Almost Fiction

In this episode, we explore the complexities of friendship, focusing on trust and mutual respect. Highlighting the tragic story of Tina Marie Powell and LaFonda Faye Foster, we illustrate how their bond, rooted in shared trauma and addiction, devolved into toxicity and violence.

We recount the harrowing events of April 23, 1986, in Lexington, Kentucky, where a night of drinking led to a devastating crime spree. The episode examines the psychological motives behind their actions and the ripple effects on victims' families.

Through their reflections in prison, we capture Tina and Faye's struggle with remorse and identity, serving as a cautionary tale about the fragility of relationships under pressure and the profound consequences of our choices.

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Dive into the chilling true story of Australia's Truro Murders, where Christopher Robin Worrell and James William Miller's deadly partnership claimed seven young lives in just 52 days. Told through the eyes of accomplice Miller, this episode uncovers a twisted tale of manipulation, obsession, and brutal killings in 1970s Adelaide. Was Miller a reluctant participant or a willing killer? You’ll have to decide.

Sources:

Green, Ryan. The Truro Murders: The Sex Killing Spree Through the Eyes of an Accomplice (True Crime) (p. 21). (Function). Kindle Edition.

https://murderpedia.org/male.W/w/worrell-christopher.htm

Christopher Robin Worrell and James William Miller: The Truro Murderers. By Paul B. Kidd for CrimeLibrary.com.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truro_murders

Predatory Killers Who Hunt In Pairs. By Peter Haran For The Sunday Mail. September 10, 2000.

Truro Killer James Miller Dies of Cancer. By news.com.au. October 22, 2008.

In 2012, 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale left home in Clayton, New Jersey, to ride her new BMX—and never came back. This episode unpacks the facts of her killing by 15-year-old Justin Robinson, the frantic two-day search, the plea deal and sentencing, and the painful aftermath that split a small town.

We also examine the harder question this case raises: how much parental supervision is enough—and what does accountability look like when a child kills? Thoughtful, clear-eyed, and unsensational, this story looks at the people, the evidence, and the consequences.

Follow Almost Fiction for new cases, and please consider rating the show to help others find it.

Sources:

Is it a crime to raise a killer? By Lisa Belkin for YahooNews.com. September 12, 2014. 

https://www.yahoo.com/news/is-it-a-crime-to-raise-a-killer--190558283.html

A killer explains the slaying of a child: 'I didn't kill her for no bike'. By Matt Gray for NJ.com. March 27, 2018.

https://www.nj.com/news/2018/03/a_killer_explains_slaying_of_a_child_i_didnt_kill.html

Man involved in Autumn Pasquale's death to remain in jail on home invasion charges. By Caitlyn Stulpin for NJ.com. June 07, 2017. 

https://www.nj.com/camden/2017/06/man_behind_violent_home_invasion_and_2012_murder_o.html

Brother of Autumn Pasquale's confessed killer released from jail. By 6ABC. September 25, 2013. https://6abc.com/archive/9261014/

Dante Robinson of Clayton sentenced for role in Sicklerville home invasion. By Jim Walsh for Courier Post. October 23, 2020. 

https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/news/2020/10/23/dante-robinson-clayton-sicklerville-home-invasion-robbery-autumn-pasquale/6008364002/

Autumn Pasquale's family: 'If you're going to raise a murderer, you're going to take responsibility'. By Carly Q. Romalino for South Jersey Times. October 1, 2013. 

https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2013/10/autumn_pasquales_family_if_youre_going_to_raise_a_murderer_youre_going_to_take_responsibility.html

Autumn Pasquale murder: Judge sentences Justin Robinson to 17 years. By South Jersey Times. September 12, 2013. 

https://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/2013/09/autumn_pasquale_judge_sentences_her_killer_justin_robinson_to_17_years.html

Judge dismisses civil lawsuit in death of Autumn Pasquale. By Associated Press. June 15, 2016. https://whyy.org/articles/judge-dismisses-civil-lawsuit-in-death-of-autumn-pasquale/

South Jersey investigators find young girl's body. By ABC11. October 23, 2012. 

https://abc11.com/archive/8183567/

Parents of slain Autumn Pasquale settle lawsuit. February 28, 2013. 

https://whyy.org/articles/parents-of-slain-autumn-pasquale-settle-lawsuit/

For only $5 a month you can get exclusive access to episodes of Almost Fiction, as well as access to ad free episodes moving forward. Exclusively on Spotify.

