...1 historic steam train... ...9 exceptional true crime podcasts... ...9 tales woven with the spirit of Women's Day... ...Will YOU unravel the mysteries aboard? This International Women's Day, join Shane Waters and Wendy Cee on an unprecedented journey through the heart of England to Crimecon UK in London. Mysteries on the True Crime Express is not just a podcast episode; it's an immersive voyage into the depths of true crime, history, and the indomitable spirit of women. Aboard this old-world locomotive, you'll encounter the hosts of 9 distinguished true crime podcasts, including Esther Sanchez Ludlow of Once Upon A Crime. Each host presents a captivating story that not only chills the spine but also illuminates the historical essence of Women's Day. From the comfort of Shane and Wendy's compartment to the lively ambiance of the dining car, each tale unfolds in a unique setting on the train, adding layers of intrigue and ambiance to this auditory experience. So, secure your ticket and settle into your seat... ...but be forewarned... ...the journey ahead is filled with twists and turns. Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance: 1. Deep Dark Secrets (https://www.deepdarksecretspodcast.com/) 2. The Trail Went Cold (https://www.trailwentcold.com/) 3. The Cult Vault (https://www.cultvaultpodcast.com/) 4. Extinguished (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/extinguished/id1711608332) 5. Once Upon a Crime (https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/) 6. True Crime and Wine with Sherrilyn Dale (https://open.spotify.com/show/6zDVtsctjbO1OWeeL3iXXN) 7. Defense Diaries (https://defensediaries.com/) 8. Dip in and Out with Lucy (podcasts) 9. Foul Play: Crime Series (https://www.itsfoulplay.com/) Join all the shows you heard in this episode at Crimecon UK in London! Go to Crimecon.co.uk and use code ONCEUPON Listen to Shane’s other holiday collaborations here: https://www.itsfoulplay.com/collaborations

In this special episode, I speak with author Gareth Russell.  His new book, The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Years of British History at Hampton Court, gives us a look at the storied history of what is called the most beautiful palace in England.  But, behind the walls of Hampton Court, true tales of intrigue, sex scandals, assassination plots, and murder played out among the royals and court members.   Links: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Gareth-Russell/500660891  https://www.amazon.com/Palace-Windsors-British-History-Hampton/dp/1797169165 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-palace-mr-gareth-russell/1143030248

This month, we’re taking a peek at royal families. What secrets and scandals lie behind these noble houses? In this week’s episode, I’ll tell you about an illicit affair an heir to the British throne engaged in with a French courtesan during WWI.  Marguerite Alibert retained evidence of her affair with Prince Edward that she would later use as blackmail when she was on trial for the murder of another prince.   Sources:  Marguerite Alibert: Courtesan, Murderess and Blackmailer of a King  - Historic Mysteries, December 2021.  The murderous mistress of Edward VIII before he met Wallis Simpson - NZ Herald The Perfect Murder, Royalty Magazine Monthly, Jan 2023 https://www.royalty-magazine.com/books-film/the-perfect-murder-2.html Marguerite Alibert was a Royal Mistress who got away with Murder, Shannon Quinn, History Collection, Nov 16, 2018.  https://historycollection.com/marguerite-alibert-was-a-royal-mistress-who-got-away-with-murder/ Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime - Purchase an annual membership at the $5 level or above by February 26th to be entered to win a night out in San Francisco with Esther!  Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy information - www.edgarallenpoebar.com For information on the Generation Why/Once Upon a Crime Podcast Meetup on February 22nd go to https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/p/upcoming-events/

In this month’s series, we’ll take a look at the dark side of royalty. I will detail crimes, sex scandals, and even murders that have occurred within royal families.   First up, a member of the British royal family, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York’s reputation is muddied when his close, personal friend, Jeffrey Epstein, is exposed as a sex trafficker of underage girls. Prince Andrew will fall even further into disgrace when one of Epstein’s victims accuses him of sexual assault while she was a minor. Sources:  Andrew: The Problem Prince (Channel 4 Documentary), 2023,  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95BujL2mFnM&t=1880s  The Fall of Prince Andrew: A Timeline, Harry Taylor and Rachel Hall for The Guardian, Feb 12, 2022 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/13/prince-andrew-a-timeline Will no one rid King Charles of his turbulent prince - Andrew has to go, but how to do it?, Martha Gill for The Guardian, Jan 14, 2024.  https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/jan/14/will-no-one-rid-king-charles-of-his-turbulent-prince-andrew-has-to-go-but-how-to-do-it Who is Prince Andrew? All About Queen Elizabeth’s Disgraced Son, Lynsay Eidell for People.com, Jan 10, 2024 https://people.com/royals/prince-andrew-all-about-queen-elizabeth-son/ Prince Andrew ‘spent weeks’ at Epstein’s home - witness, Max Matza for BBC News, Jan 5, 2024.  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-67898784 Prince Andrew Won’f Face a New Police Investigation - But He Still Might be Evicted from Royal Lodge, Erin Vanderhoof and Katie Nicholl for Vanity Fair, Jan 5, 2024.  https://www.vanityfair.com/style/prince-andrew-new-documents-evicted-from-royal-lodge Why Prince Andrew was so close to Jeffrey Epstein: Scandal in the House of York, Real Royalty on YouTube, Jan 4, 2024. Links: Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime - Purchase an annual membership at the $5 level or above by February 26th to be entered to win a night out in San Francisco with Esther!  Edgar Allen Poe Speakeasy information - www.edgarallenpoebar.com For information on the Generation Why/Once Upon a Crime Podcast Meetup on February 22nd go to https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/p/upcoming-events/

In the summer of 1984, a young woman kidnapped in Northern California finally makes her escape after seven years of violence, torture, imprisonment, and coercive control. While free from the physical restraints of her horrific experience, the emotional battle is just beginning.  The investigation and legal battles unfold while the victim, Colleen Stan, attempts to rebuild her life.  Resources: True Crime Documentary: The Girl in the Box - YouTube The 'Girl In The Box' Case And The Tragic Story Of Colleen Stan (allthatsinteresting.com) Colleen Stan Was Kidnapped and Kept in a Box for 7 Years - A&E True Crime (aetv.com) Girl in the Box Speaks: How I Survived My Seven-Year Ordeal (people.com) Cameron Hooker & Wife Janice Today: Where Are They Now? (heavy.com) PEOPLE v. HOOKER (1988) | FindLaw  Perfect Victim, Christine McGuire & Carla Norton, Arbor House/William Morrow Publishers, 1988.   Links:  Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

In 1977, a young woman kidnapped by a married couple while hitchhiking is taken to their home and imprisoned for the next seven years. During this time the woman is subjected to depraved torture, sensory deprivation, and sexual abuse. Deep and pervasive brainwashing and coercive control make it less and less likely she will ever escape, despite one of her captors eventually telling her the terrible truth which could facilitate her breaking free.  Resources: True Crime Documentary: The Girl in the Box - YouTube The 'Girl In The Box' Case And The Tragic Story Of Colleen Stan (allthatsinteresting.com) Colleen Stan Was Kidnapped and Kept in a Box for 7 Years - A&E True Crime (aetv.com) Girl in the Box Speaks: How I Survived My Seven-Year Ordeal (people.com) Cameron Hooker & Wife Janice Today: Where Are They Now? (heavy.com) PEOPLE v. HOOKER (1988) | FindLaw  Perfect Victim, Christine McGuire & Carla Norton, Arbor House/William Morrow Publishers, 1988.   Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime Our website - www.truecrimepodcast.com For information on the Once Upon a Crime/Generation Why Meetup in San Jose, California go to https://www.facebook.com/events/758402692774634.

In this first part of a 3-part episode, I share an infamous kidnapping case that began in 1977 in northern California.  The kidnapping of Colleen Stan become famously, and chillingly, known as “The Girl in the Box” case.   It’s an incredible story of unprecedented evil but also one of faith, strength, and the courage of a young girl to survive a horrific nightmare at the hands of the worst kind of predator.   Sources:  True Crime Documentary: The Girl in the Box - YouTube The 'Girl In The Box' Case And The Tragic Story Of Colleen Stan (allthatsinteresting.com) Colleen Stan Was Kidnapped and Kept in a Box for 7 Years - A&E True Crime (aetv.com) Girl in the Box Speaks: How I Survived My Seven-Year Ordeal (people.com) PEOPLE v. HOOKER (1988) | FindLaw  Perfect Victim, Christine McGuire & Carla Norton, Arbor House/William Morrow Publishers, 1988.  Links: February Meetup with Generation Why - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/p/upcoming-events/ Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

My Fugitive Dad” - An Interview with Ashley Randele (Bonus Episode) 

Release Date: December 28, 2023

In 2021,  71-year-old Thomas Randele, revealed to his daughter, Ashley. that his real name was Theodore John Conrad.  In 1969, Ted Conrad, a vault teller at a bank in Cleveland, Ohio, stuffed a bag with over $200,000 in cash and walked out, never to be seen again. 

The new season of the podcast Smoke Screen, titled My Fugitive Dad, tells the story with first-person accounts from those who knew Ted before he disappeared with a fortune in cash, the investigators who pursued him, and his daughter, Ashley, who never imagined her father was not who he said he was or that he could be a wanted man.  

In this special bonus episode, I interview Ashley about her father’s story and the new podcast. 

Listeners can subscribe to Smoke Screen: My Fugitive Dadon The Binge, as well as all major podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts and Spotify. 

Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime 

As we wrap up 2023, I ask the question, “What was your true crime obsession this year?”  In this episode, I’ll find out what true crime cases your favorite true crime podcasters were talking about.   You’ll hear my discussions with Tyler from Minds of Madness, Michael from True Crime Guys, Leroy from Excuse Me, That’s Illegal, Jerri from FBI Retired Case File Review, and Eric, from True Consequences.   I’ll also share the most exciting milestones and events for Once Upon a Crime in 2023 and tell you about the true crime stories I was most obsessed with this year.  Go to our YouTube Channel to watch the video chats of these discussions, or join our Patreon to get the uncut versions.  You’ll learn more about me and my guests as we go “off-topic.”   Links:  Once Upon a Crime on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/onceuponacrimepodcast Join our Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponACrime Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com Our Guests’ links:  Tyler - Minds of Madness https://mindsofmadnesspodcast.com Michael - True Crime Guys  https://linktr.ee/Truecrimeguysproductions Goodnight Sugar Babe: The Killing of Vera Jo Reigle - https://www.amazon.com/Goodnight-Sugar-Babe-Killing-Reigle/dp/B0757CSRSV Leroy - Excuse Me, That’s Illegal https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excuse-me-thats-illegal/id1526994548 https://www.tiktok.com/@excusemethatsillegal.pod?lang=en https://www.patreon.com/excusemethatsillegal/ Jerri - FBI Retired Case File Review https://jerriwilliams.com Eric - True Consequences  https://www.trueconsequences.com https://angelsvoicesnm.org The Garden: Commune or Cult? - https://go.discovery.com/show/the-garden-commune-or-cult-discovery-atve-us My recommendations:  Candy - https://press.hulu.com/shows/candy/ Love and Death - https://www.max.com/shows/love-death/f7b16534-5a7b-4e0e-906f-406d25e6b7af Finding Tamika - https://www.audible.com/pd/Finding-Tamika-Audiobook/B09R52P8PW