24: The Charming Kidnappers & the Swope Family Murders (?)

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Steven Beard woke up on October 2, 1999, in horrible pain. His stomach was split open. His intestines were exposed. When he called 911, he couldn’t tell the dispatcher what had happened — he could only say that he desperately needed help. It didn’t take investigators long to discover that Steven had been shot in his sleep. But who would want him dead? Then Kristin tells us a story that, at first glance, makes no sense. A man walked into a QuikTrip, bought a couple of lottery tickets, and despite the overwhelming odds against him, won $16.5 million. Great, right? Not so much. He refused to claim the prize money. Iowa lottery officials were stunned. Who wouldn’t want $16.5 million? Months passed. The man still refused to come forward. Lottery officials smelled something fishy. And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources on the web. And sometimes Wikipedia. (No shade, Wikipedia. We love you.) We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the real experts who covered these cases. In this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Court says Iowa lottery rigging investigation took too long,” Associated Press “Just a dollar and a scheme,” episode of American Greed “The man who cracked the lottery” by Reid Forgave for the New York Times In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Marriage, Money and Murder: Steven and Celeste Beard” by David Krajicek, crimelibrary.com “Celeste Beard Johnson” episode Snapped “Marriage, Money, and Murder” by Bill Hewitt, People Magazine

3 Huhti 20191h 58min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Brooke Taylor was the head of a fitness empire. She was completely gifted. She could make you lose three pounds in one class. But her perfect world shattered when she found her beloved husband Hayworth Windham shot dead. Everyone thought Brooke was guilty — everyone except a bright eyed first-year law student named Elle Woods.  When two young New Yorkers stopped at the Sac-o-Suds convenience store in rural Alabama, the last thing they wanted was trouble. But when the store clerk was shot dead, the pair became suspects. Thanks to a gigantic misunderstanding, Bill Gambini and Stan Rothenstein found themselves arrested for murder. They turned to Bill’s cousin Vinny for legal counsel.  And now for a note about our process. For this special April Fools day episode, we chose fake court cases from our favorite movies. We hope you enjoyed it! In this episode, Kristin told the plot of the movie, “Legally Blonde.” In this episode, Brandi told the plot of the movie, “My Cousin Vinny.”

1 Huhti 20191h 14min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! When Kansas City businessman Robert McClure Snyder ordered the construction of Ha Ha Tonka Castle, he thought he was building the ultimate vacation home. In a way, he was. Robert spared no expense for his massive home. Construction began in the early 1900s, and at one time, boasted a construction crew of 200 people. But the Ha Ha Tonka dream home ultimately became a nightmare for the Snyder family.  Then, Kristin horrifies us with the story of Dr. Geza de Kaplany. Geza felt certain that his wife, Hajna Piller, was cheating on him. He didn’t have any evidence, but that didn’t shake his certainty. So what did Geza do? He loaded up a suitcase with a butcher knife, three bottles of acid, and restraints, and waited for his wife to come home. And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources on the web. And sometimes Wikipedia. (No shade, Wikipedia. We love you.) We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the real experts who covered these cases. In this episode, Kristin pulled from: “The Acid Doctor,” by David Krajicek The Daily News “Geza gets life, wants to atone,” The Oakland Tribune The book, “Doctors Who Kill: Profiles of Lethal Medics,” by Carol Anne Davis “Mother of DeKaplany’s son called,” Oakland Tribune “State rebuttal — De Kaplany sane,” Oakland Tribune “Dramatic ‘pretty girl’ De Kaplany photo,” Oakland Tribune “De Kaplany shifts to guilty plea,” Oakland Tribune “De Kaplany yells at psychiatrist,” Oakland Tribune “Doctor held after acid scars,” Milwaukee Sentinel “Geza de Kaplany,” wikipedia entry “Slashed bride better,” Associated Press In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “James A. Reed: Legendary Lawyer; Marplot in the United States Senate” by J. Michael Cronan “The tragic story of the mansion and the Snyder family” by Paul Johns, The Christian County Headliner “MOzarks Moments: The senator, the seamstress, the gangster and Ha Ha Tonka” by Paul Johns, Bolivar Herald-Free Press “The Lake on Trial” by Michael Gillespie, lakehistory.info

