On the night of March 9, 1963, officers Karl Hettinger and Ian Campbell made a traffic stop on the corner of Carlos Avenue and Gower Street and Hollywood. Early that day, the officers had been instructed to seek out and bust anyone they suspected of being engaged in gay sexual activity, and that night they were confident they’d found two men that fit the bill. However, after Campbell instructed both men to step out of the car, the driver, Gregory Powell, pulled out a pistol and held it on Campbell, effectively disarming him, while other man, Jimmy Smith, disarmed Hettinger. The two officers were then forced into Powell’s car and driven more than one hundred miles away, where they executed Ian Campbell, while Hettinger escaped into a nearby onion field and managed to find help at the home of a farmer. 

The murder of Ian Campbell in the onion field shocked residents of California, not only because it was so cold-blooded, but also because of how the incident unfolded. By yielding to the demands of their hostage taker and handing over his gun, many people felt that Hettinger was at least partially responsible for Campbell’s death. Powell and Smith were quickly captured, tried, and convicted for the murder, but the consequences of that night in the onion field would have a profound and lasting effect on police policy all over the country for years to come.

Recommendations in this episode

Follow @themhoffers 

Follow @annaleegrace15  ( YouTube  or Instagram)

Follow @ChefRileyMeehan and Purchase his book A Little Bit Extra

Associated Press. 1963. "2 policemen are kidnapped; 1 is slain." Sacramento Bee, 03 11: 1.

Los Angeles Times. 1963. "Cold-blooded slaying of detective re-enacted." Los Angeles Times, March 12: 1.

—. 1963. "Officer slain by accident, says former convict." Los Angeles Times, August 21: 27.

—. 1963. "Pair guilty of slaying policeman." Los Angeles Times, September 5: 1.

—. 1963. "Partner of murdered officer tells of ordeal." Los Angeles Times, March 20: 29.

Malnic, Eric. 1994. "Karl Hettinger; survived 1963 'Onion Field' attack." Los Angeles Times, May 5: A32.

The People v. Gregory Ulas Powell and Jimmy Lee Smith. 1967. 7739 (Supreme Court of California, July 18).

Turan, Kenneth. 1979. "The Onion Field caper." Washington Post, October 13.

United Press International. 1963. "2 thugs admit kidnap-killing." New York Times, March 12: 4.

Waldie, D.J. 2013. "The Onion Field at 50: 'This is about the tragedy of police work'." PBS SoCal, March 11.

Wambaugh, Joseph. 1973. 

The Onion Field.

 New York, NY: Dell Publishing.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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When Ron and Nancy Stallings found the old Victorian on Evergreen Street in Baltimore, they thought their dreams had come true. With each bringing three kids from a previous marriage into the relationship, they needed to find a house large enough to accommodate their large family, but their limited income made that seem impossible. So, when they learned that the house was being offered at a bargain price, Ron and Nancy didn’t hesitate to put in an offer—a decision they would soon come to regret.

In the years that the Stallings family occupied the home on Evergreen Street, they encountered a variety of paranormal activity, from the faucets and lights turning themselves on and off to the disembodied voices and apparitions of strangers in the home. Rather than be captives in their home to forces they could neither fight nor understand, Ron and Nancy decided to take action to rid themselves of the other worldly presence, but quickly realized they were woefully unprepared for the battle that lay before them.

References

Amodio, Joe. 2005. Echoes from the Grave. Directed by Stuart Taylor. Produced by New Dominion Pictures.

Constable, Pamela. 1979. "Psychics tell of UFO trips, ghiost hunts." Baltimore Sun, February 4: 201.

Geiselman, A.W. 1968. "Weird home happenings plaguing family of 9." The Evening Sun (Baltimore, MD), August 2: C24.

Stallings, Nancy. 1996. Show Me One Soul: A True Haunting. Baltimore, MD: Noble House.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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On the morning of January 31, 1857, the body of Dr. Harvey Burdell was discovered in his Manhattan townhouse with fifteen stab wounds, and his killer had also strangled him to guarantee his death. Suspicion quickly fell to one of Burdell’s tenants, thirty-nine-year-old mother of four Emma Cunningham. A few days after Burdell’s death, Emma presented herself as his wife and attempted to collect his estate worth $100,000, but before she could get her hands on the money, Emma was indicted for Burdell’s murder.

The coroner’s inquest and Emma’s subsequent murder trial dominated the front pages—and then some—of nearly every newspaper in and around New York for weeks and was the “trial of the century” long before the term was even coined. Yet as sensational as it all was, there was no physical evidence tying Emma to the crime and the prosecution’s only argument was that the killer was left-handed and so was Emma Cunningham. Despite the lurid details of affairs, multiple abortions, and constant domestic violence, without evidence the jury moved to acquit Emma after deliberating for just two hours.

The story should have ended with the acquittal, but Emma wasn’t content to walk away with just her freedom; she still believed she was entitled to Burdell’s estate, and she intended to get it one way or another. What followed was a protracted battle for Burdell’s money and property that took place in the courts and the press, with a variety of antics that ranged from forging marriage documents to faking a pregnancy and even buying an infant that, when all was said and done, would end up in P.T. Barnum’s sideshow.

Feldman, Benjamin. 2007. Butchery on Bond Street: Sexual Politics and The Burdell-Cunningham Case in Ante-bellum New York. New York, NY: Wanderer Press.

Kappman, Edward W. 1994. Great American Trials. Detroit, MI: Gale.

New York Daily Herald. 1857. "Horrible and Mysterious Murder in Bond Street." New York Daily Herald, February 2: 1.

—. 1857. "The Bond Street tragedy; the close of the investigation." New York Daily Herald, February 16: 1.

New York Daily Times. 1857. "The Burdell murder: Second Day." New York Daily Times, May 6: 1.

—. 1857. "The Burdell murder; Dr. Carnochan's testimony." New York Daily Times, May 8: 1.

New York Times. 1857. "Terrible Tragedy." New York Times, February 2: 1.

—. 1857. "The Bond Street murder still a mystery." New York Times, February 7: 1.

—. 1857. "The Bond-Street murder; John J. Eckel and Mrs. Cunningham indicted." New York Times, February 23: 5.

Serratore, Angela. 2013. 

The Desperate Would-be Housewife of New York.

 June 13. Accessed November 13, 2023. https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-desperate-would-be-housewife-of-new-york-140748/.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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For Ash's second Episode Revisit, we are heading back to the most wonderful time of the year, SPOOKY SEASON back in 2022! Alaina gives us Southern Gothic while Ash confirms that she's a #HannaTruther!

Urban legends for Halloween? YOU BETCHA! Alaina brings us an urban legend straight out of the Louisiana Bayou- she really can’t get enough of that place, eh? Le Feu Follet is a really pretty set of words, but don’t you go following them into the dark. Even if you are listening to Death Cab For Cutie. And while we’re on this path of warning you about things you should and shouldn’t do, let me tell ya don't mess with Queen Hannah Cranna. She’s not noble, but she is a witch and she will fuck with your ability to make a good pie. If that's a little vague press play and Ash will clear it all up for you!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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For Today's re-release, we are revisiting a case from September of 2021: In this episode Ash brings you the truly infuriating case of Ellen Greenberg. Ellen was a beautiful, caring 27 year old woman who had everything going for her. She had a great relationship with her family and friends, a  job as a first grade teacher, and plans to marry her fiance Sam in the coming months. There was no indication that Ellen was struggling with suicidal thoughts, yet somehow on January 26th 2011 when she was discovered dead on her kitchen floor after suffering 20+ stab wounds, her death was ruled a suicide. 

Please Visit the Change.org petition for this case to be reopened! Justice For Ellen Rae Greenberg Petition
 

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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We COULDN"T skip Listener Tales this month, so we HAD to give it to you one week early, so prepare for a batch of tales that are brought to you BY you, FOR you, FROM you and ALLLLL about you! Today we have stories of parents visiting from beyond the grave, a bladder that served up karma BEFORE a garbage human showed who he is, the mystery of a severed finger, and house that was DEFINITELY haunted!

LISTEN to this (nearly)Nicholas-free version on all podcast platforms OR WATCH the Nicholas version on Youtube!

If you’ve got a listener tale please send it to DEB by emailing us at  [email protected] with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line- and if you share pictures- please let us know if we can share them with fellow weirdos! :)

Huge shout out to our video editor @aidanmcelman

Music: Www.purple-Planet.com

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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In the early morning hours of October 8, 1964, thirty-four-year-old housewife and mother of three Lucille Miller placed a frantic call to the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department to report that there had been a car accident on remote Banyan Street and her husband had been killed. When deputies arrived at the scene, the car was still in flames and, as Lucille had described, her husband Gordon “Cork” Miller was in the passenger seat, nearly unrecognizable from the extent of the fire damage.

The evidence at the scene appeared to support Lucille’s version of events; the car had gone off the road while they were driving and caught fire. Lucille managed to get out of the car, but Cork was unconscious and she was unable to get him out. Less than twelve hours later, however, Lucille’s story began to fall apart and by the end of the day she was arrested for the murder of her husband.

 At first, the case against Lucille Miller seemed relatively straightforward; she killed her husband for the insurance money and to pursue a relationship with another man. But as the investigation unfolded and investigators began digging into the Miller’s lives, the story became significantly more complicated and no one seemed able to decide whether Cork’s death was in fact a murder.

Want to buy our GORGEOUS Tarot Deck designed by the incredibly talented Marisa Aragón Ware? This deck is a limited edition, so be sure to PREORDER before you miss your chance by visiting morbidtarot.com! Thanks to our friends at Relatable for dreaming this into existence!

