Once Upon a Crime

This month I’ll be detailing true crime cases that involved rising stars who made names for themselves in social media.

In this week’s episode, Lorena joins me to discuss another true crime that resulted from a love triangle. Betty Gore was brutally murdered with an axe in the summer of 1980 in her small town of Wylie, Texas.

In this episode, two people in committed relationships become infatuated with one another.

On June 10th, 2021, an elderly woman vanished without a trace from her own home in Wembley, London.

We’re celebrating our 7th anniversary of the podcast by bringing you 7 case updates of crimes we’ve covered since 2016. Thank you all so much for making this crazy true crime ride possible!

In this series, I share true crime cases that resulted in women being sentenced to Death Row. In 2009, a woman victimized by a childhood of abuse and violence becomes immersed in anti-immigrant vigilante groups.

This Mother’s Day, join Shane Waters on a chilling adventure featuring 14 podcasters (including Once Upon A Crime) as they share sinister stories of motherhood. Mother’s Day is typically a time to honor the love and sacrifices of mothers, but today we’ll be exploring the twisted tales that lurk behind the shadows.

This Mother’s Day, join Shane Waters on a chilling adventure featuring 14 podcasters (including Once Upon A Crime) as they share sinister stories of motherhood. Mother’s Day is typically a time to honor the love and sacrifices of mothers, but today we’ll be exploring the twisted tales that lurk behind the shadows.

On the night of August 2, 2006, a call comes in to 911 to report a man has been stabbed by an intruder at a Washington D.C. home. First responders arrive to find attorney Robert Wone already dead in the guest room. With little blood at the scene and no signs of struggle or robbery, suspicions heighten after police interview the three housemates. Believing the men know more than they are revealing, the investigation soon uncovers more questions than answers.

In 1995, a troubled young woman, jealous of one of her peers, enlists the help of two others to eliminate her enemy. But when the full and horrifying details of the plan emerge, the public is aghast at how a young woman could be capable of such depravity.

On our final collaborative episode for the series “Fool Me Once,” Leroy and I share true stories about criminals who were very bad at their jobs.

We continue our “April Fools” series with a fun game for all you Metalheads! Play along as I try to stump Leroy Luna, host of Excuse Me, That’s Illegal, as he tries to guess I’m quoting serial killers or lyrics from metal songs.

We’re celebrating April, the month of “April Fools” by having a little fun with true crime. The best person I know to help me with this is my friend and fellow podcaster Leroy Luna, host of Excuse Me, That’s Illegal. Leroy will be my co-host on April’s episodes, so come and join us for true crime stories and quizzes.

A young couple out for a leisurely day at the lake find themselves faced with one of the most infamous killers of the 20th century. Bryan Hartnell and Cecelia Shepard were victims of a brutal attack by a hooded man who called himself “The Zodiac.”

This month I’m sharing cases of people who, against all odds, survived some of the worst killers in modern history. In this week’s story, a teenage girl is picked up by a seemingly ordinary couple and then spends two days trapped in a nightmare.

In this month’s episodes I’ll tell you stories of people who were fortunate enough to survive horrifying experiences.  In this episode, a family dream vacation turns into a nightmare on the sea.

In this second part of a two-part episode, in their quest to be transformed into vampires, Daniel and Manuela Ruda conclude that the only way to prove their loyalty to Satan is by performing a human sacrifice.

Daniel Ruda, a 26-year-old, self-described “black vampire” immersed himself in Germany’s goth and death metal scene as an outlet for his dark proclivities. In the year 2000, he was ready to find his soulmate or, as he put it, his “princess of darkness” and placed a singles ad in a German black-metal magazine. 23-year-old Manuela Bartel answered his ad and the two soon became inseparable.

I’m pleased to have Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Jake Halpern, back with me again to discuss a new case he investigated for his podcast “Deep Cover”. Deep Cover, a Pushkin podcast, is all about people who lead double lives.

We continue the story of Barbora Skrlova from where we left of last week. In part two, you’ll learn all the details of the bizarre unfolding of events in the Mauerova home. I’ll conclude by telling you the unbelievable tale of how Barbora Skrlova almost escaped all responsibility for her part in this horrendous abuse case.