Dive into the chilling true crime story of Edgar Herbert Smith, the manipulative killer who charmed his way off death row only to strike again. From the brutal 1957 murder of 15-year-old cheerleader Victoria Zielinski in New Jersey to Smith's bestselling books, celebrity endorsements, and shocking 1976 attack on another victim, this episode uncovers a tale of deception, false redemption, and justice delayed. Explore how a sociopath exploited hope for second chances, fooling intellectuals like William F. Buckley and evading consequences for decades. Perfect for fans of serial killers, wrongful convictions, and dark psychology. Listen now to Almost Fiction Podcast's deep dive into this infamous case of lies, betrayal, and the dangers of misplaced trust. #TrueCrime #MurderMystery #Podcast

Sources:

The Great Prevaricator. By Lona Manning For Crime Magazine. October 9, 2009.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Smith_(murderer)

Edgar Smith, 1957 killer of Ramsey High School cheerleader, dies at 83. By Keldy Ortiz For NorthJersey.com. September 24, 2017.

How Killer Edgar Smith Duped Many, Including William F. Buckley Jr., Into Believing He Was Innocent. By Elena Ferrarin For AETV.com. September 07, 2022.

https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/smith-edgar.htm

Archive: Imprisoned killer's former wife is haunted by fear he'll get out. By Mike Kelly For NorthJersey.com. September 24, 2017.

Smart Men; Stupid Choices: William F. Buckley, Jr. By Laura Wilkerson For Salon.com. September 23, 2011.

Edgar Smith, death row inmate whose release was championed by William F. Buckley Jr., dies at 83. By The Associated Press. Saturday, September 23, 2017.e

Description:

Dive into the chilling true crime saga of Michelle Lyn Michaud and James Anthony Daveggio, the infamous killer couple who terrorized California and Nevada in the 1990s.

From abductions in a modified "torture van" to brutal rapes, tortures, and the murder of Vanessa Samson, this episode uncovers their meth-fueled rampage, twisted fantasies inspired by other killers, and the shocking assaults on victims including their own family members.

Explore Jim's violent youth, Michelle's dark past, and their deadly partnership that led to death row.

Perfect for fans of serial killers, couple murderers, true crime podcasts, kidnapping cases, and forensic psychology. #TrueCrime #SerialKillers #DeathRow #MichaudDaveggio #MurderMystery

Sources:

Parker, RJ. ABDUCTION: The Minivan Murders: Killer Couple Michelle Michaud and James Daveggio. Kindle Edition.

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF CALIFORNIA THE PEOPLE, Plaintiff and Respondent,

S110294 v. JAMES ANTHONY DAVEGGIO and MICHELLE LYN MICHAUD, Alameda County

Defendants and Appellants. Super. Ct. No. 134147. Filed 4/26/18.

https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/psyc%20405/serial%20killers/Daveggio,%20James%20_fall,%202007_.pdf

United States of America, Plaintiff-appellee v. Michelle Lyn Michaud, Defendant-appellant, 268 F.3d 728 (9th Cir. 2001).

In the Supreme Court of the United States MICHELLE LYN MICHAUD, v. STATE OF CALIFORNIA. No. 18-5079. https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/18/18-5079/55822/20180727182319666_Opposition.pdf

Court Upholds Death Sentences In Pleasanton Woman's Murder. For CBS News. April 26, 2018.

