Pamela Smart became a household name - not for being the next Barbara Walters as she’d hoped but for orchestrating the cold-blooded murder of her husband - using her teenage lover as the trigger man. The case became a media sensation when it hit the news cycle in 1990.  It was such a high-profile case that millions watched the trial unfold live on television.  It was the very first time a murder trial in the U.S. received “gavel-to-gavel” coverage on a newly launched cable television channel dedicated to true crime content - Court TV.  Sources:  https://web.archive.org/web ..read more

In this special bonus episode of Once Upon a Crime, I speak with Michael Wolraich, the author of a new true crime book, The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age.  In 1931, Vivian Gordon’s body was found in a gully in the Bronx’s Van Cortlandt Park. She’d been brutally strangled, her body dumped.  The investigation into her murder would uncover blackmail plots, sex scandals, and corruption at the highest levels of the New York government.   The Bishop and the Butterfly is a fascinating look into this true-life murder mystery from the Jazz Age ..read more

In this final episode of “Tarnished Hollywood,” I’ll share a story about a promising young actor who ran afoul of the law.  His decision to immerse himself in gang culture at the expense of an acting career would lead to a life sentence in a prison cell and a brutal and bizarre end to his life at the age of 36. Sources:  https://chicagodefender.com/how-an-infamous-boyz-n-the-hood-cameo-led-to-real-life-murder/ https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/kevin-roby/ Sponsor:  www.factormeals.com/once50 and use code once50 to get 50% off your subscription box.  ..read more

Danny Masterson is an American actor best known for his role in That 70’s Show. In 2020, he was charged with raping three women in 2001 and 2003. Masterson and his victims were all members of the Church of Scientology. The church’s policies and threats toward the victims caused a 20-year delay in bringing the crimes to justice. Sources:  A Timeline of Danny Masterson’s Controversies, Skyler Caruso for People.com, Sept 7, 2023 https://people.com/tv/danny-masterson-charged-rape-timeline-of-allegations/  Danny Masterson’s Long History with the Church of Scientology, Christina Dugan Ram ..read more

1 historic steam train... ...9 exceptional true crime podcasts... ...9 tales woven with the spirit of Women's Day... ...Will YOU unravel the mysteries aboard? This International Women's Day, join Shane Waters and Wendy Cee on an unprecedented journey through the heart of England to Crimecon UK in London. Mysteries on the True Crime Express is not just a podcast episode; it's an immersive voyage into the depths of true crime, history, and the indomitable spirit of women. Aboard this old-world locomotive, you'll encounter the hosts of 9 distinguished true crime podcasts, including Esther San ..read more

In this special episode, I speak with author Gareth Russell.  His new book, The Palace: From the Tudors to the Windsors, 500 Years of British History at Hampton Court, gives us a look at the storied history of what is called the most beautiful palace in England.  But, behind the walls of Hampton Court, true tales of intrigue, sex scandals, assassination plots, and murder played out among the royals and court members.   Links: https://www.simonandschuster.com/authors/Gareth-Russell/500660891  https://www.amazon.com/Palace-Windsors-British-History-Hampton/dp/1797169165 ht ..read more

“Murder in Boston” - An Interview with Adrian Walker (Bonus Episode) On October 23, 1989, 29-year-old Charles Stuart placed a 911 call to report that he and his wife, Carol, had been carjacked, driven to a secluded section of the city, robbed, and shot.   A city-wide manhunt for the assailant began.  But, from the start, police were suspicious about Charles Stuart’s story.  Stuart was gravely wounded, but his wife, seven months pregnant with their first child, died, as did their unborn baby. The series of events that unfolded afterward would captivate the city of Boston and t ..read more

In history, there have been several monarchs known as “Mad Kings” - monarchs who were plagued by erratic and even violent behavior often attributed to mental illness. King Eric the XIV of Sweden is one such ruler. While intellectually brilliant, King Eric suffered from extreme paranoia, which led to erratic, violent, and even murderous behavior. Sources:  Disturbed Facts About Eric XIV Of Sweden, The Butcher King - Factinate Eric XIV, King of Sweden, Britannica.com  https://www.britannica.com/biography/Erik-XIV Karin Mansdotter, wikipedia.com  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K ..read more

This month, we’re taking a peek at royal families. What secrets and scandals lie behind these noble houses? In this week’s episode, I’ll tell you about an illicit affair an heir to the British throne engaged in with a French courtesan during WWI.  Marguerite Alibert retained evidence of her affair with Prince Edward that she would later use as blackmail when she was on trial for the murder of another prince.   Sources:  Marguerite Alibert: Courtesan, Murderess and Blackmailer of a King  - Historic Mysteries, December 2021.  The murderous mistress of Edward VIII befor ..read more

In this month’s series, we’ll take a look at the dark side of royalty. I will detail crimes, sex scandals, and even murders that have occurred within royal families.   First up, a member of the British royal family, Prince Andrew, the Duke of York’s reputation is muddied when his close, personal friend, Jeffrey Epstein, is exposed as a sex trafficker of underage girls. Prince Andrew will fall even further into disgrace when one of Epstein’s victims accuses him of sexual assault while she was a minor. Sources:  Andrew: The Problem Prince (Channel 4 Documentary), 2023,  https ..read more