For our first series of 2023, we’ll do a deep dive into a case that has so many bizarre twists and turns a Hollywood horror movie was later based on it. In this first part of a 2-part series, a child who has been placed in a children’s home after allegations of abuse goes missing.

In 2008, Travis Alexander was brutally murdered in his home in Mesa, Arizona. His ex-girlfriend, Jodi Arias, was convicted of the slaying and was later sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

In this last of our special holiday episodes, Esther and Lorena discuss the Netflix documentary “I Am Vanessa Guillen" with Margot, host of the podcast Military Murder.

In this special episode Esther and Lorena talk with Bob Ruff, host of the podcasts Truth and Justice and True Crime Binge. They discuss the Netflix documentary series "Untold: The Girlfriend Who Didn’t Exist" that details one of the most high-profile incidents of catfishing on record.

In this special holiday episode Esther and Lorena discuss the Netflix series "The Watcher" with Tim and Lance from Crawlspace Podcast. We compare and contrast this fictionalized version of the true mystery "The Watcher House". In 2014, Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased a home in New Jersey.

For many people around the world, ringing in the new year brings with it the promise of new hope, a fresh start, and renewed possibilities. But each year of Ricky Javon Gray’s short life brought only violence, brutality, and death ending in a shocking murder spree over New Year’s weekend 2006.

On Christmas Eve, 1985 a grim discovery was made on a frozen field outside of Chester, Nebraska. The body of a child had been abandoned. The mystery of who the anonymous child who locals dubbed “Little Boy Blue” would take two years to solve.

A young mother goes missing after a Thankgiving Day shopping trip in 2018. After meticulous detective work on the part of several law enforcement agencies answers come to light.

In today’s episode, I’ll share three strange and intriguing true crime cases currently in the news - a suspected serial killer hunting for victims in a small California town, a gruesome discovery on a local walking trail, and a bizarre discovery unearthed in a San Francisco Bay Area mansion’s back garden.

A Nightmare Before Halloween, Part 2 …1 campfire… …1 dark forest… …31 bone-chilling stories… …Will YOU survive the night?

…1 campfire… …1 dark forest… …31 bone-chilling stories… …Will YOU survive the night?

N.W.A. became one of the most influential hip-hop artists of all time and became one of the first rap groups to reach platinum status with their debut album Straight Outta Compton.

Robert Smith formed the band The Cure with his schoolmates when he was still in middle school. They found early success and soon began touring around the world.

In our first “Rocktober” episode of the month I’ll tell you the story of the Bad Boy of Rock and Roll - Axl Rose of Guns N’ Roses. In July of 1991, Guns N’ Roses was on its 28-month “Use Your Illusion” tour when the lead singer got into a fight with a fan kicking off a 3-hour riot in St. Louis, Missouri.

In this episode, I’ll cover a case that sparked a national debate and shone a spotlight on discrepancies in the justice system regarding the treatment and rights of survivors of sexual assault. Brock Turner was a first-year student at Stanford University when he was accused of sexually assaulting a young woman.

In this bonus episode I talk to Helen Molesworth, writer and art curator, about the story of Ana Mendieta, a Cuban-born artist who was just gaining recognition for her genre-bending performance art when she fell 34 stories to her death from an apartment building in New York City. Her husband, Carl Andre, was a famous sculptor who expressed jealousy at the attention his much younger wife was receiving. Did his anger spill over into homicide on that September day in 1985 or was Ana’s death a result of suicide?

In this episode I’ll tell you about a case that got worldwide media attention due to the bizarre circumstances, the heinous nature of the crime, and the venue at which it occurred - a high school prom.

A student residing with three roommates on an Indiana college campus finds herself mired in a tense living situation. An unusual set of circumstances soon turns deadly.

Kitty LeRoy was a sharpshooter, cardsharp, dancer, and entrepreneur. She became a well-known entertainer in the Old West and ran with legends like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock.

In 1819, Lavinia Fisher and her husband John were accused poisoning and murdering multiple guests of their Charleston, South Carolina inn and sentenced to hang. But were the Fishers really serial killers or is the legend simply a tall tale concocted to entertain tourists?

In this series we’ll step back in history to learn about some of the history’s first female outlaws. In this episode I’ll tell you about Sally Skull, ranch owner, horse trader, fandango dancer, and gunslinger.

A young girl leaves her hometown of Ohio for the Big Apple with her heart set on a career as a Broadway dancer. Instead, she meets a young man who becomes obsessed with controlling her life.

This week’s episode details a murder that, at first glance, appears to be a cut-and-dried case of a lover’s quarrel turned deadly. Upon investigation, it is discovered to be a much more thought-out and sinister plan. When authorities uncover the real killer he turns out to be an actor who attempted to parlay his skills as a performer to pull off “the perfect crime”.

In this month’s series “Final Curtain Call” a film or theater actor is connected to a sensational crime.

Harry Uzoka was a rising star who’d broken into the world of high-end modeling against all odds. But another model envious of his success began a rivalry which lead to a violent showdown that no one saw coming.

In light of the ongoing tragedies of frequent mass shootings in America, I’ve decided to make this week’s episode one of hope and heroism. I

In 1996, the longest and most expensive investigation in the FBI’s history was successfully solved when Theodore Kaczynski was identified as “The Unabomber” 18 years after he began building and planting bombs at various location

Christopher Wilder posed as a photographer to lure beautiful young women with the promise of modeling work.

A young woman who creates a YouTube channel to advocate for animal rights and veganism becomes disgruntled with the social media platform when she feels she is being targeted for discrimination.

In this episode, a young man who dubs himself “Mr. Anime” gains a large following as a critic and reviewer on YouTube..

This week I have a special episode diving into the topic of the psychology of mass killers.  What prompts someone to commit mass murder against random strangers? How did Columbine become a cultural touchstone that inspired others to plan and execute their own mass shooting sprees?

A young couple on a quest for internet fame record a prank for their YouTube channel with tragic results.

This is part 2 of a 2-part- episode.  As we continue the story, Shelly and Dave Knotek have isolated themselves, their three daughters, nephew, and a boarder, Kathy Loreno, in their Ramond, Washington home.

Shelly Knotek has been called “America’s Most Evil Mom”.  She abused, tortured, and humiliated her children and partners, but her control and abuse went beyond her own family members.  One-by-one people she took into her home as boarders also found themselves trapped and unable to escape her abuse.   This is part one of a two-part episode.  To get Part 2 early and ad free, become a Patreon member of Once Upon a Crime at www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime.  Resources:  If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family Secrets, and the Unbreakable Bond of Sisterhood - Gregg Olsen https://murderpedia.org/female.K/k/knotek-michelle.htm https://www.the-sun.com/lifestyle/876416/shelly-knotek-abuse-daughters-serial-killer/ https://casetext.com/case/state-v-knotek Snapped: Season 10, Episode 19 Couple Held in Woman’s 1994 Disappearancehttps://apnews.com/article/1ba1a2ceca7d8bbbc82506c3b1b488b5 Links: CrimeCon - www.crimecon.com - use offer code ONCEUPON22 for 10% off your registration Fruit Loops ...

In this month’s series, we’ll take a look at the fascinating phenomenon of narcissistic family cults - a family unit that exhibits all the hallmarks of a traditional cult group but is led by a narcissistic family member - usually a parent.

A young man’s racist ideology lead him to take the lives of 51 people and injure dozens more all while recording and uploading a video of the murders to Facebook Live.     Resources:  Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques on 15 March 2019. https://christchurchattack.royalcommission.nz  “Massacre Suspect Traveled the World but Lived on the Internet” by David D. Kirkpatrick for The New York Times, March 15, 2019.  “NZ gunman to stay silent at sentencing after families bring court to tears” by Nick Perry for The Times of Israel, 26 August 2020.  “The Christchurch shooting was streamed lived, but think twice about watching it” by Colleen Murrelll for abc.net.au, Mar 15, 2019.  “Family of alleged gunman apologises to Christchurch victims” by Padraig Collins for The Irish Times, Mar 17, 2109.    Links:  CrimeCon - www.crimecon.com  www.crimecon.co.uk - Use discount code ONCEUPON22 for 10% off your registration. Our website - www.truecrime...

