It’s a lighthearted nightmare in here, weirdos! Morbid is a true crime, creepy history and all things spooky podcast hosted by an autopsy technician and a hairstylist. Join us for a heavy dose of research with a dash of comedy thrown in for flavor.
Similar Podcasts
Leyendas Legendarias
Un podcast de comedia donde cada semana exploramos casos crimen real fenómenos paranormales y eventos históricos peculiares, notorios o fantásticos.
José Antonio Badía: @Elbadiablo Eduardo Espinosa: @NingunEduardo Mario López Capistrán: @MarioLopezCapi
You're Wrong About
Mike and Sarah are journalists obsessed with the past. Every week they reconsider a person or event that's been miscast in the public imagination.
The Alarmist
Who is to blame for history's greatest tragedies? The Plague. The sinking of The Titanic. The break-up of the Beatles. Writer/Comedian Rebecca Delgado-Smith, along with a special guest, scrutinizes history’s greatest disasters to figure out what went wrong, and most importantly, who’s to blame. This comedy podcast is the perfect remedy to our everyday anxiety! They say history repeats itself, not on The Alarmist's watch!Thrillist called The Alarmist one of the best new podcasts of 2019 saying, "It's hilarious, informative and addictive." Maria Claire named The Alarmist one of the best new podcasts of 2020. Tell us who you think is to blame at http://thealarmistpodcast.comEmail us at thealarmistpodcast@gmail.comFollow us on Instagram @thealarmistpodcastFollow us on Twitter @alarmistTheCall the Earios hotline! 626-604-6262 Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/alarmist.
Episode 528: The Murders of Stan Farr and Andrea Wilborn
When Priscilla Davis filed for divorce from her husband, Cullen Davis, in 1974, she had no idea that her actions would have such tragic consequences. Less than two years later, on the same day the divorce was finalized and the terms of the alimony were settled, a man wearing a disguise broke into Priscilla’s home and killed her twelve-year-old daughter, then waited for Priscilla to return. When she arrived a short time later, the intruder said hello to Priscilla and her new boyfriend before shooting them both, wounding Priscilla and killing her companion.Cullen Davis was immediately suspected of the murders and taken into custody, leading to one of the most sensational and captivating trials the country had ever seen. The wealthiest man to ever be tried for murder in the United States up to that point, Cullen Davis was said to be the primary influence for the villainous J.R. Ewing, the main antagonist on the hit television series Dallas, and he more than lived up to the role. Davis’s wealth and status allowed him to control the narrative of the trial, which quickly became an indictment of his former wife, who, despite being the victim of a horrible crime, was vilified by the press and the defense as the real villain in the case.Although it is nearly five decades in the past, the marriage of Priscilla and Cullen Davis, and the murder trial that followed, are emblematic of many of the issues that the American justice system (and the public) continues to struggle with today including who is and isn’t a victim, and how power and money can control the pursuit and application of justice.Thank you to David White, of the Bring Me the Axe podcast, for research assistanceReferencesBrown, Greg. 2016. Texas Tragedy: The Story of Priscilla Davis: A True Story of Money, Murder and Survival. Dallas, TX: CreateSpace.Cartwright, Gary. 1977. "Rich Man, Dead Man." Texas Monthly, March 1.Cochran, Mike. 1977. "Davis trial: Haynes says Farr target of shooting." Denton Record-Chronicle, October 25: 5.Fort Worth Star-Telegram. 1977. "DA's narration to Davis jury detailed but brief." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 21: 2.—. 1976. "Judge defends bond on Davis." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 4: 1.Guzzo, Glenn. 1977. "Davis cries tears of joy after acquittal." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 18: 1.—. 1977. "Davis' fate now in jurors' hands." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 17: 1.—. 1977. "Final arguments begin." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 16: 1.—. 1977. "His innocence avowed, Davis doubts provocation." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, July 7: 1.—. 1977. "Questioning nets no jurors." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, March 1: 1.Hollandsworth, Skip. 2001. "Survivor's gilt: convinced that it was her husband who tried to kill her, the Texas socialite devoted herself to the best revenge." New York Times Magazine, December 30.—. 2000. "Blood Will Sell." Texas Monthly, March 1.McConal, Jon, and Mark Nelson. 1977. "Few surprised by Davis verdict." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, November 18: 1.Moore, Dick. 1976. "Slain man was liked by fans, teammates." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 3: 1.Moore, Evan. 1976. "Davis jailed without bond." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 20: 1.—. 1977. "Picture of Priscilla, Rufner not allowed as evidence by judge." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 24: 1.Stiteler, Rowland. 1976. "Blood-spattered white foyer tells story of slayings." Fort Worth Star-Telegram , August 3: 6.—. 1976. "Davis jailed after slayings." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, August 3: 1.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 527: The Murder of Mary Stannard
On the afternoon of September 3, 1878, twenty-two-year-old Mary Stannard d left her home in Madison, Connecticut, telling her father she was going blackberry picking and would be back before dark. When night came and Mary hadn’t returned, her father went out to look for her and eventually found her body by a creek in the woods. The investigation into her murder was truly wild and remains TECHNICALLY unsolved. Thank you to the amazing Dave White of Bring Me The Axe Podcast for research!ReferencesBendici, Ray. 2015. "The CT files: the 'unsolved murder of Mary STAN-ard." Cennecticut Magazine, August 23.Foote, William. 1970. "Mary STAN-ard, she was murdered." Hartford Courant, March 5: 16.Hartford Courant. 1878. "Hayden re-arrested." Hartford Courant, October 9: 3.—. 1878. "Strong circumstantial evidence against a clergyman." Hartford Courant, September 7: 2.—. 1878. "The Madison murder." Hartford Courant, September 6: 3.Hayden, Herbert. 1880. The Reverend Herbert Hayden: An Autobiography. Hartford, CT: Press of the Plimptron Manufacturing Co.New York Times. 1878. "A young woman's ruin and death." New York Times, September 6: 1.—. 1878. "Is Rev. Mr. Hayden guilty." New York Times, September 14: 5.—. 1879. "Mary STAN-ard's death." New York Times, November 7: 5.—. 1878. "Mrs. Hayden's testimony." New York Times, September 21: 1.—. 1880. "The Hayden case: beginning of the closing arguments." New York Times, January 15: 5.—. 1879. "The long murder trial." New York Times, November 21: 2.Pearson, Edmund. 1927. "Mary STAN-ard and the Reverend Mr. Hayden." Vanity Fair, March 01.Unknown author. 1879. Poor Mary STAN-ard: A Full and Thrilling Story of the Circumstances Connected with Her Murder. New Haven: Stafford Printing Company.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 526: The Death of Joan Robinson Hill- Part 2
Part 2/2 - On March 19, 1969, thirty-eight-year-old Houston socialite Joan Robinson Hill died at Sharpstown General Hospital from what doctors at the time believed was flu-related symptoms. Hill’s body was quickly taken to the mortuary and embalmed before an autopsy could be performed, violating Texas law and undermining any attempts determine the cause of Joan’s death. Nevertheless, Joan’s father, a wealthy oil tycoon, believed his daughter’s death to be a homicide, used his influence to have her remains exhumed and had not one, but two additional autopsies performed to determine the cause of death. Despite conflicting reports from the pathologists regarding a cause of death, Joan’s father was eventually successful in convincing the district attorney that her death was no accident, but was in fact murder committed by her husband, John Hill. After two unsuccessful attempts to convince a grand jury of John’s guilt, the district attorney finally convinced a third grand jury that John Hill had intentionally contributed to Joan’s death and he was charged with “murder by omission,” a first in the history of the Texas courts.John Hill was put on trial for the murder of his wife in the winter of 1971, but the jury would never get a chance to weigh in on his guilt or innocence. In September of 1972, after one mistrial and several delays leading up to a re-trial, John Hill was murdered by an intruder who’d broken into his home. Although investigators believed Hill’s murder to have been a robbery gone wrong, many in Houston suspected Joan’s father, believing his son-in-law had evaded justice, had paid to have John Hill killed, leaving the deaths of Joan and John Hill an enduring mystery.As always, thank you to the fantastic David White, of Bring Me the Axe Podcast, for research assistance ReferencesAssociated Press. 1971. "Doctor 'hated' first wife." Corpus Christi Times, February 26: 1.—. 1972. "Houston doctor slain at home." Corpus Christi Times, September 25: 13.—. 1969. "Meningitis said fatal to socialite ." Corpus Christi Times, October 11: 13.—. 1971. "Judge calls mistrial in Houston slaying." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, February 27: 12.—. 1970. "Panel indicts doctor in death of wife." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 23: 3.—. 1973. "District judge clamps lid on Houston doctor's murder." Odessa American, April 27: 3.—. 1971. "Testimony continues in trial of physician." Odessa American, February 23: 2.Gonzalez, J.R. 2009. 40 years later: Joan Robinson Hill. March 19. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2009/03/40-years-later-joan-robinson-hill/.New York Times. 1977. "Oilman is cleared in Houston murder of his son-in-law." New YorkTimes, October 22: 1.Thompson, Thomas. 1976. Blood and Money: A True Story of Murder, Passion, and Power. New York, NY: Doubleday.United Press International. 1980. "Heiress may have been toxic shock victim." United Press International, November 23.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 525: The Death of Joan Robinson Hill- Part 1
On March 19, 1969, thirty-eight-year-old Houston socialite Joan Robinson Hill died at Sharpstown General Hospital from what doctors at the time believed was flu-related symptoms. Hill’s body was quickly taken to the mortuary and embalmed before an autopsy could be performed, violating Texas law and undermining any attempts determine the cause of Joan’s death. Nevertheless, Joan’s father, a wealthy oil tycoon, believed his daughter’s death to be a homicide, used his influence to have her remains exhumed and had not one, but two additional autopsies performed to determine the cause of death. Despite conflicting reports from the pathologists regarding a cause of death, Joan’s father was eventually successful in convincing the district attorney that her death was no accident, but was in fact murder committed by her husband, John Hill. After two unsuccessful attempts to convince a grand jury of John’s guilt, the district attorney finally convinced a third grand jury that John Hill had intentionally contributed to Joan’s death and he was charged with “murder by omission,” a first in the history of the Texas courts.John Hill was put on trial for the murder of his wife in the winter of 1971, but the jury would never get a chance to weigh in on his guilt or innocence. In September of 1972, after one mistrial and several delays leading up to a re-trial, John Hill was murdered by an intruder who’d broken into his home. Although investigators believed Hill’s murder to have been a robbery gone wrong, many in Houston suspected Joan’s father, believing his son-in-law had evaded justice, had paid to have John Hill killed, leaving the deaths of Joan and John Hill an enduring mystery.As always, thank you to the fantastic David White, of Bring Me the Axe Podcast, for research assistance ReferencesAssociated Press. 1971. "Doctor 'hated' first wife." Corpus Christi Times, February 26: 1.—. 1972. "Houston doctor slain at home." Corpus Christi Times, September 25: 13.—. 1969. "Meningitis said fatal to socialite ." Corpus Christi Times, October 11: 13.—. 1971. "Judge calls mistrial in Houston slaying." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, February 27: 12.—. 1970. "Panel indicts doctor in death of wife." Fort Worth Star-Telegram, May 23: 3.—. 1973. "District judge clamps lid on Houston doctor's murder." Odessa American, April 27: 3.—. 1971. "Testimony continues in trial of physician." Odessa American, February 23: 2.Gonzalez, J.R. 2009. 40 years later: Joan Robinson Hill. March 19. Accessed November 7, 2023. https://blog.chron.com/bayoucityhistory/2009/03/40-years-later-joan-robinson-hill/.New York Times. 1977. "Oilman is cleared in Houston murder of his son-in-law." New YorkTimes, October 22: 1.Thompson, Thomas. 1976. Blood and Money: A True Story of Murder, Passion, and Power. New York, NY: Doubleday.United Press International. 1980. "Heiress may have been toxic shock victim." United Press International, November 23.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 524: Listener Tales 81
It’s Listener Tales 81 and you know the drill…..! It’s brought to you by you, for you, from you, and ALL ABOUT YOU! In this installment we have haunted clown sightings, almost run ins with the most notorious serial killers, spooky choirs& creepy men abroad. 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.
Episode 523: Fan Favorite - The Dark Secrets Behind the Wizard of Oz
This episode is a fan favorite that was originally published as Episode 281…For this Holiday week, we wanted to bring you a lighter (?) episode, although it’s really not so light at all! Alaina’s kids have gotten super into the Wizard of Oz and so she decided to do dive into the dark happenings during filming. All kinds of atrocities went down and we are pretty confident that you’ll never watch this movie the same! Sorry…. we mean you’re welcome!References: -https://www.amazon.com/Making-Wizard-Oz-Aljean-Harmetz/dp/1613748329/ref=sr_1_2?crid=TWGV0EMUDT2P&keywords=the+making+of+the+wizard+of+oz+book&qid=1637775119&sprefix=the+making+of+the+wiza%2Caps%2C161&sr=8-2" target="_blank" -The Making of the Wizard of Oz By Aljean Harmetz</a> (Be wary that this book is fascinating but uses some outdated language when referencing certain people)See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 522: The Mysterious Death of Christina Kettlewell
On May 20, 1947, decorated army veteran Jack Kettlewell and his friend Ronald Barrie barely escaped a devastating housefire at Ronald’s cabin along the Severen River in rural Ontario, Canada. One day later, Jack’s twenty-two-year-old wife, Christina Kettlewell, was discovered dead a short distance from the cabin, lying face down in a pool of shallow water and still wearing the pajamas she had on the night of the fire. During the autopsy, it was discovered that Christina’s lungs were clear of smoke and her body was free of any burns or other signs of violence; rather, as unbelievable as it seemed, the cause of death was drowning. Christina and Jack had married in a secret ceremony held just eight days before the fire, leading many to wonder whether her new husband had something to do with her death. Was it a crime of passion? A calculated murder to cash-in on a life insurance policy? Or was it truly just a tragedy? And what of Ronald Barrie’s presence on the trip? If it was indeed a honeymoon of sorts, why had the young newlyweds brought along a friend? In the months that followed, Christina Kettlewell’s mysterious death captivated the residents of eastern Canada. With each new day, a piece of the puzzle seemed to fall into place, indicating that the mystery might soon be solved. Yet by mid-summer, a police investigation and the coroner’s inquest had failed to provide an explanation for Christina’s death or a satisfactory conclusion to the case. Today, more than seventy-five years later, the death of Christina Kettlewell remains one of Ontario’s most enduring mysteries.Thank you to the wonderful David White, of the Bring Me the Axe Podcast, for research assistance!ReferencesIsai, Vjosa. 2017. What happened to Toronto's 'eight-day bride?'. July 4. Accessed November 27, 2023. https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/what-happened-to-toronto-s-eight-day-bride/article_1a09012b-13fa-5931-b512-7cc331d56ed4.html.Kingston Whig-Standard. 1947. "Coroner's jury to view place bride died." Kingston Whig-Standard, June 25: 1.North Bay Nugget. 1947. "Open verdict is returned in Kettlewell case." North Bay Nugget, June 26: 1.Owen Sound Daily Sun-Times. 1947. "Possibility of suicide in drowning of bride investigated by police." Owen Sound Daily Sun-Times, mAY 23: 1.Sun Times. 1947. "Open verdict is returned by Kettlewell case jury as no decision reached." Sun Times, June 26: 1.—. 1947. "Open verdict is returned by Kettlewell case jury as no decision reached." Sun Times, June 26: 1.Toronto Daily Star. 1947. "Police report distrubance before Christina married." Toronto Daily Star, May 28: 2.—. 1947. "Suicide notes bride's expert tells inquest." Toronto Daily Star, June 20: 1.Windsor Star. 1947. "Police hint at foul play in mystery." Windsor Star, May 22: 1.—. 1947. "Probe for missing cash in honeymoon mystery." Windsor Star, May 26: 1.—. 1947. "Statement of Ronald Barrie reveals some strange events." Windsor Star, June 21: 8.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 521: Velma Barfield
On November 2, 1984, fifty-two-year-old Velma Barfield was executed by lethal injection at North Carolina’s Central Prison, bringing an end to years of legal appeals and emotional debates over the death penalty and how, when, and to whom it gets applied. For six years, Barfield had sat on death row following her conviction for the poisoning murder of her boyfriend Stewart Taylor in 1976; however, during her trial she confessed to killing at least four other people.Velma Barfield’s trial came at a time in the United States when Americans were just beginning to grapple with the concept of a serial killer, and the idea that a woman could commit such heinous acts seemed entirely inconceivable. Although woman had been sentenced to death for murder before in the US, none had confessed to methodically killing multiple people in such a callous way and for such a trivial reason. The debate only became more complicated following her death sentence, an already complicated subject among Americans that became exponentially so in 1984, when Barfield’s case and personal story became a major talking point for politicians running for office around the state.Thank you to the Incredible Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for Research!ReferencesAssociated Press. 1984. "Hunt hopes Barfield's death will be deterrent." Asheville Citizen-Times, November 3: 1.—. 1978. "Woman charged in poisoning ." Charlotte Obvserver, March 15: 1.Barfield, Velma. 1985. Woman on Death Row. Nashville, TN: Oliver-Nelson .Bledsoe, Jerry. 1998. Death Sentence: The True Story of Velma Barfield's Life, Crimes, and Punishment. Dutton: Boston, MA.Carroll, Ginny. 1978. "Confessed poisoner awaits death." News and Observer, December 10: 1.Charlotte Observer. 1984. "New Evidence: Velma Barfield's Sickness." Charlotte Observer, October 31: 12.Journal Wire. 1984. "200 gather at funeral of Velma Barfield." Winston-Salem Journal, November 4: 35.Margie Velma Barfield v. James C. Woodward, Secretary of Corrections; Nathan A. Rice,warden; Rufus Edmisten, Attorney General, Appellees. 1984. 748 F.2d 844 (US Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit, November 1).Maxwell, Connie. 1984. "State executes Velma Barfield." Chapel Hill Newspaper, November 2: 1.Monk, John, Sue Anne Pressley, and Gary Wright. 1984. "Velma Barfield executed by injection." Charlotte Observer, November 2: 1.Ness and Observer. 1978. "Jailed woman eyed in more deaths." News and Observer, March 15: 1.New York Times. 1984. "Relatives of murder victims urge no clemency for Carolina killer." New York Times, September 20: B15.News and Observer. 1980. "Lawyer says he coached Mrs. Barfield." News and Observer, November 18: 17.Pearsall, Chip. 1978. "Barfield jury calls for death." News and Observer, December 3: 1.Stein, George. 1978. "Arsenic trail: Lumberton asks where it will end." Charlotte News, May 27: 1.The Robesonian. 1969. "Parkton man succumbs to smoke inhalation." The Robesonian, April 22: 1.Tilley, Greta. 1980. "She doesn't want to die." News and Record, 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.
Episode 520: Dudleytown: Connecticut’s Cursed Ghost Town
Deep in the woods near Cornwall, Connecticut, in a valley known as the Dark Entry Forest, lie the remains of the small village of Dudleytown. Settled in the mid-eighteenth century by British colonists, Dudleytown was a thriving mining community that for provided charcoal and other minerals for the growing steel industry in and around New England. But by the late nineteenth century, the mining industry had shifted west and slowly, but surely the population of Dudleytown shrank until there, by the early twentieth century, there were only a handful of people living in the village. By 1924, the village of Dudleytown was completely abandoned and fell into the ownership of a private trust, who sought to restore the forest ecosystem to its pre-colonial health.In retrospect, historians and others familiar with the region have cited a variety of social, economic, and ecological reasons for the collapse and abandonment of Dudleytown, yet there are those who believe the abandonment of the village has a darker and more supernatural explanation. There were rumors of widespread madness among the villagers, unexplained deaths and other tragedies, and a curse that dates back to the founding of village in the 1740s.Today, the area is said to be haunted and, despitebeing private property, it has become a popular destination for ghost hunters and legend trippers who are determined to find out whether Dudleytown is truly a cursed village or just a victim of shifting social and economic trends.Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring me the Axe Podcast for Research!ReferencesBarlow, Bart. 1980. "A lost town populated by legends." New York Times, October 26: C2.Campos, Chris. 1976. "The death of a town is the life of a curse." The Journal, May 29: 1.Cornwall Conservation Commission. 2012. The Land and People of Cornwall, Connecticut: A Conservation Perspective of Our Town's Natural Treasures. Historical evalutation, Cornwall, CT: Cornwall Conservation Commission.Cornwall Historical Society. 2014. The Truth about Dudleytown. September 29. Accessed October 29,2023. http://cornwallhistoricalsociety.blogspot.com/2014/09/the-truth-about-dudleytown.html.Drozdowski, Ted. 1978. "Old ghouls still haunt state's cliffs, villages." The Morning Record and Journal,October 28: 35.Hartford Courant. 2006. "True curse haunting family's forest land was progress." Hartford Courant,October 25: B2.Hutter, David. 2008. Man pays price to spot Dudleytown ghosts. August 3. Accessed October 3, 2023.https://www.registercitizen.com/news/article/Man-pays-price-to-spot-Dudleytown-ghosts-12147138.php.New England Historical Society. n.d. The Dudleytown Curse, Connecticut's Village of the Damned.Accessed October 3, 2023. https://newenglandhistoricalsociety.com/the-dudleytown-curse-connecticuts-village-of-the-damned/.Pallatto, John. 1980. "Only the ghost hunters walk in legend-cursed Dudleytown." Hartford Courant,November 1: 9.Pettit, John. 1996. "The spirits were willing, but the flesh was weak." Record Journal, October 31: 1.Revai, Cheri. 2006. Haunted Connecticut: Ghosts and Strange Phenomena of the Constitution State.Mechanicsburg, PA: Stackpole Books.Rierden, Andi. 1989. "A hamlet that can't get rid of its ghosts." New York Times, October 29: C2.Ryan, Bill. 1986. "Dudleytown legend haunts Cornwall." Hartford Courant, April 13: 12.Siedzik, Jason. 2011. In Cornwall, Dudleytown movie makers arrested. December 8. Accessed October 3,2023. https://www.ctinsider.com/news/article/In-Cornwall-Dudley-Town-Movie-Makers-Arrested-16886230.php.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 519: Sharon Kinne- La Pistolera Pt.2
On March 19, 1960, Kansas City police were called to the home James and Sharon Kinne for what they believed was an accidental shooting. According to Sharon, she had found their two-year-old daughter lying on the couple’s bed, a gun near her hand and her father’s body next to her with a large hole in his head. Unable to find evidence to the contrary, the shooting was ruled an accident and Sharon collected on her husband’s life insurance policy. It wasn’t until a few months later, when the wife of Sharon’s new boyfriend went missing and eventually turned up dead, that investigators came to believe that James Kinne’s death was no accident.Sharon Kinne was eventually arrested and charged with the murders of her husband James and of Patricia Jones, the wife of Sharon’s boyfriend at the time of her arrest. During the course of their investigation, detectives began unraveling a lurid tale of infidelity and conspiracy that resulted in at least two murders. Ultimately, Sharon would be acquitted of her Patricia Jones’ murder, and would be tried three times for the murder of James Kinne. Before she could be tried for a fourth time, Sharon fled to Mexico with the help of yet another boyfriend, where she killed Francisco Parades Ordoñez in what she claimed was self-defense. The Mexican authorities rejected that claim and in 1964 Sharon was tried and convicted for murder, receiving a ten-year prison sentence. However, after serving just five years of her sentence, Sharon Kinne escaped the Mexican prison and has been on the run ever since. Today, more than fifty years later, she is still considered a fugitive with active warrants out for her arrest.Thank you to the wonderful David White, of the Bring Me the Axe pod, for research assistance ReferencesDoyle, Patricia Janson. 1962. "Sharon thinks of trial, jury and jail." Kansas City Times, January 13: 1.Hays, James C. 1997. I'm Just an Ordinary Girl: The Sharon Kinne Story. Leawood, KS: Leathers Book Publishing.Kansas City Star. 1961. "Anxious in his hunt for wife." Kansas City Star, June 16: 1.—. 1961. "'Changed her story on gun'." Kansas City Star, June 15: 1.—. 1960. "Fin a woman slain in woods." Kansas City Star, May 28: 1.—. 1962. "'Fixed a price for his death'." Kansas City Star, January 9: 1.—. 1960. "Officers study life of families in slaying probe." Kansas City Star, May 28: 1.—. 1960. "Puzzled over a fatal shot." Kansas City Star, March 20: 1.—. 1960. "Rap coroner in slaying probe." Kansas City Star, June 2: 1.—. 1960. "Weird ties in murder probe." Kansas City Star, May 29: 1.Kansas City Times. 1962. "Boldizs views offer as jest." Kansas City Times, January 10: 1.—. 1969. "Kinne Search Widens." Kansas City Times, December 9: 1.—. 1962. "Mrs. Kinne found guilty." Kansas City Times, January 12: 1.—. 1961. "Sharon Kinne goes free." Kansas City Times, June 23: 1.—. 1962. "Somber Sharon Kinne starts jail routine." Kansas City Times, January 12: 1.Kelleghan, Kevin. 1969. "Sharon Kinne hunt eases up." Kansas City Times, December 18: 31.Maryville Daily Forum. 1961. "Testimony on death gun to KC jurors." Marysville Daily Forum, June 19: 1.Olwine, Margaret. 1974. "Sharon Kinne: Is she free forever, part II." Kansas City Star Magazine, February 17: 14.—. 1974. "Sharon Kinne: Is she free forever?" Kansas City Star Magazine, February 17: 17-19.Weber, David. 1964. "Sharon Kinne in jail." Kansas City Star, September 20: 1.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 518: Sharon Kinne- La Pistolera Pt.1
On March 19, 1960, Kansas City police were called to the home James and Sharon Kinne for what they believed was an accidental shooting. According to Sharon, she had found their two-year-old daughter lying on the couple’s bed, a gun near her hand and her father’s body next to her with a large hole in his head. Unable to find evidence to the contrary, the shooting was ruled an accident and Sharon collected on her husband’s life insurance policy. It wasn’t until a few months later, when the wife of Sharon’s new boyfriend went missing and eventually turned up dead, that investigators came to believe that James Kinne’s death was no accident.Sharon Kinne was eventually arrested and charged with the murders of her husband James and of Patricia Jones, the wife of Sharon’s boyfriend at the time of her arrest. During the course of their investigation, detectives began unraveling a lurid tale of infidelity and conspiracy that resulted in at least two murders. Ultimately, Sharon would be acquitted of her Patricia Jones’ murder, and would be tried three times for the murder of James Kinne. Before she could be tried for a fourth time, Sharon fled to Mexico with the help of yet another boyfriend, where she killed Francisco Parades Ordoñez in what she claimed was self-defense. The Mexican authorities rejected that claim and in 1964. Sharon was tried and convicted for murder, receiving a ten-year prison sentence. However, after serving just five years of her sentence, Sharon Kinne escaped the Mexican prison and has been on the run ever since. Today, more than fifty years later, she is still considered a fugitive with active warrants out for her arrest.Thank you to the wonderful David White, of the Bring Me the Axe pod, for research assistance ReferencesDoyle, Patricia Janson. 1962. "Sharon thinks of trial, jury and jail." Kansas City Times, January 13: 1.Hays, James C. 1997. I'm Just an Ordinary Girl: The Sharon Kinne Story. Leawood, KS: Leathers Book Publishing.Kansas City Star. 1961. "Anxious in his hunt for wife." Kansas City Star, June 16: 1.—. 1961. "'Changed her story on gun'." Kansas City Star, June 15: 1.—. 1960. "Fin a woman slain in woods." Kansas City Star, May 28: 1.—. 1962. "'Fixed a price for his death'." Kansas City Star, January 9: 1.—. 1960. "Officers study life of families in slaying probe." Kansas City Star, May 28: 1.—. 1960. "Puzzled over a fatal shot." Kansas City Star, March 20: 1.—. 1960. "Rap coroner in slaying probe." Kansas City Star, June 2: 1.—. 1960. "Weird ties in murder probe." Kansas City Star, May 29: 1.Kansas City Times. 1962. "Boldizs views offer as jest." Kansas City Times, January 10: 1.—. 1969. "Kinne Search Widens." Kansas City Times, December 9: 1.—. 1962. "Mrs. Kinne found guilty." Kansas City Times, January 12: 1.—. 1961. "Sharon Kinne goes free." Kansas City Times, June 23: 1.—. 1962. "Somber Sharon Kinne starts jail routine." Kansas City Times, January 12: 1.Kelleghan, Kevin. 1969. "Sharon Kinne hunt eases up." Kansas City Times, December 18: 31.Maryville Daily Forum. 1961. "Testimony on death gun to KC jurors." Marysville Daily Forum, June 19: 1.Olwine, Margaret. 1974. "Sharon Kinne: Is she free forever, part II." Kansas City Star Magazine, February 17: 14.—. 1974. "Sharon Kinne: Is she free forever?" Kansas City Star Magazine, February 17: 17-19.Weber, David. 1964. "Sharon Kinne in jail." Kansas City Star, September 20: 1.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 517: The Black Sisters and the Murder of Ocey Snead
When East Orange, New Jersey police were called to the home of Virginia Wardlaw in late November 1909, they knew only that there had been an accident involving Virginia’s niece, Ocey Snead. Once they’d arrived, however, officers discovered Ocey’s body in an upstairs bathtub, dead from what appeared to be suicide by drowning.After just a few weeks of investigation, it became clear that Ocey’s death was no accident. Suspicion quickly fell on Virginia and her two sisters, who were soon charged with Ocey’s murder, which investigators believed was committed in order to collect on a large insurancepolicy.The murder of Ocey Snead was an undeniable tragedy, but her death was only the beginning of what would become one of the early twentieth century’s most captivating crime stories. As detectives and the press dug deeper into the background of the three women accused of starving and drowning their niece, a bizarre story emerged that sounded as though it had been pulled directly from the pages of a classic southern gothic horror novel. And like any good gothic horror story, the trial of Virginia Wardlaw and her sisters was full of unbelievable twists and culminated in a shocking conclusion.Thank you to the Wondrous Dave White of Bring Me the Axe Podcast for Research!ReferencesNew York Times. 1910. "Alienists declare Mrs. Martin insane." New York Times, September 21: 6.—. 1909. "Bathtub mystery no murder, she says." New York Times, December 2: 2.—. 1909. "Bathtub principals are twice indicted ." New York Times, December 23: 4.—. 1910. "Miss Wardlaw dies; starved herself." New York Times, August 12: 1.—. 1911. "Mrs. Martin pleads to manslaughter ." New York Times, January 10: 2.—. 1910. "Mrs. Martin's cries halt lunacy trial." New York Times, November 8: 7.—. 1909. "Mrs. Snead's family full of fatalities." New York Times, December 9: 20.—. 1910. "Ocey Snead was drugged ." New York Times, January 21: 1.—. 1910. "Say Miss Wardlaw is dying." New York Times, August 11: 4.—. 1909. "The Snead msytery." New York Times, December 18: 12.Rife, Luanne. 2016. "The Black Sisters." Roanoke Times, December 1: 116.Roanoke Times. 1909. "Christiansburg woman is held." Roanoke Times, December 3: 1.West, Mike. 2009. "Fearless Confederate died mysteriously in NYC." Murfreesboro Post, February 15: 8.—. 2009. "'Sisters in Black' sour Ocey's domestic bliss." Murfreesboro Post, February 22: 8.Zierold, Norman. 1968. Three Sisters in Black. New York, NY: Little, Brown.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 516: Listener Tales 80
It is Listener Tales 80 and this installment is brought to you by HEROES with the spookiest of tales… A decomposing body, florescent yellow fluid, possessed toys, a baby seeing ghost, and a man in black. These are brought to you by you, for you, from you and all about you so if you have a listener tale please go ahead and send it to Morbidpodcast@gmail.com with "Listener Tale" 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.
Episode 515: The Murder of the Grimes Sisters
On the evening of December 28, 1956, fifteen-year-old Barbara Grimes and her thirteen-year-old sister, Patricia, left their home in Chicago, Illinois headed for a movie theater in Brighton Park to see the latest Elvis Presley film. When the girls failed to return home that evening as expected, their mother sent the two other siblings to wait for them at the closest bus station, but when they returned later without Barbara and Patricia, she became anxious and began calling their friends, before eventually phoning the police. Three weeks later, Barbara and Patricia’s bodies were discovered on the side of a rural road by a construction worker in Willow Springs, about an hour outside Chicago.The murder of the Grimes sisters and the investigation that followed remains one of Chicago’s most notorious cold cases and one of the most costly and labor-intensive searches in the state’s history. Thank you to the incredible Dave White of Bring Me The Axe Podcast for research assistance!ReferencesChicago Tribune. 1957. "Suspect's mom says he's lazy, shiftless bum." Chcago Tribune, January 25: 3.—. 1957. "Charged with murder of Grimes girls." Chicago Tribune, January 28: 1.—. 1957. "Dsicloses how 2 girls ditched him and companion in theater." Chicago Tribune, January 27: 1.—. 1957. "High points of the news." Chicago Tribune, February 3: 8.—. 1957. "'I knew it!' sobs mother." Chicago Tribune, 01 23: 1.—. 1957. "Nude bodies thrown beside country road." Chicago Tribune, January 23: 1.—. 1957. "Rule out sex attack, strangling theories." Chicago Tribune, January 24: 1.—. 1958. "Slayer of girl, 15, hopes he gets chair." Chicago Tribune, November 19: 1.—. 1957. "Widen search for 2 young sisters missing four days." Chicago Tribune, January 1: 5.—. 1956. "Young sisters reported seen in two places." Chicago Tribune, December 31: 6.Gowran, Clay. 1957. "Re-enacts crime, and shows how he dumped two in ditch." Chicago Tribune, January 28: 1.Lowry, Shirley. 1957. "Lost girls' mother keeps brave." Chicago Tribune, January 11: 3.McGill, Nancy. 1957. "Mom denies Skid Row tale." Chicago Tribune, Janaury 28: 6.Milwaukee Journal. 1957. "Grimes case tiff costs job." Milwaukee Journal, February 16.Nix, Naomi. 2013. "1950s case gets new look from pro, amateurs." Chicago Tribune, 30 May: 1.Taylor, Troy. 2015. The Two Lost Girls: The Mystery of the Grimes Sisters. Jacksonville, IL: Whitechapel Press.United Press. 1957. "Bennie admits part in crime." Daily Chronicle, January 28: 1.—. 1957. "New suspect is arrested." Daily Chronicle, January 24: 1.—. 1957. "Two teen-aged girls killed." Daily Chronicle, Janaury 23: 1.UWIRE. 2019. "'Chicago History Cop' making headway in Grimes sisters' murder case." UWIRE, October 25.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.
Episode 514: Bernie Tiede and the murder of Marjorie Nugent
When 39 year old Bernie Tiede confessed to the murder of his friend and companion, 81 year old Marjorie Nugent in November 1996, the revelation came as a shock to the small town of Carthage, Texas. The two had been inseparable friends since the death of Nugent’s husband in 1990 and as far as anyone in Carthage could tell, Nugent couldn’t have picked a more devoted companion than Tiede. Yet as the details of the crime began to emerge, a strange story began to take shape—Tiede’s supposed motive for the murder was to gain access to Nugent’s fortune, but what he did with that money once he had access defied the logic and expectations of greed.The story of Bernie Tiede and Marjorie Nugent should have ended with the trial and conviction of Tiede, but a few years later, Bernie’s story became the subject of a big Hollywood film, shining a spotlight on the story and raising new questions about the extent of Bernie’s responsibility for the murder. Tiede remains a rarity in the history of American crime: a sympathetic killer almost no one in town wanted to see convicted.Thank you to the wonderful David White, of the Bring me the Axe podcast, for research assistanceReferencesAssociated Press. 1997. "Man indicted in death of banker's widow." Austin American-Statesman, August 29: 91.—. 1999. "Shreveport man testifies about 'inappropriate kiss' he witnessed between murder suspect and victim." Marshall News Messenger, February 3: 6.—. 1998. "Mistrial declared in confessed widow killer case; trial moved." Odessa American, October 28: 16.Bernhardt Tiede, II v. The State of Texas. 2002. 12-99-00182-CR (Twelfth District Court of Appeals (Tyler, Texas), November 2).Cieply, Michael, and David Montgomery. 2014. "Murderer who inspired the film 'Berni' is released to the director's garage." New York Times, May 8.Grissom, Brandi. 2014. "Over 15 years, a town's stance on a convict shifts." New York Times, February 9.Halmark, Bob. 2012. Carthage residents react to Bernie movie. March 8. Accessed June 13, 2023. https://www.kltv.com/story/17106798/carthage-residents-react-to-bernie-movie/.Hollandsworth, Skip. 1998. "Midnight in the Garden of East Texas." Texas Monthly, Janaury.Jacobs, Janet. 1997. "Slaying, arrest stun town." Longview News-Journal , August 21: 1.—. 1998. "Deputy testifies about Tiede's arrest, confession." Longview News-Journal, October 29: 7.—. 1999. "Emotions run high in Tiede trial." Longview News-Journal, February 7: 1.—. 1999. "Tiede found guilty of murder." Longview News-Journal, February 10: 1.—. 1998. "Tiede returns to court." Longview News-Journal, October 29: 1.—. 1999. "Tiede sentenced to life in prison." Longview News-Journal, February 12: 1.—. 1997. "Homicide shocks Carthage residents." Marshall News Messanger, August 20: 5.—. 1997. "Tiede's troubles mount as new charge is filed." Marshall News Messanger, August 22: 1.—. 1997. "Officials freeze Tiede's finances as murder investigation continues ." Marshall News Messenger, August 24: 9.Jennings, Diane. 2012. "Austin attorney takes interest in Bernie Tiede's murder case." Dallas Morning News, August 7.Longview News-Journal. 1998. "Confession gives details into slaying." Longview News-Journal, October 29: 1.Marshall News Messenger. 1999. "Carthage man's trial set to begin in San Augustine." Marshall News Messenger, February 1: 1999.—. 1999. "Tiede sobs as photos shown in court." Marshall News Messenger, February 4: 3.—. 1999. "Videotape upsets Tiede jury." Marshall News Messenger, February 5: 2.Rhodes, Joe. 2012. "A wacky Lonestar murder mystery." New York Times, April 15: SM40.Texas Tribune. 2016. "Bernie Tiede painted as victim, calculating killer." Texas Tribune, April 6.—. 2016. "Jury sentences Bernie Tiede to 99 years or life." Texas Tribune, April 22.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.