Grief, Suspicion and Murder - June 19 2025

July 13th: Rebecca Mawii Zahau Dies (2011) Not everything is as it seems. On July 13th 2011 a woman’s body was found in a case that, to many, seemed like a homicide but, to police, seemed like a suicide. A case that many still argue about and one where a family still fights to change official rulings. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Rebecca_Zahau, https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/rebecca-zahaus-family-drops-suit-against-sheriff-in-wake-of-coronado-mansion-death/2988336/, https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2021/07/12/10-years-ago-rebecca-zahau-saga-began-with-a-bound-body-beneath-a-balcony/, https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/5-chilling-details-deaths-rebecca-zahau-max-shacknai, https://www.oxygen.com/death-at-the-mansion-rebecca-zahau/crime-time/rebecca-zahau-sexual-homicide-evidence-finale, https://www.eonline.com/news/1045713/what-happened-to-rebecca-zahau-a-tragic-accident-a-controversial-settlement-and-a-family-that-insists-her-death-wasn-t-a-suicide, https://alchetron.com/Death-of-Rebecca-Zahau, https://awnaves.medium.com/rebecca-zahau-murder-or-suicide-5431d8750298 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

13 Jul 202413min

July 12th: Jim Mitchell Dies (Mitchell Brothers) (2007) Money and success don’t shield you from tragedy. On July 12th 2007 a man died inside his home years after he took the life of a man who he not only loved deeply, but helped him live a life of success. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_brothers, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mitchell_Brothers_O%27Farrell_Theatre, https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-20-mn-3543-story.html, https://www.foundsf.org/index.php?title=Mitchell_Brothers, https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/James-Mitchell-gets-35-to-life-for-killing-his-ex-2334979.php, https://georgepallas.com/blog/2021/02/mitchell-brothers/, https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2011/07/12/heir-to-mitchell-brothers-porn-empire-convicted-of-murder-kidnapping/, https://patch.com/california/millvalley/james-mitchell-and-the-sins-of-the-brothers Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

12 Jul 202413min

July 11th: Beast of Birkenshaw (Peter Manuel) Dies (1958) When members of a community wake to read the news and find that, again and again, murder overtakes the headlines, it’s hard not to descend into complete chaos and fear. On July 11th 1958 a serial killer’s reign of terror was permanently ended after over a year of frenzied fear. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Manuel, https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/shows/once-upon-a-true-crime/peter-manuel-the-beast-of-birkenshaw-glasgow-s-worst-serial-killer, https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/manuel-peter.htm, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-9660625/True-story-ITVs-Plain-Sight-Killer-dubbed-Beast-Birkenshaw-terrorised-Scotland.html, https://www.britishmurders.com/petermanuelpart1/, https://the-line-up.com/peter-manuel-beast-of-birkenshaw Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

11 Jul 202411min

July 10th: Marcus Shrader Dies (2007) Monsters who take the lives of the innocent should spend what remains of their life behind bars. On July 10th 2007 a man who was eligible for parole passed away before being given the chance to walk free. A monster who took the lives of a handful of young girls and ruined the life of a living victim who he forced to join him in his terror. https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/shrader-marcus.htm, https://www.wfmynews2.com/article/news/local/jacksonville-man-convicted-in-1974-murder-denied-parole/83-403636647, https://wcti12.com/archive/killer-dies-in-prison Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

10 Jul 20248min

July 9th: Leigh Matthews Disappeared (2004) We always imagine the sense of closure a family feels after their loved one’s killer is placed in prison. But, this is not always the case. On July 9th 2004 a young woman disappeared in a case that saw a quick arrest and a speedy trial. But, even all these decades later, the family feels a lack of closure despite the fact that her killer remains behind bars. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Leigh_Matthews, https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/leigh-matthews-fear-and-shock-as-donovan-moodleys-parole-process-begins-to-unfold-20220120, https://www.news24.com/news24/southafrica/news/leigh-matthews-murder-convicted-killer-donovan-moodley-changes-version-again-during-parole-hearing-20230330, https://www.iol.co.za/pretoria-news/news/convicted-killer-donovan-moodley-face-to-face-with-leigh-matthews-parents-in-parole-bid-f777157e-1047-4735-beb3-96780cd2360d, https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2022-01-21-leigh-matthews-murderer-donovan-moodley-to-apply-for-parole/, https://www.2oceansvibe.com/2023/03/30/sub-leigh-matthews-murder-donovan-moodley-lies-again-during-parole-bid/, https://www.citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/courts/leigh-matthews-killer-donovan-moodley-denied-parole/, https://mg.co.za/article/2005-07-25-how-leigh-matthews-was-murdered/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

9 Jul 20248min

July 8th: Ken McElroy Tries to Kill Bo Bowenkamp (1980) What happens when the victim of a crime is someone everyone seems to hate? On July 8th 1980 a man described as the town’s bully attempted to take a life. It became the straw that broke the camel’s back for citizens who became desperate to put an end to his reign of terror. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_McElroy, ,https://fox2now.com/news/true-crime/missouri-town-keeps-bullys-murder-a-secret-for-40-years/, https://www.fourstateshomepage.com/local-news/missouri-town-keeps-bullys-murder-a-secret-for-40-years/, https://patch.com/us/across-america/who-killed-ken-rex-mcelroy-town-keeps-its-secret-38-years, https://medium.com/lessons-from-history/the-craziest-cold-case-in-history-the-murder-of-ken-rex-mcelroy-b0bfcc34adac, , https://www.insideedition.com/the-unsolved-murder-of-missouri-town-bully-ken-rex-mcelroy-no-one-saw-a-thing-54856https://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/16/us/16bully.html, https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/574749/ken-mcelroy-murder-skidmore-missouri, https://www.grunge.com/715399/the-unsolved-murder-of-ken-mcelroy/, https://www.themidwestcrimefiles.com/post/the-curse-of-skidmore-missouri Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

8 Jul 202410min

July 7th: Robert Bierenbaum Kills (1985) Just because there is an obvious suspect, doesn’t always mean there is enough evidence to actually arrest them. On July 7th 1985 a young woman disappeared in a case that saw everyone pointing the finger at one man. Despite this, it took decades to finally prove it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bierenbaum, https://abc7ny.com/robert-bierenbaum-gail-katz-murder-disappearance-2020-tonight/11151762/, https://abcnews.go.com/US/surgeon-confesses-wifes-body-airplane-ocean/story?id=80647310, https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/bierenbaum-robert.htm, https://www.kiro7.com/news/trending/former-new-york-surgeon-admits-killing-wife-throwing-body-airplane-1985/4DZD7BHILJHQRGCC4UIJU446OA/, https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/Dr-Robert-Bierenbaum-Gail-Katz, https://www.nytimes.com/2000/11/30/nyregion/doctor-gets-20-years-to-life-for-the-murder-of-his-wife.html Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

7 Jul 202414min

July 6th: Skylar Neese Killed (2012) Best friends aren’t always forever. On July 6th 2012 a young girl was last seen with people who, she thought, were her BFFs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Skylar_Neese, https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/stabbed-in-the-back-skylar-neese-was-murdered-by-her-best-friends, https://www.wdtv.com/2023/03/29/petition-deny-parole-teens-murderer-reaches-thousands/, https://www.wboy.com/only-on-wboy-com/morgantown-teen-murder-victim-skylar-neese-remembered-10-years-later/, https://allthatsinteresting.com/skylar-neese-murder, https://www.unilad.com/news/skylar-neese-murder-ten-years-20220923, https://www.ranker.com/list/skylar-neese-facts/amandasedlakhevener Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

6 Jul 202411min