Seemingly Innocuous

Charleston Church Massacre - Part 1

It was a Wednesday evening on June 17, 2015, when 14 parishioners gathered for bible study at the Mother Emmanuel historic church in Charleston, South Carolina.  As good Christians, none of them questioned when a newcomer showed up that evening, saying he wanted to join them.  They welcomed him with open arms, not knowing that his presence would forever change their and their families’ lives.  In this episode, Hav covers the initial details of domestic terrorist and (wannabe) white supremacist, Dylann Roof, leading up to his decision to maliciously attack this peaceful bible study group.  Written by: Hav Martinez Research by: Hav Martinez Produced and Edited by: Hav Martinez Episode Co-Host: Ethan Music By: Skane Socials/Contact:Follow on Instagram: @seeminglyinnocuouspodEmail us your suggested cases/events! sipandtell.mail@gmail.com [sipandtell.mail@gmail.com] Ultimate Serial Killer Trivia Book:Rosewood, Jack. The Ultimate Serial Killer Trivia Book:Interesting Facts and Random Trivia About the World’s Most Notorious Serial Killers. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017.     Primary Resources: 1.       https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/us/charleston-shooting-dylann-roof-troubled-past.html# [https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/17/us/charleston-shooting-dylann-roof-troubled-past.html] 2.       https://time.com/time-magazine-charleston-shooting-cover-story/ [https://time.com/time-magazine-charleston-shooting-cover-story/] 3.       https://www.today.com/news/charleston-church-shooting-10-years-later-rcna213268 [https://www.today.com/news/charleston-church-shooting-10-years-later-rcna213268] 4.       https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct74mr [https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/w3ct74mr] 5.       https://archive.is/KeAK3 [https://archive.is/KeAK3] 6.       https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/fall-2017/the-miseducation-of-dylann-roof [https://www.learningforjustice.org/magazine/fall-2017/the-miseducation-of-dylann-roof] 7.       https://abcnews.go.com/US/key-moments-charleston-church-shooting-case-dylann-roof/story?id=46701033 [https://abcnews.go.com/US/key-moments-charleston-church-shooting-case-dylann-roof/story?id=46701033] 8.       https://www.counton2.com/news/attorneys-for-dylann-roof-file-motion-to-vacate-sentence/ [https://www.counton2.com/news/attorneys-for-dylann-roof-file-motion-to-vacate-sentence/] 9.       https://www.postandcourier.com/news/how-polly-sheppard-a-survivor-of-the-emanuel-mass-shooting-carries-on/article_821cfd64-e83c-11ec-b4fb-dfea62becc73.html [https://www.postandcourier.com/news/how-polly-sheppard-a-survivor-of-the-emanuel-mass-shooting-carries-on/article_821cfd64-e83c-11ec-b4fb-dfea62becc73.html] 10.  https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/21/520978841/joey-meek-who-knew-of-dylann-roofs-plan-sentenced-to-27-months-in-prison [https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/03/21/520978841/joey-meek-who-knew-of-dylann-roofs-plan-sentenced-to-27-months-in-prison] 11.  https://www.counterextremism.com/extremists/dylann-roof [https://www.counterextremism.com/extremists/dylann-roof] 12.  https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/29/hundreds-honour-charleston-church-shooting-victim-myra-thompson [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/jun/29/hundreds-honour-charleston-church-shooting-victim-myra-thompson] 13.  https://www.npr.org/2025/06/14/nx-s1-5391851/kevin-sack-mother-emanuel [https://www.npr.org/2025/06/14/nx-s1-5391851/kevin-sack-mother-emanuel] 14.  https://www.gq.com/story/dylann-roof-making-of-an-american-terrorist [https://www.gq.com/story/dylann-roof-making-of-an-american-terrorist] 15.  https://abcnews.com/US/charleston-shooting-suspects-childhood-friend-details-upbringing/story?id=31903211 [https://abcnews.com/US/charleston-shooting-suspects-childhood-friend-details-upbringing/story?id=31903211] 16.  https://today.citadel.edu/remembering-myra-thompson-one-of-the-emanuel-9-and-a-citadel-alumna/ [https://today.citadel.edu/remembering-myra-thompson-one-of-the-emanuel-9-and-a-citadel-alumna/] 17.  https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/10/508363607/what-happened-when-dylann-roof-asked-google-for-information-about-race [https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/10/508363607/what-happened-when-dylann-roof-asked-google-for-information-about-race] 18.  https://www.reuters.com/article/world/dylann-roof-wrote-white-supremacist-manifestos-prosecutors-idUSKCN10X299/ [https://www.reuters.com/article/world/dylann-roof-wrote-white-supremacist-manifestos-prosecutors-idUSKCN10X299/] 19.  https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/20/416024920/photos-possible-manifesto-of-dylann-roof-surface-on-website [https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2015/06/20/416024920/photos-possible-manifesto-of-dylann-roof-surface-on-website]

Tyler Hadley’s SlaughterHouse Party - Part 2

Welcome to Part 2 of Tyler Hadley’s SlaughterHouse Party where Tyler’s mental state unravels just as quickly as the party itself.   Hav and Suzie conclude the case in this week’s episode, picking up from last week just as Mary Jo and Blake were starting to think Tyler’s treatment was finally paying off.  Tyler was acting more like his old self with each passing day but little did his parents know that this was all just a façade and everything was about to come crashing down.  Written by: Hav Martinez Research by: Hav Martinez Produced and Edited by: Hav Martinez Episode Co-Host: Suzie Music By: Skane Socials/Contact:Follow on Instagram: @seeminglyinnocuouspodEmail us your suggested cases/events! sipandtell.mail@gmail.com [sipandtell.mail@gmail.com]   Primary References: 1. https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/tyler-hadleys-killer-party-54270/ [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/tyler-hadleys-killer-party-54270/] 2.  https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/tyler-hadley-killer-parents-interview-b2650607.html [https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/tyler-hadley-killer-parents-interview-b2650607.html] 3.  https://abcnews.com/blogs/headlines/2014/04/teen-took-selfie-with-best-friend-after-learning-the-friend-was-a-murderer [https://abcnews.com/blogs/headlines/2014/04/teen-took-selfie-with-best-friend-after-learning-the-friend-was-a-murderer] 4.  https://www.wpbf.com/article/tyler-hadley-friends-say-he-just-wanted-to-party-do-drugs/1321299 [https://www.wpbf.com/article/tyler-hadley-friends-say-he-just-wanted-to-party-do-drugs/1321299] 5. https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/fla-teen-killed-parents-had-house-party-say-cops/4/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/fla-teen-killed-parents-had-house-party-say-cops/4/] 6.  https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/19/police-say-teenager-bludgeoned-parents [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/19/police-say-teenager-bludgeoned-parents] 7.  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-14212640 [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-14212640] 8. https://abcnews.com/US/best-friend-ruined-life-killed-parents/story [https://abcnews.com/US/best-friend-ruined-life-killed-parents/story] 9.  https://people.com/tyler-hadley-teen-kills-parents-throws-house-party-11787003 [https://people.com/tyler-hadley-teen-kills-parents-throws-house-party-11787003] 10.  https://www.tcpalm.com/picture-gallery/news/crime/2017/08/08/evidence-from-2011-murder-case-against-tyler-hadley/104412024/ [https://www.tcpalm.com/picture-gallery/news/crime/2017/08/08/evidence-from-2011-murder-case-against-tyler-hadley/104412024/] 11.  https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h/hadley-tyler-evidence-1.htm [https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h/hadley-tyler-evidence-1.htm] 12.  https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/articles/tyler-hadley-teenager-killed-parents [https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/articles/tyler-hadley-teenager-killed-parents] 13.  https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/us/23murder.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/us/23murder.html] 14.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck5N6C6gfTQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck5N6C6gfTQ] 15.  https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/friend-fla-teen-confessed-to-murdering-parents-at-party/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/friend-fla-teen-confessed-to-murdering-parents-at-party/] 16.  https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/teen-accused-of-beating-parents-to-death-with-hammer-denied-bond/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/teen-accused-of-beating-parents-to-death-with-hammer-denied-bond/] 17.  https://abcnews.com/US/best-friend-ruined-life-killed-parents/story?id=23189582 [https://abcnews.com/US/best-friend-ruined-life-killed-parents/story?id=23189582] 18.  https://archive.tcpalm.com/news/day-5-of-hearing-psychiatrist-says-tyler-hadley-had-severe-mental-illness--photo-galleries-vide-ep-3-340230211.html/ [https://archive.tcpalm.com/news/day-5-of-hearing-psychiatrist-says-tyler-hadley-had-severe-mental-illness--photo-galleries-vide-ep-3-340230211.html/] 19.  https://archive.tcpalm.com/news/prosecutor-questions-whether-tyler-hadley-telling-truth-about-hearing-voice--photos-video-ep-3495875-340237441.html [https://archive.tcpalm.com/news/prosecutor-questions-whether-tyler-hadley-telling-truth-about-hearing-voice--photos-video-ep-3495875-340237441.html]

