Siblings in Crime

After a week-long vacation, Lars Mittank should have boarded a flight home to Germany.Instead, he ran.What followed was a decade-long mystery filled with paranoia, unanswered questions, and four competing theories, none of which fully explain what happened.This is the missing persons case of Lars Mittank.SourcesWikipedia — Disappearance of Lars Mittank Crime & Investigation — The Disappearance of Lars Mittank: Overview & Analysis People — All About Lars Mittank’s Mysterious Disappearance All That’s Interesting — The Disappearance of Lars Mittank And The Haunting Case Mirror — Chilling Mystery of the ‘Most Famous Missing Person’ AOL — Lars Mittank Was Last Seen Sprinting Toward a ForestDark Tales — The Disappearance of Lars Mittank True Crime Society — Lars Mittank Case Overview Reddit — Lars Mittank Disappearance Discussion (compiled timeline)

Before the Hinterkaifeck murders, the family noticed warning signs they couldn’t explain: footsteps overhead, a newspaper no one ordered, and tracks in the snow that led to the house but never away. What followed was a crime so unsettling it still has investigators, historians, and true crime fans asking the same question over 100 years later: who or what was inside that farmhouse?This is the case of Andreas Gruber, Cäzilia Gruber, Viktoria Gabriel, Cäzilia, Josef and Maria Baumgartner. Sources Wikipedia — Hinterkaifeck Murders onoff.gr — Hinterkaifeck Farm: 6 Dead and the Killer Lived There The True Crime Database — Hinterkaifeck Murders Mental Floss — The Chilling Story of the Hinterkaifeck Killings Headcount Coffee — The Unsolved Hinterkaifeck Murders Headcount Coffee — Hinterkaifeck Footprint Analysis StrangeCo Blog — The Hinterkaifeck Mystery Kim Parr (Medium) — Horror at Hinterkaifeck, Part II Jack Rosewood — The Hinterkaifeck Murders 10 Minute Murder — Six Murders, No Answers

For years, the small town of Skidmore, Missouri lived under the shadow of one man. Accused of dozens of crimes and known for intimidation tactics that kept witnesses silent, he seemed untouchable. But in the summer of 1981, everything changed. What happened next would leave investigators stunned, a community silent, and a case that remains unsolved to this day.This is the case of Ken McElroySources In Broad Daylight by Harry N. MacLeanWikipedia (Ken McElroy case, cross-referenced) A&E — case feature Fox2Now — reporting Crime LibraryMental FlossMorbidologyPatchU.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit (grand jury documentation) All That’s InterestingNorthwest Missouri NewsWeird History (limited, corroborated details) 

In April 1992, 24-year-old Lisa Ziegert vanished while closing a small-town card shop in Agawam, Massachusetts. Her belongings were left behind. The store showed signs of a struggle. And just days later, the worst was confirmed.Despite DNA evidence and hundreds of leads, the case went cold—leaving a community shaken and a family searching for answers for decades. That is until phenotyping narrowed down the suspect pool in 2016.This is the story of Lisa Ziegert… and the mystery that refused to stay buried.Sources A&E Documentary Transcript  Hampden County District Attorney Press Releases (Sept 18, 2017; Sept 25, 2019)  WWLP News (Sept 26, 2019)  Oxygen / Dateline: Unforgettable  Mystery Delver – Agawam’s Agony Catt’s True Crime Corner  Sportskeeda  Unsolved Mysteries (unsolved.com / Wiki) 

In May 2004, three suitcases were pulled from the Chesapeake Bay, each containing part of the same unidentified man. As investigators worked to piece together his identity, they uncovered a timeline filled with what seemed like an open and shut case. That is, until the  contradictions, missing evidence, and unanswered questions from the defense arise.Is there enough for reasonable doubt? You tell us!SourcesState v. McGuire (2011), New Jersey Superior Court Appellate Division — Justia  Trial Opening Statements, State v. McGuire (March 5, 2007)  Dr. Bradley Miller Trial Testimony, State v. McGuire NBC News — “Murder suspect’s ex-lover testifies in her trial” (2007)  ABC News / 20/20 — “Suitcase Killer Melanie McGuire Defends Innocence” (2020)  Oxygen — The Death Investigator with Barbara Butcher New Jersey Attorney General Press Release (April 23, 2007)  Fox News — “Who Is Melanie McGuire?” (2026)  Wikipedia — Melanie McGuire Case Summary A&E True Crime — “Who Is Melanie Slate McGuire?” Starcasm — “Suitcase Killer True Story Melanie McGuire” (2026)  History.com — “Human Remains Found in Suitcase Near Virginia Beach” John Glatt — To Have and To Kill (2010) Documentaries & MediaSuitcase Killer: The Melanie McGuire Story — Suitcase Killer: The Melanie McGuire Story (available on Netflix) 20/20 — “The Secret in the Suitcase” (available on Apple TV) 48 Hours — “The McGuire Diaries”To Have and To Kill — by John Glatt

In 1994, Alison Botha was abducted, brutally assaulted, and left for dead in Port Elizabeth, South Africa. What followed is one of the most extraordinary survival stories ever documented. Despite catastrophic injuries, Alison not only lived—she identified her attackers and helped bring them to justice. This episode follows the crime, the investigation, and Alison’s unimaginable fight to survive.To donate to the official Trust Fund that will help Alison with her medical expenses:Nedbank Trust Account No 1302230492Alison TrustFor international donations, include SWIFT code NEDSZAJJSources:Alison (2016 documentary film), directed by Uga Carlini — featuring Alison Botha, Dr. Comyn, Dr. Dimitri Angelov, Detective Melvin Humpel, Tiaan, and Marianne ThammI Have Life: Alison's Journey by Marianne Thamm (Penguin Random House, 1998)Daily Maverick — multiple articles covering the parole decision and Alison's brain aneurysm (2024-2025)News24 — reporting on the parole release of Frans du Toit and Theuns Kruger (July 2023)MISA (Motor Industry Staff Association) press release, July 2023South African Government media statements — Minister Pieter Groenewald's parole revocation announcement (February 2025)AllThatsInteresting.com — Alison Botha profileNelson Mandela University Council Africa Award citation (2016)

