In June of 2001, the world was stunned when news broke that a Texas mother had drowned her five children. Photos of Andrea Yates, her children, and what many considered to be a “picture-perfect family” were plastered across the media, with everyone wondering how something so horrific could happen.

In this episode, we look at the events leading up to that day, the red flags that were ignored or minimized, and how Andrea and Rusty’s extreme religious beliefs likely exacerbated her postpartum psychosis. We examine her two trials and the misconceptions surrounding the insanity plea. We discuss how Andrea herself was failed by multiple systems and how the lack of meaningful support for new mothers continues to harm families. We also explore how countries like Sweden and Finland invest in maternal mental health, postpartum care, and family support — and ask why we still don’t offer the same in the United States.

SOURCES: 

• Gillespie, S. (2023, February 8). 'She Killed the Kids!': Lindsay Clancy paralyzed in hospital after allegedly strangling 3 kids. YouTube. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://youtu.be/rOJuQ_qg3jY 
• McLellan, F. (2006, December 2). Mental health and justice: The case of Andrea Yates. The Lancet. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(06)69789-4/fulltext
• Resnick, P. (2007). The Andrea Yates Case: Insanity on Trial - Cleveland State University. Cleveland State University. Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?httpsredir=1&article=1174&context=clevstlrev 
• Where is Andrea Yates now? A peek inside her life in a State Mental Hospital. ABC13 Houston. (2018, June 20). Retrieved February 13, 2023, from https://abc13.com/where-is-andrea-yates-who-what-did-do-drowned-family-in-clear-lake/1980992/ 
• Deborah W. Denno, Who is Andrea Yates? A Short Story About Insanity, 10 Duke J. Gender L. & Pol'y 1 (2003)
• https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=126229&page=1
• https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=126222&page=1 
• https://publications.lawschool.cornell.edu/jlpp/2022/10/19/the-insanity-plea-problem/
• https://www.cbsnews.com/boston/news/patrick-lindsay-clancy-duxbury-mother-murder-the-new-yorker/
• https://amsterdam-mamas.nl/articles/what-is-a-kraamverzorgster-and-where-can-i-find-one/
• https://sweden.se/work-business/working-in-sweden/work-life-balance

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

In 1997, Connie Ruddy disappeared from her home without a trace. Two years later, her jawbone was discovered miles away, confirming her death but offering few clues about what happened to her. For almost three decades, her case seemed cold. Until October of 2025, when investigators returned to her home to search for new evidence. 

This case is a reminder that all it takes is one piece of information, one new advancement in technology, to change everything for a "cold case". 

Someone out there knows what happened to Connie. It's time to come forward; her family and her children deserve closure and justice. 

SOURCES (Full list exceeds character limitations, please email me if you would like my full list of sources):

• https://www.kcrg.com/2025/10/13/cold-case-iowa-authorities-search-former-home-woman-who-disappeared-1997/
• KTIV News Channel 4, Feb 11, 2022 “The Ruddy family shares their memories of Connie Ruddy”
• Jawbone of missing woman found along Iowa riverbank, September 3, 1999, The Courier
• Reward offered for ‘cold case’ information, February 11, 2009, The Courier
• Laurio, Alison, Woman not thought killed in Council Bluffs, December 2, 1997, The Daily Nonpareil
• Wolf, Gordon, Jawbone belongs to missing woman, September 3, 1999, The Daily Nonpareil
• Still no clues on missing woman, February 17, 1997, The Des Moines Register
• Santiago, Frank, No leads in search for Ida Grove woman, April 18, 1997, The Des Moines Register
• Woman’s body found in park, November 29, 1997, The Des Moines Register
• Rahim, Shuva, Authorities check farms, gravel pits, April 25, 1998, The Des Moines Register
• Hupp, Staci, Found bones may solve case, September 2, 1999, The Des Moines Register

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

If you want to support the Greenberg's through donations to their legal fund, or through signing petitions to reopen her case please see the website below:

https://www.justiceforellengreenberg.com/

If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, there is help available. Visit https://www.thehotline.org/ for resources or text "START" to 88788. 

