Homebrew Murder Crew

AUNTIE B IS BACK!

In this episode, we uncover a nearly forgotten but pivotal moment in Canadian history—the Cypress Hills Massacre. On June 1, 1873, a group of American wolf hunters and whisky traders crossed into what is now Saskatchewan, seeking revenge for stolen horses. Their arrival at an Assiniboine camp ended in a deadly confrontation that left at least thirteen Indigenous people dead. We explore the events that led to the massacre, the chaotic frontier justice of the time, and how this tragedy spurred the creation of the North-West Mounted Police—Canada’s first national law enforcement agency. Join us as we piece together the story from conflicting accounts and examine its lasting impact on the Canadian West

Sources:

https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/cypress-hills-massacre-feature

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypress_Hills_Massacre

https://www.pc.gc.ca/apps/dfhd/page_nhs_eng.aspx?id=1633

https://teaching.usask.ca/indigenoussk/import/cypress_hills_massacre.php

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Lou Pearlman was the mastermind behind some of the biggest boy bands of the late '90s and early 2000s, including *NSYNC and the Backstreet Boys. But behind the glitz and chart-topping hits was a web of deception. This episode dives into Pearlman’s meteoric rise in the music industry, the financial scandal that unraveled his empire, and the lasting impact of his fraudulent schemes. From pop superstardom to prison, we explore the highs, the lows, and the shocking truth behind one of the biggest scams in entertainment history.

Sources:

"Dirty Pop" - Netflix Limited Series

How Did Lou Pearlman Die? A Look at the Boy Band Mogul's Last Days Behind Bars 

startribune.com 

Upbeat end to bank loan fiasco - Star Tribune 

esquire.com 

What Happened to Lou Pearlman, the Disgraced Boy Band Manager? - Esquire 

youtube.com 

Victims of Lou Pearlman's scheme to get money - YouTube 

bbc.com 

Backstreet Boys and NSync founder Lou Pearlman dies - BBC News 

react-wp.keen-studio.com 

Did O-Town's Journey REALLY End This Way? A Shocking Look Back 

entertainmentnow.com 

Lou Pearlman Cause of Death: How Did the Boy Band Mogul Die? - EntertainmentNow 

refinery29.com 

For a full list of references used for this episode, please email us at [email protected]

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In June 1997, the quiet community of Salado, Texas, was gripped by a perplexing mystery: the disappearance of Lela and Raymond Howard. This elderly couple, known for their independence, embarked on what should have been a routine, short drive to a local festival. Instead, they vanished without a trace, only to be found deceased 13 days later, hundreds of miles away in a ravine in Arkansas. Their story, initially a regional news item, quickly garnered national attention due to its unsettling and inexplicable nature. Just a year later, in 1998, and alternative rock band would find musical inspiration from this tragedy, and release a song that would become a chart-topping hit. Sources:

https://poprockradio.com.au/news/flashback/fastball_the_way/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_the_Pain_Money_Can_Buy https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/48399133/lela-joan-copeland_howard https://www.reddit.com/r/90smusic/comments/183b3hq/what_is_the_song_the_way_by_fastball_about/ https://www.wgcu.org/arts-and-culture/2024-06-27/a-missing-texas-couple-led-to-our-song-of-the-day-for-june-28 https://news.wgcu.org/arts-and-culture/2024-06-27/a-missing-texas-couple-led-to-our-song-of-the-day-for-june-28

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In this chilling episode, we revisit the mysterious and tragic case of Sister Cathy Cesnik, a beloved Baltimore nun whose life was cut short under disturbing circumstances in 1969. Despite decades of speculation, official investigations, and shocking allegations, her murder remains unsolved. We examine the haunting details surrounding her disappearance, the dark secrets she may have uncovered, and the voices of those still fighting for justice. Was Sister Cathy silenced for what she knew, or does the truth remain buried under layers of deception? Join us as we explore one of America’s most perplexing cold cases.

Sources:

https://www.netflix.com/title/80047530

https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/kidnap/joyce-helen-malecki

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/joyce-malecki-body-exhumed-baltimore-murder-cold-case-1969-fort-meade-sister-cathy/65-d0ff5801-b258-471a-8c5f-36190ef995b0

https://www.aacounty.org/departments/police/

https://www.wusa9.com/article/news/local/maryland/suspects-identified-1970-murder-teen-pamela-lynn-conyers-anne-arundel-county-maryland-cold-case/65-b74704dd-b620-40e9-aa85-b99aa8d8d380

https://www.baltimoresun.com/

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Swift Runner was a Cree hunter from Alberta who, during the brutal winter of 1878-79, committed an act of cannibalism, killing and consuming his wife and five children. He later claimed he had been possessed by the Wendigo—a supernatural entity in Algonquian folklore believed to drive people to madness and cannibalism. The Wendigo is said to embody insatiable hunger, preying on those who succumb to desperation, particularly in times of famine.

Anthropologists have linked Swift Runner’s case to Wendigo psychosis, a cultural phenomenon in which individuals experience an intense fear of turning into a Wendigo, sometimes leading them to commit acts of cannibalism. This condition has been documented among Indigenous groups in Canada, often emerging in extreme survival situations.

The case also reflects the impact of early colonialism on Indigenous cultures. By the late 19th century, European expansion had disrupted traditional ways of life, leading to food shortages, forced assimilation, and the erosion of spiritual beliefs. The Cree people, like many other Indigenous groups, faced immense hardship due to the loss of their land and resources. Some scholars argue that the psychological distress caused by colonial oppression may have contributed to cases like Swift Runner’s, where Indigenous individuals struggled with identity, survival, and cultural displacement.

Swift Runner was arrested, tried, and executed by hanging at Fort Saskatchewan in December 1879, marking one of the most infamous cases associated with Wendigo lore, psychosis, and the broader consequences of colonialism.