A young man who identifies with as an Incel carries out a mass shooting at an Arizona mall while livestreaming it via Snapchat. Special thanks to Dr. Sohom Das for lending his expertise in this episode. Check out his YouTube Channel A Psych for Sore Minds for more insights into the criminal mind and the psychology of true crime!  https://www.youtube.com/c/APsychForSoreMinds Resources:  “Dark Side: The Westgate Shooting” by Erica Stapleton for News 12 Phoenix, Feb 18, 2021.  “‘God had such mercy’: Mother of 19-year-old Westgate shooting victim speaks about son’s recovery” by BrieAnna J. Frank for The Arizona Republic, May 23, 2020.  “A Mass Shooter Live-streamed his Attack on Snapchat at an Arizona Mall” by David Gilbert for Vice News, May 21, 2020.  “This real-life Air Force superhero saved 28 people from an active shooter in Arizona” by David Roza for Task and Purpose, May 27, 2021.  “Armando ‘Junior’ Hernandez: Glendale Westgate Shooting Suspect Arrested” by Emliy Bicks fr The He...

A disgruntled, former television station employee takes out his revenge during a live news broadcast.

A bizarre and terrifying crime spree has been on the rise in the UK for the past several years. In this episode, I’ll share stories illustrating how acid attacks have increasingly been used to retaliate against a romantic partner once a relationship ends.

In this special episode, Esther sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jake Halpern to talk about Season 2 of his podcast Deep Cover: Mob Land.  They also discuss podcast storytelling and Jake reveals which well-known actor makes a surprise guest appearance on Deep Cover in Season 2.

In this episode, I’ll share with you one of the craziest “love” stories you’ve ever heard - right in time for Valentine’s Day. Burt Pagach meets Linda Riss in 1957 and quickly becomes obsessed with her.  When she breaks off the relationship he plots a despicable act for revenge.

A 22-year-old recent graduate of a New Zealand University breaks off a short-lived relationship.  Her ex would take deadly revenge on her in one of the most horrific attacks ever perpetrated in the country’s recent history.    Resources:  “Own Evidence Seals Fate” by John Hartevelt for Stuff.co.nz, July 23, 2009.  “Success accompanied by stress: Weatherston” by Kay Sinclair for the Otago Daily Times, July 9, 2009.  “The Day Sophie Died: A Mother’s Untold Story” by Lesley Elliott for NzHerald.co.nz, Jun 10, 2011.  “A Decade On: Sophie Elliott’s Family Remembers Her” by Kelley Dennett for NZHerald.co.nz, Jan 5, 2018.  “Provocation defence ‘made killer a victim”, NZ Herald, July 22, 2009.  “Sophie’s beauty not targeted court told” by Kay Sinclair for Otago Daily Times, July 14, 2009 “An examination he didn’t pass”, Otago Daily Times, July 23, 2009 “Provocation defence abolished”, Otago Daily Times, Nov 27, 2009.    Links: CrimeCon UK - www.crimecon.co.uk  - use discount co...

One family appears to have it all - success, wealth, a happy family life, and a beautiful ocean-view home on the California coast.  But, trouble behind the scenes tears the family apart and the story of the Sachs family will end in a shocking murder.

An heiress builds a grand mansion as a showplace on a hill in the San Francisco Bay Area.  But, it would become a white elephant and an eyesore during its long history.  And, in 1985, it became a house of horrors for two young women.

July 27, 2001 Jeanine Sanchez Harms went missing after a night out with friends in Campbell, California.  A man she'd only become acquainted with that night, Maurice Xavier Nasmeh, would be suspected of involvement in her disappearance.  After a problematic investigation and numerous delays, the case would end in a shocking conclusion.

On the last episode of the year, Lorena and I break down the case of family annihilator, Chris Watts.