Played

  • On August 28, 2017, police in Corning, NY responded to a call about “suspicious circumstances” at the home of forty-six-year-old mother of three Michele Neurauter. Upon entering the home, the scene appeared to be a fairly straightforward suicide; however, investigators were immediately suspicious that Michele Neurauter had been murdered and the scene had been staged to look like suicide. Michele’s mother, Jeanne Laundy, agreed, and she had a pretty good idea of who would have wanted to kill her daughter: Michele’s ex-husband, Lloyd Neurauter.

    Investigators quickly learned Michele and Lloyd Neurauter had been involved in a bitter custody battle for years, and Michele had repeatedly accused her ex-husband of trying to turn their children against her. After months of investigation, Corning detectives discovered that not only had Lloyd Neurauter succeeded in turning his children against Michele, but he had also recruited his second-oldest daughter, Karrie, to help him murder her mother.

    Thank you to the debonair David White for research assistance 

    References:

    Kingsley, Jennifer. 2010. "Nickelodeon recognizes Corning woman's blog about parenting." Star-Gazette, June 1: 3.

    Moriarty, Erin. 2020. "I had to choose": Did a father brainwash his daughter to help plan her mother's murder?February 8. Accessed June 14, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michele-neurauter-murder-i-had-to-choose-did-a-father-brainwash-his-daughter-to-help-plan-to-kill-her-mother/.

    Murray, Jeff. 2018. "N. Brunswick man gets life, no parole, for murder." Central New Jersey Home News, December 5: A1.

    —. 2018. "Ex-RIT student, dad indicted in Corning slaying." Democrat and Chronicle, February 23: A2.

    —. 2018. "RIT student pleads not guilty to murder." Democrat and Chronicle, Janaury 27: A15.

    —. 2018. "DA: Murder suspect tried to bribe witness." Star-Gazette, April 13: A1.

    —. 2018. "Man pleads guilty to killing wife in Corning." Star-Gazette, October 13: A1.

    —. 2018. "Murder suspect pleads guilty." Star-Gazette, March 9: A1.

    —. 2018. "Two charged with murder." Star-Gazette, January 26: A1.

    NBC. 2019. Dateline: The Ultimatum. New York.

    Smith, Jeff. 2020. "Karrie Neurauter, manipulated into helping kill mother, released from prison." The Corning Leader, Janaury 30.

    Teurfs, Kathryne. 2020. Daughter who pleaded guilty to helping her father plan to kill her mother released from prison. February 7. Accessed June 15, 2023. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/karrie-neurauter-daughter-who-pleaded-guilty-to-helping-her-father-kill-her-mother-released-from-prison/.

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  • In the summer of 1980, nineteen-year-old Nancy Santomero, and two friends, twenty-six-year-old Vicki Durian and nineteen-year-old Liz Johndrow, left Durian’s parents’ home in Iowa to hitchhike to West Virginia to attend a gathering of the Rainbow Family. Five days later, Santomero and Durian’s bodies were discovered in the woods in West Virginia, shot to death just hours before being found, and Johndrow was nowhere to be seen.

    More than a decade after their bodies were discovered, police in West Virginia had identified several suspects and eventually charged thirty-four-year-old farmer Jacob Beard, who was convicted in 1993 and sentenced to life in prison. Upon appeal, however, it was revealed that the investigation into Beard was rife with dubious circumstantial evidence, police misconduct, and perjury, which led to a new trial and Beard was exonerated. 

    Thank you to the lovely Dave White for research assistance

    References:

    Associated Press. 1992. "W. Va drops Rainbow charges." Roanoke Ties and World-News, July 21: 6.

    —. 1992. "Arrests in women's deaths 'witch hunt' attorney says." The Daily Progress , April 25: 7.

    —. 2000. "Jury finds man innocent in Rainbow murder trial." The Roanoke Times, June 1: 21.

    Behrens, David. 2000. "Too many years without answers." Newsday, February 16: B6.

    Daily Press. 1980. "2 murdered women in 'Rainbow Family'." Daily Press, June 27: 44.

    Danville Reigister and Bee. 1993. "Jury deliberating in slayings case." Danville Register and Bee, June 4: 10.

    Darling, Lynn. 1980. The Rainbow People. July 7. Accessed August 7, 2023. https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1980/07/07/the-rainbow-people/80aadbf3-ef61-4d43-9d62-766d4d01fc56/.

    Horn, Dan. 1997. "Franklin's boasting may unlock convict." The Cincinnati Post, April 18.

    Lovegrove, Richard. 1980. "Rainbow camp still going up despite slaying of women." The Roanoke Times, June 28: 1.

    —. 1980. "Two women slain near 'Rainbow' camp remain unidentified." The Roanoke Times, July 10: B-8.

    Possley, Maurice. 2012. Jacob Beard. July 30. Accessed August 8, 2023. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3963.

    State of West Virginia v. Jacob W. Beard. 1998. 24644 (Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, July 15).

    State of West Virginia v. Jacob W. Beard. 1995. 22504 (Supreme Court of Appeals of West Virginia, January).

    The Gazette. 1983. "2 West Virginia men charged in death of Wellman woman." The Gazette, April 8: 14.

    —. 1992. "4 charged in Wellman woman's 1980 slaying." The Gazette, April 17: 10.

    United Press International. 1980. "Young woman who skipped tragic hitchhiking trip found." The Daily Progress, July 17: 7.

    Wallace, Terry. 1992. "Seething hostility led to killing of hitchhikers." The Daily Progress, April 20: 1.

    West Virginia Public Broadcasting. 2020. Two Women Murdered Traveling to Rainbow Gathering. June 25. Accessed August 8, 2023. https://wvpublic.org/june-25-1980-two-women-murdered-traveling-to-rainbow-gathering/.

    https://kmbllaw.com/dont-just-ask-to-suppress-the-involuntary-statement-and-the-evidence-thats-fruit-of-the-poisonous-tree-ask-for-a-full-kastigar-hearing/#:~:text=In%20other%20words%2C%20the%20Kastigar,compelled%20after%20an%20immunity%20order.

    https://www.upcounsel.com/legal-def-habeas-corpus#:~:text=The%20writ%20of%20habeas%20corpus%20serves%20as%20an%20important%20check,290%2D91%20(1969).

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  • In the summer of 1974, paranormal investigators and UCLA students Barry Taff and Kerry Gaynor were approached in a bookstore by a woman who’d overheard their conversation about the supernatural and said she had a friend who needed help from someone with their expertise. The friend in question was Doris Bither, a middle-aged single mother of four who claimed she and her family were under attack from unseen entities in their Culver City, California home. 

    According to Doris, the attacks began several months earlier and included, among other things, objects moving on their own, the presence of inexplicable foul odors in the house, unusual noises with no point of origin, and most distressingly, multiple physical and sexual assaults that were increasing in frequency and intensity. 

    Thank you to the lovely David White for research assistance :)

    References

    Biddle, Kenny. 2021. "A Closer Look at the Entity Photographs." Skeptical Inquirer 45 (6).

    O'Keeffe, Ciaran, James Houran, Damian Houran, Neil Dagnall, Kenneth Drinkwater, Lorraine Sheridan, and Brian Laythe. 2019. "The Dr. John Hall story: a case study in putative “Haunted People Syndrome"." Mental Health, Religion & Culture 22 (9): 910-929.

    Ortega, Xavier. 2011. The Real Entity Case, Part II. August 6. Accessed August 23, 2023. https://www.ghosttheory.com/2011/08/06/the-real-entity-case.

    Radford, Benjamin. 2021. "The ‘True’ Story behind The Entity: Untangling Hollywood Horror." Skeptical Inquirer 45 (6). https://skepticalinquirer.org/2021/10/the-true-story-behind-the-entity-untangling-hollywood-horror/.

    2005. The Entity Files. Directed by Perry Martin. Produced by Anchor Bay Entertainment. Performed by Barry Taff.

    —. 2011. The Real Entity Case. August. Accessed August 24, 2023. http://barrytaff.net/2011/08/the-real-entity-case-2/.

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  • On the evening of December 28, 1956, fifteen-year-old Barbara Grimes and her thirteen-year-old sister, Patricia, left their home in Chicago, Illinois headed for a movie theater in Brighton Park to see the latest Elvis Presley film. When the girls failed to return home that evening as expected, their mother sent the two other siblings to wait for them at the closest bus station, but when they returned later without Barbara and Patricia, she became anxious and began calling their friends, before eventually phoning the police. Three weeks later, Barbara and Patricia’s bodies were discovered on the side of a rural road by a construction worker in Willow Springs, about an hour outside Chicago.

    The murder of the Grimes sisters and the investigation that followed remains one of Chicago’s most notorious cold cases and one of the most costly and labor-intensive searches in the state’s history.

    Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me The Axe Podcast for research assistance!

    References

    Chicago Tribune. 1957. "Suspect's mom says he's lazy, shiftless bum." Chcago Tribune, January 25: 3.

    —. 1957. "Charged with murder of Grimes girls." Chicago Tribune, January 28: 1.

    —. 1957. "Dsicloses how 2 girls ditched him and companion in theater." Chicago Tribune, January 27: 1.

    —. 1957. "High points of the news." Chicago Tribune, February 3: 8.

    —. 1957. "'I knew it!' sobs mother." Chicago Tribune, 01 23: 1.

    —. 1957. "Nude bodies thrown beside country road." Chicago Tribune, January 23: 1.

    —. 1957. "Rule out sex attack, strangling theories." Chicago Tribune, January 24: 1.

    —. 1958. "Slayer of girl, 15, hopes he gets chair." Chicago Tribune, November 19: 1.

    —. 1957. "Widen search for 2 young sisters missing four days." Chicago Tribune, January 1: 5.

    —. 1956. "Young sisters reported seen in two places." Chicago Tribune, December 31: 6.

    Gowran, Clay. 1957. "Re-enacts crime, and shows how he dumped two in ditch." Chicago Tribune, January 28: 1.

    Lowry, Shirley. 1957. "Lost girls' mother keeps brave." Chicago Tribune, January 11: 3.

    McGill, Nancy. 1957. "Mom denies Skid Row tale." Chicago Tribune, Janaury 28: 6.

    Milwaukee Journal. 1957. "Grimes case tiff costs job." Milwaukee Journal, February 16.

    Nix, Naomi. 2013. "1950s case gets new look from pro, amateurs." Chicago Tribune, 30 May: 1.

    Taylor, Troy. 2015. The Two Lost Girls: The Mystery of the Grimes Sisters. Jacksonville, IL: Whitechapel Press.

    United Press. 1957. "Bennie admits part in crime." Daily Chronicle, January 28: 1.

    —. 1957. "New suspect is arrested." Daily Chronicle, January 24: 1.

    —. 1957. "Two teen-aged girls killed." Daily Chronicle, Janaury 23: 1.

    UWIRE. 2019. "'Chicago History Cop' making headway in Grimes sisters' murder case." UWIRE, October 25.

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  • Deep in the woods near Cornwall, Connecticut, in a valley known as the Dark Entry Forest, lie the remains of the small village of Dudleytown. Settled in the mid-eighteenth century by British colonists, Dudleytown was a thriving mining community that for provided charcoal and other minerals for the growing steel industry in and around New England. But by the late nineteenth century, the mining industry had shifted west and slowly, but surely the population of Dudleytown shrank until there, by the early twentieth century, there were only a handful of people living in the village. By 1924, the village of Dudleytown was completely abandoned and fell into the ownership of a private trust, who sought to restore the forest ecosystem to its pre-colonial health.

    In retrospect, historians and others familiar with the region have cited a variety of social, economic, and ecological reasons for the collapse and abandonment of Dudleytown, yet there are those who believe the abandonment of the village has a darker and more supernatural explanation. There were rumors of widespread madness among the villagers, unexplained deaths and other tragedies, and a curse that dates back to the founding of village in the 1740s.

    Today, the area is said to be haunted and, despite being private property, it has become a popular destination for ghost hunters and legend trippers who are determined to find out whether Dudleytown is truly a cursed village or just a victim of shifting social and economic trends.

    Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for Research!

    References

    Barlow, Bart. 1980. "A lost town populated by legends." New York Times, October 26: C2.

