Interviews Mass Murder/Spree Killers

Episode 241: The Minds of Mass Killers with Author Shavaun Scott

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 oth...

Gun Shooting Pranks Gone Wrong

Episode 240: YouTube Mayhem: Dying To Be Famous

A young couple on a quest for internet fame record a prank for their YouTube channel with tragic results. Resources: YouTube Prankster Jailed, BBC News , March 15, 2018 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43410816 The La...

Child Abuse/Domestic Violence Female Killers Multi-part Episodes

Episode 238: The Ties That Bind: The Crimes of Shelly Knotek - Part 1

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 a...

International Crimes POC

Episode 233: Revenge Attacks: UK Acid Attacks

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 par...

Interviews

Episode 232: Deep Cover - A Conversation with Jake Halpern

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 gues...

Bizarre Crimes Love Affairs Revenge

Episode 231: Revenge Attacks: Burt and Linda Pugach

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...

International Crimes Love Affairs Murder Revenge

Episode 230: Revenge Attacks: Sophie Elliott

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. Re...

Murder Teenage Killers

Episode 229: Mansion Murders: The Sachs Family Murders

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 e...

Murder Kidnappings

Episode 228: Mansion Murders: Chateau Carolands

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 ...

Missing Persons Murder

Episode 227: Murder in My Hometown: Jeanine Sanchez Harms

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 disa...

Celebrity Crime Guest-hosts Murder POC

Episode 225: Breaking Down the OJ Simpson Case with Yolanda

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...

Bizarre Crimes Child Victims International Crimes

Episode 221: Listener Suggestions: Paulette Gebara Farah

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...

Bizarre Crimes Hauntings/Horror

Episode 220: Creepy AF Halloween Tales

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...

Hauntings/Horror Killer Kids Murder

Episode 218: The Devil Made Me Do It: Sean Sellers

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?...

Abductions/Kidnapping Mass Murder/Spree Killers Multi-part Episodes Sex Crimes/Rape

Episode 217: Spree Killers: Robert Garrow - Part 2

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...

Female Killers Historical Crimes POC Serial Killers

Episode 209: Buried Truth: Dorothea Puente

In this final chapter of “Buried Truth” I share a story of one of the most rare categories of criminal - the female serial killer. Behind her grandmotherly exterior, Dorothea Puente was hiding some very dark secrets very close to home. This is the...

Child Victims Missing Persons Murder Mysteries

Episode 208: Buried Truth: Christopher Denoyer

A teenage boy goes missing in 1984. Authorities would quickly decide that he was a runaway, but his family didn’t agree. Fourteen years later his fate would be learned in a shocking and unusual way. Resources: The New Detectives: Grave Secrets...

Missing Persons Murder Sex Crimes/Rape

Episode 207: Buried Truth: Russell Tillis and "The House of Horrors"

In this month’s series “Buried Truth” I share cases where a person goes missing never to be seen again. Just when it seemed their fate would remain a mystery, the truth would be uncovered. This time, a neighborhood menace harbors dark secrets in his...

Bonus Episodes

Bonus Episode - OUAC Celebrating 5 Years in True Crime

Once Upon a Crime celebrates 5 years in true crime by summarizing the show by the numbers, sharing 5 Surprising True Crime Facts, and letting listeners in on a giveaway to win OUAC merchandise and prizes. Text OUAC to 408-676-1770 to opt-in to...