We're back with our twentieth Leave the Light On episode where we recap the cases we covered in the previous month, discuss true crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in the next month. If we know!

References: 

Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice, “Animals in the Salem Witch Trials”, History of Massachusetts Blog, Feb 20, 2012, https://historyofmassachusetts.org/animals-in-the-salem-witch-trials/, accessed Oct 31, 2025.  

Cavallier, Andrea, “‘The act of someone who was enraged at her’: Medical experts slam newest Ellen Greenberg suicide report”, Independent, Oct 14, 2025,  
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/crime/ellen-greenberg-death-suicide-ruling-b2845361.html, accessed Oct 31, 2025. 

Zelazko, Alicja, “What Was Stolen from the Louvre?” Britannica, October 29th 2025, https://www.britannica.com/art/What-Was-Stolen-from-the-Louvre, Accessed October 31st, 2025 

The Canadian Press, “A timeline of the jewel heist at the Louvre in Paris” Yahoo News, https://ca.news.yahoo.com/timeline-jewel-heist-louvre-paris-132419701.html, Accessed October 31st, 2025  

On October 31st, 1984, Doreen Erbert would return home from taking her 4-year-old daughter Trick or Treating. Her husband Charles would head out to a liquor and shortly after he left, there would be a knock on the door. Doreen would answer the door expecting more Trick or Treaters, but little did she know that whoever was on the other side of the door had ulterior motives. 

Sources: 

Smith, Benjamin, “Man In Wolf Mask Hacks Pregnant Ex-Wife To Death With Machete On Halloween Night’, Oxygen True Crime, October 27th 2019, https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/michael-dennis-kills-ex-wife-doreen-erbert-wolf-mask-halloween, Accessed October 26th, 2025 

Vanapalli, Viswa, “Doreen Erbert Murder: Where is Mike Dennis Now?” The Cinemaholic, October 30, 2021, https://thecinemaholic.com/doreen-erbert-murder-where-is-mike-dennis-now/, Accessed October 26th, 2025  

Vanapalli, Viswa, “Where Are Deanna and Charles Erbert Now?”, The Cinemaholic, October 30, 2021, https://thecinemaholic.com/where-are-deanna-and-charles-erbert-now/, Accessed October 26th, 2025 

Sederstrom, Jill, “Pregnant Mom Killed With Machete After Answering Door on Halloween Night”, Oxygen True Crime, October 17th, 2023, https://www.oxygen.com/homicide-for-the-holidays/crime-news/doreen-ebert-murder-daughter-william-michael-dennis-san-jose, Accessed October 26th, 2025 

“Doreen Erbert: A Halloween Slaying in San Jose” National Crime Scene Cleanup, September 18, 2023, https://www.crimescenecleanup.com/doreen-erberts-murder/, Accessed October 26th, 2025  

This week we are covering the Salem Witch Trials. In the spring of 1692, several girls in Salem Village began experiencing “fits” and were diagnosed with “bewitchment”. This led to the real-life witch hunt to find the people responsible for afflicting the young girls. Over several months, more young women and girls began exhibiting similar symptoms and having similar fits. Between 1692 and 1693, over 200 people were accused of witchcraft, between 140 and 150 people were arrested, and 20 people were executed. 

Sources: 

“The Salem Witch Trials Memorial”, SalemWitchMuseum.com, https://salemwitchmuseum.com/locations/witch-trials-memorial/, accessed Oct 19, 2025. 

Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice, “Gallows Hill in Salem, Massachusetts”, History of Massachusetts Blog, Oct 20, 2012, https://historyofmassachusetts.org/where-is-the-real-gallows-hill/, accessed Oct 19, 2025. 

History.com Editors, “Salem Witch Trials”, History.com, Nov 4, 2011, https://www.history.com/articles/salem-witch-trials, accessed Oct 19, 2025.  

Wallenfeldt, Jeff, “The Trials”, Britannica.com, July 20, 1998, https://www.britannica.com/event/Salem-witch-trials/The-trials, accessed Oct 19, 2025. 

Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice, “The Salem Witch Trials Victims: Who Were They?”, History of Massachusetts Blog, Aug 19, 2015, https://historyofmassachusetts.org/salem-witch-trials-victims/, accessed Oct 19, 2025. 

Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice, “The Witchcraft Trial of Giles Corey”, History of Massachusetts Blog, Oct 12, 2011, https://historyofmassachusetts.org/the-curse-of-giles-corey/, accessed Oct 19, 2025. 

Brooks, Rebecca Beatrice, “The Witchcraft Trial of Sarah Good”, History of Massachusetts Blog, Oct 20, 2011, https://historyofmassachusetts.org/sarah-good-accused-witch/, accessed Oct 19, 2025. 

On November 15th 2006 Abraham Shakespeare would purchase 2 lottery tickets with one of them netting him 30 million dollars. With life as he knew it now flipped upside down, Abraham would be very generous with his winnings which would lead him to form a relationship that would eventually lead to his death.  

Sources: 

Dziemianowicz, Joe, “‘Calculating' Florida Woman Manipulated, Then Killed Generous Lottery Millionaire” Oxygen True Crime, Feb 18, 2023, https://www.oxygen.com/floribama-murders/crime-news/lottery-winner-abraham-shakespeare-shot-dead-by-dee-dee-moore, Accessed October 13th 2025 

Mitra, Shraman, “Abraham Shakespeare Murder: How Did He Die? Who Killed Him?” The Cinemaholic, January 19, 2023, https://thecinemaholic.com/abraham-shakespeare-murder-how-did-he-die-who-killed-him/, Accessed October 13th 2025 

“Dorice Donegan Moore”, Murderpedia, https://murderpedia.org/female.M/m/moore-dorice.htm, Accessed October 13th 2025 

Shrestha, Naman, “Abraham Shakespeare Murder Details and Investigation Timeline” Moviedelic, April 18, 2025, https://moviedelic.com/abraham-shakespeare/, Accessed October 13th 2025  

 In July of 2012, a routine inspection of the Saint-Louis-De-Blandford strategic maple syrup reserve in Quebec, Canada was being conducted. During the inspection, it was found that some of the barrels that should have been filled with sticky, sweet, maple syrup were empty and other barrels had been refilled with water. Upon further investigation it was discovered that over months, thieves had been stealing millions of dollars' worth of maple syrup. The crime later became known as the Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist. 

Sources: 

Waxman, Olivia B., “What to Know About the Real Canadian Maple Syrup Heist That Inspired The Sticky”, Time, Dec 6, 2024, https://time.com/7200222/maple-syrup-heist-the-sticky-amazon/, accessed Oct 3, 2025. 

Noakes, Taylor C., “Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist”, The Canadian Encyclopedia, Mar 28, 2022, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/great-canadian-maple-syrup-heist, accessed Oct 3, 2025. 

Lyon, Rivy, “ The Great Maple Syrup Heist: How A Ragtag Group Of Thieves In Canada Stole $18 Million Worth Of Maple Syrup”, AllThatsInteresting.com, July 2, 2025, https://allthatsinteresting.com/great-canadian-maple-syrup-heist, accessed Oct 3, 2025. 

Tisdale, Jennifer, “Richard Vallières Was Behind the 2012 Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist — Where Is He Now?”, Distractify, Dec 5, 2024, https://www.distractify.com/p/richard-vallieres-now, accessed Oct 3, 2025. 

“Great Canadian Maple Syrup Heist”, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Canadian_Maple_Syrup_Heist, accessed Oct 3, 2025. 

"The Maple Syrup Heist." Dirty Money, directed by Brian McGinn, season 1, episode 5, Jigsaw Productions, 2018, Netflix, www.netflix.com/watch/80118100 

On May 28th, 1998 in his Los Angeles home, Comedian Phil Hartman would be gunned down in his bed while he slept. Phil was known for his work on the very popular Saturday Night Live and the Simpson shows.  

References:  

Kuroski, John, “How Did Phil Hartman Die? Inside His Murder At The Hands Of His Wife”, All Thats Interesting, February 4,2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/phil-hartman-death, Accessed September 28th, 2025 

Eidell, Lynsey, “How Did Phil Hartman Die? What to Know About the Beloved Comedian's Shocking Murder in 1998”, People, Updated May 28th 2025, https://people.com/phil-hartman-death-what-to-know-8654461, Accessed September 28th, 2025 

“Phil Hartman”. Biographs, https://biographs.org/phil-hartman, Accessed September 28th, 2025  

We're back with our nineteenth Leave the Light On episode where we recap the cases we covered in the previous month, discuss crime headlines from the month, and give you a sneak peek at what is coming up in the next month. If we know!

References:

The Associated Press, “New York judge tosses terrorism charges against Luigi Mangione, lets murder count stand”, CBC, Sept 16, 2025, https://www.cbc.ca/news/judge-dismisses-terrorism-charges-against-luigi-mangione-1.7634970, accessed Sept 26, 2025.

Betz, Bradford; Rumpf-Whitten, Sarah, “Chilling video shows moments before Ukrainian refugee stabbed to death on Charlotte light rail”, Fox News, Sept 8, 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/us/chilling-video-shows-moments-before-ukrainian-refugee-stabbed-death-charlotte-light-rail?msockid=0d8801d76c916818274f140b6d25699a, accessed Sept 26, 2025.

Lomis, Connor, “Man stabs woman in throat on Charlotte light rail minutes after she sits down, records say”, WBTV, Aug 28, 2025, https://www.wbtv.com/2025/08/28/man-stabs-woman-throat-charlotte-light-rail-minutes-after-she-sits-down-records-say/, accessed Sept 26, 2025.

Yan, Holly; Smart, Sara; Gallagher, Dianne; Winter, Jeff; Blackman, Mia; Sottile, Zoe, “Video shows fatal stabbing of Ukrainian refugee on Charlotte light rail — stirring debate on crime in major US cities”, CNN, Sept 8, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/08/us/iryna-zarutska-murder-ukraine-refugee, accessed Sept 26, 2025.

Sabes, Adam, Price, Stephany, Bonavita, Julia, “Charlie Kirk assassination: Timeline of Utah campus shooting details attack, manhunt for suspect”, Fox News, Sept 12th, 2025, https://www.foxnews.com/us/charlie-kirk-assassination-timeline-utah-campus-shooting-details-attack-manhunt-suspect, Accessed Sept 27, 2025

Scott, Katie, “Remains found confirmed to be Travis Decker, accused of killing 3 daughters”, Global News, Sept 26, 2025, https://globalnews.ca/news/11452240/travis-decker-dead-remains-identified/, Accessed Sept 27, 2025

Slifer, Stephanie, “Bullet casing in drain at Texas yogurt shop links serial killer to the infamous murders, says original investigator” CBS News, Sept 26, 2025, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/suspect-identified-in-infamous-texas-yogurt-shop-murder-case-48-hours/, Accessed Sept 27, 2025

Joan Robinson was a Houston socialite who had been adopted by an oil tycoon and his wife when Joan was just a baby. She grew up and married plastic surgeon John Hill, however when Joan became incredibly ill and passed away on March 19, 1969, some speculated that John could have been involved. But in another twist, John Hill himself was gunned down on Sept 24, 1972, prior to being able to stand trial for Joan’s death. This also left many speculating that John’s death could have been revenge for Joan’s death...   

Sources: 

SI Staff, “JOAN ROBINSON HILL AND BELOVED BELINDA”, Sports Illustrated Vault, June 29, 1959, https://vault.si.com/vault/1959/06/29/joan-robinson-hill-and-beloved-belinda, accessed Sept 14, 2025.  

Grey, Orrin, “Murder in Texas: The Strange Death of Joan Robinson Hill”, TheLineUp.com, Jan 25, 2024,  https://the-line-up.com/murder-in-texas-the-strange-death-of-joan-robinson-hill, accessed Sept 19, 2025. 

Neumann, Sean, “A Texas Socialite Died Mysteriously. Did Her Powerful Father Take Justice into His Own Hands?”, People, Feb 22, 2025, https://people.com/joan-robinson-hill-texas-socialite-died-mysteriously-11683595, accessed Sept 19, 2025. 

Goddard, Glenda, “Joan Robinson Hill and Her Bad Marriage to Dr. John Hill”, Hub Pages, Oct 31, 2023,  https://discover.hubpages.com/entertainment/Prescription-Murder-The-Tragic-Story-of-a-Murder-in-Texas, accessed Sept 19, 2025. 

In the summer of 1996 in Idaho Falls, 18 year old Angie Dodge was ready to conquer the world. After getting permission from her mom, Angie got her own apartment. But just 3 weeks after moving into her apartment Angie would be a no show for her shift at work. Concerned, one of her work friends went to check on Angie and there she would make a horrifying discovery. 

Sources: 

Mitra, Shraman, “Angie Dodge Murder: How Did She Die? Who Killed Her?”, The Cinemaholic, February 22, 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/angie-dodge-murder-how-did-she-die-who-killed-her/, Accessed September 14th 2025 

Green, Anne-Marie, “How a discarded cigarette led to an arrest in Idaho teen Angie Dodge's cold case murder”, CBS News, September 4,2024, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/angie-dodge-murder-how-a-discarded-cigarette-led-to-an-arrest-in-idaho-falls-teens-cold-case/, Accessed September 14th 2025 

Sederstrom, Jill, “Idaho Mom Helps Free Man Convicted of Murdering Her Daughter, Convinced He Wasn't the Real Killer”, Oxygen True Crime, Feb 27, 2025, https://www.oxygen.com/dateline-unforgettable/crime-news/brian-dripps-killed-angie-dodge-chris-tapp-exonerated, Accessed September 14th 2025 

https://www.angiedodge.com/tribute/  Accessed September 14th 2025  

On Feb 2, 2008, 24-year-old real estate agent Lindsay Buziak met some prospective clients at a home for a private showing. Lindsay had an uneasy feeling about this showing, so she had asked her boyfriend to wait in his car outside while she did the showing. Unfortunately, Lindsay’s boyfriend was late arriving to the showing and when he did get there, things seemed off and he went into the home to check on Lindsay, only to make a gruesome discovery.  

If you have any information about Lindsay’s case, you can contact the Saanich Police Department either through their website saanichpolice.ca or their non-emergency line at 250-475-4321 or if you wish to stay anonymous, you can contact BC Crime Stoppers either through their website BCCrimeStoppers.com or by phone 1(800)222-8477 

Sources: 

“Lindsay Buziak”, Times Colonist, https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/timescolonist/name/lindsay-buziak-obituary?id=41207246, accessed Sept 4, 2025. 

Sederstrom , Jill,  “Mystery Surrounds Murder Of Canadian Real Estate Agent, Who Was Killed After Client Meeting”, Oxygen True Crime, Nov 2, 2022, https://www.oxygen.com/dateline-secrets-uncovered/crime-news/who-killed-canadian-real-estate-agent-lindsay-buziak, accessed Sept 4, 2025. 

Harvey , Austin, Who Killed Lindsay Buziak? Inside The Grisly Murder Of A Canadian Real Estate Agent, AllThatsInteresting.com, Mar 19, 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/lindsay-buziak, accessed Sept 4, 2025. 

“Who killed Lindsay Buziak? Realtor's murder believed to be targeted hit”, True Crime News, June 9, 2017, https://truecrimenews.com/2017/06/09/who-killed-lindsay-buziak-realtors-murder-believed-to-be-targeted-hit/, accessed Sept 4, 2025. 

CBC News, “Tech advancements create new leads in cold-case murder of B.C. real estate agent”, CBC, Feb 1, 2021, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/lindsay-buziak-murder-saanich-police-investigating-new-leads-fbi-1.5895942, accessed Sept 4, 2025. 

Laurin, Olivier, “Saanich father leads 15th march in memory of slain daughter Lindsay Buziak”, Saanich News, Feb 2, 2025, https://www.saanichnews.com/local-news/saanich-father-leads-15th-march-in-memory-of-slain-daughter-lindsay-buziak-7796685, accessed Sept 4, 2025.