https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lost-crime-history--7194417enTrue Crime© 2026 OBOMEDIA Creatorshttps://d3wo5wojvuv7l.cloudfront.net/t_rss_itunes_square_1400/images.spreaker.com/original/60df3ed65c0d7104cb1fc3198ed968bd.jpghttps://www.spreaker.com/podcast/lost-crime-history--7194417Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:00:48 +0000Creator at ObomediaCreator at Obomediacreators@obomedia.comLost Crime History peels back the dust on the world’s most baffling historical crimes and the forgotten threads that tie them together. Each episode uncovers overlooked evidence, period detail, and the cultural context that turned ordinary deeds into...false65aee315-2822-5c57-9dec-430800aabb37episodichttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-body-at-the-door-the-murder-of-amanda-nelson--73080476
An Albuquerque wool broker's agent is found face-down on the caliche step of a small freight office on February 11, 1947, her handbag untouched with $41 and a letter of introduction still clasped inside - yet the medical evidence shows she was killed inside and carried out. The single anomaly in her passport - two U.S. entry stamps from Mexico on February 4 and February 7, 1947, with no exit between them - becomes the thread that unravels who staged the scene and why. Who used that impossible passport stamp to hide a motive for murder?

In this episode, you will hear the facts of the case as recorded at the scene, learn the professional role Amanda Nelson occupied in the Southwest wool trade, and follow the initial investigation led by Special Investigator Christine Fisher that pivots on ledger discrepancies and an odd passport. How did a sixty-two-year-old who read freight contracts like newspapers end up murdered after confronting a local freight agent?

Person: Amanda Nelson
Date: February 11, 1947
Location: Corda Falls, New Mexico
Person: Paul Ward
Person: Christine Fisher

- Amanda Nelson was 62 years old and worked as a wool broker's agent.
- Nelson's handbag contained $41 and a letter of introduction and was found fastened and undisturbed.
- She was struck once at the base of the skull with a heavy smooth object between 10:00 PM on February 10 and 2:00 AM on February 11, 1947.
- Amanda's passport, issued in 1943, bore two U.S. entry stamps from Mexico dated February 4 and February 7, 1947, with no recorded departure.
- Paul Ward, 38, the Vega Transit manager in Corda Falls, was confronted by Nelson on February 7 about systematic over-declaration of wool bale weights.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080476Tue, 27 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Body at the Door: The Murder of Amanda Nelson An Albuquerque wool broker's agent is found face-down on the caliche step of a small freight office on February 11, 1947, her handbag untouched with $41 and a letter of introduction still clasped...
An Albuquerque wool broker's agent is found face-down on the caliche step of a small freight office on February 11, 1947, her handbag untouched with $41 and a letter of introduction still clasped inside - yet the medical evidence shows she was killed inside and carried out. The single anomaly in her passport - two U.S. entry stamps from Mexico on February 4 and February 7, 1947, with no exit between them - becomes the thread that unravels who staged the scene and why. Who used that impossible passport stamp to hide a motive for murder?

In this episode, you will hear the facts of the case as recorded at the scene, learn the professional role Amanda Nelson occupied in the Southwest wool trade, and follow the initial investigation led by Special Investigator Christine Fisher that pivots on ledger discrepancies and an odd passport. How did a sixty-two-year-old who read freight contracts like newspapers end up murdered after confronting a local freight agent?

Person: Amanda Nelson
Date: February 11, 1947
Location: Corda Falls, New Mexico
Person: Paul Ward
Person: Christine Fisher

- Amanda Nelson was 62 years old and worked as a wool broker's agent.
- Nelson's handbag contained $41 and a letter of introduction and was found fastened and undisturbed.
- She was struck once at the base of the skull with a heavy smooth object between 10:00 PM on February 10 and 2:00 AM on February 11, 1947.
- Amanda's passport, issued in 1943, bore two U.S. entry stamps from Mexico dated February 4 and February 7, 1947, with no recorded departure.
- Paul Ward, 38, the Vega Transit manager in Corda Falls, was confronted by Nelson on February 7 about systematic over-declaration of wool bale weights.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1468falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cold-brand-in-the-mud-why-did-he-press-it--73080475
A cattle brand was pressed four inches deep into frozen mud at Garnet Creek without any scorch, smell, or heat - the double-bar J sat there like a deliberate question. A twenty-four-year-old bookkeeper named Emily Casey was found face-down in eighteen inches of water ten feet away; the county physician ruled accidental drowning, but that ruling sat unread for eight days. Who pressed the cold iron into the mud, and why did that mark outlive every easy explanation?

In this episode, we tell the events that unfolded after Emily Casey's death and how a clerical dispute revealed inconsistencies in land transfers tied to Thomas Hale's north-fork consolidation. You will hear how Marcia Rogers discovered forged signatures and the notary common to multiple suspicious lease transfers, and the unanswered puzzle that haunted confessions and investigators alike.

Person: Emily Casey
Date: January 8, 1883
Location: Garnet Creek, Harlan Flat, Kansas
Age: 24
Case: Accidental drowning ruled by county physician

- The brand iron impression was pressed four inches deep into frozen mud with a perfectly formed double-bar J and no signs of heat.
- Emily Casey was found face-down in eighteen inches of water approximately ten feet from the brand impression.
- The county physician Dr. Albert Voss ruled her death accidental and his report remained unread at the sheriff's office for eight days.
- Marcia Rogers discovered a lease transfer signed September 14, 1882, for Frank Dodd despite his recorded presence in Topeka on September 13 and 15, 110 miles away.
- Three separate lease transfers within a sixty-day window in autumn 1882 all bore the same notary stamp of William Cope, mercantile, First Street.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080475Mon, 26 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Cold Brand in the Mud: Why Did He Press It? A cattle brand was pressed four inches deep into frozen mud at Garnet Creek without any scorch, smell, or heat - the double-bar J sat there like a deliberate question. A twenty-four-year-old...
A cattle brand was pressed four inches deep into frozen mud at Garnet Creek without any scorch, smell, or heat - the double-bar J sat there like a deliberate question. A twenty-four-year-old bookkeeper named Emily Casey was found face-down in eighteen inches of water ten feet away; the county physician ruled accidental drowning, but that ruling sat unread for eight days. Who pressed the cold iron into the mud, and why did that mark outlive every easy explanation?

In this episode, we tell the events that unfolded after Emily Casey's death and how a clerical dispute revealed inconsistencies in land transfers tied to Thomas Hale's north-fork consolidation. You will hear how Marcia Rogers discovered forged signatures and the notary common to multiple suspicious lease transfers, and the unanswered puzzle that haunted confessions and investigators alike.

Person: Emily Casey
Date: January 8, 1883
Location: Garnet Creek, Harlan Flat, Kansas
Age: 24
Case: Accidental drowning ruled by county physician

- The brand iron impression was pressed four inches deep into frozen mud with a perfectly formed double-bar J and no signs of heat.
- Emily Casey was found face-down in eighteen inches of water approximately ten feet from the brand impression.
- The county physician Dr. Albert Voss ruled her death accidental and his report remained unread at the sheriff's office for eight days.
- Marcia Rogers discovered a lease transfer signed September 14, 1882, for Frank Dodd despite his recorded presence in Topeka on September 13 and 15, 110 miles away.
- Three separate lease transfers within a sixty-day window in autumn 1882 all bore the same notary stamp of William Cope, mercantile, First Street.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1380falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-ivory-glove-how-a-dockhand-s-notes-unmasked-aconite-murder--73080474
A meticulously placed ivory silk glove on a dead clerk's chest and a ceramic bowl that didn't belong to the shop hint at a planned poisoning that went unchallenged for fifty years; who arranged the glove, who brought the bowl, and why did the official ruling call it a cardiac episode? The case pivots on a dropped syllable, a green notebook and a dying man's written confession-what did those notes reveal that the coroner did not?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of discoveries: the scene on Peking Alley, the missing Thursdays that broke a four‑year routine, the ledger and laboratory records that pointed in different directions, and the single trace alkaloid found in degraded remains-what question finally forced the original ruling to be rethought?

Person: John Casey, age 47
Date: December 9, 1923
Location: Pacific Herb and Tea storeroom, Peking Alley
Person: Theodore Voss, consulting chemist (laboratory notes in University of California archive)
Event: Human remains reported at Pier 38 on December 28, 1923 (trace alkaloid found)

- The body of John Casey, age 47, was found December 9, 1923, in the back storeroom of Pacific Herb and Tea on Peking Alley.
- An ivory silk evening glove was placed on Casey’s chest with fingers pointing toward his chin and the wrist cuffed back.
- Casey had missed his weekly Thursday visit to Albert Nance on November 22 and November 29 after attending on November 15; he had kept that Thursday ritual for four years.
- A ceramic bowl not belonging to the shop was found near the body and carried a smell noted by Detective Brian Miller as matching restricted plant preparations.
- Remains reported December 28, 1923 at Pier 38 yielded a trace alkaloid per consulting chemist Theodore Voss, while the coroner initially ruled Casey’s death a cardiac episode linked to an herbal preparation.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080474Sun, 25 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Ivory Glove: How a Dockhand's Notes Unmasked Aconite Murder A meticulously placed ivory silk glove on a dead clerk's chest and a ceramic bowl that didn't belong to the shop hint at a planned poisoning that went unchallenged for fifty years; who...
A meticulously placed ivory silk glove on a dead clerk's chest and a ceramic bowl that didn't belong to the shop hint at a planned poisoning that went unchallenged for fifty years; who arranged the glove, who brought the bowl, and why did the official ruling call it a cardiac episode? The case pivots on a dropped syllable, a green notebook and a dying man's written confession-what did those notes reveal that the coroner did not?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of discoveries: the scene on Peking Alley, the missing Thursdays that broke a four‑year routine, the ledger and laboratory records that pointed in different directions, and the single trace alkaloid found in degraded remains-what question finally forced the original ruling to be rethought?

Person: John Casey, age 47
Date: December 9, 1923
Location: Pacific Herb and Tea storeroom, Peking Alley
Person: Theodore Voss, consulting chemist (laboratory notes in University of California archive)
Event: Human remains reported at Pier 38 on December 28, 1923 (trace alkaloid found)

- The body of John Casey, age 47, was found December 9, 1923, in the back storeroom of Pacific Herb and Tea on Peking Alley.
- An ivory silk evening glove was placed on Casey’s chest with fingers pointing toward his chin and the wrist cuffed back.
- Casey had missed his weekly Thursday visit to Albert Nance on November 22 and November 29 after attending on November 15; he had kept that Thursday ritual for four years.
- A ceramic bowl not belonging to the shop was found near the body and carried a smell noted by Detective Brian Miller as matching restricted plant preparations.
- Remains reported December 28, 1923 at Pier 38 yielded a trace alkaloid per consulting chemist Theodore Voss, while the coroner initially ruled Casey’s death a cardiac episode linked to an herbal preparation.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1436falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-death-certificate-was-written-before-she-arrived-who-knew--73080473
The ink analysis done more than eighty years later showed the cause of death on Monica York’s certificate was written before she ever arrived at Harrow Crest, a private sanatorium where every temperature log and signature looked “exactly right.” Who in that building knew how she would die, and why was a scheduled legal meeting erased eleven days before her death?

In this episode, we follow the morning of November 15, 1908, as county forensic investigator David Schmidt walks into Harrow Crest and confronts a death that reads like paperwork and feels like architecture, asking whether the records conceal intent or coincidence. What happened between Monica’s arrival on November 4 and her death that makes the documents the most suspicious evidence?

Person: Monica York
Date: November 15, 1908
Location: Harrow Crest Sanatorium, Aldermere, Maine
Person: David Schmidt
Person: Franklin York

- Monica York arrived at Harrow Crest on November 4, 1908, and died on November 15, 1908.
- An ink analysis more than eighty years later showed the cause of death was written on the death certificate before Monica arrived.
- Monica had a scheduled meeting with attorney Thomas Wick on November 14, 1908, which did not occur because a cancellation letter dated November 7 bore her signature.
- Franklin York made his only documented visit to Harrow Crest on November 6, 1908.
- Dr. Aldous Fenn’s medical license had been suspended in 1905 and restored in 1907; he produced the admissions records to David Schmidt the morning of November 15, 1908.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080473Sat, 24 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Death Certificate Was Written Before She Arrived-Who Knew? The ink analysis done more than eighty years later showed the cause of death on Monica York’s certificate was written before she ever arrived at Harrow Crest, a private sanatorium where...
The ink analysis done more than eighty years later showed the cause of death on Monica York’s certificate was written before she ever arrived at Harrow Crest, a private sanatorium where every temperature log and signature looked “exactly right.” Who in that building knew how she would die, and why was a scheduled legal meeting erased eleven days before her death?

In this episode, we follow the morning of November 15, 1908, as county forensic investigator David Schmidt walks into Harrow Crest and confronts a death that reads like paperwork and feels like architecture, asking whether the records conceal intent or coincidence. What happened between Monica’s arrival on November 4 and her death that makes the documents the most suspicious evidence?

Person: Monica York
Date: November 15, 1908
Location: Harrow Crest Sanatorium, Aldermere, Maine
Person: David Schmidt
Person: Franklin York

- Monica York arrived at Harrow Crest on November 4, 1908, and died on November 15, 1908.
- An ink analysis more than eighty years later showed the cause of death was written on the death certificate before Monica arrived.
- Monica had a scheduled meeting with attorney Thomas Wick on November 14, 1908, which did not occur because a cancellation letter dated November 7 bore her signature.
- Franklin York made his only documented visit to Harrow Crest on November 6, 1908.
- Dr. Aldous Fenn’s medical license had been suspended in 1905 and restored in 1907; he produced the admissions records to David Schmidt the morning of November 15, 1908.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1470falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-missing-oxford-how-a-single-shoe-uncovered-a-murder--73080472
A perfectly clean size-seven brown oxford sat upright on a culvert lip in ninety-four-degree Salton Flats heat, toe pointing east and with a 1929 dime wedged beside it - and the woman who wore it had already been buried two days earlier as a heatstroke victim. What one shoe, a dog named Biscuit, and an unnoticed detail about a bee-sting sensation in a left arm could reveal about a closed death raises the question: how did a routine medical report miss the signs of something else?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from the camp tent where Diane Schmidt disappeared through the county paperwork that closed her case, to the discovery of the shoe and the woman who recognized its double-knotted laces. We trace how small, verifiable facts - a missing shoe, a dime, a volunteer record, and an eight-minute examination - forced investigators to reopen a death that had been ruled heatstroke.

Person: Diane Schmidt
Date: October 9, 1937
Location: Salton Flats near Ridgecrest
Case: Initially ruled heatstroke; later investigation prompted by shoe discovery
Witness: Helen Voss (recognized double-knotted laces)

- Diane Schmidt was fifty-two years old and had been on the migrant circuit for ten years after her husband's hardware business collapsed in 1930.
- Diane wrote a letter to her daughter Evelyn every other Saturday for fourteen months without missing a single entry.
- Diane volunteered every Wednesday noon to four at the camp's Sick Tent for fourteen months with no absences.
- Physician's assistant Donald Faber spent approximately eight minutes with Diane on October 7, recorded a temperature of 104°F, and concluded heatstroke; he did not examine her inner forearms.
- On October 9, Troy Powell's dog Biscuit led him to a size-seven brown oxford with double-knotted laces and a 1929 dime wedged in a crack; the shoe had been found upright on a concrete culvert lip.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080472Fri, 23 Oct 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Missing Oxford: How a Single Shoe Uncovered a Murder A perfectly clean size-seven brown oxford sat upright on a culvert lip in ninety-four-degree Salton Flats heat, toe pointing east and with a 1929 dime wedged beside it - and the woman who...
A perfectly clean size-seven brown oxford sat upright on a culvert lip in ninety-four-degree Salton Flats heat, toe pointing east and with a 1929 dime wedged beside it - and the woman who wore it had already been buried two days earlier as a heatstroke victim. What one shoe, a dog named Biscuit, and an unnoticed detail about a bee-sting sensation in a left arm could reveal about a closed death raises the question: how did a routine medical report miss the signs of something else?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from the camp tent where Diane Schmidt disappeared through the county paperwork that closed her case, to the discovery of the shoe and the woman who recognized its double-knotted laces. We trace how small, verifiable facts - a missing shoe, a dime, a volunteer record, and an eight-minute examination - forced investigators to reopen a death that had been ruled heatstroke.

Person: Diane Schmidt
Date: October 9, 1937
Location: Salton Flats near Ridgecrest
Case: Initially ruled heatstroke; later investigation prompted by shoe discovery
Witness: Helen Voss (recognized double-knotted laces)

- Diane Schmidt was fifty-two years old and had been on the migrant circuit for ten years after her husband's hardware business collapsed in 1930.
- Diane wrote a letter to her daughter Evelyn every other Saturday for fourteen months without missing a single entry.
- Diane volunteered every Wednesday noon to four at the camp's Sick Tent for fourteen months with no absences.
- Physician's assistant Donald Faber spent approximately eight minutes with Diane on October 7, recorded a temperature of 104°F, and concluded heatstroke; he did not examine her inner forearms.
- On October 9, Troy Powell's dog Biscuit led him to a size-seven brown oxford with double-knotted laces and a 1929 dime wedged in a crack; the shoe had been found upright on a concrete culvert lip.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1366falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-relay-ledger-who-wrote-bell-s-final-night-messages--73080471
A bound railroad ledger washed up in the Salla River with brass clips unrusted and pages still legible-yet the last entries were not written in Edward Bell’s hand. The ledger, recovered two miles south of Harmon's Ford on September 9, 1893, contains three outgoing transmissions at 11 p.m., including one to a decommissioned Lynnville freight code-who else could have keyed Bell’s final messages?

In this episode, we follow the discovery of the ledger, the state in which Marshal Ira Spence found Bell, and the analysis by Midland Continental detective Stanley Walsh that points to an unfamiliar hand on the night entries. What do those three transmissions and the misplaced station key reveal about Bell’s disappearance and death?

Person: Edward Bell
Date: September 7-9, 1893
Location: Cass Hollow relay station; ledger found 2 miles south of Harmon's Ford on the Salla River
Investigator: Stanley Walsh, Midland Continental security detective
Observer: Connie Padgett, found ledger at ~08:00 on September 9

- The ledger was wrapped in oilskin, brass clips unrusted, pages damp but legible.
- Edward Bell had been the relay operator at Cass Hollow for 19 years and was 44 years old.
- The station key was hanging on the outside hook despite Bell's habit of locking from inside and carrying the key.
- An iron counterweight on Bell’s desk showed signs of recent cleaning and was found back in place.
- At 11:00 p.m. on September 6 the log’s handwriting changed and recorded three outgoing transmissions with no incoming acknowledgments.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080471Thu, 22 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Relay Ledger: Who Wrote Bell's Final Night Messages? A bound railroad ledger washed up in the Salla River with brass clips unrusted and pages still legible-yet the last entries were not written in Edward Bell’s hand. The ledger, recovered two...
A bound railroad ledger washed up in the Salla River with brass clips unrusted and pages still legible-yet the last entries were not written in Edward Bell’s hand. The ledger, recovered two miles south of Harmon's Ford on September 9, 1893, contains three outgoing transmissions at 11 p.m., including one to a decommissioned Lynnville freight code-who else could have keyed Bell’s final messages?

In this episode, we follow the discovery of the ledger, the state in which Marshal Ira Spence found Bell, and the analysis by Midland Continental detective Stanley Walsh that points to an unfamiliar hand on the night entries. What do those three transmissions and the misplaced station key reveal about Bell’s disappearance and death?

Person: Edward Bell
Date: September 7-9, 1893
Location: Cass Hollow relay station; ledger found 2 miles south of Harmon's Ford on the Salla River
Investigator: Stanley Walsh, Midland Continental security detective
Observer: Connie Padgett, found ledger at ~08:00 on September 9

- The ledger was wrapped in oilskin, brass clips unrusted, pages damp but legible.
- Edward Bell had been the relay operator at Cass Hollow for 19 years and was 44 years old.
- The station key was hanging on the outside hook despite Bell's habit of locking from inside and carrying the key.
- An iron counterweight on Bell’s desk showed signs of recent cleaning and was found back in place.
- At 11:00 p.m. on September 6 the log’s handwriting changed and recorded three outgoing transmissions with no incoming acknowledgments.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1402falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-handbag-left-upright-how-a-cleaned-clue-broke-a-killer-s-alibi--73080470
A cleaned navy patent-leather handbag was found upright in a nearly dry culvert, wiped of fingerprints and smelling faintly of petroleum-left as if placed on a shelf rather than dropped. Who deliberately cleaned and set down Brenda Gray’s bag where moving water would likely carry it away, and what does that deliberate choice reveal about the timeline of her disappearance?

In this episode, we present the known facts of Brenda Gray’s disappearance, the discovery of her handbag, and the early detective work that followed, including the routes a detective drove to reconstruct her last movements. How did a single cleaned handbag and a sixteen-mile gap in a suspect’s records become the hinge that opened this case?

Person: Brenda Gray
Date: August 11-14, 1953
Location: Sundown Motor Court culvert, Harwick County
Case: Missing person turned homicide investigation
Investigator: Detective Kenneth Donnelly

- A navy patent-leather handbag was found upright in a drainage culvert on August 14, 1953, by county surveyor Grant Fleming.
- The bag contained undisturbed items: a lipstick, a change purse, a laminated identification card, and a Greyhound bus schedule folded until the paper was soft.
- The exterior of the handbag had been wiped clean and smelled faintly of petroleum on the clasp, handle, and bottom.
- Brenda Gray had purchased a one-way Greyhound ticket to Indianapolis on the evening of August 11, paid in exact coins, and asked twice whether the bus stopped at Callum.
- A man named Robert Sheridan checked into Unit 4 of the Sundown Motor Court on Sunday, August 10, paying cash for two nights.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080470Wed, 21 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Handbag Left Upright: How a Cleaned Clue Broke a Killer's Alibi A cleaned navy patent-leather handbag was found upright in a nearly dry culvert, wiped of fingerprints and smelling faintly of petroleum-left as if placed on a shelf rather than...
A cleaned navy patent-leather handbag was found upright in a nearly dry culvert, wiped of fingerprints and smelling faintly of petroleum-left as if placed on a shelf rather than dropped. Who deliberately cleaned and set down Brenda Gray’s bag where moving water would likely carry it away, and what does that deliberate choice reveal about the timeline of her disappearance?

In this episode, we present the known facts of Brenda Gray’s disappearance, the discovery of her handbag, and the early detective work that followed, including the routes a detective drove to reconstruct her last movements. How did a single cleaned handbag and a sixteen-mile gap in a suspect’s records become the hinge that opened this case?

Person: Brenda Gray
Date: August 11-14, 1953
Location: Sundown Motor Court culvert, Harwick County
Case: Missing person turned homicide investigation
Investigator: Detective Kenneth Donnelly

- A navy patent-leather handbag was found upright in a drainage culvert on August 14, 1953, by county surveyor Grant Fleming.
- The bag contained undisturbed items: a lipstick, a change purse, a laminated identification card, and a Greyhound bus schedule folded until the paper was soft.
- The exterior of the handbag had been wiped clean and smelled faintly of petroleum on the clasp, handle, and bottom.
- Brenda Gray had purchased a one-way Greyhound ticket to Indianapolis on the evening of August 11, paid in exact coins, and asked twice whether the bus stopped at Callum.
- A man named Robert Sheridan checked into Unit 4 of the Sundown Motor Court on Sunday, August 10, paying cash for two nights.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1468falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-grave-holds-the-answer-the-murder-of-tammy-young--73080469
A photograph dug from fourteen inches of earth showed a seated woman, a July calendar with the sixteenth visible, and a head tilted at an angle no living person holds for long - yet the woman had been missing nine days. How did a single buried glass plate, found behind a rooming house, become the pivot of an investigation that depended on one man’s refusal to look at it?

In this episode, we tell what was discovered in the trench behind the Pfeiffer rooming house and how Deputy George Underwood traced the image back to room seven at the Glendale Hotel; we follow the timeline from Tammy Young’s arrival on July 3 to the plate’s discovery on July 14, and ask whether the calendar date in the photograph holds the key to what happened.

Person: Tammy Young
Date: July 3-14, 1922
Location: Pfeiffer rooming house / Glendale Hotel, Harwick Flats
Person: George Underwood
Person: Howard Olson

- The glass photographic plate measured four inches by five and was wrapped in oilcloth tied with twine.
- The plate was recovered from a trench dug to a depth of fourteen inches behind the Pfeiffer house on July 14, 1922.
- Tammy Young checked into room seven of the Glendale Hotel on July 3, 1922, paid in advance, and was fifty-four years old.
- Tammy Young signed inheritance transfer documents at approximately 2:00 p.m, on July 5, 1922, at Clifton Harp’s office.
- A man matching Howard Olson’s description was seen speaking with Tammy Young in room seven at approximately 3:00 p.m, on July 5, 1922.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080469Tue, 20 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Grave Holds the Answer: The Murder of Tammy Young A photograph dug from fourteen inches of earth showed a seated woman, a July calendar with the sixteenth visible, and a head tilted at an angle no living person holds for long - yet the woman had...
A photograph dug from fourteen inches of earth showed a seated woman, a July calendar with the sixteenth visible, and a head tilted at an angle no living person holds for long - yet the woman had been missing nine days. How did a single buried glass plate, found behind a rooming house, become the pivot of an investigation that depended on one man’s refusal to look at it?

In this episode, we tell what was discovered in the trench behind the Pfeiffer rooming house and how Deputy George Underwood traced the image back to room seven at the Glendale Hotel; we follow the timeline from Tammy Young’s arrival on July 3 to the plate’s discovery on July 14, and ask whether the calendar date in the photograph holds the key to what happened.

Person: Tammy Young
Date: July 3-14, 1922
Location: Pfeiffer rooming house / Glendale Hotel, Harwick Flats
Person: George Underwood
Person: Howard Olson

- The glass photographic plate measured four inches by five and was wrapped in oilcloth tied with twine.
- The plate was recovered from a trench dug to a depth of fourteen inches behind the Pfeiffer house on July 14, 1922.
- Tammy Young checked into room seven of the Glendale Hotel on July 3, 1922, paid in advance, and was fifty-four years old.
- Tammy Young signed inheritance transfer documents at approximately 2:00 p.m, on July 5, 1922, at Clifton Harp’s office.
- A man matching Howard Olson’s description was seen speaking with Tammy Young in room seven at approximately 3:00 p.m, on July 5, 1922.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1089falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-ledger-that-framed-her-how-a-planted-book-proved-murder--73080468
Fear and fascination collide: a small ledger deliberately placed beneath a drowned woman’s body turned a supposed suicide into a framed murder, and a photograph taken by a birdwatcher would take fifty-five years to make sense. Who planted the ledger, and why did the evidence that seemed to condemn Jennifer Whitaker ultimately expose her killer?

In this episode, we follow the physical clues, witness statements, and archival records that shaped the case and the question that haunted investigators for decades: could a single planted book carry enough intent to both ruin a reputation and reveal a murderer?

Person: Jennifer Whitaker
Age: 22
Person: Kenneth Simmons
Location: Crane Creek
Date: June 14, 1926

- Body found half-submerged in eight inches of water, face down, left arm extended toward the opposite bank.
- Ledger stamped with Kenneth Simmons’s name found pressed flat against the creek bed beneath the body.
- Birdwatcher Kimberly Tillman discovered the body at 4:40 AM while looking for a cerulean warbler.
- Sycamore Tap east door led forty yards across packed dirt and a gravel berm to Crane Creek.
- Sycamore Tap out-time logged at 1:15 AM with a later-added note “E. door secured, 1:20” written in a different, newer ink.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080468Mon, 19 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Ledger That Framed Her: How a Planted Book Proved Murder Fear and fascination collide: a small ledger deliberately placed beneath a drowned woman’s body turned a supposed suicide into a framed murder, and a photograph taken by a birdwatcher...
Fear and fascination collide: a small ledger deliberately placed beneath a drowned woman’s body turned a supposed suicide into a framed murder, and a photograph taken by a birdwatcher would take fifty-five years to make sense. Who planted the ledger, and why did the evidence that seemed to condemn Jennifer Whitaker ultimately expose her killer?

In this episode, we follow the physical clues, witness statements, and archival records that shaped the case and the question that haunted investigators for decades: could a single planted book carry enough intent to both ruin a reputation and reveal a murderer?

Person: Jennifer Whitaker
Age: 22
Person: Kenneth Simmons
Location: Crane Creek
Date: June 14, 1926

- Body found half-submerged in eight inches of water, face down, left arm extended toward the opposite bank.
- Ledger stamped with Kenneth Simmons’s name found pressed flat against the creek bed beneath the body.
- Birdwatcher Kimberly Tillman discovered the body at 4:40 AM while looking for a cerulean warbler.
- Sycamore Tap east door led forty yards across packed dirt and a gravel berm to Crane Creek.
- Sycamore Tap out-time logged at 1:15 AM with a later-added note “E. door secured, 1:20” written in a different, newer ink.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1313falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-envelope-and-the-night-a-man-was-framed--73080467
Fear of a precise routine turned lethal: a sealed, bone-dry envelope propped against a damp corpse in the grass, a burned corner that almost destroyed the only message, and a man found dead the morning after he should have been home by ten. Who placed that dry letter and why would it take eighty-three years to explain?

In this episode, we tell the facts of the case as recorded on the morning of May 9, 1905, from the discovery through the first interviews and physical evidence, asking what the dry envelope, the scorch marks, and an altered route really reveal about who framed whom.

Person: Norman Vogel
Date: May 9, 1905
Location: 44 Pelham Street, Garrick, Ohio
Age: 38
Occupation: Loom-fixer at the Garrick Woolen Company

- Body discovered at 6:15 a.m, by 14-year-old Erin Chambers.
- Envelope propped upright against Vogel’s right boot was completely dry while grass and clothing were damp with overnight dew.
- Letter inside was 12 lines long, unsigned, accused someone over an $11.30 lodging debt, and Clara Pittman said it was not Vogel’s handwriting.
- Three small brown scorch marks appeared on the envelope’s upper-left corner, consistent with brief proximity to an open flame per coroner Dr. Alton Briggs.
- Detective Jerry Watson’s notebook records that Vogel had a valid Route Seven transit card in his breast pocket, indicating he took the longer route home that night.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080467Sun, 18 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Envelope and the Night a Man Was Framed Fear of a precise routine turned lethal: a sealed, bone-dry envelope propped against a damp corpse in the grass, a burned corner that almost destroyed the only message, and a man found dead the...
Fear of a precise routine turned lethal: a sealed, bone-dry envelope propped against a damp corpse in the grass, a burned corner that almost destroyed the only message, and a man found dead the morning after he should have been home by ten. Who placed that dry letter and why would it take eighty-three years to explain?

In this episode, we tell the facts of the case as recorded on the morning of May 9, 1905, from the discovery through the first interviews and physical evidence, asking what the dry envelope, the scorch marks, and an altered route really reveal about who framed whom.

Person: Norman Vogel
Date: May 9, 1905
Location: 44 Pelham Street, Garrick, Ohio
Age: 38
Occupation: Loom-fixer at the Garrick Woolen Company

- Body discovered at 6:15 a.m, by 14-year-old Erin Chambers.
- Envelope propped upright against Vogel’s right boot was completely dry while grass and clothing were damp with overnight dew.
- Letter inside was 12 lines long, unsigned, accused someone over an $11.30 lodging debt, and Clara Pittman said it was not Vogel’s handwriting.
- Three small brown scorch marks appeared on the envelope’s upper-left corner, consistent with brief proximity to an open flame per coroner Dr. Alton Briggs.
- Detective Jerry Watson’s notebook records that Vogel had a valid Route Seven transit card in his breast pocket, indicating he took the longer route home that night.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1480falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-badge-that-lied-how-a-foreman-vanished-behind-factory-gates--73080466
Fear crept through wartime routine when badge number 41 was logged at 6:53 PM on March 9, 1943-yet the man it belonged to never left the plant alive. A sixty-two-year-old foreman vanished for thirty-six days while his badge hung on its peg; who walked that badge through the gate and why did every safeguard fail to notice?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of official logs, eyewitness accounts, and the coroner’s painstaking work to answer how a routine sign-out concealed a murder and a cover-up. What small detail allowed a killer to hide in plain sight until a road grader operator found the body?

Person: Roy Dixon
Date: March 9, 1943
Location: Halverson Brake Company, Dellfield, Ohio
Case: Badge number 41 logged at 6:53 PM; body found April 14 on Route Nine
Person: Troy Osborne

- Badge number 41 was hung on its peg at the Halverson Brake gatehouse at 6:53 PM on March 9, 1943.
- Roy Dixon was sixty-two years old and had worked at Halverson Brake since spring 1941.
- Connie Marsh saw Dixon and Troy Osborne near the rear gate at approximately 6:30 PM on the evening of March 9.
- Roy Dixon’s remains were pulled from a drainage ditch on Route Nine approximately thirty-six days later, around April 14.
- The weapon was a heavy pipe wrench disposed of in a plant scrap bin on March 12 and melted at a Youngstown foundry before investigators began looking.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080466Sat, 17 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Badge That Lied: How a Foreman Vanished Behind Factory Gates Fear crept through wartime routine when badge number 41 was logged at 6:53 PM on March 9, 1943-yet the man it belonged to never left the plant alive. A sixty-two-year-old foreman...
Fear crept through wartime routine when badge number 41 was logged at 6:53 PM on March 9, 1943-yet the man it belonged to never left the plant alive. A sixty-two-year-old foreman vanished for thirty-six days while his badge hung on its peg; who walked that badge through the gate and why did every safeguard fail to notice?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of official logs, eyewitness accounts, and the coroner’s painstaking work to answer how a routine sign-out concealed a murder and a cover-up. What small detail allowed a killer to hide in plain sight until a road grader operator found the body?

Person: Roy Dixon
Date: March 9, 1943
Location: Halverson Brake Company, Dellfield, Ohio
Case: Badge number 41 logged at 6:53 PM; body found April 14 on Route Nine
Person: Troy Osborne

- Badge number 41 was hung on its peg at the Halverson Brake gatehouse at 6:53 PM on March 9, 1943.
- Roy Dixon was sixty-two years old and had worked at Halverson Brake since spring 1941.
- Connie Marsh saw Dixon and Troy Osborne near the rear gate at approximately 6:30 PM on the evening of March 9.
- Roy Dixon’s remains were pulled from a drainage ditch on Route Nine approximately thirty-six days later, around April 14.
- The weapon was a heavy pipe wrench disposed of in a plant scrap bin on March 12 and melted at a Youngstown foundry before investigators began looking.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1543falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/upright-cup-locked-cellar-the-arsenic-secret-of-denton-township--73080464
Fear and curiosity collide: a white porcelain cup upright in the dirt, a padlocked cellar door, and a twenty-four-year-old woman found dead on March 14, 1936 - signed off as exposure while a discarded bent wire latch suggests someone locked her in. Who replaced the wire loop with a steel padlock while Rachel Meyer was inside, and what did the kit of preserved jars and a kerosene lamp really leave behind?

In this episode, we walk through the discovery, the official notes, and the one person who returned with a camera and questions. Listen to how small details - a cup, a lamp, a bent wire - begin to contradict the coroner's certificate and point toward a very different story.

Person: Rachel Meyer
Date: March 14, 1936
Location: Farmstead eleven miles east of Harlan, Kansas
Status: Death recorded as exposure and dehydration; certified by Dr. Emmet Voss
Witness: Nancy Nelson returned with a camera and a notebook

- A white porcelain cup with a blue painted rim was found upright in the soil at 9:30 AM.
- Rachel Meyer was twenty-four and owned 160 acres, with only 40 acres workable.
- Constable Ira Solt and Deputy Clarence Webb broke a padlock and found Meyer at the bottom of seven wooden cellar steps.
- Dr. Emmet Voss had certified 44 deaths in the previous 18 months, including Rachel's on the same afternoon.
- Rachel's cellar inventory included 14 jars of tomatoes, 6 jars of green beans, 2 jars of pickled beets, a lard tin with 4 pounds of cornmeal, and a barrel nearly 40 gallons full.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080464Fri, 16 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaUpright Cup, Locked Cellar: The Arsenic Secret of Denton Township Fear and curiosity collide: a white porcelain cup upright in the dirt, a padlocked cellar door, and a twenty-four-year-old woman found dead on March 14, 1936 - signed off as exposure...
Fear and curiosity collide: a white porcelain cup upright in the dirt, a padlocked cellar door, and a twenty-four-year-old woman found dead on March 14, 1936 - signed off as exposure while a discarded bent wire latch suggests someone locked her in. Who replaced the wire loop with a steel padlock while Rachel Meyer was inside, and what did the kit of preserved jars and a kerosene lamp really leave behind?

In this episode, we walk through the discovery, the official notes, and the one person who returned with a camera and questions. Listen to how small details - a cup, a lamp, a bent wire - begin to contradict the coroner's certificate and point toward a very different story.

Person: Rachel Meyer
Date: March 14, 1936
Location: Farmstead eleven miles east of Harlan, Kansas
Status: Death recorded as exposure and dehydration; certified by Dr. Emmet Voss
Witness: Nancy Nelson returned with a camera and a notebook

- A white porcelain cup with a blue painted rim was found upright in the soil at 9:30 AM.
- Rachel Meyer was twenty-four and owned 160 acres, with only 40 acres workable.
- Constable Ira Solt and Deputy Clarence Webb broke a padlock and found Meyer at the bottom of seven wooden cellar steps.
- Dr. Emmet Voss had certified 44 deaths in the previous 18 months, including Rachel's on the same afternoon.
- Rachel's cellar inventory included 14 jars of tomatoes, 6 jars of green beans, 2 jars of pickled beets, a lard tin with 4 pounds of cornmeal, and a barrel nearly 40 gallons full.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1562falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-dry-tin-on-a-drowned-man-the-grant-cook-murder--73080463
Fear that the ordinary can mask murder: a perfectly dry Monarch pipe tobacco tin was found sealed on a drowned man's chest while his coat was saturated and ice had formed around his legs - why was the tin dry, and what did it reveal about where he spent his last days? This episode centers on a missing river broker, an insurance policy taken out under a false identity, and a lividity pattern that pointed away from the river.

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of discoveries and the people whose small acts unlocked the case, following how a coroner's lividity reading, an insurance examiner's file, and a dry tin led investigators to reconsider when and where the man died. How did a policy dated weeks earlier and a borrowed identity connect to a body that had been kept off the river for eleven days?

Person: Grant Cook
Date missing reported: January 29, 1894
Date body found: February 9, 1894
Cause of death: Drowning (per coroner Amos Vetch)
Policy date: December 14, 1893

- The Monarch pipe tobacco tin on Cook's chest was completely dry on every surface despite his coat being saturated to the shoulder.
- Coroner Amos Vetch estimated Cook died around February 5, about eleven days after his January 29 disappearance.
- A $1,200 life insurance policy was arranged on December 14, 1893, by a man posing as Cook's business manager, naming Melvin Slater as sole beneficiary.
- Insurance examiner Bruce Snyder noted the December policy, Slater's beneficiary status, and the lividity inconsistency and began inquiries at the Merchants' Exchange.
- Partial human remains and oilcloth were found while clearing disturbed stone fill at a warehouse on Ashby Slough about a mile and a half upstream, discovered February 19.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080463Thu, 15 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Dry Tin on a Drowned Man: The Grant Cook Murder Fear that the ordinary can mask murder: a perfectly dry Monarch pipe tobacco tin was found sealed on a drowned man's chest while his coat was saturated and ice had formed around his legs - why was...
Fear that the ordinary can mask murder: a perfectly dry Monarch pipe tobacco tin was found sealed on a drowned man's chest while his coat was saturated and ice had formed around his legs - why was the tin dry, and what did it reveal about where he spent his last days? This episode centers on a missing river broker, an insurance policy taken out under a false identity, and a lividity pattern that pointed away from the river.

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of discoveries and the people whose small acts unlocked the case, following how a coroner's lividity reading, an insurance examiner's file, and a dry tin led investigators to reconsider when and where the man died. How did a policy dated weeks earlier and a borrowed identity connect to a body that had been kept off the river for eleven days?

Person: Grant Cook
Date missing reported: January 29, 1894
Date body found: February 9, 1894
Cause of death: Drowning (per coroner Amos Vetch)
Policy date: December 14, 1893

- The Monarch pipe tobacco tin on Cook's chest was completely dry on every surface despite his coat being saturated to the shoulder.
- Coroner Amos Vetch estimated Cook died around February 5, about eleven days after his January 29 disappearance.
- A $1,200 life insurance policy was arranged on December 14, 1893, by a man posing as Cook's business manager, naming Melvin Slater as sole beneficiary.
- Insurance examiner Bruce Snyder noted the December policy, Slater's beneficiary status, and the lividity inconsistency and began inquiries at the Merchants' Exchange.
- Partial human remains and oilcloth were found while clearing disturbed stone fill at a warehouse on Ashby Slough about a mile and a half upstream, discovered February 19.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1434falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-shoe-standing-upright-the-murder-of-todd-barrett--73080462
A single brown leather shoe, men's size nine, sat tied and upright on a coal pile in the Crestline Hotel basement on January 11, 1923 - no second shoe, no coat, no voice. The shoe led to a four-foot excavation that revealed thirty-two-year-old Todd Barrett buried under bituminous coal; how did a punctual Omaha broker vanish from his room into a hotel coal pile?

In this episode, we present the known facts of Barrett's disappearance and the discovery in the Crestline Hotel coal room, following the timeline from his arrival to the moment Detective Terry Armstrong called for shovels; could routine hotel procedures and a scheduled coal delivery have enabled a calculated killing?

Person: Todd Barrett
Date: January 11, 1923
Location: Crestline Hotel basement, Grainger Alley entrance
Detective: Terry Armstrong
Delivery Worker: Pete Hollis

- The shoe was a brown leather men's dress shoe, size nine, with the lace still tied in a neat bow and standing upright on the coal surface.
- Todd Barrett checked into the Crestline Hotel on January 8, 1923, paid three nights in advance for room nine on the third floor for $5.25.
- Barrett worked as a grain futures broker in Omaha and was expected in Council Bluffs on January 10 by Iris Nolan; letters were later found in his leather bag.
- Hotel staff relet room nine midmorning on January 10; chambermaid Vera Showalter moved Barrett's bag to lost-and-found with the receipt folded into the pocket.
- Four tons of bituminous coal were delivered through the Grainger Alley chute on January 8 while bookkeeper Paula Vickers asked driver Pete Hollis about the coal depth; Barrett was found under roughly four feet of that coal.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080462Wed, 14 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Shoe Standing Upright: The Murder of Todd Barrett A single brown leather shoe, men's size nine, sat tied and upright on a coal pile in the Crestline Hotel basement on January 11, 1923 - no second shoe, no coat, no voice. The shoe led to a...
A single brown leather shoe, men's size nine, sat tied and upright on a coal pile in the Crestline Hotel basement on January 11, 1923 - no second shoe, no coat, no voice. The shoe led to a four-foot excavation that revealed thirty-two-year-old Todd Barrett buried under bituminous coal; how did a punctual Omaha broker vanish from his room into a hotel coal pile?

In this episode, we present the known facts of Barrett's disappearance and the discovery in the Crestline Hotel coal room, following the timeline from his arrival to the moment Detective Terry Armstrong called for shovels; could routine hotel procedures and a scheduled coal delivery have enabled a calculated killing?

Person: Todd Barrett
Date: January 11, 1923
Location: Crestline Hotel basement, Grainger Alley entrance
Detective: Terry Armstrong
Delivery Worker: Pete Hollis

- The shoe was a brown leather men's dress shoe, size nine, with the lace still tied in a neat bow and standing upright on the coal surface.
- Todd Barrett checked into the Crestline Hotel on January 8, 1923, paid three nights in advance for room nine on the third floor for $5.25.
- Barrett worked as a grain futures broker in Omaha and was expected in Council Bluffs on January 10 by Iris Nolan; letters were later found in his leather bag.
- Hotel staff relet room nine midmorning on January 10; chambermaid Vera Showalter moved Barrett's bag to lost-and-found with the receipt folded into the pocket.
- Four tons of bituminous coal were delivered through the Grainger Alley chute on January 8 while bookkeeper Paula Vickers asked driver Pete Hollis about the coal depth; Barrett was found under roughly four feet of that coal.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1418falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dead-man-in-the-front-row-the-raymond-armstrong-case--73080461
A dead man in white tie and a playbill from a theater 280 miles away: Raymond Armstrong sat upright in the third row of the dark Delmore Theater, dead for at least two days with no sign of forced entry or struggle-how did a 53-year-old touring mentalist end up arranged like a prop? What ledger entry would unravel the mystery?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Armstrong's last confirmed performances and routines to the discovery by janitor Lauren Williams and the investigation led by deputy detective Kimberly York, asking whether theater ledgers and union placement records hold the answer to his final movements.

Person: Raymond Armstrong
Date found: December 11, 1923
Age: 53
Location: Delmore Theater, Packard Street, Kellston, Ohio
Investigator: Deputy Detective Kimberly York

- Armstrong was found seated in the third row on the morning of December 11, 1923, dressed in white tie and tailcoat with a top hat and a playbill in his right hand.
- The playbill in Armstrong's hand was from a theater 280 miles to the south and dated December 7.
- Armstrong had been performing since approximately 1905 and had a routine Thursday card game for 11 years at the Hotel Greystone.
- He canceled shows starting December 6, 1923, citing illness and never arrived back in Cincinnati for his scheduled engagements.
- Union placement records showed Douglas Miller, a 31-year-old regional carpenter, worked at the Delmore for approximately three weeks and returned his key to owner Samuel Birch on November 28, 1923.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080461Tue, 13 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaDead Man in the Front Row: The Raymond Armstrong Case A dead man in white tie and a playbill from a theater 280 miles away: Raymond Armstrong sat upright in the third row of the dark Delmore Theater, dead for at least two days with no sign of...
A dead man in white tie and a playbill from a theater 280 miles away: Raymond Armstrong sat upright in the third row of the dark Delmore Theater, dead for at least two days with no sign of forced entry or struggle-how did a 53-year-old touring mentalist end up arranged like a prop? What ledger entry would unravel the mystery?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Armstrong's last confirmed performances and routines to the discovery by janitor Lauren Williams and the investigation led by deputy detective Kimberly York, asking whether theater ledgers and union placement records hold the answer to his final movements.

Person: Raymond Armstrong
Date found: December 11, 1923
Age: 53
Location: Delmore Theater, Packard Street, Kellston, Ohio
Investigator: Deputy Detective Kimberly York

- Armstrong was found seated in the third row on the morning of December 11, 1923, dressed in white tie and tailcoat with a top hat and a playbill in his right hand.
- The playbill in Armstrong's hand was from a theater 280 miles to the south and dated December 7.
- Armstrong had been performing since approximately 1905 and had a routine Thursday card game for 11 years at the Hotel Greystone.
- He canceled shows starting December 6, 1923, citing illness and never arrived back in Cincinnati for his scheduled engagements.
- Union placement records showed Douglas Miller, a 31-year-old regional carpenter, worked at the Delmore for approximately three weeks and returned his key to owner Samuel Birch on November 28, 1923.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1419falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-gloved-hand-inside-the-ice-the-murder-of-shannon-adams--73080460
The discovery of a gloved left hand protruding from a three-foot square block of commercial ice turned a routine November morning into a six-week courtroom drama; the ice block bore the Pryor Lake Ice Cooperative harvest seal and two-letter grade code, and photographs of perpendicular tong marks in the mud would become crucial evidence. Who arranged a carefully posed, strangled body inside a sealed ice cavity, and why did the imprint of the tongs point back toward stacked, partially thawed blocks?

In this episode, we tell what happened from the morning Pocket the retriever stopped at the Pryor Lake dock through the county coroner's findings and the photographic work that redirected the investigation; what do the tong impressions, the stamped ice block, and delivery records reveal about the movement of that block?

Person: Shannon Adams
Date: November 4, 1893
Location: Pryor Lake dock, Portsmith County
Cause of death: Manual strangulation (per Dr. Martin Crews)
Witness/Photographer: Jean Hall, deputy county registrar

- The ice block was roughly three feet square and eighteen inches thick and stamped with the Pryor Lake Ice Cooperative harvest seal and a batch number with a two-letter grade code.
- Pocket, a young retriever, stopped at the pilings beneath a dock on Pryor Lake on the morning of November 4, 1893, leading Gordon Wallace to find the ice block.
- The left hand inside the ice was gloved in dark wool, palm facing inward, fingers slightly curved; the body’s limbs had been deliberately arranged.
- Dr. Martin Crews, the county coroner aged sixty, recorded the cause of death as manual strangulation with bruising consistent with large hands.
- Jean Hall photographed perpendicular tong marks in the cooperative yard mud and measured the spacing between the two prong impressions, noting the rear wall of the pen had been accessible during a recent thaw.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080460Mon, 12 Oct 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Gloved Hand Inside the Ice: The Murder of Shannon Adams The discovery of a gloved left hand protruding from a three-foot square block of commercial ice turned a routine November morning into a six-week courtroom drama; the ice block bore the...
The discovery of a gloved left hand protruding from a three-foot square block of commercial ice turned a routine November morning into a six-week courtroom drama; the ice block bore the Pryor Lake Ice Cooperative harvest seal and two-letter grade code, and photographs of perpendicular tong marks in the mud would become crucial evidence. Who arranged a carefully posed, strangled body inside a sealed ice cavity, and why did the imprint of the tongs point back toward stacked, partially thawed blocks?

In this episode, we tell what happened from the morning Pocket the retriever stopped at the Pryor Lake dock through the county coroner's findings and the photographic work that redirected the investigation; what do the tong impressions, the stamped ice block, and delivery records reveal about the movement of that block?

Person: Shannon Adams
Date: November 4, 1893
Location: Pryor Lake dock, Portsmith County
Cause of death: Manual strangulation (per Dr. Martin Crews)
Witness/Photographer: Jean Hall, deputy county registrar

- The ice block was roughly three feet square and eighteen inches thick and stamped with the Pryor Lake Ice Cooperative harvest seal and a batch number with a two-letter grade code.
- Pocket, a young retriever, stopped at the pilings beneath a dock on Pryor Lake on the morning of November 4, 1893, leading Gordon Wallace to find the ice block.
- The left hand inside the ice was gloved in dark wool, palm facing inward, fingers slightly curved; the body’s limbs had been deliberately arranged.
- Dr. Martin Crews, the county coroner aged sixty, recorded the cause of death as manual strangulation with bruising consistent with large hands.
- Jean Hall photographed perpendicular tong marks in the cooperative yard mud and measured the spacing between the two prong impressions, noting the rear wall of the pen had been accessible during a recent thaw.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1253falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-ledger-the-river-and-the-boy-whose-name-vanished--73080459
A found body on the Cutter River, a sealed wax-paper envelope that stayed dry, and a school ledger that kept collecting a dead child's federal payments - what links a drowned accountant to a nameless boy buried without a marker? Who manipulated the attendance books and why did one man end up in the river while a child's existence was erased?

In this episode, we tell the story contained in records, marginal notes, and a single piece of paper: how Warren Bennett, supply administrator at Whitehall Mission School, tracked anomalies in the attendance folios and supply accounts that pointed to a child who never appeared in any teacher's register. What did Bennett discover in the columns, and how did that discovery lead to his death?

Person: Warren Bennett
Date: October 1917
Location: Cutter River (east bank) and Whitehall Mission School near Danner, Nebraska
Person: Thomas Swiftwind
Event: Unreported death and continued attendance entries

- A woman found a man floating face-down near the reeds on a Tuesday morning in October 1917.
- The body worn a wool overcoat with the second button in the first buttonhole, offsetting the front panel by one position.
- Warren Bennett arrived at Whitehall Mission School in spring 1915 and was 28 by autumn 1917.
- Thomas Swiftwind arrived at Whitehall in September 1916 at age eleven and died of influenza about six weeks later according to a 2011 forensic analysis.
- For fourteen months after Thomas's death, his name continued to appear in the school's official attendance records while he was absent from the teacher Frances Odom’s personal register.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080459Sun, 11 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Ledger, the River, and the Boy Whose Name Vanished A found body on the Cutter River, a sealed wax-paper envelope that stayed dry, and a school ledger that kept collecting a dead child's federal payments - what links a drowned accountant to a...
A found body on the Cutter River, a sealed wax-paper envelope that stayed dry, and a school ledger that kept collecting a dead child's federal payments - what links a drowned accountant to a nameless boy buried without a marker? Who manipulated the attendance books and why did one man end up in the river while a child's existence was erased?

In this episode, we tell the story contained in records, marginal notes, and a single piece of paper: how Warren Bennett, supply administrator at Whitehall Mission School, tracked anomalies in the attendance folios and supply accounts that pointed to a child who never appeared in any teacher's register. What did Bennett discover in the columns, and how did that discovery lead to his death?

Person: Warren Bennett
Date: October 1917
Location: Cutter River (east bank) and Whitehall Mission School near Danner, Nebraska
Person: Thomas Swiftwind
Event: Unreported death and continued attendance entries

- A woman found a man floating face-down near the reeds on a Tuesday morning in October 1917.
- The body worn a wool overcoat with the second button in the first buttonhole, offsetting the front panel by one position.
- Warren Bennett arrived at Whitehall Mission School in spring 1915 and was 28 by autumn 1917.
- Thomas Swiftwind arrived at Whitehall in September 1916 at age eleven and died of influenza about six weeks later according to a 2011 forensic analysis.
- For fourteen months after Thomas's death, his name continued to appear in the school's official attendance records while he was absent from the teacher Frances Odom’s personal register.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1403falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/surveyor-finds-a-dry-shoe-in-three-inches-of-mud-the-lloyd-russo-case--73080458
An impossible detail uncovers a slow-moving danger: a size 10½ black Oxford stood upright in three inches of mud on September 11, 1943, its sole and interior perfectly dry despite seventeen days of rain-what message was meant by the folded ID tucked in its toe? Searchers would find two civilian men dead of blunt trauma months apart, the same office connecting them, and a single shoe that should never have stayed dry.

In this episode, we follow how routine records, personnel files, and a single surveyor’s discovery connect a missing logistics coordinator to a pattern of falsified inspections and unexplained deaths, asking whether the shoe was a warning, a clue, or a staged provocation.

Date: September 11, 1943
Person: Lloyd Russo
Location: Callum Yards, eastern retaining wall
Item: Size 10½ black Oxford shoe with folded ID
Cause of death: Blunt trauma to posterior skull

- The shoe was found standing sole-down between two creosote pilings in three inches of standing mud after seventeen days of rain.
- A folded replacement identification card for Lloyd Russo, issued July 1943 and reported lost, was tucked into the toe of the shoe.
- Lloyd Russo, age 54, had worked nineteen years for a Baltimore shipping firm and joined the Navy in 1941 as a civilian logistics coordinator.
- Jerry Green, age 31, a dock worker, had been falsifying hull inspection records over months before Russo vanished on August 26, 1943.
- Roy Adler, age 47, a civilian supply clerk last assigned to Russo’s office, disappeared in November 1942 and his body was found September 19, 1943, with blunt trauma to the posterior skull.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080458Sat, 10 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaSurveyor Finds a Dry Shoe in Three Inches of Mud: The Lloyd Russo Case An impossible detail uncovers a slow-moving danger: a size 10½ black Oxford stood upright in three inches of mud on September 11, 1943, its sole and interior perfectly dry...
An impossible detail uncovers a slow-moving danger: a size 10½ black Oxford stood upright in three inches of mud on September 11, 1943, its sole and interior perfectly dry despite seventeen days of rain-what message was meant by the folded ID tucked in its toe? Searchers would find two civilian men dead of blunt trauma months apart, the same office connecting them, and a single shoe that should never have stayed dry.

In this episode, we follow how routine records, personnel files, and a single surveyor’s discovery connect a missing logistics coordinator to a pattern of falsified inspections and unexplained deaths, asking whether the shoe was a warning, a clue, or a staged provocation.

Date: September 11, 1943
Person: Lloyd Russo
Location: Callum Yards, eastern retaining wall
Item: Size 10½ black Oxford shoe with folded ID
Cause of death: Blunt trauma to posterior skull

- The shoe was found standing sole-down between two creosote pilings in three inches of standing mud after seventeen days of rain.
- A folded replacement identification card for Lloyd Russo, issued July 1943 and reported lost, was tucked into the toe of the shoe.
- Lloyd Russo, age 54, had worked nineteen years for a Baltimore shipping firm and joined the Navy in 1941 as a civilian logistics coordinator.
- Jerry Green, age 31, a dock worker, had been falsifying hull inspection records over months before Russo vanished on August 26, 1943.
- Roy Adler, age 47, a civilian supply clerk last assigned to Russo’s office, disappeared in November 1942 and his body was found September 19, 1943, with blunt trauma to the posterior skull.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1403falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-midway-photo-how-one-frozen-figure-solved-a-murder--73080457
A single five-by-seven contact print from August 14, 1937 shows roughly 400 moving people and one motionless young woman pressed between a wheel-game booth and a canvas partition - she had been dead for approximately four hours. How did an insurance photographer’s routine crowd shot become the central evidence in a 1938 murder trial, and what did it reveal about the summers before the murder?

In this episode, we tell the story contained in that photograph and the investigation that followed. You will hear how the image sat undeveloped in an insurance file for three days, the discovery of the body behind a canvas partition, and the questions that image forced investigators to answer.

Person: Patricia Johnson
Date: August 14, 1937
Location: Millhaven fairgrounds, Millhaven, Indiana
Status: Found deceased behind a canvas partition
Investigator: Detective Sergeant Bruce Carter, Indiana State Police, Indianapolis field office

- The photograph was a five-by-seven contact print showing roughly 400 people moving while one woman remained perfectly still.
- Patricia Johnson was twenty-three years old at the time of her death.
- The image sat undeveloped in Howard Vick’s insurance file for three days after he shot six exposures from the Ferris wheel housing.
- Curtis York discovered Patricia’s body on Tuesday, August 17, while performing post-fair privy inspections.
- Bruising on Patricia’s throat and neck was consistent with sustained compression and her lower body was covered with a section of cut canvas tarpaulin.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080457Fri, 09 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Midway Photo: How One Frozen Figure Solved A Murder A single five-by-seven contact print from August 14, 1937 shows roughly 400 moving people and one motionless young woman pressed between a wheel-game booth and a canvas partition - she had...
A single five-by-seven contact print from August 14, 1937 shows roughly 400 moving people and one motionless young woman pressed between a wheel-game booth and a canvas partition - she had been dead for approximately four hours. How did an insurance photographer’s routine crowd shot become the central evidence in a 1938 murder trial, and what did it reveal about the summers before the murder?

In this episode, we tell the story contained in that photograph and the investigation that followed. You will hear how the image sat undeveloped in an insurance file for three days, the discovery of the body behind a canvas partition, and the questions that image forced investigators to answer.

Person: Patricia Johnson
Date: August 14, 1937
Location: Millhaven fairgrounds, Millhaven, Indiana
Status: Found deceased behind a canvas partition
Investigator: Detective Sergeant Bruce Carter, Indiana State Police, Indianapolis field office

- The photograph was a five-by-seven contact print showing roughly 400 people moving while one woman remained perfectly still.
- Patricia Johnson was twenty-three years old at the time of her death.
- The image sat undeveloped in Howard Vick’s insurance file for three days after he shot six exposures from the Ferris wheel housing.
- Curtis York discovered Patricia’s body on Tuesday, August 17, while performing post-fair privy inspections.
- Bruising on Patricia’s throat and neck was consistent with sustained compression and her lower body was covered with a section of cut canvas tarpaulin.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1463falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/pinned-dead-at-dawn-the-fake-certificate-that-buried-a-local-man--73080456
A single observation deck, a list of thirty-one dead pinned under a ballast stone, and one name that didn't belong: a local land agent recorded dead of dysentery before anyone even reported him missing. How did a death certificate appear before a disappearance was known, and what system allowed a man from Dresser's Landing to be buried on paper while his wife waited at home?

In this episode, we follow the discovery that began at 5:15 a.m. on July 9, 1883, the path of a letter that reached the Bureau of Vital Records two days later, and the documents-a passenger manifest, a station log, and a death certificate-that all pointed to the same man. What did the manifest and the predated certificate reveal about the quarantine station and the island physician?

Person: Donald Walsh
Date: July 9, 1883
Location: Harrow Island quarantine anchorage
Person: Edward Campbell
Person: Peggy Patterson

- A schoolteacher found a passenger manifest pinned under a ballast stone at 5:15 a.m.
- The manifest listed thirty-one dead, all with death dates of July 7.
- Thirty of the manifest names matched the Liverpool embarkation record; one name, Edward Campbell, did not.
- Donald Walsh sent a letter to the harbormaster that reached Peggy Patterson on July 11, 1883.
- Peggy Patterson arrived on Harrow Island and on July 15 found a completed death certificate for Edward Campbell dated July 7 in physician Eugene Sawyer's desk.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080456Thu, 08 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaPinned Dead at Dawn: The Fake Certificate That Buried a Local Man A single observation deck, a list of thirty-one dead pinned under a ballast stone, and one name that didn't belong: a local land agent recorded dead of dysentery before anyone even...
A single observation deck, a list of thirty-one dead pinned under a ballast stone, and one name that didn't belong: a local land agent recorded dead of dysentery before anyone even reported him missing. How did a death certificate appear before a disappearance was known, and what system allowed a man from Dresser's Landing to be buried on paper while his wife waited at home?

In this episode, we follow the discovery that began at 5:15 a.m. on July 9, 1883, the path of a letter that reached the Bureau of Vital Records two days later, and the documents-a passenger manifest, a station log, and a death certificate-that all pointed to the same man. What did the manifest and the predated certificate reveal about the quarantine station and the island physician?

Person: Donald Walsh
Date: July 9, 1883
Location: Harrow Island quarantine anchorage
Person: Edward Campbell
Person: Peggy Patterson

- A schoolteacher found a passenger manifest pinned under a ballast stone at 5:15 a.m.
- The manifest listed thirty-one dead, all with death dates of July 7.
- Thirty of the manifest names matched the Liverpool embarkation record; one name, Edward Campbell, did not.
- Donald Walsh sent a letter to the harbormaster that reached Peggy Patterson on July 11, 1883.
- Peggy Patterson arrived on Harrow Island and on July 15 found a completed death certificate for Edward Campbell dated July 7 in physician Eugene Sawyer's desk.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1353falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dry-ticket-stub-wet-body-the-secret-that-brought-a-killer-to-confess--73080455
A dry ticket spool beside a man soaked through with dew became the single contradiction that cracked a case: a body found at the Starlight Drive-In with tickets numbered 1602-1831 dry, while the victim’s clothes were wet from overnight dew recorded between 2-4 AM. Who convinced a consistent, 61-year-old payroll man with a lifelong routine to be in a locked drive-in lot late at night?

In this episode, you will hear the sequence of discovery, the accountings that mattered, and the small discrepancies that led Detective Amanda Holt to count and confront missing pieces of evidence - and the question this raises about who brought Kent Becker to that lot and why.

Person: Kent Becker
Date: June 9, 1953
Location: Starlight Drive-In
Detective: Amanda Holt
Cause of death: blunt-force trauma to posterior skull

- Body found face-down between speaker posts seven and eight at approximately 7:15 AM by 14-year-old Gregory Pruitt.
- Ticket spool beside Becker’s left hand contained tickets numbered 1602 through 1831 and was completely dry.
- Maren Valley Agricultural Station recorded overnight dew beginning between 2:00 and 4:00 AM.
- Saturday roll mechanical counter showed 340 tickets sold starting at 1511, indicating tickets through 1850 had been issued.
- Sixteen stubs (1832 through 1850) were missing from the sequence and not recovered from the booth, gate trash, cars, or pockets.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080455Wed, 07 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaDry Ticket Stub, Wet Body: The Secret That Brought A Killer To Confess A dry ticket spool beside a man soaked through with dew became the single contradiction that cracked a case: a body found at the Starlight Drive-In with tickets numbered...
A dry ticket spool beside a man soaked through with dew became the single contradiction that cracked a case: a body found at the Starlight Drive-In with tickets numbered 1602-1831 dry, while the victim’s clothes were wet from overnight dew recorded between 2-4 AM. Who convinced a consistent, 61-year-old payroll man with a lifelong routine to be in a locked drive-in lot late at night?

In this episode, you will hear the sequence of discovery, the accountings that mattered, and the small discrepancies that led Detective Amanda Holt to count and confront missing pieces of evidence - and the question this raises about who brought Kent Becker to that lot and why.

Person: Kent Becker
Date: June 9, 1953
Location: Starlight Drive-In
Detective: Amanda Holt
Cause of death: blunt-force trauma to posterior skull

- Body found face-down between speaker posts seven and eight at approximately 7:15 AM by 14-year-old Gregory Pruitt.
- Ticket spool beside Becker’s left hand contained tickets numbered 1602 through 1831 and was completely dry.
- Maren Valley Agricultural Station recorded overnight dew beginning between 2:00 and 4:00 AM.
- Saturday roll mechanical counter showed 340 tickets sold starting at 1511, indicating tickets through 1850 had been issued.
- Sixteen stubs (1832 through 1850) were missing from the sequence and not recovered from the booth, gate trash, cars, or pockets.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1402falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sealed-in-concrete-the-purse-that-proved-a-vanished-woman-wronged--73080454
The discovery that a butter-yellow coin purse monogrammed G.N. had been sealed inside an original curb pour for twenty-three years turns a closed missing-person file into a mystery of time and official assumption. If the purse’s Western Union receipt was dated May 3, 1927, and the curb was poured April 11-17, 1928, how did Gloria Novak’s belongings end up entombed almost a year after she vanished?

In this episode, we follow the physical trail from a road grader blade to city records, tracing what was inside the purse, where it was found, and who first took an interest in the discrepancy - asking whether a dismissed disappearance might have been mishandled or worse.

Person: Gloria Novak
Date of disappearance: May 3, 1927
Discovery date of purse: May 14, 1951
Curb pour dates: April 11-17, 1928
Find: Western Union receipt dated May 3, 1927

- The purse contained $4.60 in coins, a Western Union receipt dated May 3, 1927, and an obsolete bus transfer.
- One coin was a 1925 Mercury dime found uncirculated inside the purse.
- The curb where the purse was found was part of an original pour dated April 11-17, 1928, with no cuts or patches.
- Police closed Gloria Novak’s case eleven days after her disappearance, concluding she had left town.
- Connie Ward, a 43-year-old city licensing investigator, pulled the licensing file for 414 Milling Street after the purse was turned over to her.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080454Tue, 06 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaSealed in Concrete: The Purse That Proved a Vanished Woman Wronged The discovery that a butter-yellow coin purse monogrammed G.N. had been sealed inside an original curb pour for twenty-three years turns a closed missing-person file into a mystery...
The discovery that a butter-yellow coin purse monogrammed G.N. had been sealed inside an original curb pour for twenty-three years turns a closed missing-person file into a mystery of time and official assumption. If the purse’s Western Union receipt was dated May 3, 1927, and the curb was poured April 11-17, 1928, how did Gloria Novak’s belongings end up entombed almost a year after she vanished?

In this episode, we follow the physical trail from a road grader blade to city records, tracing what was inside the purse, where it was found, and who first took an interest in the discrepancy - asking whether a dismissed disappearance might have been mishandled or worse.

Person: Gloria Novak
Date of disappearance: May 3, 1927
Discovery date of purse: May 14, 1951
Curb pour dates: April 11-17, 1928
Find: Western Union receipt dated May 3, 1927

- The purse contained $4.60 in coins, a Western Union receipt dated May 3, 1927, and an obsolete bus transfer.
- One coin was a 1925 Mercury dime found uncirculated inside the purse.
- The curb where the purse was found was part of an original pour dated April 11-17, 1928, with no cuts or patches.
- Police closed Gloria Novak’s case eleven days after her disappearance, concluding she had left town.
- Connie Ward, a 43-year-old city licensing investigator, pulled the licensing file for 414 Milling Street after the purse was turned over to her.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1238falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-white-glove-in-the-ore-pan-murder-at-the-scale--73080453
A single white cotton glove was found flat in a brass ore pan beside a man who was sitting upright at a balance scale - dead and cold - on the morning of April 14, 1893; the office was locked from the inside and the coroner quickly ruled cardiac failure. What was a glove doing pressed to the metal, why were Simpson’s ledger pages blank that night, and who was the assistant whose presence links two similar deaths?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events recorded in the offices, ledgers, and manifests to present the known facts about Paul Simpson’s death and the ledger discrepancies that drew an investigator to town. The episode covers the discovery scene, Simpson’s routine and ledger practices, the parallel death in Garvey, and the courier manifest that would later draw scrutiny - and asks whether the records themselves hold the answer.

Person: Paul Simpson
Date: April 14, 1893
Location: Meridian Assay Office, Crestfall, Nevada
Age: 51
Investigator: Gary Hamilton

- Simpson was found sitting upright at the balance scale with head tilted forward and both hands resting open on the bench.
- A single white cotton glove lay fingers spread flat in the brass receiving pan where ore samples should have been.
- The office door opened when Roy Crawford knocked twice after seeing Simpson through the second-floor window; Simpson was cold and the scale was idle.
- Simpson’s ledger pages for April 13 were blank despite his telling Ed Carver he expected to work until nearly midnight that night.
- An eleven-entry courier manifest dated April 14 was completed in handwriting that should not have been on that document.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080453Mon, 05 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe White Glove in the Ore Pan: Murder at the Scale A single white cotton glove was found flat in a brass ore pan beside a man who was sitting upright at a balance scale - dead and cold - on the morning of April 14, 1893; the office was locked from...
A single white cotton glove was found flat in a brass ore pan beside a man who was sitting upright at a balance scale - dead and cold - on the morning of April 14, 1893; the office was locked from the inside and the coroner quickly ruled cardiac failure. What was a glove doing pressed to the metal, why were Simpson’s ledger pages blank that night, and who was the assistant whose presence links two similar deaths?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events recorded in the offices, ledgers, and manifests to present the known facts about Paul Simpson’s death and the ledger discrepancies that drew an investigator to town. The episode covers the discovery scene, Simpson’s routine and ledger practices, the parallel death in Garvey, and the courier manifest that would later draw scrutiny - and asks whether the records themselves hold the answer.

Person: Paul Simpson
Date: April 14, 1893
Location: Meridian Assay Office, Crestfall, Nevada
Age: 51
Investigator: Gary Hamilton

- Simpson was found sitting upright at the balance scale with head tilted forward and both hands resting open on the bench.
- A single white cotton glove lay fingers spread flat in the brass receiving pan where ore samples should have been.
- The office door opened when Roy Crawford knocked twice after seeing Simpson through the second-floor window; Simpson was cold and the scale was idle.
- Simpson’s ledger pages for April 13 were blank despite his telling Ed Carver he expected to work until nearly midnight that night.
- An eleven-entry courier manifest dated April 14 was completed in handwriting that should not have been on that document.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1442falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-knew-what-she-heard-the-radio-tower-s-secret-confession--73080452
A stiff weekly broadcast schedule card from a locked radio tower building was found tucked beneath a dead woman’s folded hands in a muddy Nebraska field; on its back someone had penciled seven words: She knew what she heard. The card came from inside KFAR-7’s reception area, the building showed no forced entry, and a man with informal access to a spare key later claimed he only socialized there that night-so who carried a locked-room document out and left it as a message?

In this episode, you will hear the recorded facts of the case as detectives followed those contradictions across interviews, logs, and a single marginal note in a transmitter log; the story covers the discovery, the early investigation, and the question that drove the detective: why would someone deliberately place a tower document on a woman’s body and then deny involvement?

Person: Kathleen Turner
Date: March 14, 1936 (body found); time of death estimated between 9:00 and 11:00 PM on March 13
Location: Calloway Flats, at base of eastern anchor cable of KFAR-7 transmission tower
Investigator: Kent Porter, age 41, Calloway County full-time detective
Document: KFAR-7 weekly broadcast schedule card with penciled note “She knew what she heard”

- The body was found face-up at the eastern anchor cable with coat buttoned to the throat and hands folded across the abdomen.
- The coroner estimated time of death between 9:00 and 11:00 PM on March 13, meaning she lay dead 8-10 hours before discovery.
- The transmission log shows operator Carl Fenwick on duty from 8:00 PM March 13 to 4:00 AM March 14 with a margin note: “D. W. in, checked board, out by nine forty.”
- Chief engineer George Aldiss held the only official key; he stated that David Weber had informal access to a spare key.
- David Weber was interviewed March 17, claimed a social visit and brief conversation with Fenwick, and said he barely knew Kathleen Turner.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080452Sun, 04 Oct 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Knew What She Heard: The Radio Tower's Secret Confession A stiff weekly broadcast schedule card from a locked radio tower building was found tucked beneath a dead woman’s folded hands in a muddy Nebraska field; on its back someone had penciled...
A stiff weekly broadcast schedule card from a locked radio tower building was found tucked beneath a dead woman’s folded hands in a muddy Nebraska field; on its back someone had penciled seven words: She knew what she heard. The card came from inside KFAR-7’s reception area, the building showed no forced entry, and a man with informal access to a spare key later claimed he only socialized there that night-so who carried a locked-room document out and left it as a message?

In this episode, you will hear the recorded facts of the case as detectives followed those contradictions across interviews, logs, and a single marginal note in a transmitter log; the story covers the discovery, the early investigation, and the question that drove the detective: why would someone deliberately place a tower document on a woman’s body and then deny involvement?

Person: Kathleen Turner
Date: March 14, 1936 (body found); time of death estimated between 9:00 and 11:00 PM on March 13
Location: Calloway Flats, at base of eastern anchor cable of KFAR-7 transmission tower
Investigator: Kent Porter, age 41, Calloway County full-time detective
Document: KFAR-7 weekly broadcast schedule card with penciled note “She knew what she heard”

- The body was found face-up at the eastern anchor cable with coat buttoned to the throat and hands folded across the abdomen.
- The coroner estimated time of death between 9:00 and 11:00 PM on March 13, meaning she lay dead 8-10 hours before discovery.
- The transmission log shows operator Carl Fenwick on duty from 8:00 PM March 13 to 4:00 AM March 14 with a margin note: “D. W. in, checked board, out by nine forty.”
- Chief engineer George Aldiss held the only official key; he stated that David Weber had informal access to a spare key.
- David Weber was interviewed March 17, claimed a social visit and brief conversation with Fenwick, and said he barely knew Kathleen Turner.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1400falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-twice-stamped-passport-how-a-billing-clerk-s-rigor-got-her-murdered--73080451
A meticulous billing supervisor found a trail of small falsified invoices that added up to a large motive, and her passport shows two U.S. entry stamps at the El Paso crossing four days apart with no exit stamp between them - a detail that shouldn't exist. Who used Holly Quinn's name at the motor court before her body arrived, and why does a missing exit stamp point to a night when her colleagues thought she was still alive?

In this episode, we follow the paper trail from Chicago to a New Mexico motor court, the return train ticket in her bag, the forty-three dollars in mixed bills, and the county records examiner who pieced together border logs and motel registers to ask the question: what did Holly notice that someone wanted silenced?

Person: Holly Quinn
Age: 51
Date: February 11, 1943
Location: Estrella Motor Court, New Mexico
Job: Billing supervisor

- Holly Quinn's body was found in Room Four on February 11, 1943, shoes still on and one arm hanging over the edge of the bed.
- She had a return train ticket and forty-three dollars in mixed bills in her bag when she died.
- Her passport contained two El Paso entry stamps dated February 6 and February 8, 1943, both initialed by the same inspector, with no exit stamp recorded between them.
- Someone had used Holly Quinn's name to register at the same motor court three days before her body arrived, with cash payments and no forwarding address.
- Holly had uncovered systematic falsified freight invoices at her company in late 1942, leading to the dismissal of employee Brian Wagner in December 1942 without prosecution.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080451Sat, 03 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Twice-Stamped Passport: How a Billing Clerk's Rigor Got Her Murdered A meticulous billing supervisor found a trail of small falsified invoices that added up to a large motive, and her passport shows two U.S. entry stamps at the El Paso crossing...
A meticulous billing supervisor found a trail of small falsified invoices that added up to a large motive, and her passport shows two U.S. entry stamps at the El Paso crossing four days apart with no exit stamp between them - a detail that shouldn't exist. Who used Holly Quinn's name at the motor court before her body arrived, and why does a missing exit stamp point to a night when her colleagues thought she was still alive?

In this episode, we follow the paper trail from Chicago to a New Mexico motor court, the return train ticket in her bag, the forty-three dollars in mixed bills, and the county records examiner who pieced together border logs and motel registers to ask the question: what did Holly notice that someone wanted silenced?

Person: Holly Quinn
Age: 51
Date: February 11, 1943
Location: Estrella Motor Court, New Mexico
Job: Billing supervisor

- Holly Quinn's body was found in Room Four on February 11, 1943, shoes still on and one arm hanging over the edge of the bed.
- She had a return train ticket and forty-three dollars in mixed bills in her bag when she died.
- Her passport contained two El Paso entry stamps dated February 6 and February 8, 1943, both initialed by the same inspector, with no exit stamp recorded between them.
- Someone had used Holly Quinn's name to register at the same motor court three days before her body arrived, with cash payments and no forwarding address.
- Holly had uncovered systematic falsified freight invoices at her company in late 1942, leading to the dismissal of employee Brian Wagner in December 1942 without prosecution.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1267falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-wrong-book-the-frozen-mud-and-the-broker-s-secret--73080450
A leather-bound brand register was found open in frozen mud two feet from a dead man's hand - a county record that "had no business being there" and a brown stain consistent with frozen-ground exposure still marks the page. Who carried the book to the pen, why it mattered enough to get someone killed, and what secret a part-time cattle broker may have tried to bury?

In this episode, we tell how a routine county ledger, a disputed land transfer, and a clerk’s memory converged to upend an apparent accident and raise the question that drives the story: what did Glenn Norris discover about the Keeler Grass parcel that led him to bring the register to the cattle yards before dawn?

Person: Glenn Norris
Date: January 9, 1884
Location: Holding Pen Seven, Callow Flats
Case: Keeler Grass land transfer dispute
Person: Troy Young

- A leather-bound brand register was found open two feet from Glenn Norris’s outstretched hand in Holding Pen Seven.
- Nancy Brown had catalogued land transactions for eleven years and later identified a corrected signature on the Keeler Grass deed.
- Glenn Norris noted on August 14, 1883: "transfer of claim disputed - original filing date precedes recorded ownership, refer to deed office for verification" and initialed it G.N.
- The Keeler Grass parcel comprised 460 acres and sold in October for $640 while Norris had assessed it at over $1,100.
- The sheriff ruled Norris’s death a probable accident within four days and the register was logged as lost property and returned to the assessor’s office.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080450Fri, 02 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Wrong Book, the Frozen Mud, and the Broker's Secret A leather-bound brand register was found open in frozen mud two feet from a dead man's hand - a county record that "had no business being there" and a brown stain consistent with frozen-ground...
A leather-bound brand register was found open in frozen mud two feet from a dead man's hand - a county record that "had no business being there" and a brown stain consistent with frozen-ground exposure still marks the page. Who carried the book to the pen, why it mattered enough to get someone killed, and what secret a part-time cattle broker may have tried to bury?

In this episode, we tell how a routine county ledger, a disputed land transfer, and a clerk’s memory converged to upend an apparent accident and raise the question that drives the story: what did Glenn Norris discover about the Keeler Grass parcel that led him to bring the register to the cattle yards before dawn?

Person: Glenn Norris
Date: January 9, 1884
Location: Holding Pen Seven, Callow Flats
Case: Keeler Grass land transfer dispute
Person: Troy Young

- A leather-bound brand register was found open two feet from Glenn Norris’s outstretched hand in Holding Pen Seven.
- Nancy Brown had catalogued land transactions for eleven years and later identified a corrected signature on the Keeler Grass deed.
- Glenn Norris noted on August 14, 1883: "transfer of claim disputed - original filing date precedes recorded ownership, refer to deed office for verification" and initialed it G.N.
- The Keeler Grass parcel comprised 460 acres and sold in October for $640 while Norris had assessed it at over $1,100.
- The sheriff ruled Norris’s death a probable accident within four days and the register was logged as lost property and returned to the assessor’s office.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1414falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-chrysanthemum-in-her-palm-how-one-translation-framed-murder--73080449
Fear that a single mistranslation could bury a murder for half a century: a dried chrysanthemum in a woman's palm, a rusted padlock hasp, and an herbalist's Cantonese note that was rendered backward - how did four misordered words derail justice for fifty-three years?

In this episode, we follow the facts from the morning Brenda Petersen was found in Ross Alley Back Passage to the notebooks, shoeprint and herbal report that later shaped the case, asking again: which detail finally broke the story open?

Person: Brenda Petersen
Date: December 9, 1923
Location: Ross Alley Back Passage, San Francisco Chinatown
Age: 28
Item: dried chrysanthemum in left hand

- Brenda Petersen was found at the base of a shipping crate with her left hand open and a single dried chrysanthemum resting in her palm.
- Petersen's boardinghouse was eleven blocks north of the Back Passage and her office seven blocks east; she had no documented reason to be there.
- Petersen's personal notebook contained eight months of transactions totaling $460 to a supplier listed as R.D. Pacific Goods, with no corresponding inventory receipts.
- The padlock hasp on the rear door of Kwan's Remedies had rusted away in 1921, leaving the door accessible from the alley every night since.
- Herbalist Wei Longshan recorded a lethal dose for tribulus (ji li) mixed with chrysanthemum in Cantonese; his addendum entered the court record through an interpreter.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080449Thu, 01 Oct 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Chrysanthemum in Her Palm: How One Translation Framed Murder Fear that a single mistranslation could bury a murder for half a century: a dried chrysanthemum in a woman's palm, a rusted padlock hasp, and an herbalist's Cantonese note that was...
Fear that a single mistranslation could bury a murder for half a century: a dried chrysanthemum in a woman's palm, a rusted padlock hasp, and an herbalist's Cantonese note that was rendered backward - how did four misordered words derail justice for fifty-three years?

In this episode, we follow the facts from the morning Brenda Petersen was found in Ross Alley Back Passage to the notebooks, shoeprint and herbal report that later shaped the case, asking again: which detail finally broke the story open?

Person: Brenda Petersen
Date: December 9, 1923
Location: Ross Alley Back Passage, San Francisco Chinatown
Age: 28
Item: dried chrysanthemum in left hand

- Brenda Petersen was found at the base of a shipping crate with her left hand open and a single dried chrysanthemum resting in her palm.
- Petersen's boardinghouse was eleven blocks north of the Back Passage and her office seven blocks east; she had no documented reason to be there.
- Petersen's personal notebook contained eight months of transactions totaling $460 to a supplier listed as R.D. Pacific Goods, with no corresponding inventory receipts.
- The padlock hasp on the rear door of Kwan's Remedies had rusted away in 1921, leaving the door accessible from the alley every night since.
- Herbalist Wei Longshan recorded a lethal dose for tribulus (ji li) mixed with chrysanthemum in Cantonese; his addendum entered the court record through an interpreter.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1382falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-paper-was-drowned-why-harrowgate-s-doctor-hid-a-murder-note--73080448
A soaked admission form, wedged two feet above the tide line on a rocky promontory, carried an inked annotation that had been fully submerged - and it contradicted a neat story of natural death. The discovery tied two men who died within hours of arriving at Harrowgate and a doctor who collected fees for referrals; who placed the paper where the tide would take it, and why was a note drowned instead of filed?

In this episode, the case of Roy Tillman and the earlier death of William Prout are laid out alongside the documents, diaries, and interviews that connected them to Harrowgate Convalescent Institute and its director; how did a single handwriting link two deaths and lead to an arrest?

Person: Roy Tillman
Date: November 4, 1908 (form found)
Location: Harrowgate Convalescent Institute promontory two miles from Harrowgate
Person: Thomas Barnes
Person: William Prout

- The admission form was found in a crack in the granite two feet above the current waterline and showed tide-line stains running through both printed letterhead and handwritten ink.
- Roy Tillman checked in at 4:17 PM and was dead by 11:00 PM the same evening; official cause: cardiac failure; age: 56.
- William Prout was admitted in March 1907 and died hours after arriving; age: 62; his widow Constance Prout had preserved his admission form for over a year.
- The handwritten annotation on both forms matched in backward slant, ink weight, and phrasing, with notes reading "Treatment administered. Outcome satisfactory." and "Suitable patient. Route confirmed."
- Thomas Barnes had directed Harrowgate for six years, was 41, trained in Boston, and paid referral fees to Henry Scofield for each patient sent to the institute.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080448Wed, 30 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Paper Was Drowned: Why Harrowgate's Doctor Hid a Murder Note A soaked admission form, wedged two feet above the tide line on a rocky promontory, carried an inked annotation that had been fully submerged - and it contradicted a neat story of...
A soaked admission form, wedged two feet above the tide line on a rocky promontory, carried an inked annotation that had been fully submerged - and it contradicted a neat story of natural death. The discovery tied two men who died within hours of arriving at Harrowgate and a doctor who collected fees for referrals; who placed the paper where the tide would take it, and why was a note drowned instead of filed?

In this episode, the case of Roy Tillman and the earlier death of William Prout are laid out alongside the documents, diaries, and interviews that connected them to Harrowgate Convalescent Institute and its director; how did a single handwriting link two deaths and lead to an arrest?

Person: Roy Tillman
Date: November 4, 1908 (form found)
Location: Harrowgate Convalescent Institute promontory two miles from Harrowgate
Person: Thomas Barnes
Person: William Prout

- The admission form was found in a crack in the granite two feet above the current waterline and showed tide-line stains running through both printed letterhead and handwritten ink.
- Roy Tillman checked in at 4:17 PM and was dead by 11:00 PM the same evening; official cause: cardiac failure; age: 56.
- William Prout was admitted in March 1907 and died hours after arriving; age: 62; his widow Constance Prout had preserved his admission form for over a year.
- The handwritten annotation on both forms matched in backward slant, ink weight, and phrasing, with notes reading "Treatment administered. Outcome satisfactory." and "Suitable patient. Route confirmed."
- Thomas Barnes had directed Harrowgate for six years, was 41, trained in Boston, and paid referral fees to Henry Scofield for each patient sent to the institute.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1407falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-syringe-in-the-creek-how-a-surveyor-uncovered-a-murder-scheme--73080447
Heat and a dry creek bed hid a black leather physician's case with six glass syringes, gold-leaf initials, and a Fresno medical supply card - found upright between two rocks in the first week of October 1934. Why was a sterilized instrument case with no weather damage staged forty yards from a gap in the fence of a recently vacated camp, and how did that one detail reopen a death ruled natural?

In this episode, you will hear how a surveyor's chain snag led a regional field investigator to a file that had been closed, and what discrepancies in tents, temperatures, and paperwork forced new questions about a death attributed to heatstroke. Could a carefully placed physician's case change the official story of Ralph Hughes's August 17, 1934 death?

Person: Ralph Hughes
Date: August 17, 1934
Location: Coined Hollow labor camp, Varano County, California
Person: Julie Bauer
Item: Black leather physician's instrument case with six 10 cc glass Luer-lock syringes

- The instrument case was found upright between two rocks in a dry creek bed in the first week of October 1934, forty yards from a pulled-back gap in the fence line.
- The case contained six glass syringes, each ten cubic centimeters, with Luer-lock fittings nested in brown velvet loops and a penciled inventory reading sterilized.
- The camp where Ralph Hughes died had been vacant for eleven days when the case was discovered; the leather case showed no weather damage despite damp sand around it.
- Ralph Hughes, age twenty-two, died on August 17, 1934; the camp log listed cause of death as heatstroke and the county coroner signed a death certificate for hyperthermia.
- Hughes slept in a tent oriented north-south opening into the prevailing afternoon breeze, described by tent-mates and the foreman as the coolest, best-ventilated tent on the property.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080447Tue, 29 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Syringe in the Creek: How a Surveyor Uncovered a Murder Scheme Heat and a dry creek bed hid a black leather physician's case with six glass syringes, gold-leaf initials, and a Fresno medical supply card - found upright between two rocks in the...
Heat and a dry creek bed hid a black leather physician's case with six glass syringes, gold-leaf initials, and a Fresno medical supply card - found upright between two rocks in the first week of October 1934. Why was a sterilized instrument case with no weather damage staged forty yards from a gap in the fence of a recently vacated camp, and how did that one detail reopen a death ruled natural?

In this episode, you will hear how a surveyor's chain snag led a regional field investigator to a file that had been closed, and what discrepancies in tents, temperatures, and paperwork forced new questions about a death attributed to heatstroke. Could a carefully placed physician's case change the official story of Ralph Hughes's August 17, 1934 death?

Person: Ralph Hughes
Date: August 17, 1934
Location: Coined Hollow labor camp, Varano County, California
Person: Julie Bauer
Item: Black leather physician's instrument case with six 10 cc glass Luer-lock syringes

- The instrument case was found upright between two rocks in a dry creek bed in the first week of October 1934, forty yards from a pulled-back gap in the fence line.
- The case contained six glass syringes, each ten cubic centimeters, with Luer-lock fittings nested in brown velvet loops and a penciled inventory reading sterilized.
- The camp where Ralph Hughes died had been vacant for eleven days when the case was discovered; the leather case showed no weather damage despite damp sand around it.
- Ralph Hughes, age twenty-two, died on August 17, 1934; the camp log listed cause of death as heatstroke and the county coroner signed a death certificate for hyperthermia.
- Hughes slept in a tent oriented north-south opening into the prevailing afternoon breeze, described by tent-mates and the foreman as the coolest, best-ventilated tent on the property.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1312falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-lantern-left-burning-how-a-relay-operator-vanished-without-a-trace--73080446
A single lantern left burning on a desk, a log current to 6:45, and a relay operator who never left a light unattended - then fourteen months of silence before a skeletal hand was found in a well sealed with hydraulic mortar. What happened to Sarah Roberts between July 22, 1892 and the discovery that would end with a woman on a gallows?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the evening the lantern was found through the missing-authority May assignment and the later well inspection that revealed a mortar collar and human remains, asking how routine records, an unauthorized visit, and a purchased sack of mortar connect to Sarah Roberts' disappearance.

Person: Sarah Roberts
Date: July 22, 1892
Location: Harmon Siding station, Carver County, Nebraska
Event: Lantern left burning; log current to 6:45; no note or sign of struggle
Discovery Date: September 9, 1893

- Sarah Roberts was 38 years old and had worked at Harmon Siding for six years.
- Her routine included eating lunch standing at the east window at 12:15 exactly every day.
- Erin Wright arrived as a temporary relay operator in October 1891 for eleven days with authorized assignment.
- On May 15, 1892, a woman matching Wright's description bought one sack of hydraulic mortar and a wooden-handled trowel from Conrad Able.
- On September 9, 1893, Judith Hunt found a mortar collar around the well shaft and a skeletal index finger with a copper ring beneath it.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080446Mon, 28 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Lantern Left Burning: How a Relay Operator Vanished Without a Trace A single lantern left burning on a desk, a log current to 6:45, and a relay operator who never left a light unattended - then fourteen months of silence before a skeletal hand...
A single lantern left burning on a desk, a log current to 6:45, and a relay operator who never left a light unattended - then fourteen months of silence before a skeletal hand was found in a well sealed with hydraulic mortar. What happened to Sarah Roberts between July 22, 1892 and the discovery that would end with a woman on a gallows?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the evening the lantern was found through the missing-authority May assignment and the later well inspection that revealed a mortar collar and human remains, asking how routine records, an unauthorized visit, and a purchased sack of mortar connect to Sarah Roberts' disappearance.

Person: Sarah Roberts
Date: July 22, 1892
Location: Harmon Siding station, Carver County, Nebraska
Event: Lantern left burning; log current to 6:45; no note or sign of struggle
Discovery Date: September 9, 1893

- Sarah Roberts was 38 years old and had worked at Harmon Siding for six years.
- Her routine included eating lunch standing at the east window at 12:15 exactly every day.
- Erin Wright arrived as a temporary relay operator in October 1891 for eleven days with authorized assignment.
- On May 15, 1892, a woman matching Wright's description bought one sack of hydraulic mortar and a wooden-handled trowel from Conrad Able.
- On September 9, 1893, Judith Hunt found a mortar collar around the well shaft and a skeletal index finger with a copper ring beneath it.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1372falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-dead-woman-s-hand-holds-a-phone-with-no-wall-the-tracy-roberts-case--73080445
A warm handset found beneath a woman's outstretched hand, a cord sheared clean and re-routed to look intact, and no wall unit within six feet - the image that haunted investigators for decades. Tracy Roberts was found face-down behind Unit 12 of the Dunmore Motel on August 14, 1953, yet the handset had been placed there hours before she arrived; who set this staged scene and why was it planned years in advance?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events from Tracy Roberts's last evening through the discoveries that upended the official reading of the scene, focusing on the physical evidence, witness statements, and dispatch records that raise deeper questions about prior preparation. How did a phony technician, a carefully placed toolbox, and a cut telephone cord fit into a scheme allegedly in motion since 1948?

Person: Tracy Roberts
Date: August 14, 1953
Location: Dunmore Motel, Unit 12, Route 7 near Caddell
Age: 62
Witness: Vic Bauer, maintenance worker

- Tracy Roberts checked into Unit 12 at approximately 8:30 PM after driving from Decatur to Peoria.
- Wayne Holt found her face-down in a shallow clay drainage channel shortly after 6:00 AM on August 14, 1953.
- A handset was found faintly warm beneath her right hand; the cord had been sheared clean and no phone lay within six feet.
- A man posing as a county telephone exchange technician entered Unit 12 around 3:30 PM the same day, spending four to six minutes inside with a gray metal toolbox.
- Harwick County dispatch logs show no technician assignment or reported grounding fault for the Dunmore on August 13, 1953.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080445Sun, 27 Sep 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Dead Woman's Hand Holds a Phone With No Wall: The Tracy Roberts Case A warm handset found beneath a woman's outstretched hand, a cord sheared clean and re-routed to look intact, and no wall unit within six feet - the image that haunted...
A warm handset found beneath a woman's outstretched hand, a cord sheared clean and re-routed to look intact, and no wall unit within six feet - the image that haunted investigators for decades. Tracy Roberts was found face-down behind Unit 12 of the Dunmore Motel on August 14, 1953, yet the handset had been placed there hours before she arrived; who set this staged scene and why was it planned years in advance?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events from Tracy Roberts's last evening through the discoveries that upended the official reading of the scene, focusing on the physical evidence, witness statements, and dispatch records that raise deeper questions about prior preparation. How did a phony technician, a carefully placed toolbox, and a cut telephone cord fit into a scheme allegedly in motion since 1948?

Person: Tracy Roberts
Date: August 14, 1953
Location: Dunmore Motel, Unit 12, Route 7 near Caddell
Age: 62
Witness: Vic Bauer, maintenance worker

- Tracy Roberts checked into Unit 12 at approximately 8:30 PM after driving from Decatur to Peoria.
- Wayne Holt found her face-down in a shallow clay drainage channel shortly after 6:00 AM on August 14, 1953.
- A handset was found faintly warm beneath her right hand; the cord had been sheared clean and no phone lay within six feet.
- A man posing as a county telephone exchange technician entered Unit 12 around 3:30 PM the same day, spending four to six minutes inside with a gray metal toolbox.
- Harwick County dispatch logs show no technician assignment or reported grounding fault for the Dunmore on August 13, 1953.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1380falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-photograph-that-watched-a-woman-die-nebraska-s-1941-mystery--73080444
The discovery of a locked cedar chest and eleven glass plates turned a small-town murder into a camera's cold record: a logbook entry time-stamped 7:15 PM on July 9, 1941 reads "Light adequate. Composition: natural." Who set up a camera over Jennifer Padgett's body, made a photograph, and then returned the next morning without claiming the image - and why has Plate 9 never been shown publicly?

In this episode, you will hear the timeline of events, the items found at the scene, and the puzzling details recorded in a photographer's logbook that link other outdoor sessions to animal carcasses and deserted locations. How do a new padlock, a sprig of chicory, and an untendered photographic session fit together to tell what really happened on Morrow Road?

Person: Jennifer Padgett, 26-year-old seamstress
Date: July 9-11, 1941 (time of photograph entry: 7:15 PM July 9)
Location: Morrow Road culvert, near service alley behind Hatcher's Dry Goods, Calloway, Nebraska
Event: Death by single blow to back of skull with short iron bar; body found holding a sprig of chicory
Evidence: Cedar chest with new padlock containing 11 glass photographic plates and a leather-bound logbook

- Body located in drainage culvert roughly sixty yards east of the service alley behind Hatcher's Dry Goods.
- Coroner estimated time of death between evening of July 9 and early hours of July 10 (36-60 hours before discovery).
- Cedar chest placed on a clay shelf eleven inches above the waterline and locked with a brand-new padlock showing no dust in the keyway.
- Logbook entry at 7:15 PM on July 9: "Light adequate. Composition: natural." recording a photographic session at Morrow Rd, culvert.
- Eleven glass photographic plates were stored in cloth sleeves; Plate 9 has never been publicly displayed.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080444Sat, 26 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Photograph That Watched a Woman Die: Nebraska's 1941 Mystery The discovery of a locked cedar chest and eleven glass plates turned a small-town murder into a camera's cold record: a logbook entry time-stamped 7:15 PM on July 9, 1941 reads "Light...
The discovery of a locked cedar chest and eleven glass plates turned a small-town murder into a camera's cold record: a logbook entry time-stamped 7:15 PM on July 9, 1941 reads "Light adequate. Composition: natural." Who set up a camera over Jennifer Padgett's body, made a photograph, and then returned the next morning without claiming the image - and why has Plate 9 never been shown publicly?

In this episode, you will hear the timeline of events, the items found at the scene, and the puzzling details recorded in a photographer's logbook that link other outdoor sessions to animal carcasses and deserted locations. How do a new padlock, a sprig of chicory, and an untendered photographic session fit together to tell what really happened on Morrow Road?

Person: Jennifer Padgett, 26-year-old seamstress
Date: July 9-11, 1941 (time of photograph entry: 7:15 PM July 9)
Location: Morrow Road culvert, near service alley behind Hatcher's Dry Goods, Calloway, Nebraska
Event: Death by single blow to back of skull with short iron bar; body found holding a sprig of chicory
Evidence: Cedar chest with new padlock containing 11 glass photographic plates and a leather-bound logbook

- Body located in drainage culvert roughly sixty yards east of the service alley behind Hatcher's Dry Goods.
- Coroner estimated time of death between evening of July 9 and early hours of July 10 (36-60 hours before discovery).
- Cedar chest placed on a clay shelf eleven inches above the waterline and locked with a brand-new padlock showing no dust in the keyway.
- Logbook entry at 7:15 PM on July 9: "Light adequate. Composition: natural." recording a photographic session at Morrow Rd, culvert.
- Eleven glass photographic plates were stored in cloth sleeves; Plate 9 has never been publicly displayed.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1163falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-dry-ledger-on-a-soaked-stone-the-russo-murder-case--73080443
A ledger left dry on a drenched embankment, a produce wholesaler face-up on the slope, and two sets of tire tracks preserved in soft gravel - one matching a county maintenance vehicle. What motive could tie a leather-bound book with fourteen thousand dollars recorded in C.S. initials to a man found dead below mile marker nine, and who returned after the rain to place it there?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of discoveries from Craig McCarthy's June 14, 1931 find through James Sawyer's early investigation, tracing ledger entries, forensic timing, and vehicle evidence to ask whether the book was meant as message, record, or frame. How did a document examiner, county records, and a single drainage stone become the keys to a wider mystery?

Person: Ralph Russo
Date: June 14, 1931
Location: Mile marker nine, Teller Creek Road
Occupation: Produce wholesaler and liquor supplier to Heron Point Roadhouse
Document finding: Ledger entries Jan 1928-June 8, 1931 totaling over $14,000 with initials "C.S."

- Craig McCarthy discovered Russo's body face-up on the embankment near mile marker nine before sunrise on June 14, 1931.
- The leather-bound ledger sat on a flat drainage stone roughly four feet from the road edge and was completely dry despite surrounding rain-saturated conditions.
- A document examiner from Indianapolis confirmed the ledger was placed after rain stopped around 4:00 a.m. and showed no water damage or warping on June 20.
- Ledger entries recorded weekly cash payments of $40 to $90 from January 1928 through June 8, 1931, many signed with the initials C.S., with some pages torn out.
- Two distinct sets of tire tracks were found in the shoulder gravel: one for a standard passenger car and a wider set consistent with county maintenance vehicles.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080443Fri, 25 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Dry Ledger on a Soaked Stone: The Russo Murder Case A ledger left dry on a drenched embankment, a produce wholesaler face-up on the slope, and two sets of tire tracks preserved in soft gravel - one matching a county maintenance vehicle. What...
A ledger left dry on a drenched embankment, a produce wholesaler face-up on the slope, and two sets of tire tracks preserved in soft gravel - one matching a county maintenance vehicle. What motive could tie a leather-bound book with fourteen thousand dollars recorded in C.S. initials to a man found dead below mile marker nine, and who returned after the rain to place it there?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of discoveries from Craig McCarthy's June 14, 1931 find through James Sawyer's early investigation, tracing ledger entries, forensic timing, and vehicle evidence to ask whether the book was meant as message, record, or frame. How did a document examiner, county records, and a single drainage stone become the keys to a wider mystery?

Person: Ralph Russo
Date: June 14, 1931
Location: Mile marker nine, Teller Creek Road
Occupation: Produce wholesaler and liquor supplier to Heron Point Roadhouse
Document finding: Ledger entries Jan 1928-June 8, 1931 totaling over $14,000 with initials "C.S."

- Craig McCarthy discovered Russo's body face-up on the embankment near mile marker nine before sunrise on June 14, 1931.
- The leather-bound ledger sat on a flat drainage stone roughly four feet from the road edge and was completely dry despite surrounding rain-saturated conditions.
- A document examiner from Indianapolis confirmed the ledger was placed after rain stopped around 4:00 a.m. and showed no water damage or warping on June 20.
- Ledger entries recorded weekly cash payments of $40 to $90 from January 1928 through June 8, 1931, many signed with the initials C.S., with some pages torn out.
- Two distinct sets of tire tracks were found in the shoulder gravel: one for a standard passenger car and a wider set consistent with county maintenance vehicles.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1337falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-stove-that-didn-t-burn-eleven-letters-and-a-broken-neck--73080442
A cold parlor stove held eleven sheets of plain stationery resting on a bed of ash while a man lay dead thirty feet away with a broken neck - and the letters were completely unburned. The final letter, dated April 27, 1905, contained a penciled-circled threat; who carried those letters to the stove and why did the fire that should have consumed them never start?

In this episode, we follow the scene at 14 Morrow Street, the discovery of Scott White’s body and the eleven sealed envelopes, and the municipal gas report that revealed low pressure on the landing jet; could a failing gas line be the missing link between the intact letters and White’s death?

Person: Scott White
Date: May 9, 1905 (body found); April 27, 1905 (final threatening letter)
Location: 14 Morrow Street, room six
Occupation: Agricultural catalog salesman, age 31
Investigator: Glenn Duncan

- Eleven sheets of plain stationery were found bone dry in the stove firebox, each envelope still sealed except the last.
- Scott White’s traveling bag was partially packed with two shirts folded flat and a shaving kit, while his catalog samples remained untouched on the writing table.
- The final letter contained an underlined sentence: "If you carry this to a solicitor I will see that you regret it before any court date is set."
- Harwick Municipal Gas reported pressure failing since approximately midnight of May 8 due to a fractured coupling from ground settling.
- The landing gas jet showed fresh, dense black residue indicating it had been burning dim since before midnight, eight to twelve hours before the service call.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080442Thu, 24 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Stove That Didn't Burn: Eleven Letters and a Broken Neck A cold parlor stove held eleven sheets of plain stationery resting on a bed of ash while a man lay dead thirty feet away with a broken neck - and the letters were completely unburned. The...
A cold parlor stove held eleven sheets of plain stationery resting on a bed of ash while a man lay dead thirty feet away with a broken neck - and the letters were completely unburned. The final letter, dated April 27, 1905, contained a penciled-circled threat; who carried those letters to the stove and why did the fire that should have consumed them never start?

In this episode, we follow the scene at 14 Morrow Street, the discovery of Scott White’s body and the eleven sealed envelopes, and the municipal gas report that revealed low pressure on the landing jet; could a failing gas line be the missing link between the intact letters and White’s death?

Person: Scott White
Date: May 9, 1905 (body found); April 27, 1905 (final threatening letter)
Location: 14 Morrow Street, room six
Occupation: Agricultural catalog salesman, age 31
Investigator: Glenn Duncan

- Eleven sheets of plain stationery were found bone dry in the stove firebox, each envelope still sealed except the last.
- Scott White’s traveling bag was partially packed with two shirts folded flat and a shaving kit, while his catalog samples remained untouched on the writing table.
- The final letter contained an underlined sentence: "If you carry this to a solicitor I will see that you regret it before any court date is set."
- Harwick Municipal Gas reported pressure failing since approximately midnight of May 8 due to a fractured coupling from ground settling.
- The landing gas jet showed fresh, dense black residue indicating it had been burning dim since before midnight, eight to twelve hours before the service call.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1297falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-dead-woman-s-dry-playing-card-inside-a-glove-after-the-rain-had-already-stopped--73080441
A dry playing card folded inside a right glove, untouched by rain even though the east yard still held standing water - that small, precise contradiction anchored a murder that slipped into the noise of a wartime factory morning. Six handwritten words on that card confused investigators for sixty years; what did Gail Mills know before she walked into the blind spot and never walked out?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of facts from that April morning in 1943 at the Kellner Stamping Works and follow the clues left at the scene, asking how a methodical fifty-two-year-old supervisor ended up in a cul-de-sac of mud and why the single card in her pocket carried a message no one could read for decades.

Person: Gail Mills
Date: April 9, 1943
Location: Kellner Stamping Works, east yard between rail spur and Building Number Three
Status: Body found face-down in mud at 6:20 AM
Investigator: Wade Phillips, Atwater County Sheriff's Office

- The glove with the flat playing card inside was bone-dry while the east yard still held standing water from rain after 4:00 AM.
- Gail Mills had signed the end-of-shift log with her left hand at 5:58 AM; her right index finger was splinted.
- The east yard had been removed from the watchman's 45-minute patrol route in February 1943 and was a structural blind spot.
- The fatal blow was a single, concentrated impact to the back of the skull from above and slightly to the left, consistent with a right-handed assailant.
- A forensic pathologist reported the striking surface had a cylindrical profile about 1-2 inches in diameter, suggesting a pipe section or rod stock.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080441Wed, 23 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA dead woman's dry playing card, inside a glove, after the rain had already stopped A dry playing card folded inside a right glove, untouched by rain even though the east yard still held standing water - that small, precise contradiction anchored a...
A dry playing card folded inside a right glove, untouched by rain even though the east yard still held standing water - that small, precise contradiction anchored a murder that slipped into the noise of a wartime factory morning. Six handwritten words on that card confused investigators for sixty years; what did Gail Mills know before she walked into the blind spot and never walked out?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of facts from that April morning in 1943 at the Kellner Stamping Works and follow the clues left at the scene, asking how a methodical fifty-two-year-old supervisor ended up in a cul-de-sac of mud and why the single card in her pocket carried a message no one could read for decades.

Person: Gail Mills
Date: April 9, 1943
Location: Kellner Stamping Works, east yard between rail spur and Building Number Three
Status: Body found face-down in mud at 6:20 AM
Investigator: Wade Phillips, Atwater County Sheriff's Office

- The glove with the flat playing card inside was bone-dry while the east yard still held standing water from rain after 4:00 AM.
- Gail Mills had signed the end-of-shift log with her left hand at 5:58 AM; her right index finger was splinted.
- The east yard had been removed from the watchman's 45-minute patrol route in February 1943 and was a structural blind spot.
- The fatal blow was a single, concentrated impact to the back of the skull from above and slightly to the left, consistent with a right-handed assailant.
- A forensic pathologist reported the striking surface had a cylindrical profile about 1-2 inches in diameter, suggesting a pipe section or rod stock.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1445falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-glass-on-the-hatch-how-arsenic-silenced-a-dust-bowl-farmer--73080439
A single uncovered glass of water on a storm-cellar hatch sill stopped a meter reader in her tracks and set in motion a homicide probe in the middle of the Dust Bowl; the man found dead was forty-six and the post-mortem showed a large acute dose of arsenic-who put poison in his house, and why?

In this episode, we walk through the sequence of observations, discoveries, and official steps that turned a likely natural death into a confirmed homicide, tracing the moment a field investigator found a paper bag of pale powder and the lab result that changed everything: could a routine relief claim and a farm’s survival be the motive?

Person: Dean Marshall
Date: March 14, 1934
Location: Garfield Flat County, Oklahoma
Event: Post-mortem reclassification to homicide
Substance: Arsenic trioxide (commercial rodent poison)

- Nancy Jones noticed the uncovered, full glass at 9:40 AM on March 14, 1934.
- Deputy Frank Pruitt and Nancy arrived at the farmhouse at 10:22 AM the same morning.
- Dean Marshall was 46 years old and had farmed the quarter section since 1917.
- Peggy Cox found a small druggist’s paper bag behind the kitchen woodstove containing a waxed-paper twist of pale powder.
- Chemist Fred Baxter identified the powder as arsenic trioxide by the morning of March 15; post-mortem on March 19 found large acute arsenic in liver and kidneys.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080439Tue, 22 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Glass on the Hatch: How Arsenic Silenced a Dust Bowl Farmer A single uncovered glass of water on a storm-cellar hatch sill stopped a meter reader in her tracks and set in motion a homicide probe in the middle of the Dust Bowl; the man found...
A single uncovered glass of water on a storm-cellar hatch sill stopped a meter reader in her tracks and set in motion a homicide probe in the middle of the Dust Bowl; the man found dead was forty-six and the post-mortem showed a large acute dose of arsenic-who put poison in his house, and why?

In this episode, we walk through the sequence of observations, discoveries, and official steps that turned a likely natural death into a confirmed homicide, tracing the moment a field investigator found a paper bag of pale powder and the lab result that changed everything: could a routine relief claim and a farm’s survival be the motive?

Person: Dean Marshall
Date: March 14, 1934
Location: Garfield Flat County, Oklahoma
Event: Post-mortem reclassification to homicide
Substance: Arsenic trioxide (commercial rodent poison)

- Nancy Jones noticed the uncovered, full glass at 9:40 AM on March 14, 1934.
- Deputy Frank Pruitt and Nancy arrived at the farmhouse at 10:22 AM the same morning.
- Dean Marshall was 46 years old and had farmed the quarter section since 1917.
- Peggy Cox found a small druggist’s paper bag behind the kitchen woodstove containing a waxed-paper twist of pale powder.
- Chemist Fred Baxter identified the powder as arsenic trioxide by the morning of March 15; post-mortem on March 19 found large acute arsenic in liver and kidneys.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1310falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-satchel-that-proved-a-drowned-man-was-murdered--73080438
The smell of copper and river mud led Frances Barrett to a leather satchel left in a church vestibule forty-one days after Douglas Long was buried; the satchel was waterlogged outside but its oilcloth-wrapped policies were perfectly dry. Who would place a wet satchel away from the wharf, in a passage invisible from the main street, and why had the contents been packed to survive water-was Long really drowned, or was something else at work?

In this episode, we tell the story of what was found in Saint Anselm's side entrance and how a claims investigator with no police authority turned those objects into questions that the town had not asked. How did a man who always carried his satchel and wrapped policies in oilcloth end up with his bag returned, dry inside, to a church that hid the bag from the riverfront?

Person: Douglas Long
Age: 28
Date: December 24, 1892 (date missing; body surfaced December 26, 1892)
Location: Calhoun Landing, Aldren River, Saint Anselm's Episcopal Church vestibule
Investigator: Neil Perry, claims investigator for Western States Bonding and Surety

- Douglas Long’s body surfaced a quarter mile downstream on December 26, 1892, and he was buried December 30 in frozen ground.
- Frances Barrett found the satchel in Saint Anselm’s side entrance forty-one days after Long’s burial.
- The satchel bore a brass plate reading: D. LONG - CALHOUN LANDING MUTUAL ASSURANCE CO.
- Inside the oilcloth were fourteen signed insurance policies, crisp and without tide lines, tied with butcher’s twine.
- The passage from the main street to the church side door is nine-tenths of a mile from the Aldren Street dock and is invisible from the wharf.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080438Mon, 21 Sep 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Satchel That Proved a Drowned Man Was Murdered The smell of copper and river mud led Frances Barrett to a leather satchel left in a church vestibule forty-one days after Douglas Long was buried; the satchel was waterlogged outside but its...
The smell of copper and river mud led Frances Barrett to a leather satchel left in a church vestibule forty-one days after Douglas Long was buried; the satchel was waterlogged outside but its oilcloth-wrapped policies were perfectly dry. Who would place a wet satchel away from the wharf, in a passage invisible from the main street, and why had the contents been packed to survive water-was Long really drowned, or was something else at work?

In this episode, we tell the story of what was found in Saint Anselm's side entrance and how a claims investigator with no police authority turned those objects into questions that the town had not asked. How did a man who always carried his satchel and wrapped policies in oilcloth end up with his bag returned, dry inside, to a church that hid the bag from the riverfront?

Person: Douglas Long
Age: 28
Date: December 24, 1892 (date missing; body surfaced December 26, 1892)
Location: Calhoun Landing, Aldren River, Saint Anselm's Episcopal Church vestibule
Investigator: Neil Perry, claims investigator for Western States Bonding and Surety

- Douglas Long’s body surfaced a quarter mile downstream on December 26, 1892, and he was buried December 30 in frozen ground.
- Frances Barrett found the satchel in Saint Anselm’s side entrance forty-one days after Long’s burial.
- The satchel bore a brass plate reading: D. LONG - CALHOUN LANDING MUTUAL ASSURANCE CO.
- Inside the oilcloth were fourteen signed insurance policies, crisp and without tide lines, tied with butcher’s twine.
- The passage from the main street to the church side door is nine-tenths of a mile from the Aldren Street dock and is invisible from the wharf.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1466falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-ledger-s-red-thread-how-two-women-were-lured-and-strangled--73080437
A dog named Buck found a woman's left hand behind a Pallister Hotel coal grate on January 9, 1924, each pearl of a cluster ring individually wrapped in hotel letterhead and tied with red thread - a careful act done in the dark. Two married women, Vicki O'Brien and Dorothy Ness, were later found strangled, both traveling alone after accepting invitations; what common lure connected them and who left the red-threaded message?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of discoveries, ledger entries, and investigative steps that linked the victims and revealed odd anomalies in the Pallister Hotel register. How did a single ledger entry and a missing name point to a larger pattern that took eight years and two trials to explain?

Person: Vicki O'Brien
Person: Dorothy Ness
Date: January 9, 1924
Location: Pallister Hotel (hand found behind east wall coal grate)
Case: Two women strangled with one palm-up hand and wrapped pearls tied with red thread

- Vicki O'Brien checked into the Pallister Hotel on December 31, 1923, listing her reason as "family in the area."
- Dorothy Ness was found January 19, 1924, in a drainage culvert at mile marker 62, four miles east of Dunmore Junction.
- Each pearl on a cluster ring found with the hand was individually wrapped in Pallister Hotel letterhead and tied with a single loop of red thread.
- The Pallister ledger contained 41 entries for December 31-January 1, of which 38 matched Burlington passenger manifests and 3 did not.
- A ledger entry for "Kevin Baker" appeared in a slightly different hand and no such person could be found in the Council Bluffs city directory or local records.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080437Sun, 20 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Ledger's Red Thread: How Two Women Were Lured and Strangled A dog named Buck found a woman's left hand behind a Pallister Hotel coal grate on January 9, 1924, each pearl of a cluster ring individually wrapped in hotel letterhead and tied with...
A dog named Buck found a woman's left hand behind a Pallister Hotel coal grate on January 9, 1924, each pearl of a cluster ring individually wrapped in hotel letterhead and tied with red thread - a careful act done in the dark. Two married women, Vicki O'Brien and Dorothy Ness, were later found strangled, both traveling alone after accepting invitations; what common lure connected them and who left the red-threaded message?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of discoveries, ledger entries, and investigative steps that linked the victims and revealed odd anomalies in the Pallister Hotel register. How did a single ledger entry and a missing name point to a larger pattern that took eight years and two trials to explain?

Person: Vicki O'Brien
Person: Dorothy Ness
Date: January 9, 1924
Location: Pallister Hotel (hand found behind east wall coal grate)
Case: Two women strangled with one palm-up hand and wrapped pearls tied with red thread

- Vicki O'Brien checked into the Pallister Hotel on December 31, 1923, listing her reason as "family in the area."
- Dorothy Ness was found January 19, 1924, in a drainage culvert at mile marker 62, four miles east of Dunmore Junction.
- Each pearl on a cluster ring found with the hand was individually wrapped in Pallister Hotel letterhead and tied with a single loop of red thread.
- The Pallister ledger contained 41 entries for December 31-January 1, of which 38 matched Burlington passenger manifests and 3 did not.
- A ledger entry for "Kevin Baker" appeared in a slightly different hand and no such person could be found in the Council Bluffs city directory or local records.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1522falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dazzling-caruso-missing-trick-murdered-illusionist-a-book-that-sank--73080436
Fear and fascination collide: a leather appointment book with two contracts was pulled from a frozen river, one contract real, the other bait, and twenty-two-year-old illusionist Carl Hill vanished after his last curtain call - who arranged a disappearing act that ended in murder? What did the duplicate costume and the river-bound book hide?

In this episode, we follow the discovery, the timeline from December 7-12, 1923, and the clues left in a Majestic Theatre trunk, booking records, and witness statements to ask whether the crime was a staged misdirection or a coldly planned homicide.

Person: Carl Hill
Date: December 7-12, 1923
Location: Fenwick, Whitmore County (body found 4 miles NE of Fenwick)
Event: Missing person turned murder (single blow to back of skull)
Witness: Vera Novak (last to see Carl; located December 14 in Champaign)

- Fisherman Ralph Schmidt found a leather appointment book on December 9, 1923 on his fourth trotline in the Calloway River.
- Two contracts for "The Dazzling Caruso" were inside the book for the same act and same week, scheduled 61 miles apart (Fenwick Majestic and Decatur Criterion).
- Carl Hill’s body was discovered by December 12 under sumac and dry leaves beside a Wabash rail spur, estimated dead since the night of December 7.
- Majestic manager Victor Phelps confirmed Carl and Vera left together on foot toward the depot the night of December 7; the last confirmed sighting.
- Investigators found a mid-sized trunk marked C.H. containing a duplicate performance kit and a tailored jacket matching Carl’s measurements.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080436Sat, 19 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dazzling Caruso: Missing Trick, Murdered Illusionist, A Book That Sank Fear and fascination collide: a leather appointment book with two contracts was pulled from a frozen river, one contract real, the other bait, and twenty-two-year-old...
Fear and fascination collide: a leather appointment book with two contracts was pulled from a frozen river, one contract real, the other bait, and twenty-two-year-old illusionist Carl Hill vanished after his last curtain call - who arranged a disappearing act that ended in murder? What did the duplicate costume and the river-bound book hide?

In this episode, we follow the discovery, the timeline from December 7-12, 1923, and the clues left in a Majestic Theatre trunk, booking records, and witness statements to ask whether the crime was a staged misdirection or a coldly planned homicide.

Person: Carl Hill
Date: December 7-12, 1923
Location: Fenwick, Whitmore County (body found 4 miles NE of Fenwick)
Event: Missing person turned murder (single blow to back of skull)
Witness: Vera Novak (last to see Carl; located December 14 in Champaign)

- Fisherman Ralph Schmidt found a leather appointment book on December 9, 1923 on his fourth trotline in the Calloway River.
- Two contracts for "The Dazzling Caruso" were inside the book for the same act and same week, scheduled 61 miles apart (Fenwick Majestic and Decatur Criterion).
- Carl Hill’s body was discovered by December 12 under sumac and dry leaves beside a Wabash rail spur, estimated dead since the night of December 7.
- Majestic manager Victor Phelps confirmed Carl and Vera left together on foot toward the depot the night of December 7; the last confirmed sighting.
- Investigators found a mid-sized trunk marked C.H. containing a duplicate performance kit and a tailored jacket matching Carl’s measurements.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1372falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/boot-standing-upright-on-the-ice-the-murder-of-christine-green--73080435
A single women’s button-front boot, fully laced and standing upright with a wool stocking and an ankle inside, was found forty yards from Patience Lake’s eastern shore with no tracks to or from it-how could a body vanish into ice and leave only a boot? What did the milkier, refrozen circle and the drag marks around it conceal, and who was on the lake that night?

In this episode, we follow the chronological discoveries that began with a missing-person report and led to a boot on the ice. You’ll hear how routine habits, precise observations, and ledger entries point toward a night in November and a plan that had been in motion since the previous evening-what does the evidence reveal about Christine Green’s last hours?

Person: Christine Green
Date: November 12-16, 1893
Location: Patience Lake, Wisconsin
Age: 38
Occupation: Bookkeeper at the Halverson Grain Exchange

- Boot found standing upright forty yards from the eastern shore of Patience Lake.
- Inside the boot: a wool stocking containing a human ankle and nothing else.
- No tracks approaching or leaving the boot; snow swept in low horizontal arcs inconsistent with wind.
- A roughly six-foot-wide milkier refrozen patch of ice about eight feet from the boot with scoring marks radiating outward.
- Christine’s room showed her winter coat on the hook, open ledgers mid-entry, and two unfed cats at 6 a.m., prompting a missing-person report.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080435Fri, 18 Sep 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaBoot Standing Upright on the Ice: The Murder of Christine Green A single women’s button-front boot, fully laced and standing upright with a wool stocking and an ankle inside, was found forty yards from Patience Lake’s eastern shore with no tracks...
A single women’s button-front boot, fully laced and standing upright with a wool stocking and an ankle inside, was found forty yards from Patience Lake’s eastern shore with no tracks to or from it-how could a body vanish into ice and leave only a boot? What did the milkier, refrozen circle and the drag marks around it conceal, and who was on the lake that night?

In this episode, we follow the chronological discoveries that began with a missing-person report and led to a boot on the ice. You’ll hear how routine habits, precise observations, and ledger entries point toward a night in November and a plan that had been in motion since the previous evening-what does the evidence reveal about Christine Green’s last hours?

Person: Christine Green
Date: November 12-16, 1893
Location: Patience Lake, Wisconsin
Age: 38
Occupation: Bookkeeper at the Halverson Grain Exchange

- Boot found standing upright forty yards from the eastern shore of Patience Lake.
- Inside the boot: a wool stocking containing a human ankle and nothing else.
- No tracks approaching or leaving the boot; snow swept in low horizontal arcs inconsistent with wind.
- A roughly six-foot-wide milkier refrozen patch of ice about eight feet from the boot with scoring marks radiating outward.
- Christine’s room showed her winter coat on the hook, open ledgers mid-entry, and two unfed cats at 6 a.m., prompting a missing-person report.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1347falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dead-boy-who-kept-getting-paid-murder-over-a-fake-ledger--73080433
A dead child was recorded as attending school for a full year after his burial, generating a roughly forty-dollar subsidy each year - and the man who held the ledger was found dead with the book open at his kitchen table. Why did Thomas Sanders, a meticulous eleven-year record-keeper, sign manipulated disbursements and then insist the records be destroyed, and who was willing to break the silence with violence?

In this episode, we follow the discovery made when Norman Adams found Thomas Sanders dead on a Monday morning in October 1917 and county investigator Grant Armstrong traced a contradicted enrollment entry back to a fraud. The episode covers Sanders’s role at Covenant Hills Mission School, the reappearance of Elias Crane’s name in darker ink for the 1914-1915 year, and the steps Armstrong took after confirming Elias had died in spring 1913 - but the ledger’s questions remained: who wrote the false entries and who profited?

Person: Thomas Sanders
Date: October 1917
Location: Caldwell Trace Road, Dellwood, North Carolina
Case: Fraudulent school enrollment ledger including Elias Crane
Amount: roughly forty dollars subsidy per enrolled student per year

- Thomas Sanders was found dead on his kitchen floor four days after his death by Norman Adams.
- Sanders had been business manager and record-keeper at Covenant Hills Mission School for eleven years, arriving in 1906 and retiring by 1917.
- Elias Crane died of scarlet fever in spring 1913 yet appears as enrolled for the full academic year 1914-1915 in darker ink and different handwriting.
- Grant Armstrong, Dellwood’s county investigator and former railroad freight auditor, confirmed Elias’s death at the county recorder’s office the same day he found the ledger.
- The Charlotte mission fund paid about forty dollars per enrolled student per year, and Elias Crane’s false enrollment generated that subsidy.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080433Thu, 17 Sep 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dead Boy Who Kept Getting Paid: Murder Over a Fake Ledger A dead child was recorded as attending school for a full year after his burial, generating a roughly forty-dollar subsidy each year - and the man who held the ledger was found dead with...
A dead child was recorded as attending school for a full year after his burial, generating a roughly forty-dollar subsidy each year - and the man who held the ledger was found dead with the book open at his kitchen table. Why did Thomas Sanders, a meticulous eleven-year record-keeper, sign manipulated disbursements and then insist the records be destroyed, and who was willing to break the silence with violence?

In this episode, we follow the discovery made when Norman Adams found Thomas Sanders dead on a Monday morning in October 1917 and county investigator Grant Armstrong traced a contradicted enrollment entry back to a fraud. The episode covers Sanders’s role at Covenant Hills Mission School, the reappearance of Elias Crane’s name in darker ink for the 1914-1915 year, and the steps Armstrong took after confirming Elias had died in spring 1913 - but the ledger’s questions remained: who wrote the false entries and who profited?

Person: Thomas Sanders
Date: October 1917
Location: Caldwell Trace Road, Dellwood, North Carolina
Case: Fraudulent school enrollment ledger including Elias Crane
Amount: roughly forty dollars subsidy per enrolled student per year

- Thomas Sanders was found dead on his kitchen floor four days after his death by Norman Adams.
- Sanders had been business manager and record-keeper at Covenant Hills Mission School for eleven years, arriving in 1906 and retiring by 1917.
- Elias Crane died of scarlet fever in spring 1913 yet appears as enrolled for the full academic year 1914-1915 in darker ink and different handwriting.
- Grant Armstrong, Dellwood’s county investigator and former railroad freight auditor, confirmed Elias’s death at the county recorder’s office the same day he found the ledger.
- The Charlotte mission fund paid about forty dollars per enrolled student per year, and Elias Crane’s false enrollment generated that subsidy.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1466falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-paint-can-that-proved-a-murder-portsmith-1944--73080431
A paint canister sat upright and sealed on a man's back in a wartime Virginia shipyard pond - a detail no accidental drowning would leave behind. The body, the undisturbed muddy bank, and fully worn gloves suggested violence, but the official record closed as "accidental drowning" five days later; what really happened to Raymond Vaughn?

In this episode, you will hear the sequence of events from the morning George Quinn spotted the body to the notes an officer kept and the later discoveries that kept the case alive, asking whether the physical facts recorded at Kellard Basin ever matched the official conclusion.

Person: Raymond Vaughn
Date: September 14, 1944
Location: Kellard Basin, Portsmith, Virginia
Age: 26
Officer: Sergeant Megan Peterson

- The body was discovered face-down in a secondary holding pond at 7:00 a.m, on September 14, 1944.
- A sealed steel paint canister sat upright on Vaughn's back, centered between his shoulder blades.
- Vaughn had signed the basin gate log at 11:17 p.m, on September 13, 1944.
- Vaughn's work gloves were on his hands when recovered; both gloves were intact and fully worn.
- The pond bank showed a fifteen-foot stretch of uniformly smoothed mud with no footprints, heel marks, or drag lines.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080431Wed, 16 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Paint Can That Proved a Murder: Portsmith, 1944 A paint canister sat upright and sealed on a man's back in a wartime Virginia shipyard pond - a detail no accidental drowning would leave behind. The body, the undisturbed muddy bank, and fully...
A paint canister sat upright and sealed on a man's back in a wartime Virginia shipyard pond - a detail no accidental drowning would leave behind. The body, the undisturbed muddy bank, and fully worn gloves suggested violence, but the official record closed as "accidental drowning" five days later; what really happened to Raymond Vaughn?

In this episode, you will hear the sequence of events from the morning George Quinn spotted the body to the notes an officer kept and the later discoveries that kept the case alive, asking whether the physical facts recorded at Kellard Basin ever matched the official conclusion.

Person: Raymond Vaughn
Date: September 14, 1944
Location: Kellard Basin, Portsmith, Virginia
Age: 26
Officer: Sergeant Megan Peterson

- The body was discovered face-down in a secondary holding pond at 7:00 a.m, on September 14, 1944.
- A sealed steel paint canister sat upright on Vaughn's back, centered between his shoulder blades.
- Vaughn had signed the basin gate log at 11:17 p.m, on September 13, 1944.
- Vaughn's work gloves were on his hands when recovered; both gloves were intact and fully worn.
- The pond bank showed a fifteen-foot stretch of uniformly smoothed mud with no footprints, heel marks, or drag lines.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1430falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-brass-key-and-the-photograph-no-one-noticed-at-8-14pm--73080430
A freshly cut brass key stamped with the numeral fourteen was found balanced in the dead hand of Marilyn Lawson, a forty-nine-year-old fair administrator who remembered every vendor and every detail - and a matchbook from the Lakeside Tap was found on the Exhibition Hall floor nearby. Who planted the key and why did no one notice the photograph that would only be spotted seventy-two years later?

In this episode, we walk through the morning Todd Coleman found the Comet Exhibition Hall door ajar at 6:48 AM and Detective George Kowalski’s careful first sweep at 7:40 AM, following the clues from Millhaven to Kelverton and asking how a guilty plea in October still left crucial questions unanswered.

Person: Marilyn Lawson
Date: August 1937
Location: Comet Exhibition Hall, Millhaven
Person: Agnes Thurlow
Location: County lake road culvert, eleven miles north of Millhaven

- Marilyn Lawson was forty-nine years old and had managed fair paperwork for fourteen years.
- Todd Coleman found the side door of the Comet Exhibition Hall slightly ajar at 6:48 AM on a Wednesday.
- Detective George Kowalski arrived and walked the length of the hall twice before allowing anyone to touch anything by 7:40 AM.
- A brass key stamped with the numeral fourteen, brand new, was resting in Marilyn Lawson’s open palm.
- A Lakeside Tap matchbook was found on the Exhibition Hall floor, and Agnes Thurlow’s body had been recovered about six weeks after she disappeared from a culvert off the county lake road.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080430Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Brass Key and the Photograph No One Noticed at 8:14PM A freshly cut brass key stamped with the numeral fourteen was found balanced in the dead hand of Marilyn Lawson, a forty-nine-year-old fair administrator who remembered every vendor and...
A freshly cut brass key stamped with the numeral fourteen was found balanced in the dead hand of Marilyn Lawson, a forty-nine-year-old fair administrator who remembered every vendor and every detail - and a matchbook from the Lakeside Tap was found on the Exhibition Hall floor nearby. Who planted the key and why did no one notice the photograph that would only be spotted seventy-two years later?

In this episode, we walk through the morning Todd Coleman found the Comet Exhibition Hall door ajar at 6:48 AM and Detective George Kowalski’s careful first sweep at 7:40 AM, following the clues from Millhaven to Kelverton and asking how a guilty plea in October still left crucial questions unanswered.

Person: Marilyn Lawson
Date: August 1937
Location: Comet Exhibition Hall, Millhaven
Person: Agnes Thurlow
Location: County lake road culvert, eleven miles north of Millhaven

- Marilyn Lawson was forty-nine years old and had managed fair paperwork for fourteen years.
- Todd Coleman found the side door of the Comet Exhibition Hall slightly ajar at 6:48 AM on a Wednesday.
- Detective George Kowalski arrived and walked the length of the hall twice before allowing anyone to touch anything by 7:40 AM.
- A brass key stamped with the numeral fourteen, brand new, was resting in Marilyn Lawson’s open palm.
- A Lakeside Tap matchbook was found on the Exhibition Hall floor, and Agnes Thurlow’s body had been recovered about six weeks after she disappeared from a culvert off the county lake road.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1468falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/certified-dead-before-the-ship-arrived-the-pelican-narrows-case--73080428
The discovery of six completed death certificates, all dated July 6, 1883, sealed in a leather valise before the steamship Galatea reached Pelican Narrows, turns a routine paperwork task into a chilling anomaly: how could a county physician sign deaths he could not have witnessed, including a woman the ship's surgeon recorded as walking the day before? Who manufactured official death records for third-class passengers while the Galatea was still at sea?

In this episode, we walk through the documents, the people who handled them, and the conflicting entries that made a routine arrival into an unanswered puzzle - could those certificates have been forged, or was there another explanation?

Person: Nicole Dempsey
Date: July 6, 1883
Location: Pelican Narrows
Person: Dr. Keith Moore
Event: Valise with six death certificates found by Ronald Rogers

- The leather valise was found by road-grader Ronald Rogers in the reeds on the eastern embankment on the morning of July 9, 1883.
- Inside the valise were six completed death certificates sealed in a waxed envelope, each dated July 6, 1883 and signed by Dr. Keith Moore.
- The steamship Galatea, carrying all six named passengers, did not reach Pelican Narrows anchorage until July 7, 1883 and dropped anchor two hundred yards offshore.
- Ship's surgeon Thomas Peele's log recorded Nicole Dempsey as feverish but ambulatory on July 5, 1883, noting she had walked that morning.
- Rebecca Young, Suffolk County administrative registrar, received the envelope at 2:30 PM on July 9 and found all six names matched the Galatea's manifest but bore the earlier date of July 6.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080428Mon, 14 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaCertified Dead Before the Ship Arrived: The Pelican Narrows Case The discovery of six completed death certificates, all dated July 6, 1883, sealed in a leather valise before the steamship Galatea reached Pelican Narrows, turns a routine paperwork...
The discovery of six completed death certificates, all dated July 6, 1883, sealed in a leather valise before the steamship Galatea reached Pelican Narrows, turns a routine paperwork task into a chilling anomaly: how could a county physician sign deaths he could not have witnessed, including a woman the ship's surgeon recorded as walking the day before? Who manufactured official death records for third-class passengers while the Galatea was still at sea?

In this episode, we walk through the documents, the people who handled them, and the conflicting entries that made a routine arrival into an unanswered puzzle - could those certificates have been forged, or was there another explanation?

Person: Nicole Dempsey
Date: July 6, 1883
Location: Pelican Narrows
Person: Dr. Keith Moore
Event: Valise with six death certificates found by Ronald Rogers

- The leather valise was found by road-grader Ronald Rogers in the reeds on the eastern embankment on the morning of July 9, 1883.
- Inside the valise were six completed death certificates sealed in a waxed envelope, each dated July 6, 1883 and signed by Dr. Keith Moore.
- The steamship Galatea, carrying all six named passengers, did not reach Pelican Narrows anchorage until July 7, 1883 and dropped anchor two hundred yards offshore.
- Ship's surgeon Thomas Peele's log recorded Nicole Dempsey as feverish but ambulatory on July 5, 1883, noting she had walked that morning.
- Rebecca Young, Suffolk County administrative registrar, received the envelope at 2:30 PM on July 9 and found all six names matched the Galatea's manifest but bore the earlier date of July 6.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1670falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-vanishes-from-her-car-the-murder-of-jennifer-crawford--73080427
A single shoe standing upright on a wire crate led investigators forty yards into a cedar line and set off a chain of questions that would take decades of archive work and a jury to answer - but why was Jennifer Crawford gone from her car at the Starlight Drive-In on June 5, 1953? The scene included a working speaker, a bookmarked parking habit, and a discarded drive-in ticket produced with unnerving ease; what did those small, precise details add up to?

In this episode, we follow the documented timeline and physical evidence from the night Jennifer Crawford disappeared, the early work of Harmon Falls constabulary, and the clues found at the drive-in and nearby cedar line to understand how the case unfolded. What was revealed by a meticulous projectionist's log, a single upright shoe, and the notebook of the department's only female investigator?

Person: Jennifer Crawford
Date: June 5-9, 1953
Location: Starlight Drive-In, Harmon Falls
Case: Disappearance and subsequent murder investigation
Investigator: Christine Hensley

- Jennifer Crawford was 52 years old and had worked 11 years as a bookkeeper for the Harmon Falls Agricultural Cooperative.
- She attended the Blessed Redeemer Lutheran soup kitchen every Tuesday at 4:30 pm for three consecutive years with no absences.
- On Fridays she always parked in the third row, right side, of the Starlight Drive-In and hooked the speaker to her driver's window.
- Projectionist Ted Pressler noted in his handwritten Friday log at 6:40 pm that row three speakers were marked fine and he had walked the rows before opening.
- On June 9, a utility technician nine meters above ground found a single navy pump, size seven, stained with rust color, standing upright on a wire storage crate.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080427Sun, 13 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Vanishes From Her Car: The Murder of Jennifer Crawford A single shoe standing upright on a wire crate led investigators forty yards into a cedar line and set off a chain of questions that would take decades of archive work and a jury to answer...
A single shoe standing upright on a wire crate led investigators forty yards into a cedar line and set off a chain of questions that would take decades of archive work and a jury to answer - but why was Jennifer Crawford gone from her car at the Starlight Drive-In on June 5, 1953? The scene included a working speaker, a bookmarked parking habit, and a discarded drive-in ticket produced with unnerving ease; what did those small, precise details add up to?

In this episode, we follow the documented timeline and physical evidence from the night Jennifer Crawford disappeared, the early work of Harmon Falls constabulary, and the clues found at the drive-in and nearby cedar line to understand how the case unfolded. What was revealed by a meticulous projectionist's log, a single upright shoe, and the notebook of the department's only female investigator?

Person: Jennifer Crawford
Date: June 5-9, 1953
Location: Starlight Drive-In, Harmon Falls
Case: Disappearance and subsequent murder investigation
Investigator: Christine Hensley

- Jennifer Crawford was 52 years old and had worked 11 years as a bookkeeper for the Harmon Falls Agricultural Cooperative.
- She attended the Blessed Redeemer Lutheran soup kitchen every Tuesday at 4:30 pm for three consecutive years with no absences.
- On Fridays she always parked in the third row, right side, of the Starlight Drive-In and hooked the speaker to her driver's window.
- Projectionist Ted Pressler noted in his handwritten Friday log at 6:40 pm that row three speakers were marked fine and he had walked the rows before opening.
- On June 9, a utility technician nine meters above ground found a single navy pump, size seven, stained with rust color, standing upright on a wire storage crate.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1502falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-dry-shoe-in-the-rain-the-murder-of-eugene-crawford--73080425
A dry brown calfskin shoe and a dry burgundy silk tie were found upright in muddy embankment behind Wicker Row after an all-night rain - items that should have been soaked but were not. Detective Gail Cooper followed those impossibilities into missing reports, a tampered fire-inspection record, and a hidden sub-grade basement; how did a man vanish so completely from a well-worn route?

In this episode, the story follows the timeline from Eugene Crawford's last seen movements and the discovery on the morning of May 14, 1926, through the discoveries that revealed a forgotten passage and an erased inspection. What did the dry shoe and tie point Detective Cooper toward, and why did the building at 11 Wicker Row vanish from official records?

Person: Eugene Crawford
Age: 46
Date: May 12-14, 1926
Location: Wicker Row embankment and adjacent laundries (number nine and number eleven)
Detective: Gail Cooper

- Crawford worked the steam-press line at the Wicker Row industrial laundry for 11 years without missing a shift.
- On the evening of May 12 Crawford received $14.30 in his sealed weekly pay envelope.
- A contractor invoice from 1921 noted a two-foot gap behind corrugated tin connecting numbers nine and eleven.
- A fire marshal inspection on April 25, 1926 originally listed the address as eleven but was later altered to nine with different ink and pen pressure.
- One shoe was left upright in the mud and a burgundy tie snagged on a drainage grate while both remained dry despite an all-night rain.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080425Sat, 12 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Dry Shoe in the Rain: The Murder of Eugene Crawford A dry brown calfskin shoe and a dry burgundy silk tie were found upright in muddy embankment behind Wicker Row after an all-night rain - items that should have been soaked but were not....
A dry brown calfskin shoe and a dry burgundy silk tie were found upright in muddy embankment behind Wicker Row after an all-night rain - items that should have been soaked but were not. Detective Gail Cooper followed those impossibilities into missing reports, a tampered fire-inspection record, and a hidden sub-grade basement; how did a man vanish so completely from a well-worn route?

In this episode, the story follows the timeline from Eugene Crawford's last seen movements and the discovery on the morning of May 14, 1926, through the discoveries that revealed a forgotten passage and an erased inspection. What did the dry shoe and tie point Detective Cooper toward, and why did the building at 11 Wicker Row vanish from official records?

Person: Eugene Crawford
Age: 46
Date: May 12-14, 1926
Location: Wicker Row embankment and adjacent laundries (number nine and number eleven)
Detective: Gail Cooper

- Crawford worked the steam-press line at the Wicker Row industrial laundry for 11 years without missing a shift.
- On the evening of May 12 Crawford received $14.30 in his sealed weekly pay envelope.
- A contractor invoice from 1921 noted a two-foot gap behind corrugated tin connecting numbers nine and eleven.
- A fire marshal inspection on April 25, 1926 originally listed the address as eleven but was later altered to nine with different ink and pen pressure.
- One shoe was left upright in the mud and a burgundy tie snagged on a drainage grate while both remained dry despite an all-night rain.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1309falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-died-holding-the-proof-the-murder-of-april-burke--73080424
The discovery: a licensed assayer found dead face-down at her cedar sorting table on April 9, 1894, her right hand clenched around a fogged hand lens and a dense blue-gray rock under her cheek that should never have been in the Vantage Seam. Investors in Denver and Chicago relied on the very log books she kept; someone had altered samples and two specimen trays did not match their entries. Who switched the ore - and who killed the woman who was about to expose it?

In this episode, we lay out the documents, objects, and witnesses that framed the case: the assay logbooks, the mismatched trays, the unfinished draft accusing altered samples, and the people who trusted or threatened April Burke. What does the physical evidence and the timeline tell us about motive and opportunity?

Person: April Burke
Date: April 9, 1894
Location: Harrow Gulch Assay Office, Sutter Lane
Occupation: Licensed certifying assayer
Case: Altered ore samples and homicide

- April Burke was 28 years old and a Colorado School of Mines certified assayer since spring 1891.
- On the morning of April 9, 1894, she was found face-down at her cedar sorting table with a hand lens in her right hand and a dense blue-gray rock under her left cheek.
- Her assay log contained 43 numbered entries; William Young found that 41 trays matched their entries while trays 39 and 41 did not.
- Tray 39 was logged as quartz-and-pyrite but contained sandstone; tray 41 was logged as high-grade gold-bearing quartz yet held a dense blue-gray rock nearly twice the logged weight.
- In April’s desk investigators found an undated, unfinished draft letter to the Colorado School of Mines stating she believed submitted samples had been altered to misrepresent the Vantage Seam.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080424Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Died Holding the Proof: The Murder of April Burke The discovery: a licensed assayer found dead face-down at her cedar sorting table on April 9, 1894, her right hand clenched around a fogged hand lens and a dense blue-gray rock under her cheek...
The discovery: a licensed assayer found dead face-down at her cedar sorting table on April 9, 1894, her right hand clenched around a fogged hand lens and a dense blue-gray rock under her cheek that should never have been in the Vantage Seam. Investors in Denver and Chicago relied on the very log books she kept; someone had altered samples and two specimen trays did not match their entries. Who switched the ore - and who killed the woman who was about to expose it?

In this episode, we lay out the documents, objects, and witnesses that framed the case: the assay logbooks, the mismatched trays, the unfinished draft accusing altered samples, and the people who trusted or threatened April Burke. What does the physical evidence and the timeline tell us about motive and opportunity?

Person: April Burke
Date: April 9, 1894
Location: Harrow Gulch Assay Office, Sutter Lane
Occupation: Licensed certifying assayer
Case: Altered ore samples and homicide

- April Burke was 28 years old and a Colorado School of Mines certified assayer since spring 1891.
- On the morning of April 9, 1894, she was found face-down at her cedar sorting table with a hand lens in her right hand and a dense blue-gray rock under her left cheek.
- Her assay log contained 43 numbered entries; William Young found that 41 trays matched their entries while trays 39 and 41 did not.
- Tray 39 was logged as quartz-and-pyrite but contained sandstone; tray 41 was logged as high-grade gold-bearing quartz yet held a dense blue-gray rock nearly twice the logged weight.
- In April’s desk investigators found an undated, unfinished draft letter to the Colorado School of Mines stating she believed submitted samples had been altered to misrepresent the Vantage Seam.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1177falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-voice-broadcasts-live-as-she-dies-the-wmlf-murders--73080423
A radio transmitter in a converted grain tower outside Mill Fork went live at 10:40 PM on March 8, 1937, broadcasting sixty thousand listeners the sound of a woman seated at the console as she was strangled with copper wire; who turned on the transmitter and why was a jar of strawberry preserves placed beside her? The unexplained details-reels still turning, a half-hitch knot tied with 14-gauge wire from the station spool, and a padlock shown later to be properly seated-leave one central question: who with access and skill staged this scene for thousands to hear?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events, the key people at WMLF, and the physical evidence investigators recorded at the transmitter building, ending on the unresolved question that drew the county to the grain tower that spring night.

Person: Brenda York
Date: March 8, 1937
Location: WMLF transmitter building, converted grain tower outside Mill Fork, Indiana
Case: WMLF murders
Investigator: Marvin Tillman

- 10:40 PM: transmitter went live seventeen minutes after the 10:23 PM sign-off tone.
- 60,000: estimated listening area households across two counties who could have heard the broadcast.
- 55: Brenda York's age at the time of death.
- 14-gauge: copper wire used to strangle York, cut from a spool inside the transmitter cabinet.
- 12 jars: Brenda sold preserves twelve jars at a time for 15 cents each at Farmer's Exchange; the last batch sold out Feb 6, 1937.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080423Thu, 10 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Voice Broadcasts Live as She Dies: The WMLF Murders A radio transmitter in a converted grain tower outside Mill Fork went live at 10:40 PM on March 8, 1937, broadcasting sixty thousand listeners the sound of a woman seated at the console as she...
A radio transmitter in a converted grain tower outside Mill Fork went live at 10:40 PM on March 8, 1937, broadcasting sixty thousand listeners the sound of a woman seated at the console as she was strangled with copper wire; who turned on the transmitter and why was a jar of strawberry preserves placed beside her? The unexplained details-reels still turning, a half-hitch knot tied with 14-gauge wire from the station spool, and a padlock shown later to be properly seated-leave one central question: who with access and skill staged this scene for thousands to hear?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events, the key people at WMLF, and the physical evidence investigators recorded at the transmitter building, ending on the unresolved question that drew the county to the grain tower that spring night.

Person: Brenda York
Date: March 8, 1937
Location: WMLF transmitter building, converted grain tower outside Mill Fork, Indiana
Case: WMLF murders
Investigator: Marvin Tillman

- 10:40 PM: transmitter went live seventeen minutes after the 10:23 PM sign-off tone.
- 60,000: estimated listening area households across two counties who could have heard the broadcast.
- 55: Brenda York's age at the time of death.
- 14-gauge: copper wire used to strangle York, cut from a spool inside the transmitter cabinet.
- 12 jars: Brenda sold preserves twelve jars at a time for 15 cents each at Farmer's Exchange; the last batch sold out Feb 6, 1937.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1417falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-stamp-that-killed-how-one-passport-unraveled-a-murder-network--73080422
A county post-office clerk found a passport with the same El Paso entry stamp recorded twice for the same date - genuine federal ink, genuine seal - and four days after she reported it she was dead. How did a single impossible stamp turn a routine document into a murder weapon, expose a narcotics network, and lead to a man’s execution?

In this episode, we tell the story of what happened after a young woman noticed an impossible discrepancy in a passport and went to ask questions: what she saw at the customs counter, where the passport was found, and how one FBI agent traced a fiber thinner than a human hair to uncover the truth that others missed. What exactly tied that stamp to murder and a wider smuggling operation?

Person: Shannon Whitley
Date: February 10, 1947 (death discovered)
Location: Carrow River depression, near Lassiter
Document: Passport in name of Helen Gard with two El Paso entry stamps dated August 14, 1945
Witness: Walter Obie, Tres Cruces customs counter employee

- Shannon Whitley was 23 years old and worked the counter at the Lassiter post office, wiring $20 monthly to her mother in Tucson.
- The passport showed two identical El Paso entry stamps for August 14, 1945 - same port, same date, same direction - applied with genuine federal ink and seal.
- Shannon bought a bus ticket to Tres Cruces on February 8, 1947, to report the passport irregularity in person and was last seen leaving the customs counter that day.
- Her body was found two days later, on February 10, 1947, forty feet from the Carrow River with the passport in the interior pocket of her coat, four inches from her heart.
- Walter Obie, who had worked the Tres Cruces customs counter for eleven years, later identified a photograph of Shannon and confirmed her visit on February 8, 1947.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080422Wed, 09 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Stamp That Killed: How One Passport Unraveled a Murder Network A county post-office clerk found a passport with the same El Paso entry stamp recorded twice for the same date - genuine federal ink, genuine seal - and four days after she reported...
A county post-office clerk found a passport with the same El Paso entry stamp recorded twice for the same date - genuine federal ink, genuine seal - and four days after she reported it she was dead. How did a single impossible stamp turn a routine document into a murder weapon, expose a narcotics network, and lead to a man’s execution?

In this episode, we tell the story of what happened after a young woman noticed an impossible discrepancy in a passport and went to ask questions: what she saw at the customs counter, where the passport was found, and how one FBI agent traced a fiber thinner than a human hair to uncover the truth that others missed. What exactly tied that stamp to murder and a wider smuggling operation?

Person: Shannon Whitley
Date: February 10, 1947 (death discovered)
Location: Carrow River depression, near Lassiter
Document: Passport in name of Helen Gard with two El Paso entry stamps dated August 14, 1945
Witness: Walter Obie, Tres Cruces customs counter employee

- Shannon Whitley was 23 years old and worked the counter at the Lassiter post office, wiring $20 monthly to her mother in Tucson.
- The passport showed two identical El Paso entry stamps for August 14, 1945 - same port, same date, same direction - applied with genuine federal ink and seal.
- Shannon bought a bus ticket to Tres Cruces on February 8, 1947, to report the passport irregularity in person and was last seen leaving the customs counter that day.
- Her body was found two days later, on February 10, 1947, forty feet from the Carrow River with the passport in the interior pocket of her coat, four inches from her heart.
- Walter Obie, who had worked the Tres Cruces customs counter for eleven years, later identified a photograph of Shannon and confirmed her visit on February 8, 1947.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1341falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fisherman-pulls-a-glove-from-the-river-the-murder-of-jessica-price--73080421
Cold river, beeswax-sealed paper, and a certified brand transfer filed two days before a woman was found dead: a fisherman's hook pulled a glove that upended the official accident ruling. Who would file legal claim to Jessica Price's land while her body lay buried, and why was the transfer signed in her name?

In this episode, we follow the documents, the ledger entries, the Registry logbook, and the people who crossed paths with Jessica Price in the days before her death to understand what the evidence suggests about her final days and the transfer of Bench Creek Run. Could the timing of the December 28th filing and the glove in the river point to forgery or conspiracy?

Person: Jessica Price
Date (death found): December 30, 1882
Document date: December 28, 1882
Location (where glove found): Aldine River, January 9, 1883
Witness on transfer: George Aldiss

- A black kid-leather left glove contained a beeswax-treated certified brand transfer folded inside and was weighted with a river stone.
- The transfer document relinquished the Tumbling P brand and Bench Creek Run from Jessica Price to Leon Bishop, dated December 28, 1882.
- Jessica Price's final ledger entry is dated December 27, 1882 and reads "meeting with 'B' about Bench Creek water access"; the ledger entries after December 28 are blank.
- The Registry filing copy of the transfer was already on file when investigator Steven Burns checked the Registry on January 10, 1883, yet no after-hours entry appears in the Registry's logbook for December 28.
- Locksmith Henry Voss found fresh scoring on the Registry's rear delivery door bolt housing, indicating a later-made tool was used to open it; Leon Bishop's warehouse faces that alley across roughly forty yards.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080421Tue, 08 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaFisherman Pulls a Glove from the River: The Murder of Jessica Price Cold river, beeswax-sealed paper, and a certified brand transfer filed two days before a woman was found dead: a fisherman's hook pulled a glove that upended the official accident...
Cold river, beeswax-sealed paper, and a certified brand transfer filed two days before a woman was found dead: a fisherman's hook pulled a glove that upended the official accident ruling. Who would file legal claim to Jessica Price's land while her body lay buried, and why was the transfer signed in her name?

In this episode, we follow the documents, the ledger entries, the Registry logbook, and the people who crossed paths with Jessica Price in the days before her death to understand what the evidence suggests about her final days and the transfer of Bench Creek Run. Could the timing of the December 28th filing and the glove in the river point to forgery or conspiracy?

Person: Jessica Price
Date (death found): December 30, 1882
Document date: December 28, 1882
Location (where glove found): Aldine River, January 9, 1883
Witness on transfer: George Aldiss

- A black kid-leather left glove contained a beeswax-treated certified brand transfer folded inside and was weighted with a river stone.
- The transfer document relinquished the Tumbling P brand and Bench Creek Run from Jessica Price to Leon Bishop, dated December 28, 1882.
- Jessica Price's final ledger entry is dated December 27, 1882 and reads "meeting with 'B' about Bench Creek water access"; the ledger entries after December 28 are blank.
- The Registry filing copy of the transfer was already on file when investigator Steven Burns checked the Registry on January 10, 1883, yet no after-hours entry appears in the Registry's logbook for December 28.
- Locksmith Henry Voss found fresh scoring on the Registry's rear delivery door bolt housing, indicating a later-made tool was used to open it; Leon Bishop's warehouse faces that alley across roughly forty yards.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1313falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-dry-glove-in-the-rain-the-murder-of-frances-sheridan--73080420
A county surveyor found a brown calfskin right-hand glove sitting completely dry on a rain-soaked coal chute grate behind Liang Brothers Imports - and the glove matched a purchase in Frances Sheridan’s ledger. A dried chrysanthemum stem, eleven inches long and wound with red silk, lay beside it; Frances vanished after a routine errand and her body was found with blunt force trauma two days later. How did a perfectly dry glove appear in the rain and what connection did a misidentified herbal tea have to her death?

In this episode, we recount the sequence of discoveries from the missing ledger entry to the coroner’s report, the surveyed glove, and the misread herbal name that lay unnoticed for fifty years, asking whether a small, steady harm may have helped silence Frances the night she disappeared.

Person: Frances Sheridan
Date: December 8-10, 1926
Location: Packett Alley behind Liang Brothers Imports, Carnell Street residence
Cause of death: Blunt force trauma (per Dr. Wallace Pruett)
Evidence found: Brown calfskin right-hand glove; dried chrysanthemum stem 11 inches long wrapped with red silk

- The glove was a brown calfskin right-hand glove found dry on a wet iron coal chute grate on December 9, 1926.
- The chrysanthemum stem found next to the glove measured eleven inches and was wound three times with red silk thread.
- Frances Sheridan had kept a personal ledger since 1904 and recorded a monthly purchase at Liang Brothers Imports for three years.
- Frances’s ledger contained a purchase of a glove in October 1925 and lacked any entry for December 8, 1926.
- Dr. Wallace Pruett recorded blunt force trauma as the cause of death and noted a misidentified herbal name that was not corrected in the report for fifty years.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080420Mon, 07 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Dry Glove in the Rain: The Murder of Frances Sheridan A county surveyor found a brown calfskin right-hand glove sitting completely dry on a rain-soaked coal chute grate behind Liang Brothers Imports - and the glove matched a purchase in Frances...
A county surveyor found a brown calfskin right-hand glove sitting completely dry on a rain-soaked coal chute grate behind Liang Brothers Imports - and the glove matched a purchase in Frances Sheridan’s ledger. A dried chrysanthemum stem, eleven inches long and wound with red silk, lay beside it; Frances vanished after a routine errand and her body was found with blunt force trauma two days later. How did a perfectly dry glove appear in the rain and what connection did a misidentified herbal tea have to her death?

In this episode, we recount the sequence of discoveries from the missing ledger entry to the coroner’s report, the surveyed glove, and the misread herbal name that lay unnoticed for fifty years, asking whether a small, steady harm may have helped silence Frances the night she disappeared.

Person: Frances Sheridan
Date: December 8-10, 1926
Location: Packett Alley behind Liang Brothers Imports, Carnell Street residence
Cause of death: Blunt force trauma (per Dr. Wallace Pruett)
Evidence found: Brown calfskin right-hand glove; dried chrysanthemum stem 11 inches long wrapped with red silk

- The glove was a brown calfskin right-hand glove found dry on a wet iron coal chute grate on December 9, 1926.
- The chrysanthemum stem found next to the glove measured eleven inches and was wound three times with red silk thread.
- Frances Sheridan had kept a personal ledger since 1904 and recorded a monthly purchase at Liang Brothers Imports for three years.
- Frances’s ledger contained a purchase of a glove in October 1925 and lacked any entry for December 8, 1926.
- Dr. Wallace Pruett recorded blunt force trauma as the cause of death and noted a misidentified herbal name that was not corrected in the report for fifty years.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1504falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-cistern-shoe-how-a-single-slip-revealed-a-sanatorium-secret--73080419
Danger hides in domestic details: an ivory calfskin ankle shoe, dry inside yet standing upright in four feet of cistern water, and its partner locked in a trunk sealed on intake the day Cynthia Fleming arrived. Why was one shoe deliberately placed in a locked cistern while the other remained sealed with her belongings - and who had the keys to both doors?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of discoveries and the people who reported them, from the intake at Crestholm Sanatorium to the cistern in the basement laundry room, and ask whether a disappearance was staged or the result of institutional decisions. What does the separation of those shoes reveal about Cynthia Fleming’s fate?

Person: Cynthia Fleming
Date: September 3, 1909 (intake); November 14, 1909 (shoe recovered)
Location: Crestholm Sanatorium, Aldwick Point, Maine
Author: Gail Hughes (correspondent who investigated)
Case: Missing person with inconsistent belongings

- One ivory calfskin pearl-button ankle shoe (right foot) was packed between two wool skirts inside a sealed trunk at intake on September 3, 1909.
- The partner left shoe was recovered upright on the floor of a cistern submerged in four feet of water on the morning of November 14, 1909.
- The cistern shoe was dry inside, indicating it entered the water sealed and was later separated from its container.
- Dr. Bruce Dalton signed Cynthia Fleming’s intake form, was Crestholm superintendent since 1904, and had been the Fleming estate trustee since 1907.
- Agnes Whitfield worked the Crestholm laundry for four years, left in October 1909, and her tip led Gail Hughes to Aldwick Point where Hughes spent eleven days interviewing witnesses.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080419Sun, 06 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Cistern Shoe: How a Single Slip Revealed a Sanatorium Secret Danger hides in domestic details: an ivory calfskin ankle shoe, dry inside yet standing upright in four feet of cistern water, and its partner locked in a trunk sealed on intake the...
Danger hides in domestic details: an ivory calfskin ankle shoe, dry inside yet standing upright in four feet of cistern water, and its partner locked in a trunk sealed on intake the day Cynthia Fleming arrived. Why was one shoe deliberately placed in a locked cistern while the other remained sealed with her belongings - and who had the keys to both doors?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of discoveries and the people who reported them, from the intake at Crestholm Sanatorium to the cistern in the basement laundry room, and ask whether a disappearance was staged or the result of institutional decisions. What does the separation of those shoes reveal about Cynthia Fleming’s fate?

Person: Cynthia Fleming
Date: September 3, 1909 (intake); November 14, 1909 (shoe recovered)
Location: Crestholm Sanatorium, Aldwick Point, Maine
Author: Gail Hughes (correspondent who investigated)
Case: Missing person with inconsistent belongings

- One ivory calfskin pearl-button ankle shoe (right foot) was packed between two wool skirts inside a sealed trunk at intake on September 3, 1909.
- The partner left shoe was recovered upright on the floor of a cistern submerged in four feet of water on the morning of November 14, 1909.
- The cistern shoe was dry inside, indicating it entered the water sealed and was later separated from its container.
- Dr. Bruce Dalton signed Cynthia Fleming’s intake form, was Crestholm superintendent since 1904, and had been the Fleming estate trustee since 1907.
- Agnes Whitfield worked the Crestholm laundry for four years, left in October 1909, and her tip led Gail Hughes to Aldwick Point where Hughes spent eleven days interviewing witnesses.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1283falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/schoolteacher-finds-a-body-no-one-was-supposed-to-notice-the-paula-bauer-case--73080418
Warm dawn, a Brownie camera, and a schoolteacher looking for birds-yet what Lauren Foster found in a Tularosa cotton field was a dead woman, a syringe and a medicine bottle beside a wooden orange crate, and a missing tin of savings; who moved Paula Bauer from her tent and why was her money gone the same morning her body was found? The official cause was heatstroke, but small details-unlogged morphine, an unexamined forearm, and a crate that looked too new-refuse to add up.

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from discovery to the first official findings and the questions a state labor investigator raised afterward, laying out the evidence that contradicts the immediate ruling of heatstroke and asking what the missing items and pharmacy donation really mean.

Person: Paula Bauer
Date: October 9, 1937
Location: Cielo Bajo camp, Otero County, New Mexico
Age: 47
Investigator: Sherry Vickers

- Lauren Foster found the body forty yards from the nearest sleeping tent before sunrise on October 9, 1937.
- Foreman George Adler summoned county doctor Herbert Pryce, who spent fewer than twenty minutes with the body and recorded cause of death as heatstroke.
- A wooden orange crate beside the body held a folded shirt and a sardine tin and was described as dry and pale with no recent weathering.
- Agnes Pruitt reported Paula’s tin box of savings missing by the afternoon of October 9; the tin was never recovered.
- Commissary inventory showed several doses of morphine unaccounted for after a donation from pharmacist Ed Stahl roughly six weeks earlier.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080418Sat, 05 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaSchoolteacher Finds a Body No One Was Supposed to Notice: The Paula Bauer Case Warm dawn, a Brownie camera, and a schoolteacher looking for birds-yet what Lauren Foster found in a Tularosa cotton field was a dead woman, a syringe and a medicine...
Warm dawn, a Brownie camera, and a schoolteacher looking for birds-yet what Lauren Foster found in a Tularosa cotton field was a dead woman, a syringe and a medicine bottle beside a wooden orange crate, and a missing tin of savings; who moved Paula Bauer from her tent and why was her money gone the same morning her body was found? The official cause was heatstroke, but small details-unlogged morphine, an unexamined forearm, and a crate that looked too new-refuse to add up.

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from discovery to the first official findings and the questions a state labor investigator raised afterward, laying out the evidence that contradicts the immediate ruling of heatstroke and asking what the missing items and pharmacy donation really mean.

Person: Paula Bauer
Date: October 9, 1937
Location: Cielo Bajo camp, Otero County, New Mexico
Age: 47
Investigator: Sherry Vickers

- Lauren Foster found the body forty yards from the nearest sleeping tent before sunrise on October 9, 1937.
- Foreman George Adler summoned county doctor Herbert Pryce, who spent fewer than twenty minutes with the body and recorded cause of death as heatstroke.
- A wooden orange crate beside the body held a folded shirt and a sardine tin and was described as dry and pale with no recent weathering.
- Agnes Pruitt reported Paula’s tin box of savings missing by the afternoon of October 9; the tin was never recovered.
- Commissary inventory showed several doses of morphine unaccounted for after a donation from pharmacist Ed Stahl roughly six weeks earlier.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1303falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-last-entry-four-illegible-words-that-sent-a-man-to-the-gallows--73080417
A seventy-minute gap in a nightly shift log, a bolted door found locked from the inside, and four tiny, illegible words written in ink that had started to bleed - those details sent a man to the gallows in 1893. Who wrote the final message in Troy Patterson’s log, and what did those four words really mean?

In this episode, we follow the discovery and early investigation of the Harmon Relay Station death and the shift log that became the central piece of evidence, asking whether the missing seventy minutes and a last-minute entry point to murder, sabotage, or something else.

Person: Troy Patterson
Date: September 9, 1893
Location: Harmon Relay Station (Harmon Relay), Pell's Ford
Person: Dennis Snyder
Person: Jennifer Wilson

- The shift log was found on the outside windowsill at 6:40 a.m.
- The last page of the log showed a continuous, precise record until 11:40 p.m., after which 70 minutes are unrecorded.
- Troy Patterson had worked the overnight relay at Harmon Relay for four years and was 31 years old.
- A 14-year-old girl, Marcia Vogel, found the log; she delivered newspapers along the Pell's Ford route for 35 cents.
- Patterson had reported colleague Dennis Snyder for falsifying relay entries roughly three weeks before his death.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080417Fri, 04 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Last Entry: Four Illegible Words That Sent a Man to the Gallows A seventy-minute gap in a nightly shift log, a bolted door found locked from the inside, and four tiny, illegible words written in ink that had started to bleed - those details...
A seventy-minute gap in a nightly shift log, a bolted door found locked from the inside, and four tiny, illegible words written in ink that had started to bleed - those details sent a man to the gallows in 1893. Who wrote the final message in Troy Patterson’s log, and what did those four words really mean?

In this episode, we follow the discovery and early investigation of the Harmon Relay Station death and the shift log that became the central piece of evidence, asking whether the missing seventy minutes and a last-minute entry point to murder, sabotage, or something else.

Person: Troy Patterson
Date: September 9, 1893
Location: Harmon Relay Station (Harmon Relay), Pell's Ford
Person: Dennis Snyder
Person: Jennifer Wilson

- The shift log was found on the outside windowsill at 6:40 a.m.
- The last page of the log showed a continuous, precise record until 11:40 p.m., after which 70 minutes are unrecorded.
- Troy Patterson had worked the overnight relay at Harmon Relay for four years and was 31 years old.
- A 14-year-old girl, Marcia Vogel, found the log; she delivered newspapers along the Pell's Ford route for 35 cents.
- Patterson had reported colleague Dennis Snyder for falsifying relay entries roughly three weeks before his death.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1395falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-shoe-left-in-the-ditch-why-he-wanted-her-found--73080415
A single navy-blue pump, size seven with a two-inch heel, was found upright in the mud of a bar ditch on Route 9, perfectly clean and undisturbed within eighteen inches-placed heel-first as if someone wanted it to be seen. Who would strangle a fifty-two-year-old motel housekeeper, carry her four miles away, then return to leave one shoe as a marker?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the last night Frances O'Connor was seen to the discovery that set investigators on a decades-long trail, asking how a man traveling under the name Richard Smith connected to the shoe and the body.

Person: Frances O'Connor
Date: August 13-15, 1953
Location: Route 9, Kessler County, Iowa
Case: Single shoe found in bar ditch; body found four miles west
Suspect alias: Richard Smith (later identified as Richard Smith Smith)

- Shoe found at 4:50 a.m. on August 14, 1953: navy-blue pump, size seven, two-inch heel, upright in mud.
- Mud undisturbed within 18 inches of the shoe; no slide marks or tumble evidence.
- Frances O'Connor last seen around 9:40 p.m. August 13 leaving the Patton Elks Lodge, walking west toward the Sundown Motor Court three miles away.
- Body discovered August 15 in a dry creek bed four miles west of the Sundown; coroner estimated time of death between 10:00 p.m. and midnight on August 13; cause: strangulation.
- Man registered in Sundown room 14 that night as Richard Smith, checked in at 6:15 p.m., paid $1.80 cash, listed a 1948 Ford pickup and checked out before 7:00 a.m. the next morning.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080415Thu, 03 Sep 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Shoe Left in the Ditch: Why He Wanted Her Found A single navy-blue pump, size seven with a two-inch heel, was found upright in the mud of a bar ditch on Route 9, perfectly clean and undisturbed within eighteen inches-placed heel-first as if...
A single navy-blue pump, size seven with a two-inch heel, was found upright in the mud of a bar ditch on Route 9, perfectly clean and undisturbed within eighteen inches-placed heel-first as if someone wanted it to be seen. Who would strangle a fifty-two-year-old motel housekeeper, carry her four miles away, then return to leave one shoe as a marker?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the last night Frances O'Connor was seen to the discovery that set investigators on a decades-long trail, asking how a man traveling under the name Richard Smith connected to the shoe and the body.

Person: Frances O'Connor
Date: August 13-15, 1953
Location: Route 9, Kessler County, Iowa
Case: Single shoe found in bar ditch; body found four miles west
Suspect alias: Richard Smith (later identified as Richard Smith Smith)

- Shoe found at 4:50 a.m. on August 14, 1953: navy-blue pump, size seven, two-inch heel, upright in mud.
- Mud undisturbed within 18 inches of the shoe; no slide marks or tumble evidence.
- Frances O'Connor last seen around 9:40 p.m. August 13 leaving the Patton Elks Lodge, walking west toward the Sundown Motor Court three miles away.
- Body discovered August 15 in a dry creek bed four miles west of the Sundown; coroner estimated time of death between 10:00 p.m. and midnight on August 13; cause: strangulation.
- Man registered in Sundown room 14 that night as Richard Smith, checked in at 6:15 p.m., paid $1.80 cash, listed a 1948 Ford pickup and checked out before 7:00 a.m. the next morning.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1408falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-shoe-in-the-mud-why-one-oxford-sent-a-woman-to-her-grave--73080414
A single left brown leather oxford stood upright in the mud at Dunnmore Pond with its toe pointed north and its Cuban heel sunk just enough - and the leather was inexplicably dry after a night of heavy dew. That dry leather, a parcel of eleven of twelve tins of special cat food, and a precise feeding schedule would converge into a trial in February 1942 - but how did a woman vanish with no footprints, no second shoe, and her cat still inside?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events from Lisa Armstrong’s last confirmed moments through the discovery at the pond and the six-month investigation that followed, asking what the dry shoe and a cat’s feeding clock can tell us about the day she disappeared.

Person: Lisa Armstrong
Date: July 11, 1941
Location: Dunnmore Pond, Sutter Creek basin, Keller's Bluff
Case: Disappearance leading to February 1942 trial
Item: Left brown leather oxford, size six, Cuban heel

- A left brown leather oxford was found standing upright in the mud at the cattail margin of Dunnmore Pond on the morning of July 11, 1941.
- The shoe’s toe pointed north, it was size six, and the Cuban heel was sunk just enough to hold it steady.
- The leather of the shoe was dry despite heavy basin dew overnight, noted by Marshal Ronald Schmidt as comparable to leather left in a warm room.
- Lisa Armstrong signed for a parcel of twelve tins of her cat Silas’s kidney food at 2:18 p.m, on July 9, 1941, and fed Silas at 5:30 p.m. that evening.
- Silas, an amber tom with a diagnosed kidney condition, had a strict feeding schedule of 6:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and was found still inside Armstrong’s house when neighbors raised the alarm.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080414Wed, 02 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Shoe in the Mud: Why One Oxford Sent a Woman to Her Grave A single left brown leather oxford stood upright in the mud at Dunnmore Pond with its toe pointed north and its Cuban heel sunk just enough - and the leather was inexplicably dry after a...
A single left brown leather oxford stood upright in the mud at Dunnmore Pond with its toe pointed north and its Cuban heel sunk just enough - and the leather was inexplicably dry after a night of heavy dew. That dry leather, a parcel of eleven of twelve tins of special cat food, and a precise feeding schedule would converge into a trial in February 1942 - but how did a woman vanish with no footprints, no second shoe, and her cat still inside?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events from Lisa Armstrong’s last confirmed moments through the discovery at the pond and the six-month investigation that followed, asking what the dry shoe and a cat’s feeding clock can tell us about the day she disappeared.

Person: Lisa Armstrong
Date: July 11, 1941
Location: Dunnmore Pond, Sutter Creek basin, Keller's Bluff
Case: Disappearance leading to February 1942 trial
Item: Left brown leather oxford, size six, Cuban heel

- A left brown leather oxford was found standing upright in the mud at the cattail margin of Dunnmore Pond on the morning of July 11, 1941.
- The shoe’s toe pointed north, it was size six, and the Cuban heel was sunk just enough to hold it steady.
- The leather of the shoe was dry despite heavy basin dew overnight, noted by Marshal Ronald Schmidt as comparable to leather left in a warm room.
- Lisa Armstrong signed for a parcel of twelve tins of her cat Silas’s kidney food at 2:18 p.m, on July 9, 1941, and fed Silas at 5:30 p.m. that evening.
- Silas, an amber tom with a diagnosed kidney condition, had a strict feeding schedule of 6:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m., and was found still inside Armstrong’s house when neighbors raised the alarm.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1454falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ledger-on-a-cistern-murder-bribes-and-a-silent-bartender-s-notes--73080413
A feed merchant found an open ledger sitting on a stone cistern rim at 5:30 a.m. on June 14, 1931-pages listing two years of weekly cash payments from seventeen roadhouses to Sheriff R. Dorn. Thirty-one feet below that same cistern lay twenty-eight-year-old bartender Neil Sullivan, missing for nearly two weeks; who put the ledger there and why was Sullivan left at the bottom of a dry well?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of discoveries from Donald Hall's call to a state circuit investigator to the sealed case of rye found at Hensley's roadhouse, and we trace the ledger's path into official hands to ask what Sullivan's folded notes really recorded and who stood to be exposed.

Person: Neil Sullivan
Date: June 14, 1931
Location: Farrow Flats cistern, three miles outside Dennisburg
Case: Ledger listing weekly cash payments from seventeen roadhouses over two years
Person: Sheriff R. Dorn

- A feed merchant, Donald Hall, found the open ledger at 5:30 a.m. on June 14, 1931 and called the state rather than the local sheriff.
- The ledger listed seventeen roadhouses and two years of weekly cash payments and belonged to Sheriff R. Dorn of Kettrick County.
- Neil Sullivan, age 28, had been missing since June 5 and was found thirty-one feet down at the bottom of a dry stone cistern.
- A sealed case of rye whiskey delivered to Hensley's on June 6 remained unopened when discovered on June 15, with delivery receipt signed by Roy Pruitt and Craig Hensley.
- The cistern at Farrow Flats had been administered by Kettrick County and the sheriff's office since passing through tax forfeitures after 1917.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080413Tue, 01 Sep 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaLedger on a Cistern: Murder, Bribes, and a Silent Bartender's Notes A feed merchant found an open ledger sitting on a stone cistern rim at 5:30 a.m. on June 14, 1931-pages listing two years of weekly cash payments from seventeen roadhouses to...
A feed merchant found an open ledger sitting on a stone cistern rim at 5:30 a.m. on June 14, 1931-pages listing two years of weekly cash payments from seventeen roadhouses to Sheriff R. Dorn. Thirty-one feet below that same cistern lay twenty-eight-year-old bartender Neil Sullivan, missing for nearly two weeks; who put the ledger there and why was Sullivan left at the bottom of a dry well?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of discoveries from Donald Hall's call to a state circuit investigator to the sealed case of rye found at Hensley's roadhouse, and we trace the ledger's path into official hands to ask what Sullivan's folded notes really recorded and who stood to be exposed.

Person: Neil Sullivan
Date: June 14, 1931
Location: Farrow Flats cistern, three miles outside Dennisburg
Case: Ledger listing weekly cash payments from seventeen roadhouses over two years
Person: Sheriff R. Dorn

- A feed merchant, Donald Hall, found the open ledger at 5:30 a.m. on June 14, 1931 and called the state rather than the local sheriff.
- The ledger listed seventeen roadhouses and two years of weekly cash payments and belonged to Sheriff R. Dorn of Kettrick County.
- Neil Sullivan, age 28, had been missing since June 5 and was found thirty-one feet down at the bottom of a dry stone cistern.
- A sealed case of rye whiskey delivered to Hensley's on June 6 remained unopened when discovered on June 15, with delivery receipt signed by Roy Pruitt and Craig Hensley.
- The cistern at Farrow Flats had been administered by Kettrick County and the sheriff's office since passing through tax forfeitures after 1917.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1214falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-single-black-boot-how-a-marigold-seed-cracked-a-killer--73080411
A single black lace boot, a living French marigold growing inside it, and a woman who vanished from her boardinghouse routine for three days-what kind of killer would leave such a quiet, precise clue? Who kept a ledger of Lisa Stevens’s habits, and why plant a seed that would point back to him?

In this episode, we follow the discovery, the scene work, and the small forensic details that connected the gardening habit of Lisa Stevens to the evidence in her basement. Listen to how the boot, the soil and a gap in the flower row asked the question no one above stairs had expected: who watched her so closely?

Person: Lisa Stevens
Date: May 14, 1905 (body found)
Location: 14 Dunmore Street, basement
Age: 54
Cause: Strangulation

- Lisa Stevens lived at 14 Dunmore Street for eleven years and was fifty-four years old.
- Dr. Emmett Shore estimated she had been dead between the night of May 11 and the morning of May 13 (approximately three days).
- Deputy Sheriff Debra Allen was thirty-one, two years on the job, and found a left black lace boot, size five, on the third basement step.
- The boot contained packed garden soil with a living French marigold plant; the photographer pressed the marigold between glass.
- The back garden had a single row of French marigolds in two sections with an approximately eight-inch gap.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080411Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Single Black Boot: How a Marigold Seed Cracked a Killer A single black lace boot, a living French marigold growing inside it, and a woman who vanished from her boardinghouse routine for three days-what kind of killer would leave such a quiet,...
A single black lace boot, a living French marigold growing inside it, and a woman who vanished from her boardinghouse routine for three days-what kind of killer would leave such a quiet, precise clue? Who kept a ledger of Lisa Stevens’s habits, and why plant a seed that would point back to him?

In this episode, we follow the discovery, the scene work, and the small forensic details that connected the gardening habit of Lisa Stevens to the evidence in her basement. Listen to how the boot, the soil and a gap in the flower row asked the question no one above stairs had expected: who watched her so closely?

Person: Lisa Stevens
Date: May 14, 1905 (body found)
Location: 14 Dunmore Street, basement
Age: 54
Cause: Strangulation

- Lisa Stevens lived at 14 Dunmore Street for eleven years and was fifty-four years old.
- Dr. Emmett Shore estimated she had been dead between the night of May 11 and the morning of May 13 (approximately three days).
- Deputy Sheriff Debra Allen was thirty-one, two years on the job, and found a left black lace boot, size five, on the third basement step.
- The boot contained packed garden soil with a living French marigold plant; the photographer pressed the marigold between glass.
- The back garden had a single row of French marigolds in two sections with an approximately eight-inch gap.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1486falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/locked-before-the-rain-how-melissa-s-hand-rewrote-a-wartime-murder--73080410
The sight of a single hand reaching from under a steel door - with a dry padlock that had been fastened before last night’s rain - turns a wartime workplace death into a cold, deliberate mystery that officials first wrote off as an accident. Who closed a padlock from the outside through a three-inch gap while a twenty-two-year-old woman lay inside, and why did the record stay closed for years?

In this episode, we follow the timeline and evidence from the morning Lori Hill found the hand through the padlock’s dry shackle, the plant security report, and the coroner’s ruling, to the discrepancies that later drew investigators back. What did the paperwork miss, and how did a single detail in the initial scene point to a different truth?

Person: Melissa Wells
Date: April 9, 1943
Location: Dennisburg Munitions Works loading dock, Morrow Street
Status: Case initially filed as accidental and closed
Investigator: Bernard Kohler (plant security) / Dr. Alton Fry (coroner)

- Lori Hill discovered the left hand protruding through a three-inch gap at 8:30 AM on April 9, 1943.
- The padlock on the exterior hasp showed no scratches and its shackle was dry despite rain the previous night.
- Plant security officer Bernard Kohler’s preliminary report filed within 24 hours declared the entrance unsecured and the death accidental.
- County coroner Dr. Alton Fry recorded the manner of death as accidental due to traumatic chest compression.
- Melissa had left her boarding house at 6:15 PM the evening before to walk a familiar route and never arrived at her destination.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080410Sun, 30 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaLocked Before the Rain: How Melissa's Hand Rewrote a Wartime Murder The sight of a single hand reaching from under a steel door - with a dry padlock that had been fastened before last night’s rain - turns a wartime workplace death into a cold,...
The sight of a single hand reaching from under a steel door - with a dry padlock that had been fastened before last night’s rain - turns a wartime workplace death into a cold, deliberate mystery that officials first wrote off as an accident. Who closed a padlock from the outside through a three-inch gap while a twenty-two-year-old woman lay inside, and why did the record stay closed for years?

In this episode, we follow the timeline and evidence from the morning Lori Hill found the hand through the padlock’s dry shackle, the plant security report, and the coroner’s ruling, to the discrepancies that later drew investigators back. What did the paperwork miss, and how did a single detail in the initial scene point to a different truth?

Person: Melissa Wells
Date: April 9, 1943
Location: Dennisburg Munitions Works loading dock, Morrow Street
Status: Case initially filed as accidental and closed
Investigator: Bernard Kohler (plant security) / Dr. Alton Fry (coroner)

- Lori Hill discovered the left hand protruding through a three-inch gap at 8:30 AM on April 9, 1943.
- The padlock on the exterior hasp showed no scratches and its shackle was dry despite rain the previous night.
- Plant security officer Bernard Kohler’s preliminary report filed within 24 hours declared the entrance unsecured and the death accidental.
- County coroner Dr. Alton Fry recorded the manner of death as accidental due to traumatic chest compression.
- Melissa had left her boarding house at 6:15 PM the evening before to walk a familiar route and never arrived at her destination.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1456falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-bottle-that-shouldn-t-have-survived-peggy-carter-s-last-prescription--73080409
A three-quarter full, factory-sealed bottle of digitalis, found two and a half years after Peggy Carter’s death in open scrubland, still bore a legible label and a prescription dispensed August 1934 - but its concentration was four times a therapeutic dose. How did a purse and a bottle appear away from any road years after she died, and what did a single crossed-out ledger entry cost her?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from Peggy Carter’s daily routines and ledgers to the discovery of the purse and bottle east of Fenwick Road, and the lab results that reopened her death. What can a sealed bottle, a displaced purse, and one crossed-out task tell us about a death ruled cardiac failure secondary to heat stress?

Person: Peggy Carter
Date: September 14, 1934
Location: Mettler, Calhoun County, Kansas
Event: Bottle found March 1937 east of Fenwick Road
Topic: Digitalis tincture concentration

- Peggy Carter was 38 years old and widowed in 1931, managing the Dyer property alone.
- Dr. Anton Mehl prescribed a digitalis tincture in August 1934 and it was dispensed and delivered to her farmhouse.
- Peggy collapsed on September 14, 1934; official cause recorded as cardiac failure secondary to heat stress.
- In March 1937 Tracy Wagner found a cracked leather purse with a factory-sealed glass bottle labeled CARTER, P., DISPENSED AUGUST 1934, three-quarters full.
- Kansas State Agricultural College analysis in spring 1937 reported the digitalis tincture concentration at approximately four times the therapeutic dose.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080409Sat, 29 Aug 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Bottle That Shouldn't Have Survived: Peggy Carter's Last Prescription A three-quarter full, factory-sealed bottle of digitalis, found two and a half years after Peggy Carter’s death in open scrubland, still bore a legible label and a...
A three-quarter full, factory-sealed bottle of digitalis, found two and a half years after Peggy Carter’s death in open scrubland, still bore a legible label and a prescription dispensed August 1934 - but its concentration was four times a therapeutic dose. How did a purse and a bottle appear away from any road years after she died, and what did a single crossed-out ledger entry cost her?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from Peggy Carter’s daily routines and ledgers to the discovery of the purse and bottle east of Fenwick Road, and the lab results that reopened her death. What can a sealed bottle, a displaced purse, and one crossed-out task tell us about a death ruled cardiac failure secondary to heat stress?

Person: Peggy Carter
Date: September 14, 1934
Location: Mettler, Calhoun County, Kansas
Event: Bottle found March 1937 east of Fenwick Road
Topic: Digitalis tincture concentration

- Peggy Carter was 38 years old and widowed in 1931, managing the Dyer property alone.
- Dr. Anton Mehl prescribed a digitalis tincture in August 1934 and it was dispensed and delivered to her farmhouse.
- Peggy collapsed on September 14, 1934; official cause recorded as cardiac failure secondary to heat stress.
- In March 1937 Tracy Wagner found a cracked leather purse with a factory-sealed glass bottle labeled CARTER, P., DISPENSED AUGUST 1934, three-quarters full.
- Kansas State Agricultural College analysis in spring 1937 reported the digitalis tincture concentration at approximately four times the therapeutic dose.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1241falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-satchel-that-stayed-dry-how-a-widow-vanished-for-4-000--73080408
A cedar-scented satchel pulled from a flooded Mississippi trotline was bone dry and contained a four-thousand-dollar life insurance policy for a sixty-two-year-old widow who had been missing ten days. How could a satchel survive the flood untouched, and what did the pristine policy say about the plan to make Wendy Hicks disappear?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events from the satchel’s recovery to the discovery of the forged policy and the man who ingratiated himself into Wendy’s life and warehouse - and we follow the questions investigators pursued about motive, access, and forgery.

Person: Wendy Hicks
Person: Michael Long
Date: January 30, 1893 (last seen)
Date: February 9, 1893 (satchel found)
Location: Pelham Street landing, Mississippi

- Satchel found by fisherman Frank Gray on February 9, 1893, weighted with a flat river stone and knotted with a half-hitch.
- Satchel bears initials W.A.H. on the clasp and smelled of cedar and coal smoke with no river silt; Gray underlined "dry" in his log.
- Policy inside the satchel was a $4,000 life insurance policy issued by Continental Fidelity with beneficiary Michael Long.
- Wendy Hicks had run the Calloway wharf warehouse for eleven years and was recorded missing after failing to appear at her volunteer shift on the Thursday after January 30, 1893.
- Michael Long arrived in Greer's Crossing about fourteen months before the disappearance, rented above Crescent Hardware, and signed the warehouse ledger on January 28, 1893.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080408Fri, 28 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Satchel That Stayed Dry: How a Widow Vanished for $4,000 A cedar-scented satchel pulled from a flooded Mississippi trotline was bone dry and contained a four-thousand-dollar life insurance policy for a sixty-two-year-old widow who had been...
A cedar-scented satchel pulled from a flooded Mississippi trotline was bone dry and contained a four-thousand-dollar life insurance policy for a sixty-two-year-old widow who had been missing ten days. How could a satchel survive the flood untouched, and what did the pristine policy say about the plan to make Wendy Hicks disappear?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events from the satchel’s recovery to the discovery of the forged policy and the man who ingratiated himself into Wendy’s life and warehouse - and we follow the questions investigators pursued about motive, access, and forgery.

Person: Wendy Hicks
Person: Michael Long
Date: January 30, 1893 (last seen)
Date: February 9, 1893 (satchel found)
Location: Pelham Street landing, Mississippi

- Satchel found by fisherman Frank Gray on February 9, 1893, weighted with a flat river stone and knotted with a half-hitch.
- Satchel bears initials W.A.H. on the clasp and smelled of cedar and coal smoke with no river silt; Gray underlined "dry" in his log.
- Policy inside the satchel was a $4,000 life insurance policy issued by Continental Fidelity with beneficiary Michael Long.
- Wendy Hicks had run the Calloway wharf warehouse for eleven years and was recorded missing after failing to appear at her volunteer shift on the Thursday after January 30, 1893.
- Michael Long arrived in Greer's Crossing about fourteen months before the disappearance, rented above Crescent Hardware, and signed the warehouse ledger on January 28, 1893.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1283falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-never-boarded-that-train-the-murder-of-donna-cole--73080406
A violet-ink line in a hotel register recorded a 6 A.M. departure for Room 11 the morning after twenty-four-year-old claims correspondent Donna Cole was found dead between freight cars 400 feet from the Calloway Hotel - her overnight bag, toiletries, and one boot missing. Who wrote that checkout entry in an ink consistent with Donna’s personal pen, when neither clerk on duty claimed it, and why was her pen never recovered?

In this episode, we present the sequence of documented events around Donna Cole’s January 1923 assignment to Harwick and the puzzling discrepancies that followed her death. Listen to how hotel entries, a washed room, and a missing boot intersect with a jailhouse conversation and an investigator’s arrival to shape the central question of the case.

Person: Donna Cole
Date: January 8-9, 1923
Location: Calloway Hotel, Harwick, Nebraska
Occupation: Claims correspondent, Platte Valley Spur passenger division
Investigator: Kent Graham

- Donna Cole was 24 years old and from Beatrice, Nebraska, about 60 miles south of Lincoln.
- She checked into Room 11 at the Calloway Hotel on January 6 and finished her work by midday January 8.
- Cole planned to catch the 9:15 PM train on January 8 but was found dead around 6:00 PM on January 9 between two freight cars, 400 feet from the hotel’s east door.
- The hotel register shows a violet-ink entry reading "Dept, six A.M., settled, J.9." for Room 11, while other entries that page are blue-black ink.
- Chambermaid Ida Pruett found Room 11 tidied with toiletries and an overnight bag missing, and a single hairpin beneath the radiator; the bed was not properly made and a faint streak was on the writing table.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080406Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Never Boarded That Train: The Murder of Donna Cole A violet-ink line in a hotel register recorded a 6 A.M. departure for Room 11 the morning after twenty-four-year-old claims correspondent Donna Cole was found dead between freight cars 400 feet...
A violet-ink line in a hotel register recorded a 6 A.M. departure for Room 11 the morning after twenty-four-year-old claims correspondent Donna Cole was found dead between freight cars 400 feet from the Calloway Hotel - her overnight bag, toiletries, and one boot missing. Who wrote that checkout entry in an ink consistent with Donna’s personal pen, when neither clerk on duty claimed it, and why was her pen never recovered?

In this episode, we present the sequence of documented events around Donna Cole’s January 1923 assignment to Harwick and the puzzling discrepancies that followed her death. Listen to how hotel entries, a washed room, and a missing boot intersect with a jailhouse conversation and an investigator’s arrival to shape the central question of the case.

Person: Donna Cole
Date: January 8-9, 1923
Location: Calloway Hotel, Harwick, Nebraska
Occupation: Claims correspondent, Platte Valley Spur passenger division
Investigator: Kent Graham

- Donna Cole was 24 years old and from Beatrice, Nebraska, about 60 miles south of Lincoln.
- She checked into Room 11 at the Calloway Hotel on January 6 and finished her work by midday January 8.
- Cole planned to catch the 9:15 PM train on January 8 but was found dead around 6:00 PM on January 9 between two freight cars, 400 feet from the hotel’s east door.
- The hotel register shows a violet-ink entry reading "Dept, six A.M., settled, J.9." for Room 11, while other entries that page are blue-black ink.
- Chambermaid Ida Pruett found Room 11 tidied with toiletries and an overnight bag missing, and a single hairpin beneath the radiator; the bed was not properly made and a faint streak was on the writing table.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1485falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-ring-that-ruined-three-women-murder-blacklist-and-a-cistern--73080405
The discovery of a pearl-and-garnet ring engraved "For Lottie, opening night, Chicago, nineteen" on a drowned hand in an eight-foot cistern tied a murdered headline contralto to a blacklisted performer who had vanished four years earlier - but the woman in the vault had never been to Chicago. Who carried that ring through twelve cities, three states, and a secret ninth-week plan that ended with a body sealed beneath the Coleville Grand Theater?

In this episode, we follow the preserved correspondence, hotel logs, and union records that connect Jennifer Osborne, her dresser Carol Mueller, and the hidden performer Charlotte Speers - and we ask how a single jewel and a complaint filed through a booking office led from career destruction to murder. What was Mueller's plan during the Heartland autumn run, and where did the missing woman fit into it?

Person: Jennifer Osborne
Person: Carol Mueller
Person: Charlotte Speers
Event: Discovery of a left hand in a cistern beneath the Coleville Grand Theater after eleven days
Date: Autumn 1924, ring engraved "nineteen"

- The left hand was found palm-upward in eight feet of brackish water inside a brick utility vault.
- The ring engraving read "For Lottie, opening night, Chicago, nineteen."
- Jennifer Osborne was forty-seven years old and headlined the Heartland Vaudeville Circuit's autumn run.
- The autumn run covered twelve cities across nine weeks (eleven weeks mentioned later for the circuit).
- Charlotte Speers (stage name Lottie Vane) was blacklisted in 1921 and had not worked on a legitimate vaudeville stage since that summer.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080405Wed, 26 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Ring That Ruined Three Women: Murder, Blacklist, and a Cistern The discovery of a pearl-and-garnet ring engraved "For Lottie, opening night, Chicago, nineteen" on a drowned hand in an eight-foot cistern tied a murdered headline contralto to a...
The discovery of a pearl-and-garnet ring engraved "For Lottie, opening night, Chicago, nineteen" on a drowned hand in an eight-foot cistern tied a murdered headline contralto to a blacklisted performer who had vanished four years earlier - but the woman in the vault had never been to Chicago. Who carried that ring through twelve cities, three states, and a secret ninth-week plan that ended with a body sealed beneath the Coleville Grand Theater?

In this episode, we follow the preserved correspondence, hotel logs, and union records that connect Jennifer Osborne, her dresser Carol Mueller, and the hidden performer Charlotte Speers - and we ask how a single jewel and a complaint filed through a booking office led from career destruction to murder. What was Mueller's plan during the Heartland autumn run, and where did the missing woman fit into it?

Person: Jennifer Osborne
Person: Carol Mueller
Person: Charlotte Speers
Event: Discovery of a left hand in a cistern beneath the Coleville Grand Theater after eleven days
Date: Autumn 1924, ring engraved "nineteen"

- The left hand was found palm-upward in eight feet of brackish water inside a brick utility vault.
- The ring engraving read "For Lottie, opening night, Chicago, nineteen."
- Jennifer Osborne was forty-seven years old and headlined the Heartland Vaudeville Circuit's autumn run.
- The autumn run covered twelve cities across nine weeks (eleven weeks mentioned later for the circuit).
- Charlotte Speers (stage name Lottie Vane) was blacklisted in 1921 and had not worked on a legitimate vaudeville stage since that summer.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1288falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hand-frozen-around-her-throat-the-lake-that-hid-a-murder--73080404
A woman's right hand, fingers slightly curled and knuckles blue-white, broke through the ice four feet from Hallet Lake's western shore on November 14, 1893 - a ring of new ice had formed around the wrist as if the lake itself had closed back in. The ice was only two to three inches thick that month, far too thin to hold a person, so how did Nancy Lewis end up sealed in the lake - placed there from the edge or below it - and who left a tobacco tin with carbolic acid and a partial thumbprint under a dock sixty-three feet from the body?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Nancy Lewis's last confirmed sighting at dinner on November 11, 1893, through the disappearance report on November 13 and Scott Carlson's discovery on the 14th, to Deputy Chief Carl Fisher's methodical inquiries that shifted the case from accident to deliberate placement. What evidence did Fisher find by the dock and in town that started pointing to persons who knew Hallet Lake's freezing patterns?

Person: Nancy Lewis
Date: November 14, 1893
Location: Hallet Lake, western shore
Person: Scott Carlson
Person: Carl Fisher

- The hand rose four feet from the western shore of Hallet Lake on the morning of November 14, 1893.
- Grain thickness that month was measured at two to three inches, while twelve to fourteen inches are needed to bear a person.
- Nancy Lewis was thirty-one years old and had lived in Grover Mills since about 1889.
- Scott Carlson had been watching birds at the lake every Tuesday and Saturday since spring of 1890 and walked two miles to the nearest telegraph after finding the hand.
- A tobacco tin was found upside down under the second plank of Amos Cutter's dock, sixty-three feet from where the hand was discovered; its lid interior had a partial thumbprint pressed into axle grease and smelled of carbolic acid.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080404Tue, 25 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaHand Frozen Around Her Throat: The Lake That Hid a Murder A woman's right hand, fingers slightly curled and knuckles blue-white, broke through the ice four feet from Hallet Lake's western shore on November 14, 1893 - a ring of new ice had formed...
A woman's right hand, fingers slightly curled and knuckles blue-white, broke through the ice four feet from Hallet Lake's western shore on November 14, 1893 - a ring of new ice had formed around the wrist as if the lake itself had closed back in. The ice was only two to three inches thick that month, far too thin to hold a person, so how did Nancy Lewis end up sealed in the lake - placed there from the edge or below it - and who left a tobacco tin with carbolic acid and a partial thumbprint under a dock sixty-three feet from the body?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Nancy Lewis's last confirmed sighting at dinner on November 11, 1893, through the disappearance report on November 13 and Scott Carlson's discovery on the 14th, to Deputy Chief Carl Fisher's methodical inquiries that shifted the case from accident to deliberate placement. What evidence did Fisher find by the dock and in town that started pointing to persons who knew Hallet Lake's freezing patterns?

Person: Nancy Lewis
Date: November 14, 1893
Location: Hallet Lake, western shore
Person: Scott Carlson
Person: Carl Fisher

- The hand rose four feet from the western shore of Hallet Lake on the morning of November 14, 1893.
- Grain thickness that month was measured at two to three inches, while twelve to fourteen inches are needed to bear a person.
- Nancy Lewis was thirty-one years old and had lived in Grover Mills since about 1889.
- Scott Carlson had been watching birds at the lake every Tuesday and Saturday since spring of 1890 and walked two miles to the nearest telegraph after finding the hand.
- A tobacco tin was found upside down under the second plank of Amos Cutter's dock, sixty-three feet from where the hand was discovered; its lid interior had a partial thumbprint pressed into axle grease and smelled of carbolic acid.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1255falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-ledger-the-missing-students-and-the-yellow-flower-that-never-wilts--73080402
A single pressed yellow flower, perfectly bright, was found inside an enrollment ledger printed in 1916 that contains a photograph and entries dated to the 1870s - and eight children listed on federal reports simply vanished from the Harwick Mission dormitory. How did a ledger manufactured forty years later include an 1876 enrollment, and why does the flower remain unexplained?

In this episode, we follow the discovery at Harwick Mission School for Indian Children and the first eleven days of federal inquiry that revealed mismatched enrollment figures, a missing administrator, and a ledger that refuses to align with the official record - what does one flower hide?

Person: Jessica Henderson
Date: October 1917
Location: Harwick Mission School for Indian Children, central New Mexico
Case: Enrollment discrepancy and missing students
Event: Ledger found under front steps by Erin Whitaker

- The book was printed in 1916 but contains a first entry dated September 4, 1876, for an eight-year-old named Wade Osborne.
- Erin Whitaker, age 16, found the ledger under the front steps the morning in October 1917 and brought it to mail carrier Ed Garvey.
- The dormitory contained 14 cots, 14 plates, and 14 names on the assignment board, while the most recent quarterly report listed 22 students - an excess of 8 students.
- The per-capita overpayment for those eight students worked out to roughly $40 per quarter, totaling approximately $500 across three years.
- Amy Becker, the school's administrator since 1912, left the previous evening at 7:30 p.m. saying she was going to the telegraph office and did not return; by 6:15 a.m. the mail carrier had telephoned the sheriff.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080402Mon, 24 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Ledger, the Missing Students, and the Yellow Flower That Never Wilts A single pressed yellow flower, perfectly bright, was found inside an enrollment ledger printed in 1916 that contains a photograph and entries dated to the 1870s - and eight...
A single pressed yellow flower, perfectly bright, was found inside an enrollment ledger printed in 1916 that contains a photograph and entries dated to the 1870s - and eight children listed on federal reports simply vanished from the Harwick Mission dormitory. How did a ledger manufactured forty years later include an 1876 enrollment, and why does the flower remain unexplained?

In this episode, we follow the discovery at Harwick Mission School for Indian Children and the first eleven days of federal inquiry that revealed mismatched enrollment figures, a missing administrator, and a ledger that refuses to align with the official record - what does one flower hide?

Person: Jessica Henderson
Date: October 1917
Location: Harwick Mission School for Indian Children, central New Mexico
Case: Enrollment discrepancy and missing students
Event: Ledger found under front steps by Erin Whitaker

- The book was printed in 1916 but contains a first entry dated September 4, 1876, for an eight-year-old named Wade Osborne.
- Erin Whitaker, age 16, found the ledger under the front steps the morning in October 1917 and brought it to mail carrier Ed Garvey.
- The dormitory contained 14 cots, 14 plates, and 14 names on the assignment board, while the most recent quarterly report listed 22 students - an excess of 8 students.
- The per-capita overpayment for those eight students worked out to roughly $40 per quarter, totaling approximately $500 across three years.
- Amy Becker, the school's administrator since 1912, left the previous evening at 7:30 p.m. saying she was going to the telegraph office and did not return; by 6:15 a.m. the mail carrier had telephoned the sheriff.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1398falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-navy-s-hidden-ledger-a-shoe-and-the-murder-they-sealed--73080401
A single brown oxford, size seven and double-knotted, spun out of the earth at dawn on September 11, 1943-its heel unworn and laces intact-suggesting it was placed, not lost. Forty-four years and a misfiled carbon copy in a naval archive would later confirm that the shoe and a Navy ID found nearby pointed to a murder staged inside a wartime repair facility; who drove Tracy Tillman’s car out of the gate forty-five minutes after she signed out?

In this episode, we walk through the sequence of discovery and documentation that tied a payroll manager’s disappearance to two objects and to conflicting logs at a high-security naval repair yard, asking whether the facility’s records were a cover or a clue.

Person: Tracy Tillman
Date: Last seen September 10, 1943; shoe found September 11, 1943; body recovered September 14, 1943
Location: Portsmith Basin Naval Repair Facility grounds and nearby drainage channel
Cause: Manual strangulation
Investigator: Detective Teresa Burns

- A brown leather oxford, size seven, double-knot tied, with an unworn heel was found by a road grader blade just after dawn on September 11, 1943.
- Tracy Tillman signed out on foot at the gatehouse at 4:58 p.m. on September 10, 1943, while her vehicle was recorded leaving the facility at 5:43 p.m.
- Tracy’s Navy ID badge with lanyard and intact clip was found lying in the dirt near the lime-treatment shed, close to where the shoe was recovered.
- The body was recovered in a drainage channel approximately 900 yards northeast of the lime-treatment shed on September 14, 1943; time of death estimated 72-96 hours earlier.
- Tracy Tillman was 44 years old, managed payroll at the facility, had perfect attendance, and had driven a forty-minute commute from Fenwick for two years.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080401Sun, 23 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Navy's Hidden Ledger, a Shoe, and the Murder They Sealed A single brown oxford, size seven and double-knotted, spun out of the earth at dawn on September 11, 1943-its heel unworn and laces intact-suggesting it was placed, not lost. Forty-four...
A single brown oxford, size seven and double-knotted, spun out of the earth at dawn on September 11, 1943-its heel unworn and laces intact-suggesting it was placed, not lost. Forty-four years and a misfiled carbon copy in a naval archive would later confirm that the shoe and a Navy ID found nearby pointed to a murder staged inside a wartime repair facility; who drove Tracy Tillman’s car out of the gate forty-five minutes after she signed out?

In this episode, we walk through the sequence of discovery and documentation that tied a payroll manager’s disappearance to two objects and to conflicting logs at a high-security naval repair yard, asking whether the facility’s records were a cover or a clue.

Person: Tracy Tillman
Date: Last seen September 10, 1943; shoe found September 11, 1943; body recovered September 14, 1943
Location: Portsmith Basin Naval Repair Facility grounds and nearby drainage channel
Cause: Manual strangulation
Investigator: Detective Teresa Burns

- A brown leather oxford, size seven, double-knot tied, with an unworn heel was found by a road grader blade just after dawn on September 11, 1943.
- Tracy Tillman signed out on foot at the gatehouse at 4:58 p.m. on September 10, 1943, while her vehicle was recorded leaving the facility at 5:43 p.m.
- Tracy’s Navy ID badge with lanyard and intact clip was found lying in the dirt near the lime-treatment shed, close to where the shoe was recovered.
- The body was recovered in a drainage channel approximately 900 yards northeast of the lime-treatment shed on September 14, 1943; time of death estimated 72-96 hours earlier.
- Tracy Tillman was 44 years old, managed payroll at the facility, had perfect attendance, and had driven a forty-minute commute from Fenwick for two years.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1411falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-was-already-dead-when-the-camera-clicked-the-murder-of-denise-russo--73080399
A single photograph taken at 2:14 PM on August 21, 1937 captured a fairground that looked loud and ordinary while Denise Russo lay dead thirty yards away in a four-foot service corridor; the image includes her lemonade stall with a handwritten "BACK IN 10 MIN." sign that she wrote. How could a woman who left a deliberate note, kept a ledger, and had her father's pocket watch in the cash box be gone with no witnesses and no money taken?

In this episode, we present the known facts of the case as recorded by investigators and contemporary records, laying out the photograph, the ledger comparisons, the pawnshop mistake, and the civil complaint that tied a neighbor to the victim; did a calculated disguise and one pawnshop error expose the killer?

Person: Denise Russo
Date: August 21, 1937
Location: Millhaven County Fair, Dellwood
Case: Civil complaint filed June 1937 over $32; ruling in Russo's favor late July 1937
Event: Photographer Philip Morse took 22 insurance photos; one at 2:14 PM showing Russo's stall sign

- Time of photograph: 2:14 PM on August 21, 1937, showing Russo's stall with "BACK IN 10 MIN." in her handwriting.
- Time of death estimate: between 1:15 PM and 2:00 PM on August 21, 1937.
- Cash drawer contents: $41.60 found beside Russo's body with every coin accounted for.
- Discrepancy amount: $32 shortage that Russo identified in summer 1936, leading to a civil complaint in June 1937.
- Pawnshop error: killer pawned a pocket watch fourteen miles from Dellwood weeks after the fair, linking investigators to Clement Street.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080399Sat, 22 Aug 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Was Already Dead When the Camera Clicked: The Murder of Denise Russo A single photograph taken at 2:14 PM on August 21, 1937 captured a fairground that looked loud and ordinary while Denise Russo lay dead thirty yards away in a four-foot...
A single photograph taken at 2:14 PM on August 21, 1937 captured a fairground that looked loud and ordinary while Denise Russo lay dead thirty yards away in a four-foot service corridor; the image includes her lemonade stall with a handwritten "BACK IN 10 MIN." sign that she wrote. How could a woman who left a deliberate note, kept a ledger, and had her father's pocket watch in the cash box be gone with no witnesses and no money taken?

In this episode, we present the known facts of the case as recorded by investigators and contemporary records, laying out the photograph, the ledger comparisons, the pawnshop mistake, and the civil complaint that tied a neighbor to the victim; did a calculated disguise and one pawnshop error expose the killer?

Person: Denise Russo
Date: August 21, 1937
Location: Millhaven County Fair, Dellwood
Case: Civil complaint filed June 1937 over $32; ruling in Russo's favor late July 1937
Event: Photographer Philip Morse took 22 insurance photos; one at 2:14 PM showing Russo's stall sign

- Time of photograph: 2:14 PM on August 21, 1937, showing Russo's stall with "BACK IN 10 MIN." in her handwriting.
- Time of death estimate: between 1:15 PM and 2:00 PM on August 21, 1937.
- Cash drawer contents: $41.60 found beside Russo's body with every coin accounted for.
- Discrepancy amount: $32 shortage that Russo identified in summer 1936, leading to a civil complaint in June 1937.
- Pawnshop error: killer pawned a pocket watch fourteen miles from Dellwood weeks after the fair, linking investigators to Clement Street.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1404falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dock-the-trunk-and-the-man-who-stamped-death--73080398
Dread mixed with fascination: a bone-dry steamer trunk marked T.E. sat on a soaked dock hours after a squall, and inside was 57-year-old Todd Edwards whose death certificate had been dated two days earlier and stamped from the station’s own record room - so how had a bureaucratic paper trail been turned into a murder weapon?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events on Dunmore Reach that led from a routine passenger voyage to a forged death, following the people, documents, and small discrepancies that held the answer: could a station clerk and a ship steward have engineered a corpse and a certificate to steal an estate?

Person: Todd Edwards
Date: July 9, 1883 (arrival morning)
Location: Dunmore Reach quarantine intake station
Case: Forged death certificate and estate fraud
Investigation year: 2019 multispectral imaging confirmation

- The trunk was found bone-dry on a dock still slick with standing water at 6:30 AM.
- Todd Edwards was 57 years old and a wool merchant traveling alone from Charleston.
- The death certificate for Edwards was dated two days before the trunk was discovered and ink came from the station’s record room desk.
- Eric Gallagher, 38, had been assistant registrar and knew where blank certificate stock and Dr. Pryce’s rubber signature stamp were kept.
- Martin Ogle, the ship steward, was paid $400 per “successful passage” and had already received $200 for an earlier victim, Silas Pratt.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080398Fri, 21 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dock, the Trunk, and the Man Who Stamped Death Dread mixed with fascination: a bone-dry steamer trunk marked T.E. sat on a soaked dock hours after a squall, and inside was 57-year-old Todd Edwards whose death certificate had been dated two days...
Dread mixed with fascination: a bone-dry steamer trunk marked T.E. sat on a soaked dock hours after a squall, and inside was 57-year-old Todd Edwards whose death certificate had been dated two days earlier and stamped from the station’s own record room - so how had a bureaucratic paper trail been turned into a murder weapon?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events on Dunmore Reach that led from a routine passenger voyage to a forged death, following the people, documents, and small discrepancies that held the answer: could a station clerk and a ship steward have engineered a corpse and a certificate to steal an estate?

Person: Todd Edwards
Date: July 9, 1883 (arrival morning)
Location: Dunmore Reach quarantine intake station
Case: Forged death certificate and estate fraud
Investigation year: 2019 multispectral imaging confirmation

- The trunk was found bone-dry on a dock still slick with standing water at 6:30 AM.
- Todd Edwards was 57 years old and a wool merchant traveling alone from Charleston.
- The death certificate for Edwards was dated two days before the trunk was discovered and ink came from the station’s record room desk.
- Eric Gallagher, 38, had been assistant registrar and knew where blank certificate stock and Dr. Pryce’s rubber signature stamp were kept.
- Martin Ogle, the ship steward, was paid $400 per “successful passage” and had already received $200 for an earlier victim, Silas Pratt.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1412falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-white-shoe-on-the-ladder-how-a-culvert-held-a-secret--73080397
A clean, size six white shoe sat on the second rung of an iron ladder two hundred yards from where a woman’s body was found, with no footprints in the mud nearby-placed deliberately after six days of rain. Who arranged that shoe to send investigators the wrong way, and why would someone stage evidence to point away from a culvert where a strangled twenty-two-year-old lay?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events and the physical evidence that shaped the Kearns County investigation into Shannon Thompson’s disappearance and death, and we follow Detective Glenn Carter’s methodical steps as he pursued the question of who placed the shoe and how it led to a confession and a jury verdict.

Person: Shannon Thompson
Age: 22
Location: Starlight Drive-In lot, Kearns County
Date of death estimate: Night of June 3, 1953
Investigator: Detective Glenn Carter

- Shannon Thompson earned $31 per week working as a bookkeeper at Harwick Farm Supply.
- She volunteered every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Dellwood General Hospital and missed her shift on Thursday, June 4, 1953.
- Shannon’s green 1949 Ford coupe was seen in the Starlight Drive-In lot the night of June 3; she was spoken to at intermission and later did not return to her car.
- Melvin Perry called the Kearns County Sheriff from a gas station payphone at 7:51 a.m, on June 9, 1953, reporting the discovery; Dr. Phillip Oakes ruled cause of death strangulation.
- The right shoe, size six white leather and clean with a faint transfer of dark soil along the toe lining, was bagged as Exhibit Seven after being found on the second rung of the iron ladder near the rear screen tower.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080397Thu, 20 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe White Shoe on the Ladder: How a Culvert Held a Secret A clean, size six white shoe sat on the second rung of an iron ladder two hundred yards from where a woman’s body was found, with no footprints in the mud nearby-placed deliberately after...
A clean, size six white shoe sat on the second rung of an iron ladder two hundred yards from where a woman’s body was found, with no footprints in the mud nearby-placed deliberately after six days of rain. Who arranged that shoe to send investigators the wrong way, and why would someone stage evidence to point away from a culvert where a strangled twenty-two-year-old lay?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events and the physical evidence that shaped the Kearns County investigation into Shannon Thompson’s disappearance and death, and we follow Detective Glenn Carter’s methodical steps as he pursued the question of who placed the shoe and how it led to a confession and a jury verdict.

Person: Shannon Thompson
Age: 22
Location: Starlight Drive-In lot, Kearns County
Date of death estimate: Night of June 3, 1953
Investigator: Detective Glenn Carter

- Shannon Thompson earned $31 per week working as a bookkeeper at Harwick Farm Supply.
- She volunteered every Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at Dellwood General Hospital and missed her shift on Thursday, June 4, 1953.
- Shannon’s green 1949 Ford coupe was seen in the Starlight Drive-In lot the night of June 3; she was spoken to at intermission and later did not return to her car.
- Melvin Perry called the Kearns County Sheriff from a gas station payphone at 7:51 a.m, on June 9, 1953, reporting the discovery; Dr. Phillip Oakes ruled cause of death strangulation.
- The right shoe, size six white leather and clean with a faint transfer of dark soil along the toe lining, was bagged as Exhibit Seven after being found on the second rung of the iron ladder near the rear screen tower.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1293falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-shoe-twelve-feet-up-the-murder-of-karen-chambers--73080396
Fear that something ordinary hid a deliberate cruelty: a size six oxford balanced twelve feet two inches up on a two-inch ledge, containing a Monarch Steam Laundry claim ticket stamped May 9, 1926. Who left that shoe, and why would someone place it where only an interior hand could have set it?

In this episode, we follow the discovery and early inquiry surrounding a missing billing clerk whose laundry ticket tied her to a single, impossible clue. What do a crumbling mortar pattern, a transposed fire marshal report, and a dark green panel truck idling at 8:30 p.m. reveal about where Karen Chambers went?

Person: Karen Chambers
Date: May 9, 1926 (laundry ticket stamped)
Location: Fordham Building ledge, alley between Sycamore Lane and Monarch Steam Laundry
Status: Downgraded to missing person by August 1926
Detective: April Wilson, Crestfield Police Department Women's Bureau

- Shoe found upright on May 14, 1926, twelve feet two inches above alley floor on a limestone ledge only two inches deep.
- Shoe described as brown leather oxford, size six, left foot, with a Cuban heel containing a Monarch Steam Laundry claim ticket.
- Claim ticket stamped May 9, 1926, linked to customer C-114; Monarch records confirm the transaction that evening.
- Karen Chambers, age thirty-eight, worked nearly six years as a billing clerk at the Ashford Hotel and lived six blocks from the alley.
- Witness Dorothy Pruett observed a dark green panel truck idling on Clement Street at approximately 8:30 p.m. the evening Karen dropped off laundry.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080396Wed, 19 Aug 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Shoe Twelve Feet Up: The Murder of Karen Chambers Fear that something ordinary hid a deliberate cruelty: a size six oxford balanced twelve feet two inches up on a two-inch ledge, containing a Monarch Steam Laundry claim ticket stamped May 9,...
Fear that something ordinary hid a deliberate cruelty: a size six oxford balanced twelve feet two inches up on a two-inch ledge, containing a Monarch Steam Laundry claim ticket stamped May 9, 1926. Who left that shoe, and why would someone place it where only an interior hand could have set it?

In this episode, we follow the discovery and early inquiry surrounding a missing billing clerk whose laundry ticket tied her to a single, impossible clue. What do a crumbling mortar pattern, a transposed fire marshal report, and a dark green panel truck idling at 8:30 p.m. reveal about where Karen Chambers went?

Person: Karen Chambers
Date: May 9, 1926 (laundry ticket stamped)
Location: Fordham Building ledge, alley between Sycamore Lane and Monarch Steam Laundry
Status: Downgraded to missing person by August 1926
Detective: April Wilson, Crestfield Police Department Women's Bureau

- Shoe found upright on May 14, 1926, twelve feet two inches above alley floor on a limestone ledge only two inches deep.
- Shoe described as brown leather oxford, size six, left foot, with a Cuban heel containing a Monarch Steam Laundry claim ticket.
- Claim ticket stamped May 9, 1926, linked to customer C-114; Monarch records confirm the transaction that evening.
- Karen Chambers, age thirty-eight, worked nearly six years as a billing clerk at the Ashford Hotel and lived six blocks from the alley.
- Witness Dorothy Pruett observed a dark green panel truck idling on Clement Street at approximately 8:30 p.m. the evening Karen dropped off laundry.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1391falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-brass-pan-on-copper-drum-proof-that-ruth-was-framed--73080395
Fear that someone close to the ledger bent the rules: a sealed assay pan stamped with the Varick County inventory mark was found half-buried on the opposite face of Copper Drum Mountain after a woman who never mislaid instruments vanished-how did a government bench pan travel forty degrees of talus and April snowmelt with no trail, and who wanted four ounces of ore shifted so badly?

In this episode, we lay out the movements, objects, and ledger entries tied to a missing county assay official and the strange evidence discovered afterward to ask whether the physical clues point to accident, theft, or deliberate framing. What do the stamped pan, the burnt lamp, and the ledger's four-ounce discrepancy add up to?

Person: Ruth Was
Date: April 14, 1893 (pan found)
Location: Copper Drum Mountain (eastern face)
Case: Varick County Territorial Assay Office disappearance
Event: Four-ounce discrepancy in logged ore samples

- Ruth Was was sixty-two and the sole credentialed field geologist at the Varick County Territorial Assay Office.
- The brass balance pan was found half-buried on the eastern face of Copper Drum Mountain despite the office being on the opposite side.
- The mountain face was separated by a forty-degree loose talus slope with no connecting path and April snowmelt making it impassable.
- The assay vault samples were logged by Ruth on April 3 with ledgers showing no erasures; by reweighing trays a four-ounce surplus was discovered.
- Ruth's lamp was found burned down to the collar the morning after she disappeared; she had been seen leaving a study circle at about 9:30 PM on April 12.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080395Tue, 18 Aug 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Brass Pan on Copper Drum: Proof That Ruth Was Framed Fear that someone close to the ledger bent the rules: a sealed assay pan stamped with the Varick County inventory mark was found half-buried on the opposite face of Copper Drum Mountain after...
Fear that someone close to the ledger bent the rules: a sealed assay pan stamped with the Varick County inventory mark was found half-buried on the opposite face of Copper Drum Mountain after a woman who never mislaid instruments vanished-how did a government bench pan travel forty degrees of talus and April snowmelt with no trail, and who wanted four ounces of ore shifted so badly?

In this episode, we lay out the movements, objects, and ledger entries tied to a missing county assay official and the strange evidence discovered afterward to ask whether the physical clues point to accident, theft, or deliberate framing. What do the stamped pan, the burnt lamp, and the ledger's four-ounce discrepancy add up to?

Person: Ruth Was
Date: April 14, 1893 (pan found)
Location: Copper Drum Mountain (eastern face)
Case: Varick County Territorial Assay Office disappearance
Event: Four-ounce discrepancy in logged ore samples

- Ruth Was was sixty-two and the sole credentialed field geologist at the Varick County Territorial Assay Office.
- The brass balance pan was found half-buried on the eastern face of Copper Drum Mountain despite the office being on the opposite side.
- The mountain face was separated by a forty-degree loose talus slope with no connecting path and April snowmelt making it impassable.
- The assay vault samples were logged by Ruth on April 3 with ledgers showing no erasures; by reweighing trays a four-ounce surplus was discovered.
- Ruth's lamp was found burned down to the collar the morning after she disappeared; she had been seen leaving a study circle at about 9:30 PM on April 12.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1281falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-foot-in-the-river-the-murder-of-gordon-ward--73080394
A single brown oxford, size ten, laced and bow-knotted, washed up in a trotline on March 14, 1936 - its ankle cleanly cut and the laces threaded back through the eyelets. The shoe belonged to twenty-six-year-old radio technician Gordon Ward, last seen three days earlier, and the scene points to a staged message that the evidence later shows was anything but straightforward; who was at KWFT the night Ward died, and why was his transmission log forged?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Ward's missing-shift report to the discovery at the Calvert River and the forensic clues that tied the station, the tower lamp outage, and a forged log entry to the hours around his death. How did a twenty to thirty minute outage of a one-hundred-forty-foot tower lamp, a mismatched initial in the transmission log, and a parked car at Birch Terrace combine to reveal who was in the building after Ward stopped writing?

Person: Gordon Ward
Date: March 14, 1936
Location: Calvert River / KWFT station, Wharton Falls
Age: 26
Occupation: Transmission technician at KWFT

- The foot was found at 7:20 AM on March 14, 1936, inside a brown leather oxford size ten.
- Gordon Ward had been missing for three days and was last recorded working a shift that ended with a genuine log entry timed at 11:47 PM.
- The station's 140-foot latticed steel broadcast tower lamp went dark at approximately 12:04 AM and returned between 12:25 and 12:30 AM.
- A forged transmission log entry, initialed G.W., was timed at 12:15 AM and showed different handwriting, notably a rounder, two-stroke W.
- Deputy Chad Weber opened a case that lasted nine days and produced one of Nebraska's most precisely documented confessions.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080394Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Foot in the River: The Murder of Gordon Ward A single brown oxford, size ten, laced and bow-knotted, washed up in a trotline on March 14, 1936 - its ankle cleanly cut and the laces threaded back through the eyelets. The shoe belonged to...
A single brown oxford, size ten, laced and bow-knotted, washed up in a trotline on March 14, 1936 - its ankle cleanly cut and the laces threaded back through the eyelets. The shoe belonged to twenty-six-year-old radio technician Gordon Ward, last seen three days earlier, and the scene points to a staged message that the evidence later shows was anything but straightforward; who was at KWFT the night Ward died, and why was his transmission log forged?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Ward's missing-shift report to the discovery at the Calvert River and the forensic clues that tied the station, the tower lamp outage, and a forged log entry to the hours around his death. How did a twenty to thirty minute outage of a one-hundred-forty-foot tower lamp, a mismatched initial in the transmission log, and a parked car at Birch Terrace combine to reveal who was in the building after Ward stopped writing?

Person: Gordon Ward
Date: March 14, 1936
Location: Calvert River / KWFT station, Wharton Falls
Age: 26
Occupation: Transmission technician at KWFT

- The foot was found at 7:20 AM on March 14, 1936, inside a brown leather oxford size ten.
- Gordon Ward had been missing for three days and was last recorded working a shift that ended with a genuine log entry timed at 11:47 PM.
- The station's 140-foot latticed steel broadcast tower lamp went dark at approximately 12:04 AM and returned between 12:25 and 12:30 AM.
- A forged transmission log entry, initialed G.W., was timed at 12:15 AM and showed different handwriting, notably a rounder, two-stroke W.
- Deputy Chad Weber opened a case that lasted nine days and produced one of Nebraska's most precisely documented confessions.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1163falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/inspector-finds-a-dead-man-who-crossed-the-border-that-morning-the-kent-holt-case--73080393
A polished passport stamped the morning a man was already dead: Kent Holt’s passport shows he crossed at Corda Pass five days before his body was found face-down in an irrigation channel on February 11, 1943. How did a broker’s abandoned notebook, inspector shift notes, and a sealed federal file all connect two purchasing agents killed by the same blunt force to the head-and who was using Holt’s identity after his death?

In this episode, you’ll hear the sequence of crossings, the timeline of disappearances, and the investigative trail that drew federal inspector Roy O’Connor into a wartime Southwest mystery. What did Gina Stevens’ shorthand notebook and Holt’s passport stamps really reveal about those four hours the document was on the Mexican side of the line?

Person: Kent Holt
Date: February 11, 1943
Location: Hidalgo County, New Mexico
Person: Gina Stevens
Case: Passport stamped after death

- The body of Kent Holt was found face-down in a dry irrigation channel by Stanley Vogel at 6:40 a.m, on February 11, 1943.
- Holt’s passport indicated he had crossed at Corda Pass five days before his body was found, though the coroner estimated he had been dead six to eight days.
- Holt was 49 years old and worked as a purchasing agent for a Tucson mining supply company, with at least eleven crossings at Corda Pass over four years.
- A second victim, Elliot Crane, 44, was found buried beside a county road south of Reata Station and had been in the ground for roughly ten months; both victims suffered blunt force trauma to the back of the head.
- Gina Stevens’ palm-sized notebook contained compressed shorthand documenting crossing dates, inspector shift rotations, and vehicle backup patterns covering entries back to 1941.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080393Sun, 16 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaInspector Finds a Dead Man Who Crossed the Border That Morning: The Kent Holt Case A polished passport stamped the morning a man was already dead: Kent Holt’s passport shows he crossed at Corda Pass five days before his body was found face-down in...
A polished passport stamped the morning a man was already dead: Kent Holt’s passport shows he crossed at Corda Pass five days before his body was found face-down in an irrigation channel on February 11, 1943. How did a broker’s abandoned notebook, inspector shift notes, and a sealed federal file all connect two purchasing agents killed by the same blunt force to the head-and who was using Holt’s identity after his death?

In this episode, you’ll hear the sequence of crossings, the timeline of disappearances, and the investigative trail that drew federal inspector Roy O’Connor into a wartime Southwest mystery. What did Gina Stevens’ shorthand notebook and Holt’s passport stamps really reveal about those four hours the document was on the Mexican side of the line?

Person: Kent Holt
Date: February 11, 1943
Location: Hidalgo County, New Mexico
Person: Gina Stevens
Case: Passport stamped after death

- The body of Kent Holt was found face-down in a dry irrigation channel by Stanley Vogel at 6:40 a.m, on February 11, 1943.
- Holt’s passport indicated he had crossed at Corda Pass five days before his body was found, though the coroner estimated he had been dead six to eight days.
- Holt was 49 years old and worked as a purchasing agent for a Tucson mining supply company, with at least eleven crossings at Corda Pass over four years.
- A second victim, Elliot Crane, 44, was found buried beside a county road south of Reata Station and had been in the ground for roughly ten months; both victims suffered blunt force trauma to the back of the head.
- Gina Stevens’ palm-sized notebook contained compressed shorthand documenting crossing dates, inspector shift rotations, and vehicle backup patterns covering entries back to 1941.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1257falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-clean-brand-how-a-missing-iron-proved-premeditated-murder--73080391
Fear of controlled danger: a clean brand iron, missing from a ten-month-old nail, rested on a frozen corpse’s chest the morning after a rancher vanished - and a single marginal note in an archive would later link a neighbor’s campaign to buy the land with a plan hatched months earlier. How did a spotless iron travel from a dusty barn nail to a dead man’s chest overnight, and who needed that trace erased?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events, witness testimony, and county records that connect Glenn Evans’s disappearance to the missing Ox-Bow brand iron and a suspicious land dispute - can those details prove premeditation?

Person: Glenn Evans
Date: January 7-9, 1884
Location: Caldera Creek, Harlan County
Case: Missing Ox-Bow brand iron and death of rancher
Event: Brand registration collected March 22, 1883; registered April 1883

- Glenn Evans, age 31, was found face-up and frozen in a stock pen cistern on January 9, 1884.
- The Ox-Bow brand iron was collected from the Harlan smithy on March 22, 1883 and registered in April 1883.
- Ranch hand Pete Voss last saw the iron hanging on a nail in Evans’s barn the evening of January 7, 1884 before leaving for choir practice for about three hours.
- Investigator Jerry Zeller noted a clean circular impression in ten months’ worth of dust on the barn nail when he inspected on January 12, 1884.
- County investigator Zeller wrote in his report, “the iron is the question,” and a marginal note in the file later connected events to a plan dating back at least six months.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080391Sat, 15 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Clean Brand: How a Missing Iron Proved Premeditated Murder Fear of controlled danger: a clean brand iron, missing from a ten-month-old nail, rested on a frozen corpse’s chest the morning after a rancher vanished - and a single marginal note in...
Fear of controlled danger: a clean brand iron, missing from a ten-month-old nail, rested on a frozen corpse’s chest the morning after a rancher vanished - and a single marginal note in an archive would later link a neighbor’s campaign to buy the land with a plan hatched months earlier. How did a spotless iron travel from a dusty barn nail to a dead man’s chest overnight, and who needed that trace erased?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events, witness testimony, and county records that connect Glenn Evans’s disappearance to the missing Ox-Bow brand iron and a suspicious land dispute - can those details prove premeditation?

Person: Glenn Evans
Date: January 7-9, 1884
Location: Caldera Creek, Harlan County
Case: Missing Ox-Bow brand iron and death of rancher
Event: Brand registration collected March 22, 1883; registered April 1883

- Glenn Evans, age 31, was found face-up and frozen in a stock pen cistern on January 9, 1884.
- The Ox-Bow brand iron was collected from the Harlan smithy on March 22, 1883 and registered in April 1883.
- Ranch hand Pete Voss last saw the iron hanging on a nail in Evans’s barn the evening of January 7, 1884 before leaving for choir practice for about three hours.
- Investigator Jerry Zeller noted a clean circular impression in ten months’ worth of dust on the barn nail when he inspected on January 12, 1884.
- County investigator Zeller wrote in his report, “the iron is the question,” and a marginal note in the file later connected events to a plan dating back at least six months.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1306falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-jar-in-the-water-reveals-a-killer-the-murder-of-amanda-bell--73080390
Fear of a patient predator and the proof washed ashore: a cream-glazed apothecary jar, cork sealed and standing upright in six inches of brackish water, contained a letter whose first line confessed, "I have asked him three times to stop and he will not stop." Who placed the jar two miles south of Stockton and why did a coroner rule Amanda Bell’s death as cardiac failure when a sealed message suggested something else?

In this episode, we follow how a photograph taken before dawn, a misread herbal label, and a jar recovered from Pekin Slough moved a closed coroner’s file back onto a detective’s desk, raising the question of whether routine vulnerability concealed a calculated predator.

Person: Amanda Bell
Date: November 28, 1926 (body found)
Location: Stockton, Washington Street room above a laundry on the edge of Chinatown
Finder: Melissa Collins, December 9, 1926 at Pekin Slough
Detective: Charles Roberts, jar received December 13, 1926

- The jar was found upright in six inches of brackish water, half a foot from the muddy bank, two miles south of the Stockton cannery district.
- The jar contained a cream stationery letter; only the first line remained legible: "I have asked him three times to stop and he will not stop."
- Amanda Bell was 53 years old, widowed, arrived in Stockton in 1915, and kept a weekly Thursday routine visiting Agnes Peel for roughly four years.
- Bell’s body was found November 28, 1926; the Stockton coroner Irwin Foss ruled cause of death as cardiac failure on December 2, 1926.
- A herbal packet on Bell’s nightstand bore a label from the Lotus Gate Dispensary; a nineteen-year-old, George Sung, read one character as ginger root, leading Foss to record "benign tonic herbs" without chemical testing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080390Fri, 14 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Jar in the Water Reveals a Killer: The Murder of Amanda Bell Fear of a patient predator and the proof washed ashore: a cream-glazed apothecary jar, cork sealed and standing upright in six inches of brackish water, contained a letter whose first...
Fear of a patient predator and the proof washed ashore: a cream-glazed apothecary jar, cork sealed and standing upright in six inches of brackish water, contained a letter whose first line confessed, "I have asked him three times to stop and he will not stop." Who placed the jar two miles south of Stockton and why did a coroner rule Amanda Bell’s death as cardiac failure when a sealed message suggested something else?

In this episode, we follow how a photograph taken before dawn, a misread herbal label, and a jar recovered from Pekin Slough moved a closed coroner’s file back onto a detective’s desk, raising the question of whether routine vulnerability concealed a calculated predator.

Person: Amanda Bell
Date: November 28, 1926 (body found)
Location: Stockton, Washington Street room above a laundry on the edge of Chinatown
Finder: Melissa Collins, December 9, 1926 at Pekin Slough
Detective: Charles Roberts, jar received December 13, 1926

- The jar was found upright in six inches of brackish water, half a foot from the muddy bank, two miles south of the Stockton cannery district.
- The jar contained a cream stationery letter; only the first line remained legible: "I have asked him three times to stop and he will not stop."
- Amanda Bell was 53 years old, widowed, arrived in Stockton in 1915, and kept a weekly Thursday routine visiting Agnes Peel for roughly four years.
- Bell’s body was found November 28, 1926; the Stockton coroner Irwin Foss ruled cause of death as cardiac failure on December 2, 1926.
- A herbal packet on Bell’s nightstand bore a label from the Lotus Gate Dispensary; a nineteen-year-old, George Sung, read one character as ginger root, leading Foss to record "benign tonic herbs" without chemical testing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1512falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-steaming-cup-that-exposed-a-killer-the-gloria-walker-case--73080388
A steaming cup of chamomile tea found beside a corpse stopped an investigation cold - Gloria Walker had been dead four to six hours when a fourteen-year-old delivery boy walked into a sunroom and saw steam rising into the coastal air. Who could have placed a hot cup within an hour of discovery, and how did a quiet seaside convalescent home hide a string of similar deaths?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events in chronological detail and trace the records, notes, and confessions that pointed to a single night attendant as the common thread. What do the coal ledger entry, the kitchen log, and a warming cup together reveal about what really happened at Pelham Bluffs?

Person: Gloria Walker
Date: November 14, 1909
Location: Pelham Bluffs convalescent home
Age: 44
Witness: Wayne Armstrong, 14-year-old linen delivery boy

- Gloria Walker had been admitted on November 3, 1909 and died between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m, on November 14, 1909.
- Wayne Armstrong entered the sunroom at 8:15 a.m. and found a steaming cup of chamomile tea beside Walker’s right hand.
- Nurse/attendant Dale White had taken a chamomile cup from the kitchen tray at 7:10 a.m. according to cook Agnes Foley’s log.
- Three other women on the same corridor had died during the seven months Dale White worked there, each death signed as cardiac failure.
- A coal delivery ledger dated November 13, 1909 at 11:45 p.m. contains an entry signed by Dale White placing him in the boiler room at midnight.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080388Thu, 13 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Steaming Cup That Exposed a Killer: The Gloria Walker Case A steaming cup of chamomile tea found beside a corpse stopped an investigation cold - Gloria Walker had been dead four to six hours when a fourteen-year-old delivery boy walked into a...
A steaming cup of chamomile tea found beside a corpse stopped an investigation cold - Gloria Walker had been dead four to six hours when a fourteen-year-old delivery boy walked into a sunroom and saw steam rising into the coastal air. Who could have placed a hot cup within an hour of discovery, and how did a quiet seaside convalescent home hide a string of similar deaths?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events in chronological detail and trace the records, notes, and confessions that pointed to a single night attendant as the common thread. What do the coal ledger entry, the kitchen log, and a warming cup together reveal about what really happened at Pelham Bluffs?

Person: Gloria Walker
Date: November 14, 1909
Location: Pelham Bluffs convalescent home
Age: 44
Witness: Wayne Armstrong, 14-year-old linen delivery boy

- Gloria Walker had been admitted on November 3, 1909 and died between 2:00 and 4:00 a.m, on November 14, 1909.
- Wayne Armstrong entered the sunroom at 8:15 a.m. and found a steaming cup of chamomile tea beside Walker’s right hand.
- Nurse/attendant Dale White had taken a chamomile cup from the kitchen tray at 7:10 a.m. according to cook Agnes Foley’s log.
- Three other women on the same corridor had died during the seven months Dale White worked there, each death signed as cardiac failure.
- A coal delivery ledger dated November 13, 1909 at 11:45 p.m. contains an entry signed by Dale White placing him in the boiler room at midnight.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1512falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-tin-ledger-that-blew-open-a-cotton-camp-murder--73080387
The quiet of a cotton camp hid a deadly arithmetic: Neil Hunt kept a tin box with a ledger that recorded every pound he picked and every dollar he was owed, and five days after he threatened to take those numbers to the county, he was found neatly folded in an eight-inch ditch; what happened to the ledger, missing from his tin box, would later crack the case open. Who removed the ledger and why did a contractor order a case of camphor ampules the day before Hunt confronted him?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events surrounding Neil Hunt’s arrival at the Stonefield Road labor camp, his disputes over pick-weight accounting with contractor Curtis Ford, the discovery of his body on October 14, 1936, and the audit that later flagged irregularities and a suspicious purchase; how did a missing notebook and a farm-supply invoice change the investigation?

Person: Neil Hunt
Date: October 14, 1936
Location: Stonefield Road labor camp, Tulare County, California
Person: Curtis Ford
Event: Purchase order for a case of glass ampules dated October 8, 1936

- Neil Hunt arrived at the Stonefield Road camp in early August 1936 at age 28.
- Hunt kept a tin box under his cot containing Army Reserve discharge papers, a photograph of his mother, and a ledger of cotton picked and wages.
- On October 9, 1936, Hunt confronted contractor Curtis Ford about discrepancies between Ford’s pick-weight figures and Hunt’s ledger.
- Hunt was found dead face-up in about eight inches of water on October 14, 1936; a county doctor ruled heat exhaustion with secondary drowning.
- An auditor, Stan Kowalski, later found pick-weight anomalies and a purchase order under Ford’s account dated October 8, 1936 for a case of glass ampules billed as veterinary camphor oil.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080387Wed, 12 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Tin Ledger That Blew Open a Cotton Camp Murder The quiet of a cotton camp hid a deadly arithmetic: Neil Hunt kept a tin box with a ledger that recorded every pound he picked and every dollar he was owed, and five days after he threatened to...
The quiet of a cotton camp hid a deadly arithmetic: Neil Hunt kept a tin box with a ledger that recorded every pound he picked and every dollar he was owed, and five days after he threatened to take those numbers to the county, he was found neatly folded in an eight-inch ditch; what happened to the ledger, missing from his tin box, would later crack the case open. Who removed the ledger and why did a contractor order a case of camphor ampules the day before Hunt confronted him?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events surrounding Neil Hunt’s arrival at the Stonefield Road labor camp, his disputes over pick-weight accounting with contractor Curtis Ford, the discovery of his body on October 14, 1936, and the audit that later flagged irregularities and a suspicious purchase; how did a missing notebook and a farm-supply invoice change the investigation?

Person: Neil Hunt
Date: October 14, 1936
Location: Stonefield Road labor camp, Tulare County, California
Person: Curtis Ford
Event: Purchase order for a case of glass ampules dated October 8, 1936

- Neil Hunt arrived at the Stonefield Road camp in early August 1936 at age 28.
- Hunt kept a tin box under his cot containing Army Reserve discharge papers, a photograph of his mother, and a ledger of cotton picked and wages.
- On October 9, 1936, Hunt confronted contractor Curtis Ford about discrepancies between Ford’s pick-weight figures and Hunt’s ledger.
- Hunt was found dead face-up in about eight inches of water on October 14, 1936; a county doctor ruled heat exhaustion with secondary drowning.
- An auditor, Stan Kowalski, later found pick-weight anomalies and a purchase order under Ford’s account dated October 8, 1936 for a case of glass ampules billed as veterinary camphor oil.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1440falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-fake-last-log-how-a-telegraph-entry-hid-a-murder--73080386
A warm tin cup found in a fifty-one degree station contradicted a stove cold for thirty-six hours and a last log dated two days earlier - and the written last entry wasn't in the victim's hand. How did a forged telegraph log and a mismatched handwriting hide a murder in a small Pennsylvania junction?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events at Morrow Junction after the telegraph line went silent and document clerk Lori Sharp compares eleven years of logs to the false entry; what she discovers raises the question: who wrote the fake "relay quiet, retiring for the night" entry, and why was Gina Bennett found strangled with her hands folded in her lap?

Person: Gina Bennett
Date: September 6-9, 1893
Location: Morrow Junction relay station, western Pennsylvania
Cause: Manual strangulation (physician: Dr. Amos Fetter)
Investigator: Lori Sharp, document clerk, Clearfield County Sheriff's Office

- Station interior thermometer read 51 degrees Fahrenheit when Angela Jenkins arrived.
- Stove had been out for at least 36 hours, yet a tin cup on the operator's desk held faintly steaming tea.
- A false log entry "relay quiet, retiring for the night" was written on September 6, 1893 at 9:02 PM in a hand that did not match Gina Bennett's.
- The entry written in Gina Bennett's hand was dated September 7 at 6:14 AM and read "Relay clear, Pittsburgh signal strong, no traffic pending."
- Gina Bennett, age 56, had been the primary operator at Morrow Junction for 11 years and lived on Birch Road, walking home each evening.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080386Tue, 11 Aug 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Fake Last Log: How a Telegraph Entry Hid a Murder A warm tin cup found in a fifty-one degree station contradicted a stove cold for thirty-six hours and a last log dated two days earlier - and the written last entry wasn't in the victim's hand....
A warm tin cup found in a fifty-one degree station contradicted a stove cold for thirty-six hours and a last log dated two days earlier - and the written last entry wasn't in the victim's hand. How did a forged telegraph log and a mismatched handwriting hide a murder in a small Pennsylvania junction?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events at Morrow Junction after the telegraph line went silent and document clerk Lori Sharp compares eleven years of logs to the false entry; what she discovers raises the question: who wrote the fake "relay quiet, retiring for the night" entry, and why was Gina Bennett found strangled with her hands folded in her lap?

Person: Gina Bennett
Date: September 6-9, 1893
Location: Morrow Junction relay station, western Pennsylvania
Cause: Manual strangulation (physician: Dr. Amos Fetter)
Investigator: Lori Sharp, document clerk, Clearfield County Sheriff's Office

- Station interior thermometer read 51 degrees Fahrenheit when Angela Jenkins arrived.
- Stove had been out for at least 36 hours, yet a tin cup on the operator's desk held faintly steaming tea.
- A false log entry "relay quiet, retiring for the night" was written on September 6, 1893 at 9:02 PM in a hand that did not match Gina Bennett's.
- The entry written in Gina Bennett's hand was dated September 7 at 6:14 AM and read "Relay clear, Pittsburgh signal strong, no traffic pending."
- Gina Bennett, age 56, had been the primary operator at Morrow Junction for 11 years and lived on Birch Road, walking home each evening.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1276falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-price-tagged-shoe-how-a-motel-s-vacancy-sign-lied--73080385
Fear of a hidden, deliberate act: a pristine price-tagged shoe found upright in Nevada desert dirt where alkali dust coats everything within minutes-what could place a new shoe outside a locked cabin with a broken-inward window and a dead woman inside? Who set it there, and why would someone stage that single shoe to mislead investigators?

In this episode, we present the events at the Sundown Motor Court and the discoveries made that morning, tracing the clues from a spotless shoe to the note that changed the case. How did Detective Kimberly Slater go from seeing a shoe to writing four words that would later be confirmed to overturn the apparent scene?

Person: Tammy Whitley
Date: August 13-14, 1953
Location: Sundown Motor Court, Milepost, Nevada on Route Forty
Investigator: Detective Kimberly Slater
Evidence note: "Shoe placed after dust settled."

- Tammy Whitley, age 22, checked into cabin four at approximately 9:45 PM on August 13, 1953, paying $3.20 in cash.
- At 6:17 AM the next morning Dawn Casey found a white leather pump upright in the dirt below the broken rear window of cabin four.
- The left shoe had a price tag showing $4.95 from Feldman's in Reno and a sole described as factory-clean with no alkali dust.
- The cabin's front door was locked from the inside and the rear window was broken inward with glass found on the interior floor.
- Detective Kimberly Slater, age 37, wrote a three-by-five card with four words: "Shoe placed after dust settled."

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080385Mon, 10 Aug 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Price-Tagged Shoe: How a Motel's Vacancy Sign Lied Fear of a hidden, deliberate act: a pristine price-tagged shoe found upright in Nevada desert dirt where alkali dust coats everything within minutes-what could place a new shoe outside a locked...
Fear of a hidden, deliberate act: a pristine price-tagged shoe found upright in Nevada desert dirt where alkali dust coats everything within minutes-what could place a new shoe outside a locked cabin with a broken-inward window and a dead woman inside? Who set it there, and why would someone stage that single shoe to mislead investigators?

In this episode, we present the events at the Sundown Motor Court and the discoveries made that morning, tracing the clues from a spotless shoe to the note that changed the case. How did Detective Kimberly Slater go from seeing a shoe to writing four words that would later be confirmed to overturn the apparent scene?

Person: Tammy Whitley
Date: August 13-14, 1953
Location: Sundown Motor Court, Milepost, Nevada on Route Forty
Investigator: Detective Kimberly Slater
Evidence note: "Shoe placed after dust settled."

- Tammy Whitley, age 22, checked into cabin four at approximately 9:45 PM on August 13, 1953, paying $3.20 in cash.
- At 6:17 AM the next morning Dawn Casey found a white leather pump upright in the dirt below the broken rear window of cabin four.
- The left shoe had a price tag showing $4.95 from Feldman's in Reno and a sole described as factory-clean with no alkali dust.
- The cabin's front door was locked from the inside and the rear window was broken inward with glass found on the interior floor.
- Detective Kimberly Slater, age 37, wrote a three-by-five card with four words: "Shoe placed after dust settled."

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1264falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-murderer-who-photographed-his-victim-the-millhaven-plate--73080384
A gas meter reader found a glass photographic plate behind a meter at 44 Cutter Lane showing Holly Tucker’s body less than twelve hours after she was killed - the killer had developed the image and placed it to be found. Why would a murderer document the crime, leave the evidence unhidden, and ensure it was discovered?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events and the physical evidence tied to Holly Tucker’s death and the Millhaven Implement & Hardware ledger question, painting the picture of what was known in 1941 and what a later photograph revealed. How did a single image in a private collection and an erased ledger entry shift the case’s most uncomfortable unanswered question?

Person: Holly Tucker
Date: July 14, 1941
Location: 44 Cutter Lane, Millhaven, Nebraska
Case: Photograph found on glass plate showing victim alive within 12 hours of death
Evidence: Ledger with erased entries and a later-discovered photograph showing a male figure at 10:45 AM on July 13

- The photographic plate was found wrapped in brown paper behind the gas meter on the morning of July 14, 1941.
- Holly Tucker was 39 years old and had worked at Millhaven Implement & Hardware for 11 years.
- The photograph showed Holly’s body on her kitchen floor and she had been dead for less than 12 hours.
- A separate photograph taken at 10:45 AM on July 13, 1941, captured a male figure moving toward the store’s rear entrance.
- The ledger from the hardware store had a rectangular area of altered texture indicating entries were erased in late June.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080384Sun, 09 Aug 2026 13:00:04 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Murderer Who Photographed His Victim: The Millhaven Plate A gas meter reader found a glass photographic plate behind a meter at 44 Cutter Lane showing Holly Tucker’s body less than twelve hours after she was killed - the killer had developed...
A gas meter reader found a glass photographic plate behind a meter at 44 Cutter Lane showing Holly Tucker’s body less than twelve hours after she was killed - the killer had developed the image and placed it to be found. Why would a murderer document the crime, leave the evidence unhidden, and ensure it was discovered?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events and the physical evidence tied to Holly Tucker’s death and the Millhaven Implement & Hardware ledger question, painting the picture of what was known in 1941 and what a later photograph revealed. How did a single image in a private collection and an erased ledger entry shift the case’s most uncomfortable unanswered question?

Person: Holly Tucker
Date: July 14, 1941
Location: 44 Cutter Lane, Millhaven, Nebraska
Case: Photograph found on glass plate showing victim alive within 12 hours of death
Evidence: Ledger with erased entries and a later-discovered photograph showing a male figure at 10:45 AM on July 13

- The photographic plate was found wrapped in brown paper behind the gas meter on the morning of July 14, 1941.
- Holly Tucker was 39 years old and had worked at Millhaven Implement & Hardware for 11 years.
- The photograph showed Holly’s body on her kitchen floor and she had been dead for less than 12 hours.
- A separate photograph taken at 10:45 AM on July 13, 1941, captured a male figure moving toward the store’s rear entrance.
- The ledger from the hardware store had a rectangular area of altered texture indicating entries were erased in late June.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1493falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ledger-in-the-stream-how-a-dry-book-exposed-a-sheriff-s-racketeer-murder--73080382
A leather-bound ledger sat open and dry on a flat limestone rock in the middle of a running stream on June 9, 1931, pages fixed on a woman's name and the county sheriff - a record that would end a seven-year protection racket and reopen the death of a roadhouse operator. Who left that ledger where anyone could find it, and was its open page a deliberate message or a random happenstance?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events the ledger recorded and the circumstances surrounding Lauren McCarthy’s death, from her precise bookkeeping to the payments recorded under the initials E.M., and the discovery that shifted an accidental verdict toward criminal consequence. How did a small, methodical ledger become the key to a racketeering scheme and a violent death?

Person: Lauren McCarthy
Date: June 9, 1931
Location: Patton's Mill, Holt's Crossing, Cutter County
Cause of death: blunt trauma to the back of the skull
Associated officials: Sheriff Eldon Marsh; Ralph Lewis

- The ledger was found open on June 9, 1931, sitting dry on a rock in a limestone stream channel.
- Lauren McCarthy was 62 years old in spring 1931 and kept a leather-bound ledger roughly 9 inches by 12 inches.
- Beginning January 1931, McCarthy recorded monthly payments under the initials E.M. that rose from $20 to $50 by April.
- On May entries, an amount was crossed out and McCarthy wrote the word "refused" next to it.
- On June 2, McCarthy wrote a note naming "R. Lewis - told Marsh. Marsh knows - what to do." with a second hand adding "Will not be quiet about this."

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080382Sat, 08 Aug 2026 13:00:04 +0000Creator at ObomediaLedger in the Stream: How a Dry Book Exposed a Sheriff's Racketeer Murder A leather-bound ledger sat open and dry on a flat limestone rock in the middle of a running stream on June 9, 1931, pages fixed on a woman's name and the county sheriff - a...
A leather-bound ledger sat open and dry on a flat limestone rock in the middle of a running stream on June 9, 1931, pages fixed on a woman's name and the county sheriff - a record that would end a seven-year protection racket and reopen the death of a roadhouse operator. Who left that ledger where anyone could find it, and was its open page a deliberate message or a random happenstance?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events the ledger recorded and the circumstances surrounding Lauren McCarthy’s death, from her precise bookkeeping to the payments recorded under the initials E.M., and the discovery that shifted an accidental verdict toward criminal consequence. How did a small, methodical ledger become the key to a racketeering scheme and a violent death?

Person: Lauren McCarthy
Date: June 9, 1931
Location: Patton's Mill, Holt's Crossing, Cutter County
Cause of death: blunt trauma to the back of the skull
Associated officials: Sheriff Eldon Marsh; Ralph Lewis

- The ledger was found open on June 9, 1931, sitting dry on a rock in a limestone stream channel.
- Lauren McCarthy was 62 years old in spring 1931 and kept a leather-bound ledger roughly 9 inches by 12 inches.
- Beginning January 1931, McCarthy recorded monthly payments under the initials E.M. that rose from $20 to $50 by April.
- On May entries, an amount was crossed out and McCarthy wrote the word "refused" next to it.
- On June 2, McCarthy wrote a note naming "R. Lewis - told Marsh. Marsh knows - what to do." with a second hand adding "Will not be quiet about this."

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1383falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/eleven-opened-letters-one-silent-heir-the-calverton-murder-mystery--73080380
A quiet Ohio boarding house hid eleven opened probate letters that never reached their addressee, and a twenty-five-year-old clerk was found dead with his skull fractured and his coat missing. Who read those letters, why were they wedged above the Marian River bluff, and how did a stranger's will change the course of one man's life?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the arrival of Otis Fenn's will to the discovery of Terry Marshall's body and the recovered correspondence, following the deputy sheriff's efforts to trace the letters and the estate that made Marshall an unwitting heir. What connected a Halverson House routine, a Columbus law office, and an eleven-foot drop to a canal's stones?

Person: Terry Marshall
Date: May 8, 1905 (date of death)
Location: Halverson House, 4 Canal Street, Calverton, Ohio
Event: Eleven letters from Harlan Beede found opened on May 14, 1905
Person: Otis Fenn

- Marshall was 25 years old and worked as a copying clerk for timber surveyor Albert Norris.
- Otis Fenn died in Licking County in February 1905 leaving Marshall sole heir to land and about $4,200 in a bank account.
- Eleven letters from attorney Harlan Beede were postmarked between March and April 29, 1905 and required Marshall to appear before June 1.
- Marshall’s body was found at the base of a canal embankment with a fractured skull, room key still in his pocket, and his coat missing.
- The bundle of eleven opened envelopes was discovered wedged in a limestone crack above the Marian River bluff seven-tenths of a mile from the body.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080380Fri, 07 Aug 2026 13:00:05 +0000Creator at ObomediaEleven Opened Letters, One Silent Heir: The Calverton Murder Mystery A quiet Ohio boarding house hid eleven opened probate letters that never reached their addressee, and a twenty-five-year-old clerk was found dead with his skull fractured and his...
A quiet Ohio boarding house hid eleven opened probate letters that never reached their addressee, and a twenty-five-year-old clerk was found dead with his skull fractured and his coat missing. Who read those letters, why were they wedged above the Marian River bluff, and how did a stranger's will change the course of one man's life?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the arrival of Otis Fenn's will to the discovery of Terry Marshall's body and the recovered correspondence, following the deputy sheriff's efforts to trace the letters and the estate that made Marshall an unwitting heir. What connected a Halverson House routine, a Columbus law office, and an eleven-foot drop to a canal's stones?

Person: Terry Marshall
Date: May 8, 1905 (date of death)
Location: Halverson House, 4 Canal Street, Calverton, Ohio
Event: Eleven letters from Harlan Beede found opened on May 14, 1905
Person: Otis Fenn

- Marshall was 25 years old and worked as a copying clerk for timber surveyor Albert Norris.
- Otis Fenn died in Licking County in February 1905 leaving Marshall sole heir to land and about $4,200 in a bank account.
- Eleven letters from attorney Harlan Beede were postmarked between March and April 29, 1905 and required Marshall to appear before June 1.
- Marshall’s body was found at the base of a canal embankment with a fractured skull, room key still in his pocket, and his coat missing.
- The bundle of eleven opened envelopes was discovered wedged in a limestone crack above the Marian River bluff seven-tenths of a mile from the body.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1433falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-folded-blouse-that-exposed-a-wartime-murder--73080379
A laundered, folded women's blouse with a brass name badge washed ashore two miles from town three weeks after the official death-yet the blouse carried a badge stamped DONNELLY, C., 4417 and Carol Donnelly had been declared a workplace accident on March 19, 1943. Who carried that blouse to the river and why did a maintenance log contradict the official accident report?

In this episode, we follow how routine paperwork, a maintenance ledger and a single civilian investigator reopened a closed file; the episode traces Carol Donnelly’s life, work record and the evidence that made her “accident” impossible. How did a hydraulic press listed out of service on March 14 produce a fatal accident on March 19?

Person: Carol Donnelly
Date: March 19, 1943 (official accident); April 9, 1943 (blouse found)
Location: Dray, Arkansas; Cossatot River
Case: Workplace accident officially; questioned after evidence
Investigator: Ryan Norris, War Production Board compliance officer

- Blouse found by fisherman Philip Hill before 7:00 AM on April 9, 1943, hanging from a trotline.
- Brass badge on blouse reading: DONNELLY, C., 4417.
- Carol Donnelly buried four days after March 19, 1943, with coroner signing death within a week.
- Kellner Ordnance employed over 400 workers on rotating shifts by the time Carol arrived.
- Maintenance log entry: Press Number Three out of service March 14 for hydraulic seal replacement; parts received March 21; returned to service March 22.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080379Thu, 06 Aug 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Folded Blouse That Exposed a Wartime Murder A laundered, folded women's blouse with a brass name badge washed ashore two miles from town three weeks after the official death-yet the blouse carried a badge stamped DONNELLY, C., 4417 and Carol...
A laundered, folded women's blouse with a brass name badge washed ashore two miles from town three weeks after the official death-yet the blouse carried a badge stamped DONNELLY, C., 4417 and Carol Donnelly had been declared a workplace accident on March 19, 1943. Who carried that blouse to the river and why did a maintenance log contradict the official accident report?

In this episode, we follow how routine paperwork, a maintenance ledger and a single civilian investigator reopened a closed file; the episode traces Carol Donnelly’s life, work record and the evidence that made her “accident” impossible. How did a hydraulic press listed out of service on March 14 produce a fatal accident on March 19?

Person: Carol Donnelly
Date: March 19, 1943 (official accident); April 9, 1943 (blouse found)
Location: Dray, Arkansas; Cossatot River
Case: Workplace accident officially; questioned after evidence
Investigator: Ryan Norris, War Production Board compliance officer

- Blouse found by fisherman Philip Hill before 7:00 AM on April 9, 1943, hanging from a trotline.
- Brass badge on blouse reading: DONNELLY, C., 4417.
- Carol Donnelly buried four days after March 19, 1943, with coroner signing death within a week.
- Kellner Ordnance employed over 400 workers on rotating shifts by the time Carol arrived.
- Maintenance log entry: Press Number Three out of service March 14 for hydraulic seal replacement; parts received March 21; returned to service March 22.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1468falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-shoe-in-the-dust-the-murder-of-christine-hunt--73080378
A single brown leather oxford was found a third of a mile from Christine Hunt's farmhouse on March 14, 1934 - the sole clean, laces tied, with no footprints to or from it after a dust storm. Why did a county physician rule the death "cardiac failure" when there was a tin of sodium fluoride purchased nine days earlier and a state agriculture inspector later seize a suspicious coffee cup?

In this episode, we present the sequence of discoveries and documents that followed Christine Hunt's death and the unusual actions taken by a state employee that kept the case alive. How did a ledger, a bought tin of poison, and a carefully preserved coffee cup alter the official story?

Person: Christine Hunt
Date: March 14, 1934
Location: Tula Flats, Oklahoma Panhandle
Person: Rebecca Ramsey
Item: two-pound tin of sodium fluoride purchased March 4, 1934

- Shoe discovered: brown leather oxford, left foot, found beside a cedar post about one-third of a mile from the farmhouse
- Condition of shoe: sole clean and laces tied, after a dust storm two nights earlier
- Body discovered: Christine found inside her unlocked house in day clothes near the kitchen stove with coffee cup half-full
- Financial records: Christine's ledger shows last entries on February 28 ($7 to Roy Stein) and March 9 ($1.80 for bran mash)
- Evidence collected: Rebecca Ramsey sealed the coffee cup in a glass jar on March 17, 1934 and took it to Oklahoma City

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080378Wed, 05 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Shoe in the Dust: The Murder of Christine Hunt A single brown leather oxford was found a third of a mile from Christine Hunt's farmhouse on March 14, 1934 - the sole clean, laces tied, with no footprints to or from it after a dust storm. Why did...
A single brown leather oxford was found a third of a mile from Christine Hunt's farmhouse on March 14, 1934 - the sole clean, laces tied, with no footprints to or from it after a dust storm. Why did a county physician rule the death "cardiac failure" when there was a tin of sodium fluoride purchased nine days earlier and a state agriculture inspector later seize a suspicious coffee cup?

In this episode, we present the sequence of discoveries and documents that followed Christine Hunt's death and the unusual actions taken by a state employee that kept the case alive. How did a ledger, a bought tin of poison, and a carefully preserved coffee cup alter the official story?

Person: Christine Hunt
Date: March 14, 1934
Location: Tula Flats, Oklahoma Panhandle
Person: Rebecca Ramsey
Item: two-pound tin of sodium fluoride purchased March 4, 1934

- Shoe discovered: brown leather oxford, left foot, found beside a cedar post about one-third of a mile from the farmhouse
- Condition of shoe: sole clean and laces tied, after a dust storm two nights earlier
- Body discovered: Christine found inside her unlocked house in day clothes near the kitchen stove with coffee cup half-full
- Financial records: Christine's ledger shows last entries on February 28 ($7 to Roy Stein) and March 9 ($1.80 for bran mash)
- Evidence collected: Rebecca Ramsey sealed the coffee cup in a glass jar on March 17, 1934 and took it to Oklahoma City

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1265falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-price-tag-left-on-the-body-the-murder-of-craig-watson--73080377
The first thing Carol Taylor noticed was the brand-new galoshes on a man frozen in four inches of meltwater - soles without a scuff and a price tag still wired to the left buckle for twelve cents in purple ink. That tag survived 130 years in the Dunmore County Courthouse archive, but the rest of the plan unraveled in ways that left a confession and a dead confessor; who left that price tag and why did a meticulous scheme fail because of it?

In this episode, we follow the discovery, the local response, and the paper trail that crossed state lines: a missing river merchant found with blunt-force head wounds and drowned, three life insurance policies taken out in his name, and an insurance investigator arriving from Columbus with three claims in hand. How did a partnership, forged by a forged letter and sustained for eight years, lead to a staged accident undone by a twelve-cent tag?

Person: Craig Watson
Age: 53
Location: Dunmore, Ohio
Date missing: February 4, 1893
Investigator sent by insurer: Sandra Price

- Body found wedged between a cistern housing and a warehouse stone foundation in four inches of standing meltwater with ice formed around his lower legs.
- Galoshes on the feet were brand new with no scuff on the sole and a price tag wired to the left buckle reading twelve cents in purple ink.
- Watson had been missing for exactly seven days when Carol Taylor discovered the body while servicing the Watson cistern in February.
- Three life insurance policies totaling eleven thousand dollars were taken out on Craig Watson, each with a different underwriter and each naming Watson Grain & Forwarding as sole beneficiary.
- Eric Crawford became Watson's partner in 1885 at age 41, managed the forwarding accounts, and had been in Dunmore for eight years by the time of the murder.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080377Tue, 04 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Price Tag Left on the Body: The Murder of Craig Watson The first thing Carol Taylor noticed was the brand-new galoshes on a man frozen in four inches of meltwater - soles without a scuff and a price tag still wired to the left buckle for twelve...
The first thing Carol Taylor noticed was the brand-new galoshes on a man frozen in four inches of meltwater - soles without a scuff and a price tag still wired to the left buckle for twelve cents in purple ink. That tag survived 130 years in the Dunmore County Courthouse archive, but the rest of the plan unraveled in ways that left a confession and a dead confessor; who left that price tag and why did a meticulous scheme fail because of it?

In this episode, we follow the discovery, the local response, and the paper trail that crossed state lines: a missing river merchant found with blunt-force head wounds and drowned, three life insurance policies taken out in his name, and an insurance investigator arriving from Columbus with three claims in hand. How did a partnership, forged by a forged letter and sustained for eight years, lead to a staged accident undone by a twelve-cent tag?

Person: Craig Watson
Age: 53
Location: Dunmore, Ohio
Date missing: February 4, 1893
Investigator sent by insurer: Sandra Price

- Body found wedged between a cistern housing and a warehouse stone foundation in four inches of standing meltwater with ice formed around his lower legs.
- Galoshes on the feet were brand new with no scuff on the sole and a price tag wired to the left buckle reading twelve cents in purple ink.
- Watson had been missing for exactly seven days when Carol Taylor discovered the body while servicing the Watson cistern in February.
- Three life insurance policies totaling eleven thousand dollars were taken out on Craig Watson, each with a different underwriter and each naming Watson Grain & Forwarding as sole beneficiary.
- Eric Crawford became Watson's partner in 1885 at age 41, managed the forwarding accounts, and had been in Dunmore for eight years by the time of the murder.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1418falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-glove-at-dawn-how-a-ticket-condemned-a-man--73080376
A dry, pearl-buttoned left glove pulled from frozen mud contained an unused train ticket dated January 8 - yet freezing rain had soaked those bluffs until 3:00 a.m., making both glove and ticket inexplicably dry. The glove belonged to a widow who never left her tidy hotel room, and the narrow window between 3:00 and 6:45 a.m. holds the only time someone could have placed it there; who moved it, and why?

In this episode, we follow the discovery, the records, and the small discrepancies that steer an investigation: a postal clerk finds the glove at 6:45 a.m. on January 9, evidence reaches the Kansas Bureau of Investigation the same morning, and Agent Teresa Allen traces timetables, hotel ledgers, and a missing traveler to ask whether a single misplaced entry can condemn a man.

Person: Todd Russo
Date: January 9, 1924
Location: Sallow River bluffs
Person: Erin Barrett
Person: Teresa Allen

- Glove found at 6:45 a.m, on January 9, 1924 by postal clerk Todd Russo.
- Ticket inside glove: Dennisburg to Wichita, morning express, dated January 8.
- Freezing rain fell from 9:00 p.m, on January 8 until 3:00 a.m, on January 9.
- Erin Barrett left Wichita on January 5, 1924 and checked into the Braddock Arms, room fourteen.
- Hotel ledger shows Erin Barrett and Todd Russo recorded side by side on January 5; Russo had no depot arrival record.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080376Mon, 03 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Glove at Dawn: How a Ticket Condemned a Man A dry, pearl-buttoned left glove pulled from frozen mud contained an unused train ticket dated January 8 - yet freezing rain had soaked those bluffs until 3:00 a.m., making both glove and ticket...
A dry, pearl-buttoned left glove pulled from frozen mud contained an unused train ticket dated January 8 - yet freezing rain had soaked those bluffs until 3:00 a.m., making both glove and ticket inexplicably dry. The glove belonged to a widow who never left her tidy hotel room, and the narrow window between 3:00 and 6:45 a.m. holds the only time someone could have placed it there; who moved it, and why?

In this episode, we follow the discovery, the records, and the small discrepancies that steer an investigation: a postal clerk finds the glove at 6:45 a.m. on January 9, evidence reaches the Kansas Bureau of Investigation the same morning, and Agent Teresa Allen traces timetables, hotel ledgers, and a missing traveler to ask whether a single misplaced entry can condemn a man.

Person: Todd Russo
Date: January 9, 1924
Location: Sallow River bluffs
Person: Erin Barrett
Person: Teresa Allen

- Glove found at 6:45 a.m, on January 9, 1924 by postal clerk Todd Russo.
- Ticket inside glove: Dennisburg to Wichita, morning express, dated January 8.
- Freezing rain fell from 9:00 p.m, on January 8 until 3:00 a.m, on January 9.
- Erin Barrett left Wichita on January 5, 1924 and checked into the Braddock Arms, room fourteen.
- Hotel ledger shows Erin Barrett and Todd Russo recorded side by side on January 5; Russo had no depot arrival record.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1417falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-shoe-on-the-fire-escape-the-murder-of-dale-anderson--73080374
A single black patent-leather Oxford, size nine and a half and still laced, stood upright on the Majestic Theater fire escape the morning Sergeant Gordon Donnelly arrived; a folded Regent Theater program dated December 9, 1924, was tucked under its tongue, and Dale Anderson was found dead in the basement three hours later with blunt-force trauma to the skull-how did a program from Indianapolis, 174 miles away, end up on a Decatur fire escape the morning of his murder?

In this episode, we follow the timeline laid out by theater wires, landlady testimony, and police notes to map Anderson’s final week and the booking clashes that preceded his death, asking whether a double-booked schedule and a crooked agent led to confrontation and murder.

Person: Dale Anderson
Date: December 11, 1924
Location: Majestic Theater, Decatur, Illinois
Age: 28
Agent: Gregory Lawson

- The shoe was a black patent-leather Oxford, size 9½, still laced and standing upright on the second-to-last step of the Majestic fire escape.
- Kathleen Burke found the shoe at approximately 6:40 AM on December 11, 1924, and discovered a Regent Theater program dated December 9 tucked under the tongue.
- Officers found Dale Anderson face down in the storage room below the alley door three hours after the shoe was discovered, with blunt-force trauma to the back of the skull.
- Anderson’s bookings showed December 8-9 at the Regent Theater in Indianapolis and December 5-6 at the Starlight Theater in Peoria, with a December 11 booking at the Majestic in Decatur.
- Booking agent Gregory Lawson had sold the same performer to two theaters for the same night, creating two legitimate contracts 111 miles apart for the same date.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080374Sun, 02 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Shoe on the Fire Escape: The Murder of Dale Anderson A single black patent-leather Oxford, size nine and a half and still laced, stood upright on the Majestic Theater fire escape the morning Sergeant Gordon Donnelly arrived; a folded Regent...
A single black patent-leather Oxford, size nine and a half and still laced, stood upright on the Majestic Theater fire escape the morning Sergeant Gordon Donnelly arrived; a folded Regent Theater program dated December 9, 1924, was tucked under its tongue, and Dale Anderson was found dead in the basement three hours later with blunt-force trauma to the skull-how did a program from Indianapolis, 174 miles away, end up on a Decatur fire escape the morning of his murder?

In this episode, we follow the timeline laid out by theater wires, landlady testimony, and police notes to map Anderson’s final week and the booking clashes that preceded his death, asking whether a double-booked schedule and a crooked agent led to confrontation and murder.

Person: Dale Anderson
Date: December 11, 1924
Location: Majestic Theater, Decatur, Illinois
Age: 28
Agent: Gregory Lawson

- The shoe was a black patent-leather Oxford, size 9½, still laced and standing upright on the second-to-last step of the Majestic fire escape.
- Kathleen Burke found the shoe at approximately 6:40 AM on December 11, 1924, and discovered a Regent Theater program dated December 9 tucked under the tongue.
- Officers found Dale Anderson face down in the storage room below the alley door three hours after the shoe was discovered, with blunt-force trauma to the back of the skull.
- Anderson’s bookings showed December 8-9 at the Regent Theater in Indianapolis and December 5-6 at the Starlight Theater in Peoria, with a December 11 booking at the Majestic in Decatur.
- Booking agent Gregory Lawson had sold the same performer to two theaters for the same night, creating two legitimate contracts 111 miles apart for the same date.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1355falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/frozen-solid-the-bellhaven-harvest-murders-of-1893--73080373
They pulled two men from blocks of ice carved with the precision of a crosscut saw-one block measured 30 inches by 20 inches by 18 inches-and the bodies had been placed inside, not frozen in by nature. What happened in Bellhaven over eighteen days in November 1893 to produce methodical drowning, sawdust on a returned tool, and a 21-page handwritten confession that described the killing in terrible detail?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events discovered after Grant Gray stopped his road-grader on Teller Road at 7:15 a.m. on November 14, 1893 and found a man encased in ditch ice. We follow the clues from Depot Street to Teller Lake Harvesting Company and ask how debts, threats, and a repainted wagon converged to become murder.

Person: Grant Gray
Date: November 14, 1893
Location: Teller Road, Portage County, Wisconsin
Case: Two bodies encased in blocks of ice
Event: 21-page handwritten confession

- The ice block was 30 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 18 inches deep.
- Grant Gray stopped his grader at 7:15 a.m. and stood for one full minute before investigating.
- Richard Graham was 54 years old, a widower, proprietor of Graham's Agricultural Supply, and kept two goats behind his shop.
- A ledger showed a debt of $112 owed to Richard Graham, placed in the hands of an attorney in Wausau.
- The investigation spanned 18 days and ended with a 21-page handwritten confession.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080373Sat, 01 Aug 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaFrozen Solid: The Bellhaven Harvest Murders of 1893 They pulled two men from blocks of ice carved with the precision of a crosscut saw-one block measured 30 inches by 20 inches by 18 inches-and the bodies had been placed inside, not frozen in by...
They pulled two men from blocks of ice carved with the precision of a crosscut saw-one block measured 30 inches by 20 inches by 18 inches-and the bodies had been placed inside, not frozen in by nature. What happened in Bellhaven over eighteen days in November 1893 to produce methodical drowning, sawdust on a returned tool, and a 21-page handwritten confession that described the killing in terrible detail?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events discovered after Grant Gray stopped his road-grader on Teller Road at 7:15 a.m. on November 14, 1893 and found a man encased in ditch ice. We follow the clues from Depot Street to Teller Lake Harvesting Company and ask how debts, threats, and a repainted wagon converged to become murder.

Person: Grant Gray
Date: November 14, 1893
Location: Teller Road, Portage County, Wisconsin
Case: Two bodies encased in blocks of ice
Event: 21-page handwritten confession

- The ice block was 30 inches long, 20 inches wide, and 18 inches deep.
- Grant Gray stopped his grader at 7:15 a.m. and stood for one full minute before investigating.
- Richard Graham was 54 years old, a widower, proprietor of Graham's Agricultural Supply, and kept two goats behind his shop.
- A ledger showed a debt of $112 owed to Richard Graham, placed in the hands of an attorney in Wausau.
- The investigation spanned 18 days and ended with a 21-page handwritten confession.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1445falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-oilcloth-clue-how-a-ledger-unmasked-a-creek-county-murder--73080372
A single piece of oilcloth - listed on a receipt yet missing from every inventory - clung to a drowned man pulled from Harmon Creek, turning a routine disappearance into a ledger-led murder lead. What did a vanished roll of wrapping and a six-week-old ledger entry reveal about who wanted Chad Boyd erased, and why would someone bury evidence so deliberately?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Chad Boyd's disappearance to the discovery of his body and the ledger entry that didn't add up. You will hear how a rooming-house widow, a retiring marshal, and a meticulous female investigator traced one missing line in a supply book to the heart of a land dispute and a fatal cover-up.

Person: Chad Boyd
Date: October 24, 1917
Location: Harmon Creek near Sutter Road, Prine Station, Oklahoma
Investigator: Patricia Thompson
Item: Oilcloth (listed on receipt signed October 2, 1917 at 8:45 a.m.)

- Boyd had been missing for 22 days when his body was found under a sandstone overhang roughly 200 yards downstream from the Sutter Road culvert.
- On October 2, 1917 at 8:45 a.m. Curtis Draper signed a receipt listing blankets, cornmeal, and a roll of oilcloth delivered by Boyd.
- The blankets and cornmeal were logged into school inventory and pantry, but the oilcloth was not recorded anywhere afterward.
- Patricia Thompson arrived in Prine Station on October 15, 1917 and reviewed the Calvary Creek Mission supply ledgers the next morning.
- Eunice Farr reported Boyd missing after he failed to return on October 3; Boyd had left $7.40 in a paper envelope on the windowsill the night he was last seen.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080372Fri, 31 Jul 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Oilcloth Clue: How a Ledger Unmasked a Creek County Murder A single piece of oilcloth - listed on a receipt yet missing from every inventory - clung to a drowned man pulled from Harmon Creek, turning a routine disappearance into a ledger-led...
A single piece of oilcloth - listed on a receipt yet missing from every inventory - clung to a drowned man pulled from Harmon Creek, turning a routine disappearance into a ledger-led murder lead. What did a vanished roll of wrapping and a six-week-old ledger entry reveal about who wanted Chad Boyd erased, and why would someone bury evidence so deliberately?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Chad Boyd's disappearance to the discovery of his body and the ledger entry that didn't add up. You will hear how a rooming-house widow, a retiring marshal, and a meticulous female investigator traced one missing line in a supply book to the heart of a land dispute and a fatal cover-up.

Person: Chad Boyd
Date: October 24, 1917
Location: Harmon Creek near Sutter Road, Prine Station, Oklahoma
Investigator: Patricia Thompson
Item: Oilcloth (listed on receipt signed October 2, 1917 at 8:45 a.m.)

- Boyd had been missing for 22 days when his body was found under a sandstone overhang roughly 200 yards downstream from the Sutter Road culvert.
- On October 2, 1917 at 8:45 a.m. Curtis Draper signed a receipt listing blankets, cornmeal, and a roll of oilcloth delivered by Boyd.
- The blankets and cornmeal were logged into school inventory and pantry, but the oilcloth was not recorded anywhere afterward.
- Patricia Thompson arrived in Prine Station on October 15, 1917 and reviewed the Calvary Creek Mission supply ledgers the next morning.
- Eunice Farr reported Boyd missing after he failed to return on October 3; Boyd had left $7.40 in a paper envelope on the windowsill the night he was last seen.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1291falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-locked-shed-the-dry-purse-and-the-uncashed-check--73080371
A dry leather clutch with its brass clasp still fastened was found in a flooded storm drain at the edge of restricted naval property, and an uncashed payroll check for $41.30 sat sealed in evidence since 1943-both pointing to an impossible exit from a locked paint shed; who could have left from inside a building with a barrel bolt that could only be retracted from within? What secret route and decision erased the trail, and why were these items never shown at the federal inquest?

In this episode, we walk through the facts discovered by Detective Wade Cook and others: the scene at paint shed number three, the two surviving pieces of evidence, the small details of Dawn O'Connor's life in Harwick, and the federal handling that followed. Listen to how a ventilation hatch, a relocked padlock, and a single uncashed check reshape the official story.

Person: Dawn O'Connor
Date: September 11, 1943 (body found at 6:52 AM)
Location: Paint shed number three, Harwick Naval Repair Station
Item: Uncashed payroll check for $41.30 (sealed in wax-paper sleeve)
Item: Leather clutch purse found dry in a flooded storm drain

- Dawn O'Connor was 38 years old in summer 1943 and worked as payroll clerk at the Harwick Naval Repair Station.
- Pete Garza unlocked paint shed number three on the morning of September 11, 1943; the padlock opened with the assigned key but the interior barrel bolt was unlatched.
- Detective Wade Cook noted an 18" x 30" ventilation hatch on the north wall with an exterior-only hook-and-eye latch and a pallet below that could serve as a step.
- The uncashed payroll check for $41.30 has been sealed in the Cape May County Prosecutor's evidence archive since 1943.
- The leather clutch purse was found dry, brass clasp fastened, inside a flooded storm drain at the edge of restricted naval property; neither object was presented at the federal inquest.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080371Thu, 30 Jul 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Locked Shed, the Dry Purse, and the Uncashed Check A dry leather clutch with its brass clasp still fastened was found in a flooded storm drain at the edge of restricted naval property, and an uncashed payroll check for $41.30 sat sealed in...
A dry leather clutch with its brass clasp still fastened was found in a flooded storm drain at the edge of restricted naval property, and an uncashed payroll check for $41.30 sat sealed in evidence since 1943-both pointing to an impossible exit from a locked paint shed; who could have left from inside a building with a barrel bolt that could only be retracted from within? What secret route and decision erased the trail, and why were these items never shown at the federal inquest?

In this episode, we walk through the facts discovered by Detective Wade Cook and others: the scene at paint shed number three, the two surviving pieces of evidence, the small details of Dawn O'Connor's life in Harwick, and the federal handling that followed. Listen to how a ventilation hatch, a relocked padlock, and a single uncashed check reshape the official story.

Person: Dawn O'Connor
Date: September 11, 1943 (body found at 6:52 AM)
Location: Paint shed number three, Harwick Naval Repair Station
Item: Uncashed payroll check for $41.30 (sealed in wax-paper sleeve)
Item: Leather clutch purse found dry in a flooded storm drain

- Dawn O'Connor was 38 years old in summer 1943 and worked as payroll clerk at the Harwick Naval Repair Station.
- Pete Garza unlocked paint shed number three on the morning of September 11, 1943; the padlock opened with the assigned key but the interior barrel bolt was unlatched.
- Detective Wade Cook noted an 18" x 30" ventilation hatch on the north wall with an exterior-only hook-and-eye latch and a pallet below that could serve as a step.
- The uncashed payroll check for $41.30 has been sealed in the Cape May County Prosecutor's evidence archive since 1943.
- The leather clutch purse was found dry, brass clasp fastened, inside a flooded storm drain at the edge of restricted naval property; neither object was presented at the federal inquest.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1470falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dead-before-the-shutter-clicked-the-murder-of-amanda-west--73080370
A photograph timestamped 3:52 p.m. shows a smiling woman in a blue floral housedress beside a cotton candy cart - yet the county medical examiner placed Amanda West's time of death between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., meaning she had been dead for at least two hours when the shutter clicked. Which image captured the truth, and why did a single timestamp become the hinge of a conviction that would unravel seventy-three years later?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Amanda West’s last confirmed sighting carrying a sealed quart jar of Elberta peaches, through discovery at the Millhaven County State Fair, to the photograph that contradicted the medical window and the investigator who read the ground for answers. How did a rutted dirt lane, pooled lividity, and a jar thrown into a ditch reshape the case?

Person: Amanda West
Date: August 19, 1936
Location: Millhaven County State Fair, near livestock barn and ring-toss booth
Investigator: Marilyn Chambers, age 34
Photographer: Otto Schreiber, fair photographer (photos logged 2:15-4:40 p.m.)

- Amanda West’s last confirmed live sighting was walking toward the fair with a sealed quart jar of Elberta peaches wrapped in brown paper and twine.
- Amanda was 62 years old and had worked at Pryor Lumber and attended First Methodist; she left Dellard the morning of August 19, 1936.
- Norman Boyd found Amanda lying on her back between the livestock barn and a canvas wall at 7:40 a.m.; he called the sheriff at 7:53 a.m.
- Medical examiner placed time of death between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., indicating she had been dead at least two hours before the 3:52 p.m. photograph.
- On August 28, a deputy found the intact jar of Elberta peaches thrown into a ditch behind the game booths, brown paper half-dissolved and twine still knotted.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080370Wed, 29 Jul 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaDead Before the Shutter Clicked: The Murder of Amanda West A photograph timestamped 3:52 p.m. shows a smiling woman in a blue floral housedress beside a cotton candy cart - yet the county medical examiner placed Amanda West's time of death between...
A photograph timestamped 3:52 p.m. shows a smiling woman in a blue floral housedress beside a cotton candy cart - yet the county medical examiner placed Amanda West's time of death between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., meaning she had been dead for at least two hours when the shutter clicked. Which image captured the truth, and why did a single timestamp become the hinge of a conviction that would unravel seventy-three years later?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Amanda West’s last confirmed sighting carrying a sealed quart jar of Elberta peaches, through discovery at the Millhaven County State Fair, to the photograph that contradicted the medical window and the investigator who read the ground for answers. How did a rutted dirt lane, pooled lividity, and a jar thrown into a ditch reshape the case?

Person: Amanda West
Date: August 19, 1936
Location: Millhaven County State Fair, near livestock barn and ring-toss booth
Investigator: Marilyn Chambers, age 34
Photographer: Otto Schreiber, fair photographer (photos logged 2:15-4:40 p.m.)

- Amanda West’s last confirmed live sighting was walking toward the fair with a sealed quart jar of Elberta peaches wrapped in brown paper and twine.
- Amanda was 62 years old and had worked at Pryor Lumber and attended First Methodist; she left Dellard the morning of August 19, 1936.
- Norman Boyd found Amanda lying on her back between the livestock barn and a canvas wall at 7:40 a.m.; he called the sheriff at 7:53 a.m.
- Medical examiner placed time of death between 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m., indicating she had been dead at least two hours before the 3:52 p.m. photograph.
- On August 28, a deputy found the intact jar of Elberta peaches thrown into a ditch behind the game booths, brown paper half-dissolved and twine still knotted.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1414falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/certificates-signed-before-the-ship-docked-the-harwick-island-poisonings--73080369
Fear that civility can be a cover for premeditated death: two death certificates signed in dried ink hours before a ship docked, both dated the morning a passenger was still at sea. How did signatures, a missing physician, two pounds of unaccounted-for tea, and a clerk’s intake log collide to produce a corpse and a near-miss?

In this episode, we follow the timeline and records tied to Harwick Island Quarantine Station on July 9, 1884, and trace the contradictions between official logs and witness testimony to ask whether those documents hid a crime. What does the missing tea, the absent doctor, and two premade death certificates actually mean?

Person: Gregory Wilson
Date: July 9, 1884
Location: Harwick Island Quarantine Station
Ship: Millbrook Star
Event: Two death certificates dated same morning signed in dried ink

- The Millbrook Star carried 41 passengers and 11 crew and docked at Harwick Island at approximately 4:30 PM on July 9, 1884.
- Two death certificates dated the morning of July 9 listed typhoid fever and bore Gregory Wilson’s signature in fully dried ink before the ship docked.
- Richard Smith, named on one certificate, boarded the Millbrook Star on July 7 and did not wake on July 10 - he was 26 and an assistant shipping clerk.
- Harwick Island’s contracted physician, Dr. James Pruett, had not set foot on the island since April 1884 while his retainer was cashed; Gregory Wilson ran the station and signed paperwork alone.
- Two pounds of loose black tea were logged as received in June 1884, were not logged as served, and were absent during an audit conducted by inspector Albert Foss in late July.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080369Tue, 28 Jul 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaCertificates Signed Before the Ship Docked: The Harwick Island Poisonings Fear that civility can be a cover for premeditated death: two death certificates signed in dried ink hours before a ship docked, both dated the morning a passenger was still...
Fear that civility can be a cover for premeditated death: two death certificates signed in dried ink hours before a ship docked, both dated the morning a passenger was still at sea. How did signatures, a missing physician, two pounds of unaccounted-for tea, and a clerk’s intake log collide to produce a corpse and a near-miss?

In this episode, we follow the timeline and records tied to Harwick Island Quarantine Station on July 9, 1884, and trace the contradictions between official logs and witness testimony to ask whether those documents hid a crime. What does the missing tea, the absent doctor, and two premade death certificates actually mean?

Person: Gregory Wilson
Date: July 9, 1884
Location: Harwick Island Quarantine Station
Ship: Millbrook Star
Event: Two death certificates dated same morning signed in dried ink

- The Millbrook Star carried 41 passengers and 11 crew and docked at Harwick Island at approximately 4:30 PM on July 9, 1884.
- Two death certificates dated the morning of July 9 listed typhoid fever and bore Gregory Wilson’s signature in fully dried ink before the ship docked.
- Richard Smith, named on one certificate, boarded the Millbrook Star on July 7 and did not wake on July 10 - he was 26 and an assistant shipping clerk.
- Harwick Island’s contracted physician, Dr. James Pruett, had not set foot on the island since April 1884 while his retainer was cashed; Gregory Wilson ran the station and signed paperwork alone.
- Two pounds of loose black tea were logged as received in June 1884, were not logged as served, and were absent during an audit conducted by inspector Albert Foss in late July.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1524falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-wet-stub-how-a-ruined-receipt-exposed-a-killer-s-alibi--73080368
A soaked adding-machine receipt, swollen and fiber-deep saturated, was found pressed against Michelle Burns's left hand in a Nevada saltbrush - despite no recorded rainfall in the eighteen days before her June ninth discovery. That impossible wetness would link two women across nine months and two counties and force a Nevada court to confront a forensic technique it had never admitted; how did a single ruined strip of paper unravel an alibi?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from Michelle Burns's dependable life and sudden disappearance to the discovery of her body and the wet admission stub at Harlow Basin Drive-In, and we follow the investigative trail that began with a sheriff's photograph and a Bureau of Criminal Investigation bulletin about infrared examination of altered documents - could that swollen receipt be the key?

Person: Michelle Burns
Date: June 9, 1953
Location: Saltbrush behind Harlow Basin Drive-In, Mineral Flats, Nevada
Cause: Manual strangulation
Investigator: Debra Weber

- Michelle Burns was 47 years old and had worked six years as a bookkeeper for Consolidated Amusements of Nevada.
- Michelle volunteered every Tuesday (and every Thursday) at the Mercy Flats Community Center for four years and had never missed a shift.
- The last recorded rainfall at Mineral Flats was on May 22, eighteen days before the June 9 discovery.
- Michelle was last seen the evening of June 1; her body was found June 9 and coroner placed death between the evening of June 1 and early hours of June 2.
- An admission stub roll from the June 1 show at the drive-in was found pressed against her left hand, swollen with moisture despite the dry period.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080368Mon, 27 Jul 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Wet Stub: How a Ruined Receipt Exposed a Killer's Alibi A soaked adding-machine receipt, swollen and fiber-deep saturated, was found pressed against Michelle Burns's left hand in a Nevada saltbrush - despite no recorded rainfall in the eighteen...
A soaked adding-machine receipt, swollen and fiber-deep saturated, was found pressed against Michelle Burns's left hand in a Nevada saltbrush - despite no recorded rainfall in the eighteen days before her June ninth discovery. That impossible wetness would link two women across nine months and two counties and force a Nevada court to confront a forensic technique it had never admitted; how did a single ruined strip of paper unravel an alibi?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from Michelle Burns's dependable life and sudden disappearance to the discovery of her body and the wet admission stub at Harlow Basin Drive-In, and we follow the investigative trail that began with a sheriff's photograph and a Bureau of Criminal Investigation bulletin about infrared examination of altered documents - could that swollen receipt be the key?

Person: Michelle Burns
Date: June 9, 1953
Location: Saltbrush behind Harlow Basin Drive-In, Mineral Flats, Nevada
Cause: Manual strangulation
Investigator: Debra Weber

- Michelle Burns was 47 years old and had worked six years as a bookkeeper for Consolidated Amusements of Nevada.
- Michelle volunteered every Tuesday (and every Thursday) at the Mercy Flats Community Center for four years and had never missed a shift.
- The last recorded rainfall at Mineral Flats was on May 22, eighteen days before the June 9 discovery.
- Michelle was last seen the evening of June 1; her body was found June 9 and coroner placed death between the evening of June 1 and early hours of June 2.
- An admission stub roll from the June 1 show at the drive-in was found pressed against her left hand, swollen with moisture despite the dry period.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1546falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-shoe-hidden-room-forged-maps-and-a-quiet-murder--73080367
A dry woman's left shoe, still with a brass alligator clasp and a laundry ticket for customer 7714, turned up in Calder Creek while the shoe's owner had been missing for over sixty hours. Eleven feet of space erased from every official map and a forged utility sign hide a door no record will admit exists-who used that hidden room, and why was Heather Davis never seen again?

In this episode, we present the sequence of discoveries from a missing person's report to the creek-side evidence that shifted the inquiry toward a concealed structure between two buildings. Follow the chain of physical clues-from a repairman's nail in a heel to a laundry ticket listing two blouses and a wool skirt-that forced investigators to ask whether the vanished room and its forged sign were central to Heather Davis's disappearance.

Person: Heather Davis
Date: May 14, 1923
Location: Calder Creek / Alley behind 402 Voss Avenue, Millhaven, Ohio
Occupation: Intake counter worker at Aldine Steam Laundry
Evidence Custodian: Rebecca Bauer, Millhaven city marshal's office

- Shoe found before 6:00 AM on May 14, 1923, dry on the inside and clipped with a brass alligator clasp.
- Laundry ticket attached to shoe: customer number 7714, Aldine Steam Laundry, 402 Voss Avenue, listing two blouses and a wool skirt.
- Heather Davis last confirmed alive at 5:40 PM on May 9, 1923, clocking out from Aldine Steam Laundry carrying a canvas bag.
- Missing persons report filed by Agnes Vore on the morning of May 12, 1923, after hearing Heather's cat Biscuit inside and milk left on the step.
- A padlocked lean-to between 402 and 404 Voss Avenue bore a sign reading "MILLHAVEN GAS AND UTILITY - EQUIPMENT STORAGE," which the gas company had no record of leasing or staffing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080367Sun, 26 Jul 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Shoe: Hidden Room, Forged Maps, and a Quiet Murder A dry woman's left shoe, still with a brass alligator clasp and a laundry ticket for customer 7714, turned up in Calder Creek while the shoe's owner had been missing for over sixty hours....
A dry woman's left shoe, still with a brass alligator clasp and a laundry ticket for customer 7714, turned up in Calder Creek while the shoe's owner had been missing for over sixty hours. Eleven feet of space erased from every official map and a forged utility sign hide a door no record will admit exists-who used that hidden room, and why was Heather Davis never seen again?

In this episode, we present the sequence of discoveries from a missing person's report to the creek-side evidence that shifted the inquiry toward a concealed structure between two buildings. Follow the chain of physical clues-from a repairman's nail in a heel to a laundry ticket listing two blouses and a wool skirt-that forced investigators to ask whether the vanished room and its forged sign were central to Heather Davis's disappearance.

Person: Heather Davis
Date: May 14, 1923
Location: Calder Creek / Alley behind 402 Voss Avenue, Millhaven, Ohio
Occupation: Intake counter worker at Aldine Steam Laundry
Evidence Custodian: Rebecca Bauer, Millhaven city marshal's office

- Shoe found before 6:00 AM on May 14, 1923, dry on the inside and clipped with a brass alligator clasp.
- Laundry ticket attached to shoe: customer number 7714, Aldine Steam Laundry, 402 Voss Avenue, listing two blouses and a wool skirt.
- Heather Davis last confirmed alive at 5:40 PM on May 9, 1923, clocking out from Aldine Steam Laundry carrying a canvas bag.
- Missing persons report filed by Agnes Vore on the morning of May 12, 1923, after hearing Heather's cat Biscuit inside and milk left on the step.
- A padlocked lean-to between 402 and 404 Voss Avenue bore a sign reading "MILLHAVEN GAS AND UTILITY - EQUIPMENT STORAGE," which the gas company had no record of leasing or staffing.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1381falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-missing-sample-bag-and-the-staircase-that-lied--73080366
A leather satchel labeled "SNYDER, J. - SAMPLE LOT 7 - HARWICK ASSAY - APRIL 6, 1893" survived a week in a dry drainage ditch and bore the name of a man who had died seven days earlier at the foot of a staircase forty feet away-so how did Jason Snyder's sample bag get outside when Snyder himself never left through the back? Who deliberately moved evidence between the Harwick Assay Office and that ditch, and why?

In this episode, we follow the discovery that reopened a concluded accidental death: the morning a county surveyor found the missing satchel, the procedural paper trail from reception to weighing room, and the investigator brought in after that discovery. How did a meticulous geologist's logged specimen order become the smallest clue to a larger inconsistency?

Person: Jason Snyder
Date: April 6-14, 1893
Location: Harwick Assay Office, Caldwell Gulch, Nevada
Event: Discovery of leather satchel in dry drainage ditch
Investigator: Gary Williams

- The satchel's leather tag read "SNYDER, J. - SAMPLE LOT 7 - HARWICK ASSAY - APRIL 6, 1893."
- Jason Snyder's body was found on the evening of April 7, 1893, at the foot of the main interior staircase.
- Snyder was 51 years old and walked with a slight favoring of his left leg due to an 1885 tunnel collapse.
- Sample Bag Seven was logged at the Harwick Assay Office reception desk on April 6 and noted missing after Snyder's death.
- The satchel was found wedged against a drainage stone on the morning of April 14, 1893, by county surveyor Nicole Mitchell.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080366Sat, 25 Jul 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Missing Sample Bag and the Staircase That Lied A leather satchel labeled "SNYDER, J. - SAMPLE LOT 7 - HARWICK ASSAY - APRIL 6, 1893" survived a week in a dry drainage ditch and bore the name of a man who had died seven days earlier at the foot...
A leather satchel labeled "SNYDER, J. - SAMPLE LOT 7 - HARWICK ASSAY - APRIL 6, 1893" survived a week in a dry drainage ditch and bore the name of a man who had died seven days earlier at the foot of a staircase forty feet away-so how did Jason Snyder's sample bag get outside when Snyder himself never left through the back? Who deliberately moved evidence between the Harwick Assay Office and that ditch, and why?

In this episode, we follow the discovery that reopened a concluded accidental death: the morning a county surveyor found the missing satchel, the procedural paper trail from reception to weighing room, and the investigator brought in after that discovery. How did a meticulous geologist's logged specimen order become the smallest clue to a larger inconsistency?

Person: Jason Snyder
Date: April 6-14, 1893
Location: Harwick Assay Office, Caldwell Gulch, Nevada
Event: Discovery of leather satchel in dry drainage ditch
Investigator: Gary Williams

- The satchel's leather tag read "SNYDER, J. - SAMPLE LOT 7 - HARWICK ASSAY - APRIL 6, 1893."
- Jason Snyder's body was found on the evening of April 7, 1893, at the foot of the main interior staircase.
- Snyder was 51 years old and walked with a slight favoring of his left leg due to an 1885 tunnel collapse.
- Sample Bag Seven was logged at the Harwick Assay Office reception desk on April 6 and noted missing after Snyder's death.
- The satchel was found wedged against a drainage stone on the morning of April 14, 1893, by county surveyor Nicole Mitchell.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1467falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-log-doesn-t-lie-the-murder-of-alice-baker--73080365
A pristine size-six brown leather oxford sat upright against transmission equipment in a shed caked with mud - a shoe that had not walked there, a replaced padlock, and a strangled woman found four hundred yards away in a drainage culvert. How did a missing log entry and a borrowed grounding clamp connect Alice Baker's disappearance to the man who kept turning up at the station?

In this episode, we trace the timeline from Alice Baker's last recorded log entry at 8:17 p.m. on March 8, 1934, through the discovery of her body on March 12, and the forensic gaps that turned routine records into the crucial puzzle - who was Tucker, and why was Alice's carbon copy altered?

Person: Alice Baker
Date: March 8-12, 1934
Location: Millhaven transmission station and drainage culvert beneath state highway, four hundred yards from the shed
Person: Lloyd Tucker, 38 years old
Item: Size six brown leather oxford, brass buckle

- Alice's last written log entry at 8:17 p.m. on March 8 reads: "Tucker here again. Third time this month. Says he needs to check the grounding rods."
- Groundkeeper Howard Peck's Yale key did not fit the shed lock between his last confirmed entry on March 8 evening and Pamela Osborne's arrival on March 11 morning.
- Pamela Osborne found a single clean size six brown leather oxford, brass buckle, propped upright against the transmission equipment on March 11.
- Alice Baker's body was recovered March 12 from a drainage culvert approximately 400 yards from the shed; she was 44 years old and had been strangled by hand.
- The carbon copy of Alice's March 8 log had the 8:17 p.m. entry physically cut from the sheet and a blank strip of carbon paper glued in its place.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080365Fri, 24 Jul 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Log Doesn't Lie: The Murder of Alice Baker A pristine size-six brown leather oxford sat upright against transmission equipment in a shed caked with mud - a shoe that had not walked there, a replaced padlock, and a strangled woman found four...
A pristine size-six brown leather oxford sat upright against transmission equipment in a shed caked with mud - a shoe that had not walked there, a replaced padlock, and a strangled woman found four hundred yards away in a drainage culvert. How did a missing log entry and a borrowed grounding clamp connect Alice Baker's disappearance to the man who kept turning up at the station?

In this episode, we trace the timeline from Alice Baker's last recorded log entry at 8:17 p.m. on March 8, 1934, through the discovery of her body on March 12, and the forensic gaps that turned routine records into the crucial puzzle - who was Tucker, and why was Alice's carbon copy altered?

Person: Alice Baker
Date: March 8-12, 1934
Location: Millhaven transmission station and drainage culvert beneath state highway, four hundred yards from the shed
Person: Lloyd Tucker, 38 years old
Item: Size six brown leather oxford, brass buckle

- Alice's last written log entry at 8:17 p.m. on March 8 reads: "Tucker here again. Third time this month. Says he needs to check the grounding rods."
- Groundkeeper Howard Peck's Yale key did not fit the shed lock between his last confirmed entry on March 8 evening and Pamela Osborne's arrival on March 11 morning.
- Pamela Osborne found a single clean size six brown leather oxford, brass buckle, propped upright against the transmission equipment on March 11.
- Alice Baker's body was recovered March 12 from a drainage culvert approximately 400 yards from the shed; she was 44 years old and had been strangled by hand.
- The carbon copy of Alice's March 8 log had the 8:17 p.m. entry physically cut from the sheet and a blank strip of carbon paper glued in its place.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1278falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-solved-the-fraud-before-anyone-else-the-murder-of-heather-mills--73080363
A federal document examiner who kept a private logbook, Heather Mills caught a fabricated border stamp that tied a passport to a vehicle - and three days later she was found strangled on a county road. What did Mills write down about the Velez passport that might have led someone to follow and kill her?

In this episode, we walk through the morning a retired postal worker found her body, the logbook entry Mills made on February 5 noting a wrong stamp sequence, and the clues Special Agent Lori Burke pursued at the Arroyo Seco crossing - including a dark green 1941 Ford pickup with its hood propped open. Could that staged breakdown and Mills’s unpublished lead be the key to who followed her from the port?

Person: Heather Mills
Date: February 9, 1943
Location: Merida Junction, Texas
Case: Strangulation of a federal worker
Agent: Lori Burke

- Mills was 27 years old at the time of her death.
- She made the logbook entry about Martin Velez’s passport on February 5, 1943.
- The Arroyo Seco port processed fewer than 40 vehicles on a busy day.
- The pickup described at the crossing was a dark green 1941 Ford with its hood propped open.
- Special Agent Lori Burke spent 11 days in Merida Junction before identifying Heather Mills by name.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080363Thu, 23 Jul 2026 13:00:13 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Solved the Fraud Before Anyone Else: The Murder of Heather Mills A federal document examiner who kept a private logbook, Heather Mills caught a fabricated border stamp that tied a passport to a vehicle - and three days later she was found...
A federal document examiner who kept a private logbook, Heather Mills caught a fabricated border stamp that tied a passport to a vehicle - and three days later she was found strangled on a county road. What did Mills write down about the Velez passport that might have led someone to follow and kill her?

In this episode, we walk through the morning a retired postal worker found her body, the logbook entry Mills made on February 5 noting a wrong stamp sequence, and the clues Special Agent Lori Burke pursued at the Arroyo Seco crossing - including a dark green 1941 Ford pickup with its hood propped open. Could that staged breakdown and Mills’s unpublished lead be the key to who followed her from the port?

Person: Heather Mills
Date: February 9, 1943
Location: Merida Junction, Texas
Case: Strangulation of a federal worker
Agent: Lori Burke

- Mills was 27 years old at the time of her death.
- She made the logbook entry about Martin Velez’s passport on February 5, 1943.
- The Arroyo Seco port processed fewer than 40 vehicles on a busy day.
- The pickup described at the crossing was a dark green 1941 Ford with its hood propped open.
- Special Agent Lori Burke spent 11 days in Merida Junction before identifying Heather Mills by name.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1335falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-iron-brand-nobody-registered-murder-on-the-kansas-line--73080362
A dead registrar, an impossible iron brand twelve inches from his hand, and a mark that does not appear in any Kansas cattle brand registry: what force placed that weapon at Eugene Jensen's side? The impossibility of the D-with-bar and an R beneath would draw an informal records consultant into a three-month unraveling that ended in an October 1883 courtroom - but who turned a ledger into a murder scene?

In this episode, we follow how an archived entry, a late-night sign-in at 21:47, and a boiler contractor's neat ledger entry became the threads of a larger legal and territorial conflict on the Kansas-Indian Territory line. How did routine paperwork mask a manufactured identity and a violent death?

Person: Eugene Jensen
Date: January 8, 1883 (last ledger entry at 21:47)
Location: Caldwell Flats, Kansas-Indian Territory line
Person: Raymond Draper
Person: Patricia Harris

- The iron brand stamp was lying fifteen centimeters from Eugene Jensen's right hand.
- Jensen's last written entry is signed at 21:47 on the night of January 8, 1883.
- Raymond Draper signed in at 21:51 and signed out at 22:19 the same night, staying twenty-eight minutes.
- Patricia Harris pulled Jensen's ledger page on January 31, more than three weeks after his death.
- Jensen had served nine years as chief registrar of the Comanche County Brand Nobody and was fifty-six years old.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080362Wed, 22 Jul 2026 13:00:03 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Iron Brand Nobody Registered - Murder on the Kansas Line A dead registrar, an impossible iron brand twelve inches from his hand, and a mark that does not appear in any Kansas cattle brand registry: what force placed that weapon at Eugene...
A dead registrar, an impossible iron brand twelve inches from his hand, and a mark that does not appear in any Kansas cattle brand registry: what force placed that weapon at Eugene Jensen's side? The impossibility of the D-with-bar and an R beneath would draw an informal records consultant into a three-month unraveling that ended in an October 1883 courtroom - but who turned a ledger into a murder scene?

In this episode, we follow how an archived entry, a late-night sign-in at 21:47, and a boiler contractor's neat ledger entry became the threads of a larger legal and territorial conflict on the Kansas-Indian Territory line. How did routine paperwork mask a manufactured identity and a violent death?

Person: Eugene Jensen
Date: January 8, 1883 (last ledger entry at 21:47)
Location: Caldwell Flats, Kansas-Indian Territory line
Person: Raymond Draper
Person: Patricia Harris

- The iron brand stamp was lying fifteen centimeters from Eugene Jensen's right hand.
- Jensen's last written entry is signed at 21:47 on the night of January 8, 1883.
- Raymond Draper signed in at 21:51 and signed out at 22:19 the same night, staying twenty-eight minutes.
- Patricia Harris pulled Jensen's ledger page on January 31, more than three weeks after his death.
- Jensen had served nine years as chief registrar of the Comanche County Brand Nobody and was fifty-six years old.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1356falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/hands-folded-in-the-snow-the-death-of-curtis-tillman--73080361
Cold discovery: a young man's body found half-submerged in snow with hands folded and a pale green paper of Chinese characters pinned beneath them - Curtis Tillman, 22, a postal worker with an unremarkable routine, left a tin box of thirty-one dollars and a receipt signed "R.W." What happened between the undisturbed Fridays and the folded hands in the alley?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from the morning the blade struck a body to the clues that surfaces in a boarding house and evidence room. Listen as Detective Tracy Vaughn pieces together missing Fridays, a hidden tin, and a translated slip that leads toward a confession - but leaves one detail unresolved.

Person: Curtis Tillman
Age: 22
Date found: December 9, 1923
Location: service alley behind Sycamore Lane
Evidence: pale green paper with Chinese characters; tin box with $31 and handwritten receipt "Received from C. Tillman - four dollars and fifty cents - R.W."

- Body discovered at 7:40 AM by Robert Petersen while clearing snow on December 9, 1923.
- Curtis worked the Fenwick District postal route for 14 months and visited his sister Nora every Friday for roughly 60 consecutive Fridays.
- Nora reported Curtis missing on Saturday afternoon, December 8, after he failed to arrive the previous evening between 6:00 and 8:30 PM.
- Officers found a tin box beneath a loose floorboard containing $31 in mixed bills, a photograph of Nora, and a receipt reading "Received from C. Tillman - four dollars and fifty cents - R.W."
- The pale green sheet found under Curtis's folded hands was a dispensing record from the apothecary at 14 Sycamore Lane written in Chinese characters.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080361Tue, 21 Jul 2026 13:00:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaHands Folded in the Snow: The Death of Curtis Tillman Cold discovery: a young man's body found half-submerged in snow with hands folded and a pale green paper of Chinese characters pinned beneath them - Curtis Tillman, 22, a postal worker with an...
Cold discovery: a young man's body found half-submerged in snow with hands folded and a pale green paper of Chinese characters pinned beneath them - Curtis Tillman, 22, a postal worker with an unremarkable routine, left a tin box of thirty-one dollars and a receipt signed "R.W." What happened between the undisturbed Fridays and the folded hands in the alley?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from the morning the blade struck a body to the clues that surfaces in a boarding house and evidence room. Listen as Detective Tracy Vaughn pieces together missing Fridays, a hidden tin, and a translated slip that leads toward a confession - but leaves one detail unresolved.

Person: Curtis Tillman
Age: 22
Date found: December 9, 1923
Location: service alley behind Sycamore Lane
Evidence: pale green paper with Chinese characters; tin box with $31 and handwritten receipt "Received from C. Tillman - four dollars and fifty cents - R.W."

- Body discovered at 7:40 AM by Robert Petersen while clearing snow on December 9, 1923.
- Curtis worked the Fenwick District postal route for 14 months and visited his sister Nora every Friday for roughly 60 consecutive Fridays.
- Nora reported Curtis missing on Saturday afternoon, December 8, after he failed to arrive the previous evening between 6:00 and 8:30 PM.
- Officers found a tin box beneath a loose floorboard containing $31 in mixed bills, a photograph of Nora, and a receipt reading "Received from C. Tillman - four dollars and fifty cents - R.W."
- The pale green sheet found under Curtis's folded hands was a dispensing record from the apothecary at 14 Sycamore Lane written in Chinese characters.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1578falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dry-glove-on-a-stormy-headland-the-doctor-s-secret-confession--73080360
A soaked terminal box on November 12, 1911 contained a single cream kid glove that was completely dry - and it belonged to a woman the sanatorium said had been discharged three days earlier. How did a supposedly cured patient vanish while one of her gloves turned up sealed and unaffected by an overnight gale?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Lauren Schmidt’s admission to Crestham Bluff Sanatorium to the discovery of her glove on the headland, tracing the paperwork, the intercepted letter, and the first steps Detective Sergeant Roy Smith took to answer the central question: if Lauren was discharged and gone, where was she?

Person: Lauren Schmidt
Date: November 12, 1911
Location: Crestham Bluff Sanatorium headland
Status: Discharged as "Cured" on November 8, 1911
Investigating Officer: Detective Sergeant Roy Smith

- Lauren Schmidt arrived at Crestham Bluff on September 4, 1911 with two trunks and a pair of cream kid gloves.
- The glove was found dry inside a junction box after an overnight gale left every other surface wet.
- Lauren was reported discharged "cured" and said to have hired a trap from the village stable on the morning of November 8, 1911.
- A letter Lauren dated November 5, 1911, stating she felt much improved, was later found folded and unposted hidden under a cot in a physician's room.
- The discharge form was signed by Dr. Ross Turner and countersigned by Director Dr. Horace Vane, listing conveyance as a hired trap.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080360Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:53 +0000Creator at ObomediaDry Glove on a Stormy Headland: The Doctor's Secret Confession A soaked terminal box on November 12, 1911 contained a single cream kid glove that was completely dry - and it belonged to a woman the sanatorium said had been discharged three days...
A soaked terminal box on November 12, 1911 contained a single cream kid glove that was completely dry - and it belonged to a woman the sanatorium said had been discharged three days earlier. How did a supposedly cured patient vanish while one of her gloves turned up sealed and unaffected by an overnight gale?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Lauren Schmidt’s admission to Crestham Bluff Sanatorium to the discovery of her glove on the headland, tracing the paperwork, the intercepted letter, and the first steps Detective Sergeant Roy Smith took to answer the central question: if Lauren was discharged and gone, where was she?

Person: Lauren Schmidt
Date: November 12, 1911
Location: Crestham Bluff Sanatorium headland
Status: Discharged as "Cured" on November 8, 1911
Investigating Officer: Detective Sergeant Roy Smith

- Lauren Schmidt arrived at Crestham Bluff on September 4, 1911 with two trunks and a pair of cream kid gloves.
- The glove was found dry inside a junction box after an overnight gale left every other surface wet.
- Lauren was reported discharged "cured" and said to have hired a trap from the village stable on the morning of November 8, 1911.
- A letter Lauren dated November 5, 1911, stating she felt much improved, was later found folded and unposted hidden under a cot in a physician's room.
- The discharge form was signed by Dr. Ross Turner and countersigned by Director Dr. Horace Vane, listing conveyance as a hired trap.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1576falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/syringe-on-a-fence-post-how-morphine-exposed-a-murderment--73080359
A glass medical syringe with a calibrated barrel and a steel plunger, found upright on a fence post a quarter mile from the Delano settlement, carried an amber residue later identified as therapeutic-dose morphine sulfate-months after Sherry Vickers was buried with $4.60 missing from her tin box. Who left a hospital-grade syringe eleven miles from the nearest pharmacy and why did a county doctor sign a death certificate citing heat prostration after less than twenty minutes with the body?

In this episode, we follow the chain of events from the moment Warren Zimmerman found the syringe to the laboratory result that upended the official cause of death. The episode covers the key people, the timeline from October 6-9, 1934, and the evidence that forced the case to be reopened: was a supposed natural death actually a murder?

Person: Sherry Vickers
Date: October 6-9, 1934
Location: Delano Agricultural Labor Settlement, Tulare Township, California
Event: Syringe found on fence post; morphine sulfate detected
Person: Frank Mueller

- Sherry Vickers, age 62, was found unresponsive on the morning of October 7, 1934 and buried on October 9, 1934.
- A glass syringe was found standing upright on a fence post at 6:14 AM on October 9, 1934, roughly 36 hours after it had been placed there by one estimate.
- The nearest pharmacy and nearest doctor were each 11 miles from the Delano settlement where the syringe was found.
- County doctor Howard Sims spent fewer than 20 minutes with Vickers’s body and listed the cause of death as “heat prostration complicated by age.”
- Laboratory analysis at the Sacramento state laboratory at the end of October 1934 identified the syringe residue as therapeutic-concentration morphine sulfate.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080359Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:49 +0000Creator at ObomediaSyringe on a Fence Post: How Morphine Exposed a Murderment A glass medical syringe with a calibrated barrel and a steel plunger, found upright on a fence post a quarter mile from the Delano settlement, carried an amber residue later identified as...
A glass medical syringe with a calibrated barrel and a steel plunger, found upright on a fence post a quarter mile from the Delano settlement, carried an amber residue later identified as therapeutic-dose morphine sulfate-months after Sherry Vickers was buried with $4.60 missing from her tin box. Who left a hospital-grade syringe eleven miles from the nearest pharmacy and why did a county doctor sign a death certificate citing heat prostration after less than twenty minutes with the body?

In this episode, we follow the chain of events from the moment Warren Zimmerman found the syringe to the laboratory result that upended the official cause of death. The episode covers the key people, the timeline from October 6-9, 1934, and the evidence that forced the case to be reopened: was a supposed natural death actually a murder?

Person: Sherry Vickers
Date: October 6-9, 1934
Location: Delano Agricultural Labor Settlement, Tulare Township, California
Event: Syringe found on fence post; morphine sulfate detected
Person: Frank Mueller

- Sherry Vickers, age 62, was found unresponsive on the morning of October 7, 1934 and buried on October 9, 1934.
- A glass syringe was found standing upright on a fence post at 6:14 AM on October 9, 1934, roughly 36 hours after it had been placed there by one estimate.
- The nearest pharmacy and nearest doctor were each 11 miles from the Delano settlement where the syringe was found.
- County doctor Howard Sims spent fewer than 20 minutes with Vickers’s body and listed the cause of death as “heat prostration complicated by age.”
- Laboratory analysis at the Sacramento state laboratory at the end of October 1934 identified the syringe residue as therapeutic-concentration morphine sulfate.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1305falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/dead-man-s-initials-stamp-through-the-night-he-was-killed-the-james-hill-case--73080358
A telegraph operator's initials, JH-9, were logged at 11:57 PM on September 11, 1893 - five hours after James Hill had already been declared dead; yet forty-one entries across a twelve-hour window bear his mark. How did someone keep running his desk and signing his name after Hill was found face-down in Wicker Run creek?

In this episode, we lay out the contemporary records and witness statements that frame the case, from the stopped station clock to the altered commodity relay that began the conflict. What do the relay log, the stopped clock, and a missing dinner routine reveal about who could have signed Hill's name?

Person: James Hill
Date: September 11, 1893
Location: Wicker Run creek, two miles northeast of Relay Station Nine (Dellard, Nebraska)
Event: Telegraph log entry stamped at 11:57 PM initialed JH-9
Case: Altered grain price relay and disputed log entries

- James Hill was twenty-six years old and worked at Relay Station Nine, typing at forty-two words per minute.
- The telegraph log shows forty-one entries carrying Hill's initials across a twelve-hour window.
- The county physician placed Hill's time of death between 5:00 and 7:00 PM on September 11, 1893.
- The station clock had stopped at 4:14 PM on September 9, noted by Hill in the log.
- A prior altered commodity price relay in late August benefited a Lexington broker by roughly forty dollars and was discovered by Hill.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080358Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:46 +0000Creator at ObomediaDead Man's Initials Stamp Through the Night He Was Killed: The James Hill Case A telegraph operator's initials, JH-9, were logged at 11:57 PM on September 11, 1893 - five hours after James Hill had already been declared dead; yet forty-one entries...
A telegraph operator's initials, JH-9, were logged at 11:57 PM on September 11, 1893 - five hours after James Hill had already been declared dead; yet forty-one entries across a twelve-hour window bear his mark. How did someone keep running his desk and signing his name after Hill was found face-down in Wicker Run creek?

In this episode, we lay out the contemporary records and witness statements that frame the case, from the stopped station clock to the altered commodity relay that began the conflict. What do the relay log, the stopped clock, and a missing dinner routine reveal about who could have signed Hill's name?

Person: James Hill
Date: September 11, 1893
Location: Wicker Run creek, two miles northeast of Relay Station Nine (Dellard, Nebraska)
Event: Telegraph log entry stamped at 11:57 PM initialed JH-9
Case: Altered grain price relay and disputed log entries

- James Hill was twenty-six years old and worked at Relay Station Nine, typing at forty-two words per minute.
- The telegraph log shows forty-one entries carrying Hill's initials across a twelve-hour window.
- The county physician placed Hill's time of death between 5:00 and 7:00 PM on September 11, 1893.
- The station clock had stopped at 4:14 PM on September 9, noted by Hill in the log.
- A prior altered commodity price relay in late August benefited a Lexington broker by roughly forty dollars and was discovered by Hill.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1563falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/locked-from-outside-how-a-kelvinator-hid-a-killer-s-months-long-plan--73080357
A closed padlock, an untouched office key, and a woman folded inside a Kelvinator ice machine - found four inches of lid open on the morning of August 14, 1953. The crime required either unusual strength or "methodical patience": someone hand-filed a steel key weeks earlier and executed a plan that began long before the victim checked in. How did a routine motel ice machine become the scene of a premeditated murder?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events, the known timelines, and the investigative leads that tied a refrigeration service log and a rented room shoebox to the crime, asking whether the murder was the product of careful planning or something darker. What does the June 28 service entry and the hand-filed key reveal about who could have prepared this months-long scheme?

Person: Tracy Casey
Date: August 14, 1953 (body found); last seen August 12, 1953 at 9:45 p.m.
Location: Lakeview Motor Court, unit nine; ice machine on exterior walkway between units eight and ten
Cause of death: Strangulation; body folded inside ice machine
Investigator: Edward Edwards, sheriff's department investigator

- Tracy Casey was 47 years old and had checked into Lakeview Motor Court on August 10, 1953 for kitchen replastering at home.
- The ice machine lid was held four inches open from the inside when found and the padlock was closed from the outside.
- The office key remained on its hook the morning the body was found; Gene Norwood, co-owner, locked the machine nightly at 10 p.m.
- The medical examiner, Dr. Howard Finch, estimated time of death between 11:00 p.m, on August 13 and 2:00 a.m, on August 14, 1953.
- A hand-filed steel key compatible with the Kelvinator padlock had been created beforehand, and a June 28, 1953 service log entry stood out to investigator Edward Edwards.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080357Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:42 +0000Creator at ObomediaLocked from Outside: How a Kelvinator Hid a Killer's Months-Long Plan A closed padlock, an untouched office key, and a woman folded inside a Kelvinator ice machine - found four inches of lid open on the morning of August 14, 1953. The crime...
A closed padlock, an untouched office key, and a woman folded inside a Kelvinator ice machine - found four inches of lid open on the morning of August 14, 1953. The crime required either unusual strength or "methodical patience": someone hand-filed a steel key weeks earlier and executed a plan that began long before the victim checked in. How did a routine motel ice machine become the scene of a premeditated murder?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events, the known timelines, and the investigative leads that tied a refrigeration service log and a rented room shoebox to the crime, asking whether the murder was the product of careful planning or something darker. What does the June 28 service entry and the hand-filed key reveal about who could have prepared this months-long scheme?

Person: Tracy Casey
Date: August 14, 1953 (body found); last seen August 12, 1953 at 9:45 p.m.
Location: Lakeview Motor Court, unit nine; ice machine on exterior walkway between units eight and ten
Cause of death: Strangulation; body folded inside ice machine
Investigator: Edward Edwards, sheriff's department investigator

- Tracy Casey was 47 years old and had checked into Lakeview Motor Court on August 10, 1953 for kitchen replastering at home.
- The ice machine lid was held four inches open from the inside when found and the padlock was closed from the outside.
- The office key remained on its hook the morning the body was found; Gene Norwood, co-owner, locked the machine nightly at 10 p.m.
- The medical examiner, Dr. Howard Finch, estimated time of death between 11:00 p.m, on August 13 and 2:00 a.m, on August 14, 1953.
- A hand-filed steel key compatible with the Kelvinator padlock had been created beforehand, and a June 28, 1953 service log entry stood out to investigator Edward Edwards.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1514falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-photographer-leaves-town-the-murder-of-marie-romano--73080356
A buried image sat undeveloped for sixty-three days in a photographer’s crate before a body was found in a gully-Marie Romano, thirty-two, strangled and hidden under interlocked pine boughs. Who could prove the crime when the sheriff stalled and the only eyewitness was an accidental background on a glass-plate negative?

In this episode, we tell the story of the photograph, the undeveloped plates, and the slow-moving investigation that followed Marie Romano’s death. How did a routine commercial exposure end up placing a suspect in the frame, and what did that image finally reveal?

Person: Marie Romano
Date: July 22, 1931 (body found)
Location: Morrow Hollow, Aldine River bluff trail
Cause: Ligature strangulation (confirmed by Dr. Henry Odum)
Photographer: Desmond Pryce

- Marie Romano had been the bookkeeper at the Morrow Hollow Farmers' Cooperative since 1928 and had saved $41 by July 1931.
- Desmond Pryce made nine large-format glass-plate exposures during his stay from July 5 to July 9, 1931.
- One plate taken on the afternoon of July 8 showed Marie Romano and Edward Andrews visible through the cooperative service entrance.
- Edward Andrews, age 29, was a delivery driver for the Aldine Supply Company and had initialed the cooperative’s delivery log entries fourteen times across nineteen weeks.
- The pine bough concealment over the gully was found deliberately interlocked, indicating the body had been hidden with time and care.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080356Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:39 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Photographer Leaves Town: The Murder of Marie Romano A buried image sat undeveloped for sixty-three days in a photographer’s crate before a body was found in a gully-Marie Romano, thirty-two, strangled and hidden under interlocked pine boughs....
A buried image sat undeveloped for sixty-three days in a photographer’s crate before a body was found in a gully-Marie Romano, thirty-two, strangled and hidden under interlocked pine boughs. Who could prove the crime when the sheriff stalled and the only eyewitness was an accidental background on a glass-plate negative?

In this episode, we tell the story of the photograph, the undeveloped plates, and the slow-moving investigation that followed Marie Romano’s death. How did a routine commercial exposure end up placing a suspect in the frame, and what did that image finally reveal?

Person: Marie Romano
Date: July 22, 1931 (body found)
Location: Morrow Hollow, Aldine River bluff trail
Cause: Ligature strangulation (confirmed by Dr. Henry Odum)
Photographer: Desmond Pryce

- Marie Romano had been the bookkeeper at the Morrow Hollow Farmers' Cooperative since 1928 and had saved $41 by July 1931.
- Desmond Pryce made nine large-format glass-plate exposures during his stay from July 5 to July 9, 1931.
- One plate taken on the afternoon of July 8 showed Marie Romano and Edward Andrews visible through the cooperative service entrance.
- Edward Andrews, age 29, was a delivery driver for the Aldine Supply Company and had initialed the cooperative’s delivery log entries fourteen times across nineteen weeks.
- The pine bough concealment over the gully was found deliberately interlocked, indicating the body had been hidden with time and care.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1422falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/sheriff-s-ledger-in-the-creek-who-killed-gina-russo-that-night--73080355
Danger hides in plain county records: a green cloth ledger belonging to the sitting sheriff washed up in Pell Creek the morning a roadhouse keeper was found dead, and the ledger contained forty-two entries spanning twenty-seven months. Who planted that ledger in the shallows - and why would someone rig a door to look locked from outside while allowing it to open from within?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the discovery at 5:30 a.m. to the locked roadhouse and the men who arrived on the scene, tracing the small, concrete details that refused easy explanation. Could the ledger and a four-inch tapered wedge in the back door be the key to why Gina Russo was killed?

Person: Gina Russo
Date: June 9, 1931 (discovery morning)
Location: Pell Creek Roadhouse, two miles below limestone bluffs south of Morden
Event: Waterlogged sheriff's ledger found in Pell Creek
Person: Deputy Owen Marsh

- Ledger: green cloth cover, forty-two entries, twenty-seven months of handwriting
- Time found: 5:30 a.m. on a Tuesday in June 1931 by Sandra Zeller
- Victim age: Gina Russo, fifty-one years old, running the roadhouse since 1926
- Door alteration: four-inch tapered pine wedge shim installed to make latch appear locked
- Arrival gap: Deputy Marsh arrived before Sheriff Terry Gray, who came forty minutes later from the county seat road rather than Coulter Road

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080355Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:36 +0000Creator at ObomediaSheriff's Ledger in the Creek: Who Killed Gina Russo That Night? Danger hides in plain county records: a green cloth ledger belonging to the sitting sheriff washed up in Pell Creek the morning a roadhouse keeper was found dead, and the ledger...
Danger hides in plain county records: a green cloth ledger belonging to the sitting sheriff washed up in Pell Creek the morning a roadhouse keeper was found dead, and the ledger contained forty-two entries spanning twenty-seven months. Who planted that ledger in the shallows - and why would someone rig a door to look locked from outside while allowing it to open from within?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the discovery at 5:30 a.m. to the locked roadhouse and the men who arrived on the scene, tracing the small, concrete details that refused easy explanation. Could the ledger and a four-inch tapered wedge in the back door be the key to why Gina Russo was killed?

Person: Gina Russo
Date: June 9, 1931 (discovery morning)
Location: Pell Creek Roadhouse, two miles below limestone bluffs south of Morden
Event: Waterlogged sheriff's ledger found in Pell Creek
Person: Deputy Owen Marsh

- Ledger: green cloth cover, forty-two entries, twenty-seven months of handwriting
- Time found: 5:30 a.m. on a Tuesday in June 1931 by Sandra Zeller
- Victim age: Gina Russo, fifty-one years old, running the roadhouse since 1926
- Door alteration: four-inch tapered pine wedge shim installed to make latch appear locked
- Arrival gap: Deputy Marsh arrived before Sheriff Terry Gray, who came forty minutes later from the county seat road rather than Coulter Road

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1521falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-watch-on-her-wrist-letters-that-unraveled-a-killer--73080353
A pocket watch stopped at 11:40 was found wound around Teresa Cook’s left wrist, and three letters signed only with the initial K were hidden under her bureau drawer - each dated from late March to mid-April 1905. How did a string of warm, probing notes about money and a smear of reddish clay from a road 0.2 miles away lead Detective Michael Wagner to unravel a careful lie?

In this episode, we present the documented record of the discovery and the evidence Detective Wagner and Sheriff Leonard Pruitt collected in Aldermoor, describing the letters, the physical clues at fourteen Colbert Street, and the timeline that links them - and ask whether those letters were the key to exposing who entered the house the night of May 8.

Person: Teresa Cook
Date: May 9, 1905 (discovery), May 8, 1905 (night in question)
Location: 14 Colbert Street, Aldermoor, Pennsylvania
Detective: Michael Wagner
Evidence: three letters signed "K" dated late March-mid April 1905

- The pocket watch on Teresa Cook’s left wrist had stopped at exactly 11:40.
- Teresa Cook was 44 years old and had lived at 14 Colbert Street for 11 years.
- Three letters signed with the initial K were hidden under the lining of a bureau drawer and dated from late March to mid-April 1905.
- The back-door threshold held a smear of reddish clay matching the Aldermoor-to-Seston road 0.2 miles west of the house.
- A scorch mark on the corner of the first letter was confirmed by an archivist in the 1980s as consistent with a candle flame.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080353Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:32 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Watch on Her Wrist: Letters That Unraveled a Killer A pocket watch stopped at 11:40 was found wound around Teresa Cook’s left wrist, and three letters signed only with the initial K were hidden under her bureau drawer - each dated from late...
A pocket watch stopped at 11:40 was found wound around Teresa Cook’s left wrist, and three letters signed only with the initial K were hidden under her bureau drawer - each dated from late March to mid-April 1905. How did a string of warm, probing notes about money and a smear of reddish clay from a road 0.2 miles away lead Detective Michael Wagner to unravel a careful lie?

In this episode, we present the documented record of the discovery and the evidence Detective Wagner and Sheriff Leonard Pruitt collected in Aldermoor, describing the letters, the physical clues at fourteen Colbert Street, and the timeline that links them - and ask whether those letters were the key to exposing who entered the house the night of May 8.

Person: Teresa Cook
Date: May 9, 1905 (discovery), May 8, 1905 (night in question)
Location: 14 Colbert Street, Aldermoor, Pennsylvania
Detective: Michael Wagner
Evidence: three letters signed "K" dated late March-mid April 1905

- The pocket watch on Teresa Cook’s left wrist had stopped at exactly 11:40.
- Teresa Cook was 44 years old and had lived at 14 Colbert Street for 11 years.
- Three letters signed with the initial K were hidden under the lining of a bureau drawer and dated from late March to mid-April 1905.
- The back-door threshold held a smear of reddish clay matching the Aldermoor-to-Seston road 0.2 miles west of the house.
- A scorch mark on the corner of the first letter was confirmed by an archivist in the 1980s as consistent with a candle flame.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1364falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-shoe-in-the-well-how-kellerton-s-secret-hid-a-murder--73080352
Fear that something ordinary was rewritten into a crime: a woman's shoe found standing upright forty-one feet down in a decommissioned well forced a town's wartime machinery to confront a disappearance it had swept aside. Why was a size seven brown leather oxford, ink-stamped K-1147, locked away beneath an undisturbed shaft for nearly a year - and who used a key to seal it?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the morning the shoe was discovered to the early interviews that reveal overlooked warnings and locked access points, following the thread that links a missing inspector to a maintenance foreman and a padlocked Well Number Four. What hidden choices let a murder almost stay hidden forever?

Person: Tracy Tillman
Date: March 14, 1943 (date missing reported); April 8, 1943 (shoe found)
Location: Kellerton Ordnance Works, Well Number Four, pump station south of main building
Item: Brown leather oxford, size seven, ink-stamp K-1147
Official: Deputy George Vaughn

- The shoe was standing upright on the bottom of a well forty-one feet below the surface.
- Wendy Padgett lowered her light into the capped well collar and photographed the shoe at 7:40 AM on April 8, 1943.
- Well Number Four had been out of service for eleven months and was secured with a steel plate and a padlock showing no scratch marks.
- Four people held keys to the pump station; one key holder was maintenance foreman Wayne Holt, age thirty-five.
- Tracy Tillman had been missing for twenty-five days before the shoe was discovered; her absence had initially been logged as a voluntary quit.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080352Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:28 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Shoe in the Well: How Kellerton's Secret Hid a Murder Fear that something ordinary was rewritten into a crime: a woman's shoe found standing upright forty-one feet down in a decommissioned well forced a town's wartime machinery to confront a...
Fear that something ordinary was rewritten into a crime: a woman's shoe found standing upright forty-one feet down in a decommissioned well forced a town's wartime machinery to confront a disappearance it had swept aside. Why was a size seven brown leather oxford, ink-stamped K-1147, locked away beneath an undisturbed shaft for nearly a year - and who used a key to seal it?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events from the morning the shoe was discovered to the early interviews that reveal overlooked warnings and locked access points, following the thread that links a missing inspector to a maintenance foreman and a padlocked Well Number Four. What hidden choices let a murder almost stay hidden forever?

Person: Tracy Tillman
Date: March 14, 1943 (date missing reported); April 8, 1943 (shoe found)
Location: Kellerton Ordnance Works, Well Number Four, pump station south of main building
Item: Brown leather oxford, size seven, ink-stamp K-1147
Official: Deputy George Vaughn

- The shoe was standing upright on the bottom of a well forty-one feet below the surface.
- Wendy Padgett lowered her light into the capped well collar and photographed the shoe at 7:40 AM on April 8, 1943.
- Well Number Four had been out of service for eleven months and was secured with a steel plate and a padlock showing no scratch marks.
- Four people held keys to the pump station; one key holder was maintenance foreman Wayne Holt, age thirty-five.
- Tracy Tillman had been missing for twenty-five days before the shoe was discovered; her absence had initially been logged as a voluntary quit.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1318falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-saucer-of-dry-earth-how-a-cup-exposed-a-murderer--73080351
A single dry circle no wider than a saucer lay beneath a white enamel cup beside Erin Mills’s right hand on a frosted March morning in 1934 - a detail so small it was almost dismissed, yet it pointed to foul play in a town starving for answers. How did a patch of dry earth, an unfinished letter about missing farm accounts, and a schoolteacher’s margin note all lead to the same man?

In this episode, we walk through the facts found at the Mills farm, the official responses that closed the case, and the overlooked observations that reopened it - ending with the question: which quiet detail finally pulled the curtain back on what happened to Erin Mills?

Person: Erin Mills
Date: March 14, 1934
Location: Cutter Flats, Ardmore County, Kansas
Cause of death on certificate: Heart failure
Suspect: Warren Young

- Ground beneath a white enamel cup by Erin’s right hand was dry and bare while surrounding frost covered the yard.
- Erin Mills was 56 years old, widow, sole operator of her farm since 1931.
- Arthur Goss, the county coroner and pharmacist, noted repeated pharmacy visits for stomach remedies in the two months before her death.
- Roger Becker, a 31-year-old schoolteacher, found Erin at 7:20 AM and filed his report at 8:47 AM the same day.
- Warren Young, 29, had worked at the Mills farm since 1928 and lived in the bunkhouse 20 feet northwest of the farmhouse.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080351Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:25 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Saucer of Dry Earth: How a Cup Exposed a Murderer A single dry circle no wider than a saucer lay beneath a white enamel cup beside Erin Mills’s right hand on a frosted March morning in 1934 - a detail so small it was almost dismissed, yet it...
A single dry circle no wider than a saucer lay beneath a white enamel cup beside Erin Mills’s right hand on a frosted March morning in 1934 - a detail so small it was almost dismissed, yet it pointed to foul play in a town starving for answers. How did a patch of dry earth, an unfinished letter about missing farm accounts, and a schoolteacher’s margin note all lead to the same man?

In this episode, we walk through the facts found at the Mills farm, the official responses that closed the case, and the overlooked observations that reopened it - ending with the question: which quiet detail finally pulled the curtain back on what happened to Erin Mills?

Person: Erin Mills
Date: March 14, 1934
Location: Cutter Flats, Ardmore County, Kansas
Cause of death on certificate: Heart failure
Suspect: Warren Young

- Ground beneath a white enamel cup by Erin’s right hand was dry and bare while surrounding frost covered the yard.
- Erin Mills was 56 years old, widow, sole operator of her farm since 1931.
- Arthur Goss, the county coroner and pharmacist, noted repeated pharmacy visits for stomach remedies in the two months before her death.
- Roger Becker, a 31-year-old schoolteacher, found Erin at 7:20 AM and filed his report at 8:47 AM the same day.
- Warren Young, 29, had worked at the Mills farm since 1928 and lived in the bunkhouse 20 feet northwest of the farmhouse.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1407falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-paper-in-his-hand-an-impossible-drowned-man-s-secret--73080350
A dry piece of paper found in the closed hand of a drowned man should have been impossible: the body was pulled from a tidal river at low water, the claim form folded and perfectly dry, and a claims examiner underlined four words that would unravel a murder. How did a folded, uncreased paper survive in the hand of a body that had swollen and discolored in the river, and what chain of events did that single detail set in motion?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the morning Susan Christensen found the hand on February 9, 1893, to the arrival of claims examiner Wayne Evans on February 11 and the questions his pocket notebook provoked. We trace Douglas Sawyer’s life insurance policy, the presence of a drifter named Edwin Haas, and the notarization at Gordon Johnson’s Harbor Row office to ask: who was the drowned man, and who profited from his death?

Person: Douglas Sawyer
Date: February 9, 1893
Location: Portsmith waterfront (Calvert waterfront)
Person: Wayne Evans
Event: Notarization at Gordon Johnson's office

- A sixteen-year-old paper delivery girl, Susan Christensen, discovered a hand between two dock pilings on the morning of February 9, 1893.
- The hand was closed around a folded claim form that was perfectly dry and uncreased despite the body being retrieved from a tidal river.
- Claims examiner Wayne Evans arrived on February 11, 1893, opened his 47th pocket notebook and underlined the words "Why is the paper dry."
- Douglas Sawyer had purchased a $400 life policy from Harmon Valley Protective Association in approximately January 1892 and named his mother, Vera, as sole beneficiary.
- Edwin Haas, approximately thirty years old with no fixed address, passed through Portsmith in the last week of January 1893 and was later murdered the same evening or following evening.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080350Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:22 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Paper in His Hand: An Impossible Drowned Man's Secret A dry piece of paper found in the closed hand of a drowned man should have been impossible: the body was pulled from a tidal river at low water, the claim form folded and perfectly dry,...
A dry piece of paper found in the closed hand of a drowned man should have been impossible: the body was pulled from a tidal river at low water, the claim form folded and perfectly dry, and a claims examiner underlined four words that would unravel a murder. How did a folded, uncreased paper survive in the hand of a body that had swollen and discolored in the river, and what chain of events did that single detail set in motion?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the morning Susan Christensen found the hand on February 9, 1893, to the arrival of claims examiner Wayne Evans on February 11 and the questions his pocket notebook provoked. We trace Douglas Sawyer’s life insurance policy, the presence of a drifter named Edwin Haas, and the notarization at Gordon Johnson’s Harbor Row office to ask: who was the drowned man, and who profited from his death?

Person: Douglas Sawyer
Date: February 9, 1893
Location: Portsmith waterfront (Calvert waterfront)
Person: Wayne Evans
Event: Notarization at Gordon Johnson's office

- A sixteen-year-old paper delivery girl, Susan Christensen, discovered a hand between two dock pilings on the morning of February 9, 1893.
- The hand was closed around a folded claim form that was perfectly dry and uncreased despite the body being retrieved from a tidal river.
- Claims examiner Wayne Evans arrived on February 11, 1893, opened his 47th pocket notebook and underlined the words "Why is the paper dry."
- Douglas Sawyer had purchased a $400 life policy from Harmon Valley Protective Association in approximately January 1892 and named his mother, Vera, as sole beneficiary.
- Edwin Haas, approximately thirty years old with no fixed address, passed through Portsmith in the last week of January 1893 and was later murdered the same evening or following evening.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1388falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-saleswoman-found-arranged-in-snow-why-he-cleared-the-ground--73080349
Cold and deliberate: a thirty-nine-year-old saleswoman found lying on her back in the alley behind the Carleton Hotel, her peacock-blue dress smooth and the snow around her swept in a clean arc - a detail that baffled investigators for eighty years. Who would kneel to make her comfortable after death, and why did the hotel ledger and a pair of clay-stained trousers point to a single person upstairs?

In this episode, we tell the narrative of Kelly Adams’ last circuit stop and the small, concrete clues that drew Marshal Vernon Vickers into a lifetime question: who killed her, and what did the cleared snow mean? Listen to follow the timeline from her January twelfth registration to the discovery in the predawn on January fourteenth and the one ledger entry that didn’t match the truth.

Person: Kelly Adams
Date: January 14, 1924
Location: Alley behind the Carleton Hotel, Aldenmoor
Case: Unresolved questions about cleared snow and ledger discrepancy
Investigator: Marshal Vernon Vickers

- Kelly Adams was thirty-nine years old and a sales representative from Wichita, Kansas who traveled the southern plains circuit for four years.
- She signed into the Carleton Hotel on January 12 and her listed departure in the ledger was January 14.
- Ross Becker signed into room eleven on January 11 with a listed departure of January 13, but he was still upstairs on the morning of January 14.
- Kelly was found on her back in the predawn of January 14 with her coat folded beneath her head and her hands placed at her sides.
- The snow around Kelly had been cleared in a clean arc, and Vickers underlined in his field notes: "not left there accidentally."

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080349Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:18 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Saleswoman Found Arranged in Snow: Why He Cleared the Ground Cold and deliberate: a thirty-nine-year-old saleswoman found lying on her back in the alley behind the Carleton Hotel, her peacock-blue dress smooth and the snow around her swept in a...
Cold and deliberate: a thirty-nine-year-old saleswoman found lying on her back in the alley behind the Carleton Hotel, her peacock-blue dress smooth and the snow around her swept in a clean arc - a detail that baffled investigators for eighty years. Who would kneel to make her comfortable after death, and why did the hotel ledger and a pair of clay-stained trousers point to a single person upstairs?

In this episode, we tell the narrative of Kelly Adams’ last circuit stop and the small, concrete clues that drew Marshal Vernon Vickers into a lifetime question: who killed her, and what did the cleared snow mean? Listen to follow the timeline from her January twelfth registration to the discovery in the predawn on January fourteenth and the one ledger entry that didn’t match the truth.

Person: Kelly Adams
Date: January 14, 1924
Location: Alley behind the Carleton Hotel, Aldenmoor
Case: Unresolved questions about cleared snow and ledger discrepancy
Investigator: Marshal Vernon Vickers

- Kelly Adams was thirty-nine years old and a sales representative from Wichita, Kansas who traveled the southern plains circuit for four years.
- She signed into the Carleton Hotel on January 12 and her listed departure in the ledger was January 14.
- Ross Becker signed into room eleven on January 11 with a listed departure of January 13, but he was still upstairs on the morning of January 14.
- Kelly was found on her back in the predawn of January 14 with her coat folded beneath her head and her hands placed at her sides.
- The snow around Kelly had been cleared in a clean arc, and Vickers underlined in his field notes: "not left there accidentally."

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1391falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-playbill-that-lied-why-denise-thorpe-died-for-october-4th--73080347
A dead woman found sitting upright for three days, a vaudeville playbill from a city she never visited, and a ledger that omitted one name - could a missing booking entry hide a motive for murder? The discovery ties a Cincinnati stage date, October 4, 1926, to a Harwick rooming house where Denise Thorpe kept a lifetime of meticulous records; who walked past her commission and why did that playbill end up beside her body?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events from discovery to inquiry, following the leather ledger, the playbill, and the people who pieced them together to ask whether professional betrayal led to a fatal outcome. How did a twenty-dollar deposit, a cancelled ledger entry, and a performer’s solo booking become the central clues to Denise Thorpe’s death?

Person: Denise Thorpe
Date: December 11, 1926
Location: Calloway Street rooming house, Harwick, Ohio
Case: Playbill marked October 4, 1926 for The Magnificent Dorado
Person: Dean Novak (stage name The Magnificent Dorado)

- Denise Thorpe was 62 years old and had worked forty years on the vaudeville circuit before becoming a regional booking agent.
- Thorpe’s room cost $4.50 per week and her traveling bag was packed and latched but left behind at the rooming house.
- A playbill for The Magnificent Dorado dated October 4, 1926 in red and black ink was found on the side table beside Thorpe’s body.
- Thorpe’s ledger recorded four confirmed engagements for Dean Novak in 1926, with the last entry in September and no subsequent bookings listed.
- Dean Novak booked the October 4 engagement at the Starlight Theatre himself, paying a $20 cash deposit and performing without Thorpe’s knowledge.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080347Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:15 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Playbill That Lied: Why Denise Thorpe Died for October 4th A dead woman found sitting upright for three days, a vaudeville playbill from a city she never visited, and a ledger that omitted one name - could a missing booking entry hide a motive...
A dead woman found sitting upright for three days, a vaudeville playbill from a city she never visited, and a ledger that omitted one name - could a missing booking entry hide a motive for murder? The discovery ties a Cincinnati stage date, October 4, 1926, to a Harwick rooming house where Denise Thorpe kept a lifetime of meticulous records; who walked past her commission and why did that playbill end up beside her body?

In this episode, we present the sequence of events from discovery to inquiry, following the leather ledger, the playbill, and the people who pieced them together to ask whether professional betrayal led to a fatal outcome. How did a twenty-dollar deposit, a cancelled ledger entry, and a performer’s solo booking become the central clues to Denise Thorpe’s death?

Person: Denise Thorpe
Date: December 11, 1926
Location: Calloway Street rooming house, Harwick, Ohio
Case: Playbill marked October 4, 1926 for The Magnificent Dorado
Person: Dean Novak (stage name The Magnificent Dorado)

- Denise Thorpe was 62 years old and had worked forty years on the vaudeville circuit before becoming a regional booking agent.
- Thorpe’s room cost $4.50 per week and her traveling bag was packed and latched but left behind at the rooming house.
- A playbill for The Magnificent Dorado dated October 4, 1926 in red and black ink was found on the side table beside Thorpe’s body.
- Thorpe’s ledger recorded four confirmed engagements for Dean Novak in 1926, with the last entry in September and no subsequent bookings listed.
- Dean Novak booked the October 4 engagement at the Starlight Theatre himself, paying a $20 cash deposit and performing without Thorpe’s knowledge.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1296falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-hand-in-the-ice-a-ledger-a-palm-and-a-missing-man--73080346
A severed right hand was found clutching an eight-inch square block of ice on the eastern shore of Hatchett Lake on November 9, 1894, with a folded paper frozen inside and no footprints or blood nearby - who placed it there and why would a man try to preserve a single piece of paper in a melting block? What ledger entry links a missing cash courier nineteen months earlier to the man whose hand held the evidence?

In this episode, we follow the discovery at the birch tree, the involvement of a deputy sheriff who audited railroad freight ledgers, and the ledger clues from an ice company that may tie together a vanished courier and a substitute hauler - could a single margin note unlock both cases?

Person: Todd Ward
Date: November 9, 1894
Location: Eastern shore of Hatchett Lake, Grippen Falls
Person: Chad Donnelly
Event: Frederick Able vanished in March 1893

- The hand found was a severed human right hand holding a block of ice roughly eight inches square.
- The discovery was made by Darlene Bauer at 6:30 a.m, on November 9, 1894.
- Deputy Sheriff Melvin Fitzgerald was fifty-three and a former railroad freight auditor who documented the scene.
- Todd Ward was twenty-five when he arrived in Grippen Falls in January 1894 and worked ten months as bookkeeper for the Hatchett Lake Ice Company.
- A margin note in a Dunmore ledger from the period of Frederick Able’s disappearance contains the entry "C. Donnelly, substitute hauler."

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080346Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:12 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Hand in the Ice: A Ledger, a Palm, and a Missing Man A severed right hand was found clutching an eight-inch square block of ice on the eastern shore of Hatchett Lake on November 9, 1894, with a folded paper frozen inside and no footprints or...
A severed right hand was found clutching an eight-inch square block of ice on the eastern shore of Hatchett Lake on November 9, 1894, with a folded paper frozen inside and no footprints or blood nearby - who placed it there and why would a man try to preserve a single piece of paper in a melting block? What ledger entry links a missing cash courier nineteen months earlier to the man whose hand held the evidence?

In this episode, we follow the discovery at the birch tree, the involvement of a deputy sheriff who audited railroad freight ledgers, and the ledger clues from an ice company that may tie together a vanished courier and a substitute hauler - could a single margin note unlock both cases?

Person: Todd Ward
Date: November 9, 1894
Location: Eastern shore of Hatchett Lake, Grippen Falls
Person: Chad Donnelly
Event: Frederick Able vanished in March 1893

- The hand found was a severed human right hand holding a block of ice roughly eight inches square.
- The discovery was made by Darlene Bauer at 6:30 a.m, on November 9, 1894.
- Deputy Sheriff Melvin Fitzgerald was fifty-three and a former railroad freight auditor who documented the scene.
- Todd Ward was twenty-five when he arrived in Grippen Falls in January 1894 and worked ten months as bookkeeper for the Hatchett Lake Ice Company.
- A margin note in a Dunmore ledger from the period of Frederick Able’s disappearance contains the entry "C. Donnelly, substitute hauler."

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1296falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/fresh-ink-in-a-sealed-ledger-the-st-agatha-s-murders--73080344
A sealed county evidence ledger, a fresh line of blue ink, and a woman strangled beneath a tucked blanket - the discovery links a thirty-one-minute response, a broken wax seal, and a name written the same day the body was found. Who signed out the ledger as "B. Perry" and why was Beverly Perry dead three days after that checkout?

In this episode, we follow the facts as recorded at the scene and in official files, from the moment George Bauer reported an open cellar hatch to Detective Darlene Sullivan's methodical scene work, and we ask how the borrowed ledger and the damaged party wall connect to the killing.

Person: Beverly Perry
Date: March 17, 1922
Location: Palmetto Lane cellar, Crestfield, Nebraska
Detective: Darlene Sullivan
Document: St. Agatha's attendance ledger (sealed 1915; checked out 1922)

- George Bauer discovered the open cellar hatch at 2:30 PM on March 17, 1922 and reported it immediately.
- Sergeant Howard Vance arrived 31 minutes later and found Beverly Perry strangled with jute cord on a coal-delivery platform.
- The attendance ledger had been sealed as county evidence in 1915; its wax seal was found in two pieces on the table.
- A fresh line of blue ink, still glossy, showed the name "Clara Needs" written the same day the body was found.
- Three separate deposits of cigarette ash of visibly different ages were found in a 14-inch-wide, 2-foot-tall gap in the party wall between the mission school and the adjacent laundry building.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080344Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:09 +0000Creator at ObomediaFresh Ink in a Sealed Ledger: The St. Agatha's Murders A sealed county evidence ledger, a fresh line of blue ink, and a woman strangled beneath a tucked blanket - the discovery links a thirty-one-minute response, a broken wax seal, and a name...
A sealed county evidence ledger, a fresh line of blue ink, and a woman strangled beneath a tucked blanket - the discovery links a thirty-one-minute response, a broken wax seal, and a name written the same day the body was found. Who signed out the ledger as "B. Perry" and why was Beverly Perry dead three days after that checkout?

In this episode, we follow the facts as recorded at the scene and in official files, from the moment George Bauer reported an open cellar hatch to Detective Darlene Sullivan's methodical scene work, and we ask how the borrowed ledger and the damaged party wall connect to the killing.

Person: Beverly Perry
Date: March 17, 1922
Location: Palmetto Lane cellar, Crestfield, Nebraska
Detective: Darlene Sullivan
Document: St. Agatha's attendance ledger (sealed 1915; checked out 1922)

- George Bauer discovered the open cellar hatch at 2:30 PM on March 17, 1922 and reported it immediately.
- Sergeant Howard Vance arrived 31 minutes later and found Beverly Perry strangled with jute cord on a coal-delivery platform.
- The attendance ledger had been sealed as county evidence in 1915; its wax seal was found in two pieces on the table.
- A fresh line of blue ink, still glossy, showed the name "Clara Needs" written the same day the body was found.
- Three separate deposits of cigarette ash of visibly different ages were found in a 14-inch-wide, 2-foot-tall gap in the party wall between the mission school and the adjacent laundry building.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1417falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-silk-glove-in-the-sealed-pump-room-wartime-murder-unlocked--73080342
A single clean size-six left silk glove was found inside a sealed, bilge-oil-contaminated pump room at a naval contractor berth in 1943 - and the door was standing four inches open despite no logged entry in eleven days; who could have left a woman’s glove in a locked industrial space controlled by only two men? What did that glove trigger in a case censored for decades, and how did one detective’s green-ink ledger undo an official cover-up?

In this episode, we tell the events surrounding the discovery at Berth Seven and follow the documents, testimony, and preserved notes that link a missing civilian inspector to a salvage-for-profit scheme, raising the question: how did a routine inspection end in a hidden body and a long-kept wartime secret?

Person: Marvin Bell
Date: September 7-9, 1943
Location: Berth Seven, Bellhaven waterfront
Person: Heather Reed
Person: Duane Morgan

- A left-hand silk evening glove, size six, was found clean on the pump room floor.
- The pump room door was standing four inches open though no authorized entry was logged in eleven days.
- Marvin Bell, age thirty-two, was last seen going to Berth Seven on the evening of September 7 and was found dead beneath the floor grating nearly two days later.
- Only two keys opened the pump room: one held by Duane Morgan (maintenance foreman, age forty-one) and one by Howard Pratt (civilian security supervisor).
- Detective Heather Reed preserved a green-ink ledger that later proved her 1943 conclusions and helped unseal the case after decades of wartime censorship.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080342Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:06 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Silk Glove in the Sealed Pump Room: Wartime Murder Unlocked A single clean size-six left silk glove was found inside a sealed, bilge-oil-contaminated pump room at a naval contractor berth in 1943 - and the door was standing four inches open...
A single clean size-six left silk glove was found inside a sealed, bilge-oil-contaminated pump room at a naval contractor berth in 1943 - and the door was standing four inches open despite no logged entry in eleven days; who could have left a woman’s glove in a locked industrial space controlled by only two men? What did that glove trigger in a case censored for decades, and how did one detective’s green-ink ledger undo an official cover-up?

In this episode, we tell the events surrounding the discovery at Berth Seven and follow the documents, testimony, and preserved notes that link a missing civilian inspector to a salvage-for-profit scheme, raising the question: how did a routine inspection end in a hidden body and a long-kept wartime secret?

Person: Marvin Bell
Date: September 7-9, 1943
Location: Berth Seven, Bellhaven waterfront
Person: Heather Reed
Person: Duane Morgan

- A left-hand silk evening glove, size six, was found clean on the pump room floor.
- The pump room door was standing four inches open though no authorized entry was logged in eleven days.
- Marvin Bell, age thirty-two, was last seen going to Berth Seven on the evening of September 7 and was found dead beneath the floor grating nearly two days later.
- Only two keys opened the pump room: one held by Duane Morgan (maintenance foreman, age forty-one) and one by Howard Pratt (civilian security supervisor).
- Detective Heather Reed preserved a green-ink ledger that later proved her 1943 conclusions and helped unseal the case after decades of wartime censorship.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1438falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/thirteen-minute-vanishing-how-a-fair-crowd-hid-a-killer--73080341
A crowd of thousands at the Harlan County Agricultural Fair passed by a man who vanished in a thirteen-minute gap captured on photographic negatives - and his body turned up eleven miles away with no wallet, badge, or watch. Who slipped a methodical insurance claims supervisor out of a busy midway and left him face-down in a dry irrigation ditch?

In this episode, you will hear the sequence of events from the fair log entries to the coroner's report and the photographs that created the gap, and follow the investigator whose green ledger held the clue that reopened the case. How did a thirteen-minute photographic pause and three physical anomalies expose what the crowd had concealed?

Person: Vernon Clark
Date: August 1934
Location: Harlan County Agricultural Fair; Packer's Cut irrigation ditch, eleven miles apart
Occupation: Claims supervisor for Pennant Mutual Insurance, nineteen years
Investigator: Vicki Chambers, county sheriff's office

- Vernon Clark signed the fair business office log at 12:15 PM on Saturday and was seen by booth operators afterward.
- Phil Reese photographed twelve wide-angle exposures of the midway and recorded a thirteen-minute gap between 10:58 and 11:11.
- Henry Otis found Clark's body before sunrise on Monday in a dry irrigation ditch off Packer's Cut, eleven miles west of the fairgrounds.
- Dr. Samuel Pruett set time of death between noon and 6:00 PM Saturday and recorded a single blow to the back of the head from something flat and heavy.
- The body showed lividity inconsistent with its found position, indicating it had been moved after death.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080341Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:42:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThirteen-Minute Vanishing: How a Fair Crowd Hid a Killer A crowd of thousands at the Harlan County Agricultural Fair passed by a man who vanished in a thirteen-minute gap captured on photographic negatives - and his body turned up eleven miles away...
A crowd of thousands at the Harlan County Agricultural Fair passed by a man who vanished in a thirteen-minute gap captured on photographic negatives - and his body turned up eleven miles away with no wallet, badge, or watch. Who slipped a methodical insurance claims supervisor out of a busy midway and left him face-down in a dry irrigation ditch?

In this episode, you will hear the sequence of events from the fair log entries to the coroner's report and the photographs that created the gap, and follow the investigator whose green ledger held the clue that reopened the case. How did a thirteen-minute photographic pause and three physical anomalies expose what the crowd had concealed?

Person: Vernon Clark
Date: August 1934
Location: Harlan County Agricultural Fair; Packer's Cut irrigation ditch, eleven miles apart
Occupation: Claims supervisor for Pennant Mutual Insurance, nineteen years
Investigator: Vicki Chambers, county sheriff's office

- Vernon Clark signed the fair business office log at 12:15 PM on Saturday and was seen by booth operators afterward.
- Phil Reese photographed twelve wide-angle exposures of the midway and recorded a thirteen-minute gap between 10:58 and 11:11.
- Henry Otis found Clark's body before sunrise on Monday in a dry irrigation ditch off Packer's Cut, eleven miles west of the fairgrounds.
- Dr. Samuel Pruett set time of death between noon and 6:00 PM Saturday and recorded a single blow to the back of the head from something flat and heavy.
- The body showed lividity inconsistent with its found position, indicating it had been moved after death.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1379falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-clerk-who-sold-the-dead-forged-deaths-and-a-nine-year-secret--73080340
A waterlogged satchel pulled from a lobster trotline contained seven completed death certificates dated July 9, 1884 - two days before the ship carrying the supposed dead man reached port - a discrepancy that exposed a nine-year fraud. Who at a tiny Maine quarantine station had access, motive, and the skill to forge a physician's signature and steal from the dead?

In this episode, you will hear how a satchel found near Pelican Narrows set off an investigation that uncovered forged death certificates, a missing employment record, and four trunks hidden in a tide-accessible shed; can a single impossible date really unmask a long-running scheme?

Person: Dr. Philip Oakes
Person: Earl Hunter
Location: Pelican Narrows quarantine station
Date: July 9, 1884
Event: Discovery of seven completed death certificates in a waterlogged satchel

- The satchel contained seven completed death certificates and three blank forms, all bearing Dr. Oakes’s name and stamp.
- The certificates were dated July 9, 1884 while the ship with the body did not reach port until July 11, 1884.
- A certificate block covering those seven serial numbers was signed out in May 1884 and placed in a locked cabinet in Oakes’s office.
- Earl Hunter was 37 years old in 1893 and had been the station records clerk since spring 1882, with no employment record at the Bangor customs office as claimed.
- Investigators found four trunks stacked in a locked storage shed on the northern end of the island, accessible only at low tide.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080340Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:59 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Clerk Who Sold the Dead: Forged Deaths and a Nine-Year Secret A waterlogged satchel pulled from a lobster trotline contained seven completed death certificates dated July 9, 1884 - two days before the ship carrying the supposed dead man reached...
A waterlogged satchel pulled from a lobster trotline contained seven completed death certificates dated July 9, 1884 - two days before the ship carrying the supposed dead man reached port - a discrepancy that exposed a nine-year fraud. Who at a tiny Maine quarantine station had access, motive, and the skill to forge a physician's signature and steal from the dead?

In this episode, you will hear how a satchel found near Pelican Narrows set off an investigation that uncovered forged death certificates, a missing employment record, and four trunks hidden in a tide-accessible shed; can a single impossible date really unmask a long-running scheme?

Person: Dr. Philip Oakes
Person: Earl Hunter
Location: Pelican Narrows quarantine station
Date: July 9, 1884
Event: Discovery of seven completed death certificates in a waterlogged satchel

- The satchel contained seven completed death certificates and three blank forms, all bearing Dr. Oakes’s name and stamp.
- The certificates were dated July 9, 1884 while the ship with the body did not reach port until July 11, 1884.
- A certificate block covering those seven serial numbers was signed out in May 1884 and placed in a locked cabinet in Oakes’s office.
- Earl Hunter was 37 years old in 1893 and had been the station records clerk since spring 1882, with no employment record at the Bangor customs office as claimed.
- Investigators found four trunks stacked in a locked storage shed on the northern end of the island, accessible only at low tide.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1479falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/unused-ticket-roll-found-beside-victim-did-she-walk-him-out--73080339
A sealed roll of unused ticket stubs-dated June 13-sat six inches from a murder victim’s right hand behind a drive-in projection booth, while the flattened grass showed the body had been carried from the fence side toward Orchard Road. Who left that roll there, and why did a small cardboard cylinder upend an alibi that seemed airtight?

In this episode, we lay out the facts of the case as recorded at the scene and in investigator notes, following the timeline from the drive-in’s June 13 double feature through the first interviews and forensic observations that raised a single question: did the path in the grass and that unused roll point to someone who walked him out?

Person: Edward Cox
Date: June 13-14, 1953
Location: Millard Flats Drive-In, behind projection booth
Cause: at least three blunt-force strikes to back of skull
Investigator: Terry Carlson

- Body found face-down roughly forty feet behind the projection booth at 7:15 AM on June 14, 1953.
- Victim age 28, wearing one brown oxford; the second shoe was never found.
- Sealed cardboard roll of ticket stubs, three inches in diameter and unused, found six inches from the victim’s right hand; wrapper printed with the drive-in’s name and date June 13.
- Drive-in logged approximately 260 vehicles for the June 13 double feature; Frances Sheridan’s handwritten log matched vehicle count and roll numbers.
- Forensic compression pattern in the grass indicated the body was moved from the chain-link fence on the Orchard Road side, not from the main lot or projection booth.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080339Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:55 +0000Creator at ObomediaUnused Ticket Roll Found Beside Victim: Did She Walk Him Out? A sealed roll of unused ticket stubs-dated June 13-sat six inches from a murder victim’s right hand behind a drive-in projection booth, while the flattened grass showed the body had been...
A sealed roll of unused ticket stubs-dated June 13-sat six inches from a murder victim’s right hand behind a drive-in projection booth, while the flattened grass showed the body had been carried from the fence side toward Orchard Road. Who left that roll there, and why did a small cardboard cylinder upend an alibi that seemed airtight?

In this episode, we lay out the facts of the case as recorded at the scene and in investigator notes, following the timeline from the drive-in’s June 13 double feature through the first interviews and forensic observations that raised a single question: did the path in the grass and that unused roll point to someone who walked him out?

Person: Edward Cox
Date: June 13-14, 1953
Location: Millard Flats Drive-In, behind projection booth
Cause: at least three blunt-force strikes to back of skull
Investigator: Terry Carlson

- Body found face-down roughly forty feet behind the projection booth at 7:15 AM on June 14, 1953.
- Victim age 28, wearing one brown oxford; the second shoe was never found.
- Sealed cardboard roll of ticket stubs, three inches in diameter and unused, found six inches from the victim’s right hand; wrapper printed with the drive-in’s name and date June 13.
- Drive-in logged approximately 260 vehicles for the June 13 double feature; Frances Sheridan’s handwritten log matched vehicle count and roll numbers.
- Forensic compression pattern in the grass indicated the body was moved from the chain-link fence on the Orchard Road side, not from the main lot or projection booth.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1363falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-dry-shoe-in-the-flooded-cistern-what-it-hid-beneath-kessler-block--73080337
A single dry insole sealed inside a black calfskin Oxford, size ten, sat in four inches of water nine feet down in a bricked cistern beneath a laundry district alley in May 1923 - and that impossibility would lead from two missing men to a locked cabinet and a confession months later. How could leather remain bone-dry in a flooded chamber, and who had been holding the shoe when it went under?

In this episode, we follow the discovery and initial investigation surrounding the shoe found on May 19, 1923, the missing men connected to Kessler Block, and the documents and routines that guided Special Investigator Kelly Holmes toward the first questions that would unravel the case. What did that dry sole reveal about the people and the alleys it came from?

Person: Charles Turner
Person: Walter Dunn
Person: Kelly Holmes
Location: Kessler Block alley cistern
Date: May 19, 1923

- The cistern was a bricked, vaulted chamber approximately nine feet deep with an iron hatch set into the alley floor.
- The shoe found by Ralph Bowers was a right Oxford, black calfskin, size ten, with a brass eyelet monogrammed "C.T."
- The shoe rested in four inches of standing water while its interior sole remained bone-dry.
- Charles Turner, age fifty-five, had worked in Kessler Block for eleven years and was reported missing on May 11, 1923.
- Walter Dunn, age forty-seven and Turner's driver, went missing in September 1922 after driving into the Kessler Block alley to make a delivery.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080337Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:52 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Dry Shoe in the Flooded Cistern: What It Hid Beneath Kessler Block A single dry insole sealed inside a black calfskin Oxford, size ten, sat in four inches of water nine feet down in a bricked cistern beneath a laundry district alley in May 1923...
A single dry insole sealed inside a black calfskin Oxford, size ten, sat in four inches of water nine feet down in a bricked cistern beneath a laundry district alley in May 1923 - and that impossibility would lead from two missing men to a locked cabinet and a confession months later. How could leather remain bone-dry in a flooded chamber, and who had been holding the shoe when it went under?

In this episode, we follow the discovery and initial investigation surrounding the shoe found on May 19, 1923, the missing men connected to Kessler Block, and the documents and routines that guided Special Investigator Kelly Holmes toward the first questions that would unravel the case. What did that dry sole reveal about the people and the alleys it came from?

Person: Charles Turner
Person: Walter Dunn
Person: Kelly Holmes
Location: Kessler Block alley cistern
Date: May 19, 1923

- The cistern was a bricked, vaulted chamber approximately nine feet deep with an iron hatch set into the alley floor.
- The shoe found by Ralph Bowers was a right Oxford, black calfskin, size ten, with a brass eyelet monogrammed "C.T."
- The shoe rested in four inches of standing water while its interior sole remained bone-dry.
- Charles Turner, age fifty-five, had worked in Kessler Block for eleven years and was reported missing on May 11, 1923.
- Walter Dunn, age forty-seven and Turner's driver, went missing in September 1922 after driving into the Kessler Block alley to make a delivery.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1454falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-jar-that-proved-a-staircase-fall-was-murder--73080336
A single glass jar, labeled Sample Seven and wedged in a sandstone crevice two miles north of Copperhead Gulch, contradicted an official accidental-fall ruling and hinted at deliberate tampering. The jar’s twin was logged in the Territorial Assay Office under Dawn Cox’s submission, raising one question: which jar belonged to the murdered surveyor, and who moved the other?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from Dawn Cox’s arrival in Copperhead Gulch to the discovery of the duplicate Sample Seven and the arrival of Territorial Inspector Gina Tucker, tracing how a bird-watcher’s find and assay records forced authorities to reconsider an accident verdict. What did the two jars and the assay cabinet reveal about Dawn Cox’s death?

Person: Dawn Cox
Date: April 3, 1893 (sample submission) and April 4, 1893 (death)
Location: Copperhead Gulch; sandstone crevice two miles north of town; Sandoval boarding house exterior staircase
Occupation: Surveyor; held Certificate of Geological Studies
Person: Gina Tucker

- Dawn Cox was 23 years old when she arrived in Copperhead Gulch in autumn 1892 and had earned a Certificate of Geological Studies by correspondence.
- On April 3, 1893, Dawn delivered eight mineral samples to the Territorial Assay Office, including a Sample Seven logged under the Cox mineral survey.
- Dawn’s body was found on April 4, 1893, at the foot of the Sandoval boarding house exterior staircase with a fractured skull; Dr. Oscar Paine signed the death certificate as "accidental fall."
- On April 14, 1893, Janet Powell found a jar labeled Sample Seven wedged in a sandstone crevice about thirty yards from the creek bed, two miles north of Copperhead Gulch.
- Gina Tucker arrived on April 19, 1893, as territorial inspector with authority over mineral claims and opened both jars to compare their contents.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080336Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:48 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Jar That Proved a "Staircase Fall" Was Murder A single glass jar, labeled Sample Seven and wedged in a sandstone crevice two miles north of Copperhead Gulch, contradicted an official accidental-fall ruling and hinted at deliberate tampering....
A single glass jar, labeled Sample Seven and wedged in a sandstone crevice two miles north of Copperhead Gulch, contradicted an official accidental-fall ruling and hinted at deliberate tampering. The jar’s twin was logged in the Territorial Assay Office under Dawn Cox’s submission, raising one question: which jar belonged to the murdered surveyor, and who moved the other?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events from Dawn Cox’s arrival in Copperhead Gulch to the discovery of the duplicate Sample Seven and the arrival of Territorial Inspector Gina Tucker, tracing how a bird-watcher’s find and assay records forced authorities to reconsider an accident verdict. What did the two jars and the assay cabinet reveal about Dawn Cox’s death?

Person: Dawn Cox
Date: April 3, 1893 (sample submission) and April 4, 1893 (death)
Location: Copperhead Gulch; sandstone crevice two miles north of town; Sandoval boarding house exterior staircase
Occupation: Surveyor; held Certificate of Geological Studies
Person: Gina Tucker

- Dawn Cox was 23 years old when she arrived in Copperhead Gulch in autumn 1892 and had earned a Certificate of Geological Studies by correspondence.
- On April 3, 1893, Dawn delivered eight mineral samples to the Territorial Assay Office, including a Sample Seven logged under the Cox mineral survey.
- Dawn’s body was found on April 4, 1893, at the foot of the Sandoval boarding house exterior staircase with a fractured skull; Dr. Oscar Paine signed the death certificate as "accidental fall."
- On April 14, 1893, Janet Powell found a jar labeled Sample Seven wedged in a sandstone crevice about thirty yards from the creek bed, two miles north of Copperhead Gulch.
- Gina Tucker arrived on April 19, 1893, as territorial inspector with authority over mineral claims and opened both jars to compare their contents.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1381falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/folded-on-the-tower-the-silent-signal-before-wendy-erickson-s-death--73080335
A folded brown herringbone coat, all buttons fastened and dry after sleet, was found on the crossbar of a 160-foot broadcast tower inside a locked fence at 5:40 a.m. - and the only key had been turned the night before. Who placed a carefully folded coat inside a locked enclosure and why did a seven-minute carrier test at 11:02 p.m. precede Wendy Erickson’s asphyxiation?

In this episode, we recount the sequence of events at WKLD on March 10-11, 1936, from the late-night carrier test logged at 11:02 p.m. to the discovery of Wendy Erickson’s body in the crawl space the next morning, and explore the strange physical clues that linked the station to a hidden death. What do the coat, the padlock with no scratches, and a lone log entry reveal about that night?

Person: Wendy Erickson
Date: March 10-11, 1936
Location: WKLD broadcast tower, 412 Farrow Street
Cause of death: Asphyxiation, time of death between 10:00 p.m. and midnight on March 10
Log entry: "carrier test, seven minutes, no content" timestamped 11:02 p.m.

- A 15-year-old boy, Warren Turner, found the folded coat at 5:40 a.m. on March 11
- The coat was folded lengthwise and across along its seams with every button fastened
- The tower measured 160 feet and was secured by a single Yale padlock on the gate
- Chief engineer Don Siebert had locked the gate at 6:30 p.m. on March 10 and held the only key
- Coroner Dr. Arthur Voss noted a faint pressure mark across Wendy’s upper back consistent with being held face-down

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080335Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:45 +0000Creator at ObomediaFolded on the Tower: The Silent Signal Before Wendy Erickson's Death A folded brown herringbone coat, all buttons fastened and dry after sleet, was found on the crossbar of a 160-foot broadcast tower inside a locked fence at 5:40 a.m. - and the...
A folded brown herringbone coat, all buttons fastened and dry after sleet, was found on the crossbar of a 160-foot broadcast tower inside a locked fence at 5:40 a.m. - and the only key had been turned the night before. Who placed a carefully folded coat inside a locked enclosure and why did a seven-minute carrier test at 11:02 p.m. precede Wendy Erickson’s asphyxiation?

In this episode, we recount the sequence of events at WKLD on March 10-11, 1936, from the late-night carrier test logged at 11:02 p.m. to the discovery of Wendy Erickson’s body in the crawl space the next morning, and explore the strange physical clues that linked the station to a hidden death. What do the coat, the padlock with no scratches, and a lone log entry reveal about that night?

Person: Wendy Erickson
Date: March 10-11, 1936
Location: WKLD broadcast tower, 412 Farrow Street
Cause of death: Asphyxiation, time of death between 10:00 p.m. and midnight on March 10
Log entry: "carrier test, seven minutes, no content" timestamped 11:02 p.m.

- A 15-year-old boy, Warren Turner, found the folded coat at 5:40 a.m. on March 11
- The coat was folded lengthwise and across along its seams with every button fastened
- The tower measured 160 feet and was secured by a single Yale padlock on the gate
- Chief engineer Don Siebert had locked the gate at 6:30 p.m. on March 10 and held the only key
- Coroner Dr. Arthur Voss noted a faint pressure mark across Wendy’s upper back consistent with being held face-down

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1404falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-passport-stamp-that-proved-a-murderer-lied--73080334
Cold snow that never melted beneath a woman's face became the clue that exposed a staged return and a forged timeline; her passport carried a February 8 re-entry stamp, but forensic detail showed she had been dead before the storm that began after midnight on February 10. Who pressed Jean Farrell's passport into an ink pad and tried to fake her safe arrival?

In this episode, we follow the timeline, witness accounts, and physical evidence surrounding Jean Farrell's disappearance and death, and ask how a single passport stamp and unmelted snow cracked a careful deception.

Person: Jean Farrell
Date: February 11, 1943 (body found)
Location: Dunmore Crossing / roadside outside Dunmore, Montana
Case: Missing then deceased boarding-house owner; passport stamped February 8, 1943
Witness: Vera Odom (housekeeper); Albert Sproat (cousin); officers Stuart Vance and Ted Kowalski

- Body discovered at 4:17 a.m, on February 11 by road-grader operator Curtis Norris.
- Passport showed a re-entry stamp dated approximately 6:00 p.m, on February 8 at Dunmore Crossing.
- Snow directly beneath Jean Farrell's face had not melted, indicating death occurred before the storm that closed the road after midnight on February 10.
- Jean had left Billings on February 6 in a 1938 dark blue Dodge coupe and was seen in Lethbridge on February 7.
- Jean withdrew approximately $2,400 from her account before departing, accompanied by her housekeeper Vera Odom to the bank.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080334Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:41 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Passport Stamp That Proved a Murderer Lied Cold snow that never melted beneath a woman's face became the clue that exposed a staged return and a forged timeline; her passport carried a February 8 re-entry stamp, but forensic detail showed she...
Cold snow that never melted beneath a woman's face became the clue that exposed a staged return and a forged timeline; her passport carried a February 8 re-entry stamp, but forensic detail showed she had been dead before the storm that began after midnight on February 10. Who pressed Jean Farrell's passport into an ink pad and tried to fake her safe arrival?

In this episode, we follow the timeline, witness accounts, and physical evidence surrounding Jean Farrell's disappearance and death, and ask how a single passport stamp and unmelted snow cracked a careful deception.

Person: Jean Farrell
Date: February 11, 1943 (body found)
Location: Dunmore Crossing / roadside outside Dunmore, Montana
Case: Missing then deceased boarding-house owner; passport stamped February 8, 1943
Witness: Vera Odom (housekeeper); Albert Sproat (cousin); officers Stuart Vance and Ted Kowalski

- Body discovered at 4:17 a.m, on February 11 by road-grader operator Curtis Norris.
- Passport showed a re-entry stamp dated approximately 6:00 p.m, on February 8 at Dunmore Crossing.
- Snow directly beneath Jean Farrell's face had not melted, indicating death occurred before the storm that closed the road after midnight on February 10.
- Jean had left Billings on February 6 in a 1938 dark blue Dodge coupe and was seen in Lethbridge on February 7.
- Jean withdrew approximately $2,400 from her account before departing, accompanied by her housekeeper Vera Odom to the bank.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1097falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-boot-that-breathed-how-a-dry-heel-exposed-a-murder-ring--73080333
Cold air, a lone boot standing heel-down in frozen mud, and a body face-down in four feet of January ice - yet the boot was dry inside. That single, concrete anomaly in Custer County, Nebraska, on January 9, 1884, would unravel land fraud, reveal forged filings for water-rich parcels, and tie a young clerk’s death to a wider scheme; how did one dry boot force the truth into the light?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events as recorded: the discovery by telegraph lineman Dawn Taylor, the initial ruling of accidental drowning by Sheriff Art Loomis, the physician’s finding that the boot was dry, and the ledger discrepancy Frances Stroud had reported two days earlier - a discrepancy that set a chain of motives and actions into motion. What exactly linked a personal duplicate ledger to a murder staged in the cold?

Person: Frances Stroud
Date: January 9, 1884
Location: Harrow Creek, Custer County, Nebraska
Age: 26
Case: Land filing discrepancy tied to death

- The boot was standing upright, heel-down in frozen mud, perfectly vertical near Harrow Creek.
- Frances Stroud was found face-down in four feet of January ice and frozen from the shoulders down.
- The county physician confirmed the boot was dry inside eight days after the discovery.
- Frances kept sixty-one dollars saved in an envelope at her rented room on Clement Street.
- Between November and December 1883, three parcels formerly owned by Albert Finch were re-filed with new names by filing agent David Stein.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080333Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:38 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Boot That Breathed: How a Dry Heel Exposed a Murder Ring Cold air, a lone boot standing heel-down in frozen mud, and a body face-down in four feet of January ice - yet the boot was dry inside. That single, concrete anomaly in Custer County,...
Cold air, a lone boot standing heel-down in frozen mud, and a body face-down in four feet of January ice - yet the boot was dry inside. That single, concrete anomaly in Custer County, Nebraska, on January 9, 1884, would unravel land fraud, reveal forged filings for water-rich parcels, and tie a young clerk’s death to a wider scheme; how did one dry boot force the truth into the light?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of events as recorded: the discovery by telegraph lineman Dawn Taylor, the initial ruling of accidental drowning by Sheriff Art Loomis, the physician’s finding that the boot was dry, and the ledger discrepancy Frances Stroud had reported two days earlier - a discrepancy that set a chain of motives and actions into motion. What exactly linked a personal duplicate ledger to a murder staged in the cold?

Person: Frances Stroud
Date: January 9, 1884
Location: Harrow Creek, Custer County, Nebraska
Age: 26
Case: Land filing discrepancy tied to death

- The boot was standing upright, heel-down in frozen mud, perfectly vertical near Harrow Creek.
- Frances Stroud was found face-down in four feet of January ice and frozen from the shoulders down.
- The county physician confirmed the boot was dry inside eight days after the discovery.
- Frances kept sixty-one dollars saved in an envelope at her rented room on Clement Street.
- Between November and December 1883, three parcels formerly owned by Albert Finch were re-filed with new names by filing agent David Stein.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1450falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-dead-woman-reaches-for-a-vial-bearing-her-own-name-the-gina-gardner-case--73080332
The first thing anyone noticed was the smell - chemical and sharp in a shop that usually smelled of cedar and camphor - and a sealed apothecary vial labeled for Mrs. G. Gardner sitting six inches from her outstretched hand. A brown bottle with a Chinese-character label translated as a “preparation for deep and extended sleep” was three-quarters empty on the lowest shelf; why was a sealed vial bearing the victim’s name present with no record of its dispensing, and who left the door standing open?

In this episode, we lay out the scene, the ledger gaps, and the early reports that framed the official cause as cardiac failure while an investigator kept finding inconsistencies that pointed elsewhere. Listen to learn how a sealed vial, a self-engaging latch left open, and a translated label raise the question: was this a natural death or a staged scene pointing to a concealed poisoning?

Person: Gina Gardner
Date: December 9, 1926
Location: Shen's Botanical Goods, 214 Peach Basin Road, San Calisto
Investigator: Holly Anderson
Coroner: Dr. Herbert Pruitt

- The apothecary vial bore the label "COMPOUND OF VALERIAN AND PASSIONFLOWER, PREPARED FOR MRS. G. GARDNER, December 2, 1926" and was sealed with its wax cap unbroken.
- Gina Gardner was found on December 9, 1926, with one arm stretched toward the lowest shelf and the front door standing open at 6:12 a.m.
- The shop’s ledger and Agnes Park’s dispensing records showed no entry for a valerian and passionflower compound on December 2 or any prior date.
- A brown bottle with a Chinese-character label, translated as "preparation for deep and extended sleep," was three-quarters empty and later identified by a county technician as a concentrated plant extract capable of producing respiratory depression.
- The front door latch had been replaced in September 1926 with a self-engaging model that should have locked automatically but was found standing open.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080332Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:35 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Dead Woman Reaches for a Vial Bearing Her Own Name: The Gina Gardner Case The first thing anyone noticed was the smell - chemical and sharp in a shop that usually smelled of cedar and camphor - and a sealed apothecary vial labeled for Mrs. G....
The first thing anyone noticed was the smell - chemical and sharp in a shop that usually smelled of cedar and camphor - and a sealed apothecary vial labeled for Mrs. G. Gardner sitting six inches from her outstretched hand. A brown bottle with a Chinese-character label translated as a “preparation for deep and extended sleep” was three-quarters empty on the lowest shelf; why was a sealed vial bearing the victim’s name present with no record of its dispensing, and who left the door standing open?

In this episode, we lay out the scene, the ledger gaps, and the early reports that framed the official cause as cardiac failure while an investigator kept finding inconsistencies that pointed elsewhere. Listen to learn how a sealed vial, a self-engaging latch left open, and a translated label raise the question: was this a natural death or a staged scene pointing to a concealed poisoning?

Person: Gina Gardner
Date: December 9, 1926
Location: Shen's Botanical Goods, 214 Peach Basin Road, San Calisto
Investigator: Holly Anderson
Coroner: Dr. Herbert Pruitt

- The apothecary vial bore the label "COMPOUND OF VALERIAN AND PASSIONFLOWER, PREPARED FOR MRS. G. GARDNER, December 2, 1926" and was sealed with its wax cap unbroken.
- Gina Gardner was found on December 9, 1926, with one arm stretched toward the lowest shelf and the front door standing open at 6:12 a.m.
- The shop’s ledger and Agnes Park’s dispensing records showed no entry for a valerian and passionflower compound on December 2 or any prior date.
- A brown bottle with a Chinese-character label, translated as "preparation for deep and extended sleep," was three-quarters empty and later identified by a county technician as a concentrated plant extract capable of producing respiratory depression.
- The front door latch had been replaced in September 1926 with a self-engaging model that should have locked automatically but was found standing open.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1281falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/she-died-a-day-before-she-arrived-the-crestholm-paper-trail--73080331
A single-day discrepancy in two official books left a woman recorded as dead before she ever arrived - and the error sat untouched for three and a half weeks. The paper trail that exposed it began with a meter reader who found a folded admissions form hidden behind a dry gauge housing on a cold November morning; how did a death certificate signed by a non-physician predate an admissions entry by 24 hours?

In this episode, we follow the documents, the people who signed them, and the moment the contradiction became impossible to ignore - could a misplaced paper be the only clue to what really happened to Heather Nelson?

Person: Heather Nelson
Age: 31
Location: Haverhill, Massachusetts and Crestholm Shore Sanatorium, New Hampshire
Date(s): Admission recorded October 22, death register dated October 21, discovery November 14, investigator arrival November 15
Signature on death certificate: Richard Wright

- Heather Nelson worked as a seamstress in Haverhill and cared for her dying mother for two years.
- Dr. Thomas Birch wrote a referral for "rest and nervous recovery" on October 18, 1909.
- Crestholm Shore recorded Heather's arrival at approximately 4:00 PM on October 22 in the admissions ledger signed by Edith Cole.
- The Crestholm death register lists Heather's death as October 21 from "cardiac failure following hydrotherapy" and is signed by Richard Wright, a pharmaceutical supply agent.
- Meter reader Lauren Petersen found a folded admissions form behind a dry meter housing on November 14, leading to the State Attorney sending Gregory Hansen on November 15.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080331Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:32 +0000Creator at ObomediaShe Died a Day Before She Arrived: The Crestholm Paper Trail A single-day discrepancy in two official books left a woman recorded as dead before she ever arrived - and the error sat untouched for three and a half weeks. The paper trail that exposed...
A single-day discrepancy in two official books left a woman recorded as dead before she ever arrived - and the error sat untouched for three and a half weeks. The paper trail that exposed it began with a meter reader who found a folded admissions form hidden behind a dry gauge housing on a cold November morning; how did a death certificate signed by a non-physician predate an admissions entry by 24 hours?

In this episode, we follow the documents, the people who signed them, and the moment the contradiction became impossible to ignore - could a misplaced paper be the only clue to what really happened to Heather Nelson?

Person: Heather Nelson
Age: 31
Location: Haverhill, Massachusetts and Crestholm Shore Sanatorium, New Hampshire
Date(s): Admission recorded October 22, death register dated October 21, discovery November 14, investigator arrival November 15
Signature on death certificate: Richard Wright

- Heather Nelson worked as a seamstress in Haverhill and cared for her dying mother for two years.
- Dr. Thomas Birch wrote a referral for "rest and nervous recovery" on October 18, 1909.
- Crestholm Shore recorded Heather's arrival at approximately 4:00 PM on October 22 in the admissions ledger signed by Edith Cole.
- The Crestholm death register lists Heather's death as October 21 from "cardiac failure following hydrotherapy" and is signed by Richard Wright, a pharmaceutical supply agent.
- Meter reader Lauren Petersen found a folded admissions form behind a dry meter housing on November 14, leading to the State Attorney sending Gregory Hansen on November 15.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1408falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-nurse-the-needle-marks-and-the-three-buried-men--73080329
A quiet county notebook held two pencil lines that contradicted a dead man's official cause of death: fresh puncture marks on the inner left forearm noted the morning Melvin Mills was declared to have died of heat stroke after a twelve-minute visit from the county doctor. Who wrote that entry, why the marks were never examined, and how a camp nurse's late-night return fits into this unresolved death?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the open door at Bunkhouse Four to the county paperwork that closed the case, laying out the facts recorded by the camp volunteer, the deputy, and the contracted county physician. How did a brief medical call and two small marks on an arm become the detail that lingered for years?

Person: Melvin Mills
Date: September 28, 1934 (arrival at Sutter Flats); October 9, 1934 (death recorded)
Location: Sutter Flats labor camp, Highway 99, San Joaquin Valley
Person: Emily Ford (county camp nurse, age 29 in October 1934)
Case: Notebook entry by Deputy Thomas Egan noting "marks on left forearm, inner side, fresh"

- Melvin Mills arrived at Sutter Flats on September 28, 1934, having left Delano on September 24, 1934 (four days and 41 miles unaccounted).
- Shannon Tillman found the open door to Bunkhouse Four at 7:30 a.m. and reported two small puncture points on Mills's inner left forearm.
- Deputy Thomas Egan wrote a pencil note dated October 9, 1934: "marks on left forearm, inner side, fresh" and "county doc did not examine."
- Dr. Albert Sours spent roughly twelve minutes with Mills's body, recorded cause of death as "heat stroke," and did not examine the left forearm puncture marks.
- Nurse Emily Ford visited Mills around 8:00 p.m. on October 8, 1934, returned between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. for a brief visit, and told a camp worker she had given saline for heat exhaustion.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080329Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:29 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Nurse, the Needle Marks, and the Three Buried Men A quiet county notebook held two pencil lines that contradicted a dead man's official cause of death: fresh puncture marks on the inner left forearm noted the morning Melvin Mills was declared...
A quiet county notebook held two pencil lines that contradicted a dead man's official cause of death: fresh puncture marks on the inner left forearm noted the morning Melvin Mills was declared to have died of heat stroke after a twelve-minute visit from the county doctor. Who wrote that entry, why the marks were never examined, and how a camp nurse's late-night return fits into this unresolved death?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from the open door at Bunkhouse Four to the county paperwork that closed the case, laying out the facts recorded by the camp volunteer, the deputy, and the contracted county physician. How did a brief medical call and two small marks on an arm become the detail that lingered for years?

Person: Melvin Mills
Date: September 28, 1934 (arrival at Sutter Flats); October 9, 1934 (death recorded)
Location: Sutter Flats labor camp, Highway 99, San Joaquin Valley
Person: Emily Ford (county camp nurse, age 29 in October 1934)
Case: Notebook entry by Deputy Thomas Egan noting "marks on left forearm, inner side, fresh"

- Melvin Mills arrived at Sutter Flats on September 28, 1934, having left Delano on September 24, 1934 (four days and 41 miles unaccounted).
- Shannon Tillman found the open door to Bunkhouse Four at 7:30 a.m. and reported two small puncture points on Mills's inner left forearm.
- Deputy Thomas Egan wrote a pencil note dated October 9, 1934: "marks on left forearm, inner side, fresh" and "county doc did not examine."
- Dr. Albert Sours spent roughly twelve minutes with Mills's body, recorded cause of death as "heat stroke," and did not examine the left forearm puncture marks.
- Nurse Emily Ford visited Mills around 8:00 p.m. on October 8, 1934, returned between 10:00 and 10:30 p.m. for a brief visit, and told a camp worker she had given saline for heat exhaustion.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1452falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/operator-finds-a-dry-log-after-two-nights-of-fog-the-heather-wagner-case--73080328
The ledger was bone-dry on a limestone shelf despite two nights of ground fog along Sutter Fork, and a woman was found dead thirty yards away in a pawpaw thicket - a single open page marked September 7th. How could a ledger remain untouched in damp weather, and what did that impossible detail eventually force someone to admit?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events from Heather Wagner’s last logged entry at the Millhaven Telegraph Station to the discovery of her body the next morning, and follow the physical clues that pointed investigators toward a hidden rear passage and a suspicious one-hour communication gap. What happened inside the station on the night of September 7, 1893, and who used the unseen alley?

Person: Heather Wagner
Date: September 7-9, 1893
Location: Millhaven Telegraph Station / Sutter Fork
Case: Millhaven telegraph operator death
Investigator: Deputy Sheriff Roger Tate

- Heather Wagner signed in at 10:00 PM and logged a grain-price relay at 10:19 PM and a final entry at 10:22 PM reading "two-two-one-seven hours - line quiet. All traffic relayed. H.W."
- The operating log was missing from the relay desk and was found open on a limestone shelf near the body, open to September 7.
- Thomas Marshall discovered the body in a pawpaw thicket about thirty yards from Sutter Fork, and within a minute found the company ledger lying dry and undisturbed.
- The area had two full nights of ground fog, and Deputy Tate noted the ledger's dryness against the damp ground residue.
- The grain-price message Heather logged at 10:19 PM had originated at 9:15 PM from a town up the line, creating a transmission gap of more than sixty minutes.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080328Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:25 +0000Creator at ObomediaOperator Finds a Dry Log After Two Nights of Fog: The Heather Wagner Case The ledger was bone-dry on a limestone shelf despite two nights of ground fog along Sutter Fork, and a woman was found dead thirty yards away in a pawpaw thicket - a single...
The ledger was bone-dry on a limestone shelf despite two nights of ground fog along Sutter Fork, and a woman was found dead thirty yards away in a pawpaw thicket - a single open page marked September 7th. How could a ledger remain untouched in damp weather, and what did that impossible detail eventually force someone to admit?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of events from Heather Wagner’s last logged entry at the Millhaven Telegraph Station to the discovery of her body the next morning, and follow the physical clues that pointed investigators toward a hidden rear passage and a suspicious one-hour communication gap. What happened inside the station on the night of September 7, 1893, and who used the unseen alley?

Person: Heather Wagner
Date: September 7-9, 1893
Location: Millhaven Telegraph Station / Sutter Fork
Case: Millhaven telegraph operator death
Investigator: Deputy Sheriff Roger Tate

- Heather Wagner signed in at 10:00 PM and logged a grain-price relay at 10:19 PM and a final entry at 10:22 PM reading "two-two-one-seven hours - line quiet. All traffic relayed. H.W."
- The operating log was missing from the relay desk and was found open on a limestone shelf near the body, open to September 7.
- Thomas Marshall discovered the body in a pawpaw thicket about thirty yards from Sutter Fork, and within a minute found the company ledger lying dry and undisturbed.
- The area had two full nights of ground fog, and Deputy Tate noted the ledger's dryness against the damp ground residue.
- The grain-price message Heather logged at 10:19 PM had originated at 9:15 PM from a town up the line, creating a transmission gap of more than sixty minutes.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1383falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-double-knot-shoe-how-a-severed-foot-solved-a-56-year-mystery--73080327
A man’s oxblood dress shoe, size nine, appeared upright against a cottonwood root on the Poteet River bank with a careful double knot in its laces-one of two shoes tied the same way after both feet were severed from the body found nearby. What did that deliberate double knot mean, and how did it lead investigators from a riverbank to a motel room and a 56-year resolution?

In this episode, you’ll hear the sequence of discoveries from the morning Melissa Schultz found the shoe to the medical examiner’s ruling, follow the timeline of Leon Taylor’s last days, and learn what the double knot and other concrete details revealed about the crime. Which single detail turned a baffling mutilation into a solvable case?

Person: Leon Taylor
Date: August 11-16, 1953
Location: Blue Moon Motor Court, Route Nine, Fenwick County, Indiana
Cause of death: Manual strangulation
Time of death window: Between 10:00 p.m, on August 12 and 2:00 a.m. on August 13

- A size nine oxblood leather dress shoe with a careful double knot was found upright about ten feet from the river’s edge on August 14 at 6:00 a.m.
- Leon Taylor checked into the Blue Moon Motor Court on August 11, paid two nights in advance, and his 1951 tan Ford sat in the lot with keys inside and untouched for three days.
- On August 16, Taylor’s body was found behind the dumpster enclosure less than 400 yards from his room; the left shoe was found 230 yards downstream near a drainage culvert.
- Medical examiner Dr. Phillip Orsini reported both feet had been severed after death with a wood-handled bone saw, showing multiple strokes, and confirmed manual strangulation.
- Waitress Connie Albrecht saw Taylor at the Route Nine Diner on August 11 and on August 12 with a mid-thirties woman in a white blouse; Taylor left the diner at approximately 9:40 p.m., the last confirmed sighting alive.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080327Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:22 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Double-Knot Shoe: How a Severed Foot Solved a 56-Year Mystery A man’s oxblood dress shoe, size nine, appeared upright against a cottonwood root on the Poteet River bank with a careful double knot in its laces-one of two shoes tied the same way...
A man’s oxblood dress shoe, size nine, appeared upright against a cottonwood root on the Poteet River bank with a careful double knot in its laces-one of two shoes tied the same way after both feet were severed from the body found nearby. What did that deliberate double knot mean, and how did it lead investigators from a riverbank to a motel room and a 56-year resolution?

In this episode, you’ll hear the sequence of discoveries from the morning Melissa Schultz found the shoe to the medical examiner’s ruling, follow the timeline of Leon Taylor’s last days, and learn what the double knot and other concrete details revealed about the crime. Which single detail turned a baffling mutilation into a solvable case?

Person: Leon Taylor
Date: August 11-16, 1953
Location: Blue Moon Motor Court, Route Nine, Fenwick County, Indiana
Cause of death: Manual strangulation
Time of death window: Between 10:00 p.m, on August 12 and 2:00 a.m. on August 13

- A size nine oxblood leather dress shoe with a careful double knot was found upright about ten feet from the river’s edge on August 14 at 6:00 a.m.
- Leon Taylor checked into the Blue Moon Motor Court on August 11, paid two nights in advance, and his 1951 tan Ford sat in the lot with keys inside and untouched for three days.
- On August 16, Taylor’s body was found behind the dumpster enclosure less than 400 yards from his room; the left shoe was found 230 yards downstream near a drainage culvert.
- Medical examiner Dr. Phillip Orsini reported both feet had been severed after death with a wood-handled bone saw, showing multiple strokes, and confirmed manual strangulation.
- Waitress Connie Albrecht saw Taylor at the Route Nine Diner on August 11 and on August 12 with a mid-thirties woman in a white blouse; Taylor left the diner at approximately 9:40 p.m., the last confirmed sighting alive.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1300falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-glass-plate-photo-that-reopened-two-silent-nebraska-deaths--73080326
Danger lingers in plain objects: a five-by-seven-inch glass photographic plate was found upright in a drainage ditch, unbroken and deliberately placed, and the image on it showed Paula Dalton seated at her kitchen table-dead eleven days later. How did a negative taken within hours of her death end up filed in the mud, and who moved the plate half a mile from her house?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of discoveries from the moment Paula Dalton was found to the surveyor who pulled the glass plate from a ditch, and we follow Deputy Roy Mason’s methodical notes and goat-feeding schedule as he connects the photograph to a missing plate and a nearby family portrait. What did the empty slot in Douglas Crane’s camera and the image backgrounds reveal about where that plate had been taken?

Person: Paula Dalton
Date: July 9, 1931
Location: Elm Road, Mercer, Dole County, Nebraska
Event: Glass photographic plate found in drainage ditch
Photographer: Douglas Crane

- Paula Dalton was 55 years old and found seated at her kitchen table on the morning of July 9, 1931.
- Paula had lived alone on Elm Road since 1926 and was buried on July 12, 1931, after the county physician recorded cardiac failure.
- The glass plate measured five-by-seven inches and was found upright, edge-down, in a drainage ditch on the western edge of the Penner farm.
- Photographer Douglas Crane’s felt-lined wooden case held twelve plate slots but he counted only eleven when Mason checked, indicating one plate was missing.
- The Wendell family plate included a background figure identified as Doris Regan standing on a porch across the street.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080326Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:19 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Glass Plate: Photo That Reopened Two Silent Nebraska Deaths Danger lingers in plain objects: a five-by-seven-inch glass photographic plate was found upright in a drainage ditch, unbroken and deliberately placed, and the image on it showed Paula...
Danger lingers in plain objects: a five-by-seven-inch glass photographic plate was found upright in a drainage ditch, unbroken and deliberately placed, and the image on it showed Paula Dalton seated at her kitchen table-dead eleven days later. How did a negative taken within hours of her death end up filed in the mud, and who moved the plate half a mile from her house?

In this episode, we tell the sequence of discoveries from the moment Paula Dalton was found to the surveyor who pulled the glass plate from a ditch, and we follow Deputy Roy Mason’s methodical notes and goat-feeding schedule as he connects the photograph to a missing plate and a nearby family portrait. What did the empty slot in Douglas Crane’s camera and the image backgrounds reveal about where that plate had been taken?

Person: Paula Dalton
Date: July 9, 1931
Location: Elm Road, Mercer, Dole County, Nebraska
Event: Glass photographic plate found in drainage ditch
Photographer: Douglas Crane

- Paula Dalton was 55 years old and found seated at her kitchen table on the morning of July 9, 1931.
- Paula had lived alone on Elm Road since 1926 and was buried on July 12, 1931, after the county physician recorded cardiac failure.
- The glass plate measured five-by-seven inches and was found upright, edge-down, in a drainage ditch on the western edge of the Penner farm.
- Photographer Douglas Crane’s felt-lined wooden case held twelve plate slots but he counted only eleven when Mason checked, indicating one plate was missing.
- The Wendell family plate included a background figure identified as Doris Regan standing on a porch across the street.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1333falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/ledger-in-a-cistern-how-a-hidden-book-broke-a-murder-case--73080324
A ledger wrapped in oilcloth and tied to a cement block turned up in a septic cistern ten days after a 22-year-old waitress vanished, and that single object held handwriting that tied a roadhouse manager to guarded deliveries. Who hid the book, why was it linked to sheriff's scheduling, and how did one deputy's choices change the course of the investigation?

In this episode, we recount the disappearance of Darlene Smith, the discovery of her body, and the ledger pulled from the cistern that contained sheriff's department records and repeated initials linking Calhoun Creek roadhouse to Michael Brown - but how the ledger reached a deputy's truck and sat there for fifteen days raises the question of intent and cover-up.

Person: Darlene Smith, age 22
Event: Disappearance on June 1, 1929; body found June 11, 1929
Location: Calhoun Creek roadhouse; body found one mile east in a drainage culvert
Cause: Manual strangulation (county medical examiner)
Person: Michael Brown, age 36; manager and part-time bookkeeper at the roadhouse

- Darlene left the roadhouse at 1:30 PM on June 1, 1929 and was seen by Tommy Wick around 2:15 PM walking toward town.
- Her body was discovered ten days later in a drainage culvert one mile east of the roadhouse.
- Novak found the ledger in the septic cistern on the morning of June 4, 1929 during a routine cistern cleaning appointment at approximately 7:00 AM.
- The ledger was wrapped in oilcloth, tied to a concrete block with baling wire, and had brass fittings still bright.
- Deputy Wade Fleming kept the ledger in his truck for fifteen days before handing it over and recorded Brown naming Darlene's missing tip ledger at 2:40 PM on June 9.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080324Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:15 +0000Creator at ObomediaLedger in a Cistern: How a Hidden Book Broke a Murder Case A ledger wrapped in oilcloth and tied to a cement block turned up in a septic cistern ten days after a 22-year-old waitress vanished, and that single object held handwriting that tied a...
A ledger wrapped in oilcloth and tied to a cement block turned up in a septic cistern ten days after a 22-year-old waitress vanished, and that single object held handwriting that tied a roadhouse manager to guarded deliveries. Who hid the book, why was it linked to sheriff's scheduling, and how did one deputy's choices change the course of the investigation?

In this episode, we recount the disappearance of Darlene Smith, the discovery of her body, and the ledger pulled from the cistern that contained sheriff's department records and repeated initials linking Calhoun Creek roadhouse to Michael Brown - but how the ledger reached a deputy's truck and sat there for fifteen days raises the question of intent and cover-up.

Person: Darlene Smith, age 22
Event: Disappearance on June 1, 1929; body found June 11, 1929
Location: Calhoun Creek roadhouse; body found one mile east in a drainage culvert
Cause: Manual strangulation (county medical examiner)
Person: Michael Brown, age 36; manager and part-time bookkeeper at the roadhouse

- Darlene left the roadhouse at 1:30 PM on June 1, 1929 and was seen by Tommy Wick around 2:15 PM walking toward town.
- Her body was discovered ten days later in a drainage culvert one mile east of the roadhouse.
- Novak found the ledger in the septic cistern on the morning of June 4, 1929 during a routine cistern cleaning appointment at approximately 7:00 AM.
- The ledger was wrapped in oilcloth, tied to a concrete block with baling wire, and had brass fittings still bright.
- Deputy Wade Fleming kept the ledger in his truck for fifteen days before handing it over and recorded Brown naming Darlene's missing tip ledger at 2:40 PM on June 9.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1404falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-glove-the-letter-and-the-woman-who-wouldn-t-let-it-rest--73080323
A dry cream leather glove with three seed pearls was found on soaked soil two inches deep the morning Sarah Henderson stopped breathing - and inside that glove was a letter folded into the shape of a hand that began, "you have made a mistake that cannot be undone." Who placed a dry glove on rainy earth, and why was a woman’s life tied to a penciled name in an appointment book?

In this episode, we follow the discovery at fourteen Calloway Street and the steps that brought Sharon Murphy - a forty-four-year-old temporary county investigator’s assistant who was not expected to work independently - to reopen a case shaped by meticulous records and a single unsigned note. How did an appointment book, twelve tied letters, and an entry in a gas company logbook lead from a boarding house kitchen to confessions and a conviction?

Person: Sarah Henderson
Date: May 9, 1905
Location: 14 Calloway Street, Dellard, Ohio
Person: Sharon Murphy
Item: cream leather glove with three seed pearls

- The glove was left hand, cream leather, with three seed pearls at the cuff and was dry despite two inches of wet soil.
- It had rained in Dellard from 9:00 PM until nearly midnight the previous night.
- Sarah Henderson was thirty-eight, a seamstress, and had lived in room seven for fourteen months.
- Sharon Murphy was forty-four and had served eleven years as the working assistant to county investigator Thomas Reece.
- The letter inside the glove began with "you have made a mistake that cannot be undone" and referred to a loan of sixty dollars made in March.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080323Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:12 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Glove, the Letter, and the Woman Who Wouldn't Let It Rest A dry cream leather glove with three seed pearls was found on soaked soil two inches deep the morning Sarah Henderson stopped breathing - and inside that glove was a letter folded into...
A dry cream leather glove with three seed pearls was found on soaked soil two inches deep the morning Sarah Henderson stopped breathing - and inside that glove was a letter folded into the shape of a hand that began, "you have made a mistake that cannot be undone." Who placed a dry glove on rainy earth, and why was a woman’s life tied to a penciled name in an appointment book?

In this episode, we follow the discovery at fourteen Calloway Street and the steps that brought Sharon Murphy - a forty-four-year-old temporary county investigator’s assistant who was not expected to work independently - to reopen a case shaped by meticulous records and a single unsigned note. How did an appointment book, twelve tied letters, and an entry in a gas company logbook lead from a boarding house kitchen to confessions and a conviction?

Person: Sarah Henderson
Date: May 9, 1905
Location: 14 Calloway Street, Dellard, Ohio
Person: Sharon Murphy
Item: cream leather glove with three seed pearls

- The glove was left hand, cream leather, with three seed pearls at the cuff and was dry despite two inches of wet soil.
- It had rained in Dellard from 9:00 PM until nearly midnight the previous night.
- Sarah Henderson was thirty-eight, a seamstress, and had lived in room seven for fourteen months.
- Sharon Murphy was forty-four and had served eleven years as the working assistant to county investigator Thomas Reece.
- The letter inside the glove began with "you have made a mistake that cannot be undone" and referred to a loan of sixty dollars made in March.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1467falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-upright-shoe-why-pamela-perry-didn-t-fall-from-column-seven--73080321
The image that breaks through the ordinary is a single left shoe, size six, standing upright on an iron catwalk seven feet from the railing while a sixty-one-year-old woman lay eleven feet below in stocking feet - a placement that could not be explained by a stumble. Who placed the shoe there, and what did one anonymous phone call and a lone labor inspector’s pencil reveal about a death written off as an industrial accident?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events inside Halverson Pressed Metal Works on the night Pamela Perry died and the labor audit that reopened the case; we trace what Alice Weber recorded in her field notebook and the discrepancies between plant logs and the scene that forced new questions about the official ruling.

Person: Pamela Perry
Age: 61
Location: Halverson Pressed Metal Works, Dellard, Ohio
Investigator: Alice Weber
Event: April 8-11, 1943

- Shoe: left shoe, size six, heel down, toe pointing outward, seven feet from the catwalk railing
- Height: Pamela Perry found eleven feet below the catwalk, in stocking feet
- Work history: Pamela had worked night shifts at Halverson for nineteen months, five nights a week
- Plant payroll: plant payroll had tripled since the war began due to a government contract
- Records: Howard Fitch’s penciled ledger showed eleven reclassifications of injuries in fourteen months

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080321Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:08 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Upright Shoe: Why Pamela Perry Didn't Fall from Column Seven The image that breaks through the ordinary is a single left shoe, size six, standing upright on an iron catwalk seven feet from the railing while a sixty-one-year-old woman lay eleven...
The image that breaks through the ordinary is a single left shoe, size six, standing upright on an iron catwalk seven feet from the railing while a sixty-one-year-old woman lay eleven feet below in stocking feet - a placement that could not be explained by a stumble. Who placed the shoe there, and what did one anonymous phone call and a lone labor inspector’s pencil reveal about a death written off as an industrial accident?

In this episode, we follow the sequence of events inside Halverson Pressed Metal Works on the night Pamela Perry died and the labor audit that reopened the case; we trace what Alice Weber recorded in her field notebook and the discrepancies between plant logs and the scene that forced new questions about the official ruling.

Person: Pamela Perry
Age: 61
Location: Halverson Pressed Metal Works, Dellard, Ohio
Investigator: Alice Weber
Event: April 8-11, 1943

- Shoe: left shoe, size six, heel down, toe pointing outward, seven feet from the catwalk railing
- Height: Pamela Perry found eleven feet below the catwalk, in stocking feet
- Work history: Pamela had worked night shifts at Halverson for nineteen months, five nights a week
- Plant payroll: plant payroll had tripled since the war began due to a government contract
- Records: Howard Fitch’s penciled ledger showed eleven reclassifications of injuries in fourteen months

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1326falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-glass-that-refused-to-freeze-how-arsenic-stayed-liquid-in-1937--73080320
A frozen Kansas morning, a half-full pressed-glass tumbler that should have been solid, and a liquid that stayed unfrozen at 19°F - a single concrete oddity that would tie two deaths across a year. What chemical or human act kept that glass liquid long enough to become the only visible clue to a secret buried in county records?

In this episode, we walk through the facts found in county ledgers, farm accounts, and service receipts to show what was on the record in 1936-1937 and why those entries mattered. How did routine service visits, missing payments, and a tumbler in the frost point toward the same unresolved question?

Person: Michelle Bailey
Person: Everett Bailey
Person: Scott Vickers
Date: March 9, 1937
Location: Harlan County, Kansas

- Air temperature recorded at the scene: 19 degrees Fahrenheit on March 9, 1937.
- Michelle Bailey’s age at death: 24 years old.
- Everett Bailey’s age at death: 53 years old; death recorded as heat exhaustion and cardiac failure in July 1936.
- Service receipt dates showing Scott Vickers at Bailey property: June 29, 1936 (domestic well) and February 1937 (secondary well).
- Household account book entries: no payment recorded for June 29, 1936 and no recorded payment for February 1937 service.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080320Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:05 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Glass That Refused to Freeze: How Arsenic Stayed Liquid in 1937 A frozen Kansas morning, a half-full pressed-glass tumbler that should have been solid, and a liquid that stayed unfrozen at 19°F - a single concrete oddity that would tie two...
A frozen Kansas morning, a half-full pressed-glass tumbler that should have been solid, and a liquid that stayed unfrozen at 19°F - a single concrete oddity that would tie two deaths across a year. What chemical or human act kept that glass liquid long enough to become the only visible clue to a secret buried in county records?

In this episode, we walk through the facts found in county ledgers, farm accounts, and service receipts to show what was on the record in 1936-1937 and why those entries mattered. How did routine service visits, missing payments, and a tumbler in the frost point toward the same unresolved question?

Person: Michelle Bailey
Person: Everett Bailey
Person: Scott Vickers
Date: March 9, 1937
Location: Harlan County, Kansas

- Air temperature recorded at the scene: 19 degrees Fahrenheit on March 9, 1937.
- Michelle Bailey’s age at death: 24 years old.
- Everett Bailey’s age at death: 53 years old; death recorded as heat exhaustion and cardiac failure in July 1936.
- Service receipt dates showing Scott Vickers at Bailey property: June 29, 1936 (domestic well) and February 1937 (secondary well).
- Household account book entries: no payment recorded for June 29, 1936 and no recorded payment for February 1937 service.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1327falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-pocketbook-on-the-telegraph-pole-why-nicole-walked-left--73080319
A woman walked left away from her boarding house and was found dead nine days later with a crushed left temporal bone, yet her pocketbook - dry, uncreased, scented with lavender and containing $47 - sat wedged fourteen feet high on a telegraph pole. What decision sent Nicole Meyer north on the levee road that night of February 2, 1893, and who had cause to place her pocketbook out of reach before the flood rose?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of verifiable facts from Nicole Meyer's last evening, the condition of her body and belongings, and the timeline of the flood that frames the mystery. How do a direction, a date, and a mysteriously unmoved pocketbook point to a motive that reaches back two years and two hundred miles?

Person: Nicole Meyer
Date: February 2, 1893 (last seen) / February 11, 1893 (body found)
Location: Eastern levee road outside Caldwell Crossing, Missouri
Condition: Pocketbook dry, uncreased, faintly scented with lavender; $47 in banknotes intact
Cause of death: Depressed fracture of the left temporal bone; no water in lungs

- Nicole Meyer was last seen leaving the Aid Society reading room at 8:15 PM wearing a camel-colored coat and turning left toward the levee road.
- The boarding house on Sycamore Street where she lived was six blocks to the right of the reading room.
- Floodwater covered the levee road to a depth of approximately six feet from about 4:00 AM on February 3 until February 10.
- A tan leather pocketbook was found lodged in a telegraph pole bracket fourteen feet above the ground by lineman Roger Murphy on February 11.
- The pocketbook contained forty-seven dollars in banknotes, remained dry and uncreased, and retained a faint lavender scent.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080319Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:41:02 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Pocketbook on the Telegraph Pole: Why Nicole Walked Left A woman walked left away from her boarding house and was found dead nine days later with a crushed left temporal bone, yet her pocketbook - dry, uncreased, scented with lavender and...
A woman walked left away from her boarding house and was found dead nine days later with a crushed left temporal bone, yet her pocketbook - dry, uncreased, scented with lavender and containing $47 - sat wedged fourteen feet high on a telegraph pole. What decision sent Nicole Meyer north on the levee road that night of February 2, 1893, and who had cause to place her pocketbook out of reach before the flood rose?

In this episode, we lay out the sequence of verifiable facts from Nicole Meyer's last evening, the condition of her body and belongings, and the timeline of the flood that frames the mystery. How do a direction, a date, and a mysteriously unmoved pocketbook point to a motive that reaches back two years and two hundred miles?

Person: Nicole Meyer
Date: February 2, 1893 (last seen) / February 11, 1893 (body found)
Location: Eastern levee road outside Caldwell Crossing, Missouri
Condition: Pocketbook dry, uncreased, faintly scented with lavender; $47 in banknotes intact
Cause of death: Depressed fracture of the left temporal bone; no water in lungs

- Nicole Meyer was last seen leaving the Aid Society reading room at 8:15 PM wearing a camel-colored coat and turning left toward the levee road.
- The boarding house on Sycamore Street where she lived was six blocks to the right of the reading room.
- Floodwater covered the levee road to a depth of approximately six feet from about 4:00 AM on February 3 until February 10.
- A tan leather pocketbook was found lodged in a telegraph pole bracket fourteen feet above the ground by lineman Roger Murphy on February 11.
- The pocketbook contained forty-seven dollars in banknotes, remained dry and uncreased, and retained a faint lavender scent.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1500falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-single-shoe-on-the-ice-that-exposed-a-killer--73080316
A single black T-strap shoe stood perfectly upright in the frozen canal thirty feet from shore with no footprints or cracks around it - and it belonged to Kimberly Jensen, a thirty-one-year-old claims adjuster who had been missing for two days. How did her right shoe end up under a bed while the left sat on the ice, and what did the numbers she was chasing reveal about who wanted her silenced?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Kimberly's arrival at the Crestline Rail Hotel to the discovery that set a local woman with a ledger and magnifying glass on a path that forced a confession and a life sentence. What did the freight manifests, the dock ledger, and a single shoe on the ice ultimately expose?

Person: Kimberly Jensen
Date: January 9, 1923
Location: Crestline Rail Hotel, Harwick, Indiana
Occupation: Claims adjuster for Midwest Indemnity and Surety Company
Case: Discrepancies in freight manifests leading to missing merchandise and insurance claims

- A woman found a single black T-strap shoe standing upright in the frozen canal thirty feet from shore at 7:10 AM on January 9, 1923.
- Kimberly Jensen was thirty-one years old and had been missing for two days when the shoe was discovered.
- Kimberly arrived at the Crestline Rail Hotel on January 5, 1923 and took room 14 at a rate of $1.60 per night.
- The dock ledger logged two crates of bed linen at 44 pounds each while the original Fort Wayne freight manifest listed them at 31 pounds each - a discrepancy of 13 pounds per crate.
- Investigators later estimated about $600 in diverted merchandise sold to a receiver in Fort Wayne, part of four claims filed over eighteen months.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080316Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:40:58 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Single Shoe on the Ice That Exposed a Killer A single black T-strap shoe stood perfectly upright in the frozen canal thirty feet from shore with no footprints or cracks around it - and it belonged to Kimberly Jensen, a thirty-one-year-old...
A single black T-strap shoe stood perfectly upright in the frozen canal thirty feet from shore with no footprints or cracks around it - and it belonged to Kimberly Jensen, a thirty-one-year-old claims adjuster who had been missing for two days. How did her right shoe end up under a bed while the left sat on the ice, and what did the numbers she was chasing reveal about who wanted her silenced?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Kimberly's arrival at the Crestline Rail Hotel to the discovery that set a local woman with a ledger and magnifying glass on a path that forced a confession and a life sentence. What did the freight manifests, the dock ledger, and a single shoe on the ice ultimately expose?

Person: Kimberly Jensen
Date: January 9, 1923
Location: Crestline Rail Hotel, Harwick, Indiana
Occupation: Claims adjuster for Midwest Indemnity and Surety Company
Case: Discrepancies in freight manifests leading to missing merchandise and insurance claims

- A woman found a single black T-strap shoe standing upright in the frozen canal thirty feet from shore at 7:10 AM on January 9, 1923.
- Kimberly Jensen was thirty-one years old and had been missing for two days when the shoe was discovered.
- Kimberly arrived at the Crestline Rail Hotel on January 5, 1923 and took room 14 at a rate of $1.60 per night.
- The dock ledger logged two crates of bed linen at 44 pounds each while the original Fort Wayne freight manifest listed them at 31 pounds each - a discrepancy of 13 pounds per crate.
- Investigators later estimated about $600 in diverted merchandise sold to a receiver in Fort Wayne, part of four claims filed over eighteen months.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1222falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/three-witnesses-saw-her-car-leave-the-murder-of-pamela-coleman--73080315
Three witnesses watched Pamela Coleman's dark Suburban leave the Hatchett County fairgrounds at 11:22 PM while Pamela's body lay in a drainage canal three-quarters of a mile east. A cash gas-station receipt timestamped after 11:22, a clean interior with the keys missing, and four words spoken in a jail cell would eventually link the movement of her car to a calculated plan - but who drove it and why?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Pamela's last shift at the fair to the discovery of her body the next morning, tracing the small physical clues and witness accounts that shaped the investigation. What did the late-night gas stop and the crooked license plate reveal about the person who moved her vehicle?

Person: Pamela Coleman
Age: 54
Location: Hatchett County fairgrounds
Time last seen driving away: 11:22 PM (Friday night)
Distance from Suburban to body: three-quarters of a mile

- Pamela worked 22 years as a claims processor and was promoted to supervisor that spring.
- She visited the Millhaven Family Diner every Tuesday at 7:45 AM for four years, always with coffee with two sugars and a blueberry muffin.
- Her body was found at 9:04 AM the following Friday by Carl Stein, who noticed a crooked license plate and called 911.
- Medical examiner determined Pamela had been manually strangled and placed time of death consistent with Friday evening.
- A gas-station receipt paid in cash, timestamped after 11:22 PM, was found between the driver's seat and center console of the Suburban.

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© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080315Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:40:56 +0000Creator at ObomediaThree Witnesses Saw Her Car Leave: The Murder of Pamela Coleman Three witnesses watched Pamela Coleman's dark Suburban leave the Hatchett County fairgrounds at 11:22 PM while Pamela's body lay in a drainage canal three-quarters of a mile east. A...
Three witnesses watched Pamela Coleman's dark Suburban leave the Hatchett County fairgrounds at 11:22 PM while Pamela's body lay in a drainage canal three-quarters of a mile east. A cash gas-station receipt timestamped after 11:22, a clean interior with the keys missing, and four words spoken in a jail cell would eventually link the movement of her car to a calculated plan - but who drove it and why?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Pamela's last shift at the fair to the discovery of her body the next morning, tracing the small physical clues and witness accounts that shaped the investigation. What did the late-night gas stop and the crooked license plate reveal about the person who moved her vehicle?

Person: Pamela Coleman
Age: 54
Location: Hatchett County fairgrounds
Time last seen driving away: 11:22 PM (Friday night)
Distance from Suburban to body: three-quarters of a mile

- Pamela worked 22 years as a claims processor and was promoted to supervisor that spring.
- She visited the Millhaven Family Diner every Tuesday at 7:45 AM for four years, always with coffee with two sugars and a blueberry muffin.
- Her body was found at 9:04 AM the following Friday by Carl Stein, who noticed a crooked license plate and called 911.
- Medical examiner determined Pamela had been manually strangled and placed time of death consistent with Friday evening.
- A gas-station receipt paid in cash, timestamped after 11:22 PM, was found between the driver's seat and center console of the Suburban.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1386falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/a-suitcase-left-alone-on-the-platform-the-murder-of-jennifer-owens--73080314
A yellow-tagged suitcase sat alone on Harwick Station's south platform at 6:53 a.m. on August 14, 2019 - zipped, upright, and packed with two changes of clothes, a toiletry bag, and a wallet containing all of Jennifer Owens' cards except one missing credit card. Who placed the bag there, used Jennifer's card at a nearby pump, and left her dead 15 days later in a shallow grave six point eight miles away?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from a neighbor's last confirmed sighting at 6:35 a.m., through the station discovery and surveillance timestamps at EZ-Fill, to the discovery of Jennifer's body on August 29; what the evidence of a missing single credit card and two pump transactions reveals about proximity and intent is the question that drives the story.

Person: Jennifer Owens
Date: August 14, 2019 (missing), August 29, 2019 (found)
Location: Harwick Station south platform; body found 6.8 miles southeast of EZ-Fill
Cause: Manual strangulation
Investigator: Detective Amanda Turner

- At 6:30 a.m. Jennifer left her Maplecroft Drive apartment rolling a suitcase and texted her roommate she would call when she arrived.
- A neighbor saw a young woman pulling a rolling bag walking north on Garfield Avenue at 6:35 a.m., the last confirmed sighting.
- The suitcase was first seen on the Harwick platform at 6:53 a.m. by volunteer Marvin Jensen and had not been there at 6:05 a.m. when employee Celia Park passed the bench.
- EZ-Fill surveillance shows Jennifer's credit card used at pump three at 6:52 a.m., and a different card in the same pump at 7:17 a.m.
- Jennifer's body was found in a shallow depression on August 29, fifteen days after her disappearance, with Dr. Patricia Dunne ruling cause of death as manual strangulation.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080314Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:40:52 +0000Creator at ObomediaA Suitcase Left Alone on the Platform: The Murder of Jennifer Owens A yellow-tagged suitcase sat alone on Harwick Station's south platform at 6:53 a.m. on August 14, 2019 - zipped, upright, and packed with two changes of clothes, a toiletry bag,...
A yellow-tagged suitcase sat alone on Harwick Station's south platform at 6:53 a.m. on August 14, 2019 - zipped, upright, and packed with two changes of clothes, a toiletry bag, and a wallet containing all of Jennifer Owens' cards except one missing credit card. Who placed the bag there, used Jennifer's card at a nearby pump, and left her dead 15 days later in a shallow grave six point eight miles away?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from a neighbor's last confirmed sighting at 6:35 a.m., through the station discovery and surveillance timestamps at EZ-Fill, to the discovery of Jennifer's body on August 29; what the evidence of a missing single credit card and two pump transactions reveals about proximity and intent is the question that drives the story.

Person: Jennifer Owens
Date: August 14, 2019 (missing), August 29, 2019 (found)
Location: Harwick Station south platform; body found 6.8 miles southeast of EZ-Fill
Cause: Manual strangulation
Investigator: Detective Amanda Turner

- At 6:30 a.m. Jennifer left her Maplecroft Drive apartment rolling a suitcase and texted her roommate she would call when she arrived.
- A neighbor saw a young woman pulling a rolling bag walking north on Garfield Avenue at 6:35 a.m., the last confirmed sighting.
- The suitcase was first seen on the Harwick platform at 6:53 a.m. by volunteer Marvin Jensen and had not been there at 6:05 a.m. when employee Celia Park passed the bench.
- EZ-Fill surveillance shows Jennifer's credit card used at pump three at 6:52 a.m., and a different card in the same pump at 7:17 a.m.
- Jennifer's body was found in a shallow depression on August 29, fifteen days after her disappearance, with Dr. Patricia Dunne ruling cause of death as manual strangulation.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1158falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/he-watched-her-find-the-photo-the-murder-of-kathleen-davis--73080310
The pond held a body and a pill organizer that sat bone-dry in wet grass - Monday and Tuesday compartments still sealed - suggesting she had been moved after dark. A photograph on her office desk, mailed by a former neighbor, hinted at a stranger in the background; who mailed it, and why did it matter enough that someone decided she needed to die?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Kathleen’s last known routines to the discovery at the retention pond, and trace the small physical clues that revealed when and how she was placed there. How did a dry pill organizer and a mailed photograph become the keys to answering when Kathleen was killed?

Person: Kathleen Davis
Age: 38
Location: Pembrook Circle / retention pond behind Garrison Road
Cause of death: Drowning with blunt-force contusion to the base of the skull
Detective: Ronald Clark

- Kathleen ran two miles most mornings, usually finishing before 6:30 a.m., and fed her rabbit Percy at 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. daily.
- Percy was found without water and visibly distressed when Kathleen’s sister Megan arrived nearly 18 hours after Kathleen stopped answering messages.
- Neighbor Frank Adler saw Kathleen talking to an unknown man at her front doorway around 7:00 p.m. the evening before her body was found.
- The pill organizer at the scene had seven compartments labeled in blue marker; Monday’s and Tuesday’s slots were sealed and both still full.
- The tire impressions at the Garrison Road access point included an older set consistent with a standard-cab pickup truck, partially filled with fine dust.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080310Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:40:49 +0000Creator at ObomediaHe Watched Her Find the Photo: The Murder of Kathleen Davis The pond held a body and a pill organizer that sat bone-dry in wet grass - Monday and Tuesday compartments still sealed - suggesting she had been moved after dark. A photograph on her...
The pond held a body and a pill organizer that sat bone-dry in wet grass - Monday and Tuesday compartments still sealed - suggesting she had been moved after dark. A photograph on her office desk, mailed by a former neighbor, hinted at a stranger in the background; who mailed it, and why did it matter enough that someone decided she needed to die?

In this episode, we follow the timeline from Kathleen’s last known routines to the discovery at the retention pond, and trace the small physical clues that revealed when and how she was placed there. How did a dry pill organizer and a mailed photograph become the keys to answering when Kathleen was killed?

Person: Kathleen Davis
Age: 38
Location: Pembrook Circle / retention pond behind Garrison Road
Cause of death: Drowning with blunt-force contusion to the base of the skull
Detective: Ronald Clark

- Kathleen ran two miles most mornings, usually finishing before 6:30 a.m., and fed her rabbit Percy at 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. daily.
- Percy was found without water and visibly distressed when Kathleen’s sister Megan arrived nearly 18 hours after Kathleen stopped answering messages.
- Neighbor Frank Adler saw Kathleen talking to an unknown man at her front doorway around 7:00 p.m. the evening before her body was found.
- The pill organizer at the scene had seven compartments labeled in blue marker; Monday’s and Tuesday’s slots were sealed and both still full.
- The tire impressions at the Garrison Road access point included an older set consistent with a standard-cab pickup truck, partially filled with fine dust.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1413falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/he-folded-the-jacket-before-he-left-the-chad-walker-case--73080309
A folded yellow rain slicker and two size-eleven boot prints were found on a narrow strip of mud behind a logjam on Gallatin Creek-prints that led away from the truck and did not match Chad Walker’s size-nine boots. Who left the slicker deliberately and why would someone plan to come back for it?

In this episode, we follow the timeline of events from Chad Walker’s last confirmed contact on June 11th through the discovery at Gallatin Creek on June 14th, laying out the routines, records, and physical evidence that make this disappearance baffling. What do the unlogged 212 miles on his odometer, the folded jacket, and the mismatched prints reveal about where Chad went and who else was there?

Person: Chad Walker
Date: June 11 (last text), June 12 (search began), June 14 (slicker and prints found)
Location: Gallatin Creek far bank, Harwell County
Status: Missing
Investigator: Nancy Parker

- The yellow rain slicker was folded and placed against a deadfall log on a flat rock on the far bank.
- Two sets of boot prints, size eleven, were pressed into soft mud walking in and not walking out.
- Chad Walker’s truck was found at the trailhead above Gallatin Creek with the engine cold and last recorded passenger-seat mileage entries two days older than the odometer.
- The odometer showed 212 miles unaccounted for that Chad had not logged in his wire-bound notebook.
- Chad had sent a text to his daughter Tanya at 8:51 PM on June 11 saying he was heading out for a short drive and that he would call Thursday, which he never did.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080309Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:40:46 +0000Creator at ObomediaHe Folded the Jacket Before He Left: The Chad Walker Case A folded yellow rain slicker and two size-eleven boot prints were found on a narrow strip of mud behind a logjam on Gallatin Creek-prints that led away from the truck and did not match Chad...
A folded yellow rain slicker and two size-eleven boot prints were found on a narrow strip of mud behind a logjam on Gallatin Creek-prints that led away from the truck and did not match Chad Walker’s size-nine boots. Who left the slicker deliberately and why would someone plan to come back for it?

In this episode, we follow the timeline of events from Chad Walker’s last confirmed contact on June 11th through the discovery at Gallatin Creek on June 14th, laying out the routines, records, and physical evidence that make this disappearance baffling. What do the unlogged 212 miles on his odometer, the folded jacket, and the mismatched prints reveal about where Chad went and who else was there?

Person: Chad Walker
Date: June 11 (last text), June 12 (search began), June 14 (slicker and prints found)
Location: Gallatin Creek far bank, Harwell County
Status: Missing
Investigator: Nancy Parker

- The yellow rain slicker was folded and placed against a deadfall log on a flat rock on the far bank.
- Two sets of boot prints, size eleven, were pressed into soft mud walking in and not walking out.
- Chad Walker’s truck was found at the trailhead above Gallatin Creek with the engine cold and last recorded passenger-seat mileage entries two days older than the odometer.
- The odometer showed 212 miles unaccounted for that Chad had not logged in his wire-bound notebook.
- Chad had sent a text to his daughter Tanya at 8:51 PM on June 11 saying he was heading out for a short drive and that he would call Thursday, which he never did.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1455falsefullhttps://www.spreaker.com/episode/the-hand-in-the-field-the-murder-of-pamela-novak--73080308
The sight of a woman's hand, nails painted coral, protruding from a sealed drainage corridor turns a routine farm survey into a two-year investigation that traces planning, precision, and a disposal method no one expected. How did someone measure and use an underground agricultural drainage system to hide a body for more than a year, and who knew it would work?

In this episode, we trace Pamela Novak's life in Harlan, the discovery on May 11, and the forensic and fieldwork that revealed a horizontal disposal through standard farm drainage rather than a buried grave. What evidence tied the entry point a hundred and sixty feet away to the sealed cover where she was found?

Person: Pamela Novak
Location: Harlan, Drover County, Iowa
Date found: May 11
Estimated time of death: between six and nine days before discovery
Entry point distance: 160 feet from body

- Pamela Novak was 24 years old and lived on Sycamore Street with a twelve-furrow garden she tended closely.
- The plow blade uncovered a woman's hand inches above an iron drainage access cap at 7:00 AM on May 11.
- Medical examiner estimated death occurred six to nine days before discovery, placing death around the night of May 4.
- A sealed drainage cover had a second, newer weld seam indicating it had been resealed from the outside over a year earlier.
- The nearest disturbed access point was 160 feet from where Pamela came to rest; soil above the drainage line at her location was undisturbed.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>https://api.spreaker.com/episode/73080308Tue, 21 Jul 2026 03:40:42 +0000Creator at ObomediaThe Hand in the Field: The Murder of Pamela Novak The sight of a woman's hand, nails painted coral, protruding from a sealed drainage corridor turns a routine farm survey into a two-year investigation that traces planning, precision, and a disposal...
The sight of a woman's hand, nails painted coral, protruding from a sealed drainage corridor turns a routine farm survey into a two-year investigation that traces planning, precision, and a disposal method no one expected. How did someone measure and use an underground agricultural drainage system to hide a body for more than a year, and who knew it would work?

In this episode, we trace Pamela Novak's life in Harlan, the discovery on May 11, and the forensic and fieldwork that revealed a horizontal disposal through standard farm drainage rather than a buried grave. What evidence tied the entry point a hundred and sixty feet away to the sealed cover where she was found?

Person: Pamela Novak
Location: Harlan, Drover County, Iowa
Date found: May 11
Estimated time of death: between six and nine days before discovery
Entry point distance: 160 feet from body

- Pamela Novak was 24 years old and lived on Sycamore Street with a twelve-furrow garden she tended closely.
- The plow blade uncovered a woman's hand inches above an iron drainage access cap at 7:00 AM on May 11.
- Medical examiner estimated death occurred six to nine days before discovery, placing death around the night of May 4.
- A sealed drainage cover had a second, newer weld seam indicating it had been resealed from the outside over a year earlier.
- The nearest disturbed access point was 160 feet from where Pamela came to rest; soil above the drainage line at her location was undisturbed.

To listen to this podcast ad-free and access premium episodes, try our subscription with a 14-day free trial at obomedia.com.

© 2026 OBOMEDIA. All rights reserved.
This episode and its content (audio, text, and related materials) are the exclusive property of OBOMEDIA and are protected by applicable copyright laws. Reproduction, distribution, editing, or commercial use, in whole or in part, without prior written permission from OBOMEDIA is prohibited. For permissions, licensing, and business inquiries: business@obomedia.com.]]>1415falsefull