Crimes and Consequences

Step into the dark and tangled web of Betty Lou Beets, The Black Widow. In this exclusive Early Release episode, we unravel the chilling story of a woman whose life was marked by love, betrayal, and murder. With five husbands and two mysterious deaths, Betty Lou’s tale blurs the line between victim and villain. Was she a misunderstood woman fighting for survival—or a calculating predator with a de...

On June 10th, 1983, the decomposing body of a well-dressed man was found in a desolate canyon near Los Angeles. John Doe #94 would soon be identified as missing variety show producer Roy Radin. He'd last been seen after meeting with a mysterious woman in a gold dress. Her name was Lanie Jacobs.   Jacobs and Radin were obsessed with becoming Hollywood movie producers. And when their paths collided,...

On Tuesday, June 18, 1985, Jerry Estes was woken by pounding on the door of his office. After a busy Monday, he’d stayed late socializing and drinking beer after hours with some employees and fallen asleep at the Sale Barn, his cattle auction house and café in Nixa, Missouri. He opened the office door half-dressed. His cook, Alice, was standing before him talking excitedly, followed close behind b...

In this episode, we’re diving into the twisted and tragic story of Ezra McCandless, a young woman with a turbulent love life that led to a shocking and brutal crime. Ezra’s tale is one of passion, betrayal, and deadly obsession—capturing headlines and the public's morbid curiosity. We’ll dissect the events that led up to that fateful day, the complex relationships that fueled her actions, and the...

On September 16, 2019, police officers responded to a car crash in the city of Hickox, Brantley County, Georgia. Michael Wayne Jones Jr.'s white Chrysler Pacifica minivan was the only car involved in the accident. When police responded to the crash, nobody was prepared for what Michael had to say about his wife, Casei Jones, and his children. SOURCES: 1) Casei Jones Obituary (2019) 2) Death Penalt...

Marybeth Tinning murdered each of her children in cold blood. The motive was that she enjoyed the sympathy and attention she received when her children brought to the hospital. The causes of death for Tinning's first eight children was initially thought to be genetic. Even when her sixth child, Michael – who was adopted  and not of blood relation – died in 1981, authorities failed to open an inves...

On the morning of March 12, 2011, Rachel Orteli, the manager of a Lululemon in the suburbs of Washington D.C., walked up to the storefront ready to start her day and get the store opened. As Rachel approached the front door, she noticed that the door was already unlocked. Once inside, Rachel found the store in disarray: clothes thrown about, mannequins knocked over, clothing racks tipped. Immediat...

We are diving into the tumultuous and controversial life of Bonny Lee Bakely, a woman whose ambitions and manipulations put her at the center of a Hollywood tragedy. From her string of relationships with wealthy men to her final marriage to actor Robert Blake, Bakely’s life was one marked by scandal, deception, and obsession. But her story came to a shocking end in 2001, leaving behind a tangled w...

The Citizen Record reported on Thursday, June 7, 1934: “4 MEMBERS OF MURDER SYNDICATE WHO FINALLY KILLED ‘DURABLE’ MALLOY DIE IN CHAIR TONIGHT – At Sing Sing Prison tonight, in the little room with the horrible chair, the Bronx murder syndicate will sit down to death. One by one the undertaker Frank Pasqua, the speakeasy owner Anthony Marino, the bartender Joseph Murphy, and the fruit dealer Danie...

The human body is a miracle. But when it’s not working, it can be the stuff of nightmares. On this new series from master storyteller MrBallen, we’re sharing medical horror stories and diagnostic mysteries that are surgically calibrated to make your blood run cold. From bizarre, unheard-of diseases and miraculous recoveries to strange medical mishaps and unexplainable deaths — you’ll never hear th...

The Citizen Record reported on Thursday, June 7, 1934: “4 MEMBERS OF MURDER SYNDICATE WHO FINALLY KILLED ‘DURABLE’ MALLOY DIE IN CHAIR TONIGHT – At Sing Sing Prison tonight, in the little room with the horrible chair, the Bronx murder syndicate will sit down to death. One by one the undertaker Frank Pasqua, the speakeasy owner Anthony Marino, the bartender Joseph Murphy, and the fruit dealer Danie...

SHOUT OUT TO STACY M. FOR SUGGESTING THIS EPISODE! THANK YOU! In October 1989, 11-year-old Jacob Wetterling and his brother, Trevor (age 10), and best friend, Aaron (age 11), convinced Jacob's parents to allow them to ride their bikes to a local convenience store in St. Joseph, Minnesota. It got dark early in the evening in Minnesota in October, and the boys had to take flashlights and wear reflec...

Complaints of a nasty smell led the landlord to check on the apartment of Darlene Hayes. He made a horrific discovery on the 27th of July in 2009.Inside a closet lay the severely beaten and decomposing body of 23-year-old Darlene Hayes. It was clear that Darlene had been dead in the hot July heat for several days. The most disturbing fact of the scene was that Darlene had been 8 months pregnant… a...

In December 2017, the tranquil affluence of Toronto's North York neighborhood was shattered by a discovery that would captivate Canada and spark one of the nation's most perplexing criminal investigations. Barry Sherman, the billionaire founder of generic drug giant Apotex, and his wife Honey were found dead in their mansion, their bodies positioned beside their indoor pool. SOURCES: 1) The Distur...

July 27th, 1996. Atlanta, Georgia. During a free concert at Atlanta’s Centennial Olympic Park, security guard Richard Jewell spotted an abandoned backpack. Authorities soon discovered that it contained a live bomb. The bomb detonated minutes later, but Jewell’s actions saved countless lives. Days later, he became the main suspect in the bombing. The public would immediately associate him with the...

After much careful thought, Talia has decided to leave the pod and therefore, we have a new co-host, Shannon! Listen to this little blurb to get to know her and hopefully, grow to love her too! In this introduction, Tonya and Shannon discuss how they met/know each other, as well as Shannon talking a little bit about herself. We hope you will welcome her and give her a chance. When we recorded this...

John and Nancy Newman lived in Anchorage, Alaska in March 1987. At that time, John, who was training to become a locksmith, was out-of-town completing his training. Nancy was left at home with their two daughters, 8-year-old Melissa and 3-year-old Angie. On the morning of March 15, 1987, after not arriving at her job the night before, the bodies of Nancy and her two daughters were found by her bro...

Around 5:30 on Wednesday, December 6, 1989, the Café Campus at the Université de Montréal was busy as usual. It had been a favorite spot for students and because the temperatures were below zero that day, it was a warm place for students to gather. It was the end of the semester, and for some, it had been the last day of classes before the holiday break. Suddenly the normal buzz of the café was in...

Beginning in 1983, the Chicago area was terrorized by a rapist and killer whose reign of terror didn't end until he was apprehended in 1985. Brian Dugan, who is still incarcerated, was already in prison for killing a woman and a child, when he confessed to another murder. Listen to this week's episode to hear more. Join us on Facebook and IG: @HARDCORETRUECRIME Web: www.crimesandconsequences.com--...

For nearly three and a half years in the mid-nineties, terror spread throughout London, England as a mysterious person, who called themselves Mardine Graham, built and randomly sent out over 30 packages containing homemade bombs. For years, this mystery person was able to evade police and continue following through with the many threats that they made. The search for this person resulted in one of...

Anna Bachmeier was nowhere to be found when her mom got home. Having gotten into a fight with her mother the night before, Anna decided to skip school. When her mother, Marianne came home that day she panicked when she couldn't find Anna. After calling all her friends, Marianne decided to call the police. Only hours later, a woman walked into the police station with a chilling story: her fiance, K...

Ray and Faye Copeland were a couple trying to make ends meet in the 1980s. At this point in their lives, the couple were in the 70s and they were struggling. Ray, a career thief who made a living by stealing livestock and had been caught so many times, was banned from cattle livestock. Ray then decided to devise a much more devious plan to make money. Listen to this week's episode to hear more abo...

May 28, 2018, around 1:15 AM: Deputies with the Ventura County Sheriff’s Office responded  to a report of a disturbance at a residence in a condo in  Thousand Oaks California. When they arrived they found 26-year-old Chad O’Melia dead and 27-year-old Bryn Spejcher suffering from “self-inflicted stab wounds.  Did she commit murder while in a cannabis-induced psychosis?  Listen to form your own opin...

On July 16, 2011, 17-year-old Tyler Hadley was preparing to have a party at his parent’s house. He had been planning this event for a few weeks, but Tyler didn’t post on Facebook until that day. He told everyone that his parents were out of town and that it was time to party! That evening, around 60 teenagers would go to the Hadley household in Port St. Lucie, Florida, having no idea the horror th...

On August 3, 2013, Alexis Tiara Murphy, a 17-year-old high school student from Nelson County, Virginia disappeared after being seen at a gas station in Lovingston, Virginia. Eventually, Randy Taylor was convicted of her brutal slaying.  The question is how many others did Rany kill? Thank you Rachael Spillers for writing this episode and SHANEL B. for suggesting this case. Sources: Alexis Tiara Mu...