Island Crime

After more than 67 years, a fresh tip comes in, which leaves Laura wondering whether police had another suspect on their radar back then. Also, throughout the series, Laura & Shauna have been pushing for the release of 'The Dead File.' In this episode, the case for and against opening up cold cases to the public. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode, Shauna steps inside the infamous murder house in South Wellington, where the unsolved 1959 murders of her great-great-grandparents Curly and Lizzie Kostyniuk, took place. The new owners learn about the house’s dark history and its connection to Shauna's family tragedy. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

After months of searching, the police file on the 1959 murders of Curly and Lizzie Kostyniuk has finally arrived, but it's not what Shauna and I hoped for. Over 100 pages of heavily redacted administrative paperwork instead of the real investigative file. Still, buried inside: new names, hints of an undercover operation, and a suspect who may have still been alive years later. Retired RCMP homicid...

Janet Piper is the great-granddaughter of the victims, Lizzie and Curly Kostyniuk. In this episode, she speaks publicly for the first time about the man she believes committed the murders, a man who was her grandfather. A man who went to jail twice. A man who terrorized three generations of women and children. The episode delves into the intergenerational trauma of abuse, secrecy, and justice. Fea...

A double murder. A robbery motive that doesn't add up. And a family theory that's been passed down in whispers for decades. In this episode, host Laura Palmer digs into the suspect, Shauna's family calls "Bad Grandpa" Joseph Charles Phillips, a convicted predator with a grudge, a motive, and, according to someone who knew him, sudden money after the killings. Through long-buried psychiatric record...

In 1959, South Wellington residents Andrew “Curly” Kosteniuk and his wife Lizzie are found stabbed to death, and the killer is never caught. Host Laura Palmer reexamines the case through archives and family memories. New details from Margaret Kostyniuk’s psychiatric records suggest escalating family conflict and a key suspect connected to secrets that never made the papers. This series includes or...

In June 1959, newspapers pile up outside the Kostyniuk home in South Wellington until neighbours find the house ransacked, the phone line cut, and the bodies of Andrew “Curly” and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Kostyniuk in the bedroom. Police back then suspect robbery, but the coroner’s inquest and autopsies suggest a more complex story.  I've posted the full Coroners Inquest report, including autopsies...

In the summer of 1959, Andrew and Elizabeth Kostyniuk, known to everyone in South Wellington, BC, as Curly and Lizzie, were stabbed to death in their own home. The case was never solved, and for 67 years, their names faded into silence. Now, their great-great-granddaughter, Shauna, has asked host Laura Palmer to take on her coldest case yet. In this first episode, Laura travels to South Wellington...

Island Crime Season 9: The Dead File — In 1959, Curly and Lizzie Kostyniuk were stabbed to death in their rural home near Nanaimo, BC — a double murder that was never solved and virtually forgotten for over six decades. Now, host Laura Palmer is reopening the case, chasing paper trails and reexamining evidence with the help of the victims' descendants, who have long suspected the truth is darker t...

Jeff Ingram discusses his experiences with dissociative amnesia, where memory loss leads him to wander, unable to recall past events. Dr. David Spiegel provides insights into the disorder's link to trauma. Gloria, whose husband Ian Indridson is missing, wonders if Ian may have experienced this kind of episode on the morning he disappeared. She shares her ongoing hope and emotional struggle as the...

The aftermath of Bree’s murder reveals more than just the tragedy of her death; it speaks volumes about the life she led. And may also reveal something about the circumstances surrounding her murder. Thank you to Bree's musical collaborators, Willem Weiss and Don Vaillancourt, for allowing me to use songs they created with Bree in the series.  'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Sea...

On her final night alive, Bree was with her friend Sara. In this episode, you’ll hear Sara’s account of what happened the night of the murder and why I now believe I know how Bree died. Plus, an expert reveals her chilling take on what she calls “the perfect weapon.” 'Shake it for me, Baby' is the theme song for Season 8. You can hear the song in its entirety on Willem's SoundCloud account . Bree'...

This episode contains mature themes and content related to domestic abuse, which some listeners may find disturbing or triggering. Please take care while listening. Three weeks after Bree’s murder, police descended on the home she once shared with her boyfriend, Darren. TV news cameras rolled as Darren appeared outside in handcuffs, his knees pressed to the pavement. To friends, Bree had once desc...

Bree's friendships were deep and profound. She sometimes called her girlfriends her 'Chicas'. In this episode, some of Bree's closest 'gal pals' reflect on the good times, even as they wrestle with the side of Bree she kept hidden from them and why. Thank you to Bree's musical collaborators, Willem Weiss and Don Vaillancourt, for allowing me to use songs they created with Bree in the series. ...

“After the pain of this disappointment, her heart once more stood empty, and the succession of identical days began again.” ― Gustave Flaubert, Madame Bovary How does a restless, hard-partying city girl end up on Vancouver Island? And how does her fiery temperament shape her most profound relationships? Through the eyes of Bree’s former partner, we see a woman yearning for something deeper, an ach...

Bree Gamble was known for her passion, fearlessness, and vibrant energy—a woman who seemed to live life in full colour until her tragic murder in 2021. The daughter of acclaimed Colombian filmmaker Jorge Lozano, Bree carried her Latin roots and artistic identity through everything she did. Central to her story is the rumbero spirit —a distinctly Colombian way of embracing joy and music even amid h...

How does a woman described as exotic, vibrant, and passionate end up murdered—her body abandoned near an oceanside park? What secrets does the crime scene hold about who killed Bree Gamble, and why? This season of Island Crime opens at Beacon Hill Park, the crown jewel of Victoria’s parks—and home to dozens of peacocks. When I first visited the scene, they were everywhere: striking, untamed, impos...

In the early hours of March 3rd, 2021, a woman named Bree Gamble (Lozano) is found unresponsive on the grass near Dallas Road in Victoria. Despite CPR attempts, she is pronounced dead. Police describe the scene as 'oddly clean,' but at first, no foul play is suspected. But then, less than a week later, her death is ruled a homicide. Bree is a mum, a singer and an artist. She is a waiter at high-en...

Between seasons of Island Crime, I update earlier stories and begin research on the season ahead. I wanted to take a quick moment to let you know what's been going on behind the scenes since the last season of Island Crime. As you know, the show doesn’t just end with the last episode—it’s a continuous journey, and there’s always something going on... Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more...

An update to missing man Kelly McLeod's case. Kelly's mother, Lorraine and his Auntie Sandy share their memories of Kelly and their hope that someone will come forward with new information. The RCMP sit down with me for the first time and confirm Kelly's disappearance is being investigated as a homicide. Plus, a source provides information regarding what they believe happened to Kelly McLeod. Host...

The Victoria police say the brown van tip was their best lead when Michael Dunahee was taken. But over the years, questions have been raised about the reliability of the child witness who first reports seeing the brown van. Tim Barron also witnessed a brown van that day. He told police what he saw and has been interviewed by them many times down the years. But this is the first time he has shared...

This is an 'episode drop' of a podcast about Lisa Marie Young. The show is called ' LAGIM: A Filipino True Crime Podcast . ' Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

'The ultimate act of control. I killed you, but nobody knows where you are' -Tad Dibiase, Author of No Body Homicide Cases. No body, no crime. Right now, on Vancouver Island, I know of several missing person cases which I am reasonably certain are homicides. But in the absence of a body, I appreciate that it is challenging for police to lay charges. But it's not impossible. Thomas A. (Tad) Dibiase...

It's been almost five years since the Nanaimo RCMP first sat down with me to discuss Lisa Marie Young's disappearance. Now, there's a new lead on the case. In this episode, I get an update from outgoing lead Corporal Markus Muntener and introduce you to the new investigative lead on the case, RCMP Constable Hayley Pinfold. If you have information about Lisa's disappearance, it is never too late to...

Curious to know how families feel about my involvement in their cases? Do police think I get in the way of their work? This is Vancouver Island from CBC Podcasts pulled back the curtain with me in an in-depth interview about how I approach these difficult and complex investigations. And if you’re like me, an islander, looking for stories about the news, but also the joys, frustrations, and quirks...