True Crime Brewery

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Sources

Catch the Sparrow by Rachael Rear

Confessed killer Ed Laraby dies in prison, Gary Craig, 5/5/2014

The Disappearance of Stephanie Kupchynsky, Dateline Digital, 1/20/2023, https://www.nbcnews.com/dateline/video/the-disappearance-of-stephanie-kupchynsky-160292421640

METRO NEWS BRIEFS: NEW YORK; Woman Who Vanished In 1991 Is Found Dead, New York Times, The Associated Press, 4/17/1998

New York inmate admits murder of former Martha’s Vineyard teacher, MVTimes, Janet Hefler, 7/25/2012

Blood Atonement Jun 27, 2023

Show notes

In its immediate aftermath, the 1984 murder of Brenda Lafferty and her baby daughter had their community asking “why?” But once the investigation was under way, law enforcement began to look closely at the family Brenda Lafferty had married into. Brenda was a devout Mormon, but she disagreed with the extreme religious beliefs of her brothers-in-law, Ron and Dan Lafferty, who had embraced fundamentalist views and were excommunicated from the LDS church.

Join us at the quiet end for Blood Atonement. Brenda has been described as a young woman who was dedicated to her husband Allen, her daughter, and the church. But Brenda had been raised in a much more liberal Mormon family and she wasn’t afraid to openly disagree with her in-law’s fundamentalist views, which included polygamy. Following their excommunication, Dan and Ron Lafferty had become more and more fanatical in their beliefs. And they blamed Brenda when Allen refused to join them.

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Sources

Band of Brothers, American Monster, Investigation Discovery, S3, E5

Exclusive: The Real Brenda Lafferty is lost in ‘Under the Banner of Heaven’ series, Deseret News, Katie McKellar, 5/11/2022

Killer Dan Lafferty says his ideas influenced Strack family suicide, Chris Jones, 1/30/2015

Meet The Real Lafferty Family From Under the Banner of Heaven, Bustle, Morgan Leigh Davies, 4/30/2022

State v. Lafferty, Utah Supreme Court, 2/23/2001

Under the Banner of Heaven by Jon Krakauer, 2003

Under the Banner of Heaven, Hulu miniseries, 4/28/2022

Why Brenda Lafferty Was Murdered by Her Husband’s Fundamentalist Family, A&E Blog, Jacquelyn Gray. 2/23/2023

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The Rainbow Girls Murders May 30, 2023

Show notes

Vicki Durian and Nancy Santomero were hitchhiking on their way to the Rainbow Family Gathering in June, 1980, when they disappeared. This was an annual gathering of hippies and free-thinking people where they would celebrate harmony, peace, and freedom at Monongahela National Forest. But after the two young women accepted a ride from a quiet young man driving a Chevy Nova, they were never seen alive again.

Join us at the quiet end for The Rainbow Girls Murders. Someone murdered Nancy and Vicki in cold blood, leaving their bodies to be found on a remote mountainside. But twelve years into the investigation, an innocent man was charged and convicted of their killings. This man would spend years in prison before the real killer could be brought to justice. Today, we’ll talk about this fascinating case and discuss why the wrong man was sent to prison and a cold-blooded killer was left free to kill again.

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Sources

Man who confessed to ‘Rainbow Murders’ is executed, The Associated Press, 11/19/2013

Life Without Mercy by Ralph Kennedy Echols

The Third Rainbow Girl by Emma Copley Eisenberg

Dissecting Dr. Death: Christopher Duntsch May 16, 2023

Show notes

Neurosurgeon Christopher Duntsch had little in his background to predict the trail of surgical atrocities he would commit in his short-lived career. Before he was finally stopped, Duntsch had caused serious neurological injuries to most of his patients and killed two of them. In fact, of the 38 surgeries he performed, 33 were catastrophic.

Join us at the quiet end for Dissecting Dr. Death. After his residency in Tennessee, Christopher Duntsch moved to Dallas to start his neurosurgery practice. Despite rumors that he had been using cocaine, LSD, and prescription opiates while in training, he had excellent references. Once he began performing surgeries in Dallas, Duntsch was immediately recognized as incompetent by other surgeons and OR staff. And, with no indication that he would stop or seek out additional training, it became obvious that he was intentionally harming his patients. But the big question is why?