    Campos, Chris. 1976. "The death of a town is the life of a curse." The Journal, May 29: 1.Cornwall Conservation Commission. 2012. The Land and People of Cornwall, Connecticut: A Conservation Perspective of Our Town's Natural Treasures. Historical evalutation, Cornwall, CT: Cornwall Conservation Commission.

    Cornwall Historical Society. 2014. The Truth about Dudleytown. September 29. Accessed October 29,2023. http://cornwallhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-truth-about-dudleytown.html.

    Drozdowski, Ted. 1978. "Old ghouls still haunt state's cliffs, villages." The Morning Record and Journal, October 28: 35.

    Hartford Courant. 2006. "True curse haunting family's forest land was progress." Hartford Courant, October 25: B2.

    Hutter, David. 2008. Man pays price to spot Dudleytown ghosts. August 3. Accessed October 3, 2023.

    https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/Man-pays-price-to-spot-Dudleytown-ghosts-12147138.php.

    New England Historical Society. n.d. The Dudleytown Curse, Connecticut's Village of the Damned.

    Accessed October 3, 2023. https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/the-dudleytown-curse-connecticuts-village-of-the-damned/.

    Pallatto, John. 1980. "Only the ghost hunters walk in legend-cursed Dudleytown." Hartford Courant, November 1: 9.

    Pettit, John. 1996. "The spirits were willing, but the flesh was weak." Record Journal, October 31: 1.

    Revai, Cheri. 2006. Haunted Connecticut: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Constitution State.

    Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books.

    Rierden, Andi. 1989. "A hamlet that can't get rid of its ghosts." New York Times, October 29: C2.

    Ryan, Bill. 1986. "Dudleytown legend haunts Cornwall." Hartford Courant, April 13: 12.

    Siedzik, Jason. 2011. In Cornwall, Dudleytown movie makers arrested. December 8. Accessed October 3, 2023. https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/In-Cornwall-Dudley-Town-Movie-Makers-Arrested-16886230.php.

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  • On May 20, 1947, decorated army veteran Jack Kettlewell and his friend Ronald Barrie barely escaped a devastating housefire at Ronald’s cabin along the Severen River in rural Ontario, Canada. One day later, Jack’s twenty-two-year-old wife, Christina Kettlewell, was discovered dead a short distance from the cabin, lying face down in a pool of shallow water and still wearing the pajamas she had on the night of the fire. During the autopsy, it was discovered that Christina’s lungs were clear of smoke and her body was free of any burns or other signs of violence; rather, as unbelievable as it seemed, the cause of death was drowning. 

    Christina and Jack had married in a secret ceremony held just eight days before the fire, leading many to wonder whether her new husband had something to do with her death. Was it a crime of passion? A calculated murder to cash-in on a life insurance policy? Or was it truly just a tragedy? And what of Ronald Barrie’s presence on the trip? If it was indeed a honeymoon of sorts, why had the young newlyweds brought along a friend? 

    In the months that followed, Christina Kettlewell’s mysterious death captivated the residents of eastern Canada. With each new day, a piece of the puzzle seemed to fall into place, indicating that the mystery might soon be solved. Yet by mid-summer, a police investigation and the coroner’s inquest had failed to provide an explanation for Christina’s death or a satisfactory conclusion to the case. Today, more than seventy-five years later, the death of Christina Kettlewell remains one of Ontario’s most enduring mysteries.

    Thank you to the wonderful David White, of the Bring Me the Axe Podcast, for research assistance!

    References

    Isai, Vjosa. 2017. What happened to Toronto's 'eight-day bride?'. July 4. Accessed November 27, 2023. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/what-happened-to-toronto-s-eight-day-bride/article_1a09012b-13fa-5931-b512-7cc331d56ed4.html.

    Kingston Whig-Standard. 1947. "Coroner's jury to view place bride died." Kingston Whig-Standard, June 25: 1.

    North Bay Nugget. 1947. "Open verdict is returned in Kettlewell case." North Bay Nugget, June 26: 1.

    Owen Sound Daily Sun-Times. 1947. "Possibility of suicide in drowning of bride investigated by police." Owen Sound Daily Sun-Times, mAY 23: 1.

    Sun Times. 1947. "Open verdict is returned by Kettlewell case jury as no decision reached." Sun Times, June 26: 1.

    —. 1947. "Open verdict is returned by Kettlewell case jury as no decision reached." Sun Times, June 26: 1.

    Toronto Daily Star. 1947. "Police report distrubance before Christina married." Toronto Daily Star, May 28: 2.

    —. 1947. "Suicide notes bride's expert tells inquest." Toronto Daily Star, June 20: 1.

    Windsor Star. 1947. "Police hint at foul play in mystery." Windsor Star, May 22: 1.

    —. 1947. "Probe for missing cash in honeymoon mystery." Windsor Star, May 26: 1.

    —. 1947. "Statement of Ronald Barrie reveals some strange events." Windsor Star, June 21: 8.

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  • A community frantically searches for two missing boys who disappeared in a dense forest. Days pass with no leads, but a man's prophetic dream leads to their discovery.

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  • When Sandy Bird was found dead in her wrecked car in the Cottonwood River in the summer of 1983, everyone assumed the thirty-three-year-old Kansas mother of three had misjudged the turn on the one-lane bridge and gone over the side, her death a tragic accident. Similarly, when Martin Anderson was gunned down on the side of a Kansas state road just a few months later, the residents of Emporia, KS believed he was the victim of robbery gone wrong—the kind of random violence that investigators often struggled to solve. 

    What no one knew at the time was that the ostensibly accidental death of Sandy Bird and the tragic murder of Martin Anderson were in fact linked by a conspiracy of Sandra’s husband, Tom Bird, and his mistress, Lorna Anderson, designed to rid themselves of their respective spouses. Unfortunately, their plot began unraveling just a few weeks after Martin’s murder and both Tom and Lorna were arrested for the murders, along with their co-conspirators, and eventually went to trial. While the murders shocked the communities in rural Kansas, the most unbelievable aspect of the case was that the killers were a Lutheran pastor and his devout secretary.

    Thank you to the wonderful, David White of the Bring Me the Axe podcast, for research assistance!

