Crime Capsule

In this episode of Crime Capsule, we kick off our fourth season with a chilling tale from Erie, Pennsylvania. Join host Benjamin Morris and Justin Dombrowski as he recounts the shocking events of February 8, 1911, when Amelia Hertwig stumbled upon the desecration of the Scott Mausoleum. This famed structure, built in 1889 for a prominent family, became the site of a horrifying discovery as its doors were found ajar, and one of the bodies inside had been disturbed. Justin discusses the uniqueness of this crime in Erie's history and paints a vivid picture of the mausoleum's impressive architecture. Tune in for a deep dive into a crime that was both sensational and bizarre, marking a dark moment in the city’s past. Justin Dombrowski is a well-respected and noted historian from Erie, Pennsylvania, specializing in local criminal, legal and historical records. An alumnus of Mercyhurst University, he can usually be found searching for his next historical adventure or spending time with his family. This is his fourth book with The History Press. Purchase HERE

This week, we have a special episode for all of you, Ben guesting on So Much Crime, So Little Time Podcast. Are you always looking for the next great true crime story? But you don't want to waste time on a lousy one, right? On 'So Much Crime, So Little Time,' we preview true crime stories in podcasts and other media for you. Spend your time on crime wisely! We also come back and share full reviews - in-depth analysis and commentary so you can continue enjoying your favorite stories. Your Hosts: Irish true crime fanatic Dee and American story expert Jeff. Support this podcast:  Subscribe HERE

This week, we are crossing over to producer Bill Huffman's podcast, Who Killed...?, and his interview with author Jesse Pollack about his experience with the Long Island Serial Killer Case. Jesse P. Pollack was born and raised in the garden state of New Jersey, and has served as a contributing writer for Weird NJ magazine since 2001. His first book, Death on the Devil’s Teeth, coauthored with Mark Moran, was published in 2015 to critical acclaim. Also an accomplished musician, Pollack’s soundtrack work has been heard on Driving Jersey, an Emmy-nominated PBS documentary series. He is married with two children, three dogs, and a couple of cats. The first set of remains was discovered in 2010 while police were searching for another woman, 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert. It wouldn't be for another year when Gilbert's body would be found across the way on neighboring Oak Beach. Once Gilbert's body was recovered, the total number of bodies found was 11. Police said most of the women worked in prostitution and advertised on such services as Craigslist. When an independent autopsy was performed on Gilbert's body, they were able to determine she was killed due to homicidal strangulation. The reason for the second autopsy was the first one concluded Gilbert had died from drowning and drug overdose. The autopsy was able to show she did not die from a natural disease, drug overdose, or drowning. Gilbert had vanished after visiting a customer and was told to have freaked out and started banging on neighbor's doors, asking for help and saying people were trying to kill her. Sources: ABC7 CBS NEWS CBS Gilgo Case Jesse P Pollack

This week we are crossing over to producer Bill Huffman's podcast, Who Killed...?, and his interview with author Jesse Pollack about his experience with the Long Island Serial Killer Case. Jesse P. Pollack was born and raised in the garden state of New Jersey, and has served as a contributing writer for Weird NJ magazine since 2001. His first book, Death on the Devil’s Teeth, coauthored with Mark Moran, was published in 2015 to critical acclaim. Also an accomplished musician, Pollack’s soundtrack work has been heard on Driving Jersey, an Emmy-nominated PBS documentary series. He is married with two children, three dogs, and a couple of cats. The first set of remains was discovered in 2010 while police were searching for another woman, 24-year-old Shannan Gilbert. It wouldn't be for another year when Gilbert's body would be found across the way on neighboring Oak Beach. Once Gilbert's body was recovered, the total number of bodies found was 11. Police said most of the women worked in prostitution and advertised on such services as Craigslist. When an independent autopsy was performed on Gilbert's body, they were able to determine she was killed due to homicidal strangulation. The reason for the second autopsy was the first one concluded Gilbert had died from drowning and drug overdose. The autopsy was able to show she did not die from a natural disease, drug overdose, or drowning. Gilbert had vanished after visiting a customer and was told to have freaked out and started banging on neighbor's doors, asking for help and saying people were trying to kill her. Sources: ABC7 CBS NEWS CBS Gilgo Case Jesse P Pollack

On this week's episode of Crime Capsule, Benjamin Morris talks with producer extraordinaire Sarah Ferris of Evergreen Podcasts and her new show, Watching Two Detectives. About Watching Two Detectives Season One: "If Tomorrow Never Comes" In our gripping first season, "If Tomorrow Never Comes," we unravel the chilling and complex murder of Michael Furlong. Unlike any crime story you've heard, this case twists on its axis with developments so shocking, they'd be dismissed as too unbelievable for a Hollywood script. Scott Rogan and Peter Hogan are not just recounting the case; they're reopening the files with a personal connection that adds layers of depth and humanity to the narrative. Joined by the detective who led the investigation, Clive Ainly, this season offers unprecedented access to the people closest to the case. Michael's son Luke, who was only 11 at the time of his father's murder, and his ex-wife, Colleen, share their poignant journeys of seeking answers and closure. This isn't just a recounting of facts; it's an exploration of the ripple effects of a single act of violence. From the crime scene that shook the detectives to their core to the heart-wrenching irony of Michael's last gift to his ex-wife—a CD featuring Ronan Keating's "If Tomorrow Never Comes"—this season brings you closer to the case than ever before. Go beyond the headlines and the cold facts. Experience the human side of a true crime story, accompanied by those who lived through it. Hear directly from the detectives who worked the case and the family members still seeking answers. Just when you think you've understood the case, new revelations emerge, each more surprising than the last. Subscribe Now

Join us next week for a conversation with renowned podcast producer Sarah Ferris. Then, we will usher in another series for "spooky season." Stay tuned.

From railroad towns like Ladore to cow towns like Newton and Wichita, southeast Kansas pulsed with rowdy activity during the late nineteenth century. The unruly atmosphere drew outlaws, including the Dalton Gang, and even crazed serial killers, the likes of the Bender clan. Violent incidents, from gunfights to lynchings, punctuated the region's Wild West era, and the allure of the frontier also attracted the everyday people whose passions sometimes spawned bloodshed as well. Award-winning author Larry E. Wood explores thirteen of these remarkable episodes in the criminal history of southeast Kansas. Buy HERE

From railroad towns like Ladore to cow towns like Newton and Wichita, southeast Kansas pulsed with rowdy activity during the late nineteenth century. The unruly atmosphere drew outlaws, including the Dalton Gang, and even crazed serial killers, the likes of the Bender clan. Violent incidents, from gunfights to lynchings, punctuated the region's Wild West era, and the allure of the frontier also attracted the everyday people whose passions sometimes spawned bloodshed as well. Award-winning author Larry E. Wood explores thirteen of these remarkable episodes in the criminal history of southeast Kansas. Buy HERE

Explore the dark side of the history of the River City… Richmond has a curious share of horrific accidents, coolly calculated slaughter, and incidents of implacable deceit in its history. Here, the wronged, the devious, and the heartbroken enact their lives on the stage set of the River City's ostensibly genteel neighborhoods, where a tree-shaded city street may have been the site of a crime of passion and an innocuous path in the woods recalls a grisly unsolved murder. Discover these and other lesser-known stories, from a young bride poisoned by her husband to the horrific fate of an entire airliner. Local historian Selden Richardson explores tales from a time when murder and mayhem stalked the streets of Richmond. Selden Richardson is a local historian who writes and lectures about history and architecture in his native city of Richmond, Virginia. He is the author of Built by Blacks: African American Architecture and Neighborhoods in Richmond, Virginia (The History Press, 2008) and The Tri-State Gang in Richmond: Murder and Robbery in the Great Depression (The History Press, 2012).

