Digest

This podcast delves into the murder of Larry Wells, the manager of a Toys R Us store in Hamburg, New York. The story begins with Larry arriving at the store early on a Saturday morning to help unload merchandise. As the morning progresses, employees begin to notice strange occurrences, including a malfunctioning alarm and a missing manager. The chapter culminates in the discovery of Larry's body, stabbed to death in his office. The police investigation focuses on interviewing employees and reviewing security footage, which reveals a mysterious figure entering the store through a side door and eventually entering Larry's office. The investigation leads to the collection of DNA samples from all current and former employees, but none match the DNA found at the crime scene. The investigation takes a turn when they learn about a black Chevy Impala seen in the parking lot that morning and a suspect named Patrick Walden who fits the FBI's profile of the killer. The police eventually obtain a DNA sample from Bernie Groucha, the regional vice president of Lost Prevention for Toys R Us, and discover that his DNA matches the DNA found at the crime scene. The police reconstruct the events leading to Larry Wells's murder, believing that Groucha was the killer. Groucha had been stealing merchandise from Toys R Us stores and reselling it on eBay to pay off his debts. He had also been having marital problems and was in a state of desperation. On the morning of the murder, Groucha entered the store through a side door, disabled the security cameras, and confronted Larry in his office. A struggle ensued, and Groucha stabbed Larry to death. Police search Groucha's home and find over $200,000 in stolen Toys R Us merchandise. They discover that Groucha had been stealing merchandise from multiple stores and reselling it online to pay off his debts. His marriage was also falling apart, and he was in a state of desperation. Groucha admits to robbing the Toys R Us store and killing Larry Wells, but claims that he did not intend to kill him. Prosecutors reduce the murder charge to manslaughter, and Groucha is sentenced to 25 years in prison.

Outlines

00:00:10

The Toys R Us Murder and the Initial Investigation

This chapter details the murder of Larry Wells, the manager of a Toys R Us store in Hamburg, New York, and the initial police investigation, including interviews with employees and the review of security footage.

00:27:08

The Search for the Killer and the DNA Evidence

This chapter focuses on the police's efforts to identify the killer, including the collection of DNA samples from employees and the discovery of a black Chevy Impala seen in the parking lot.

00:31:43

The Final Lead and the Truth Revealed

This chapter describes the police's pursuit of a final lead in the case, leading to the identification of Bernie Groucha as the killer through DNA evidence and the reconstruction of the events leading to Larry Wells's murder.

00:38:47

Groucha's Motives and Confession

This chapter explores Bernie Groucha's motives for killing Larry Wells, including his financial desperation and marital problems, and his confession and sentencing.

00:41:01

Groucha's Sentence and Conclusion

This chapter describes Bernie Groucha's sentence of 25 years in prison for manslaughter and concludes the podcast.

Keywords

Q&A

• What were the circumstances surrounding Larry Wells's murder?

  Larry Wells, the manager of a Toys R Us store in Hamburg, New York, was stabbed to death in his office early one Saturday morning. The murder occurred during a time when the store was closed and only a few employees were present.

• How did the police identify Bernie Groucha as the killer?

  The police identified Bernie Groucha as the killer through a combination of DNA evidence, surveillance footage, and witness statements. Groucha's DNA was found on a Florida Gators hat and a security DVR power cord that were found at the crime scene. Surveillance footage showed a figure entering the store through a side door and eventually entering Larry's office.

• What were Bernie Groucha's motives for killing Larry Wells?

  Bernie Groucha was in a state of desperation due to his mounting debts and marital problems. He had been stealing merchandise from Toys R Us stores and reselling it online to pay off his debts. He also had a history of reckless behavior and had recently been arrested for firing a gun in his home.

Show Notes