Wednesday, April 23, 2025

306. Three Minutes: The Daniel Morcombe Abduction

 *****Warning*****

This episode contains discussions of child abduction, abuse, and violence that may be distressing for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.


In just three minutes, a quiet bus stop in Queensland became the site of one of Australia’s most haunting crimes. This episode unpacks the disappearance of Daniel Morcombe — the boy in the red shirt — and the years-long investigation that followed. Through silence, sorrow, and relentless pursuit of justice, Daniel’s story became a turning point for a nation.


Join Cam and Jen as they discuss "Three Minutes: The Daniel Morcombe Abduction."



The Daniel Morcombe Foundation provides personal child safety education to children and young people to prevent abuse and promote lifelong health and wellbeing. “We support educators, parents, and carers by providing resources and education, and also directly supporting young victims of crime.”

You can contact them and make a donation at danielmorcombe.com.au
or contact them at Daniel House, 7 Koorawatha Lane, Palmwoods QLD 4555

Thank you to our team:
Written and researched by Lauretta Allen
Listener Discretion by Edward October from Octoberpod AM
Executive Producer Nico Vitesse of The Inky Pawprint

Sources:
Book:
The Sting: The Undercover Operation That Caught Daniel Morcombe’s Killer by Kate Kyriacou 
60 Minutes Australia https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4251154/
Missing Persons Unit https://www.imdb.com/title/tt5624692/
https://www.courts.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/608476/cif-morcombe-d-20190405.pdf
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Daniel_Morcombe
https://casefilepodcast.com/case-54-daniel-morcombe/
https://danielmorcombe.com.au/about/daniels-story/
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/11/schoolboy-daniel-morecombe-died-within-hour-of-being-abducted
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-11-26/daniel-morcombe-timeline/4389166
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brett_Peter_Cowan
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lx5rnRtZwCw&ab_channel=7NewsSpotlight
https://youtu.be/uFfDiVWlWX8?si=UcrFFZc4l9ei5F_4

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

305. Genetic Justice: Unmasking Robert Brashers

 For years, Robert Brashers had managed to evade justice, slipping through the cracks repeatedly. But on January 13, 1999, his luck finally ran out in a modest motel room in Kennett, Missouri. What began as a routine police search quickly escalated into a tense, life-or-death standoff that would forever change the lives of those involved. Who was Robert Brashers? A man who his wife and children loved. What could have driven him to such a tragic end?  The entire truth would remain hidden for years, with whispers suggesting that there were more victims out there. 



Join Jen and Cam of Our True Crime Podcast on this episode, "Genetic Justice: Unmasking Robert Brashers.” 

Listener Discretion by @octoberpodVHS

Music is by our executive producer @theinkypawprint

Sources: 
https://www.facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery/videos/connected-by-murder-on-the-case-with-paula-zahn/2284387901877879/

https://greenvillejournal.com/tag/robert-eugene-brashers/

https://www.kait8.com/2018/10/05/killer-linked-murders-missouri-tennessee-south-carolina-paragould/

https://www.oxygen.com/crime-time/murder-suspects-robert-brashers-body-exhumed-solve-two-1990s-cold-cases

https://archive.today/20230115112055/

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/crime/2018/10/05/greenville-cold-case-robert-brashers-jenny-zitricki/1534079002/

https://archive.ph/20230115112155/

https://www.kfvs12.com/2019/02/05/my-father-was-serial-killer-robert-brashers-daughter-speaks-out/#selection-811.21-1279.52

https://archive.ph/20230115112128/

https://greenvillejournal.com/news/greenville-police-murderer-in-28-year-old-cold-case-identified/#selection-937.42-937.43

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Eugene_Brashers

https://archive.today/20230115112038/

https://www.fultonsun.com/news/2020/nov/19/fulton-resident-reminisces-homicide-investigation/

https://archive.ph/20230115112159/

https://www.greenvilleonline.com/story/news/2019/01/13/daughter-serial-killer-rapist-tied-greenville-hes-still-my-father/2481586002/#selection-529.0-851.132

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/31099977/robert-brashers-mo-from-1985/

https://www.newspapers.com/clip/54853022/robert-brashers-florida-crime-1985/

Wednesday, March 26, 2025

302. The Gitchie Manitou Murders

 Thank you, Katie, for requesting this case!


On the evening of November 17th, 1973, five teenage friends decided to head to the Gitchie Manitou State Preserve, located in the far northwestern corner of Iowa. Most of the teenagers' parents knew where the kids were going that night and didn’t think much about it. It was a pretty standard hang-out spot. 

As the kids sat around a campfire enjoying the cold evening, three figures emerged from the darkness and opened fire.

Five teenagers went into the reserve on that fateful night. Only one came out alive.




Join Jen and Cam as they discuss The Gitchie Manitou Murders.

Thank you to our team:
Written and researched by Lauretta Allen
Listener Discretion by Edward October from Octoberpod AM
Executive Producer Nico Vitesse of The Inky Pawprint

In this episode, Jen discusses the book "Gitchie Girl: The Survivor's Inside Story of the Mass Murders that Shocked the Heartland" by Phil Hamman & Sandy Hamman 

Sources:
https://www.newspapers.com/image/33479397/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973_Gitchie_Manitou_murders
https://www.newspapers.com/image/238916630/?match=1&clipping_id=167274037
https://www.newspapers.com/image/351566342/?match=1&clipping_id=new
https://www.newspapers.com/image/239140778/?match=1&clipping_id=167275118
https://www.newspapers.com/image/351577134/?match=1&terms=Manitou%20murder
https://www.newspapers.com/image/238916994/?match=1&clipping_id=new (arrest)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/238916649/?match=1&clipping_id=167275988
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/44867920/roger_norman-essem
https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime/1/01/01/sole-survivor-of-brutal-1973-slayings-finds-strength-to-tell-her-story/3726397/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/345756026/?match=1&clipping_id=167279012
https://www.newspapers.com/image/887070515/?match=1&terms=Gitchie%20Manitou%20murder
https://www.newspapers.com/image/338754858/?match=1&terms=Gitchie%20Manitou%20murder
https://www.newspapers.com/image/239045447/?match=1&terms=Gitchie%20Manitou%20murder
https://play.max.com/video/watch/5bbc1c12-54db-498f-8604-a48d6ff671d4
https://www.newspapers.com/image/239044008/?match=1&terms=Gitchie%20Manitou%20murder
https://www.newspapers.com/image/351573016/?match=1&terms=Gitchie%20Manitou%20murder
https://www.newspapers.com/image/239092497/?match=1&terms=Gitchie%20Manitou%20murder
https://www.argusleader.com/story/news/crime/2021/11/16/gitchie-manitou-murders-1973-survivor-sandra-cheskey-fryer-brothers-south-dakota-iowa/8637229002/
Killer Siblings Season 2 Episode 2




Wednesday, March 19, 2025

301. Buried for Decades: Discovery of Midtown Jane Doe

 Today, we are going back in time; let’s rewind the clock to 1969, the year the world got slightly brighter—because Jen and I came into being. But hold on tight because we’re about to dive into the scene's heart. A place where the music’s alive, the air’s thick with good vibes, and the soul just flows. We’re talking about The Scene, man.  Now we meet Steve Paul, the cool cat that operates The Scene, and let me tell ya, this joint on West 46th Street in the Big Apple is where at. Every night, you’ll find the grooviest cats in town—hippies, musicians, artists, and just free spirits all jammin’ out together, sharing a little bit of magic, and yeah, passing around that sweet, sweet devil’s lettuce.By February 2003, the glory days of the once vibrant nightlife hub and gritty hustle had long since faded into the past. The building’s remaining tenants—sex workers, drug users, and the forgotten souls of the neighborhood kept a few apartments in the building. The storefronts, once home to The Scene, had cycled through several different faces since its closure: a pornographic video shop, a seedy dive bar, and now, a restaurant eager to convert the basement into a walk-in freezer. 


Demolition made way for a shiny new Riu Hotel, which was not completed until 2016. On February 10th, construction workers stumbled upon something strange while tearing down what was left. Behind an aging coal furnace in the basement, they noticed a raised concrete slab six feet wide, five feet long, and about a foot high. One worker took a sledgehammer and struck the slab. Once he was inside, a human skull rolled out of its resting place.


Join Jen and Cam of Our True Crime Podcast on this episode entitled ‘Buried for Decades: Discovery of Midtown Jane Doe.'

Listener Discretion is by @octoberpodVHS

All music is by our editor @theinkypawprint

Sources:
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/true-crime-mystery-murder-the-scene-new-york-1235156741/

https://people.com/midtown-jane-doe-new-york-woman-identified-patricia-kathleen-mcglone-8641422


https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=434347589384178&id=100064771266307https://nypost.com/2024/04/28/us-news/midtown-jane-doe-finally-idd-20-years-after-remains-found-cemented-in-former-nyc-hot-spot/


https://vocal.media/criminal/midtown-jane-doe-identified-after-50-years-using-dna


https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/1cfjvaq/midtown_jane_doe_2003_identified_as_16yearold/


https://www.facebook.com/FOX5NY/videos/who-was-midtown-jane-doe/3012225785594168/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2024/04/30/patricia-kathleen-mcglone-midtown-jane-doe-cold-case/73515200007/

