Once Upon A Crime

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Best of Once Upon a Crime: O.J. Simpson May 06, 2024

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We’re wrapping up Season 8 on the way to Once Upon a Crime’s 9th birthday! We’re sharing six of our “Best Of” Episodes from the archives to celebrate eight years of true crime podcasting. First up, you’ll hear a clip from one of our most popular episodes released as discussions with everyone’s favorite co-host, my sister, Yolanda. We’ll break down the O.J. Simpson case with details you may not have heard before. Links: Season 6: Episode 225: Breaking Down the O.J. Simpson Case with Yolanda - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s6-ep225-breaking-down-the-oj-simpson-case-with-yolanda/ Season 3: Episode 115: The Darlie Routier Case w/Yolanda - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s3-ep115-the-darlie-routier-case-with-guest-co-host-yolanda-from-not-perfect-or-functional-podcast/ Season 2: Episodes 71 and 72: The 12 Crimes of Christmas - Laci Peterson, Parts 1 and 2 - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep71-the-12-crimes-of-christmas-laci-peterson-part-1/ https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep71-the-12-crimes-of-christmas-laci-peterson-part-1/ Sponsors: Lume - www.lumedeodorant.com - Use code ONCE for 15% off your first purchase. Crimecon - https://www.crimecon.com/ - Use code ONCE for 10% your ticket. Patreon - Become an OUAC super fan. Starting at $2 a month. https://www.patreon.com/OnceUponACrime

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Manipulated to Murder: Darin Schilmiller Apr 29, 2024

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In the last chapter of the series “Manipulated to Murder,” I’ll share a story about a predator who hid behind a false identity to manipulate young and impressionable teens into committing the senseless murder of a vulnerable young woman. Sources: https://law.alaska.gov/press/releases/2024/011124-Schilmiller.html https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/6154251/Schilmiller-Court-Docs-061419.pdf https://lawandcrime.com/crime/catfished-killer-takes-plea-deal-in-2019-death-of-best-friend-murdered-in-exchange-for-9m-from-fake-millionaire/ https://law.alaska.gov/press/releases/2024/021224-Brehmer.html https://www.alaskasnewssource.com/content/news/Who-is-accused-killer-Darin-Schilmiller-Cynthia-Hoffman-murder-suspect-511444111.html https://www.adn.com/alaska-news/crime-courts/2023/07/13/indiana-man-pleads-guilty-to-child-porn-charge-linked-to-anchorage-teens-killing-in-catfishing-scheme/ https://medium.com/the-legal-beagle/astonishing-case-in-the-unusual-murder-by-denali-brehmer-of-best-friend-beginning-with-social-media-b6ad8c827830 https://www.the-sun.com/news/10406051/cynthia-hoffman-murder-hire-plot-denali-brehmer-sentenced/ Links: Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com Travel with me! Click on the link to take a 2-minute survey to help me plan our first adventure! https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/esther--fr746 Dr. Phil interview - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XCBOXtwHVg4&ab_channel=Dr.Phil

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Manipulated to Murder: Pamela Smart Apr 22, 2024

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Pamela Smart became a household name - not for being the next Barbara Walters as she’d hoped but for orchestrating the cold-blooded murder of her husband - using her teenage lover as the trigger man. The case became a media sensation when it hit the news cycle in 1990. It was such a high-profile case that millions watched the trial unfold live on television. It was the very first time a murder trial in the U.S. received “gavel-to-gavel” coverage on a newly launched cable television channel dedicated to true crime content - Court TV. Sources: https://web.archive.org/web/20150215233410/http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/family/smart/1.html https://www.nhmagazine.com/breaking-silence-cecelia-pierce-speaks/ “Do you remember Pamela Smart? She got four boys to kill her husband 29 years ago. Now, they’re free. She isn’t,” Manuel Roig-Franzi for The Washington Post, Jan 15, 2019. Links: Travel with me! Click on the link to take a 2-minute survey to help me plan our first adventure! https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/esther--fr746

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Manipulated to Murder: Hilma Marie Witte Apr 15, 2024

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In this month’s series, we’ll look at people who were manipulated into committing murder. First up, we’ll take a look at a case where a mother pressures her child to kill his father. That fact alone would make this story truly horrible but it was not the last murder Marie Witte orchestrated. The next one would be as cold-hearted as it was gruesome. Sources: https://murderpedia.org/female.W/w/witte-hilma.htm https://thecinemaholic.com/how-did-paul-witte-die-where-are-eric-witte-and-hilma-marie-witte-now/ Snapped: Hilma Marie Witte, Season 31, Episode 19, Oxygen TV, 2022. https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/hilma-marie-witte-convinced-sons-to-kill-husband-grandmother Evil Lives Here: She Made Me Do It, Season 2, Episode 2, HBO MAX, 2017.

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Tarnished Hollywood: The Tragic Life and Bizarre Death of Lloyd Avery II Mar 25, 2024

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In this final episode of “Tarnished Hollywood,” I’ll share a story about a promising young actor who ran afoul of the law. His decision to immerse himself in gang culture at the expense of an acting career would lead to a life sentence in a prison cell and a brutal and bizarre end to his life at the age of 36. Sources: https://chicagodefender.com/how-an-infamous-boyz-n-the-hood-cameo-led-to-real-life-murder/ https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/kevin-roby/

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Tarnished Hollywood: Grant and Amanda Hayes and the Murder of Laura Ackerson Mar 18, 2024

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Amanda Hayes, an actress known for roles on The Sopranos and The Stepford Wives, was convicted of conspiring with her husband, Grant Hayes, to murder Laura Ackerson, his ex-wife and mother of his two children. The murder and its cover-up would be one of the most grisly crimes investigators had ever encountered. Sources: Bitter Remains, author Diane Fanning, Berkley Books, 2016. See No Evil: Who killed Laura Ackerson and where are they now? ID’s See No Evil: Who killed Laura Ackerson and where are they now? (sportskeeda.com) Amanda Hayes: Deadly Women - https://deadlywomen.fandom.com/wiki/Amanda_Hayes

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Tarnished Hollywood: Danny Masterson Mar 11, 2024

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Danny Masterson is an American actor best known for his role in That 70’s Show. In 2020, he was charged with raping three women in 2001 and 2003. Masterson and his victims were all members of the Church of Scientology. The church’s policies and threats toward the victims caused a 20-year delay in bringing the crimes to justice. Sources: A Timeline of Danny Masterson’s Controversies, Skyler Caruso for People.com, Sept 7, 2023 https://people.com/tv/danny-masterson-charged-rape-timeline-of-allegations/ Danny Masterson’s Long History with the Church of Scientology, Christina Dugan Ramirez for People.com, March 3, 2017. https://people.com/celebrity/danny-masterson-history-church-of-scientology/ Danny Masterson Used Drugging, Scientology to get Away with Rape, Prosecutor Says, Andrew Dalton, AP News, May 16, 2023 https://apnews.com/article/danny-masterson-rape-retrial-ecf0ee15fb71ef603dc4ad30ba74f3dd Danny Masterson was Convicted of Rape. What Happens to Scientology?, Tony Ortega for RollingStone, June 5, 2023. https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/danny-masterson-rape-conviction-scientology-accountability-1234764377/ Two Hollywood stars are accused of rape, but Scientology is also on trial, Diana Dasrath and Corky Siemaszko for NBC News, Sept 7, 2023. https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-hollywood-stars-are-accused-rape-scientology-also-trial-rcna54196 Danny Masterson is Sentenced to 30 Years to Life in Prison for Two Rapes, Derrick Bryson Taylor, Livia Albeck-Ripka, and Michael Levenson for The New York Times, Sept 7, 2023. https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/07/arts/television/danny-masterson-rape-trial-sentencing.html#:~:text=Danny%20Masterson%2C%20the%20actor%20best,Judge%20Charlaine%20F. Danny Masterson Branded a ‘Suppressive Person’ After Being Expelled from the Church of Scientology, Favour Adegoke for TheBlast.com, October 24, 2023. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/danny-masterson-branded-suppressive-person-180002162.html#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20report%2C%20the,growth%20of%20those%20around%20them. Former members reveal hell of life inside Church of Scientology, 60 Minutes Australia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Na0EfFTp50 The Untold Story of Danny Masterson, WatchMojo.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPGe120Mlh4 The Most Shocking Revelations from Danny Masterson’s First Trial, Natalie Finn for E News, Sept 7, 2023. https://www.eonline.com/news/1350935/the-most-shocking-revelations-from-danny-mastersons-rape-trial Links: CrimeCon 24 -https://www.crimecon.com/CC24 - Use offer code ONCE for 10% off your registration. Listen to Marooned - https://visitmarooned.com/

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Mysteries on the True Crime Express Mar 08, 2024

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...1 historic steam train... ...9 exceptional true crime podcasts... ...9 tales woven with the spirit of Women's Day... ...Will YOU unravel the mysteries aboard? This International Women's Day, join Shane Waters and Wendy Cee on an unprecedented journey through the heart of England to Crimecon UK in London. Mysteries on the True Crime Express is not just a podcast episode; it's an immersive voyage into the depths of true crime, history, and the indomitable spirit of women. Aboard this old-world locomotive, you'll encounter the hosts of 9 distinguished true crime podcasts, including Esther Sanchez Ludlow of Once Upon A Crime. Each host presents a captivating story that not only chills the spine but also illuminates the historical essence of Women's Day. From the comfort of Shane and Wendy's compartment to the lively ambiance of the dining car, each tale unfolds in a unique setting on the train, adding layers of intrigue and ambiance to this auditory experience. So, secure your ticket and settle into your seat... ...but be forewarned... ...the journey ahead is filled with twists and turns. Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance: 1. Deep Dark Secrets (https://www.deepdarksecretspodcast.com/) 2. The Trail Went Cold (https://www.trailwentcold.com/) 3. The Cult Vault (https://www.cultvaultpodcast.com/) 4. Extinguished (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/extinguished/id1711608332) 5. Once Upon a Crime (https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/) 6. True Crime and Wine with Sherrilyn Dale (https://open.spotify.com/show/6zDVtsctjbO1OWeeL3iXXN) 7. Defense Diaries (https://defensediaries.com/) 8. Dip in and Out with Lucy (podcasts) 9. Foul Play: Crime Series (https://www.itsfoulplay.com/) Join all the shows you heard in this episode at Crimecon UK in London! Go to Crimecon.co.uk and use code ONCEUPON Listen to Shane’s other holiday collaborations here: https://www.itsfoulplay.com/collaborations

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The Palace with guest Gareth Russell Mar 05, 2024

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In this special episode, I speak with author Gareth Russell. His new book, The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Years of British History at Hampton Court, gives us a look at the storied history of what is called the most beautiful palace in England. But, behind the walls of Hampton Court, true tales of intrigue, sex scandals, assassination plots, and murder played out among the royals and court members. Links: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Gareth-Russell/500660891 https://www.amazon.com/Palace-Windsors-British-History-Hampton/dp/1797169165 https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-palace-mr-gareth-russell/1143030248

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Royal Murders, Scandals, and Secrets: Mad King Eric Feb 27, 2024

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In history, there have been several monarchs known as “Mad Kings” - monarchs who were plagued by erratic and even violent behavior often attributed to mental illness. King Eric the XIV of Sweden is one such ruler. While intellectually brilliant, King Eric suffered from extreme paranoia, which led to erratic, violent, and even murderous behavior. Sources: Disturbed Facts About Eric XIV Of Sweden, The Butcher King - Factinate Eric XIV, King of Sweden, Britannica.com https://www.britannica.com/biography/Erik-XIV Karin Mansdotter, wikipedia.com https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karin_Månsdotter

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