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345. Targeted: The Killing of James Craig Anderson Feb 04, 2026

Show notes

For much of the twentieth century, Mississippi was a place where racial violence was not merely ignored but actively erased. Witnesses stayed silent. Juries looked away. It was just a different time, they say.

James Craig Anderson’s murder did not happen in 1955. It happened in 2011.

This time, the cameras were watching. This time, the federal government stepped in. This time, the perpetrators pleaded guilty. Progress would be measured not in apologies or promises, but in prison sentences.

And unlike so many before him, Anderson’s killers were not celebrated, excused, or folded gently into historical amnesia. They were named. They were tried. They were sentenced. Dragged into the light, they could not escape what they had done.

Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘Targeted: The Killing of James Craig Anderson.’

Listener Discretion by @octoberpodVHS

Music by @theinkypawprint

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uRcYtzZS5kE

https://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/23/us/23jackson.html?hp

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/18/james-craig-anderson-fbi-investigation_n_930155.html

http://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2014/07/17/hate-crime-indictment-tells-details-five-attacks-one-fatal/12793527/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/family-of-alleged-miss-hate-killing-victim-doesnt-want-death-penalty/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/18/james-craig-anderson-fbi-investigation_n_930155.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VW8dRJ3SNh0

https://www.law.virginia.edu/static/uvalawyer/html/alumni/uvalawyer/spr15/reeves.htm

https://www.fbi.gov/news/stories/ten-sentenced-in-hate-crime-case

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/03/01/four-white-men-ordered-to-pay-840000-for-jim-crow-style-lynching-of-mississippi-black-man/

https://www.npr.org/sections/codeswitch/2015/02/12/385777366/a-black-mississippi-judges-breathtaking-speech-to-three-white-murderers

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/04/10/james-craig-anderson-case/25563641/

https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2015/02/10/deryl-dedmon-two-others-to-be-sentenced-in-hate-crime-tuesday/23166397/

https://www.justice.gov/archives/opa/pr/restitution-ordered-jackson-mississippi-hate-crime-case-involving-death-james-craig-anderson

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344. Trusting Evil: The Murder of Sarah Everard Jan 28, 2026

Show notes

In March 2021, Sarah Everard left a friend’s house in London and started walking home. It was a normal evening, the kind of walk most people do without thinking twice. But when she didn’t return, her family and friends became worried. They called her, searched the area, and waited for news.

As the hours turned into days, the story spread beyond her friends and family. The case became a national headline, and the worry turned into fear. What began as a missing-person investigation soon felt much more serious.

Then the investigation took a turn that surprised many people. What seemed like a simple disappearance became something far more disturbing, and the impact reached far beyond one woman’s life.

What happened to Sarah Everard raised serious questions about women’s safety, and about how much we can trust the people who are meant to protect us. It became a case that shook the country.

Join Jen and Cam as they discuss "Trusting Evil: The Murder of Sarah Everard."

A huge Thank You to our team:

Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen

Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of The Inky Pawprint

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theinkypawprint.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sources:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kB4NMA0koJs

2 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NYCZAtlUSNU

3 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EHerzQzR1kk&t=1309s

4 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/feb/29/killer-of-sarah-everard-should-never-have-joined-police-report-finds

5 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sarah_Everard

6 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-58746108

7 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-58742568

8 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/sep/18/male-police-officers-accused-of-domestic-abuse-have-been-promoted-report-says

9 https://www.met.police.uk/police-forces/metropolitan-police/areas/notices/our-response-to-issues-raised-by-the-crimes-of-wayne-couzens/

10 https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnv258p6mq0o (Mother)

11 https://www.the-independent.com/news/uk/crime/sarah-everard-what-happened-wayne-couzens-report-b2504551.html -timeline

12 https://www.newspapers.com/image/719876863/?match=1&terms=Sarah%20Everard

13 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1173490500/?match=1&terms=Sarah%20Everard (Arrest)

14 https://www.instituteforgovernment.org.uk/sites/default/files/timeline-lockdown-web.pdf

15 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-57740729

16 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-58739421

17 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_Nuclear_Constabulary

18 https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/feb/29/wayne-couzens-timeline-of-missed-signs-before-sarah-everard

19 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_geography

20 https://www.newspapers.com/image/719543154/?match=1&terms=Sarah%20Everard

21 https://www.newspapers.com/image/1173510928/?match=1&terms=Sarah%20Everard

22 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warrant_card

23 https://www.jmcsecure.co.uk/blog/country-with-most-cctv/

24 https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/london-metropolitan-police-cressida-dick-resigns-scandals-rcna15849

25 https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-london-62766240

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Bill & Peggy Stephenson with Melissa From Just the Tip-Sters Jan 26, 2026

Show notes

In this month's special, Melissa from Just The Tip-Sters shares a case close to her heart with Cam & Jen. It's a head-scratcher.

In May 2011, Bill and Peggy Stephenson, a kind, generous, and deeply loved couple from Florence, Kentucky, were brutally murdered inside their own home. Both were 74 years old. Their deaths sent shockwaves through Northern Kentucky and left family, friends, and an entire community searching for answers.

More than a decade later, this horrific double homicide remains unsolved.

There was no obvious motive, no clear suspects, and no explanation that made sense. Even seasoned detectives and the FBI have described the case as complex, haunting, and deeply baffling.

The Boone County Sheriff’s Department continues to pursue leads and believes that more than one person may have information about what happened that night. Investigators have vowed to leave no stone unturned, but they still need public help.

If you have any information, no matter how small it may seem, please get in touch with law enforcement.

Boone County Sheriff’s Department

Phone: 859-334-8496

Toll-Free Tip Line: 844-210-1111

Email: stephensontip@boonecountyky.org

If you know anything about the murders of Bill and Peggy Stephenson, please speak up. One detail could be the key to ending this long nightmare and bringing justice to a family that has waited far too long.

You can also send your tips to Melissa

Phone: 832-842-7837

Email: jttipsters@gmail.com

Make sure you follow Melissa's podcast Just the Tip-Sters. We know you'll love it. You can find her podcast on the same app you use to listen to OTCP.

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343. Dardeen Family Massacre Jan 21, 2026

Show notes

In the quiet, unassuming town of Ina, Illinois—where life moved slowly and danger felt distant—Keith and Elaine Dardeen were building a modest, faith-centered future with their young son, Peter, and a baby on the way. Their trailer sat tucked into the woods near the highway, close enough to hear passing traffic yet isolated enough to disappear into the darkness. When Keith failed to report for his night shift on November 18, 1987, concern quickly turned to dread as calls to the home went unanswered. What investigators would soon discover was beyond comprehension: the entire family had been brutally massacred.

Join Jen and Cam on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘Dardeen Family Massacre.’

Listener discretion is by @octoberpodVHS

Music by our EP @theinkypawprint

Sources:

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/141094349/

https://books.google.com/books?id=PEDSSsFlDOcC&pg=PA46

http://www.nwherald.com/2014/04/12/unsolved-1987-slaying-of-illinois-family-haunting/auj00b/

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/columns/pat-gauen/gauen-gruesome-illinois-mystery-appears-to-end-with-texas-execution/article_b5a3da6c-c649-5725-8a7e-23f96873f514.html

http://www.14news.com/story/7372700/unsolved-murder-still-haunts-tri-state-family-two-decades-later

https://thesouthern.com/news/article_51b2456d-80ff-5def-9511-6292e669c94e.html

https://www.chicagotribune.com/2000/03/13/13-year-vigil-of-fear-eases-in-illinois-town/

https://www.firstalert4.com/2022/01/21/gruesome-murder-an-illinois-family-remains-unsolved-main-suspect-is-executed/

https://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/1fzq8zj/on_the_evening_of_november_18_1987_police_went_to/

https://www.kfvs12.com/2019/11/05/heartland-unsolved-never-forget/

https://www.10minutemurder.com/blog/keith-and-elaine-dardeen-a-family-trying-to-escape-death/

https://medium.com/@tonyakpan45/the-dardeen-family-massacre-de3b9fdb5bb6

https://people.com/dardeen-murders-unsolved-who-killed-illinois-family-8649561

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342. Just the Tip of the Iceberg: Wayne Adam Ford Jan 14, 2026

Show notes

In November 1998, Wayne Ford was troubled and scared. He called his brother Rodney and said he had “hurt some people.” Rodney could hear the worry in his voice, so he drove six hours through the night to be with him. When he arrived, Wayne was upset and emotional. The next day, the brothers tried to have a normal day. They visited places from their childhood in Humboldt County, had breakfast together, drove past streets they knew, and even went to the zoo. But all day, there was a quiet tension between them, as if they both knew something big was coming. That evening, Wayne finally went to the sheriff’s office and made a confession. Then, looking at the officers, Wayne said, “That’s just the tip of the iceberg.”

Join Cam and Jen as they discuss "Just the Tip of the Iceberg: Wayne Adam Ford.

A huge Thank You to our team:

Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen

Executive Producers Nico & Jesse of The Inky Pawprint

⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://theinkypawprint.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Sources:

1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=egffR6XTjZs

2) https://humboldtgov.org/m/newsflash/home/detail/5210

3) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wayne_Adam_Ford

4) https://www.newspapers.com/image/158344788/?match=1&terms=%22Ryan%20Slough%22 LA Times Nov 7 1998

5) https://www.newspapers.com/image/1232837295/?match=1&terms=%22Ryan%20Slough%22 LA Times Nov 10 1998

6) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arcata,_California#:~:text=While%20Arcata%2C%20Eureka%2C%20Fortuna%20and,the%20continental%20US%20west%20coast.

7) https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/231248800/tina_renee-gibbs

8) https://murderpedia.org/male.F/f/ford-wayne-adam.htm

9) https://www.newspapers.com/image/747919834/?terms=%22Tina%20Renee%20Gibbs%22

10) https://www.montereyherald.com/2007/03/17/serial-killer-given-the-death-penalty/#:~:text=SAN%20BERNARDINO%20(AP)%20%E2%80%94%20A,their%20mutilated%20bodies%20across%20California.

11) World's Most Evil Killers Season 8 Episode 9 https://youtu.be/egffR6XTjZs?si=Y9rqS8au-ISN-8d2

12) https://www.newspapers.com/image/708178662/?match=1&terms=%22Tina%20Gibbs%22 Aug 8 1998 Fresno Bee

13) https://www.nevadaappeal.com/news/2001/dec/19/judge-unseals-documents-in-suspected-serial-killer/

14) https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/Psyc%20405/serial%20killers/Ford,%20Wayne%20Adam.pdf

15) https://www.crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/predators/wayne_adam_ford/index.html

16) https://unidentified-awareness.fandom.com/wiki/Kerry_Cummings

17) https://www.doenetwork.org/cases/1713ufca.html

18) https://lakeconews.com/news/75870-humboldt-county-homicide-victim-identified-after-25-years

19) https://krcrtv.com/news/local/eureka-cold-case-solved-homicide-victim-identified-after-25-years

20) https://www.newspapers.com/image/628149383/?match=1&terms=%22Tina%20Gibbs%22 Sacramento Bee Nov 7 1998

21) https://www.newspapers.com/image/1233197380/?match=1&terms=%22Tina%20Gibbs%22 San Francisco Chronicle Nov 11 1998

22) Evil Lives Here: Season 9, Episode 4 https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0FNXBVFJT/ref=atv_dp_sign_suc_3P

23) I Lived With a Killer: Season 1 Episode 14 "Wayward Wayne."

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341. Missoula Mauler: Wayne Nance Jan 07, 2026

Show notes

It was supposed to be an ordinary night in a quiet Missoula neighborhood, the kind where doors stayed unlocked because nothing bad ever happened. But just after 10 p.m., Doug and Kris Wells pulled into their driveway and found something that didn’t belong: a pickup truck abandoned on their lawn and a man slumped inside.

What followed wasn’t a burglary gone wrong. It wasn’t a random act of violence. It was the moment a hidden obsession finally broke loose.

Within minutes, a familiar face stepped out of the darkness. A coworker. A trusted local. A man who had been watching Kris for months. What began as small talk turned into a brutal ambush, a home invasion, and a fight for survival. Bound, beaten, and bleeding, Doug Wells would make one impossible decision and unknowingly come face to face with one of Montana’s most elusive killers. Because the man in their home wasn’t just a stalker, he was a predator tied to years of unsolved murders.

Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘Missoula Mauler: Wayne Nance.’

Listener discretion by @octoberpodVHS

Music is by our EP @theinkypawprint

Sources:

https://helenair.com/news/state-and-regional/in-search-of-christy-s-true-identity/article_a9a3d103-7e15-5bf2-a6e3-47b677fdb61d.html

https://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/cold-case-research-yields-id-of-1984-murder-victim/article_a01dbe0d-5c2d-5181-9927-460950a1ddd1.html

http://www.doenetwork.org/media/news130.html

https://archive.today/20210518141950/https://apnews.com/article/2108bbfab6c8b76782d6940ba7bb4512

https://web.archive.org/web/20150713223046/http://www.hsc.unt.edu/departments/pathology_anatomy/dna/Forensics/Initiative/Bachman.cfm

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114718350/girls-skeleton-found/

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

https://dnasolves.com/articles/christy_crystal_creek/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114719513/bonner-county-police-blotter/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114720045/hunter-finds-human-skeleton/

https://billingsgazette.com/wayne-nance-the-missoula-mauler/article_af33b419-ca33-50b8-b5e6-c592d4b23373.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20160410184907/https://sites.google.com/site/ianwithrow71/home/archive/christycrystalcreekandthemissoulamauler

https://www.montanarightnow.com/all_abc_fox/montana-murder-mysteries-the-gruesome-world-of-missoula-mauler-wayne-nance/article_5dc7d3b8-5cd8-11ea-859a-e38169e49727.html

http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/N/NANCE_wayne_nathan.php

https://www.forensicmag.com/575873-Remains-of-Suspected-Third-Victim-of-Wayne-Nance-ID-ed-after-36-Years/

To Kill and Kill Again: the Terrifying True Story of Montana's Baby-Faced Serial Sex Murderer. Coston, John 2016

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Introducing: Fresh Hell Podcast Jan 05, 2026

Show notes

Today, Cam and Jen are excited to share a special episode from our friends at Fresh Hell, a historical true-crime podcast hosted by Annie in the United States and Johanna in Austria. The two are close friends who, despite years of collaboration, have never met in real life!

We think you will really enjoy Fresh Hell, especially since its thoughtful storytelling is compelling. Annie and Johanna take time to explore the historical context behind each case, looking at the social, cultural, and psychological factors that shaped the events and the people involved. Their episodes are deeply researched and engaging, often focusing on lesser-known stories you might not hear elsewhere. Every Friday, Fresh Hell releases a new episode diving into stories of murder, mystery, and the macabre from throughout history.

The episode you're about to hear is Part One of their series on Lizzie Halliday.

Lizzie Halliday was a 19th-century American serial killer, sometimes referred to as America’s first female serial killer. Her crimes stunned people at the time, in part because she challenged many of the assumptions society held about women and violence. Her story brings up complex topics like mental illness, domestic abuse, and how institutions responded to dangerous individuals in the late 1800s.

In this episode, Annie and Johanna introduce Lizzie’s background and the events that led up to the crimes that would make her infamous. It’s a fascinating and unsettling case, and a great example of the careful, human-centered storytelling Fresh Hell is known for.

Be sure to go to your favorite podcast app and listen to Part 2 of Lizzie Halliday, and while you're there, make sure to subscribe to Fresh Hell Podcast.

Jen and Cam will be back soon with more brand-new episodes for 2026!

