Residue: A True Crime Podcast

The tragic true story of Gregory Glen Biggs and the shocking case involving Chante Mallard. A story that stunned the nation for its cruelty and unimaginable choices. We break down what really happened the night Biggs lost his life, the disturbing decisions that followed, and how those actions impacted not only the victim, but his family, including his son Brandon, and others who became entangled in the aftermath.We also take a closer look at how this real-life case was adapted into the film Stuck, examining what the movie gets right, what it changes, and why certain creative decisions have sparked conversation. This story isn’t just about the true crime or the film, it’s about the ripple effects of one tragic night and the lasting impact on those left behind.Sources:Stuck (2007)Court TV: Judgement of Chante Mallardhttps://www.cbsnews.com/news/was-windshield-victim-conscious/https://abcnews.com/Entertainment/story?id=4991235&page=1https://law.justia.com/cases/texas/second-court-of-appeals/2005/16351.htmlhttps://www.google.com/search?q=prosecuting+evil+with+kelly+siegler+season+2+episode+5&rlz=1CAGZLV_enUS1160&oq=season+2+episode+5+prosecu&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqCAgCEAAYFhgeMgYIABBFGDkyCAgBEAAYFhgeMggIAhAAGBYYHjIHCAMQABjvBTIKCAQQABiABBiiBDIHCAUQABjvBTIHCAYQABjvBTIHCAcQABjvBdIBCjEyOTAxajBqMTWoAgywAgHxBdjlihKDahZv8QXY5YoSg2oWbw&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:89a2cf69,vid:mXDnKf8Cr6k,st:0https://deathpenaltyinfo.org/victims-son-awarded-scholarship-from-prisoners-on-death-row

In this episode, we unpack the unsettling themes behind Gaslit By My Husband:The Morgan Metzer Story, a story that dives into the hidden world of psychological abuse. What happens when the person you trust most begins to manipulate your reality? What starts as small moments of doubt quickly escalates into something far more unsettling, as Morgan struggles to separate truth from deception and hold onto her sense of self. Sources:Gaslit By My Husband: The Morgan Metzer Story https://people.com/where-is-morgan-metzer-now-11928319https://www.google.com/search?q=morgan+metzer+48+hrs&rlz=1CAGZLV_enUS1160&oq=morgan+metzer+48+hrs+&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCAgCEAAYFhgeMgoIAxAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBBAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBRAAGIAEGKIEMgoIBhAAGIAEGKIEMgcIBxAAGO8F0gEJNTg2OGowajE1qAIIsAIB8QXCQV1uRpPvFA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:68f174bd,vid:6J27-GEwBYc,st:0https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/when-gaslighting-turns-violent-how-a-canton-mom-wants-to-shed-light-on-sinister-problem

The 2002 true-crime film Vampire Clan dramatizes the shocking real-life murders carried out by a group of teenagers who believed they were part of a vampire cult. Starring Drew Fuller as cult leader Rod Ferrell, the film follows how fantasy role-playing and obsession with vampirism spiraled into violence, ultimately leading to the brutal killing. The case of Rod Ferrell and the brutal Wendorf Murders began as a group of teenagers role-playing vampires spiraled into real-world violence when Ferrell, who called himself a 500-year-old vampire, led members of his so-called “Vampire Clan” to the home of Richard Wendorf and Naomi Wendorf in Eustis, Florida.Sources:Killer Kids Vampire Clan (2002) The Vampire Murders (1999) https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/teen-vampire-cult-leader-rod-203422626.htmlhttps://www.dailycommercial.com/story/news/local/eustis/2019/12/01/mother-of-vampire-cult-killer-ive-changed/2178130007/https://www.orlandosentinel.com/1998/07/16/cooper-pleads-guilty/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1998/11/22/more-evidence-turns-up-in-vampire-cult-deaths

In this episode, we explore the shocking true story behind the made-for-TV movie Abducted by My Teacher and the real-life case of Elizabeth Thomas. In 2017, Elizabeth was a 15-year-old student in Tennessee when her health teacher, Tad Cummins, groomed and ultimately abducted her, sparking a nationwide search. What began as a troubling case of teacher misconduct quickly turned into a multi-state manhunt that captured national attention.Sources:Abducted By My Teacher: The Elizabeth Thomas Story https://people.com/where-is-elizabeth-thomas-now-865607720/20 From Classroom to Captivehttps://allthatsinteresting.com/tad-cumminshttps://www.thewrap.com/lifetime-extends-partnership-elizabeth-smart-film-abducted-by-my-teacher/?utm_source=chatgpt.comhttps://www.tennessean.com/story/news/crime/2017/04/27/court-records-kimberly-thomas-accused-child-abuse-humiliating-children/100951338/

In 1968, Rosemary’s Baby arrived in theaters and changed horror forever. A story about a young woman manipulated, isolated, and ultimately betrayed by those closest to her, the film tapped into a cultural moment already steeped in paranoia. America was reeling from assassinations, war, the rise of the occult, and the founding of the Church of Satan. Evil lived next door. But what happened after the film’s release is what fuels the legend.Sources:Cursed Films https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2017/06/the-most-cursed-hit-movie-ever-made-rosemarys-baby?srsltid=AfmBOooydSo-i0JJPAuPxk1-vcQnLhMf89eS5--wPQ1j3DRQwqpMUmJbhttps://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-features/sammy-davis-jr-satanism-anton-lavey-1235070544/https://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Film/RosemarysBabyhttps://www.google.com/search?sca_esv=cb0b2358a0071c17&rlz=1CAGZLV_enUS1160&sxsrf=ANbL-n5lM8wmBIv6YN-uSyWxalPe4GeMag:1772509245280&udm=7&fbs=ADc_l-aN0CWEZBOHjofHoaMMDiKpaEWjvZ2Py1XXV8d8KvlI3vWUtYx0DZdicpfE1faGYemg2KC4yuMPyQlIvlWqq2At2yMvCZgi_bwXXU0sv2NZz1ci8vvXN7qvH5d5H0L2gzDVa8EQXPOe03G6oWgM1i7mQuRVJZMw63JPM9jizs0p2p0CKnW3p6_iMTGuk3xLMjYD_G_SYUdHsIciM1dHUgViogBHUA&q=victoria+vetri+scene+in+rosemary%27s+baby&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwix87O_54KTAxWVFlkFHRShMjgQtKgLegQIGBAB&biw=1536&bih=719&dpr=1.25#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:4b67af60,vid:4AXjL7ae_io,st:0https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/mia-farrow-addresses-vicious-rumors-about-past-deaths-three-children-n1262744https://people.com/remembering-the-tate-labianca-murders-almost-6-decades-later-8692445

In December 2019, 33-year-old Heidi Broussard disappeared in Austin,TX along with her three-week-old daughter, Margot Carey, shortly after dropping her older child off at school. The case was dramatized in the 2023 Lifetime television film Stolen Baby: The Murder of Heidi Broussard, directed by Michelle Ouellet. The movie stars Emily Osment as Fieramusca and Anna Hopkins as Heidi Broussard, and follows the events leading up to Heidi’s disappearance, the growing suspicions surrounding her friend, and the investigation that ultimately uncovered the truth. The film presents a dramatized but largely faithful retelling of the crime, emphasizing the shocking betrayal at its center and the tense search that led to the baby’s rescue.Sources:https://www.aetv.com/articles/why-heidi-broussard-s-best-friend-killed-her-and-kidnapped-her-babyhttps://www.cnn.com/2023/02/04/us/heidi-broussard-murder-fieramusca-guilty-pleaDateline: Abducted Stolen Baby: The Murder of Heidi Broussard https://www.fox7austin.com/news/magen-fieramusca-heidi-broussard-guilty-plea-murder-kidnapping-baby-austin-texashttps://www.npr.org/2010/01/01/314255191/excerpt-maternal-desirehttps://www.johnsonfuneralhome.net/obituaries/heidi-elizabeth-broussardhttps://www.google.com/search?q=megan+fieramusca+sentence&rlz=1CAGZLV_enUS1160&oq=megan+fieramusca+sentence&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIHCAEQIRiPAjIHCAIQIRiPAtIBCjEzMDQxajBqMTWoAgiwAgHxBdVZ20LZOdcu8QXVWdtC2TnXLg&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8#fpstate=ive&vld=cid:161bf9b6,vid:-9weGGoZe5I,st:0

In this episode, we dive into the glitter-soaked rise and catastrophic fall of New York City’s infamous Club Kid scene, as portrayed in the film Party Monster. But beyond the tabloid-fueled fame lies a far darker true story — the murder of Andre "Angel" Melendez.We explore how Michael Alig, once a self-proclaimed king of nightlife, built a celebrity persona in the early ’90s underground party world alongside figures like James St. James. Fueled by fame, excess, and escalating drug use, the scene spiraled into chaos culminating in Andre "Angel" Melendez’s brutal killing in 1996.Sources:Party Monster by James St. JamesGlory Daze: The Life and Times of Michael Alig https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/michael-alig-dead-club-kid-party-monster-1107737/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Andre_Melendez

In this episode, we dig into the truth behind Jennifer’s Body the 2009 horror film that was initially dismissed and later reclaimed as a cult classic with feminist themes of female rage, power, and exploitation. While the movie is fictional, its central premise (a teenage girl sacrificed by a band seeking fame) echoes a disturbing real-life case that many viewers are unaware of. We examine the 1995 murder of Elyse Pahler, a 15-year-old girl from California who was killed by three teenage boys who claimed they were performing a ritual to help their own metal band succeed.This episode walks through what happened to Elyse, how the case unfolded, and how her parents later filed a lawsuit against the band Slayer, arguing that violent lyrics and imagery influenced the killers — a case that was ultimately dismissed on First Amendment grounds. We explore how Elyse’s story became entangled in broader conversations about satanic panic, media blame, and moral responsibility in the 1990s. By separating fact from fiction, this episode centers the real tragedy behind the parallels and highlights the lasting impact of Elyse Pahler’s case beyond the courtroom.Sources:In the Name of Satan by Wensley Clarkson A Killer Among Friends: episode 3 https://www.courthousenews.com/two-killers-from-shocking-satanic-teen-murder-case-paroled/Wikihttps://www.courthousenews.com/two-killers-from-shocking-satanic-teen-murder-case-paroled/

In this episode, we unpack the story behind Abducted Off the Street: The Carlesha Gaither Story and the real-life survival of Carlesha Freeland-Gaither. On November 2, 2014, Carlesha was abducted while walking home in Philadelphia, a crime that was partially caught on surveillance footage and sparked a desperate search. Through the Lifetime film, viewers are taken inside the fear, resilience, and quick thinking that defined those terrifying days — including Carlesha’s bravery in leaving behind clues for detectives after she was taken.Sources:Abducted Off the Street: The Carlesha Gaither Storyhttps://abcnews.go.com/US/woman-philadelphia-abduction-found-alive-police/story?id=26706205https://www.aetv.com/articles/carlesha-gaither-abductionhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iQ-oME48Pd4https://www.npr.org/2021/09/24/1040048967/missing-black-women-girls-left-out-media-ignored#:~:text=The%20media%20ignores%20missing%20Black,of%20the%20overall%20female%20population.

In this episode, we examine An American Crime (2007), a harrowing film based on one of the most disturbing true crime cases in American history. The movie follows the story of Sylvia Likens, a teenage girl left in the care of Gertrude Baniszewski while her parents traveled for work. What begins as a temporary living arrangement quickly spirals into unimaginable cruelty, as Gertrude, her children, and neighborhood kids participate in escalating physical and psychological abuse. We also dive into the real-life case that inspired the film, exploring what actually happened to Sylvia Likens in 1965 and how closely the movie follows the facts. This episode discusses the social conditions, power dynamics, and warning signs that allowed the abuse to continue unchecked, as well as the legal consequences that followed. While deeply unsettling, this story raises critical questions about accountability, community responsibility, and how extreme harm can occur in plain sight. Listener discretion is strongly advised.Sources:Torture Mom - Ryan Green https://people.com/sylvia-likens-abuse-caretaker-orchestrated-8752827WikiAn American Crime

The true story behind The Girl From Plainville, the chilling real-life case that sparked national debate about responsibility, mental health, and the power of words. In 2014, 18-year-old Conrad Roy III died by suicide in a Massachusetts parking lot. In the months leading up to his death, Roy had been in an intense, mostly digital relationship with 17-year-old Michelle Carter — a relationship later revealed through thousands of text messages. Prosecutors argued that Carter’s messages didn’t just witness Roy’s struggles, but actively encouraged his death, including a final phone call in which she told him to get back into his carbon-monoxide-filled truck. Carter’s eventual conviction for involuntary manslaughter raised unprecedented legal and ethical questions: Can someone be held criminally responsible for another person’s suicide? We explore the facts of the case, the court’s controversial ruling, and how this tragedy continues to shape conversations around mental health in the digital age.Sources:Dateline:Reckless Michelle Carter: Love, Texts, and Deathhttps://www.cosmopolitan.com/uk/reports/a37499262/where-is-michelle-carter-now-texting-suicide/https://www.masslive.com/politics/2022/03/conrads-law-bill-created-after-michelle-carter-texting-suicide-case-still-not-passed-case-gets-looked-at-through-new-lens-of-hulus-the-girl-from-plainville.htmlhttps://blog.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_Conrad_Roy

Talhotblond is a 2012 Lifetime made-for-television movie based on a shocking real-life internet love triangle that ended in murder. The film dramatizes how online anonymity, emotional insecurity, and deception spiraled into deadly violence.The story centers on Thomas Montgomery, a middle-aged, married factory worker who is dissatisfied with his life and seeks escape through online chat rooms and poker sites. There, he reinvents himself as a younger man, claiming to be a U.S. Marine named “Tommy.” Using this false identity, he begins an online relationship with a young woman known by the screen name “talhotblond.”Unbeknownst to Montgomery, one of his younger coworkers, Brian, is also communicating with the same girl online. Unlike Montgomery, Brian is honest about who he is, and his growing connection with “talhotblond” triggers intense jealousy in Montgomery. As the online relationships deepen, Montgomery’s lies multiply, and his emotional stability begins to unravel.Sources:Talhotblondhttps://transcripts.cnn.com/show/ng/date/2012-06-28/segment/01https://www.huffpost.com/entry/courtney-cox-lifetime-movie-review-wer_b_1828672

This podcast episode explores the tragic true story of Nick Markowitz, a 15-year-old boy whose life was taken after being used as leverage in a reckless dispute that spiraled out of control.When a conflict involving his older half-brother and a local drug dealer escalates, Nick is pulled into a situation he had no part in creating. What starts as a misguided attempt to intimidate someone quickly becomes a tragedy driven by fear, ego, and the inability of the adults involved to stop what they started.The episode also examines how this case entered popular culture through the 2006 film Alpha Dog. While the movie brought national attention to the crime, it also raised difficult questions about storytelling, responsibility, and whose perspective gets remembered. We compare the film’s portrayal of events with the real case, including criticism from Nick’s mother, Susan Markowitz, who later wrote My Stolen Son to reclaim her child’s story from sensationalized narratives.Sources:My Stolen Son: The Nick Markowitz Story by Susan Markowitz w/ Jenna Glatzer https://allthatsinteresting.com/nicholas-markowitzAlpha Dog https://allthatsinteresting.com/jesse-james-hollywoodhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alpha_Doghttps://www.independent.com/2009/06/21/witness-rundown-hollywood-trial/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2001-nov-01-me-64254-story.htmlhttps://www.independent.com/2009/06/10/ben-markowitz-on-stand/

