Once Upon A Crime | True Crime

By Esther Ludlow

Society & Culture History

What's Once Upon A Crime | True Crime about?

THE podcast for the true crime addict. True crime stories are told chapter by chapter - kidnappings, murders, mysterious disappearances, serial killers, celebrity crime and more.

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Wondery Presents: The Apolo...

01.19.2021

If you could call a number and say you’re sorry, and no one would know...what would you apologize for? For fifteen years, you could call a number in Manhattan and do just that. This is the story of the line, ...

Once Upon A Crime | True Crime episodes:

10.14.2019 Episode 147: Rocktober: The Bob Marley Assassination Attempt Bob Marley went from singing R&B harmonies in Trenchtown, Kingston, Jamaica to becoming a pioneer of reggae music, bringing his own blend of reggae, rock and ska music to a global audience. But as a popular figure in Jamaica, he ...
10.07.2019 Episode 146: Rocktober: Altamont, The Rolling Stone and The Hells Angels A free concert took place in northern California in December of 1969 featuring The Rolling Stones. It would descend into chaos due to poor planning, rampant drug use and the ill-advised use of the Hells Angels as concert security.
09.30.2019 Episode 145: Taunting Terrors: Ruth Finley and The Poet A woman begins receiving harassing phone calls and letters from a stalker. It would take years to discover who the anonymous man was, but when he was finally identified a shocking secret would be revealed.
09.23.2019 Episode 144: Taunting Terrors: Susan Jaeger A 7-year-old goes missing while on a family camping trip in 1973. Anonymous calls would be placed demanding a ransom, but, the trail would grow cold until exactly one year later when the kidnapper would call her mother to brag ...
09.16.2019 Episode 143: Taunting Terrors: Little Gregory and The Crow In a small French village, a little boy goes missing and the family receives anonymous letters from a person taking responsibility who is dubbed "The Crow". This strange case could be considered the Jon Benet Ramsey case of France.
09.09.2019 Episode 142: Taunting Terrors: Shari Faye Smith A young girl goes missing in South Carolina in 1985. Soon after, her kidnapper would begin calling her family - but not to make demands for her safe return, but only to cruelly taunt them. This is the first chapter ...
08.26.2019 Episode 141: Cursed Hollywood: The Poltergeist Curse A horror film franchise is seemingly cursed when it experiences tragedies including hauntings, serious accidents, fatal illness and murder. #DominiqueDunne #LouPerryman #HeatherORourke
08.19.2019 Episode 140: Cursed Hollywood: The Little Rascals From 1922 to the 1940s over 40 child actors would be cast in a popular series of short films and many of them would later fall victim to strange accidents, illnesses, drug addiction, financial hardship, murder and suicide. This is ...
08.12.2019 Episode 139: Cursed Hollywood: The Curse of Superman Every manifestation of the Man of Steel - comic books, television shows and films - has been marked by bad blood, shattered careers, tragic accidents and even murder. This is the Curse of Superman.
08.05.2019 Episode 138: Cursed Hollywood: Diff'rent Strokes Three child actors become stars after being cast in the sitcom Diff'rent Strokes in 1978. But, all three would go on to live troubled adult lives including drug addiction, legal troubles and untimely death. These are the stories of Todd ...
07.29.2019 Episode 137: Deadly Therapy - Susan Polk Susan Polk enters into a relationship with her therapist when she is a young girl. Years later, after 20 years of marriage, she will claim she has been abused by her husband for decades. After he is found dead in ...
07.28.2019 Episode 136: Deadly Therapy: Terrance Cottrell A mother seeks help for her special needs child, but a church prayer service ends tragically.
07.08.2019 Episode 135: Deadly Therapy - Candace Newmaker In the second chapter of the series "Deadly Therapy" a young girl who grows up in an unstable home is placed up for adoption. Her adoptive mother finds her behavior problematic and has her undergo a new and controversial therapy ...
07.01.2019 Episode 134: Deadly Therapy: James Arthur Ray This month's series, "Deadly Therapy", details cases of people seeking help from experts, but rather than receiving healing, their journeys came to an abrupt and deadly end. In Chapter One, James, Arthur Ray, success coach and guru, requires his followers ...
