Let's Go To Court!

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! When Marybeth Tinning’s infant daughter Jennifer died, friends, neighbors and medical personnel felt sorry for the grieving mother. A few weeks later, Marybeth’s young son died, too. People couldn’t believe it. How many losses could one person withstand? Then another child died. And another. And another. In total, nine of Marybeth’s children died over the course of 14 years. In that time, people’s reactions evolved from sympathetic to suspicious.  Then Kristin tells us the story of Gilberto Valle, a.k.a., the cannibal cop. Kathleen Valle knew her marriage wasn’t going great. But when Kathleen figured out exactly what her husband Gilberto was doing online, her blood ran cold. Her NYPD policeman husband had been chatting online about torturing, raping, killing and eating her. But the horror didn’t end there. He talked about carrying out these plans on many women. Authorities took action, but Gilberto’s defense was strong. He hadn’t actually ca

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! In Gypsy Blanchard’s world, nothing is as it seems. For years, people saw her as a sickly girl plagued by medical issues. She was wheelchair bound. She suffered from mental delays. She had trouble breathing. Her life was marked by constant doctor visits and too-frequent surgeries. All the while, her doting mother Dee Dee was by her side. Then one day, someone updated the status on Dee Dee and Gypsy’s shared Facebook account. They wrote, “that bitch is dead.” Friends and neighbors were in for the surprise of their lives. Then Brandi tells us about four murders at a Chinese hostel. When police arrived at the crime scene in 1995, they had little to go on. The murders were as random as they were brutal. The few leads police developed were vague at best. The case went cold for nearly 20 years. Years later, with the help of DNA testing, investigators took another look at the crime scene. Their discovery led them to a surprising suspect. And now f

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! For years, it looked like investigators would never figure out why 23-year-old Cora Okonski disappeared. One spring day, she left home to buy cigarettes from a local convenience store. She was never seen again. Family, friends and police searched for her, but years passed by without a trace of the young mother. In fact, so much time passed that it looked like they’d never figure out what happened to her. Then, 16 years after Cora went missing, police made an arrest.  Then Kristin gives us the heebie jeebies with the tale of John Edward Robinson, often dubbed the internet’s first serial killer. John didn’t start off as a killer. For years, he was just a thieving con man. He was so conniving that at one point, thanks to an enormous ego and a lot of forged letters, he convinced the mayor of Kansas City to give him the “Man of the Year” award. Over time, John evolved from serial fraudster to serial murderer. His killing spree ended when police d

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! By the early 1930’s, Nell Donnelly had it all. Women everywhere loved Nell Donnelly’s stylish, well-made, and inexpensive dresses. But she didn’t just make great dresses. She made a great work environment, too. Unlike a lot of factory owners at the time, Nell paid well. She offered her employees medical care and a pension plan. She even paid for them to go to school. Nell’s hard work paid off. Fortune Magazine called her possibly the most successful businesswoman in America. She was rich, stylish and classy. But she was also a target.  On December 16, 1931, Nell and her chauffeur, George, were kidnapped and driven to a nasty old cabin. The eventual trials of Nell’s kidnappers captured the nation’s attention and involved some of Kansas City’s most prominent citizens. Then Brandi frustrates the hell out of us with the story of Lisa Techel’s murder. When Lisa was discovered shot to death in her Iowa home, everyone knew exactly who’d done it —

