Once Upon A Crime

Latest Episodes:

Unusual Criminal Defenses: The Sleepwalking Defense Mar 06, 2018

Show notes

Three cases are outlined where a person commits murder and then blames the crime on sleepwalking. First up, Albert Tirrell murders his mistress in 1846 claiming he was in a trance-like state at the time. Kenneth Parks travels 23 km to commit a murder - all while asleep, he claimed. Finally, another man tries to use the sleepwalking defense after killing his wife in Phoenix, Arizona in 1997. Resources: Karen Abbott, Smithsonian.com, "The Case of the Sleepwalking Killer," April 30, 2012. Paul Rubin, NewTimes.com, "A Killer Sleep Disorder," Nov 19, 1998. True Crime Truant, "Scott Falater: Sleepwalking Killer Gets a Wakeup Call," July 20, 2017. Berit Brogaard and Kristian Marlow, Psychology Today, "Sleep Driving and Sleep Killing: The Kenneth Parks Case," Dec 13, 2012.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Academy Award Winning Crimes: Stolen Oscars, Streakers and Deadly Deeds Feb 27, 2018

Show notes

In this final chapter of our series, we uncover the sinister side of Hollywood’s biggest night. From missing and stolen Oscars to the shocking murder tied to an Academy Award-winning songwriter, the glamour of the Oscars hides a darker reality. Plus, we revisit the bizarre and tragic tale of the Oscar Night Streaker—one of the ceremony’s most infamous moments.

Join us as we pull back the curtain on these chilling true crime stories connected to the Academy Awards.

🔍 Featured Cases: 🏆 The mystery of stolen and missing Oscar trophies 🎭 The tragic fate of the Oscar Night Streaker 🕵️‍♂️ A murder with ties to an Academy Award-winning legacy

🎬 Resources & References: 📽️ Uncle Bob – Documentary by Robert Oppel 📺 Do Not Disturb: Hotel Horrors – S1, E1: Power, Privilege, and Passion (Investigation Discovery) – Featuring the case of Sylvie Cachay

🔗 Follow & Subscribe for More True Crime Deep Dives!

#Oscars #AcademyAwards #CelebrityCrimes #HollywoodCrime #TrueCrime #UnsolvedMysteries

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Academy Award Winning Crimes: The Killing Fields and Dr. Haing S. Ngor Feb 20, 2018

Show notes

From the horrors of Cambodia’s Killing Fields to the bright lights of Hollywood, Haing S. Ngor’s journey is one of survival, resilience, and tragic injustice. After escaping the Cambodian genocide, he defied the odds and won an Academy Award for his powerful performance in The Killing Fields. But his story didn’t end with cinematic triumph—it took a heartbreaking turn that remains shrouded in mystery.

In this episode, we explore Ngor’s remarkable life, his haunting past, and the crime that cut his story short.

📚 Resources 📖 A Cambodian Odyssey by Haing S. Ngor & Roger Warner 📖 Survival in the Killing Fields by Haing S. Ngor 🎥 The Killing Fields (1984) – Directed by Roland Joffé, starring Haing S. Ngor, Sam Waterston, and John Malkovich 📽️ The Killing Fields of Dr. Haing S. Ngor (2015) – Documentary by Arthur Dong (Deep Focus Productions)

🔗 Follow & Subscribe for More True Crime Stories!

#Genocide #Cambodia #VietnamWar #Refugees #HollywoodCrime #TrueCrime #HaingSNgor

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Academy Award Winning Crimes: Roman Polanski Feb 13, 2018

Show notes

Roman Polanski’s life reads like a Hollywood script—marked by unimaginable tragedy, artistic triumph, and shocking scandal. Surviving the Holocaust and enduring personal heartbreak, he rose to fame as an acclaimed director. But his legacy was forever tainted when he became a fugitive from justice, charged with the rape of a 13-year-old girl.

In this episode, I’m joined by special guest AJ Benza, host of Fame is a Bitch, to discuss the dark side of Hollywood, the power of celebrity, and his personal impressions of Polanski.

📚 Resources & References: 📖 The Celebrity Defense: Sex, Fame, and the Case of Roman Polanski – Jeffrey Toobin, The New Yorker (Dec 14, 2009) 📖 Why Did Roman Polanski Risk It? – Christopher Sandford, The Telegraph UK (Oct 3, 2009) 📖 Roman Polanski is a Child Rapist: It’s Long Past Time for Hollywood to Cast Him Out – Marlow Stern, The Daily Beast (Oct 23, 2017)

🔗 Follow & Subscribe for More True Crime Deep Dives!

#HollywoodCrimes #CharlesManson #CelebrityCrime #TrueCrime #RomanPolanski

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Academy Award Winning Crimes: The Dog Day Afternoon Bank Heist Feb 06, 2018

Show notes

The Academy Awards celebrate Hollywood’s finest, but some Oscar-winning films are rooted in real-life crime. One of the most unforgettable is Dog Day Afternoon—a gripping portrayal of a chaotic New York bank robbery that stunned the nation. But what really happened?

In this episode, we uncover the true story of John Wojtowicz, the man behind the infamous Chase Manhattan Bank heist that inspired the film. From his motives to the shocking aftermath, we separate fact from fiction in this stranger-than-Hollywood tale.

📚 Resources 🎥 Dog Day Afternoon (1975) – Starring Al Pacino, John Cazale & Charles Durning 📽️ The Dog (2014) – Documentary by Alison Berg & Frank Keraudren

🔗 Follow & Subscribe for More True Crime Stories!

#BankRobberies #JohnWojtowicz #ChaseManhattanBank #NewYorkCrimes #TrueCrime #HollywoodCrime

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Survivor Stories: Mary Vincent Jan 30, 2018

Show notes

In 1978, a teenage hitchhiker accepted a ride in Northern California—only to be brutally attacked by a violent predator. The assault on Mary Vincent was so horrifying it sent shockwaves through the public, and her attacker, Lawrence Singleton, became a chilling warning about the dangers of accepting rides from strangers. But against all odds, Mary survived—and her story of resilience is one that will stay with you long after the episode ends.

🎵 Music Featured: 🎼 By St. Patrick – Available for purchase on iTunes or at www.captainfathands.com

Resources 📖 Mary Vincent Speaks Out: ‘He Destroyed Everything About Me’ – Paul Dean, The Los Angeles Times (Feb 25, 1997) 📖 People v. Singleton – Court of Appeals Decision, Fourth District, Div I, California (Nov 20, 1980) 📺 I Survived (2009) – Episode featuring Mary Vincent’s harrowing story

🔗 Follow & Subscribe for More True Crime Stories!

#TrueCrime #MaryVincent #HitchhikerSafety #SurvivalStory #Justice #LawrenceSingleton

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Survivor Stories: Tracey Thurman Jan 23, 2018

Show notes

In 1983, a woman desperately sought protection from her abusive husband, repeatedly turning to law enforcement for help—only to be ignored. What followed was one of the most brutal cases of domestic violence ever recorded. Tracy Thurman survived a vicious attack that left her with 13 stab wounds and a broken neck. But she didn’t stop there—she took on the system that failed her, filing a groundbreaking lawsuit that would forever change the way police handle domestic violence cases in the U.S.

📚 Resources & References: 📖 A Cry for Help – Patricia Brennan, The Washington Post (Oct 1, 1989) 📖 Thurman v. City of Torrington – Ruling on Motion to Dismiss, Retrieved from Harvard.edu (Oct 23, 1984) 📖 She Survived Thirteen Stab Wounds, a Broken Neck – Republican-American (Jun 9, 2008)

🔗 Support the show on Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

#DomesticViolence #TracyThurman #TrueCrime #Justice #Survivor #OnceUponACrime

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Survivor Stories: I Survived Ted Bundy - Rhonda Stapley Jan 16, 2018

Show notes

In 1974, a young woman in Salt Lake City accepted a ride from a seemingly nice man. By the end of the day, she would come face-to-face with one of the most notorious serial killers of all time—Ted Bundy. Against all odds, Rhonda Stapley survived his brutal attack and lived to tell her harrowing story.

My special guest, Rhonda Stapley, is the author of I Survived Ted Bundy: The Attack, Escape, and PTSD That Changed My Life. She shares her firsthand experience, the lasting impact of trauma, and her journey toward healing.

📚 Resources & References: 📖 I Survived Ted Bundy by Rhonda Stapley – Available on Amazon 📘 Connect with Rhonda Stapley on Facebook 🆘 For PTSD support and resources, visit www.ptsd.va.gov

🔗 Follow & Subscribe for More True Crime Stories!

#TedBundy #SerialKillers #SurvivorStory #TrueCrime #PTSD #RhondaStapley

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Survivor Stories: The Abduction of Elizabeth Shoaf Jan 09, 2018

Show notes

In 2006, 14-year-old Elizabeth Shoaf was walking home from school in Lugoff, South Carolina, when she was approached by a man posing as law enforcement. What followed was a terrifying 10-day ordeal—trapped in an underground bunker, subjected to unimaginable abuse, and forced to fight for survival. But Elizabeth did something extraordinary: she outsmarted her captor and helped lead authorities right to his doorstep.

This is the harrowing true story of how a young girl’s resilience turned the tables on a predator—and how her bravery saved her own life.

📚 Resources & References: 📺 Surviving Evil: Underground Terror – Sarah Beckett, Investigation Discovery Channel (2013) 📰 Kidnapped Teen Describes Bunker Ordeal – Mike Celizic, Today (Mar 7, 2008)

🔗 Stay Connected: 🐦 Twitter: @uponacrime 📸 Facebook & Instagram: @onceuponacrimepod 💖 Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

#ElizabethShoaf #TrueCrime #ChildAbduction #SurvivorStory #OnceUponACrime

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The 12 Crimes of Christmas: Laci Peterson - Part 2 Dec 19, 2017

Show notes

I continue my discussion of the Laci Peterson case with my guest co-host, Yolanda from Not Perfect or Functional. Together, we take a deep dive into the background and psychology of Scott Peterson and examine the factors that may have contributed to his crime.

Plus, enjoy special holiday greetings from some of our favorite true crime and paranormal podcasts:

🎄 The True Crime Guys 🎄 The Fall Line 🎄 Hillbilly Horror Stories 🎄 Not Perfect or Functional

Wishing all our listeners a safe and happy holiday season!

💬 Join the Conversation: Share your thoughts and theories with us on social media or in the comments!

📌 Support the Show: If you enjoy our content, please consider leaving a review and following us for more deep dives into true crime cases.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected