Once Upon A Crime | True Crime

A 7-year-old goes missing while on a family camping trip in 1973.  Anonymous calls would be placed demanding a ransom, but, the trail would grow cold until exactly one year later when the kidnapper would call her mother to brag about taking her daughter.   Resources: Documentary: The FBI Files, "Dark Woods", Season 5, Episode 13.  Articles:  Bible Verse May Have Spurred Meirhofer, The Daily Interlake, October 4, 1974 Small Town Terror by Joseph MacNamara for The New York Daily News, December 22, 1994 The Quality of Mercy by Antoinette Martin for The Detroit Free Press, August 21, 1994 Not Another Victim by Amy Linn for The Missoula Independent, November 5, 2015 Music Credits: Music from https://filmmusic.io"Floating Cities" by Kevin MacLeod (https://incompetech.com)License: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/) Links: Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  CrimeCon CrowdSolve - https://www.crimecon.com/crowdsolve-seattle

In a small French village, a little boy goes missing and the family receives anonymous letters from a person taking responsibility who is dubbed "The Crow".  This strange case could be considered the Jon Benet Ramsey case of France.   Resources: Articles:  The Long Shadow of the Crow by Scott Kraft for The Los Angeles Times, December 9, 1993 Gregory by Anthony Davis for CrimeMagazine.com, April 30, 2009 The Murder of Little Gregory: The unsolved case that haunted France by John Henley for The Guardian, August 28, 2017 Links: Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime episode:  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-episode-lets-taco-bout-crime-junkie-plagiarism/id1452118167?i=1000447888185 

A young girl goes missing in South Carolina in 1985.  Soon after, her kidnapper would begin calling her family - but not to make demands for her safe return, but only to cruelly taunt them.  This is the first chapter in the series "Taunting Terrors".  Resources: Book: Murder in the Midlands: Larry Gene Bell and the 28 Days of Terror that Shook South Carolina by Rita Y. Shuler Articles:  South Carolina serial killer forced girl to write a farewell note and tormented his victims' families after sick spree in mid-80s by Mara Bovsun, New York Daily News, November 15, 2014 Left Behind: Survivors of Capital Crimes Don't want the Victims to be Forgotten by Becky Beane for PFM.org Court Records:  United States Court of Appeals, Fourth Circuit. Larry Gene Bell v. Parker Evatt, Commissioner, South Carolina Department of Corrections, T. Travis Medlock, Attorney General, State of South Carolina, December 18, 1995 Social Media:  Twitter - @uponacrime Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Facebook and Instagra

A horror film franchise is seemingly cursed when it experiences tragedies including hauntings, serious accidents, fatal illness and murder.   Resources:  https://www.ranker.com/list/victims-of-the-poltergeist-curse/melissa-brinks  https://www.grunge.com/35883/bizarre-things-happened-set-poltergeist/  http://www.the13thfloor.tv/2015/12/22/the-shocking-history-of-the-poltergeist-curse/ http://www.iconsoffright.com/IV_Oliver.htm   https://www.nytimes.com/1992/03/24/nyregion/crash-at-la-guardia-survivors-of-mangled-plane-recall-fire-water-terror.html http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/143731%7C0/Heather-O-Rourke/ https://www.statesman.com/article/20110202/NEWS/302029646

From 1922 to the 1940s over 40 child actors would be cast in a popular series of short films and many of them would later fall victim to strange accidents, illnesses, drug addiction, financial hardship, murder and suicide.  This is The Curse of The Little Rascals. Resources: Television Episode: E! True Hollywood Story: Curse of the Little Rascals Alfalfa's Mysterious Death - www.tvparty.com Convicted killer of "Little Rascal" dies - AP, The Monitor, McAllen, Texas, July 19, 2014

Every manifestation of the Man of Steel - comic books, television shows and films - has been marked by bad blood, shattered careers, tragic accidents and even murder.  This is the Curse of Superman.  Resources: George Reeves Revealed: An Inside Look at the Life and Tragic Death of Television's First Superman by Ed Gross for CloserWeekly.com, Feb. 27, 2019 Who Killed Superman? TheGuardian.com, Nov. 17, 2006

Three child actors become stars after being cast in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes in 1978.  But, all three would go on to live troubled adult lives including drug addiction, legal troubles and untimely death.  These are the stories of Todd Bridges, Dana Plato and Gary Coleman.  Resources: The Tragic Stars of Different Strokes, People Magazine, March 25, 1991 Gary Coleman dies at 42; child star of hit sitcom Diff'rent Strokes by Dennis McClellan for The Los Angeles Times, May 29, 2010.   The Overdose Death of Dana Plato by Frank Wilkins for ReelReviews.com.  Todd Bridges book: Killing Wills: From Diff'rent Strokes to the Mean Streets to the Life I Always Wanted, Simon and Schuster, 2010. 

Susan Polk enters into a relationship with her therapist when she is a young girl. Years later, after 20 years of marriage, she will claim she has been abused by her husband for decades.  After he is found dead in their guest house the question would be, was this a case of self-defense or a cold-blooded murder?  Resources: Court record: The People, Plaintiff and Respondent, v. Susan Mae Polk, Defendant and Applellant, Contra Costa County Super. Ct. No. 031668-7, December 13, 2010 Articles: A California Murder Raises Troubling Issues by Carol Pogash for The New York Times, September 18, 2005 Obituary of Dr. F. Felix Polk, SFGate.com, November 5, 2002.  Slaying rips apart a family in Orinda by Jason Dearen for Bay Area News Group, October 10, 2005.  Convicted Orinda killer Susan Polk denied parole, kicked out of hearing midway through by Nate Gartrell for Bay Area News Group, July 17, 2019.  

A mother seeks help for her special needs child, but a church prayer service ends tragically.   Several resources were used in the research for this episode including: Book: True Stories of Law and Order by Kevin Dwyer and Jure Fiorillo  Articles:  Death by Exorcism by David Krajicek for the New York Daily News, October 8, 2006 Sponsor:  Native Deodorants - www.nativedeodorant.com  - Use promo code ONCE for 20% off your first purchase.  Subscribe to "Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime"  On iTunes: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-taco-bout-true-crime/id1452118167 On Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/7k3cQGC0unJGSMhlEZRiWG?si=dLyaqKydRDi_SA3wYkhWnw  On Stitcher: https://www.stitcher.com/s?fid=379086  

In the second chapter of the series "Deadly Therapy" a young girl who grows up in an unstable home is placed up for adoption.  Her adoptive mother finds her behavior problematic and has her undergo a new and controversial therapy - with tragic results.    Resources" Her Name was Candace by Carla Crowder and Peggy Lowe for Denver Rocky Mountain News, Oct. 29, 2000     https://culteducation.com/group/1115-rebirthing/17893-her-name-was-candace.html Seeking Child’s Love, A Child’s Life is Lost by Barry Siegel for the Los Angeles Times, Feb. 4, 2001   https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-feb-04-mn-21072-story.html Links from this episode:  www.singleparentadvocate.org www.doorofhope.us www.adoptuskids.org www.togetherwerise.org https://store.23skidoovintage.com https://www.facebook.com/events/493288214744272/

In this month's series, "Deadly Therapy", I’ll detail cases of people who sought help from experts, but rather than receiving healing and transformation, their journeys came to an abrupt and deadly end.  In this first chapter, you’ll hear how James, Arthur Ray, a self-described success coach and guru required his followers to perform increasingly more extreme mental and physical challenges all in the pursuit of “enlightenment” with deadly results.  Resources: Articles:  The Death Dealer by Matt Stroud in The Verge.  Arizona Sweat Lodge: The Inside Story of James Ray's Fatal Retreat by Miguel Sancho and Kimberley Brown for ABC News.  Blogs:   https://spiritualityisnoexcuse.wordpress.com/james-rays-first-victim-colleen-conaway/ Films: Enlighten Us: The Rise and Fall of James Arthur Ray (2016) 

Identical twin sisters, Sunny and Gina Han were lifelong rivals.  One sister's jealousy would lead her to plot her twin's murder.  Resources: Court Transcripts: People v. Han, Court of Appeal, Fourth District, Division 3, California, Feb. 25, 2000 Opposition of Parole letter from Orange County District Attorney's Office to Office of Governor Jerry Brown, November 20, 2017.  Articles: 'Evil Twin' Granted Parole Despite DA's Objections by Nathan Solis for Courthousenews.com, June 21, 2018.  Links: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime www.truecrimepodcast.com

In this bonus episode, I interview Jan Broberg and Skye Borgman about their documentary film "Abducted in Plain Sight" LIVE at CrimeCon 2019 in New Orleans. #AbductedinPlainSight #truecrimedocumentary #CrimeCon2019

