Madness and Murder

Authors: Ellie Brandt and Hannah Carrossellia Description: In this episode, we talk about the cold case of Elisa Lam, a 21 year old who went missing during her stay at the Cecil Hotel. We talk about all the facts of the case, and discuss some theories as to how she may have died.  Sources:   The Horrifying History of the Infamous Cecil HotelLinks to an external site. Elisa Lam Elevator Video Links...

Authors: Hannah Orris and Anna Zucconi (Visit Hannah's Handshake:  https://kent.joinhandshake.com/profiles/x7zty8 and LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-orris-821670330) Description: This case covers the case of The Staircase Killer, who we know as Michael Peterson, who was accused of murdering his second wife, Kathleen Peterson (formerly Hunt, and then Atwater). Mr. Peterson was se...

Authors: Alexis Hood and Elliana Edwards  Description: In this episode, we will cover the case of Lizzie Borden, a thirty-two-year-old woman who was accused of and tried for the axe murder of her father and stepmother.  Sources:    How Lizzie Borden Got Away With Murder | Smithsonian https://gizmodo.com/all-the-evidence-against-lizzie-borden-and-why-she-was-1721936980 All the Evidence Against Lizz...

Authors: Sarah Lyons and Savanna McIlvain  Description: This episode talks about the June 1962 escape from Alactraz by Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin. We discuss the facts of what happened the night of the escape, as well as the prep leading up, and the possibility of the men surviving the escape. Find out what single man gave investigators all of their information, and listen to a...

Authors: Gabrielle Hickman and Ellie Miller Description: In this episode, we discuss the case of JonBenét Ramsey. Because her case was so highly publicized, almost everyone has heard about her death and the various theories surrounding it. While there is a lot to cover regarding that aspect, something that is not discussed often is the media’s interference with the investigation and how they terro...

Authors: Bryson Bodo and Riishiu L'Affaire Kardashian: Le vol de Kim Kardashian.  This podcast talks about Kim Kardashian's Paris robbery in 2016. How her exciting Paris Fashion Week trip turned into her worst nightmare. We discuss how the internet took this robbery to another level. Everyone was so caught up in entertainment, forgetting that she is also a human and went through a traumati...

Authors:  Cecelia Leffler & Madison Malito Description:  In this episode we will cover the case of Denise Huskins' kidnapping. On March 23, 2015 Denise Huskins and Aaron Quinn's home was broken into. Denise was then kidnapped, sedated, and brought to an unknown location. Throughout this episode, we will explain the details of the case, different people's perspectives, as well as th...

Authors: Harrison Pittle and Madeline Lally   In this episode, we cover a foreign hazing case taking place at the Catholic University of Leuven in Leuven, Belgium. In 2018, 20-year-old Sanda Dia made the decision to join a prestigious fraternity in order to make helpful connections with the elites. His recruitment took a deadly turn during his initiation period. Follow us as we delve into Sanda Di...

Authors: Olivia Vance and Sabina Johnson   In 1912, four-year-old Bobby Dunbar disappeared during a family fishing trip in St. Landry Parish, Louisiana. Eight months later, little Bobby Dunbar was found...or was he? In a case that spans over 92 years, there are discrepancies, theories, and wavering maternal instincts. Throughout this episode, we will be diving into the accuracy of the theories and...

Authors: Tamia Hall and Giovanni Tripi On July 2nd, 1966, three young women mysteriously disappeared from the beach at Indiana Dunes State Park. Now, 58 years later, this case remains unsolved. In this episode we will tell you the story of Renee Bruhl (19), Patricia Blough (19), and Ann Miller (21), exploring some of the absurd theories that were come up to explain the disappearances of these youn...

Authors: Authors: Kat Ross, Valeria Vidal-Jimenez, and Kearsey Gween In this episode, we discuss how photography has influenced our perception of victims of crime with a focus on Emmett Till. The fourteen-year-old Black child’s murder at the hands of white men was highly publicized. Images of his brutalized body were included in the press. Many people were polarized by said images, including those...

Authors: Grace Beck and Sophia Cartellone On January 15th, 1978, Ted Bundy broke into the Chi Omega fraternity house at Florida State University. Come with us as we will be taking a deep dive into the murders, attacks, and the survivors from this time. As well, the downfall of Ted Bundy and what led him to death.    Links: https://abcnews.go.com/US/chi-omega-survivor-ted-bundy-murders-asleep-evil/...

