Once Upon A Crime | True Crime

The district of Whitechapel in London, England was the location of one of the most infamous, unsolved serial murders in history - the Jack the Ripper Murders. But, there was possibly a second serial murderer operating at the same time. Journey with us to Whitechapel for some historical true crime cases. Warning: This episode details more graphic details than normal. I give you a trigger warning before it begins in the episode if you'd like to skip ahead.  #whitechapel #London #JacktheRipper #historicalcrime #crimehistory #TorsoMurders #ThamesTorsoMurders 

One intersection in Beverly Hills has been the site of many events from airplane crashes, car accidents, and murders. Could it be a coincidence or is the area cursed?  #beverlyhills #bermudatriangle #howardhughes #hollywood #bugsysiegel #ronnichasen  A.J. Benza: Fame is a Bitch - Subscribe on ITunes

Surprise! Here's an extra episode for you since I'm off this week.  This is as bonus episode that I would normally make available only for Patreon members, but I'll give you a little sneak peek of Patreon bonus content by sharing it with everyone. This is the story of another murder committed by the Aum Doomsday Cult that did I did not talk about on Episode #86: Last Stop: Chapter 3: The Tokyo Subway Attack.  To become a Patreon supporter of Once Upon a Crime go to www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime.  

A woman takes revenge for hundreds of raped and murdered women in Juarez, Mexico by targeting city bus drivers. Resources: For more information about women's organizations in Juarez:  https://hiponline.org/how-casa-amiga-helps-free-the-women-of-juarez/  https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/meet-the-mexican-activists-fighting-for-womens-rights/  https://web.archive.org/web/20040414134540/http://www.mujeresdejuarez.org/ Book: The Daughters of Juarez: A True Story of Serial Murder South of the Border by Teresa Rodriguez Paper: The Femicide Machine by Sergio Gonzalez Rodriguez, published by Semiotext (c) with support from Mexico's National Fund for Culture and the Arts 2011-2013.

On March 20, 1995 a group of men board the Tokyo Metro subway system and release deadly sarin gas.  The mass murder was ordered by Aum Supreme Truth cult leader Shoko Asahara. #massmurder #cults #Japan #terrorism #chemicalweapons Resources: Books: The Cult at the End of the World by David Kaplan and Andrew Marshall Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Mrakami www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime to become a patron and get bonus content and merchandise. Social Media Links: www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod  www.twitter.com/uponacrime www.instagram.com/onceuponacrimepod

A hijacking on a bus unfolds live on television in central Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June of 2000.  #hijacking #hostagecrisis #Brazil  Resources: Documentary: Bus 174 (2002) directed by Jose Padilha Podcast Recommendations: Trace Evidence https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/trace-evidence/id1239217007?mt=2 Not Perfect or Functional https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/not-perfect-or-functional-podcast-true-crime-sports/id1273572626?mt=2

In 1976, in the small farming community of Chowchilla, California, a school bus full of children is kidnapped for ransom.  #kidnappings #Chowchilla #ransom #crimehistory #California Resources: Dan Noyes, ABC7 News, "Parole hearing reveals new details about Chowchilla kidnapping," Nov 29, 2012.  Holly Yan, CNN, "California mass kidnapping: After being buried alive, victims relive nightmare," Dec 28, 2015.  Robert Lindsey, The New York Times, "26 Children Found Safe After Being Kidnapped from Bus in Caliifornia," July 17, 1976.  Follow us at: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime www.twitter.com/uponacrime www.instagram.com/onceuponacrimepod www.facebook.com/onceuponacrimepod

A 16-year-old boy from a well-to-do Fort Worth family commits a quadruple vehicular homicide.  His attorneys will argue that his overprivileged upbringing resulted in him not knowing how to discern right from wrong. The term "affluenza" was coined to describe defendants like Ethan Couch - wealthy, spoiled and held unaccountable for their bad behavior.  I'll also describe how this same defense was used in 1924 to defend the wealthy teenaged murderers Leopold and Loeb.  #LeopoldandLoeb #CrimeoftheCentury #EthanCouch #Affluenza Resources: Manny Fernandez, Richard Perez-Pena and Azam Ahmed, The New York Times, "Ethan Couch, 'Affluenza' Teenager, Had Last Party Before Fleeing," Dec 29, 2015.  Michael J. Mooney, D Magazine, "The Worst Parents Ever," May 2015.   American Experience, PBS Television, "The Perfect Crime: Leopold and Loeb". 

Supervisor Dan White murders San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978. His defense would claim "diminished capacity" to keep him from being sentenced to death. The media dubbed this "The Twinkie Defense". But, what really caused Dan White to become a double murderer? Resources John Geluardi, SF Weekly, "Dan White's motive more about betrayal than homophobia," Jan 30, 2008. Carol Pogash, SFGate.com, "Myth of the 'Twinkie Defense', Nov 23, 2003. 

Three cases are outlined where a person commits murder and then blames the crime on sleepwalking.  First up, Albert Tirrell murders his mistress in 1846 claiming he was in a trance-like state at the time. Kenneth Parks travels 23 km to commit a murder - all while asleep, he claimed. Finally, another man tries to use the sleepwalking defense after killing his wife in Phoenix, Arizona in 1997. Resources: Karen Abbott, Smithsonian.com, "The Case of the Sleepwalking Killer," April 30, 2012.  Paul Rubin, NewTimes.com, "A Killer Sleep Disorder," Nov 19, 1998.  True Crime Truant, "Scott Falater: Sleepwalking Killer Gets a Wakeup Call," July 20, 2017.  Berit Brogaard and Kristian Marlow, Psychology Today, "Sleep Driving and Sleep Killing: The Kenneth Parks Case," Dec 13, 2012. 

In this final chapter of our series, we uncover the sinister side of Hollywood’s biggest night. From missing and stolen Oscars to the shocking murder tied to an Academy Award-winning songwriter, the glamour of the Oscars hides a darker reality. Plus, we revisit the bizarre and tragic tale of the Oscar Night Streaker—one of the ceremony’s most infamous moments. Join us as we pull back the curtain on these chilling true crime stories connected to the Academy Awards.

From the horrors of Cambodia’s Killing Fields to the bright lights of Hollywood, Haing S. Ngor’s journey is one of survival, resilience, and tragic injustice. After escaping the Cambodian genocide, he defied the odds and won an Academy Award for his powerful performance in The Killing Fields. But his story didn’t end with cinematic triumph—it took a heartbreaking turn that remains shrouded in mystery. In this episode, we explore Ngor’s remarkable life, his haunting past, and the crime that cut his story short.  

Roman Polanski’s life reads like a Hollywood script—marked by unimaginable tragedy, artistic triumph, and shocking scandal. Surviving the Holocaust and enduring personal heartbreak, he rose to fame as an acclaimed director. But his legacy was forever tainted when he became a fugitive from justice, charged with the rape of a 13-year-old girl. In this episode, I’m joined by special guest AJ Benza, host of Fame is a Bitch, to discuss the dark side of Hollywood, the power of celebrity, and his personal impressions of Polanski.

The Academy Awards celebrate Hollywood’s finest, but some Oscar-winning films are rooted in real-life crime. One of the most unforgettable is Dog Day Afternoon—a gripping portrayal of a chaotic New York bank robbery that stunned the nation. But what really happened? In this episode, we uncover the true story of John Wojtowicz, the man behind the infamous Chase Manhattan Bank heist that inspired the film. From his motives to the shocking aftermath, we separate fact from fiction in this stranger-than-Hollywood tale.

In 1978, a teenage hitchhiker accepted a ride in Northern California—only to be brutally attacked by a violent predator. The assault on Mary Vincent was so horrifying it sent shockwaves through the public, and her attacker, Lawrence Singleton, became a chilling warning about the dangers of accepting rides from strangers. But against all odds, Mary survived—and her story of resilience is one that will stay with you long after the episode ends.  

In 1983, a woman desperately sought protection from her abusive husband, repeatedly turning to law enforcement for help—only to be ignored. What followed was one of the most brutal cases of domestic violence ever recorded. Tracy Thurman survived a vicious attack that left her with 13 stab wounds and a broken neck. But she didn’t stop there—she took on the system that failed her, filing a groundbreaking lawsuit that would forever change the way police handle domestic violence cases in the U.S.

In 1974, a young woman in Salt Lake City accepted a ride from a seemingly nice man. By the end of the day, she would come face-to-face with one of the most notorious serial killers of all time—Ted Bundy. Against all odds, Rhonda Stapley survived his brutal attack and lived to tell her harrowing story. My special guest, Rhonda Stapley, is the author of I Survived Ted Bundy: The Attack, Escape, and PTSD That Changed My Life. She shares her firsthand experience, the lasting impact of trauma, and her journey toward healing.

In 2006, 14-year-old Elizabeth Shoaf was walking home from school in Lugoff, South Carolina, when she was approached by a man posing as law enforcement. What followed was a terrifying 10-day ordeal—trapped in an underground bunker, subjected to unimaginable abuse, and forced to fight for survival. But Elizabeth did something extraordinary: she outsmarted her captor and helped lead authorities right to his doorstep. This is the harrowing true story of how a young girl’s resilience turned the tables on a predator—and how her bravery saved her own life.

I continue my discussion of the Laci Peterson case with my guest co-host, Yolanda from Not Perfect or Functional. Together, we take a deep dive into the background and psychology of Scott Peterson and examine the factors that may have contributed to his crime. Plus, enjoy special holiday greetings from some of our favorite true crime and paranormal podcasts:

On Christmas Eve day, 2002, an 8-month pregnant woman went missing from her home. A large-scale search was started right away, but suspicion immediately fell upon her husband, Scott Peterson.  This episode will be a little different for OUAC. I have a special co-host, Yolanda Norris from the Not Perfect or Functional Podcast who will be discussing the case with me. Yolanda is my sister so this is a real holiday treat for me - and I hope it will be for you too! Also, while you may think you know this story, we've come at it from a different angle. First, it will be in response to the A&E program "The Murder of Laci Peterson" in which they lay out a case for the reasons some believe Scott Peterson was tried in the media and should have been found not guilty. Second, we will do a deep into the background and psyche of Scott Peterson to give our take on why we think not only is he guilty, but that there were signs pointing to how and why Scott may have been able to so casually murder his wife and unborn so