In June 1959, newspapers pile up outside the Kostyniuk home in South Wellington until neighbours find the house ransacked, the phone line cut, and the bodies of Andrew “Curly” and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Kostyniuk in the bedroom. Police back then suspect robbery, but the coroner’s inquest and autopsies suggest a more complex story. 

I've posted the full Coroners Inquest report, including autopsies, on the Island Crime Facebook page.

And if you'd like to learn more about Dr. Crossland's life's work, check out his book: http://www.deathcalls.ca/

This series includes original news reports from the time, presented as radio news stories. As well, in this episode, you'll hear original witness testimony dramatized as all of the witnesses are now deceased.

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In the summer of 1959, Andrew and Elizabeth Kostyniuk, known to everyone in South Wellington, BC, as Curly and Lizzie, were stabbed to death in their own home. The case was never solved, and for 67 years, their names faded into silence.

Now, their great-great-granddaughter, Shauna, has asked host Laura Palmer to take on her coldest case yet. In this first episode, Laura travels to South Wellington to learn about the world Curly and Lizzie lived in, a quiet, close-knit Vancouver Island community where doors were left unlocked, and everyone knew everyone's business. On the night of June 26th, Curly heads to the local store to watch a world heavyweight championship fight. Lizzie walks home alone. It's the last time they see each other alive.

Was this a robbery gone wrong or something far more personal?

Note: This season's theme song is 'The Sunny Side of the Street.' You can listen to the full original recording here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEd7g_gc6No

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The aftermath of Bree’s murder reveals more than just the tragedy of her death; it speaks volumes about the life she led. And may also reveal something about the circumstances surrounding her murder.

Thank you to Bree's musical collaborators, Willem Weiss and Don Vaillancourt, for allowing me to use songs they created with Bree in the series. 

'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account.

Bree's vocals on 'Wash Me Away' appear in this episode. You can hear the full song on Don's Soundcloud account

'Fields of Presence', Jorge Lozano's film about his daughter, can be found here on Vimeo.

Bree's closest friends shared messages and texts she had sent them in the years leading up to her death. The messages help inform Bree's victimology and allow Bree herself to play a more direct role in the series. I've included Bree's words at the start of episodes 2-7. Episode 4 includes a voicemail her friend Don saved. I used a cloned voice created by ElevenLabs for the other messages. This was a decision made in consultation with Bree's former partner, Steve and his daughter, Meleya.

If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit at 250-380-6211. If that's not an option for you, contact me at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

On her final night alive, Bree was with her friend Sara. In this episode, you’ll hear Sara’s account of what happened the night of the murder and why I now believe I know how Bree died. Plus, an expert reveals her chilling take on what she calls “the perfect weapon.”

'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account.

Bree's closest friends shared messages and texts she sent them in the years leading up to her death. The messages help inform Bree's victimology and also allow Bree herself to play a more direct role in the series. I've included Bree's words at the start of episodes 2-7. Episode 4 includes a voicemail her friend Don saved. I used a cloned voice created by ElevenLabs for the other messages. This decision was made in consultation with Bree's former partner, Steve and his daughter, Meleya.

If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit at 250-380-6211. If that's not an option for you, contact me at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This episode contains mature themes and content related to domestic abuse, which some listeners may find disturbing or triggering. Please take care while listening.

Three weeks after Bree’s murder, police descended on the home she once shared with her boyfriend, Darren. TV news cameras rolled as Darren appeared outside in handcuffs, his knees pressed to the pavement. To friends, Bree had once described Darren as her soul mate. Their relationship had stretched over years; tumultuous, breaking apart, then coming back together again. Several friends and relatives told me Bree had confided in them about abuse behind closed doors.

There is no public record of any formal charges, and Darren did not respond to repeated requests for comment. The allegations have not been tested in court, and no one has been charged in connection with Bree’s death.

Thank you to Chek TV Reporter Kori Sidaway for appearing in the series.

'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account.

Bree's closest friends shared messages and texts she sent them in the years leading up to her death. The messages help inform Bree's victimology and also allow Bree herself to play a more direct role in the series. I've included Bree's words at the start of episodes 2-7. Episode 4 includes a voicemail her friend Don saved. I used a cloned voice created by ElevenLabs for the other messages. This decision was made in consultation with Bree's former partner, Steve and his daughter, Meleya.

If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit at 250-380-6211. If that's not an option for you, contact me at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bree's friendships were deep and profound. She sometimes called her girlfriends her 'Chicas'. In this episode, some of Bree's closest 'gal pals' reflect on the good times, even as they wrestle with the side of Bree she kept hidden from them and why.

Thank you to Bree's musical collaborators, Willem Weiss and Don Vaillancourt, for allowing me to use songs they created with Bree in the series. 

'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account.

If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit at 250-380-6211. If that's not an option for you, contact me at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

“After the pain of this disappointment, her heart once more stood empty, and the succession of identical days began again.”

― Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary

How does a restless, hard-partying city girl end up on Vancouver Island? And how does her fiery temperament shape her most profound relationships? Through the eyes of Bree’s former partner, we see a woman yearning for something deeper, an ache for connection that may ultimately hint at her tragic fate.

'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account.

Bree's closest friends shared messages and texts she had sent them in the years leading up to her death. The messages help inform Bree's victimology and also allow Bree herself to play a more direct role in the series. I've included Bree's words at the start of episodes 2-7. Episode 4 includes a voicemail her friend Don saved. I used a cloned voice created by ElevenLabs for the other messages. This was a decision made in consultation with Bree's former partner, Steve and his daughter, Meleya.

If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit at 250-380-6211. If that's not an option for you, contact me at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Bree Gamble was known for her passion, fearlessness, and vibrant energy—a woman who seemed to live life in full colour until her tragic murder in 2021. The daughter of acclaimed Colombian filmmaker Jorge Lozano, Bree carried her Latin roots and artistic identity through everything she did. Central to her story is the rumbero spirit—a distinctly Colombian way of embracing joy and music even amid hardship.

In this episode, I explore how that spirit shaped Bree — and how her early experiences and her culture influenced the choices she made in the time leading up to her murder.

Thank you to Bree's father, Jorge Lozano, for permitting the use of the sound from his film 'The Tampon Thieves' in this episode. Jorge's films can be viewed here: https://vimeo.com/jorgelozano

Thank you to Bree's musical collaborators, Willem Weiss and Don Vaillancourt, for allowing me to use songs they created with Bree in the series. 

'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account.

Bree's vocals on 'Wash Me Away' appear in this episode. You can hear the full song on Don's Soundcloud account

Bree's closest friends shared messages and texts she had sent them in the years leading up to her death. The messages help inform Bree's victimology and allow Bree herself to play a more direct role in the series. I've included Bree's words at the start of episodes 2-7. Episode 4 includes a voicemail her friend Don saved. I used a cloned voice created by ElevenLabs for the other messages. This was a decision made in consultation with Bree's former partner, Steve and his daughter, Meleya.

If you have information, please get in touch with the Vancouver Island Integrated Major Crime Unit at 250-380-6211. If that's not an option for you, contact me at [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.