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

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Jean-Claude Romand was a pretty big deal. He was a medical doctor. He was a researcher for the World Health Organization. He had an eye for good investments. To the outside world, Jean-Claude Romand looked like he was living the good life. His work was intellectually stimulating, and his schedule was flexible. But in January of 1993, Jean-Claude Romand’s perfect life came crashing down.  Then Kristin tells us… absolutely nothing! This week, Kristin had some medical issues (not COVID-19), so she didn’t have time to prepare a case. Instead, she shares PSA’s from her personal experience: 1. Listen to your body; 2. Get good health insurance. 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: Her own shitty experience! In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “France:The Phantom WHO Doctor” episode The Evidence Locker Podcast “Jean-Claude Romand: Fake French doctor who killed family is free” BBC News “Notorious French fake doctor and killer freed – lawyer” by Agence France-Presse, rappler.com “The Jean-Claude Romand case: fifteen years of lies, five murders” tellerreport.com “Fake French doctor who killed his family after they discovered his double life to be released” by Agence France-Presse, TheLocal.fr “Jean-Claude Romand” wikipedia.org

27 Maj 20201h 49min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! The Collin Street Bakery makes one hell of a fruitcake. For more than 100 years, the bakery has shipped their fruitcakes to everyone from Grace Kelly to Vanna White. In fact, the small-town bakery is such a big deal that Corsicana, Texas, is known as the fruitcake capital of the world. So when Sandy Jenkins landed a job as a payroll supervisor at the bakery, he and his wife Kay were ecstatic. But the glow wore off pretty quickly. He worked hard. He thought his pay rate was low. Too low. But as his role with the bakery grew, so did his access to the bakery’s money. So in December of 2004, he decided to help himself to some cash. Then Brandi tells us about a strange 911 call. It was October 12, 2012, when Shayna Hubers called 911. She’d just shot her boyfriend, attorney Ryan Poston. She told the dispatcher that she’d done so in self defense. Ryan had been violent with her, she said. He’d knocked her around and pushed her into a bookcase. The evidence told a different story. 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: “Just Desserts” by Katy Vine for Texas Monthly “Former Collin Street Bakery Executive and Wife Sentenced,” FBI.gov “Sandy Jenkins gets 10 years prison; probation for wife Kay,” Corsicana Daily Sun “A tale of trust betrayed at landmark Corsicana bakery,” by Barry Shlachter for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Obsessed” episode 48 Hours “Shayna Hubers” episode Snapped “Murder of Ryan Poston” wikipedia.org

20 Maj 20202h 14min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Rachel Entwistle’s friends knew something was up. They’d had plans to get together, but Rachel wasn’t answering the door. She wasn’t answering her phone, either. Plus, earlier that day, she’d blown off lunch plans with her mom. That didn’t seem like Rachel. Her friends convinced police to enter the Entwistle’s new home, but they didn’t find anything suspicious. It was a little weird that there was food on the table and the bathtub was full, but there were no signs of foul play. Surely Rachel, her husband Neil and their infant daughter Lillian would show up any minute.  Then Kristin tells us… absolutely nothing! This week, Kristin had some medical issues (not COVID-19), so she didn’t have time to prepare a case. Instead, she shares PSA’s from her personal experience: 1. Listen to your body; 2. Get good health insurance. 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: Her own shitty experience! In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Neil Entwistle: Sex, lies, and how a family man from Worksop murdered his wife and baby” by David Whitfield, The Nottingham Post “CRIME FILES: Former York student Neil Entwistle murdered wife and baby daughter” by Mike Pryce, York Press “Neil Entwistle” murderpedia.org “Murders of Rachel and Lillian Entwistle” wikipedia.org

13 Maj 20202h 9min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Pizzagate is a wildly stupid, debunked consipracy theory. It goes a little something like this: There’s a pizza place in Washington DC! They have a child sex ring in the basement!! Hilary Clinton and a bunch of other politicians go there to abuse kids!!!!  There’s not an ounce of truth to this story, but that didn’t stop a bunch of right wing fringe “news” outlets from running it. As a result, people believed it. And one man decided to take action. Then Brandi tells us an infuriating story about a dorm fire at Seton Hall. It was the wee hours of the morning in January of 2000, when the fire alarm went off in Boland Hall. Smoke filled the dormitory. Students tried to get to safety, but they’d never had a fire drill. The dorm wasn’t equipped with sprinklers. The smoke was so thick that it blinded them. The fire was traumatizing. Three students died. Fifty-eight were injured. And it all started thanks to a prank.  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: “How the bizarre conspiracy theory behind pizzagate was spread,” by Craig Silverman for Buzzfeed “Pizzagate Gunman Sentenced to Four Years in Prison,” by Merrit Kennedy for NPR “The Comet Ping Pong Gunman Answers Our Reporter’s Questions,” by Adam Goldman for the New York Times “Comet Pizza Gunman Pleads Guilty to Local and Federal Charges” Washington Post The Affidavit in Support of the Criminal Complaint “Is Comet Ping Pong Pizzeria Home to a Child Abuse Ring Led by Hillary Clinton?” by Kim Lacapria for Snopes.com “Anatomy of a Fake News Scandal,” by Amanda Robb for Rolling Stone In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Seton Hall: The Worst Dormitory Fire In The US” by Seamus McGraw, The Crime Library “Seton Hall dorm fire: A look at where some of the key people are today” by Alex Napoliello, NJ.com “3 Killed in Fire at Seton Hall; Dozens of Students Are Hurt” by Dan Barry, The New York Times “Sean M. Ryan v. New Jersey State Parole Board” justia.com “Boland Hall Fire” wikipedia.org

6 Maj 20202h 24min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! William Wallace was on a wild goose chase. He’d been told to go to 25 Menlove Gardens East, in Liverpool, for a business meeting. But no matter how hard he tried, or how many people he asked for directions, he couldn’t find the address. Dejected, he headed back home. But when he got home, he couldn’t get in. He complained to his neighbors, then went to the back of his house to try his key again. This time, the door opened. He went inside to discover his wife, Julia had been beaten to death. Suspicions quickly turned to William. He seemed to be the only person with a motive, but he also had a strong alibi. Then Kristin tells us about the summer of 2012, when the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton and her husband Prince William went on vacation to Provence, France. They stayed at a friend’s house on a 640-acre estate. At one point, the couple went out on their balcony in their swimsuits. Kate took off her top, to get a little sun. The couple had every reason to think they were alone. Little did they know that half a mile away, members of the paparazzi were hiding out, snapping pictures of the couple via long range lenses. 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 Watershed Significance of Kate Middleton’s Topless Photo Lawsuit,” by Elise Taylor for Vogue.com “Duchess of Cambridge topless photo case: Closer ordered by French court to pay 91,700 in damages,” by Maya Oppenheim for The Independent “Kate Middleton Topless Photos: Duke and Duchess Reveal Anger at ‘Grotesque’ Invasion,” Huffington Post UK “Kate Middleton Topless Photos Lawsuit Against French Magazine Ends in Payout For Royal Couple,” by Julia Glum for Newsweek “Death of Diana, Princess of Wales,” Wikipedia “The Princess and the Paparazzi: How Diana’s Death Changed the British Media,” by Kate Samuelson for Time Magazine “Diana Sues Over Gym Photos,” BBC “Court awards Duchess of Cambridge Damages Over Topless Photos,” by Kim Willsher for The Guardian In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “The Killing of Julia Wallace: An Impossible Murder” TheUnredacted.com “The "Impossible" 1930s Murder That Still Fascinates Crime Writers” by Deanna Cioppa, Mental Floss “The 'impossible' murder that rocked Liverpool and remains unsolved 80 years on” by Emilia Bona, The Liverpool Echo “William Herbert Wallace” wikipedia.org

29 Apr 20201h 49min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Mary Scott Castle was hot, rich, and well connected. But when she met a 21-year-old Porter Charlton, she was down on her luck. She’d just gotten divorced, and she’d blown her reputation to bits by shooting a man in the lobby of the Waldorf Astoria. But when Mary and Porter locked eyes, it was love at first sight. They got married a month later, and took off for a romantic European honeymoon. There was just one problem. Porter wasn’t so stable himself. Then Brandi tells us about a horrific attack in a Lululemon store. It was March of 2011. Coworkers Brittany Norwood and Jayna Murray had just left the Lululemon Athletica store in Bethesda, Maryland, when Brittany realized that she’d left her wallet in the store. When she called Jayna to tell her what she’d done, Jayna was accommodating. She told Brittany she’d meet her back at the store. The pain re-entered the store, leaving the door unlocked behind them.  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: “Lady in the lake” by Mara Bovsun The Daily News. “The Murder of the Beautiful and Accomplished Mrs. Edith Woodhill, 1909,” written by Thomas Duke in 1910, posted to historicalcrimedetective.com “Charlton Must go to Italy for Trial,” The Evening Times-Republican, June 10, 1913 “May Ask Wilson to Save Slayer,” The Washington Herald , June 11, 1913 “True Detective Tales: What is Justice? Murder at Romantic Como,” by Peter Levins for the Pittsburg Sun-Telegraph, April 24, 1940 “‘On Trial’ -- Omaha Boy in Spotlight,” The Omaha Sunday Bee, October 17, 1915 In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Brittany Norwood” episode Snapped “‘The Yoga Store Murder: The Shocking True Account of the Lululemon Athletica Killing’ by Dan Morse” by Daniel Stashower, The Washington Post “Lululemon victim was alive through most of beating” by Andrea Noble, The Washington Times “Brittany Norwood sentenced to life without parole” by Richard Reeve, WLJA 7 News “Maryland Lululemon Store Gives ‘Love’ Memorial to Family of Woman Killed There” NBC4 Washington “Lululemon Murder” wikipedia.org

