Almost Fiction
Crimes that are so diabolical that they seem like almost fiction. Based on real events, Almost Fiction is a Podcast where we try to imagine what it was like when some of the worst crimes occurred. Using facts, reports, and evidence, we attempt to reconstruct what the crime scenes might have looked like as the crimes were happening. So, join us each week as we peek behind the curtain at some of the worst scenes from some of the worst crimes ever committed. I’m Chase Ellerman, and welcome to… Almost Fiction.
Episodes
Charles Ng and Leonard Lake - Part 1: Before the Horror.
Explore the troubled early lives of two killers before they ever joined forces. From Ng's strict upbringing in Hong Kong to Lake's abandoned childhood in San Francisco, discover how their paths to violence began.
This episode covers thier military service, early crimes, and the fateful meeting that would lead to one of America's most shocking criminal partnerships...
In May 2013, 17-year-old Georgia Williams vanished after telling her parents she was helping a friend with a photo shoot. That friend was Jamie Reynolds, a boy with a hidden obsession, a disturbing past, and a plan he had written in horrifying detail years before.
This episode explores the chilling case of Georgia Williams’s murder, the warning signs authorities ignored, and the predator hiding in plain sight.
With exclusive insight...
In this gripping true crime episode, we investigate the haunting case of Nathan Ybanez, a 16-year-old who murdered his mother after years of alleged abuse. This deeply emotional story examines how a system meant to protect children failed repeatedly, leading to tragic consequences.
Featuring exclusive details about Nathan's troubled childhood, his desperate calls for help, and the controversial trial that sent a teenager to pris...
In 2012, Celeste Fronsman was abducted, tortured, and burned alive in rural Ohio. Her killers? People she thought were her friends. In this episode of Almost Fiction, we explore the dark world of addiction, abuse, and betrayal, and how Celeste’s final words helped solve her own murder.
Sources:
Lafonse Dixon v. Warden Richland Correctional Institution. Case NO. 2:16-CV-0251-EAS-KAJ. Filed November 21, 2016. https://www.govinfo.gov/...
In the shocking conclusion of our three-part true crime series, we uncover the final days of Charles William Yukl, a manipulative killer whose parole failure led to a second brutal murder in 1970s New York City.
After convincing the system he was rehabilitated, Yukl lured an aspiring actress to his apartment under the pretense of casting her in a fake film.
What followed was a horrific repeat of his first crime, strangulation, assa...
In Part 2 of our deep dive into the life of Charles William Yukl, we explore the years that followed his shocking manslaughter conviction.
After serving just a portion of his time, Yukl was released on parole, and what happened next is a chilling reminder of how the justice system can fail.
Set in 1970s Manhattan, this episode traces Yukl’s disturbing reentry into society: his fake credentials, psychological manipulation, therapy s...
In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we begin the disturbing story of Charles William Yukl, a classically trained pianist, teacher, and, ultimately… convicted killer.
From his troubled upbringing and intense musical training to his years of hidden darkness, we uncover how a seemingly mild-mannered man led a double life.
Based heavily on the book The Piano Teacher by Robert K. Tanenbaum and Robert Greenberg, this episode dive...
In this gripping episode of Almost Fiction, we dig into one of the strangest true crime cases in American history, the disappearance and murder of Madalyn Murray O’Hair, the woman once dubbed “The Most Hated Woman in America.”
From her rise as an infamous atheist activist to her mysterious vanishing in 1995, this story is steeped in ideology, betrayal, greed, and ultimately, tragedy.
We follow the twisted path of David Roland Water...
In this gripping true crime episode, we uncover the horrifying story of serial killer Anthony Edward Sowell, also known as the Cleveland Strangler. Between 2007 and 2009, Sowell lured vulnerable women to his Cleveland home, where he committed unspeakable acts of violence. We trace his troubled childhood, disturbing behavior, and the systemic failures that allowed him to evade justice for so long. Featuring survivor accounts, court ...
Richard Paul White’s life was filled with violence, fear, and manipulation—but did his past shape him into a serial predator, or was the evil already inside him? This episode of Almost Fiction explores the disturbing transformation of a man who claimed demons made him kill.
Sources:
I Am a Killer: Richard Paul White. By SE King for MorningCoffeeandCrime.com. March 27, 2023.
Killers’ Families Left to Confront Fear and Shame. By Serge F...
Mauricio Rodriguez Silva's life was a constant struggle—abandoned, abused, and cast aside at every turn. But did his tragic childhood create a monster, or was he always destined for violence? This episode of Almost Fiction unravels the disturbing life and crimes of a man who could have been saved… but wasn’t.
Sources:
PEOPLE v. SILVA. Supreme Court of California. No. S004727. April 30, 2001. https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-s...
What happens when a predator lurks in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike? This episode of Almost Fiction delves into the dark and disturbing case of Thomas Whisenhant, a killer whose crimes haunted Alabama for decades. Join us as we unravel the chilling details of his past, the investigation that led to his capture, and the twisted psychology behind his horrific acts.
Sources:
Whisenhant v. State. 370 So.2d 1080 (Al...
Justice is served, or is it? In the chilling conclusion to our Sean Vincent Gillis series, we explore his final crimes, the investigation that finally brought him down, and the disturbing details of his confessions. From his shocking courtroom antics to the families seeking closure, this episode uncovers the twisted mind of a man who evaded capture for years. Did the system truly hold him accountable? Or did his victims deserve mor...
The darkness continues. In Part 2 of our deep dive into Sean Vincent Gillis, we explore the gruesome evolution of his crimes, his twisted obsessions, and the investigation that struggled to catch up. As police search for answers, Gillis remains in the shadows—watching, waiting, and perfecting his horrifying craft. What drove him deeper into depravity? And how did he evade capture for so long?
Tune in for the chilling continuation of...
In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we unravel the disturbing origins of Sean Vincent Gillis, a seemingly ordinary man with a dark secret.
From a childhood shaped by instability to a life spiraling into depravity, we explore the events that led to one of Baton Rouge’s most terrifying crimes. What drives someone to cross the line between fantasy and horro...
Join us as we piece together the unsettling puzzle of a man whose crimes shocked a community and earned him a macabre nickname that still haunts true crime enthusiasts...
Melvin David Rees captivated audiences with his haunting melodies and effortless skill, but behind the stage lights and smoky jazz clubs lurked something far darker. A man of intelligence, charm, and discipline. A man who lived two lives: one in the spotlight, and one in the shadows.
From his time as a military musician in Europe to his nights playing in dimly lit clubs around Washing...
In this harrowing episode of Almost Fiction, we uncover the chilling case of Larry Keith Robison—a man battling schizophrenia, abandoned by the system, and left to spiral into unthinkable violence. Diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia yet denied proper treatment, Robison’s descent into madness led to one of Texas’s most bru...
In this heart-wrenching episode of Almost Fiction, we examine the harrowing case of Mark Dean Schwab and his horrifying crimes against 11-year-old Junny Rios-Martinez. What began as an act of manipulation spiraled into a tragedy that shook an entire community.
This is a story of unimaginable loss, but also one of resilience, as Junny’s family worked tirelessly to ensure his legacy would spark change. Join us as we navigate the comp...
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