31-year-old Helen Mintiks (known professionally as Helen Hagnes) left the orchestra pit to get a drink. It was intermission for the Met musicians and Helen was hoping to speak with the lead dancer of the ballet whom she believed was relaxing in his dressing room. When the musicians returned to the pit to take their seats, Helen wasn't among them. Her body was found the next day.

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Episode Sources:

"Murder at the Met" by David Black, 1984, Dial Press

“Remembering Violinist Helen Hagnes, 40 Years After Her Murder at the Met” by Thomas Suarez, July 12, 2020

“Two Rooftop Murders, Decades Apart” by Charles Delafuente, The New York Times, Aug 8, 2008

“The tragic tale of a top violinist who vanished mid-performance at New York’s Met Opera House” by Sophia Alexandra Hall, Classic fM, Sep 12, 2024

“How a Real-Life 'Phantom of the Opera' Murdered a Young Violinist at the Met in 1980” by Sal Bono, Inside Edition, June 15, 2019

“Craig Crimmins, Phantom of the Metropolitan Opera” Chelsea News, Feb 16, 2015

“Death of a Violinist” by Kenneth Sandler, The Washington Post, July 25, 1980

“CONFESSION DETAILS GIVEN AS OPERA MURDER TRIAL STARTS” by E. R. Shipp, The New York Times, Apr 28, 1981

“Miss Hagnes Described As 'a Beautiful Person'; Studied in Europe In 'First-Call' Category Photographer Recalls Incident” by John Corry, The New York Times, July 25, 1980

“Personality Spotlight; NEWLN: Craig Crimmins: Stagehand convicted of murder” UPI Archives, June 4, 1981

“ABOUT NEW YORK; A MOTHER HOPES AND TRIES TO UNDERSTAND” The New York Times, Apr 29, 1981

“JURY TOLD CRIMMINS SOUGHT HELP IN EXPLAINING ABSENCE” by E. R. Shipp, The New York Times, May 2, 1981

“Even Model NYS Inmates Face Steep Barriers to Parole” by Bill Hughes, City Limits, Sep 17, 2014

Creeptastic theme music by:

Nicholas Davio - nicholasdavio.com, @mr.nick.davio, @huron_coast

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