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/patricia-mcglone-midtown-jane-doe-murder-victim-identified-cold-case-dna-911-victim-nypd/


https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrFY0w.4Npn3Gwj.gYPxQt.;_ylu=Y29sbwNiZjEEcG9zAzIEdnRpZAMEc2VjA3Ny/RV=2/RE=1742426302/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.cnn.com%2f2024%2f05%2f01%2fus%2fmidtown-jane-doe-death-ring-cec%2findex.html/RK=2/RS=EJ_.ELaYzd69r4SyrsnD98NHxmk-


https://www.doenetwork.org/closed/articles/337UFNY_article.pdf

Wednesday, March 12, 2025

300. Cash for Corpses: Clifford Olson Jr

 Episode requested by Anthony W. Thank you, Anthony!



Welcome to OTCP's 300th regular episode! 

******Content Warning: Sexual assault and death of children*********

In this episode, we dive into Canada's most notorious serial killer, Clifford Olson Jr. Olson’s disturbing story is filled with horrific crimes. Honestly, I thought I knew about everything there was to know. I was wrong!  Camille and I will take you from his early life of crime to his eventual capture and conviction for the rapes murders of eleven children. 



Join Cam and Jen as we discuss- oh boy, do we discuss- "Cash for Corpses: Clifford Olson Jr."  

Thank you to our team:
Written and researched by Lauretta Allen
Listener Discretion by Edward October from Octoberpod AM
Executive Producer Nico Vitesse of The Inky Pawprint
Research by Jen

In this episode, Jen discusses the book, "Predator: The Life and Crimes of Serial Killer Clifford Olson" by Peter Worthington.

Sources:
https://app.thestorygraph.com/books/d71f0bf7-0816-4be2-a7cb-30e993d440bb
https://mail.crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/predators/olson/2.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clifford_Olsonhttps://murderpedia.org/male.O/o/olson-clifford-robert.htm
https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/psyc%20405/serial%20killers/Olson,%20Clifford%20Robert%20_fall,%202006_.pdf
https://www.newspapers.com/image/327941931/?match=1&terms=Christine%20Weller (Christine's first appearance in the papers)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/327924712/?match=1&terms=Christine%20Weller
https://www.newspapers.com/image/327919464/?match=1&terms=Colleen%20Daignault
https://www.newspapers.com/image/465765361/?match=1&terms=Daryn%20Johnstrude (1997 article about the killings)
https://www.newspapers.com/image/461585007/?match=1&terms=Daryn%20Johnsrude
https://www.newspapers.com/image/501459047/?match=1&terms=Daryn%20Johnsrude
https://www.newspapers.com/image/493593898/?match=1&terms=Ada%20Anita%20Court
https://www.newspapers.com/image/493882891/?match=1&terms=Simon%20Partingtonhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/493882891/?match=1&terms=Simon%20Partingtonhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/493608556/?match=1&terms=Simon%20Partingtonhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/501398181/?match=1&terms=Judy%20Kozma
https://www.newspapers.com/image/501397506/match=1&terms=%22Raymond%20King%22
https://www.newspapers.com/image/560032794/match=1&terms=%22Raymond%20King%22
https://www.newspapers.com/image/501407128/match=1&terms=%22Louise%20Chartrand%22
https://www.newspapers.com/image/509017457/match=1&terms=%22Clifford%20Olson%22
https://www.pentictonwesternnews.com/local-news/43-years-later-friend-of-verna-susan-bjerky-says-search-for-her-still-continues-in-hope-7353295
https://www.newspapers.com/image/471944608/match=1&terms=Mary%20Ellen%20Jamieson
https://www.newspapers.com/image/493885490/match=1&terms=Mary%20Ellen%20Jamieson
https://www.newspapers.com/image/493885859/match=1&terms=Mary%20Ellen%20Jamieson
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/post_b_1923792https://www.huffpost.com/entry/serial-killer-clifford-olson_n_192074

Wednesday, March 5, 2025

299. Mafia's Finest: Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito

 It is November 6th, 1990. The air was crisp, the Belt Parkway humming with the usual New York traffic. Among the cars was Eddie Lino—an old-school Gambino enforcer, a man whose name carried weight in the city's underworld. He’d spent years dodging the law. But this time, the flashing red and blue lights in his rearview weren’t just another routine hassle. As the unmarked car closed in, Lino must’ve felt it—something was off. Before he could react, gunfire rang out. The ambush was clean and professional in a city where power shifts with a trigger pull; Eddie Lino’s time was up. For a man who had made a living by the gun, there were only two ways out: a prison cell or a body bag. Lino avoided the first. And he paid his dues in full on that Brooklyn highway in 1992. Dirty cops and the mob—nothing new in New York. But this case? This was different. Two high-ranking NYPD detectives weren’t just looking the other way; they worked for the Lucchese crime family, pulling jobs and covering tracks for over a decade. They didn’t just take bribes—they were on the payroll.



Join Cam and Jen on this episode of Our True Crime Podcast entitled ‘Mafia's Finest: Stephen Caracappa and Louis Eppolito.’


Listener discretion by @octoberpodVHS

Music is by our editor @theinkypawprint

Sources:
Mafia Cops Interview - Louis Eppolito on the Sally Jesse Raphael show

https://www.amazon.com/Mafia-Cop-Lou-Eppolito/dp/1416517014

http://www.nydailynews.com/news/crime/mafia-cops-louis-eppolito-stephen-caracappa-sentenced-life-prison-article-1.366777

https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2009/2009mar06b.html

https://www.reddit.com/r/OldSchoolCool/comments/15ygama/louis_eppolito_on_sally_jesse_raphael_1992/

https://nypost.com/2005/07/07/victims-mom-fingered-mafia-cop-from-tv-talk-show/

https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2005/2005mar10.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/11/07/nyregion/louis-eppolito-dead.html

https://www.silive.com/news/2017/04/report_mob_cop_with_staten_isl.html

https://web.archive.org/web/20170412190201/http://gothamist.com/2017/04/12/nypd_cop_turned_mafia_hitman_dies_i.php

https://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-2nd-circuit/1532561.htmlhttps://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/nyc-crime/ny-mafia-cop-louis-eppolito-dead-20191105-55tnkoq4f5amvm5555qcp3fb34-story.html

https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/nye/pr/2009/2009mar06b.html

http://www.ipsn.org/indictments/caracappa_indictment/caracappa_indictment_newest.htm

https://web.archive.org/web/20060111191537/https://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/01/05/60minutes/main1180833.shtml

http://www.ipsn.org/indictments/caracappa_indictment/caracappa_indictment_newest.htm

Tuesday, February 25, 2025

298. A Journey To Justice: The Camm Family Murders

 Thank you to Charity, who requested the episode!


In the quiet town of Georgetown, Indiana, former state trooper David Camm’s life was torn apart when he came home and found his wife, Kim, and their two children, Brad and Jill, shot to death in the garage.

The investigation that follows is fraught with errors and David Camm is convicted of murdering his family. But is he truly guilty? 



Join Cam and Jen as they discuss ‘The Journey To Justice: The Camm Family Murder.’


Thank you to our team:
Written and researched by Lauretta Allen
Listener Discretion by Edward October from Octoberpod AM
Executive Producer Nico Vitesse of The Inky Pawprint

Sources:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3500392/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wrongful_conviction_of_David_Camm
https://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/crime/2022/04/27/ex-indiana-state-trooper-david-camm-reaps-millions-murder-case-settlement/9558355002/
https://www.wdrb.com/news/serving-a-225-year-sentence-charles-boney-vows-hes-a-changed-man-hes-innocent-and/article_20ce461c-701b-5bd0-b710-97077af0368a.html
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/crime/2013/09/12/david-camm-confessed-to-murders-while-getting-tattooed-former-inmate-says-/2806371/
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16974874/bradley_ray_cammhttps://www.findagrave.com/memorial/10707091/kimberly_starr-camm
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/16974747/jillian_catherine_cammhttps://www.newspapers.com/image/159785985/?match=1&terms=Camm%20obituary
https://www.newspapers.com/image/976806243/https://investigatinginnocence.org/david-camm
https://idsnews.indiana.edu/news/suspended-justice/index.html
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/in-court-of-appeals/1344066.html
https://investigatinginnocenceblog.com/tag/charles-boney/ (excellent article on the blood spatter dilemma)
https://cullmantimes.com/tag/charles-boney/
https://www.wdrb.com/news/crime-reports/david-camm-awarded-3-million-in-civil-suit-against-convicted-killer-charles-boney/article_9766427a-41f0-11ee-92ae-032ebc112749.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Georgetown,_Floyd_County,_Indiana
https://www.indystar.com/story/news/2013/09/09/charles-boney-tells-jury-he-listened-as-former-indiana-trooper-david-camm-killed-family/2788861/
https://www.wave3.com/story/4496219/camm-judge-dismisses-conspiracy-charge-witness-says-jill-camm-was-molested-earlier-than-thought/
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/in-supreme-court/1354614.html
https://casetext.com/case/camm-v-stanley-o-faith-1