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Cardinal Crimes is a true crime podcast that explores cold and unsolved cases, criminal behavior, and crime prevention.
The host, Becca, is a former Intelligence Analyst interested in the "why" behind crime, the systems that shape it, and the ways we can prevent it.
63 Episodes
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On July 12, 1979, a fire at the Hill Top Motel in Red Oak, Iowa, claimed the life of 3-year-old Keara Coshow. Despite known suspicions of child abuse from Keara's stepmother, Karen, and Keara being nearly blind from an injury many suspect was inflicted upon her by her stepmother, investigators ruled the fire and Keara's death a tragic accident. The investigation was reopened in 2007 and closed in 2010 with the same conclusion: the fire and Keara's death were an accident. But, in 2...
This week, we continue our deep dive into the suspected victims of serial predator Mike DeBardeleben. The women we’ve discussed so far were all real estate agents targeted while showing homes to male clients. But today’s case breaks that pattern entirely. In this episode, we examine the murder of Joe Rapini, who was taken hostage alongside his roommate, David Starr. What followed was a calculated and terrifying bank robbery and extortion scheme. Under explicit threats, David, a bank manager, ...
If you have information on this case, contact the Arkansas State Police at 870-777-8944. On July 20, 1978, Mary "Bo Bo" Shinn left to show a client a home she had flipped, but never returned. Her final words to a friend over the phone were "If I don't come back, send someone to look for me". Hours later, her vehicle was found abandoned behind a grocery store. All signs pointed to foul play. To this day, she has never been found. In this episode, we discuss the circumstances surrounding ...
Eleven years before the brutal murder of Jean McPhaul in Bossier City, Louisiana, Edna Terry Macdonald was killed in Barrington, Rhode Island. After the arrest of Mike DeBardeleben, Bossier City investigators began to notice chilling similarities between the two crimes. The cases were nearly identical. From the victims’ professions and victimology to the offender’s MO and the manner of death, this couldn’t be a coincidence. This week, we dive into another murder that DeBardeleben was ultimate...
On Tuesday, April 27, 1982, a Bossier City, Louisiana realtor, Jean McPhaul, was brutally murdered by a client who called himself "Dr. Zack". Despite a thorough investigation, the client was able to evade authorities. That is, until the U.S. Secret Service caught James "Mike" DeBardeleben, a notorious counterfeiter. The similarities between Jean's case and that of Dorothy Miller's are ones I can't ignore. This week's episode is the first in a series examining the suspected and known vic...
Last week, we continued examining serial killer Charles Hatcher’s crimes, focusing on the murder of Eric Christgen and the wrongful conviction of Melvin Reynolds. So what was Hatcher doing while law enforcement pursued the wrong man? He was moving across the Midwest, committing additional crimes, and eventually returned to St. Joseph, Missouri, where he murdered another child, 11-year-old Michelle Steele, whose case we’ll be discussing today. In this episode, we look at Michelle’s disappearan...
On Friday, May 26, 1978, the town of St. Joseph, Missouri, was shaken when word spread that four-year-old Eric Christgen had vanished. The search gripped the community, and when Eric was finally found, the relief quickly faded. He had been murdered, and in a way that proved to be one of the most heinous crimes in the town’s history. With pressure mounting to identify the killer, investigators focused on Melvin Reynolds. He did not match witness descriptions of the older man last seen wa...
Charles Hatcher was an American serial killer officially convicted of murdering two children, though investigators believe he was responsible for many more assaults and homicides. His life was defined by a revolving door of prisons and psychiatric institutions, where he became known for his repeated escapes and his ability to manipulate his documented mental health issues to feign insanity in pursuit of lighter sentences. In this episode, we’ll explore what is known about Hatcher’s early life...
This week, we are revisiting the murder of Dorothy Miller in preparation for a few episodes highlighting two men who I think are top contenders for the man responsible. The murder of Dorothy Miller is Burlington, Iowa’s oldest cold case. Dorothy was a 48-year-old real estate agent who was brutally murdered while showing a prospective client a home in August of 1969. The man she showed the home to was never seen again, despite Dorothy’s own husband and many witnesses seeing him the day a...
