True Crime California

This week, we look at what can only be described as a devastating case, truly one of the worst out there - The Toolbox Killer. This case again takes place in the 1970's, when multiple young girls were abducted, tortured, sexually assaulted, and killed by two trash bag humans named Larry Bittaker and Roy Norris. These two dirt bags met in prison in a jewerly making class and became fast friends whi...

This week, we go back to the 70's for another infamous crime: The Barbecue Murders! This is a classic tale of parricide, but the details muddy the waters a bit when thinking about who is really at fault, and who is really a victim. Sixteen year old Marlene Olive, adopted at birth and never allowed to forget it, doesn't know love, only control. Her boyfriend, Chuck, doesn't think he's deserving of...

This week we are covering a lesser known, but still horrific (and also very interesting) case: the murder of Debbie Dorian. Debbie Dorian was a smart, driven 22 year old college student at Fresno State when her life was cut short by an unidentified attacker. Despite police taking immediate action, her case went cold.  Just a few years later, a string of sexual assaults began taking place in a near...

This week we take a look at one of the most infamous, horrifying cases in California history: the abduction and murder of Polly Klaas. This story takes place in 1993, when 12 year old Polly is stolen out of her own bedroom during a sleep over with two friends, while her mother and sister slept in the other room. The boldness of the abduction, along with the inability to find a single suspect for m...

This week finishes the horrifying saga of Bill Bonin, otherwise known as the Freeway Killer, who killed at least 21 young men and boys between 1979 and 1980. In the second half of this case, we hear more horrifying details about his final murders, as well as how he and his accomplices were eventually caught, put on trial, and, in some cases, suffered fates similar to those of their victims.  Tune...

This week, Cindy is doing a deep dive on the absolutely horrible, despicable serial killer, William "Bill" Bonin. This trash bag human assaulted or murdered upwards of 50 boys and young men, and had no signs of stopping when he was finally caught in the summer of 1981. Beyond the horrificness of his murders, this case really highlights the problems within the justice system, especially in the 1970...

True Crime California is a podcast about crimes that take place in, you guessed it - the great Golden State of California. Brought to you by Cindy, a former host of Twisted Listers Podcast, these stories will cover everything from well known crimes we've all heard about, to more obscure stories that need to be told. Join in weekly for new cases, with occasional  multi-episode arcs for the bigger c...

This week we take a look at yet another murder from the 1980's, this time from 1986 in San Diego County. This story is about the tragic murder of 20 year old Cara Knott, a bright young woman with her whole life ahead of her until she meets an unlikely killer while driving home one night. The case takes many twists and turns in the short time it is investigated, and the first trial for her killer e...

Take two on this case! This week, Cindy is looking at a previously cold case that was finally solved over 30 years after a young couple was abducted from Davis, CA, while on their way to a surprise party. As some of you may know, Davis is Cindy's home town, so this case is very near and dear to her, as it was to many people who grew up there, including a journalist named Joel Davis, who became so...

This week, we take a look at the very well known and horrifying case of the Wonderland Murders. This case involves a slew of then-well-known names, including one John Holmes, otherwise known as Johnny Wadd, a famous (or infamous) adult film star and all around trash bag human being. From humble beginnings to incredible fame to a drug induced fall from grace, this man single handedly caused so much...

Hello and welcome to True Crime California, a podcast all about crime that takes place in the Great Golden State. For our first episode, we dive into the trouble life and horrible death of Playboy Playmate and rising star, Dorothy Stratten.  At just 18 years old Dorothy moved from Canada to Hollywood, looking for a new life as a movie star. Like many beautiful, naive young women, Dorothy was taken...