On October 10, 2025, the Philadelphia Chief Medical Examiner published their opinion on the manner of death of Ellen Greenberg after an "independent and unbiased" review of the case. Her death was ruled a suicide. 

Ellen Greenberg was found dead in her apartment on January 26, 2011, with twenty stab wounds. Fourteen years later, her death remains one of the most controversial cases in recent memory, and her family has been fighting for answers and justice. 

In this episode, I lay out what is known about the case, using police reports, activity logs, autopsy reports, and more. We will talk about the scene, the investigation, the initial errors, and the most controversial elements of the case. 

At the very end, I will give my thoughts on this case, but before that, I want you to come to your own conclusion. What happened to Ellen Greenberg? Was she murdered? Or was her death a tragic suicide? 

This episode will only be scratching the surface of her case, for more in depth information visit Gavin Fish's website which is linked below.

Sources:

• https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3440888/
• https://gavinfish.com/cases/ellen-greenberg/
• https://crimetimelines.com/ellen-greenberg/
• https://dig.abclocal.go.com/wpvi/pdf/101325-wpvi-ellen-greenberg-death-dr-simon-review-PDF.pdf
• https://www.inquirer.com/news/philadelphia/ellen-greenberg-suicide-homicide-lawsuit-philadelphia-20220324.html?int_promo= 

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

On July 12, 1979, a fire at the Hill Top Motel in Red Oak, Iowa, claimed the life of 3-year-old Keara Coshow. Despite known suspicions of child abuse from Keara's stepmother, Karen, and Keara being nearly blind from an injury many suspect was inflicted upon her by her stepmother, investigators ruled the fire and Keara's death a tragic accident. 

The investigation was reopened in 2007 and closed in 2010 with the same conclusion: the fire and Keara's death were an accident. 

Many, including myself, consider Keara's death to be highly suspicious. Over the years, petitions have been created to have the case reopened with no success. 

But, in 2025, the Iowa Attorney General's Office released a deck of Iowa Cold Case cards, and I was surprised to find Keara's face among them, with her being labeled "homicide victim", and the card stating the fire was ruled arson. 

Nowhere in the 1979 investigation report, or the records I received in 2024, indicate her case was ever considered to be arson.  Was there a huge update in the case? Has it been reopened? Or did investigators simply copy what crime journalist Jody Ewing wrote on her blog, Iowa Cold Cases, without checking on the official record?

I reached out to the Iowa Attorney General's Office and the Iowa Cold Case Unit to request clarification; neither has responded as of 5 November 2025. 

Listen to my previous episode on Keara Coshow: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cardinal-crimes/id1781462994?i=1000695493302

Or watch on Youtube: https://youtu.be/WInjK111ydE?si=YW1dTfJ0UVzArgua

Sources: 

• Roy Marshall, Investigation Report Case #7907361, State of Iowa Department of Public Safety State Fire Marshal Division
• State of Iowa Death Certificate (certified reproduction of original record), Keara Coshow, Issued April 23, 2007. 
• Jon Mathis, Closing and Disposition Record Case #0706806, Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Investigation
• Iowa Cold Cases Playing Cards, 1st Edition, Iowa Office of the Attorney General, Department of Corrections, Sheriff's & Deputies Association, Iowa Police chiefs Association, Iowa County Attorneys Association, April 16, 2025
• Jody Ewing, Keara Coshow Case Summary, Iowa Cold Cases, https://iowacoldcases.org/case-summaries/keara-coshow/
• Rossi, R., Lodise, M., Lancia, M., Bacci, M., De-Giorgio, F., & Cascini, F. (2014). Trigemino-cardiac reflex as lethal mechanism in a suicidal fire death case. Journal of forensic sciences, 59(3), 833–835. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.12408

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

One name that you will almost certainly find while researching the 1980 murders of Rose Burkert, Roger Atkison, and William Kyle, and the 1970 murder of Jack McDonald is Raymundo Esparza. 