Today we are revisiting a case that really plunged me into researching Iowa cold cases, the disappearance of Dawn Allen. On May 5, 2011, 50-year-old Dawn Allen failed to show up for work at Subway in Carroll, Iowa. Days later, the man investigators believed held the key to her disappearance, James Snovelle, took his own life in Kansas, leaving behind a trail of unanswered questions and unsettling revelations about his double life. If you have any information about Dawn Allen, please call the ...
In today’s episode, we go over two recent stories that have a common theme: violence against and a complete lack of respect for women. In Minnesota, 20-year-old Amber Czech was brutally murdered by a male colleague. Why? He didn’t “like her”. At Fort Hood, an Army OB-GYN stands accused of sexually harassing, assaulting, and secretly recording female patients. Allegations that highlight the systemic failure of the military to protect women. We wrap up by reflecting on account...
On Christmas Eve of 2013, Johnita Clemons was shot and killed inside her home, leaving behind two young children. Early news coverage hinted that investigators were making progress, but details were scarce. Then the updates stopped. Years have passed, and Johnita’s murder remains unsolved. Yet in recent years, police have revealed that they believe one person holds the information needed to finally bring answers… but that individual refuses to talk. What happened to Johnita Clemons? And who i...
Between 1991 and 1998 in the D.C. area, ten women were sexually assaulted by a man dubbed the Potomac River Rapist. The last victim, Christine Mirzayan, was murdered. For years, these cases remained unsolved, leaving so many haunted, traumatized, and without answers. In today’s episode, we will discuss each of the victims, the crime scenes, the evidence, and examine what the offender's behavior might reveal about him. Then, we will discuss the eventual arrest of Giles Warrick and ...
In June of 2001, the world was stunned when news broke that a Texas mother had drowned her five children. Photos of Andrea Yates, her children, and what many considered to be a “picture-perfect family” were plastered across the media, with everyone wondering how something so horrific could happen. In this episode, we look at the events leading up to that day, the red flags that were ignored or minimized, and how Andrea and Rusty’s extreme religious beliefs likely exacerbated her postpartum ps...
In 1997, Connie Ruddy disappeared from her home without a trace. Two years later, her jawbone was discovered miles away, confirming her death but offering few clues about what happened to her. For almost three decades, her case seemed cold. Until October of 2025, when investigators returned to her home to search for new evidence. This case is a reminder that all it takes is one piece of information, one new advancement in technology, to change everything for a "cold case". Someone...
If you want to support the Greenberg's through donations to their legal fund, or through signing petitions to reopen her case please see the website below: https://www.justiceforellengreenberg.com/ If you or someone you know is struggling with thoughts of suicide, there is help available. Visit https://www.thehotline.org/ for resources or text "START" to 88788. On October 10, 2025, the Philadelphia Chief Medical Examiner published their opinion on the manner of death of Ellen Greenberg ...
On July 12, 1979, a fire at the Hill Top Motel in Red Oak, Iowa, claimed the life of 3-year-old Keara Coshow. Despite known suspicions of child abuse from Keara's stepmother, Karen, and Keara being nearly blind from an injury many suspect was inflicted upon her by her stepmother, investigators ruled the fire and Keara's death a tragic accident. The investigation was reopened in 2007 and closed in 2010 with the same conclusion: the fire and Keara's death were an accident. Many, inc...
One name that you will almost certainly find while researching the 1980 murders of Rose Burkert, Roger Atkison, and William Kyle, and the 1970 murder of Jack McDonald is Raymundo Esparza. In this episode, we talk about how he is connected to the case, the evidence (or lack of evidence) against him, and the status of the investigation into his connections to the case. We then explore the theory that all of these murders were sexually motivated homicides, and committed by one serial...
In today's quick bonus episode, we break down what we know about the recent case of a mass shooting averted at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport. This could have been a devastating tragedy, but it was stopped thanks to a family member seeing something concerning and reporting it. We talk about how this shooting was averted, the concept of leakage, and why it is so important that the public is educated on the warning signs of mass shooters. I close with a quick ran...
In October of 1970, a maid at the Travel Inn in Meridian, Mississippi discovered the body of 23-year-old Jack McDonald. He had been murdered by multiple blows to the head with an ax or hatchet-like instrument. The investigation into the murder of Jack McDonald remains unsolved, but today, many believe he may have been murdered by the same man who killed William Kyle, Rose Burkert, and Roger Atkison. In part five we will go over everything we know about Jack's case and the similari...
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