Murder Unscripted

Anna Repkina was a 27-year-old woman from Russia who moved to Oregon for love, only to meet a tragic end. Drawn to the United States by her online romance with William Hargrove, Anna believed she had found her soulmate. But their love triangle, involving Hargrove's other lover, Michelle Chavez, turned deadly.

After Anna’s arrival, tensions flared when Hargrove failed to end his relationship with Chavez. Chavez, feeling threatened by Anna’s presence, reportedly issued an ultimatum: her or me. Just days later, Anna's body was discovered in a remote forest in Benton County, Oregon. She had been shot in the head, her body left abandoned with no immediate clues.

The investigation unraveled a shocking tale of betrayal and manipulation. Evidence linked Hargrove to the murder, including a shotgun purchased shortly before Anna’s death and surveillance footage placing him near the crime scene. Prosecutors argued that Hargrove killed Anna to resolve the love triangle in the cruelest way possible.

The case captivated audiences with its elements of love, jealousy, and betrayal, culminating in Hargrove’s conviction for Anna’s murder. It remains a cautionary tale about the dangers of unchecked passions and the dark side of online relationships.

Tune in every Tuesday as your hosts, veteran true crime producer (Ed) and true crime super fan (Melissa), dive into the cases that keep you up at night - offering behind-the-scenes insight while breaking down the barrier between fan and creator.

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Ed and Melissa sit down for a fascinating deep dive into the extraordinary and often chilling world of criminal psychology as they interview Dr. Jeffrey Smalldon, forensic psychologist and author of That Beast Was Not Me.

This groundbreaking book chronicles his 50 years of analyzing and corresponding with some of history’s most notorious criminals, including Charles Manson, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gary, Thomas Lee Dillon, and many others.

What to Expect:

🌟 Unveiling the Letters: Gain unprecedented insights into the intimate, unfiltered correspondence between Dr. Smalldon and these infamous individuals. Discover what these letters reveal about their minds, motivations, and the humanity—or lack thereof—behind their actions.

🌟 A Psychologist’s Perspective: Dr. Smalldon will discuss the ethical and emotional complexities of maintaining such unique relationships, offering reflections on how his own perceptions of good, evil, and morality evolved over decades.

🌟 Never-Before-Told Stories: Hear firsthand accounts of some of the most revealing or unexpected exchanges, shedding light on the enigmatic personas of these criminals beyond the headlines. Also hear about Smalldon's time sitting face to face with John Wayne Gary, one of America's most deranged and egocentric murderers.

🌟 Lessons for Us All: Learn how this extraordinary journey informs our understanding of justice, forgiveness, and the shadowy corners of human nature. Whether you’re a true crime enthusiast, a psychology aficionado, or simply curious about what it means to correspond with history’s most infamous figures, this interview promises to be a riveting and thought-provoking experience you won't want to miss!

Tune in every Tuesday as your hosts, veteran true crime producer (Ed) and true crime super fan (Melissa), dive into the cases that keep you up at night - offering behind-the-scenes insight while breaking down the barrier between fan and creator.

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John Wayne Gacy (born March 17, 1942, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.—died May 10, 1994, Statesville, Illinois) was an American serial killer whose murders of 33 boys and young men in the 1970s received international media attention and shocked his suburban Chicago community, where he was known for his sociability and his performance as a clown at charitable events and childrens’ parties.

Gacy was born into a blue-collar family and seems to have had a fairly ordinary childhood. But he exhibited a growing tendency toward sadism, which resulted in several encounters with the law in the 1960s. In 1968, after his conviction for sexually assaulting a teenage boy, he was confined in the Iowa State Men’s Reformatory (Anamosa State Penitentiary) and forced to undergo psychological evaluation. After his release in 1970 and while still on parole, he was again arrested for sexual assault, but the charges were later dropped. Gacy then became a fairly successful independent contractor and bought a house in suburban Chicago.

In 1978, after one of Gacy’s victims, Robert Piest, was reported missing, police learned that Gacy was the last person known to have seen him. After obtaining a search warrant, police discovered the bodies of 29 boys and young men in or near Gacy’s house; four other bodies were found in the nearby Des Plaines River. Indeed, the area of the house had emitted a foul stench for years, but Gacy had told his houseguests and his wife that the smell was the result of moisture buildup. At his trial Gacy’s plea of innocent by reason of insanity was supported by the testimony of several psychologists, who diagnosed him as schizophrenic, but was rejected by the jury, which found him guilty of all 33 murders of which he was accused; he was executed by lethal injection in 1994.

Tune in every Tuesday as your hosts, veteran true crime producer (Ed) and true crime super fan (Melissa), dive into the cases that keep you up at night - offering behind-the-scenes insight while breaking down the barrier between fan and creator.

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In this compelling interview, Edna Cowell Martin shares her experiences growing up alongside her cousin, the notorious serial killer Ted Bundy.

From her family's roots in the Puget Sound region to witnessing Ted's unsettling behavior while under the influence of marijuana, and ultimately discovering his connection to the murders of dozens of young women, Edna's firsthand accounts are both chilling and revealing.

This conversation offers just a glimpse into her story. For more gripping tales and deeper insights, explore her book Dark Tide: Growing Up With Ted Bundy, co-authored with Megan Atkinson.

Available at: AMAZON - https://www.amazon.com/Dark-Tide-Growing-Ted-Bundy/dp/B0CTYHCX6T/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2LSNCJHSV925I&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.SZZ9ct5PxpV6_ACBwdN6hoFES38gjPX6eWuFYp8qRP9_CaVIxy_G-GI3nBF8ScvolWbLmay5YK5E6umSKdIrknN70w2LqU5SY1KXCjfqMIQoo7-QxPYkUr_anF13qYDpKnmzUSUAaxD5TyE1hJKyny8iymt5HvBMel5ABicBWjf0GEYv5TYaYdE0EWJD9yKU6LeY7M5NcH0HxPAgr0aSbBdI2Ze_QnzptntgFHom3C0.aXrCsxYQN8jpdYQyOOS6KNckOxs7Kxl5c5SLa3n6BqA&dib_tag=se&keywords=dark+tide+book&qid=1736783257&sprefix=dark+tide%2Caps%2C97&sr=8-2

BARNES & NOBLE - https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/dark-tide-edna-cowell-martin/1144787897

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If you're a true-crime fan, or just want to know more about what made America's most notorious serial killer tick, this is a conversation you don't want to miss!!

Tune in every Tuesday as your hosts, veteran true crime producer (Ed) and true crime super fan (Melissa), dive into the cases that keep you up at night - offering behind-the-scenes insight while breaking down the barrier between fan and creator.

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Today, the MU team explores the life and times of Ted Bundy - America's more notorious serial killer. Learn what made this monster tick, and how his actions have lasting effects even 50 years later.

Next week, hear from Ted's very own cousin, author Edna Cowell Martin, who offers a chilling glimpse into the man whose name is synonymous with murder.

Theodore Robert Bundy was born in Burlington, VT on November 24th, 1946. Bundy had a difficult childhood, including a strained relationship with his stepfather. His shyness made him a frequent target of bullying. Later, however, his intelligence and social skills enabled him to enjoy a successful college career, and he developed a series of apparently normal emotional relationships with women. Despite this apparent stability, he sexually assaulted and killed several young women in Washington, Oregon, Colorado, Utah, and Florida between 1974 and 1978.

Although he would ultimately confess to dozens of murders, some estimate he was responsible for hundreds of deaths.

Following a well-publicized trial, he was sentenced to death in 1979 for the murder of two college students. In the following year he again was sentenced to death, this time for the rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl. Bundy was executed in Florida’s electric chair in 1989.

Tune in every Tuesday as your hosts, veteran true crime producer (Ed) and true crime super fan (Melissa), dive into the cases that keep you up at night - offering behind-the-scenes insight while breaking down the barrier between fan and creator.

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On October 13, 1995, 16-year-olds Misty Cockerill and Tanya Smith were walking to a party when Driver emerged from a nearby hedge with a baseball bat and forced the girls into the bushes. After leading them into a clearing, Driver ordered both to remove their clothes. While Smith complied, Cockerill resisted, seizing the bat and striking Driver across the back as he prepared to assault Smith. However, Driver overpowered Cockerill, beating her until she lost consciousness.

When Cockerill later regained consciousness in a parking lot, she managed to reach a hospital, where she underwent emergency surgery for severe skull fractures. Meanwhile, Smith’s body was discovered later that morning in a river. Although her injuries from the beating were fatal, it was determined that she ultimately drowned.

Following the attack, Driver exhibited erratic behavior that led to his capture. He made several anonymous phone calls to police and emergency services, identifying himself as the killer and threatening further crimes.

Obsessed with police scanners, a fascination likely influenced by his father’s career as a police officer, Driver monitored law enforcement responses to his calls. He even attended Tanya Smith’s funeral, later stealing her tombstone and leaving it on the hood of a radio station’s car with a threatening message addressed to Cockerill.

In another incident, he threw a wrench with a note for the police through a stranger’s window, claiming responsibility for three other similar assaults.

Key evidence linked Driver to the crime. He left a thumbprint on the tape used to wrap the package containing the note, as well as DNA and a bite mark on Smith’s body. Authorities released recordings of his calls, prompting Driver’s brother to recognize his voice. His mother confirmed the identification. Further investigation matched Driver’s thumbprint to the one found on the tape, leading to his arrest in 1996.

Following his arrest, Driver denied assaulting the two girls. Instead, he claimed he had stumbled upon them after the attack, raped the unconscious Tanya Smith, and disposed of her body in the river. He also alleged that he had driven Misty Cockerill to the hospital.

At trial, Driver did not plead insanity but argued that his actions were influenced by Tourette's syndrome, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and attention deficit disorder. He maintained that these conditions led to false confessions and distorted behavior.

Due to the emotionally charged nature of the case, Driver opted for a trial by judge rather than a jury. However, the judge rejected his defense. In 1997, Driver was convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Tanya Smith and attempted murder of Misty Cockerill. He was declared a dangerous offender and sentenced to life in prison by Judge Wally Oppal.

Driver appealed the conviction, but the appeal was dismissed in 2001. In a subsequent trial, Driver was also convicted of two additional assaults he had referenced in the note he threw through a stranger’s window.

In 2006, Driver was transferred from protective custody at Kent Institution to the Pacific Institution/Regional Treatment Centre in Abbotsford for psychiatric treatment, a move that drew criticism toward Corrections Canada.

Driver remained incarcerated until his death on August 23, 2021. According to the Correctional Service of Canada, he died of natural causes.

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On Jan. 29, 1999, a family friend entered the Reed family's Manassas, Virginia home where he killed 16-year-old Stacie Reed and then raped, stabbed, and choked 14-year-old Kristie Reed, leaving her for dead. Clinging to life, Kristie is about to mouth the name of her killer to police...Paul Warner Powell.

Powell is arrested just hours later. Powell is eventually found guilty and sentenced to life in prison for Stacie's murder.

From prison, Paul Powell writes profane, taunting letters to the family and prosecutor, boasting about the crime...believing he couldn't be re-tried due to the double jeopardy clause. Powell's letters are enough to charge him with capital murder, where a jury again finds him guilty. This time, he's given the death penalty and executed by electric chair in 2010.

Tune in every Tuesday as your hosts, veteran true crime producer (Ed) and true crime super fan (Melissa), dive into the cases that keep you up at night - offering behind-the-scenes insight while breaking down the barrier between fan and creator.

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The 1989 murder of Carol Stuart in Boston was a high-profile crime that captivated national attention and exposed deep racial and social tensions in the city. Carol Stuart, a pregnant white woman, was shot and killed on October 23, 1989, as she and her husband, Charles Stuart, drove through the Mission Hill neighborhood after attending a childbirth class. Charles claimed that an African American man had carjacked them, shot Carol in the head, and wounded him in the stomach. His account triggered a massive police investigation, during which Black men in the area were aggressively stopped and questioned. The case stoked racial divisions and sparked outrage among Boston's Black community.

The investigation took a dramatic turn when police arrested a young Black man, Willie Bennett, based on Charles Stuart's identification of him as the assailant. However, the narrative unraveled in January 1990 when Charles's brother, Matthew Stuart, came forward with shocking revelations implicating Charles in the murder. Matthew admitted to helping Charles dispose of evidence, including the gun and Carol's purse. Investigators soon concluded that Charles had staged the entire attack, likely motivated by financial gain, as he stood to collect a substantial life insurance payout upon Carol's death. When confronted with this evidence, Charles Stuart jumped off the Tobin Bridge in Boston, killing himself. The case left a lasting scar on Boston, highlighting systemic racial bias within the criminal justice system and the media's role in perpetuating stereotypes. The wrongful targeting of the Black community led to widespread criticism of law enforcement practices and a public reckoning with issues of race and inequality.

The murder of Carol Stuart remains a tragic reminder of how prejudice and manipulation can distort justice and devastate communities. Tune in every Tuesday as your hosts, veteran true crime producer (Ed) and true crime super fan (Melissa), dive into the cases that keep you up at night - offering behind-the-scenes insight while breaking down the barrier between fan and creator.

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Ed and Melissa dive into the twisted case of Richard Biegenwald, a man dubbed by the media as "The Jersey Shore Thrill Killer." The serial killer and arsonist murdered six people, four women and two men, in Monmouth County, New Jersey between 1958 and 1983. He is suspected in at least two other murders.

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Jami met Steven Sherer in 1986. He had a prior criminal record for abusing and hospitalizing a previous girlfriend at the time. His file included documented threats, harassment complaints and restraining orders from the same woman. Jami's family and friends noticed an obvious change in her behavior after becoming romantically involved with Steven. They stated that she became withdrawn and dyed her hair blonde at his insistence, along with receiving breast implants. She was also fired from a job at that time due to poor attendance. All signs pointed to an abusive relationship and Jami's loved ones tried to convince her not to marry Steven.

However, they wed in 1987. Their son was born in 1988. By 1987, Steven was convicted of choking and assaulting a police officer in a drunken rage. Steven had been labeled as a habitual offender by the late 1980's, mainly due to a string of theft convictions and traffic violations. Another troubling sign came in the form of Steven's consistent invitations to friends and his advertisements in adult magazines for group sexual activities with himself and his wife. Jami apparently had enough of Steven's abuse by September of 1990. The couple had been arguing for some time when she finally drove to her parents home nearby with their son on September 29, 1990.

Jami told her parents that she intended to leave Steven the following day and planned to move into her parents house. Steven telephoned Jami later that evening and asked her to return to the couple's residence, she refused and informed him she wanted a divorce. According to Jami's mother, Steven did not accept that answer and pleaded with Jami to meet him the following day. She agreed to meet him outside of their home the next morning. Jami phoned her mother shortly after 08:30 AM on September 30, 1990. She left their son in her parents care. She said that Steven grabbed her purse and ran off shortly after meeting him. Jami also said that she figured Steven was en route to the couple's home and she intended to go there to reclaim her purse. Jami called her parents again at approximately 11:45 AM that morning. She said that Steven was at their residence and she was heading back to her parents house after stopping for lunch at Taco Time, a fast food restaurant. Her mother told investigators that Jami did not seem to be distressed at the time of her final phone call. Jami has never been seen nor heard from again.

Jami's 1980 Mazda RX7 was discovered as an abandoned vehicle in a church parking lot in Shoreline, Washington several days after her initial disappearance. Her purse was missing from the car. A suitcase with her clothing was located in the vehicle but her underwear was not included with her belongings.

There was no trace of Jami at the scene. Friends told police that Steven began acting very strangely immediately following Jami's disappearance. He frequented bars after his wife vanished and wore her panties tied around his arm. Steven also wore her necklace around his neck. He told friends the trinkets made him feel "closer to Jami." His sister informed police that she had seen a "large red spot" on the carpet of Steven and Jami's home the week she went missing. Investigators found evidence that the carpet in question had been repeatedly steam cleaned and a new piece of carpet was placed on the floor. Witnesses stated that Steven hired a carpet cleaning service the week Jami disappeared.

Steven was found guilty of first degree murder in June 2000. He was sentenced to 60 years in prison.

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