Historical True Crime

In this episode of Historical True Crime, we delve deep into the unsettling era of 1960s Boston, where the city was held captive by the ominous presence of the Boston Strangler. Join us as we explore the chilling events that unfolded from 1962 to 1964, sending shockwaves through the community and forever changing the city. Source Materials: https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/...

In this gripping episode, join us as we delve into the infamous case of D.B. Cooper, the enigmatic hijacker who, in 1971, parachuted into history with a fortune and disappeared without a trace. Uncover the details of the daring hijacking, the ransom demand, and the meticulous investigation that followed. Through expert interviews and archival material, we unravel the enduring mystery that continue...

Step into the shadows of history as we delve into the chilling true crime story that haunts the small town of Villisca, Iowa. In this episode, "Historical True Crime" explores the enigmatic Villisca Axe Murders of 1912, a gruesome event that forever altered the tranquility of this once-thriving community. Join us as we unravel the details of that fateful night, explore the suspects, and...

In this chilling episode, we delve into the dark and twisted world of one of America's most notorious criminals, Charles Starkweather. Join us as we unravel the harrowing tale of Starkweather's killing spree that terrorized the Midwest in the late 1950s. From the unsuspecting victims to the desperate manhunt that ensued, we explore the haunting details of the crimes that shocked the nation...

In the dark streets of 1940s Los Angeles, a tale unfolded that would grip the nation and leave a chilling legacy that persists to this day. Our journey through the enigmatic labyrinth of the Black Dahlia case will take us beyond the sensationalized headlines and into the heart of the investigation, exploring the dark corners of a narrative steeped in glamour, intrigue, and an enduring sense of una...

Harvey Glatman, known as the "Glamour Girl Slayer" and the "Lonely Hearts Killer," terrorized the West Coast of the United States in the late 1950s. His heinous crimes were marked by a sinister blend of charm, deception, and brutality. In this episode, we'll explore the life and crimes of Harvey Glatman, as well as the twisted psychology that drove him to commit acts of uns...

Throughout the darkest period of history, there exist stories of persecution and witches. Most of these accused women were not guilty. Today's episode is on what that was, Mary Bateman, the Yorkshire Witch. Source Materials https://www.mylearning.org/stories/crime-and-punishment-in-leeds/1053 https://www.on-magazine.co.uk/yorkshire/stories/the-leeds-witch/ https://www.examinerlive.co.uk/news/h...

Listen to hear how the term confidence man or con man was invented. As well as the stories of three famous historical con men, Thomspon, Ponzi and Lustig! Source Materials https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/03/con-artists-the-catch-imposters-sneaky-pete/520125/ https://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2015/09/william-thompson-original-conman/ https://historycollection.com/the-f...

In Texarkana in 1946, four heinous crimes took place in less than three months. Five people had been shot dead and three had suffered serious injuries by the time the frenzy ended. Who was the Phantom Killer? Source Materials https://www.texasmonthly.com/the-culture/texarkana-murder-mystery/ https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/The_Phantom_Killer https://thecrimewire.com/multifarious/The-Texarkan...

Jonathan Wild, was a notorious figure in London's underworld who is remembered for breaking the law while assuming the persona of the "Thief-Taker General," a selfless vigilante. Wild, a master manipulator and schemer, was well-known for his unwavering dedication to combatting crime in London. Source Materials: https://discover.hubpages.com/education/The-Thief-Taker-General-of-Great-...

Giulia Tofana was a professional poisoner in the 17th century who marketed her special recipes to wives who wished to murder their husbands. Once she was apprehended, Tofana estimated that she was accountable for having supplied the poison in 600 deaths, making her one of history's most prolific assassins. Source Materials: https://www.ncdv.org.uk/giulia-tofana-serial-killer-or-heroine/ https:...

Crime enthusiasts have been perplexed and intrigued by the Lizzie Borden case for more than a century. The hatchet murders of Andrew J. Borden and his wife, Abby Borden, were among the few incidents in American history to garner this much attention. Listen now to hear the full story! Source Materials: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/why-19th-century-axe-murderer-lizzie-borden-was-found-not-...

American criminal and potential serial killer William George Heirens admitted to three murders. In 1946, he was found guilty of the charges and earned the moniker "Lipstick Killer" after leaving an infamous note was found at one crime scene in lipstick. Was he a serial killer or wrongfully convicted? Listen to hear the full story! Source Materials https://www.crimelibrary.org/serial_kill...

Two different murders were arrested and prosecuted at the same unremarkable three-story house in a cul-de-sac in London's Notting Hill. John Reginald Christie’s home at 10 Rollington Place became known as the House of Horrors. He was responsible for the murders of up to 8 women and1 child and let a potentially innocent man be executed for his crimes. His story is even more intriguing because i...

Edward Wheeler Hall, an Episcopal priest, and Eleanor Mills, a member of his choir with whom he was having an affair, were both murdered on September 14, 1922, in Somerset, New Jersey, United States. To this day the case remains unsolved.  Source Materials: https://yalereview.org/article/hall-mills-murder-trial-1926 https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2022/09/the-birth-of-americas-true-crime-obsession...

Nancy "Nannie Doss" Hazle, a serial killer, was also known as the Giggling Granny, Giggling Nannie, Jolly Black Widow, Lonely Hearts murderer, Lady Bluebeard, and, as one newspaper put it, the "self-made widow." Source Materials https://allthatsinteresting.com/nannie-doss-giggling-granny               https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Nannie_Doss https://encyclopediaofalaba...

Albert Fish, a prolific 20th-century American serial killer, had numerous aliases, including The Boogeyman, The Grey Man, The Werewolf of Wysteria, The Brooklyn Vampire, and The Moon Maniac. Despite claiming 400 victims, Fish was found guilty and condemned to death for the murder of 10-year-old Gracie Budd. Fish was a little, gentle-looking man who appeared friendly and trusting, but when he was a...

One of the most well-known classical poison concoctors was Locusta of Gaul, who practiced her trade in the Roman Empire throughout the first century. Although very little has been published about her, one fact sticks out: she may have been one of the first serial killers in history. The majority of the information on Locusta that we have comes from classical male historians who were not acquainted...

The story goes something like this - two rich and respected men and one stunning woman. A terrible murder was committed in front of almost a thousand witnesses at an outdoor theatre in the middle of New York City, fueled by jealousy and a family history of mental illness. The subsequent trial immediately earned the moniker "the trial of the century." The 1907 trial and a second one held the follow...

Prospector Alferd Packer came in the Los Pinos Indian Agency in Gunnison, Colorado, on April 16, 1874, broke, freezing, and most significantly, by himself. Packer had been travelling into the mountains with a party of five men, but they had vanished. The last person to see them all together had reported that they were all still alive, but it appeared that something horrible had taken place by the...

One of the most notorious criminals from New Zealand was Minnie Dean. The first and only woman to be executed in the country's history. In the 123 years since a legend has developed around her notoriety, and it has been preserved in literature, theatre, poetry, and a folk song by Helen Henderson. The argument over Minnie’s legacy has persisted despite the considerable time that has passed. Sou...

At least 20 African-American women, all of whom were young, were murdered between 1911 and 1915. Their throats were cut, and nearly all of the victims sustained crippling head injuries from blunt objects.  No one has ever been found guilty of the murders that are mainly thought to have been the work of the city's first serial killer. Eventually, local publications started calling the killer th...

Accusations of being a murderer, a cannibal, and a werewolf were levelled against Peter Stumpp. While there are few records of his life before the crime, his murders and horrifying execution are somewhat well-recorded in history books. Source Materials: https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/history-and-civilisation/2022/10/a-german-werewolfs-confessions-horrified-1500s-europe https://benkageyama.me...

Albert Pierrepoint hanged a record number of individuals between 1932 and 1956. Although the precise number is still unclear, popular estimates place it at 435, but the man once asserted 550. As a young child, he was inspired by his father and uncle, both of whom carried out executions, and helped his uncle in the early stages of his career. Source Materials: https://allthatsinteresting.com/albert...

Martha Needle appeared to be a loyal housewife and a loving mother, but she harboured a dark secret.  Martha methodically and painstakingly poisoned her entire family a little over a century ago.  Drop by deadly drop, one by one, she killed her husband, three daughters, and the brother of her new fiancé, appearing to be loyal to her suffering loved ones as they died at her hands. Source Materials:...