06.24.2019 Episode 133: Twin Terrors: Sunny and Gina Han Identical twin sisters, Sunny and Gina Han were lifelong rivals. One sister's jealousy would lead her to plot her twin's murder.
06.22.2019 Bonus Episode - CrimeCon 2019 and Travel Tales On this bonus episode I take you along with me to CrimeCon 2019 in New Orleans and my travels to New York City and Toronto for the Toronto True Crime Film Festival.
06.22.2019 Once Upon a Crime LIVE at CrimeCon 2019 In this bonus episode, I interview Jan Broberg and Skye Borgman about their documentary film "Abducted in Plain Sight" LIVE at CrimeCon 2019 in New Orleans.
06.10.2019 Episode 132: Twin Terrors: The Gibbons Sisters - Part 2 I continue the story of the Gibbons Sisters - twins who were locked in a battle their entire lives. Neither believed they could survive without the other, but controlled each other so completely they only spoke to or associated with ...
06.03.2019 Episode 131: Twin Terrors: The Gibbons Sisters - Part 1 June and Jennifer Gibbons were identical twins who, from a very young age, were so bonded to one another that they created their own “twin language” to communicate speaking only to one another. They rejected any other relationships including their ...
05.24.2019 Bonus Episode: Where Are They Now? - The Cleveland Kidnappings "Lost and Found" was the very first series of Once Upon a Crime in June, 2016. In that series I covered the story of three young women who were held captive and abused by Ariel Castro for over a decade. ...
05.13.2019 Episode 130: Disorder in the Court: Ellie Nesler A mother takes justice into her own hands in Jamestown, California in 1993 when she discovers her son has been abused by a child molester. Some called her a hero, others denounced her actions as vigilantism. This is Chapter 2 ...
05.06.2019 Episode 129: Disorder in the Court: The Atlanta Courthouse Killer In 2005, a man on trial for rape escapes custody in Atlanta's Fulton County Courthouse and goes on a violent rampage. This is Chapter 1 of "Disorder in the Court".
04.29.2019 Episode 128: Bad Sports: Ten Cent Beer Night A summer ball game descends into chaos when a promotional event goes seriously awry. This is the last chapter in the series "Bad Sports" recounting the Cleveland Indians' "Ten Cent Beer Night" riot.
04.15.2019 Episode 127: Bad Sports: Soccer Brawl in Brazil A friendly soccer game on a dusty field in Brazil turns into a horrific act of violence.
04.08.2019 Episode 126: Bad Sports: Sally "Killer" McNeil Ray and Sally McNeil were a married couple who were both accomplished athletes in the sport of professional bodybuilding. But, a combination of infidelity, abuse and anabolic steroid use would lead to a final, bloody confrontation on Valentine’s Day, 1995.
04.01.2019 Episode 125: Bad Sports: Thomas Junta - "Hockey Dad" A neighborhood ice rink, a pee-wee hockey pick-up game and some unsportsmanlike conduct leads to a confrontation between parents that ends with tragic results.
03.25.2019 Episode 124: Murder Memories: Paul Cox A man starts having vivid memories of a violent crime he believes he may have committed during an alcoholic blackout.
03.18.2019 Episode 123: Murder Memories: Eileen Franklin - Part 2 I conclude the story about Eileen Franklin who claimed to have witnessed her friend, 8-year-old Susan Nason's murder in 1969. She would say her memory of the event was only recovered after 20 years. Her story would begin a debate ...
03.11.2019 Episode 122: Murder Memories: Eileen Franklin - Part 1 A woman reports that she witnessed the murder of her best friend and then forgot about it for decades until her memory resurfaced about the terrible event.
02.26.2019 Episode 121: Three Strikes and You're Dead: Michael Keith Moon A career criminal commits multiple murders plus an attempted murder and continues to be released on parole. This is the case of Michael Keith Moon.
02.19.2019 Episode 120: Three Strikes and You're Dead: Louise Peete - Part 2 In the conclusion of the Louise Peete story, the convicted murderess is released from prison and, before long, goes on to commit another violent crime.
02.13.2019 Introducing - Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime! I'm pleased to announce my new podcast "Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime"! Each episode will feature me and a special guest host talking about what's new, hot and trending in true crime - in a fun and casual format. First ...
02.12.2019 Episode 119: Three Strikes and You're Dead: Louise Peete - Part 1 In this episode. I share a story about a particularly lethal woman who''s long criminal career saw her acquitted of a murder, sentenced to life for another and still released to continue her murderous ways. This is Part One of ...