This week’s Siblings in Crime episode takes a break from our usual deep dives to explore something just as chilling—real stories from real people. From a father who murdered his entire family, to a predator living just down the street, to a shocking case involving a cop who got away with murder for decades… these Reddit stories prove that true crime isn’t always distant—it’s often closer than we think.Listen now for a peak into Reddit's home stories. Sources:https://www.reddit.com/r/AskReddit/comments/1kvl0lt/whats_the_craziest_true_crime_story_from_your/

Three teenagers. Three tragic deaths. All within weeks of each other. At first, they seem unrelated but when one student notices a chilling connection between all three… the story takes a turn no one saw coming.This is the case of Marcus Freeman, Wesley McKinley, Brittany Palumbo and the unlicensed hypnotist. Source:True Crime Story: Look Into My Eyes

On a cold February night in 2025, police rushed to a luxury apartment complex in Princeton, New Jersey after a resident called 911 to report smoke inside his home.What officers discovered inside the apartment would leave even experienced investigators stunned.But as the investigation unfolded, a deeper and more complicated story emerged involving mental illness, terrifying visions, and a family trying desperately to hold everything together.In this episode of Siblings in Crime, we examine the shocking case of the Hertgen brothers — and the tragic night that changed their family forever.SourcesMercer County Prosecutor’s OfficeMercer County Homicide Task Force – Affidavit of Probable CauseMercer County Superior CourtThe Daily PrincetonianLaw&Crime NetworkCourt TVNew York PostFOX 29 PhiladelphiaPlanet

On Labor Day night in 2014, an eight-year-old girl vanished from her home in Bullhead City, Arizona. There were no signs of forced entry, no sounds of a struggle, and no reason to believe a stranger had taken her. Within hours, searchers would find her buried in a shallow grave less than half a mile away. What followed was a fast-moving investigation that led detectives back to someone close to home.Sources:Arizona Department of Child Safety Fatality Summary – Isabella Grogan-Cannella (2014) ABC15 Arizona – Justin Rector Pleads Guilty in Murder of Isabella Grogan-Cannella CBS News – Police Say Shoeprints Linked Family Friend to Arizona Girl’s Murder Las Vegas Review-Journal – Man Gets Life Sentence for Killing Bullhead City Girl Reuters – Autopsy Shows Missing Arizona Girl Was Strangled to Death

In Part Two of the Cindy James case, the story takes a darker turn. After a public attack at Dunbar Park, hypnosis sessions introduce explosive allegations involving Roy Makepiece. Police surveillance turns up nothing. A female detective concludes Cindy is staging the events herself.Despite official doubt, the threats continue — fires, phone calls, drug overdoses, and a fourth strangulation.In 1989, Cindy disappears. Two weeks later, her body is found bound and injected with ten times the lethal dose of morphine. This is the controversial ending to one of Canada’s most debated cases.Sources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Cindy_JamesAudiobook- Death by Unknown Event by Danielle Elliot

For seven years, Cindy James reported being stalked, attacked, and nearly killed—multiple times. She hired private investigators. She passed through hospital doors again and again. And yet, police could never catch the person responsible. In this episode, we break down the beginning of the torment: the phone calls, the garage attack, the bloody kitchen scene, and the growing suspicion that someone close to Cindy may not be who they appear to be. Or… was something else happening entirely?Listen now to PART ONE and turn on notifications to not miss PART TWO next weekSources:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Cindy_JamesAudiobook- Death by Unknown Event by Danielle Elliot

In July 2011, a six-year-old boy suffers a catastrophic fall inside a historic California mansion. Just days later, another tragedy unfolds at the same property before dawn. What authorities ruled a suicide would later divide two legal systems and spark years of debate.This is the case of Rebecca Zahau.SourcesSan Diego County Sheriff’s Department Investigation Reports (2011) & 2018 Case ReviewSan Diego County Medical Examiner’s ReportSan Diego Superior Court Records – 2018 Wrongful Death TrialABC News Coverage (2011–2018)Oxygen Network Documentary CoverageRady Children’s Hospital Reporting on the 2011 Coronado Fall IncidentWikipedia – 2011 Coronado Mansion Case

On March 21, 2002, a man paddles into the cold waters of the North Sea… and never comes back. His kayak washes ashore. His body never does. For five years, his family mourns him—until one day, all the answers to what happened to John Darwin came walking in. Sources:The Thief, His Wife and the Canoe – The GuardianJohn Darwin Disappearance Case – WikipediaWhere Are John & Anne Darwin Now? – Cosmopolitan UKKansas Truck Driver Denies Affair With “Canoe Man” – Evening StandardJohn Darwin: The Canoe Man – YouTube Documentaryyoutube.com/watch?v=8FaqclXPlCM&feature=youtu.behttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mwUhAAAZA0&feature=youtu.be

Welcome to Part Two!Todays episode follows the investigation backward — from Brianna Denison’s abduction to the assaults that came before it. As survivors come forward and DNA links the cases together, police realize they are hunting a serial offender whose violence is intensifying.Hope of finding this suspect was dwindling, until an unexpected tip lead the investigators down an entire new path.(If anyone has any information on the Caitlin Marie Dension case, call the Crime Stoppers hotline at 1-800-252- TIPS (8477). All tips are anonymous.)SOURCES USEDCNNNBC NewsDateline NBC / Dateline: Secrets UncoveredOxygen NetworkCrimeLibraryWikipediaCourt Records & Trial Transcriptshttps://youtu.be/xZLPJAQRx9E?si=FMQD6CffjK4R6mSL

That's right, another TWO PARTERIn Part One, we walk through the final hours before Brianna Denison vanished from a rental house near the University of Nevada, Reno and the days following. From a night out at a major snowboarding event to a shocking discovery the next morning, investigators quickly realized this was no voluntary disappearance. As early leads were ruled out, a disturbing forensic connection began to emerge — hinting that Brianna’s case was part of something far larger.SourcesNevada LegislatureCNNNBC NewsDateline NBC / Dateline: Secrets UncoveredOxygen NetworkCrimeLibraryWikipediaLocal & National News OutletsCourt Records & Appellate Documentshttps://youtu.be/xZLPJAQRx9E

In 1876, Charles Bravo died in agony after ingesting a lethal dose of antimony inside his own bedroom. His wife Florence became the prime suspect in the court of public opinion, yet the evidence against her remained circumstantial. With six doctors involved, conflicting testimony, and multiple potential motives, this episode explores whether Bravo was murdered or whether his volatile psychology led to his own destruction.(We apologize for the audio issues - we have new equipment on the way! True Crime News with Blake will be popping up later this week. Thank you for the patience, stay tuned!)-------Sources-https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h-vCsXARbnshttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOD5PexcI20&t=123s

In Part One, Inna Budnystka is found beaten and left for dead. Investigators have no clear explanation for what happened to her — or how she could vanish from a hotel filled with security cameras without being seen leaving. With no answers, and no suspect, Inna files a lawsuit against the hotel, alleging a lack of security.Ironically, security isn’t the problem.For the first time in months, the case begins to warm up thanks to Ken Brennan.He is now armed with surveillance footage, a man whose actions don’t blend in, timestamps that don’t add up and a suitcase that raises questions. The pieces have always been there — they just haven’t been put together the right way.Until now.SourcesThis episode was researched using reporting and records from:ABC NewsABC 20/20Colorado court records related to People v. Michael Lee JonesMiami-Dade Police Department investigative materialsMiami Airport Regency Hotel recordsCODIS DNA match recordsInvestigative work by private investigator Ken BrennanSurvivor testimony and court statements

When Inna Budnystka is found brutally beaten and left for dead, investigators struggle to explain how she could disappear from a hotel filled with surveillance cameras. In Part One, we trace Inna’s survival, the early investigation, and the troubling gaps in the timeline — leading to a private investigator, Ken Brennan, who begins to question everything police thought they knew. And for the first time in months, the case gets it big break.Sources UsedABC News: Serial rapist loose for years before abandoned suitcase put stop to attacksABC 20/20: Michael Lee Jones Arrested: Inna Budnystka BreakthroughABC News video reporting and interviewsCourt records and investigative summaries included in the provided PDF source packet

Donald Harvey wasn’t a doctor. He wasn’t a nurse. But for nearly two decades, he had access to the most vulnerable patients — and he used that access to kill. This episode reveals how a single autopsy unraveled a long-hidden pattern of poisoning, suffocation, and manipulation… including the disturbing truth about those Harvey claimed to love. Today we explore how one of the most prolific serial killers in America operated undetected.Sources:https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Donald_Harvey — Case summary & details (fan-curated but useful contextual reference)https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donald_Harvey — Verified overview of his life, crimes, sentencing, and timelinehttps://www.wcpo.com/news/local-news/her-dad-died-at-the-hands-of-a-serial-killer-in-cincinnati-now-she-wants-others-to-learn-more-about-his-life — WCPO investigative piece with Pat Minarcin reportinghttps://murderpedia.org/male.H/h/harvey-donald.htm — Radford database timeline and victim listhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xVpJx3xVF1M — Video source (likely documentary/overview)https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeP7SSYf4ec — Video source (interview/documentary coverage)The Angel of Death by Mark Stokes — Book source you asked to include

38 year old elite skydiver Els Van Doren fell to her death in 2006 after both her main and reserve parachutes failed to open—an almost impossible coincidence. Investigators soon discovered sabotage, her parachute lines had been cut.With no forensic evidence and only a web of emotional motives, prosecutors built a purely circumstantial case. Was it jealousy? Opportunity? Or a tragic misinterpretation?SOURCES Primary reporting & factual verificationVRT NWS (Flemish public broadcasting) – trial coverage & psychological reportsDe Standaard – Belgian national newspaper reporting on the investigation and convictionHet Laatste Nieuws – Flemish coverage of relationships, timeline, and trial testimonyReuters – English-language reporting on conviction and appealsThe Guardian – international coverage of trial outcome and controversyArchived Belgian court summaries (public portions) – conviction, charges, appeals statusSupplemental contextual sourcesSkydiving gear & malfunction statistics via USPA and European parachuting associationsExpert rigging commentary cited in Belgian press regarding line-cutting time and methodPublicly available interviews & commentary from Belgian legal analysts regarding circumstantial cases

A family man dragged from his own home. Factories set on fire. Candy pulled from shelves in a nationwide panic. And somewhere out there, a group writing letters that start with: “To the police fools... ” This is the story of the Monster with 21 Faces—Japan’s candy terrorist who vanished without leaving a single convicted suspect behind.SourcesVocal Media – “Glico Morinaga and the Mystery of the ‘Monster With 21 Faces’ (Parts 3–4)” VocalPodcast – The Monster with 21 Faces (Apple Podcasts series) SpotifyWikipedia – “The Monster with 21 Faces” WikipediaWikipedia – “Glico Morinaga case” WikipediaPeople Magazine – “A Candy Exec Was Abducted — Then Terrifying Cyanide Threats Triggered a Massive Recall of Treats” (recent summary of the case and Yamamoto’s death) People.com

On New Year’s Day 2008, 24-year-old Meredith Emerson set out for a solo hike on Georgia’s Blood Mountain. When she didn’t return, a frantic search led investigators into a chilling pattern spanning three states — and straight to a drifter named Gary Michael Hilton. In this episode, we uncover the truth behind Meredith’s disappearance, the manhunt that followed, and the other victims whose stories helped reveal who Hilton really was.SOURCES USED AJC (Atlanta Journal-Constitution) — comprehensive reporting on Meredith Emerson, Hilton’s arrest, plea deal, sentencing11Alive News (Atlanta) — timeline reconstruction, interviews, GBI statements, ATM footage reportingGBI official statements & press releases — search details, evidence findings, BOLOCourtTV / CrimeTV “The National Forest Serial Killer” documentary — Hilton’s interviews, taped-mask ATM footage, timeline detailsYouTube – Real Crime / CrimeTV documentaries:“Gary Michael Hilton: The National Forest Serial Killer” https://youtu.be/hc5mR0ndQCE“Gary Michael Hilton Interview & Case Coverage” https://youtu.be/zgihjSNQaOwTallahassee Democrat & AP News — Cheryl Dunlap case investigation, trial, autopsy detailsAsheville Citizen-Times & Charlotte Observer — Bryant case, federal charges, sentencing documentsU.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) press releases — federal plea and sentencing information for John & Irene BryantFBI case summaries & investigative commentary — multi-state linkage, serial offender profileLast Hike on Blood Mountain podcast — detailed reporting on Meredith’s disappearance, friends’ actions, timeline, search detailsGeorgia & Florida court filings — plea transcripts, sentencing orders, investigative summariesNational Forest Service reporting & missing hiker case records — environmental context, victim movement, search data

A missing dog. A calculated home invasion. A fire, a police report, and allegations that stretched across decades. This is the story has it all!This is the sroty of Cece and Jim Doane - and the marriage that survived every accusation.Primary Sources:Phoenix New Times — “Die Hard” by Terry Greene Sterling (2001)Not a Very Good Murderer — Ronan Farrow (podcast/audiobook)Secondary Mentions:Arizona Republic reporting on the Doane robbery (historical reference)Public records and filings referenced in Phoenix New TimesParadise Valley Police Department details summarized in New Times reporting

When Joey Fulgham was found dead in his bed, suspicion fell fast on his ex-wife, Kristi — and then on her 13-year-old half-brother, Tyler Edmonds. What followed was a confession caught on camera and one of Mississippi’s most shocking reversals. This is the case that exposed coercion, flawed forensics, and the power of family manipulation.Sources UsedEdmonds v. State, 955 So. 2d 787 (Miss. 2007) – Mississippi Supreme Court opinion overturning Tyler’s conviction.Fulgham v. State, 46 So. 3d 315 (Miss. 2010) – Kristi Fulgham’s capital-murder conviction and sentencing.National Registry of Exonerations – Case #10433 (Tyler Edmonds).Court TV coverage: State of Mississippi v. Tyler Edmonds (2004 trial) and Freeing Tyler Edmonds (2007 segment).Murderpedia – entries for Tyler Edmonds and Kristi Fulgham.Find a Grave – Joseph Thomas Fulgham Memorial (#39527792).Evil Sister Frames 13-Year-Old Brother for Murder | The Case of Tyler Edmonds & Joey Fulgham (YouTube, @ 13:30 timestamp for Tyler’s own recantation statement).WLBT News Archives – coverage of Kristi Fulgham’s death-sentence trial and family statements.Commercial Dispatch (Columbus, MS) – Joey Fulgham obituary and community reporting.Innocence Project Press Archive – investigation into Dr. Steven Hayne’s forensic testimony.law.justia.com/cases/mississippi/supreme-court/2017/2015-ca-01788-sct.html

Happy Halloween! If you missed our first ever Tiktok Livestream, thats okay! Here is what you missed. We traveled back to 1804 London — a village buried in fog, fear, and superstition. Locals swear a ghost stalks the graveyard, and one man sets out to stop it. But when he pulls the trigger, the truth is more terrifying than any haunting.Listen now for this spooky true-crime story.Catch us on next months Live at Siblingsincrimepod on all platforms.SOURCES:Old Bailey Online – Trial of Francis Smith (January 1804)Library of Congress Law Blog – “The Case of a Ghost That Haunted England for Over Two Hundred Years”Historic Mysteries – “The Hammersmith Ghost Murder”Londonist – “The Hammersmith Ghost Story”Regina Jeffers Legal History Review – “The Hammersmith Ghost: Legal Precedent in UK Self-Defense”Wikipedia – Hammersmith Ghost Murder Case (cross-checked with Old Bailey transcripts)

Welcome back to SICWhen police respond to a welfare check in a quiet New York neighborhood, they expect a simple call. Instead, they find a locked bedroom door, two glasses on a nightstand, and a man lying cold on the bed. It looks like suicide. But as detectives dig deeper, they uncover a second tragedy in the same small family — and a pattern that’s far too precise to be coincidence.This is the story of David Castor, and the investigation that would expose one of the most chilling cases in upstate New York history.Sources CitedABC News – “Black Widow Stacey Castor Sentenced to More Than 50 Years” (March 2009)ABC’s 20/20 – “Black Widow” episode (2009)NY Daily News – “Woman Gets 50 Years in Antifreeze Murder” (March 6, 2009)Syracuse.com – Onondaga County trial coverage (2008–2009)Murderpedia – “Stacey Castor” case fileCourt transcripts and sentencing coverage (Judge Anthony Aloi, Onondaga County Court, 2009)Victim Impact Statement – Ashley Wallace (March 5, 2009)https://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=7394363&page=1https://web.archive.org/web/20090311052333/http://www.nydailynews.com/news/us_world/2009/03/06/2009-03-06_woman_gets_50_years_in_antifreeze_murder.htmlhttps://murderpedia.org/female.C/c/castor-stacey.htm

Welcome to SIC!In February 1990, four members of the Parker family were murdered inside their Walnut, Mississippi farmhouse, their home set ablaze to hide the crime. What followed was one of the most horrifying cases in state history—and a decades-long fight for justice. This week, we investigate the Parker family murders, the paroled men behind them, and the surviving sons who never stopped demanding accountability.From Remember The Parkers Facebook group page posted on 2/2/2024“If you have a minute today, please call the attorney general of Mississippi and ask what's th tatus of Robert Simon, Jr and Anthony Cari+1 (601) 359-3680.Thank you all in advance for your care and support over these 34 years.”Sources UsedSimon v. State of Mississippi (1993 & 1995) – Mississippi Supreme CourtCarr v. State of Mississippi (1995) – Mississippi Supreme CourtSimon v. Epps (5th Circuit, 2009) – Federal appellate reviewMississippi Bureau of Investigation case files and coroner’s summariesClarion-Ledger archival reporting, 1990–2021Sid Salter, “Reckoning Eludes Final Surviving Member of the Carl Parker Family in Quitman County”, Magnolia Tribune, Sept 15, 2021

It was early May in the year 2000 in the deep Antarctic winter. The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station was cut off from the outside world with flights grounded during their winter months between April and October. The approximately 50 person winter crew knew that they were months away from anyone coming or going from this frozen continent.The evening of May 11th, after a long shift at the observatory, Rodney, an Australian astrophysicist, complained of nausea. In less than 36 hours, he was dead.Was this an accident or something far more sinister?Listen, rate, subscribe and comment! Thank you for the support-The SibsSOURCESNew Zealand Herald (2014): “New twist in case of Antarctica poisoning death.”ABC News Australia (2014): “Antarctica: Rodney Marks death mystery.”RNZ National (2024): Stephen Davis investigates a cold case whodunnit.NZ Coroner’s Report (2008): Findings by Coroner Richard McElrea, Christchurch.Universe Today (2008): “Astrophysicist’s South Pole death remains a mystery.”LiveScience (2015): “Why Antarctica fuels excess drinking.”Wired (2015): “Scientists in Antarctica drink a lot — maybe too much.”The Sydney Morning Herald (2001): Obituary confirming Marks’s violin playing.SouthPoleStation.com: “Blue Flash Band” archive photo, confirming Marks on guitar.NZ Listener (2024): “Lawless land: Kiwi journo on decades spent investigating a suspicious death in Antarctica.”HowStuffWorks (2019): “Who’s in charge of investigating deaths in Antarctica?”Conspiracy Theories (Podcast, 2025): “Murder in Antarctica.”

Welcome to SIC!This week we dive into a case littered with forensics and betrayal.When Cara Knott’s car was discovered near the Mercy Road bridge, detectives were faced with more questions than answers.There were no witnesses, no clear motive, and no reason a young woman should vanish just minutes from home.But as investigators began piecing together the evidence — fibers, tire tracks, and a single golden thread — the truth that emerged would devastate a community and forever change how California responds when someone goes missing.SourcesLos Angeles Times, Dec 30 1986 – Jun 23 1988; Jul 27 1996; Dec 7 2000San Diego Union-Tribune, Jan 1987 – Jan 2011People v. Peyer (1989 Cal.App. 4th)Forensic Files, “Badge of Betrayal” (Season 4, Episode 2)KPBS News, “Remembering Cara Knott,” Dec 2016California DOJ Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit – Historical NotesCaltrans District 11, “Cara Knott Memorial Bridge” Dedication Records

This week on Siblings in Crime, we’re exploring three short stories in the unsettling world of break-ins. We kick things off with two gripping Reddit stories that capture the shock and fear of discovering someone inside where they don’t belong. Then, we take things closer to home with a childhood story from our own past — a real moment that ties into this week’s theme. Listen Now and Stay Safe!

Welcome to SIC PART TWO Just one year after terrorizing a family from inside their walls, Daniel LaPlante’s crimes escalated to something even more horrifying. In December 1987, in the small town of Townsend, Massachusetts, a husband returned home to find the most horrific scene. The investigation revealed a trail of stolen guns, matching bullets, and chilling evidence — all leading back to the boy once mistaken for a ghost. This half of the story unravels the brutal murders of the Gustafson family and the trial that finally put Daniel LaPlante behind bars.Sources Commonwealth v. LaPlante, 416 Mass. 433 (1993) – Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court opinion (detailed trial evidence, forensic testing, ballistics, manhunt evidence).Commonwealth v. LaPlante, 482 Mass. 399 (2019) – resentencing appeal (juvenile life sentencing, parole eligibility after 45 years).Oxygen True Crime: “Daniel LaPlante Murdered Pregnant Woman And Kids” (2018).Archival news reports: Boston Globe, Lowell Sun, UPI (contemporaneous coverage of manhunt, capture, trial).

Welcome to SIC, PART ONE:It began with whispers in the night, noises no one could place. A family grieving their mother thought it might be her, reaching across the veil. But as days passed, the whispers became knocks, the knocks became footsteps, and the fear in their home turned suffocating. Whatever was in their walls, it was alive. Listen now and turn on notifications to hear next weeks PART TWO of The Killer Ghost.Sources UsedCommonwealth v. LaPlante, 416 Mass. 433 (1993) – Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court opinion (trial evidence, ballistics, forensic details, manhunt evidence).Commonwealth v. LaPlante, 482 Mass. 399 (2019) – resentencing appeal, parole eligibility after 45 years.Oxygen True Crime, “Daniel LaPlante Murdered Pregnant Woman And Kids” (2018).News reports: Boston Globe, UPI, Lowell Sun (archival coverage of arrest and trial).Secondary storytelling: MrBallen, Wendigoon, creepypasta retellings — noted for legend vs. fact contrasts.

