Episodes

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...

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. In this episode, a couple with thirteen children spend decades isolating themselves from the outside world. The public would be shocked when it was discovered their children had been subjected to long-term ritualistic abuse, neglect, and deprivation in one of...

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 f...

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’: M...

A disgruntled, former television station employee takes out his revenge during a live news broadcast. Resources: “Ex-Broadcaster Kills 2 on Air Virginia Shooting” by Michael D. Shear, Richard Perez-Pena, and Alan Blinder, The New York Times, August 26, 2015. “Vester Lee Flanagan: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know”, Tom Cleary, Heavy.com, April 8, 2021. “A Life of Listing Grievances, and Then Virginia Gunman’s Final Homicidal Explosion”, Michael D. Shear and Sarah Maslin Nir, The New York Times, ...

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. Resources: “Acid Attacks on the Rise in the U.K.”, Joanna Kakissis/NPR, Aug 6, 2017. “Acid Attacks: What has led to the rise and how can they be stopped?”, George Mann/BBC News, July 14, 2017. “Jealous woman is jailed for 14 years after sca...

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. Links: Listen to Deep Cover on Pushkin.fm - https://www.pushkin.fm/show/deep-cover/ Become a Pushkin+ member to binge all episodes of Deep Cover ad-free. You will also have ad-free access to more than 20 Pus...

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. Resources: “Burt and Linda Pugach: The story behind Crazy Love”, Amy Turner for The Sunday Times, June 29, 2008. “CityPeople; A Sort of Love Story”, Mark Fass for The New York Times, March 21, 2004. Crazy Love (2007),...

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,...

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. Resources: Shadow of Death, CBS/48 Hours, October 15, 2016. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/48-hours-investigates-andra-and-brad-sachs-murders-shadow-of-death/ “Capistrano killings: In marriage, divorce, death, couple never parted,” by Salvador Hern...

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. Resources: People v. Raley, Supreme Court of California Appeal, June 18, 1992. Retrieved from Findlaw.com. “Yesterday’s Crimes: The Hillsborough Mansion Murder” by Bob Calhoun for SF Weekly, Jan 30, 2018. “Carolands mansion murder: Survivor Laurie McKenna speaks, 2...

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. Resources: "Whatever Happened to Jeanine Harms?" by Loren Stein for MetroActive News, March 20, 2003. Jeanine Sanchez Harms, The Charley Project. "Jeanine Harms ...

On the last episode of the year, Lorena and I break down the case of family annihilator, Chris Watts. Resources: “Chris Watts: A Complete Timeline of the Murder of His Wife and Daughters” by Rachel Change for Biography.com, Sept 29, 2020. https://www.biography.com/news/chris-watts-wife-daughters-murder-mistress-confession-timeline “New Christopher Watts confession details how he murdered his wife, two daughters” by Elise Schmelzer for The Denver Post, March 7, 2019. https://www.denverpost.com...

This week I’ll discuss the Nicole Brown/Ron Goldman murders with my sister, Yolanda. We’ll go over the evidence, timeline, and motivation for the crimes that all point to OJ Simpson as the killer. We’ll also discuss why the jury may have decided to acquit Simpson of the double homicide even in the face of overwhelming evidence of his guilt. Resources: Evidence Dismissed: The Inside Story of the Police Investigation of O.J. Simpson, authors: Tom Lange, Phillip Vanatter, Dan Moldea, ©️1997, 2016....

In this episode I break down the myths and realities of infamous serial killer, Edmund Emil Kemper, “The Co-Ed Killer”. My special guest is Emerson Murray, author of The Murder Capital of the World. You can find out more about Emerson and purchase the book at www.emersonmurray.com/murder-capital-of-the-world To enter a drawing to receive a copy of Murder Capital of the World sign up for texts from OUAC by texting “OUAC” to 408-676-1770 (Texting rates may apply. U.S. listeners only are eligible ...

A young girl living outside of New Delhi, India is found murdered in her own bedroom in a high-security apartment building with her parents sleeping mere feet away. Was her murder an inside job or caused by an unknown intruder? Join us for this “whodunit” that has been called the “JonBenet Ramsay case of India”. Resources: “Behind Closed Doors: How a 13-Year-Old’s Murder Ignited Class Warfare” by Nick Schager for The Daily Beast, July 14, 2019. “Arushi murder case: A timeline of events”, The H...

Jamison Bachman spent his adult years being “the roommate from hell”. He destroyed property, bullied his housemates, filed lawsuits for petty complaints, and rarely paid his rent. But, growing more desperate once his history of scamming people was revealed, he crossed the line from annoying to dangerous. Resources: “Worst Roommate Ever” by William Brennan for New York Magazine, Feb 19, 2018. “Philadelphia judge to squatter in viral roommate story: ‘You’re frightening’” by Andrew Parent, for T...

The mysterious disappearance of a 4-year-old from her own bedroom takes a bizarre twist and rumors and conspiracy theories soon follow. This case would come to be known as “The JonBenet Ramsey Case of Mexico.” Resources: “Resignation in Mexican missing girl Paulette case”, BBC News, May 26, 2010 “Mexico Shocked by Discovery of Girl’s Body,” CBS News, April 5, 2010 Misterios favoritos en espanol/Unresolved Mysteries, reddit.com - https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/80s8r6/re...

On this special Halloween episode, I’ll share creepy tales of corpses that were mistaken for Halloween displays. I’ll also share the bizarre tale of a failed outlaw who became a successful carnival oddity…after his death. Resources: “Was a Suicide Mistaken for Halloween Decoration?” by David Mikkelson for Snopes.com, Oct. 28, 2005. “75-Year-Old Marina Man Found Dead on Apartment Balcony” by Vince Echavaria for The Argonaut, October 22, 2009. “Body is Mistaken for a Halloween Display” by Rebe...

In this episode, a family claims a family member has become possessed by a demon. When a young man challenges the demon in an attempt to save his friend, he may have gotten more than he bargained for. He would later claim that demons drove him to commit a brutal murder. Resources: “By Demons Possessed” by Lynn Darling for The Washington Post, September 13, 1981.https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/09/13/by-demons-possessed/3479fa6b-eee3-4233-a2fc-b9defa403504/ “The Murder Tha...

A teenager takes the life of family members as well as a random stranger and then claims his involvement in “satanic rituals” lead him to murder. Was 16-year-old Sean Sellers demon possessed, mentally ill, or simply a cold-blooded killer? Resources: "On Thursday He Dies", The Mirror (London), Jan 30, 1999 https://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/print/PrintArticle.aspx?id=60226483 "Reaching Out as Time is Running Out" by Lois Romano, The Washington Post, Jan 22, 1999. https://www.washingtonpost.com...

In this bonus episode, you’ll hear the live show from CrimeCon UK in London. Esther discusses the motivations and psychology behind mass shooters with Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Sohom Das, host of the YouTube channel A Psych for Sore Minds. Check out True Crime Week on Stitcher where they are kicking off the spookiest month of the year with the creepiest and crawliest True Crime Podcasts. Check out their curated homepage to find your next True Crime Pod obsession. If you’re on your phone you can...

In this conclusion to our 2-part episode on spree killer, Robert Garrow, I’ll detail Garrow’s killing spree in the summer of 1973, his time as a fugitive, and his arrest and convcition. Resources: The Garrow Manhunt: A Serial Killer in the Adirondacks https://www.adirondack.net/history/garrow-manhunt/ Crime Library: Robert Garrow https://web.archive.org/web/20140403090224/http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/predators/robert_garrow/2.html Sworn to Silence: The Truth Behind Robert Gar...

In 1973, a violent sexual predator went on a killing spree in the Adirondack Mountains. In Part 1 of this 2-part series, I detail Garrow’s abusive childhood, history of violence, and the escalation of his crimes from theft, to kidnapping and assault, and ultimately to rape and murder. Resources: Robert Francis Garrow, Jr: American Spree Killer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu5e4RJKp9s&t=1235s Murderpedia.com: Robert Garrow https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/garrow-robert-photos.htm The Gar...