Behind True Crime

This episode continues difficult subject matter around childhood sexual abuse. *Part two coming January 23* The Keepers, a 7-part, Oscar nominated docuseries from Netflix, premiered in May of 2017, and existed on its surface as an investigation into the 1969 murder of Sister Cathy Cesnik, a 26-year-old nun and teacher at Arch Bishop Keough HS in Baltimore. But it was obvious right away that the murder of Sister Cathy wasn’t the only story that needed to be told. The series also helped to give a mainstream voice to several sexual abuse victims of Father Joseph Maskell, who was a counselor at the high school who died in 2001 and likely had a role in Sister Cathy’s murder, as it is believed that she was threatening to expose the profound abuse that was occurring to high school students at the hands of Maskell and other powerful community members, abuse that was covered up by the same powerful institutions. In the first part of this two part series, I am joined by Teresa Lancaster, who you will remember from the Keepers. She is one of the two women who first spoke out about the abuse she suffered at the hands of Maskell, and continues to work toward justice for Maskell’s victims, over 100 of which have come forward. Along with Jean Wehner, known then as Jane Doe, Teresa became known in 1994 as ‘Jane Roe,’ but, after horrific court proceedings, the Maryland Court of Appeals refused to allow the case to go to trial because the statue of limitations had passed. Nonetheless, that courageous act sparked the events that would go on to form The Keepers, and would allow a community to join together to fight for a long overdue justice, both for Sister Cathy, and for the victims of abuse at Keough and beyond. Teresa has since become a lawyer. Alan Horn, who was also featured in the Keepers documentary, is an amateur investigator who has voluntarily played a very helpful role in the path toward justice through his individual research. We are going to hear more about him, and also more from in the next episode. Both Teresa and Alan came to be associated with these cases in very different ways, but now both work toward the same goals. We will also be speaking with a woman named Dr. Pamela Pine, an expert in childhood sexual abuse, who will help us understand this abuse as a public health crisis. Thank you for listening to this very important episode. Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.

Ryan Garlick and David Oranchak were part of a team assembled by the History Channel in hopes of breaking the Zodiac killer’s most infamous unsolved cipher, the Z-340, and possibly using the code to find the long unidentified killer. The History Channel brought together computer scientists and code experts as well as experienced investigators for their five part series titled The Hunt for the Zodiac Killer. Ryan is a professor of computer sciences at University of North Texas*, and David, a software developer. Ryan has taught classes on the Zodiac's ciphers and has appeared previously on National Geographic’s show Code-Breakers. David runs a website on the Zodiac ciphers and is considered an expert in his strange brand of codes. With the help of an AI named CARMEL, a robot designed to think like a serial killer, The Hunt for the Zodiac Killer recently concluded with a bombshell finale: it seems that the team may have solved part of the seemingly impossible code. *The introduction states that Ryan teaches at the University of Texas. He actually teaches at the University of North Texas. Check out Dave's website here: www.zodiackillerciphers.com/ Create poems using CARMEL here: 52.24.230.241/poem/advance/ Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.

Max Cutler, Vanessa Richardson, and Greg Polcyn are the minds and voices behind the extremely popular true crime podcast 'Serial Killers,' and more recently, 'Cults.' Max is the president and co-founder of the podcast network Parcast, and he is also the creator and producer of both Serial Killers and Cults, among many others. Vanessa and Greg are the co-hosts and researchers behind both shows, and they weave together storytelling, voice acting, and psychology to create informative and entertaining looks at famous crimes and criminals. They also have some of the best voices I’ve ever heard. Greg is also the host of Haunted Places and Vanessa, a co-host of Remarkable Lives. Tragic Deaths, now called Historical Figures. Max, Vanessa, and Greg are a lot of fun, and we also get pretty deep on this episode. Check it out! Check out both 'Serial Killers' and 'Cults,' as well as other great podcasts on the Parcast Network here: www.parcast.com/ Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.

Joe Berlinger is a documentarian known in part for his social-justice focused work around the criminal justice system. Along with Bruce Sinofsky, Joe co-directed HBO’s incredible three-film documentary series Paradise Lost, about the child murders in Robin Hood Hills, and the unfair trial and imprisonment of the teenaged boys known as the West Memphis Three. Joe has also directed several other films in the genre of crime, his first film, Brother’s Keeper in 1992, is a haunting and nuanced film about the trial of Delbert Ward who was falsely accused of killing his brother. The film attempted dispel harmful stereotypes about poor rural life, and to give voice to those who hadn’t had a chance to speak their truth. Joe’s documentary works that focus on the crime and the justice system are, Whitey: United States of America v. James J. Bulger, Gone: The Forgotten Women of Ohio, The System with Joe Berlinger on Aljazeera. Now Joe has a new series out on the Sundance Channel called Cold Blooded, which explores the murder of the Clutter Family in 1959, the case that Truman Capote covered in his novel In Cold Blood, credited as the work that created the modern genre of true crime. Joe is a filmmaker who cares deeply about the communities he enters, and his films find seek to find not only justice, but also to to reveal emotional truths of his subjects. Check out the first part of Cold Blooded, out Saturday November 18th on the Sundance Channel. Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order.

CWS is a crime writer, poet, musician, and host of this very podcast. I'm CWS and I'm writing about myself in the third person because this week, you're getting to know me. I've invited a true crime buddy of mine to come on and ask ME some questions for once. We are going full My Favorite Murder today, because humor is one one to deal with scary things. So loosen your tie, take your hair down, pour yourself a drink, and let us get just a little indignant. Come join me and podcast host Kristen Rogers Anderson on this very special episode of Behind True Crime. Behind True Crime is sponsored by Hunt A Killer, the monthly murder mystery subscription box service. Check them out at huntakiller.com and use the code BEHIND for 10% off your first order. Check out CWS’ blog at huntakiller.com/blog Check out Kristen’s podcasts here: www.talkbomb.com/ And check out a sneak preview of her new podcast, Guide to the Unknown, here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Zzo0FtZDI4