    References

    Close, Dan. 1984. "Minister is accused of soliciting murder." Wichita Eagle-Beacon, March 22: 1.

    —. 1984. "Minister ordered to stand trial." Wichita Eagle-Beacon, June 1: 1.

    —. 1983. "Slaying victim's wife held." Wichita Eagle-Beacon, November 24: 1.

    —. 1983. "Unanswered questions plague K-177 tragedy." Wichita Eagle-Beacon, November 8: 1.

    Hayes, Jean. 1985. "Jury in bird trial begins deliberations." Wichita Eagle, July 23: 51.

    Hays, Jean. 1985. "Bird's wife described as unhappy." Wichita Eagle, July 12: 15.

    Kraft, Scott. 1986. "‘We Don’t Have These Type of People Out Here’ : Murderous Affair Shocks Kansas Town." Los Angeles Times, March 17.

    —. 2004. "Who Killed Sandy?" Los Angeles Times Magazine, May 2.

    State of Kansas v. Thomas Bird. 1986. 240 Kan. 288 (Supreme Court of Kansas, December 5).

    State of Kansas v. Thomas P. Bird. 1985. 708 P.2d 946 (Supreme Court of Kansas, October 25).

    United Press International. 1985. "At first no one paid uch attention ." United Press International: Domestic News, August 4.

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  • In March 1977, Arizona businessman Charles Morgan went missing from his home in Tucson, only to turn up three days later in the middle of the night, shoeless, traumatized, and with broken plastic handcuffs on his wrists and ankles. Unable to speak, Charles wrote that he had been drugged by an unnamed individual and kidnapped, but he refused to let his wife call the police or otherwise report the assault. Three months later, Charles Morgan’s body was discovered in the desert with a gunshot wound in the back of his head, one of his teeth wrapped in a handkerchief, and a two-dollar bill pinned to his underwear.

    From the outside, Charles Morgan appeared to live a very normal and decidedly unexciting life. Yet when investigators began digging into his background to find out who would have wanted him dead, they discovered a complicated and bizarre story of supposed government agents, mobsters, and a mystery that one would have expected from a Hollywood screenplay, not the life of a middle-aged Arizona escrow agent. The increasingly bizarre details of Morgan’s life and death comprise a fascinating mystery that remains unsolved to this day and endures as one of Arizona’s most baffling cold cases.

    Thank you to David White, of the Bring Me the Axe podcast, for research assistance

    References

    Bassett, Edward, and David Dykes. 1977. "Mystery death a suicide?" Tucson Citizen, June 22: 1.

    Bassett, Edward, and Richard Wood. 1977. "Slain businessman's bank dealings probed." Tucson Citizen, June 27: 3.

    Flanagan, Ray. n.d. "Did 'hit-man."

    —. 1990. "Did 'hit-man' with ties to region figure in Arizona death case?" Tribune, September 25: 3.

    Heltsley, Ernie, and John Rawlinson. 1979. "1977 shooting ended Tucsonan's two lives." Arizona Daily Star, February 4: 1.

    Jordan, Tracy. 1990. "City residents asked to drop a dime on hit man." Times Leader, October 22: 3.

    Kwok, Abraham. 1992. "Phoenix death a mistaken 'hit'?" Arizona Republic, May 6: 10.

    Matas, Kimberly. 2010. "Strange evidence found in '77 on, near man's body." Arizona Daily Star, March 31: A08.

    1990. Unsolved Mysteries. Directed by John McLaughlin. Performed by John McLaughlin.

    Salkowski, Joe, and Enric Volante. 2002. "Mob faded locally long before key figure died." Arizona Daily Star, May 19: 1.

    Svejcara, Bob. 1977. "Sheriff finds no foul play in Morgan death." Arizona Daily Star, August 11: 13.

    Svejcara, Bob, and Ernie Heltsley. 1977. "Slain businessman seen during 'absence'." Arizona Daily Star, June 23: 1.

    Tucson Citizen. 1977. "Sheriff's probe says Morgan was a sucide." Tucson Citizen, August 11: 4.

    Wood, Richard. 1977. "Slain Tucson executive: solid citizen... mystery man." Tucson Citizen, June 21: 2.

    —. 1977. "Woman says Morgan hid, trying to buy off his life." Tucson Citizen, June 21: 1.

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  • Sabrina & Corinne from Two Girls One Ghost join us on this week's episode to talk about the dark histories behind childhood nursery rhymes. Fresh off of our ghost hunting experience at the Lizzie Borden house, we talk about the childhood rhyme and where it went wrong, as well as talk about others that SEEMED so innocent!

    Don't forget to check the episode on the Two Girls One Ghost feed where we talk about our ghost hunting experiences! It was WILD!

    Thank you to the wonderful Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for research!

    References

    Burton-Hill, Clemency. 2015. The dark side of nursery rhymes. June 10. Accessed February 6, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150610-the-dark-side-of-nursery-rhymes.

    Hazlett, Lisa A. 2009. "The use of British nursery rhymes and contemporary technology as venues for creating and expressing hidden literacies throughout time by children, adolescents, and adults." Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table. 

    Opie, Iona, and Peter Opie. 1952. The Oxofrd Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press.

    Roberts, Chris. 2005. Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme. Sheridan, WY: Gotham Books.

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  • When thirty-eight-year-old Steven Robards died unexpectedly in the winter of 1993, everyone including the coroner believed his death to have been the result of a heart attack—unusual for someone so young, but certainly not unheard of. It wasn’t until the following year, when Steven’s teenage daughter, Marie, was practicing for the school play, that the girl confessed the truth to her friend: Steven Robards didn’t die from a heart attack, he was murdered by his daughter with chemicals she’d stolen from the high school chemistry lab.

    In the United States, it’s exceedingly rare for a child to kill a parent, and rarer still for that child to be female. The truth about Steven Robards murder shocked the residents of the Fort Worth area and divided the community between those who were sympathetic to her claims of desperation and those who saw her as nothing more than a craven predator who’d do anything to get what she wanted. Indeed, Marie claimed she had only wanted to make her father sick so she could return to living with her mother, from whom she’d been separated since her parents’ divorce, and she had never wanted to kill him.

