Morning Cup of Murder

July 11th: Beast of Birkenshaw (Peter Manuel) Dies (1958) When members of a community wake to read the news and find that, again and again, murder overtakes the headlines, it’s hard not to descend into complete chaos and fear. On July 11th 1958 a serial killer’s reign of terror was permanently ended after over a year of frenzied fear. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peter_Manuel, https://www.crimean...

July 10th: Marcus Shrader Dies (2007) Monsters who take the lives of the innocent should spend what remains of their life behind bars. On July 10th 2007 a man who was eligible for parole passed away before being given the chance to walk free. A monster who took the lives of a handful of young girls and ruined the life of a living victim who he forced to join him in his terror. https://murderpedia....

July 9th: Leigh Matthews Disappeared (2004) We always imagine the sense of closure a family feels after their loved one’s killer is placed in prison. But, this is not always the case. On July 9th 2004 a young woman disappeared in a case that saw a quick arrest and a speedy trial. But, even all these decades later, the family feels a lack of closure despite the fact that her killer remains behind b...

July 8th: Ken McElroy Tries to Kill Bo Bowenkamp (1980) What happens when the victim of a crime is someone everyone seems to hate? On July 8th 1980 a man described as the town’s bully attempted to take a life. It became the straw that broke the camel’s back for citizens who became desperate to put an end to his reign of terror. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ken_McElroy, ,https://fox2now.com/news/t...

July 7th: Robert Bierenbaum Kills (1985) Just because there is an obvious suspect, doesn’t always mean there is enough evidence to actually arrest them. On July 7th 1985 a young woman disappeared in a case that saw everyone pointing the finger at one man. Despite this, it took decades to finally prove it. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Bierenbaum, https://abc7ny.com/robert-bierenbaum-gail-ka...

July 6th: Skylar Neese Killed (2012) Best friends aren’t always forever. On July 6th 2012 a young girl was last seen with people who, she thought, were her BFFs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Skylar_Neese, https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/stabbed-in-the-back-skylar-neese-was-murdered-by-her-best-friends, https://www.wdtv.com/2023/03/29/petition-deny-parole-teens-mu...

July 5th: First of the July 2017 Pennsylvania Murders (2017) A lot of times we tell stories of disappearances that take years, sometimes even decades, to solve. But this isn’t always the case. On July 5th 2017 the first of what would be four young men disappeared in a case that saw incredibly quick police work that, though the news was devastating, did give the families the closure they needed.  *...

July 4th: Kunz Family Murders (1987) Every victim deserves to have their crime solved and the one responsible brought to justice. On July 4th 1987 a family suffered at the hands of a man who almost escaped punishment due in large part to the community’s personal feelings about the victims. https://www.postcrescent.com/story/news/2019/10/28/kunz-family-murders-chris-jacobs-1989-acquittal-didnt-end-...

July 3rd: Martha Ann Johnson Arrested (1989) While everyone experiences a bout of bad luck, sometimes too much of it seems suspicious. On July 3rd 1989 a woman was arrested for crimes that, she claimed, were nothing more than bad luck. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martha_Ann_Johnson, https://murderpedia.org/female. J/j/johnson-martha-ann.htm, https://serialdispatches.com/alphabetical-list-of-seri...

July 2nd: Carol Kennedy Killed (2008) Divorce can, for some people, be a chance to start over in life and move on from a bad relationship. On July 2nd 2008 a woman was finally able to get this chance only to have it cut short by a man motivated by money. https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/5-chilling-details-carol-kennedy-s-murder, https://www.sportskeeda.com/pop-culture/dateline-secrets-uncov...

July 1st: Crawford Family Murders (1970) What happens when police know who the killer is but cannot arrest them? On July 1st 1970 a family was brutally murdered by a man who, though police know he is the one responsible, remains on the run and just out of the reach of police. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Crawford_family_murder, https://www.stayathomemum.com.au/true-crime-series/crawford-family-mu...

June 30th: Lauren Giddings Body Found (2011) You never know who, in your life, will turn out to be a danger. On June 30th 2011 a woman’s body was found in a case that saw an acquaintance as her greatest enemy. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Lauren_Giddings, https://allthatsinteresting.com/lauren-giddings, https://wgxa.tv/news/local/the-girl-next-door-lauren-giddings-family-remembers-her-1...

