268: The Disappearance of an Entire Family

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Alice Anderson was in a state of alarm. Her fifteen year old son, Bruce Brenizer had just called with disturbing information. His father, Rick, was missing. So was his father’s girlfriend, Ruth Berentson. Ruth’s daughters, Mindy and Heidi, along with Bruce’s half-sister, Crystal, had vanished as well. Alice made several phone calls before she determined that it was time to involve the police. Someone needed to find this missing family.

And now for a note about our process. For this episode, Brandi copy and pasted 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, Brandi pulled from:
“The Brenizer/Berentson Family” episode Family Massacre
“‘I Did It. I Killed Them All’: 15-Year-Old Shot And Incinerated 5 Family Members” by Joe Dziemianowicz, oxygen.com
“The Brenizer Berentson Family” episode Crimelines Podcast
“Rumors Fly, But Murders Still A Puzzle” by Rogers Worthington and Chicago Tribune, Chicago Tribune
“Deal possible in killing of five” by The Associated Press, Wisconsin State Journal
“Two years later, Brenizer relatives seek answers” by The Associated Press, Leader Telegram
“Brenizer ruled insane” by The Associated Press, The Oshkosh Northwestern
“Life terms for Brenizer in family slayings” by Richard Meryhew, Star Tribune
“Appeals Court Says Wis. Killer Should Remain In Mental Hospital” by The Associated Press, CBS News
“State v. Bruce C. Brenizer” justia.com

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