Texas Crime Stories

Take a deep dive into the intersection of real-life horrors and fictional narratives. Joining me is acclaimed author David Bethel, whose latest novel, Mapping The Night, weaves the psychological intricacies of serial killers with chilling realism. Drawing on extensive research and true crime cases, Bethel's work offers more than just gripping thrillers; it presents a haunting exploration into the...

In 1974, the world was stunned when Patty Hearst, the 19-year-old granddaughter of media mogul William Randolph Hearst, appeared in a surveillance video brandishing a military carbine during a bank robbery. Two months earlier, the radical Symbionese Liberation Army (SLA), a violent group with Marxist ideologies kidnapped Hearst from her apartment in Berkley, California. Whether Hearst was a victim...

Matt Baker, a charismatic Baptist minister hid a deadly secret behind his saintly facade. Baker, who gained the trust of his congregation and the community, murdered his wife and tried to make it look like a suicide. His sinister crime went undiscovered until a relentless investigation by former U.S. prosecutor Bill Johnston and former U.S. Deputy Marshal Mike McNamara uncovered the truth. The cas...

A picture book wedding on the beach in Malibu, California, created the facade of a perfect blended family. But Fred Roehler, a charismatic and seemingly loving father and husband, shocked his community when he was accused of drowning his wife and young stepson in a staged boating accident. BBC journalists who were friends believed Roehler was the victim of a wrongful prosecution. But their investi...

Joe Pulizzi, regarded as the “Godfather of Content Marketing,” made a surprising shift from the marketing world to the realm of crime fiction. His suspenseful mystery novel, The Will to Die, is set in a funeral home. Pulizzi has crafted a gripping story about small-town secrets, sinister motives, and corruption lurking beneath the surface. We discuss the chillingly plausible scenarios that inspire...

After leaving behind a trail of scandal and suspicion in Dallas, Sandra Bridewell fled to the West Coast, hoping to escape her notorious reputation as the "Black Widow." But wherever she went, her past followed. In California’s affluent circles, stories of her connection to multiple mysterious deaths began to surface, and wealthy men soon found themselves entangled in her web of deceit. Sandra, on...

In the wake of her first husband's mysterious death, Sandra Bridewell wasted no time in climbing the social ladder. In Part 2 of our series “Love, Lies, and Larceny in the Black Widow’s Web,” we delve deeper into Sandra Bridewell's shadowy world, uncovering the tragic demise of her second husband and the shocking death of Betsy Bagwell, wife of the oncologist who cared for Bobby. Was this yet anot...

In the glittering world of Dallas high society, where wealth, beauty, and charm are the ultimate currency, one woman stood out. Sandra Bridewell, a striking socialite with a captivating presence, seemed to have it all. But behind her alluring smile and polished exterior lurked a far darker reality—a web of deceit, scandal, and tragedy. Known infamously as "The Black Widow," Bridewell left a trail...

Picture a man you’d trust with your life—a devoted father, a military veteran, a respected supervisor in the U.S. Border Patrol. Now imagine that same man prowling the streets at night, hunting the most vulnerable, driven by a twisted urge to kill. This is the true story of Juan David Ortiz, a man who wore the badge by day and became a predator by night. Over the course of twelve terrifying days,...

In the mid-1970s, New York City was already accustomed to a backdrop of violence. But the summer of 1976 introduced a new level of fear with the emergence of the "Son of Sam." Over the course of a year, this .44-caliber killer terrorized the city, targeting young women with long dark hair and couples in parked cars. His murderous spree, driven by what he claimed were Satanic voices, left six peopl...

John Dillinger was the most famous outlaw of the 1930s—a charming yet elusive bank robber who became known as Public Enemy Number One. His audacious bank heists and dramatic escapes captured the imagination of a public in turmoil during the Great Depression. It's the story of a gangster whose criminal exploits made him a folk hero and an enduring symbol of rebellion against authority.

Bonnie and Clyde were America's most infamous outlaw couple from Dallas, Texas. Their tale is one of love, crime, and relentless pursuit during the harsh times of the Great Depression. From their dramatic heists to their violent demise, Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow's story has captivated the public for decades. Join me as we unravel the facts behind the legend and explore the true story of these...

The arrival of a mysterious box at a government office in a small Texas town shattered the tranquil morning. Suddenly, the serene atmosphere erupted into chaos as terrified men and women fled the building, screaming and scrambling into the street. They were unsuspecting targets of a sinister plot, one designed to blow all of them up with a powerful pipe bomb to kill a woman coworker in their offic...

Fred Carrasco was an infamous Texas Narco, the Pablo Escobar of his time in the 1970s. Popular ballads in Mexico celebrated his ruthless reputation and tales of violence. Carrasco was infamously known as “The Mexican Connection” in the heroin trade. In July 1974, Carrasco became the central figure in the longest prison siege in United States history. He masterminded the smuggling of guns into the...

In the shadow of Texas' heartland, a clandestine cult flourished under the guise of dark rituals and methamphetamine production. Known as the Devil Lovers, this group of middle-aged men and women from prominent Waco families engaged in sinister ceremonies, pledging allegiance to their enigmatic leader, David Russell Zell. Their twisted journey from occult gatherings to running the state's largest...

In the heart of Texas, amid the sprawling landscape and stark beauty, lurked a chilling tale of depravity and violence. This is the story of Mexican Drug Kingpin Geno Camacho, a man whose crimes spanned across state lines, leaving a trail of fear and bloodshed. His story, marked by cold-blooded kidnappings, and the brutal murder of a three-year-old boy, unfolded against the backdrop of a life stee...