Check out the new TeePublic shop! https://www.teepublic.com/stores/morning-cup-of-murder?ref_id=35179&utm_campaign=35179&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=Morning%2BCup%2Bof%2BMurder June 29th: Mary Jane Reed's Body Found (1948) Sometimes an unsolved case can see so many rumors and theories that it becomes impossible to know what the truth really is. On June 29th 1948 the body of a young girl was fo...

June 28th: PC Keith Blakelock Born (1945) Sometimes people resort to violence to make their voices heard. On June 28th 1945 a man was born who, later in life, would be thrust into the center of a riot created by a marginalized group of individuals tired of watching others like them lose their lives to the police.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Keith_Blakelock, https://www.bbc.com/news/uk...

June 27th: Muriel Drinkwater Killed (1946) When DNA is successfully recovered from a case it’s hard not to get excited about the possibility that the person responsible will finally be brought to justice. However, as we are about to see, DNA doesn't always mean a killer’s identification is on the horizon. On June 27th 1946 a young girl lost her life in a case that remains unsolved. https://en.wiki...

June 26th: William Tyrrell Born (2011) The disappearance of a child is a fear that most parents hope to never experience. On June 26th 2011 a young boy was born who would, as far as police could tell, vanish into thin air. A case that remains a mystery though some are certain they know exactly what happened. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_William_Tyrrell, https://www.theguardian.co...

June 25th: Breanna Moore Killed (2014) Domestic violence is an epidemic that touches the lives of almost everyone. Whether it be loved ones, family, friends, or you yourself, chances are you know someone who has been a victim of a violent partner. On June 25th 2014 a young woman became one such victim and, though her life ended tragically, her family made sure that it wasn’t in vain. https://www.a...

June 24th: Adrienne Shelly Born (1966) We hear stories time and time again of a family who disagrees with police and persistently fights for justice. We also hear how, a lot of times, their fights land on deaf ears. On June 24th 1966 a woman was born who would meet a tragic end. One police were sure was self-inflicted. It was only after her husband fought back that they learned otherwise. https://...

June 23rd: Robert Paul Long Kills (2000) Traveling the world should be an incredible experience. Not one marred by tragedy and death. On June 23rd 2000 a fire broke out in a hostel and saw the deaths of 15 travelers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Childers_Palace_Backpackers_Hostel_fire, https://murderpedia.org/male. L/l/long-robert-paul.htm, https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-02-02/childers-backpack...

Follow us on Spotify! June 22nd: Malibu Creek Murder (2018) The idea that a killer could be walking around undetected is a terrifying one. On June 22nd 2018 murder took place in an area that, people would soon learn, already had quite a few unsolved cases. A murder that, eventually, would lead to the capture of a man that many believed was a serial killer. https://abc7.com/malibu-murder-creek-sta...

June 21st: Lizzie Halliday Convicted (1894) Women were not always looked at as serial killers. For quite some time it didn’t seem possible for the “fairer sex” to be so coldblooded. On June 21st 1894 one such woman was convicted in a case that shocked the nation when details were released.  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lizzie_Halliday, https://allthatsinteresting.com/lizzie-halliday, https://www....

June 20th: Dean Allen Mellberg Kills (1994) Disappointment is a difficult emotion to process. And, sometimes, it can lead to acts of revenge. On June 20th 1994 a man determined to get revenge upon the people who led to his disappointment began a deadly rampage that saw 22 injured and 4 dead in his wake. https://murderpedia.org/male. M/m/mellberg-dean.htm, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fairchild_Ai...

June 19th: Willi Walter Seifert Born (1921) With the death of the accused we oftentimes lose the chance to hear their motive. On June 19th 1921 a man was born who would take out his long brewing revenge upon a school that had nothing to do with the pitfalls of his life. A man with a motive we will never understand. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cologne_school_massacre, https://murderpedia.org/mal...

June 18th: Typhaine Case Reported Missing (2009) Crimes against children are always a horrific topic to cover. Especially when the culprit is a member of their own family. On June 18th 2009 a young girl was reported missing in France in a case that, very quickly, became something far more devastating than it initially appeared. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typhaine_case, https://persiflagefrance....

June 17th: Ralph Marler Gragg Born (1917) No mother should have to bury her child. Let alone 8 of them. On June 17th 1917 a man was born who, in seeking revenge, would take the lives of 8 innocent children. https://amok.fandom.com/wiki/Ralph_Gragg, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10220602/ralph-marler-gragg, https://truecrimediva.com/gragg-family-murder/, https://www.facebook.com/TodayInHorror...