Send us a text

On today’s episode of 90s Crime Talk with Stef, we delve into the case of a notorious serial rapist who terrorized a quiet suburban community in Calgary, Alberta, Canada during the late 80s and early 90s. Hemlock Crescent, a picturesque neighborhood where the residents felt safe and secure, was forever changed when six young women were attacked and sexually assaulted in their own homes. The perpetrator seemed to be calculated and methodical and was successful in committing these heinous acts while remaining anonymous for almost 17 years.

Despite a massive manhunt and countless hours of investigative work, the police were unable to catch this criminal who they dubbed “The Hemlock Crescent Rapist.” He remained at large for years, continuing to strike fear into the hearts of the residents of Hemlock Crescent. It was only through a combination of luck, persistence and the advancement of DNA analysis, that the rapist was finally apprehended in December 2004 and brought to justice.


References: 

'I am a survivor': Second woman raped in horrifying 1980s break-ins returns to Hemlock Cres.: [Final Edition]. Williamson, Kerry. Calgary Herald; Calgary, Alta. [Calgary, Alta]. 09 July 2005: B1 Front.  

'Hemlock rapist' pleads guilty: Handyman faced 8 charges from attacks that occurred in Calgary from 1988 to 1992. Monchuk, Judy. The Globe and Mail (1936-); Toronto, Ont. [Toronto, Ont]. 27 Apr 2005: A13.  

Hemlock rapist's wives terrorized: [Final Edition]. Zickefoose, Sherri. Calgary Herald; Calgary, Alta. [Calgary, Alta]. 04 May 2005: B1 Front.  

Hemlock Rapist gets 20 years: City women gripped by terror for years: [Final Edition]. 

Slade, Daryl. Calgary Herald; Calgary, Alta. [Calgary, Alta]. 09 Dec 2005: A1 Front. 

 All I could think of was, Lord please don’t let him kill me – Calgary Herald, December 17, 2004

Calgary’s ‘Hemlock Rapist’ Emile Cromwell granted day parole, Global News, Nancy Hixt, July 27, 2017, retrieved from: https://globalnews.ca/news/3630496/calgarys-hemlock-crescent-rapist-emile-cromwell-granted-day-parole/#:~:text=On%20Thursday%2C%20he%20explained%20to,My%20childhood%20was%20pretty%20terrible.%E2%80%9D&text=Cromwell%20said%20it%20was%20a,that%20really%20triggered%20his%20anger 

Send us a text

Back in the day I am sure a lot of us found commercials a nuisance.  BUT!!! When we look back and reflect on how brilliant marketing was back in the 90's, there's no denying how genius these companies were that created jingles and slogans that are still to this day etched in our brains.  When you hear the words, Mentos, Folgers, Chi Chi Chi Chia, you can't help but sing that catchy little tune we would hear a million times a day during our youth.  That's what made commercials so unique and honestly in a lot of ways a thing of the past.  Press play and see if we name some of your favorite commercials.  

Send us a text

What are your thoughts on longevity in a relationship?  Why is it that couples tend to settle into companionship as time goes on.  How do we  maintain the love and passion that once was when you first met each other? Today, Nin talks about how to maintain that fire and keep it going despite time getting the best of us.  

Send us a text

Talk shows of the 90's were a vibe and none of todays shows could hold a candle to any of them.  They are close but not quite there... 

If you were like us, you were running home after school to tune into Ricky Lake.  Lest we forget those summer days when we rolled out of bed, poured our cereal, turned on the tv and tuned into Jerry Springer.  If it wasn't Paternity tests on Maury,  it was  Oprah giving something away for free.  One things for sure, we learned a lot from Talk shows and we had endless options on all channels to choose from.  Tune in and see if we named any of your favorites.  

Send us a text

The Springfield Three case is a baffling and unsolved disappearance that occurred in June 1992 in Springfield, Missouri. Three women, 47-year-old Sherrill Levitt, her 19-year-old daughter Suzie Streeter, and Suzie’s 18-year-old friend Stacy McCall, vanished from Sherill and Suzie’s home without a trace. Despite an extensive investigation, which included endless tips and a myriad of potential suspects, the case remains unsolved, and the whereabouts of the three women are still unknown. Though unsolved, it is certainly not forgotten, and is one of the most intriguing and mystifying missing persons cases in American history.

Trigger Warnings for: Abduction and missing persons, and brief mention of violence, murder, and sexual assault

REFERENCES

The Springfield Three, Disappeared, Investigation Discovery, documentary, released March 7, 2011

The Springfield Three, People Magazine Investigates, Investigation Discovery, documentary, released November 4, 2019

The Springfield Three: 30 years since the disappearance of Suzie Streeter, Sherill Levitt, and Stacy McCall, KY3, June 6, 2022, retrieved from: https://www.ky3.com/2022/06/06/springfield-three-cold-sase-30-years-since-disappearance-suzie-streeter-sherill-levitt-stacy-mccall/

30 years later family still seeking answers in the disappearance of three Springfield, Missouri women, NBC News, June 12, 2022, retrieved from: https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/30-years-later-family-still-seeking-answers-disappearance-three-springfield-n1296285

Crime Traveler: The case of Springfield Three continues to haunt the city 30 years later, Ozarks First, June 7, 2022, retrieved from: https://www.ozarksfirst.com/news/local-news/crime-traveler-the-case-of-springfield-three-continues-to-haunt-the-city-30-years-later/

Send us a text

When you think of the 90's, what couples come to mind?  On todays episode we travel back to a time when couples like, Victoria and David, Brad and Jen, Gwen and Brad, Tom and Nicole and many more, owned the real estate to every front cover of every magazine.  They were hot, sexy, enticing and encapsulated Hollywood in so many ways!  Press play and see if we list some of your favorite couples.  

Send us a text

Now more than ever we need to embrace life and how short it is.  In a blink of an eye it all can be gone.  Today Justine talks about an experience when she was 15 that changed her outlook on life forever.  She explains the importance of embracing the beauty in little things and appreciate the moments that challenge us.  It's those moments that make life that much sweeter.  

Send us a text

Other than blockbuster, what did a Friday night consist of in the 90's?  Remember TGIF? It was a night of television bliss which pretty much kicked off your weekend.  Back in the 90's we were blessed with no social media.  We either were at the mall, the movies or at home watching our favorite tv shows.  Walk down memory lane with us as we chat about our favorite shows from back in the day.  What were yours?  

Send us a text

In this podcast episode, we discuss the tragic case of Shanda Sharer, a 12-year-old girl from Indiana who was brutally murdered in January 1992 by a group of vicious teenage girls. This case gained national attention due to its shocking and extremely disturbing nature, made even more shocking due to the fact that the killers were 4 teenage girls. This episode explores the events that led up to Shanda’s death, including the bullying and jealousy that she faced from her killers, not to mention their twisted obsession with her, the unfortunate night itself, as well as the aftermath. 

Extreme Trigger Warnings for: Child-on-child murder by immolation (the act of killing or destroying something or someone by burning), torture murder, stabbing, beating, ligature strangulation, sexual assault, kidnapping, arson.

References: 

The 1990s: The Deadliest Decade, “The New Girl,” Discovery+, released November 12, 2018

Dr. Phil: In Cold Blood: A Daughter Murdered, Part 1 of 2, Season 9, Episode 158, released May 20, 2011

 Dr. Phil: In Cold Blood: A Daughter’s Brutal Murder, Part 2 of 2, Season 9, Episode 159, released May 23, 2011. 

 Shanda Sharer’s mother and murderer form unlikely alliance, Wave, May 21, 2012, retrieved from: https://www.wave3.com/story/18573121/shanda-sharers-mother-and-murderer-form-unlikely-alliance/ 

The Hate-Fueled Murder of 12-Year-Old Shanda Sharer, January 5, 2023, Beth Braden, retrieved from: https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/the-hate-fueled-murder-of-12-year-old-shanda-sharer 

Send us a text

What was your favorite 90's trend?  Press play and find out what we remembered,  what we loved and what we wished could have been forgotten.   Funny how history repeats itself.  We hope you enjoy this episode as much as we enjoyed going down memory lane.