Authors: Julia Hartman & Aasya Savage In this episode, we will dive deep into the case of Frank Abagnale Jr. who was merely 16 years old when committing his first crime. He then began to move on to commit crimes all over the world with a trail of crimes overseas in twenty-six countries. His other crimes include check fraud and impersonation of white-collar professionals. Since prison, Frank ha...

Authors: Kylie McColloch and Shannon Rohrer In this episode, we will be discussing the events of Casey Anthony's trial. As we follow Casey's web of lies that leads us to the discovery of her missing daughter, Caylee, we uncover the details about her childhood leading up to the murder, as well as the events of the trial. Although the case remains unsolved as of today, the media is quick to...

Authors: Gabriella Smallwood and Amorae Lyles In 1828, two men named William Burke and William Hare drunkenly murdered 17 people and donated their bodies to The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. This episode will explore the details of this case and the importance of asking questions when things seem off. Were they truly evil, or were they just in desperate need of money?  Thank you so much...

Authors: Adrian Ihle and Ella Kalinowski  On February 24th, 1978, five young adult men would go on a road trip to a California State University basketball game, only to disappear 70 miles off course into the Plumas National Forest, never to be seen alive again. Theories rise as the case still remains unsolved and unclosed, bringing wild accounts to the table. Join us as we retell and theorize the...

Authors: Kelsey Hamm and Lindsay Nagy In this episode, we will be discussing the tragic life of Gypsy Rose Blanchard that ultimately led to the murder of her mother, Clauddine Blanchard, and the subsequent conviction of both Nicholas Godejohn and Gypsy herself. We'll also focus on her recent release from prison and how the media reacted to her release. Sources-  https://people.com/gypsy-rose-b...

Authors: Lauren Dusek, Katelin Leibin, and Jennifer Sycz  In this episode, we explore two similar killers taking advantage of their status and occupation to commit medical malpractice. The first is that of Dr. Harold Shipman and the second is Dr. Jack Kevorkian. Dr. Harold Shipman took advantage of over 200 patients and led them to their death unknowingly. To Shipman, he believed he was saving the...

Authors: Mia DiPerna and Grace Meuleman In this episode of Madness and Murder podcast, we dig deep into the case of Mary Bell, an 11-year-old who murdered two young boys. We look at her life, the murders, and the trial, and then discuss how her accomplice, Norma Bell, was treated in comparison. Was Norma Bell innocent? We consider this and more in this episode.  Sources: https://murderpedia.org/fe...

Welcome back! I'm Danielle French, and this podcast is a class project for my sections of Freshman Honors Colloquium at Kent State University. Once again, we're analyzing true crime media this semester, and these brilliant students have an incredible season of new episodes for you. This season, students use this podcast as a space to create the media they think should be generated about a...

Authors: Lily Stenroos and Gavin Douglas In this episode we explore the kidnapping of Elizabeth Fritzl by her own father and compare the harsh realities of her case vs what media, specifically the lifetime movie “girl in the basement” portrays her story as. Sources: Lifetime movie: “Girls in the basement” Director: Elisabeth Röhm: Big Dreams Entertainment https://allthatsinteresting.com/elisa...

Authors:  Addie Hopkins and Gabby Kennedy Thanksgiving Eve of 1971, 37 unsuspecting passengers boarded flight 305 to Seattle that would soon be taken over by a hijacker. Hijacker Dan Cooper or incorrectly named D.B. Cooper by sloppy reporters was the first man to ever hijack a U.S. plane for ransom that didn’t result in any casualties. Today we will dive into the specifics of the case as well...

Authors: Sydney Roche and Rebecca LaGuardia In this episode, we discuss the mystery of Philadelphia's unsolved Boy in the Box murder. We discuss some of the holes in the case, the details that do not add up, and the information that is still missing. We also discuss some of the advancements of forensic genealogy and how these advancements impacted this case, and will continue to impact many crimin...

Authors: Faith Angiocchi and Moira George Sphere of Influence: Charles Manson’s Familial Commune In this episode, we will be discussing the famous Manson Family cult, focusing on how cults are formed and manipulate their prospective members rather than the wrongdoings of Charles Manson. We explore his ideology, motivation, and ability to influence young people with the intent of expanding his supr...

Authors: Hannah Rieger and Virginia Doherty In mid-19th century Scotland, the trial of Madeleine Smith shocked and scandalized the upper echelons of society. Smith, coming from affluence, got involved in a secret affair with a poor warehouse clerk. This led to his untimely death when Smith allegedly poisoned his hot chocolate with arsenic. What led Smith to kill? How was it covered in the media? H...