02.05.2019 Episode 118: Three Strikes and You're Dead: Kenneth Allen McDuff A man murders three innocent teens in 1966, is sentenced to death and is later released from prison to kill again. This is the case of Kenneth Allen McDuff aka "The Broomstick Killer".
01.29.2019 Episode 117: Black Widows: Black Widow Sisters A rare form of serial killer are Black Widows - women who kill their spouses and other family members - usually for financial gain. Even more rare are Black Widow Sisters. This week I'll share two stories of sisters who ...
01.25.2019 The Next Chapter: The Acid King with Author Jesse Pollack In this episode of The Next Chapter I interview author Jesse Pollack about his book The Acid King that details a true crime case that happened in Northport, New York in the summer of 1984.
01.15.2019 Episode 116: Black Widows: Betty Lou Beets A woman is discovered to have murdered two of her husbands and hiding their bodies in her yard.
12.18.2018 Episode 115: The Darlie Routier Case with Guest Co-Host Yolanda from Not Perfect or Functional Podcast As a special holiday episode Yolanda from Not Perfect or Functional Podcast aka my little sister returns! This time we discuss the ever-debated Darlie Routier case.
12.11.2018 Episode 114: Mistletoe and Murder: Marvallous Keene - The Christmas Murder Spree On Christmas week 1992, a series of murders took place in Dayton, Ohio. Some would call it a case of “thrill killing” others would point to juvenile delinquency, dysfunctional family issues or just plain bad kids. The identified “ringleader” would ...
12.04.2018 Episode 113: Mistletoe and Murder: The Carnation Christmas Murders Three generations of one family are murdered on Christmas Eve, 2007 in Carnation, Washington.
11.27.2018 Episode 112: Listener Suggestions: Erika and Benjamin Sifrit - Killer Couple A young couple play a deadly game with perfect strangers on Memorial Day weekend, 2002 in Ocean City, Maryland. #homicide #killercouples #thrillkillers
11.20.2018 Episode 111: Listener Suggestions: Suzane von Richthofen "Evil Blonde" In 2002, a wealthy couple is found murdered in their home in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Their own daughter soon because a suspect and the case becomes a media sensation in Brazil.
11.13.2018 Episode 110: Listener Suggestions: The Texas Cadet Murder A young couple conspire to kill a romantic rival in Texas in 1995. Thanks to listener Casey Graham for the suggestion of this case. This is the case of Diane Zamora and David Graham - The Texas Cadet Murder case.
11.06.2018 Episode 109: Listener Suggestions: Craig Price - The Warwick Slasher When a series of brutal crimes takes place in one neighborhood in Rhode Island in 1989, investigators zero in on an unlikely suspect - a teenage boy who would be considered one of the country's youngest serial killers.
10.22.2018 Episode 108: Haunted Homicide: The LaLaurie Mansion The last chapter of "Haunted Homicide" is the story of the LaLaurie Mansion known as "the most haunted house in America". In this episode you'll hear the TRUE story of Madame Delphine LaLaurie who is called "the socialite serial killer".
10.15.2018 Episode 107: Haunted Homicide: The Tower of London The Tower of London has a long history of torture, murder and royal intrigue. It has also been the scene of many ghostly sightings over its 950-year history. Travel with me to through the Tower to uncover some of its ...
10.08.2018 Episode 106: Haunted Homicide: The Amityville Horror House and Ron DeFeo A house with a dark history is purchased by a young couple in 1975. They soon begin experiencing unexplained and terrifying events inside the home. Was it a result of their imaginations run wild? A hoax? Or the after effects ...
10.01.2018 Episode 105: Haunted Homicide: Herb Baumeister and Fox Hollow Farm A serial killer uses his own home as his killing grounds. After his crimes are discovered his property, Fox Hollow Farm, will be considered one of the most haunted places in the midwestern United States. This is chapter one of ...
09.24.2018 Episode 104: Fast Food Felonies: The Wendy's Chili Finger Scam A woman finds a finger in a fast food item. A lawsuit is filed and investigators quickly learn that something's not quite right with her claim and a scam is discovered. #scams #hoaxes
09.17.2018 Episode 103: Fast Food Felonies: The Fast Food Killer A series of fast food restaurant robberies take place in Nashville, Tennessee in 1997. The accused, Paul Dennis Reid, would claim that his early history of brain damage was to blame. #serialkillers

