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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

63:06

S5 Ep191: The Craziest Crime Stories of 2020 w/Leroy...

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/12/14

This week my special guest is Leroy Luna from Excuse Me, That's Illegal Podcast. We discuss some bizarre crimes, the dumbest criminals and crime stories that could only have happened in

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88:58

S5 Ep190: Cases You Probably Haven't Heard About, But...

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/12/07

In this episode I'll share three true crime cases you may not have heard of, but should have. My special guest host is Laurah from The Fall Line and One Strange Thing Podcasts. Resources: A Girl Like Me: The Gwen Araujo Story (2006), Lifetime TV. Trained in the Ways of Men (2007), directed by Michelle Prevost. Lumbee Indians in the Jim Crow South: Race, Identity, and the Making of a Nation, Malinda Maynor Lowery, (University of North Carolina Press, 2010). The Lumbee Indians: An American

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50:19

S5 Ep189: Body of Evidence: Stacy Peterson

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/11/16

Two women thought they'd met the man of their dreams. But one of them would be found dead of mysterious circumstances and one would go missing never to be seen again. Would justice prevail to convict Drew Peterson for these crimes? Resources: Marcia Clark Investigates the First 48: Drew Peterson, Investigation Discovery Channel, April 5, 2018 Justice Cafe, petersonstory.wordpress.com Links: CrimeCon House Arrest: www.crimecon.com/housearrest Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

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41:25

S5 Ep188: Episode 188: Body of Evidence: Sierra LaMar

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/11/09

A teenager goes missing in Morgan Hill, California never to be seen again. It would take meticulous detective work to prove she'd been the victim of a murder and bring her killer to justice. Resources: "Disappearance tests 'no-body' murder cases" by Jenna Lyons for The San Francisco Chronicle, Jan 16, 2017 Statement of Facts: Santa Clara County Sheriff's Office Case #12-076-0868G, May 24, 2012 "Dissecting Torres' Past", Staff Writers, The Gilroy Dispatch, May 25, 2012. "No body, no weapon, no

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71:12

S5 Ep187: Body of Evidence: Anne Marie Fahey

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/11/02

This month's series features crimes that were solved...without a body. Tom Capano thought he'd pulled off the perfect murder when his ex-girlfriend disappeared. Meticulous detective work and dogged determination would be needed to solve the crime. Resources: And Never Let Her Go by Ann Rule, 1996, Simon & Schuster. The FBI Files: Deadly Obsession, Jan 18, 2020, retrieved on YouTube.com. Links: www.crimecon.com/housearrest www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime www.truecrimepodcast.com

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38:48

S5 Ep186: Ghosts in the Attic: Daniel LaPlante

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/10/19

A story about a teenage stalker who hides in his victim's homes to prey upon them becomes an urban legend. But, the true life and crimes of Daniel J. LaPlante would be a real-life horror story. Resources: "Witness describes abduction by LaPlante", Paul Langner for The Boston Globe, Oct 21, 1988. Commonwealth v. Daniel J. LaPlante, Sept 14 - Nov 16, 1993, Middlesex County Superior Court filing. "A Teen Terrorized a Family by Living in Their Walls", Laura Allan for Ranker.com, June 14,

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39:42

S5 Ep185: Ghosts in the Attic: Otto Sanhuber

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/10/12

The mysterious murder of Fred William Oesterreich in Los Angeles in 1922 would be revealed years later as one of the strangest and most bizarre true crime cases in California history Resources: A Crime to Remember: Guess Who?, Season 4, Episode 6, The Investigation Discovery Channel "The Story of Dolly Oesterreich" by Erin Kelly for All That's Interesting, Dec 19, 2017.

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10:19

S5: October Announcements and Upcoming Events

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/10/10

News, announcements and upcoming events for OUAC listeners! Links: Nominate Once Upon a Crime for the Discover Pods Awards at www.awards.discoverpods.com. To sign up for a Patreon membership go to www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime To register for Alta Asks Live Digital Event go to https://altaonline.com/true-crime-podcasts-alta-asks-live/. You can read my interview in Alta Magazine here: https://altaonline.com/true-crime-podcast-denise-hamilton/ Register for CrimeCon House Arrest online event

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35:45

S5 Ep184: Ghosts in the Attic: Natasha Ryan

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/10/05

In 1998, a 14-year-old disappeared from Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia. It would be feared she had become a victim of serial killer, Leonard Fraser, but this story would end with a shocking revelation. Resources: 60 Minutes Australia - ‘The Girl in the Cupboard’”(2003) - https://youtu.be/os_K-e_qwu8 "She had everyone fooled" in TheAge.com.au, Apr 11, 2003 "The girl who returned from death" by Greg Ansley for NZHerald.co.nz, Apr 18, 2003 "The 'dead' schoolgirl who fooled a nation" by

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35:57

S5 Ep183: Bad Teacher: John J. Donovan, Sr.

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/09/20

A multimillionaire in a feud with his family over money and property perpetrates a bizarre hoax in order to get revenge on his children and hold on to his assets. Resources: "Professor Donovan's Magnificent Entanglements" by John Wolfson for Boston Magazine, July 1, 2006 "Ex-professor found guilty of staging own shooting" by John R. Ellement for The Boston Globe, Aug 18, 2007. "When Hollywood Moved In" by Sara Rimer for The New York Times, July 29, 2009 "John J. Donovan III" by Ray Lamont

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37:16

S5 Ep182: Bad Teacher: Vincent Brothers

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/09/14

A well-respected educator in Bakersfield, California is accused of a brutal crime - the murders of five of his family members. Resources: "The Mystery of the Lost Weekend", by Keith Morrison for Dateline NBC, July 24, 2009. "Vincent Brothers and murdered wife had rocky relationship say witnesses" by Jessica Logan for Bakersfield.com, March 7, 2007. "Vice Principal is still a suspect in fatal shootings of wife, kids, mother-in-law" by Kerri Ginis for The Fresno Bee, July 10, 2003. "Woman Says

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52:32

S5 Ep181: Bad Teacher: Mary Kay Letourneau

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/09/07

In this month's series "Bad Teacher" I'll share cases of educators who committed newsworthy crimes. First up, a 34-year-old teacher scandalizes the nation when she is convicted of child rape with one of her 6th grade students. Resources: "Strange Love: Mary Kay Letourneau", 7 News Spotlight, July 8, 2020, retrived on YouTube. "Mary Kay Letourneau: 15 Shocking Facts" by John Whitefoot for Crimeola.com, May 29, 2018. "How the Media Turned Child Rape into a 'Tryst' for Mary Kay Letourneau" by

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98:15

S5 Ep180: Familiar Strangers: Anastasia Romanov - Part 2

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/08/31

We conclude this two-part episode with a young woman who comes forward claiming to be Grand Duchess Anastasia Romanov. The investigation into her claim would take decades to unravel. I welcome back my sister, Yolanda, to help me discuss all the ins and outs of this intriguing mystery! Time Stamps: 05:03 - "Miss Unknown" 22:47 - Investigating the Claim 28:06 - "Fraulein Annie" 30:20 - Anastasia Tchaikovsky - Rescue Story 53:30 - Anna Anderson - United States 57:41 - Anna the Hoarder 01:01:00

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51:43

S5 Ep179: Familiar Strangers: Anastasia Romanov - Part 1

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/08/24

On this first part of a 2-part episode, I share the fascinating story of the disappearance of the last imperial family of Russia, the Romanovs. After their disappearance, most believed they had been executed by the Bolsheviks, but sightings of one or more of the Romanovs would continue for years. Did some of Tsar Nicholas II's family members escape? Resources: The Resurrection of the Romanovs by Greg King and Penny Wilson, published by John Wiley and Sons, Inc., 2011. Romanovs: The Missing

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7:12

S5: August News and Announcements

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/08/14

A few summer news items and announcements for Once Upon a Crime listeners. Podcast Awards: www.podcastawards.com Links: Excuse Me, That's Illegal - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/excuse-me-thats-illegal/id1526994548 Twitter - @real_leroy_luna Let's Taco 'Bout True Crime - https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/lets-taco-bout-true-crime/id1452118167 Twitter - @tacoboutcrime Once Upon a Crime social media links: Twitter - @uponacrime Facebook and Instagram - @onceuponacrimepod Facebook Fan

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27:01

S5 Ep178: Familiar Strangers: Walter Collins, Part 2

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/08/07

On this second part of a two-part episode we continue the story of 9-year-old Walter Collins who went missing from Los Angeles in 1928. In part two, we discover that a serial killer, Gordon Stewart Northcott, has been preying on boys and young men in the LA area. Was Walter Collins a victim of Northcott's? Resources: The Wineville Chicken Coop Murders, retrieved online at crime museum.org. https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/wineville-chicken-coop-murders/ The Disappearance

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26:13

S5 Ep177: Familiar Strangers: Walter Collins - Part 1

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/08/02

In this month's series I'll tell you stories about people who missing and then, months or years later, miraculously reappeared. But, these stories all have a twist - were they who they claimed to be or were they imposters? In this first episode, you'll hear about a young boy who goes missing in 1928. When he returns home, his mother will say he's an imposter, but her claims are dismissed. Who was the boy claiming to be her missing son and what happened to the real Walter Collins? Resources: The

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37:12

S5 Ep176: Stranger Than Fiction: Starr Faithfull and...

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/07/27

The life and tragic death of a young socialite in the 1930s inspires an Academy Award winning movie. But, Starr Faithfull's life was far from the glamorous treatment it would receive on the big screen. Resources: Ripped from the Headlines: The Shocking True Stories Behind the Movie's Most Memorable Crimes by Harold Schechter (Little A, 2020) The Passing of Starr Faithfull by Jonathan Goodman (Piatkus, 1990). Open Files: A Narrative Encyclopedia of the World's Greatest Unsolved Crimes by Jay

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38:14

S7: Bonus Episode: "Ripped from the Headlines" with...

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/07/22

As a bonus for this month's theme "Stranger Than Fiction", I interview author Harold Schechter about his new book, Ripped from the Headlines: The Shocking True Stories Behind the Movies' Most Memorable Crimes, an anthology of forty true crime cases that inspired films. Links: https://haroldschechter.com Purchase "Ripped from the Headlines" here.

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34:02

S5 Ep175: Stranger Than Fiction: Belva Gaertner &...

Once Upon A Crime ·

2020/07/12

Two women accused of murder in the Roaring 20s would become the inspiration for one of the best known and longest running shows in American musical theater history. This is the story of the real life Roxie and Velma from “Chicago". Resources: "1924 - Beulah Annan & Belva Gaertner", Newspaper articles compiled and posted on Chicagology.com. Ripped from the Headlines by Harold Schechter, Published by Little A, New York, 2020 "Musical Theater and Law: Chicago, The Musical" by Geraldine Davila

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422 results

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