Explore the dark side of the history of the River City… Richmond has a curious share of horrific accidents, coolly calculated slaughter, and incidents of implacable deceit in its history. Here, the wronged, the devious, and the heartbroken enact their lives on the stage set of the River City's ostensibly genteel neighborhoods, where a tree-shaded city street may have been the site of a crime of passion and an innocuous path in the woods recalls a grisly unsolved murder. Discover these and other lesser-known stories, from a young bride poisoned by her husband to the horrific fate of an entire airliner. Local historian Selden Richardson explores tales from a time when murder and mayhem stalked the streets of Richmond. Selden Richardson is a local historian who writes and lectures about history and architecture in his native city of Richmond, Virginia. He is the author of Built by Blacks: African American Architecture and Neighborhoods in Richmond, Virginia (The History Press, 2008) and The Tri-State Gang in Richmond: Murder and Robbery in the Great Depression (The History Press, 2012).

Rendered in painstaking detail, accounts of high-profile killings and courtroom intrigue filled the pages of Stark County's early newspapers. The triple hanging of three teenage boys in 1880 seized the attention of the entire community. When George Saxton, notorious womanizer and President McKinley's brother-in-law, was shot dead on the front lawn of his widowed lover in 1898, the whole nation looked on. For the brutal slaying of his wife, James Cornelius became the first local prison inmate executed in the electric chair in 1906. Using contemporary local newspaper accounts, Kim Kenney, author of Canton's Pioneers in Flight and coauthor of Stark County Food tells the story of eight Stark County murders, unfolding the grisly details while honoring the lives cut short by violence. Buy HERE

Rendered in painstaking detail, accounts of high-profile killings and courtroom intrigue filled the pages of Stark County's early newspapers. The triple hanging of three teenage boys in 1880 seized the attention of the entire community. When George Saxton, notorious womanizer and President McKinley's brother-in-law, was shot dead on the front lawn of his widowed lover in 1898, the whole nation looked on. For the brutal slaying of his wife, James Cornelius became the first local prison inmate executed in the electric chair in 1906. Using contemporary local newspaper accounts, Kim Kenney, author of Canton's Pioneers in Flight and coauthor of Stark County Food tells the story of eight Stark County murders, unfolding the grisly details while honoring the lives cut short by violence. Buy HERE

Hey, Crime Capsule fans, it's Ben here. We are putting the finishing touches on our new series on Crimes of Passion for the hot summer months. And as we do that, we have a special treat to share with you. We have an exciting new podcast from the award-winning Sarah Ferris Media, known for producing true crime hits like Conning the Con and Stop the Killing. Their latest release is called Watching Two Detectives and it is amazing. Hosted by retired New South Wales homicide detectives Scott Rogan and Peter Hogan, this podcast offers a unique and authentic perspective on some of the most intriguing cases they have ever worked on. The first season, titled If Tomorrow Never Comes, delves into the murder of Michael Furlong, a case that took an unexpected turn when the detectives reached out to Michael's family. Luke Furlong, Michael's son, had waited over 20 years to speak to the detectives who solved his father's case, turning this podcast into a heartfelt journey of truth and healing. What sets watching two detectives apart is its focus on the emotional impact on the victim's family and the continuous struggles they face, like confronting the potential release of the suspect every six months. chilling details of the case, including poisoned toothpaste and an elaborate drug smuggling plan, also add layers of suspense and intrigue. You can binge the entire first season early on Apple podcasts and Patreon, making it perfect for those who can't wait for weekly releases.  Trust us. You are not going to want to miss this podcast. We will see you back here at Crime Capsule next week for Crimes of Passion. But until then, enjoy Watching Two Detectives.  Listen on Apple Podcasts: [ https://podcasts.apple.com/au/podcast/watching-two-detectives/id1740792484] Subscribe on Patreon: [https://www.patreon.com/WTDPODCAST/home]

