Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour.

Today, we’re traveling back to 1960s New York City for one of the most sensational and controversial cases of its time—the deaths of Eddie and Missy Crimmins...and joining us for this deep dive is our special guest host, Anastasia Leipold! You might remember her commentary from an earlier episode. But this time, she's here with a more sinister message.

When two young children vanished from their Queens apartment in 1965, suspicion quickly turned to their mother, Alice Crimmins—a glamorous, independent woman whose lifestyle clashed sharply with public expectations of motherhood. As media headlines exploded and prosecutors built their case, the trial became less about forensic evidence and more about morality, image, and the role of women in society.

Was Alice Crimmins a cold-blooded killer—or the victim of a cultural witch hunt fueled by sexism and scandal? In this episode, we break down the investigation, the courtroom drama, and the societal pressures that shaped one of America’s most polarizing true crime stories.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!


Case Notes: 
Infamous Alice Crimmins, crime junkie A crime to remember S1E1 go ask Alice 
The Alice Crimmins case by Anaïs Renevier
The murder book podcast, Alice Crimmins episodes 1-3


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This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re heading to rural Australia to unpack a case that sounds almost too bizarre to be real—the deadly mushroom lunch linked to Erin Patterson.

In 2023, a seemingly ordinary family meal turned fatal when multiple guests fell critically ill after eating beef Wellington allegedly containing poisonous death cap mushrooms. Three people died, one narrowly survived, and attention quickly turned to the host: Erin Patterson. As investigators sifted through conflicting statements, missing evidence, and questions about intent, the case sparked international fascination and fierce debate.

Was this a tragic accident rooted in foraging mistakes—or a calculated act hiding behind a home-cooked meal? In this episode, we walk through the timeline, the victims, the science behind death cap poisoning, and why this case continues to divide public opinion as legal proceedings unfold.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!

Case Notes:

Undisturbed Salon with Jessica: https://www.undisturbednv.com/

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/may/01/erin-patterson-husband-simon-mushroom-lunch-murder-trial-australia-ntwnfb#:~:text=In%20the%20lead%2Dup%20to%20a%20deadly%20lunch%2C,you'd%20like%20to%20discuss%20on%20the%20phone%22.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/live-updates-erin-patterson-sentence-mushroom-murders/105734146
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/oct/09/erin-patterson-should-never-receive-parole-mushroom-murders-ntwnfb
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-09-08/live-updates-erin-patterson-sentence-mushroom-murders/105734146
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-05-01/erin-patterson-mushroom-trial-explainer/
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-07-05/erin-patterson-mushroom-trial-evidence-excluded/
https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/australian-woman-charged-over-fatal-mushroom-lunch-2023-11-02/
https://www.supremecourt.vic.gov.au/news/erin-patterson-sentencing
https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/death-cap-mushroom.aspx

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This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re climbing onto the rooftops for one of the strangest and most cinematic crime stories out there—the case of Jeffrey Manchester, better known as The Roofman.
Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, Manchester carried out a series of daring burglaries across the Midwest, cutting through roofs and dropping into stores after hours—often without ever being seen. But this wasn’t just a story of clever theft. Behind the headlines was a former Army Ranger, a prison escape, years spent secretly living inside a Toys “R” Us, and a criminal who seemed to vanish again and again just when authorities thought they had him cornered.
Was Jeffrey Manchester a criminal mastermind, a man unraveling under pressure, or something in between? In this episode, we break down the heists, the escapes, and the bizarre life of a man who quite literally lived above the law.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!



Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support.

This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re unpacking one of the most controversial and emotionally charged cases of the last decade—the death of Kendrick Johnson in Valdosta, Georgia.

In 2013, 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was found deceased inside a rolled-up gym mat at his high school. What authorities quickly ruled an accidental death soon became the center of intense public scrutiny, conflicting forensic interpretations, and widespread allegations of foul play. As Kendrick’s family pushed for answers, the case ignited national debate over investigative practices, racial bias, and whether crucial evidence was overlooked—or intentionally ignored. Was Kendrick’s death a tragic accident, or does the truth lie somewhere deeper beneath the surface? In this episode, we walk through the known facts, the medical findings, the unanswered questions, and why this case continues to divide opinions to this day.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!


Case Notes:

Good Days Cafe: https://www.gooddayscafereno.com/
Documentary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15190622/reviews/?featured=rw7433055&ref_=tt_ururv_c_2
https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/45div4/kendrick_johnsons_death_is_not_an_unresolved/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=ios_app&utm_name=iossmfhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JHI4Zaudbv4https://valdostadailytimes.com/2013/11/21/kendricks-final-walk/https://valdostadailytimes.com/2014/10/31/release-of-kj-autopsy-photos-questioned/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support.

This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re stepping into the courtroom for one of the most controversial and emotionally charged cases at the intersection of music, morality, and the law—the Judas Priest suicide trial.

