Almost Fiction

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 sessions, and how he infiltrated New York’s struggling artist scene under the guise of casting a fake film.

And as he lured aspiring actresses with false promises of stardom, Yukl’s violent urges and delusions began to resurface, all while he presented himself as a rehabilitated model citizen. 

Featuring firsthand details from The Piano Teacher: The True Story of a Psychotic Killer, this is a story of deception, danger, and missed red flags. If you're into true crime, serial killers, parole system failures, and 1970s New York noir, this is an episode you won’t forget.

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 dives deep into Yukl’s past, his manipulations, and the brutal 1966 murder of Suzanne Reynolds. It’s a terrifying portrait of depravity hiding under a mask of weakness.

Sources: 

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/08/25/archives/-village-slaying-laid-to-paroled-killer.html

https://case-law.vlex.com/vid/people-v-yukl-893896295

https://www.nytimes.com/1974/09/03/archives/sexslaying-case-posing-questions-to-justice-system-sexslaying-case.html

https://mail.murderpedia.org/male.Y/y/yukl-charles.htm

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/spontaneous_exclamation

Tanenbaum, Robert K., and Peter S. Greenberg. The Piano Teacher: The True Story of a Psychotic Killer. eBook ed., Simon and Schuster, 1987.

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 Waters, an ex-con turned office manager at American Atheists, whose dark past and vengeful motives led to one of the most chilling crimes of the ‘90s. 

With extortion schemes, missing gold, mutilated bodies, and a multi-year-long investigation that finally unearthed the truth, this is a story that sounds too wild to be real, until you realize every word of it… is true.

Sources: 

The Atheists' Cold Case Gets Warmer, By Paul Duggan. Washington Post Staff Writer

Monday, August 16, 1999.

Mysterious Disappearance of Madalyn Murray O'Hair By Tori Richards for TruTV.com

Wikipedia page for Madalyn Murray O’Hair. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madalyn_Murray_O%27Hair

O'Hair death mastermind dies in prison, SAN ANTONIO NEWS. By John MacCormack. March 21, 2017.

Murderpedia.org David Roland Waters. 

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 details, and the tragic stories of the 11 women whose lives were taken, this deep-dive exposes the chilling reality of one of America's most shocking serial murder cases.
Sources:The road to Imperial Avenue. By Tony Brown and Joe Guillen for The Plain Dealer. January 24, 2010. State v. Sowell, 148 Ohio St.3d 554, 2016-Ohio-8025. 2016. Cleveland serial killer Anthony Sowell dies in prison. By Deanna Hackney and Jason Hanna for CNN. Tuesday February 9, 2021. https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/09/us/anthony-sowell-cleveland-serial-killer-dies-trnd/index.html.The Victims of Anthony Sowell, the Cleveland Strangler. By Crystal Ponti for A&E. September 23, 2021. https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/anthony-sowell-victimsAnthony Sowell, Serial Killer Who Terrorized Cleveland, Dies at 61. By Neil Vigdor for NY Times.com. February 9, 2021. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/09/us/anthony-sowell-serial-killer-dead.html.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anthony_SowellSerial killer Sowell's family testify he was abused. By Kim Palmer for Reuters. August 2, 2011. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-crime-sowell-idUSTRE7715ZF20110802/. Serial killer Anthony Sowell began raping niece when both were children, witness testifies. By Leila Atassi for Cleveland.com. August 2, 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20171014084027/http://www.cleveland.com/anthony-sowell/index.ssf/2011/08/serial_killer_anthony_sowell_began_raping_niece_when_both_were_children_witness_testifies.html. Anthony Sowell was considered unlikely to attack again in 2005 evaluation. By Gabriel Baird for The Plain Dealer. November 6, 2009. https://www.cleveland.com/metro/2009/11/anthony_sowell_was_considered.html. 
Cleveland to demolish serial killer’s home. By Maggie Schneider for CNN. December 5, 2011. Death Row Drawings: Sowell’s Controversial Artwork is Selling. By Kevin Freeman for Fox 8 News. November 13, 2012. 

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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. Kovaleski. Feb. 4, 2012.

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/video/evil-lives-here-investigation-discovery/my-brothers-secret

https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/tv/i-lived-with-a-killer/6072212492067750112?orig_ref=https://www.google.com/

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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-supreme-court/1072397.html

Portrait of ‘The Monster’ on Death Row By Claudia Núñez, Translated by Elena Shore for New America Media. January 4, 2011. 

Parolee pleads innocent to triple-murder charges. The San Bernardino County Sun. Fri, Jun 1, 1984. Page 10. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-bernardino-county-sun-parolee-pl/100605415/.

