Digest

The episode begins with a chilling account of the discovery of Nancy and Richard Langer's bodies in their basement, with a message scrawled in blood on a cardboard box between them. The episode then delves into Nancy's last day, painting a picture of a seemingly ordinary day filled with family celebrations and preparations for a move. Sergeant Jean Calvatus, a seasoned officer, is called to the scene and leads the investigation, which initially focuses on gathering information from the victims' families and friends. However, the investigation becomes complicated by the emergence of new information about Richard's gambling debts and Nancy's past affair. The episode then recounts the emotional impact of the murders on the community, culminating in a large funeral for Nancy and Richard. A new lead emerges from a couple who provide information about Nancy's sister, Jean, and her involvement in political activism in Ireland. Sergeant Calvatus interviews Jean, but her confident demeanor and denial of any involvement raise suspicions. Despite numerous dead ends, a break in the case comes in the form of a teenage boy who claims to know the killer. The episode reconstructs the events of the night of the murders based on the teenager's confession, revealing a chilling account of a planned and calculated attack. The episode concludes with the shocking revelation of the killer's identity: David Biro, the son of Nancy's family friends. David's psychological issues and obsession with violence are revealed, leading to his arrest and conviction for the murders.

Outlines

00:00:00

The Winnetka Murders: A True Crime Story

This episode delves into the chilling true crime story of the double homicide of Nancy and Richard Langer in Winnetka, Illinois. The episode begins with a brief advertisement for Amazon Music, highlighting early access to new episodes of the podcast. It then transitions into a captivating introduction, setting the stage for the story.

00:00:10

The Gruesome Discovery and Initial Investigation

The episode delves into the discovery of the bodies of Nancy Langer and her husband Richard in their basement. The scene is described as gruesome, with a chilling detail of a message scrawled in blood on a cardboard box between the bodies. The episode then introduces Sergeant Jean Calvatus, who is called to the scene of the crime. He is described as a seasoned officer with a history of witnessing violence, but still deeply affected by the brutality of the murders. The episode details the initial stages of the investigation, including the formation of a task force led by Sergeant Calvatus. The focus shifts to gathering information from the victims' families and friends, but initial leads prove inconclusive.

00:10:16

Complicated Motives and a New Lead

The episode explores the emergence of new information about the victims, including Richard's gambling debts and Nancy's past affair. These revelations raise suspicions about potential motives for the murders, but the investigation remains frustratingly complex. The episode describes the emotional impact of the murders on the community, culminating in a large funeral for Nancy and Richard. A new lead emerges from a couple who provide information about Nancy's sister, Jean, and her involvement in political activism in Ireland.

00:23:30

Dead Ends and a Break in the Case

The episode recounts Sergeant Calvatus's interview with Jean, Nancy's sister. Jean's confident demeanor and denial of any involvement in the murders raise suspicions, but the lack of cooperation hinders the investigation. The episode highlights the frustration of the investigation as leads continue to go nowhere. The focus shifts to the coffee company where Nancy and Richard worked, exploring potential connections to drug cartels, but no evidence is found. The episode describes the passage of six months with no progress in the case. Sergeant Calvatus is demoted and returns to patrol duty, feeling defeated. However, a break in the case comes in the form of a teenage boy who claims to know the killer.

00:31:17

The Killer's Confession and Shocking Revelation

The episode reconstructs the events of the night of the murders based on the teenager's confession. It reveals a chilling account of a planned and calculated attack, highlighting the killer's obsession with becoming a hitman. The episode unveils the identity of the killer, David Biro, the son of Nancy's family friends. David's psychological issues and obsession with violence are revealed, leading to his arrest and conviction for the murders.

Keywords

Q&A

• What was the chilling detail found at the scene of the crime that immediately caught the detective's attention?

  A heart and the letter \"U\" were scrawled in blood on a cardboard box sitting between the bodies of Nancy and Richard.

• What was the initial lead that seemed promising in the investigation, but ultimately proved to be a dead end?

  Nancy's past affair with a man who had moved to Georgia just two days after the murders.

• How did the killer's identity come to light?

  The killer, David Biro, bragged about the murders to a friend, who then turned him in to the police.

• What was David Biro's motive for killing Nancy and Richard?

  David chose them as his victims because their townhouse was conveniently located and he found them \"unknowing.\" He was obsessed with becoming a hitman and wanted to live out a fantasy.

Show Notes