Never Light Up A Room Podcast

On January 26, 2011, Sam Goldberg found his fiancé, Ellen Greenberg stabbed to death in the couple's apartment. Ellen’s death was initially ruled a homicide but that was later changed to rule her death a suicide. Ellen’s family does not believe that she took her own life and instead believes that she was murdered. Join us as we discuss the evidence for both theories and provide an update on where this case is today, in April of 2025. 

Sources: 

“Case Files for Missing and Endangered”, Crime Timeline, https://crimetimelines.com/ellen-greenberg/, accessed March 16, 2025.  

Lyon , Rivy, “Ellen Greenberg Was Stabbed 20 Times In The Back And Chest — But Police Ruled Her Death A Suicide”, All That’s Interesting, Dec 22, 2023, https://allthatsinteresting.com/ellen-greenberg, accessed March 16, 2025.  

White, Nic, “Ellen Greenberg's fiancé breaks his silence 13 years after her death was ruled a suicide despite 20 stab wounds”, The Daily Mail UK, Dec 7, 2024, https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-14168759/Ellen-Greenbergs-fiance-breaks-silence-death-ruled-suicide-20-stab-wounds-Philadelphia.html, accessed Mar 24, 2025.  

Stevenson, Thomas, “Former fiancé of woman found dead with 20 stab wounds in 2011 insists it was suicide after then-AG Josh Shapiro refused to prosecute”, The Post Millennial, Dec 7, 2024, https://thepostmillennial.com/former-fiance-of-woman-found-dead-with-20-stab-wounds-in-2011-insists-it-was-suicide-after-then-ag-josh-shapiro-refused-to-prosecute, accessed Mar 30, 2025.  

“Ellen Greenberg”, Sippindale Foundation, https://sippindalefoundation.com/case/ellen-greenberg/, accessed Mar 30, 2025.  

“Dr. Cyril Wecht, celebrity pathologist who argued more than 1 shooter killed JFK, dies at 93”, AP News, May 13, 2024, https://apnews.com/article/cyril-wecht-pathologist-jfk-dead-80ddc0a642cb4eb39dc763400e330a38, accessed March 30, 2025.  

Roppolo, Michael, “Authorities say the cause of a Philadelphia teacher's death was suicide, but her parents say it was murder”, CBS News, Mar 11, 2020, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/philadelphia-teacher-death-suicide-ellen-greenberg-parents-say-murder-48-hours/, accessed Mar 30, 2025. 

On July 15th 1976 3 gunmen would hijack a school bus that was carrying 26 kids from the ages of 5-14. The gunmen would go to hold the children and bus driver captive for over 24 hours. Tune in to hear the incredible story of what unfolded and the act of heroism.

Sources  

Ritzen, Young, Chris, “Remembering the Chowchilla kidnapping: A never-before-seen interview with a survivor”, CBS News, March 17 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chowchilla-bus-kidnapping-survivor-never-before-seen-interview/?utm_source=chatgpt.com, Accessed March 30 2025 

CBS News, “ Chowchilla bus kidnapping: Rare photos from one of the largest abductions in U.S. history”, CBS News, March 17th 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/chowchilla-bus-kidnapping-frederick-woods-rare-photos-from-one-of-the-largest-kidnappings-in-u-s-history/?utm_source=chatgpt.com, Accessed March 30th 2025 

 Begnaud, David, “Chowchilla bus kidnapping survivor's lifelong fight to keep her captors behind bars”, CBS News, March 18 2023, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chowchilla-bus-kidnapping-jodi-heffington-survivor-lifelong-fight-to-keep-captors-behind-bars/?utm_source=chatgpt.com, Accessed March 30th 2025 

Yan,Holly, “26 kids were buried alive in California. A new CNN Film shows how one plotted their escape – and what happened years later”, CNN, Updated December 2 2023, https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/02/us/chowchilla-kidnapping-escape-cnn-film/index.html, Accessed March 30th 2025  

We’re back with our Thirteenth 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: 

Speakman, Kimberlee, “Ghost Adventures Star Aaron Goodwin's Wife Arrested After Allegedly Plotting to Have Him Killed: Report” People, Published March 11, 2025, https://people.com/ghost-adventures-star-aaron-goodwin-wife-arrested-conspiracy-commit-murder-11694554, Accessed March 28 2025  

del Valle, Lauren , Casarez, Jean and Tucker, Emma, “Newly released texts and 911 call transcript from surviving roommates of Idaho murders reveal panic and terror”, CNN, Mar 7, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/03/06/us/idaho-student-killings-911-call-transcript/index.html, accessed Mar 28, 2025. 

Schroeder, Joe, “Delphi murders: Full ‘Bridge Guy’ video releases on website supporting Richard Allen”, Fox59, Mar 12, 2025, https://fox59.com/delphi-trial/delphi-murders-full-bridge-guy-video-leaks-on-richard-allen-innocence-website/, accessed Mar 28, 2025. 

Trethan, Phaedra, “Karen Read's second murder trial is about to get underway: What to know”, USA Today, 03/25/2025, https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/karen-reads-second-murder-trial-is-about-to-get-underway-what-to-know/ar-AA1BDgTc?ocid=BingNewsSerp, accessed Mar 28, 2025.  

Renner, James, “Fingerprints Found in Maura Murray’s Car Match Troubled West Point Cadet”, Maura Murray Mystery, March 17,2025, https://mauramurraymystery.com/fingerprints-found-in-maura-murrays-car-match-troubled-west-point-cadet/?utm_source=chatgpt.com, Accessed Mar 28th 2025 

This week we are looking at the psychology behind why a person would confess to a crime that they never committed. We discuss the categories of false confessions including voluntary, persuaded or internalized, and compliant false confessions. We also discuss examples of cases where someone has falsely confessed including the JonBenet Ramsey case, the murder of Hartmut Hagan, the Satanic abuse case against Paul Igram, the West Memphis 3 case and the Central Park 5.  

Sources: 

Johnson, Ruth, “The Psychology of False Confessions”, Psychology Today, Sept 8, 2020, https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/so-sue-me/202009/the-psychology-false-confessions, accessed Mar 21, 2025. 

Soury, Lonnie, “West Memphis 3”, FalseConfessions.org, Jan 5, 2010, https://falseconfessions.org/fc_cases/west-memphis-3/, accessed Mar 21, 2025. 

Anglis, Jaclyn, “The Story Of John Mark Karr And The JonBenét Ramsey Case”, All That’s Interesting, Oct 21, 2024, https://allthatsinteresting.com/john-mark-karr, accessed Mar 21, 2025.  

“Gunther Kaufmann”, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/G%C3%BCnther_Kaufmann, accessed Mar 21, 2025. 

“Thurston County Ritual Abuse Case”, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thurston_County_ritual_abuse_case, accessed Mar 21, 2025. 

“Central Park Five: The true story behind When They See Us”, BBC, June 12, 2019, https://www.bbc.com/news/newsbeat-48609693, accessed Marc 21, 2024. 

Nesterak, Evan, “Coerced to Confess: The Psychology of False Confessions”, Behavioural Scientist, Oct 21, 2014, https://behavioralscientist.org/coerced-to-confess-the-psychology-of-false-confessions/, accessed Mar 21, 2025.  

On March 17th 1990 14 year old Rachel Hurley was out boating with her friends at the Jupiter Inlet in Florida. With her Mom waiting in the parking lot just over a mile away, Rachel leaves her friends at the washroom to make sure she wasn't late. Unfortunately that would be the last time she would be seen alive. Tune in this week to find out Rachel's story.

Sources  

Julius Whigham II, “Who killed 14-year-old Rachel Hurley? Search in Palm Beach County cold case enters 31st year today”, Palm Beach Post, March 17, 2021, https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/news/crime/2021/03/17/who-killed-14-year-old-rachel-hurley-search-enters-31st-year-today/4729835001/, Accessed March 16th 2025 

Lena Salzbank, “Who killed Rachel Hurley? The Jupiter teen's death remains cold 32 years later”, CBS 12 News, Published March 17th 2022,  https://cbs12.com/news/local/jupiter-inlet-march-17-1990-carlin-park-who-killed-rachel-hurley-the-jupiter-teens-death-remains-cold-32-years-later-palm-beach-county-sheriffs-office, Accessed March 16th 2025 

True Crime Diva, “The 1990 Unsolved Murder of Rachel Hurley”, True Crime Diva, Published July 15th 2018, https://truecrimediva.com/the-1990-unsolved-murder-of-rachel-hurley/, Accessed March 16th 2025 

Andrea Cavallier, “Loved ones still fighting for justice 31 years after St. Patrick's Day murder of Rachel Hurley”, NBC News, Published March 20th 2021, https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/loved-ones-still-fighting-justice-31-years-after-st-patrick-n1261667, Accessed March 16th 2025 

Jupiter Inlet, Marinas Blog, https://marinas.com/view/inlet/d7iqd_Jupiter_Inlet_Jupiter_FL_United_States, Accessed March 16th 2025  

Maverick1862, “Rachel Karin Hurley”, Find a Grave, August 16 2005, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/11544223/rachel-karin-hurley, Accessed March 16th 2025  

On Dec 6, 1989, Marc Lepine carried out a targeted attack on women at the Ecole Polytechnique engineering school in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The rampage resulted in 14 women losing their lives and 14 other people being wounded, while countless others were forever traumatized. This was the largest mass shooting in Canada until 2020. 

Sources: 

Humphreys, Adrian, “Montreal massacre: 19 minutes at École Polytechnique”, National Post, Nov 28, 2024, https://nationalpost.com/feature/montreal-massacre-ecole-polytechnique, accessed Mar 3, 2025. 

“Montreal Massacre victims”, CBC News, Dec 6, 2009, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montreal/montreal-massacre-victims-1.797455, accessed Mar 3, 2025 

Enright, Michael, “This is how one survivor described the Montreal Massacre the day after the shooting”, As It Happens CBC Radio, Dec 6, 2017, https://www.cbc.ca/radio/asithappens/as-it-happens-wednesday-edition-1.4435607/this-is-how-one-survivor-described-the-montreal-massacre-the-day-after-the-shooting-1.4435613, accessed Mar 5, 2025.  

Dalton, Melinda, “Remember the 14”, CBC News, https://www.cbc.ca/montreal/features/remember-14/, accessed March 5, 2025. 

“Marc Lepine”, Wikipedia,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marc_L%C3%A9pine, accessed March 8, 2025. 

The Canadian Encyclopedia, “Gun Control in Canada”, The Canadian Encyclopedia, Feb 7, 2006, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/gun-control, accessed March 8, 2025. 

Lanthier, Stéphanie, “École Polytechnique Tragedy (Montreal Massacre)”, The Canadian Encyclopedia, Jan 5, 2012, https://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.ca/en/article/polytechnique-tragedy, accessed Mar 9, 2025. 

On February 24th 1986 29 year old Sherri Rasmussen would be found dead in her home by her husband John Ruetten. Sherri would have 3 bullet wounds to her chest as well as a bite in her arm. Police initially ruled it as a home invasion gone wrong. Would that be what happened? Or is it something more sinister?  

Sources  

Doc Louallen, “Former LAPD detective who murdered her ex-lover's wife, hid crime for decades remains behind bars”, ABC News, October 4th 2024, https://abcnews.go.com/US/former-lapd-detective-murdered-lovers-wife-hid-crime/story?id=113955531, Accessed March 2, 2025 

Naman Shrestha, “Sherri Rasmussen: How Did She Die? Who Killed Her?”, The Cinemaholic, October 4th 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/sherri-rasmussen/, Accessed March 2, 2025  

Kriti Mehrotra, “John Ruetten: Where is Sherri Rasmussen’s Husband Now?”, The Cinemaholic, October 4th 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/john-ruetten/, Accessed March 2, 2025  

Kriti Mehrotra, “Stephanie Lazarus: Where is the Killer Now?”, The Cinemaholic, October 4th 2024, https://thecinemaholic.com/stephanie-lazarus/, Accessed March 2, 2025  

Jessica OConnor, “How Sherri Rasmussen’s Murder Went Unsolved For Decades — Until An LAPD Detective Was Convicted”, All thats interesting, July 10th 2022, https://allthatsinteresting.com/sherri-rasmussen, Accessed March 2, 2025  

“Once Bitten” People Magazine Investigates, Directed Stephen Schuster, Season 2 Episode 5, Radley Studios, December 4, 2017

We’re back with our twelfth 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: 

Lake, Thomas, “Despite 20 knife wounds and 11 bruises, Ellen Greenberg’s death was ruled a suicide. The pathologist just changed his mind”, CNN, Feb 3, 2025, https://www.cnn.com/2025/02/03/us/ellen-greenberg-philadelphia-case-update-cec/index.html, accessed Feb 26, 2025.  

Charlotte Foster, “Jack the Ripper’s identity revealed after 137 years”, Readers Digest, https://www.readersdigest.com.au/true-stories-lifestyle/jack-the-rippers-identity-revealed-after-137-years , Accessed Feb 27,2025  

On March 19, 1960, James Kinne was allegedly shot and killed by his 2-year-old daughter who had been playing with James .22 pistol and accidentally fired the gun, killing her father. Within a month, James’ widow, Sharon Kinne, was involved in an affair with Walter Jones, who was married to Patricia Jones. When Sharon asked Walter to leave his wife Patricia, Walter refused. Mysteriously, Walter’s wife, Patricia, was murdered days later. Sharon was arrested for Patricia’s murder and prosecutors also suspected that Sharon was responsible for her husband, James Kinnes, death as well. Sharon was put on trial but acquitted of Patricia’s murder. When it came to the trial for James’ murder, there were a series of mistrials. While Sharon was out on bail, awaiting a fourth trial for James’ death, Sharon went to Mexico, where she killed Francisco Ordonez. Sharon was arrested in Mexico and found guilty of murdering Francisco and sentenced to sever 13 years in prison. 5 years into her sentence, Sharon escaped prison and was on the run for over 50 years. In December of 2023, an anonymous tip came in claiming that Sharon had been living in the rural Canadian town of Taber, Alberta.  

Sources: 

Graveland, Bill, “American killer and fugitive lived for 50 years under a new name in an Alberta town”, Global News, Jan 31, 2025, https://globalnews.ca/news/10991664/american-killer-fugitive-alberta/, accessed Feb 13, 2025.    

Grant, Meghan, “Needlepoint and banana bread: Murderous American fugitive who hid in Alberta for decades remembered by friends”, CBC News, Feb 1, 2025, https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/sharon-kinne-dee-glabus-taber-alberta-missouri-kansas-city-mexico-murder-fugitive-1.7447811, accessed Feb 20, 2025.   

Graveland, Bill, “’Her traumatic legacy’: American killer and fugitive lived 50 years in Alberta town”, Calgary Herald, Jan 31, 2025, https://calgaryherald.com/news/local-news/her-traumatic-legacy-american-killer-and-fugitive-lived-50-years-in-alberta-town, accessed Feb 20, 2025.  

“Sharon Kinne”, Wikipedia,  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sharon_Kinne, accessed Feb 20, 2025.   

“Discover Taber”, Town of Taber, https://www.taber.ca/discover-taber, accessed Feb 21, 2025. 

On February 14th 2010 Richard Schoeck was to meet his wife Stacey Schoeck at Belton Bridge Park in Hall County Georgia for some adult activities. While they both took separate vehicles, when Stacey arrived at the park, she would find Richard dead beside his truck with multiple bullet holes. Join us this week in discovering what happened to Richard Schoeck on Valentines Day. 

Sources:

Viswa Vanapalli, “Where is Stacey Schoeck Now?" The Cinemaholic, Published Nov 13, 2021, https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-stacey-schoeck-now/, Accessed February 16th 2025 

Jill Sederstrom, “A Valentine's Day Rendezvous Turns Deadly For Georgia Dad — Who Wanted Him Dead?”, Oxygen True Crime, Published Jun 15, 2022, https://www.oxygen.com/dateline-secrets-uncovered/crime-news/stacey-schoeck-arranges-murder-of-husband-richard-schoeck, Accessed February 16th 2025  

Stephen Gurr, “Family is hopeful for solution to murder”, Gainesville Times, Published Mar 20, 2010, https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/family-is-hopeful-for-solution-to-murder/, Accessed February 16th 2025  

DogMama08, “Memorial Page for Richard Kevin Schoeck, Find a Grave, Published Oct 11 2013, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/118517372/richard_kevin-schoeck, Accessed February 16th 2025  

Stephen Gurr, “Wife, 2 others charged in Belton Bridge Park murder”, Gainsville Times, Published May 25, 2010, https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/wife-2-others-charged-in-belton-bridge-park-murder/, Accessed February 16th 2025 

"Stacey Schoeck”, Snapped, Created by Jupiter Entertainment, Season 19 Episode 10, Oh! Oxygen, 2017 

“Romantic Rendevous ends in murder of fifth husband”, True Crime News, Created by True Crime News, 2020