Best True Crime

Maria Mandl "Mistress of Life & Death" author Susan J. Eischeid

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 06:00:27 GMT

Author SusanJ. Eischeid spent years writing the book "Mistress of Life & Death: The Dark Journey of Maria Mandl." We peer into the frightening and cruel mind of the head overseer at Auschwitz's women's camp during WWII. Mandl left her good, anti-Nazi family to become one of the most hated and feared leaders in the Third Reich. What led her to assist in the slaughter of thousands? Why did she join the political party that her loving family despised?

Susan conducted hundreds of interviews, traveled thousands of miles, and relentlessly researched to tell the gripping, complex story of a woman who played classical piano after walking children to the gas chambers. The book details the entire life of Maria Mandl, from birth in a lovely small town to death in a prison. Susan J. Eischeid has created one of the best nonfiction books covering Holocaust history and personalized those who perpetrated the horror.

The Oldest Female Bank Robber - she had her gun in her walker!

Sun, 01 Dec 2024 09:41:17 GMT

86-year-old Emily Coakley felt the Philadelphia bank had robbed her of $400. So, the next day, she went to the bank to get her money. She had a gun in her pocket and bullets hidden in her walker. From the book "Put the Money in My Purse! A history of female bank robbers".

Texas Transgenders & Elimination - a new law threatens the trans community

Thu, 07 Nov 2024 07:21:33 GMT

A new ordinance in Odessa, Texas, rewards citizens for reporting transgender people who use the public bathroom. Is this price for elimination an effort to eliminate this population? An eye-opening episode on what it means to be transgender and discrimination in the Lone Star State.

(The views & opinions expressed are those of the speakers and don't necessarily reflect views or positions of any entities they represent.)

“Do I Scare You?” Behind the Fear of Clowns

Tue, 22 Oct 2024 20:35:30 GMT

Over 50% of Americans report a phobia called coulrophobia: fear of clowns. I hate clowns. So, I decide to face my own fears. Let’s hold hands for support while discussing the fear of clowns including the history, the causes of our fear, and what some studies reveal.

TRIGGER WARNINGS

"I Was Going to Shoot My Teacher" - he carefully planned for campus carnage. Then he went home. What happened?

Sat, 05 Oct 2024 05:26:34 GMT

“Al” was standing less that 50 feet away from the teacher he hated. Al had a shotgun in his backpack, and he had a plan. He had schemed for days on storming the office and killing this instructor. What led to Al’s plan, and how did it end? A rare interview with a school shooter who changed his mind and went home.

The Truth About Airport Security

Tue, 23 Jan 2024 18:56:48 GMT

Are the airline safety and security measures working, or do they make us feel safe?

Let’s discuss the biggest threat to our safety while flying.

Lost Boy Found Lost: The Strange Case of Bobby Dunbar

Sun, 17 Dec 2023 08:00:20 GMT

A 1912 missing child case is solved in 2004 thanks toa DNA test. Still, the DNA test leads to more questions than answers. Where is Bobby Dunbar?And who is Bobby Dunbar?

Selfies at Auschwitz - why the graves of 6 million have become a backdrop

Wed, 22 Nov 2023 01:56:01 GMT

Concentration camp sites in Europe have reported a rising number of tourists taking selfies and inappropriate pictures. Why have mass graves become some people's fun backdrop?

The case of Diamond Alvarez: Teen Domestic Violence & Victim Witness Statements

Sun, 22 Oct 2023 17:54:24 GMT

16-year-old Diamond Alvarez was murdered by her boyfriend in cold blood. Teen domestic violence did not make the news; the explosion in the courtroom did. Includes a discussion on victim impact statements.

Burning As Capitol Punishment - History & Facts

Mon, 14 Aug 2023 04:32:59 GMT

Execution by fire is part of world history. This is the true history about burning at the stake as capitol punishment, the stunning facts about fire and the body, and how fire continues as punishment today.

Cargivers Turned Killers - the demise of Jazzmyne Fikes

Mon, 31 Jul 2023 05:01:20 GMT

Jazzmyne Fikes' days were supposed to be healthy. Her legal caregivers assisted her with a prolonged death,

Funeral Crashed By A Woman Scorned

Mon, 24 Jul 2023 15:18:12 GMT

Blair Whitten was a "woman scorn'd." So, she drove through her ex-lover’s funeral in an SUV in an attempt to kill people.

The Aramoana Massacre of New Zealand

Fri, 30 Jun 2023 05:00:40 GMT

On November 13, 1990, gunman David Gray started the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand’s history for 29 years. It was 2 days of hell in the tiny village of Aramoana.

Join A Cult! How members are recruited and why they stay

Mon, 12 Jun 2023 05:01:02 GMT

Recruitment and membership in a cult is easier than most people believe. Also, my book "The Golden People- into the cult."

FBI profiler Mark Safarick on the Bittaker-Norris case

Wed, 31 May 2023 17:56:26 GMT

Criminologist and FBI profiler Mark Safarick discusses Lawrence Bittaker and Roy Norris. Bittaker and Norris murdered at least five girls in 1979. We also discuss sadistic killers, victimology, and bust the myth of "that" tape: the Shirley Ledford "torture recording."

Effects of childhood bullying on adults - how schoolyard bullying continues

Thu, 18 May 2023 07:16:54 GMT

Studies show how schoolyard bullying continues to affect people well after high school graduation. Social media posts reveal how adults continue to feel the repercussions of their childhood bullying.

Unit 731 - A Crawl Through Hell No One Survived

Sat, 29 Apr 2023 05:43:45 GMT

Unit 731 was a covert warfare research facility of the Imperial Japanese Army operating from 1936 to 1945. No prisoners survived. And America benefitted from the atrocities. (WARNING Disturbing Content)

(photo of Unit 731 Photo By 松岡明芳 - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0)

Old Episcopal Burying Grounds - the Underground Railroad, cholera and faith

Mon, 10 Apr 2023 05:00:34 GMT

The Old Episcopal Burying Grounds sits hidden in the middle of Lexington, Kentucky. A dedicated volunteer is shedding light on dark history that includes a hero who history forgot. Until now.

Drag Haters & Law Makers- Tennessee’s time warp

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 05:00:31 GMT

Tennessee is the first state this year to outlaw drag shows, “a prurient interest.” Have they moved through a time warp?

Meet Apache Female Warrior “Two Spirit” Dahteste

Mon, 20 Mar 2023 05:00:47 GMT

Dahteste was a warrior, mother, wife, and two- spirit. Meet one of the fiercest warriors of her time. Her spirit is revered despite what was done to her life.

The “Massacre of Hungerford”

Mon, 13 Mar 2023 00:30:16 GMT

The 7,000 residents of Hungerford, England never experienced violent crime Then Michael Ryan picked up guns...

(Explicit content)

Pregnant Widow Missing In Bizarre Case

Tue, 28 Feb 2023 06:00:18 GMT

Missing pregnant widow “Liz” Jasso was last seen visiting her husband’s grave before having induced labor of her twins. The truth was delivered instead...

Coffee Talk with True Crime Author Ron Franscell

Tue, 21 Feb 2023 06:00:54 GMT

True crime author Ron Franscell has stepped out of the true crime genre to bring us ‘Def Row,” his first fiction in more than 20 years. We discuss this book along with criminal theory, writing true crime, and the voices in our heads.

The Art of Entomology

Tue, 14 Feb 2023 06:00:57 GMT

Forensic Entomology is the study of the insects associated with a human to determine elapsed time since death. For one entrepreneur, it is an art form – meet a woman who took her study of insects to another level.

“Bullicide” - The Truth About Bullying & Suicide

Tue, 07 Feb 2023 06:01:06 GMT

In September 2015, in a Tennessee public park, fourteen-year-old Sherokee Harriman stabbed herself in front of her alleged bullies. It was called "Bullicide." Can bullying make a child commit suicide?

Warning: triggers

Meet China’s “Jack The Ripper”

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 06:00:56 GMT

His crimes were so terrible this serial killer was given a moniker: “China’s Jack The Ripper.” Mild mannered Gao Chenyong was China’s most elusive serial killer.

