. Right now, COTC listeners can save 30% on their first order! Just head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout. Galatea. Right now, Galatea is offering our listeners an extra 25% off on top of an already-irresistibly-affordable subscription when you go to GALATEA.COM/COTC.

The murder of Barbara Hamburg might read like fiction — a bitter divorce, a mysterious pyramid scheme, a family full of secrets — but for her son Madison, it was all too real. In 2010, Barbara was found bludgeoned to death outside her home in the affluent shoreline town of Madison, Connecticut. In this episode, we explore a case that captivated author Megan Abbott, inspired her novel El Dorado Drive, and remains unsolved 15 years later."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors.Hiya Health. We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/COTC. Cornbread Hemp. Right now, COTC listeners can save 30% on their first order! Just head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout. Home Chef. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering my listeners FIFTY PERCENT OFF and free shipping for your first box PLUS free dessert for life! Go to HomeChef.com/COTC

This week on Crimes of the Centuries, we’re breaking from tradition. Instead of a crime from decades past, we’re looking at a case that’s still shaping headlines — and raising questions that may take years to answer. When Boston police officer John O’Keefe was found dead in the snow outside a fellow cop’s home, his girlfriend, Karen Read, was accused of running him down with her SUV in a fit of drunken rage. Prosecutors said it was an open-and-shut case. But as two trials unfolded, evidence of sloppy policing, possible cover-ups, and investigative misconduct began to surface. With insights from journalist Rebecca Lavoie, we examine the tangled relationships, explosive allegations, and courtroom battles that turned this into one of the most contentious cases Massachusetts has ever seen. Will history remember the death of John O’Keefe as a tragic accident, a conspiracy, or a crime of the century? "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: More Like Ancient Fail-iens. In more Like Ancient FAILiens, journalist Brandon R. Reynolds and podcaster Toby Ball bravely plunge into one of the great works of televised hokum: Ancient Aliens, the History Channel show that, after more than 20 seasons and 200 episodes, is still convinced Aliens Did It. But Brandon and Toby will take on Ancient Aliens’ biggest claims, one episode at a time, disclosing the truth behind the nonsense and discovering the most amazing thing of all: the world is a pretty fascinating place, even if Ancient Astronauts aren't responsible for it. Look for it now, wherever you get your podcasts, or early and ad-free on the Grab Bag Collab Patreon Page.

In 1981, 21-year-old Danny Hansford was shot and killed inside one of Savannah’s grandest mansions. The man who pulled the trigger, antiques dealer Jim Williams, claimed self-defense. What followed was a legal circus resulting in four high-profile trials. Then, less than a year later after the dust settled, Williams was dead. This is the case that inspired Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil, the bestselling book that turned Savannah into a gothic brand. But the real story is messier than the myth."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Galatea. Right now, Galatea is offering our listeners an extra 25% off on top of an already-irresistibly-affordable subscription when you go to GALATEA.COM/COTC.Quince. Level up your bedding with Quince — you’ll feel the difference right away. Go to Quince.com/Centuries for free shipping on your order and three hundred and sixty-five -day returns.Rula. Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/cotc #rulapodCornbread Hemp. Right now, COTC listeners can save 30% on their first order! Just head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout.

Bella Wright was a shy, working-class woman whose life was cut short on a summer night in 1919, just short of her 22nd birthday. At first, her death looked like a tragic accident – until a single bullet found lodged in the dirt road changed everything. What followed was a century-long mystery involving an unshaven man on a distinctive green bicycle, a suspiciously dismantled frame dredged from a river, and a murder trial that gripped the nation. With early forensics, conflicting testimony and possible testimony that came too late, this is a case that refuses to rest."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors. Ollie. Take the online quiz and introduce Ollie to your pet. Visit: https://www.ollie.com/cotc today for 60% off your first box of meals! #ToKnowThemIsToLoveThemBeam Dream. Beam’s giving my listeners an exclusive offer of UP TO 40% off theirbest-selling Dream Powder. That’s right—UP TO 40% off to finally crack the case of your bad sleep. Go to shopbeam.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout. HungryRoot. Take advantage of this exclusive offer: For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/COTC and use code COTC.More Like Ancient Fail-iens. In More Like Ancient FAILiens, journalist Brandon R. Reynolds and podcaster Toby Ball bravely plunge into one of the great works of televised hokum: Ancient Aliens, the History Channel show that, after more than 20 seasons and 200 episodes, is still convinced Aliens Did It. But Brandon and Toby will take on Ancient Aliens’ biggest claims, one episode at a time, disclosing the truth behind the nonsense and discovering the most amazing thing of all: the world is a pretty fascinating place, even if Ancient Astronauts aren't responsible for it. Look for it now, wherever you get your podcasts, or early and ad-free on the Grab Bag Collab Patreon Page.

