Crime To Burn

Episode 54

In July of 1979, seven people would walk through the iconic clown face gates at the Luna Park amusement park in Sydney, Australia but they would not walk out. That July night, a horrific fire occurred in the Ghost Train ride that would claim the lives of six children and one adult. The fire was devastating and despite the nearly total destruction of the site, investigators would announce less than 24 hours after the fire that they'd identified the cause, an electrical fault. However, one man spent the next 3 decades of his life on a crusade to prove that the fire was not a tragic accident but was intentionally set. This is Part 1 of our coverage of Sydney's Luna Park Ghost Train fire and one man's mission to uncover a web of deceit, lies, and astounding corruption that robbed the families of the 7 victims of justice for over 40 years. Keep your arms and legs inside the car at all times, this is going to be a bumpy ride. 

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

Source List:

Mavety, John (Director), (2021). Exposed: The Ghost Train Fire [Streaming]. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 

https://www.northweststar.com.au/story/8758705/fresh-report-into-deadly-luna-park-fire-to-stay-secret/

https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/aug/30/independent-review-criticises-abcs-luna-park-ghost-train-fire-series-over-neville-wran-claim

https://coroners.nsw.gov.au/documents/findings/1979/luna_park_fire_1977_-_findings.pdf

https://quadrant.org.au/news-opinions/uncategorized/the-abc-wont-let-facts-ruin-a-good-beat-up/

https://www.smh.com.au/culture/art-and-design/luna-park-s-big-smile-gets-a-facelift-to-honour-those-who-saved-it-20230502-p5d4zx.html

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

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-09-10/nsw-luna-park-ghost-train-fire-redacted-police-report-coroner/104331968

https://www.museumoffire.net/single-post/the-luna-park-ghost-train-incident-1979

https://waverley.nsw.edu.au/conversations/luna-park-tragedy-exposed-with-second-inquiry-possible/

https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2021/mar/24/exposed-the-ghost-train-fire-review-a-devastating-and-revelatory-series

https://findanexpert.unimelb.edu.au/news/29775-how-ghost-train-fire-exposed-remarkable-police-corruption--yet-also-failed-abc%27s-high-journalistic-standards

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9349201/Luna-Park-Ghost-Train-fire-survivor-breaks-silence-four-decades-tragedy.html

Episode 53

This is the conclusion of our coverage of the horrific fire that claimed 41 lives at the St. Elizabeth Hospital and Davenport, Iowa in January 1950. The fire, wtill the deadliest fire in state history, was set by a patient at the hospital and this week we cover her confession and the subsequent legal proceedings. We also take a look at the heroes that stepped up to help save lives during the fire, including some very unlikely heroes. Ultimately 40 patients and one nurse lost their lives. Those 40 patients were at St. Elizabeth Hospital for help and their tragic deaths have helped write the fire and building codes for these types of occupancies with the intent to prevent another disaster like this one. These women that died helped us far more than we ever helped them by showing us how we needed to do better to protect heathcare occupancies. 

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Be sure to check out Season 2 of the You Should Be Here Podcast for the limited series, Or No by Fire Eyes Media. This this collaborative podcasters-give-back series is to bring awareness to and stand against domestic violence. All proceeds will go to a charity taking a stand against domestic violence and human trafficking. Your support of this project is so greatly appreciated. You deserve a safe love. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-should-be-here/id1779150686

or on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/2VqlmgQxwn55tdY7td9IM9?si=e19fffdc24064f7b&nd=1&dlsi=e6920c0f7e4c4d65

Listen to our episode with our friends over at Sasquatch and Sourdough where we talk more about the fire in Centralia, Pennsylvania that's been burning for over 62 years. 

Listen on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/e2rq340s6c8?si=t2-hEsbC-V0DTdhs

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

Source List:

For a complete list of sources, see the source list for Episode 52. Additional sources used for this episode are below.

https://www.wheelanpressly.com/obituary/Elnora-Epperly

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-dispatch-obituary-for-deirdre-e-epp/77063117/

https://dailyiowan.lib.uiowa.edu/DI/1950/di1950-01-13.pdf

Episode 52

Today we are revisiting the deadliest fire in Iowa's history. On January 7, 1950, a fire occurred at a mental health facility called St. Elizabeth Hospital on the Mercy Hospital campus in Davenport, Iowa. When a diagnosed schizophrenic woman, due to be released that day, acted in paranoid desperation, she caused a fire that claimed the lives of 41 people including one staff member. What factors led her to take such drastic measures? More importantly, why was the fire so deadly? We cover entire case including the fire and building code issues that exacerbated the fire and hampered the escape of dozens of patients as we remember the victims of the St. Elizabeth Hospital fire.

