Episodes

On this special episode, I discuss the death of Shawn Stephens Lewis. Shawn was the fifth wife of Jerry Lee Lewis, the rock and country music star. When Shawn Lewis was found dead in Lewis's mansion on August 24, 1983, many questions would remain unanswered as to how she died. My very special guest this week is Erica Kelly from the Southern Fried True Crime podcast! www.southernfriedtruecrime.com www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime www.crimecon.com - use offer code ONCE20 for 10% off your standard b...

On this year-end wrap up episode, I answer listener questions and share updates on cases I've covered in past episodes.

In this last episode about fugitives on the run from the law I tell you the story of the very first woman ever to make the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List. Ruth Eisemann-Schier, along with her boyfriend, Gary Krist, carried out a bizarre kidnapping plot in 1968. Resources: "Femmes Fatals: The Ten Women on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted List" by Anna Hopkins for DailyMail.com , Sep 11, 2017. "A kidnapping with Deltona ties gripped the nation 50 years ago" by Tony Holt for The Daytona Beach News Journal , ...

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 ,...

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'...

A small time drug dealer kidnaps a rival's younger brother in order to settle a debt. The unfolding series of events would become one of California's most bizarre and tragic kidnapping cases on record and would even inspire an award-winning Hollywood movie. Resources: Jesse Katz for Los Angeles Magazine , "The Last Ride of Jesse James Hollywood", February 2002. Colby Frazier for Daily Sound , "Hollywood tells his story", June 24, 2009. Henry Chu and Solomon Moore for The Los Angeles Times , "Fu...

In this episode I dig into my file of spooky stories to share some haunted happenings in the world of rock and roll. #themansionatlaurelcanyon #redhotchilipeppers #slipknot #hauntedhouses #bonscott #joshuatreeinn #halloween #ghoststories Resources: Corey Taylor, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Heaven (Or How I Made Peace with the Paranormal and Stigmatized Zealots and Cynics in the Process), (Da Capo Press, 2013). Inside the Laurel Canyon Houdini Estate , www.wildabouthoudini.com , March 30...

Bob Marley went from singing R&B harmonies in Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica to becoming a pioneer of reggae music, bringing his own blend of reggae, rock and ska music to a global audience. But as a popular figure in Jamaica, he was unwillingly thrust into the country’s political strife. The situation became so dangerous for Marley that on December 3, 1976, he became a target of assassins. Resources: Chris Salewicz, Bob Marley: The Untold Story, (New York: Faber and Faber), 2010. Biolgraphy.com ...

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 ...

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. Resources: 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, 19...

A 7-year-old goes missing while on a family camping trip in 1973. Anonymous calls would be placed demanding a ransom, but, the trail would grow cold until exactly one year later when the kidnapper would call her mother to brag about taking her daughter. Resources: Documentary: The FBI Files, "Dark Woods", Season 5, Episode 13. Articles: Bible Verse May Have Spurred Meirhofer, The Daily Interlake, October 4, 1974 Small Town Terror by Joseph MacNamara for T he New York Daily News , December 22, 1...

In a small French village, a little boy goes missing and the family receives anonymous letters from a person taking responsibility who is dubbed "The Crow". This strange case could be considered the Jon Benet Ramsey case of France. Resources: Articles: The Long Shadow of the Crow by Scott Kraft for The Los Angeles Times , December 9, 1993 Gregory by Anthony Davis for CrimeMagazine.com , April 30, 2009 The Murder of Little Gregory: The unsolved case that haunted France by John Henley for The Gua...

A young girl goes missing in South Carolina in 1985. Soon after, her kidnapper would begin calling her family - but not to make demands for her safe return, but only to cruelly taunt them. This is the first chapter in the series "Taunting Terrors". Resources: Book: Murder in the Midlands: Larry Gene Bell and the 28 Days of Terror that Shook South Carolina by Rita Y. Shuler Articles: South Carolina serial killer forced girl to write a farewell note and tormented his victims' families after sick...

A horror film franchise is seemingly cursed when it experiences tragedies including hauntings, serious accidents, fatal illness and murder. Resources: https://www.ranker.com/list/victims-of-the-poltergeist-curse/melissa-brinks https://www.grunge.com/35883/bizarre-things-happened-set-poltergeist/ http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2015/12/22/the-shocking-history-of-the-poltergeist-curse/ http://www.iconsoffright.com/IV_Oliver.htm https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/24/nyregion/crash-at-la-guardia-survivors-o...

From 1922 to the 1940s over 40 child actors would be cast in a popular series of short films and many of them would later fall victim to strange accidents, illnesses, drug addiction, financial hardship, murder and suicide. This is The Curse of The Little Rascals. Resources: Television Episode: E! True Hollywood Story: Curse of the Little Rascals Alfalfa's Mysterious Death - www.tvparty.com Convicted killer of "Little Rascal" dies - AP, The Monitor , McAllen, Texas, July 19, 2014

Every manifestation of the Man of Steel - comic books, television shows and films - has been marked by bad blood, shattered careers, tragic accidents and even murder. This is the Curse of Superman. Resources: George Reeves Revealed: An Inside Look at the Life and Tragic Death of Television's First Superman by Ed Gross for CloserWeekly.com , Feb. 27, 2019 Who Killed Superman? TheGuardian.com , Nov. 17, 2006

Three child actors become stars after being cast in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes in 1978. But, all three would go on to live troubled adult lives including drug addiction, legal troubles and untimely death. These are the stories of Todd Bridges, Dana Plato and Gary Coleman. Resources: The Tragic Stars of Different Strokes , People Magazine , March 25, 1991 Gary Coleman dies at 42; child star of hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes by Dennis McClellan for The Los Angeles Times , May 29, 2010. The Overdo...

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? Resources: 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 Cali...

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 Sponsor: Native Deodorants - www.nativedeodorant.com - Use promo code ONCE for 20% off your first purchase. Subscribe to "Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime" On iTunes: https://pod...

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. Resources" 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 Si...

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. Resources: Articles: The Death Dealer by Matt St...

Identical twin sisters, Sunny and Gina Han were lifelong rivals. One sister's jealousy would lead her to plot her twin's murder. Resources: 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. Links: w...

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

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 www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod