Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles

Latest Episodes:

Encore: 'The Night Elvis Presley Stopped A Fight In Madison, Wisconsin' Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

our next series is set to coincide with an investigative series published out of Buffalo, NY, but if you've been following the news lately you know that the city was hit with an historically intense blizzard at the very end of December and then also they've been following the story of Damar Hamlin, the Buffalo Bills player who collapsed on the field a week ago. As such, the publication timeline for their stories has drifted a little bit, and we'll be following suit.

What you get today though is an self-contained episode that originally ran in August of 2021 titled: "The Night Elvis Presley Stopped A Fight In Madison, Wisconsin" which does exactly what it says on the tin but also so much more.

Yesterday would have been the King's 88th birthday so it's a serendipitous bit of timing. Here's what we wrote when the episode originally ran in 2021:

To mark the anniversary of his death, this episode is all about the time Elvis Presley, the King of rock and roll, stopped a fight in Madison, Wisconsin one summer night in 1977, and it will be followed by an interview with Tom Still, the former Wisconsin State Journal reporter and editor (and current president of the Wisconsin Technology Council), who got the early morning call and ultimately immortalized the incident on the front page just a handful of weeks before Elvis would pass away on August 16, 1977.

'Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles' is a product of Lee Enterprises. It is produced and edited by Chris Lay, with interviews produced and recorded by Nat Cardona.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Capstone - Fearfully, she walked the streets Jan 03, 2023

Show notes

For this 'capstone' episode, we're and I talk about some of the most important takeaways from this series, 'Fearfully, she walked the streets.'

We consider the nuances of some of the articles we looked at, and we praise the journalistic efforts that went into bringing the story to masses not just the first time, as it was happening, but also decades later when it was ready to be re-examined.

A tremendous thank you to the staff of the Greensboro News & Record, especially Managing Editor, Jennifer Fernandez and reporters Nancy McLaughlin and Lorraine Ahearn.

You can find links to relevant articles are below:

City in fear: Greensboro's only serial killer 'just looked evil' (Feb 14, 2016)
Greensboro rape suspect is arrested (Jan 29, 1994)
Worse than death / body parts identified; Victim's family told (Nov 14, 1991)
'I just want her to be all right' (Nov 19, 1991)
Sharon Jones knows her sister 'didn't just lay down and die' (Dec 21, 1991)
Strollers' have walked into thin air (Jul 1, 1992)
Parents hope teen is alive (Jul 8, 1992)
Fourth since last fall (Jul 24, 1992)
Fearfully, she walked the streets (Sep 23, 1992)
Her family mourns a troubled daughter (Sep 24, 1992)
Surrounded by crime, residents scared, fed up (Sep 26, 1992)
Residents' frustration is understandable (Oct 7, 1992)
Candlelight vigil: Neighbors remember the lives of 5 women (Oct 16, 1992)
Hope in darkness: Group marches for peace (Nov 25, 1992)
Five black women are remembered (Feb 24, 1993)

'Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles' is a product of Lee Enterprises. It is produced and edited by Chris Lay, with interviews produced and recorded by Nat Cardona.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chapter 4: '‘He just looked evil' - Fearfully, she walked the streets Dec 27, 2022

Show notes

Over a span of years in the early '90s, Robert Sylvester Alston killed at least four women in Greensboro, North Carolina.

With the constant interest in serial killers Alston is seemingly unique in that his crimes have garnered very little attention from anyone out there in the world of true-crime coverage. What we do have, though, is the profile on him by Greensboro News and Record journalist Nancy McLaughlin who, two decades after he had been incarcerated, was granted the very first opportunity to interview Alston.

With our fourth episode in this series, we're following up on last week's conversation with Nancy McLaughlin about Larry Darby Jr., and focusing solely on the events around Nancy's interview with Alston.

If you're new to the show, go back to the first episode to get caught up before you dive in here.

What you're going to hear are readings of articles from the News and Record alternating with excerpts of an interview with Nancy McLaughlin.

You can find links to all the articles from this episode below:

City in fear: Greensboro's only serial killer 'just looked evil' (Feb 14, 2016)
Greensboro rape suspect is arrested (Jan 29, 1994)
Lab tests may yield clues to other slayings (Apr 18, 1994)
Man indicted in strangulation (Apr 18, 1994)
City man admits killing prostitute (Apr 19, 1994)
Killer gives details of strangulation in eastern Greensboro (Apr 19, 1994)
Slayings are similar to attack on woman (Apr 28, 1994)
Investigators link '91 slaying to man in jail (Apr 23, 1996)
Convicted killer is charged in deaths of 2 more women (Dec 29, 1997)
Serial killer admits to two more killings (Sep 3, 1998)

'Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles' is a product of Lee Enterprises. It is produced and edited by Chris Lay, with interviews produced and recorded by Nat Cardona.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chapter 3: 'Your honor, I ain't killed nobody' - Fearfully, she walked the streets Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

Over a span of years in the early '90s, Robert Sylvester Alston killed at least four women in Greensboro, North Carolina. His victims were sex workers. In the time between the start of his killings the local police were slow to grasp the connections, and even arrested a man on very scant evidence who was released thanks to DNA evidence that exonerated him.

With this, the third of our episodes in this series, we're looking at Larry Darby Jr., the man who was falsely arrested. His story was told in the pages of the Greensboro News and Record as it was happening, but it wasn't until almost two decades later that a profile on Darby by Nancy McLaughlin offered him the opportunity to set the record straight.

If you're new to the show, go back to the first episode to get caught up before you dive in here.

What you're going to hear are readings of articles from the Greensboro News and Record alternating with excerpts of an interview with Nancy McLaughlin.

You can find links to all the articles from this episode below:

'I didn't do it:' Once accused of murder, Greensboro man comes home; Oct 4, 2015 by Nancy McLaughlin
Man charged with woman's slasher killing \ "Awful early" to link to previous slayings; Sep 23, 1992 by Lorraine Ahearn & Tatiana M. With.
Suspect says he isn't the killer \ "I ain't killed nobody"; Sep 24, 1992 by Lorraine Ahearn
One arrest in five killings may be wrong one \ Judge sets $25,000 bond; Mar 17, 1993 by Libby Lewis.
Suspect's DNA test is no link to killing; Mar 20, 1993 by Libby Lewis.
Sole suspect in five slayings freed; no case; Mar 29, 1993 by Lorraine Ahearn & Libby Lewis.

'Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles' is a product of Lee Enterprises. It is produced and edited by Chris Lay, with interviews produced and recorded by Nat Cardona.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chapter 2: 'Fifth victim found' - Fearfully, she walked the streets Dec 12, 2022

Show notes

In the early 1990s, serial killers were having a moment, perhaps most clearly highlighted by the "Silence of the Lambs." A big-screen adaptation of the 1988 novel by Thomas Harris, the film quickly grew from an unexpected blockbuster to an awards season juggernaut, nabbing Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Less than six months after "Hannibal the Cannibal" and friends had popped so many celebratory bottles of chianti, a real-life horror movie was continuing to unspool.

This is the second episode of the story co-hosts Chris Lay and Nat Cardona are calling "Fearfully, she walked the streets." If you're new to the show, go back to the first episode to get caught up before you dive in here.

What you're going to hear are readings of articles from the Greensboro News and Record alternating with excerpts of interviews with the journalists who covered the story as it was happening as well as revisited it later on.

You can find links to all the articles from this episode below:

Fifth slaying victim found (Sept. 22, 1992; by Lorraine Ahearn & Tatiana M. With)
Man charged with woman's slasher killing; 'Awful early' to link to previous slayings (Sept. 23, 1992; by Lorraine Ahearn & Tatiana M. With)
Man convicted in Shalonda Poole death will serve 2 life terms (Dec 1, 2014; by Sarah Newell Williamson)

If you appreciate what you're hearing we encourage you to check out past episodes which examine additional stories from some of Lee Enterprises newspapers from across America.

Tremendous thanks to Lorraine Ahearn for taking the time to talk with Nat Cardona, and we'll have part one of our conversation with Greensboro News & Record reporter Nancy McLaughlin next week, so make sure you're subscribed to the show wherever it is you get your podcasts.

'Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles' is a product of Lee Enterprises. It is produced and edited by Chris Lay, with interviews produced and recorded by Nat Cardona.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chapter 1: 'Walked into thin air' - Fearfully, she walked the streets Dec 05, 2022

Show notes

Serial killers have always fascinated as much as terrified us. From Jack the Ripper to Jeffrey Dahmer, they have been endlessly documented and studied by police, academics and citizen sleuths alike. So it's surprising to find out that there are still compulsive killers out there who were captured, tried, convicted and imprisoned, yet somehow managed to not have even a Wikipedia page.

Chris Lay, along with co-host Nat Cardona, are going to spend the next handful of episodes presenting one such case they're calling "Fearfully, she walked the streets."

Over a span of years in the early 1990s, Robert Sylvester Alston killed at least four women in Greensboro, North Carolina. His victims were sex workers. In the time between the start of his killings the local police were slow to grasp the connections, and even arrested a man on very scant evidence who was released thanks to DNA evidence that exonerated him.

You can find links to all the articles below:

If you appreciate what you're hearing we encourage you to check out past episodes which examine additional stories from some of Lee Enterprises newspapers from across America.

Tremendous thanks to Lorraine Ahearn for taking the time to talk with Nat Cardona, and we'll have more from their conversation next week, so make sure you're subscribed to the show wherever it is you get your podcasts.

Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles is a product of Lee Enterprises. It is produced and edited by Chris Lay, with interviews produced and recorded by Nat Cardona.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Introducing: Nat Cardona Nov 15, 2022

Show notes

To kick off our brand new 'Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles' series, we wanted to take a minute to introduce our new co-host Nat Cardona. You might know her from her daily video series 'Five to Know.'

'Five to Know' most-viewed videos of 2019

That show wound down around the start of the pandemic, but Nat's here with us now in the world of audio and she's brought along a deep love of the true-crime genre.

This series coming up will focus on Greensboro, North Carolina and one of America's lesser known serial killers, Robert Sylvester Alston. If you or anyone you know lived in or near Greensboro in the early 90s and has any memories of the city or the string of bodies that were discovered, we'd love to hear from you so please reach out to Chris Lay (chris.lay at lee.net) and we will absolutely be in touch.

More about some of the topics we touch on this week:

'Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles' is a product of Lee Enterprises. The show is produced and hosted by Nat Cardona and Chris Lay. If you appreciate what we're doing we encourage you to support whichever newspaper it is that serves your community.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Trailer: 'Fearfully, she walked the streets' Nov 02, 2022

Show notes

On our next series we're taking a look at one of the lesser known serial killers in American history. Joining the team is Nat Cardona who will be conducting interviews with journalists and editors who covered the story and have unique insights on the past and present impact on the community.

make sure you're subscribed to Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles on Apple, Google, Spotify, Stitcher or wherever you get your podcasts.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chapter 5: 'Sex, witches, vampires and a verdict' - The disappearance of Sydney Loofe Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles is a show that shares true crime stories through readings of newspaper articles and interviews with the journalists who reported on the stories.

This is the fifth and final episode of the series, so you should jump back to part one and get up to speed if you need to, making sure not to skip the bonus episode interview with Lincoln Journal Star reporter Lori Pilger about her coverage of the trial as it was happening as well as the present state of Trail's appeal to the State Supreme Court.

For this set of episodes we'll be traveling to Wilber, Nebraska, where, in November of 2017, 24-year-old Sydney Loofe left work to go on a second date with someone she met on a dating app, and she never came home.

The events that followed centered around Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell, who were eventually convicted in the case, and were bizarre in the way they unfolded on social media and in the courtroom.

The Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald covered the story as it broke and navigated the circus-like atmosphere that developed in the courtroom and in conversations with Aubrey Trail.

The articles are linked below and if you appreciate what we're doing with this program, we encourage you to invest in local journalism and support whichever newspaper serves your community.

We're already hard at work on our next series, with a new co-host, so look forward to more info about that very soon and make sure you're subscribed wherever you get your podcasts.

Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles, a product of Lee Enterprises, is produced, recorded, edited and hosted byChris Lay.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chapter 4: 'A courtroom outburst' - The disappearance of Sydney Loofe Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles is a show that shares true crime stories through readings of newspaper articles and interviews with the journalists who reported on the stories.

What you're about to hear is the fourth episode in what was planned as a four part series but we decided to split this last episode into two parts to make it five parts total. Regardless of that, though, if you are new here jump back to part one so you're up to speed.

The events that followed centered around Aubrey Trail and Bailey Boswell, who were eventually convicted in the case, and were bizarre in the way they unfolded on social media and in the courtroom.

The Lincoln Journal Star and Omaha World-Herald covered the story as it broke and navigated the circus-like atmosphere that developed in the courtroom and in conversations with Aubrey Trail.

The articles, which you'll hear read by Matt McGrath and are linked below in full, have been lightly edited to avoid redundancies, are linked below and if you appreciate what we're doing with this program, we encourage you to invest in local journalism and support whichever newspaper serves your community.

Late Edition: Crime Beat Chronicles, a product of Lee Enterprises, is produced, recorded, edited and hosted byChris Lay with articles read and recorded by Matt McGrath.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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