Today we're chatting with Keturah about true crime stories from the Christadelphians! History certainly isn't always boring with Zinnia sharing the history of five notorious Christadelphians from around the world. Just in time for spooky season, let's talk about body snatchers, poison, and even murder...

 TW: domestic violence, child abuse, pedophilia, incest, violent murder

References mentioned in this episode:

Story One: John Thomas Story References:

John Thomas: His Life and His Work by Robert Roberts

John Thomas: His Friends and His Faith by Peter Hemingray, Page 90-92

John Thomas’s article in the Lancet on the Anatomy Bill in May 1829 (Full article received via email after contacting Elsevier) ⁠https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(02)98765-9/fulltext⁠

Articles on the Richards Riot:

-YouTube video on Richard’s Riot & the identity of the young woman ⁠https://youtu.be/CecD1prIOZs⁠

-Patch.com

⁠https://patch.com/illinois/stcharles-il/bp--grave-robbing-riots-and-murder-the-story-of-a-st-19dfeab964⁠

-St Charles History Museum

⁠https://www.stcmuseum.org/history-news/2020/4/18/grave-robbing-gunfights-and-sances-the-story-of-the-richards-riot-of-1849⁠

-The Resurrectionists

⁠https://www.howderfamily.com/blog/resurrectionist/⁠

Story Two: Albert Chernov Kidney Stealing Story:

⁠https://www.haaretz.com/2003-11-26/ty-article/police-believe-organ-trafficking-suspect-has-fled-israel/0000017f-dbf1-df62-a9ff-dff784dd0000⁠

The report on “Jerry” is not publicly available and was sourced from a member of the Ex-Christadelphian Facebook Group. The full section of the report that was referenced is quoted here:  “Albert Chernov, baptized by [“Jerry” real name redacted], was financially supported by BBFU (CCM) as a recruiter for the Brotherhood. Chernov was arrested in Jul 2003 on suspicion of rounding up Russian immigrants in Israel and compelling them, with threats and extortion, into undergoing nephrectomies (removal of a kidney). The charges detailed that the organs were sold, by Chernov and his two accomplices, on the black market. [Source: Haaretz.] He was released on bail in Nov 2003 and fled the authorities. [Source: Washington Post.]”

United Nations definition of organ trafficking:

⁠https://www.unodc.org/unodc/frontpage/2024/June/explainer_-understanding-human-trafficking-for-organ-removal.html⁠

Story Three: Judith Ann Venn Murder:

Article 1:

⁠https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/jul/28/queensland-woman-who-laced-husbands-soup-with-pills-pleads-guilty-to-manslaughter⁠

Article 2:

⁠https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-08-04/judith-ann-venn-jailed-for-killing-abusive-husband-spiked-soup/102689162

-Chicago, the musical. Song: Cell Block Tango

Story Four: “Uncle Murder”/ Roger Hammond:

Phoenix New Times: “Mr. Fix-it is Guilty” March 1 1989 ⁠https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/mr-fix-it-is-guilty-6412893⁠

Man convicted in Arkansas in Louisville woman's death Associated Press

⁠https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/109894222/⁠

Obituary

⁠https://vermontjournal.com/obituaries/roger-hammond-1945-2022/⁠

Story Five: Gary Schaefer Murders:

Book: In The Shadow of Death: The Hunt for a Serial Killer by Philip Ginsburg 

⁠https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-burlington-free-press-schaefer-plea/41890009/⁠

Podcast: Haunted New England, Episode 10

Podcast: Thrice Cursed: A True Crime and Paranormal Podcast: Heavens'ta Betsy aka Gary Lee Schaefer

⁠https://www.reformer.com/local-news/vermont-convicted-murderer-kidnapper-dies-in-kentucky-prison/article_ec3d2b9c-8dfe-11ee-a2f9-77f7c5811a85.html⁠

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

⁠https://www.newspapers.com/article/rutland-daily-herald-schaefer-arrested/41893267/⁠

⁠https://murderpedia.org/male.S/s/schaefer-gary-lee.htm⁠

Book Mentioned by Keturah:

To Believe In Women: What Lesbians Have Done For America - A History by Lillian Faderman

https://www.amazon.com/Believe-Women-Lesbians-America-History/dp/0618056971