John Hinckley, Jr. tries to impress an actress by killing President Ronald Reagan. Was he legally insane? This is the final chapter in the series "Fatal Fans".    John Hinckley's mug shot - dated 3/30/81 - the day he tried to kill President...

Mark David Chapman stalks and murders John Lennon on a New York city street in 1980. This is Chapter 3 of Fatal Fans.   John Lennon autographs his album for Mark Chapman a few hours before Chapman shoots him dead on December 8, 1980. Resources:...

An unhinged fan has murderous plans towards young actress Rebecca Schaeffer.     Rebecca Schaeffer Robert John Bardo in court. Resources: "An Innocent Life, A Heartbreaking Death" by Pete Axthelm, People Magazine, July 31, 1989.  "In...

A young actress is stalked by an unhinged drifter who is intent on killing her. Facebook: OnceUponACrimePod Twitter: @UponACrime Celebrity crime, stalking victims, true crime. Theresa Saldana arrives at the court house 2 weeks after her near fatal...

The Queen of Tejano Music is gunned down by a fan in 1995. Resources: Music: DVD: Book: To connect with the show: On Twitter: @uponacrime On Facebook and Instagram @OnceUponaCrimePod Website:     Save

Two of music's biggest rap stars are cut down in their prime. But, who killed them? This week's episode - Tupac and Biggie. Follow us on Twitter @UponACrime and on Facebook and Instagram @OnceUponaCrimePod Resources for this episode: Music:  ...

The second installment in the series about the tragic endings of musical icons this time I discuss the life and death of Nirvana's frontman, Kurt Cobain. Justin Evans from the Generation Why and The Peripheral podcasts weighs in on "Soaked in...

This series tells the tragic stories of recording artists who were killed or died under mysterious circumstances. In the first chapter, Marvin Gaye, a top R&B recording artist is murdered by a family member in 1984.   Books:    ...

The first school mass shooting in the U.S. is committed by a 16-year-old year girl.    Brenda Spencer's mugshot. January 29, 1979. Wearing her "lucky" hat. Brenda Spencer goes to court. "Does Anyone Like Mondays? The Brenda Spencer Murder...

An 11-year-old is accused of murdering two boys in the 1960s. Several resources were used in the research for this episode including:  Gitta Sereny, The Case of Mary Bell (London:Pimlico), 1995.  Audio Clip: The Mary Bell Case. YouTube,...

A bonus episode partially recorded at The Warfield Theater in San Francisco, CA. Making a Murderer's Dean Strang and Jerry Buting on their speaking tour "A Conversation on Justice". To subscribe to Once Upon a Crime on iTunes, . To subscribe to Once...

A young serial killer terrorizes South Boston in 1872.                                     Book links: Murder, serial killers, true crime, Jesse Pomeroy,...

When kidnap victims are held for a period of time the public often wants to know "why didn't they try to escape?" This episode explains a psychological phenomenon known as "Stockholm Syndrome", how it might apply to the victims I discussed in the...

Three girls go missing over as many years in a Cleveland, Ohio neighborhood.  Years go by before they are ever seen again. When it was revealed who had taken them and what they were subjected to the city was stunned to find that the perpetrator...

This is our second installment in the series "Lost and Found". Elizabeth Smart was a 14-year-old girl from a loving, Mormon family living in Salt Lake City, Utah. The family's kindness towards a local transient would make her a target for kidnapping....

An 11-year-old girl goes missing in Lake Tahoe, California.

Welcome to Once Upon a Crime the true crime podcast that tells the story behind the story of real life crime.  New episodes release every Monday. Subscribe today on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, Pandora or wherever you listen to...