PODCAST · society
Dead Before Deadline
by STP Productions
Dead Before Deadline with Robin YocumStep behind the yellow tape and dive deep into the pulse-pounding world of police reporting with Robin Yocum in "Dead Before Deadline." He is joined by his lovely daughter Jaclynn as she sits in for the audience asking the questions we are all thinking in these wild and crazy tales from Robin's time at the Dispatch, Yocum unravels a tapestry of tales that are as intriguing as they are raw. Each episode brings to life stories that run the gamut from the heart-wrenching to the humorously bizarre. Whether it's an oddball case that had the newsroom in splits or a somber story of loss that left an indelible mark, Yocum paints a vivid picture of life behind the byline.Navigating the gritty realities of crime reporting, "Dead Before Deadline" is more than just a recollection of cases and incidents; it's a nuanced exploration of the human stories intertwined in them. Join us on this journey, where the lines between the reporter and the reported blur, an
Episodes
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Season 4: Ep. 11 - A Deeper Look at The Last Hitman
Your host, Robin Yocum, released his latest novel, The Last Hitman, in December. New York Times bestselling author C.J. Box said of the novel, "The Last Hitman is a rollicking tale of mob violence, betrayal, attitude, and homicidal psychos that I thoroughly fell for. A terrific read." Publishers...
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Season 4: Ep. 10 - The Riverside Homicides and a Bloody Day for the FBI
On the afternoon of Dec. 30, 1983, the bodies of Joyce McFadden and Patricia Matix were found in a research laboratory at Riverside Methodist Hospital in Columbus. They had been stabbed to death. The case would frustrate detectives for years as every lead turned cold. That was until April 11…
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Season 4: Ep. 9 - "Dr. Death" The Strange Life of Dr. Michael Swango
Michael Swango is believed to have been one of the most prolific serial killers in history. Some estimates put his body count at 60 in the United States and Africa. There were telltale signs that the brilliant medical student had a dark side when he ignored his medical school studies to work on…
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Season 4: Ep. 8 - Why are the ATMs Running Out of Money?
The vice president of security at Bank One called Mark David Huffman "a trusted employee." That was until he stole $409,000 of the bank's cash. Huffman was one of the few employees at the bank entrusted with restocking the ATMs. On the Saturday before Christmas of 1980, bank officials were...
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Season 4: Ep. 7 - A Detective's Worst Nightmare: The Murders of Lynn and Jeremy
Twenty-three-year-old Lynn Vest and her 18-month-old nephew, Jeremy Pickens, left the house on Nov. 12, 1980, to go to the bank and run a few errands. They never returned. Late that night, their bodies were found in the back of Lynn's car. She had been strangled, and Jeremy had been smothered.…
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Season 4: Ep.6 - The Belle in the Well
For nearly 40 years, the Belle in the Well was a mystery in Lawrence County, Ohio. In 1981, two girls playing in the woods near their house lifted the cap on a cistern and discovered the body of a woman. She had been strangled and dumped in the cistern. Her body was too badly decomposed to make…
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Season 4: Ep. 5 - The Disappearance of Donette Crawford
Donette Crawford went out for a night of fun with a friend and never came home. She was just twenty and a young mother when she disappeared. Police searched for weeks, but had few clues and no suspects. Things changed when a criminal named John Glenn Roe was arrested breaking into a Radio Shack…
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Season 4: Ep. 4 - How Randy Walker Solved a Heinous Murder from his Wheelchair
Randy Walker was destined to become the chief of police in Columbus, Ohio. Anyone who knew him would validate that claim. Then, on July 23, 1975, an assailant's bullet slipped through an opening in his bulletproof vest, paralyzing him from the chest down. It was during his next career as a…
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Season 4: Ep. 3 - The Buried Treasures of John Dillinger and "Pretty Boy" Floyd
Legends exist in opposite ends of Ohio – northwest and southeast – about the hidden loot of two of America's most notorious gangsters, John Dillinger and "Pretty Boy" Floyd. Dillinger supposedly buried his loot on a Leipsic, Ohio, farm owned by the family of his wingman, Harry Pierpont. Floyd...
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Season 4: Ep. 2 - Catherine Wanner was Killed 75 Miles from College, but Only a Mile from Home
Catherine Wanner was a freshman accounting major at Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. She was carrying a 3.56 GPA. On Feb. 22, 1982, she was found shot to death in a Columbus apartment. She was 75 miles from her dormitory, but less than a mile from her parents' home. How did a beautiful…
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Season 4: Ep. 1 - William "The Butcher" Wickline
Welcome back to Dead Before Deadline! Host Robin Yocum and cohost Jaclynn Yocum Wilson are back for Season 4 of DBD! We are excited to have you here. Get ready for some wild stories that host Robin Yocum covered while being on the crime beat in Columbus, OH! This first one starts out with a...
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Season 3: Ep. 15 - Memories Linger Long After the Headlines Disappear
There were few times when my interactions on the crime beat ended in friendships. Many of the people I interviewed associated me with the worst days of their lives. There were, however, a few exceptions. Jaclynn and I discuss some of the stories that had a personal impact on me.
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Season 3: Ep. 14 - Robin's Fictional Inspirations
In Episode 14, Robin and Jaclynn shift gears and discuss the real-life characters he met on the crime beat that have been inspirations in his fiction writing. Be sure to pre-order Robin's latest book, "The Last Hitman" - Here
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Season 3: Ep. 13 - Love, Lies, and the Law: The Linda Lee Walden Saga
In Episode 13, we delve further into the lives of attorney and physician Dr. David Ucker and Dr. Donald Plotnick and their bizarre lives of crime. Also, we'll introduce a new character, Linda Lee Walden, who is accused of murdering her former boyfriend to conceal the fact she had been dating a...
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Season 3: Ep. 12 - Dr. Ucker & Dr. Plotnick Part 2
In Episode 12 of season three, we conclude our story of two of the most notorious doctors in Columbus, Ohio. This episode takes a bizarre twist when accused killer Dr. David Ucker ends up marrying a woman who is both a patient and a convicted murderer.
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Season 3: Ep. 11: Dr. Ucker & Dr. Plotnick - Part 1
Doctors take an oath to care for people. But some of them forget their oath. Dr. David Ucker was accused of hiring a hitman to kill his mistress' former lover. Dr. Donald Plotnick was illegally selling machine guns and set a guy on fire over a drug debt. Part one of this tangled story weaves...
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Season 3: Ep. 10 - The Murder of Jean Schrader: Lies, Loss, and a Father's Fight for Justice - Pt 2
In this gripping episode of Dead Before Deadline, Robin Yocum and Jaclynn Wilson unravel one of the most haunting and personal stories Robin ever covered — the murder of 25-year-old Jean Schrader. What began as a tragic homicide with no charges filed turned into a relentless pursuit of justice…
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Season 3: Ep. 9 - The Murder of Jean Schrader - Pt. 1
The body of a beautiful young woman and a rising star at an accounting firm in Columbus, Ohio, is found in the stairwell of a downtown parking garage, the life strangled from her. In this episode of Dead Before Deadline, Robin and Jaclynn discuss his first big story at the Columbus Dispatch – the...
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Season 3: Ep. 8 - Arthur Shapiro Part 2
We are back with part 2 of the Arthur Shapiro case. This one is full of wild twists and turns. Barry Kessler, a Tax Accountant in Columbus was not okay with Shapiro testifying about some questionable tax activity that was happening. Listen in to hear how far this guy went to keep his criminal…
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Season 3: Ep. 7 - Arthur Shapiro Part 1
Arthur Shapiro was a respected Columbus, Ohio, attorney, who counted billionaire and L Brands founder Lex Wexner among his clients. So why was Shapiro killed execution-style in 1985 on the west side of town? Shapiro was under investigation for tax fraud and failing to file income tax for seven...
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Season 3: Ep. 6 - The Ski Mask Rapist Part 2
Part two of the John Barry Simonis story. Dubbed the Ski Mask Rapist, Simonis gained infamy as one of the country's most prolific serial rapists. He was eventually captured and charged in Louisiana, but not before he brought his reign of terror to Central Ohio and another man paid for those…
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Season 3: Ep. 5 - The Ski Mask Rapist Part 1
Jon Barry Simonis, dubbed the Ski Mask Rapist, gained infamy as one of the country's most prolific serial rapists. He was eventually captured and charged in Louisiana in 1981, but not before he brought his reign of terror to Central Ohio and another man paid the price for those crimes. Listen to...
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Season 3: Ep. 4 - The School Teacher's Disappearance – Part Two
Investigators are stumped in the 1946 disappearance of 24-year-old school teacher, Lola Celli. In part two of the story, investigators are flooded with information on the whereabouts of Lola. Are any of the tips valid? It's a wild ride as the police try to separate fact from fiction in the...
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Season 3: Ep. 1 - Contrail of Chaos: The Mary Ann Blake Story
Mary Ann Blake was the most notorious teenage prostitute in Columbus, Ohio, having been arrested more than 100 times before her 18th birthday. Shortly after turning 18, Mary Ann stole $200 and a ring from Gary Moore, a man who identified himself as her boyfriend. In the aftermath of the theft,...
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Season 3: Ep. 2 - What Happened to George Mosko?
In 1987, George Mosko was living in Loveland, Colorado, and working as an industrial chemical salesman. His brother, John, was starting a business in Lima, New York, and wanted George to come work for him. According to friends, George did not want to leave Colorado, but felt duty-bound to help…
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Season 3: Ep. 3 - The School Teacher's Disappearance
In 1946, 24-year-old Lola Celli was a home economics teacher in West Liberty, Ohio. In February of that year, she made the 55-mile train trip from West Liberty to the home of her parents in Grandview Heights, a suburb of Columbus, for Washington's Birthday weekend. On Saturday morning, Lola…
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Season 2: Ep. 13 - The Just Sweats Aftermath
What happened to the central figures in the Just Sweats case? Robin and Jaclynn will cover that in the final episode of Season 2 of Dead Before Deadline. They will also discuss some of the unusual, and sometimes humorous, events that occurred during the years that Robin and colleague Cathy…
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Season 2: Ep. 12 - Yikes! - Just the result of a late-night brainstorming session
The chaos continues as Dr. Boggs heads to trial for murder. Hawkins has been extradited from Italy. He and Hanson are set to go on trial together. All three men will be convicted. In a subsequent interview, Hanson said that he and Hawkins concocted the murder-for insurance plan during what he...
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Season 2: Ep. 11 - Oh, thank you, Oprah
The reporters have a little fun with a Glendale detective who sent a spy to determine if Robin and Cathy had secret missives from John Hawkins. At this point, Hanson and Dr. Boggs are in jail, but Hawkins is still on the run. It's an upset lover in the Netherlands and an episode of the Oprah...
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Season 2: Ep. 10 - The resurrection of a grave robber's technique
Now, everyone is interested in the Just Sweats case. Authorities from California and Ohio converge on Fort Worth in hopes of getting custody of Gene Hanson. On Feb. 2, 1989, John Hawkins, Gene Hanson and Dr. Richard Boggs are charged with murder for financial gain with death penalty…
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Season 2: Ep. 9 - Here's what happens when you look like a drug dealer
It's January of 1989 and Columbus Dispatch reporters Robin Yocum and Cathy Candisky have a pretty clear picture of how the multi-million-dollar scam was supposed to work. What they don't know is the whereabouts of co-conspirators John Hawkins and Gene Hanson. Until . . . At 7:30 p.m. on Sunday,...
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Season 2: Ep. 8 - Two mothers searching for answers
Even though the insurance companies know that Dr. Boggs misidentified a corpse, the police in Glendale, California, are sitting on their thumbs. They arrogantly tell Robin's colleague, Cathy Candisky, "This may be a big deal in Columbus, Ohio, but this is L.A." In this episode, Katherine Lawley,...
