Solved Cases Episodes

When people hear the name Andrew Cunanan, most people think of the murder of Gianni Versace, but Gianni was not Andrew's only victim. in Part 1 we discuss Andrew's life growing up, and some key players in this horrific case. Andrew Cunanan was wicked smart, charismatic, and ridiculously handsome, and he could have had it all until he threw it all away and took 5 innocent lives in the process. For a full list of sources please email us at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com Anderson-Minshall, D. (2017, ...

We've come to the conclusion of the Christa Pike story and, frankly, its a doozy. we go over the trial, the appeals and some shenanigans that Christa has gotten into since her incarceration. If you like court case deep dives and Courtney getting on her soap box, than this Chapter is for you. For a full list of resources, email us at bookofthedeadpod@gmail.com Pike v. State, No. M2012-01640-CCA-R3-PC (Tenn. Crim. App. Sep. 30, 2013) FindLaw. (n.d.). FindLaw’s Supreme Court of Tennessee case an...

***This Case come's with a pretty heavy trigger warning for mentions CSA, Torture, and graphic details. Listener discretion is very much advised*** Christa Gail Pike wasn't exactly a model citizen. In fact, pretty much from birth she was set up for failure, with a very tumultuous childhood. After being sent to Knoxville Tennessee's Job Corps Center at 18 to get her life together, she meets fellow satanist, 17 year old Tadaryl Shipp, and it's love at first sight. Thing's are going well for the tw...

66 year old Maree Collins was a kind woman who would do anything for everyone, including offering a room to her struggling neighbor, 27 year old psychologist, Luke Fawcett. In repayment, Luke would commit a crime so horrific, Western Australia would give him one of the harshest sentences they've ever handed down. Don't forget to rate, review, and share, and, for our Australian listeners, let us know if we did this story justice. We'd love to hear from you. 9News Staff. (2020, April 14). Sister...

25 year old Stephanie Parze had a wonderful life & a wonderful family, but that all would be taken away when she met John Ozbilgen. Due to his violent temper she would break up with John-weeks later, Stephanie goes missing. Helpful links/numbers: Sex abuse hotline:1-800-656-4673 DV hotline : 1-800-799-7233 www.snpfoundation.org NJ DV Hotline: 1-800-572(7233) https://nj.gov/njsp/division/operations/domestic-violence-info.shtml For a full list of sources please email us at bookofthedeadpod@gm...

On this weeks chapter, we discuss how Stacey Castor may just be the worst mother on the face of the planet, how laws regarding forged wills are asinine, and another potential victim of antifreeze poisoning. It seems as if no one was truly safe from a woman obsessed with money. ABC News. (n.d.). Hear Stacey Castor’s frantic 911 call to police about daughter who overdosed [Video]. ABC News. https://abcnews.go.com/2020/video/hear-stacey-castors-frantic-911-call-police-daughter-60891950 Ashely Wal...

Stacey Castor: Daughter, mother, wife, widow, wife.....widow? Stacey had a good life married to her husband, Michael Wallace. until Michael died at 38 of a heart attack due to his bad heart and substance abuse issues, according to Stacey. She finds love, again, in David Castor, 5 years after burying Michael, tragedy strikes again in the form of David committing suicide and poor Stacey is left alone again. it was truly a horrible, tragic situation, but there's one person that isn't buying it. One...

After over 2 decades and 2 different detectives going over Sherri's murder, answers are finally found when a new detective takes on the case. After a new investigation spanning months and the involvement of internal affairs police finally close in on Sherri's killer. In this chapter, you can hear parts of the interview that solidified police's suspicions that the murderer was one of their own. Associated Press. (2013, February 25). Parents of Sherri Rasmussen can’t sue LAPD over her murder in V...

In 1986, Sherri Rasmussen was newly married and had the career of her dreams. she was beautiful and intelligent and had a wonderful life ahead of her with her husband, John Ruetten. On February 24th, 1986 tragedy would strike when John came home from work to find their condo ransacked, and sherri murdered. what would follow would be a decades long investigation before the murderer would be found right under the LAPD's nose. Associated Press. (2013, February 25). Parents of Sherri Rasmussen can’...

Lynnette Quast and Thomas Crafts were high school sweethearts when they got married at 21 in august of 1985. For a few years, everything is great and they're building a good life together. After Lynnette gets pregnant with their first child, though, their relationship starts to deteriorate and would come to a head 8 years later in July of 1999 If you or anyone you know is in a domestic Violence situation, know that their are resources out there to help. The National Domestic Violence Hotline h...

Colleen Ritser was a 24 year old Algebra Teacher in Danvers Massachusetts, known for her passion for teaching, her big heart, and her warm smile. Philip Chism was a 14 year old freshman, new to Danvers from Tennessee with a promising High School soccer career. On October 22, 2013, both Philip and Colleen go missing and what follows would be one of the most harrowing murder investigations we have ever seen. For more information on the Colleen Ritzer Memorial Fund please visit: https://www.collee...

In July of 1980, the bodies of two unidentified women were found. One in an Almond Orchard in Kern County and one 4 days later, 180 miles away in Ventura County, California. No one knew who they were or who killed them. Over 30 years later, they would be connected by one individual who was already serving life for prior crimes. This is their story. Anyone with information about the Ventura County Jane doe, or who attended the Visalia College of the Sequoias in July of 1980 and may have known he...

This Chapter comes with a very big trigger warning. if anyone planning on listening to this chapter is sensitive to or triggered by discussion of SA or graphic details, please skip past this chapter. we don't want anyone to be triggered by our content. In November of 1989 Junko Furuta is on her way home from work when she is knocked off her bicycle by a teenage boy. another boy from her school offers to walk her home, but she never makes it. what would follow would go on to be described as "The ...

Happy Halloween guys!! In Part 2 of The Vampire Cult Murders we fall down the rabbit hole into the Wendorf Murders, discussing how they were murdered, and the events leading up to, and following them. Rod Ferrell is just as sick and twisted as he was when we discussed him yesterday, and we have some questions about Heather Wendorf, too. We go over the Vampire Cult's road trip to Louisiana and the trial, as well as Rod's appeal in 2021. Remember everyone, if you plan on drinking someone's blood,...

On November 25th, 1996, Jennifer Wendorf came home from an evening with her boyfriend to find her parents, Richard and Ruth Wendorf, brutally murdered in the family home. to add to this horrific sight, her younger sister, Heather Wendorf, was no where to be found. when police start their investigation, they learn that heather had claimed to be running away to New Orleans with a Vampire Coven Led by her former classmate, Rodrick Ferrell. In Part 1, we discuss the initial investigation, and do a d...

Ronald Clark O'Bryan never really took his children, Elizabeth and Timothy, Trick r' Treating. On October 31st 1976, he decided this was the year he was going to take them. This should be a fun night for a father and his children, But when 8 year old Timothy suddenly dies after eating a piece of candy, Investigators find out a lot of Ronald's secrets, and none of them are good. Courtney gets real angry in this one-listen and find out why. Blanco, J. I. (n.d.). Ronald Clark O’Bryan | Murderpedia...

On September 22nd 2006, Cassie Jo Stoddart, a beautiful, kind, and intelligent 16 year old girl was house sitting for her Aunt and uncle. She hung out with her boyfriend, Matt Beckham, and 2 school friends, Torey Adamcik and Brian Draper, for a while before she was left alone in the house for the evening. two days later, when her aunt, uncle, and cousin returned home, they found Cassie's body on their living room floor. For those unfamiliar with this case, it's going to be one hell of a ride. B...

In 2009, 20 year old Richard Sam McCroskey was going to a horror core music festival with two girls he met on myspace, 18 year old Melanie Wells and 16 year kid Emma Neiderbrock whom sam saw as his long distance girlfriend. when Emma and Richard met, however, Emma wasn't interested in him because sam wasn't who she imagined he'd be. after the festival, 4 people were murdered, and if it weren't for Kathleen Wells demanding to know where her daughter was, the killer may have never been caught and ...

In 1997, The town of Kobe Japan had a killer targeting children on the loose. The only true leads investigators had to go on was notes written in red ink that had been left at the crime scene and mailed to the press. these letters reminded multiple investigators of the infamous Zodiac Killer in America. Did Kobe have a Zodiac of their own? When an arrest was finally made, it shocked the country of Japan as a whole and it shocked us, too. Blanco, J. I. (n.d.). Seito Sakakibara | Murderpedia, the...

In Part 2 of the Mcstay family murders, we go over the absolute mess that was the Trial of Charles Ray Merritt, and a whole bunch of circumstantial evidence. we also discuss Dan Kavanaugh and the theory surrounding him. Courtney gets real angry in this one and she's not afraid to say why. CBS Los Angeles. (2013a, November 16). 2 Of 4 Sets Of Remains Found In Victorville Desert Identified As Joseph, Summer McStay. CBS News. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/...

In Part 1, We discuss the disappearance and eventually discovery of the McStay Family. Who killed this loving family and why did it take almost 4 years to find them? This case goes down one hell of a rabbit hole and I took a dive to find out what happened CBS Los Angeles. (2013a, November 16). 2 Of 4 Sets Of Remains Found In Victorville Desert Identified As Joseph, Summer McStay. CBS News. Retrieved August 14, 2022, from https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/family-remains-found-in-victorvill...

Breck Bednar was 13 years old and the brightest future ahead of him. He was incredibly intelligent and an absolute whiz at computers, he could have done anything he wanted with his life, until Breck met Lewis Daynes and everything changed. BBC News. (2014, December 1). Breck Bednar murder: Body photos “circulated by killer.” Retrieved August 5, 2022, from https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-essex-30273692 BBC News. (2015, January 12). Breck Bednar murder: Lewis Daynes sentenced to life in pris...

From 1983-1989, 4 women terrorized the patients in Pavilion 5 at Lainz Hospital in Vienna Austria. From administering overdoses to torturing them with "the water cure" the Lainz "Angels of Death" murdered anyone that they deemed bothersome or annoying. Convicted of murdering 29 patients, the murder toll could easily be 200 or more. Anomalien.com. (2019, February 21). Lainz Angels of Death: 4 Nurses Killed 49 Patients. Retrieved June 30, 2022, from https://anomalien.com/lainz-angels-of-death-4-n...