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340 ‘Bluebell Betrayal: Terri Jo Duperrault.’ Dec 27, 2025

Show notes

It all began in November 1961, when Arthur Duperrault, a 40-year-old optometrist from Green Bay, Wisconsin, finally set out to give his family the adventure he had been dreaming of for years. Arthur had built a thriving practice specializing in contact lenses, a career that afforded him comfort and stability. But he wanted more than the routines of Midwestern life. What he craved was experience, something unforgettable for himself, for his wife Jean, and for their children: 14-year-old Brian, 11-year-old Terry Jo, and little René, just 7 years old. For years, Arthur had talked about escaping the bitter Wisconsin winters, of trading frost for sunlight and snow for turquoise waters. The Bahamas, in particular, held a special place in his memory. He had promised himself then that he would one day return with the family he dreamed of building. That promise became a plan, and over time, a quiet obsession. He saved steadily until, at last, the moment arrived. What was supposed to be the trip of a lifetime would end in murder, and more than a few questions, and only one person would be left to tell the tale.

Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘Bluebell Betrayal: Terri Jo Duperrault.’

Listener discretion by Edward OctoberpodVHS @octoberpodVHS

Music by our EP @theinkypawprint

Sources:

https://www.vintag.es/2017/05/orphaned-on-ocean-unbelievable-story-of.html

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/219816524/

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrhcaQGuk5pbccmIH1XNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzYEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1767976710/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.nydailynews.com%2f2021%2f08%2f01%2fjustice-story-mystery-of-little-girl-lost-at-sea-after-family-is-slaughtered-aboard-their-boat%2f/RK=2/RS=E4PyQI3FuG_cpl5FxHI0.P_8n1E-

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/219816524/

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrihfPLuU5p7w0KH9NXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzQEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1767976652/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.msn.com%2fen-us%2ftv%2frecaps%2fsole-survivor-of-family-yacht-massacre-dubbed-the-sea-orphan-recounts-harrowing-ordeal%2far-AA1QqPv5/RK=2/RS=pp5.5u.YB3ABBwpQCMX2Lg.MDII-

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrhcaQGuk5pbccmHn1XNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzQEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1767976710/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.cbsnews.com%2fnews%2fbook-em-alone-orphaned-on-the-ocean%2f/RK=2/RS=LFc_O5uAZEGfVOOliG.CGWmsRqY-

https://video.search.yahoo.com/video/play;_ylt=AwrFNFbuuU5p8xgCGAX7w8QF;_ylu=c2VjA3NyBHNsawN2aWQEZ3BvcwMz?p=terry+jo+duperrault&vid=ccc8147ec2dfb63a8b497d5dae1dfc31&turl=https%3A%2F%2Ftse4.mm.bing.net%2Fth%2Fid%2FOVP.RS5vx3w7LkZG1V61MjIygwHgFo%3Fpid%3DApi%26h%3D360%26w%3D480%26c%3D7%26rs%3D1&rurl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fwatch%3Fv%3Dwm6_aQLN2C4&tit=Surviving+Alone+at+Sea%3A+%3Cb%3ETerry%3C%2Fb%3E+%3Cb%3EJo%3C%2Fb%3E+Dupperrault%26%2339%3Bs+Incredible+Story&c=2&sigr=HiVjSq0fRPdv&sigt=hK2aKYEUebpS&sigi=sp4TVRMIJpZQ&fr2=p%3As%2Cv%3Av&h=360&w=480&l=892&age=1722152718&fr=mcafee&tt=b

https://www.twincities.com/2010/05/30/alone-book-recounts-green-bay-girls-1961-ordeal-at-sea-and-life-after/

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrihfPLuU5p7w0KGdNXNyoA;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzMEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1767976652/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mirror.co.uk%2fnews%2fworld-news%2fman-who-killed-family-left-36410942/RK=2/RS=t_eXudIGd.DitWnU0wDNGvShofA-

Logan, Richard; Duperrault Fassbender, Tere Jo (2010). Alone: Orphaned on the Ocean. Wisconsin: Titletown Publishing. ISBN 978-0-982-72063-9.

https://books.google.com/books?id=AVQEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA30

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/40365158/jodailynews23-11-61/

https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/219816524/

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Dark Waters: Arthur Shawcross Day 12: 12 Nightmares Before Christmas Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

On the 12th Nightmare Before Christmas…

The Genesee River flows peacefully through Rochester today, but it still holds a dark memory from the late 1980s. Back then, it became the hunting ground of Arthur Shawcross. He had already served time for murder but was let out early, even though experts warned he was still dangerous.

Soon after he arrived, a terrifying pattern emerged: people disappeared near the waterfront, only to be found later along the riverbanks, each death showing the work of a disturbed mind.

Join Cam and Jen as they discuss “Dark Waters: Arthur Shawcross.”

Well, folks, we've finally made it to the end of our 8th Annual 12 Nightmares Before Christmas and the end of 2025. We're exhausted and definitely need therapy, but we wouldn't have it any other way.

Thank you for spending another year with us. We’ve talked about more murders than any “normal” human should, and you’re still here, clicking play like champions. We appreciate every one of you who listens week after week. You are what keeps us going.

We'll be back on January 14th, 2026, with more true crime cases. Until then, lock your doors, and keep passing those open windows!

Have a safe and spectacular New Year.

Love ya!

Cam & Jen

Listener Discretion by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Edward October ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠

Research & Writing by Lauretta Allen

Executive Producers/Music by @theinkypawprint

Sources are available on ourtruecrimepodcast.com

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The Eleven Who Went To Heaven: Edward Bell Day 11: 12 Nightmares Before Christmas Dec 23, 2025

Show notes

On the 11th Nightmare Before Christmas...

On a sunny November morning in 1971, best friends Debbie Ackerman and Maria Johnson, both just 15, set out for a day of surfing near Galveston, Texas. The two girls were inseparable—bonded by their shared love of the beach, the waves, and the promise of youth. Maria, a newcomer to Galveston, had already endured a turbulent childhood. After her parents split, she bounced between homes and schools before settling into Ball High School. Shy but friendly, she quickly found her place. She loved water skiing, dated a local ski jumper, and spent her weekends at the beach.

Debbie, by contrast, was a lifelong islander, what locals called a BOI (“born on the island”). With one brown eye and one blue-green eye, she stood out immediately. She was bold, competitive, and passionate about water sports, often making the local news for her water skiing competitions. Surfing was her favorite pastime, and her friends remembered her as fun, magnetic, and endlessly outgoing.

That Sunday, November 14, they planned a short trip to Houston, just over an hour’s drive away, to spend the day exploring. Since neither girl had a car, they decided to hitchhike, a common and almost carefree practice in the early 1970s. Witnesses later reported seeing them outside a Baskin-Robbins near Stewart Beach, laughing and chatting as they bought ice cream. A white van pulled up to the curb. The driver asked where they were headed. “Houston,” one of the girls said. It was his route, he told them. They climbed in.

They were never seen alive again.

Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled: The Eleven Who Went To Heaven: Edward Bell."

Thank you to our incredible team:

Listener discretion by Edward October @octoberpodVHS.

Executive Producer/Music by @theinkypawprint.

Sources:

https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/tenth-court-of-appeals/1994/1036.html

https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-news-journal-1979-tx-edward-ha/37438275/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/37438275/1979-tx-edward-harold-bell-convicted-of/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80125091/edward-bell/

https://www.dallasnews.com/arts-entertainment/tv/2023/10/03/how-a-shirtless-matthew-mcconaughey-got-his-first-credit-on-unsolved-mysteries-in-1992/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/5511750/the-waco-citizen/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/82998028/ed-bell-69-exposure-to-13-year-old/

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0737501/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/80125009/edward-bell/

https://archive.today/20211228093122/https://www.houstonpublicmedia.org/articles/news/2017/10/18/243184/investigators-think-they-know-who-killed-eleven-girls-around-galveston-in-the-1970s-2/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Harold_Bell
https://archive.ph/20131014191511/http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Confessions-of-a-cold-blooded-killer-2187501.php#selection-4701.0-5149.1
https://archive.ph/20190823045333/https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/houston/article/Texas-killer-s-death-leaves-unanswered-13783107.php

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