This episode confronts the sanitized narratives that have always obscured the brutal truth of racial terrorism in America. This isn’t just history—it’s true crime that was never treated as such. From lynchings to massacres buried beneath smug silence, this legacy of violence shaped communities, policies, and the contemporary distrust that many Black Americans have towards law enforcement and institutions.

The communities included within this episode, listed in the time stamps below, were devastated for the flimsiest of excuses and then buried without justice or acknowledgement. Most of us were never taught that these atrocities not only happened, but were common occurrences.

This episode is not comfortable. It’s not tidy. It's long, exhausting, and necessary. These crimes must be considered together to reveal the longstanding pattern of abuse, torture, and terror that African Americans have experienced since long before Emancipation.

What happens when horrific crimes are woven into the fabric of a nation? And what does justice look like when the record itself has been whitewashed?

Listeners who come to true crime for mystery will find something deeper here: the mystery of memory, the crime of erasure, and truths that refuse to stay buried. May you leave with compassion for the valid sense of fear that has been handed down through generations of Black Americans.

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Also dropping today: the first two episodes of I Must Have Forgotten, a serial memoir that explores memory, laughter, grief, and forgiveness. It is a celebration of the small moments of everyday life.

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00:01:15 Content Advisory & Introduction

00:05:35 Historical Context

00:19:04 NYC Draft Riot (1863, NY)

00:24:45 Simpsonville Massacre (1865, TN)

00:27:22 Fort Pillow Massacre (1864, KY)

00:40:28 Lynchings and Sundown Towns

00:47:52 Juneteenth

00:53:19 Memphis Massacre (1866, TN)

00:57:37 Colfax Massacre (1873, LA)

01:01:13 Wilmington Massacre (1898, NC)

01:07:00 Atlanta Massacre (1906, GA)

01:15:39 Springfield Riot (1908, IL)

01:20:56 East St. Louis Massacre (1917, IL)

01:35:29 Ocoee Massacre (1920, FL)

01:41:03 Tulsa Race Massacre (1921, OK)

01:48:18 Rosewood Massacre (1923, FL)

01:52:14 Oscarville (Lake Lanier) (1912, GA)

02:00:13 – Kowaliga (Lake Martin) (1926, AL)

02:04:56 Seneca Village (Central Park) (1857, NY)

02:08:09 Closing Summary

02:12:33 Outro

Find me here:

linktr.ee/bethpods

Instagram or Facebook @TrueCrimeBnB, but I don't check Facebook much

Email: [email protected]

This isn't our usual True Crime BnB. It’s not even ‘usual’ for Unexpected. It's a personal history—of how this podcast began, who it honors, and why it still matters.

From a plastic bucket microphone to a quiet archive of resistance, this episode isn’t just a milestone in numbers—it’s a milestone in voice.

It’s a tribute to the victims, the survivors, the listeners, and to Bailey and to our Baby Bear Puss—whose spirit shaped what this show became.

It’s about truth. Memory. And the resolve that some stories should never be forgotten.

Have a seat, listen in, and remember it all with me. It won’t take much time.

Find me here:

https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeBnB?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

You can find me on Instagram or Facebook @TrueCrimeBnB, but I don't check Facebook much

You can send me an email at [email protected]

This bonus episode reflects on Frederick Douglass’s fiery 1852 speech and Susan B. Anthony’s words from the U.S. Centennial in 1876—reminders that the rights many of us hold today were not freely given.

Civil rights for non-white men and women of all races were won only after generations of resistance, sacrifice, and struggle.

Let today be a day of radical remembrance. And action.

Find me here:

https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeBnB?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

You can find me on Instagram or Facebook @TrueCrimeBnB, but I don't check Facebook much

You can send me an email at [email protected]

To understand the longest-running crime in U.S. history—committed against Native Americans—we go back to 1492, when Christopher Columbus set sail on a misguided voyage to “India.” We brought sickness to North America, which devastated First Nations Indigenous people.

Then we stole their land and killed their people, and despite our intrusions here, Native Americans were among the last people to be recognized as citizens and legally allowed to vote.

But even then the horrors weren't over--we stole their children and tried to erase their heritage. And if you didn’t know those crimes continued until 1978... you’re not alone.

This episode opens with Emma Lazarus’s iconic welcome, etched beneath the Statue of Liberty. But Beth has a hard truth to unpack: that light beside the golden door only shined because our ancestors made themselves at home in someone else’s house.

We are a nation of immigrants.

And every one of us stands on stolen land.

Find me here:

https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeBnB?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

You can find me on Instagram or Facebook @TrueCrimeBnB, but I don't check Facebook much

You can send me an email at [email protected]

The history you think you know wasn't just written in books--it was curated, shaped, and edited by people with their own self interests. But before that, it was lived. And the people whose lives we study weren't usually the ones who got to tell their own stories. Some voices were amplified, while others were diminished--or erased altogether.

In this episode, Sojourner Truth's famous speech at the 1851 Akron Women's Rights Convention is the starting point for unraveling hundreds of years of lost and manipulated history, reminding us why the truth must never be allowed to be forgotten.

To read the speeches for yourself, find both versions here, as well as a video demonstrating the accent Sojourner would have had:

Compare the Speeches — The Sojourner Truth Project

Find me here:

https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeBnB?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

You can find me on Instagram or Facebook @TrueCrimeBnB, but I don't check Facebook much

You can send me an email at [email protected]

Hello and welcome back to Episode 97 at the True Crime BnB! This episode has me feeling philosophical about the little decisions we make every day, and how those go on to affect the rest of our lives.

Wendy Jo Halison was a college senior in California, In 1968, she headed off in her convertible to buy a hair dryer that was on sale. She never made it home, and her murder was not solved for 48 years! When it was finally resolved, it turned out that she was not the only victim of the scum who took her life.

Dale Wells was living his life in South Carolina, and when he met the woman who would become his partner, he was happy to have her in his life. At least, until she became controlling, manipulative, and murderous. Dale is a domestic violence survivor, and he has a lot of wisdom to share about setting your priorities and taking good care of yourself and those around you.

If you or someone you know is suffering from domestic or partner violence, you can find help and resources:

In the USA: National Domestic Violence Hotline 800-799-7233 or https://www.thehotline.org/

In the UK: https://www.gov.uk/crime-justice-and-law/domestic-violence

In Ireland: 1800 341 900 or https://www.womensaid.ie/

In Australia: 1800RESPECT or https://www.1800respect.org.au/

In South Africa: 0800 150 150 or https://lifelinesa.co.za/

In Nigeria: 0 8000-333-333 or https://lagosdsva.org/

In Colombia: call 155 or http://www.equidadmujer.gov.co/consejeria/Paginas/linea-155.aspx

For other countries, this link can help you search for the kind of help you need:

https://findahelpline.com/

______

Look for episodes from True Crime BnB monthly, maybe more. Maybe less.

. . .If you enjoy the show, please share my episodes on social media--that's the greatest way to help me find new listeners.

Another way is to rate and review on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods, or give me a 5-star rating on whatever platform you prefer!

https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeBnB?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

You can find us on Instagram, X (Twitter), or Facebook @TrueCrimeBnB

You can send us an email at [email protected]

And lastly, thank all of you for just coming along to listen. You're the best!!

Hello, Crime Family. Have a seat, and let's get into Episode 96.

Frank Tranter was a 74-year-old retired man living in the Lion Farm Estate in West Midlands, England. His health was seriously failing him, he was nearly blind, and he lived alone in his semi-detached bungalow. All he wanted to do was listen to music and wave at his neighbors out the window. But, no. Along came a group of no-goods who had to take those little pleasures, and everything else, away from Frank.

Our survivor this episode is Monti Niccolo, a 22-year-old who loved hunting, fishing, and California wilderness camping. Wilderness camping can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, but Monti did. He knew very well how to take care of himself. So when he came across two people who had deadly intentions, Monti had to call upon his will to survive. And survive, he did!

My announcement in this episode is that I'm going to be releasing only one episode per month, because I just don't have enough time to research, write, record, edit, and produce more than that on top of my day job and my fixer-upper house. But if I find that i have the time, I will put out some extras now and then.

Thank you for joining me here at the True Crime BnB, and I hope to see you back next time for Episode 97!

______

Time Stamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:29 Frank Tranter

00:18:25 Survivor Monti Niccolo

00:28:00 Wrap-up

00:29:04 Outro

0:29:09 Bloopers

______

Look for episodes from True Crime BnB monthly, maybe more.

. . .If you enjoy the show, please share my episodes on social media--that's the greatest way to help me find new listeners.

Another way is to rate and review on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods, or give me a 5-star rating on whatever platform you prefer!

https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeBnB?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

You can find us on Instagram, X (Twitter), or Facebook @TrueCrimeBnB

You can send us an email at [email protected]

And lastly, thank all of you for just coming along to listen. You're the best!!

Hello and welcome back for Episode 95. Apologies for the delay in releasing this episode; if you follow me on Instagram you know I was traveling and came home with a stray 4 week old kitten, so lately I've been all about toys, kitten food, and counting the scratches all over my skin.

This week I am covering the frustrating case of the murder of Holly Palmer, which took place in Granbury, Texas in November, 1988. Holly was an amazing, ambitious 23 year old and seemingly had only one person who would have had any problems with her. It seems that police and Holly's family all have a strong suspicion of one particular person. So why, then, has no one ever been brought to justice for her horrible murder?

Our survivor this week is an anonymous teenager out of Gwinnett County, Georgia, and her story shows what a strong, courageous young woman she is. She was only 15 when she was groomed on Snapchat by an older male, and she barely survived their first meeting, But she saw him again two years later when she saw him sentenced to 30-to-life for what he did to her.

One question this case raises is how someone is a relatively normal YouTuber wannabe, and 10 months later he's a child rapist and attempted murderer? Regardless of what brought about his transition to a monster, we are here to celebrate the survivor. So, even though we don't know her name, we are sending every good vibe in her direction.

Thank you for stopping back today. Please take care of yourselves, and I'll see you back here in two weeks.

______

Time Stamps:

00:00:00 Intro

00:01:50 Holly Palmer

00:31:59 Gwinnett County, Georgia Survivor

00:42:39 Wrap-up

00:43:41 Outro

0:43:56 Bloopers

______

Look for episodes from True Crime BnB about every other week, still on Fridays.

. . .If you enjoy the show, please share my episodes on social media--that's the greatest way to help me find new listeners.

Another way is to rate and review on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods, or give me a 5-star rating on whatever platform you prefer!

https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeBnB?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

You can find us on Instagram, X (Twitter), or Facebook @TrueCrimeBnB

You can send us an email at [email protected]

And lastly, thank all of you for just coming along to listen. You're the best!!

Hello, Crime Family, and welcome back to Episode 94 at the True Crime BnB!

I didn't plan to, but somehow I managed to have one case in each of the two most recent US states: one in Hawaii (became a state on Aug 21, 1959) and the other in Alaska (became a state on Jan 3, 1959).

Hawaii is considered to be a paradise, and to many people, it absolutely is. But for Conrad Maesaka and Patricia Stevens, it may have started out as paradise, but it turned into a nightmare leading to their disappearances.

Through a tip from a guilty conscience, the crime was eventually solved, but that was still not the end of it. Corruption, gambling, organized crime, and a desperate official all combined to prevent Conrad and Patty from getting their justice, even after a jury conviction.

In the end we can recognize that although Conrad and Patty were flawed humans...who isn't??...they were not as flawed as pretty much every other person in this story. And they did not deserve what happened to them.

And then to Alaska, where Robert Atwood headed, at the age of 28, to take over a tiny daily newspaper in Anchorage. Over 50+ years he turned it into one of the largest Alaska dailies, in addition to a myriad of other stellar accomplishments.

But Bob never lost his energy, his leadership, his pluck, nor his love of family. And when his newspaper staff and his daughter were in danger from an irrational attacker, 79-year-old Bob sprang into action to neutralize the threat. And although it made national headlines, humble Bob didn't even put it on the front page the next day.

Thank you for being here. I'm happy to see you, come back in two weeks for Episode 95!

______

Time Stamps:

0:00:00 Intro

0:01:22 Murder and Corruption in Hawaii

0:24:43 Survivor Robert Atwood

0:34:49 Wrap-up

00:36:01 Closing

0:36:31 Outro

0:36:38 Bloopers

______

Look for episodes from True Crime BnB about every other week, still on Fridays.

. . .If you enjoy our show, please share our episodes on social media--that's the greatest way to help us find new listeners.

Another way is to rate and review on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods, or give us a 5-star rating on whatever platform you prefer!

https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeBnB?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

You can find us on Instagram, X (Twitter), or Facebook @TrueCrimeBnB

You can send us an email at [email protected]

And lastly, thank all of you for just coming along to listen. You're the best!!

Hello, Crime Family, and welcome back to Episode 93 at the True Crime BnB. This week we have a little more cussing than usual, because it comes up in quotes that really contribute to the telling of the stories.

Yes! I said STORIES. I'm harking back to the Bad Guy / Good Guy days, even in a solo episode, because if i can have an upper story to close the episode, then I will do that.

First up is the senseless murder of 24 year old Susan Schwarz, who was killed in Snohomish County, Washington in 1979. Because of witness intimidation by the perpetrator, it was 32 years before her killer was brought to justice, but in the end, we applaud the witness for speaking up. Susan was a victim of revenge because she tried to help someone else who was also a victim. And she deserves to be remembered for the good, kind, compassionate young woman she was.

I'm closing today with the upper story of Curtescine Foster Lloyd, a 51 year old woman in Edwards, Mississippi who was accosted in her bedroom by a naked man with evil intentions. But Curtescine saw her opportunity and took it. And that would-be rapist regretted the day he ever made his way into her house. Curtescine's testimony had the jury rolling with laughter, so don't miss this episode! (this is where almost all of the cussing comes in)

So thank you for stopping by, If you've missed Puss in the bloopers, she made her comeback today, so don't forget to hang around after the Outro to hear what she had to say.

See you back in two weeks, take care, and do something nice for yourself today!

Time Stamps:

0:00:00 Intro

0:01:30 Susan Schwarz

0:17:40 Survivor Curtescine Foster Lloyd

0:26:05 Wrap-up

0:27:32 Outro

0:27:42 Bloopers

______

Look for episodes from True Crime BnB about every other week, still on Fridays.

. . .If you enjoy our show, please share our episodes on social media--that's the greatest way to help us find new listeners.

Another way is to rate and review on Apple Podcasts or GoodPods, or give us a 5-star rating on whatever platform you prefer!

https://linktr.ee/TrueCrimeBnB?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

You can find us on Instagram, X (Twitter), or Facebook @TrueCrimeBnB

You can send us an email at [email protected]

And lastly, thank all of you for just coming along to listen. You're the best!!