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PODCAST

Once Upon A Crime

Step into the darker side of history with Once Upon A Crime, a true-crime podcast that delves deep into some of the world’s most gripping cases. Hosted by an expert storyteller, Esther Ludlow, each episode unravels the mysteries behind notorious crimes, exploring the lives of victims, perpetrators, and the intricate details of the investigations that followed. With carefully researched narratives, thematic series, and thoughtful insights, Once Upon A Crime offers listeners a captivating blend

true crime

All Episodes

42:48

S6 Ep227: Murder In My Hometown: Jeanine Sanchez Harms

Once Upon A Crime ·

2022/01/17

July 27, 2001 Jeanine Sanchez Harms went missing after a night out with friends in Campbell, California. A man she'd only become acquainted with that night, Maurice Xavier Nasmeh, would be suspected of involvement in her disappearance. After a problematic investigation and numerous delays, the case would end in a shocking conclusion. Resources: "Whatever Happened to Jeanine Harms?" by Loren Stein for MetroActive News, March 20, 2003. Jeanine Sanchez Harms, The Charley Project. "Jeanine Harms

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116:17

S6 Ep226: Breaking Down Chris Watts with Lorena

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/12/20

On the last episode of the year, Lorena and I break down the case of family annihilator, Chris Watts. Resources: “Chris Watts: A Complete Timeline of the Murder of His Wife and Daughters” by Rachel Change for Biography.com, Sept 29, 2020. https://www.biography.com/news/chris-watts-wife-daughters-murder-mistress-confession-timeline “New Christopher Watts confession details how he murdered his wife, two daughters” by Elise Schmelzer for The Denver Post, March 7, 2019.

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117:37

S6 Ep225: Breaking Down the OJ Simpson Case with Yolanda

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/12/12

This week I’ll discuss the Nicole Brown/Ron Goldman murders with my sister, Yolanda. We’ll go over the evidence, timeline, and motivation for the crimes that all point to OJ Simpson as the killer. We’ll also discuss why the jury may have decided to acquit Simpson of the double homicide even in the face of overwhelming evidence of his guilt. Resources: Evidence Dismissed: The Inside Story of the Police Investigation of O.J. Simpson, authors: Tom Lange, Phillip Vanatter, Dan Moldea, ©️1997, 2016

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80:59

S6 Ep224: Breaking Down Kemper with Emerson Murray

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/12/06

In this episode I break down the myths and realities of infamous serial killer, Edmund Emil Kemper, “The Co-Ed Killer”. My special guest is Emerson Murray, author of The Murder Capital of the World. You can find out more about Emerson and purchase the book at www.emersonmurray.com/murder-capital-of-the-world To enter a drawing to receive a copy of Murder Capital of the World sign up for texts from OUAC by texting “OUAC” to 408-676-1770 (Texting rates may apply. U.S. listeners only are eligible

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75:17

S6 Ep223: Listener Suggestions - Aarushi Talwar

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/11/15

A young girl living outside of New Delhi, India is found murdered in her own bedroom in a high-security apartment building with her parents sleeping mere feet away. Was her murder an inside job or caused by an unknown intruder? Join us for this “whodunit” that has been called the “JonBenet Ramsay case of India”. Resources: “Behind Closed Doors: How a 13-Year-Old’s Murder Ignited Class Warfare” by Nick Schager for The Daily Beast, July 14, 2019. “Arushi murder case: A timeline of events”, The

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42:52

S6 Ep222: Listener Suggestions: Jamison Bachman

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/11/08

Jamison Bachman spent his adult years being “the roommate from hell”. He destroyed property, bullied his housemates, filed lawsuits for petty complaints, and rarely paid his rent. But, growing more desperate once his history of scamming people was revealed, he crossed the line from annoying to dangerous. Resources: “Worst Roommate Ever” by William Brennan for New York Magazine, Feb 19, 2018. “Philadelphia judge to squatter in viral roommate story: ‘You’re frightening’” by Andrew Parent, for The

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26:49

S6 Ep221: Listener Suggestions: Paulette Gebara Farah

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/11/01

The mysterious disappearance of a 4-year-old from her own bedroom takes a bizarre twist and rumors and conspiracy theories soon follow. This case would come to be known as “The JonBenet Ramsey Case of Mexico.” Resources: “Resignation in Mexican missing girl Paulette case”, BBC News, May 26, 2010 “Mexico Shocked by Discovery of Girl’s Body,” CBS News, April 5, 2010 Misterios favoritos en espanol/Unresolved Mysteries, reddit.com -

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28:06

S6 Ep220: Creepy AF Halloween Tales

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/10/25

On this special Halloween episode, I’ll share creepy tales of corpses that were mistaken for Halloween displays. I’ll also share the bizarre tale of a failed outlaw who became a successful carnival oddity…after his death. Resources: “Was a Suicide Mistaken for Halloween Decoration?” by David Mikkelson for Snopes.com, Oct. 28, 2005. “75-Year-Old Marina Man Found Dead on Apartment Balcony” by Vince Echavaria for The Argonaut, October 22, 2009. “Body is Mistaken for a Halloween Display” by

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32:56

S6 Ep219: The Devil Made Me Do It: Arne Cheyenne Johnson

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/10/18

In this episode, a family claims a family member has become possessed by a demon. When a young man challenges the demon in an attempt to save his friend, he may have gotten more than he bargained for. He would later claim that demons drove him to commit a brutal murder. Resources: “By Demons Possessed” by Lynn Darling for The Washington Post, September 13, 1981.https://www.washingtonpost.com/archive/lifestyle/1981/09/13/by-demons-possessed/3479fa6b-eee3-4233-a2fc-b9defa403504/ “The Murder That

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50:17

S6 Ep218: The Devil Made Me Do It: Sean Sellers

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/10/11

A teenager takes the life of family members as well as a random stranger and then claims his involvement in “satanic rituals” lead him to murder. Was 16-year-old Sean Sellers demon possessed, mentally ill, or simply a cold-blooded killer? Resources: "On Thursday He Dies", The Mirror (London), Jan 30, 1999 https://www.thefreelibrary.com/_/print/PrintArticle.aspx?id=60226483 "Reaching Out as Time is Running Out" by Lois Romano, The Washington Post, Jan 22,

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35:01

S6: Bonus Episode: Once Upon a Crime + A Psych for...

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/10/04

In this bonus episode, you’ll hear the live show from CrimeCon UK in London. Esther discusses the motivations and psychology behind mass shooters with Forensic Psychiatrist Dr. Sohom Das, host of the YouTube channel A Psych for Sore Minds. Check out True Crime Week on Stitcher where they are kicking off the spookiest month of the year with the creepiest and crawliest True Crime Podcasts. Check out their curated homepage to find your next True Crime Pod obsession. If you’re on your phone you can

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55:05

S6 Ep217: Spree Killers: Robert Garrow - Part 2

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/09/20

In this conclusion to our 2-part episode on spree killer, Robert Garrow, I’ll detail Garrow’s killing spree in the summer of 1973, his time as a fugitive, and his arrest and convcition. Resources: The Garrow Manhunt: A Serial Killer in the Adirondacks https://www.adirondack.net/history/garrow-manhunt/ Crime Library: Robert Garrow https://web.archive.org/web/20140403090224/http://www.crimelibrary.com/serial_killers/predators/robert_garrow/2.html Sworn to Silence: The Truth Behind Robert

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28:54

S6 Ep216: Spree Killers: Robert Garrow - Part 1

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/09/13

In 1973, a violent sexual predator went on a killing spree in the Adirondack Mountains. In Part 1 of this 2-part series, I detail Garrow’s abusive childhood, history of violence, and the escalation of his crimes from theft, to kidnapping and assault, and ultimately to rape and murder. Resources: Robert Francis Garrow, Jr: American Spree Killer https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fu5e4RJKp9s&t=1235s Murderpedia.com: Robert Garrow https://murderpedia.org/male.G/g/garrow-robert-photos.htm The

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45:07

S6 Ep215: Episode 215: Getting Away With Murder: Ted...

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/09/06

In 1969, U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy was the front runner to become the next Presidential candidate on the Democratic Party ticket. But, decisions he would make one fateful night on Chappaquiddick Island would result in the death of a young woman and leave his reputation in tatters. Did Ted Kennedy get away with murder? Resources “‘Kennedy Passenger Dies in Car Plunge’: How Chappaquiddick was covered by The Washington Post”, by Richard Harwood and Paul Blackwell for The Washington Post, July 18,

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69:24

S6 Ep214: Episode 214: Getting Away With Murder:...

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/08/23

A billionaire heiress kills her friend in a “freak accident”. Was Eduardo Tirella’s death actually an accident or did Doris Duke commit murder? Resources: Doris Duke: Facts, Death and Mansion, Biography.com: https://www.biography.com/personality/doris-duke Homicide at Rough Point by Peter Lance for Vanity Fair, July 16, 2020 https://bit.ly/2VHjXC7 The Fatal Crash that Plunged Doris Duke into a Scandal by Samantha Todd for Forbes Magazine, Oct 18,

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89:53

S6 Ep213: Getting Away With Murder: Robert Durst

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/08/09

The wealthy son of a New York real estate family leaves town to avoid investigation in the decades-old disappearance of his wife. A year later, he will be the number one suspect in the murder of an elderly man in Texas. This is the first chapter in the series “Getting Away with Murder”, the case of Robert Durst. Resources: Books: A Deadly Secret: The Bizarre and Chilling Story of Robert Durst by Matt Birkbeck, Berkeley Books, 2005. He Killed them All: Robert Durst and my Quest for Justice by

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54:07

S6 Ep212: Episode 212: Deathbed Confessions: Diane...

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/07/26

In 1967, a double murder shocked a small town in Virginia. A suspect was quickly rounded up, but the case wasn’t truly resolved until decades later when a chance encounter led to a series of events that would ultimately bring about a deathbed confession. Resources: “Thomas Free on Bond; Hearing Slated Oct 27”, The News Leader, Oct 17, 1967. “Prosecution Rests in Thomas Hearing”, The News Leader, April 10, 1968. “Getting away with murder? Former cop has serious questions about why Staunton’s most

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29:12

S6 Ep211: Deathbed Confessions: James Washington

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/07/19

In this series I share cases where people on their deathbeds finally confess to terrible crimes. In his episode you’ll hear about a brutal murder that went unsolved for over a dozen years when the perpetrator confessed before meeting his maker. But, this story ends with a twist when fate intervenes. Resources: State of Tennessee v. James Murray Washington, Direct Appeal from the Criminal Court for Davidson County, July 15, 2014 The Crime Reel: A Brutal Murder and a Deathbed Confession,

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26:39

S6 Ep210: Deathbed Confessions: Geraldine Kelley

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/07/12

In this series "Deathbed Confessions" I share cases that went cold and the perpetrator was only revealed when they made a deathbed confession. In this first episode, a dying woman reveals a long-held secret to her children, leading to a shocking discovery. Resources: “Slaying Victim had Fled a Troubled Past”, The Boston Globe, November 20, 2004. “John’s in the Freezer”, What Lies Beyond, August 31, 2014. “Deathbed Confession Leads to Slain Husband”, Catherine Saillant, Los Angeles Times, Nov

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82:09

S6 Ep209: Buried Truth: Dorothea Puente

Once Upon A Crime ·

2021/06/28

In this final chapter of “Buried Truth” I share a story of one of the most rare categories of criminal - the female serial killer. Behind her grandmotherly exterior, Dorothea Puente was hiding some very dark secrets very close to home. This is the case of “The Killer Landlady”. Resources: Newspapers.com: Dorothea Puente by Julia Scheeres for TruTV.com, Jailed Landlady: I Didn’t Kill Anyone - The Sacramento Bee - Nov 18, 1988, Puente Guilty of Killing 3 - The Sacramento Bee - Aug 27, 1993,

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