In 1974, nineteen-year-old Patricia Hearst was ripped from her apartment at gunpoint. Within days, a radical group calling themselves the Symbionese Liberation Army claimed her as their prisoner and issued a ransom demand unlike anything America had ever seen. But when Patty finally resurfaced, she wasn’t begging for freedom. She was carrying a rifle.Sources UsedFBI case history: fbi.gov – Famous Cases: Patty HearstHistorical overview: History.com – Patty Hearst KidnappedDetailed timeline & trial: Famous Trials – Patty HearstContextual background: Wikipedia – Patty Hearsthttps://famous-trials.com/pattyhearst/2209-tapeshttps://archives.fbi.gov/archives/news/stories/2009/february/hearst_020409https://youtu.be/qZLN1UHliRE?si=1fnj_psoS5Q3QtcR

A decorated Air Force major is found brutally murdered in his own driveway after a late-night errand. At first, the investigation points to his secretive military career but as detectives dig deeper, they uncover a story far more personal. Whispers of betrayal, hidden connections, and a shocking revelation at his funeral leave his family reeling.Sources UsedOn the Case with Paula Zahn episode on David Turenne’s murderWJHG NewsItemLive.comInjusticebusters.org case archiveTrial coverage and Canadian press reports

Welcome back to SIC!Today we cover one of the most confusing missing persons cases from the early 2000's.In February 2004, 21-year-old nursing student Maura Murray vanished after a car crash on a dark New Hampshire road. Within minutes, she was gone — leaving behind a locked car, spilled wine, and a trail of confusing leads. Was she running away, the victim of foul play, or caught in something stranger? In this episode, we unravel the final days of Maura’s life, the conflicting witness accounts, and the haunting theories that still leave more questions than answers.Sources:Media Pressure podcast by Julie Murray (sister of Maura Murray)New Hampshire State Police Cold Case Unit reportsFBI ViCAP missing persons bulletin on Maura MurrayDisappearance of Maura Murray – WikipediaThe Maura Murray Evidence ProjectTrue Crime Addict by James Renner (investigative reporting, with noted controversy)The Disappearance of Maura Murray (Oxygen documentary, 2017)News coverage and anniversary reports: People, The Sun, Boston Globe, Concord Monitor

The murder of Hae Min Lee, and the conviction of her ex-boyfriend Adnan Syed, has become one of the most debated true crime cases of our time. With resurfacing witnesses, changing stories, and DNA evidence revealed, the question remains unsolved: is Adnan Syed guilty? If Adnan didn’t kill Hae, then who did? From the original evidence to the most current updates, this episode offers a surface-level rundown of the case that launched modern true crime podcasting.Sources:Serial (Sarah Koenig, 2014)Undisclosed Podcast (Rabia Chaudry, Susan Simpson, Colin Miller)Truth & Justice Podcast (Bob Ruff, recent Aug 2025 episode)Baltimore Sun archives (1999–2025 coverage)Court filings & Maryland Judiciary updatesInnocence Project updates on DNA testing

Welcome back to another episode of SIC!This weeks case started as a quick trip to see a used car. Somewhere between the parking lot and the open road, 18-year-old Zebb Quinn took an unexpected detour — and was never seen again. Four days later, his car surfaced under eerie circumstances: headlights still glowing, a puppy in the seat, and lipstick markings on the back window. The clues are strange, the connections even stranger, and every possible lead seems to raise more questions than it answers.Listen now for all the clues, theories and confessions.Sources:Asheville Citizen-Times archivesState of North Carolina v. Jason Owens court documentsNorth Carolina Department of Public Safety offender recordsWLOS ABC 13 news reportsWikipedia – Murder of Zebb Quinn

What happens when the justice system isn’t fast—or harsh—enough for a grieving parent? In this episode of Siblings in Crime, we dive into two true stories of vigilante justice that shocked the world. First, we follow the case of Gary Plauché, the Louisiana father who calmly waited at an airport with a revolver in his boot—then shot his son’s abuser on live television. Then, we cross the ocean to West Germany, where Marianne Bachmeier walked into a courtroom and gunned down the man who murdered her 7-year-old daughter. Both parents took the law into their own hands. Both were arrested. And both were asked the same question: Was it justice… or just revenge?Sources:Gary Plauché & Jody Plauché Case:Plauché, Jody. Why, Gary, Why? (2019)People Magazine – “Jody Plauché Speaks Out”Propensity Podcast – Episode on Jody PlauchéESPN – “A Father’s Justice” by Mike FishNews.com.au – “Gary Plauché’s Son Speaks About Vigilante Killing”The Guardian – Jody Plauché InterviewAllThatsInteresting – “The Gary Plauché Story”Marianne Bachmeier Case:Wikipedia – “Marianne Bachmeier”HowStuffWorks – “Marianne Bachmeier’s Courtroom Shooting”The Evidence Locker Podcast – Ep. 68: Vigilante MotherMorbidology – “Marianne Bachmeier: The Vengeance of a Mother”AllThatsInteresting – “The Vigilante Justice of Marianne Bachmeier”Medium – “The Mother Who Avenged Her 7-Year-Old Daughter”

In the early 1980s, Minneapolis was terrorized by a mysterious voice on the other end of 911 calls. The man was sobbing- sometimes incoherent, sometimes begging for help- but always too late to save his victims. For years, police struggled to identify the caller behind the murders and assaults that shook the city. In this chilling episode, we follow the case from the first desperate call to the final confession of the man the media would call... The Weepy-Voiced Killer.Sources:A&E – Cold Case Files: “Weepy-Voiced Killer”Star Tribune Archives – Paul Michael Stephani Case Reports (1982–1997)FBI Case Summaries on Serial Offender Profiling, 1980sYouTube – Weepy-Voiced Serial Killer Confesses to More Crimes | Cold Case Files | A&ECourt Records: State of Minnesota v. Paul Michael Stephani (1982)YouTube - 911 Calls of the Weepy Voiced Killer - Paul Michael Stephani

On a cold night in North Philadelphia, flames tore through a family home. A ten-day-old baby girl was believed to have died in the fire, leaving behind only smoke, confusion, and a mother who never fully accepted the story she was told.As the years passed, the case was closed—but one detail stayed lodged in Luz Cuevas’s mind: the window was open.This episode unpacks a tragedy that never sat right, a grieving mother dismissed as delusional, and a birthday party that changed everything.Sources UsedCBS NewsPeople MagazineE! OnlineThe GuardianTampa Bay TimesAOL NewsVindy ArchivesWikipedia - Delimar Vera CaseReddit - r/MrBallenCrime and Coffee CoupleLittle Girl Lost Movie

A man buys a $20 plane ticket with cash. Thirty minutes later, the flight crew is handing him parachutes and $200,000 cash. Then… he disappears. No gun. No struggle. Just a calm voice, a rear stairway, and a case that has haunted the FBI ever since. This week, we take you inside the unraveling of one of the boldest escapes in aviation history.Sources UsedFBI Case Files and Archived Reports on the Cooper InvestigationSkyjack: The Hunt for D.B. Cooper by Geoffrey GrayD.B. Cooper: The Real McCoy by Bernie Rhodes and Russell CalameFBI.gov Official 2016 Closure StatementWitness interviews including Tina Mucklow and Bill Mitchell (passenger)Flight logs and aircraft records of N467US (Boeing 727-100)Tom Colbert’s investigative team and the decoded letters 

A girl goes missing. But she never leaves her home.In this chilling episode, we unravel the case of Josef Fritzl—the Austrian father who imprisoned his daughter Elisabeth in a hidden cellar for 24 years. While the world believed she’d joined a cult, Fritzl was raising two separate families: one in the light… and one in total darkness.What begins as a missing person case unravels into one of the most horrifying deceptions in modern history.When a teenage girl collapses in 2008, doctors start asking questions. And behind eight locked doors, the truth begins to surface.Listen @Siblingsincrimepod everywhere Content Warning: This episode contains discussion of sexual violence, incest, child abuse, and long-term captivity. Listener discretion is strongly advised.Sources:The Guardian, “The basement torture chamber of Josef Fritzl,” 2008https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/apr/28/austria.internationalcrimeBBC News, “Josef Fritzl: The man who imprisoned his daughter,” 2009https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17820709Der Spiegel, “Fritzl Speaks: ‘I Knew What I Was Doing Was Wrong,’” 2008https://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/fritzl-speaks-i-knew-what-i-was-doing-was-wrong-a-552224.htmlABC News, “Josef Fritzl Admits Imprisoning Daughter for 24 Years,” 2008https://abcnews.go.com/Health/story?id=5044586Reuters, “Neighbors relieved as Fritzl dungeon sealed off,” 2013https://www.reuters.com/article/us-austria-fritzl-idUSBRE95K0F520130621

Welcome to SIC!When a double homicide shakes a Southern lakeside town, a teenage killer is sent to prison — and a grieving daughter is left to pick up the pieces. Years later, she returns to the family estate, determined to rebuild not just the house, but something deeper. What follows is a story of legacy, loss, and the radical choice to forgive the unforgivable.In today’s episode, we explore a haunting true crime that spans decades, questions what justice really looks like, and challenges everything we think we know about redemption.Sources:https://people.com/crime/ark-woman-befriended-moms-killer-out-of-spiritual-obligation-and-then-he-murdered-herhttps://people.com/crime/inside-the-bizarre-case-of-a-killer-striking-twice-23-years-apart-murdering-a-mother-and-daughterhttps://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/authorities-say-travis-lewis-allegedly-killed-martha-mcmayhttps://aymag.com/murder-mystery-murder-at-horseshoe-lake-part-1https://teenkillers.org/juvenile-lifers/offenders-cases-state/arkansas-offenders/travis-lewishttps://www.reddit.com/r/TrueCrimeDiscussion/comments/1ccajjw/daughter_forgave_her_mothers_killer_gave_him_a

They looked like ordinary teenagers—ribbons in their hair, bicycles underfoot, lipstick religiously applied. But behind every smile was a secret. And behind every secret… a weapon.In Nazi-occupied Holland, a string of unexplained deaths begins to unfold. A soldier disappears after a flirtatious encounter. A woman is shot in a park. A collaborator winds up in a canal. No one sees a connection. But this wasn’t chaos. It was precision.In this episode of Siblings in Crime, we follow a story that starts with compassion and ends with a gunshot. Based on the true lives of Freddie and Truus Oversteegen, two teenage girls turned assassins, this tale unravels the most unlikely faces of resistance.Because sometimes, the deadliest people in history… are the ones you’d never think to fear.Sources:BBC Reel: The Teenage Dutch Girls Who Seduced and Killed Nazishttps://www.bbc.com/reel/video/p0808hpmTime Magazine: Inside the Remarkable Friendship of 3 Teenage Girls Who Fought the Nazishttps://time.com/5661142/dutch-resistance-friendship/History.com: Freddie and Truus Oversteegen: Teenagers Who Killed Nazishttps://www.history.com/articles/dutch-resistance-teenager-killed-nazis-freddie-oversteegenOpen Culture: How Two Teenage Dutch Sisters Ended Up Joining the Resistance and Assassinating Nazishttps://www.openculture.com/2020/07/how-two-teenage-dutch-sisters-ended-up-joining-the-resistance-and-assassinating-nazis-during-world-war-ii.htmlThe Guardian: Hannie Schaft: The Girl With Red Hair Who Fought the Nazishttps://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/jul/29/hannie-schaft-dutch-resistance-teenager-killed-nazisBrickTanks Blog: Heroes of WWII – Freddie and Truus Oversteegenhttps://bricktanks.co.uk/blogs/news/heroes-of-wwii-freddie-and-truus-oversteegenSmithsonian Magazine: Teenage Assassins Who Fought the Nazis in the Netherlandshttps://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/teenage-girls-who-resisted-nazis-in-wwii-180975265/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hannie_Schaft

When 47-year-old Teresita Basa was found murdered in her Chicago apartment in 1977, detectives were left with almost nothing- no suspects, no forced entry, and no clear motive. The case went cold… until months later, a chilling new lead emerged from the most unlikely of places: a coworker’s startling experience.What followed is one of the most baffling and controversial murder investigations in American history. A name and specifics of the case from an unusual suspect would eventually lead to a confession, recovered stolen property, and a courtroom reckoning.Was it coincidence? Instinct? Or something that defies explanation?Join Ally and Blake as they unravel the strange, true story of how a voice from the grave helped solve a murder.SourcesChicago Tribune Archives (1977–1979)The Washington Post – “Case Solved by a Ghost?”National Institute of Justice: Forensic Evidence and Arrest Rates in Homicide Cases (2010)True Crime: An Encyclopedia of Serial Killers, Criminology & ForensicsWLS-TV Chicago News ReportsTrial transcripts & court summaries from The People v. Allan ShoweryInterviews cited in: Unsolved Mysteries (NBC, 1996) and Deadly Women (ID Network)

When a beloved record store owner in a small English town collapses in the alley behind his shop, no one suspects the smiling customer who calmly watches it happen. But beneath the surface of a routine Thursday lies a disturbing plan- a clinical attack, carried out with chilling precision. In this episode, we unpack the true story of Gary Lewis and Darren Harris, a former NHS worker who weaponized his medical access in a way no one saw coming.Sources:Sentencing Remarks – R v Darren Harris (Judiciary.uk)BBC News – “Northallerton: Nurse guilty of attempted murder in record shop attack”The Northern Echo – Coverage of trial and victim statement[Cleveland Police – Press statements (Jan–Apr 2025)]ITV News – “Man injected former police officer with muscle relaxant”

In August 1991, journalist Danny Casolaro was found dead in a hotel bathtub in Martinsburg, West Virginia. His wrists were slashed, and a note lay nearby. Authorities ruled it a suicide. But Casolaro had been investigating a sprawling conspiracy he called “The Octopus,” linking government corruption, stolen software, and covert operations. He had warned friends: “If anything happens to me, it wasn’t an accident.” In this episode, we dive into Casolaro’s mysterious death and the web of intrigue he sought to expose. What truly happened to Danny Casolaro?Sources:“Danny Casolaro” – Wikipedia“The Octopus: The Secret Government and Death of Danny Casolaro” by Kenn Thomas and Jim Keith“American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders” – Netflix Docuseries“The Mysterious Death of Danny Casolaro” – Unsolved Mysteries“What Happened to Danny Casolaro?” – People.com“DOJ Ordered Police Notes Contradicting the Suicide Narrative” – MuckRock 

When 35-year-old Dustin Kjersem set out for a peaceful solo camping trip in the forests near Big Sky, Montana, it was supposed to be routine. A fire, a tent, and a plan to meet up with his girlfriend the next day. But when he missed that scheduled time, what followed was a discovery so violent it was first mistaken for a bear attack.As investigators begin to peel back the layers of the scene, they uncover not a wild animal—but a man with a violent past, a chilling confession, and a plan to erase every trace of what he had done. This is a story of kindness turned fatal, of justice pursued deep in the woods, and of the small detail that cracked the case wide open.In this week’s episode of Siblings in Crime, we retrace the final hours of Dustin’s life, the disturbing background of his killer, and the investigation that brought a predator to justice.Sources:KBZK – Suspect identified in the Moose Creek murderKRTV – Arrest in brutal killing of Dustin KjersemFox News – Suspect claimed dog led to tent killingBozeman Daily Chronicle – Court records detail timelineMontana Right Now – Abbey pleads not guiltyDahl Funeral Home Obituary – Dustin Kjersemhttps://youtu.be/aBX2CErfk3M?si=QvxYUxHq9HGbOyzx

On December 13th, 2020, 21-year-old Jason Landry left his college apartment in San Marcos, Texas, to drive home before Christmas break. Less than an hour later, his car was found crashed and abandoned on a rural dirt road in Luling. His clothes were scattered nearby. His phone and backpack—left behind. But Jason? Gone.In this episode of Siblings in Crime, we walk through Jason’s disappearance as his family searches for answers, police miss key evidence, and the public pieces together chilling theories: hypothermia, wild hogs, abduction… or something else entirely.There were no witnesses. No screams. No digital trail. Just a cold December night, an open pasture, and a mystery that’s never been solved.This is the case of Jason LandryIf you have any information, please contact the Caldwell County Sheriff (341) 783-8340Sources:Office of the Texas Attorney General – Missing Persons Update: texasattorneygeneral.govCBS Austin – Jason Landry disappearance coverageKVUE News – Jason Landry Investigation TimelineKHOU 11 – Bodycam footage and search effortsNamUs Profile: Jason LandryFindJasonLandry.com – Official family websiteFOX 7 Austin – Geofence warrant updateReddit: r/UnresolvedMysteries, r/JasonLandry discussion threadsInterviews and statements from Kent Landry (via media outlets and press conferences)https://www.facebook.com/share/162dmP67kf/?mibextid=wwXIfr