Once Upon A Crime

The life and tragic death of a young socialite in the 1930s inspires an Academy Award winning movie. But, Starr Faithfull's life was far from the glamorous treatment it would receive on the big screen. Resources: Ripped from the Headlines: The Shocking True Stories Behind the Movie's Most Memorable Crimes by Harold Schechter (Little A, 2020) The Passing of Starr Faithfull by Jonathan Goodman (Piatkus, 1990). Open Files: A Narrative Encyclopedia of the World's Greatest Unsolved Crimes by Jay Robert Nash (Rowman & Littlefield, 1983). BUtterfield 8, (1960), directed by Daniel Mann for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. Starring Elizabeth Taylor, Eddie Fisher, Laurence Harvey Links: www.haroldschechter.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Two women accused of murder in the Roaring 20s would become the inspiration for one of the best known and longest running shows in American musical theater history. This is the story of the real life Roxie and Velma from “Chicago". Resources: "1924 - Beulah Annan & Belva Gaertner", Newspaper articles compiled and posted on Chicagology.com. Ripped from the Headlines by Harold Schechter, Published by Little A, New York, 2020 "Musical Theater and Law: Chicago, The Musical" by Geraldine Davila Gonzalez, April 30, 2019. Music "Hula Lou" - 1923 recording by Isabelle Patricola, "Prohibition Blues", 1920 recording by The Missourians (Both available for use by public domain.) Links: Listener survey: https://survey.libsyn.com/onceuponacrime YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2UDxhEGSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1986, a beautiful young mother discovers her husband is cheating on her and files for divorce. Soon afterward, she goes missing. Discovering what happened to Helle Crafts would take an small army of detectives, forensic scientists, serologists, forensic anthropologists, a police diving team and other investigators to unravel this bizarre crime and would inspire an Academy-Award winning film. Resources: Forensic Files: Season 1, Episode 1 - "The Disappearance of Helle Crafts", FilmRise TV. "The Wood Chipper Murder Case" by Mark Gado for CrimeLibrary.com. "Richard Crafts, notorious wood chipper murderer, released from prison" by Christine Dempsey for The Hartford Courant, Jan 31, 2020. Details about the film "Fargo" were found on IMDB.com. Links: Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/lets-taco-bout-true-crime "Fargo" (1996) Trailer: https://youtu.be/h2tY82z3xXUSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the last chapter of "Till Death Do Us Part" a woman meets and quickly marries a man. He promises her a new life, but soon after the wedding she goes missing. It will take years of investigative and legal work to bring her killer to justice. Sources: "Till Death Do Us Part: True Stories of Newlywed Murder Cases" by JJ Slate, RJ Parker Publishing, 2015. "Father's Quest for Justice Ends" by Tom Long for The Santa Cruz Sentinel, August 13, 1989. People v. Crew, Supreme Court of California, August 25, 2003. Links: Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/lets-taco-bout-true-crime Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A bride sees many red flags in her relationship before walking down the aisle, but her fear of angering her fiancee would compel her to go through with the ceremony. Within hours, that decision would become fatal. #domestic violence #coercive control Resources: "Murder-Suicide claims Indiana doctor, nurse on wedding night, police say", by Janet DiGiamcomo for CNN, Oct.. 9, 2014. "Indiana Doctor Kills His Wife and Himself on Wedding Night" by Steve Helling for People.com, Oct. 8 2014. Court Records, US District Court, Southern District of Indiana, Trustgard Insurance vs. Old National Wealth Management, Filed 2/24/17. Links: The Council on Domestic Abuse, Terre Haute - www.codaterrehaute.org To be connected with domestic violence and intimate partner violence organizations and resources in the U.S. you can go to thehotline.org, in the UK at womensAID.org.uk, in Australia 1800respect.org.au, and for an international directory go to hotpeachpages.net. Relationship Red Flags: Does your partner: Yell, belittle or humiliate you? Constantly criticize you and put you down? Blame you for his/her own behavior? Keep you isolated from your family and friends? Control or limit your access to money, telephone access or a vehicle? Follow of constantly check up on where you are, who you are with or what you are doing? Destroy your belongings? Force you to be intimate? Threaten to harm you or him/herself if you leave? Prevent you from working or having a career or your own? If you or someone you know is involved in an abusive relationship, help is available. Please reach out to organizations like those listed above for help.Together with advocates that are trained to help, abuse victims can get help in putting together a plan for them and their children to leave a dangerous situation as safely as possible.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A new bride decides she's made a mistake in tying the knot. The decision she makes in order to end the marriage will be a shocking act of cruelty. Resources: "A Murder in Glacier Park" by Justin Franz for The Flathead Beacon, Dec 17, 2013 "Newlywed Cliff Death" by Ryan Owens for ABC News, Sept 11, 2013 "Glacier Park Murder: Friends warned Kalispell man not to marry" by Alice Miller for The Missoulian, Sept 11, 2013 "Montana's Jordan Graham Case" by Crime Watch Daily. Uploaded by True Crime Daily on YouTube.com, March 16, 2020. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this series, I'll share cases of newlyweds whose lives were cut short by the person who vowed to love them forever. In this first case, a young bride is unaware that her new spouse married her to collect on a $1 million dollar life insurance policy. Resources: 'The Other Woman' Testifies in Newlywed Murder, CBS Miami 4, March 25, 2014. Several articles on Wendy Trapaga murder case from CBS Miami 4 online. Till Death Do Us Part: A Collection of Newlywed Murder Cases by JJ Slate, RJ Parker Publishing, 2015. Links: Watch MurderMurderNews here. GoodPods - Get Goodpods here. Search for Motive for Murder and add a question in the discussion tab. Then join me for an exclusive discussion with the host of Motive for Murder, Josh Mankiewicz on June 4th! You can follow me on GoodPods at @estherlu. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is Part 2 of "The Pelley Murders". In this episode I'll tell you about Jeff Pelley's trial, theories of the murders, and give you a strange and compelling story about who else may have been responsible for the murders of Bob Pelley and his family. Resources: The Prom Night Murders: The True Story of a Twenty Year Mystery by Carlton Smith, St. Martin’s Press, 2009 “A trail of broken promises, debt and death” by Peter Franceschina for The News-Press, Oct 6, 1991. “Cold case unsolved: Fort Myers developer Clarence Eric Dawson shot, found buried on Estero property 30 years ago” by Michael Braun, The News-Press, Nov 23, 2018 "Case Study: 17-year-old murderer, 20-minute timeframe, circumstantial evidence, normal behaviour, maintains innocence...Jeff Pelley Convicted for 160 Years", on Reddit.com - r/serialpodcast. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A 17-year-old is suspected in the murder of four of his family members because he was forbidden from attending his prom. Was this a case of a homicidal teen or a rush to judgement? Resources: The Prom Night Murders: The True Story of a Twenty-Year Mystery by Carlton Smith, St. Martin's Press, 2009 "Inconsistent with the Laws of Nature" by Mark Gribben for The Malefactor's Register Links: Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime YouTube: https://bit.ly/2UDxhEG Website: www.truecrimepodcast.com Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/lets-taco-bout-true-crimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this series, "Last Dance", I share stories of crimes that happened on prom night. In the first episode, a teenager commits an act of parricide then attends his prom and holds a party at the crime scene. Resources: Adam Sapikowski - crime and trial reported by WRAL.com over several articles - https://www.wral.com/news/local/asset_gallery/1066030/ "Adam Sapikowski Sentenced" - ABC 11 News, Feb 8, 2008. Links: Facebook Fan Page: https://bit.ly/2VuSgtM YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2UDxhEGSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

An abusive stepfather gets his comeuppance when his stepsons turn on him resulting in a grisly murder. Resources: "Joshua and Jerome Ellis guilty of stepfather killing", BBC News, Feb 26, 2014. "Kids Who Kill: Responsible Child inspired by the true story of two young brothers who stabbed their stepfather", Graeme Culliford for The Sun, Dec 17, 2019. Links: Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime - Listen here: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/lets-taco-bout-true-crime Subscribe to our YouTube channel! https://bit.ly/2UDxhEG Once Upon a Crime Facebook Fan Page: https://bit.ly/2VuSgtM See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A child, unwanted from birth and neglected by her birth parents, is hopeful that her new stepmother will love her like a daughter. It is not to be and her story will become a cautionary tale in the U.K. of how the child protective system spectacularly failed Lauren Wright. Resources: "Tragic tale of a child unwanted from the day of her birth" by Terri Judd for The Independent, Oct 2, 2001. "A Life of Abuse and Neglect" by Paul Kelso for The Guardian, Oct 1, 2001. A series of articles in BBC News - "Doctor examine girl before death", Sept 5, 2001; "Stepmother 'loved Lauren'", Sept 20, 'Mum punched Lauren' says son", Sept 25; "Lauren inquiry demanded", "A lifetime of abuse" - all Oct 1, 2001. Links: To listen and subscribe to "Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime" : https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/lets-taco-bout-true-crime Once Upon a Crime Facebook Group:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1730325570622505/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In our new series, “StepMonsters,” I’ll share stories of bad stepparents whose actions became true crime news. In this first episode I'll share the story of a young boy who went missing and was found in a very unlikely place. Was he the victim of abuse as he would claim and, if so, who was the person most responsible - his stepmother, his own father or both? Resources: "Charlie Bothuell V, Boy Found in Basement, Says His Home was a 'Terrible Place'", by Tara Fowler for People Magazine, April 29, 2015. "Dad of Boy Found in Basement Wants Trial" by Holly Fournier for The Detroit News, January 5, 2016. Audio Clip: "Nancy Grace tells dad missing son found alive", retrieved from HLN on YouTube, https://youtu.be/TAQTR6_FTyI Links: Once Upon a Crime's YouTube Channel: https://bit.ly/2UDxhEG Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/lets-taco-bout-true-crimeSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A gruesome crime would become a media sensation in Canada in 1946 when a beautiful young woman was accused of the grisly murder. This is the case of the infamous Evelyn Dick and the Torso Murder of 1946. Link to listen to the song "Evelyn Dick" by The Forgotten Rebels - https://youtu.be/OAkxFSM_rNs Resources: The Torso Murder by Brian Vallee published by Key Porter Books, Canada, 2001. Evelyn Dick on Murderpedia.org - http://murderpedia.org/female.D/d/dick-evelyn.htm Links: To become a Patreon member go to: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1991, Kurt Cobain released a song on the album Nevermind. Titled "Polly" the song was inspired by a kidnapping and rape of a young girl in Tacoma, Washington. This is the story of that crime. Listen to "Polly" by Nirvana here: https://youtu.be/3H0NHHKBemg Resources: "Story Behind the Song - Polly" by Hayley Selfridge on YouTube "Nirvana's Darkest Song" by The Nerdwriter on YouTube "Police suspect rapist in serial killings", Tri-City Herald, June 19, 1987. Links to episodes mentioned: The Day the Music Died: Kurt Cobain - Episode #10 - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-010-the-day-the-music-died-kurt-cobain/id1122650415?i=1000382663745 True Crime Game Changers: Polly Klaas - Episode #21 - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/episode-021-true-crime-game-changers-polly-klaas/id1122650415?i=1000382668498 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young girl is brutally murdered in New York's Central Park in 1986. Her killer, Robert Chambers, would be dubbed "The Preppy Killer" in the press and his victim's name would be dragged through the mud. This is the real story of "The Preppy Murder" you haven't heard before. Listen to "Jenny Was a Friend of Mine" by The Killers here: https://youtu.be/1Bxx_h4vl8Y Resources: "East Side Story" by Michael Stone for New York Magazine, June 27, 2008. "Looking Back at the Preppy Killer Case, More Than 30 Years Later" by Elizabeth Angell for Town and Country Magazine, November 12, 2019. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The mysterious death of a young girl inspires Jon Bon Jovi to record a song dedicated to her. This is the case of Katherine Korzilius. Resources: Unsolved Mysteries, Season 10: Episode 7 - https://unsolved.com/gallery/katherine-korzilius/ "Family Searches for Answers, Peace" by Hank Stuever for Austin American-Statesman, Aug 7, 1997. "Jon Bon Jovi Busy with Singing, Newfound Acting Career" by Winnie Bonelli for The Herald-New, Passaic, New Jersey, June 20, 1997. Links: Song: "August 7th, 4:15" by Jon Bon Jovi - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IoABwDxs9q8 CrimeCon tickets: www.crimecon.com - Use discount code ONCEUPON2020 for 10% off your registration Music Credits: Original theme music by http://AaronGoldberg.Bandcamp.com Other music from Freesound.org - Licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Nebraska, in 1958, a high school junior holds animosity towards his mother and takes deadly revenge. He is caught and imprisoned and, years later, disappears for decades. Where is Leslie Arnold today? Resources "Whatever Happened to Leslie Arnold, the Boy who Murdered his Parents?" by John William Tuohy, www.mywriterssite.blogspot.com "The Mystery of Leslie Arnold" by Henry Cordes for The Omaha World-Herald, Sept 13, 2017. Music Credits: Original theme music by http://AaronGoldberg.Bandcamp.com Other music: Licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In Kansas in 1958, an 18-year-old kills both of his parents and his only sibling. Was it a case of greed, mental illness, or was Andrews just a "bad seed"? #parricide #InColdBlood #TheBrothersKaramazov #deathrow #familyannihilators Resources: "Lowell Lee Andrews Was 'The Nicest Boy' in Wolcott by Beth Elias for Ranker.com "Nicest boy in Wolcott" by David J. Krajicek for NYDailyNews.com, Feb. 21, 2010 "State vs. Andrews", Appeal Record, State of Kansas, Dec. 10, 1960. Retrieved on Justia.com. In Cold Blood by Truman Capote, Modern Library, Reprint Edition, 2013. Music Credits: Original theme music by http://AaronGoldberg.Bandcamp.com Music from https://filmmusic.io - "March of the Mind" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Other music: https://freesound.org/s/321070/ , https://freesound.org/s/243435/ Licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In 1975, a rebellious teen enlists her boyfriend to kill her parents in a small, Northern California town. The gruesome crime would be dubbed "The Barbecue Murders" in the press. Sources: "Kill My Parents: The story of Marlene Olive" by Denise Noe for Crime Library, June 23, 2014 "A Local Murder: Terra Linda was the setting for a real-life 1975 crime" by Jim Wood for Marin Magazine, October 21, 2008 Music Credits: Original theme music by http://AaronGoldberg.Bandcamp.com Other music: https://freesound.org/s/131913/, https://freesound.org/s/403662/, https://freesound.org/s/147495/, https://freesound.org/s/147495/ - all licensed under the Creative Commons 0 License Links: Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-taco-bout-true-crime/id1452118167 Affirmative Murder - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/affirmative-murder/id1296864488 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this special episode I'll do an in-depth look at the infamous serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Time stamps: Early Life: 02:41 Teen Years: 13:25 Young Adult Life: 32:17 On the Road: 35:30 Criminal Activity: 36:12 Tyra: 47:30 The Victims: 55:57 Closing In/The Arrest: 1:36:40 The Confession: 1:44:46 Arlene Pralle/Adoption: 1:51:50 The Trial: 1:56:42 Death Sentence: 2:04:26 Execution 2:12:44 Final Thoughts: 2:14:35 Sources: "Lethal Intent", written by Sue Russell, Published 2002 for Pinnacle Books http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/wuornos805.htm "A Mother's Love" by Mike Clary for the LA Times, Dec 17 1991, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-12-17-vw-496-story.html Other links: Deadly Misadventures Podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/deadly-misadventures/id1494774552 Music Credits: Aaron Michael Goldberg: https://aarongoldberg.bandcamp.com Music from https://filmmusic.io "March of the Mind" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this special episode my guest is Jack Luna from Crime Machine Podcast. We discuss the evidence and theories behind the JonBenet Ramsey Case. Sources: Foreign Faction: Who Really Killed JonBenet? by A. James Kolar, Ventus Publishing, 2012. JonBenet Ramsey Case Encyclopedia, www.jonbenetramsey.pbworks.com "The Case of: JonBenet Ramsey". https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6mj3ze Crime Machine Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-machine/id1209610434 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this special episode, I discuss the death of Shawn Stephens Lewis. Shawn was the fifth wife of Jerry Lee Lewis, the rock and country music star. When Shawn Lewis was found dead in Lewis's mansion on August 24, 1983, many questions would remain unanswered as to how she died. My very special guest this week is Erica Kelly from the Southern Fried True Crime podcast! www.southernfriedtruecrime.com www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime www.crimecon.com - use offer code ONCE20 for 10% off your standard badge. Resources: "The Strange and Mysterious Death of Mrs. Jerry Lee Lewis" by Richard Ben Cramer for Rolling Stone, March 1, 1984 "The Sudden Death of Wife No. 5 Confronts Jerry Lee Lewis with Tragedy - and Troubling Questions" by People Staff for People Magazine, Sept 12, 1983. "Jerry Lee Lewis: 'The Killer' Says the Wild Times are Behind Him" by Jim Sullivan for The Chicago Tribune. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this year-end wrap up episode, I answer listener questions and share updates on cases I've covered in past episodes. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this last episode about fugitives on the run from the law I tell you the story of the very first woman ever to make the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. Ruth Eisemann-Schier, along with her boyfriend, Gary Krist, carried out a bizarre kidnapping plot in 1968. Resources: "Femmes Fatals: The Ten Women on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List" by Anna Hopkins for DailyMail.com, Sep 11, 2017. "A kidnapping with Deltona ties gripped the nation 50 years ago" by Tony Holt for The Daytona Beach News Journal, Dec 20, 2017. Krist v. The State of Georgia, Appeal Record, Dec 3, 1970. Retrieved online at www.Cite.Case.Law. "Gary Krist: The Einstein of Crime" by David Krajicek for www.TruTV.com Music Credits: "On My Way" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Outro Music by Chesare Gray MusicSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young man from a wealthy family is accused of committing two rapes while still in high school. Before he could be tried on these charges he'd flee the jurisdiction and disappear for eight years before finally being brought to justice. Resources: "Accused Rapist and His Flight Trouble Darien" by Elizabeth Neuffer for The New York Times, Aug 27, 1987 "From Ski Slopes of Europe to a Rape Trial" by George Judson for The New York Times, Jan 31, 1995. "Judgment Days" by Bill Hewitt for People.com, Nov 4, 1996. "Son of Darien" by Susan Cheever for The New York Times, April 27, 1997. Vanity Fair Confidential: Fugitive Son, based on reporting by Jennet Conant for Vanity Fair Magazine, first aired on Jan 24, 2017. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode I’ll share two separate cases of women who became part of a very small and exclusive club - women who made the FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List. Nazira Ugalde killed for financial gain and flees to South America. A young woman in Texas, Brenda Delgado, plans the murder of her romantic rival and disappears soon after being questioned by police. Resources: "New details emerge about Reno 'Black Widow', Behind the Crime Tape Blog, Nov. 27, 2012 "Fugitive Black Widow wanted in ex-husband's 2008 murder arrested i Peru", by Nina Golgowski for New York Daily News, Jun 5, 2014. "Mother of Hygenist at center of deadly love triangle sas her daughter is 'not the jealous type'", by Shekhar Bhatia for DailyMail.com, Sep 12, 2015. "Duo Behind Killing of Dentist in Murder-for-Hire Plot May be Linked to Drug Cartel", Chicago 5 News, Oct 23, 2015. "Brenda Delgado: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know", Heavy.com, Jun 7, 2019. "The State of Texas vs Brenda Delgado", Criminal Indictment, October 2, 2018. Podcast Recommendations: Crime Machine by Jack Luna and Sam Swenson. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/crime-machine/id1484881599 You can now find us on Stitcher Premium! https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/esther-ludlow/once-upon-a-crime See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A small time drug dealer kidnaps a rival's younger brother in order to settle a debt. The unfolding series of events would become one of California's most bizarre and tragic kidnapping cases on record and would even inspire an award-winning Hollywood movie. Resources: Jesse Katz for Los Angeles Magazine, "The Last Ride of Jesse James Hollywood", February 2002. Colby Frazier for Daily Sound, "Hollywood tells his story", June 24, 2009. Henry Chu and Solomon Moore for The Los Angeles Times, "Fugitive Kept Low Profile in Quiet Brazilian Beach Town", March 11, 2005. Chris Hansen for Dateline, "The Real Story Behind 'Alpha Dog', Jan 15, 2007. Tyler Hayden for The Santa Barbara Independent, "Meet Mrs. Jesse James Hollywood", Feb 4, 2014. Music Credits: Music from https://filmmusic.io "Floating Cities" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this episode I dig into my file of spooky stories to share some haunted happenings in the world of rock and roll. #themansionatlaurelcanyon #redhotchilipeppers #slipknot #hauntedhouses #bonscott #joshuatreeinn #halloween #ghoststories Resources: Corey Taylor, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven (Or How I Made Peace with the Paranormal and Stigmatized Zealots and Cynics in the Process), (Da Capo Press, 2013). Inside the Laurel Canyon Houdini Estate, www.wildabouthoudini.com, March 30, 2012. Funky Monks - Uncut Full Documentary (1st edit uncut w/bonus footage), YouTube, uploaded by MakingMonstersInk, April 10, 2013. https://youtu.be/z0tTJ4SakE0 Music credits from https://filmmusic.io - License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) "Halloween Theme 1" by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/) "Graveyard Shift" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) "Myst on the Moor" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) "Waltz of Treachery" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) "On My Way" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) "Life of Riley" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Bob Marley went from singing R&B harmonies in Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica to becoming a pioneer of reggae music, bringing his own blend of reggae, rock and ska music to a global audience. But as a popular figure in Jamaica, he was unwillingly thrust into the country’s political strife. The situation became so dangerous for Marley that on December 3, 1976, he became a target of assassins. Resources: Chris Salewicz, Bob Marley: The Untold Story, (New York: Faber and Faber), 2010. Biolgraphy.com, "Bob Marley", https://www.biography.com/musician/bob-marley Vivien Goldman, The Guardian, "Dread, beat and blood", July 16, 2006. Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, "Manufacturing Bob Marley", July 17, 2017 Mike Lanchin, BBC World Service, "I was there when gunmen tried to kill Bob Marley," December 4, 2016. Kief Davidson, Remastered: Who Shot the Sheriff?, Netflix, 2015. Music Credits: Music from https://filmmusic.io Sunny Rasta" by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) "Stealth Groover" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) "Dub Feral" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com) License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A free concert took place in northern California in December of 1969 featuring The Rolling Stones. It would descend into chaos due to poor planning, rampant drug use and the ill-advised use of the Hells Angels as concert security. Resources: Joel Selvin, Altamont: The Rolling Stones, the Hells Angels and the Inside Story of Rock's Darkest Day, (New York: Harper Collins), 2016. Lester Bangs, Reny Brown, John Burks, Sammy Egan, Michael Goodwin, Geoffrey Link, Greil Marcus, John Morthland, Eugene Schoenfeld, Patrick Thomas, and Langdon Winner, Rolling Stone Magazine, "The Rolling Stones Disaster at Altamont: Let It Bleed," January 21, 1970. Albert & David Maysles and Charlotte Zwerin, Gimme Shelter (1970), http://watchdocumentaries.com/rolling-stones-gimme-shelter/ Note: Meredith Hunter can be seen in the crowd at timestamp 1:18:50. The attack on him begins at 1:23:26. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A woman begins receiving harassing phone calls and letters from a stalker. It would take years to discover who the anonymous man was, but when he was finally identified a shocking secret would be revealed. Resources: Book: Little Girl Fly Away by Gene Stone Articles: 'Poet" makes life a living horror for Wichita Woman by Scott Kraft for AP in the Garden City Telegram, Jan 24, 1980 'Poet' strikes again and Wichita police still baffled by Scott Kraft for AP in Garden City Telegram, Feb 21, 1980 Harassed by an Unknown Author of Vicious Rhymes, Ruth Finley Confronts the Stranger Within Herself by Gene Stone for People Magazine, Sept. 5, 1988 Social Media: Once Upon a Time Facebook Group - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1730325570622505/ Patreon: www.Patreon.com/OnceUponaCrime See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A 7-year-old goes missing while on a family camping trip in 1973. Anonymous calls would be placed demanding a ransom, but, the trail would grow cold until exactly one year later when the kidnapper would call her mother to brag about taking her daughter. Resources: Documentary: The FBI Files, "Dark Woods", Season 5, Episode 13. Articles: Bible Verse May Have Spurred Meirhofer, The Daily Interlake, October 4, 1974 Small Town Terror by Joseph MacNamara for The New York Daily News, December 22, 1994 The Quality of Mercy by Antoinette Martin for The Detroit Free Press, August 21, 1994 Not Another Victim by Amy Linn for The Missoula Independent, November 5, 2015 Music Credits: Music from https://filmmusic.io"Floating Cities" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Links: Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime CrimeCon CrowdSolve - https://www.crimecon.com/crowdsolve-seattleSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In a small French village, a little boy goes missing and the family receives anonymous letters from a person taking responsibility who is dubbed "The Crow". This strange case could be considered the Jon Benet Ramsey case of France. Resources: Articles: The Long Shadow of the Crow by Scott Kraft for The Los Angeles Times, December 9, 1993 Gregory by Anthony Davis for CrimeMagazine.com, April 30, 2009 The Murder of Little Gregory: The unsolved case that haunted France by John Henley for The Guardian, August 28, 2017 Links: Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime episode: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-episode-lets-taco-bout-crime-junkie-plagiarism/id1452118167?i=1000447888185 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A young girl goes missing in South Carolina in 1985. Soon after, her kidnapper would begin calling her family - but not to make demands for her safe return, but only to cruelly taunt them. This is the first chapter in the series "Taunting Terrors". Resources: Book: Murder in the Midlands: Larry Gene Bell and the 28 Days of Terror that Shook South Carolina by Rita Y. Shuler Articles: South Carolina serial killer forced girl to write a farewell note and tormented his victims' families after sick spree in mid-80s by Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, November 15, 2014 Left Behind: Survivors of Capital Crimes Don't want the Victims to be Forgotten by Becky Beane for PFM.org Court Records: United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. Larry Gene Bell v. Parker Evatt, Commissioner, South Carolina Department of Corrections, T. Travis Medlock, Attorney General, State of South Carolina, December 18, 1995 Social Media: Twitter - @uponacrime Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime Facebook and Instagram @onceuponacrimepod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A horror film franchise is seemingly cursed when it experiences tragedies including hauntings, serious accidents, fatal illness and murder. Resources: https://www.ranker.com/list/victims-of-the-poltergeist-curse/melissa-brinks https://www.grunge.com/35883/bizarre-things-happened-set-poltergeist/ http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2015/12/22/the-shocking-history-of-the-poltergeist-curse/ http://www.iconsoffright.com/IV_Oliver.htm https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/24/nyregion/crash-at-la-guardia-survivors-of-mangled-plane-recall-fire-water-terror.html http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/143731%7C0/Heather-O-Rourke/ https://www.statesman.com/article/20110202/NEWS/302029646See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

From 1922 to the 1940s over 40 child actors would be cast in a popular series of short films and many of them would later fall victim to strange accidents, illnesses, drug addiction, financial hardship, murder and suicide. This is The Curse of The Little Rascals. Resources: Television Episode: E! True Hollywood Story: Curse of the Little Rascals Alfalfa's Mysterious Death - www.tvparty.com Convicted killer of "Little Rascal" dies - AP, The Monitor, McAllen, Texas, July 19, 2014See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Every manifestation of the Man of Steel - comic books, television shows and films - has been marked by bad blood, shattered careers, tragic accidents and even murder. This is the Curse of Superman. Resources: George Reeves Revealed: An Inside Look at the Life and Tragic Death of Television's First Superman by Ed Gross for CloserWeekly.com, Feb. 27, 2019 Who Killed Superman? TheGuardian.com, Nov. 17, 2006See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Three child actors become stars after being cast in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes in 1978. But, all three would go on to live troubled adult lives including drug addiction, legal troubles and untimely death. These are the stories of Todd Bridges, Dana Plato and Gary Coleman. Resources: The Tragic Stars of Different Strokes, People Magazine, March 25, 1991 Gary Coleman dies at 42; child star of hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes by Dennis McClellan for The Los Angeles Times, May 29, 2010. The Overdose Death of Dana Plato by Frank Wilkins for ReelReviews.com. Todd Bridges book: Killing Wills: From Diff'rent Strokes to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted, Simon and Schuster, 2010. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Susan Polk enters into a relationship with her therapist when she is a young girl. Years later, after 20 years of marriage, she will claim she has been abused by her husband for decades. After he is found dead in their guest house the question would be, was this a case of self-defense or a cold-blooded murder? Resources: Court record: The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Susan Mae Polk, Defendant and Applellant, Contra Costa County Super. Ct. No. 031668-7, December 13, 2010 Articles: A California Murder Raises Troubling Issues by Carol Pogash for The New York Times, September 18, 2005 Obituary of Dr. F. Felix Polk, SFGate.com, November 5, 2002. Slaying rips apart a family in Orinda by Jason Dearen for Bay Area News Group, October 10, 2005. Convicted Orinda killer Susan Polk denied parole, kicked out of hearing midway through by Nate Gartrell for Bay Area News Group, July 17, 2019. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A mother seeks help for her special needs child, but a church prayer service ends tragically. Several resources were used in the research for this episode including: Book: True Stories of Law and Order by Kevin Dwyer and Jure Fiorillo Articles: Death by Exorcism by David Krajicek for the New York Daily News, October 8, 2006 Sponsor: Native Deodorants - www.nativedeodorant.com - Use promo code ONCE for 20% off your first purchase. Subscribe to "Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime" On iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-taco-bout-true-crime/id1452118167 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k3cQGC0unJGSMhlEZRiWG?si=dLyaqKydRDi_SA3wYkhWnw On Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=379086 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the second chapter of the series "Deadly Therapy" a young girl who grows up in an unstable home is placed up for adoption. Her adoptive mother finds her behavior problematic and has her undergo a new and controversial therapy - with tragic results. Resources" Her Name was Candace by Carla Crowder and Peggy Lowe for Denver Rocky Mountain News, Oct. 29, 2000 https://culteducation.com/group/1115-rebirthing/17893-her-name-was-candace.html Seeking Child’s Love, A Child’s Life is Lost by Barry Siegel for the Los Angeles Times, Feb. 4, 2001 https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-04-mn-21072-story.html Links from this episode: www.singleparentadvocate.org www.doorofhope.us www.adoptuskids.org www.togetherwerise.org https://store.23skidoovintage.com https://www.facebook.com/events/493288214744272/See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this month's series, "Deadly Therapy", I’ll detail cases of people who sought help from experts, but rather than receiving healing and transformation, their journeys came to an abrupt and deadly end. In this first chapter, you’ll hear how James, Arthur Ray, a self-described success coach and guru required his followers to perform increasingly more extreme mental and physical challenges all in the pursuit of “enlightenment” with deadly results. Resources: Articles: The Death Dealer by Matt Stroud in The Verge. Arizona Sweat Lodge: The Inside Story of James Ray's Fatal Retreat by Miguel Sancho and Kimberley Brown for ABC News. Blogs: https://spiritualityisnoexcuse.wordpress.com/james-rays-first-victim-colleen-conaway/ Films: Enlighten Us: The Rise and Fall of James Arthur Ray (2016) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Identical twin sisters, Sunny and Gina Han were lifelong rivals. One sister's jealousy would lead her to plot her twin's murder. Resources: Court Transcripts: People v. Han, Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division 3, California, Feb. 25, 2000 Opposition of Parole letter from Orange County District Attorney's Office to Office of Governor Jerry Brown, November 20, 2017. Articles: 'Evil Twin' Granted Parole Despite DA's Objections by Nathan Solis for Courthousenews.com, June 21, 2018. Links: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime www.truecrimepodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In this bonus episode, I interview Jan Broberg and Skye Borgman about their documentary film "Abducted in Plain Sight" LIVE at CrimeCon 2019 in New Orleans. #AbductedinPlainSight #truecrimedocumentary #CrimeCon2019 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this bonus episode I take you along with me to CrimeCon 2019 in New Orleans and my travels to New York City and Toronto for the Toronto True Crime Film Festival. #CrimeCon #NewOrleans #TorontoTrueCrimeFilmFestival #truecrimedocumentaries #NewYorkCity www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

I continue the story of the Gibbons Sisters - twins who were locked in a battle their entire lives. Neither believed they could survive without the other, but controlled each other so completely they only spoke to or associated with one another. When they reached adolescence, they knew they had to find some way to break out of this destructive twin bond or both would perish. Their desperation lead them to commit increasingly antisocial and criminal acts. This is part two of "The Silent Twins". Resources: Marjorie Wallace, The Silent Twins, (London, Vintage Books 1998). BBC: Inside Story, The Silent Twin: Without my Shadow. YouTube, Uploaded by GottaFindPants, Nov 20, 2017. https://youtu.be/98WtP1qC61s Links: Website: www.truecrimepodcast.com Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepodSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

June and Jennifer Gibbons were identical twins who, from a very young age, were so bonded to one another that they created their own “twin language” to communicate speaking only to one another. They rejected any other relationships including their own parents and siblings. Later, they would construct a fantasy world that only they inhabited. This lead to more serious anti-social behavior that resulted in a shocking crime spree. Resources: Marjorie Wallace, The Silent Twins, (London, Vintage Books 1998). BBC: Inside Story, The Silent Twin: Without my Shadow. YouTube, Uploaded by GottaFindPants, Nov 20, 2017. https://youtu.be/98WtP1qC61s Music credits: Music from https://filmmusic.io: "Reflections" by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/) Licence: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"Lost and Found" was the very first series of Once Upon a Crime in June, 2016. In that series I covered the story of three young women who were held captive and abused by Ariel Castro for over a decade. In this bonus episode we give you an update about these survivors - Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina De Jesus. Links: Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com CrimeCon: www.CrimeCon.com - Use offer code ONCE19 for 10% off your registration. Toronto True Crime Film Festival: www.torontotruecrimefilmfestival.com Our Social Media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod Click here to join our Facebook group. Twitter: www.twitter.com/uponacrime www.twitter.com/tacoboutcrime Instagram: www.instagram.com/onceuponacrimepod See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A mother takes justice into her own hands in Jamestown, California in 1993 when she discovers her son has been abused by a child molester. Some called her a hero, others denounced her actions as vigilantism. This is Chapter 2 of "Disorder in the Court". Resources: The Nesler Family's Tragic Past - www.oprah.com Pushed Over Edge, Mother Chose Own Brand of Justice by Mark Arak, Times Staff Writer, April 11, 1993. William Nesler Still a Fugitive by Lloyd Vries for CBS News, July 29, 2004. Ellie Nesler's Family Buries their Hero in Angels Camp, by John Holland in The Modesto Bee, January 2, 2009. Links: www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod www.truecrimepodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.