Crimes of Passion

Husband and wife Gerald and Charlene Gallego embarked on a brutal killing spree in the fall of 1978. For months, they terrorized young women in California, until an FBI manhunt brought their reign of terror to an end. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

By the time Gerald Gallego was 30, he was already a lifelong predator whose twisted crimes reached back into his childhood. When he met Charlene Williams in 1977, she became the newest target of his abuse — until she proposed a plan that made her his accomplice. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1990, Gregg Smart was murdered. Suspicion fell on 15-year-old Billy Flynn and his friends at first, but eventually the trail led back to Gregg's wife, 22-year-old Pamela Smart. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pamela and Gregg Smart's romance started strong, but after Gregg had an affair, 22-year-old Pamela turned to 15-year-old Billy Flynn for validation. The once happy marriage ended in betrayal... and death. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Casting himself as a lovestruck Robin Hood, 27-year-old John Wojtowicz tried to rob a bank so he could pay for his estranged wife’s gender confirmation surgery. The heist didn’t go as planned — but it would change both their lives forever. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Volatile and brash, John Wojtowicz lusted after a vibrant transgender woman named Liz Eden in the 1970s. They had a passionate relationship, but it soured — leaving Liz doomed to a hospital’s mistreatment, and John with an outrageous plan to get her out. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Years of emotional abuse, combined with an addictive prescription from Dr. Herman Tarnower, led Jean Harris to become severely depressed. She decided to take her life in March 1980 — but not before seeing Herman one last time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the 1960s, Jean Harris and Dr. Herman Tarnower developed an unconventional open relationship. He strung her along as a romantic afterthought for years, while prescribing her methamphetamines — leaving her hopelessly devoted, dependent, and ultimately, doomed. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the third and final part of this series, we’ll look at three more infamous romances between prisoners and civilians. And how some of them seemed to work… but only for a while.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In part 2 of this series, we’ll look at three couples who risked everything to take their relationships to the next level… even if it meant facing jail time for them both. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Even the most sadistic killers have found love — or some distortion of it — in prison. Over the next three weeks, unravel the complicated dynamics that set these romances apart, and the high-profile cases of love gone right… and wrong.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the morning of July 18, 1989, Bardo knocked on the door of Rebecca Schaeffer’s Hollywood home — not as a misguided fan, but a serial harasser. Their tragic encounter would change stalking laws throughout the U.S. for decades to come.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1989, after years of obsessing over actress Rebecca Schaeffer, 19-year-old Robert John Bardo boarded a bus and headed for West Hollywood. It wasn’t his first attempt at reaching through to the young star — but it would be his last.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luring their friend deeper into Pennsylvania woods, Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf prepared to carry out their sinister plot. But only one of them was prepared for the aftermath of Skylar Neese’s disappearance. In January 2013, Rachel was finally ready to reveal the full depths of the trio’s dysfunction.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In West Virginia, a once-inseparable trio of teenage girls became toxic after two of them struck up a secret romantic relationship. Fearing their friend would expose them, 16-year-olds Shelia Eddy and Rachel Shoaf plotted to keep Skylar Neese silent for good.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 1838, an impoverished fourteen-year-old boy became obsessed with England’s young monarch, Queen Victoria. Edward Jones broke into Buckingham Palace repeatedly, hoping to get close to her. But with every trespassing, the Crown grew more desperate to stop him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On November 8, 2010, three armed men broke into the Pan family home. Bich Pan was shot and killed instantly, but her husband survived his gunshot wounds. Their 24-year-old daughter Jennifer had masterminded it all.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Hann and Bich Pan worked to give their daughter, Jennifer, every opportunity they never had. But when she failed to meet their high expectations, she turned to a life of deception, keeping her failing grades and forbidden romance a secret to all.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The truth of his wife’s affair and son’s parentage uncovered, Eadweard shot off to Calistoga, California with murderous intent.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the late 19th century, a conman came between frontier photographer Eadweard Muybridge and his young wife, Flora Downs.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today we’re bringing you a special two-part episode from another Spotify Original from Parcast. If you enjoy it, check out Solved Murders, free and only on Spotify. It became one of the most sensationalized cases of the late 19th century: The young wife of a playboy medical student died not long after a botched abortion. But it wasn’t the dangerous procedure that killed her. Learn more about your...

Today we’re bringing you a special two-part episode from another Spotify Original from Parcast. If you enjoy it, check out Solved Murders, free and only on Spotify. It became one of the most sensationalized cases of the late 19th century: The young wife of a playboy medical student died not long after a botched abortion. But it wasn’t the dangerous procedure that killed her. Learn more about your...

Jeannie Butkowski tried to break things off with Pernell in December 1988, but the ex-football player refused to let her go. Then, she disappeared. Police treated her as a runaway, not a victim — until a hunter’s hound confirmed the worst. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Unable to kick his steroid addiction, college football star Pernell Jefferson sabotaged his chance to turn pro. He took up stalking, kidnapping, and assaulting women he was dating. And in 1988, he directed his focus on Jeannie Butkowski. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Susan Powell disappeared in December 2009 after telling her husband Josh she wanted a divorce. As authorities closed in on the truth of her disappearance, tragedy struck the Powell family once again. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices