Scams, Money, & Murder

This week on True Crime This Week, host Vanessa Richardson explores the twisted lives of two of history’s most notorious prisoners. First, the story of Charles Manson, the manipulative cult leader whose “Family” turned peace and love into terror. From failed musician to prophet of “Helter Skelter,” Manson’s descent into madness culminated in one of the most chilling murder sprees in American history. Then, meet Robert Stroud, the “Birdman of Alcatraz.” Though immortalized as a gentle animal lover, the real Stroud was a violent killer who spent more than 40 years in solitary confinement. His obsession with canaries and his unlikely fame reveal the strange line between redemption and myth. Two men. Two cells. One shared legacy of infamy. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Dan Wozniak played the role of a grieving friend while hiding a deadly secret. In Part 2, we trace the investigation that unmasked the aspiring actor as a cold-blooded killer—from ATM fraud and staged texts to dismemberment, duffel bags, and a twisted confession the cops never saw coming. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

He was a struggling actor with big dreams—and even bigger secrets. Dan Wozniak couldn't afford the life he wanted, so he lied, manipulated, and schemed to get it. In this episode, we trace his troubled past, toxic romance, and twisted friendships that set the stage for a double homicide. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on True Crime This Week, host Vanessa Richardson explores two of history’s most legendary escape artists who turned their jailbreaks into folklore.First, meet Jack Sheppard, the 18th-century London thief who outsmarted authorities time and again with four daring escapes from England’s toughest prisons — before his death turned him into a working-class hero.Then, travel to colonial Australia to follow Joseph Bolitho “Moondyne” Joe Johns, a convict whose cunning and persistence made him the most famous prison escapee in Australian history. From digging through cell walls to vanishing into the outback, Joe became a national icon for defying authority and refusing to give up.From the back alleys of London to the wilds of Western Australia, these stories prove that some legends are born behind bars. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1974, 28-year-old Karen Silkwood was on her way to meet with a New York Times reporter. She planned to blow the whistle on the numerous safety issues at the nuclear power plant where she worked. But before she could get there, Karen was killed in a violent car crash. Her friends and co-workers couldn’t help but wonder: was Karen murdered to stop her from sharing the truth? Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When 26-year-old Karen Silkwood first started working at a nuclear power plant in Oklahoma in 1972, she was thrilled to be fulfilling her passion for science. But before long, she realized just how risky her job was — and she wanted the world to know the truth. She had no idea that in doing so, she would lose her life. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week on True Crime This Week, host Vanessa Richardson dives into two of history’s most daring and unforgettable heists.First, journey to Nazi-occupied France, where art curator Rose Valland risked her life to secretly track thousands of stolen masterpieces — including Nicolas de Largillierre’s Portrait of a Woman, Half Length — and later helped the famed Monuments Men recover Europe’s looted treasures.Then, ride back to the Wild West for the tale of Black Bart, the gentleman bandit who robbed 28 Wells Fargo stagecoaches without ever firing a shot — and left behind poetry instead of bloodshed.From stolen art to outlaw artistry, these two crimes prove that not all heists are created equal — but every thief eventually faces the same reckoning. To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Here at Crime House, we love Halloween and we know you do too! Because you’re one of our most loyal fans, we’re treating you to a spooky bonus episode from our hit series, Clues. Join hosts Morgan Absher and Kaelyn Moore as they take a deep dive into the paranoia and chaos that consumed The Salem Witch Trials. From shocking murders to serial killers, Clues dives into all the forensic details and brilliant sleuthing of the world's most infamous cases. New episodes drop every Wednesday. Follow Clues on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. LEARN MORE To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After Amelia Dyer was exposed as a merciless serial killer, the police scrambled to find her. They were too late -- she'd already disappeared. But when dead infants started washing up on the banks of the Thames River, it was clear Amelia was still out there. And this time, the authorities were determined to catch this serial killer before she vanished again. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When it comes to serial killers, few have been as prolific as Amelia Dyer. In 19th century England, Amelia ran a group home for infants called a baby farm. But instead of helping these children, she murdered them. Eventually, her scheme was revealed. But could the police stop Amelia before she murdered again? Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

When serial killer John George Haigh killed Olive Durand-Deacon in 1949, he thought nobody would notice. But his sixth murder victim turned out to be his last. Thanks to Olive’s many friends, his killing spree finally came to an end. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the mid-20th century, serial killer John George Haigh charmed his way into the lives of wealthy people across England -- then murdered them in cold blood, dissolved their bodies in acid, and forged his way into their assets. When he met 69-year-old Olive Durand-Deacon, John thought he'd found another perfect victim. But she would prove to be his undoing. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Charles Sobhraj wasn’t just a serial killer, he was an international conman who used charm, fake passports, and tranquilizers to trap his victims. In Part 2, we follow the escalating brutality of the "Bikini Killer's" crimes, the captives who fought back, and the shocking way he dodged the death penalty...not once, but twice. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The "Bikini Killer" Charles Sobhraj was a master of disguise and a predator in plain sight. In Part 1, we follow his rise from rebellious teen to international thief, exposing how he manipulated passports, people, and systems to build a deadly web of deception. His first kill wouldn’t be his last. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1889, Benjamin Pitezel befriended a man named H.H. Holmes in Chicago. The two of them became partners in crime, and cooked up a plan to defraud a life insurance company by faking Benjamin's death. But Benjamin had no idea that his friend Holmes had other ideas. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In 1889, Benjamin Pitezel befriended a man named H.H. Holmes in Chicago. The two of them became partners in crime, and cooked up a plan to defraud a life insurance company by faking Benjamin's death. But Benjamin had no idea that his friend Holmes had other ideas. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After dozens of Osage people were murdered for their headrights, one Native woman decided to take matters into her own hands. Thanks to Mollie Burkhart, the U.S. Government got involved and the killing spree finally came to an end in 1930. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

In the late 1800s, members of the Osage Nation in Oklahoma became unbelievably wealthy when oil was discovered on their land. But their newfound riches came with sinister enemies who were willing to do anything to steal the Osage People's budding fortune — even murder. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

They say “money doesn’t sleep,” so why should your favorite show? Scams, Money and Murder now drops twice every Thursday, just in time for your morning and evening commute. Hosts Vanessa Richardson and Carter Roy pull you past the headlines into the darkest corners of greed, where scams spiral, lies collapse, and crimes turn deadly.  Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Follow now so you never miss an episode. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Sharon Brightwell thought she was hearing her daughter, April Monroe, in distress on the phone, sobbing, begging for help, and requesting money. But it wasn’t April. It was a scammer using AI to perfectly clone her voice, preying on Sharon’s love and fear to extort a large sum of cash. In this episode, April joins Nicole to share the shocking details of the voice-cloning scam, how her family reacted in real time, and the emotional and financial toll it took on all of them. Scams, Money, & Murder is a Crime House Original Podcast, powered by PAVE Studios. Listen wherever you get your podcasts. For ad-free listening and early access to episodes, subscribe to Crime House+ on Apple Podcasts. Don’t miss out on all things Scams, Money, & Murder! Instagram: @Crimehouse TikTok: @Crimehouse Facebook: @crimehousestudios X: @crimehousemedia YouTube: @crimehousestudios To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices