In September 1901, President William McKinley was shot at the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York, by anarchist Leon Czolgosz. Within days, the popular president was dead, and the nation was plunged into mourning. His assassination brought Theodore Roosevelt to power, transformed presidential security, and highlighted the rising tensions of a rapidly changing America. In this episode, we trace McKinley’s presidency, the events of that fateful day, and the enduring impact of his death. #WilliamMcKinley #PresidentialAssassination #LeonCzolgosz #TrueCrimePodcast #HistoryPodcast #USHistory #TheodoreRoosevelt #ProgressiveEra
On Confederate Memorial Day in 1913, 13-year-old Mary Phagan went to collect her wages at Atlanta’s National Pencil Company. Hours later, her body was found in the factory basement, sparking one of the most infamous trials in American history. Leo Frank, the factory superintendent, was convicted amid a storm of prejudice and public hysteria, while Jim Conley’s testimony divided opinion. The case would end in vigilante lynching and shape debates on race, religion, and justice for decades to come. #MaryPhagan #LeoFrank #TrueCrimePodcast #HistoryPodcast #AmericanHistory #MobJustice #Atlanta1913
In May 1593, playwright Christopher Marlowe — the brilliant author of Doctor Faustus and Tamburlaine — was stabbed to death in Deptford at the age of twenty-nine. Officially, it was a fight over a tavern bill. Unofficially, whispers of espionage, heresy, and political assassination swirled around the case. In this episode, we uncover Marlowe’s rise to fame, his shadowy connections, and the enduring mystery of his murder. #ChristopherMarlowe #ElizabethanHistory #TudorHistory #TrueCrimePodcast #HistoryPodcast #ElizabethanTheatre #DoctorFaustus #MurderMystery
On the night of 30 September 1888, Catherine Eddowes became the fourth victim of Jack the Ripper in the Whitechapel murder spree. Found brutally mutilated in Mitre Square less than an hour after another killing, her death was part of the notorious “double event” that terrified Victorian London. In this episode, we follow her life, the events leading to her murder, the police investigation, and the lasting mystery of the Ripper’s identity. #CatherineEddowes #JackTheRipper #DoubleEvent #TrueCrimePodcast #HistoryPodcast #VictorianCrime #WhitechapelMurders #UnsolvedMurders
Albert Fish was one of America’s most twisted killers, a man who preyed on children, committed acts of cannibalism, and sent taunting letters to victims’ families. Known as the “Gray Man” and “Brooklyn Vampire,” his seemingly frail appearance hid a monstrous reality. In this episode, we uncover his early life, the murder of Grace Budd, the shocking letter that led to his capture, and his chilling final days before execution. #AlbertFish #GrayMan #BrooklynVampire #TrueCrimePodcast #SerialKiller #HistoryPodcast #AmericanCrime #InfamousMurders #CannibalKiller
In June 1968, Senator Robert F. Kennedy’s presidential campaign came to a violent end in a Los Angeles hotel kitchen pantry. Just moments after celebrating his victory in the California primary, RFK was shot by Sirhan Sirhan, a young Palestinian immigrant angered by Kennedy’s stance on Israel. In this episode, we trace Kennedy’s life, his hopes for a divided America, the chaotic night of the shooting, and the investigation that followed one of the most shocking political assassinations in U.S. history. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to https://compacthistories.com/murdercoffee/ to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://compacthistories.com/murder/the-assassination-of-robert-f-kennedy/. Check out our other compact podcasts - Compact Biographies, Compact Disasters, Compact History, Compact Mysteries, and Compact Warfare at: compactbiographies.com compactdisasters.com compacthistory.com compactmysteries.com compactwarfare.com
In February 1554, England witnessed the tragic end of Lady Jane Grey, the young Protestant noblewoman who reigned as queen for just nine days. Caught in a web of Tudor politics, Jane was thrust onto the throne against her will, only to be overthrown by Queen Mary I. Condemned for treason, her execution in the Tower of London remains one of the most poignant moments in English history. In this episode, we explore her rise, downfall, and final moments on the scaffold. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to https://compacthistories.com/murdercoffee/ to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://compacthistories.com/murder/the-execution-of-lady-jane-grey/. Check out our other compact podcasts - Compact Biographies, Compact Disasters, Compact History, Compact Mysteries, and Compact Warfare at: compactbiographies.com compactdisasters.com compacthistory.com compactmysteries.com compactwarfare.com
In August 1967, rising British playwright Joe Orton was at the height of his career when his life ended violently in the Islington flat he shared with his long-time partner, Kenneth Halliwell. What unfolded was a shocking murder-suicide that stunned the theatre world. In this episode, we unravel the turbulent relationship, the jealousy, and the final hours that silenced one of the sharpest voices in British theatre. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to https://compacthistories.com/murdercoffee/ to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://compacthistories.com/murder/the-murder-of-joe-orton/. Check out our other compact podcasts - Compact Biographies, Compact Disasters, Compact History, Compact Mysteries, and Compact Warfare at: compactbiographies.com compactdisasters.com compacthistory.com compactmysteries.com compactwarfare.com
A king. An arrow. A forest thick with secrets. When William Rufus fell dead during a royal hunt in 1100, it was labelled an accident, but the facts, and the timing, suggest otherwise. In this episode, we explore the suspicious death of King William II and the brother who just happened to become king days later. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to https://compacthistories.com/murdercoffee/ to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://compacthistories.com/murder/the-murder-of-king-william-ii/. Check out our other compact podcasts - Compact Biographies, Compact Disasters, Compact History, Compact Mysteries, and Compact Warfare at: compactbiographies.com compactdisasters.com compacthistory.com compactmysteries.com compactwarfare.com
He was polite, soft-spoken, and completely unremarkable—until police entered his Milwaukee apartment and uncovered a horror story beyond imagination. In this chilling episode, we follow the life and crimes of Jeffrey Dahmer, a man whose polite exterior masked the mind of a serial killer, cannibal, and necrophile. What drove him—and why wasn’t he stopped sooner? Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to https://compacthistories.com/murdercoffee/ to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://compacthistories.com/murder/jeffrey-dahmer/. Check out our other compact podcasts - Compact Biographies, Compact Disasters, Compact History, Compact Mysteries, and Compact Warfare at: compactbiographies.com compactdisasters.com compacthistory.com compactmysteries.com compactwarfare.com
Charismatic, controversial, and uncompromising, Malcolm X became one of the most powerful voices in the American civil rights movement. But on a cold February evening in 1965, as he stood before a crowd in New York, that voice was silenced in a hail of gunfire. In this episode, we explore the life, legacy, and lingering questions behind the assassination of Malcolm X. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to https://compacthistories.com/murdercoffee/ to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://compacthistories.com/murder/the-assassination-of-malcolm-x/. Check out our other compact podcasts - Compact Biographies, Compact Disasters, Compact History, Compact Mysteries, and Compact Warfare at: compactbiographies.com compactdisasters.com compacthistory.com compactmysteries.com compactwarfare.com
In 1471, King Henry VI died in the Tower of London, just days after his son’s death and the fall of the Lancastrian cause. Officially, he died of heartbreak. But few believed it then, and even fewer believe it now. In this episode, we uncover the suspicious circumstances of Henry’s quiet death, the political forces that made him expendable, and how one of England’s most tragic kings met his end not with a sword, but in silence. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to https://compacthistories.com/murdercoffee/ to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://compacthistories.com/murder/the-murder-of-king-henry-vi/. Check out our other compact podcasts - Compact Biographies, Compact Disasters, Compact History, Compact Mysteries, and Compact Warfare at: compactbiographies.com compactdisasters.com compacthistory.com compactmysteries.com compactwarfare.com
In 1016, England’s King Edmund Ironside fought fiercely to defend his crown against Danish invaders, earning his reputation as a warrior king. But just weeks after dividing the kingdom with his rival, Cnut, Edmund was dead. Some say illness claimed him. Others insist it was a gruesome assassination, carried out in the most humiliating way possible. In this episode, we uncover the mystery behind one of England’s earliest royal murders. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to 5minutemurder.com/coffee to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutemurder.com/the-murder-of-edmund-ironside/. Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute Disasters, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at: 5minutebiographies.com 5minutedisasters.com 5minutehistory.com 5minutemysteries.com 5minutewarfare.com
Simonetta Vespucci was the face that defined beauty in Renaissance Florence. Admired by the powerful Medici family and immortalised in Botticelli’s paintings, she seemed untouchable. But in 1476, at just 22 years old, Simonetta died suddenly. Officially, it was illness, but rumours of jealousy, poison, and political plots have surrounded her death ever since. In this episode, we explore the mystery behind the life and untimely end of Florence’s most famous muse. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to 5minutemurder.com/coffee to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutemurder.com/the-murder-of-simonetta-vespucci/. Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute Disasters, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at: 5minutebiographies.com 5minutedisasters.com 5minutehistory.com 5minutemysteries.com 5minutewarfare.com
Dubbed the “Butcher of Rostov,” Andrei Chikatilo was one of the Soviet Union’s most prolific and terrifying serial killers. Between 1978 and 1990, he preyed on the vulnerable, leaving a trail of horror across Russia. In this episode, we explore how Chikatilo evaded capture for years—and how his monstrous crimes finally caught up with him. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to 5minutemurder.com/coffee to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutemurder.com/andrei-chikatilo. Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute Disasters, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at: 5minutebiographies.com 5minutedisasters.com 5minutehistory.com 5minutemysteries.com 5minutewarfare.com
On December 27, 2007, Benazir Bhutto, Pakistan’s former Prime Minister and a symbol of hope for many, was assassinated at a rally in Rawalpindi. Her death shook the world, throwing a fragile democracy into chaos. Was it a lone act of terror, or part of a deeper conspiracy? In this episode, we unravel the final moments of one of the most significant political figures of the 21st century. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to 5minutemurder.com/coffee to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutemurder.com/the-assassination-of-benazir-bhutto. Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute Disasters, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at: 5minutebiographies.com 5minutedisasters.com 5minutehistory.com 5minutemysteries.com 5minutewarfare.com
In 1678, the suspicious death of Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey sent shockwaves through London. A respected magistrate, Godfrey was found dead under mysterious circumstances, fueling hysteria at the height of the Popish Plot. Was it political murder, religious conspiracy, or something even more sinister? In this episode, we dive into a 17th-century mystery filled with intrigue, fear, and unanswered questions. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to 5minutemurder.com/coffee to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutemurder.com/the-murder-of-sir-edmund-berry-godfrey. Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute Disasters, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at: 5minutebiographies.com 5minutedisasters.com 5minutehistory.com 5minutemysteries.com 5minutewarfare.com
On June 27, 1924, nine-year-old Rosa Armstrong vanished after leaving her Sutton-in-Ashfield home to return to school. Her disappearance alarmed the community, and by the early hours of the next morning, a man approached a policeman in Mansfield Market Place, confessing to her murder. The man was Arthur Simms, Rosa's brother-in-law. He led police to a field near St. Mark’s Mission Chapel, where Rosa's body was found. The case shocked the nation, not only for its brutality but also for the complex family ties and psychological factors involved. In episode 32 of 5 Minute Murder, we delve into the tragic events surrounding Rosa's death and the subsequent trial of Arthur Simms. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to 5minutemurder.com/coffee to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutemurder.com/the-murder-of-rosa-armstrong/. Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute Disasters, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at: 5minutebiographies.com 5minutedisasters.com 5minutehistory.com 5minutemysteries.com 5minutewarfare.com
In Episode 31 of the 5 Minute Murder podcast, we investigate the brutal murder of Mary Ann Nichols, the first confirmed victim of Jack the Ripper. On 31 August 1888, Nichols' body was discovered in the dark streets of Whitechapel, London, marking the beginning of one of history’s most infamous unsolved murder sprees. Her death sent shockwaves through Victorian society and sparked a frenzied hunt for the mysterious killer. Who was responsible for the Ripper murders, and why has the case remained an enduring mystery for over a century? Join us as we explore the tragic fate of Mary Ann Nichols and the terrifying legacy of Jack the Ripper. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to 5minutemurder.com/coffee to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutemurder.com/the-murder-of-mary-ann-nichols/. Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute Disasters, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at: 5minutebiographies.com 5minutedisasters.com 5minutehistory.com 5minutemysteries.com 5minutewarfare.com
In Episode 30 of the 5 Minute Murder podcast, we delve into the disturbing case of John Wayne Gacy, one of the most infamous serial killers in American history. Known as the Killer Clown, Gacy was a seemingly respectable businessman and entertainer who led a horrifying double life. Between 1972 and 1978, he lured and murdered at least 33 young men and boys, burying many of his victims beneath his suburban Chicago home. His arrest and trial exposed the shocking depths of his crimes, leaving a lasting impact on criminal psychology and law enforcement. Join us as we examine the chilling story of John Wayne Gacy and the dark legacy he left behind. Please consider supporting the show by subscribing and leaving a review wherever you get your podcasts, and if you would like to support us more directly, then why not buy us a coffee? Head on over to 5minutemurder.com/coffee to see how. An article supporting this episode can be found on the website at https://5minutemurder.com/john-wayne-gacy/. Check out our other 5 Minute podcasts - 5 Minute Biographies, 5 Minute Disasters, 5 Minute History, 5 Minute Mysteries, and 5 Minute Warfare at: 5minutebiographies.com 5minutedisasters.com 5minutehistory.com 5minutemysteries.com 5minutewarfare.com