Originally released in December 2024, I take a closer look at the unsettling case of 30-year-old Debra Melo, who vanished on June 20, 2000, under deeply suspicious circumstances. Debra had been trying to leave a controlling relationship with her husband, Luis Melo. According to him, they argued on the way home from her doctor’s appointment in Weymouth, Massachusetts, and she asked to be let out of the car on busy Route 18. He claimed he returned to find her gone—but Debra’s pocketbook, wallet, ID, and phone were left behind, something that made no sense to the people who knew her best.

The episode features an interview with Steve Demoura, Debra’s brother-in-law and a tireless advocate for her case. Together, they explore the emotional toll on the family, the eerie timing of her disappearance—just a week before Molly Bish went missing—and the haunting legacy of Taunton’s Silver City Galleria Mall, a place tied to both memories and mystery.It’s the first in a two-part series, and it’s as much about justice and advocacy as it is about the crime itself.

On Friday, June 20, 2025, we will gather at Memorial Park in Debra's hometown of Taunton, Mass, in remembrance of Debra, to share memories and a message of hope.

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Boston 25 News coverage of the 25th anniversary of Debra's disappearance by Bob Ward, June 2025

The Boston Globe's Cold Case Files by Emily Sweeney about Debra's case 25 years on

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This month marks the 25th anniversary of two unsovled cases, Debra Melo and Molly Bish, who disappeared 7 days apart in 2000; a gathering for Debra is this Fri 6/20 in Taunton, MA, Molly's family gathers on 6/28 in Warren.

New England Serial Killer History Series | What makes a serial killer? Why are we interested in knowing? We cannot predict whether someone will become a psychopath, but when someone is discovered to be a psychopathic killer, you can often trace it back to their childhood. The case of the Boston Stranger predates the so-called golden age of the serial killer and still confounds us today.

In the early 1960s, a rash of murders terrified the city of Boston. Women were being found brutally killed across the city, and the region. There was no clear pattern though, some shared the same hallmarks.

The Boston Strangler case gripped the city of Boston between 1962 and 1964, when 13 women aged 19 to 85 were murdered in their homes. Most were sexually assaulted and strangled, often with their own clothing, and the killer left no signs of forced entry—suggesting the victims may have willingly let him in. The crimes were initially believed to be the work of a single person, and the two intripid female reporters began to connect the cases, dubbing this unknown assailant “The Boston Strangler.” Public fear surged, and women were arming themselves for protection.

In 1965, Albert DeSalvo, a man already in custody for unrelated attacks on women, confessed to the murders. Why he confessed, whether for notoriety or something else, like immunity from prosecution in those crimes, his guilt was in dispute for decades. It has been a long held belief by investigators and case experts that not all of the 13 victims were killed by the same person. Because of the varying ages and circumstances of each victim, the patterns in each case didn't quite add up. Even some of the surviving assault victims did not believe Desalvo did not believe he was their attacker, Though never formally charged with the killings, his confession and knowledge of crime scene details led many to believe he was the one responsible. However, doubts lingered for decades due to inconsistencies in his statements and lack of physical evidence.

A player in another high profile case has a connection to the Strangler case. The Boston Police Sergeant and Surveillance Expert who followed nephew, Tim Desalvo, to his worksite and retrieved an item for DNA would help break the case of Mary's murder, Boston Police Sergeant Brian Albert, of the Alberts who formerly resided at 34 Fairview Rd in Canton, Massachusetts.

It was due to this where, in 2013, that nephew's DNA was insturmental in definitively linking DeSalvo to the final victim, a 19-year-old woman new to the city from Cape Cod. While many had ruled out Mary Sullivan as an actual Strangler victim, DNA evidence came back with a match, providing the strongest forensic tie to the case. Still, some experts believe multiple killers may have been involved, leaving the truth of the Boston Strangler murders a mystery. Mary Sullivan’s case is the only case of the Boston Strangler investigation with a forensic conclusion. The 12 other murder cases remain unsolved 63 years later.

True Crime Podcast Festival is July 18-20, 2025

Tickets at truecrimepodcastfestival.com (use code ANNGELLE for 20% off passes)

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Jolly Jane Toppin, a nurse in late 19th century Lowell, Massachusetts, became one of New England's most prolific serial killers, confessing to 31 murders and claiming responsibility for 100 deaths. Her story reveals how she used her position as a trusted caregiver to poison patients and family members while deriving sexual pleasure from watching them die.

The haunting legacy of "Jolly Jane" Toppin still echoes through Massachusetts more than a century after her crimes. Born Honora Kelley to struggling Irish immigrants in 1857, Jane's transformation from abandoned child to one of America's most prolific female serial killers reveals a disturbing journey through the dark corners of New England history. Stripped of her identity at a young age, Jane became an indentured servant to the Toppan family who erased her Irish heritage, renamed her, and created a fictional past for her. This early experience of identity manipulation foreshadowed the deceptions that would later define her murderous career.

As she trained to become a nurse, Jane developed not only medical skills but a disturbing fascination with death and suffering that would claim dozens of lives. What makes Jane's story particularly chilling is her methodical approach to murder. Working as a private nurse for wealthy New England families, she poisoned her victims with morphine and atropine, sometimes prolonging their suffering for her own pleasure. She confessed to killing 31 people but claimed the true number might be closer to 100. From her foster sister Elizabeth to the entire Davis family, Jane eliminated anyone who stood in her way or owed her money. The case of Jolly Jane represents a perfect storm of historical circumstances: the vulnerability of patients in early medical care, the limited forensic capabilities of the time, and the trust placed in caregivers. Her victims' deaths were typically attributed to natural causes until suspicions finally arose after the Davis family murders in 1901. Following her arrest and trial, Jane spent the remaining 37 years of her life in Taunton State Hospital, ironically developing a fear that her own food was being poisoned. This episode explores not just the crimes of a serial killer, but the societal conditions that allowed her to operate undetected for so long. Uncover the disturbing psychology behind one of New England's most notorious murderers and examine how her legacy continues to influence our understanding of female serial killers today.

Join us Friday, June 20th at Memorial Field in Taunton, Massachusetts for a gathering to remember Debra Melo on the 25th anniversary of her disappearance.

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Veteran crime reporter Bob Ward of Boston 25 News joins me for a candid conversation about the recent online hysteria surrounding a New England serial killer after 12 people have been recovered around Massachusetts and Rhode Island. 

Drawing from his nearly three decades as host of "New England's Unsolved," Bob shares the profound impact of covering cases like Theresa Corley's 1978 murder—a young woman he personally knew before her death. This intimate connection frames a deeper discussion about the responsibility journalists carry when amplifying victims' stories.

The conversation turns to the troubling social media frenzy claiming a serial killer is responsible for recent bodies discovered throughout New England. While acknowledging the region's history with serial predators, we agree that there is cause for concern about how unfounded speculation harms legitimate investigations and re-traumatizes families. 

"It's very tempting to think that one bad guy or two bad guys are responsible for all this evil, "but I just don't think life works that way."  -Bob Ward

We spotlight numerous cases deserving attention—Melanie Melanson, Debra Melo, Bruce Crowley, Reina Morales Rojas—whose families continue waiting for answers while internet sleuths chase shadows.

• The justice system often fails victims' families by providing few updates while requiring them to repeatedly relive trauma at parole hearings

• Online speculation about a "New England serial killer" diverts resources from legitimate investigations

• Internet misinformation is causing real harm, from false confessions to wrongful accusations

• True crime advocacy should focus on supporting families and respecting victims rather than sensationalizing cases

Join us at Middlesex County Superior Court on Monday, May 12th at 10am for the arraignment in Charlene Rosemond's murder case, whose family has waited 16 years for justice.

Other cases included: Andy Puglisi, Beth Brodie, Jeffrey Curley, Janet Downing, Colleen Ritzer, Shaun Ouillette, Miguel Oliveras, New Bedford Highway murders, Boston Strangler, Henry Bedard, Jr, Deanna Cremin, Bruce Crowley, Brittany Tee, Maura Murray, Shannan Gilbert, Lonene Rogers "Lonnie's Law"

Up next, the history of serial killers in New England.

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This podcast has minimal profanity but from time to time you get one or some curse words. This isn't for kids.

Music included in episodes from Joe "onlyone" Kowalski, Dug McCormack's Math Ghosts and Shredding by Andrew King

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What do Auntie Em, Dropkick Murphys, Mr. Ballen, and HoJos have in common? We roll into Quincy for a look and a story. 

A Missing Mom Mystery. Sandra Crispo vanished from her Hanson, Massachusetts home on August 7, 2019. She left her beloved dog, Clarance, behind without food or water and her home unlocked with lights and air conditioning running. She was living her best life in her new home and spending quality hours with her young grandsons. 

Six years later, her case remains unsolved despite evidence suggesting foul play, including blood found throughout her house and witness reports of an argument the night she disappeared.

• Sandra had recently moved to Hanson from Quincy, downsizing to a small house after her father passed away 
• Her father left behind a substantial estate including reported gold bars, creating significant family tension
• Sandra was last seen on surveillance at Cumberland Farms buying cigarettes after her son-in-law helped her drop her car at a mechanic
• Neighbors reported hearing an argument involving two men at Sandra's home the night she disappeared
• Blood from Sandra and an unidentified male family associate was found in the home six weeks after her disappearance
• Sandra was 54 years old when she vanished and had found new purpose in being a grandmother to her daughter's children
• Despite grand jury testimony and ongoing investigation, no arrests have been made in the case

Information is needed in Sandra Crispo's disappearance, contact Hanson Police Department at 781-293-4625 or Massachusetts State Police Detectives at 508-894-2600.

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This podcast has minimal profanity but from time to time you get one or some curse words. This isn't for kids.

Music included in episodes from Joe "onlyone" Kowalski, Dug McCormack's Math Ghosts and Shredding by Andrew King

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Justice is coming for Charline at last! News broke this week in her 16-year-old murder case. The first real hope for justice for Charline and her family. 

On Thursday, April 10, Middlesex County District Attorney Marion Ryan announced the arrest of Heinsky Anacreon, age 38, of Malden, Mass, who was indicted by a Middlesex County grand jury on charges of murder, willfully misleading a police officer and willfully misleading an attorney, charging him with first-degree murder in this cold case that has haunted Charline's family since the day she disappeared on April 7, 2009. The investigation revealed a heartbreaking betrayal - Charline was lured by so-called friends with the promise of a sweet deal on a car, only to be robbed and killed. Most disturbing perhaps is the evidence that after the murder, her killers celebrated with a bottle of Moet champagne and toasted their windfall. 

For those who've followed Crime of the Truest Kind, this case has been near to my heart. After sharing her case in a live show in 2024, and interviewing Charline's sister Rose (listen to episodes 71 and 72) last fall and advocating for this case at every opportunity, seeing this development brings joy. Nothing can bring Charline back or erase her family's 16 years of hoping and waiting for her killers to be caught. As we look toward a trial, I will continue following every development. Advocacy is key. 

After 16 years, there's finally been an arrest in the murder case of Charline Rosemond, a 23-year-old woman from Everett who was shot to death for $4,000 cash in 2009. Middlesex County District Attorney Marion Ryan has announced charges against Heinsky Anacreon, revealing that Charline was set up by someone she considered a close friend, Roberto Jude, who died before facing justice.

• Charline disappeared April 7, 2009, she was found on April 13. 
• DNA evidence on the car's door handle linked Roberto Jude to the scene
• Anacreon allegedly admitted to disposing of the murder weapon in a river
• Charline's family will be meeting on April 13th at 3pm in Union Square, Somerville – the 16th anniversary of when she was found

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This podcast has minimal profanity but from time to time you get one or some curse words. This isn't for kids.

Music included in episodes from Joe "onlyone" Kowalski, Dug McCormack's Math Ghosts and Shredding by Andrew King

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More from our sold out live in March. We have decades worth of unsolved mysteries and forgotten tragedies in our own backyards. In this continuation of our show at Off Cabot in Beverly, Mass, in March, we plunge into the case of Beryl Atherton—a 47-year-old schoolteacher brutally murdered in her Marblehead home during a 1950 Nor'easter, her throat cut in the sign of a cross. Decades later, her killer remains unidentified and her story largely untold. Beyond the details of these chilling cases lies a deeper exploration of how society treats victims of violent crime. Too often, especially with female victims, their characters become posthumously dissected and villainized—a disturbing pattern that continues from Elizabeth Short (the Black Dahlia, who grew up just miles away in Medford) to modern cases. This victim-blaming serves as a psychological buffer, allowing us to believe such horrors only happen to people who somehow "deserve" it. 

Audience members are welcome to share their connections to local crimes. We know these aren't just stories; they're lived experiences that have shaped neighborhoods and families across generations. Most importantly, this episode introduces the work of a new Massachusetts-based victim advocacy coalition formed alongside documentary filmmaker Melanie McLaughlin and forensic anthropologist Dr. Anne-Marie Myers. Our mission exemplifies what I call "everyday advocacy"—sharing accurate information, supporting grieving families, and refusing to sensationalize tragedy at the expense of human dignity.

We learn from these unfiltered conversations is the importance of advocacy.  The stories we tell about victims shape how we understand not just crime, but humanity itself.  
• Case of Beryl Atherton, a 47-year-old Marblehead teacher murdered in her home during a Nor'easter in 1950
• Discussion of how crime victims are often villainized posthumously, particularly women
• Introduction of a new Massachusetts-based victim advocacy coalition with Anngelle, documentary filmmaker Melanie McLaughlin, and forensic anthropologist Dr. Ann Marie Miers (MMMPAC)
• Open Q&A covering lesser known cases and the controversy around the Karen Reid murder case and its impact on our communities. 

More about this show at crimeofthetruestkind.com. 

Have a case, location for a show, ask a questiont? Reach out at [email protected] and join our growing community of everyday advocates.

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This podcast has minimal profanity but from time to time you get one or some curse words. This isn't for kids.

Music included in episodes from Joe "onlyone" Kowalski, Dug McCormack's Math Ghosts and Shredding by Andrew King

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The North Shore presents a postcard-perfect façade of historic towns and scenic coastline, beneath this charming exterior lies a darker history of unsolved mysteries that have haunted local communities for decades. During a sold-out live show at Off Cabot in Beverly, Massachusetts, we pulled back the curtain on cold cases that continue to echo through North Shore communites, revealing how justice finally arrived for Claire Gravel, a Salem State sophomore murdered in 1986, when DNA evidence identified her killer 36 years later. This stands in stark contrast to cases like six-year-old Jesus de la Cruz, who disappeared from Lynn in 1996 after being approached by a man with a distinctively marked dog, or Lois Centifanti, whose 1974 strangulation murder remains unsolved despite her body being discovered in Lynn Harbor.

What makes these cases particularly haunting is the suggestion that some killers may have escaped justice not just through clever evasion, but through protection. The murder of 15-year-old Henry Bedard, Jr. in Swampscott has become what locals describe as "an open secret" – a case where community members whisper about the perpetrator but fear or family connections have prevented justice for nearly half a century. As audience members shared their own insights and connections to these cases, it became clear that many cold cases remain unsolved not for lack of information, but because relationships, fear, and sometimes nepotism have created walls of silence. We explore cold cases that continue to haunt local communities decades later while highlighting how scientific advances and changing relationships can bring resolution to seemingly hopeless situations.

• Claire Gravel's 1986 murder case was solved in 2022 after 36 years through DNA evidence
• Six-year-old Jesus de la Cruz disappeared from Lynn in 1996 after a stranger with a distinctive dog approached him
• Lois Centifanti was murdered in Lynn Harbor in 1974, with friends receiving threatening notes to "keep quiet"
• Leanne Redden vanished in 2013 on Marathon Monday, with her boyfriend returning all her belongings days later
• Joel de los Reyes was found in Rumney Marsh after taking a Lyft from Chelsea
• Karen Sharpe's 2000 murder by her husband received national attention due to salacious headlines rather than domestic violence issues
• Henry Bedard Jr's 1974 murder remains what locals call "an open secret" in Swampscott

Do you have information about these or other North Shore crimes? Email your tips & case suggestions - more at crimeofthetruestkind.com.

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This podcast has minimal profanity but from time to time you get one or some curse words. This isn't for kids.

