Death By Champagne

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EP 100 - Forgot how to Drink Champagne Oct 30, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! We have reached a milestone with this one you guys, episode 100! Thank you so much from the bottom of our cold dead hearts for staying tuned in and supporting in all the various ways that you do. We love you all! For our season three finale we both decided to cover some cold cases. Live starts us off with the bizarre disappearance of Bryce Laspisa, who went missing after what was supposed to be just a 6 hour drive home that somehow turned into 48 hours. Mack brings us a local case and covers the still unsolved murder of Judy Lynn Spencer. Who, similar to Bryce, went for a drive and never returned.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about suicide, murder, death, and lots of theories. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!
Sources
Bryce Laspisa
Facebook: Find Bryce Laspisa
The Strange Vanishing of Bryce Laspisa by The True Crime Times
The Road to Nowhere for True Crime Society by Liv
Unresolved Mysteries - Reddit
Judy Lynn Spencer
“A Killing in The Hills” Nicolas Phillips, Riverfront Times, February 2016
“Trail To Nowhere” Nicolas Phillips, Riverfront Times, February 2016
‘Cold Case’ Opened by Drury Class, The Houston Herald, Nov 2007
“Fingerprint Enters Trial Record” The Houston Herald, Nov 2009
“NASH REPORT: Prosecution’s theory lacks factual foundation, judge writes” Andrew Sheeley, salemnewsonline.com, June 2020
“Nash released from custody Saturday to await state retrial decision” Andrew Sheeley, July 2020
“Judge recommends vacate of sentence in death of HHS grad” Houston Herald, June 2020
“Murder charges against Donald Nash have been dismissed” Chris Six, ozarkfirst.com, Oct 2020
“Man who served 12 years in 1982 killing won’t be retried” Associated Press, St. Louis Post Dispatch, October 2020
SC90649 Appellant Brief , MO Supreme Court

EP 99 - Interview with Jax Miller; Hell in the Heartland Oct 23, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! We have a very special guest this week, author of Hell in the Heartland; Jax Miller! We talk all things midwest and touch on a few topics we didn’t discuss from the book. You can follow her on instagram and twitter @realjaxmiller. Be sure to stop by your local bookstore to pick up a copy of Hell in the Heartland.
Stay up to date with the case by checking out Finding Lauria Bible - BBI Facebook group.
If you have the means to donate please do so to the Go Fund Me Scholarship under Lauria Bible and Ashley Freeman's names.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about police corruption, small town life, rape, torture, murder, and drug use. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!

EP 98 - Lauria Bible & Ashley Freeman: Hell in the Heartland Oct 16, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! We are back to bring you the final installment of our multi-part series covering the book by Jax Miller; Hell in the Heartland. We come to our tragic conclusion to a 20 year cold case. We cover a handful of suspects Jax learns about through her investigations, the more recent arrests and charges placed against the men responsible, and what may have transpired the night the Freeman’s trailer went up in flames.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about police corruption, small town life, rape, torture, murder, and drug use. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!
Sources
Hell in The Heartland: Murder, Meth, And The Case of Two Missing Girls, Jax Miller
BBI - Find Lauria Bible Facebook Group
“Teens’ Fate Still Unresolved A Year Later”, Don Diehl,The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Jan 2001
Arrest Affidavit for the case of Ronnie Busick, April 23, 2018
Jax Miller: Switching From Fiction to True Crime, Writer’s Digest, Robert Lee Brewer, July 31, 2018
“Justice after decades: Bible family sees suspect sentenced after Lorene's 'relentless' fight”, Tulsa World, Mike Simons, September 24, 2020
“Ashley Freeman loved to fish. Lauria Bible was a country girl who raised pigs. This is the story the family and friends of the missing Welch girls want to tell.”, Andrea Eger, Tim Stanley, Tulsa World, Feb 18, 2019

EP 97 - Lauria Bible & Ashley Freeman: Hell in the Heartland Oct 09, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! We are back this week with episode two of our multi-part series covering the book by Jax Miller; Hell in the Heartland. This week we cover the days following the fire and the Bible families determination to do anything in their power to find their daughter Lauria. We also begin to dive into theories, suspects, and what was gathered from the crime scene.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about rape, molestation, police corruption, small town life, murder and autopsy reports. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!
Sources
Hell in The Heartland: Murder, Meth, And The Case of Two Missing Girls, Jax Miller
BBI - Find Lauria Bible Facebook Group
“Teens’ Fate Still Unresolved A Year Later”, Don Diehl,The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Jan 2001
Arrest Affidavit for the case of Ronnie Busick, April 23, 2018
Jax Miller: Switching From Fiction to True Crime, Writer’s Digest, Robert Lee Brewer, July 31, 2018
“Justice after decades: Bible family sees suspect sentenced after Lorene's 'relentless' fight”, Tulsa World, Mike Simons, September 24, 2020
“Ashley Freeman loved to fish. Lauria Bible was a country girl who raised pigs. This is the story the family and friends of the missing Welch girls want to tell.”, Andrea Eger, Tim Stanley, Tulsa World, Feb 18, 2019

EP 96 - Lauria Bible & Ashley Freeman: Hell in the Heartland Oct 02, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! This week starts our next multi-part series covering the book by Jax Miller; Hell in the Heartland. An unforgettable case from rural Oklahoma with questions that still remain unanswered. This week we dive into one of the families affected in our story; the Freeman’s. We start with the death of their son Shane, their muddy past with the local police department, and the day of their house fire. A fire that left two dead and two girls who remain missing to this day; Ashley Freeman and Lauria Bible.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about police corruption, small town life, murder and death. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!
Sources
Hell in The Heartland: Murder, Meth, And The Case of Two Missing Girls, Jax Miller
BBI - Find Lauria Bible Facebook Group
“Teens’ Fate Still Unresolved A Year Later”, Don Diehl,The Daily Oklahoman (Oklahoma City, Oklahoma) Jan 2001
Arrest Affidavit for the case of Ronnie Busick, April 23, 2018
Jax Miller: Switching From Fiction to True Crime, Writer’s Digest, Robert Lee Brewer, July 31, 2018
“Justice after decades: Bible family sees suspect sentenced after Lorene's 'relentless' fight”, Tulsa World, Mike Simons, September 24, 2020
“Ashley Freeman loved to fish. Lauria Bible was a country girl who raised pigs. This is the story the family and friends of the missing Welch girls want to tell.”, Andrea Eger, Tim Stanley, Tulsa World, Feb 18, 2019

EP 95 - Norma Wallace Part 3 Sep 11, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! Bringing you the final installation of our multi-part series covering the book The Last Madam; a Life in the New Orleans Underworld by Christine Wiltz. In this episode we cover what is left of Norma’s history. Starting in the late 50’s and taking us all the way up to 1974. We dive into a few key players, Norma’s less illegal business adventures, and the sad end to her extravagant life. Mack wraps up our episode with some Louisiana history regarding sex work, race, and the wrong doings of a lot of men in power.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about the sex work industry, statutory rape, poverty, and the New Orleans underworld. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!
Sources
The Last Madam: A Life In The New Orleans Underworld, Christine Wiltz
Norma Wallce Audio 1, The Historic New Orleans Collection, donated by Christine Wiltz
Norma Wallace Audio 2, The Historic New Orleans Collection, donated by Christine Wiltz
“The Last Days of Storyville”, Sally Asher, myneworleans.com, Sept 2017
The Last Madam, Snap Judgement, NPR, Host: Glynn Washington, Byline: Stephanie Foo
Former French Quarter brothel becomes home sweet home, Stephanie Bruno, NOLA.com, Nov 2011
The Best Little Whorehouse in NOLA, Back Story Radio, Diana Williams, March 2016
Biography of Christine Wiltz via christinewiltz.com
“The History Behind 5 of New Orleans' Favorite Mardi Gras Traditions” Olivia B Waxman, time.com, February 2018
1026contist.com
“Gov. Huey Long impeached in Louisiana, April 6, 1929”, Andrew Glass, Politico, April 2012
“A Hamm’s ransom: How the kidnapping of one of St. Paul’s most prosperous brewers reshaped a corrupt system”, Ben Reeves, The Growler, November 2016
“The 1934 Bremer kidnapping: Gangsters replace bootlegging cash with ransom money” Cathay Wurzer, MPR, January 2014
“Jim Crow & Segregation”, 64parishes.com, Nikki Brown
“8 reasons why New Orleans neighborhoods remain segregated” NOLA.com, Jennifer Larino for The Times-Picayune, April 2018

EP 94 - Norma Wallace Part 2 Sep 04, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! Bringing you part two of our multi-part series covering the book The Last Madam; a Life in the New Orleans Underworld by Christine Wiltz. This week we cover a lot of ground including three of Norma’s marriages, the purchase of the notorious Conti St. house, and we give background on a number of key players in Norma’s life. We end the episode nearing the end of the 40’s and a long cat and mouse game between Norma and the chief of police.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about the sex work industry, statutory rape, poverty, and the New Orleans underworld. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!
Sources
The Last Madam: A Life In The New Orleans Underworld, Christine Wiltz
The Last Madam, Snap Judgement, NPR, Host: Glynn Washington, Byline: Stephanie Foo
Former French Quarter brothel becomes home sweet home, Stephanie Bruno, NOLA.com, Nov 2011
The Best Little Whorehouse in NOLA, Back Story Radio, Diana Williams, March 2016
Biography of Christine Wiltz via christinewiltz.com
“The Last Days of Storyville”, Sally Asher, myneworleans.com, Sept 2017
“The History Behind 5 of New Orleans' Favorite Mardi Gras Traditions” Olivia B Waxman, time.com, February 2018
1026contist.com
“Gov. Huey Long impeached in Louisiana, April 6, 1929”, Andrew Glass, Politico, April 2012
“A Hamm’s ransom: How the kidnapping of one of St. Paul’s most prosperous brewers reshaped a corrupt system”, Ben Reeves, The Growler, November 2016
“The 1934 Bremer kidnapping: Gangsters replace bootlegging cash with ransom money” Cathay Wurzer, MPR, January 2014

EP 93 - Norma Wallace Part 1 Aug 28, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! We are here with our next multi-part series covering the book The Last Madam; a Life in the New Orleans Underworld by Christine Wiltz. This week we dive into our main character Norma Wallace, her youth in Memphis and New Orleans prior to becoming one of the biggest names in the industry, and we take a look at New Orleans history. How it came to be known as one of the most sinful places in the world.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about the sex work industry, statutory rape, poverty, and the New Orleans underworld. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!
Sources
The Last Madam: A Life In The New Orleans Underworld, Christine Wiltz
The Last Madam, Snap Judgement, NPR, Host: Glynn Washington, Byline: Stephanie Foo
Former French Quarter brothel becomes home sweet home, Stephanie Bruno, NOLA.com, Nov 2011
The Best Little Whorehouse in NOLA, Back Story Radio, Diana Williams, March 2016
Biography of Christine Wiltz via christinewiltz.com
“The Last Days of Storyville”, Sally Asher, myneworleans.com, Sept 2017
“The History Behind 5 of New Orleans' Favorite Mardi Gras Traditions” Olivia B Waxman, time.com, February 2018

EP 92 - Toilet Pants Aug 14, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! We are back this week and full of true crime for you. Liv starts out with the murder of hiker Meredith Emerson and how her death solved a number of cases that are now known to be committed by the National Forest Serial Killer; Gary Hilton. Mack brings us an old and surprising case from our favorite east coast location, Harvard University. She covers the murder of Dr. Bernard Parkman and the very Sherlock-esque detective work that followed to discover his remains.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about murder, body decomposition, and body mutilation. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!
Sources
Gary Hilton
Gary Michael Hilton - The disturbing case of the National Forest Serial Killer from Strange Outdoors .com
NBC Article: Killer says Female Hiker Fought him to the end by the Associated Press
AJC Article: Hiker’s murder still haunts those closest to the case, 10 years later by Christian Boone and Rhonda Cook
The Charley Project: Rossana Miliani
The Daytona Beach news-Journal Article: Police: Daytona woman who killed, dismembered boyfriend is linked to similar cold case, by Tony Hold
Dr. Bernard Parkman
“What lies in the lab: The gruesome murder at Harvard that transfixed New England”, Paul Collins, Boston Globe, July 11, 2018
Blood & Ivy, Paul Collins, 2018
The Parkman-Webster Murder Case, The West End Museum, Exhibit and Design copyright Duane Lucia
The History of HMS
“Murder at Harvard Medical School: The story of the 19th century slaying that shocked Boston”, Dialynn Dwyer, Boston.com, Nov 22, 2017

EP 91 - Girl has no Chill Aug 07, 2020

Show notes

Welcome back to Death by Champagne, the podcast here to keep you up at night! We are back to our regular format this week with two stories. Mack starts us off with an old but still very tragic slew of arsenic murders all committed by the one and only Bertha Giffords, dubbed America's first female serial killer. Liv brings us something light-hearted and discusses the origins of Ursula Shipton, aka Mother Shipton, her notorious prophecies and possible proof of her existence.
This episode contains foul language, discussions about murder (including child murder), witches and some lore. We’ll do our best to stay on track, but the bottles are popped!
Sources
Bertha Giffords
Missouri’s Murderous Matrons, Victoria Cosner, Lorelai Shannon, Arcadia Publishing
Poison was weapon for 'Missouri's Murderous Matrons', Harry Levins, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, June 14, 2019
World Health Org on Arsenic
http://www.berthagifford.com/
https://www.morsemillhotel.com/
STL Post-Dispatch, Oct. 26, 1993
Mysterious Heartland Blog
Republican Tribune (Union, Missouri), Aug 28, 1928
Tainted Legacy, S. Kay Murphy - Bertha Gifford’s great-granddaughter explores her family history
S. Kay Murphy Blog - Article on the case, and how impossible it is to know the truth.
Mother Shipton
The Legend of Mother Shipton by Sharon Bennett Connolly
The Eerie Prophecies of Mother Shipton that Terrified all of England by Nancy Bilyeau
Wikipedia: Mother Shipton
Wikipedia: Thomas Wolsey

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