Introducing “Broken: The Black Dahlia Murder” - A Once Upon a Crime Original Series

In this episode I’ll tell you about a case that got worldwide media attention due to the bizarre circumstances, the heinous nature of the crime, and the venue at which it occurred - a high school prom. Resources: Melissa Drexler, murderpedia.comhttps://murderpedia.org/female.D/d/drexler-melissa.htm “Before Prom Night, a Suspect was the Girl Next Door” by Abby Goodnough and Bruce Weber for The New York Times, July 2, 1997. https://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/02/nyregion/before-prom-night-a-suspect-was-the-girl-next-door.htmlSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

19 Sep 202225min

A student residing with three roommates on an Indiana college campus finds herself mired in a tense living situation. An unusual set of circumstances soon turns deadly. Resources: Murder Loves Company: Dorm Living Nightmare, Season 1, Episode 1, The Investigation Discovery Channel, (2019). Liette Martinez Obituary, Las Cruces-Sun News, April 22, 2008. A series of articles regarding this case can be found in the Albuquerque Journal, April 18, 2008 - Sept. 19, 2008.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

12 Sep 202226min

Kitty LeRoy was a sharpshooter, cardsharp, dancer, and entrepreneur.  She became a well-known entertainer in the Old West and ran with legends like Calamity Jane and Wild Bill Hickock. But her fierce temper and fiery personality often made her dangerous to be around. You may have never heard of Kitty LeRoy before but after this episode you won’t soon forget her. Resources:  “Kitty LeRoy: Lady Gambler and Gunfighter” by Kathy Weiser for Legends of America, Feb 2020.  https://www.legendsofamerica.com/we-kittyleroy/ “Kitty LeRoy: Untimely Death” by Greta for Explore Dallas History, Dec 29, 2018.  https://exploredallashistory.com/kitty-leroy-untimely-death/ “Kitty LeRoy was a Jig Dancer and Much More” by Marshall Trimble for True West Magazine, August 3, 2016.  https://truewestmagazine.com/kitty-leroy-was-a-jig-dancer-and-much-more/ “Wild Women Wednesday: Kitty LeRoy” by Chris Enss for Cowgir Magazinel, Dec 30, 2015. https://cowgirlmagazine.com/wild-women-wednesday-kitty-leroy/ Boudoirs to Brothels: The Intimate World of Wild West Women, Michael Rutter, Farcountry Press, 2015. https://www.google.com/books/edition/Boudoirs_to_Brothels/QhrICgAAQBAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

22 Aug 202220min

In 1819, Lavinia Fisher and her husband John were accused poisoning and murdering multiple guests of their Charleston, South Carolina inn and sentenced to hang.  But were the Fishers really serial killers or is the legend simply a tall tale concocted to entertain tourists? The true story of who Lavinia Fisher was and why she was hanged may shock you. Resources: Lavinia Fisher: Legends of America, https://www.legendsofamerica.com/sc-laviniafisher/ Murder and Mayhem in the Holy City, Pat Hendrix, The History Press, Charleston, South Carolina, 2006. Six Miles to Charleston: The True Story of John and Lavinia Fisher, Bruce Orr, The History Press, Charleston, South Carolina, 2010. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

15 Aug 202237min

In this series we’ll step back in history to learn about some of the history’s first female outlaws. In this episode I’ll tell you about Sally Skull, ranch owner, horse trader, fandango dancer, and gunslinger. Some say Sally’s quick temper - and even quicker hand with a gun - was responsible for the mysterious disappearances of two of her five husbands.  Resources:  “The legendary Sally Skull was a gun-slinging, foul-mouthed Texas horse trader”, Allison Ehrlich for the Corpus Christi Caller Times, March 17, 2022.  https://www.caller.com/story/news/special-reports/building-our-future/throwback/2022/03/17/tbt-sally-skull-gun-slinging-foul-mouthed-texas-horse-trader/7006359001/ “Two Sixshooters and a Sunbonnet”, Dan Kilgore for Publications of the Texas Folklore Society, Legendary Ladies of Texas.  http://sonsofdewittcolony.org/texwomen.htm Scull, Sarah Jane Newman (Sally) (1817 - unknown), Texas State Historical Association.  https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/scull-sarah-jane-newman-sally “Sally Skull - The Scariest Siren in Texas”, Maggie Van Ostrand for Legends of America. https://www.legendsofamerica.com/tx-sallyskull/ Music Attributions: The following music was used for this media project: Music: Slow Western Intro by Brian Holtz Music Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8782-slow-western-intro License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://brianholtzmusic.com  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

1 Aug 202226min

A young girl leaves her hometown of Ohio for the Big Apple with her heart set on a career as a Broadway dancer. Instead, she meets a young man who becomes obsessed with controlling her life. Unable to let her go, Paul Cortez commits a shocking crime.  Resources: The People v. Paul Cortez, New York Court of Appeals filing, April 8, 2013.  https://casetext.com/brief/e970db1d-the-people-respondentvpaul-cortez-appellant-brief  “A dancer’s secret life and savage murder, Keith Morrison/NBCNews.com, Jan 15, 2006.  https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10868185  “The Last Dance”, 48 Hours, May 4, 2006, retrieved from CBSNews.com https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-last-dance/ See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