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Elizabeth Short grew up in Medford, Massachusetts. Her story has the most brutal of endings. Elizabeth's death has been twisted and exploited for nearly eight decades, transforming a young woman searching for her place in the world into the infamous "Black Dahlia." Beyond the gruesome headlines lies a more poignant truth – Elizabeth was simply searching for belonging in post-war America when her life was brutally cut short in January 1947.

Elizabeth's story begins with abandonment during the Great Depression when her father faked his suicide, leaving her mother Phoebe to raise five daughters alone. Coming of age during World War II, Elizabeth witnessed profound social transformation as women entered the workforce and Hollywood's Golden Age created dreams of opportunity that drew her westward. Her nomadic existence in Los Angeles – moving between hotels, apartments, and boarding houses – reflected her struggle for stability in a city that promised much but delivered little.

The medical precision of her murder points to a killer with anatomical knowledge, possibly connected to a medical school. Her body was bisected using a surgical technique called hemicorporectomy, completely drained of blood, and meticulously cleaned – all suggesting methodical expertise rather than frenzied violence. This clinical approach connects to a disturbing pattern of unsolved murders of women in Los Angeles between 1943-1949, raising questions about a possible serial killer targeting vulnerable women.

Among the numerous suspects, Dr. George Hodel emerges as particularly compelling – a well-connected physician named as a prime suspect by a 1949 grand jury. His own son, former LAPD detective Steve Hodel, believes his father responsible not only for Elizabeth's murder but potentially for other unsolved cases from that era.

Elizabeth deserves to be remembered as more than just a gruesome case study. She was a young woman with hopes and dreams, searching for her place in a world recovering from war. Her story reminds us of our responsibility when exploring true crime – to honor victims by recognizing their humanity first, separating sensationalism from truth, and treating their stories with the dignity they deserve.

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This podcast has minimal profanity but from time to time you get one or some curse words. This isn't for kids.

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Elizabeth Short in life, The Black Dahlia in death. What do people really understand about the woman before she became the poster girl for true crime curiousities? Most know her as the Black Dahlia, but few know Elizabeth Short was a young woman whose life was marked by tragedy long before her brutal 1947 murder made headlines across America.

In part one, we separate fact from fiction in the life of Elizabeth Short, who was born and raised in Medford, Massachusetts. Her tragic story has been sensationalized for decades, but few know about the real woman behind the gruesome headlines.

Born in Hyde Park, Boston in 1924, Elizabeth was the middle daughter of five girls. Her early years took a devastating turn when her father, Cleo Short, lost everything in the 1929 Wall Street Crash and abandoned his family, staging his own suicide by leaving his car on a bridge. For twelve years, Elizabeth's mother Phoebe believed she was a widow, struggling alone to raise five daughters during the Great Depression.

The family's world was upended again in 1942 when a letter arrived from the supposedly dead Cleo, revealing he was alive and living in California. Elizabeth, seeking connection with the father she thought dead, traveled west only to find disappointment. Their reunion lasted barely a month. Her life continued on a path of heartbreak when her boyfriend, decorated WWII pilot Major Matt Gordon, died in a plane crash just weeks before Japan's surrender in 1945.

Despite media portrayal of Elizabeth as a "party girl," records reveal just one minor brush with the law—an underage drinking incident. The nickname "Black Dahlia" wasn't media sensationalism but originated during her time in Long Beach, inspired by her striking appearance: dark hair, pale skin, and signature red lipstick.

The cruel irony of Elizabeth Short's story lies in how she's remembered only for her brutal end, while the resilient women in her family—her mother and sisters who lived well into their 90s—carried the burden of never knowing what happened to their beloved Elizabeth. By exploring her life before the headlines, we honor the real woman who existed beyond the infamous case that still captivates America's imagination.

This is part one. In the next episode, I examine Elizabeth Short's final days and the enduring mystery of how this young woman met this fate and who is responsible for her brutal end.
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This podcast has minimal profanity but from time to time you get one or some curse words. This isn't for kids.

Music included in episodes from Joe "onlyone" Kowalski, Dug McCormack's Math Ghosts and Shredding by Andrew King

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