Once Upon A Crime

The Cecil Hotel in Los Angeles has been home to at least two serial killers, numerous tragic deaths, a sniper shooting and one mysterious death.  Join me for this first installment of a 3-part episode covering the Cecil Hotel's history. #serial killers #RichardRamirez #TheNightStalker  Resources: Book: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker by Philip Carlo  See Privacy Policy at...

In this special episode I give a wrap-up of CrimeCon - all the true crime celebrity sightings, the true crime podcast rockstars I got to hang out with, and all the inside gossip and info.  I also discuss a couple of cases related to what I learned in CrimeCon sessions this year. I'll talk about the Patsy Ramsey 911 call, Ted Bundy and Jodi Arias.  Shout outs to many, many podcasts including Southe...

The district of Whitechapel in London, England was the location of one of the most infamous, unsolved serial murders in history - the Jack the Ripper Murders. But, there was possibly a second serial murderer operating at the same time. Journey with us to Whitechapel for some historical true crime cases. Warning: This episode details more graphic details than normal. I give you a trigger warning be...

One intersection in Beverly Hills has been the site of many events from airplane crashes, car accidents, and murders. Could it be a coincidence or is the area cursed?  #beverlyhills #bermudatriangle #howardhughes #hollywood #bugsysiegel #ronnichasen  A.J. Benza: Fame is a Bitch - Subscribe on ITunes See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/...

Surprise! Here's an extra episode for you since I'm off this week.  This is as bonus episode that I would normally make available only for Patreon members, but I'll give you a little sneak peek of Patreon bonus content by sharing it with everyone. This is the story of another murder committed by the Aum Doomsday Cult that did I did not talk about on Episode #86: Last Stop: Chapter 3: The Tokyo Sub...

A woman takes revenge for hundreds of raped and murdered women in Juarez, Mexico by targeting city bus drivers. Resources: For more information about women's organizations in Juarez:  https://hiponline.org/how-casa-amiga-helps-free-the-women-of-juarez/  https://theculturetrip.com/north-america/mexico/articles/meet-the-mexican-activists-fighting-for-womens-rights/  https://web.archive.org/web/20040...

On March 20, 1995 a group of men board the Tokyo Metro subway system and release deadly sarin gas.  The mass murder was ordered by Aum Supreme Truth cult leader Shoko Asahara. #massmurder #cults #Japan #terrorism #chemicalweapons Resources: Books: The Cult at the End of the World by David Kaplan and Andrew Marshall Underground: The Tokyo Gas Attack and the Japanese Psyche by Haruki Mrakami www.pat...

A hijacking on a bus unfolds live on television in central Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in June of 2000.  #hijacking #hostagecrisis #Brazil  Resources: Documentary: Bus 174 (2002) directed by Jose Padilha Podcast Recommendations: Trace Evidence https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/trace-evidence/id1239217007?mt=2 Not Perfect or Functional https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/not-perfect-or-functional-podc...

In 1976, in the small farming community of Chowchilla, California, a school bus full of children is kidnapped for ransom.  #kidnappings #Chowchilla #ransom #crimehistory #California Resources: Dan Noyes, ABC7 News , "Parole hearing reveals new details about Chowchilla kidnapping," Nov 29, 2012.  Holly Yan, CNN, "California mass kidnapping: After being buried alive, victims relive nightmare," Dec 2...

A 16-year-old boy from a well-to-do Fort Worth family commits a quadruple vehicular homicide.  His attorneys will argue that his overprivileged upbringing resulted in him not knowing how to discern right from wrong. The term "affluenza" was coined to describe defendants like Ethan Couch - wealthy, spoiled and held unaccountable for their bad behavior.  I'll also describe how this same defense was...

Supervisor Dan White murders San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk in 1978. His defense would claim "diminished capacity" to keep him from being sentenced to death. The media dubbed this "The Twinkie Defense". But, what really caused Dan White to become a double murderer? Resources John Geluardi, SF Weekly , "Dan White's motive more about betrayal than homophobia," Jan 30,...

Three cases are outlined where a person commits murder and then blames the crime on sleepwalking.  First up, Albert Tirrell murders his mistress in 1846 claiming he was in a trance-like state at the time. Kenneth Parks travels 23 km to commit a murder - all while asleep, he claimed. Finally, another man tries to use the sleepwalking defense after killing his wife in Phoenix, Arizona in 1997. Resou...

In this final chapter of our series, we uncover the sinister side of Hollywood’s biggest night. From missing and stolen Oscars to the shocking murder tied to an Academy Award-winning songwriter, the glamour of the Oscars hides a darker reality. Plus, we revisit the bizarre and tragic tale of the Oscar Night Streaker—one of the ceremony’s most infamous moments. Join us as we pull back the curtain o...

From the horrors of Cambodia’s Killing Fields to the bright lights of Hollywood, Haing S. Ngor’s journey is one of survival, resilience, and tragic injustice. After escaping the Cambodian genocide, he defied the odds and won an Academy Award for his powerful performance in The Killing Fields . But his story didn’t end with cinematic triumph—it took a heartbreaking turn that remains shrouded in mys...

Roman Polanski’s life reads like a Hollywood script—marked by unimaginable tragedy, artistic triumph, and shocking scandal. Surviving the Holocaust and enduring personal heartbreak, he rose to fame as an acclaimed director. But his legacy was forever tainted when he became a fugitive from justice, charged with the rape of a 13-year-old girl. In this episode, I’m joined by special guest AJ Benza, h...

The Academy Awards celebrate Hollywood’s finest, but some Oscar-winning films are rooted in real-life crime. One of the most unforgettable is Dog Day Afternoon —a gripping portrayal of a chaotic New York bank robbery that stunned the nation. But what really happened? In this episode, we uncover the true story of John Wojtowicz, the man behind the infamous Chase Manhattan Bank heist that inspired t...

In 1978, a teenage hitchhiker accepted a ride in Northern California—only to be brutally attacked by a violent predator. The assault on Mary Vincent was so horrifying it sent shockwaves through the public, and her attacker, Lawrence Singleton, became a chilling warning about the dangers of accepting rides from strangers. But against all odds, Mary survived—and her story of resilience is one that w...

In 1983, a woman desperately sought protection from her abusive husband, repeatedly turning to law enforcement for help—only to be ignored. What followed was one of the most brutal cases of domestic violence ever recorded. Tracy Thurman survived a vicious attack that left her with 13 stab wounds and a broken neck. But she didn’t stop there—she took on the system that failed her, filing a groundbre...

In 1974, a young woman in Salt Lake City accepted a ride from a seemingly nice man. By the end of the day, she would come face-to-face with one of the most notorious serial killers of all time—Ted Bundy. Against all odds, Rhonda Stapley survived his brutal attack and lived to tell her harrowing story. My special guest, Rhonda Stapley, is the author of I Survived Ted Bundy: The Attack, Escape, and...

In 2006, 14-year-old Elizabeth Shoaf was walking home from school in Lugoff, South Carolina, when she was approached by a man posing as law enforcement. What followed was a terrifying 10-day ordeal—trapped in an underground bunker, subjected to unimaginable abuse, and forced to fight for survival. But Elizabeth did something extraordinary: she outsmarted her captor and helped lead authorities righ...

I continue my discussion of the Laci Peterson case with my guest co-host, Yolanda from Not Perfect or Functional . Together, we take a deep dive into the background and psychology of Scott Peterson and examine the factors that may have contributed to his crime. Plus, enjoy special holiday greetings from some of our favorite true crime and paranormal podcasts: 🎄 The True Crime Guys 🎄 The Fall Lin...

On Christmas Eve day, 2002, an 8-month pregnant woman went missing from her home. A large-scale search was started right away, but suspicion immediately fell upon her husband, Scott Peterson.  This episode will be a little different for OUAC. I have a special co-host, Yolanda Norris from the Not Perfect or Functional Podcast who will be discussing the case with me. Yolanda is my sister so this is...

Get into the holiday spirit—true crime style! In this special holiday edition episode, we’re talking Black Friday madness, Grinchy burglars, and other wild holiday crime stories. Plus, enjoy holiday greetings from some of our favorite true crime podcasts: 🎄 Canadian True Crime 🎄 True Crime Garage 🎄 Southern Fried True Crime 🎄 Insight Podcast 🎄 True Crime Island 🎄 Murder Road Trip 🎄 The Clea...

We’re kicking off the true crime holiday season with shocking tales of Santas who strayed far from the nice list. From heists to historical crimes, these bad Santas prove that not everyone in a red suit spreads holiday cheer. 🎅🔪 #ChristmasCrime #BadSantas #HistoricalCrime Stay tuned for more festive felonies, and don’t forget to subscribe for future episodes! See Privacy Policy at https://art19....

Family bonds can be unbreakable—but in this case, they were deadly. Fritz Klenner and Susie Lynch, cousins from a wealthy and prominent family, turned against their own relatives in a shocking tale of revenge, paranoia, and murder. Stay tuned for more true crime cases, and don’t forget to subscribe for future episodes! Resources: Books: Bitter Blood: A True Story of Southern Family Pride, Madness...