    Ultimately a jury didn’t buy Marie’s story and sentenced her to twenty-seven years in prison, of which she served only seven years before being paroled. Was Marie Robards really just a confused teenager who acted impulsive without regard for the consequences of her actions? Or was she really the calculating self-serving killer some believed her to be?

    Thank you to David White, of the Bring Me the Axe podcast, for research assistance!

    References

    Blaney, Betsy. 1997. "Trial near for NRH teen accused of killing father." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 17: 1.

    Cochran, Mike. 1996. "Ex-UT student headed for patricide trial." Austin American-Statesman, May 6: 11.

    —. 1996. "Teen says she didn't mean to kill dad." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 6: 1.

    Hanna, Bill, and Kathy Sanders. 1994. "Daughter appears in court." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 20: 21.

    Hollandsworth, Skip. 1996. "Poisoning Daddy." Texas Monthly, July 01.

    Hood County News. 1994. "City staff's reactions mixed on poison suspect's presence." Hood County News, November 2: 1.

    Vozzella, Laura. 1996. "Accused dreamed of being coroner, prosecutor says." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 8: 50.

    —. 1996. "Chemistry student gets 28-year term in father's death." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 11: 1.

    —. 1996. "Teen is found guilty of poisoning her father." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 10: 15.

    —. 1996. "Teacher says chemical hidden from police." Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, May 9: 21.

    2001. Forensic Files. Directed by David Wasser. Performed by David Wasser.

    Alaina's 2nd book in the Dr Wren Muller Series, THE BUTCHER GAME will be released on September 17th, 2024! To Pre-order go to (https://zandoprojects.com/books/the-butcher-game/) PLUS! If you preorder the book, get an autographed poster while supplies last by visiting (http://thebutchergame.com/)

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  • Considered among the first (and certainly the most prolific) American female serial killers and so-called angels of mercy, Jane Toppan’s killing spree went unnoticed for more than fifteen years, as she transitioned from one hospital to another, leaving an unprecedented trail of carnage in her wake. Jane was finally arrested in 1901, after killing the entire family of a man for whom she’d been hired to provide care. The arrest and trial were a sensation, as murder and cruelty were a direct contradiction of the norms and standards long relied upon to define American womanhood. 

    Thank you to the amazing Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for research!

    References

    Boston Globe. 1902. "Agree that she's insane." Boston Globe, April 6: 1.

    —. 1901. "Alden P. Davis' death due to another cause." Boston Globe, November 21: 1.

    —. 1901. "Hint to watch Miss Toppan." Boston Globe, October 31: 5.

    —. 1901. "Inquiry is under way." Boston Globe, August 31: 1.

    —. 1902. "Is Miss Toppan sane." Boston Globe, March 26: 1.

    —. 1904. "Jane Toppan an imbecile." Boston Globe, July 10: 6.

    —. 1902. "Jane Toppan insane, found not guilty." Boston Globe, June 24: 1.

    —. 1938. "Jane Toppan, poisoner of 31, dies in hospital at age pf 81." Boston Globe, August 18: 1.

    —. 1901. "Marriage and money." Boston Globe, November 1: 1.

    —. 1901. "Murder by poison." Boston Globe, October 31: 1.

    —. 1901. "No cause for suspicion." Boston Globe, November 4: 2.

    Lowell Historical Society. 2022. Lowell’s ties to “Jolly” Jane, Massachusetts’ Female Serial Killer. October 29. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.lowellhistoricalsociety.org/lowells-ties-to-jolly-jane-massachusetts-female-serial-killer/.

    New York Times. 1904. "Jane Toppan, an extraordinary case of moral insanity." New York Times, October 23: A2.

    —. 1938. "Miss Jane Toppan, 84, Mass poisoner, dies." New York Times, August 18: 15.

    Schechter, Harold. 2012. Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer. New York, NY: Pocket Books.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • When Jane Toppan began training to be a nurse at Cambridge Hospital in 1885, she was bright, eager, and well-liked by her peers and seemed to form easy bonds with the oldest and most vulnerable patients. What no one knew at the time was, once Jane managed to get time alone with her patients, she began conducting medical experiments by injecting them with various drugs and even going so far as to get into bed with them to hold them close to her as they died from the overdoses she’d administered.

    Thank you to the amazing Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for research!

    References

    Boston Globe. 1902. "Agree that she's insane." Boston Globe, April 6: 1.

    —. 1901. "Alden P. Davis' death due to another cause." Boston Globe, November 21: 1.

    —. 1901. "Hint to watch Miss Toppan." Boston Globe, October 31: 5.

    —. 1901. "Inquiry is under way." Boston Globe, August 31: 1.

    —. 1902. "Is Miss Toppan sane." Boston Globe, March 26: 1.

    —. 1904. "Jane Toppan an imbecile." Boston Globe, July 10: 6.

    —. 1902. "Jane Toppan insane, found not guilty." Boston Globe, June 24: 1.

    —. 1938. "Jane Toppan, poisoner of 31, dies in hospital at age pf 81." Boston Globe, August 18: 1.

    —. 1901. "Marriage and money." Boston Globe, November 1: 1.

    —. 1901. "Murder by poison." Boston Globe, October 31: 1.

    —. 1901. "No cause for suspicion." Boston Globe, November 4: 2.

    Lowell Historical Society. 2022. Lowell’s ties to “Jolly” Jane, Massachusetts’ Female Serial Killer. October 29. Accessed March 28, 2024. https://www.lowellhistoricalsociety.org/lowells-ties-to-jolly-jane-massachusetts-female-serial-killer/.

    New York Times. 1904. "Jane Toppan, an extraordinary case of moral insanity." New York Times, October 23: A2.

    —. 1938. "Miss Jane Toppan, 84, Mass poisoner, dies." New York Times, August 18: 15.

    Schechter, Harold. 2012. Fatal: The Poisonous Life of a Female Serial Killer. New York, NY: Pocket Books.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • On the evening of October 9, 1983, twenty-three-year-old Timothy Coggins met up with some friends for a night out at the People’s Choice club, a popular night club in Griffin, Georgia, a rural area about forty-five minutes outside of Atlanta. When Tim didn’t return home the next day, his family assumed he’d stayed at a friend’s house, as he often did on nights he stayed out late. Those assumptions were shattered one day later, when investigators showed up at the Coggins’ front door carrying a photograph of what would be identified as Tim’s dead, mutilated body.

    At first, local investigators assured the Coggins family they would find whoever was responsible for Tim’s brutal murder; however, within just a couple weeks, it was clear they didn’t have any leads or evidence, nor did they seem all that interested in investigating Tim’s death. Eventually, the months passed into years and the case went completely cold and Tim’s family lost any hope of his killers being brought to justice. Then, more than three decades after his death, investigators contacted the Coggins family and told them they’d found the men responsible for Tim’s death.

    Timothy Coggins’ story is yet another reminder of how in many parts of the United States, the hideous beliefs of a bygone era are still alive and well, devastating families and perverting the justice system. 

    Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe and 99 Cent Rental Podcasts for Research!

    References

    Boone, Christian. 2018. "Well proves crucial in cold murder case." Atlanta Journal Constitution, July 1.

    —. 2017. "2 boasted of dragging black man behind pickup truck." Atlanta Journal-Constitution, December 1.

    —. 2018. "Race center stage at trial's opening." Atlanta Journal-Constitution, June 21.

    Franklin Gebhard v. The State of Georgia. 2019. S19A1582 (Supreme Court of Georgia, December 23).

    Gomez, Melissa, and Matt Stevens. 2018. "Conviction after 34 years in murder of Black man." New York Times, June 27.

    Helm, Nelson. 2017. "5 arrested in connection with '83 murder in Spaulding County." Atlanta Constitution, October 14: B1.

    —. 2017. "Dragging death case was racial." Atlanta Journal-Constitution, November 2.

    2022. Cold Case Files. Directed by Ricky Lewis. Performed by Ricky Lewis.

    Lowery, Wesley. 2020. "A Brutal Lynching. An Indifferent Police Force. A 34-Year Wait for Justice." GQ Magazine, July 17.

    McLaughlin, Eliott C. 2017. "Killers meant to 'send a message,' sheriff says of 1983." CNN Wire, October 20.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • Part four focuses on Fred & Rose West's final crimes, and the events leading up to their arrest. Their subsequent trials would become the focus of the nation as people learned of the atrocities performed at their home.

    Thank you to the wondrous Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for Research!

    References

    Amis, Martin. 2000. When darkness met light. May 11. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2000/may/11/features11.g2.

    BBC News. 1998. Fred West 'admitted killing waitress'. March 25. Accessed March 19, 2024. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/69928.stm.

    —. 2001. How many more did Fred West kill? September 27. Accessed March 19, 2024. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1567038.stm.

    —. 2021. The 12 victims of Fred and Rosemary West. May 27. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-57182844.

    Bennett, Will. 1995. Step-daughter Charmaine was first to die. November 22. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/stepdaughter-charmaine-was-first-to-die-1583071.html.

    Birmingham Evening Mail. 1974. "Missing girls theory." Birmingham Evening Mail, January 7: 1.

    Birmingham Post. 1968. "Missing waitress mystery deepens." Birmingham Post, January 23: 2.

    —. 1974. "Student missing for six days may return ton university-police." Birmingham Post, January 2: 2.

    —. 1968. "Yard detectives join search for Gloucester girl." Birmingham Post, January 9: 1.

    Campbell, Duncan. 1995. "How a string of girls came to die in depraved and appalling circumstances." The Guardian, October 7.

    Duce, Richard. 1995. "West's suicide avenged killings, QC tells jurors." The Times, November 16.

    Duce, Richard, and Bill Frost. 1995. "Court told of depravity at 25 Cromwell Street." The Times, October 7: 4.

    Evening Post. 1968. "Helicopter joins hunt for Mary." Evening Post, January 8: 1.

    Evening Standard. 1974. "Have you spotted this girl?" Evening Standard, July 4: 18.

    Frost, Bill. 1995. "Cromwell Street murders case man is dead." The Times, Janaury 2.

    Frost, Bill, and Richard Duce. 1995. "I'm being made a scapegoat, says West." The Times, November 2.

    —. 1995. "No place for sentiment, West jurors are told." The Times, October 4.

    —. 1995. "West: I fell under Fred's spell." The Times, October 31.

    Gloucester Echo. 1994. "Did builder know Mary?" Gloucester Echo, March 8: 3.

    —. 1994. "Graden bodies: Who were they?" Gloucester Echo, March 2: 1.

    Gloucestershire Echo. 1995. "From angelic child to coldest of killers." Gloucestershire Echo 5.

    —. 1995. "Fred West found dead." Gloucestershire Echo, January 2: 1.

    —. 1995. "I'll see you in court, Rose." Gloucestershire Echo, January 4: 1.

    Knight, Adam. 2014. Fred West's brother denies incest claims. November 7. Accessed March 17, 2024. https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/11587578.fred-wests-brother-denies-incest-claims/.

    Lee, Adrian, Tim Jones, and Damian Whitworth. 1996. "Fred West's brother hangs himself." The Times, November 29.

    Ovington, Paul. 1974. "Hunt steps up as fear grows for Lucy, 21." Western Daily Press and Times, January 4: 1.

    Sounes, Howard. 1995. Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors. New York, NY: Open Road Media.

    United Press International. 1995. "British jury convicts West of 10 murders." UPI Archive, November 22.

    West, Mae, and Neil McKay. 2018. Love as Always, Mum: The True and Terrible Story of Surviving a Childhood with Fred and Rose West. London, UK: Seven Dials Press.

    Williams, Martin. 1994. "'Our sister is still alive'." Gloucester Echo, February 26: 1.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • Part three focuses on the pattern formed by the West's subsequent murders, as well as a hiatus from killing that was marked by countless sexual assaults.

    Thank you to the wondrous Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for Research!

    References

    Amis, Martin. 2000. When darkness met light. May 11. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2000/may/11/features11.g2.

    BBC News. 1998. Fred West 'admitted killing waitress'. March 25. Accessed March 19, 2024. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/69928.stm.

    —. 2001. How many more did Fred West kill? September 27. Accessed March 19, 2024. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1567038.stm.