On this bonus episode I take you along with me to CrimeCon 2019 in New Orleans and my travels to New York City and Toronto for the Toronto True Crime Film Festival.   #CrimeCon #NewOrleans #TorontoTrueCrimeFilmFestival #truecrimedocumentaries #NewYorkCity  www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod 

I continue the story of the Gibbons Sisters - twins who were locked in a battle their entire lives. Neither believed they could survive without the other, but controlled each other so completely they only spoke to or associated with one another.  When they reached adolescence, they knew they had to find some way to break out of this destructive twin bond or both would perish.  Their desperation lead them to commit increasingly antisocial and criminal acts.  This is part two of "The Silent Twins".  Resources: Marjorie Wallace, The Silent Twins, (London, Vintage Books 1998).  BBC: Inside Story, The Silent Twin: Without my Shadow. YouTube, Uploaded by GottaFindPants, Nov 20, 2017. https://youtu.be/98WtP1qC61s  Links: Website: www.truecrimepodcast.com Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod

June and Jennifer Gibbons were identical twins who, from a very young age, were so bonded to one another that they created their own “twin language” to communicate speaking only to one another.  They rejected any other relationships including their own parents and siblings.  Later, they would construct a fantasy world that only they inhabited.  This lead to more serious anti-social behavior that resulted in a shocking crime spree.   Resources: Marjorie Wallace, The Silent Twins, (London, Vintage Books 1998).  BBC: Inside Story, The Silent Twin: Without my Shadow. YouTube, Uploaded by GottaFindPants, Nov 20, 2017. https://youtu.be/98WtP1qC61s  Music credits: Music from https://filmmusic.io: "Reflections" by Alexander Nakarada (https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com/) Licence: CC BY (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

"Lost and Found" was the very first series of Once Upon a Crime in June, 2016.  In that series I covered the story of three young women who were held captive and abused by Ariel Castro for over a decade.  In this bonus episode we give you an update about these survivors - Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry and Gina De Jesus.   Links: Our website:  www.truecrimepodcast.com CrimeCon:  www.CrimeCon.com - Use offer code ONCE19 for 10% off your registration.  Toronto True Crime Film Festival: www.torontotruecrimefilmfestival.com Our Social Media: Facebook: www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod Click here to join our Facebook group.   Twitter: www.twitter.com/uponacrime  www.twitter.com/tacoboutcrime Instagram: www.instagram.com/onceuponacrimepod 

A mother takes justice into her own hands in Jamestown, California in 1993 when she discovers her son has been abused by a child molester.  Some called her a hero, others denounced her actions as vigilantism.  This is Chapter 2 of "Disorder in the Court". Resources: The Nesler Family's Tragic Past - www.oprah.com  Pushed Over Edge, Mother Chose Own Brand of Justice by Mark Arak, Times Staff Writer, April 11, 1993.  William Nesler Still a Fugitive by Lloyd Vries for CBS News, July 29, 2004.  Ellie Nesler's Family Buries their Hero in Angels Camp, by John Holland in The Modesto Bee, January 2, 2009.  Links: www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod www.truecrimepodcast.com

In 2005, a man on trial for rape escapes custody in Atlanta's Fulton County Courthouse and goes on a violent rampage.  This is Chapter 1 of "Disorder in the Court".   Resources: 3 Slain in Atlanta Courthouse Rampage, The Washington Post, March 12, 2005, Staff writers Manuel Roig-Franzia and Melanie Lasoff Levs  A Manhunt and a Woman's Story, Washington Post, March 15, 2005, writer Manuel Roig-Franzia A Youth Drifted from Deep Family Ties to Deep Trouble, The Baltimore Sun, March 18, 2005, writers Abigail Tucker and Stephen Kiehl 10 Years Later, Courthouse Safer, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, March 11, 2015, by Ernie Suggs 

A summer ball game descends into chaos when a promotional event goes seriously awry.  This is the last chapter in the series "Bad Sports" recounting the Cleveland Indians' "Ten Cent Beer Night" riot.  Thanks to guest voice actors Lorne and Michael from The True Crime Guys podcast.  www.truecrimeguys.com Resources: Articles: The Night Beer and Violence Bubbled Over in Cleveland by Paul Jackson on ESPN.com Forty Years Ago, 10-cent Beer Makes Memories by Anthony Castrovince on MLB.com  Video: Ten Cent Beer Night - Weird History on YouTube.com  Other links: Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com Patreon:  www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime