When hardware store owner Bernice Worden disappeared from her store on the morning of November 16, 1957, sheriff’s deputies traced the last sale made that morning to fifty-one-year-old recluse and occasional handyman Ed Gein. During a cursory search of the Gein property, investigators quickly located Worden’s decapitated and mutilated body in a shed on Gein’s property, but that was only one of the many horrors that awaited them on the farmstead. Inside the house, deputies found one of the most shocking and horrifying scenes ever documented in the history of American crime, revealing that the mild-mannered handyman locals had always believed harmless, was in fact a profoundly psychotic killer. Thank you to the magnificent Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research! References Associated Press. 1968. "Gein prosecution winds up murder testimony." Capital Times, November 9: 9. —. 1968. "Gein ruled fit to stand trial." Green Bay Press-Gazette, January 16: 1. Capital Times. 1958. "Bar Gein house admission fees." Capital Times, March 12: 4. —. 1957. "Claims ten skulls came from graves ." Capital Times, November 18: 1. —. 1958. "Gein insane, psychiatrist tells court." Capital Times, January 6: 3. —. 1957. "Nearly wed gein, woman reveals." Capital Times, November 20: 1. —. 1957. "Plan to open at least two." Capital Times, November 23: 1. —. 1957. "Weeping Gein joins minister in prayer." Capital Times, November 22: 1. —. 1957. "'Won't believe' graves robbed ." Capital Times, November 19: 1. Daily Tribune. 1954. "Believe Bancroft tavernkeeper was slain." Daily Tribune, December 9: 1. —. 1944. "Rites today for the man who died in Roche-a-Cri fire." Daily Tribune, May 19: 1. Engel, Dave. 2005. "Whatever happened to Mary Hogan?" Daily Tribune, December 5: 6. La Crosse Tribune. 1957. "State pushes murder charges against ." La Crosse Tribune, November 22: 1. Portage Daily Register. 1957. "New rifle in shop used in slaying storekeeper." Portage Daily Register, November 19: 1. Schechter, Harold. 1998. Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, the Original Psycho. New York, NY: Gallery Books. Stevens Point Journal. 1958. "Ed Gein's real estate sold for under $4,000." Stevens Point Journal, March 31: 1. —. 1958. "Gein farmhouse leveled by early morning blaze." Stevens Point Journal, March 20: 1. —. 1958. "Open house at Gein farm draws crowds." Stevens Point Journal, March 24: 1. —. 1957. "Results of lie test announced." Stevens Point Journal, November 20: 1. —. 1954. "Woman's disappearance hints slaying at Pine Grove tavern." Stevens Point Journal, December 9: 1. United Press. 1957. "Hospital gets ready for Gein." Capital Times, November 23: 2. United Press International. 1968. "Ed Gein found guilty of 1957 murder in Plainfield." Capital Times, November 14: 2. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Not since Jack the Ripper or H.H. Holmes had a criminal so thoroughly shocked and captivated the public imagination; yet Gein’s crimes went far beyond what anyone imagined a person could be capable of. Indeed, he has served as the basis for some of Hollywood’s most iconic horror films including Psycho, Silence of the Lambs, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre. And, while he is only known to have killed two people during his active period, the list of crimes he is suspected of having committed is long and likely to remain a source of speculation for a long time to come. Thank you to the magical Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research! References Associated Press. 1968. "Gein prosecution winds up murder testimony." Capital Times, November 9: 9. —. 1968. "Gein ruled fit to stand trial." Green Bay Press-Gazette, January 16: 1. Capital Times. 1958. "Bar Gein house admission fees." Capital Times, March 12: 4. —. 1957. "Claims ten skulls came from graves ." Capital Times, November 18: 1. —. 1958. "Gein insane, psychiatrist tells court." Capital Times, January 6: 3. —. 1957. "Nearly wed gein, woman reveals." Capital Times, November 20: 1. —. 1957. "Plan to open at least two." Capital Times, November 23: 1. —. 1957. "Weeping Gein joins minister in prayer." Capital Times, November 22: 1. —. 1957. "'Won't believe' graves robbed ." Capital Times, November 19: 1. Daily Tribune. 1954. "Believe Bancroft tavernkeeper was slain." Daily Tribune, December 9: 1. —. 1944. "Rites today for the man who died in Roche-a-Cri fire." Daily Tribune, May 19: 1. Engel, Dave. 2005. "Whatever happened to Mary Hogan?" Daily Tribune, December 5: 6. La Crosse Tribune. 1957. "State pushes murder charges against ." La Crosse Tribune, November 22: 1. Portage Daily Register. 1957. "New rifle in shop used in slaying storekeeper." Portage Daily Register, November 19: 1. Schechter, Harold. 1998. Deviant: The Shocking True Story of Ed Gein, the Original Psycho. New York, NY: Gallery Books. Stevens Point Journal. 1958. "Ed Gein's real estate sold for under $4,000." Stevens Point Journal, March 31: 1. —. 1958. "Gein farmhouse leveled by early morning blaze." Stevens Point Journal, March 20: 1. —. 1958. "Open house at Gein farm draws crowds." Stevens Point Journal, March 24: 1. —. 1957. "Results of lie test announced." Stevens Point Journal, November 20: 1. —. 1954. "Woman's disappearance hints slaying at Pine Grove tavern." Stevens Point Journal, December 9: 1. United Press. 1957. "Hospital gets ready for Gein." Capital Times, November 23: 2. United Press International. 1968. "Ed Gein found guilty of 1957 murder in Plainfield." Capital Times, November 14: 2. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When thirty-eight-year-old Steven Robards died unexpectedly in the winter of 1993, everyone including the coroner believed his death to have been the result of a heart attack—unusual for someone so young, but certainly not unheard of. It wasn’t until the following year, when Steven’s teenage daughter, Marie, was practicing for the school play, that the girl confessed the truth to her friend: Steven Robards didn’t die from a heart attack, he was murdered by his daughter with chemicals she’d stolen from the high school chemistry lab. In the United States, it’s exceedingly rare for a child to kill a parent, and rarer still for that child to be female. The truth about Steven Robards murder shocked the residents of the Fort Worth area and divided the community between those who were sympathetic to her claims of desperation and those who saw her as nothing more than a craven predator who’d do anything to get what she wanted. Indeed, Marie claimed she had only wanted to make her father sick so she could return to living with her mother, from whom she’d been separated since her parents’ divorce, and she had never wanted to kill him. Ultimately a jury didn’t buy Marie’s story and sentenced her to twenty-seven years in prison, of which she served only seven years before being paroled. Was Marie Robards really just a confused teenager who acted impulsive without regard for the consequences of her actions? Or was she really the calculating self-serving killer some believed her to be? Thank you to David White, of the Bring Me the Axe podcast, for research assistance! References Blaney, Betsy. 1997. "Trial near for NRH teen accused of killing father." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 17: 1. Cochran, Mike. 1996. "Ex-UT student headed for patricide trial." Austin American-Statesman, May 6: 11. —. 1996. "Teen says she didn't mean to kill dad." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 6: 1. Hanna, Bill, and Kathy Sanders. 1994. "Daughter appears in court." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, October 20: 21. Hollandsworth, Skip. 1996. "Poisoning Daddy." Texas Monthly, July 01. Hood County News. 1994. "City staff's reactions mixed on poison suspect's presence." Hood County News, November 2: 1. Vozzella, Laura. 1996. "Accused dreamed of being coroner, prosecutor says." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 8: 50. —. 1996. "Chemistry student gets 28-year term in father's death." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 11: 1. —. 1996. "Teen is found guilty of poisoning her father." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 10: 15. —. 1996. "Teacher says chemical hidden from police." Fort Worth Star-Telegraph, May 9: 21. 2001. Forensic Files. Directed by David Wasser. Performed by David Wasser. Alaina's 2nd book in the Dr Wren Muller Series, THE BUTCHER GAME will be released on September 17th, 2024! To Pre-order go to (https://zandoprojects.com/books/the-butcher-game/) PLUS! If you preorder the book, get an autographed poster while supplies last by visiting (http://thebutchergame.com/) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the evening of March 24, 1990, nearly one hundred patrons gathered to celebrate Carnivale at the Happy Land Social Club, a small informal night club in the Bronx that catered to a mostly Honduran clientele. The evening took a deadly turn when, around 3:30 am, an explosion of fire roared up the stairway leading to the second-floor club, blocking the only exit from the building and trapping the patrons in a room rapidly filling with toxic smoke and fire. It’s unknown how many patrons managed to escape the fire, but by the time the fire department had extinguished the blaze, eighty-seven people were dead. Thank you to the amazing Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research! References Barbanel, Josh. 1990. "Bronx social club's sublease: How a firetrap skirted the line." New York Times, March 28: B1. —. 1990. "Tracing the club's owners." New York Times, March 27: B2. Barron, James. 1990. "The living search the faces of the dead." New York Times, March 26. Blumenthal, Ralph. 1990. "Fire in the Bronx; 87 die in blaze at illegal club." New York Times, March 26. Gelman, Mitch, Alexis Jetter, and Beth Holland. 1990. "87 die in arson called act of spurned lover." Newsday, March 26: 3. Gilbert, Allison. 2020. "A faded tragedy's long shadow." New York Times, March 29. Golden, Tim. 1990. "In the saddest way, New York learns about Hondurans." New York Times, April 1. Hernandez, Raymond. 1995. "Survivors call settlement 'unjust'." New York Times, July 7. Hevesi, Dennis. 1992. "Guilty plea by landlord in fire case." New York Times, May 9. Hirsch, James. 1988. "Most social clubs run the gamut of illegality." New York Times, August 22. Kerr, Peter. 1986. "Social Clubs: Modern Mob still uses a few as offices." New York Times, April 15. Lambert, Bruce. 1991. "Confession tape on Bronx blaze is heard by jury." New York Times, August 1. Lorch, Donatella. 1991. "Ex-girlfriend recalls threat before flames." New York Times, July 31. —. 1991. "Witness tells of visit by Happy Land fire suspect." New York Times, July 31. Maykuth, Andrew. 1990. "N.Y. fire suspect described as 'down to his last hope'." Philadelphia Inquirer, 03 27: 1. McFadden, Robert. 1990. "The Knights of the Padlock Sweep Forth." New York Times, March 31. New York Times. 1990. "7 victims: their stories, struggles and dreams of better lives." New York Times, March 29. Nieves, Evelyn. 1991. "Refugee found guilty of killing 87 in Bronx Happy Land fire." New York Times, August 20. People of the State of New York v. Julio Gonzalez. 1995. 163 Misc. 2d 950 (New York Supreme Court, Bronx County, February 10). Purdy, Matthew. 1995. "More than five years after the arson fire at the Happy Land Social Club..." New York Times, July 7. Roberts, Sam. 2016. "Julio Gonzalez, arsonist who killed 87 at a nightclub in the Bronx, dies at 61." New York Times, September 15. Schanberg, Sydney. 1990. "Please, some respect for 87 who died." Newsday, April 13: 62. Stanley, Alessandra. 1991. "At Happy Land mass-murder trial, days of tears, humor and boredom." New York Times, July 28. Stanley, Allessandra. 1990. "25 years to life for the arsonist at Happy Land." New York Times, September 20. Strom, Stephanie. 1990. "Hispanic residents rally against closing of social clubs." New York Times, April 6. Terry, Don. 1990. "Social club crackdown is the latest in a series." New York Times, March 26: A1. Wichers, Christine. 1990. "Male violence the real cause of Bronx fire." New York Times, April 10. THE BUTCHER GAME will be released on September 17th, 2024! To Pre-order go to (https://zandoprojects.com/books/the-butcher-game/) PLUS! If you preorder the book, get an autographed poster  while supplies last by visiting (http://thebutchergame.com/) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BIG, BIG NEWS AHEAD!!!! We are SO excited to announce that The SEQUEL, yes, the 2nd book of The Dr. Wren Muller Series- THE BUTCHER GAME will be released on September 17th, 2024! To Pre-order go to https://zandoprojects.com/books/the-butcher-game/ (https://zandoprojects.com/books/the-butcher-game/) PLUS! If you preorder the book, get an autographed poster  while supplies last by visiting  thebutchergame.com (http://thebutchergame.com/)  Also-- IT'S LISTENER TALES!!!!! And this month's episode is brought to you by gut feelings! In this episode, we hear about a ghostly visitor during an awkwardly intimate moment, a run in an elderly couple near an abandoned asylum, a portal to Marrakesh in a Weirdo's room, a UFO sighting on a beach, and a weird encounter with a car in a ditch! If you’ve got a listener tale please send it on over to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line :) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The brutal murders of Ross, Brown, and Degnan shocked the city of Chicago and terrified and outraged the city’s residents, who wanted only to feel safe once again. Under intense pressure from the press, the public, and city officials, investigators were desperate to catch the killer and solve the case by any means necessary, even if they had to break more than a few rules and ignore some inconvenient facts in order to do it. Thank you to the incredible Dave white of Bring Me the Axe & 99 Cent Rental Podcast for research!References Amended Petition for Executive Clemency. 2002. C-06103 (Illinois Prisoner Review Board, April). Arizona Republic . 1946. "Defendant fails in plea to jury." Arizona Republic, June 20: 18. Banks, Joe. 1946. "Prisoner says he killed girl." Tucson Daily Citizen, June 26: 1. Chicago Tribune. 1946. "Police resift all clues in Degnan case." Chcago Tribune, January 12: 1. —. 1946. "2 rewards offered for 'execution' of girl's kidnap-slayer." Chicago Tribune, January 8: 2. —. 1946. "Call Heirens sane; today's plea in doubt." Chicago Tribune, September 4: 1. —. 1946. "Child stolen from her bed during the night." Chicago Tribune, January 8: 1. —. 1945. "Ex-WAVE slain, plea written in red on wall." Chicago Tribune, December 11: 1. —. 1946. "Handwriting similarity to killer's shown." Chicago Tribune, June 27: 1. —. 1946. "Heirens gets new grilling following 'futile' lie test." Chicago Tribune, July 1: 1. —. 1946. "Heirens made choice of plea, attorneys say." Chicago Tribune, August 7: 12. —. 1946. "Murders, assaults, thefts, shooting; Heirens' story." Chicago Tribune, August 7: 1. —. 1945. "Mystery grows in WAVE slaying." Chicago Tribune, December 12: 1. —. 1943. "Organize posse of tenants and catch prowler." Chicago Tribune, August 9: 18. —. 1946. "Repudiates his 'confession' in Degnan slaying." Chicago Tribune, June 29: 6. —. 1946. "Student held in Degnan case puzzles police." Chicago Tribune, June 29: 1. —. 1946. "Tubs in basement, saw and ax held best clews." Chicago Tribune, January 9: 1. —. 1946. "U.C. Sophomore, facing police quiz, fakes coma." Chicago Tribune, June 29: 1. —. 1946. "Use of serum in Heirens quiz still mystery." Chicago Tribune, July 1: 5. —. 1945. "Widow is found in home; suitor quizzed." Chicago Tribune, June 6: 10. Decatur Daily Review. 1946. "Chicago girl kidnapped; note demands $20,000." Decatur Daily Review, January 7: 1. —. 1946. "Janitors grilled in kidnap-death." Decatur Daily Review, January 9: 1. Decatur Herald. 1945. "Brutal WAVE slayer sought." Decatur Herald, December 12: 1. Higgins, Michael. 2007. "1940s killer denied parole." Chicago Tribune, August 3: 1. —. 2007. "Is 61 years in prison enough retribution." Chicago Tribune, July 29: 1. Kennedy, Dolores. 1991. William Heirens: His Day in Court. New York, NY: Bonus Books. New York Times. 1946. "Heirens confesses in no-chair deal." New York Times, August 7: 36. Pantagraph. 1945. "Former Wave found brutally slain in Chicago bathtub." Pantagraph, December 10: 1. People of the State of Illinois v William Heirens. 1954. 33165 (Supreme Court of Illinois, September 23). People of the State of Illinois v William Heirens. 1995. 1-90-2240 (Appellate Court of the State of Illinois, March 15). Priddy, Gladys. 1945. "Slain ex-WAVE a friend to all, roomate says." Chicago Tribune, December 14: 3. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

BIG, BIG NEWS AHEAD!!!! We are SO excited to announce that The SEQUEL, yes, the 2nd book of The Dr. Wren Muller Series will be released on September 17th, 2024! To Pre-order go to https://zandoprojects.com/books/the-butcher-game/ PLUS! If you preorder the book, get an autographed poster while supplies last by visiting thebutchergame.com. On June 5, 1945, forty-three-year-old Josephine Ross was found stabbed to death in her Chicago apartment. Nothing had been stolen from Ross’ apartment and it appeared as though there were ritualistic aspects to the murder, but with little evidence and no suspects, the case hit a dead end almost as soon as it started. Ross’ murder came to detectives’ minds six months later, when another Chicago woman, Frances Brown, was found murdered in her apartment. This time an ominous message was scrawled on the wall in red lipstick: “For heavens sake catch me before I kill more I cannot control myself.”  The brutal nature of the two murders, and the implication that the killer would strike again, terrified the women of Chicago, and that fear was stoked by the city’s five major newspapers, who were in a daily battle for readers’ attention. The story reached a fever pitch just one month later when six-year-old Suzanne Degnan was abducted from her bedroom by someone who’d entered through an open window. Despite the presence of a ransom note demanding $20,000, investigators discovered Degnan’s dismembered body in the sewer a short time later. Thank you to the incredible Dave white of Bring Me the Axe & 99 Cent Rental Podcast for research! See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Sabrina & Corinne from Two Girls One Ghost join us on this week's episode to talk about the dark histories behind childhood nursery rhymes. Fresh off of our ghost hunting experience at the Lizzie Borden house, we talk about the childhood rhyme and where it went wrong, as well as talk about others that SEEMED so innocent! Don't forget to check the episode on the Two Girls One Ghost feed where we talk about our ghost hunting experiences! It was WILD! Thank you to the wonderful Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for research! References Burton-Hill, Clemency. 2015. The dark side of nursery rhymes. June 10. Accessed February 6, 2024. https://www.bbc.com/culture/article/20150610-the-dark-side-of-nursery-rhymes. Hazlett, Lisa A. 2009. "The use of British nursery rhymes and contemporary technology as venues for creating and expressing hidden literacies throughout time by children, adolescents, and adults." Forum on Public Policy: A Journal of the Oxford Round Table.  Opie, Iona, and Peter Opie. 1952. The Oxofrd Dictionary of Nursery Rhymes. Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. Roberts, Chris. 2005. Heavy Words Lightly Thrown: The Reason Behind the Rhyme. Sheridan, WY: Gotham Books. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When millionaire Australian socialite Margaret Wales-King and her husband, Paul King, disappeared in April 2002, friends and family became concerned something serious had happened to the older couple. Those fears and concerns were confirmed a few weeks later, when park rangers discovered their bodies in a shallow grave in Marysville, Victoria. Margaret and her husband had been clubbed and strangled to death. The press dubbed the murders “the society killings” and the tragedy captured the Australian public’s attention for the ways it seemed to have been pulled right out of a classic mystery novel. Yet for all the couple’s wealth, nothing appeared to be missing from their home and their bodies were discovered still wearing jewelry and in possession of credit cards and other valuables. Under the circumstances, police looked to Wales-King’s children, who stood to gain a great deal of money in the event of Margaret’s death. Within a week the case started to come together, and a suspect was revealed. While most of the family responded to the Wales-King murders in a manner one would expect, thirty-four-year-old Matthew Wales behavior was erratic, explosive, and suspicious. Upon interviewing Matthew, investigators learned he was the last person to have seen his mother and stepfather the night they were murdered, after having dinner with Matthew and his wife, Maritza. A few weeks later, after multiple interviews, Matthew Wales confessed to murdering his parents; though why he had done it came as a shock to everyone who knew the family. References Anderson, Paul, Philip Cullen, and Mark Butler. 2002. "Bodies of missing couple in shallow grave." Advertiser, May 1. Bonney, Hilary. 2003. The Society Murders: The true story of the Wales-King murders. Crows Nest, Australia: Allen and Unwin. Clifton, Brad. 2002. "From high society to a grave in the bush." Daily Telegraph, May 4. Daily Telegraph. 2002. "Son guilty of family killing." Daily Telegraph, October 18. Green, Sue. 2002. "Crowds gather as search unfolds - son, wife charged over murders." Daily Telegraph, May 13. Medew, Julia. 2007. "Wife of 'society murderer' avoids jail on ring theft." The Age, February 21. Monroe, Ian. 2002. "The wayward youngest son." The Age, October 18. Murphy, Padric. 2002. "Couple's disappearance baffles police." The Age, April 11. Ross, Norrie, and Mark Buttler. 2003. "Death family vendetta, wife of killer brother will not profit." The Mercury, April 12. Silvester, John. 2003. "Murder in the Family." The Age, April 11. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

While the tragic loss of two young lives was particularly shocking, the Career Girl Murders is better remembered as one of the most egregious cases of police coercion and abuse in the state’s history. Eight months after the murder, investigators arrested nineteen-year-old George Whitmore, an intellectually disabled day laborer from whom they elicited a false confession, not only for the murder of Hoffert and Wylie, but also for the murder of a single mother in Brooklyn. Eight more months would pass before the charges against Whitmore were dropped, and several more years before police arrested Wylie and Hoffert’s real killer, twenty-two-year-old drug addict and burglar Richard Robles.  The murders of Emily Hoffert and Janice Wylie were just two of several high-profile New York City murders that reshaped how wealthy and middle-class white people thought of urban life in the 1960s. More importantly, however, it’s more important legacy is the extent to which it shined a light on how race and class can influence a police investigation and jury verdict, and how justice can be delayed or diverted in the interest of efficiency and the illusion of safety. References Anderson, David. 1965. "Jury that convicted Whitmore to be questioned on race bias." New York Times, January 15: 19. Bigart, Homer. 1963. "Killing of 2 girls yields no clue; police question 500 in a month." New York Times, September 27: 1. Buckley, Thomas. 1964. "Youth is accused in Wylie slaying." New York Times, April 26: 1. Clark, Alfred E. 1963. "Girl got phone threats 10 days before murder." New York Times, August 30: 13. Gansberg, Martin. 1964. "East Side tenants sigh in relief at capture of slaying suspect." New York Times, April 27: 21. Johnson, Marilynn S. 2011. "The Career Girl Murders: Gender, Race, and Crime in 1960s New York." Women's Studies Quarerly (The Feminist Press at City University of New York) 244-261. Jones, Theodore. 1965. "Jury finds Robles guilty in Wylie-Hoffert killings." New York Times, December 2: 1. —. 1965. "Witness says Robles pondered murdering girls." New York Times, November 4: 40. Kihiss, Peter. 1964. "Brooklyn indicts 3-slaying suspect." New York Times, April 29: 48. Lefkowitz, Bernard, and Ken Gross. 1969. The Victims: The Wylie-Hoffert Murder Case and its Strange Aftermath. New York, NY: Putnam. National Registry of Exonerations. n.d. George Whitmore, Jr. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetailpre1989.aspx?caseid=358. New York Times. 1963. "2 girls murdered in E. 88th St. flat." New York Times, August 29: 1. —. 1975. "Max Wylie, writer, murder victim's father, is suicide." New York Times, September 23: 24. —. 1946. "Suspect in slaying of 2 career girls found sane here." New York Times, October 17: 31. —. 1964. "Whitmore guilty of rape attempt in Brooklyn case." New York Times, November 19: 43. Roth, Jack. 1965. "Trial fading out in Wylie murder." New York Times, January 22: 17. The People of the State of New York, v. Richard Robles. 1970. 27 N.Y.2d 155 (Court of Appeals of the State of New York, September 24). Tolchin, Martin. 1964. "Victim describes Brooklyn attack." New York Times, November 13: 30. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On August 28, 1963, Patricia Tolles returned home from work to find her New York City apartment ransacked, a bloody knife in the bathroom, and her roommates, Emily Hoffert and Janice Wylie, nowhere to be found. Patricia went to the lobby and called Janice’s father, Max Wylie, who came over immediately and searched the apartment, finding the bodies of his daughter and Hoffert in one of the bedrooms. Labeled by the press as the “Career Girl Murders,” the murders of Wylie and Hoffert shook the relatively quiet Upper East Side neighborhood and left many residents—particularly young women—feeling vulnerable and afraid.  Thank you to the wondrous Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for research! References Anderson, David. 1965. "Jury that convicted Whitmore to be questioned on race bias." New York Times, January 15: 19. Bigart, Homer. 1963. "Killing of 2 girls yields no clue; police question 500 in a month." New York Times, September 27: 1. Buckley, Thomas. 1964. "Youth is accused in Wylie slaying." New York Times, April 26: 1. Clark, Alfred E. 1963. "Girl got phone threats 10 days before murder." New York Times, August 30: 13. Gansberg, Martin. 1964. "East Side tenants sigh in relief at capture of slaying suspect." New York Times, April 27: 21. Johnson, Marilynn S. 2011. "The Career Girl Murders: Gender, Race, and Crime in 1960s New York." Women's Studies Quarerly (The Feminist Press at City University of New York) 244-261. Jones, Theodore. 1965. "Jury finds Robles guilty in Wylie-Hoffert killings." New York Times, December 2: 1. —. 1965. "Witness says Robles pondered murdering girls." New York Times, November 4: 40. Kihiss, Peter. 1964. "Brooklyn indicts 3-slaying suspect." New York Times, April 29: 48. Lefkowitz, Bernard, and Ken Gross. 1969. The Victims: The Wylie-Hoffert Murder Case and its Strange Aftermath. New York, NY: Putnam. National Registry of Exonerations. n.d. George Whitmore, Jr. Accessed January 17, 2024. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetailpre1989.aspx?caseid=358. New York Times. 1963. "2 girls murdered in E. 88th St. flat." New York Times, August 29: 1. —. 1975. "Max Wylie, writer, murder victim's father, is suicide." New York Times, September 23: 24. —. 1946. "Suspect in slaying of 2 career girls found sane here." New York Times, October 17: 31. —. 1964. "Whitmore guilty of rape attempt in Brooklyn case." New York Times, November 19: 43. Roth, Jack. 1965. "Trial fading out in Wylie murder." New York Times, January 22: 17. The People of the State of New York, v. Richard Robles. 1970. 27 N.Y.2d 155 (Court of Appeals of the State of New York, September 24). Tolchin, Martin. 1964. "Victim describes Brooklyn attack." New York Times, November 13: 30. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Alvin & Fran from Affirmative Murder Podcast join us today to tell us about the execution of Hamida Djandoubi. On September 10th, 1977, Djandoubi's execution sentence was carried out by Guillotine, and marked the last time it was used for capital punishment in the western world. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Weirdos! Get cozy and get ready to listen to our 83rd batch of Listener Tales! They're brought to you BY you, FOR you, FROM you, and ALL ABOUT YOU!  In this episode we have a family of witchy women, get visits from spirits of four-legged family who passed over the rainbow bridge, abandon a morally tainted valentine birthday cake, and get AGGRESSIVELY RSVP'd by an entity from another realm!<3 If you’ve got a listener tale please send it on over to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with “Listener Tales” somewhere in the subject line :) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the morning of October 12, 1944, Lulu Atwood arrived at the El Palacio Apartments in West Hollywood, where she worked cleaning apartments for wealthy and celebrity clients. When Lulu reached the apartment of twenty-year-old Georgette Bauerdorf, she called out and when she got no reply, she entered the apartment to begin her work. Inside, Lulu could hear the water running in the bathtub upstairs, and when she made her way to the second-floor bathroom, she found the dead body of Georgette Bauerdorf half-submerged in the water. As a well-known socialite and the prominent daughter of a wealthy oil tycoon, Georgette’s untimely death surprised the Los Angeles society circles in which she moved. But when her death was officially labeled a murder, and one with sexual overtones, their surprise turned to shock and dismay—who would have wanted to kill Georgette Bauerdorf and why? As a member of Hollywood’s elite class, Georgette Bauerdorf’s murder dominated the headlines of Los Angeles papers for weeks, but when the leads dried up just a few weeks later and no new suspects were identified, the case went cold and by the end of the year the investigation was essentially shelved. Once considered alongside the Black Dahlia as one of Los Angeles’ most notorious unsolved murders, today the story of Georgette Bauerdorf has now all but faded from public memory, making it unlikely the mystery will ever be solved.  Thank you to David White, of The Bring Me the Axe Podcast, for research! References Buffalo Evening News. 1944. "Murder theory studied in death of wealthy girl." Buffalo Evening News, October 13: 1. Dowd, Katie. 2021. "A California oil heiress was strangled in her apartment. Who got away with murder?" SF Gate, November 28. Foster, Ernest. 1944. "Heiress found dead in bathtub mystery." Daily News, October 13: 224. Los Angeles Times. 1944. "Evidence shows heiress waged terrific fight." Los Angeles Times, October 15: 3. —. 1944. "Ex-soldiers tale of killing heiress here discounted." Los Angeles Times, December 29: 6. —. 1944. "Girl mystery death laid to attacker." Los Angeles Times, October 14: 1. —. 1944. "Girl mystery death laid to attacker." Los Angeles Times, October 14: 1. —. 1945. "Note professing Bauerdorf girl slaying knowledge pondered." Los Angeles Times, September 21: 2. —. 1944. "Oil heiress death clues valueless, deputies say." Los Angeles Times, October 17: 5. —. 1945. "Self-appointed sleuth held in heiress' death." Los Angeles Times, September 25: 2. —. 1944. "Tale of killing heiress here false, ex-soldier concedes." Los Angeles Times, December 30: 11. New York Times. 1944. "Miss Bauerdorf, oil man's daughter, slain by strangler in her Hollywood apartment." New York Times, October 14: 15. San Francisco Examiner . 1944. "Heiress' generosity believed to have led to her murder ." San Francisco Examiner , October 15: 3. San Francisco Examiner. 1944. "Hollywood girl believed strangled far from home." San Francisco Examiner, October 20: 3. —. 1944. "New theory in girl slaying." San Francisco Examiner, October 27: 15. —. 1944. "Police reject confession." San Francisco Examiner, December 30: 24. —. 1944. "Slaying of Oil Heiress in Hollywood confessed." San Francisco Examiner, December 29: 3. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

 On the evening of October 6, 1898, forty-eight-year-old George Saxton, brother of First Lady Ida McKinley, was riding his bike to the home of his lady friend Eva Althouse when an assailant dressed in black emerged from the shadows and fired two shots. Wounded, George crawled towards Eva’s house and had just reached the front steps when the shooter approached and fired two more shots, killing him almost instantly. Within hours of Saxton’s death, his former mistress, Anna George, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. For more than a decade, Saxton and George had been carrying on a scandalous relationship that began as an illicit affair until Saxton successfully convinced George to divorce her husband, supposedly with promises to marry her. However, once she was a single woman again, Saxton’s enthusiasm for marriage had cooled and over time his interest in Anna waned.  Anna George’s sensational arrest and trial dominated headlines for months and, as Saxton was extremely unpopular, many people sympathized with the accused woman and even reveled in Saxton’s death. After an intense and closely watched three-week trial, Anna George was acquitted of the murder and soon after she faded out of the spotlight, leaving the murder of George Saxton officially unsolved to this day. Thank you to the glorious David White, of the Bring Me The Axe Podcast, for research! References Akron Beacon Journal. 1906. "Former Akron man suicided in Ravenna." Akron Beacon Journal, July 23: 8. Bellamy, John Stark. 2011. A Woman Scorned: The Murder of George Saxton. Cleveland, OH: Independent. Boston Daily Globe. 1899. "Mintz on Saxton." Boston Daily Globe, April 23: 2. —. 1898. "Public sympathy with Mrs. George." Boston Daily Globe, October 9: 1. Cincinnati Post. 1898. "Before bar of justice." Cincinnati Post, October 10: 1. —. 1898. "Charged with murder of G.D. Saxton." Cincinnati Post, October 11: 1. Clinton County Democrat. 1898. "The good people of Canton rejoice that he has been removed." Clinton County Democrat, November 10: 1. Coe, Jonathan. 2012. Canton's Great Tragedy the Murder of George D. Saxton, Together with a History of the Arrest and Trial of Annie E. George Charged with the Murder. Detroit, MI: Gale. Dayton Daily News. 1899. "Loved to the hour of death." Dayton Daily News, April 8: 1. Dayton Herald. 1899. "Relations of Mrs. George and Saxton are told to the jury." Dayton Herald, April 8: 1. —. 1899. "Youth claims to have seen the killing of Saxton." Dayton Herald, July 25: 1. New York Times. 1899. "Belated evidence heard at Chicago against Mrs. George." New York Times, July 25: 4. Scripps-McRae Telegram. 1898. "Out of court noted alienation case was settled." Cincinnati Post, October 5: 7. Stark County Democrat. 1899. "Sterling were the remarks of the attorney by the same name." Stark County Democrat, April 27: 1. —. 1899. "Testimony being heard at a rapid and exceedingly gratifying pace." Stark County Democvrat, April 13: 1. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(Part 3) In the spring of 2005, law enforcement officials in southern Louisiana had a growing number of murder victims they had begun to suspect were connected to an unidentified serial killer operating in the area. The victims were all men, mostly in their twenties and thirties, many had histories of drug and alcohol abuse or were known to police as sex-workers, and all had been strangled and dumped in secondary locations. Over the course of a decade, Ronald Dominique developed into one of the worst and most prolific serial killers in American history; yet his story and those of his victims remains largely unknown and ignored by the mainstream media.  Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe & 99 Cent Renal Podcasts for research! References Alford, Jeremy. 2005. New information coming soon in local murders. August 24. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/2005/08/24/new-information-coming-soon-in-local-murders/27020266007/. Armstrong, Shell. 2007. Dominique pleads not guilty to 9 murders. January 17. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.houmatimes.com/news/dominique-pleads-not-guilty-to-9-murders/. Associated Press. 2005. "Man found in Lafource Parish was from Houma area." Abberville Meridional, May 3: 2. —. 2005. "Deaths od five south Lousiana men may be linked, police say." Shreveport Times, April 25: 12. —. 1999. "La. deaths may be work of serial killer." Shreveport Times, June 23: 5B. —. 2006. "Police look for links between serial suspect, priest's death." Shreveport Times, December 9: 22. —. 2006. "Arrest made in serial-killer investigation." Town Talk, December 2: 17. —. 2006. "Serial murder suspect was average Joe, says shelter residents." Town Talk, December 3: 8. DeSantis, John. 2006. Accused lived on the fringe of two worlds. December 4. Accessed March 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128012212/https://www.houmatoday.com/article/DA/20061204/News/608089983/HC. Hunter, Michelle. 2006. "Serial-killer suspect confesses; Trysts led to rapes, strangling, cops told." Times-Picatune, December 6. L'observateur. 1999. Beaten teen’s body discovered in Kenner. October 26. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.lobservateur.com/1998/10/26/beaten-teens-body-discovered-in-kenner/. —. 1999. Two deaths reclassified as murders in St. Charles Parish. Fdebruary 6. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.lobservateur.com/1999/02/06/two-deaths-reclassified-as-murders-in-st-charles-parish/. Morris, Robert. 2006. Mother protests dead son’s link to serial killer. June 19. Accessed March 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20210131004921/https://www.houmatoday.com/article/DA/20060619/News/608089995/HC. Ramage, James. 2005. "Serial killer theory floats around cases." Shreveport Times, May 15: 1. Rosen, Fred. 2017. The Bayou Strangler. New York, NY: Open Road Media. —. 2018. Uncovering the Truth Behind One of the Bayou Strangler’s Victims. April 10. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://the-line-up.com/uncovering-the-truth-behind-one-of-the-bayou-stranglers-victims. St. Charles Heral-Guide. 2006. Mother’s tears for son killed by serial madman Dominique. 12 06. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.heraldguide.com/tragedy/mothers-tears-for-son-killed-by-serial-madman-dominique/. The Daily Review. 2002. "Houma man's body found." Daily Review, October 17: 6. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

(Part 2) In the spring of 2005, law enforcement officials in southern Louisiana had a growing number of murder victims they had begun to suspect were connected to an unidentified serial killer operating in the area. The victims were all men, mostly in their twenties and thirties, many had histories of drug and alcohol abuse or were known to police as sex-workers, and all had been strangled and dumped in secondary locations. Over the course of a decade, Ronald Dominique developed into one of the worst and most prolific serial killers in American history; yet his story and those of his victims remains largely unknown and ignored by the mainstream media.  Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe & 99 Cent Renal Podcasts for research! References Alford, Jeremy. 2005. New information coming soon in local murders. August 24. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/2005/08/24/new-information-coming-soon-in-local-murders/27020266007/. Armstrong, Shell. 2007. Dominique pleads not guilty to 9 murders. January 17. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.houmatimes.com/news/dominique-pleads-not-guilty-to-9-murders/. Associated Press. 2005. "Man found in Lafource Parish was from Houma area." Abberville Meridional, May 3: 2. —. 2005. "Deaths od five south Lousiana men may be linked, police say." Shreveport Times, April 25: 12. —. 1999. "La. deaths may be work of serial killer." Shreveport Times, June 23: 5B. —. 2006. "Police look for links between serial suspect, priest's death." Shreveport Times, December 9: 22. —. 2006. "Arrest made in serial-killer investigation." Town Talk, December 2: 17. —. 2006. "Serial murder suspect was average Joe, says shelter residents." Town Talk, December 3: 8. DeSantis, John. 2006. Accused lived on the fringe of two worlds. December 4. Accessed March 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128012212/https://www.houmatoday.com/article/DA/20061204/News/608089983/HC. Hunter, Michelle. 2006. "Serial-killer suspect confesses; Trysts led to rapes, strangling, cops told." Times-Picatune, December 6. L'observateur. 1999. Beaten teen’s body discovered in Kenner. October 26. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.lobservateur.com/1998/10/26/beaten-teens-body-discovered-in-kenner/. —. 1999. Two deaths reclassified as murders in St. Charles Parish. Fdebruary 6. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.lobservateur.com/1999/02/06/two-deaths-reclassified-as-murders-in-st-charles-parish/. Morris, Robert. 2006. Mother protests dead son’s link to serial killer. June 19. Accessed March 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20210131004921/https://www.houmatoday.com/article/DA/20060619/News/608089995/HC. Ramage, James. 2005. "Serial killer theory floats around cases." Shreveport Times, May 15: 1. Rosen, Fred. 2017. The Bayou Strangler. New York, NY: Open Road Media. —. 2018. Uncovering the Truth Behind One of the Bayou Strangler’s Victims. April 10. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://the-line-up.com/uncovering-the-truth-behind-one-of-the-bayou-stranglers-victims. St. Charles Heral-Guide. 2006. Mother’s tears for son killed by serial madman Dominique. 12 06. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.heraldguide.com/tragedy/mothers-tears-for-son-killed-by-serial-madman-dominique/. The Daily Review. 2002. "Houma man's body found." Daily Review, October 17: 6. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

In the spring of 2005, law enforcement officials in southern Louisiana had a growing number of murder victims they had begun to suspect were connected to an unidentified serial killer operating in the area. The victims were all men, mostly in their twenties and thirties, many had histories of drug and alcohol abuse or were known to police as sex-workers, and all had been strangled and dumped in secondary locations. Over the course of a decade, Ronald Dominique developed into one of the worst and most prolific serial killers in American history; yet his story and those of his victims remains largely unknown and ignored by the mainstream media.  Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe & 99 Cent Renal Podcasts for research! References Alford, Jeremy. 2005. New information coming soon in local murders. August 24. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.houmatoday.com/story/news/2005/08/24/new-information-coming-soon-in-local-murders/27020266007/. Armstrong, Shell. 2007. Dominique pleads not guilty to 9 murders. January 17. Accessed March 29, 2023. https://www.houmatimes.com/news/dominique-pleads-not-guilty-to-9-murders/. Associated Press. 2005. "Man found in Lafource Parish was from Houma area." Abberville Meridional, May 3: 2. —. 2005. "Deaths od five south Lousiana men may be linked, police say." Shreveport Times, April 25: 12. —. 1999. "La. deaths may be work of serial killer." Shreveport Times, June 23: 5B. —. 2006. "Police look for links between serial suspect, priest's death." Shreveport Times, December 9: 22. —. 2006. "Arrest made in serial-killer investigation." Town Talk, December 2: 17. —. 2006. "Serial murder suspect was average Joe, says shelter residents." Town Talk, December 3: 8. DeSantis, John. 2006. Accused lived on the fringe of two worlds. December 4. Accessed March 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20210128012212/https://www.houmatoday.com/article/DA/20061204/News/608089983/HC. Hunter, Michelle. 2006. "Serial-killer suspect confesses; Trysts led to rapes, strangling, cops told." Times-Picatune, December 6. L'observateur. 1999. Beaten teen’s body discovered in Kenner. October 26. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.lobservateur.com/1998/10/26/beaten-teens-body-discovered-in-kenner/. —. 1999. Two deaths reclassified as murders in St. Charles Parish. Fdebruary 6. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.lobservateur.com/1999/02/06/two-deaths-reclassified-as-murders-in-st-charles-parish/. Morris, Robert. 2006. Mother protests dead son’s link to serial killer. June 19. Accessed March 26, 2023. https://web.archive.org/web/20210131004921/https://www.houmatoday.com/article/DA/20060619/News/608089995/HC. Ramage, James. 2005. "Serial killer theory floats around cases." Shreveport Times, May 15: 1. Rosen, Fred. 2017. The Bayou Strangler. New York, NY: Open Road Media. —. 2018. Uncovering the Truth Behind One of the Bayou Strangler’s Victims. April 10. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://the-line-up.com/uncovering-the-truth-behind-one-of-the-bayou-stranglers-victims. St. Charles Heral-Guide. 2006. Mother’s tears for son killed by serial madman Dominique. 12 06. Accessed March 27, 2023. https://www.heraldguide.com/tragedy/mothers-tears-for-son-killed-by-serial-madman-dominique/. The Daily Review. 2002. "Houma man's body found." Daily Review, October 17: 6. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On the evening of November 1, 1996, Tucson, Arizona real estate developer and businessman Gary Triano got into his car at the La Paloma Country Club intending to head home, where friends and family were waiting for Gary’s surprise birthday party. However, before Gary had even put the key in the ignition, the car exploded in a ball of flame, plunging the club into panic and chaos, and killing Gary instantly.  To investigators, the car bomb planted under Gary’s car had all the hallmarks of a professional hit, and with Gary’s business dealings and financial troubles, there were at least a few people who would have benefitted from his death. However, within just a few weeks, suspicion fell to Triano’s ex-wife, Pamela, who’d taken out a life insurance policy on Gary during their marriage that would eventually pay out $2 million dollars. Despite being confident that Pamela was involved in Gary’s death, the year-long investigation failed to turn up any conclusive evidence tying her to the murder. Undeterred, investigators continued to pursue the case across the country and eventually around the world and in 2009, more than a decade after his death, the people responsible for Gary Triano’s death were finally arrested, but many years would pass before anyone was held accountable. Thank you to David White, of the Bring Me the Axe Podcast for research! References Bodfield, Rhonda. 1996. "Broke Triano kept optimistic ." Tucson Citizen, November 9: 1. —. 1996. "Triano threats srcutinized." Tucson Citizen, November 5: 2. CBS News. 2017. "The Hit in Arizona [transcript]." CBS News, July 11. Huicochea, Alexis, and Enric Volante. 2006. "'96 bomb slaying is getting a new look." Arizona Daily Star, September 7. Innes, Stephanie. 1996. "Gambling link eyed in Triano murder." Tucson Citizen, November 4: 1. Limberis, Chris. 2001. "Requiem for a heavyweight ." Tucson Weekly, November 1. McNamara, Patrick. 2014. "Conflictring pictures painted of Triano murder suspect." Arizona Daily Star, February 20: A2. —. 2014. "Ex-wife going on trial 17 years after bomb death." Arizona Daily Star, February 16: C1. —. 2014. "Phillips gets life for fatal bombing." Arizona Daily Star, May 23: 1. Miami Herald. 2005. "A TV 'Most Wanted' fugitive is captured." Miami Herald, November 22: 138. Pence, Angela, John Rawlinson, and Alexa Haussler. 1996. "Black powder pipe bomb killed Triano." Arizona Daily Star, November 7. Sate of Arizona v. Pamela Anne Phillips. 2018. 1 CA-CR 17-0285 (Arizona Court of Appeals, July 10). Smith, Kim. 2011. "Additional mental exams for murder suspect denied." Arizona Daily Star, March 8: A2. —. 2010. "Life, no parole for killer in Triano case." Arizona Daily Star, May 4: A2. —. 2010. "Triano case closing arguments." Arizona Daily Star, March 27: A2. State of Arizona v. Ronald Kelly Young. 2012. CR20084012 (Court of Appeals State of Arizona , February 29). Teibel, David. 1996. "Blast fragments studied ." Tucson Citizen, November 1: 1. Tucson Citizen. 1973. "Realtor seeks seat on council." Tucson Citizen, June 15: 4. Volante, Enric. 2006. "Detective: Secret recordings link Triano ex, suspected death plot." Arizona Daily Star, September 8. —. 1997. "Triano assassination task force disbanded." Arizona Daily Star, August 2. Wagner, Dennis. 1996. "Bombing death puzzles police." Arizona Republic, November 10: 33. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

When twenty-year-old Walter Brooks was found dead from a bullet to the head on Valentine’s Day 1902, suspicion immediately fell on Brooks’ nineteen-year-old sometimes-girlfriend, Florence Burns. The two were known to have a tumultuous relationship and had fought violently on the morning of his death, and there was considerable evidence indicating that Burns had been in the hotel room at the time of Brooks’ murder. However, despite all the evidence indicating guilt, Florence Burns was never brought to trial for Brooks’ murder or even formally charged with a crime, and Walter Brooks murder officially remains an unsolved case in New York. While the story of Walter Brooks and Florence Burns is relatively uncomplicated in terms of the crime around which the story is built, the story is a remarkable illustration of the ways in which things like class, gender, and technological advances can influence and even shape how the law is applied in the United States. Indeed, at the time of the murder, the nation was undergoing incredibly social and cultural changes as a result of dramatically expanded transportation and communication technology, giving rise to a youth culture the likes of which had never been seen in the nation prior. That youth culture and the rebelliousness it produced in many young wealthy Americans played a direct role, not only in Walter’s life and death, but also in the socio-cultural perspectives and Victorian beliefs that allowed Florence to get away with murder. Thank you to the wondrous Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast & 99 Cent Rental for Research! References Evening World. 1902. "Denised she shot broker in hotel." Evening World, February 15: 1. Ferranti, Seth. 2019. The Affluenza Murder Case That Shocked America 100 Years Ago. March 15. Accessed December 11, 2023. https://www.vice.com/en/article/d3meyv/the-affluenza-murder-case-that-shocked-america-100-years-ago. McConnell, Virginia A. 2019. The Belle of Bedford Avenue: The Sensational Brooks-Burns Murder in Turn-of-the-Century New York. Kent, OH: The Kent State University Press. New York Times. 1902. "Brooks murder case ends." New York Times, May 21: 5. —. 1903. "Florence Burns on the stage." New York Times, February 15: 10. —. 1902. "Jerome on Burns case." New York Times, March 25: 7. —. 1902. "Man shot, girl arrested ." New York Times, February 16: 3. New York Tribune. 1910. "Florence Burns again in hands of police." New York Tribune, September 21: 1. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.