True Crime and Punishment

The Blood Countess: Elizabeth Báthory

The Blood Countess--Evil Incarnate, or an elaborate smear campaign? Elizabeth Báthory  was a Hungarian noblewoman serial killer active in the late 1500s to the early 1600s. Remembered for her cruelty towards her servants, Báthory is said to be the inspiration for the Evil Queen in Snow White as well as legends about retaining ones's youth by bathing in the blood of virgins.  Join Kayley and Siera as Kayley walks us through the story of The Blood Countess and attempts to tell fact from fiction in this gruesome case. Sources: https://www.biography.com/crime/elizabeth-bathory [https://www.biography.com/crime/elizabeth-bathory] https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1134&context=etd [https://ir.library.illinoisstate.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1134&context=etd] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Bathory [https://www.britannica.com/biography/Elizabeth-Bathory] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-69057709 [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-cambridgeshire-69057709] Female Serial Killers: How and Why Women Become Monsters [https://www.amazon.com/Female-Serial-Killers-Become-Monsters-ebook/dp/B000UZQHXY/ref=sr_1_1?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.roU6uHT8tv4yQnSmkWuqgg.PytDtQxPSX9PQc1locLViVcl3gkJUmsuVNkkpL-7j7U&dib_tag=se&keywords=9780425213902&linkCode=qs&qid=1738951601&s=books&sr=1-1] by Peter Vronsky [https://www.amazon.com/Peter-Vronsky/e/B001H6IF26?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1738951601&sr=1-1]

The Murder of Kitty Genovese

In the early morning of March 13, 1964, Kitty Genovese was attacked and stabbed to death while she was walking home from work.  The brutality of the murder was made more sensational by reports that thirty eight people stood at their windows and watched while she was murdered. Reportedly, out of these thirty eight people, no one attempted to help or call the police. Was this a case of the worst of human apathy? Or did bad reportage lead to moralistic outrage surrounding an already tragic case? Join us this week as we delve into the bystander effect and the death of Kitty Genovese. Sources: https://www.history.com/topics/crime/kitty-genovese [https://www.history.com/topics/crime/kitty-genovese] https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/bystander-effect [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/bystander-effect] https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/her-shocking-murder-became-the-stuff-of-legend-but-everyone-got-the-story-wrong/2016/06/29/544916d8-3952-11e6-9ccd-d6005beac8b3_story.html [https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/her-shocking-murder-became-the-stuff-of-legend-but-everyone-got-the-story-wrong/2016/06/29/544916d8-3952-11e6-9ccd-d6005beac8b3_story.html] https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/03/10/a-call-for-help [https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2014/03/10/a-call-for-help] https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/06/insider/1964-how-many-witnessed-the-murder-of-kitty-genovese.html?_r=0 [https://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/06/insider/1964-how-many-witnessed-the-murder-of-kitty-genovese.html?_r=0] https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/02/nyregion/sophia-farrar-dead.html [https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/02/nyregion/sophia-farrar-dead.html]

The Demise of the Donner Party

In this episode, the American dream turns into an infamous nightmare for the members of the Donner Party, a group of pioneers traveling to California in the 1800s. After facing multiple setbacks along their journey, their wagon train become stranded in the Sierra Nevada mountain range. As the snow accumulates and their supplies dwindle, the Donner Party must commit unthinkable acts in order to survive.  Sources: The primary source that I (Siera) used for this episode was a book written by Eliza Houghton, the daughter of George Donner. Her book is entitled The Expedition of the Donner Party and Its Tragic Fate, and it can be found for free on archive.org. Archive.org also contains several other books recounting the tragedy. For a quick introduction to the Donner Party, you can start with the articles below: https://www.history.com/topics/19th-century/donner-party https://www.history.com/news/10-things-you-should-know-about-the-donner-party

The Leaf Killer

On November 10, 2010, Tina Herrmann didn't report for her shift at Dairy Queen. When concerned coworkers called police to report her missing, no one could expect the scene that would be found in Herrmann's home. Join Kayley and Siera as they cover murder, abduction, and . . . leaves?  Sources: https://www.nbc.com/twisted-killers/video/the-leaf-killer/9000226741 https://abcnews.go.com/US/killer-matthew-hoffman-stockpiled-leaves-ohio-home-made/story?id=12877942 [https://abcnews.go.com/US/killer-matthew-hoffman-stockpiled-leaves-ohio-home-made/story?id=12877942] https://www.oxygen.com/twisted-killers/crime-news/why-matthew-hoffman-is-known-as-leaf-killer https://nypost.com/2010/11/20/slain-ohio-family-were-stabbed-to-death/ [https://nypost.com/2010/11/20/slain-ohio-family-were-stabbed-to-death/] https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40258902 [https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna40258902] https://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/us/07brfs-GUILTYPLEAIN_BRF.html https://www.healthline.com/health/dendrophilia [https://www.healthline.com/health/dendrophilia] https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/Search/Details/A645571 [https://appgateway.drc.ohio.gov/OffenderSearch/Search/Details/A645571]

The Case of the Black Dahlia

This unsolved case revolves around confusion and speculation. Who was the mysterious woman dubbed the Black Dahlia, and who was her likely killer? Join Siera and Kayley as they delve into these questions and also ponder the roles of journalism and speculation in the world of true crime. Sources:  https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-09-me-asdel9-story.html [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-09-me-asdel9-story.html] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-06-mn-15889-story.html?_gl=1*7xs3ci*_gcl_au*Njk2MjQzMjI3LjE3MDk0ODk5Nzk [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1997-01-06-mn-15889-story.html?_gl=1*7xs3ci*_gcl_au*Njk2MjQzMjI3LjE3MDk0ODk5Nzk] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-nov-21-tm-dahlia47-story.html [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-nov-21-tm-dahlia47-story.html] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-19-me-knowlton19-story.html [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2004-dec-19-me-knowlton19-story.html] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-09-me-asdel9-story.html [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2003-jan-09-me-asdel9-story.html] https://www.independent.com/2018/06/07/black-dahlia-never-dies/ [https://www.independent.com/2018/06/07/black-dahlia-never-dies/] https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-01-me-28619-story.html [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-nov-01-me-28619-story.html] https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/26/black-dahlia-murder-steve-hodel-elizabeth-short [https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2016/may/26/black-dahlia-murder-steve-hodel-elizabeth-short] https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/elizabeth-short-george-hodel-suspects-clues-13354993.php [https://www.sfgate.com/news/article/elizabeth-short-george-hodel-suspects-clues-13354993.php] https://www.fbi.gov/image-repository/police-bulletin-short.png [https://www.fbi.gov/image-repository/police-bulletin-short.png] Books: American Detective: Behind the Scenes of Famous Criminal Investigations, Thomas A. Reppetto Black Dahlia Avenger: A Genius for Murder, Steve Hodel