In this episode, we talk about how he is connected to the case, the evidence (or lack of evidence) against him, and the status of the investigation into his connections to the case. 

We then explore the theory that all of these murders were sexually motivated homicides, and committed by one serial killer, and wrap up our coverage by going over what I have received back in my records requests. 

Let me know if you enjoyed this multi-part series or if you prefer one case per episode. Thank you all for listening to this series, and let me know your thoughts and theories! 

Most importantly, though, if you have any information on of these cases, please contact the Iowa Cold Case unit at the email below, the Galesburg Police Department at 309.343.9151, and the Meridian Police Department at 601.485.1859.

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

In today's quick bonus episode, we break down what we know about the recent case of a mass shooting averted at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. This could have been a devastating tragedy, but it was stopped thanks to a family member seeing something concerning and reporting it. 

We talk about how this shooting was averted, the concept of leakage, and why it is so important that the public is educated on the warning signs of mass shooters. 

I close with a quick rant on what true crime content genuinely terrifies me.

Thanks for listening to this quick bonus episode! 

Learn more about "leakage" and mass shooting prevention here: https://www.theviolenceproject.org/about-us/our-book/

SOURCES: 

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/nation/man-who-planned-to-shoot-up-atlantas-airport-is-arrested-in-a-terminal-following-a-tip-from-his-family-police-say

https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/boy-school-shooter-ideations-guns-collection/story?id=125369659

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

In October of 1970, a maid at the Travel Inn in Meridian, Mississippi discovered the body of 23-year-old Jack McDonald. He had been murdered by multiple blows to the head with an ax or hatchet-like instrument. 

The investigation into the murder of Jack McDonald remains unsolved, but today, many believe he may have been murdered by the same man who killed William Kyle, Rose Burkert, and Roger Atkison. 

In part five we will go over everything we know about Jack's case and the similarities between this scene and the two others we have discussed in this series. We will also take a quick detour and discuss a fleeting theory that Jack's murder was linked to an underground Mafia-esque pornography business (spoiler alert: it was not). 

Sources:

• Bell, Dick, Salesman's slaying clues sought, October 29, 1970, Birmingham Post Herald
• Whittington, George, Police Seek to Quiz Man About Slaying, October 30, 1970, Clarion Ledger
• Think Two Murders May Be Connected, December 14, 1970, Clarion Ledger
• Claybrook, Clint, Jeffco car parts salesman brutally slain in Meridian, October 28, 1970, The Birmingham News
• Claybrook, Clint, Clues absent in salesman's brutal death, October 28, 1970, The Birmingham News
• Claybrook, Clint, Heavy-set young man sought in 'hatchet' slaying, October 29, 1970, The Birmingham News
• Claybrook, Clint, Police hunt 'natty dresser', October 30, 1970, The Birmingham News
• Claybrook, Clint, Police trying to link Meridian, Florida cases, December 9, 1970, The Birmingham News
• Man slain in Meridian, October 28, 1970, The Delta Democrat Times
• Search underway for killer of salesman, December 8, 1970, Daytona Beach Morning Journal
• Slaying Victim's Car Found in Alabama, December 7, 1970, Fourt Lauderdale News
• Slaying Suspect Search Widened, December 9, 1970, Fourt Lauderdale News
• Excess Fees, December 15, 1970, Fort Lauderdale News
• Jurors Get Testimony on Slaying, December 16, 1970, Fort Lauderdale News
• Accused Slayer of Smut Peddler Held for City By St. Louis Police, February 27, 1971, Fort Lauderdale News
• Man Given Life Term in Murder, October 26, 1971, Fort Lauderdale News
• Toilet Tank Top Used in Slaying, December 9, 1970, Fort Myers News-Press
• Manhunt Under Way for Slayer, December 8, 1970, The Miami Herald
• Police Identify Man Found Dead, December 8, 1970, The Miami Herald
• Egger, Edson, Geiger Report Due Jan 6 Grand Jury Foreman Says, December 19, 1970, The Miami Herald
• Extradition of Suspect to be Asked, March 2, 1971, the Miami Herald
• Patterson, Robert, Underworld Link to Porno Films, Feb 8, 1971, The San Francisco Examiner

