PODCAST · true crime
Almost Fiction
by 11:59 Media
Crimes that are so diabolical that they seem like almost fiction. Based on real events, Almost Fiction is a Podcast where we try to imagine what it was like when some of the worst crimes occurred. Using facts, reports, and evidence, we attempt to reconstruct what the crime scenes might have looked like as the crimes were happening. So, join us each week as we peek behind the curtain at some of the worst scenes from some of the worst crimes ever committed. I’m Chase Ellerman, and welcome to… Almost Fiction.
Episodes
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Peter Britton Tobin (Read Description)
Hello everyone, I fully expected to have the season finale of Almost Fiction ready to go, but sadly that won't be the case. The holidays can be a hectic time of the year and sometimes things happen outside of our control. So, in lieu of releasing a full episode, I will instead make the last…
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Joel Michael Guy Jr.
When 28-year-old Joel Michael Guy Jr. learned his parents were cutting off his financial support after nearly a decade of funding his lifestyle, he devised a horrifying plan. This deep-dive true crime investigation uncovers how an entitled college dropout meticulously plotted to murder his own...
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Robert Yale Shulman
Between 1991 and 1995, a seemingly ordinary postal worker living in suburban New York concealed a horrifying secret. Robert Yale Shulman targeted vulnerable sex workers, brutally murdering at least five women before dismembering their bodies and disposing of them in dumpsters across the region....
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Robert Zarinksy Part 2
When Officer Charles Bernoskie was gunned down during a routine patrol in 1958, his murder went unsolved for decades, protected by a family's deadly silence. This is the conclusion to the story of Robert Zarinsky, a serial killer who terrorized New Jersey communities throughout the 1960s and 70s,...
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Robert Zarinsky Part 1
When Officer Charles Bernoskie was gunned down during a routine patrol in 1958, his murder went unsolved for decades, protected by a family's deadly silence. This is the chilling true story of Robert Zarinsky, a serial killer who terrorized New Jersey communities throughout the 1960s and 70s,...
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The Murder of Peter Aston
In May 1982, two thirteen-year-old boys skipped school in Queensland, Australia, a decision that led one to his brutal death and the other to a nightmare of survival. When Peter Aston and Terry Ryan accepted a ride from two men, they had no idea they were entering a world of sadistic violence, a...
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Robert R. Reldan
Robert R. Reldan had everything. Looks, charm, and money from a wealthy aunt who adored him. But in October 1975, two women named Susan disappeared from Bergen County only eight days apart. What followed exposed a decades-long pattern: assaults dismissed, paroles granted, a system that kept…
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Herb Baumeister
A successful businessman. A perfect suburban address. And a trail of vanished men that led investigators to more than 10,000 human remains. In this episode, we trace Herb Baumeister’s double life—from teenage transgressions to “Brian Smart,” his nights cruising Indianapolis’s gay bars, the...
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George Waterfield Russell
Dive into the chilling true story of George Waterfield Russell Jr., a man whose repeated rejections fueled a deadly rage against women. From his abandoned childhood in Florida to a string of brutal murders in 1990s Washington State, this episode uncovers the twisted path of a serial killer who...
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Earl Richmond Jr.
Explore the haunting case of Earl Richmond Jr., a former drill sergeant whose life unraveled through addiction, rape, and murder. From his abusive upbringing in North Carolina to brutal crimes at Fort Dix and beyond, this episode unpacks the evidence, trials, and his execution, while questioning…
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LaFonda "Fay" Foster and Tina Marie Hickey Powell
In this episode, we explore the complexities of friendship, focusing on trust and mutual respect. Highlighting the tragic story of Tina Marie Powell and LaFonda Faye Foster, we illustrate how their bond, rooted in shared trauma and addiction, devolved into toxicity and violence. We recount the...
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Christopher Robin Worrell and James William Miller
Dive into the chilling true story of Australia's Truro Murders, where Christopher Robin Worrell and James William Miller's deadly partnership claimed seven young lives in just 52 days. Told through the eyes of accomplice Miller, this episode uncovers a twisted tale of manipulation, obsession, and...
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The Murder of Autumn Pasquale
In 2012, 12-year-old Autumn Pasquale left home in Clayton, New Jersey, to ride her new BMX—and never came back. This episode unpacks the facts of her killing by 15-year-old Justin Robinson, the frantic two-day search, the plea deal and sentencing, and the painful aftermath that split a small…
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Almost Fiction Plus
For only $5 a month you can get exclusive access to episodes of Almost Fiction, as well as access to ad free episodes moving forward. Exclusively on Spotify.
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Edgar Herbert Smith
Dive into the chilling true crime story of Edgar Herbert Smith, the manipulative killer who charmed his way off death row only to strike again. From the brutal 1957 murder of 15-year-old cheerleader Victoria Zielinski in New Jersey to Smith's bestselling books, celebrity endorsements, and…
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James Anthony Daveggio and Michelle Lyn Michaud
Description: Dive into the chilling true crime saga of Michelle Lyn Michaud and James Anthony Daveggio, the infamous killer couple who terrorized California and Nevada in the 1990s. From abductions in a modified "torture van" to brutal rapes, tortures, and the murder of Vanessa Samson, this…
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Paul Frederick Runge
Description: In this episode, we investigate the case of Paul Frederick Runge, an Illinois predator whose crimes spanned rape, murder, dismemberment, and even arson. From the disappearance of Stacey Frobel to the murders of sisters Džanet and Amila Pagenbegović, and the mother-daughter killings…
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The Geronimo Bank Murders
Dive into one of America's most brutal true crime stories: the 1984 Geronimo Bank Murders. In this gripping episode of Almost Fiction, uncover how two debt-ridden lovers, Jay Wesley Neill and Robert Grady Johnson, turned desperation into a deadly Oklahoma bank robbery, stabbing and shooting...
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Frank Athen Walls
Description: In 1967, Frank Athen Walls was born blue, a medical condition that would mark the beginning of a troubled life. By 19, he became one of America's youngest serial killers, leaving a trail of victims across Florida's beaches and neighborhoods. This episode explores his descent from a...
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George Kent Wallace aka The Mad Paddler
In this gripping true crime episode, we unravel the story of George Kent Wallace, a man infamously known as "The Mad Paddler", whose decades-long trail of violence haunted communities across North Carolina, Arkansas, and Oklahoma. Explore how Wallace, hiding in plain sight and exploiting law...
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Todd Joseph Rizzo
Description: Exploring one of Connecticut's most infamous true crime cases, this episode delves deep into the chilling story of Todd Rizzo, aka "The Sledgehammer Killer." Discover how an 18-year-old former Marine lured a 13-year-old boy to his death "just to see what it felt like," and unravel…
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Dixie Lynn Shanahan-Duty
Step into the chilling true story of Dixie Lynn Shanahan-Duty, a case that shocked Defiance, Iowa… and the nation. This episode uncovers the turbulent life of Dixie, marked by years of domestic abuse at the hands of Scott Shanahan, and the tragic events that led her to take a life and stand trial...
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Charles Chitat Ng and Leonard Thomas Lake Finale
The chilling saga of Charles Chitat Ng and Leonard Lake comes to a dramatic close in Part 4 of our Almost Fiction series. Follow the relentless pursuit of justice across borders, from a failed shoplifting attempt to a years-long international extradition battle, as we unravel the web of lies,...
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Charles Chitat Ng and Leonard Thomas Lake Part 3
The walls begin to close in on Charles Ng and Leonard Lake as a simple theft spirals into something much darker. Part 3 of our case delves into the moment their carefully constructed facade starts to crumble. The pair is scrambling now, trying to run from the impending consequences to their...
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Charles Chitat Ng and Leonard Thomas Lake Part 2
Discover the chilling story of Charles Ng and Leonard Lake, two ex-Marines whose paths crossed in California, leading to one of America's most disturbing criminal cases. Part 2 delves into their escalating crimes from 1984-1985, including disappearances, sexual assaults, and murders. From Lake's...
