In today's episode we tackle the early life of a monster. Through piecing together moments of his child we may gain insight into why Gary Ridgway chose his path. This is part one of a two part series. Hold on tight because the episode intentionally jumps around the timeline. Listener, let's jump into the mind of man convicted of killing 49 and confessed and suspected of killing 90+ people. It's going to get dark.Visit us online.Join the Black Label.

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81: Gary Ridgway: Green River Killer, Part 01

Welcome to Obscura, a true crime podcast that immerses you in the depths of the darkest mysteries life has to offer. Unravel chilling narratives with us as we delve into true stories of murders, enigmatic mysteries, and haunting disappearances. Our meticulous storytelling brings these grim tales to life, exploring the intricate details of heinous acts with unwavering precision. Join us on a journey into the heart of darkness, where each episode unveils a captivating yet bone-chilling narrative. Prepare yourself for a gripping exploration of the macabre in unflinching detail. 

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July 2009 Escambia County, Florida Leonard “Patrick” Gonzales Jr., age 35, is broke. He’s desperate for cash. So desperate that his mom is paying his bills. Patrick, of course, finds this embarrassing. Against his wife Tabitha’s better judgment, he invested their savings into a Karate School. Savings that the two saved up together working at Long-Wiggins’ antique business. But the Karate business, like 40 percent of businesses in the United States, went belly up. And that little venture has placed Patrick (and by extension Tabitha) in financial jeopardy. Patrick felt like he was letting his family down. Both his wife and his children. But he had an idea. His ticket out of this whole mess was 66-year-old Byrd "Bud" Starling Billings  Escambia County, Florida Leonard “Patrick” Gonzales Jr., age 35, is broke. He’s desperate for cash. So desperate that his mom is paying his bills. Patrick, of course, finds this embarrassing. Against his wife Tabitha’s better judgment, he invested their savings into a Karate School. Savings that the two saved up together working at Long-Wiggins’ antique business. But the Karate business, like 40 percent of businesses in the United States, went belly up. And that little venture has placed Patrick (and by extension Tabitha) in financial jeopardy. Patrick felt like he was letting his family down. Both his wife and his children. But he had an idea. His ticket out of this whole mess was 66-year-old Byrd "Bud" Starling Billings Don't forget to give Magic Mind a try: They have a limited offer you can use now, that gets you up to 48% off your first subscription or 20% off one time purchases with code Obscura20 at checkout You can claim it at: Magic Mind | Mental Performance Shot

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108: Leonard Patrick Gonzalez - The Crew

Katherina “Katie” Allen is afraid of her husband. On Easter Sunday, the 42 year old woman packed her things and took the kids with her. The man she married, Kevin Allen, age 51, has a history of violence. A 20 year long rap sheet. Filled with domestic abuse and death threats against the four women he married in his life. Katie was going to play it cool. She’d meet Kevin at Cracker Barrel for their daughter Kerri Allen’s birthday party. There, in a public space, she would tell her husband that she wanted a divorce. And if Kevin became violent there would be witnesses. Things don't go to plan. Obscura - A True Crime Podcast | Patreon Our Patreon has been overhauled. Click the link to discover our new tiers. We now are producing new extended episodes and offering apparel! Visit me online at obscuracrimepodcast.com

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107: Kevin Allen - Cracker Barrel Massacre

Listener, rummaging through these old, discarded newspapers, it paints a picture for me. The image is of a community left in a state of terror. In which a man stretched his arm, and the people of Okaloosa recoiled. And this man, this monster was acting fast. But what he didn’t know is that investigators were on his tail. Closer than he realized. Dr. Edmun Kielman and Chief Investigator Don Vinson were working in tandem. They had prints. They had DNA. Artists sketches. Eye witness reports. Investigator Don Vinson just needed to get there when the body was still hot. No decomposing corpse. Or someone discarded on the beach. Obscura - A True Crime Podcast | Patreon Our Patreon has been overhauled. Click the link to discover our new tiers. We now are producing new extended episodes and offering apparel! Visit me online at obscuracrimepodcast.com

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106: Frank Walls - Terror in Okaloosa

In an episode that spans decades I take a look at serial killer James Delano Winkles. His victims, the headlines of the day, and the disturbing court documents shine a spotlight on this relatively obscure case. This one gets vile at times. Unfurling this spider's nest reveals a black pitch shadow cast by James Winkles over Pinellas County. Any woman left alone in his stomping ground lived in a quiet sort of danger. A starless and moonless night where the daughters of the working class vanished.

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105: James Winkles - The Missing and the Dead

Nine-year-old Samuel James “Jimmy” Ryce is getting dropped off from his school bus at approximately 3:07 p.m. at a bus stop near his home in the Redlands, a rural area of south Miami-Dade County. Jimmy is walking on the left side of the road. He has a short distance before he gets home. Chavez spots Jimmy. His mind is all flashing images of prepubescent boys playing in water. But this boy is alone. And no one is around. Chavez turns the Ford Pickup around. He stops right in front of Jimmy’s path. The nose of the truck facing the nine-year-old. Obscura - A True Crime Podcast | Patreon Our Patreon has been overhauled. Click the link to discover our new tiers. We now are producing new extended episodes and offering apparel! Visit me online at obscuracrimepodcast.com

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81: Gary Ridgway: Green River Killer, Part 01

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