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

Today we have a bonus episode coming to you from my car! There are a few developing crime related stories I wanted to talk about, including the Louvre heist. Then, I have thoughts on a few documentaries and Netflix series. I talk about Death in Apartment 603, What Happened to Ellen Greenberg (HULU), My Father, the BTK Killer (NETFLIX), MONSTER: The Ed Gein Story (NETFLIX), and The Perfect Neighbor (NETFLIX). 

If you have any information on the murder of Kada Scott please call or text Philadelphia police at 215-686-TIPS (8477).

If you have any information on the 5 year old victim from Cleveland, OH please contact: 216-621-1234.

SOURCES:

• https://6abc.com/amp/post/kada-scott-case-timeline-investigation-missing-philadelphia-woman-arrest-keon-king/18044902/
• https://edition.cnn.com/2025/10/20/us/kada-scott-update-remains-identified
• https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/pittsburgh/news/ohio-children-attack-attempted-murder-rape/
• https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cg7nrlkg0zxo

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

On Wednesday, June 25, 1980, workers at the Sheraton Motor Inn in Galesburg, Illinois, found the body of William Kyle, a lumber salesman, brutally murdered in his hotel room.

To this day, Kyle’s murder remains unsolved, but the crime scene contains many similarities to that of Rose Burkert and Roger Atkison’s murder. In this episode, we cover what we know of the murder of William Kyle, and discuss the similarities and differences between the two scenes. 

If you have any information on the murder of William Kyle, please contact the Knox County Sheriff’s Office at 309-345-3733

SOURCES: 

• Peoria salesman killed at Galesburg Sheraton, June 26, 1980, The Daily Review Atlas
• Salesman slain in motel, June 26, 1980, The Quad City Times
• Motel murder lacks new clues, June 27, 1980, The Quad City Times
• Police reject tie of slaying, horror film, July 4, 1980, The Quad City Times
• Dodd, D’Anne, Galesburk link to deaths probed, September 16, 1980, The Quad City Times
• Arpy, Jim, Unsolved slayings form pockets of fear, September 19, 1980, The Quad City Times
• “Hotel Homicide”, The DNA of Murder with Paul Holes, October 12, 2019, Oxygen

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson

The brutal 1980 murders of Rose Burkert and Roger Atkison have puzzled investigators for decades. While suspicion has often fallen on people close to the couple, the list of potential suspects has grown far beyond their inner circle.

In this episode, we explore the individuals who’ve been investigated over the years — from those who knew Rose and Roger personally to complete outsiders. We break down possible motives, examine what evidence cleared (or didn’t clear) them, and look at how investigators reached their conclusions.

And at the end, we take an unexpected turn: could one “ruled-out” suspect in this case actually be tied to a different cold case we’ve covered?

Tune in, then share your thoughts — do you see a connection?

Listen to our episode on Dorothy Miller here: 

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/cardinal-crimes/id1781462994?i=1000679635755

SOURCES: 

The source list for this case exceeds the character limits. If you would like to view my sources, please send me an email! 

Support the show

If you have any information on any of the cold cases covered, you can submit a tip here: https://www.iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-crime-victims/iowa-cold-case/cold-case-tip-form

You can follow Cardinal Crimes on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube @CardinalCrimes.

The best way to support the podcast is to follow/like/subscribe, share with friends and family, and write us a review on Apple Podcasts and Spotify!

If you liked the show and are interested in supporting my work, check out my Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/CardinalCrimes?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson