This week we are covering a lesser known, but still horrific (and also very interesting) case: the murder of Debbie Dorian. Debbie Dorian was a smart, driven 22 year old college student at Fresno State when her life was cut short by an unidentified attacker. Despite police taking immediate action, her case went cold. 

Just a few years later, a string of sexual assaults began taking place in a nearby town, and when police submitted DNA from one of these attacks to their database, they came up with a suprising match, that lead them on a years long hunt for a very scary man. 

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Sources: 
https://abc30.com/nickey-stane-debbie-dorian-fresno-apartment/14110858/
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/crime/article282478238.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJkjGtsWlDo
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/crime/article282478238.html

This week we take a look at one of the most infamous, horrifying cases in California history: the abduction and murder of Polly Klaas. This story takes place in 1993, when 12 year old Polly is stolen out of her own bedroom during a sleep over with two friends, while her mother and sister slept in the other room. The boldness of the abduction, along with the inability to find a single suspect for more than two months, made this case one of the most terrifying and captivating of its time. The entire nation stood by, waiting for answers, and finally, just before the new year, they got what they were waiting for when a man was finally tied to her disappearance. 

Once Polly's killer was caught, her story was used to pass multiple new laws, including California's highly debated Three Strikes and You're Out law, which was sold to frightened voters as a way to protect our children, but ended up imprisoning thousands of non violent criminals, while others continued to walk free. While Polly's father Marc was a big proponent of these laws, her two sisters, Jess and Annie, are not, and we'll talk about why, as well as how they are choosing to honor their sister's legacy in a very different way. 

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Sources: 
https://crimegrade.org/safest-places-in-petaluma-ca/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/polly-klaas-murder-30-years-investigators-remember-dogged/story?id=103276602
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/oct/22/polly-klaas-sisters-criminal-justice-mass-incarceration
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-supreme-court/1286985.html
https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/richard-allen-davis-kidnapping-murder-polly-klaas-sleepover

This week finishes the horrifying saga of Bill Bonin, otherwise known as the Freeway Killer, who killed at least 21 young men and boys between 1979 and 1980. In the second half of this case, we hear more horrifying details about his final murders, as well as how he and his accomplices were eventually caught, put on trial, and, in some cases, suffered fates similar to those of their victims. 

Tune in to hear the terrible conclusion to this awful tale, and come back next week for more terrible stories from the golden state! 

Instagram: True Crime California

Sources:
https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/46/659.html
Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Who Escaped Justice (Serial Killer Books by Vonda Pelto, Ph.D. & Michael B. Butler)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bonin
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/freeway-killers-chilling-final-words-32031585
https://www.amazon.com/William-Bonin-Freeway-Historical-Murderers/dp/1519631197v

This week, Cindy is doing a deep dive on the absolutely horrible, despicable serial killer, William "Bill" Bonin. This trash bag human assaulted or murdered upwards of 50 boys and young men, and had no signs of stopping when he was finally caught in the summer of 1981. Beyond the horrificness of his murders, this case really highlights the problems within the justice system, especially in the 1970's and 80's. Between paperwork issues, negligent doctors, and a wide hunting ground, Bill Bonin was able to prey on his victims for years. Luckily, once the killing began, he was stopped after only two years, but with the frequency of his attacks, that still meant many boys and young men would lose their lives before this killer was finally caught. 

Tune in to hear all about this horrific tale, and come back next week for part two!

Instagram: True Crime California

Sources:
https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/46/659.html
Without Redemption: Creation & Deeds of Freeway Killer Bill Bonin, His Five Accomplices & How One Who Escaped Justice (Serial Killer Books by Vonda Pelto, Ph.D. & Michael B. Butler)
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bonin
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/us-news/freeway-killers-chilling-final-words-32031585
https://www.amazon.com/William-Bonin-Freeway-Historical-Murderers/dp/1519631197

True Crime California is a podcast about crimes that take place in, you guessed it - the great Golden State of California. Brought to you by Cindy, a former host of Twisted Listers Podcast, these stories will cover everything from well known crimes we've all heard about, to more obscure stories that need to be told. Join in weekly for new cases, with occasional  multi-episode arcs for the bigger cases out there, with mini episodes coming soon too! This podcast is creepy, interesting, and all California, all the time.

This week we take a look at yet another murder from the 1980's, this time from 1986 in San Diego County. This story is about the tragic murder of 20 year old Cara Knott, a bright young woman with her whole life ahead of her until she meets an unlikely killer while driving home one night. The case takes many twists and turns in the short time it is investigated, and the first trial for her killer ends in an unexpected way. This case is groundbreaking for many reasons, and the legacy left by this young woman and her family continues to help the lives of victims everywhere. Tune in to hear all about it, and don't forget to like, rate, and review! Indie podcasts rely on word of mouth, so tell everyone you know to give us a listen! 

True Crime California Instagram

Sources:
https://amysterlingcasil.com/i-was-pulled-over-by-chp-killer-craig-peyer-and-lived
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1987-02-06-me-582-story.html
https://www.eastcountymagazine.org/cara-knott-family-seeks-public-help-block-parole-chp-officer-craig-peyer-convicted-sdsu-students-mur
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Cara_Knott
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2000-dec-02-me-60177-story.html

Take two on this case! This week, Cindy is looking at a previously cold case that was finally solved over 30 years after a young couple was abducted from Davis, CA, while on their way to a surprise party. As some of you may know, Davis is Cindy's home town, so this case is very near and dear to her, as it was to many people who grew up there, including a journalist named Joel Davis, who became so interested in the case he actually helped get it reopened, and finally solved. Follow along with all the twists and turns of a 30 year case finally solved by a former classmate of one of the victims (with a little help from new DNA technology). This case is sad, frustrating, and ultimately bittesweet - we're glad the monster who killed them was finally caught, but nothing will ever bring this beautiful couple back, or remove the stain on the community from which they were taken one cold, foggy night in December 1980. 

Instagram: @truecrimecalifornia

Sources:
Justice Waits: The UC Davis Sweetheart Murders, by Joel Davis (available on amazon)
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/the-sweetheart-murders-a-look-back-at-the-case/
https://serological.com/forensic-dna-testing/davis-enterprise-richard-joseph-hirschfield-found-guilty-of-sweetheart-murders/

This week, we take a look at the very well known and horrifying case of the Wonderland Murders. This case involves a slew of then-well-known names, including one John Holmes, otherwise known as Johnny Wadd, a famous (or infamous) adult film star and all around trash bag human being. From humble beginnings to incredible fame to a drug induced fall from grace, this man single handedly caused so much chaos and death for those around him, the story is almost unbelievable. However, anything is possible in Hollywood, especially in the drug fueled 1980's. Even, as you will see, a crime so bold and out in the open, it's absolutely wild that this quadruple murder, known also as the 'four on the floor' murders, is still unsolved. 

True Crime California Instagram: @truecrimecalifornia


Sources:
Malice In Wonderland: The Inside Story of the Police Investigation of The Laurel Canyon Murders, Tom Lange and Robert Souza
The Road Through Wonderland: Surviving John Holmes, Dawn Schiller
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Holmes_(actor)
https://www.michaelconnelly.com/wonderland-murders/
https://www.thedailybeast.com/a-prison-interview-with-scott-thorson-wonderland-murders-witness-and-liberaces-pet/

Hello and welcome to True Crime California, a podcast all about crime that takes place in the Great Golden State.

For our first episode, we dive into the trouble life and horrible death of Playboy Playmate and rising star, Dorothy Stratten. 

At just 18 years old Dorothy moved from Canada to Hollywood, looking for a new life as a movie star. Like many beautiful, naive young women, Dorothy was taken advantage of by nearly everyone she met, including the men in her life she thought she could trust most. As her fame rose, so did the drama in her life, culminating in a horrific murder suicide that rocked Hollywood for years. 

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