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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
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 used in the research for this episode:
"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.
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.
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
www.CrimeCon.com - Use offer code ONCE2020 for 10% off your registration.
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
On this year-end wrap up episode, I answer listener questions and share updates on cases I've covered in past episodes.
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.
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.
You can now find us on Stitcher Premium! https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/esther-ludlow/once-upon-a-crime
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.
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.
Several resources were used in the research for this episode including:
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
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?
Several resources were used in the research of this case including:
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.
Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime
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
Subscribe to "Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime"
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On Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=379086
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.
Several resources were used to research this episode including:
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:
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.
Several resources were used in the research for this episode including:
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)
Identical twin sisters, Sunny and Gina Han were lifelong rivals. One sister's jealousy would lead her to plot her twin's murder.
Several sources were used in the research for this episode including:
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.
www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime
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
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
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".
Several resources were used in the research for this episode including:
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/onceuponacrimepod
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.
Several resources were used in the research for this episode including:
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/)
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".
Several resource materials were used for this episode including:
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
A summer ball game descends into chaos when a promotional event goes seriously awry. This is the last chapter in the series "Bad Sports" recounting the Cleveland Indians' "Ten Cent Beer Night" riot.
Thanks to guest voice actors Lorne and Michael from The True Crime Guys podcast. www.truecrimeguys.com
Some of the resources used in this episode include:
Articles: The Night Beer and Violence Bubbled Over in Cleveland by Paul Jackson on ESPN.com
Forty Years Ago, 10-cent Beer Makes Memories by Anthony Castrovince on MLB.com
Video: Ten Cent Beer Night - Weird History on YouTube.com
Other links:
Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com
Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime
A friendly soccer game on a dusty field in Brazil turns into a horrific act of violence.
Resources:
"Football Hooliganism" - a Wikipedia listing of instances of violence at soccer matches.
Ray and Sally McNeil were a married couple who were both accomplished athletes in the sport of professional bodybuilding. But, a combination of infidelity, abuse and anabolic steroid use would lead to a final, bloody confrontation on Valentine’s Day, 1995.
Several resources were used in the research for this episode including:
Court Records:
McNeil v. Middleton, United States Court of Appeals, Ninth Circuit, Submitted April 8, 2003, Filed Sept 22, 2003.
Articles:
Sally McNeil...This is My Story by Leigh Penman for RXMuscle.com, Nov 4, 2009
The Sally-Ray McNeil Murder by Peter McGough for MuscularDevelopment.com, Feb 12, 2015.
Once Upon a Crime website: www.truecrimepodcast.com
This month I'll be sharing stories of outrageous crimes that occurred at sporting events or by sports figures.
First up, a neighborhood ice rink, a pee-wee hockey pick-up game and some unsportsmanlike conduct leads to a confrontation between parents that ends with tragic results.
A man starts having vivid memories of a violent crime he believes he may have committed during an alcoholic blackout.
Several resources were used in the research for this episode including:
Kevin Dwyer and Jure Fiiorillo, True Stories of Law & Order (New York: Berkley Boulevard Books), 74-82.
Cox v. Miller, 2nd Circuit Court of Appeals Decision, retrieved from www.Justia.com, July 17, 2002.
David Goldnamn Biography, "AA vs DA: The Case of Paul Cox," March 2003, 21.
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