Unsolved Murders: True Crime Stories

There was only one suspect in Helen Jewett's brutal murder: her on-again, off-again boyfriend, Richard. But as the story of Jewett's death spread through the tabloids, Richard was treated less like a killer, and more like a celebrity. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1836, a 23-year-old sex worker named Helen Jewett was found dead in bed at her upscale Manhattan brothel. Once the city's tabloids got a hold of the scandalous details, the case quickly became one of the most divisive in 19th century America. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A mysterious gunman, a music exec with mob ties, suspiciously timed life insurance policies… The LAPD may have ruled Bobby’s death a suicide, but evidence pointed overwhelmingly to foul play. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In July 1966, Bobby Fuller — the musician who popularized “I Fought The Law” and was dubbed “The Rock and Roll King of the Southwest” — wanted out of his band, and out of his contract. Then he was found dead in his car, his body bruised, bloodied, and doused in gasoline. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1948, the investigation into Stanley Skridla and Mary Jane Reed's deaths came to a stand-still. Many suspected a member of the Sheriff's department of having committed the murders, but proof of his guilt would be a difficult thing to come by. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A gruesome double murder in 1948 shocked a small town in Illinois. And when the prime suspect emerged, the case turned scandalous. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Texas A&M senior Charles Sessums was killed during a 1926 football game against Baylor University, the two schools struggled to find his murderer—but someone was trying to sabotage the investigation. And the cover-up seemed to go all the way up to the mayor’s office. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A college football rivalry between Texas A&M and Baylor University reached a climax in 1926, when a riot broke out during halftime and left one college senior dead. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In early 1905, Hawaiian police opened—and quickly closed—an investigation into Jane Stanford’s mysterious death. A century later, an amateur sleuth tried to crack the case, uncovering university scandals, possible motives for murder, and a misinformation campaign led by the president of Stanford University himself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She became one of the most influential people in California when she co-founded Stanford University in 1891. Jane Stanford was widely beloved for her forward-thinking, liberal ideals—but she also earned a few enemies. And when she was murdered in 1905, one question sent shockwaves through California: Who disagreed with Jane enough to kill her? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once the princes disappeared, rumors and theories spread about who killed them—or if they were really dead at all. None of the speculation mattered to their uncle, Richard III, though. With the boys gone, he could finally claim the throne. But the new king soon realized that holding onto power would not be so easy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1483, two princes got caught in the center of a bloody war for the throne of England—and became one of the biggest murder mysteries in British history. After the princes' uncle realized they were the only thing standing between him and his life-long quest for the crown, he locked them in the Tower of London. What happened next has remained a mystery for hundreds of years. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The search for Sister Cathy’s murderer went cold until the 1990s, when a former student recovered traumatic memories she’d repressed. Their disturbing content suggested Cathy was murdered as part of a cover-up meant to protect a predatory priest. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On January 3, 1970, the body of a young teaching nun was found in a Baltimore suburb. Cathy Cesnik was a devout Catholic and beloved by her students… But in the months before her murder, she’d left her teaching job and hung up her habit. Was her strange behavior just a coincidence—or a clue? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

While investigating the murder of colleague Dale Kearney, prohibition agent Raymond Sutton vanished on August 28, 1930. Despite strong leads for both of their murders, misfortune, missteps, and the sobering end to prohibition brought their investigations to ruin. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On July 6, 1930, prohibition agent Dale Kearney was shot and killed in the town of Aguilar. He was the first Colorado federal agent to be killed in the line of duty. The investigation would lead to the mysterious disappearance and murder of another dry agent. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Saskatoon police failed to find a suspect in the murder of 23-year-old Alexandra Wiwcharuk, the case went cold. Her friends and family took the investigation into their own hands, and started to suspect the police knew more than they let on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On May 18, 1962, Canadian beauty queen Alexandra Wiwcharuk went for a walk… and never returned. Her body was found 13 days later, buried in a shallow grave just blocks from her home. Local police had no idea where to look for a killer—and the case was already two weeks old. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Once Margaret Hossack was arrested for the alleged murder of her abusive husband, her court case became famous across Iowa. Her community decided she was guilty even before the trial began. But her case wasn’t nearly as clear-cut as the prosecution suggested. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1900, an Iowa farmer was found hacked to death in bed next to his wife, Margaret. She swore she had slept through the entire attack… But when her husband’s history of violence was revealed, the town turned Margaret’s own pleas for help against her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After eight-year-old Buddy Schumacher went missing in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin in the summer of 1925, his dead body was found beaten and gagged in the woods. Many suspected the local vagrants—but the investigation went through multiple suspects, and even a couple confessions, only to be left wide open. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On July 24th, 1925, eight-year-old Buddy Schumacher went missing from his home in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. The family searched for months, and the disappearance became a local media sensation. In September, his dead body was finally discovered: and the hunt for his killer was on. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 31 BCE, Cleopatra and Mark Antony’s torrid union is tested when Roman leader Octavian declares war against Cleopatra. As Roman troops storm the shores of Egypt, Cleopatra fights against forces that will ultimately lead to her mysterious death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

She became the queen of Egypt in 51 BCE, and ignited a worldwide scandal when her fling with Roman leader Julius Caesar produced a child. But Cleopatra’s next great love affair with Caesar’s successor Mark Antony was actually the most meaningful relationship in her life—and led to her untimely demise. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

By 1911, a serial killer dubbed the “Atlanta Ripper” had killed so many African American women, even the white-owned newspapers and white-controlled police department were forced to take notice. Yet, while they tried to catch the elusive killer, they would find themselves woefully unprepared to stop his wicked ways. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the early 1900s, the city of Atlanta was heavily segregated and embroiled in racial tension. Things would only get worse for the black citizens of Atlanta when a mysterious terror began cutting down black women and leaving their corpses in the streets. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

For years after their murder in April 1938, El Paso Sheriff Chris Fox doggedly investigated the double homicide of Hazel and Nancy Frome. As he raced against time, he came tantalizingly close to solving the case by uncovering a web of blackmail, betrayal, and Nazi espionage. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In April 1938, the nation was shocked by the news that Hazel Frome and her daughter, Nancy—two innocent, beautiful Bay Area socialites—had turned up dead in a ditch outside of El Paso. Even more shocking, there were signs that the women had been tortured before their deaths. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the final installment of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1842 short story. Every day this week, we have released an episode of our adaptation, which is considered to be one of the first murder mysteries to feature details from a real crime. Part Five: The absence of handkerchiefs at the crime scene continue to generate debate, and theories surrounding the involvement of a gang are examined... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This is the penultimate installment of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1842 short story. Every day this week, we are releasing an episode of our adaptation, which is considered to be one of the first murder mysteries to feature details from a real crime. Part Four: Detective C. Auguste Dupin uses several outwardly-unrelated local newspaper clippings to allege various versions of events the night of Marie’s death and the month preceding... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Thanks again for joining us! Every day this week, we are releasing an episode of our adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1842 short story, which is considered to be one of the first murder mysteries to feature details from a real crime. Part Three: Detective C. Auguste Dupin criticizes three Parisian newspapers over their initial coverage of the crime, and continues his effort to get closer to the truth... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Welcome back! Every day this week, we are releasing an episode of our adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1842 short story, which is considered to be one of the first murder mysteries to feature details from a real crime. Part Two: New physical evidence is discovered contradicting local newspapers’ recent reporting... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Every day this week, we are releasing an episode of our adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s 1842 short story, which is considered to be one of the first murder mysteries to feature details from a real crime. Part One: Bohemian detective C. Auguste Dupin and his assistant, our unnamed narrator, receive a puzzling request from the Parisian police... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1838, the city of London was shocked by the gruesome killing of famous sex worker Eliza Grimwood. The investigation looked into her mysterious final client and her live-in boyfriend, but ultimately, the detectives would never discover who was responsible for the death of Eliza. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