RECOMMENDATIONS FROM THIS EPISODE:

 The Frightful Fandom Podcast,  Follow @Jiggysawgirl on tikTok !

The Horror Chronicles Podcast Follow @horror_chronicles

Dude, It's Entertainment!  Podcast Follow @dude_its_entertainment 

References

2014. A Crime to Remember (season 2, episode 6). Directed by Elise Greven. Performed by Elise Greven.

Hartsfield, Jack. 1964. "Alta Loma crash scene sifted by detectives." San Bernardino County Sun, October 9: 16.

—. 1965. "Defendant tells her story of 'death night'." San Bernardino County Sun, February 17: 1.

—. 1965. "Hayton denies telling loves to Mrs. Miller." San Bernardino County Sun, February 9: 1.

—. 1964. "Mrs. Miller charged with murder." San Bernardino County Sun, October 14: 1.

—. 1965. "Mrs. Miller's views of Hayton recorded." San Bernardino County Sun, February 2: 1.

—. 1964. "No charges filed; divorce action told." San Bernardino County Sun, October 10: 11.

—. 1965. "Uproar sweeps court as verdict announced." San Bernardino County Sun, March 6: 1.

Hertel, Howard. 1965. "Miller slain for money, trial told." Los Angeles Times, January 20: 29.

—. 1965. "Mrs. Miller pictured as boasting of 'romance'." Los Angeles Times, January 29: 2.

Hertel, Howard, and Art Berman. 1964. "Judge rules Miller murder case mistrial; re-set Jan. 11." Los Angeles Times, December 8: 2.

Hertel, Howard, and Tom Goff. 1964. "Dentist's wife indicted for car fire death." Los Angeles Times, October 21: 2.

Los Angeles Times. 1964. "Dentist dies in auto blaze; wife arrested." Los Angeles Times, October 9: 3.

—. 1964. "Dentist under drug influence, jury will hear." Los Angeles Times, October 20: 3.

Lucille Miller v. State of California. 1968. 392 U.S. 616 (Supreme Court of United States, June 17).

Miller, Debra J. 2006. "A mother's crime."  Los Angeles Times, April 2.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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In November's BONUS EPISODE, Ash and Alaina deep dive into the cinematic masterpiece/disaster/fever dream known as Twilight. Yes, THAT Twilight. The one where a 100-year-old immortal creature gaslights a teenager into thinking she smells weird. Buckle up weirdos!

Check out Why We Love (and Hate) Twilight: The Highs and Lows of the Iconic Vampire Series by Sarah Elizabeth Gallagher. 

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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Today we are joined by our friend Aliza Kelly, host of Horoscope Weekly: Astrology with Aliza Kelly, to take a cosmic deep dive into one of history’s most chilling mysteries: The Whitechapel Murders.

We explore what the stars might reveal about the shadowy figure who terrorized Victorian London. Could astrology shed light on the motive of the crimes? The psychology of the killer? Or even help narrow down which of the many suspects might have fit the Ripper’s celestial profile?

From the eerie fog of Whitechapel to the astrological markers seen repeated in the charts of key figures in this prolific case, this episode blends true crime and the metaphysical in a way only Morbid and Aliza can. 

Check out Aliza's show on Mondays & Wednesdays by clicking HERE!

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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In the early morning hours of July 14, 1966, Chicago police responded to a call about a woman screaming for help at a townhouse in Chicago’s Jeffery Manor neighborhood. When they arrived, they found student nurse Cora Amurao outside the home she shared with eight other student nurses, all of whom had been strangled or stabbed that night by an unknown intruder, while Cora hid underneath her bed. 

Considered at the time to be a “crime of the century,” the student nurse murders shocked and terrified Chicago residents all across the city. Not only had one man managed to brutally murder eight people, but he had also managed to escape and was loose somewhere in the city. At the time, racially motivated riots had broken out across the city, making the already-burdened Chicago Police Department even more strained when it came to investigating the case.

After an intense manhunt that lasted several days, investigators arrested Richard Speck, a twenty-four-year-old unemployed drifter with a criminal history. There was a strong amount of evidence that linked Speck directly to the murders, including his own confession, so when he went to trial, his lawyer tried unsuccessfully to argue Speck was not legally sane at the time of the murders. Unfortunately, the truth was something far worse: Speck killed eight women for no reason whatsoever.

Cowritten by Alaina Urquhart, Ash Kelley & Dave White (Since 10/2022)

Produced & Edited by Mikie Sirois (Since 2023)

Research by Dave White (Since 10/2022), Alaina Urquhart & Ash Kelley

Listener Correspondence & Collaboration by Debra Lally

Listener Tale Video Edited by Aidan McElman (Since 6/2025)

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