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Brandi starts us off with the strange story of millionaire adventurer Michael Marin. Marin likened himself to the dapper man in the Dos Equis commercials — the Most Interesting Man in the World. As obnoxious as that sounds, he wasn’t wrong. Marin lived most of his life on top of the world, which made it all the more shocking when he fell.  Then Kristin treats us to another old timey Kansas City case. This story starts innocently enough. John and Myrtle Bennett invited their friends Charles and Myrna Hofman over to play bridge. Everyone was having a great time… until they weren’t. John played a bad hand, Myrtle insulted him, and John slapped her several times. But Myrtle didn’t take it sitting down. She ran to her mother’s room and came out with a loaded gun. As crazy as that night was, Myrtle’s trial was even crazier.  And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Eric Abramovitz plays the shit out of the clarinet. He’s amazing. But you know what’s cool about him? He wants to get better. So a few years ago, he applied to the Colburn Conservatory of Music. He set his sights on a huge scholarship and the life-changing chance to study under one of the best clarinet instructors in the world. A few months later, he was rejected. Or was he? Then Brandi wraps up her kidnapping spree… (hmm. Poor choice of words?) with the kidnapping of Bobby Greenlease. This one started in 1953, when a panicked woman ran into a prestigious Kansas City private school and told one of the nuns that her sister’d had a heart attack. She needed to take her nephew out of school. The nun obliged, but there was just one problem. The whole story was bullshit. And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! When the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory caught fire in 1911, it was the worst workplace fire in New York City’s history. In fact, if it weren’t for September 11th, it would still hold that horrible record. In just 18 minutes, the fire took 146 lives. It was devastating, but it was also preventable. The incident inspired activists and politicians. It also encouraged workers to join unions and fight for their right to a safe work environment.  Then we discuss the most famous kidnapping in American history — that of baby Charles Lindbergh. Baby Lindbergh was taken from the second story of his family home. The kidnapper left behind a broken ladder and a poorly written ransom note.  The nearly two year old boy was the son of aviation star Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne Morrow Lindbergh. The distraught parents did everything they could to get their baby back. They paid the ransom and searched high and low for their child. But it was too late… 

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! This week, we’re covering old timey Kansas City cases.  Two brothers entered Henry McElroy’s home in the spring of 1933 with a sinister scheme. They wanted to kidnap Henry’s daughter and hold her for ransom. But they were surprised by what they discovered. Henry’s daughter, Mary, wasn’t a child. She was a full grown woman. And she was pretty darn charming, to boot. Weirdly, she found her captors pretty charming, too. This story is as unpredictable as it is intriguing. Then Kristin tells us about Thomas Swope, who made his fortune buying cheap land in the mid 1800’s, and selling it for a profit as the city grew. In 1896, he donated more than 1,300 acres to be used as Kansas City’s largest park. Toward the end of his life, Thomas toyed with the idea of rewriting his will so that more of his vast fortune would go to charity. But before he could do that, he died. So did his cousin. And later, so did his nephew. In fact, almost everyone in the S

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! When Rolling Stone published an article about a gang rape at the University of Virginia, people were outraged. Not only had a young woman been assaulted — but her attempts to get meaningful help from university administrators went nowhere. The piece was as beautifully written as it was horrific. But was it accurate? Then Brandi bums us out with a story that starts with a 12-year-old boy’s call to 911. He told the dispatcher that his brother was attacking the family. Before he could provide more information, the line went dead. Police traced the call, but it was too late to save the family. By the time police arrived, five members of the Bever family were dead and the killers had fled the scene. And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources on the web. And sometimes Wikipedia. (No shade, Wikiped

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! The Gaming Historian is back, by popular demand! Norman agreed to do another episode with us on one condition: that we talk about food. We agreed. (Let’s face it… we’re in no position to be turning down internet celebrities.) Brandi starts us off with a finger-lickin’-good story about Burger King’s chicken fries campaign. Everyone loved the commercials. They featured an aggressive, masked band called “Coq Roq.” There was just one issue.  Coq Roq bore a striking resemblance to the actual band Slipknot. Slipknot was not amused, and neither were their fans. Then Norm tells us about his favorite legal battle of all time. It all started when the Kansas City Royals’ terrifying mascot, Sluggerrr, accidentally hit a fan in the eye with a foil-wrapped hot dog. Hold on tight, folks. This one goes all the way to the Missouri Supreme Court. Kristin wraps things up with a tale about a group of cattlemen who sued Oprah Winfrey. Initially, it looked like

