Just two Minnesota madams musing over the macabre.
In 1982, a young single mother, Jerilyn Towers, went missing after an evening spent at a local bar. When police started to question a man named James (Jimmy) Hicks who was thought to be involved, another missing woman's case came to light... and the crimes wouldn't stop then or there.
In October 1990, Pittsfield, Massachusetts was a small, quiet town where everyone knew everyone, neighbors didn't lock their doors, and kids were free to bike and walk everywhere no matter the time of day. Within hours, that all changed with the disappearance of 12 year old Jimmy Bernardo. The weeks following the disappearance were heartbreaking, and when the perpetrator was finally captured 4 years later, the horrific details of h...
In the 1930s, a man named Joe Ball ruled Elmendorf, Texas. "Joe's Place" was a hoppin' spot- not just becuase beautiful women served beer and liquor, but because there was a giant alligator pit in the back where visitors were entertained by cruel alligator shows.
Over the course of a decade, patrons noticed many attractive female employees coming and going from the tavern, with little to no explanation when they left. Was Joe a ma...
The early 1900s in Missouri ("Missour-a", as Kate says) was a weird time. But nothing was quite as weird as Bertha Gifford. Between 1906 and 1928, Bertha portrayed herself as a helpful nurse, when in fact, she was poisoning her patients- including at least 17 men, women and children. Nobody was safe from her "tonics", but despite her best efforts, her cruel charades would end in 1928.
On May 13, 2008, Brandon Swanson was celebrating the end of his spring semester with friends at parties in various small towns in rural Minnesota. Shortly after leaving a house party around midnight on May 14th, Brandon's car became stuck in a ditch, and he called his parents for help. What happened over the next several hours is confusing and has led to various theories over the years, but at the end of those theories, we are stil...
On January 29, 2010, Tanya Nikitina was just leaving her job as a preschool teacher, when shots were fired, and her life was cut short. Her ex mother-in-law was arrested for the murder, and the strange explanations for the killing have evolved over the years.
June 12, 1977 was a dark day at Camp Scott in Mayes County, Oklahoma. That night, while nestled safely in their tent on the first night of sleepaway Girl Scout camp, Lori Farmer, Michelle Guse, and Doris Milner were brutally assaulted and murdered. While the case has been closed- just in the last year- many questions still remain.
This week, we take a cross-country roadtrip from New Orleans to Chicago and then to Washington D.C., following Joseph Dunbar Medley, a man with a penchant for red headed women. After escaping prison in Michigan in November of 1944, Joseph Medley goes on a three month long killing and robbing spree, leaving three young women dead.
Between February 1926, and June, 1927, cities across North America were rocked by despicable slayings of mostly middle-aged land-ladies. In addition to being strangled, these women were sexually assaulted, and in some cases, mutilated. While he alluded police for over a year, Earle Nelson would finally get taken down by our wonderful neighbors to the north- the Canadian police.
Sources: Bestial by Harold Schechter
This week, Caitie brings us a less obscure case, but one that has fascinated her for years. Belle Gunness was the OG Black Widow, having killed around 45 men, women and children in Illinois and Indiana. When you hear about her schemes, you will want to hop in your car and travel to the murder farm for the chance to uncover a watch, a package of dismembered body parts, or perhaps even a tooth!
Sources: Hell's Princess: The Mystery...
In Part 2 of the Servant Girl Annihilator, Kate discusses the brutal murders of the final 5 victims. The mystery of whether they are all connected remains to this day, but the killings between New Years Eve 1884 and Christmas Eve 1885 will never be forgotten in Austin, Texas.
Sources: The Midnight Assassin, by Skip Hollandsworth Chilling Historical Crimes by Tim Huddleston
In 1884 and 1885, Austin, Texas was rocked by a series of brutal slayings - most involving an axe - and all on young servant girls. In Episode 1, we focus on the murders of Mollie Smith, Eliza Shelly, and Irene Cross, all murdered at the hands of a deranged, barefooted creep in the middle of the night.
Sources:
The Midnight Assassin, by Skip Hollandsworth
Chilling Historical Crimes, by Tim Huddleston
In part 2, Caitie focuses on a brutal attack in the middle of the day, which ultimately leads to the arrest of Don Miller. But, if you thought his arrest would be the last part of this saga, you would be very wrong!
Source: KILLING WOMEN: The True Story of Serial Killer Don Miller's Reign of Terror
This week, Caitie brings us part one of a two part episode, where we head to Michigan to discuss the despicable life of Don Miller. In episode 1, we will discuss his four murder victims, Martha Sue Young, Marita Choquette, Wendy Bush, and Kristine Guske Stuart.
Source: KILLING WOMEN: The True Story of Serial Killer Don Miller's Reign of Terror by Rod Sadler
In the early morning hours of September 8, 1981, a Sheriff's Deputy near Mount Vernon, South Dakota, received a phone call from a frantic man stating his entire family had been killed. With a quick arrest came a sense of ease in the community. However, it would not last long.
Sources: South Dakota's Mathis Murders: Horror in the Heartland, by Noel Hamiel
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.
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The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.