Newer episodes

Older episodes

Once Upon A Crime | True Crime

What's Once Upon A Crime | True Crime about?

Download our free app to listen on your phone

Once Upon A Crime | True Crime episodes:

Episode 147: Rocktober: The Bob Marley Assassination Attempt

Episode 146: Rocktober: Altamont, The Rolling Stone and The Hells Angels

Episode 145: Taunting Terrors: Ruth Finley and The Poet

Episode 144: Taunting Terrors: Susan Jaeger

Episode 143: Taunting Terrors: Little Gregory and The Crow

Episode 142: Taunting Terrors: Shari Faye Smith

Episode 141: Cursed Hollywood: The Poltergeist Curse

Episode 140: Cursed Hollywood: The Little Rascals

Episode 139: Cursed Hollywood: The Curse of Superman

Episode 138: Cursed Hollywood: Diff'rent Strokes

Episode 137: Deadly Therapy - Susan Polk

Episode 136: Deadly Therapy: Terrance Cottrell

Episode 135: Deadly Therapy - Candace Newmaker

Episode 134: Deadly Therapy: James Arthur Ray

Episode 133: Twin Terrors: Sunny and Gina Han

Bonus Episode - CrimeCon 2019 and Travel Tales

Once Upon a Crime LIVE at CrimeCon 2019

Episode 132: Twin Terrors: The Gibbons Sisters - Part 2

Episode 131: Twin Terrors: The Gibbons Sisters - Part 1

Bonus Episode: Where Are They Now? - The Cleveland Kidnappings

Episode 130: Disorder in the Court: Ellie Nesler

Episode 129: Disorder in the Court: The Atlanta Courthouse Killer

Episode 128: Bad Sports: Ten Cent Beer Night

Episode 127: Bad Sports: Soccer Brawl in Brazil

Episode 126: Bad Sports: Sally "Killer" McNeil

Episode 125: Bad Sports: Thomas Junta - "Hockey Dad"

Episode 124: Murder Memories: Paul Cox

Episode 123: Murder Memories: Eileen Franklin - Part 2

Episode 122: Murder Memories: Eileen Franklin - Part 1

Episode 121: Three Strikes and You're Dead: Michael Keith Moon

Episode 120: Three Strikes and You're Dead: Louise Peete - Part 2

Introducing - Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime!

Episode 119: Three Strikes and You're Dead: Louise Peete - Part 1

Episode 118: Three Strikes and You're Dead: Kenneth Allen McDuff

Episode 117: Black Widows: Black Widow Sisters

The Next Chapter: The Acid King with Author Jesse Pollack

Episode 116: Black Widows: Betty Lou Beets

Episode 115: The Darlie Routier Case with Guest Co-Host Yolanda from Not Perfect or Functional Podcast

Episode 114: Mistletoe and Murder: Marvallous Keene - The Christmas Murder Spree

Episode 113: Mistletoe and Murder: The Carnation Christmas Murders

Episode 112: Listener Suggestions: Erika and Benjamin Sifrit - Killer Couple

Episode 111: Listener Suggestions: Suzane von Richthofen "Evil Blonde"

Episode 110: Listener Suggestions: The Texas Cadet Murder

Episode 109: Listener Suggestions: Craig Price - The Warwick Slasher

Episode 108: Haunted Homicide: The LaLaurie Mansion

Episode 107: Haunted Homicide: The Tower of London

Episode 106: Haunted Homicide: The Amityville Horror House and Ron DeFeo

Episode 105: Haunted Homicide: Herb Baumeister and Fox Hollow Farm

Episode 104: Fast Food Felonies: The Wendy's Chili Finger Scam

Episode 103: Fast Food Felonies: The Fast Food Killer

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