Crime Capsule

Home to one of the busiest ports in the country, San Pedro plays host to visitors from all walks of life--and death. Locals swap supernatural stories of shipwrecked ghosts, lost lighthouse keepers, suicidal lovers and more. The spirit of a native Gabrieleno man wanders the grounds of the Wayfarers Chapel. The phantom smell of a Civil War officer's cigar smoke wafts through the halls of the Drum Barracks. A dedicated employee of the historic Warner Brothers Theatre still fixes jammed film reels and tests equipment in the projection room. Historian and paranormal investigator Brian Clune delves into the history and mysteries of these spooky seaside haunts.

Brian Clune is the cofounder and historian for Planet Paranormal Radio and Planet Paranormal Investigations. His interest in history led him to volunteer aboard the USS Iowa and at the Fort MacArthur Military Museum, as well as give lectures at colleges and universities around the state. He has been featured on numerous TV and radio shows and is the author of several books. He lives in Southern California with his loving wife, Terri, his three wonderful children and, of course, Wandering Wyatt!

Buy the book HERE

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Home to one of the busiest ports in the country, San Pedro plays host to visitors from all walks of life--and death. Locals swap supernatural stories of shipwrecked ghosts, lost lighthouse keepers, suicidal lovers and more. The spirit of a native Gabrieleno man wanders the grounds of the Wayfarers Chapel. The phantom smell of a Civil War officer's cigar smoke wafts through the halls of the Drum Barracks. A dedicated employee of the historic Warner Brothers Theatre still fixes jammed film reels and tests equipment in the projection room. Historian and paranormal investigator Brian Clune delves into the history and mysteries of these spooky seaside haunts.

Brian Clune is the cofounder and historian for Planet Paranormal Radio and Planet Paranormal Investigations. His interest in history led him to volunteer aboard the USS Iowa and at the Fort MacArthur Military Museum, as well as give lectures at colleges and universities around the state. He has been featured on numerous TV and radio shows and is the author of several books. He lives in Southern California with his loving wife, Terri, his three wonderful children and, of course, Wandering Wyatt!

Buy the book HERE

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Staten Island is known as the mystifying borough, and it is home to numerous ghosts and eerie tales. The Alice Austin House was once home to a pioneering photographer, but ghostly images of a different sort now appear among the beams. The Moravian Cemetery in New Dorp holds tales of supernatural echoes, while over at the Old Bermuda Inn, the specter of Martha Mersereau, waiting for the return of her dead husband, appears at candlelit windows each evening. On some of the island’s most desolate roads, a spectral hitchhiker appears, vanishing from the car mid-ride, leaving only an eerie chill. Countless travelers have encountered her, a haunting reminder of the thin line between the living and the dead. Local author Marianna Randazzo uncovers the secrets behind Staten Island’s haunted houses, spectral sightings and enduring legends.

Purchase the BOOK

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Staten Island is known as the mystifying borough, and it is home to numerous ghosts and eerie tales. The Alice Austin House was once home to a pioneering photographer, but ghostly images of a different sort now appear among the beams. The Moravian Cemetery in New Dorp holds tales of supernatural echoes, while over at the Old Bermuda Inn, the specter of Martha Mersereau, waiting for the return of her dead husband, appears at candlelit windows each evening. On some of the island’s most desolate roads, a spectral hitchhiker appears, vanishing from the car mid-ride, leaving only an eerie chill. Countless travelers have encountered her, a haunting reminder of the thin line between the living and the dead. Local author Marianna Randazzo uncovers the secrets behind Staten Island’s haunted houses, spectral sightings and enduring legends.

Purchase the BOOK

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In this episode of Crime Capsule, we kick off our fourth season with a chilling tale from Erie, Pennsylvania. Join host Benjamin Morris and Justin Dombrowski as he recounts the shocking events of February 8, 1911, when Amelia Hertwig stumbled upon the desecration of the Scott Mausoleum. This famed structure, built in 1889 for a prominent family, became the site of a horrifying discovery as its doors were found ajar, and one of the bodies inside had been disturbed. Justin discusses the uniqueness of this crime in Erie's history and paints a vivid picture of the mausoleum's impressive architecture. Tune in for a deep dive into a crime that was both sensational and bizarre, marking a dark moment in the city’s past.

Justin Dombrowski is a well-respected and noted historian from Erie, Pennsylvania, specializing in local criminal, legal and historical records. An alumnus of Mercyhurst University, he can usually be found searching for his next historical adventure or spending time with his family. This is his fourth book with The History Press.

Purchase HERE

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In this episode of Crime Capsule, we kick off our fourth season with a chilling tale from Erie, Pennsylvania. Join host Benjamin Morris and Justin Dombrowski as he recounts the shocking events of February 8, 1911, when Amelia Hertwig stumbled upon the desecration of the Scott Mausoleum. This famed structure, built in 1889 for a prominent family, became the site of a horrifying discovery as its doors were found ajar, and one of the bodies inside had been disturbed. Justin discusses the uniqueness of this crime in Erie's history and paints a vivid picture of the mausoleum's impressive architecture. Tune in for a deep dive into a crime that was both sensational and bizarre, marking a dark moment in the city’s past.