    —. 2021. The 12 victims of Fred and Rosemary West. May 27. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-57182844.

    Bennett, Will. 1995. Step-daughter Charmaine was first to die. November 22. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/stepdaughter-charmaine-was-first-to-die-1583071.html.

    Birmingham Evening Mail. 1974. "Missing girls theory." Birmingham Evening Mail, January 7: 1.

    Birmingham Post. 1968. "Missing waitress mystery deepens." Birmingham Post, January 23: 2.

    —. 1974. "Student missing for six days may return ton university-police." Birmingham Post, January 2: 2.

    —. 1968. "Yard detectives join search for Gloucester girl." Birmingham Post, January 9: 1.

    Campbell, Duncan. 1995. "How a string of girls came to die in depraved and appalling circumstances." The Guardian, October 7.

    Duce, Richard. 1995. "West's suicide avenged killings, QC tells jurors." The Times, November 16.

    Duce, Richard, and Bill Frost. 1995. "Court told of depravity at 25 Cromwell Street." The Times, October 7: 4.

    Evening Post. 1968. "Helicopter joins hunt for Mary." Evening Post, January 8: 1.

    Evening Standard. 1974. "Have you spotted this girl?" Evening Standard, July 4: 18.

    Frost, Bill. 1995. "Cromwell Street murders case man is dead." The Times, Janaury 2.

    Frost, Bill, and Richard Duce. 1995. "I'm being made a scapegoat, says West." The Times, November 2.

    —. 1995. "No place for sentiment, West jurors are told." The Times, October 4.

    —. 1995. "West: I fell under Fred's spell." The Times, October 31.

    Gloucester Echo. 1994. "Did builder know Mary?" Gloucester Echo, March 8: 3.

    —. 1994. "Graden bodies: Who were they?" Gloucester Echo, March 2: 1.

    Gloucestershire Echo. 1995. "From angelic child to coldest of killers." Gloucestershire Echo 5.

    —. 1995. "Fred West found dead." Gloucestershire Echo, January 2: 1.

    —. 1995. "I'll see you in court, Rose." Gloucestershire Echo, January 4: 1.

    Knight, Adam. 2014. Fred West's brother denies incest claims. November 7. Accessed March 17, 2024. https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/11587578.fred-wests-brother-denies-incest-claims/.

    Lee, Adrian, Tim Jones, and Damian Whitworth. 1996. "Fred West's brother hangs himself." The Times, November 29.

    Ovington, Paul. 1974. "Hunt steps up as fear grows for Lucy, 21." Western Daily Press and Times, January 4: 1.

    Sounes, Howard. 1995. Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors. New York, NY: Open Road Media.

    United Press International. 1995. "British jury convicts West of 10 murders." UPI Archive, November 22.

    West, Mae, and Neil McKay. 2018. Love as Always, Mum: The True and Terrible Story of Surviving a Childhood with Fred and Rose West. London, UK: Seven Dials Press.

    Williams, Martin. 1994. "'Our sister is still alive'." Gloucester Echo, February 26: 1.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • Part two delves into Fred's life after he met Rose, exploring the origins of the affair leading to their marriage and the beginning of the sadistic crimes that would horrify the world at large.

    Thank you to the wondrous Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for Research!

    References

    Amis, Martin. 2000. When darkness met light. May 11. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2000/may/11/features11.g2.

    BBC News. 1998. Fred West 'admitted killing waitress'. March 25. Accessed March 19, 2024. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/69928.stm.

    —. 2001. How many more did Fred West kill? September 27. Accessed March 19, 2024. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1567038.stm.

    —. 2021. The 12 victims of Fred and Rosemary West. May 27. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-57182844.

    Bennett, Will. 1995. Step-daughter Charmaine was first to die. November 22. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/stepdaughter-charmaine-was-first-to-die-1583071.html.

    Birmingham Evening Mail. 1974. "Missing girls theory." Birmingham Evening Mail, January 7: 1.

    Birmingham Post. 1968. "Missing waitress mystery deepens." Birmingham Post, January 23: 2.

    —. 1974. "Student missing for six days may return ton university-police." Birmingham Post, January 2: 2.

    —. 1968. "Yard detectives join search for Gloucester girl." Birmingham Post, January 9: 1.

    Campbell, Duncan. 1995. "How a string of girls came to die in depraved and appalling circumstances." The Guardian, October 7.

    Duce, Richard. 1995. "West's suicide avenged killings, QC tells jurors." The Times, November 16.

    Duce, Richard, and Bill Frost. 1995. "Court told of depravity at 25 Cromwell Street." The Times, October 7: 4.

    Evening Post. 1968. "Helicopter joins hunt for Mary." Evening Post, January 8: 1.

    Evening Standard. 1974. "Have you spotted this girl?" Evening Standard, July 4: 18.

    Frost, Bill. 1995. "Cromwell Street murders case man is dead." The Times, Janaury 2.

    Frost, Bill, and Richard Duce. 1995. "I'm being made a scapegoat, says West." The Times, November 2.

    —. 1995. "No place for sentiment, West jurors are told." The Times, October 4.

    —. 1995. "West: I fell under Fred's spell." The Times, October 31.

    Gloucester Echo. 1994. "Did builder know Mary?" Gloucester Echo, March 8: 3.

    —. 1994. "Graden bodies: Who were they?" Gloucester Echo, March 2: 1.

    Gloucestershire Echo. 1995. "From angelic child to coldest of killers." Gloucestershire Echo 5.

    —. 1995. "Fred West found dead." Gloucestershire Echo, January 2: 1.

    —. 1995. "I'll see you in court, Rose." Gloucestershire Echo, January 4: 1.

    Knight, Adam. 2014. Fred West's brother denies incest claims. November 7. Accessed March 17, 2024. https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/11587578.fred-wests-brother-denies-incest-claims/.

    Lee, Adrian, Tim Jones, and Damian Whitworth. 1996. "Fred West's brother hangs himself." The Times, November 29.

    Ovington, Paul. 1974. "Hunt steps up as fear grows for Lucy, 21." Western Daily Press and Times, January 4: 1.

    Sounes, Howard. 1995. Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors. New York, NY: Open Road Media.