We are thrilled to bring you a brand new episode of Unsolved Murders today and for the foreseeable future. We thank you for your patience during this unprecedented time. On May 27th, 1838, one of London's most popular courtesans, Eliza Grimwood, was brutally murdered in her own bedroom. She lived with four other people, yet none had noticed her death until the next morning—casting the whole house with suspicion. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you enjoy the true stories told in Unsolved Murders, check out this episode from our series Female Criminals: After heiress Marjorie Congdon dodged prison time in 1977, she remarried and began to build a new life. But mysterious deaths continued to plague Marjorie, who would become a suspect in numerous murders and arsons for decades. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

If you enjoy the true stories told in Unsolved Murders, check out this episode from our series Female Criminals: Although she was adopted in 1932, Marjorie Congdon still suffered. Eventually she was diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. Her heiress mother, afraid of scandal, couldn't accept the diagnosis—and Marjorie was never treated. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1933, Alvira Johnson and her seven children were killed in a rapid blaze that burned down their Minnesota home. The family's patriarch, Albin Johnson, was strangely missing, and the police desperately searched for him as their number one suspect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On April 10th, 1933, the small town of Harris, Minnesota was shocked to see the Johnson family's farmhouse burning down. They were horrified to discover that Alvira Johnson and her seven children all perished in the blaze. But a peculiar absence made some suspect that this fire was not an accident after all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It was New Year's Eve 1997 in the Marlborough Sounds of New Zealand when 17-year-old Olivia Hope and 21-year-old Ben Smart enjoyed a long night of partying. When friends couldn't locate the pair the following day, they assumed the two may have gone off on their own. But after days without contact, it became evident that something was very wrong. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Due to the unfortunate spread of COVID-19, Parcast has decided to halt recording for the time-being. This is a precautionary measure taken to ensure the safety of our hosts and staff. In the meantime, we're excited to share one of our classic episodes that we know you'll enjoy! It sounds like a traditional campfire story: Four teenagers camp along the shore of Finland’s Lake Bodom in July of 1960. But their weekend of fun turns dark when an unknown murderer commits a triple homicide—leaving only one survivor. This isn’t just a scary story…it’s real. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In late 1978, four teens from Indiana were abducted from the Burger Chef restaurant where they worked—and murdered later that same night. The investigation into their deaths would turn up many suspects, but disappointingly few answers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On November 17th, 1978, four teens were working at the Burger Chef fast food restaurant in Speedway, Indiana. As they were closing up the restaurant, an unknown assailant abducted them at gunpoint. Their corpses would later be found in a forest the next town over. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the early morning hours of October 27th, 1961, 19-year-old student Betty Gail Brown went missing on her college campus. Her disappearance led to a campus wide-search, until she was eventually found in her car, strangled by her own bra. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a Washington D.C. intern disappeared in May 2001, her parents learned she was having a secret affair with a powerful politician. The case erupted into a nationwide scandal, but investigators were focused on all the wrong leads. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1560, scandal hits young Queen Elizabeth when the wife of her rumored paramour, Lord Robert Dudley, is found mysteriously dead from a fall. To this day, nobody can determine the true cause of her death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On the last Sunday of every month, Parcast Rewind replays a classic episode of Unsolved Murders that you might have missed! Josslyn Hay was a British aristocrat who moved with his wife, Lady Idina Sackville, to Africa. There, they were part of the “Happy Valley Set,” a group of wealthy expats who lived to drink alcohol, do drugs and have sex. So when Hay was found miles from his home, dead of a gunshot wound, virtually everybody in their social circle was a suspect. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1560, young Queen Elizabeth I's relationship with Lord Robert Dudley had one complication: his wife. Rumors that the two were plotting to poison her came to an abrupt end—when she was discovered dead from a fall. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1968, a state trooper found the brutalized body of a young school teacher named Irene Izak on the side of the road. The investigation into her death would be hampered by weather, timing, and incompetence. But things became truly dark when the only evidence seemed to point to the state trooper who had found her in the first place. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On a lonely night in 1968, a young French teacher named Irene Izak was driving north, to Canada, for a job interview. The hopeful trip would take a turn for the worst, as her body was discovered the next morning—lying dead in a ditch. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices