Murder in the Mourning

Mothers are the protectors of their children, the creator and caretaker. What happens when that one person begins to abuse, manipulate, and emotionally abandon you?

Muchausen by proxy is a serious condition where a caretaker, usually a parent, will hurt or create a false sense of danger for their child as a means of attention-seeking.

Today I bring you the case of Priscilla Phillips.

Let's Mourn.

Sources:

ABC News Network. (n.d.). ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/Health/munchausen-proxy/story?id=52123783

CBS Interactive. (2023, November 30). Widow of French serial killer who preyed on virgins admits to “all the facts” at trial. CBS News. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/monique-olivier-widow-serial-killer-michel-fourniret-admits-all-the-facts-trial-france/

The heart of a tragedy. Nikki Meredith. (n.d.). https://nikkimeredith.com/articles/the-heart-of-a-tragedy/

The dream of most justice systems is to take in a criminal and release them back into the public a better person.

This is the story of the so-called reformed murderer Jack Unterweger, and how he manipulated the entire nation of Austria into believing he had changed.

Sources:

The Cecil Hotel: Where Dreams Go to Die. Book Ghost Tours Across America. (n.d.). https://www.americanghostwalks.com/articles/the-cecil-hotel-haunted-los-angeles

Kuroski, J. (2023, November 8). The five unexplained disappearances of Vermont’s “Bermuda Triangle.” All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/bennington-triangle

Oliver, M. (2022, March 2). This killer-turned-author convinced everyone he was reformed - then he started killing again. All That’s Interesting. https://allthatsinteresting.com/jack-unterweger

Wikimedia Foundation. (2024, January 2). Jack Unterweger. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Unterweger

Zincone, K. (2023, December 19). Who is Jack Unterweger, who lived a double life as a writer and serial killer?. Oxygen Official Site. https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/who-is-austrian-serial-killer-jack-unterweger

English-born William MacDonald is often referred to as Australia's first true serial killer. Rivaling even Jack The Ripper, the ferocity of MacDonald's crimes earned him the title The Mutilator.

Before his undoing, this English-turned-Australian murderer would take the lives of five men.

Let's Mourn.

Sources:

Arlington, K. (2016, June 9). Death of serial killer William “the mutilator” Macdonald not suspicious: Coroner. The Sydney Morning Herald. https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/death-of-serial-killer-william-the-mutilator-macdonald-not-suspicious-coroner-20160609-gpfai0.html

Blanco, J. I. (n.d.). William MacDonald: Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers. William MacDonald | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. https://murderpedia.org/male.M/m/macdonald-william.htm

Vaughan, K. (2016, May 2). 1993 killing of Englewood 5-year-old Alie Berrelez solved: It was neighbor long suspected and now dead. The Denver Post. https://www.denverpost.com/2011/09/13/1993-killing-of-englewood-5-year-old-alie-berrelez-solved-it-was-neighbor-long-suspected-and-now-dead/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, November 20). William MacDonald (serial killer). Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_MacDonald_(serial_killer)

William MacDonald “the Mutilator,” Sydney’s most disturbed serial killer. Murders Most Foul. (2023, March 15). https://murdersmostfoul.com/william-macdonald-serial-killer/

Twenty-two years ago, a monster living among children, committed one of England's most heinous double murders.

Jessica Chapman and Holly Marie Wells, both 10 years old, disappeared after leaving their home in Cambridgeshire for snacks. Their bodies would be discovered days later, leading to one of the largest manhunts in history.

Let's Mourn.

Sources:

Blanco, J. I. (n.d.). Ian Huntley: Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers. Ian Huntley | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h/huntley-ian.htm

Cordon, O. M. & G. (2023, December 29). Soham murders: Papers reveal Tony Blair resisted public inquiry into deaths. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-67833161

Driver, S. (2021, August 27). Radar the Bloodhound helps solve dozens of murder cases. American Kennel Club. https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/news/radar-bloodhound-helps-solve-dozens-murder-cases/

PA), (Image:, & Archive), (Image: PA. (2022, August 4). Soham murders: The clues that led police to Holly and Jessica’s evil killer. Manchester Evening News. https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/soham-murders-what-happened-holly-24671330

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, December 31). Soham murders. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soham_murders

A young college student never returns home after a night out. All evidence points to her murder. The only problem–investigators can’t find her body. 

Can her killer still be brought to justice?

Let's Mourn.

Sources:

40 years later, some of Gina Hall’s remains found in Pulaski County. https://www.wdbj7.com. (2020, July 13). https://www.wdbj7.com/2020/07/13/40-years-later-some-of-gina-halls-remains-found-in-pulaski-county/

Blanco, J. I. (n.d.). Stephen Epperly: Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers. Stephen Epperly | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. https://murderpedia.org/male.E/e/epperly-stephen.htm

Rasmussen, A. (2023, December 13). New Jersey Teenager “casually” slaughtered his family during New Year’s eve party. Investigation Discovery. https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/new-jersey-teenager-casually-slaughtered-his-family-during-new-years-eve-party

The FBI describes long-haul truckers as one of the most successful serial killer occupations...

Once beaten for confusing tomato salad with potato salad, Fautenberry was responsible for at least 5 brutal murders across 4 states during the 1990s.

Let's Mourn.

Sources:

Guardian News and Media. (2007, September 6). Polish author jailed over killing he used as plot. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2007/sep/06/books.booksnews

Fritz Honka was a German serial killer active during the 1970s and his crimes were particularly gruesome. Honka's victims were often vulnerable women, whom he lured back to his apartment and murdered.

He then proceeded to...well, do what butchers do best.

Let's Mourn.

Sources:

Blanco, J. I. (n.d.). Fritz Honka: Murderpedia, the Encyclopedia of Murderers. Fritz Honka | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers. https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h/honka-fritz.htm

Junge, R. (2020, January 10). Famous serial killers - Fritz Honka. Medium. https://medium.com/the-full-time-writer/famous-serial-killers-fritz-honka-2912f58ecc46

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, October 14). Fritz Honka. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fritz_Honka

Many people feared for nearly three decades that detectives would never catch the killer responsible for the Steeltown Murders.

Having taken the lives of three young girls in the 1970s, this monster is the first ever documented Welsh serial killer.

Let's Mourn.

Sources:

John, G. (2023, May 15). Steeltown murders: How saturday night strangler was caught. BBC News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65556974

Kelley, E. (2019, April 8). The disappearance of Bonnie Haim. The Florida Times-Union. https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/crime/2019/04/06/disappearance-bonnie-haim-missing-1993-and-unearthed-by-son-in-2014-her-husbands-trial-begins-monday/5444849007/

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, December 12). Joseph Kappen. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Kappen

In 1940 a woman's oddly preserved body floated to the surface of Lake Crescent in Washington State–thus beginning a years-long murder mystery.

She had been hog-tied, wrapped in blankets, weighed down with rocks, and left to rot at the bottom of the lake. However, Fate had its own plans.

Let's Mourn.

Sources:

Crime, P. C. (2022, April 24). The lady of the Lake. Medium. https://medium.com/seek-solve/the-lady-of-the-lake-b512c33ba890

Kopsky, A. (2017, October 26). 18 fucked-up vintage murder cases you probably haven’t heard of until now. BuzzFeed. https://www.buzzfeed.com/annakopsky/the-fuck-word-murder-mystery-show

Lady of the Lake. (n.d.). https://www.historylink.org/File/8599

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, September 26). Lake Crescent. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Crescent

50TH EPISODE SPECTACULAR!

Three states, three murders, and almost three decades without answers. Thanks to the improvements in DNA science, families of these victims can begin to grieve properly, finally knowing the name of the killer.

Let's Mourn.

Sources:

Fulton resident reminisces on homicide investigation. Fulton Sun. (2020, November 19). https://www.fultonsun.com/news/2020/nov/19/fulton-resident-reminisces-homicide-investigation/

LaFleur, E. (2018, October 5). Robert Brashers: A timeline of crimes police say he committed. The Greenville News. https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/crime/2018/10/05/greenville-cold-case-robert-brashers-jenny-zitricki/1534079002/

Sederstrom, J. (2018, October 9). Murder suspect’s body exhumed to solve two 1990s cold cases. Oxygen Official Site. https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/murder-suspects-robert-brashers-body-exhumed-solve-two-1990s-cold-cases

Wikimedia Foundation. (2023, November 4). Robert Eugene Brashers. Wikipedia. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Eugene_Brashers