Small Town Mysteries

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Kate talks about the infamous 1892 murder case of Lizzie Borden's father and stepmother, which Lizzie was tried and acquitted for. We discuss the events in Lizzie's life leading up the murders, possible accomplices, multiple theories, and how gossip spreads through a small town. This one is infamous for a reason!

Sources:
1)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzie_Borden
2)https://web.archive.org/web/20140201220523/http://www.thelizziebordencollection.com/fall-river-history.php
3)https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22543295/the-seattle-post-intelligencer/
4)https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22529704/statesman-journal/
5)https://www.newspapers.com/clip/22543087/the-boston-globe/

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Christine starts off this episode talking about the disappearance of Cleashindra Hall, a smart, soon-to-be pre-med student who vanished after clocking out of her part-time job in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Twenty-eight years later, her case is still unsolved, and one particular individual remains a person of interest.
Kate then talks about the Watts Family Murders, which took place in Frederick, Colorado in 2018. Chris Watts murdered his wife, who was 15 weeks pregnant, along with his two children. This is a huge case, but Kate delves into the small town aspects of it that aided in the investigation.

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In the early hours of the morning, 12-year-old Christopher Pittman walks into his grandparent's room and shoots 4 times, killing both Joe and Joy Pittman before setting their house on fire. 
We discuss Christopher's difficult early childhood leading up to this moment, and analyze his legal team's "Zoloft defense", as Christopher had recently been made to switch from antidepressant Paxil to Zoloft and double his prescription dosage. He was allegedly experiencing severe side effects in the weeks leading up to the murders. 
So many factors add to the mix in this case, making you question what could have been if just one had been different.

Sources:
1) https://www.cbsnews.com/news/prescription-for-murder-13-04-2005/
2) https://www.mayoclinic.org/drugs-supplements/sertraline-oral-route/proper-use/drg-20065940 
3) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bUuAVO3nKTk
4) https://murderpedia.org/male.P/p/pittman-christopher-opinion.htm
5) https://public.doc.state.sc.us/scdc-public/inmateDetails.do?id=%2000307734 

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In this episode, Kate first investigates the serial killer Tony Costa, locally known in Massachusetts as the Cape Cod Cannibal. Tony Costa committed a series of murders in the late 1960s. Famous writer Kurt Vonnegut was intrigued by Costa, comparing him to Jack the Ripper. This case is still talked about today in the small town community in which it originated, and several books have been written about Costa which have been quite controversial...

Next, Rachael covers the case of 17-year-old Maggie Long, who was burned in a fire in a burglary gone wrong. It was revealed that a physical altercation likely took place during this burglary between Maggie and her assailants. Recently, the FBI has explored the possibility that this was actually a hate crime. Maggie's case is still active, and a reward is being offered for any information leading to the arrest and conviction of the individuals responsible for her death.

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This week, we discuss two cases that will make your stomach turn. First, Christine covers the case of Keiosha Marie Felix, a 15-year-old who went missing and was immediately labeled a "runaway" by police.  Keiosha was last seen in the tiny town of Duson, Louisiana on April 30, 2012, where she went to visit her aunt with her 1-year-old daughter. A botched police investigation interferes heavily with this case.
Next, Rachael covers the recent murder of Jonathan  Amerault, who was murdered by a jealous husband by the name of Armando Barron. Armando believed that his wife, Britany, was having an affair with Jon, who was her co-worker. Armando ended up forcing Britany to decapitate Jon's body. Trigger warning for domestic violence on this one!

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What drives two people to collectively decide they are capable of, and have a desire to, commit murder? 
This week, Christine discusses the case of Melissa Jenkins, a 33-year-old schoolteacher and single mother who was lured away from her home, beaten, and strangled to death by a married couple in 2012. We go over the investigation, their motives, and the MESSINESS of this case. 
Next, Rachael covers the gut wrenching murder of 16-year-old Skylar Neese. Skylar was brutally stabbed by her alleged 2 best friends in 2012, who murdered her when her back was turned and after counting to three. This famous case lead to Skylar's Law being enacted, which loosened the criteria for AMBER alerts.

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A college student who has recently had a string of bad misfortune is driving up North from Massachusetts in the winter. She loses control of her vehicle and it hits a snowbank, making it inoperable. Someone sees the wreck and offers her assistance, but she refuses, saying that she has already called for help. When the cops come...she's gone. 

This week, the three of us dig deeper into Maura's case. While Part 1 addressed Maura's background and the events leading up to her disappearance, we shift the focus this week toward the timeline of events, investigation, and potential theories that could explain what happened on that cold winter night. 

What can we make of the limited evidence we have? Does any theory hold more credibility than the others? 

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This week’s episode focuses on one of the most famous missing persons cases of the 21st century—Maura Murray. Maura grew up in our hometown of Hanson, Mass, and even though she was a bit older than us, her story hits very close to home. In this part one of two, we dive into Maura’s childhood, her teenage years, and her time at West Point. We also set up Maura’s mental state at the time of her disappearance—what was going through Maura’s head on that fateful night? Stay tuned for part two as we delve into the disappearance itself and the prevailing theories.

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This week, Rachael talks about Gary Lee Sampson, a spree killer from the South Shore of Massachusetts. In 2001, Sampson originally committed a series of bank crimes in North Carolina in the span of three months, and then went on to murder three strangers after fleeing to Massachusetts. We explore his background, his victims,  and his trial. Sampson's case was only the second time prosecutors in Massachusetts had sought the federal death penalty.
Stay tuned for a personal story at the end that you won't get anywhere else!

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Yes, you read that title correctly. This episode, Christine and Kate cover two cases: one in which there is a conviction without a body found, and one in which there is a body found with no conviction. 
Christine starts us off this episode by talking about the murder of 30-year-old Elizabeth Ann Kutz. Elizabeth, known as Beth, goes to work on the morning of July 27, 2000 and sends a text to her mom saying that if she is not home within 30 minutes, to go looking for her. Sadly, she is never seen again.  Marital problems with her husband at the time, Daniel, will be discussed, and holes in his story will definitely be questioned. 
Kate then goes on to talk about the case of Molly Bish, a 16-year-old lifeguard who was murdered in 2000 as well.  Her belongings were found unattended at her lifeguard station, with Molly nowhere to be found. The search for Molly became the largest missing person search in Massachusetts history. 

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