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Be sure to check out Season 2 of the You Should Be Here Podcast for the limited series, Or No by Fire Eyes Media. This this collaborative podcasters-give-back series is to bring awareness to and stand against domestic violence. All proceeds will go to a charity taking a stand against domestic violence and human trafficking. Your support of this project is so greatly appreciated. You deserve a safe love. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-should-be-here/id1779150686

or on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/2VqlmgQxwn55tdY7td9IM9?si=e19fffdc24064f7b&nd=1&dlsi=e6920c0f7e4c4d65

Listen to our episode with our friends over at Sasquatch and Sourdough where we talk more about the fire in Centralia, Pennsylvania that's been burning for over 62 years. 

Listen on Youtube:

https://youtu.be/e2rq340s6c8?si=t2-hEsbC-V0DTdhs

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

Source List:

Grimes, Bret. The St. Elizabeth Hospital Fire in Iowa. The History Press, 2024 https://a.co/d/aXDBXSU

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

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smoke_detector#:~:text=The%20first%20automatic%20electric%20fire,a%20sensor%20for%20poison%20gas.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/9302-ect-electroconvulsive-therapy

https://www.ifsecglobal.com/fire-news/a-history-of-fire-sprinklers/#:~:text=1872%20%E2%80%93%201874:%20From%20Pratt%20to,the%20design%20in%20his%20factory.

https://www.fireranger.com/history-of-the-fire-extinguisher/

https://johnbrassardjr.com/2023/01/21/beyond-recognition-what-started-the-st-elizabeths-fire/

https://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/sc/2015/01/14/the-st-elizabeths-tragedy-part-i-of-ii/

https://blogs.davenportlibrary.com/sc/2015/01/21/the-st-elizabeths-tragedy-part-ii-of-ii/

https://www.wqad.com/article/news/local/st-elizabeth-hospital-fire-davenport-iowa-75-years/526-9b2c51ba-86e9-49ed-b48d-79c00a2271e5

https://www.firehouse.com/operations-training/news/21120288/davenport-ia-firefighter-still-haunted-by-grisly-1950-hospital-blaze

https://www.notesoniowa.com/post/iowa-history-daily-january-7-st-elizabeth-s-fire

Episode 51: 

In this episode we conclude our coverage of Angela Garcia's case on Crime to Burn. Angela was faced with an impossible decision, risk another trial or accept what is known as a Dark Plea from prosecutors to secure her freedom. However, when he offered her the plea, prosecutor Richard Bell knew just how flawed his case against her was and many have suggested that his offer of this plea was really an effort to try to prevent his office from negative optics related to the mishandling of this case. And perhaps they're right, after all Richard Bell is now a sitting judge in Ohio. Were his actions an attempt to prevent Angela's conviction and the errors made in the case from tarnishing his reputation and negatively impacting his aspirations to win a seat at the bench? We'll tell you what he did and said, and you can decide. His actions may not have been illegal but they certainly don't seem very honorable. 

To get involved in assisting formerly incarcerated individuals like Angela, please consider these organizations:

https://innocenceproject.org/donate-monthly/#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20ways%20to,Project%20in%20your%20estate%20plans.

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Be sure to check out Season 2 of the You Should Be Here Podcast for the limited series, Or No by Fire Eyes Media. This this collaborative podcasters-give-back series is to bring awareness to and stand against domestic violence. All proceeds will go to a charity taking a stand against domestic violence and human trafficking. Your support of this project is so greatly appreciated. You deserve a safe love. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-should-be-here/id1779150686

or on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/2VqlmgQxwn55tdY7td9IM9?si=e19fffdc24064f7b&nd=1&dlsi=e6920c0f7e4c4d65

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

Source List:

Please also refer to the source list for Episodes 49 and 50 (Parts 1 and 2 of this case) for a complete list of resources used along with the list below. 

One of the best articles on this case is by Liliana Segura (an absolute rockstar reporter) for The Intercept and you can find it here: https://theintercept.com/2017/03/05/did-angela-garcia-kill-her-own-daughters-arson-cover-up/

Liliana Segura's other article on the actions of Richard Bell can be found here:

https://theintercept.com/2020/03/15/richard-bell-arson-junk-science-angela-garcia/

Other sources: 

https://www.endthebacklog.org/blog/interview-with-rick-bell-pt-2/

https://www.cleveland.com/opinion/2020/02/richard-a-bell-in-the-democratic-primary-for-cuyahoga-county-common-pleas-judge-unexpired-term.html

Episode 50. Angela Garcia was a 22 year old mother of two when her house caught fire claiming the lives of her two toddler daughters. After her first trial ended in a hung jury, prosecutors tried Angela a second time. However, this time they had new witnesses and new statements "remembered" by investigators 8 months after the event. When her second trial ended in another hung jury, prosecutors completely changed their tactics for a third go at Angela Garcia. But Angela Garcia didn't commit arson. There were some guilty people in the courtroom though, they just weren't the ones sitting at the defense table. Join us now for Part 2 of Angela Garcia's wrongful conviction story on Crime to Burn. 

To get involved in assisting formerly incarcerated individuals like Angela, please consider these organizations:

https://innocenceproject.org/donate-monthly/#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20ways%20to,Project%20in%20your%20estate%20plans.

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Be sure to check out Season 2 of the You Should Be Here Podcast for the limited series, Or No by Fire Eyes Media. This this collaborative podcasters-give-back series is to bring awareness to and stand against domestic violence. All proceeds will go to a charity taking a stand against domestic violence and human trafficking. Your support of this project is so greatly appreciated. You deserve a safe love. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-should-be-here/id1779150686

or on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/2VqlmgQxwn55tdY7td9IM9?si=e19fffdc24064f7b&nd=1&dlsi=e6920c0f7e4c4d65

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

Source List:

Please also refer to the source list for Episode 49 (Part 1 of this case) for a complete list of resources used along with the list below. 

One of the best articles on this case is by Liliana Segura for The Intercept and you can find it here: https://theintercept.com/2017/03/05/did-angela-garcia-kill-her-own-daughters-arson-cover-up/

https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cuyahoga-county/cuyahoga-ex-judge-mccafferty-isnt-disbarred-for-life/95-242002151

https://www.cleveland19.com/story/13993313/liar-liar-new-indictment-says-judge-bridget-mccafferty-was-not-very-honest-with-the-fbi/

https://clevelandmagazine.com/in-the-cle/politics/articles/aaron-phillips'-deal-with-the-devil

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2019/03/21/curtis-flowers-case-shows-why-diverse-juries-matter/

https://www.wkyc.com/article/news/local/cuyahoga-county/cuyahoga-ex-judge-mccafferty-isnt-disbarred-for-life/95-242002151

https://www.cleveland.com/countyincrisis/2011/03/former_judge_bridget_mccaffert_1.html

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-wrongful-conviction-27797564/episode/422-maggie-freleng-with-angela-garcia-146288018/

https://legaltalknetwork.com/guests/angela-garcia/

https://www.cleveland19.com/story/13993313/liar-liar-new-indictment-says-judge-bridget-mccafferty-was-not-very-honest-with-the-fbi/

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/1001279-angela-garcia-docs-1/

Episode 49. Angela Garcia was a 22 year old mother of two when her house caught fire claiming the lives of her two toddler daughters. Angela soon found herself standing in a courtroom accused of arson, murder, and insurance fraud. What evidence did investigators have to prove Angela had done such a horrible deed? They had some photos and some arson investigation myths that had been debunked already by the time she was tried. Two juries couldn't be convinced of her guilt and resulted in back-to-back mistrials after the juries reported they were hopelessly deadlocked. A third jury would send her to prison for a crime she didn't commit. This is the story of Angela Garcia and how a dark plea continues to cast a shadow over her life. What did Angela Garcia trade for her freedom? This is Part 1 of Angela's story on Crime to Burn. 

To get involved in assisting formerly incarcerated individuals like Angela, please consider these organizations:

https://innocenceproject.org/donate-monthly/#:~:text=There%20are%20many%20ways%20to,Project%20in%20your%20estate%20plans.

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Be sure to check out Season 2 of the You Should Be Here Podcast for the limited series, Or No by Fire Eyes Media. This this collaborative podcasters-give-back series is to bring awareness to and stand against domestic violence. All proceeds will go to a charity taking a stand against domestic violence and human trafficking. Your support of this project is so greatly appreciated. You deserve a safe love. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-should-be-here/id1779150686

or on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/2VqlmgQxwn55tdY7td9IM9?si=e19fffdc24064f7b&nd=1&dlsi=e6920c0f7e4c4d65

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

Source List:

https://theintercept.com/2017/03/05/did-angela-garcia-kill-her-own-daughters-arson-cover-up/

https://www.clevescene.com/news/angela-garcias-2001-arson-murder-conviction-still-raising-questions-the-intercept-came-to-cleveland-to-investigate-5645270

https://www.newser.com/story/239409/greedy-mom-who-killed-her-kids-or-victim-of-junk-science.html#google_vignette

https://engagedscholarship.csuohio.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1025&context=etcetera

https://innocenceproject.org/guilty-plea-series-the-case-of-angela-garcia/

https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-wrongful-conviction-27797564/episode/422-maggie-freleng-with-angela-garcia-146288018/

https://www.guiltypleaproblem.org/?id=angela_garcia

https://youtu.be/RlUwJXsvme0?si=w0kITbdpkWnVuzDe

https://youtu.be/qa6Sk0TXw8w?si=pXicJxBXt5lSiNwj

https://youtu.be/Qfh0L6dXK0w?si=j0KiOCzcjvcq_k4B

United States District Court Northern District of Ohio Eastern Division. Angela Garcia Vs Patricia Andrews, Warden. Case No. 1:04CV0612

