Once Upon a Crime is a weekly true crime podcast that tells “the story behind the story” of real life crime. Told in a storytelling style, listeners are presented facts and information about each case they won’t hear anywhere else. For advertising opportunities please email PodcastPartnerships@Studio71us.com. We wanna make the podcast even better, help us learn how we can: https://bit.ly/2EcYbu4. Privacy Policy: https://www.studio71.com/terms-and-conditions-use/#Privacy%20Policy.
Esther, host of Once Upon a Crime, brings a fresh and spicy take on true crime podcasts. On each episode, Esther and a guest host will dish on what's new, hot & trending in true crime!
In this episode, a young man who dubs himself “Mr. Anime” gains a large following as a critic and reviewer on YouTube.. But, he’ll later admit to harboring dark fantasies most of his life after he commits a shocking act of violence against his closest family members. Resources: “Mr. Anime Loves God and His Family” by Jeannette Garrett for Crime Mag…
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 241: The Minds of Mass Killers with Author Shavaun Scott
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This week I have a special episode diving into the topic of the psychology of mass killers. What prompts someone to commit mass murder against random strangers? How did Columbine become a cultural touchstone that inspired others to plan and execute their own mass shooting sprees? What can we do to slow down the number and frequency of these types o…
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 240: YouTube Mayhem: Dying To Be Famous
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A young couple on a quest for internet fame record a prank for their YouTube channel with tragic results. Resources: YouTube Prankster Jailed, BBC News, March 15, 2018 https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43410816 The Last Moments Before a YouTube Stunt Went Fatally Wrong, Buzzfeed News, June 22, 2018. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/tasne…
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 239: The Ties That Bind: The Crimes of Shelly Knotek - Part 2
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This is part 2 of a 2-part- episode. As we continue the story, Shelly and Dave Knotek have isolated themselves, their three daughters, nephew, and a boarder, Kathy Loreno, in their Ramond, Washington home. The torture and abuse Kathy endured would come to a shocking conclusion in July of 1994. Resources: If You Tell: A True Story of Murder, Family …
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 238: The Ties That Bind: The Crimes of Shelly Knotek - Part 1
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Shelly Knotek has been called “America’s Most Evil Mom”. She abused, tortured, and humiliated her children and partners, but her control and abuse went beyond her own family members. One-by-one people she took into her home as boarders also found themselves trapped and unable to escape her abuse. This is part one of a two-part episode. To get Part …
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 237: The Ties That Bind - The Turpin Family
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In this month’s series, we’ll take a look at the fascinating phenomenon of narcissistic family cults - a family unit that exhibits all the hallmarks of a traditional cult group but is led by a narcissistic family member - usually a parent. In this episode, a couple with thirteen children spend decades isolating themselves from the outside world. Th…
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 236: Livestreamed Crimes: The Christchurch Mosque Mass Shootings
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A young man’s racist ideology lead him to take the lives of 51 people and injure dozens more all while recording and uploading a video of the murders to Facebook Live. Resources: Royal Commission of Inquiry into the Terrorist Attack on Christchurch Mosques on 15 March 2019. https://christchurchattack.royalcommission.nz “Massacre Suspect Traveled th…
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 235: Livestreamed Crimes: The Arizona Mall Mass Shooting
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A young man who identifies with as an Incel carries out a mass shooting at an Arizona mall while livestreaming it via Snapchat. Special thanks to Dr. Sohom Das for lending his expertise in this episode. Check out his YouTube Channel A Psych for Sore Minds for more insights into the criminal mind and the psychology of true crime! https://www.youtube…
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 234: Livestreamed Crimes: The WDBJ-TV On-Air Shooting
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A disgruntled, former television station employee takes out his revenge during a live news broadcast. Resources: “Ex-Broadcaster Kills 2 on Air Virginia Shooting” by Michael D. Shear, Richard Perez-Pena, and Alan Blinder, The New York Times, August 26, 2015. “Vester Lee Flanagan: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know”, Tom Cleary, Heavy.com, April 8, 2021.…
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 233: Revenge Attacks: UK Acid Attacks
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A bizarre and terrifying crime spree has been on the rise in the UK for the past several years. In this episode, I’ll share stories illustrating how acid attacks have increasingly been used to retaliate against a romantic partner once a relationship ends. Resources: “Acid Attacks on the Rise in the U.K.”, Joanna Kakissis/NPR, Aug 6, 2017. “Acid Att…
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 232: Deep Cover - A Conversation with Jake Halpern
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Esther sits down with Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jake Halpern to talk about Season 2 of his podcast Deep Cover: Mob Land. They also discuss podcast storytelling and Jake reveals which well-known actor makes a surprise guest appearance on Deep Cover in Season 2. Links: Listen to Deep Cover on Pushkin.fm - https://www.pushkin.fm/show/deep-cover/ B…
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 231: Revenge Attacks: Burt and Linda Pugach
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In this episode I’ll share with you one of the craziest “love” stories you’ve ever heard - right in time for Valentine’s Day. Burt Pagach meets Linda Riss in 1957 and quickly becomes obsessed with her. When she breaks off the relationship he plots a despicable act for revenge. Resources: “Burt and Linda Pugach: The story behind Crazy Love”, Amy Tur…
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Once Upon A Crime | True Crime


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Episode 230: Revenge Attacks: Sophie Elliott
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A 22-year-old recent graduate of a New Zealand University breaks off a short-lived relationship. Her ex would take deadly revenge on her in one of the most horrific attacks ever perpetrated in the country’s recent history. Resources: “Own Evidence Seals Fate” by John Hartevelt for Stuff.co.nz, July 23, 2009. “Success accompanied by stress: Weathers…