The Pandemonium Witches: Murders, Mystery, and Mayhem

S1.E81 - When The System Fails The Girl Next Door: Megan Kanka & Megan's Law


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She was just 7 years old, riding her bike in her New Jersey neighborhood, when she had disappeared. Megan Kanka’s murder in 1994 shocked the nation - not just because of its brutality, but because her killer was a previously convicted sex offender living right across the street - and no one knew.

In this episode, Cat and Rachel dive into the heartbreaking case of Megan Kanka and how her death led to sweeping legal reform: Megan’s Law, a policy that forced states to make information about registered sex offenders publicly accessible. But has it worked? And what are the lasting impacts - both good and controversial?

  • Join Cat and Rachel as they explore the tragedy, the legacy, and the laws meant to protect the next Megan from ever being forgotten.

    Links We Used- Megan Kanka:

    • https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid:USC-prelim-title34-section21501&num=0&edition=prelim
    • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Megan_Kanka
    • https://www.aetv.com/real-crime/megans-law-story
    • https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/megans-law-story-jesse-timmendequas-story/
    • https://www.meganslaw.com/megans-story.html
    • https://web.njit.edu/~newrev/v2s3/elli/wreck.htm
    • https://content.ontarioca.gov/government/police/popular-resources/data-transparency/california-megans-law
    • https://www.cityofsalinas.org/Residents/Community/Public-Safety/Police/Community/Megan%E2%80%99s-Law
    • https://law.justia.com/cases/new-jersey/supreme-court/2001/a-109-99-opn.html
    • https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/31/nyregion/man-at-heart-of-megan-s-law-convicted-of-her-grisly-murder.html
    • https://www.nytimes.com/1997/05/31/nyregion/man-at-heart-of-megan-s-law-convicted-of-her-grisly-murder.html
    • https://mail.murderpedia.org/male.T/t/timmendequas.htm
    • https://www.nytimes.com/1997/06/21/nyregion/killer-in-megan-case-is-sentenced-to-death.html
    • https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/politics/1997/06/10/defense-describes-tortured-childhood-of-megans-killer/5983c009-2105-4293-a607-f8ccbcbfd8e1/
    • https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/26/nyregion/brother-of-megan-s-law-killer-charged-with-sexual-assault.html
    • https://www.deseret.com/1997/6/11/19317223/child-killer-s-brother-recounts-abuse/
    • https://www.nytimes.com/1998/03/27/nyregion/200000-bail-in-assault-case-for-brother-of-megan-s-law-killer.html
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