Court of Appeals of Ohio, Eighth District, County of Cuyahoga. Stage of Ohio vs. Angela Garcia. No. 79917

This is the finale of our series on the mine fire that destroyed an entire community. From the government missteps to the toxic attitudes that drove division in the town, so many factors compounded and the residents of Centralia paid the price. This week we cover how divided the town's residents became including death threats and a firebombing. We discuss the government's final plan for Centralia, and what remains today where Centralia once stood. 

Correction: Around the 22 minute mark I indicate that residents within a 16 mile zone were offered relocation. It should have said a 16 acre acre zone, not mile. My apologies for any confusion. 

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Be sure to check out Season 2 of the You Should Be Here Podcast for the limited series, Or No by Fire Eyes Media. This this collaborative podcasters-give-back series is to bring awareness to and stand against domestic violence. All proceeds will go to a charity taking a stand against domestic violence and human trafficking. Your support of this project is so greatly appreciated. You deserve a safe love. 

Listen on Apple Podcasts:

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/you-should-be-here/id1779150686

or on Spotify: 

https://open.spotify.com/show/2VqlmgQxwn55tdY7td9IM9?si=e19fffdc24064f7b&nd=1&dlsi=e6920c0f7e4c4d65

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

Source List:

A complete list of sources used is available in the show notes for parts 1 and 2 of this series (Episodes 44 and 45). 

As we continue our deep dive into everything that went wrong in the government's response to the Centralia, Pennsylvania mine fire tragedy, we can't ignore the conspiracy theories that were rampant among many town residents. This week we discuss how such conspiracies started and what made them easy for some residents to believe. We discuss the evidence in support of and in opposition to those theories so you can make a decision about whether there was any conspiracy between private mining companies and the government related to the Centralia disaster. Tell us what you think. 

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

Source List:

A complete list of sources used is available in the show notes for parts 1 and 2 of this series (Episodes 44 and 45). 

We've all heard about the canary in the coal mine being an indicator to miners that the air quality in the mine was getting dangerous to breathe. When one Centralia family woke up one morning after suffering unusual and unexplainable ailments in recent weeks to find their pet canary dead in its cage, the people of Centralia could no longer ignore the deadly fire that had been inching closer to their town year after year while they waited for the government to find a way to control it. As the first Centralia families were forced to evacuate their homes, the federal government took over the Centralia mine fire disaster but would their efforts be too little too late? This is the third part in our deep dive into the Centralia mine fire disaster in Pennsylvania. Join us as we uncover exactly what went wrong from the perspective of a fire protection engineer on Crime to Burn. 

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

Source List:

A complete list of sources used is available in the show notes for parts 1 and 2 of this series (Episodes 44 and 45). 

This week we continue our coverage of the mine fire that has burned in rural Pennsylvania for over 60 years. Last week we covered the physics of a mine fire and the most widely accepted theory of how the fire started. This week in addition to covering the other theories of how the fire may have started, we also discuss the initial projects undertaken to control the fire. What went wrong? While it's easy to look in hindsight and see how certain missteps by government officials contributed to the disaster that destroyed an entire town, the question we seek to answer is whether or not any of those missteps constitute negligence. Did government officials make the best decisions they could given what they knew at the time? Join us as we returne to Centralia, Pennsylvania and pick apart all the theories from the perspective of a fire protection engineer. 

This podcast is a true crime podcast about arson and criminal fires. Listener discretion is recommended. 

Background music by Not Notoriously Coordinated 

Get your Crime to Burn Merch! https://crimetoburn.myspreadshop.com

Please follow us on Instagram, X, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube for the latest news on this case. You can email us at [email protected] We welcome any constructive feedback and would greatly appreciate a 5 star rating and review. 

Source List:

For a full list of sources please see the show notes from Part 1. Additional sources used in the development of this episode are as follows: 

https://phys.org/news/2018-04-hydrogen-coal-fuel.html

https://www.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/legis/LI/consCheck.cfm?txtType=HTM&ttl=18&div=0&chpt=33

https://www.maxapress.com/article/doi/10.48130/emst-0024-0004

https://www.tnonline.com/20230812/60th-anniversary-sheppton-mine-disaster-a-tragedy-that-defined-an-era/