Episodes

How does an ordinary home become the scene of extraordinary evil, and how does a community fail to save a sixteen-year-old girl? This week on Once Upon a Crime, we begin a two-part series on the murder of Sylvia Likens, examining the heartbreaking facts of the case and the psychological forces that turned one Indianapolis home into an innocent girl’s torture chamber, drawing seemingly ordinary children into unimaginable cruelty. Follow Once Upon a Crime, new episodes drop every Monday See Privac...

In the summer of 1965, 16-year-old Sylvia Likens was left in the care of a mother of seven while her parents traveled for work. What should have been a temporary arrangement turned into one of the most horrifying child abuse and torture cases in American history. As the abuse escalated behind closed doors, an entire neighborhood witnessed signs of cruelty, manipulation, and neglect. Yet Sylvia’s suffering continued in plain sight. Next week, Once Upon a Crime takes a deep dive into one of the mo...

A black widow. A poisoner. A con artist. A master manipulator. This week on Once Upon a Crime , Esther dives into the unbelievable case of Marie Hilley. A woman accused of murdering her husband, nearly killing her own daughter, disappearing while out on bail, and creating entirely new identities to stay one step ahead of the truth. As investigators closed in, Marie spun outrageous stories and convinced friends, family, and complete strangers to believe them. The deeper this case goes, the strang...

She poisoned her husband. She nearly killed her own daughter. She vanished while out on bail. Then she reinvented herself with a brand-new identity… and somehow convinced people she was her own twin sister. This week on Once Upon a Crime, we unravel the unbelievable case of Marie Hilley. One of the most notorious Black Widows in American true crime history. What began as the life of a seemingly ordinary wife and mother spiraled into a shocking saga of poisoning, manipulation, fraud, and deceptio...

She could become whoever people needed her to be. A devoted wife. A loving mother. A trusted friend. A helpless victim. But behind the carefully crafted image was one of the most manipulative and deceptive women in true crime history. In this chilling new episode of Once Upon a Crime , Esther dives into the shocking case of Marie Hilley. A woman whose lies, manipulation, and alleged poisoning crimes left devastation everywhere she went. When Marie’s husband died unexpectedly, no one suspected mu...

What happens when a killer reinvents herself so completely that even the people closest to her believe the lie? In this shocking new episode of Once Upon a Crime , Esther explores the bizarre and twisted case of Marie Hilley. A woman accused of poisoning her husband to death, later poisoning her own daughter, escaping justice, and creating an entirely new identity to avoid capture. But Marie’s deception didn’t stop there.... The deeper this case goes, the stranger it becomes. From poisoning and ...

After the explosive Bundy For the Defense series, Once Upon a Crime took its first extended hiatus in the podcast’s ten-year history. But behind the scenes, the team has been busier than ever. What’s been happening during the break? Appearances at the Beyond the Crime Convention in Albuquerque and Crime Con in Las Vegas, being featured on Impact x Nightline’s “Terror on the Trail” exploring the Trailside Killer case, as well as interviews for two upcoming History Channel episodes. As Once Upon a...

For ten years, Once Upon a Crime has explored some of the world’s most haunting true crime stories. Uncovering secrets, examining criminal investigations, and telling the stories of victims, survivors, investigators, and killers whose lives were forever changed by crime. But now, for the first time, host Esther Ludlow is ready to tell her own story. In this deeply personal teaser for Season 11, Esther reveals that her fascination with true crime began with an experience that profoundly shaped ho...

For ten years, Once Upon a Crime has explored the world’s most fascinating true crime stories, covering infamous murders, criminal investigations, disappearances, and the hidden truths behind headline-making cases. Now, after hundreds of episodes and millions of downloads, we're preparing for the podcast’s most ambitious season yet. Thanks to all our listeners for supporting the show through ten incredible years of true crime coverage. What’s ahead in Season 11? Brand-new stories, exciting new ...

For nearly ten years, Once Upon a Crime has taken listeners deep into the world of true crime, uncovering hidden secrets, questioning official narratives, and exploring the stories behind some of history’s most fascinating criminal cases. Host Esther Ludlow has always looked beyond the headlines to reveal the human stories at the center of crime. But now, something bigger is coming. Season Eleven of Once Upon a Crime is unlike anything Esther has ever done before, and this new season promises to...

In the final chapter of Ted Bundy for the Defense , the mask comes off. After the shocking courtroom moment in which Bundy cross-examined first responders and forced graphic testimony about the Chi Omega crime scene, the trial shifts decisively in the prosecution’s favor. Survivors take the stand. Forensic evidence tightens the noose. And Bundy—convinced he is the smartest man in every room—continues to grandstand, clash with his attorneys, and challenge the judge. Instead of saving himself, he ...

After escaping from a Colorado jail, Ted Bundy fled to Florida — and unraveled. In this episode, we follow Bundy’s path to Tallahassee, the brutal Chi Omega sorority house murders, the attack on Cheryl Thomas, the abduction of 12-year-old Kimberly Leach, and Bundy’s eventual arrest in Pensacola after 46 days on the run. Gone is the methodical charmer of the Pacific Northwest. In his place: a reckless, frenzied killer who has lost control. About This Series: Ted Bundy for the Defense examines Ted...

In the summer of 1974, Seattle was gripped by fear as young women disappeared and witnesses began describing a polite man named “Ted” and his tan Volkswagen. As newspapers cautiously reported on a possible suspect, few believed the man they were describing could be dangerous. He looked like a law student. A volunteer. Someone people trusted. In this Once Upon a Crime minisode, we examine Ted Bundy before his trials—through the people who knew him best and the warning signs that surfaced long bef...

In Part Two of Ted Bundy for the Defense , we follow Ted Bundy from his first arrest in Utah through conviction, psychological evaluation, escalating murder charges, and the escape attempts that would ultimately unleash his most violent crimes. About This Series: Ted Bundy for the Defense examines Ted Bundy’s criminal cases through the lens of his courtroom behavior and his insistence on controlling his own fate. This series separates myth from fact, focusing on documented evidence, trial record...

A recent Los Angeles Times article has reignited worldwide interest in the Black Dahlia murder, spotlighting an amateur sleuth’s theory that attempts to link the case to the Zodiac Killer—and naming Marvin Margolis as a “new” prime suspect. But Marvin Margolis is not new. In this bonus episode, we’re joined once again by author William J. Mann , whose extensively researched new book, Black Dahlia: Murder, Monsters, and Madness in Midcentury Hollywood , is released today. Long before the headline...

In Ted Bundy for the Defense: Part One , we examine the earliest confirmed crimes of Ted Bundy and the investigation that led to his first conviction. This episode follows Bundy’s documented attacks beginning in 1974, starting with the brutal assault of Karen Sparks and the murder of University of Washington student Lynda Ann Healy. As young women continue to disappear across Washington State, investigators begin to notice a disturbing pattern—college-aged victims with similar physical character...

Ted Bundy is often remembered as charming, intelligent, and dangerously persuasive—a serial killer who outsmarted investigators and manipulated everyone around him. But how much of that story is myth? In this introductory episode of Ted Bundy for the Defense , we set the stage for a three-part series that examines Bundy not through the lens of legend, but through the courtroom—where his greatest gamble wasn’t murder, but his decision to represent himself. Bundy believed he was smarter than his a...

In this special bonus episode of Once Upon a Crime , Esther sits down with journalist and investigator Crystal Gutierrez to discuss the missing persons case she and her team are actively investigating. The disappearance of 9-year-old Anthonette Cayedito , who vanished from her home in Gallup, New Mexico , in 1986 . Crystal shares what it’s like to reinvestigate a decades-old disappearance, what keeps this case at the forefront of public memory, and why awareness still matters. Esther and Crystal...

In this bonus episode of Once Upon a Crime , Esther revisits the horrific crimes of serial killer John Wayne Gacy , often referred to as “The Killer Clown,” and reviews the 2025 Peacock docu-drama Devil in Disguise: John Wayne Gacy . The episode explores Gacy’s background, his crimes, the investigation's failures, and how the new series approaches the case from a victim-centered perspective. 🔍 Episode Overview A concise but comprehensive summary of John Wayne Gacy’s life , early red flags, crimi...

In this special bonus episode, Esther and producer Lorena answer listener questions and share their own reflections after a six-week deep dive into the life, death, and murder of Elizabeth Short. Topics include: • Who the real Elizabeth Short was versus the myth of “The Black Dahlia” • Whether her killer was someone she knew or a stranger • Whether the murderer had medical training • The possibility of solving the case today with DNA • Theories on whether more than one person was involved Esther...

In the sixth and final episode of our series Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder , we explore the enduring cultural legacy of one of America’s most haunting unsolved crimes. For nearly eight decades, Elizabeth Short’s name, and the moniker “The Black Dahlia”. Has inspired countless books, films, television shows, and theories. But in the process, the real woman behind the legend has often been overshadowed by sensationalism, myths, and misinformation. In this episode, we revisit the most persistent ...

In Part Five of Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder , we examine the discovery of Elizabeth Short’s mutilated body, the forensic evidence revealed by the autopsy, and how early investigative missteps and media sensationalism derailed the search for her killer. We break down the crime scene on Norton Avenue, the medical examiner’s key findings—including signs of strangulation, postmortem mutilation, and the surgical precision of the bisection—and how these details shaped investigators’ understanding ...

In this bonus episode, Esther takes listeners back to the earliest days of the Black Dahlia investigation — before the world even knew the victim’s name. Detectives faced a gruesome and mystifying crime scene in a quiet Los Angeles neighborhood. Who was the young woman whose body had been staged so deliberately? And who could have committed such a shocking crime? Using witness statements, police reports, and historical accounts, Esther reveals how investigators built their first list of suspects...

In this fourth installment of Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder , we trace Elizabeth Short’s final, mysterious days — the missing week between her last confirmed sightings in early January 1947 and the shocking discovery of her body on January 15th. This episode follows “The Lost Week” through the eyes of those who crossed her path, beginning with Robert “Red” Manley, the married salesman who would become the first and most infamous suspect in the case. Listeners will hear how Manley’s brief encou...