22 Apr 20201h 25min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! This week, Brandi makes up for Kristin’s April Fool’s Day prank by *actually* covering the murder of Skylar Neese.  It was the summer of 2012, and Dave Neese was supposed to have lunch with his 16-year-old daughter, Skylar. But Skylar wasn’t anywhere to be found. Dave was annoyed. It wasn’t like Skylar to be so irresponsible. He called her, but got no answer. Hours passed. Skylar missed her shift at Wendy’s. Her co-workers were concerned. Skylar always showed up for work. At that point, Dave and Mary Neese called the police. Then Kristin tells the story of Dr. Ossian Sweet. Brandi tried to tell this story for our Black History Month episode, but threw in the towel. (In case you couldn’t tell, this episode is a rough one!) In 1925, Dr. Ossian Sweet and his wife Gladys Sweet were ready to buy their first home. As a black couple, they faced incredible obstacles. Restrictive covenants barred people of color from buying houses in white neighborhoods. That spring and summer, mobs of white people harassed black families who moved into white neighborhoods. Despite their fears, the Sweets bought a house at 2905 Garland St, Detroit, Michigan, and prepared to defend their property. 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 Sweet Trials” famous-trials.com “Ossian Sweet” wikipedia “Sweet Trials: 1925-26” encyclopedia.com The book, “We Return Fighting: The Civil Rights Movement in the Jazz Age” by Mark Robert Schneider “Dr. Alexander Turner” by Mariel Watkins for the Black Bottom Archives In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Something Wicked” episode Dateline “16-Year-Old Skylar Neese Was Stabbed To Death By Her Two Best Friends Because They Didn’t Like Her Anymore” by William DeLong, AllThatsInteresting.com “From Best Friends to Killers: Teens Murder Friend Because They 'Didn't Like Her’” by Gail Deutsch and Alexa Valiente, ABC News “Murder of Skylar Neese” wikipedia.org

15 Apr 20202h 8min

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! It was February of 1917, and 18-year-old Ruth Cruger was missing. Her family panicked. They called the police. But detectives didn’t seem too concerned. They assured the family that Ruth would come back. And if she didn’t? Well, Ruth was probably… on the prowl. The Crugers were offended by the implication, and incensed that the police weren’t taking them seriously. Months went by. Despite a credible suspect, the case went cold. So the Crugers did the only thing they could think to do. They hired a courageous, tenacious attorney named Grace Humiston. By the end of the saga, Grace would be dubbed, ‘Mrs. Sherlock Holmes.’  Then Brandi tells us about a shocking event that bystanders initially wrote off as a joke. It was the day before Halloween, in 1985, at the Springfield Mall in Springfield, Pennsylvania. A woman approached the mall wearing fatigues. She carried a gun. Most people thought she was in costume. Then she fired her very real weapon. 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: “Mrs. Sherlock Holmes Takes on the NYPD” by Karen Abbott for Smithsonian Mag “Missing in Action” By David Krajicek for the New York Daily News  The “Mrs. Sherlock Homes” episode of Criminal, where Brad Ricca is interviewed for his book, “Mrs. Sherlock Holmes: The true story of New York city’s greatest female detective and the 1917 missing girl case that captivated a nation” “Cocchi implicated in police grafting,” New York Herald June 23, 1917 “Buried Truth,” by Joseph McNamara for The Daily News “Cocchi says his wife killed girl,” Daily News June 26, 1919 In this episode, Brandi pulled from: “Sylvia Seegrist: Guilty But Insane” by Katherine Ramsland, The Crime Library “Sylvia Seegrist went psycho and killed three innocent people at the Springfield, Pa., mall” by Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News “Decades After Sylvia Seegrist, Mentally Ill People Are Still Murdering Innocents” by Victor Fiorillo, Philadelphia Magazine “Sylvia Seegrist” wikipedia.org

8 Apr 20201h 56min