Laura Fair wanted what many women in Gilded-Age San Francisco wanted: security, respectability, and a husband who told the truth. What she got instead was a years-long affair and a heap of public scorn. When a single gunshot rang out aboard a crowded ferry, it set off a national debate about morality, madness, and how far a woman could be pushed. Based on real letters, real lies, and a courtroom drama that captivated 19th century America."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Cornbread Hemp. Right now, Crimes Of The Centuries listeners can save 30% off their first order! Head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout. Butcher Box. Right now, ButcherBox is offering our listeners $20 off their first box and free protein for a year. Go to ButcherBox.com/cotc to get this limited time offer and free shipping always.Hiya Health. We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/COTC.Crime Salad. If you’re a fan of true crime that’s both compelling and respectfully told, you need to check out Crime Salad. Each week, husband-and-wife duo Ashley and Ricky dive deep into both well-known and lesser-covered cases—bringing you well-researched, thoughtfully narrated stories, driven by a mission to uncover truth, amplify victims’ voices, and advocate for justice. Listen wherever you get your podcasts!

You’d think the guy helping build the deadliest weapon in history would be someone the Allies vetted carefully. You’d be wrong. Klaus Fuchs was a physicist, a refugee, and a trusted member of the Manhattan Project. He was also a Soviet spy. His quiet betrayal helped the USSR test its first atomic bomb years ahead of schedule—ending America’s monopoly on nuclear weapons and setting the stage for the Cold War. All in the name of “peace.”"Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Home Chef. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering my listeners FIFTY PERCENT OFF and free shipping for your first box PLUS free dessert for life! Go to Homechef.com/COTC.Galatea. Right now, Galatea is offering our listeners an extra 25% off on top of an already-irresistibly-affordable subscription when you go to GALATEA.COM/COTC.

In 1974, 28-year-old Karen Silkwood left her home with a binder full of evidence and a plan to blow the whistle on dangerous conditions at the plutonium plant where she worked. She never arrived. What followed was a national uproar, a swirl of conspiracy theories, and a battle over the truth that still echoes today."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:Cornbread Hemp. Right now, Crimes Of The Centuries listeners can save 30% off their first order and enjoy free shipping on orders over $75! Head to cornbreadhemp.com/cotc and use code COTC at checkout.Cornbread Hemp: This is the good life.

Jerry Sandusky was a legend at Penn State University. As the right hand of head football coach Joe Paterno, he was known not only as an exceptional coach but also as a big-hearted philanthropist and advocate for troubled youth. So when a 2011 grand jury report exposed decades of abuse, the fallout was immeasurable, bringing to light a story of power, silence, and the cost of looking the other way."Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)!Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespodEpisode Sponsors:ButcherBox. Right now, ButcherBox is offering our listeners $20 off their first box and free protein for a year.Go to ButcherBox.com/cotc to get this limited-time offer and free shipping always.HungryRoot. You’re going to love Hungryroot as much as I do. Take advantage of this exclusive offer: For a limited time get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for life. Go to Hungryroot.com/COTC and use code COTC. Ollie. Take the online quiz and introduce Ollie to your pet. Visit: https://www.ollie.com/cotc today for 60% off your first box of meals! #ToKnowThemIsToLoveThem

In 1935, 12-year-old Lillian Gobitas and her little brother William were kicked out of their Pennsylvania public school — not for misbehaving, but for quietly refusing to salute the flag, which they believed went against their Jehovah’s Witness faith. Their dad sued, arguing the school had violated their right to religious freedom. But in a sweeping decision, the Supreme Court sided with the school, saying national unity outweighed First Amendment protections. The ruling sparked a wave of violence against Jehovah’s Witnesses across the country, and fueled criticism the Court had abandoned core constitutional rights. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod Episode Sponsors: Home Chef. For a limited time, Home Chef is offering my listeners FIFTY PERCENT OFF and free shipping for your first box PLUS free dessert for life! Go to Homechef.com/COTC. Cornbread Hemp. Right now, Crimes Of The Centuries listeners can save 30% off their first order and enjoy free shipping on orders over $75! Head to cornbreadhemp.com/COTC and use code COTC at checkout. Cornbread Hemp: This is the good life. Hiya Health. We've worked out a special deal with Hiya for their best selling children's vitamin. Receive 50% off your first order. To claim this deal you must go to hiyahealth.com/COTC. Galatea. Right now, Galatea is offering our listeners an extra 25% off on top of an already-irresistibly-affordable subscription when you go to GALATEA.COM/COTC.

Crimes Of The Centuries is dark again this week, so here is an episode that you might not have heard previously... or might just want to listen to again. When news spread that a high-profile comedian was killed in a murder-suicide in 1998, the response was disbelief: Phil Hartman wasn't just famous for being funny. He was even better known for being a good-hearted guy. The shocking story behind the deaths of Hartman and his wife, Brynn, not only made international headlines, but it shook the entertainment industry and changed how people talked about substance abuse and mental health issues in America. "Crimes of the Centuries" is a podcast from Grab Bag Collab exploring forgotten crimes from times past that made a mark and helped change history. You can get early and ad-free episodes on the Grab Bag Patreon page. DON'T FORGET ABOUT THE CRIMES OF THE CENTURIES BOOK! Order today at www.centuriespod.com/book (https://www.centuriespod.com/book)! Follow us on Instagram and Twitter: @centuriespod