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Brandi starts us off with a story that’ll have you giving the side-eye to good looking white guys everywhere. This horrible crime began when a well-dressed, charming man walked into a Los Angeles high school and politely informed the school’s registrar that he needed to speak with a wealthy banker’s daughter. It only took a little persuasion for him to walk out of the school with 12-year-old Marion Parker. Soon, Parker’s family received ransom notes from a man who identified himself as “the fox.” He promised to return the girl alive — as long as the Parkers did as they were told. Then Kristin tells us about the longest and most expensive criminal trial in American history. It all started when a mother suspected that her toddler had been molested at daycare. Police immediately took action. They sent letters to the hundreds of parents whose children attended the daycare. Police indicated that the children at McMartin Preschool could have witne

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! When Roy Pearson landed a new job as a judge, he knew he’d have to wear suits to work. But his budget was tight — and so were his pants. Rather than buy a new wardrobe, he took all of his dress pants to Custom Cleaners for alterations. But when he came back to the store a while later to pick up his pants, Roy made a shocking discovery. Custom Cleaners had lost his pants! So he did what any logical human would do. He sued them for $67 million. Then Brandi tells us about the disappearance of nine-year-old Walter Collins. His disappearance had all of Los Angeles speculating. Was he kidnapped? Did he run away? Surely he wasn’t being used for ransom — his parents didn’t have much money. Maybe whoever took him wanted revenge on his incarcerated father. Five months later, police found Walter in Illinois. But when Walter and his mother were reunited, she knew he wasn’t her boy. Police advised her to take him home and “try him out for a couple of wee

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Conrad Roy committed suicide. That much we can all agree on. But did text messages from his long-distance girlfriend, Michelle Carter play a role in his death? And if so, what sort of punishment — if any — should she face? Michelle egged him on. She encouraged him to take his life. But she wasn’t physically at the scene of his death, and she didn’t purchase any of the equipment he used to take his life. At what point are we culpable for our words?  Then Kristin tells us the tragic tale of a family fishing trip gone horribly wrong. In 1912, when Lessie and Percy Dunbar took their two boys fishing in Louisiana, 4-year-old Bobby Dunbar went missing. A search ensued. They captured alligators and split open their guts, hoping to find the young boy’s remains. They even blasted the water with dynamite, thinking it might dislodge his corpse. It was no use. He was gone without a trace. But then, eight months later, Bobby turned up. But was it really

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Kristin kicks things off with the story of tenured Rutgers University ethics professor Anna Stubblefield. A few years ago, Anna began working with a physically and mentally disabled man. Thanks to a mostly discredited technique called facilitated communication, Anna uncovered what no other professional had ever considered — that although DJ’s body was disabled, his mind was not. The two eventually fell in love.  But were they really in love? And was DJ’s mind truly functioning at a high level? Did facilitated communication give DJ his voice, or was it Anna talking all along? Then Brandi tells us the story of family annihilator John List. John appeared to have it all — a sprawling mansion, a great job, and a beautiful family. But when John lost his job, he spiraled. Rather than tell his family about their new financial reality, John murdered his wife, his three children, and his mother. John meticulously planned their murders and his escape.

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Warning: This is an especially explicit episode. Blame Denver Fenton Allen.  Brandi starts us off with an absolutely insane pre-trial hearing unlike anything you’ve ever heard of. Denver Fenton Allen’s went a little nuts in his pre-trial hearing. He accused everyone of wanting to “suck his dick.” Then, when it was clear things weren’t going his way, he threatened to murder the judge’s family and mastrubate in open court. The judge didn’t handle it well.     Then, who could forget the story of astronaut Lisa Nowak? When Lisa’s astronaut boyfriend Billy dumped her for another woman, she — how do we put this mildly? — didn’t take it well. She loaded up her car with trash bags, a knife, a steel mallet and other fun travel accessories, then drove from Houston to Orlando wearing a diaper. Once she got to Orlando, she attacked Billy’s new girlfriend, Colleen Shipman.  For what it’s worth, Lisa denies wearing the diaper.  And now for a note about

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! Teenagers Richard Loeb and Nathan Leopold had everything they ever wanted. They were highly intelligent. They came from wealthy families. Life was so great that they felt certain they were above the law. So they decided to test that theory by committing the perfect crime. Turns out they weren’t so smart after all. The pair were quickly questioned in the brutal murder of 14-year-old Bobby Franks. Then Brandi tells the story of Jennifer Wilbanks, who disappeared one day while she was out jogging. Her fiance was distraught. Her family panicked. Police began a nationwide search. People were captivated by this story. Poor Jennifer’s lavish 600-guest wedding was right around the corner. Where could she be? And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources on the web. And sometimes Wikipedia. (No shade, W

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! This week, Brandi scares the pants off us with the story of serial killer Dennis Rader, a.k.a., the BTK killer. Over the course of several decades, Rader killed ten people and terrorized his community in Wichita, Kansas. Then, like a true douchebag he gave himself a nickname. He dubbed himself, BTK, which stood for Bind, Torture, Kill. He loved to taunt the police and the media… and that eventually bit him right on the ass. Then, did you know that in 1911, someone stole the Mona Lisa from the Louvre? Neither did we.  Kristin lightens the mood with this incredible story about the thief who kept the Mona Lisa hidden in his apartment for nearly two years. French police searched high and low for him. At one point, Pablo Picasso was the prime suspect.  And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources o

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! This week, Kristin starts us off with a story that begins with the murder of her second cousin and ends with police capturing a serial killer in the making. The murder of sweet, outgoing Alissa Shippert shook Platte City, Missouri. Police were determined to catch her killer, but with most of the evidence washed away by the river and few viable suspects, justice seemed unlikely. Then, several months later, the killer struck again. But this time, the woman survived. And she told police everything she knew. Then Brandi tells the incredible story of Juanita Maxwell, a maid at a Florida motel accused of murdering a 73-year-old woman over a ballpoint pen. Like any good Brandi story, this one has twists and turns, plus an incredibly creepy moment on the witness stand. We guarantee you’ll get goosebumps. And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! When Jim Hildenbrand moved to the Avignon Villas in Olathe, Kansas, he thought he’d found the perfect place to live. But pretty soon, he started butting heads with the neighborhood’s home owners association. Then one day, he did the unthinkable. He installed some unapproved landscaping. What followed was a costly, lengthy legal battle that epitomized first world problems. Be ready to clutch your pearls. But they can’t all be lawsuits about landscaping. This week, Brandi tells about the hunt for Jennifer Jackson’s murderer. Her murder appeared so deeply personal that police quickly zeroed in on Jennifer’s teenage daughter, Noura. But did they catch Jennifer’s actual murderer? And now for a note about our process. For each episode, Kristin reads a bunch of articles, then spits them back out in her very limited vocabulary. Brandi copies and pastes from the best sources on the web. And sometimes Wikipedia. (No shade, Wikipedia. We love you.) We

Hate ads? The entire LGTC catalog is available ad-free on Patreon! This week, we discuss video game lawsuits with our special guest, Norman Caruso, the Gaming Historian. How did we get the Gaming Historian on this little dog and pony show? It’s hard to say. It could be that he’s a huge fan of obscure podcasts. … or it could be that he’s Kristin’s husband. What can we say? It’s a gigantic mystery. In this episode, Kristin starts us off with Devin Moore, a teenager who shot two police officers and a 911 dispatcher. When the police finally caught up with him, he said, “Life is like a video game. Everybody’s got to die sometime.” That mindset left a lot of people asking whether violent video games were to blame for his murder spree. Then Norman brings us our only non-violent crime of the day when he tells the fascinating story of Atari Games vs Nintendo. This lawsuit focused on the very first unlicensed games for the Nintendo Entertainment System.  Brandi wraps things up with Daniel Petric, the 16-year-old bo