Oregon and Washington are among the top 10 most dangerous states in the U.S. That’s the headline. But the story behind it is even darker.

In this week’s Same Crime, Different Time, we look beyond the numbers to ask:

* Why did the Pacific Northwest see such a high concentration of serial killers in the ’70s and ’80s?

* Did pollution from smelters poison a generation, as Caroline Fraser argues in Murderland?

* How did California’s highways and hitchhiking culture create opportunities for predators like the Zodiac, the Golden State Killer, and the Hillside Stranglers?

* And what toxins—social, cultural, or chemical—are we still breathing in today?

🎧 Listen to the full episode above

#TrueCrime #PacificNorthwest #CaliforniaCrime #Podcast #Murderland

Sources

* “Pacific Northwest States Oregon and Washington Among Top 10 Most Dangerous in U.S.” — 610 KONA News, Aug. 2025.

* Caroline Fraser, Murderland: The Toxic Legacy of the Pacific Northwest’s Serial Killer Era (2025).

* Washington Post, “Review: Murderland by Caroline Fraser,” June 2025.

* Seattle Times, “Women Missing Along the Green River—Police Puzzled,” Aug. 1982.

* Oregon Journal, “Police Say Runaways Likely To Return Home Soon,” 1974.

* San Francisco Chronicle, multiple issues, 1969–1971 (coverage of Zodiac killings).

* Los Angeles Times, coverage of the Hillside Stranglers and William Bonin, 1970s–80s.

* Serial Killer Statistics by State, SerialKillersInfo.com.

* Case files and FBI archives on Gary Ridgway, Jerry Brudos, and Randall Woodfield.

This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jbchambers.substack.com/subscribe