Historical True Crime

When 20-year-old Georgette Bauerdorf was found murdered in her Los Angeles apartment in 1944, the city was left stunned—and full of questions. Was the killer a soldier she met at the Hollywood Canteen? A stranger lying in wait? Or someone she knew and trusted? Decades later, her case remains unsolved. In this episode, we unravel the clues and lingering theories behind one of Hollywood’s most haunt...

In 1929, occultist Netta Fornario was found dead on the sacred island of Iona under eerie and unexplained circumstances. Was her death the result of exposure, a psychic attack, or something even stranger? Join us as we unravel the haunting mystery of a woman who may have crossed a line between worlds—and never returned. Source Materials: http://www.welcometoiona.com/iona-heritage/early-christian-s...

In 1889, Crown Prince Rudolf of Austria and 17-year-old Baroness Maria Vetsera were found dead in a remote hunting lodge—an apparent lovers’ suicide that shocked the world. But was it really a tragic romance… or something far more sinister? In this episode, we unravel one of Europe’s most haunting royal mysteries, where politics, scandal, and empirecollide.

A teenager tortured to death. A mother who claimed insanity. Children who became accomplices. This episode tells the whole chilling story of Sylvia Likens—and what happened after the headlines faded. Source Materials Dean, John (2008).  House of Evil: The IndianaTorture Slaying . United States of America: St. Martin's Paperbacks.  ISBN   978-0-312-94699-9 . https://allthatsinteresting.com/gert...

In 1976, a young German woman died after nearly a year of exorcisms. What followed was one of the most controversialtrials in modern religious history. This episode explores the haunting case of Anneliese Michel—a tragic intersection of faith, mental illness, and the cost of belief. Source Materials https://allthatsinteresting.com/anneliese-michel-exorcism https://skepticalinquirer.org/exclusive/s...

In 1867, the quiet village of Alton, England was shattered by the horrific murder of eight-year-old Fanny Adams—an act so brutal it shocked Victorian society and left a disturbing legacy. In this episode, we explore the events of that summerday, the investigation and trial that followed, and how Fanny’s name became forever entangled in history, slang, and sorrow. Source Materials: Cansfield, Peter...

In this episode, we dive into the mysterious case of Bella, whose body was discovered in a wych elm tree in Hagley Wood in 1941. With theories ranging from espionage to witchcraft, we explore the chilling details, the ongoingintrigue surrounding her identity, and the modern-day efforts to solve the case. Join us as we unravel the mystery of "Who put Bella in the Wych Elm?" and take a clo...

In 1931, a Liverpool insurance agent returned home to find his wife savagely murdered—and himself at the center of one of Britain’s most baffling murder mysteries. With an airtight alibi, a fake appointment, and no clear motive, the case of Herbert and Julia Wallace remains unsolved to this day. SourceMaterials: https://www.williamherbertwallace.com/general/the-murder-of-julia-wallace/ https://www...

In 1930s Texas, Joe Ball was just another bootlegger-turned-barkeep—until the women around him started disappearing. With a backyard alligator pit, a string of missing waitresses, and a pistol always close at hand, Joe’s story blurs the line between fact and folklore. Step into the shadowy legend of the Alligator Man. Source Materials Joe Ball: The Butcher of Elmendorf — Introduction — Crime Libra...

In April 1836, 23-year-old courtesan Helen Jewett was found murdered in a New York City brothel. The prime suspect, Richard P. Robinson, was acquitted despite strong evidence. The case became a media sensation, highlighting the power of press coverage and exposing harsh 19th-century societal realities. Source Materials https://allthatsinteresting.com/helen-jewett https://www.thoughtco.com/murder-o...

On February 4, 1880, the quiet town of Biddulph, Ontario, erupted into chaos as a mob set fire to a farmhouse,slaughtering the notorious Donnelly family in a brutal act of frontier justice. In this episode, we uncover the truth behind one of Canada’s most infamous true crime cases—a tale of feuds, vengeance, and a massacre that still haunts history. Source Materials: https://www.thoroldtoday.ca/lo...

In 1927, 12-year-old Marion Parker was kidnapped in Los Angeles by William Edward Hickman, who demanded ransom from her father. But even after he was paid, Hickman had no intention of letting her go. This shocking case gripped the nation and changed the way kidnappings were investigated. Source Materials: Fiend Captured at Echo, Or; Jailed; Confesses, Report" .  Albany Democrat-Herald . Decem...

The brutal 1969 murder of 22-year-old Betsy Aardsma inside Penn State’s Library remains unsolved over 50 years later. With no witnesses, few clues, and a crime scene wiped clean, investigators were left with more questions than answers. Who killed Betsy, and why? Source Materials: The Unsolved: Betsy Aardsma – The Morbid Library Unsolved murder of Penn State student Betsy Aardsma haunts community...

A charming Hungarian bachelor lured women through lonely hearts ads—then made them disappear. When authorities uncovered his gruesome secret, Kiss had already vanished. Sightings spanned decades and continents, but he was nevercaught. Did he fake his death? Was he hiding in plain sight? Join us as we unravel the chilling mystery of Bela Kiss, the elusive murderer who slipped through history’s fing...

A tragic love affair ends in murder at Big Moose Lake. The case of Chester Gillette and Grace Brown inspired one of America’s greatest novels, An American Tragedy , and multiple film adaptations. But what really happened that fateful night? Dive into the true story behind the fiction. SourceMaterials: https://www.adirondack.net/history/grace-brown/ https://mail.crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/c...

When billionaire gold magnate Sir Harry Oakes was foundmurdered in his Bahamas estate in 1943, the crime shocked the world. With ties to high society, organized crime, and political power, his brutal death remains one of history’s greatest unsolved mysteries. Source Materials: Unraveling The Mysterious Death of Sir Harry Oakes in the Bahamas - DuJour Fortune's End: The Mysterious Murder of Sir...

On Christmas Eve 1945, a fire destroyed the Sodder home, and five children went missing. No remains were found, sparking suspicions of kidnapping. Despite years of investigations and mysterious clues, the case remains unsolved, haunting the family and the public to this day. Source Materials What Happened to the Sodder Children, the Siblings Who Went Up in Smoke in a West Virginia House Fire? | Sm...

Hollywood starlet Thelma Todd was a comedic genius, a savvy businesswoman, and a rising star—until she was found dead in her car under suspicious circumstances. Was it an accident, suicide, or something more sinister? Decades later, her case remains one of Hollywood’s greatest unsolved mysteries. Tune in as we unravel the legend of the Ice Cream Blonde . Source Materials https://www.vanityfair.com...

Three lighthouse keepers vanish without a trace from aremote Scottish island in 1900. No bodies, no witnesses—only eerie clues and wild speculation. Was it a freak wave, madness, or something more sinister? Dive into the mystery of the Flannan Isles disappearance. Source Materials https://blog.nrscotland.gov.uk/2023/12/12/flannan-isles-lighthouse-keepers-the-disappearance/ https://www.history.co.u...

In today’s episode, we explore the mysterious case of Bobby Dunbar, a young boy who disappeared in 1912 and was later found—but was he really Bobby? DNA tests decades later revealed shocking truths about his identity, unraveling a story of mistaken identity, family drama, and a 100-year-old mystery. Tune in for a deep dive into one of America’s most controversial true crime cases. Source Materials...

In 1632, the town of Loudun, France, was rocked by the possession of nuns at a local convent. Accusations of witchcraft targeted Urbain Grandier, a priest caught in a web of politics, religion, and hysteria. In this episode, we explore the dark events behind the Loudun possessions and the trial that followed. Source Materials The Loudun Affair: Bizarre Witch Trials in France Loudun Possessions – O...

In this episode, we unravel the infamous case of Alice Crimmins, a mother at the center of one of the most controversial true crime trials of the 1960s. Accused of murdering her two young children, Alice’s story became a media spectacle, fueled by societal biases and shaky evidence. Decades later, questions about her guilt—and the truth behind the tragedy—still linger. Source Materials Alice Crimm...

In this episode, we explore the chilling Cold Spring murders, a case that baffled the public and led to a series of dramatic trials. Nancy Clem, William Abrams, and Silas Hartman were arrested in connection with the brutal killings of the Youngs, but the mystery deepened with each trial. We’ll examine the twists and turns of their courtroom battles, the complex motivations behind the crime, and th...

In this episode, we explore the fascinating and tragic story of Mary Mallon, better known as Typhoid Mary. As the first identified asymptomatic carrier of typhoid fever in the United States, Mallon unknowingly spread the deadly bacteria to dozens of people, leading to widespread fear and controversy. Her life was marked by defiance, isolation, and a complex battle for her freedom, raising importan...

Join us as we unravel the tragic and mysterious case of Mary Cecilia Rogers, the 19th-century "Cigar Girl" whose beauty captivated New York City and whose death sparked a media frenzy. From her rise as a local icon to the chilling discovery of her body, we explore the theories, suspects, and cultural impact of this unsolved crime—including its influence on Edgar Allan Poe's detective fiction. Dive...