Tea Time Crimes

As we take a small break, enjoy going back in time to re-listen to some of our favorite episodes. This week is Meagan's pick. Join us as we go over the infamous Lizzie Borden case. Was Lizzie truly responsible for the death of her father and step-mother, or is it possible she was just in the wrong place at the wrong time? Tea of the Day: Duke & Duchess Honey Breakfast Tea Theme Music by Brad Frank...

Tune in for the sister episode to last week. This case covers another woman sentenced to death via electric chair in New York, just like Martha Place. Meet Maria Barbella, who walked up to her lover, Dominico Cataldo, and slit his throat from ear to ear because he refused to marry her. However, there is much more to this story than the newspapers are willing to print. Grab a tea and travel back to...

On the evening of February 7th, 1898, William W. Place returned to his Brooklyn home, only to be brutally attacked by his wife, Martha Place. When police arrive at the scene, they discover that William is not Martha’s only victim. Charged with murder, Martha faces the death penalty in a way no woman has before.  National Domestic Violence Hotline: 800-799-7233 Tea of the Day: Goodbye Anxiety  Them...

It’s 1800s Australia and Ellen Thomson has found her husband, William “Billy” Thomson, in a pool of his own blood. At first, no questions are asked, but once a second bullet is found, the case starts to unravel. Ellen is at the center of it all. Discover what happened to Ellen at the hands of the law and decide whether she received true justice or not.  Tea of the Day: Watermelon Mint Herbal Theme...

It’s 1700s England and all Mary Blandy wants is to find a husband and start a family. But no man is good enough for Mary’s father, who’s desperate to move up in the world. So when he discovers that his prospective pick for his daughter may be already married, his well-laid plans start to unravel. Grab a warm cup and try to follow along with this disastrous engagement.   Tea of the Day: Cozy Cottag...

Today, Meagan brings the fun for our 100th episode! Meet Grace O’Malley, Irish pirate from the 1500s, and Ching Shih, Chinese pirate from the 1800s. They redefine the word, ‘badass,’ and take the world by storm. Buckle in for this head-turning adventure following two extraordinary women.  Tea of the Day: Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc  Theme Music by Brad Frank Sources: Pirate Women: The Princesses,...

It’s 1939 and we’re covering a spirited woman with many nicknames: The Untamed Wildcat, Gun Girl, and 90 Pounds of Nitro. But her real name was Isabelle Messmer and she was from a small town in Indiana. Craving excitement, Isabelle was constantly in trouble, ending up on the run, hated by the police, and on trial for murder. Strap in for an adventure with a woman everyone just wanted to be a “good...

It’s Freaky Friday (Twisted Tuesday??) and Alana is taking over the mic. Buckle in for a wild ride through 1850s New Orleans where we meet all kinds of characters, most especially Mary Jane “Bricktop” Jackson. Mary was a sex worker who didn’t put up with any nonsense or disrespect. Those that dared found themselves on the wrong side of her blade. Despite her murderous actions, we’re willing to bet...

PART THREE. In Canada there is a stretch of highway between the cities of Prince Rupert and Prince George that covers 725 km (or 450 miles). For over 50 years, this dark, isolated road has swallowed up women and girls in the night from 1969 to present. Because of the despair that has happened along this corridor, it is now known as the Highway of Tears. In this three-part series, we will be explor...

PART TWO. In Canada, there is a stretch of highway between the cities of Prince Rupert and Prince George that covers 725 km (or 450 miles). For over 50 years, this dark, isolated road has swallowed up women and girls in the night from 1969 to present. Because of the despair that has happened along this corridor, it is now known as the Highway of Tears. In this three-part series, we will be explori...

In Canada, there is a stretch of highway between the cities of Prince Rupert and Prince George that covers 725 km (or 450 miles). For over 50 years, this dark, isolated road has swallowed up women and girls in the night from 1969 to present. Because of the despair that has happened along this corridor, it is now known as the Highway of Tears. In this three-part series, we will be exploring this ar...

Imagine a world where simply hiding your pregnancy could lead to a death sentence. Unfortunately, that’s the world Anne Greene must face in 1600s England, when she’s falsely charged with concealing a pregnancy and infanticide. Grab a cuppa and discover more about this infuriating time period and the unbelievable horrors Anne had to face. Content warning: This episode discusses miscarriages  Tea of...

Leigh Ann Sabine had a reputation for being eccentric and larger than life. But after her death, friends and neighbors, who had come to care for Leigh Ann over the last 18 years, would realize her past was made up of nothing but dark secrets.  Tea of the Day: Sweet Orange Spice Theme Music by Brad Frank Sources: BBC, “John and Leigh Ann Sabine Investigated for Abandoning Children.” December 14th,...

Anjette Lyles is the picture of a hardworking, independent business owner and mother. However, suspicions arise when those closest to her start becoming violently ill. Join us in Macon, Georgia to explore how this southern peach isn’t as sweet as she seems.  Content warning: This episode contains the harming of a child  Tea of the Day: Soot Spice Spicy Winter Chai  Theme Music by Brad Frank Source...

Caroline Walsh supports herself selling threads, tapes, and lace on the streets of London. Carrying all her possessions with her, she finds lodging the night of August 19, 1831, with an old neighbor, Eliza Ross. Sadly, Caroline is never seen again. Join us as we follow the search for Caroline and discover the sinister, vile motive behind this crime.   Tea of the Day: Hawaiian Breakfast Tea Theme M...

On October 19, 1931, two trunks arrived on the platform of the Los Angeles Central Station, leaking blood. It was no mystery who the trunks belonged to: Winnie Ruth Judd had already been to the depot to collect her luggage. However, when pressured to open them on site, she quickly found an excuse to leave and did not return. It’s not long before the police realize Winnie Ruth Judd’s two best frien...

In the summer of 1895, London was horrified by rumors of infants found dead in the River Thames. Authorities feared these murders may be the cause of a baby farming operation and began searching within the city and surrounding towns. What unravels before them is nothing short of horrific. Amelia Dyer is captured and charged with the death of three young children.   Content warning: This episode co...

Tea Time Crimes is home for the holidays, which means no crime but still plenty of mayhem with our all-time favorite name drop, Mary Kate. We will cover favorite episodes, the cases that keep us up at night, Alana’s job application to the local funeral home, and so much more. Grab the eggnog and relax with this bonus episode.   *We will be back January 9th with our regular format. Sources: Our cha...

Young Pearl Lusk has just lost her job and her dating life. So when handsome Allen La Rue offers her a very cool spy gig, she jumps on the opportunity. Her first assignment is to trail and photograph a supposed jewel thief, Olga Rocco. And that’s where everything goes wrong. Grab your favorite holiday drink while you listen to this captivating case with our special guest, Mary Kate! Tea of the Day...

On November 1, 1958, a body was found approximately 50 yards from the shore of Cowan Lake in Ohio. The remains had been burned beyond recognition, from the knees up. It doesn’t take long for investigators to connect this discovery to a missing 32-year-old mother, Louise Bergen. Many stories will surface of what happened to poor Louise, but each version contains only pieces of the truth. Join us as...

24-year-old Ocey Snead was found dead in a bathtub in her East Orange, NJ home. A note near her body points to a suicide, but a simple visual inspection of the house says otherwise. As investigators dig deeper into Ocey’s past, they quickly discover that the three women closest to her, her mother, aunt, and mother-in-law, seem to have a strange hold over Ocey. It’s not long before everyone is aski...

24-year-old Ocey Snead was found dead in a bathtub in her East Orange, NJ home. A note near her body points to a suicide, but a simple visual inspection of the house says otherwise. As investigators dig deeper into Ocey’s past, they quickly discover that the three women closest to her, her mother, aunt, and mother-in-law, seem to have a strange hold over Ocey. It’s not long before everyone is aski...

Meet Marie Joniaux, a beautiful, charming woman in 1895 Belgium, who loves to spend francs faster than she can make them. And when she moves to a town where her charm no longer pays her bills, she finds darker ways to make her money. Grab a cup of tea and settle in with a Tea Time Crimes case as old as time… Tea of the Day: Plots & Thoughts Theme Music by Brad Frank  Sources: Brief Case: https://w...

In the summer of 1959, a torso was discovered off Route 11 near Gadsden, Alabama. As investigators attempt to uncover the identity of the victim, they stumble upon one gruesome discovery after another. Ultimately, they are led to the Hyatt farm, where Martin Hyatt lives with his 30-year-old daughter, Viola. Join us as we dissect this curious and grisly case to understand if Viola Hyatt was to blam...

The Bell Witch Cave has been haunted for hundreds of years and today we bring you back to the start of it. We’ll walk through the disturbing history and try to understand what really happened for the patriarch of the Bell family. Was he really murdered by a spirit as the legend claims, or did someone of flesh and blood have reason to want him dead?  Tea of the Day: White Wizard Tea Theme Music by...