In this episode, we explore the real-life case of Susan Wright, a Texas woman whose story captured national attention and later inspired the Lifetime made-for-TV movie Blue-Eyed Butcher. We walk through Susan’s background, her marriage to Jeff Wright, and how a seemingly ordinary suburban life became the center of a high-profile criminal case. Sources:https://www.texasmonthly.com/true-crime/susan-wright-193/Snapped season 1, Episode 9 https://abc13.com/post/susan-wright-murder-trial-jeff-stabbed-husband-193-times/9184616/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Susan_Wright_(murderer)https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/trending/blue-eyed-butcher-texas-woman-who-stabbed-husband-193-times-2003-released-parole/GMR2DZYQLVEIBCYYT7DPOB6IW4/https://6abc.com/archive/7736279/

I Am Zozo is a horror film that follows a group of friends who decide to use a Ouija board out of curiosity. During their sessions, the board begins responding aggressively and identifies itself as “Zozo.” As the group continues to engage with it, the atmosphere becomes increasingly tense and unsettling, suggesting that whatever they’ve contacted grows stronger the more attention it receives. The film leaves it ambiguous whether Zozo is a real entity or a manifestation of fear, making the experience feel disturbingly realistic.In real life, Zozo is a modern paranormal legend that gained popularity through internet forums in the early 2000s. Despite claims that it’s an ancient demon, there’s no historical evidence to support that. Many experts point to the ideomotor effect, where subconscious movements cause the planchette to move without the user realizing it. Over time, repeated stories and media portrayals turned Zozo into a widely feared figure, showing how belief and suggestion can transform an online myth into something that feels terrifyingly real.Sources:https://www.tsemrinpoche.com/tsem-tulku-rinpoche/science-mysteries/zozo-the-ouija-board-demon.htmlhttps://allthatsinteresting.com/zozo-demonhttps://www.nj.com/entertainment/2016/05/zozo_phenomenon_documented_in_new_book_paranormal_corner.htmlhttps://darrenevansparanormal.blogspot.com/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_Am_Zozohttps://www.prweb.com/releases/live_extreme_halloween_paranormal_broadcast_set_for_zozo_ouija_demon_house_in_oklahoma_city_ok/prweb13767920.htmhttps://blogcritics.org/exclusive-interview-tim-wood-darren-evans-on-upcoming-live-stream-of-zozo-paranormal-investigationhttps://www.ranker.com/list/ouija-board-conversations-with-zozo/lowe-saddler

This episode explores the true story behind Lifetime’s Husband, Father, Killer: The Alyssa Pladl Story. From adoption and reunification to manipulation, abuse, and murder. We examine the escalation of violence, the deaths of Katie, her adoptive father, and her infant son Bennett, and how systemic failures allowed danger to go unchecked. We also separate fact from dramatization in the Lifetime movie, highlighting the real people behind the headlines.Warning: Discussion of incest, domestic abuse, and multiple deaths, including an infant.Sources:https://www.mylifetime.com/movies/husband-father-killer-the-alyssa-pladl-storyhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-bH9b8zLQF0https://spectrumlocalnews.com/nc/triangle-sandhills/news/2018/04/13/911-call-reveals-new-details-in-triple-murder--suicidehttps://abc11.com/post/classmate-of-man-who-killed-wife-infant-in-incest-case-recalls-unusual-behavior/3338606/?userab=abc_web_player-460*variant_b_abc_dmp-1901%2Cotv_web_player-461*variant_b_otv_dmp-1903%2Cotv_web_content_rec-445*variant_b_less_popular_bias-1850%2Chp_banner-426*variant_e__tall_white-1781https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43747225https://www.aetv.com/articles/steven-pladl-murders

In 1976, a chilling horror film hit theaters, introducing the world to Damien, the Antichrist child. But while audiences were terrified on screen, strange and deadly events were unfolding behind the scenes. The Omen didn’t just scare moviegoers, it seemed to haunt its cast and crew in real life.Was it coincidence? Or did the dark subject matter of Satan, prophecy, and the Antichrist bring real-world consequences? In this episode, we’ll explore the chilling events, behind-the-scenes horror, and the enduring legend of The Omen curse. Sources:Cursed Films: The Omen The Omenhttps://www.cineworld.ie/static/en/ie/blog/the-curse-of-the-omen-facts-the-first-omenhttps://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/omen-movie-curse-42514085https://screenrant.com/omen-1976-cursed-set-scarier-than-movie/https://eosty.medium.com/the-curse-of-the-omen-real-story-1964c1c355d4https://www.ripleys.com/stories/the-omenhttps://fiveable.me/key-terms/cognitive-psychology/invisible-gorilla-experiment

In this episode, we take a closer look at the tragic abduction of 9-year-old Amber Hagerman—an event that would go on to reshape the way communities respond to missing-child emergencies. We explore the circumstances surrounding Amber’s disappearance in 1996, the investigation that gripped the nation, and how her legacy inspired the creation of the AMBER Alert system used across the United States today.We also discuss the 2006 made-for-TV film Amber’s Story, examining how one heartbreaking case sparked a nationwide movement to protect children and mobilize communities.Sources:Amber: The Girl Behind the Alert https://www.missingkids.org/blog/2021/still-searching-for-ambers-killerhttps://people.com/who-killed-amber-hagerman-8752172

In this episode, we dive into the extraordinary story of actress Theresa Saldana. A rising Hollywood star whose life was nearly cut short by a brutal attack in 1982. From her disciplined childhood in Brooklyn to her breakout roles in Raging Bull and I Wanna Hold Your Hand, Theresa seemed destined for fame.But one terrifying encounter with a delusional stalker changed everything. We explore the stabbing that almost ended her life, the bravery of the stranger who intervened, and her grueling journey through physical and emotional recovery.Theresa’s story was so compelling it inspired the 1984 TV movie Victims for Victims: The Theresa Saldana Story, in which she bravely played herself reliving her attack and survival for the world to see. Hear how she transformed trauma into advocacy, founding Victims for Victims and becoming a pioneering voice for victims’ rights.Sources: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SdGGHTjKIRMhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFIctvhD-0Qhttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/09/arts/television/theresa-saldana-actress-and-attack-survivor-dies-at-61.htmlhttps://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/3d/152/961.htmlhttps://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1990-12-05-me-5386-story.html

In July of 1993, a group of Florida teenagers committed one of the most shocking and senseless murders in modern true crime history. The crime, later dramatized in the 2001 film Bully, was not the work of hardened criminals or masterminds, but of suburban kids. At the center of the story were two childhood friends: Marty Puccio, quiet and impressionable, and Bobby Kent, a young man many described as charismatic but deeply controlling. Those closest to them claimed Bobby bullied, manipulated, and terrorized Marty for years. Marty’s friends convinced themselves the only way to escape Bobby’s influence was to kill him.What followed was a clumsy, chaotic, and brutally violent attack carried out in a remote swampy area of Broward County. Their plan unraveled almost immediately, leading to multiple arrests, wildly different prison sentences, and decades of debate about what was true, what was exaggerated, and what was simply self-serving testimony. Was Bobby Kent truly the monster the killers claimed he was? Or did a group of teenagers justify murder by rewriting the story after the fact?Sources:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbtfrPpqoqIBully Bully:The True Story of High School Revenge  by Jim Schutz https://forensicfilesnow.com/index.php/tag/lisa-connelly/