Digest

This episode of "That's Must Up, an SVU podcast" is a "Rewind" episode, where the hosts, Karen and Georgia, revisit a past episode of their podcast, "My Favorite Murder." They discuss their feelings about the episode, case updates, and behind-the-scenes insights. The episode focuses on unsolved murders, specifically the Black Dahlia and Elisa Lam cases. The hosts delve into the details of each case, exploring the theories surrounding Elisa Lam's death, including suicide, foul play, and a possible psychotic break. They also discuss the Black Dahlia case, its notoriety, and Georgia's personal connection to it. The episode highlights the importance of mental health awareness and destigmatization, particularly in the context of Elisa Lam's case. The hosts acknowledge the universal experience of trauma and the enduring impact of mental illness. They also discuss the challenges of navigating sensitive topics on a public platform, particularly when dealing with grief and loss. The episode concludes with a discussion about the desire for a world without murder and the hope that the podcast will eventually run out of true crime topics.

Outlines

00:00:00

Introduction and Podcast Overview

The podcast introduces itself as "That's Must Up, an SVU podcast," a true crime comedy podcast that breaks down episodes of Law and Order SVU, the true crime it's based on, and features interviews with actors from the show.

00:01:47

Rewinding to Episode Seven: Unsolved Murders

The hosts, Karen and Georgia, announce their "Rewind" series, where they relisten to old episodes of their podcast, "My Favorite Murder," and discuss their feelings about them, case updates, and behind-the-scenes insights. They're specifically revisiting episode seven, which aired on March 11, 2016.

00:03:20

Discussing Episode Seven: Unsolved Murders

The hosts delve into the content of episode seven, which focuses on unsolved murders. They share personal anecdotes about their lives during the time the episode was recorded, including Georgia's wedding and Karen's mother's passing.

00:08:52

Analyzing the People vs. Audrey Simpson

The hosts discuss their thoughts on the character of Dominic Dunn in the "People vs. Audrey Simpson" episode, comparing him to Truman Capote and highlighting his outlandish personality. They also discuss the real-life events that inspired the character and the accuracy of his portrayal.

00:12:18

Choosing Unsolved Murders for the Episode

The hosts decide to focus on unsolved murders for the episode, as they've been busy and it's a topic with many options. They discuss the potential for the cases to become more challenging as they progress through the series.

00:13:12

Karen's Initial Choice and the California Double Murder

Karen shares her initial choice for an unsolved murder, the California double murder in 2004, where two kids were shot while camping on a beach. She explains why she ultimately changed her mind, citing the lack of interesting details and the presence of obvious suspects.

00:16:55

The Anxiety of Revisiting Past Episodes

The hosts discuss the anxiety they feel when revisiting their old episodes, acknowledging their lack of awareness about what was to come and the changes they've undergone since then. They also reflect on their past recording practices, including recording with colds and hitting the microphone.

00:18:56

Addressing Karen's Mother's Passing

Karen expresses regret for not addressing Georgia's mother's passing in the original episode, acknowledging the difficulty of navigating such a sensitive topic. They discuss the challenges of offering condolences during a time of grief and the complexities of navigating personal experiences on a public platform.

00:23:51

The Black Dahlia and Elisa Lam: Unsolved Cases

The hosts reveal their chosen unsolved murders for the episode: Karen selects the Black Dahlia case, while Georgia chooses the Elisa Lam case. They discuss the significance of these cases and their personal connections to them.

00:27:38

Georgia's Real Unsolved Murder Choice: The Black Dahlia

Georgia reveals her real unsolved murder choice, the Black Dahlia case, explaining why it's her favorite and the most realistic answer to the question of her favorite unsolved murder. She discusses the case's notoriety and her personal connection to it.

00:44:01

Karen's Unsolved Murder Choice: Elisa Lam

Karen reveals her chosen unsolved murder, the death of Elisa Lam in 2013. She discusses the case's details, including the famous elevator footage and the various theories surrounding her death.

00:46:43

Karen's Research and the Elisa Lam Case

Karen discusses her research process for the Elisa Lam case, highlighting the wealth of information available on Reddit and the role of online communities in researching true crime. She credits Deranged LA Crimes.com as a valuable resource.

00:57:38

Elisa Lam's Death: The Unprocessed Rape Kit and the Missing Minute

The discussion delves into the investigation of Elisa Lam's death, highlighting the unprocessed rape kit and the missing minute on the elevator security footage. The hosts explore the implications of these inconsistencies and the potential for foul play.

01:04:50

Theories and Speculations: A Manic Episode or Foul Play?

The hosts present different theories about Elisa Lam's actions, considering the possibility of a manic episode or the involvement of another person. They discuss the likelihood of a hotel employee being involved and the potential for a staged drowning.

01:09:54

The Haunting of Elisa Lam and the Power of Mental Illness

The hosts reflect on the enduring impact of Elisa Lam's story, highlighting the loneliness and vulnerability of individuals facing mental health challenges. They criticize the tendency to oversimplify the case and emphasize the inherent haunting nature of mental illness.

01:18:09

The Desire for a World Without Murder and the Boy in the Box Update

The hosts express their desire for a world without murder and their hope that the podcast will eventually run out of true crime topics. They provide a case update on the "Boy in the Box" case, revealing the boy's name as Joseph Augustus Zarelli.

01:18:57

Rewind Episode: Naming Conventions and the Burbank Goodbye

The hosts discuss their process of naming rewind episodes and explore potential titles based on memorable moments from the current episode. They consider options like "You Can Help People," "Burbank Goodbye," and "OJ, Real Time, Real Feelings."

Keywords

Q&A

• What are the hosts' chosen unsolved murders for this episode?

  Karen chooses the Elisa Lam case, while Georgia chooses the Black Dahlia case.

• What are some of the theories surrounding Elisa Lam's death?

  Theories range from suicide to foul play, with some suggesting she may have experienced a psychotic break due to medication interactions.

• What makes the Black Dahlia case so famous and enduring?

  The brutality of the crime, the lack of a clear motive, and the numerous suspects have made it one of the most famous unsolved murders in American history.

• How does the podcast address the sensitive topic of Georgia's mother's passing?

  Karen expresses regret for not addressing it in the original episode, acknowledging the difficulty of navigating such a topic and the complexities of sharing personal experiences on a public platform.

• What is the significance of the Cecil Hotel in the Elisa Lam case?

  The hotel's dark history and association with other unsolved mysteries, along with the strange elevator footage, have made it a focal point of the case.

• How does the podcast use Reddit as a resource for researching true crime?

  The hosts acknowledge the wealth of information and passionate communities on Reddit, which they use to supplement their own research and gain insights from other true crime enthusiasts.

• Why was the rape kit in Elisa Lam's case never processed?

  The police decided not to process the rape kit because they believed Elisa Lam's death was an accident and there was no need for further investigation.

• What is the significance of the missing minute in the elevator footage?

  The missing minute raises suspicions about the authenticity of the footage and suggests that something may have been intentionally removed, potentially concealing evidence of foul play.

• What are the different theories about Elisa Lam's actions in the elevator?

  Some believe she was experiencing a manic episode, while others speculate that she was playing a game or trying to escape from someone.

• How does the case of Elisa Lam highlight the importance of mental health awareness?

  The case underscores the need to recognize and address mental health crises, destigmatize mental illness, and provide support to individuals struggling with these challenges.

Show Notes