The Werewolf Trial of 1589

Tue, 24 Jan 2023 06:00:23 GMT

In a 1589 German trial, a farmer named Peter Stummp admitted to being a werewolf He was tried in one of the most famous “werewolf trials” – and the ghastliest. (GRAPHIC)

The Enyobeni Tavern – A Disaster In Waiting

Tue, 17 Jan 2023 06:00:36 GMT

With its illegal practices, alcohol service to minors and construction, the Enyobeni Tavern was a disaster in waiting. In June 2022, 21 victims paid with their lives. Their ages ranged from 13 to 17.

The Lisa Presley I Knew

Fri, 13 Jan 2023 06:37:40 GMT

As a journalist I met and interviewed Lisa Marie Presley many times over her career. “You understand me,” she told me once. I also adored her for who she really was.

Take A Ride with Stagecoach Mary the first black female of the US *** route mail

Tue, 10 Jan 2023 06:00:26 GMT

Saddle up, grab your Winchester rifle and let’s move ‘em out - You are about to ride shotgun with “Stagecoach Mary” Fields: the first black woman to be a star route mail carrier.

The Titanic Card Sharps – Sharks Have Come Aboard! Part 2 of 2

Fri, 06 Jan 2023 06:01:19 GMT

Come aboard RMS Titanic in April 1912 and meet the rascals and n'er -do -wells who boarded the ship to scam rich passengers. The biggest scam of all continues. Part 2 of 2

The Titanic Card Sharps – Sharks Have Come Aboard! p.1 of 2

Tue, 03 Jan 2023 06:00:17 GMT

Come aboard RMS Titanic in April 1912 and meet the rascals and n'er do wells who have boarded the ship to scam rich passengers. Part 1 of 2.

The Nashville School Shooting

Mon, 27 Mar 2023 19:51:45 GMT

On the morning of March 27, 2023, a lone female gunman walked into a Nashville, TN. school and opened fire.. Why? BONUS PODCAST

BONUS: Behind The Affidavit: A hard look at probable cause in Moscow IN murders.

Sat, 07 Jan 2023 06:00:30 GMT

Behind the scenes of the probable cause affidavit for Bryan Kohberger, Moscow IN murders suspect. Answering the questions you asked me.

Another Weird Kid – Bryan Kohberger, suspect in the Moscow, ID Quadruple Homicides

Sun, 01 Jan 2023 23:59:34 GMT

Friends describe Bryan Kohberger as “The Weird Kid.” And now he is the suspect in the Moscow, Idaho quadruple homicides.

Yellow fever, A Blacksmith & Walnut Street: The First Bank Robbery of the United States

Tue, 27 Dec 2022 06:00:32 GMT

Travel back to 1798 and solve the first official bank robbery of the United States. Meet the first official suspect, the first official bank robbers, and the first stupid mistake that got a bank robber caught.

Molly Williams - the first black person, and woman to serve as a firefighter

Tue, 13 Dec 2022 06:00:41 GMT

You are about to meet Molly Williams, the first black person, and woman to serve as a firefighter. This is a story of discrimination and heroism.

"Gatching" – the cruelest form of ancient capital punishment

Wed, 07 Dec 2022 20:16:01 GMT

The Persians used “Gatching” as a capital punishment to prevent and deter crime and punish offenders. “Gatching” combined history, politics, and social issues. In August 1896, you are about to witness this cruel and unusual punishment in Shiraz.

This serial killer was released from prison 2 of 2

Tue, 06 Dec 2022 06:00:52 GMT

Two serial killers murdered children and the elderly. They drive down the street where your kids play and shop beside your elderly parent. Because they were released from prison.

This serial killer was released from prison. 1 of 2

Sat, 03 Dec 2022 06:00:21 GMT

Two serial killers murdered children and the elderly. They drive down the street where your kids play and shop beside your elderly parent. Because they were released from prison. This is 1 of 2 .

