Many Cones, Based On True Crime

Great friend of the podcast, Ramesh Unni, recaps chapters 6-10 ahead of the Monday release of the next 4 chapters.  Ramesh starts with a story about the author, Steve Lustina.

In chapter 10,  we see Ricardo Morales enjoying his reflection in the mirror.  He then goes into a description of his neighborhood. He lives in a home with his family in a poor neighborhood, but a step up from where he came from three years ago. Ricardo reflects on how he considers his mother a Saint. 

Many Cones is a podcast novel based on true crime. The murders inspiring this crime fiction took place 30 miles from Chicago in Northwest Indiana, and captivated the area from the initial brutal crime scene all the way through and beyond discovery of a shockingly bizarre motive.   

Ricardo Morales was enjoying his reflection in the mirror.  His arms were extended, hands elapsed in front of his belt line, in body builder fashion. His shirt was off. He was flexing his pecs and turning slightly from side to side. People called him stocky. It’s not stocky, he thought, it’s barrel chested. It’s muscular.  

The noise outside his window was increasing and it broke his concentration. He went to the window and peered out. A group of at least sixty people filled the blacktop area abutting his residence; men, women, boys and girls prancing, dancing, and romancing. Four boomboxes played dueling Spanish stations. Although it was only early evening, the party atmosphere had already begun.  

Ricardo lived in the middle house of a cul-de-sac. His aunt and uncle owned the home. He and his mother had resided in the dwelling for the last three years. They shared the upstairs converted attic/bedroom.  Their respective beds adorned walls on opposite sides of the unfinished room. The flat was frigid in the winter and sweltering in the summer. The structure was small but a lifetime better than where Ricardo and his mother had escaped from.  

The neighborhood party developed every weekend night and once or twice during the week. The dead end was a perfect place for the revelers to assemble. Hidden from prying official eyes and yet out in the open. Alcohol and drugs were plentiful.  Sex was a macho peacock strut away. Arguments occurred at each gathering, usually late at night, but bloodletting fights and injuries were rare, invariably engendered by a slur or slight to someone’s pride.  

Ricardo had revered the revelry. Posturing, drinking, toking, flirting, boasting, fighting; everything that was important. His aunt and uncle had never attended the bashes and that angered him. They were normal people; they should have enjoyed themselves.  

At first, Ricardo prodded them to take part in the festivities. The excuse always given was that they were too tired from work. When the activities were in full swing, their two young children were not allowed outdoors. Ricardo finally came to the conclusion that they believed themselves too good to attend. Fuck ‘em, he had decided. Who needed ‘em?  

Ricardo’s mother never attended, never mixed with the crowd, but that didn’t surprise him. She was a saint. Even though they had very little, oftentimes nothing, she devoted every second of her time and energy to her little boy.  

About a month earlier, Ricardo abruptly stopped attending the gatherings. His friend, Richard Sparne, had shown him the error of his ways. Sparne introduced him to Mr. Albert Moffit.  Mr. Moffit introduced him to the possibility of becoming wealthy.  

Once he recognized the opportunities that were his for his taking, he realized that the people at the party were never going to amount to anything. They had no jobs, no aspirations, no chance to succeed. The drinking, drugs, and sex made the failures easier to accept, but in the morning, the failures still greeted you. Ricardo no longer courted failure. He had become an important man and very soon would be wealthy. Then he would care for his mother.  

Chapter eight starts a week after the murders.  Grandisha still has no leads  other than the estimated timeline of the murder and that it was likely 3 to 5 perpetrators.  John Lupico confirmed that Mrs. Donas' murder included a beating and that she was carrying an early pregnancy.

Many Cones is a podcast novel based on true crime. The murders inspiring this crime fiction took place 30 miles from Chicago in Northwest Indiana, and captivated the area from the initial brutal crime scene all the way through and beyond discovery of a shockingly bizarre motive.

A week had elapsed and the Police were no closer to knowing what had happened than they were the night of the murders. Grandisha had read, re-read, and re-re-read all of the accumulated information. Nothing jumped out. Nothing waved a flag. Nothing out of place or odd. 

Ray had met with his team of investigators daily. No progress. Witnesses’ stories had changed a bit, but that was normal. After four follow up interviews, Crownder and Grenk were finally able to wheedle a time frame for the knock from the people across the hall. Mr. Throne King remembered the show he was watching when the rap occurred and the phone rang. The timing fit with the telephone records from the restaurant call made by the Pranets. 

Mrs. Throne King was positive that only one person knocked on the Donas’ door. She claimed it was impossible for more than one person to come down the stairs without her hearing a clamor. 

Forensics had fingerprint and shoe print evidence confirming that three to five people were involved. They also believed that Jim Donas was killed, the apartment was in the process of being ransacked, and then Sue Donas was brutally murdered. The evidence and clues in the bathroom verified her presence within a short time prior to her death. Big deal, Grandisha thought. I knew that a week ago. Tell me something I don’t know. 

John Lupico had completed the autopsies. Mr. Donas had died almost immediately from the deep stomach wound. The other slashes and gashes were an afterthought. Mrs. Donas had taken longer to die. She had been pummeled in addition to being stabbed. Someone enjoyed hurting her. There was no evidence of rape or molestation though. Lupico believed the injuries to the breasts were simple slash wounds rather than erotic deviancy. She was also three weeks pregnant. 

Grandisha was meeting with the Pranets later in the day; he would have to tell them about the pregnancy. 

Margie Grenk tapped on Ray’s door, interrupting his deliberation. “You wanted to see me?” 

The Lieutenant snapped to attention and said, “Margie, yes. Please come in.” 

She was dressed in her police uniform. The dark blue cloth and black leather/silver steel combination gave her a mistress/pixie look. Ray didn’t know whether to submit or to flirt. As she sat, he asked her, “Why the outfit? I thought all the years of hard work were primarily so you didn’t have to don the garb?” 

Margie took a breath and decided to be truthful with him. “It’s a home thing.” 

Grandisha knew what she was talking about. He sensed a strong need for conversation and decided to act on it. “What are you gonna do, arrest him?” 

She laughed. “I probably should. No, I read in a women’s magazine that authoritative clothes reinforce critical problem solving. When we have our heart-to-hearts, I’ve been wearing this. Trying to convince him that he has to stop what he’s doing and get some help.” 

Ray maintained an invested look throughout her explanation. “Has it worked?” 

She was notoriously late; waiting for her, for a half hour or forty-five minutes, was not uncommon. There was a rude waiter that could verify their hour-long stall. Even though the Pranets weren’t suspects, Ray would send someone out to double check. 

Great friend of the podcast, Ramesh Unni, recaps chapters 1-5 ahead of the Monday release of the next 5 chapters.

Chapter five begins with the scene of Richard Sparne and his friends returning to the home of Albert Moffett.   After executing the Donases,  we hear Richard Sparne and his friends like Ricardo Morales describe the Donases as a pimp and hooker, and we see how they saw them as part of the problem that Albert Moffitt was trying to get rid of.

 Richard Sparne quits his basketball team and essentially dedicates his life to carrying out the desires of Albert Moffit.  Thanks for listening so far. And I hope you enjoy the rest of many cones. 

 Many Cones is a podcast novel based on true crime. The murders inspiring this crime fiction took place 30 miles from Chicago in Northwest Indiana, and captivated the area from the initial brutal crime scene all the way through and beyond discovery of a shockingly bizarre motive.   

A desperate clamor against his side entrance door interrupted Albert’s conversion. He returned to the office and admitted the visitors. Sparne and his friends straggled in. 

 Chapter four introduces us to Albert Moffit. At first glance, Mr. Moffit is very vanilla. He is nondescript and lives a boring life.  However, we learn that Albert Moffit is delusional and convinced that he has been chosen to become a crime boss.  He crosses paths with Richard Sparne in a chance meeting at the high school.   Albert Moffit convinces the young man of his delusion. Richard Sparne and a group of his friends decide to become the mercenaries of Mr. Moffit. 

 Many Cones is a podcast novel based on true crime. The murders inspiring this crime fiction took place 30 miles from Chicago in Northwest Indiana, and captivated the area from the initial brutal crime scene all the way through and beyond discovery of a shockingly bizarre motive.  


About a half hour before Jules Pranet was stiffing the rude waiter, Richard Sparne and his friends were leaving Albert Moffit’s home based sales agency. Moffit sold everything from credit card swipe machines to bulk sausage. 

Richard Sparne and a number of Sparne’s acquaintances became Moffit’s terrible scepter. 

In chapter three, we are introduced to the fine time, a bar frequented by law enforcement lawyers and politicians.  We meet Carole Lombard, Ray Grandisha's girlfriend, as he turns to the comforts of smoke and drink after leaving the crime scene.  Carol is a waitress at the fine time.   At the end of the chapter, Ray Grandisha again reflects on the sense of evil that he felt at the crime scene. 

 Many Cones is a podcast novel based on true crime. The murders inspiring this crime fiction took place 30 miles from Chicago in Northwest Indiana, and captivated the area from the initial brutal crime scene all the way through and beyond discovery of a shockingly bizarre motive.  

The drive to the “Fine Time” took thirty minutes. The bar was a drinker’s joint. Waitresses and bartenders knew your name, but left you alone to imbibe, if that was your pressing desire. Detectives, lawyers, politicians, and judges populated the place. Professional drinkers. Twenty-seven stools fronting a three-quarter horseshoe bar. Twenty tables providing seating if you weren’t drinking alone. Nice atmosphere. Conducive to curing what ailed you. For a night, anyway.