This week’s story is about 3 insanely badass women: the Oversteegen sisters – Truus and Freddie, and their friend Hannie Schaft. These women were true soldiers and did incredible things to fight against the Nazis during WW2 from assassinations to explosives to transporting Jewish children to safehouses during the war. Their story is incredible. 

Show Notes 

Thank you for listening! Please join us each Monday for a new episode! 

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Have a suggestion for a story? DM us or email us at [email protected]. 

 References 

Brady, T. (2021). Three ordinary girls: The Remarkable Story of Three Dutch Teenagers Who Became Spies, Saboteurs, Nazi Assassins–and WWII Heroes. Citadel Press. 

Smith, H. (2018, September 19). Freddie Oversteegen, Dutch resistance fighter who killed Nazis through seduction, dies at 92. Washington Post. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/freddie-oversteegen-dutch-resistance-fighter-who-killed-nazis-through-seduction-dies-at-92/2018/09/16/7876eade-b9b7-11e8-a8aa-860695e7f3fc_story.html 

Reporter, G. S. (2018, September 27). ‘Her war never stopped’: the Dutch teenager who resisted the Nazis. The Guardian. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/23/freddie-oversteegen-dutch-teenager-who-resisted-nazis 

Elhassan, K. (2021, April 22). The gutsy teenage oversteegen sisters killed Nazis during WWII. History Collection. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://historycollection.com/the-gutsy-teenage-oversteegen-sisters-killed-nazis-during-wwii/ 

O’Leary, S. (2023, April 3). The 14-year-old assassin who lured Nazis and traitors to their deaths. DutchReview. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://dutchreview.com/culture/history/dutch-history-freddie-oversteegen/ 

Räker, C. (2024, March 5). Hannie Schaft: the Dutch spy who was executed by the Nazis. DutchReview. Accessed March 9, 2024. https://dutchreview.com/culture/hannie-schaft/ 

Wikipedia contributors. (2024e, March 8). Freddie Oversteegen. Wikipedia. Accessed March 10, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freddie_Oversteegen 

Summary 

When Helen Bailey and her adorable dog Boris don’t return home, it takes her fiancé, Ian, 4 days to contact the authorities to report her missing. He claims that she left a note saying she took the dog to their vacation home because she needed “space”, but police aren’t able to find any trace of Helen or Boris. As the investigation continues, no one is prepared for what happens next.  

Show Notes 

Thank you for listening! Please join us each Monday for a new episode! 

Catch us on Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube @criminallyunqualified 

Have a suggestion for a story? DM us or email us at [email protected]. 

References 

Stockton, C. (2021, September 21). 14 creepy missing persons cases that were eventually solved. Thought Catalog. Accessed March 2, 2024. https://thoughtcatalog.com/christine-stockton/2021/02/creepy-missing-persons-cases-that-were-eventually-solved/ 

Mehrotra, K. (2023, February 15). Helen Bailey’s Murder: Where is Ian Stewart Now? The Cinemaholic. Accessed March 2, 2024. https://thecinemaholic.com/helen-baileys-murder/ 

Topping, A. (2017, November 28). “My happy ever after”: how killer fiance duped grieving Helen Bailey. Accessed March 2, 2024. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/feb/22/helen-bailey-murder-ian-stewart-fiance-background 

BBC News. (2022, February 9). Ian Stewart: Man who killed author guilty of murdering wife. Accessed March 2, 2024. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-60287425 

Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, January 5). Helen Bailey. Wikipedia. Accessed March 3, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Helen_Bailey 

Halford, B. J. (2017, February 22). Helen Bailey: A life shaped by death. BBC News. Accessed March 3, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-38505358 

Webb, S. (2023, August 5). What is a cesspit and are they still legal? Homebuilding & Renovating. Accessed March 3, 2024. https://www.homebuilding.co.uk/advice/what-is-a-cesspit 

Wikipedia contributors. (2023a, May 20). Gong farmer. Wikipedia. Accessed March 3, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gong_farmer 

Milner, R. (2023, February 3). Night Soil Men: Victorian England’s Cesspit-Cleaning professionals. Accessed March 3, 2024. Grunge. https://www.grunge.com/360495/night-soil-men-victorian-englands-cesspit-cleaning-professionals/ 

On January 17, 1950, a group of criminals break into the Brinks building and in about 30 minutes have disarmed 5 employees and escaped with half a ton of cash, checks and securities totaling over $34 million in today’s money. Investigators are left with few leads and are desperate to find these criminals before the statute of limitations runs out. Will the criminals get away with the crime of the century? Find out in this week’s episode: The Great Brinks Robbery. 

Show Notes 

Thank you for listening! Please join us each Monday for a new episode! 

Catch us on Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube @criminallyunqualified 

Have a suggestion for a story? DM us or email us at [email protected]. 

References 

Starstorm, A. (2018, March 27). Accessed February 22, 2024. Biggest heists and bank robberies in American history. WorldAtlas. https://www.worldatlas.com/articles/biggest-heists-and-bank-robberies-in-american-history.html 

Brink’s Robbery. (2022, April 26). Federal Bureau of Investigation. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/brinks-robbery 

How America’s Biggest Heist, the Great Brinks Robbery, Fell Apart. McNearney, M. Accessed February 19, 2024. https://news.yahoo.com/america-biggest-heist-great-brinks-012431700.html 

 Sullivan, M. (2024, January 16). Boston thieves pull off historic Brink’s robbery. HISTORY. Accessed February 22, 2024. https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/brinks-armored-car-depot-robbery-boston-1950 

Herwick, E. B., III. (2016, January 22). The Brink’s Heist: How a guy called “Specs” spoiled the perfect crime. GBH. Accessed February 22, 2024. https://www.wgbh.org/news/local/2016-01-22/the-brinks-heist-how-a-guy-called-specs-spoiled-the-perfect-crime 

Wikipedia contributors. (2023, November 1). Great Brink’s Robbery. Wikipedia. Accessed February 22, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Brink%27s_Robbery 

Inflation Rate between 1950-2024 | Inflation Calculator. (n.d.). Accessed February 22, 2024. https://www.in2013dollars.com/us/inflation/1950#:~:text=%24100%20in%201950%20is%20equivalent%20in%20purchasing%20power,today%2C%20producing%20a%20cumulative%20price%20increase%20of%201%2C179.74%25. 

Chen, J. (2022, May 22). Tenement: what it means, how it works, history. Investopedia. Accessed February 24, 2024. https://www.investopedia.com/terms/t/tenement.asp 

Tragedy seemed to follow Mary Ann Cotton throughout her life in Victorian England. After the loss of multiple husbands and children due to “gastric fever”, authorities begin to suspect it’s more than just bad luck and coincidence. Loosen your corsets and join us this week while we discuss The Many Crimes of Mary Ann Cotton. 

Thank you for listening! Please join us each Monday for a new episode! 

Catch us on Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube @criminallyunqualified 

Have a suggestion for a story? DM us or email us at [email protected]. 

References 

Sanders, M. (2016, August 23). 15 Of The Most Shocking Crimes You've Never Heard Of. TheThings. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.thethings.com/15-of-the-most-shocking-crimes-youve-never-heard-of/#the-insurance-fraud-of-mary-cotton 

Luebering, J. (2024, January 31). Murder | Definition & Facts. Encyclopedia Britannica. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.britannica.com/topic/murder-crime 

Wikipedia contributors. (2024a, January 21). Mary Ann Cotton. Wikipedia. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Ann_Cotton 

Sherrin, H. (n.d.). Britain’s First Serial Killer: Who Was Mary Ann Cotton? History Hit. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.historyhit.com/who-was-mary-ann-cotton/ 

Griffiths, E. B. (2022, March 24). Dark Angel: How were Mary Ann Cotton’s terrible crimes uncovered? Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/drama/dark-angel-how-were-mary-ann-cottons-terrible-crimes-uncovered/ 

Carlton, G. (2023, July 19). Mary Ann Cotton, the first serial killer in British history. All That’s Interesting. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://allthatsinteresting.com/mary-ann-cotton 

Poison panic & the History of Arsenic. (2023, December 4). Historic UK. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.historic-uk.com/HistoryUK/HistoryofBritain/Poison-Panic/ 

Staff. (2021, November 1). The poison of arsenic in Victorian era | Shore Home & Garden Magazine. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://shorehomeandgarden.com/2021/11/01/the-poison-of-arsenic-in-victorian-era/ 

Statista. (2024, February 2). Total fertility rate of the United Kingdom 1800-2020. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1033074/fertility-rate-uk-1800-2020/#:~:text=In%20the%20United%20Kingdom%20in%201800%2C%20the%20average,five%20children%20over%20the%20course%20of%20their%20lifetime. 

Family Size Infographic: Average number of children per US family. (2021, May 8). Population Education. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://populationeducation.org/resource/historic-average-number-of-children-per-u-s-family-infographic/#:~:text=In%201800%2C%20most%20women%20in%20the%20U.S.%20had,%28when%20the%20U.S.%20fertility%20rate%20jumped%20to%203.62%29. 