Sources:

https://archive.org/details/swiftrunner0000thom

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/2357596

https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/pdfplus/10.1086/202953

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38034155/

https://scholarworks.arcadia.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1050&context=senior_theses

https://read.dukeupress.edu/ethnohistory/article-pdf/56/3/355/253996/EH056-03-01CarlsonFpp.pdf

https://rawvision.com/blogs/articles/articles-joe-colemans-swift-runner

https://cbra.library.utoronto.ca/items/show/35660

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/law-and-history-review/article/heart-of-ice-indigenous-defendants-and-colonial-law-in-the-canadian-northwest/CE39FBA8DBF8C3E68C6A7CE537B8FD7C

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On December 6, 1991, a quiet night in Austin, Texas, turned into one of the city’s most haunting mysteries. Four teenage girls—Amy Ayers (13), Sarah Harbison (15), Jennifer Harbison (17), and Eliza Thomas (17)—were brutally murdered inside an I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! shop. Their bodies were discovered after a fire was set to cover up the crime, leaving investigators with more questions than answers. Despite multiple arrests, confessions, and decades of investigation, the case remains unsolved. Who committed this horrific crime? Why were these young girls targeted? And will justice ever be served? Join us as we unravel the chilling details of the Austin Yogurt Shop Murders—a case that still haunts the city more than 30 years later.

Sources:

https://www.statesman.com/story/news/2020/02/04/suspects-in-yogurt-shop-killings-released/1772349007/

Murdered Innocents Book by Corey Mitchell

Who Killed These Girls? Cold Case: The Yogurt Shop Murders Book by Beverly Lowry

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On a cold December night in 1773, a group of defiant American colonists disguised themselves as Mohawk warriors, crept aboard British ships, and dumped 342 chests of tea into Boston Harbor. Their message? No taxation without representation!

This bold act of protest against British rule wasn’t just about tea—it was a spark that ignited the American Revolution. Furious over unfair taxes and British control, these rebels risked everything to send a message that would echo through history.

But what happened next? How did this single act of defiance lead to war? Dive into the gripping story of rebellion, resistance, and revolution—because the Boston Tea Party was just the beginning.

Sources:

https://www.history.com/topics/american-revolution/boston-tea-party#why-did-the-boston-tea-party-happen

https://www.britannica.com/event/Boston-Tea-Party

https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/boston-tea-party/

https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/boston-tea-party-facts

https://dp.la/primary-source-sets/the-boston-tea-party

https://www.masshist.org/revolution/teaparty.php

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May 5 is the National Day of awareness and remembrance for the Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and 2SLGBTQI+ people (MMIWG2S), also known as "Red Dress Day," coined by Métis artist Jaime Black as "an aesthetic response to this critical national issue." The ongoing crisis of missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people that we are facing is a direct result of colonization. In Canada, more than six in ten (63%) Indigenous women have experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime. The impact of these disproportionately high rates of violence is felt in all areas of life. The effects on health and wellness include inequitable access and treatment in health care and underrepresentation in health research. On Red Dress Day, and every day, we honor the lives and legacies of MMIWG2S by listening to their stories and commemorating their strength and spirits. We stand in solidarity with the families and communities who continue in the pursuit of justice, healing, and change. To raise awareness and pay tribute on this day, wear red, inform yourself about MMIWG2S, and participate in your local community events to commemorate this day.

If you, or someone you know is experiencing signs of distress don't hesitate to reach out to services available 24/7/365:

Hope for Wellness Help Line (Indigenous centered): 1-855-242-3310

Crisis Services Canada: (Canada-wide) 9-8-8

National Family and Survivors Circle: 1-844-413-6649

Sources: https://www.mmiwg-ffada.ca/final-report/ https://www.jaimeblackartist.com/exhibitions/?msclkid=d21168a1c5a011ec9c6fafe822b89398 https://cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/52964.html

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**This is the LAST WEEKEND of FREE access to our Microbrews on our Patreon account! Listen to Typhoid Mary, then go check out our other short, easy listening episodes by signing up for a free Patreon account at www.patreon.com/homebrewmc , only $3/month after May 4th 2025**

Imagine hiring a cook, only to discover she’s unwittingly poisoning her employers—one household at a time. Mary Mallon, better known as Typhoid Mary, became a walking public health crisis in early 20th-century New York, a silent carrier of typhoid fever who refused to believe she was the problem. Was she a victim of medical injustice, or a reckless menace who defied authorities at every turn? This microbrew dives into her extraordinary story—one of denial, disease, and the fight between individual rights and public safety. Join us as we unravel the mystery, controversy, and ethical dilemmas behind the legend of Typhoid Mary. It’s history from over 100 years ago that still echoes in modern pandemics...

Sources:

https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3959940/

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Typhoid-Mary https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/articles/zkg3t39 https://medicalmuseum.health.mil/micrograph/index.cfm/posts/2020/typhoid_mary_mary_mallon_salmonella

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Meaghan cracks into Canada's Unsolved Brew: A Beer Baron Butchered, a Son Accused, and a Nation Gripped. Uncork the decade-long saga of the Richard Oland murder and the lingering questions that still haunt the iconic Moosehead family.

Sources: https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/dennis-oland-case?hl=en-CA https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killing_of_Richard_Oland?hl=en-CA https://ca.news.yahoo.com/dennis-oland-had-no-reason-165508811.html?hl=en-CA&guccounter=1 https://moosehead.ca/our-story/?hl=en-CA#:~:Popularity%20begins%20to%20rise%2C%20and,1870 https://blackcreekbrewery.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/guest-blogger-katie-bryski-a-beer-pioneer-susannah-oland-and-moosehead/?hl=en-CA

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