Digest

This podcast chronicles the disturbing life of Eddie Cole, born in 1938, whose childhood was marred by severe abuse and psychological trauma inflicted by his mother, Vesta. These early experiences, coupled with potential genetic factors, fueled a lifelong pattern of violence, including multiple murders, sexual assaults, and criminal behavior. Despite numerous arrests, psychiatric evaluations, and diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder, the criminal justice and mental health systems repeatedly failed to contain him, allowing his violent spree to continue for decades. The narrative details his escalating crimes, his troubled relationships, his eventual confessions, and his acceptance of the death penalty, culminating in his execution in 1985. The podcast also touches upon broader societal issues, such as failures in the justice system, the challenges of treating homicidal urges, and the dangers of drug epidemics and online scams.

Outlines

00:00:00

Eddie Cole's Troubled Childhood and Early Life

This section introduces Edward "Eddie" Cole, born in 1938, detailing his early confusion about masculinity and his mother Vesta's disturbing influence, including her participation in sex parties and subsequent punishments for Eddie. It covers his parents' move to California during WWII, Vesta's increasingly erratic and abusive behavior, and the profound psychological impact these experiences had on him, shaping his violent urges.

00:14:54

School Years, Escalating Violence, and First Legal Troubles

This chapter covers Eddie Cole's struggles in school, including bullying and his mother's continued abuse. It highlights his early sexual experiences, his first alleged murder of a puppy, and his subsequent drowning of a boy, marking an escalation of his violent behavior. His teenage years were marked by further violent incidents, including maiming a classmate and expulsions, leading to his first arrests due to alcohol-related offenses.

00:27:39

Military Service, Early Adulthood, and Cycles of Arrest

Eddie Cole joins the Naval Reserve, but his time is marred by drinking and disciplinary issues. Upon discharge, he struggles with employment and relationships, continuing his cycle of crime and instability. This chapter chronicles his repeated arrests for DUIs and petty theft, strained relationships due to his behavior and infidelity, and his eventual marriage to Patty Morris.

00:35:45

Intensifying Criminality and Early Marriages

Eddie Cole's criminal activity intensifies with multiple arrests for drunk driving and theft. He marries Billy Whitworth, but their relationship is plagued by heavy drinking and domestic abuse, leading to further arrests for both.

00:50:30

The Onset of Serial Killings

This chapter marks a significant turning point as Eddie Cole begins his spree of murders. After an assault on his wife, he kills Essie Buck, followed by Wilma and another unnamed woman, demonstrating a clear escalation of his violent pathology.

00:59:34

Post-Prison Release and Continued Criminal Behavior

After serving time for arson, Eddie Cole is released and moves to North Carolina, then Texas. Despite attempts at rehabilitation, he quickly resumes his criminal behavior, including attempted strangulations and further arrests.

01:02:24

Psychiatric Evaluation and Persistent Erratic Behavior

Eddie Cole is admitted to a psychiatric hospital where he is diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder. Despite his claims of seeking help, he is discharged and continues his pattern of erratic behavior, arrests, and violence.

01:14:34

Return to Las Vegas and Tumultuous Relationships

Eddie escapes to Nevada, returns to California, and plans a move to Las Vegas. He works at a "grind joint" casino. Life with Diana becomes tumultuous, leading Eddie to steal and flee back to San Diego. Diana's health declines due to cirrhosis.

01:16:06

Confrontations and Wyoming Murders

Eddie seeks an outlet and meets a woman in a bar, leading to a confrontation. He seeks work on oil rigs in Wyoming, eventually murdering Merlene Hammer and dumping her body.

01:19:33

San Diego Rehab and Mental Health Treatment

Eddie returns to San Diego, finding Diana in worse health. He checks into a rehab program called Project Jove. A counselor contacts a mental health center about Eddie, who checks himself in, framing his aggressive tendencies differently. He is discharged with diagnoses including depression and personality disorder.

01:21:11

Arrests, Prison, and a Vegas Murder

Eddie bounces between halfway houses and heads to Jackson, Wyoming. He is arrested for driving a stolen car and mail theft, marking his 27th arrest. After a short prison sentence, he returns to Las Vegas and murders sex worker Catherine Jo Blum.

01:25:30

Animal Rescue, Parole Violations, and New Mexico/Oklahoma Crimes

Eddie works at an exotic animal rescue, violates parole, and is arrested for stealing a car. He leaves town with Tanya, heading to New Mexico and Oklahoma City, where he wakes up to find a woman he met dismembered and cannibalized.