Justin Dombrowski is a well-respected and noted historian from Erie, Pennsylvania, specializing in local criminal, legal and historical records. An alumnus of Mercyhurst University, he can usually be found searching for his next historical adventure or spending time with his family. This is his fourth book with The History Press.

Purchase HERE

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This week, we have a special episode for all of you, Ben guesting on So Much Crime, So Little Time Podcast.

Are you always looking for the next great true crime story? But you don't want to waste time on a lousy one, right? On 'So Much Crime, So Little Time,' we preview true crime stories in podcasts and other media for you. Spend your time on crime wisely! We also come back and share full reviews - in-depth analysis and commentary so you can continue enjoying your favorite stories.

Your Hosts: Irish true crime fanatic Dee and American story expert Jeff. Support this podcast: 

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This week, we are crossing over to producer Bill Huffman's podcast, Who Killed...?, and his interview with author Jesse Pollack about his experience with the Long Island Serial Killer Case.

Jesse P. Pollack was born and raised in the garden state of New Jersey, and has served as a contributing writer for Weird NJ magazine since 2001. His first book, Death on the Devil’s Teeth, coauthored with Mark Moran, was published in 2015 to critical acclaim. Also an accomplished musician, Pollack’s soundtrack work has been heard on Driving Jersey, an Emmy-nominated PBS documentary series. He is married with two children, three dogs, and a couple of cats.

The first set of remains was discovered in 2010 while police were searching for another woman, 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert. It wouldn't be for another year when Gilbert's body would be found across the way on neighboring Oak Beach. Once Gilbert's body was recovered, the total number of bodies found was 11. Police said most of the women worked in prostitution and advertised on such services as Craigslist. When an independent autopsy was performed on Gilbert's body, they were able to determine she was killed due to homicidal strangulation. The reason for the second autopsy was the first one concluded Gilbert had died from drowning and drug overdose. The autopsy was able to show she did not die from a natural disease, drug overdose, or drowning. Gilbert had vanished after visiting a customer and was told to have freaked out and started banging on neighbor's doors, asking for help and saying people were trying to kill her.

Sources:

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This week we are crossing over to producer Bill Huffman's podcast, Who Killed...?, and his interview with author Jesse Pollack about his experience with the Long Island Serial Killer Case.

Jesse P. Pollack was born and raised in the garden state of New Jersey, and has served as a contributing writer for Weird NJ magazine since 2001. His first book, Death on the Devil’s Teeth, coauthored with Mark Moran, was published in 2015 to critical acclaim. Also an accomplished musician, Pollack’s soundtrack work has been heard on Driving Jersey, an Emmy-nominated PBS documentary series. He is married with two children, three dogs, and a couple of cats.

The first set of remains was discovered in 2010 while police were searching for another woman, 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert. It wouldn't be for another year when Gilbert's body would be found across the way on neighboring Oak Beach. Once Gilbert's body was recovered, the total number of bodies found was 11. Police said most of the women worked in prostitution and advertised on such services as Craigslist. When an independent autopsy was performed on Gilbert's body, they were able to determine she was killed due to homicidal strangulation. The reason for the second autopsy was the first one concluded Gilbert had died from drowning and drug overdose. The autopsy was able to show she did not die from a natural disease, drug overdose, or drowning. Gilbert had vanished after visiting a customer and was told to have freaked out and started banging on neighbor's doors, asking for help and saying people were trying to kill her.

Sources:

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On this week's episode of Crime Capsule, Benjamin Morris talks with producer extraordinaire Sarah Ferris of Evergreen Podcasts and her new show, Watching Two Detectives.

Season One: "If Tomorrow Never Comes"

In our gripping first season, "If Tomorrow Never Comes," we unravel the chilling and complex murder of Michael Furlong. Unlike any crime story you've heard, this case twists on its axis with developments so shocking, they'd be dismissed as too unbelievable for a Hollywood script.

Scott Rogan and Peter Hogan are not just recounting the case; they're reopening the files with a personal connection that adds layers of depth and humanity to the narrative. Joined by the detective who led the investigation, Clive Ainly, this season offers unprecedented access to the people closest to the case. Michael's son Luke, who was only 11 at the time of his father's murder, and his ex-wife, Colleen, share their poignant journeys of seeking answers and closure.

This isn't just a recounting of facts; it's an exploration of the ripple effects of a single act of violence. From the crime scene that shook the detectives to their core to the heart-wrenching irony of Michael's last gift to his ex-wife—a CD featuring Ronan Keating's "If Tomorrow Never Comes"—this season brings you closer to the case than ever before.

Go beyond the headlines and the cold facts. Experience the human side of a true crime story, accompanied by those who lived through it. Hear directly from the detectives who worked the case and the family members still seeking answers.

Just when you think you've understood the case, new revelations emerge, each more surprising than the last.

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