Sources

Anatomy of a Tragedy, Texas Observer, Saul Elbein, 8/28/2013

Christopher Daniel Duntsch v. The State of Texas, 12/10/2018

Christopher Duntsch: A Review of Clinicide, Journal of Forensic Psychology, Robert Kaplan, 11/1/2021

Dr. Death, D Magazine, Matt Goodman, 10/24/2016

The State of Texas v. Christopher Duntsch, Indictments, 7/21/2015

Murder Mystery on Swann Street Apr 30, 2023

Show notes

After a 911 call came in late at night on August 2, 2006, paramedics were dispatched to a high-end Washington D.C. townhouse. Inside, the home was very neat with expensive electronics and other valuables in plain sight. On the second floor, 32-year-old attorney Robert Wone was found lying flat on his back in a t-shirt and gym shorts. He had three stab wounds to his torso. Mr. Wone was a houseguest that night and the three permanent residents claimed to have no idea who had stabbed him. But the home had absolutely no signs of forced entry or a burglary.

Join us at the quiet end for Murder Mystery on Swann Street. From the time they arrived, police officers and paramedics were struck by the incongruous scene. All three residents of the home were together in the living room, freshly showered and wearing crisp, white robes. The bed where Mr. Wone was found appeared strikingly undisturbed. And, despite having suffered three deep knife wounds, there was very little blood on Mr. Wone or the bedding. The lack of an intruder, the physical evidence, and the bizarre behavior of home’s residents has created an extraordinary mystery surrounding Robert Wone’s death—a mystery that still endures today.

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Sources

Cover-Up Alleged in D.C. Killing of Lawyer, The Washington Post, Duggan, P., Williamas, C., 1/11/2008

Police Say Crime Scene was Altered in NW Killing, The Washington Post, Klein, A., Cauvin, H., 8/16/2006

Robert Wone: Life, Death, and Love, Washingtonian, Harry Jaffe, 4/20/2010

United States v. Joseph R. Price, Victor J. Zaborsky, and Dylan M. Ward, Superior Court of the District of Columbia, 6/29/2010

Who Killed Robert Wone?, Peacock Documentary Series, 3/7/2023

Eye to Eye Apr 18, 2023

Show notes

As far back as Brian Stidham could remember, he wanted to be a doctor and work with children. As an exceptional student, he graduated from Harvard Medical School. Then he began his residency in pediatric ophthalmology. Eventually, Brian married, had two children, and moved to Tucson, Arizona. As one of very few specialists in the area, he was in high demand. But as Brian’s star was rising, his life would be taken by a man whose own life was crashing and burning.

Join us at the quiet end for Eye to Eye: The Murder of Dr. Brian Stidham. While working at a practice with ophthalmologist Bradley Schwartz, Brian noticed that the doctor was behaving erratically. After Schwartz was indicted on drug charges, Brian made plans to open his own practice. But Schwartz was infuriated when his patients went to Brian. And Brad Schwartz was not the forgiving type.

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Sources

An Eye for an Eye, 48 Hours, 7/8/2008

Murder Conspiracy Case Grabs Media Glare, American Medical News, 7/10/2006

Office Visit, Forensic Files, 5/17/2018

Toxic Rage by AJ Flick

Tucson Citizen Archives, 2005-2014

Tucson Weekly Archives, 2005-2006

Conspiracy: The Murder-for-Hire of Dan Markel Mar 21, 2023

Show notes

On July 18, 2014, 41-year-old law professor Dan Markel dropped off his two young sons at preschool, worked out at the gym, and returned home to his quiet Tallahassee, Florida home. It was a Friday and Dan was looking forward to a relaxing weekend. But as soon as he pulled into his garage, someone shot him at point-blank range.

Join us at the quiet end for Conspiracy: The Murder-for-Hire of Dan Markel. This is a story of a divorce and custody battle spun out of control and a family hell-bent on revenge. The investigation into Dan’s murder went on for two years before two career criminals were arrested for driving 10 hours from Miami to stalk and kill Dan. They had no known connection to Dan, but Dan’s ex-wife had family in the Miami area. The family hated Dan, who was getting in the way of Wendi and her children moving closer to them. It was difficult to believe that the Adelsons were behind a murder-for-hire plot, but no one else had a motive to want Dan dead.