Premeditated

This week, we take a cross-country roadtrip from New Orleans to Chicago and then to Washington D.C., following Joseph Dunbar Medley, a man with a penchant for red headed women. After escaping prison in Michigan in November of 1944, Joseph Medley goes on a three month long killing and robbing spree, leaving three young women dead.

Between February 1926, and June, 1927, cities across North America were rocked by despicable slayings of mostly middle-aged land-ladies. In addition to being strangled, these women were sexually assaulted, and in some cases, mutilated. While he alluded police for over a year, Earle Nelson would finally get taken down by our wonderful neighbors to the north- the Canadian police.

Sources: Bestial by Harold Schechter

This week, Caitie brings us a less obscure case, but one that has fascinated her for years. Belle Gunness was the OG Black Widow, having killed around 45 men, women and children in Illinois and Indiana. When you hear about her schemes, you will want to hop in your car and travel to the murder farm for the chance to uncover a watch, a package of dismembered body parts, or perhaps even a tooth!

Sources: Hell's Princess: The Mystery of Belle Gunness, Butcher of Men by Harold Schechter; In The Garden of Spite by Camilla Bruce; and about a gazillion old newspaper articles.

In Part 2 of the Servant Girl Annihilator, Kate discusses the brutal murders of the final 5 victims. The mystery of whether they are all connected remains to this day, but the killings between New Years Eve 1884 and Christmas Eve 1885 will never be forgotten in Austin, Texas.

Sources: The Midnight Assassin, by Skip Hollandsworth Chilling Historical Crimes by Tim Huddleston

In 1884 and 1885, Austin, Texas was rocked by a series of brutal slayings - most involving an axe - and all on young servant girls. In Episode 1, we focus on the murders of Mollie Smith, Eliza Shelly, and Irene Cross, all murdered at the hands of a deranged, barefooted creep in the middle of the night.

Sources:

The Midnight Assassin, by Skip Hollandsworth

Chilling Historical Crimes, by Tim Huddleston

In part 2, Caitie focuses on a brutal attack in the middle of the day, which ultimately leads to the arrest of Don Miller. But, if you thought his arrest would be the last part of this saga, you would be very wrong!

Source: KILLING WOMEN: The True Story of Serial Killer Don Miller's Reign of Terror

This week, Caitie brings us part one of a two part episode, where we head to Michigan to discuss the despicable life of Don Miller. In episode 1, we will discuss his four murder victims, Martha Sue Young, Marita Choquette, Wendy Bush, and Kristine Guske Stuart.

Source: KILLING WOMEN: The True Story of Serial Killer Don Miller's Reign of Terror by Rod Sadler

In the early morning hours of September 8, 1981, a Sheriff's Deputy near Mount Vernon, South Dakota, received a phone call from a frantic man stating his entire family had been killed. With a quick arrest came a sense of ease in the community. However, it would not last long.

Sources: South Dakota's Mathis Murders: Horror in the Heartland, by Noel Hamiel