Once Upon A Crime

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S1 Ep11: The Day the Music Died: Chapter 3: Tupac and Biggie Aug 28, 2016

Show notes

Two of music's biggest rap stars are cut down in their prime. But, who killed them? This week's episode - Tupac and Biggie.

Resources for this episode:

Music: 2Pac's Greatest Hits The Notorious B.I.G. Greatest Hits

Books: Tupac Shakur: The Life and Times of an American Icon - Tayannah Lee McQuillar and Fred L. Johnson III, PhD Notorious C.O.P.: The Inside Story of Tupc, Biggie and Jam Master Jay Investigations - Derrick Parker The Rose that Grew from Concrete: Poems by Tupac Shakur

Movies and Documentaries: Tupac: Resurrection Notorious Biggie and Tupac: The Story Behind the Murders of Rap's Biggest Superstars

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The Day the Music Died: Kurt Cobain Aug 17, 2016

Show notes

In the second installment of our series on tragic musical icons, we examine the life and mysterious death of Kurt Cobain, the legendary frontman of Nirvana. Known for shaping the sound of a generation, Cobain's raw talent and emotional lyrics made him a voice for the misunderstood—until his untimely death in 1994, ruled a suicide… but still clouded in speculation.

We’re joined by Justin Evans from The Generation Why and The Peripheral podcasts to discuss the controversial documentary Soaked in Bleach and the murder theory that continues to stir debate. Was it really suicide—or is there more to the story?

📚 Sources used in this episode:

– Heavier than Heaven: A Biography of Kurt Cobain by Charles R. Cross

🎥 Kurt Cobain: Montage of Heck

🎥 Soaked in Bleach

🔗 Check out our guest:

www.TheGenerationWhyPodcast.com

www.theperipheral.libsyn.com

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The Day the Music Died: Marvin Gaye Aug 02, 2016

Show notes

This series uncovers the haunting stories of iconic musicians whose lives were cut short by violence or shrouded in mystery. In Chapter One, we delve into the heartbreaking murder of Marvin Gaye, the soulful voice behind classics like What’s Going On and Sexual Healing.

At the height of his fame, Marvin struggled with personal demons, fame, and a volatile relationship with his father—tensions that would ultimately lead to his tragic death just one day before his 45th birthday. We explore his rise to superstardom, the turmoil behind the scenes, and the chilling events that unfolded in his final moments.

📚 Sources used in this episode:

– Marvin Gaye: My Brother by Frankie Gaye

– Divided Soul: The Life of Marvin Gaye by David Ritz

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Killer Kids: Brenda Spencer Jul 26, 2016

Show notes

A quiet morning. A sudden hail of gunfire. The first school mass shooting in U.S. history.

On January 29, 1979, 16-year-old Brenda Spencer opened fire on Cleveland Elementary School in San Diego, killing two and injuring eight. When asked why she did it, her chilling response shocked the nation: "I don’t like Mondays."

What led a teenager to commit such a horrific act? Was there more to her story than a flippant remark? And how did this crime change the way America viewed school shootings forever?

Join us as we explore the tragic and disturbing case of Brenda Spencer.

🎧 Listen now—because history has a way of repeating itself.

📖 Book Recommendation: Does Anyone Like Mondays? The Brenda Spencer Murder Case – Eric Hart

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#TrueCrimePodcast #BrendaSpencer #IDontLikeMondays #SchoolShootings #CrimeHistory #OnceUponACrime

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Killer Kids: Mary Bell Jul 19, 2016

Show notes

In the summer of 1968, a quiet town in northern England was rocked by a disturbing discovery—two young boys were found dead, and the person responsible was just 11 years old. This episode unpacks the chilling case of Mary Bell, one of the most infamous child killers in British history.

We explore the psychological trauma in Mary’s early life, the media frenzy surrounding her arrest and trial, and the deeper societal questions her case raised: Can a child truly understand murder? And what happens when innocence is lost far too soon?

📚 Sources used in this episode:

– The Case of Mary Bell by Gitta Sereny (1995, Pimlico)

– Audio Clip: The Mary Bell Case, YouTube (uploaded by chewyisacat, March 7, 2013)

Link: https://youtu.be/moFhGzE_xRI

#true crime #Mary Bell #child killers #1960s murder cases #criminal psychology #juvenile justice #infamous trials #UK true crime #girls who kill #meangirlmurders

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Making a Murderer in Conversation Jul 13, 2016

Show notes

A bonus episode partially recorded at The Warfield Theater in San Francisco, CA. Making a Murderer's Dean Strang and Jerry Buting on their speaking tour "A Conversation on Justice".

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Killer Kids: Jesse Pomeroy Jul 05, 2016

Show notes

In 1872, fear gripped the streets of South Boston as a chilling string of murders unfolded—committed by a boy barely in his teens.

This episode dives deep into the twisted mind of Jesse Pomeroy, America’s youngest known serial killer, whose brutal crimes shocked the nation and left a lasting scar on 19th-century Boston.

We unravel the dark story behind his violent spree, explore his disturbing upbringing, and examine how a child became a monster in plain sight. Was he born evil—or made that way?

📚 Further reading:

– The Wilderness of Ruin by Roseanne Montillo

– Fiend by Harold Schechter

– The Autobiography of Jesse H. Pomeroy written by himself

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Stockholm Syndrome and Patty Hearst Jun 23, 2016

Show notes

When victims are held captive for long periods, one question always resurfaces: Why didn’t they run? In this episode, we dive into the complex psychological phenomenon known as Stockholm Syndrome—a survival response where hostages form emotional bonds with their captors. We'll explore how this syndrome may have impacted the victims featured in our "Lost and Found" series and take a deeper look at one of the most infamous examples in U.S. history: the kidnapping of Patty Hearst.

If you're fascinated by true crime, psychological survival tactics, and real-life hostage cases, this is a must-listen.

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Lost and Found: The Cleveland Kidnappings Jun 09, 2016

Show notes

Three young girls vanish. A community searches for answers. The truth is more horrifying than anyone imagined.

Between 2002 and 2004, three girls—Michelle Knight, Amanda Berry, and Gina DeJesus—disappeared without a trace from the same Cleveland neighborhood. For years, their families held onto hope, but no one could have guessed that they were being held captive just miles from home. When the truth finally came to light in 2013, the city was stunned to discover that the man responsible had been hiding in plain sight all along.

How did he get away with it for so long? What horrors did the women endure? And how did they finally escape?

Join us as we uncover the shocking case of Ariel Castro and the Cleveland kidnappings.

🎧 Listen now—because sometimes the monster is closer than you think.

📖 Book Recommendation: The Lost Girls: The True Story of the Cleveland Abductions – John Glatt

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#TrueCrimePodcast #ClevelandKidnappings #ArielCastro #SurvivorStories #OnceUponACrime

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Lost and Found: Elizabeth Smart Jun 09, 2016

Show notes

In the second installment of our Lost and Found series, we revisit the harrowing case of Elizabeth Smart, a 14-year-old girl abducted from her bedroom in the middle of the night. Raised in a close-knit Mormon family in Salt Lake City, Utah, Elizabeth’s life was upended when a simple act of kindness—offering help to a local transient—set the stage for a chilling and calculated kidnapping.

What followed was a months-long ordeal filled with psychological manipulation, forced travel across state lines, and an unimaginable fight for survival. Against all odds, Elizabeth’s story became one of resilience, strength, and an unforgettable return home.

This episode explores how one family’s faith and perseverance—and a public unwilling to forget—helped bring Elizabeth back from the brink.

#ElizabethSmart #TrueCrimePodcast #LostAndFoundSeries #MissingPersons #SurvivorStory #KidnappingCase #TrueCrimeCommunity #Resilience #ColdCaseFiles #JusticeForVictims #TrueCrimeObsessed #RealCrimeStories #TrueCrimeAddict #CrimePodcast #TrueCrimeDaily

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