On August 4, 1892, the quiet town of Fall River, Massachusetts, was rocked by a gruesome double murder. Andrew Borden and his wife, Abby, were found brutally hacked to death in their own home. But the most shocking twist? The prime suspect was none other than Andrew’s own daughter, 32-year-old Lizzie Borden.

The crime and trial became one of the most infamous cases in American history, sparking a media frenzy that still captivates true crime fans today. But was Lizzie truly guilty, or was she wrongfully accused?

In this episode, we set the stage for our deep dive into the Lizzie Borden case. We’ll explore the crime scene, the initial investigation, and the immediate fallout that left a community in shock. Over the next few episodes, we’ll uncover who Lizzie Borden really was, what happened inside that house on that fateful day, and whether she got away with murder.

 

Tune in and join us as we unravel one of history’s most chilling true crime mysteries.

🎙️ Subscribe now and don’t miss an episode! 🔍Join us on Patreon for bonus content and details you won’t hear anywhere else. 💬 Have a theory? Drop us a comment or email—we’d love to hear your thoughts!

 

#TrueCrime #LizzieBorden #UnsolvedMysteries #History #Podcast

 

Sources:

https://youtu.be/e-vMDJ46zVQ?feature=shared

https://www.grunge.com/69553/untold-truth-lizzie-borden/ 

https://www.wickedlocal.com/story/archive/2013/08/02/timeline-lives-lizzie-emma-abby/38186480007/ 

https://famous-trials.com/lizzieborden/1449-bowentestimony 

https://lizzieandrewborden.com/LBForum/viewtopic.php?t=844 

https://lizzieandrewborden.com/ 

https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/law-magazines/lizzie-borden-trial-1893 

The Trial of Lizzie Borden, Cara Robertson, Simon & Schuster, 2019 

“Narrow Cell Holds Lizzie Borden in Taunton Jail,” The Boston Globe, August 13, 1892

 

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The name "Marcia Clark" has become synonymous with the infamous O.J. Simpson trial. As lead prosecutor in that high-profile case, Clark faced intense scrutiny, not only for her legal strategy but also for her appearance. Now, she's back with a compelling new book that dives into another sensationalized case: Trial by Ambush: Murder, Injustice, and the Truth about the Case of Barbara Graham.

In this episode, Marcia Clark joins me to discuss the shocking 1950s capital murder trial of Barbara Graham. Accused of participating in a brutal home invasion robbery that ended in the victim's murder, Barbara's trial became a media circus. Dubbed "Bloody Babs," her beauty was weaponized against her, as the prosecution warned the jury not to fall for her "feminine wiles." But was Barbara Graham truly a cold-blooded killer, or was she an unfortunate woman caught in the wrong circumstances?

Marcia Clark brings her extensive legal experience to this fascinating conversation, offering insights into how media sensationalism can distort public perception and impact justice. Don't miss this deep dive into one of the most controversial cases of the 20th century.

Guest Bio: Marcia Clark is a renowned attorney, author, and public speaker best known for her role as lead prosecutor in the O.J. Simpson trial. Since then, she has become a best-selling crime novelist and legal commentator. Her latest book, Trial by Ambush, explores the injustices in sensationalized trials and reveals new insights into the Barbara Graham case.

Links & Resources:

• Marcia Clark's Book: Trial by Ambush and her other books and novels can be found here: https://marciaclarkbooks.com/
• Follow Marcia Clark on | Instagram and Facebook 

Tune In: Don’t miss this powerful episode as Marcia Clark unravels the truth behind the headlines and shares her firsthand experience in navigating high-profile trials

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Women’s History Month: Honoring True Crime Trailblazers

March is Women’s History Month, and we’re spotlighting the female trailblazers who revolutionized true crime. These women—authors, investigators, prosecutors, researchers, and victims’ advocates—played pivotal roles in shaping the genre, uncovering the criminal mind, aiding victims, and helping bring criminals to justice.

In this episode, we explore the stories of three remarkable women whose work has left a lasting impact on true crime. Join me as we explore the stories of three extraordinary women who left an indelible mark on true crime. You won’t want to miss this!🎙️🔎

Listen to the Once Upon episode on Diane Downs here: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep38-monstrous-moms-and-dastardly-dads-diane-downs/

Listen to the David and Cinnamon Brown case here: 

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s8-ep298-a-family-affair-david-and-cinnamon-brown/

Sources:

https://www.novelsuspects.com/articles/ann-rule/

https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-ann-rule-dies-20150727-story.html

A Killer by Design: Murderers, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher the Criminal Mind, Ann Wolbert Burgess and Steven Matthew Constantine, Hachette Books, 2021. 

https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/a61488077/ann-burgess-criminology-expert

https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/km-women-agents-2012.mp4/view

https://magazine.wsu.edu/2013/07/31/kathleen-mcchesney-71-agent-of-change/

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In this final episode of our series, So, I Married a Serial Killer..., we unravel the complex and unconventional love stories of Lyle and Erik Menendez—two brothers sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of their parents.

Despite being condemned to spend the rest of their lives behind bars with no chance of parole, both Lyle and Erik found love. In fact, Lyle has been married twice while in prison, and Erik has maintained a marriage for over 25 years. But how did these romances blossom without shared homes, date nights, or even the possibility of physical touch?

In this episode, we explore the women who chose to say, “I do,” to men they would never truly have in the real world. Who are these women? What drives someone to fall in love—and even marry—a convicted murderer they can never live with?

Join us as we close out the series by diving deep into the love lives of the Menendez brothers and the women who chose to become Mrs. Menendez.

 

Sources:

https://people.com/who-did-the-menendez-brothers-marry-8713328 

https://www.eonline.com/news/1408857/lyle-menendez-and-erik-menendezs-wives-what-to-know-about-the-women-the-brothers-married-in-prison 

https://www.today.com/popculture/lyle-erik-menendez-brothers-wives-married-rcna170459 

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna10573267 

https://heavy.com/news/2017/01/rebecca-sneed-lyle-menendez-wife-married-prison-ceremony/ 

https://radaronline.com/exclusives/2014/09/lyle-menendez-gay-life-prison-eugene-weems-book/ 

https://thecinemaholic.com/anna-eriksson/ 

https://people.com/archive/life-love-behind-bars-vol-64-no-19/ 

https://people.com/archive/lyles-lady-vol-46-no-4/ 

https://thecinemaholic.com/anna-eriksson/ 

https://coopermagazine.co.uk/rebecca-sneed/ 

https://www.grunge.com/1436876/who-is-lyle-menendez-wife-rebecca/ 

https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna3540836#.WG8ThLYrLVo 

https://www.msn.com/en-in/family-and-relationships/marriage/meet-milley-bucksey-lyle-menendez-s-21-year-old-girlfriend/ar-AA1uEvE7

 

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Ted Bundy was one of the most notorious serial killers in American history—charming, calculating, and deadly. While he was suspected of abducting, raping, and murdering more than thirty women across six states, he also maintained romantic relationships. One woman unknowingly loved a monster, while another chose to stand by his side even as the world recoiled in horror.

In this gripping chapter, we explore the twisted love story of Carole Boone, the woman who not only fell for Bundy after his arrest but also married him during his murder trial. What compels someone to love a killer? Join us as we delve into the psychology, obsession, and dark romance that defined one of history’s most disturbing relationships.

Sources:

Conversations with a Killer: The Ted Bundy Tapes (2019), Netflix 

Ted Bundy: Falling for a Killer (2020), Amazon Original 

 Defending the Devil, Polly Nelson, 2018. 

The Only Living Witness, Hugh Aynesworth and Stephen Michaud, 2012.

https://killerinthearchives.blog/a-profile-of-carole-ann-boone/

https://allthatsinteresting.com/carole-ann-boone

https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a27379040/ted-bundy-wife-carole-ann-boone/

https://byliner.com/rose-bundy-is-ted-bundys-daughter-but-where-is-she-today/ 

https://www.pastchronicles.com/ted-bundys-wife/ 

https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/artifacts/volkswagen-owned-by-ted-bundy/ 

https://law.justia.com/cases/florida/supreme-court/1984/57772-0.html 

https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/ted-bundy-timeline/ 

https://www.biography.com/crime/ted-bundy-timeline-murders

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Throughout history, some of the world’s most notorious serial killers have drawn romantic attention, even after their heinous crimes were exposed. From Ted Bundy to Richard Ramirez, these men—locked away for unspeakable acts—still managed to captivate and attract devoted partners. But what compels someone to pledge their love and loyalty to a known murderer?

In this episode, we dive into one of the most infamous cases of romantic obsession with a serial killer: the story of Doreen Lioy and Richard Ramirez, also known as "The Night Stalker." Despite overwhelming evidence of his brutal crimes, Lioy became Ramirez’s fiercest defender and ultimately married him while he was on death row. Was her devotion fueled by a misguided belief in redemption, a deep psychological compulsion, or something even darker?

Join us as we explore the unsettling psychology behind these relationships, the societal fascination with dangerous men, and the mystery of why some women choose to look past the horrors to see someone they deem worthy of love. 

Once Upon a Crime episode, Infamous Locales: The Cecil Hotel - Part 1. 

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep91-infamous-locales-the-cecil-hotel-part-1/ 

Sources:

Carlo, Philip. The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez, The Night Stalker. New York: Citadel Press, 2006. 

https://people.com/where-is-night-stalker-richard-ramirez-wife-now-8759972

https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/stalker-s-bride-3121711.php 

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In the early 1970s, the tranquil community of Santa Cruz, California, was shattered by a series of murders committed by two serial killers operating at the same time. Edmund Kemper, known as the "Co-ed Killer," murdered eight individuals, including six young women, his mother, and her friend, between May 1972 and April 1973. Simultaneously, Herbert Mullin embarked on his own killing spree in the same area, further terrorizing the residents. In this final episode of "Murder City," we delve into Santa Cruz's darkest period, exploring how law enforcement apprehended these predators and the chilling twist of their eventual incarceration as cellmates.   Sources: Murray, Emerson, Murder Capital of the World, 2021.  https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/Psyc%20405/serial%20killers/Mullin,%20Herbert.htm  https://crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/weird/mullin/index_1.html  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Mullin  https://biographs.org/herbert-mullin  https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/search?q=herbert+mullin&page=1&sort=divadoc_date_dt&dir=desc&facets%5Btags%5D%5B0%5D=herbert+mullin  https://graduateway.com/herbert-mullins-a-case-study-of-a-serial-murderer/  https://crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/weird/mullin/explained_9.html  https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/santa-cruz-kemper-mullin-frazier-murders-12841990.php  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/163366300/fred-abbie-perez  https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/06/11/a-modern-day-lumberjack-protecting-life-and-limb/   Sponsors:  Greenlight - Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at greenlight.com/once Gabb - Get $25 off any device at gabb.com/once  Hungryroot - For a limited time, get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for LIFE. Go to hungryroot.com/once and use code ONCE BambooHR - Get the free demo at BambooHR.com/freedemo     Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

This month, I’m bringing you the story of three terrifying years that unfolded in Santa Cruz, California. Between 1970 and 1973, a series of murders rocked Santa Cruz, a once-peaceful beach community. Before it was all over, residents would live through unimaginable horrors - a prominent family wiped out in a mass murder by a deranged killer and two serial killers working simultaneously, but separately, in their midst.  

In this second part of the series, we’ll pick up the story at the tail end of 1971. John Linley Frazier’s trial had just concluded, and he was sentenced to die. While the courtroom drama played out for one Santa Cruz killer, another was moving into town.  

Edmund Emil Kemper III would become one of the most infamous serial killers on record. By the time he arrived in Santa Cruz in 1971, Kemper had already been convicted of a double murder.  Less than a year after his release from prison, he would commit a series of gruesome murders that would forever cast a dark shadow over sunny Santa Cruz.  

I’ve taken an unprecedented deep dive into “The Co-ed Killer” to provide details about Kemper’s life and crimes you haven’t heard anywhere else.  

This is part two of “Murder City: Santa Cruz, California 1970 to 1973 - Ed Kemper. 

 

Sources:

Murray, E. (2020). Murder Capital of the World. 

Cheney, M. (1976). The Co-Ed Killer. Goodreads Press. 

Edmund Kemper: The Life of the Co-Ed Killer. (2017). Hourly History. 

 

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In the 1970s, Santa Cruz, California, became known by a title no one else wanted - “Murder City.”  Between 1970 and 1973, a series of murders rocked the once peaceful beach community.  Before it was all over, residents would live through unimaginable horrors - a prominent family wiped out in a mass murder by a deranged killer and not one but two serial killers stalking their streets at the same time. 

 

In this 3-part series, we’ll travel back in time to experience those three terrifying years in Santa Cruz - 1970 to 1973 - beginning with the mass murder of a prominent doctor and his family.  Just as the court was determining the first killer’s fate, another was making Santa Cruz his home and hunting grounds.  His crimes would make him one of the most infamous serial killers on record.  

 

This is part one of “Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973. 

 

Sources:

Murray, E. (2020). Murder Capital of the World. 

Ohta Family Murders in Soquel - Bay Area Television Archive

John Linley Frazier | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

John L. Frazier - "LEGENDS" SANTA CRUZ GHOST HUNTERS

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Frazier-2125

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/John_Linley_Frazier 

John Linley Frazier - Wikipedia

https://crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/mass/john_frazier/5.html

Frazier v. Superior Court, 5 Cal.3d 287 | Casetext Search + Citator

https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/102337#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0 

John Linley Frazier | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

 

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Harry Tyson Moore and his wife, Harriette, lived a quiet life but raised their voices for the rights of African Americans beginning in the 1930s. They are two unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement who became targets of a deadly attack on Christmas Day, 1951. 

I’ll share with you this story of extraordinary courage, an unwavering fight for justice, and a shocking and cowardly act that turned a brave couple into martyrs for the civil rights of all Americans. 

Sources:

The Unsolved Murder of Civil Rights Activist Harry Moore | Smithsonian

PBS - Freedom Never Dies: The Story of Harry T. Moore - Florida Terror - The Klan in Florida

Microsoft Word - Harry Moore Executive Summary.doc

Harry T. Moore: A Timeline of His Accomplishments and His Artifacts

The Moores | MooreCulturalComplex

https://truecrimediva.com/harry-harriette-moore/ 

Ku Klux Klan

Harriette Vyda Simms Moore (1902-1952) •

She died as she lived, for a cause she believed in - Florida Humanities Online - Explore, Read, Watch and Enjoy Florida

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/langston-hughes 

https://allthatsinteresting.com/groveland-four 

Harry T. and Harriette Moore | NAACP

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/at-christmas-evangeline-moore-thinks-of-her-martyred-parents-and-demands-justice/2011/12/22/gIQAtdcxHP_story.html 

https://www.wucf.org/community/themooreproject/the-family/

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2020/04/21/anderson-uncovering-floridas-mask-law/1314282007/

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