Hall, C. (2023, August 1). History of handwashing in health care | Community health care. Community Health Care. Accessed February 16, 2024. https://www.commhealth.org/news/history-of-handwashing-in-health-care/ 

Hayle, J. (2023, September 3). Mary Ann Cotton: notorious Victorian serial killer. The CrimeWire. Accessed Febrary 17, 2024. https://thecrimewire.com/true-crime/Mary-Ann-Cotton-Notorious-Victorian-Serial-Killer 

Victorian workhouse - Who lived and worked there?- Victorian children. (2023, December 1). Victorian Children. Accessed February 17, 2024. https://victorianchildren.org/victorian-workhouse/ 

In 1992, Laurie Houts was a smart, beautiful, and athletic woman who was just starting her life when it was tragically cut short.  Police were quick to investigate and identify a suspect, but with circumstantial evidence, prosecutors faced a difficult battle on the road to justice.  Join us this week for The Tragic Case of Laurie Houts.

To contribute to the Laurie Houts Memorial Scholarship please refer to this site: https://ghs-foundation-donatenow.square.site/product/support-the-laurie-houts-memorial-scholarship-/3 

Catch us on Tiktok, Instagram and YouTube @criminallyunqualified 

Have a suggestion for a story? DM us or email us at [email protected] 

Thank you for listening! Please join us each Monday for a new episode! 

References 

Main, N. (2022, July 15). Who was Laurie Houts?. . . The Sun. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/19206990/who-was-laurie-houts-murder/ 

Altatis, V. a. P. B. C. (2022, July 12). Laurie Houts biography: 10 things about Mountain View, California computer engineer. CONAN Daily. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://conandaily.com/1992/09/06/laurie-houts-biography-10-things-about-mountain-view-california-computer-engineer/ 

Wiki, C. T. A. (n.d.). Laurie Houts. Adobe Wiki. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://adobe.fandom.com/wiki/Laurie_Houts 

Suspect arrested in 30-year-old Mountain View cold case slaying of Laurie Houts. (2022, July 12). CBS News. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/sanfrancisco/news/suspect-arrested-in-30-year-old-mountain-view-cold-case-slaying-of-laurie-houts/ 

Support the Laurie Houts Memorial Scholarship! | GUNDERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION. (n.d.). GUNDERSON HIGH SCHOOL FOUNDATION. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://ghs-foundation-donatenow.square.site/product/support-the-laurie-houts-memorial-scholarship-/3 

Bay Area CEO charged with 1992 Mountain View strangulation murder. (2022, July 11). County of Santa Clara Office of the District Attorney. Accessed February 9, 2024, from https://countyda.sccgov.org/news/news-release/bay-area-ceo-charged-1992-mountain-view-strangulation-murder 

Omar, V. a. P. B. a. J. (2022, July 12). John Kevin Woodward biography: 10 things about Readytech CEO from the Netherlands. CONAN Daily. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://conandaily.com/2022/07/12/john-kevin-woodward-biography-10-things-about-readytech-ceo-from-the-netherlands/ 

Gaines, T. (2022, July). Tech CEO arrested in 1992 cold case. KRON4. Retrieved February 9, 2024, from https://www.kron4.com/news/tech-ceo-arrested-in-1992-cold-case/ 

Johnson, C. (2023, December 12). Police say DNA led to tech CEO’s arrest in 1992 Cold case murder of roommate’s girlfriend. Oxygen Official Site. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/john-woodward-arrested-cold-case-murder-laurie-houts 

Corrigan, J. (2022, July 12). California CEO charged with murder. HRD America. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.hcamag.com/us/specialization/employment-law/california-ceo-charged-with-murder/412874 

Percentage of women workers in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). (n.d.). DOL. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.dol.gov/agencies/wb/data/occupations-stem 

Martin, M., & Martin, M. (2024, February 5). Victim’s family reacts to arrest in Mountain View cold-case murder. Mountain View Voice. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2022/07/11/bay-area-ceo-charged-with-murder-of-woman-in-mountain-view-30-years-ago/ 

Rubin, G. (2022, July 12). Bay Area CEO arrested in connection with 1992 homicide. Palo Alto, CA Patch. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://patch.com/california/paloalto/murder-suspect-1992-south-bay-cold-case-arrested-cops 

Shouse, N., & Shouse, N. (2023, May 23). Hung Jury – What does it mean and what happens next? Shouse Law Group - Criminal, Immigration, Injury & Employment Lawyers. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.shouselaw.com/ca/blog/hung-jury/ 

Margaretten, E., & Margaretten, E. (2024, January 22). Judge dismisses 1990s Mountain View murder case on a legal technicality. Mountain View Voice. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.mv-voice.com/news/2023/08/29/judge-dismisses-1990s-mountain-view-murder-case-on-a-legal-technicality/ 

In 1992, Laurie Houts was found strangled in her car. Her boyfriend’s roommate — now a tech CEO — was just arrested for her murder. (2022, July 12). CBS News. Accessed February 9, 2024. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/laurie-houts-killed-1992-readytech-ceo-john-kevin-woodward-charged-murder/