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Charles Ng and Leonard Lake - Part 1: Before the Horror
Charles Ng and Leonard Lake - Part 1: Before the Horror. Explore the troubled early lives of two killers before they ever joined forces. From Ng's strict upbringing in Hong Kong to Lake's abandoned childhood in San Francisco, discover how their paths to violence began. This episode covers thier...
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Jamie Reynolds
In May 2013, 17-year-old Georgia Williams vanished after telling her parents she was helping a friend with a photo shoot. That friend was Jamie Reynolds, a boy with a hidden obsession, a disturbing past, and a plan he had written in horrifying detail years before. This episode explores the…
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Nathan Ybanez
In this gripping true crime episode, we investigate the haunting case of Nathan Ybanez, a 16-year-old who murdered his mother after years of alleged abuse. This deeply emotional story examines how a system meant to protect children failed repeatedly, leading to tragic consequences. Featuring...
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The Murder of Celeste Fronsman
In 2012, Celeste Fronsman was abducted, tortured, and burned alive in rural Ohio. Her killers? People she thought were her friends. In this episode of Almost Fiction, we explore the dark world of addiction, abuse, and betrayal, and how Celeste’s final words helped solve her own murder. Sources:...
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Charles William Yukl Part 3
In the shocking conclusion of our three-part true crime series, we uncover the final days of Charles William Yukl, a manipulative killer whose parole failure led to a second brutal murder in 1970s New York City. After convincing the system he was rehabilitated, Yukl lured an aspiring actress to…
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Charles William Yukl Part 2
In Part 2 of our deep dive into the life of Charles William Yukl, we explore the years that followed his shocking manslaughter conviction. After serving just a portion of his time, Yukl was released on parole, and what happened next is a chilling reminder of how the justice system can fail. Set…
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Charles William Yukl Part 1
In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we begin the disturbing story of Charles William Yukl, a classically trained pianist, teacher, and, ultimately… convicted killer. From his troubled upbringing and intense musical training to his years of hidden darkness, we uncover how a seemingly...
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David Roland Waters
In this gripping episode of Almost Fiction, we dig into one of the strangest true crime cases in American history, the disappearance and murder of Madalyn Murray O’Hair, the woman once dubbed “The Most Hated Woman in America.” From her rise as an infamous atheist activist to her mysterious...
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Anthony Edward Sowell
In this gripping true crime episode, we uncover the horrifying story of serial killer Anthony Edward Sowell, also known as the Cleveland Strangler. Between 2007 and 2009, Sowell lured vulnerable women to his Cleveland home, where he committed unspeakable acts of violence. We trace his troubled...
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Richard Paul White
Richard Paul White’s life was filled with violence, fear, and manipulation—but did his past shape him into a serial predator, or was the evil already inside him? This episode of Almost Fiction explores the disturbing transformation of a man who claimed demons made him kill. Sources: I Am a…
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Mauricio Rodriguez Silva
Mauricio Rodriguez Silva's life was a constant struggle—abandoned, abused, and cast aside at every turn. But did his tragic childhood create a monster, or was he always destined for violence? This episode of Almost Fiction unravels the disturbing life and crimes of a man who could have been…
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Thomas Warren Whisenhant
What happens when a predator lurks in the shadows, waiting for the right moment to strike? This episode of Almost Fiction delves into the dark and disturbing case of Thomas Whisenhant, a killer whose crimes haunted Alabama for decades. Join us as we unravel the chilling details of his past, the...
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Sean Vincent Gillis Part 3
Justice is served, or is it? In the chilling conclusion to our Sean Vincent Gillis series, we explore his final crimes, the investigation that finally brought him down, and the disturbing details of his confessions. From his shocking courtroom antics to the families seeking closure, this episode...
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Sean Vincent Gillis Part 2
The darkness continues. In Part 2 of our deep dive into Sean Vincent Gillis, we explore the gruesome evolution of his crimes, his twisted obsessions, and the investigation that struggled to catch up. As police search for answers, Gillis remains in the shadows—watching, waiting, and perfecting his...
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Sean Vincent Gillis Part 1
A quiet Louisiana neighborhood. A troubled past. A gruesome discovery. In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we unravel the disturbing origins of Sean Vincent Gillis, a seemingly ordinary man with a dark secret. From a childhood shaped by instability to a life spiraling into depravity, we...
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Kevin Lloyd Artz
In this episode of Almost Fiction, we delve into the bizarre and horrifying case of Kevin Lloyd Artz, infamously known as the "Deep Fry Killer." What begins as a story of a seemingly ordinary man takes a dark turn into a tale of obsession, crime, and culinary horror. Join us as we piece together...
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Melvin David Rees
A talented jazz musician with a mysterious past. Melvin David Rees captivated audiences with his haunting melodies and effortless skill, but behind the stage lights and smoky jazz clubs lurked something far darker. A man of intelligence, charm, and discipline. A man who lived two lives: one in…
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Mark Scott Thornton
In 1993, a stolen car, a desperate plan, and a shattered life set the stage for one of California’s most disturbing crimes. Mark Scott Thornton had always struggled to find his place in the world—but when his obsession spiraled out of control, the result was abduction, murder, and a reckless...
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Larry Keith Robison
What happens when reality shatters? When paranoia and delusion take hold, twisting a mind beyond recognition? In this harrowing episode of Almost Fiction, we uncover the chilling case of Larry Keith Robison—a man battling schizophrenia, abandoned by the system, and left to spiral into unthinkable...
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Mark Dean Schwab and the Murder of Junny Rios Martinez
In this heart-wrenching episode of Almost Fiction, we examine the harrowing case of Mark Dean Schwab and his horrifying crimes against 11-year-old Junny Rios-Martinez. What began as an act of manipulation spiraled into a tragedy that shook an entire community. This is a story of unimaginable…
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Joachim Georg Kroll
In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we uncover the twisted story of Joachim Georg Kroll, infamously known as "The Cannibal of Ruhr." For over two decades, Kroll preyed on unsuspecting victims across West Germany, leaving a trail of horror and confusion. We delve into the dark psychology...
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Mitchell Carlton Sims and Ruby Padgett
In this chilling episode of Almost Fiction, we explore the violent crime spree of Mitchell Sims and Ruby Padgett, a couple whose anger and desperation led to a series of horrifying murders. From the Domino's Pizza murders in South Carolina to the shocking double homicide in California, their…
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Julie Corey
Julie Corey had already had 5 children and had full custody of none of them. The 35 year old woman could feel the pressure of time, and was making one last chance to start a family, one that hopefully this time, she could keep. But sometimes, fate just has other plans. Sources: COMMONWEALTH vs....
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Ramon Jay Rogers
Ramon Jay Rogers was a nice guy. He grew up in a strange environment, but by all outward appearances he was well adjusted, polite, and well liked. Until he killed his best friend, and everything just seemed to spiral out of control. Sources:...
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Veronica Paz and Brandon Dante Perry
From the outside, it appeared as if Veronica Paz desperately missed high school. She missed the social aspect, the drama, and most importantly… the boys. For his part, Brandon Perry would have probably done just about anything for his high school sweetheart, Veronica, and she was about to put…
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Crimes that are so diabolical that they seem like almost fiction. Based on real events, Almost Fiction is a Podcast where we try to imagine what it was like when some of the worst crimes occurred. Using facts, reports, and evidence, we attempt to reconstruct what the crime scenes might have looked like as the crimes were happening. So, join us each week as we peek behind the curtain at some of the worst scenes from some of the worst crimes ever committed. I’m Chase Ellerman, and welcome to… Almost Fiction.
HOSTED BY
11:59 Media
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Almost Fiction have?
Almost Fiction currently has 113 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Almost Fiction about?
Crimes that are so diabolical that they seem like almost fiction. Based on real events, Almost Fiction is a Podcast where we try to imagine what it was like when some of the worst crimes occurred. Using facts, reports, and evidence, we attempt to reconstruct what the crime scenes might have looked...
How often does Almost Fiction release new episodes?
Almost Fiction publishes regularly with 113 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Almost Fiction?
You can listen to Almost Fiction on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Almost Fiction?
Almost Fiction is created and hosted by 11:59 Media.
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