Leonarda Ciancuilli - Why Did She Feed Her Victim's Flesh To An Unsuspecting Public? Part 2 of 2

Mon, 28 Nov 2022 19:59:48 GMT

Leonarda Ciancuilli is considered Italy’s first Female Serial Killer. She fed her victim’s flesh to an unsuspecting public. Was her criminal behavior caused from an abusive environment that begin from the womb? Part 2 of 2.

Leonarda Ciancuilli - Why Did She Feed Her Victim's Flesh To An Unsuspecting Public? part 1 of 2

Mon, 21 Nov 2022 06:31:54 GMT

"The Bandit Queen" From Mudhole to Millionaire

Fri, 18 Nov 2022 06:00:30 GMT

In the 1980s a serial burglar hit Florida mansions for 5 million dollars in goods by committing over 500 burglaries in a crime spree lasting almost 6 years. They called her “The Bandit Queen.”

He Set Himself Ablaze in Church - help solve this baffling mystery

Mon, 14 Nov 2022 06:00:38 GMT

In 1995, a man set himself on fire and died in front of the largest cathedral in Britain. His last words were haunting. Who was he?

The Female Serial Killer Who Never Existed

Fri, 11 Nov 2022 06:01:07 GMT

She committed 40 crimes in 15 years including 6 murders in 4 countries without any evidence except DNA. Who was the Phantom of Heilbronn? PART 2 of 2

The Female Serial Killer Who Never Existed

Wed, 09 Nov 2022 06:01:17 GMT

She committed 40 crimes in 15 years including 6 murders in 4 countries without any evidence except DNA. Who was the Phantom of Heilbronn? PART 1 of 2

"HELP ME." Mental Illness & The School Shooter

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 06:00:28 GMT

“The thoughts won’t stop. Help me.” One school shooter wrote hours before his rampage. Is a failing mental health system partially responsible for school shootings?

Serial killer Garland Milam - “addicted to sucking souls out of people”

Fri, 04 Nov 2022 05:00:38 GMT

Serial killer Garland Milam was “addicted to sucking souls out of people” when he savagely murdered them. What caused the "Soul Sucker Killer"?

Halloween History with Special Guest Gale Carrier

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 05:01:07 GMT

Special Guest Gale Carrier is a Halloween historian, astrologist, psychic, and genealogist. She joins us to discuss halloween history- pagans, costumes, and the veil between the living and the dead.

Cannibal Issei Sagawa's Wanted Ad: “People who would willingly be eaten by me.”

Wed, 02 Nov 2022 05:00:19 GMT

Issei Sagawa is a murderer, cannibal, and necrophiliac who practices bestiality. He walks the streets free, seeking his next fantasy: a beautiful female to kill him or to willingly be his next meal. A legal system kept “Japan’s Jeffrey Dahmer” out of prison.

The Granny Grifter$ - Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 05:01:17 GMT

Meet Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt. For years they have been con artists: credit card fraud, petty theft, shady real estate deals, extortion, and bogus personal injury claims. On November 8, 1999, the crimes turned to serial killing in a dark alley in Los Angeles, California. Both women were in their 70s. PART 2 of 2

The Granny Grifter$ - Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt

Wed, 26 Oct 2022 05:00:30 GMT

Meet Helen Golay and Olga Rutterschmidt. For years they have been con artists: credit card fraud, petty theft, shady real estate deals, extortion, and bogus personal injury claims. On November 8, 1999, their crimes turned to serial killing in a dark alley in Los Angeles, California. Both women were in their 70s. Part 1 of 2.

The Vital Lesson in Daisy's Suicide & The Culture of Sexual Assault

Mon, 24 Oct 2022 05:01:27 GMT

On August 4, 2020, Daisy Coleman, an activist against sexual violence, subject of a documentary and rape survivor, committed suicide. Sexual assault has been made a “girl’s problem” - why? What can we do to change this culture? (Please note: this is not a generalization of all males, but based on numerous studies through the last 20 years by various professionals. Best True Crime understands and acknowledges not all males sexually assault females.)

Cora Hubbard -The First Lady of Bank Robbery Part 2 of 2

Fri, 21 Oct 2022 05:01:09 GMT

It’s the wild, wild west as we ride along with the first woman who ever robbed a bank: Cora Hubbard, who relieved the McDonald County Bank in Pineville, Missouri, of $589.23 on August 17, 1897. Her story is chock-full of guns, horses, cussin’, and a slouch hat. Part 2 of 2.

Cora Hubbard - The First Lady of Bank Robbery Part 1 of 2

Wed, 19 Oct 2022 05:00:26 GMT

Advance of the fencing coach -Keeping children en garde. Part 2 of 2

Mon, 17 Oct 2022 05:00:36 GMT

Robert Piraino was an award-winning fencing coach in Nashville TN with a stellar reputation. Now, he has been accused of sexual assault against minors. How can we teach our children to report sexual abuse? Part 2 of 2.

Advance of the fencing coach -Keeping children en garde part 1 of 2

Fri, 14 Oct 2022 05:00:57 GMT

Robert Piraino was an award-winning fencing coach in Nashville, Tennessee with a stellar reputation. Now, he has been accused of sexual assault against a minor. Is he innocent or guilty? And how can we teach our children to report sexual abuse?

Argentina’s 7-year-old Serial Killer

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 05:00:17 GMT

Santos Godino was seven years old when his crime spree began with attempted murder. Torture, murder, arson, and sadism were his specialties until he was beaten to death at age 48.

The 1,0366 Pound False Confession

Mon, 10 Oct 2022 05:00:30 GMT

1,036 pound Mayra Rosales confessed to the murder of her nephew. Did she kill two-year-old Eliseo by falling on him? Or was there more to the big story?

Death by Poodle

Fri, 07 Oct 2022 05:00:47 GMT

Three people and a dog were killed in a strange chain of events, The story is true. It starts with a poodle and ends in a Buenos Aires hospital morgue.

When An Angel Met the Devil on Easter Sunday Part 2 of 2

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 05:00:33 GMT

On Easter Sunday 2013, 92-year-old Carmalita Kaser came face to face with the devil in the guise of two career criminals. What happened next was a horrific event that should have mobilized people into action. But it didn't. Why not?

When An Angel Met the Devil on Easter Sunday part 1 of 2

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 05:01:07 GMT

The Most Evil Female Serial Killer You Never Heard Of: part 3 of 3

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 05:00:40 GMT

For over ten years, Carolann Smith kept secrets. They funded her fancy car and elegant clothing during the most financially depressed time in American history. Until police dug up her backyard based on a tip and rumors from her neighbors. And what they found in the basement would lead to a haunted legend that exists to this day...

The Most Evil Female Serial Killer You Never Heard Of: part 2 of 3

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 05:01:02 GMT

The Most Evil Female Serial Killer You Never Heard Of: part 1 of 3

Mon, 26 Sep 2022 05:00:28 GMT

Victim Blaming / Victim Shaming - Reporting Sexual Assault

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 03:32:58 GMT

Why do so few rapists go to court? Why is sexual assault not taken seriously? Why are sex crime least likely to be reported? Perhaps it's because of what we are telling women.

The Angel Maker From Hell

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 18:43:51 GMT

“I have the fattest pigs in the district!” Marianna Skooblinnska would brag. “I give them the best feed!” Travel to 1890 in Warsaw, Russia to a chapter in history of children’s legal rights - and meet a diabolical "Angel Maker"whose pigs feasted on human flesh.

Nobody Wins -The Jackpot, Parole & Shannon’s Murder

Thu, 15 Dec 2022 06:01:03 GMT

On April 18, 1996, wife and mother, Shannon Sanderson hit the jackpot at a casino in Tunica, Mississippi. And then she just- disappeared. Did her luck run out because the courts allowed a dangerous man on the street? This is a BONUS only for PATRONS ONLY.

Cancel Halloween? The Truth About Crime on Oct. 31 & What You Can Do About It

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 10:10:17 GMT

Razor blades in apples? Acid tabs in candy bars? Learn how history, media, and true crime contributed to “Halloween sadism.” Is it fair to say Halloween is no longer safe for kids? Let's dump our trick or treat bags and see...