Once Upon A Crime

Latest Episodes:

Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973, Part 2 Jan 21, 2025

Show notes

This month, I’m bringing you the story of three terrifying years that unfolded in Santa Cruz, California. Between 1970 and 1973, a series of murders rocked Santa Cruz, a once-peaceful beach community. Before it was all over, residents would live through unimaginable horrors - a prominent family wiped out in a mass murder by a deranged killer and two serial killers working simultaneously, but separately, in their midst.

In this second part of the series, we’ll pick up the story at the tail end of 1971. John Linley Frazier’s trial had just concluded, and he was sentenced to die. While the courtroom drama played out for one Santa Cruz killer, another was moving into town.

Edmund Emil Kemper III would become one of the most infamous serial killers on record. By the time he arrived in Santa Cruz in 1971, Kemper had already been convicted of a double murder. Less than a year after his release from prison, he would commit a series of gruesome murders that would forever cast a dark shadow over sunny Santa Cruz.

I’ve taken an unprecedented deep dive into “The Co-ed Killer” to provide details about Kemper’s life and crimes you haven’t heard anywhere else.

This is part two of “Murder City: Santa Cruz, California 1970 to 1973 - Ed Kemper.

Sources:

Murray, E. (2020). Murder Capital of the World.

Cheney, M. (1976). The Co-Ed Killer. Goodreads Press.

Edmund Kemper: The Life of the Co-Ed Killer. (2017). Hourly History.

Links:

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Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973 - Part 1 Jan 14, 2025

Show notes

In the 1970s, Santa Cruz, California, became known by a title no one else wanted - “Murder City.” Between 1970 and 1973, a series of murders rocked the once peaceful beach community. Before it was all over, residents would live through unimaginable horrors - a prominent family wiped out in a mass murder by a deranged killer and not one but two serial killers stalking their streets at the same time.

In this 3-part series, we’ll travel back in time to experience those three terrifying years in Santa Cruz - 1970 to 1973 - beginning with the mass murder of a prominent doctor and his family. Just as the court was determining the first killer’s fate, another was making Santa Cruz his home and hunting grounds. His crimes would make him one of the most infamous serial killers on record.

This is part one of “Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973.

Sources:

Murray, E. (2020). Murder Capital of the World.

Ohta Family Murders in Soquel - Bay Area Television Archive

John Linley Frazier | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

John L. Frazier - "LEGENDS" SANTA CRUZ GHOST HUNTERS

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Frazier-2125

https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/John_Linley_Frazier

John Linley Frazier - Wikipedia

https://crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/mass/john_frazier/5.html

Frazier v. Superior Court, 5 Cal.3d 287 | Casetext Search + Citator

https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/102337#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0

John Linley Frazier | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers

Links:

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Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com

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The KKK Christmas Day Bombing Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

Harry Tyson Moore and his wife, Harriette, lived a quiet life but raised their voices for the rights of African Americans beginning in the 1930s. They are two unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement who became targets of a deadly attack on Christmas Day, 1951.

I’ll share with you this story of extraordinary courage, an unwavering fight for justice, and a shocking and cowardly act that turned a brave couple into martyrs for the civil rights of all Americans.

Sources:

The Unsolved Murder of Civil Rights Activist Harry Moore | Smithsonian

PBS - Freedom Never Dies: The Story of Harry T. Moore - Florida Terror - The Klan in Florida

Microsoft Word - Harry Moore Executive Summary.doc

Harry T. Moore: A Timeline of His Accomplishments and His Artifacts

The Moores | MooreCulturalComplex

https://truecrimediva.com/harry-harriette-moore/

Ku Klux Klan

Harriette Vyda Simms Moore (1902-1952) •

She died as she lived, for a cause she believed in - Florida Humanities Online - Explore, Read, Watch and Enjoy Florida

https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/langston-hughes

https://allthatsinteresting.com/groveland-four

Harry T. and Harriette Moore | NAACP

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/at-christmas-evangeline-moore-thinks-of-her-martyred-parents-and-demands-justice/2011/12/22/gIQAtdcxHP_story.html

https://www.wucf.org/community/themooreproject/the-family/

https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2020/04/21/anderson-uncovering-floridas-mask-law/1314282007/

Links:

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Freedom Never Dies: The Story of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore - https://a.co/d/cLAQ82R

Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1N480B0FV4R55?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2DNHVXAqkCDecuRSjuDKGKjL86peHOnKuCkEL1-rr786QJfRbTcqiBwc8_aem_NDtZiP-4K_iUNL-lbbgNZQ

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The Life and Crimes of Diddy: Part 2 Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

Welcome back to our two-part series on the life and crimes of Sean Diddy Combs. In this explosive second installment, I detail Diddy’s meteoric rise in the music industry, uncover the allegations regarding his volatile romantic relationships, and expose a shadowy past filled with violence and legal troubles dating back to the 1990s.

I’ll also shed light on Diddy’s infamous “White Parties” and the scandalous after-parties known as "Freak Offs," which are now at the center of a federal investigation involving racketeering, sex trafficking, and a slew of other allegations that have led to an indictment.

We’ll seek to uncover the possible motivations behind Combs’ risky lifestyle choices. Why Diddy do it? Why did Sean Combs trade the luxuries of fame and fortune for drug-fueled escapades, sexual scandals, and the alleged exploitation of others? What path led Diddy from a billionaire business mogul to the kingpin of an alleged decades-long criminal enterprise?

Join me as I dissect the cracks in Diddy’s polished persona to reveal a narrative far darker than anyone could have imagined.

Sources:

https://www.revolt.tv/article/2019-11-02/84365/cant-stop-wont-stop-a-timeline-of-diddys-vast-career-and-accomplishments

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-friends-bad-boy-artists-abuse-violence-1235028178/

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sean-diddy-combs-controversies-timeline-1234889043/

https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/diddys-different-names-through-the-years-puffy-and-more/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2024/03/31/why-the-1999-shooting-where-diddy-and-jennifer-lopez-were-arrested-has-new-attention/

https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3284652/who-diddys-vietnamese-american-baby-mama-dana-tran-and-she-really-supporting-him-she-gave-birth-sean

https://www.gq.com/story/j-cole-diddy-scuffle-explained-the-off-season

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13946547/real-reason-Usher-live-P-Diddy-revealed.html

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sean-diddy-combs-sexual-abuse-minors-buzbee-1235120511/

https://www.tmz.com/2024/09/26/diddy-naked-woman-table-party-resurfaced-pics/

Links:

Once Upon a Crime - Episode 11: The Day the Music Died - Tupac and Biggie - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep11-the-day-the-music-died-chapter-3-tupac-and-biggie/

Once Upon a Crime - Episode 12: The Day the Music Died - Selena - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep12-the-day-the-music-died-chapter-4-selena/

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Subscribe to Season 9 of Someone Knows Something: The Christine Harron Case

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/someone-knows-something/id1089216339

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The Life and Crimes of Diddy - Part 1 Dec 03, 2024

Show notes

American musical producer and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in September 2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for purposes of prostitution. He is currently in federal custody awaiting trial in Brooklyn, New York. Almost daily, new accusers are coming forward to share additional information about Combs’ alleged history of sexual assault, abuse, and sexual exploitation.

In this 2-part series, we’ll dig into Sean Combs’ early life, career, and relationships to answer the question - why Diddy do it? How did Sean Diddy Combs, a man who seemed to have it all - fame, money, and success - end up in scandal, disgrace, and facing dozens of felony charges and lawsuits?

In this first episode, you’ll learn how the bombshell allegations against Combs came to light. We’ll also examine his childhood and early life to determine what factors contributed to his behavior and alleged criminal activities.

We’ll discover that, early on, cracks in the image Diddy presented to the world as a professional businessperson and star marker masked a narcissistic need for control that turned abusive in both his personal and professional lives.

Sources:

Timeline: https://www.billboard.com/lists/sean-diddy-combs-allegations-timeline/november-28-2023-diddy-steps-down-as-chairman-from-revolt/

Nov 2023 - Cassie’s statement and lawsuit. https://apnews.com/article/diddy-sean-combs-cassie-lawsuit-e3681f1abbe38c11d829c269c9a89260

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sean-combs-read-full-indictment-1235103933/

Complete text of lawsuit - https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/diddy-cassie.pdf

https://www.businessinsider.com/sean-diddy-combs-cassie-relationship-timeline-2023-11#september-2019-cassie-marries-alex-fine-9

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-friends-bad-boy-artists-abuse-violence-1235028178/

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-assault-women-college-1235028172/

United States District Court Southern District of New York, United States of American V. Sean Combs, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/media/1368556/dl

Links:

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com

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

Haunted Homicide - The Old Main Prison Riot Nov 19, 2024

Show notes

Over two days in 1980, prisoners at a New Mexico penitentiary, angry at the conditions they experienced inside its walls, rose up against their jailers and wreaked havoc upon officers and inmates alike. It would be called the bloodiest prison riot in U.S. history.

Over thirty-six hours, thirty-three prisoners were killed, eight guards were brutally assaulted, and hundreds were injured. The prison would never completely recover from the unprecedented violence that took place.

In the years since, the Penitentiary of New Mexico, known as the Old Main Prison, has gained a reputation as one of the most haunted places in the state. After hearing the true story I’m about to tell you, you’ll understand why these traumatized spirits may still be lurking.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_State_Penitentiary_riot

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-state-prison-riot-1908/42746860

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtxL6C_dNKw

Report of the Attorney General on the February 2 and 3, 1980 Riot at the Penitentiary of New Mexico - https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/72933NCJRS.pdf

New Mexico Corrections Department website - https://www.cd.nm.gov/divisions/corrections-industries/old-main/

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/devastating-penitentiary-riot-of-1980-changed-new-mexico-and-its-prisons/article_be64a016-31ae-11ea-a754-fb85e49fca77.html

Reports of hauntings at the prison -

https://www.codypolston.com/new-mexico-state-penitentiary-santa-fe-nm-more-witness-accounts-and-ghost-stories/

Links:

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com

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Haunted Homicide - The Exorcism of Roland Doe Nov 12, 2024

Show notes

In this episode, I’ll share a story of an alleged demonic possession of a young boy in the 1940s. While you may be skeptical of such a claim, several sources officially documented the case, including first-person eyewitnesses, making it difficult to dismiss these claims as mere superstition.

You’ll also hear how this case inspired a best-selling novel and blockbuster movie that helped to usher in an era of “Satanic Panic,” a phenomenon that would lead to accusations and criminal charges leveled against innocent people, some of whom were falsely convicted.

Sources:

https://www.thescottsmithblog.com/2023/08/the-real-story-behind-exorcist-movie.html

https://allthatsinteresting.com/roland-doe-the-exorcist-true-story

https://play.max.com/video/watch/ec95d53c-2050-4361-afca-db7f96836670/94f26393-35be-4945-9fbf-b99b005674a0

https://www.slu.edu/universitas/archive/2014/exorcism.php

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2021/dec/20/the-exorcist-boy-named-magazine

Links:

Season 6: Episode 248: Final Curtain Call - Paul Bateson and The Exorcist - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s6-ep248-final-curtain-call-paul-bateson-and-the-exorcist/

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com

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Haunted Homicide - The Witch’s Castle Nov 05, 2024

Show notes

In this first story, we’ll go back over one hundred years to learn about a Romeo and Juliet story that ended in cold-blooded murder. On the property where the killing took place now sits a stone building known by locals as “The Witch’s Castle.” Some say that the restless spirits of the murdered man, his widow, and the killer roam the area on nights when the moon is full.

This is the story of the murder of Mortimer Stump and the haunting of The Witch’s Castle.

Resources:

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-witches-castle-portland-oregon

https://www.mckenzieriverreflectionsnewspaper.com/story/2013/24/2/history/mystery-surrounds-portland-s-first-public-execution/830.html

https://themorbidlibrary.com/2021/09/10/the-haunted-the-witchs-castle/

http://balchipedia.wikidot.com/danford

https://www.newspapers.com/image/900596109/?match=1&terms=mortimer%20stump

https://www.newspapers.com/image/1088419076/?match=1&terms=%22anna%20stump%22

Links:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com

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Halloween Bonus Episode: When Horror Came to Town - The Farmville Murders Oct 31, 2024

Show notes

In this special Halloween episode, horror comes to a family in the middle of the night. But unlike ghostly tales, this was all too real and was the last thing they’d ever expected as they invited the monster into their home.

Resources:

https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/Bay-Area-suspect-allegedly-bludgeoned-victims-3217121.php

https://www.therotundaonline.com/remembering-associate-professor-of-sociology-dr-debra-s-kelley/article_2fab25df-a3f5-527c-ba59-cf14588b4e00.html

Slain mom, teen had counseling over music - https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna32992286

Links:

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

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Murdered Musicians - The Life, Death, and Legacy of Mia Zapata Oct 21, 2024

Show notes

In July 1993, Mia Zapata, a rising star in the genre of punk rock music, joined what is morbidly referred to as “The 27 Club” - artists and celebrities whose lives ended at the age of 27. Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Kurt Cobain, and Amy Winehouse all qualify. But like other members of this unfortunate club, Mia Zapata didn’t die as the result of a drug overdose or by her own hand. She was murdered on the streets of Seattle just before she reached success with her band, The Gits.

In this episode, I’ll detail the life, death, and lasting legacy of Mia Zapata.

Resources:

Mia Zapata and The Gits: A Story of Art, Rock, and Revolution, Steve Moriarty, (2024) https://amzn.to/3T2cjgv

https://www.shondaland.com/inspire/a44362322/a-cross-between-janis-joplin-and-johnny-rotten-remembering-mia-zapata-of-the-gits/

https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/mia-zapata-murderer-dead-1170206/

https://web.archive.org/web/20130406042509/http://thegits.com/?page_id=410

https://www.seattlepi.com/seattlenews/article/singer-s-killer-gets-37-years-1143741.php

“Mia: Mia Zapata left her Louisville roots for a shot at success with her band, The Gits. But death ended her dream, and her killer is still at large,” James Nold, Jr., The Courier-Journal, Oct. 9, 1993.

Links:

YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime

Our website: www.truecrimepodcast.com

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