27 Maalis 20191h 39min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Jeanette Ortiz was a model Chipotle employee. She’d worked there for 14 years. She had excellent performance reviews. But in early 2015, things got weird. Hundreds of dollars went missing from the restaurant’s safe. A manager came in to review the restaurant’s surveillance footage and claimed the camera had captured Jeanette stealing the money. But had she? Then Brandi tells us about Clara Harris, a woman who thought she had the perfect marriage. Little did Clara know, her husband David Harris was having an affair with a co-worker named Gail Bridges. When the affair finally came out into the open, David told Clara he wanted to work on their marriage. He just needed one last meeting with Gail to end things for good. Clara let him go, but she wasn’t far behind. And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources on the web. And sometimes Wikipedia. (No shade, Wikipedia. We love you.) We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the real experts who covered these cases. In this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Chipotle cuts losses, settles case with ex-worker rather than face big dollar damages,” by Pablo Lopez for the Fresno Bee “Fresno jury says Chipotle owes former manager $7.97 million for wrongful termination,” by Pablo Lopez for the Fresno Bee “Chipotle wrongfully accused a manager of stealing $636. She just won millions in court,” by Rachel Siegel for the Washington Post In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Suburban Madness” by Skip Hollandsworth, Texas Monthly “Clara Harris, Who Killed Cheating Husband With Her Mercedes, Released From Prison” by Skip Hollandsworth, Texas Monthly “Clara Harris” episode Snapped “Murder of David Lynn Harris” wikipedia.org

20 Maalis 20191h 14min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Robert Kissel appeared to have it all. He was a high-powered investment banker living in Hong Kong with his wife and children, making millions of dollars a year. Then, in late 2003, he did something out of character. The reliable workaholic missed an important conference call. His coworkers were immediately suspicious. What could have happened to Robert? Then, Warren Horinek was drunk. Super drunk. He and his wife Bonnie had just spent the evening drinking at TGIFriday’s. They’d hadn’t been home long when Warren called 911. Through slurs, he told the dispatcher that his wife had been shot. But had she? Police, the medical examiner and the district attorney all agreed that the scene looked like a suicide. But Bonnie’s friends and family thought differently.  And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources on the web. And sometimes Wikipedia. (No shade, Wikipedia. We love you.) We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the real experts who covered these cases. In this episode, Kristin pulled from: “A bloody injustice,” by Dave Mann, Texas Observer “The defense calls Terry Laber,” Texas Center for Community Journalism “CNN explores Warren Horinek Case,” Texas Observer “The Warren Horinek Case,” waco-criminal-attorney.com  In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Born to Win” episode Behind Mansion Walls “Nancy Kissel: The Hong Kong Milkshake Murder” by Anthony Bruno, TruTV.com “Kissels Of Death” by Steve Fishman, New York Magazine “Murder of Robert Kissel” wikipedia.org

13 Maalis 20191h 39min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Scott Falater killed his wife — that much we know is true. He stabbed Yarmila dozens of times, then held her underwater. Afterward, he hid the murder weapon and his bloody clothes. When police arrived on the scene, Scott was dazed. He said he wasn’t sure what had happened. He didn’t remember a thing. He would never have chosen to kill his wife. So he must have committed the murder while he was sleepwalking. Right? Then Kristin tells us about a phone call that a self-proclaimed police officer made to a McDonalds in Mount Washington, Kentucky. A man who called himself “Officer Scott” told assistant manager Donna Summers that he was investigating a theft. A McDonald’s employee had stolen a customer’s purse. He described the suspect, and Donna offered a name. It had to be Louise Ogborn, the 18-year-old high school senior. Donna brought Louise into the office and followed Officer Scott’s increasingly odd instructions.  And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources on the web. And sometimes Wikipedia. (No shade, Wikipedia. We love you.) We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the real experts who covered these cases. In this episode, Kristin pulled from: “A hoax most cruel,” The Courier-Journal by Andrew Wolfson “Appeals court upholds $6.1 million strip-search verdict against McDonald’s,” The Courier-Journal “Ogborn awarded $6.1 million in suit against McDonald’s,” The Courier-Journal “Ogborn, first set of lawyers involved in fee dispute,” The Courier-Journal “Acquittal in hoax call that led to sex assault,” MSNBC “Strip-search case closed?” ABC News “Judge: Company must pay legal fees,” The Courier-Journal “McDonald’s didn’t warn workers, suit says,” The Courier-Journal “Ex-McDonald’s worker wins lawsuit over strip search,” Associated Press “McDonald’s Corporation v Ogborn,” findlaw.com “Strip search phone call scam,” Wikipedia Clip of 20/20 episode on YouTube In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Walking Terror” episode Forensic Files “The Big Sleep” by Paul Rubin, Phoenix New Times “A Killer Sleep Disorder” by Paul Rubin, Phoenix New Times “Husband Admits He Killed His Wife —In His Sleep” Desert News “Sleepwalking Given As Defense by Man In Killing of Wife” Associated Press, The New York Times “Woman Stabbed, Drowned by ‘Sleepwalking’ Husband” by Joe Enea, ABC 15 News “‘Sleepwalker’ Guilty of Murder” by CBSNews.com Staff, CBS News

6 Maalis 20191h 51min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Nancy and Bob Seaman had a long and unhappy marriage. They got married in 1973, and by 2004, they were sleeping in different areas of the house and communicating exclusively through angry post-it notes. It looked like they were heading for divorce. But then Bob went missing. It didn’t take long for police to discover his body in the back of Nancy’s Ford Explorer. There’s no question that Nancy murdered Bob, but that’s where the certainty ends. Nancy claimed he’d been abusive for the entirety of their marriage. The couple’s youngest son, Greg, backed her up. But their oldest son, Jeff didn’t. Who was the jury to believe? Was Nancy a cold-blooded killer? Or was she an abused spouse who lashed out in self defense? Elizabeth Freeman was one hell of a woman. She was born into slavery in the mid-1700s. But thanks to a lot of gumption, the newly created Massachusetts Constitution, and a kick ass legal team, Elizabeth became the first enslaved woman to successfully sue for her freedom. Her lawyers argued that Massachusetts’ new constitution, which championed freedom and equality, effectively abolished slavery. Just nine years after her lawsuit, the federal census recorded no slaves living in Massachusetts.   And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources on the web. And sometimes Wikipedia. (No shade, Wikipedia. We love you.) We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the real experts who covered these cases. In this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Freedom Suits of the Pre-Constitutional Era,” www.mass.gov “Elizabeth Freeman,” PBS “Jury Decides in Favor of Elizabeth “Mum Bett” Freeman,” www.massmoments.org “Elizabeth Freeman,” www.womenhistoryblog.com  “Slavery in New England,” section of the book Bentley’s MIscellany, Volume 34 An episode of “Finding Your Roots” Wikipedia entries for Elizabeth Freeman, Quock Walker, Theodore Sedgwick, the Sheffield Declaration, and the Colonel John Ashley House In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Nancy Seaman” episode Snapped “The judge who sentenced Nancy Seaman for murder now wants to set her free” by Hanna Rappleye, NBC News “Nancy Seaman” wikipedia.org

27 Helmi 20191h 28min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Anthony Burns was born into slavery in Stafford County, Virginia. Despite laws that forbade him to do so, he learned to write and read. He became a preacher. As he got older, there was one thing he wanted more than anything: Freedom. So he boarded a ship to Boston and escaped. For a while, Anthony lived as a free man. But his former “owner,” Colonel Charles F. Suttle Douchelord the Third, wanted Anthony back. Unfortunately, Charles had the law on his side.  Then Brandi finally ends the suspense by wrapping up her two-part series on the Beatrice Six. In last week’s episode, she told us about 68-year-old widow Helen Wilson, who was discovered raped and murdered in her apartment in Beatrice, Nebraska. Police initially suspected Bruce Allen Smith, but a blood test ruled him out. The case grew cold. But then, a hog farmer and former police officer named Burdette Searcey stepped in. He was determined to solve the crime — by any means necessary.  And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources on the web. And sometimes Wikipedia. (No shade, Wikipedia. We love you.) We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the real experts who covered these cases. In this episode, Kristin pulled from: “Anthony Burns Trial of 1854,” www.famous-trials.com “Anthony Burns and the Fugitive Slave Act,” www.longroadtojustice.org “Anthony Burns,” PBS The book, “Boston slave riot, and trial of Anthony Burns” Wikipedia entries for Anthony Burns, Twelfth Baptist Church, Boston Vigilance Committee, Fugitive Slave Act of 185, and Franklin Pierce In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Presumed Guilty Part Four: Pointing Fingers” by Catharine Huddle, Lincoln Journal Star “Presumed Guilty Part Five: Threat of Death” by Joe Duggan, Lincoln Journal Star “Presumed Guilty Part Six: The Trial” by Catharine Huddle, Lincoln Journal Star “Presumed Guilty Part Seven: DNA Changes Everything” by Joe Duggan, Lincoln Journal Star “Presumed Guilty Part Eight: A New Investigation” by Joe Duggan, Lincoln Journal Star “Memories of a Murder” by Rachel Aviv, The New Yorker “Even in 1989, forensics didn’t point to men and women who went to prison for crime” by Joe Duggan, Omaha World-Herald InnocenceProject.org

20 Helmi 20191h 42min