In Part 2 covering Jeffrey Dahmer, we go deep into the stories of his family history from immigrant origins to broken families. Not only did we find a history of mental illness in his family, but we also discovered that Jeffrey had some famous cousins ..read more

All sources and notes are available at our website murderousroots.com ..read more

On July 30, 1897, President William McKinley appointed seven Black men to postmaster positions across the state of South Carolina. One town would not react well to the news. One town would see to it that they would run their new Black postmaster out of town, even if it meant killing him. In this latest episode, part one of the story, Zelda and Denise explore the history of reconstruction and how it helped lead to the death of Frazier B. Baker. Then we discuss what happened to the Baker family after horrific murders of Frazier and his toddler, Julia. Next week we will return with part two where ..read more

Last week we discussed all that Marsha accomplished as well as her unsolved death and immediate family. In part 2 covering Marsha P. Johnson, we continue the conversation with her nephew Al Michaels and learn more about her parents and ancestors, including her grandmother, a Voodoo priestess.. To see all our sources and information discussed in the show, you can go to last week’s episode, Queen Marsha. All notes and sources can be found on our website at https://murderousroots.com/episodes/marshajohnson1 ..read more

After a day of festivities and fun at the Gay Pride Parade in New York City, the body of one of its most notable residents who fought for civil rights for all people, was found floating in the Hudson River on July 6, 1992. Marsha P. Johnson, born Malcolm Michaels, Jr, identified herself as a drag queen and was an outspoken activist for gay rights who first gained prominence during the Stonewall Uprising. We may never know the circumstances of her death, but her work lives on today. In this episode, her nephew Al Michaels joins us as we discuss Martha’s life, activism, and death. We then learn ..read more

In this Summersode, we continue our conversation on the family history of Dian Fossey which included two more murders, love affairs, World War II, a British naval hero from the 17th Century, and so much more. All sources can be found at our website, murderousroots.com ..read more

Nynyiramachabelli, the woman that lives alone on the Mountain, is a Rwandan word used to describe gorilla conservationist Dian Fossey on her grave in Rwanda. It was the name given to her by Rwandan’s who lived near her in the Virugan Mountains of Rwanda. In 1963, Fossey first arrived on the continent of Africa. It would soon after become her permanent home until her murdered body was found in the early morning hours of December 27, 1985. Listen to Part 1 of The Woman That Lives Alone on the Mountain, as we discuss what drew Fossey to Africa and her work with the gorillas she loved, the horren ..read more

On this Summersode, as part of their Summer of Justice Series, Zelda and Denise discuss the events leading up to the horrific lynching of 14-year-old Chicago-native Emmett Till as well as what happened next. Then they explore is fascinating family tree with a history of struggle, success, and heartbreak. For further notes and sources, go to murderousroots.com ..read more

On June 12, 1963, a scream permeated the air as Myrlie Evers opened her door to discover her husband, Medgar Evers, a civil rights leader in Jackson, Mississippi, collapsed on the ground. Moments before he had been shot in the back by an assassin’s bullet. Less than an hour later, he would die in an all-white hospital. Evers’s death would shock a nation! His wife would spend decades to get justice for her husband, a struggle later written about in her book and in the movie Ghosts of Mississippi. In this episode Denise and Zelda discuss the amazing man Medgar Evers was before his death at age ..read more

On June 12, 1963, a scream permeated the air as Myrlie Evers opened her door to discover her husband, Medgar Evers, a civil rights leader in Jackson, Mississippi, collapsed on the ground. Moments before he had been shot in the back by an assassin’s bullet. Less than an hour later, he would die in an all-white hospital. Evers’s death would shock a nation! His wife would spend decades to get justice for her husband, a struggle later written about in her book and in the movie Ghosts of Mississippi. In this episode Denise and Zelda discuss the amazing man Medgar Evers was before his death at age ..read more