Tyler Hadley's SlaughterHouse Party - Part 1

Blake and Mary Jo Hadley had been married for 25 years and had the idyllic American Dream life up until this point.  Both had stable careers they really enjoyed, a nice house in quiet Port St. Lucie, Florida, and 2 sons they loved immensely.  Although their youngest son, Tyler (17), had struggled during his teen years, neither Blake nor Mary Jo had any idea how dark the thoughts were brewing in his head.  Tyler made plans to throw an epic house party and not even his best friend, Michael Mandell, would ever think Tyler was capable of the brutality he put his parents through…..and even more so, what he chose to do after.  Join Hav and Suzie for Part 1 of Tyler Hadley’s SlaughterHouse Party Written by: Hav Martinez Research by: Hav Martinez Produced and Edited by: Hav Martinez Episode Co-Host: Suzie Music By: Skane Socials/Contact: Follow on Instagram: @seeminglyinnocuouspod Email us your suggested cases/events! sipandtell.mail@gmail.com [sipandtell.mail@gmail.com] Ultimate Serial Killer Trivia Book: Rosewood, Jack. The Ultimate Serial Killer Trivia Book: Interesting Facts and Random Trivia About the World’s Most Notorious Serial Killers. CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 2017.   Primary References: 1.       https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/tyler-hadleys-killer-party-54270/ [https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/tyler-hadleys-killer-party-54270/] 2.       https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/tyler-hadley-killer-parents-interview-b2650607.html [https://www.the-independent.com/news/world/americas/crime/tyler-hadley-killer-parents-interview-b2650607.html] 3.       https://abcnews.com/blogs/headlines/2014/04/teen-took-selfie-with-best-friend-after-learning-the-friend-was-a-murderer [https://abcnews.com/blogs/headlines/2014/04/teen-took-selfie-with-best-friend-after-learning-the-friend-was-a-murderer] 4.       https://www.wpbf.com/article/tyler-hadley-friends-say-he-just-wanted-to-party-do-drugs/1321299 [https://www.wpbf.com/article/tyler-hadley-friends-say-he-just-wanted-to-party-do-drugs/1321299] 5.       https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/fla-teen-killed-parents-had-house-party-say-cops/4/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/fla-teen-killed-parents-had-house-party-say-cops/4/] 6.       https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/19/police-say-teenager-bludgeoned-parents [https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/jul/19/police-say-teenager-bludgeoned-parents] 7.       https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-14212640 [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-14212640]8.       https://abcnews.com/US/best-friend-ruined-life-killed-parents/story [https://abcnews.com/US/best-friend-ruined-life-killed-parents/story] 9.       https://people.com/tyler-hadley-teen-kills-parents-throws-house-party-11787003 [https://people.com/tyler-hadley-teen-kills-parents-throws-house-party-11787003] 10.  https://www.tcpalm.com/picture-gallery/news/crime/2017/08/08/evidence-from-2011-murder-case-against-tyler-hadley/104412024/ [https://www.tcpalm.com/picture-gallery/news/crime/2017/08/08/evidence-from-2011-murder-case-against-tyler-hadley/104412024/] 11.  https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h/hadley-tyler-evidence-1.htm [https://murderpedia.org/male.H/h/hadley-tyler-evidence-1.htm] 12.  https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/articles/tyler-hadley-teenager-killed-parents [https://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/articles/tyler-hadley-teenager-killed-parents] 13.  https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/us/23murder.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/23/us/23murder.html] 14.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck5N6C6gfTQ [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ck5N6C6gfTQ]15.  https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/teen-accused-of-beating-parents-to-death-with-hammer-denied-bond/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/teen-accused-of-beating-parents-to-death-with-hammer-denied-bond/]

The Hartford Circus fire of 1944

On a hot summer day, 7000 people gathered at the Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey’s traveling circus in Hartford, Connecticut, for what was sure to be a spectacle.  Little did any of the patrons know just how memorable that day was going to be and how absolutely tragic!  Join Hav this week as he covers this disastrous event and discusses many attendees who were forced to make split decisions not knowing what their fate truly held for them.  This is a tough one but I hope you enjoy this week’s episode (as much as one could enjoy it….) Written by: Hav Martinez Research by: Hav Martinez Produced and Edited by: Hav Martinez Episode Co-Host: Jackie Music By: Skane Socials/Contact: Follow on Instagram: @seeminglyinnocuouspod Email us! sipandtell.mail@gmail.com   Primary References: 1. O’Nan, Stewart. The Circus Fire: A True Story of an AmericanTragedy. 2000 2. https://www.circusfire1944.com/ [https://www.circusfire1944.com/] 3. https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/08/05/85043468.pdf [https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1942/08/05/85043468.pdf] 4. https://www.guilfordfire.com/single-post/remembering-the-tragic-hartford-circus-fire-77-years-later [https://www.guilfordfire.com/single-post/remembering-the-tragic-hartford-circus-fire-77-years-later] 5. https://www.nytimes.com/1942/08/05/archives/fifty-animals-die-in-fire-at-circus-ringling-menagerie-burns-in.html [https://www.nytimes.com/1942/08/05/archives/fifty-animals-die-in-fire-at-circus-ringling-menagerie-burns-in.html] 6. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-rich-tragic-history-of-daredevil-wallendas/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-rich-tragic-history-of-daredevil-wallendas/] 7. https://fee.org/articles/the-myth-of-us-prosperity-during-world-war-ii/ [https://fee.org/articles/the-myth-of-us-prosperity-during-world-war-ii/] 8. https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1991/rt9103/910310/03100173.htm [https://scholar.lib.vt.edu/VA-news/ROA-Times/issues/1991/rt9103/910310/03100173.htm] 9. https://youthjournalism.org/inferno-under-big-top-survivors/ [https://youthjournalism.org/inferno-under-big-top-survivors/] 10.https://www.circusesandsideshows.com/circuses/ringlingbrosbbcircus.html [https://www.circusesandsideshows.com/circuses/ringlingbrosbbcircus.html] 11.  https://connecticuthistory.org/hartford-circus-fire-the-tents-on-fire-who-knew/ [https://connecticuthistory.org/hartford-circus-fire-the-tents-on-fire-who-knew/] 12.  https://www.hartfordhistory.net/circusfire.html [https://www.hartfordhistory.net/circusfire.html] 13.  https://toomuchbrudders.com/2020/07/03/the-hartford-circus-fire/ [https://toomuchbrudders.com/2020/07/03/the-hartford-circus-fire/] 14.  https://dnadoeproject.org/case/hartford-circus-fire-victims/ [https://dnadoeproject.org/case/hartford-circus-fire-victims/] 15.  https://blog.qrfs.com/294-the-deadliest-fires-in-u-s-history-lessons-learned-from-the-hartford-circus-fire/ [https://blog.qrfs.com/294-the-deadliest-fires-in-u-s-history-lessons-learned-from-the-hartford-circus-fire/] 16.  https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2024-07-01/80-years-ago-a-gas-soaked-roof-and-wwii-created-a-perfect-storm-for-the-hartford-circus-tragedy [https://www.ctpublic.org/news/2024-07-01/80-years-ago-a-gas-soaked-roof-and-wwii-created-a-perfect-storm-for-the-hartford-circus-tragedy]17.  https://www.thestacksreader.com/the-little-girl-in-grave-1565/ [https://www.thestacksreader.com/the-little-girl-in-grave-1565/]

The Rise and Fall of the Hindenburg – Part 2

At the top of this week’s episode, Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin was likely thrilled from beyond the grave about what the future of the Zeppelin name was likely to become.  After all, rigid airships were looking like they might be the chosen form of air travel, especially for transcontinental flights.  The Hindenburg had a highly successful first season and with expansion of passenger capacity during the winter of ’36, she was bound to continue on her successful path and lead the charge for many more airships to come.  Unfortunately, this would all come crashing down, quite literally, in a fiery blaze.  Little did anyone know how their lives would change or possibly end as a result of being on the Hindenburg during her last voyage across the Atlantic. Written by: Hav Martinez Research by: Hav Martinez Produced and Edited by: Hav Martinez Episode Co-Host: Ethan Music By: Skane Primary Resources: 1.       https://www.airships.net/zeppelins/ [https://www.airships.net/zeppelins/] 2.       https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/lz129-hindenburg-detailed-history/ [https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/lz129-hindenburg-detailed-history/] 3.       https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/ [https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/disaster/] 4.       https://www.airships.net/airship-people/captain-max-pruss/ [https://www.airships.net/airship-people/captain-max-pruss/] 5.       https://www.airships.net/hydrogen-airship-accidents/ [https://www.airships.net/hydrogen-airship-accidents/] 6.       https://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/ [https://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/] 7.       https://www.zeppelinhistory.com/list-of-zeppelins/lz-127-graf-zeppelin/ [https://www.zeppelinhistory.com/list-of-zeppelins/lz-127-graf-zeppelin/] 8.       https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1956/july/zeppelins-german-navy-1914-18 [https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1956/july/zeppelins-german-navy-1914-18] 9.       https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/zeppelin-raids/ [https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/education/resources/zeppelin-raids/] 10.  https://isopolar.com/history-the-zeppelin-age/ [https://isopolar.com/history-the-zeppelin-age/] 11.  https://www.zeppelinhistory.com/rigid-airships-history/timeline-of-zeppelins/ [https://www.zeppelinhistory.com/rigid-airships-history/timeline-of-zeppelins/] 12.  https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-6/the-hindenburg-disaster [https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/may-6/the-hindenburg-disaster] 13.  https://www.airships.net/hindenburg-survivors/ [https://www.airships.net/hindenburg-survivors/] 14.  https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/eyewitness/html.php?section=5 [https://www.archives.gov/exhibits/eyewitness/html.php?section=5] 15.  https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/flight-schedule/hindenburg-flight-passenger-diary/ [https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/flight-schedule/hindenburg-flight-passenger-diary/] 16.  https://www.historytoday.com/hindenburg-disaster-and-end-airship-era [https://www.historytoday.com/hindenburg-disaster-and-end-airship-era] 17.  https://www.airships.net/airship-people/hugo-eckener/ [https://www.airships.net/airship-people/hugo-eckener/] 18.  https://www.airships.net/us-navy-rigid-airships/uss-los-angeles/ [https://www.airships.net/us-navy-rigid-airships/uss-los-angeles/] 19.  https://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/size-speed-statistics/ [https://www.airships.net/lz127-graf-zeppelin/size-speed-statistics/] 20.  https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/size-speed/ [https://www.airships.net/hindenburg/size-speed/] 21.  https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/the-foote-files-wls-chicago-and-the-hindenburg/ [https://www.cbsnews.com/texas/news/the-foote-files-wls-chicago-and-the-hindenburg/] 22.  https://facesofthehindenburg.blogspot.com/2009/10/passengers-aboard-lz-129-hindenburg-may.html [https://facesofthehindenburg.blogspot.com/2009/10/passengers-aboard-lz-129-hindenburg-may.html] 23.  Joseph Spah as “Ben Dova” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg9gh9P4TT0 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jg9gh9P4TT0]