Description:

In this episode, we investigate the case of Paul Frederick Runge, an Illinois predator whose crimes spanned rape, murder, dismemberment, and even arson.

From the disappearance of Stacey Frobel to the murders of sisters Džanet and Amila Pagenbegović, and the mother-daughter killings of Yolanda Gutierrez and 10-year-old Jessica Muñiz, we trace how patterns, DNA, and a rare immunity deal finally broke the case.

We also examine the overlooked role of his then-wife, Charlene, and how some accounts seem to minimize her involvement.

If you find the show valuable, follow and share to help others discover it.

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n2m2UNIEBbg

PEOPLE v. RUNGE. Supreme Court of Illinois. No. 103529. Decided: May 21, 2009.

2 Cases Dropped Against Serial Killer Paul Runge. CBS Chicago. August 24, 2011. https://www.cbsnews.com/chicago/news/2-cases-against-serial-killer-paul-runge-to-be-dropped/

Gov. Quinn Commutes Death Sentence of Oak Forest Serial Killer Paul Runge. By Lauren Traut for Patch.com. Posted Wed, Mar 9, 2011 at 6:19 pm CT. https://patch.com/illinois/oakforest/gov-quinn-commutes-death-sentence-of-oak-forest-seriaa98a21589a.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Runge_(serial_killer)

https://murderpedia.org/male.R/r/runge-paul.htm

Dive into one of America's most brutal true crime stories: the 1984 Geronimo Bank Murders. 

In this gripping episode of Almost Fiction, uncover how two debt-ridden lovers, Jay Wesley Neill and Robert Grady Johnson, turned desperation into a deadly Oklahoma bank robbery, stabbing and shooting innocent victims, including a pregnant woman, in a small-town heist gone horrifically wrong. 

Explore conflicting confessions, survivor testimonies, and the long fight for justice that ended in execution and life sentences. Perfect for fans of dark history, unsolved mysteries, and chilling true crime podcasts. 

Follow for daily cases on Instagram @almostfictionpod.

Sources:

https://www.upi.com/Archives/1985/05/20/A-teenage-survivor-of-a-bloody-bank-robbery-Monday/7006485409600/

Geronimo bank robber put to death. By News on 6. December 12th 2002, 12:00 am.

https://murderpedia.org/male.N/n1/neill-jay-wesley.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geronimo_bank_murders

Jay Wesley Neill, Plaintiff-appellant, v. Gary Gibson, Warden, Oklahoma State Penitentiary, Respondent-appellee, 278 F.3d 1044 (10th Cir. 2001) December 7, 2001.

JAY WESLEY NEILL, APPELLANT v. STATE OF OKLAHOMA, APPELLEE

Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. OK CR 69 896 P.2d 537. Case Number: F-92-975. 1994.

http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/neill818.htm

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/us-10th-circuit/1050363.html

JOHNSON v. MULLIN. United States Court of Appeals,Tenth Circuit. Robert Grady JOHNSON, Petitioner-Appellant, v. Mike MULLIN, Warden, Respondent-Appellee. No. 06-6260. Decided: October 26, 2007.

Description: 

In 1967, Frank Athen Walls was born blue, a medical condition that would mark the beginning of a troubled life. 

By 19, he became one of America's youngest serial killers, leaving a trail of victims across Florida's beaches and neighborhoods. 

This episode explores his descent from a struggling teen to death row inmate, through the heartbreaking stories of Tommie Lou Whiddon, Cynthia Condra, Audrey Gygi, and the double homicide of Edward Alger and Ann Peterson. 

It’s a haunting examination of mental illness, justice, and the lives forever changed by a young man's brutal choices.

Welcome back to another episode of Almost Fiction.

Sources: 

Supreme Court of Florida. No. 80,364. Frank A. Walls vs. State of Florida. July 7, 1994. 

Supreme Court of Florida. No. SC03-633. Frank A. Walls vs. State of Florida. No. SC03-1955. February 9, 2006. 

Walls admits to three more murders. Author Not Noted for NWFDailyNews.com. October 6, 1994.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank_A._Walls

Serial killer remains reviled after 30 years. By Tom McLaughlin for NWFDailyNews.com. December 3, 2016.  https://archive.ph/20250307213558/https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/crime/2016/12/03/serial-killer-remains-reviled-after-30-years/14802878007/. 

Remembering Tommie Lou: Thirty year anniversary of death approaching. By Kelly Humphrey for NWFDailyNews.com. March 21, 2015.  https://archive.ph/20250308113334/https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/2015/03/21/1-454411/33963039007/. 

Serial killer Frank Walls ruled smart enough to be held responsible for 1980s-era murders. By Tom McLaughlin for Northwest Florida Daily News. November 30, 2021.

Death sentence again upheld for Okaloosa County serial killer. By WEAR staff for WEARNews.com. February 22, 2023. 

https://archive.ph/20250308114040/https://weartv.com/news/local/death-sentence-again-upheld-for-okaloosa-county-serial-killer.

In this gripping true crime episode, we unravel the story of George Kent Wallace, a man infamously known as "The Mad Paddler", whose decades-long trail of violence haunted communities across North Carolina, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. 

Explore how Wallace, hiding in plain sight and exploiting law enforcement failures, preyed on young victims in a chilling pattern of kidnapping, assault, and murder. 

We delve into his troubled upbringing, the red flags ignored, and the loopholes in the justice system that let him evade capture time and again. 

Featuring survivor accounts, expert analysis, and a deep dive into court records, this episode provides a sobering look at the enduring impact on victims’ families and the questions that still linger. 

If you’re searching for true crime podcasts about serial killers, unsolved mysteries, and the failures that let monsters thrive in the shadows, this episode will keep you listening until the very end.

Sources:

WALLACE v. STATE. 1995 OK CR 19. 893 P.2d 504. Case Number: C-91-309. Decided: 03/27/1995. Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals. 

George Kent Wallace, Petitioner-appellant, v. Ron Ward, Warden, Oklahoma State Penitentiary, Respondent-appellee, 191 F.3d 1235 (10th Cir. 1999). September 10, 1999. 

George Kent Wallace faces executioner. By Jimmy Tomlin for High Point News Enterprise. May 5, 2016. https://www.swtimes.com/story/news/2016/05/05/george-kent-wallace-faces-executioner/24258309007/. 

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/13768431/george_kent-wallace

KIDNAPPER CONFESSES TO BOYS' SLAYINGS. By Unknown Author for Greensboro.com. January 5, 1991. https://greensboro.com/kidnapper-confesses-to-boys-slayings/article_a3b660ac-95dd-5e70-816e-7f4abf769be2.html.

Killer of two teens set for execution. By Unknown Author for UPI.com. August 10, 2000. https://www.upi.com/Archives/2000/08/10/Killer-of-two-teens-set-for-execution/6696965880000/.

Paddler moves on to murder — and to Fort Smith. By Staff Writer for Fort Smith Times Record. May 4, 2016. https://www.swtimes.com/story/news/2016/05/04/paddler-moves-on-to-murder/26314986007/. 

WALLACE v. STATE (1997). Court of Criminal Appeals of Oklahoma. George Kent WALLACE, Petitioner, v. The STATE of Oklahoma, Respondent. No. PC-95-1246. Decided: March 18, 1997.

Man executed in deaths of Arkansas teens. By Unkown Author for NewsOn6.com

https://www.newson6.com/story/5e3684f02f69d76f6209a383/man-executed-in-deaths-of-arkansas-teens

Escaped victim watches killer's execution. By Bobby Ross Jr. for TheOklahoman.com. August 11, 2000. 

https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2000/08/11/escaped-victim-watches-killers-execution/62186701007/

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