In the mid-1980s, two young men attempted suicide after listening to heavy metal music, leaving one dead and the other permanently injured. Their families would later take the band Judas Priest to court, alleging that hidden subliminal messages in the music pushed the teens toward self-destruction. What followed was a landmark trial that forced society to confront fear, censorship, and the power we assign to art.

Can music be held responsible for violence and suicide—or was this a case of grief searching for answers? In this episode, we break down the trial, the science behind subliminal messaging, and how this case helped define artistic freedom in America.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!

Case Notes:
Rising for People Coffee:
https://risingforpeoplecoffeeco.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopWrZbsnHq6KQ_GUf4HAkNbjdMcm4BrKuACy8DpPUoMlWpjZNeu

http://www.thestacksreader.com/the-dreamer-deceiver-the-reno-trial-of-judas-priest/
https://english.elpais.com/culture/2025-12-14/when-judas-priest-were-accused-of-inducing-two-fans-to-kill-themselves-a-chronicle-of-the-most-infamous-trial-in-music-history.html

https://thewind.org/episodes/judaspriestontrial

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGeNjfRWzXI&rco=1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gHOFI5UNNck

https://www.hulu.com/watch/f2c6e1ed-0f73-431f-af00-8803b5b73ded

https://ultimateclassicrock.com/judas-priest-better-by-you-better-than-me-lawsuit/

https://blabbermouth.net/news/how-judas-priest-debunked-existence-of-hidden-messages-in-its-songs

https://everyrecordtellsastory.com/2012/05/27/judas-priest-dream-deceivers/

Halford quote: https://www.loudersound.com/features/how-a-suicide-pact-was-almost-the-end-of-judas-priest

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This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Hey Spooky Squad! Sorry for the delay. We are running on USPS time this holiday season. 

Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re heading to Toronto to uncover the chilling story of Bruce McArthur—an unassuming mall Santa, landscaper, and serial killer who hid in plain sight for years.

Between 2010 and 2017, men from Toronto’s LGBTQ+ community began disappearing, many of them last seen in the city’s Gay Village. Despite mounting concerns, their disappearances were repeatedly dismissed—until a shocking arrest exposed a predator who had been trusted around children, neighbors, and clients alike. As investigators dug deeper, they uncovered a pattern of violence, neglect, and systemic failure that allowed McArthur to continue killing unchecked. How did so many warning signs go ignored? And what does this case reveal about whose lives are prioritized—and whose are overlooked?

In this episode, we examine the victims, the investigation, and the institutional blind spots that helped a killer remain invisible for far too long.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!


Case Notes: 

The Roost Cafe:  
https://www.theroostreno.com/
https://www.bbc.com/bbcthree/article/01086f21-e102-4de0-8e4b-567a13c66c5chttps://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-47125443https://www.imdb.com/title/tt16587970/

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support.

This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re unpacking a case that shocked reality TV audiences and true crime fans alike—the brutal murders tied to the Wife Swap family that once appeared wholesome on screen.

In 2017, Jacob Stockdale murdered his mother and brother in rural Ohio, years after his family had been featured on the hit reality show Wife Swap. What initially looked like an isolated act of violence soon raised deeper questions about religious extremism, control, abuse, and what was really happening behind the cameras.

As details emerged, many began to reexamine the family’s past, the warning signs that were missed, and the disturbing dynamics that may have led to this tragedy. Was this simply a sudden act of violence—or the inevitable outcome of years of psychological damage hidden beneath a carefully curated image?
In this episode, we explore the murders, the trial, and the unsettling reality of how darkness can thrive even in plain sight.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!

Case Notes: 
https://www.dutchbros.com/
https://www.hulu.com/series/wife-swap-9569e2c9-2ae6-4b82-a3aa-65ce80775248
Stockdale Family Band Music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QEmqBw1X9Jw (we do not have ownership of this music, but are using it to enhance the understanding of the case!)


Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support.

This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour.

Today, we’re diving into one of the most puzzling and hotly debated cases in recent true crime history—the mysterious death of Ellen Greenberg. In 2011, the 27-year-old teacher was found dead in her Philadelphia apartment with twenty stab wounds—including ten to the back of her neck. Despite the shocking details, her death was ruled a suicide, a decision that left investigators, medical experts, and the public in disbelief.

Over a decade later, Ellen’s parents continue to fight for justice, pushing to reopen the case and uncover what really happened that night. Was Ellen’s death truly self-inflicted, or is this a murder hidden beneath layers of error and cover-up? In this episode, we unravel the evidence, conflicting reports, and the ongoing battle for truth that refuses to fade.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!

**CORRECTION TO ADD: the suicide loss survivor community has update the verbiage from "committed" to "died of". This episode was recorded prior to that correction, but it will be fixed in future episodes. We appreciate the community for letting us know and will adjust that in all future cases!**

Case Notes: 
Big Kitchen Cafe: https://judysbigkitchen.com/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7400770/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20202068/
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/3728425/
https://www.reddit.com/r/EllenGreenberg/comments/1nzricr/timeline_vs_main_four_theories_of_when_ellen_died/https://www.hulu.com/series/death-in-apartment-603-what-happened-to-ellen-greenberg-b0338377-2cf8-43c4-98b7-5f907e9d51d1https://www.cnn.com/interactive/2024/12/us/ellen-greenberg-death-philadelphia-cec-cnnphotos/https://nypost.com/2001/07/23/models-bizarre-suicide/https://www.reddit.com/r/UnsolvedMysteries/comments/1h8yke5/ellen_greenberg_case_updates/https://static.foxnews.com/foxnews.com/content/uploads/2025/10/dr-simon-report-on-ellen-greenberg.pdf?utm

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support.

This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re heading to our own backyard—Reno, Nevada—for a case that gripped the community and left lasting scars: the 2008 murder of 19-year-old Brianna Denison.

After a night out with friends, Brianna vanished from a friend’s home near the University of Nevada campus. Weeks later, her body was found—her death linked to a string of violent assaults that had already been haunting the area. As investigators raced against time, DNA evidence became the key to exposing a predator hiding in plain sight: James Biela.

How did this case change the way Reno saw safety, trust, and its college-town nightlife? And how did Brianna’s memory inspire a movement for awareness and justice? In this episode, we revisit the investigation, the trial, and the legacy that still echoes through the Biggest Little City.

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!

Case Notes:
2PhatVegans - https://www.instagram.com/2phatvegansnola/?hl=en
Big Kitchen Cafe | San Diego https://share.google/uthBaXQfTzFIafqGO
Damning DNA — The Murder of Brianna Denison — Crime Library https://share.google/IMqxG3hhpo4z4iRp3Tip, DNA lead to arrest in student's slaying - CNN.com https://share.google/p1piGflOxiTLo5a0P
Photos: The Brianna Denison case https://share.google/5Dnto1UZOHR7wfZLp
https://open.spotify.com/episode/62aAaptGmj4TKg1K3wK83T?si=Dfux1ymfRMO0WCa3BAjEZQ
 https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19-6204/117740/20191002123643407_Appendix%20Exhibits.pdf
James Biela | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers  https://share.google/e3seakvBt4hMF952K
https://youtu.be/xZLPJAQRx9E?si=7oflKaSkjc0wo9MP
https://open.spotify.com/episode/1evjqu2JHs1dxi8gMrkXWb?si=B0qHTPWaS-OkcCAfN3DWbQ

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support.

This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.

Hey Spooky Squad! Welcome back to another episode of Scream and Sugar, your true crime coffee hour. Today, we’re heading to our own backyard—Reno, Nevada—for a case that gripped the community and left lasting scars: the 2008 murder of 19-year-old Brianna Denison.

After a night out with friends, Brianna vanished from a friend’s home near the University of Nevada campus. Weeks later, her body was found—her death linked to a string of violent assaults that had already been haunting the area. As investigators raced against time, DNA evidence became the key to exposing a predator hiding in plain sight: James Biela.

How did this case change the way Reno saw safety, trust, and its college-town nightlife? And how did Brianna’s memory inspire a movement for awareness and justice? In this episode, we revisit the investigation, the trial, and the legacy that still echoes through the Biggest Little City. 

Grab your coffee and your curiosity, and remember to stay spooky, y’all!

Case Notes: 

2PhatVegans - https://www.instagram.com/2phatvegansnola/?hl=en
Big Kitchen Cafe | San Diego https://share.google/uthBaXQfTzFIafqGO
Damning DNA — The Murder of Brianna Denison — Crime Library https://share.google/IMqxG3hhpo4z4iRp3Tip, DNA lead to arrest in student's slaying - CNN.com https://share.google/p1piGflOxiTLo5a0P
Photos: The Brianna Denison case https://share.google/5Dnto1UZOHR7wfZLp
https://open.spotify.com/episode/62aAaptGmj4TKg1K3wK83T?si=Dfux1ymfRMO0WCa3BAjEZQ
 https://www.supremecourt.gov/DocketPDF/19/19-6204/117740/20191002123643407_Appendix%20Exhibits.pdf
James Biela | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers  https://share.google/e3seakvBt4hMF952K
https://youtu.be/xZLPJAQRx9E?si=7oflKaSkjc0wo9MP


https://open.spotify.com/episode/1evjqu2JHs1dxi8gMrkXWb?si=B0qHTPWaS-OkcCAfN3DWbQ

Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/scream-and-sugar-true-crime-coffee-hour--6015946/support.

This content is not appropriate for all listeners; listener discretion is advised.  PS. Let's just umbrella all our content with a blanket statement: allegedly, supposedly! Stay spooky, squad.