Eleven years before the brutal murder of Jean McPhaul in Bossier City, Louisiana, Edna Terry Macdonald was killed in Barrington, Rhode Island. After the arrest of Mike DeBardeleben, Bossier City investigators began to notice chilling similarities between the two crimes. The cases were nearly identical. From the victims’ professions and victimology to the offender’s MO and the manner of death, this couldn’t be a coincidence.

This week, we dive into another murder that DeBardeleben was ultimately indicted for but was never brought to trial. We walk through the timeline of Edna Terry Macdonald’s last known movements, the crime and investigation, and the striking parallels between her case, Jean McPhaul’s, and Dorothy Miller’s.

Purchase Stephen Michaud’s book “Beyond Cruel” - https://books.apple.com/us/book/beyond-cruel/id6503722963

SOURCES:

• Michaud, Stephen, Beyond Cruel: The Chilling True Story of America’s Most Sadistic Killer, May 1994, St. Martin’s Paperbacks
• Woman’s body roped, May 2, 1971, The Democrat and Chronicle 
• Ex-Island legislator’s wife slain, May 2, 1971, Staten Island Advance
• Find murder victim’s car, May 3, 1971, Staten Island Advance
• Customer suspect, Seek real estate agent’s killer, May 2, 1971, Syracuse Herald Journal
• R.I. slaying suspect sentenced 100 years, August 3, 1984, The Boston Globe
• Accused of killings, torture, ‘Sadomasochist’ draws 100-year term, August 3, 1984, The Morning Union
• Sentencing due for poison ‘lifer’, May 4, 1985, The Morning Union

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Theme Song: Shrouded Lament by james.lfo, William Claeson