    United Press International. 1995. "British jury convicts West of 10 murders." UPI Archive, November 22.

    West, Mae, and Neil McKay. 2018. Love as Always, Mum: The True and Terrible Story of Surviving a Childhood with Fred and Rose West. London, UK: Seven Dials Press.

    Williams, Martin. 1994. "'Our sister is still alive'." Gloucester Echo, February 26: 1.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • In this four part series, we dive into the horrific crimes of Fred & Rose West. We begin by exploring Fred's formative years which laid a foundation for his callousness and depraved appetites.

    Thank you to the wondrous Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for Research!

    References

    Amis, Martin. 2000. When darkness met light. May 11. Accessed March 21, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/theguardian/2000/may/11/features11.g2.

    BBC News. 1998. Fred West 'admitted killing waitress'. March 25. Accessed March 19, 2024. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/69928.stm.

    —. 2001. How many more did Fred West kill? September 27. Accessed March 19, 2024. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1567038.stm.

    —. 2021. The 12 victims of Fred and Rosemary West. May 27. Accessed March 18, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-gloucestershire-57182844.

    Bennett, Will. 1995. Step-daughter Charmaine was first to die. November 22. Accessed March 19, 2024. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/stepdaughter-charmaine-was-first-to-die-1583071.html.

    Birmingham Evening Mail. 1974. "Missing girls theory." Birmingham Evening Mail, January 7: 1.

    Birmingham Post. 1968. "Missing waitress mystery deepens." Birmingham Post, January 23: 2.

    —. 1974. "Student missing for six days may return ton university-police." Birmingham Post, January 2: 2.

    —. 1968. "Yard detectives join search for Gloucester girl." Birmingham Post, January 9: 1.

    Campbell, Duncan. 1995. "How a string of girls came to die in depraved and appalling circumstances." The Guardian, October 7.

    Duce, Richard. 1995. "West's suicide avenged killings, QC tells jurors." The Times, November 16.

    Duce, Richard, and Bill Frost. 1995. "Court told of depravity at 25 Cromwell Street." The Times, October 7: 4.

    Evening Post. 1968. "Helicopter joins hunt for Mary." Evening Post, January 8: 1.

    Evening Standard. 1974. "Have you spotted this girl?" Evening Standard, July 4: 18.

    Frost, Bill. 1995. "Cromwell Street murders case man is dead." The Times, Janaury 2.

    Frost, Bill, and Richard Duce. 1995. "I'm being made a scapegoat, says West." The Times, November 2.

    —. 1995. "No place for sentiment, West jurors are told." The Times, October 4.

    —. 1995. "West: I fell under Fred's spell." The Times, October 31.

    Gloucester Echo. 1994. "Did builder know Mary?" Gloucester Echo, March 8: 3.

    —. 1994. "Graden bodies: Who were they?" Gloucester Echo, March 2: 1.

    Gloucestershire Echo. 1995. "From angelic child to coldest of killers." Gloucestershire Echo 5.

    —. 1995. "Fred West found dead." Gloucestershire Echo, January 2: 1.

    —. 1995. "I'll see you in court, Rose." Gloucestershire Echo, January 4: 1.

    Knight, Adam. 2014. Fred West's brother denies incest claims. November 7. Accessed March 17, 2024. https://www.herefordtimes.com/news/11587578.fred-wests-brother-denies-incest-claims/.

    Lee, Adrian, Tim Jones, and Damian Whitworth. 1996. "Fred West's brother hangs himself." The Times, November 29.

    Ovington, Paul. 1974. "Hunt steps up as fear grows for Lucy, 21." Western Daily Press and Times, January 4: 1.

    Sounes, Howard. 1995. Fred & Rose: The Full Story of Fred and Rose West and the Gloucester House of Horrors. New York, NY: Open Road Media.

    United Press International. 1995. "British jury convicts West of 10 murders." UPI Archive, November 22.

    West, Mae, and Neil McKay. 2018. Love as Always, Mum: The True and Terrible Story of Surviving a Childhood with Fred and Rose West. London, UK: Seven Dials Press.

    Williams, Martin. 1994. "'Our sister is still alive'." Gloucester Echo, February 26: 1.

    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  • On the afternoon of August 19, 1993, 33-year-old Ginger May Hudson was outside her home in Pittsburg, Kansas enjoying a soak in the tub in her yard after work. She was seen by a city employee with some newspapers reporting that the witness was also a neighbor, and that’s why he recognized Ginger. The witness reported seeing her around 3:30 PM. Several hours later, her boyfriend returned home, and Ginger was not there, but all of her personal belongings were left behind. He would later tell police that he didn’t call them until nearly midnight because he had been busy searching on his own and calling friends and relatives to see if they were with Ginger, but Ginger has never been seen or heard from again.

    If you have any information about the disappearance of Ginger Hudson, please call the Crawford County Sheriff’s Office at 620-724-8274.

    This episode was sponsored by:

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  • 26-year-old Olivia Fowler had spent the evening of August 12, 2021, at her boyfriend’s home in Manchester, GA. He said he last saw Olivia that night when he went to bed. Her boyfriend reported that she said she was going to go smoke a cigarette on the porch. The boyfriend says that Olivia was gone by the time he awoke the following morning. There were other sightings of Olivia after her boyfriend went to bed that evening. Witnesses reported seeing Olivia walking near her boyfriend’s home on the morning of August 13. It is believed that Olivia left her boyfriend’s house around 8 am, and she was seen by a passerby walking around 8:30 am. The final sighting of Olivia was by a DNR officer around 10:30 am on Pebblebrook Road. Olivia was walking and didn’t appear to be in distress. After that, Olivia vanished, and very few clues were left behind.

    If you have any information regarding the disappearance of Olivia Fowler, please contact your nearest FBI office or call (770) 216-3000.

    UPDATE: In August of 2023, law enforcement announced that the remains that were mentioned in our episode were identified as Olivia Fowler.

    This episode was sponsored by:

    Audible- Visit Audible.com/MIA or text MIA to 500-500 to try Audible free for 30 days.

    If you have a missing loved one that you would like to have featured on the show, please fill out our case submission form.

    Follow The Vanished on social media at:

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    See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.