25 Juli 202237min

This week’s episode details a murder that, at first glance, appears to be a cut-and-dried case of a lover’s quarrel turned deadly.  Upon investigation, it is discovered to be a much more thought-out and sinister plan.  When authorities uncover the real killer he turns out to be an actor who attempted to parlay his skills as a performer to pull off “the perfect crime”. Sources: “Actor is held in double slaying.” Los Angeles Times, 29 05 2010,    https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104583077/actor-is-held-in-double-slaying/. “Actress convicted of lying to police about ex-fiance's double murder pleads innocence in  interrogation tapes.” ABC News, 30 May 2019,  https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/actress-convicted-lying-police-fiances-double-murder- pleads/story?id=63234575 . Accessed 4 July 2022. “As coldblooded as a murderer gets.” Los Angeles Times, 09 01 2016,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104976453/as-coldblooded-as-a-murderer-gets/. Berg, Tom. “Justice delayed: Why it took more than 5 years for trial of Daniel Wozniak, accused  of killing 2, beheading one victim.” Orange County Register, 7 December 2015,  https://www.ocregister.com/2015/12/07/justice-delayed-why-it-took-more-than-5-years- for-trial-of-daniel-wozniak-accused-of-killing-2-beheading-one-victim/. Accessed 4 July  2022. “Brother of double killer is arrested.” Los Angeles Times, 24 12 2016,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105002079/brother-of-double-killer-is-arrested/. “Death Penalty for OC Killer.” Los Angeles Times, 12 01 2016,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104977538/death-penalty-for-oc-killer/. “Neighbor beheaded and his friend killed.” Modesto Bee, 29 05 2010,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/105001017/neighbor-beheaded-and-his-friend-killed/. Pelisek, Christine. “Daniel Wozniak Murders Re-examined in New Podcast | PEOPLE.com.”  People, 28 August 2018,  https://people.com/crime/daniel-wozniak-rachel-buffett-murders-in-new-podcast/.  Accessed 28 June 2022. “Prosecutors will seek death penalty.” Los Angeles Times, 26 05 2012,  https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104951198/prosecutors-will-seek-death-penalty/. Sclafani, Julia. “Double murderer's ex-fiancée is sentenced to jail as accessory after slayings.”  Los Angeles Times, 8 November 2018,  https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-dpt-me-buffet-sentencing-20181108- story.html. Accessed 4 July 2022. “This community theater actor's final performance was a chilling confession to double murder.”  ABC News, 29 May 2019,  https://abcnews.go.com/US/community-theater-actors-final-performance-chilling- confession-double/story?id=63181588. Accessed 4 July 2022. “Woman pleads not guilty in beheading.” The Californian, 05 12 2012, https://www.newspapers.com/clip/104945493/woman-pleads-not-guilty-in-beheading/. The following music was used for this media project: Music: Cinematic Background Sad by MusicLFiles Free download: https://filmmusic.io/song/8181-cinematic-background-sad License (CC BY 4.0): https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Artist website: https://cemmusicproject.wixsite.com/musiclibraryfiles   Stay The Course by Kevin MacLeod Link: https://incompetech.filmmusic.io/song/5048-stay-the-course License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license Edge Of Forever by Tim Kulig Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8488-edge-of-forever License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license    What Lurks In The Dark by Dave Deville Link: https://filmmusic.io/song/8233-what-lurks-in-the-dark License: https://filmmusic.io/standard-license See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

18 Juli 202230min

In this month’s series “Final Curtain Call” a film or theater actor is connected to a sensational crime.  In 1973, The Exorcist was released in theaters. Moviegoers were shocked by the film’s graphic depiction of a little girl possessed by a demon.  But one movie extra, Paul Bateson, had demons of his own which lead him to commit an act of violence and become a prime suspect in a series of grisly murders.  Resources: Paul Bateson: The ‘Mindhunter’ Murderer Who Appeared in ‘The Exorcist’ -  https://allthatsinteresting.com/paul-bateson   The Exorcist Serial Killer -  https://www.truecrimeedition.com/post/paul-bateson Bag Murders and The Last Call Killer Put in Focus the Dangers the NY LGBTQ+ Community Faces, Inside Edition Online - https://www.insideedition.com/how-the-bag-murders-and-the-last-call-killer-put-in-focus-the-dangers-the-new-york-lgbtq-community Rites Held for Addison Verrill, Variety Reporter Killed in Robbery, The New York Times,  Sept 20, 1977. Arthur Bell, 51, a Columnist, Homosexual Rights Activist, The New York Times, June 6, 1984.  Cruising, The Daily Sentinel, Grand Junction, Colorado, Feb 22, 1980.  Visit our website at www.truecrimepodcast.comSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

11 Juli 202221min