01:27:51

Texas Parole Violation and Return to San Diego

Eddie and Tanya move to Texas, where he works driving diesel tankers. He violates his parole and is arrested again, serving a short prison sentence. Released, he returns to San Diego, living with various women and continuing his attempts to kill.

01:29:36

Multiple Arrests and Appliance Repair Job

Eddie is arrested for public drunkenness and probation violations. He enrolls in air conditioning repair classes, which sparks thoughts of murder.

01:30:26

Bonnie Sue O'Neill and Diana's Murders

Eddie meets Bonnie Sue O'Neill at a bar, lures her to his workplace, and strangles her. Diana's sobriety fails, and she is found dead in their apartment, strangled by Eddie, who hides her body.

01:33:42

Return to Vegas and Marie Cushman's Murder

Eddie returns to Las Vegas and meets Marie Cushman at a bar. He takes her to a motel room and strangles her, later dumping her body. The investigation faces challenges due to lack of identification.

01:37:08

Marriage, Parole Violation, and Prison Sentence

Eddie marries Sharla, a woman with learning disabilities. They move to Texas, but Eddie is stopped by the Highway Patrol, leading to his arrest for violating parole and a subsequent prison sentence.

01:38:47

Dallas Murder and Sally Thompson's Death

Released from prison, Eddie goes to Dallas and finds Wanda Faye Roberts' dead body, strangled and possibly sexually assaulted. He disposes of her body and car. Eddie is later found in Sally Thompson's apartment after her death, claiming she collapsed.

01:45:01

Detective Robinson Connects the Dots and Arrest

Detective Robinson links Eddie to Wanda Roberts' murder through the halfway house and investigates Sally Thompson's death. He learns Cole was readmitted to the halfway house on the day Wanda was murdered, leading to Eddie's arrest on suspicion of murdering Wanda Roberts.

01:47:50

Confession of Multiple Murders and Trial

Eddie, seemingly relieved, agrees to confess to multiple murders, detailing his crimes in San Diego and Las Vegas, including strangulation and necrophilia. His trial begins, with the prosecution arguing he is criminally sane and the defense presenting an insanity defense.

02:02:54

Conviction, Sentencing, and Death Penalty

A jury convicts Cole on all counts, finding him sane and responsible, and he is sentenced to three life terms. After learning of his mother's death, Cole agrees to face further murder charges in Nevada, is found guilty of two murders, and sentenced to death, which he accepts.

02:05:40

Final Interview and Execution

In a final interview, Cole discusses his lack of remorse and desire for execution. He is executed by lethal injection on December 6, 1985.

02:12:44

Early Life, First Murder, and System Failures

Eddie Cole's troubled childhood, marked by an abusive mother and father's absence, is detailed. He may have committed his first murder at age eight, drowning a classmate. Cole confesses to dark urges and violent fantasies involving strangling women. Despite psychiatric evaluations, he is repeatedly released due to system failures.

02:15:12

Confirmed Murders and Misclassified Deaths

Cole commits his first confirmed murder in San Diego in 1971 and continues to kill over the next decade, with authorities often misattributing deaths to natural causes.

02:15:55

Challenges in Treating Homicidal Urges

The difficulty of treating homicidal fantasies and determining when someone is "cured" is discussed, emphasizing the need for harsher punishments and continuous monitoring.

02:17:21

Key Takeaways: Childhood, Early Crimes, and System Failures

Key takeaways highlight Cole's abusive childhood, his mother's influence, his possible first murder at age eight, and his fixation on women. Further takeaways focus on his early confessions and the psychiatric system's inability to contain him, his victimology, and how police often misclassified deaths as natural causes.

02:24:13

Narcan and Cocaine Overdose Clarification

The speaker clarifies that Narcan is not effective for cocaine overdoses, only for opioids, explaining its purpose as a safety layer against fentanyl. Common cocaine overdose symptoms are listed, emphasizing heart attack and cardiac arrest as major dangers.

02:24:56

Cocaine Overdose Symptoms and First Aid

Discusses cocaine overdose symptoms like slowed breathing, paranoia, and seizures. It highlights that overdoses often occur with other drugs and advises hydration while waiting for emergency services.

02:26:00

Fentanyl Epidemic and Drug Testing Inquiry

A listener shares a story about their friend dying from fentanyl-laced weed, emphasizing the dangers of laced drugs. They inquire about obtaining fentanyl test strips and resources for free or low-cost testing.

02:27:50

Fentanyl Test Strips and Availability

The speaker recommends U-CATCH fentanyl test strips and similar products, advising testing strips on water first and suggesting looking for free testing resources.

02:29:15

Online Extortion Scam and Outsmarting the Scammer

An anonymous listener shares a story about being scammed after sending explicit images online. The scammer threatened to send the images to their family, but the listener outsmarted them by providing incorrect information and wasting the scammer's time, while also contacting the police.

02:33:23

Family Fallout and Police Investigation of Scam

The listener recounts the difficult process of explaining the situation to their family after the scammer sent out the photos and expresses hope that the police can identify and apprehend the scammer.

02:35:06

Rules for Living and Resilience

The anonymous listener shares their "golden rules to live by," emphasizing learning from mistakes, knowing your surroundings, and the importance of resilience. The host praises their strength and humor.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were the primary factors contributing to Eddie Cole's violent behavior?

  Eddie Cole's violent behavior appears to be a complex result of severe childhood trauma, including his mother Vesta's abusive and sexually disturbing actions, coupled with potential genetic predispositions and the development of antisocial personality disorder.

• How did Eddie Cole's mother, Vesta, influence his development?

  Vesta Cole's erratic behavior, including her participation in sex parties and subsequent harsh punishments for Eddie, created a deeply damaging psychological environment. This exposure to sex and violence, combined with her mockery and abuse, instilled in Eddie a hatred for women and contributed to his violent urges.

• Despite his violent tendencies, why did Eddie Cole repeatedly seek help?

  Eddie Cole repeatedly sought help by confessing his violent fantasies to authorities and seeking psychiatric treatment. This suggests an internal struggle and a desire to control his urges, even if his attempts at honesty with professionals were often incomplete or ineffective.

• How did the criminal justice system handle Eddie Cole's numerous offenses?

  The criminal justice system repeatedly failed to adequately address Eddie Cole's escalating criminal behavior. He received numerous short sentences for serious offenses, including assault and attempted murder, allowing him to re-enter society and continue his violent actions.

• What was the significance of Eddie Cole's diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder?

  The diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder is crucial as it explains Eddie Cole's lack of empathy, disregard for others' rights, impulsivity, and propensity for violence. This condition underpinned his inability to form healthy relationships and his repeated engagement in criminal activities.

• How did Diana's health deteriorate?

  Diana's health rapidly deteriorated due to cirrhosis of the liver, a condition exacerbated by years of hard drinking. This led to severe health issues and eventual hospitalization.

• What was Eddie Cole's first known murder?

  According to his later confession, Eddie Cole's first known murder occurred at age eight when he drowned a classmate named Dwayne Owen in a harbor. The death was initially ruled an accident.

• Why was Eddie Cole's death sentence commuted?

  Eddie Cole was sentenced to death for the murders of Marie Cushman and Catherine Blum. However, he actively pursued his execution, and despite anti-death penalty campaigners' efforts, he was executed by lethal injection.

• How did the psychiatric system fail to prevent Eddie Cole's crimes?

  Despite Cole's confessions of violent urges and psychiatric evaluations noting his issues with women, the system repeatedly released him. His diagnoses, often antisocial personality disorder, did not lead to sufficient intervention.

• What role did misclassifying deaths as "natural causes" play in Cole's ability to continue killing?

  In an era with less advanced forensic techniques, police often ruled victims' deaths as natural causes due to high blood alcohol levels or lack of obvious trauma. This allowed Cole to evade detection and continue his killing spree for years.

• Can Narcan be used to reverse a cocaine overdose?

  No, Narcan (naloxone) is specifically designed to reverse opioid overdoses. It is not effective against cocaine overdoses, which require different medical interventions.

• What are the dangers of fentanyl-laced drugs?

  Fentanyl is an extremely potent synthetic opioid. Even a tiny amount can cause a fatal overdose, especially for individuals unaware of its presence in other drugs like cocaine, heroin, or counterfeit pills.

• Where can one obtain fentanyl test strips?

  Fentanyl test strips can often be purchased online through platforms like Amazon or from harm reduction organizations. Some organizations may offer them for free or at a low cost.

• What advice did the police give regarding the extortion scam?

  The police advised the victim to block the scammer's number and not to engage further. They warned that the scammer would likely continue to contact them from different numbers, seeking new victims.

Show Notes