Murder & Merlot

Grab your glass and get cozy, let’s book club it up! 

Join us as we dive into “Midnight in Chernobyl” by Adam Higginbotham. 

Here we will be discussing our thoughts and feelings about the book, author, case, and the HBO miniseries “Chernobyl”. We have already posted a three part series covering the Chernobyl disaster, so if you haven't yet, go check that out! If you read the book along with us, it isn't necessary to listen to the case episodes first but we would appreciate it anyways.

Make sure to check out our socials and add to the conversation. We love listener feedback and responses so feel free to answer our questions as well!

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murder & Merlot Podcast

Instagram: @murdermerlotpodcast 

Twitter: @murderandmerlo1

Cheers! *Tink*

Midnight in Chernobyl discussion starts at 3:50

Chernobyl HBO miniseries discussion starts at 54:07

Grab your glass and get cozy, let’s talk about.. the world’s largest nuclear disaster! 

In the third and final part of our Chernobyl series, we will be wrapping up what transpired years after the disaster and what the area is like today. 

Join us as we get into the investigation, trial, and conviction of those that were held responsible for the nuclear reactor explosion. We will also discuss how the hazardous site was finally contained from the rest of the world, a new terrifying discovery within the plant, and if there are any current dangers we should be concerned about today. 

On the lighter side of things, we threw in plenty of urban legends, myths, and conspiracy theories; because who doesn’t love a good conspiracy theory!? We’ve got zombies, mothman, aliens.. The list goes on! Listen to find out more and let us know if you would still be game to visit the Chernobyl exclusion zone after all of this. 

Make sure to check out our socials and add to the conversation. As always, answer our questions at the end and we might read your response on next week's show! 

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murder & Merlot Podcast

Instagram:@murdermerlopodcast 

Twitter: @murderandmerlo1

Book Reference: 

Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham 

Note: We will have a separate book club episode to discuss this book in further detail!

Cheers! *Tink*

Psst.. don't like all the chit-chat? That's cool. Skip to 6:37 to start the case.

Grab your glass and get cozy, let’s talk about.. the world’s largest nuclear disaster! 

In Part 2 of our 3 Part series on the Chernobyl disaster we will be discussing the immediate after effects of the deadly 1986 explosion. 

Join us as we deep dive into the efforts taken to not only clean up the highly radioactive debris from the accident site but also the steps that were taken to keep it a secret from the rest of the world. Not only were the dangerous levels of radiation threatening all of those in the vicinity, it was beginning to spread to other countries and the threat of further disasters were looming. 

We will tell you all you need to know about the fires that threatened the plant, the people involved in the clean up and cover up, the evacuations, the thousands of “liquidators” that risked their lives with no hesitation, those that suffered from acute radiation syndrome and the medical teams that fought to keep them alive. Would all of these heroic sacrifices be worth it in the end, though? Listen now to find out more!

Make sure to check out our socials and add to the conversation. As always, answer our questions at the end and we might read your response on next week's show! 

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murder & Merlot Podcast

Instagram:@murdermerlopodcast 

Twitter: @murderandmerlo1

Book Reference: 

Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham 

Note: We will have a separate book club episode to discuss this book in further detail!

Cheers! *Tink*

Psst.. don't like all the chit-chat? That's cool. Skip to 8:06 to start the case.

We are putting down our books and picking up the paper, because this is The Mourning News!

This episode includes some true crime news updates, a serial killer identified after perishing in a plane crash, a Texas teen that used fire as a means of murder, and a bizarre article at the end to lighten the mood. 

Check out our socials to take a closer look at these articles. Also make sure to send us stories you think should be featured on The Mourning News!

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murder & Merlot Podcast

Instagram: @murdermerlotpodcast 

Twitter: @murderandmerlo1

Cheers! *Tink*

Grab your glass and get cozy, let's talk about.. the world's largest nuclear disaster!

We are definitely stepping into new territory with this one, as we dive into the unsettling case of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident. 

Get ready for science class as this episode will be all about radiation, nuclear power, and what series of events lead up to the explosion on April 26, 1986, in Reactor Number Four. We tried to make it a bit more entertaining than your high school physics class so don’t run away!

Join us as we discuss the construction of the power plant, along with the city that housed the workers, how nuclear energy works and its destructive history, what radiation is and the effects it can have on humans, and of course, exactly how the nuclear accident occurred in Chernobyl and the events that immediately followed. 

You may be asking, could this really be considered a true crime case? We certainly think so! Not only is it a dark and twisty topic, but it has a trial, conviction, and possibly the highest death toll out of all of any story we’ve covered in the past.. and perhaps, even in the future. But you’ll have to come back for Part 2 to learn all of those details!

Make sure to check out our socials and add to the conversation. As always, answer our questions at the end and we might read your response on next week's show! 

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murder & Merlot Podcast

Instagram:@murdermerlopodcast 

Twitter: @murderandmerlo1

Book Reference: 

Midnight in Chernobyl by Adam Higginbotham 

Note: We will have a separate book club episode to discuss this book in further detail!

Cheers! *Tink*

Psst.. don't like all the chit-chat? That's cool. Skip to 5:45 to start the case.

We are putting down our books and picking up the paper, because this is The Mourning News!

This episode includes a true crime news update, a subway stabbing spree, mistaken and mishandled remains, and a bizarre article at the end to lighten the mood. 

Check out our socials to take a closer look at these articles. Also make sure to send us stories you think should be featured on The Mourning News!

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murder & Merlot Podcast

Instagram: @murdermerlotpodcast 

Twitter: @murderandmerlo1

Cheers! *Tink*

Grab your glass and get cozy, let’s book club it up! 

Join us as we dive into “Small Sacrifices” by Ann Rule.

Here we will be discussing our thoughts and feelings about the book, author, and case. We have already posted a two part series about the case of Diane Downs, the murderous mother, that was inspired by the book. If you haven't yet, go check them out! If you read the book along with us, it isn't necessary to listen to the case episodes first but we would appreciate it anyways.

Make sure to check out our socials and add to the conversation. We love listener feedback and responses so feel free to answer our questions as well!

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murder & Merlot Podcast

Instagram: @murdermerlotpodcast 

Twitter: @murderandmerlo1

Cheers! *Tink*

Grab your glass and get cozy, let's talk about murder! 

In this episode we wrap up the case of child-murderer Diane Downs, as we discuss her arrest, trial, and conviction. 

With a focus on the trial, we will find out how one of Diane’s surviving victims, her own nine year old daughter, became the star witness that helped put her behind bars. With additional evidence, we are now also able to paint a more clear picture of what actually happened on the night of May 19, 1983 on Old Mohawk Road. Unfortunately, even after this devil-woman was finally put behind bars, the story doesn't end as she was able to escape prison in 1987.  

Join us for this rollercoaster as we uncover the truth in Diane’s web of lies, the damning evidence that thankfully locked her away, her escape and recapture from Oregon Women’s Correctional Institute, and where she and her surviving children are today. 

Make sure to check out our socials and add to the conversation. As always, answer our questions at the end and we might read your response on next week's show! 

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murder & Merlot Podcast

Instagram:@murdermerlopodcast 

Twitter: @murderandmerlo1

Book Reference: 

Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule 

Note: We will have a separate book club episode to discuss this book in further detail!

Cheers! *Tink*

Psst.. don't like all the chit-chat? That's cool. Skip to 4:24 to start the case.

We are putting down our books and picking up the paper, because this is The Mourning News!

This episode includes a couple of true crime news updates, a reckless Redneck Rave, the mysterious death of a billionaire tech guru, and a bizarre article that will drive you nuts. Stick around to the very end to find out what book we will be covering for our next series!

Check out our socials to take a closer look at these articles. Also make sure to send us stories you think should be featured on The Mourning News!

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murder & Merlot Podcast

Instagram: @murdermerlotpodcast 

Twitter: @murderandmerlo1

Cheers! *Tink*

Grab your glass and get cozy, let's talk about murder! 

For our next series we'll be diving into the horrendous and aggravating case of Diane Downs. 

In this episode we sift through the garbage that is Diane’s story of how her three children and herself were attacked by an apparent “shaggy-hair gunman”. Her story, like garbage, stinks, and the police are not buying it. 

In this series we will discuss how the night of May 19, 1983 unfolded and try to answer the many questions that surround this case. Why did the attacker target the three children, while the mother only had a gunshot wound to her left forearm? Who was this woman that did not even react to the news that her daughter had died? What led up to this night? Who are the men that were left in her wake? And what really happened that night down on Old Mohawk Road? 

Join us for Part 1 to find out the events that took place in the ER that night, Diane’s version of the story, her early life, relationships, and pregnancies, and the evidence that is starting to pile up against her.  

Make sure to check out our socials and add to the conversation. As always, answer our questions at the end and we might read your response on next week's show! 

Email: [email protected]

Facebook: Murder & Merlot Podcast

Instagram:@murdermerlopodcast 

Twitter: @murderandmerlo1

Book Reference: 

Small Sacrifices by Ann Rule 

Note: We will have a separate book club episode to discuss this book in further detail!

Cheers! *Tink*

Psst.. don't like all the chit-chat? That's cool. Skip to 5:30 to start the case.