Wanted in 3 slayings, man turns himself in. By Bill Schlotter for The Tribune. San Luis Obispo, California. Tue, May 29, 1984. Page 1. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-tribune-mauricio-silva/104446223/

Parolee Found Guilty of Murdering 3 Teens. By Robert W. Stewart for The Los Angeles Times. Thursday April 18, 1985. Page 137https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-mauricio-silva/104446083/

No Break for Teen Slay Suspect. The Napa Valley Register. Sat, Sep 29, 1984. Page 4.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-napa-valley-register-mauricio-silva/104446101/

Killer’s Jury Deadlocks on Death Penalty By Paul Feldman for the Los Angeles Times. Friday July 26, 1985.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-mauricio-silva/104446120/

Silva to Face Sentencing Re-trial. By Tim O’Leary for The Lompoc Record. Wednesday August 21, 1985. Page 3.https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-lompoc-record-mauricio-silva/104446206/

Jury Votes Death for Killer of Three Teen-Agers. By Terry Pristin for The Los Angeles Times. Thursday May 29, 1986. Page 41. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-silva/76785682/

Death Penalty Nullified for Killer. By Ana Beatriz Cholo for The Los Angeles Times. Tuesday May 1, 2001. Page 20. https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-mauricio-silva/104446159/

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

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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 (Ala.Cr.App.). (Direct Appeal). 1979. 

THOMAS WARREN WHISENHANT v RICHARD F. ALLEN. No. 04-15810. Docket No. 02-00397-CV-WS-C. February 3, 2009. 

Thomas Whisenhant executed for 1976 kidnapping, rape and murder. By Brendan Kirby for  Al.com. May 27, 2010.

A lifetime on death row: Thomas Warren Whisenhant was murderous mama's boy. By Gary McElroy or Brendan Kirby for Al.com. October 06, 2002.

Inmate executed after 32 years on death row. By Bob Johnson for MontgomeryAdvertiser.com. Associated Press. May 28, 2010.

Thomas Whisenhant: Serial killer executed for murdering 3 Mobile women. By Summer Poole for WKRG 5 News. January 7, 2023. https://www.wkrg.com/true-crime/thomas-whisenhant-serial-killer-executed-for-murdering-3-mobile-women/. 

Thomas Warren WHISENHANT v. STATE. Alabama Court of Criminal Appeals. 370 So.2d 1080. 20 February 1979. 

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

Thomas Whisenhant executed for 1976 kidnapping, Rape and Murder. By Brendan Kirby for AL.com. May 27, 2010. 

A lifetime on death row: Thomas Warren Whisenhant was murderous mama's boy. By Gary McElroy for AL.com. October 6, 2002. https://www.al.com/live/2002/10/whisenhant.html.

http://www.clarkprosecutor.org/html/death/US/whisenhant1212.htm

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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 more?Tune in for the gripping finale on Almost Fiction. SOURCES: Mustafa, Susan D.; Israel, Sue. Dismembered. Kindle Edition. Pinnacle Books. 2011.

Both sides give reaction to Gillis sentencing. By Jim Shannon for

. August 28, 2008. 

‘I Would Do It Again’: Inside The Sickening Crimes Of Baton Rouge Serial Killer Sean Vincent Gillis. By William DeLong for All That’s

. Edited by John Kuroski. October 27, 2024. 

The Devil You Know: Episode A Twisted Mind. Investigation Discovery. 2011. Living With a Serial Killer, The Disturbing Case of Sean Vincent Gillis. Law and Crime Network.

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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 this case on Almost Fiction. 

SOURCES: 

Mustafa, Susan D.; Israel, Sue. Dismembered. Kindle Edition. Pinnacle Books. 2011.

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/58750961/rachel-anna-bryan

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/147871800/donna-johnston

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/93816412/annie-hardee-schmidt

Both sides give reaction to Gillis sentencing. By Jim Shannon for WAFB.com. August 28, 2008. 

https://www.wafb.com/story/2421873/prosecutors-plan-to-use-letters-video-against-gillis/

https://web.archive.org/web/20121111151219/http://blogs.discovery.com/bizarre/2008/07/baton-rouge-ser.html

https://www.wafb.com/story/5354384/judge-gillis-jury-can-see-confession-letters/

‘I Would Do It Again’: Inside The Sickening Crimes Of Baton Rouge Serial Killer Sean Vincent Gillis. By William DeLong for All That’s Interesting.com. Edited by John Kuroski. October 27, 2024. 

https://web.archive.org/web/20160303234819/http://www.wafb.com/Global/story.asp?s=1826593

The Devil You Know: Episode A Twisted Mind. Investigation Discovery. 2011. 

Living With a Serial Killer, The Disturbing Case of Sean Vincent Gillis. Law and Crime Network. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=paQHOEPshso

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