Historical True Crime

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...

In January 1932, the icy wilderness of Canada’s Yukon Territory became the stage for an extraordinary manhunt. Known as the “Mad Trapper of Rat River,” Albert Johnson eluded law enforcement for weeks, battling the elements and evading capture with near-supernatural skill. Join us as we unravel the legend of Albert Johnson—a tale of isolation, endurance, and a mystery that continues to baffle nearl...

In this episode, we explore the tragic and mysterious case of Barbara and Patricia Grimes, two sisters from Chicago who vanished in December 1956. Their disappearance sparked a massive search that culminated in the discovery of their bodies nearly a month later, revealing a chilling crime that remains unsolved to this day. Source Materials: https://medium.com/@natasha.leigh/the-gruesome-unsolved-m...

In this episode, we dive into the infamous 1850 trial of Dr. John White Webster, a Harvard professor accused of murdering fellow doctor George Parkman. We explore the high-profile case, the groundbreaking forensic evidence presented in court, and how this tragedy unintentionally helped launch the field of forensic anthropology. Source Materials: https://www.boston.com/news/history/2017/11/22/a-19t...

In this episode, we dive into the infamous Red Barn Murder of 1828, exploring the tragic tale of Maria Marten and her lover William Corder. Source Materials: https://headstuff.org/culture/history/william-corder-red-barn-killer/ https://the-line-up.com/the-red-barn-murder-1827 https://fiveminutehistory.com/if-only-the-dead-could-talk-the-ghost-of-the-red-barn-murder/ https://murderpedia.org/male. C...

In this episode, we explore the tragic death of Carl Switzer, best known as Alfalfa from The Little Rascals , and the mysterious circumstances surrounding his shooting in 1959. We also look at the untimely deaths of other cast members, raising questions about a possible "curse" that shadowed the beloved series. Source Materials: The Little Rascals: The Life and Times of Our Gang by Leonard Maltin...

In this episode of Historical True Crime , we explore the chilling story of the Bath School Massacre, the deadliest school attack in U.S. history. In 1927, a small Michigan town was shattered by Andrew Kehoe, a local farmer whose meticulously planned act of terror left 45 dead and a community forever changed. Source Materials: Ellsworth, Monty J. (1991) [1927]. "Chapter Three — Life of Andrew Keho...

In this episode of Historical True Crime , we dive into the tragic events at Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin. What began as an idyllic retreat for Wright and his lover, Mamah Borthwick, turned into a horrific scene of violence and betrayal. We explore the shocking massacre, the mystery surrounding Julian Carlton’s motives, and the relentless media storm that followed. Finally, we examine Wright’s de...

In this episode, we uncover the horrifying story of Dean Corll, also known as The Candy Man , who committed one of the most brutal series of murders in American history. Join us as we explore Corll’s seemingly ordinary life, his twisted relationships with teenage accomplices, and the shocking chain of events that led to his capture. Source Materials: https://allthatsinteresting.com/dean-corll-cand...

In this episode of Historical True Crime , we unravel the chilling events surrounding the 1932 kidnapping of Charles Lindbergh Jr., the son of famed aviator Charles Lindbergh. From the initial abduction and the frantic ransom negotiations to the shocking discovery of the child's remains, we explore the twists and turns of a case that captivated the nation and forever altered American society. Sour...

In this episode, we dive into one of the most infamous events in Chicago's history: the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre. Set against the backdrop of the Roaring Twenties and Prohibition, we unravel the bloody feud between Al Capone and Bugs Moran, leading to the brutal execution of seven men in a North Side garage. Source Materials: https://www.history.com/topics/crime/saint-valentines-day-massacre h...

Explore the mysterious death of pioneering filmmaker Thomas Ince, whose untimely passing in 1924 sparked rumors of scandal and murder. Dive into the facts, the rumors, and how Ince’s legacy became overshadowed by one of Hollywood’s most enduring mysteries. Source Materials: https://collider.com/westerns-thomas-h-ince/ https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/mysterious-death-of-hollywood-pioneer-pic/ https://...

In this special 100th episode, we dive deep into the infamous case of Jack the Ripper. From the prime suspects to the ongoing debates about his identity, we unravel the mysteries surrounding the brutal murders in Victorian London. Source Materials: https://allthatsinteresting.com/jack-the-ripper-suspects https://www.jack-the-ripper.org/ https://www.casebook.org/intro.html https://history.howstuffw...