Hi, Crime Capsule fans. It's your host, Benjamin, here. I hope you are having a great summer and enjoying the Fourth of July in style. We won't keep you from your burgers on the grill and your fireworks. We are sending out a quick reminder about our current giveaway. We are extending our deadline. To mark our 100th episode, Arcadia Publishing is giving away not one but two books from our most recent guests, and they can be yours with just one email. The first is a physical copy of Kate Zeliznack's The Doodler Murders of San Francisco. And the second book is a digital copy of Rita Shuler's Murder in the Midlands. All you have to do to enter is email crimecapsule@evergreenpodcasts.com with your name, city, and just one thing you would like to hear on a future Crime Capsule episode. A place, a topic, a murderer, could be anything, you name it. We are always looking for new ideas for books to cover and authors to interview, so we would love to hear from you about what you want to hear more about. Tell us your name, city, and interest for a future show, and we will select two names from the pile to give these books away. Again, we are extending our deadline to next week, July 11th. That email is Crimecapsule@evergreenpodcasts .com. Drop us a line. Thanks again for everything and we will see you soon. Happy Fourth, Crime Capsule, History So Interesting, It's Criminal.

Hi, Crime Capsule fans. It's your host, Benjamin, here. I just wanted to take a moment and say thank you for joining us these past two months for our 100th-episode celebration. If you've heard me say it once, you've heard me say it a thousand times. We still can't quite believe we made it this far. We're wrapping things up.  Now, before we go, every good party has party favors, and this one is no exception. To mark the 100th, Arcadia Publishing is giving away not one, but two books authored by our most recent guests, and they can be yours with just one simple email. The first. is a physical copy of Kate Zaliznack's The Doodler Murders of San Francisco, which you can hear more about in our interview with Kate just a few weeks ago, and the one last year. The second book is a digital copy of Rita Shuler's Murder in the Midlands, which she told us about in some detail just last week. All you have to do to enter is email us at crimecapsule@evergreenpodcasts.com. Again, that's crimecapsule@evergreenpodcasts.com. In that email, include your name, your city, and one topic that you would like to hear on a future crime capsule episode. We are always on the lookout for new ideas for books to cover and authors to interview.  So we would love to hear from you about what you would like to hear more about. It could be paranormal, could be heists, could be spies, could be lady murderers, could be anything. Just tell us your name, your city, and one topic you would like to hear about on a future show, and we will select two names from the pile to give these books away to. Now, here's the thing time is ticking. You have one week to do this, so get on it. Our entries are going to close on July 4th. Now again, that email is crimecapsule@evergreenpodcasts.com. In the meantime, we'll prepare our next full series of original episodes for you. No spoilers, but it's gonna be killer.  So thanks again for everything and we will see you soon. Get this week, but before we get to that, we just wanted to say it's been a real journey, a labor of love and a labor of joy, and we could not have done it without you. We're grateful to our staff at Evergreen and Arcadia. We're grateful to our authors, our guests, but most of all to you, our listeners who tune in each week to hear the latest in true crime writing and scholarship. So thanks. Here's to the next 100.

This week, we welcome Rita Shuler back to discuss everything from her books to the Alex Murdaugh murders in the Lowcountry of South Carolina. Gwendolyn Elaine Fogle's murder remained a cold case for 37 years until the dogged work of two detectives. Investigators periodically revisited the case over the years, but it remained the department's top cold case for thirty-seven years. Special Agent Lt. Rita Shuler worked on the case shortly after she joined the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and she just couldn't let it go, not even after her retirement in 2001. In May 2015, Lt. Shuler teamed up with new investigator Corporal Gean Johnson, and together they uncovered key evidence that had been overlooked. With new advancements in DNA and fingerprint technology, they brought the case to its end in just four months. Join Shuler as she details the gruesome history of this finally-solved case. Listening to Rita's experiences was insightful and a testament to law enforcement professionals' dedication and hard work. If you're interested in learning more about these fascinating cases and Rita's perspective, be sure to check out her previous episodes on Crime Capsule. #CrimeCapsule #LawEnforcement #PodcastEpisode #Justice #Collaboration #Persistence #Timing Buy her book HERE

Chapel Hill has seen its share of violence and murder, but it has been able to push those instances aside and keep the ambiance of a Norman Rockwell–style small town. A walk through the campus of the University of North Carolina–Chapel Hill can be inspiring, but the school has a darker side that has been well hidden. Over the years, there have been many murders that have taken place among the oak trees and in the dorms and frat houses on campus. Many of the murders are unsolved and remain mysteries to this day. The victims know the truth, though, that evil has no boundaries. Local historian Rick Jackson narrates the mysteries of one of North Carolina’s quaintest towns. Rick Jackson is a native North Carolinian who grew up in Durham and now lives with his family in Wake Forest, just outside Raleigh. He currently teaches business and economic courses to high school students after spending many years in banking and finance in various positions. He has always had a passion for history and the stories of the people that lived it. He holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Campbell University and an MBA from The University of Mount Olive. PURCHASE HERE

Join us next week as we resume our 100th episode celebration.

In 1978, Elaine Fogle was found murdered in her home in rural South Carolina. After months of investigation by local and state investigators, the case went cold. But one of those investigators, Lieutenant Rita Shuler, wouldn't let it go: Shuler would spend the next 40 years pursuing Fogle's case until she finally cracked it -- and then wrote a book about it. This episode is part one of our two-part interview with Shuler, author of "The Lowcountry Murder of Gwendolyn  Elaine Fogle: A Cold Case Solved", out now from Arcadia Publishing.For decades, evidence of the 1978 murder of Gwendolyn Elaine Fogle lay in the evidence room at the Walterboro Police Department. Investigators periodically revisited the case over the years, but it remained the department’s top cold case for thirty-seven years. Special Agent Lieutenant Rita Shuler worked on the case shortly after she joined the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and she couldn’t let it go, not even after her retirement in 2001. In May 2015, Lieutenant Shuler teamed up with new investigator Corporal Gean Johnson, and together they uncovered key evidence that had been overlooked. With new advancements in DNA and fingerprint technology, they brought the case to its end in just four months. Join host Ben Morris as he interviews Rita Shuler, author of Murder in Pleasanton: Tina Faelz and the Search for Justice, published by The History Press. Find us on your favorite podcast provider, or on evergreenpodcasts.com.

Four decades after Jeannette DePalma's tragic death, authors Jesse P. Pollack and Mark Moran present the definitive account of the shocking Springfield township cold case. As Springfield residents decorated for Halloween in September 1972, the crime rate in the quiet, affluent township was at its lowest in years. That mood was shattered when the body of sixteen-year-old Jeannette DePalma was discovered in the local woods, allegedly surrounded by strange objects. Some feared witchcraft was to blame, while others believed a serial killer was on the loose. Rumors of a police cover up ran rampant, and the case went unsolved - along with the murders of several other young women. Jesse P. Pollack is a New Jersey native who has served as a contributing writer and correspondent for Weird NJ magazine since 2001. In addition to Death on the Devil's Teeth, Pollack is the author of The Acid King (Simon & Schuster, 2018) and co-directed a 2021 documentary of the same name. Pollack is the co-host of Podcast 1289, the True Crime Movie Club podcast and the Devil's Teeth podcast. Mark Moran graduated from Parsons School of Design. In the early 1990s, Moran teamed up with Mark Sceurman to create Weird NJ magazine, the ultimate travel guide to New Jersey's local legends and best-kept secrets. The magazine has since spawned several books and a History Channel television series. Moran and Sceurman can be seen on the Travel Channel television series Paranormal Caught on Camera. Buy the book HERE