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Season 2: Ep. 7 - Who is Wolfgang Eugene von Snowden, and why he spricht kein deutsch
Where's Gene Hanson? If the Just Sweats co-founder isn't dead, then where did he go? This episode follows Hanson to Florida and tracks his bizarre and often hilarious miscues as he tries to stay one step ahead of the authorities. He has plastic surgery and tries to pass himself off as a German...
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Season 2: Ep. 6 -There's a teensy problem; the corpse isn't Gene Hanson.
John Hawkins has collected $1 million from the Farmers New World Life Insurance Company upon the reported death of his business partner, Gene Hanson. But there's a problem. When he attempts to collect on other policies, he's told that authorities are now questioning the identity of the corpse...
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Season 2: Ep. 5 - A perfect victim for murder
Ellis Henry Greene was a lost soul. He was gay and had moved to Los Angeles in search of some kind of identity. He was an alcoholic, had held a variety of jobs, had no home and no clear path in his life. Ellis was the kind of guy who could disappear and not be missed. This made him the perfect...
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Season 2: Ep. 4 - Hawkins Saves the Day . . . sort of
John Hawkins is in a panic. By this point in their scheme, Dr. Boggs was to have killed a man to be the "dead" Hanson, and Hawkins could begin collecting on the $7 million in life insurance that Hanson carried and to which Hawkins was the beneficiary. With his business partner technically dead,...
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Season 2: Ep. 3 - The co-founder is dying . . . or is he?
The scam enters phase one. It is late 1987, and Gene Hanson is dying, or so he claims. He tells co-workers that he has AIDS and doesn't have much time to live. But this is just part of the scam. Hanson was depriving himself of sleep and losing weight in order to appear sick. With their accountant...
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Season 2 Premiere: The Just Sweats Case – a reporter's dream
Welcome to season two of Dead Before Deadline. This season hosts Robin Yocum and Jaclynn Yocum Wilson will take a deep dive into the singularly most fascinating case of Robin's career as a journalist – the Just Sweats Case. This story had everything – murder, multi-million-dollar scams, theft,...
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Season 2: Ep. 2: A Multi-million-dollar Scheme Takes Shape
John Hawkins and Gene Hanson have a potential gold mine in the chain of retail clothing stores they have opened in Columbus, Ohio, and Lexington, Kentucky. But Hawkins and Hanson were con men before they were businessmen, and old habits are hard to break. In this episode, we'll explore the…
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Host Robin Yocum Interview
On this special season finale of Dead Before Deadline, Jaclynn interviews her father Robin Yocum, the host of Dead Before Deadline to give listeners a better understanding of his backstory, his incredible career as a reporter, and much more! Listen in to hear all about Robin and what to expect...
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Season 1: Ep. 12 - Frayed Lives: David Drake's Tangled Path
In the newest episode of "Dead Before Deadline," hosts Robin Yocum and Jaclynn Wilson unravel the complex and poignant story of David Drake, a name that once echoed in the hidden corners of Columbus, Ohio for reasons that will leave listeners both troubled and bewildered. David wasn't just a…
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Season 1: Ep. 11 - Behind the Mask: Dr. Edward F. Jackson - "The Grandview Rapist"
In this gripping episode of "Dead Before Deadline," hosts Robin Yocum and Jaclynn Wilson take listeners into the harrowing world of Dr. Edward F. Jackson, ominously known as "The Grandview Rapist." A story that not only sends shivers down the spine but showcases the horrifying duality of a man: a...
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Season 1: Ep. 10 - The Circleville Letters
The air is thick with intrigue and unsolved mysteries in the latest installment of "Dead Before Deadline," as Robin and Jaclynn embark on a riveting exploration of the infamous Circleville Letters case. The episode unfolds a peculiar tale marked by perplexing correspondence, unfounded…
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Season 1: Ep. 9 - The Wild and Crazy Life of John Spirko - Part 3 of 3
Hold onto your seats as Robin and Jaclynn Wilson bring you the thrilling conclusion to the tumultuous and perplexing saga of John Spirko in this episode of "Dead Before Deadline." This final installment promises to leave listeners in awe as the chaotic tapestry of Spirko's life reaches its...
