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True Crime Trailblazers - 3 Kickass Women Who Shaped True Crime

Release Date: 03/10/2025

True Crime Trailblazers - 3 Kickass Women Who Shaped True Crime

Once Upon A Crime

Women’s History Month: Honoring True Crime Trailblazers March is Women’s History Month, and we’re spotlighting the female trailblazers who revolutionized true crime. These women—authors, investigators, prosecutors, researchers, and victims’ advocates—played pivotal roles in shaping the genre, uncovering the criminal mind, aiding victims, and helping bring criminals to justice. In this episode, we explore the stories of three remarkable women whose work has left a lasting impact on true crime. Join me as we explore the stories of three extraordinary women who left an indelible mark...

So, I Married a Serial Killer - Mrs. Menendez

Once Upon A Crime

In this final episode of our series, So, I Married a Serial Killer..., we unravel the complex and unconventional love stories of Lyle and Erik Menendez—two brothers sentenced to life in prison for the brutal murder of their parents. Despite being condemned to spend the rest of their lives behind bars with no chance of parole, both Lyle and Erik found love. In fact, Lyle has been married twice while in prison, and Erik has maintained a marriage for over 25 years. But how did these romances blossom without shared homes, date nights, or even the possibility of physical touch? In this episode,...

So, I Married a Serial Killer...- Mrs. Ted Bundy

Once Upon A Crime

Ted Bundy was one of the most notorious serial killers in American history—charming, calculating, and deadly. While he was suspected of abducting, raping, and murdering more than thirty women across six states, he also maintained romantic relationships. One woman unknowingly loved a monster, while another chose to stand by his side even as the world recoiled in horror. In this gripping chapter, we explore the twisted love story of Carole Boone, the woman who not only fell for Bundy after his arrest but also married him during his murder trial. What compels someone to love a killer? Join us...

So…I Married a Serial Killer - Mrs. Richard Ramirez

Once Upon A Crime

Throughout history, some of the world’s most notorious serial killers have drawn romantic attention, even after their heinous crimes were exposed. From Ted Bundy to Richard Ramirez, these men—locked away for unspeakable acts—still managed to captivate and attract devoted partners. But what compels someone to pledge their love and loyalty to a known murderer? In this episode, we dive into one of the most infamous cases of romantic obsession with a serial killer: the story of Doreen Lioy and Richard Ramirez, also known as "The Night Stalker." Despite overwhelming evidence of his brutal...

Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973 - Part 3

Once Upon A Crime

In the early 1970s, the tranquil community of Santa Cruz, California, was shattered by a series of murders committed by two serial killers operating at the same time. Edmund Kemper, known as the "Co-ed Killer," murdered eight individuals, including six young women, his mother, and her friend, between May 1972 and April 1973. Simultaneously, Herbert Mullin embarked on his own killing spree in the same area, further terrorizing the residents. In this final episode of "Murder City," we delve into Santa Cruz's darkest period, exploring how law enforcement apprehended these predators and the...

Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973, Part 2

Once Upon A Crime

This month, I’m bringing you the story of three terrifying years that unfolded in Santa Cruz, California. Between 1970 and 1973, a series of murders rocked Santa Cruz, a once-peaceful beach community. Before it was all over, residents would live through unimaginable horrors - a prominent family wiped out in a mass murder by a deranged killer and two serial killers working simultaneously, but separately, in their midst. In this second part of the series, we’ll pick up the story at the tail end of 1971. John Linley Frazier’s trial had just concluded, and he was sentenced to...

Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973 - Part 1

Once Upon A Crime

In the 1970s, Santa Cruz, California, became known by a title no one else wanted - “Murder City.” Between 1970 and 1973, a series of murders rocked the once peaceful beach community. Before it was all over, residents would live through unimaginable horrors - a prominent family wiped out in a mass murder by a deranged killer and not one but two serial killers stalking their streets at the same time. In this 3-part series, we’ll travel back in time to experience those three terrifying years in Santa Cruz - 1970 to 1973 - beginning with the mass murder of a...

The KKK Christmas Day Bombing

Once Upon A Crime

Harry Tyson Moore and his wife, Harriette, lived a quiet life but raised their voices for the rights of African Americans beginning in the 1930s. They are two unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement who became targets of a deadly attack on Christmas Day, 1951. I’ll share with you this story of extraordinary courage, an unwavering fight for justice, and a shocking and cowardly act that turned a brave couple into martyrs for the civil rights of all Americans. Sources: Sponsors: Better Help - to get 10% off your first month of online...

The Life and Crimes of Diddy: Part 2

Once Upon A Crime

Welcome back to our two-part series on the life and crimes of Sean Diddy Combs. In this explosive second installment, I detail Diddy’s meteoric rise in the music industry, uncover the allegations regarding his volatile romantic relationships, and expose a shadowy past filled with violence and legal troubles dating back to the 1990s. I’ll also shed light on Diddy’s infamous “White Parties” and the scandalous after-parties known as "Freak Offs," which are now at the center of a federal investigation involving racketeering, sex trafficking, and a slew of other allegations that...

Listen Now - Hollywood & Crime: The Cotton Club Murder

Once Upon A Crime

On June 10th, 1983, the decomposing body of a well-dressed man was found in a desolate canyon near Los Angeles. John Doe #94 would soon be identified as missing variety show producer Roy Radin. He'd last been seen after meeting with a mysterious woman in a gold dress. Her name was Lanie Jacobs. Jacobs and Radin were obsessed with becoming Hollywood movie producers. And when their paths collided, it led them to a tantalizing film deal promising fame and fortune. But then, a twisted script unfolded, plunging them into a million-dollar cocaine and cash heist, a tangled web of lies, and...

More Episodes

Women’s History Month: Honoring True Crime Trailblazers

March is Women’s History Month, and we’re spotlighting the female trailblazers who revolutionized true crime. These women—authors, investigators, prosecutors, researchers, and victims’ advocates—played pivotal roles in shaping the genre, uncovering the criminal mind, aiding victims, and helping bring criminals to justice.

In this episode, we explore the stories of three remarkable women whose work has left a lasting impact on true crime. Join me as we explore the stories of three extraordinary women who left an indelible mark on true crime. You won’t want to miss this!🎙️🔎

Listen to the Once Upon episode on Diane Downs here: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep38-monstrous-moms-and-dastardly-dads-diane-downs/

Listen to the David and Cinnamon Brown case here:

https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s8-ep298-a-family-affair-david-and-cinnamon-brown/

Sources:

https://www.novelsuspects.com/articles/ann-rule/

https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-ann-rule-dies-20150727-story.html

A Killer by Design: Murderers, Mindhunters, and My Quest to Decipher the Criminal Mind, Ann Wolbert Burgess and Steven Matthew Constantine, Hachette Books, 2021.

https://www.biography.com/movies-tv/a61488077/ann-burgess-criminology-expert

https://www.fbi.gov/video-repository/km-women-agents-2012.mp4/view

https://magazine.wsu.edu/2013/07/31/kathleen-mcchesney-71-agent-of-change/

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