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Season 1: Ep. 8 - The Wild and Crazy Story of John Spirko - Part 2 of 3
Following the riveting revelations in the first part, "Dead Before Deadline" returns with the much-anticipated second installment of "The Wild and Crazy Life of John Spirko." Robin and Jaclynn take listeners deeper into the labyrinthine life of John Spirko, a man whose already tumultuous life…
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Season 1: Ep. 7 - The Wild and Crazy Story of John Spirko - Part 1 of 3
John Spirko has been in prison for the murder of Betty Jane Mottinger for 40 years. Dead Before Deadline host Robin Yocum believes he has spent four decades of his life incarcerated for a crime that he did not commit. Spirko, Yocum says, had nothing to do with the murder. He's the only guy Yocum...
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Season 1: Ep. 6 - The Lost Soul: The Heartbreaking Tale of Mary Hebeler
In this evocative episode of "Dead Before Deadline," Robin and Jaclynn Yocum transport listeners to the streets of Columbus, Ohio, painting a vivid yet somber picture of Mary Hebeler. Known to many as the town drunk, Mary's life was layered with struggles, sorrow, and a quest for belonging. "The...
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Season 1: Ep. 5 - The odd, the sad, and the funny...
On the latest riveting episode of "Dead Before Deadline," host Robin Yocum and his lovely daughter Jaclynn navigate us through a mixed bag of stories he encountered during his tenure on the crime beat. These tales, varying from the whimsical to the downright absurd, showcase the unpredictable...
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Season 1: Ep. 4 - Youthful Darkness: The Disturbing Tales of Bradley Porter and Jeffrey McDonald
In a chilling new installment of "Dead Before Deadline," Robin and Jaclynn Yocum delve into the deeply unsettling tales of two teenage boys who, despite their young age, committed heinous acts that would leave communities in shock and disbelief. Bradley Porter, a seemingly regular 16-year-old,...
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Season 1: Ep. 3 - The Sad Case of Kelly Prosser and Walter Mitchell
In this emotionally charged episode of "Dead Before Deadline," Robin and Jacqueline are back with another powerful story to cover. Listen in as they unravel the haunting story surrounding Kelly Prosser, a name that would become synonymous with heartbreak in the annals of crime reporting. Kelly's...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Dead Before Deadline with Robin YocumStep behind the yellow tape and dive deep into the pulse-pounding world of police reporting with Robin Yocum in "Dead Before Deadline." He is joined by his lovely daughter Jaclynn as she sits in for the audience asking the questions we are all thinking in these wild and crazy tales from Robin's time at the Dispatch, Yocum unravels a tapestry of tales that are as intriguing as they are raw. Each episode brings to life stories that run the gamut from the heart-wrenching to the humorously bizarre. Whether it's an oddball case that had the newsroom in splits or a somber story of loss that left an indelible mark, Yocum paints a vivid picture of life behind the byline.Navigating the gritty realities of crime reporting, "Dead Before Deadline" is more than just a recollection of cases and incidents; it's a nuanced exploration of the human stories intertwined in them. Join us on this journey, where the lines between the reporter and the reported blur, an
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STP Productions
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Dead Before Deadline have?
Dead Before Deadline currently has 50 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Dead Before Deadline about?
Dead Before Deadline with Robin YocumStep behind the yellow tape and dive deep into the pulse-pounding world of police reporting with Robin Yocum in "Dead Before Deadline." He is joined by his lovely daughter Jaclynn as she sits in for the audience asking the questions we are all thinking in these...
How often does Dead Before Deadline release new episodes?
Dead Before Deadline has 50 episodes. Check the episode list to see recent publication dates and frequency.
Where can I listen to Dead Before Deadline?
You can listen to Dead Before Deadline 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 Dead Before Deadline?
Dead Before Deadline is created and hosted by STP Productions.
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