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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Only Crime Will Tell contains strong language, mature themes,
and depictions of violence that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Listener discretion is advised.
It is not every day that you decide to start a podcast.
But amidst the big thing that happened in 2020 that shall remain unnamed,
paired with boredom at home, you know, as if I didn't have three boys to take
(00:23):
care of, that's just what I did. I started a podcast.
I spent a lot of time researching, finding cases to speak about,
doing interviews, piecing it all together.
So when I went back to work, my little full-time hobby, it quickly became a side time one.
With the inability to dedicate fully to it, I let it go. Go big or go home, right?
(00:46):
Every so often, I would bring up to someone I met, I used to have a true crime podcast.
And it wasn't until this year that I realized that I really missed being able
to say that I currently had one that I actively recorded.
So I have released a lot of the episodes again and I'm making a promise to at
(01:06):
least myself or maybe even the 12 of you that listen to this that I want to do it again.
I thought it best to recap some of the old episodes in case you don't want to
go through them all before the new ones are released.
So without further ado, I am your host, Leigh Denny, and this is Only Crime Will Tell.
(01:27):
Music.
(02:00):
Would like to talk about the episode that I chose not to re-release.
The episode about the disappearance of Carrie May Parker, a local from Hunt
County who at the time of publishing was still considered missing by her family.
I had done an interview with her daughter that brought up many theories and
she told the story about how her mother going missing affected her and her family's life.
(02:23):
I won't speak to anything that was originally said because in February of 2021,
the Hunt County Sheriff's Office was notified that the search and recovery team
Adventures with a Purpose had located a vehicle in Lake Tawakoni near the causeway of FM 751.
And after the recovery of said vehicle, it was identified as missing person
(02:46):
Carrie Mae Parker's 1980 Buick Skylark that went missing the same day that she did in 1991.
After the recovery, the vehicle was thoroughly searched and no remains were found inside.
It wasn't until October of 2021 that Adventures with a Purpose,
along with the Hunt County Sheriff's Office, returned to FM 751 Causeway to
(03:08):
conduct another search for Parker's remains.
The dive team located human remains in the area where the vehicle was recovered.
The Hunt County Sheriff's Office delivered the remains to the University of
North Texas Health Science Center for Human Identification.
On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, the Hunt County Sheriff's Office received a missing
(03:30):
person's DNA report in reference to Carrie Mae Parker, and it was confirmed
that the remains that were recovered in October were those of Parker.
This was the best possible scenario that could have happened if only only considering
that Carrie was in fact gone.
I hope that this has brought closure to her family and that Carrie rest in peace.
(03:59):
The unnamed child has been given a name, Joseph Augustus Zarelli.
The identification made through DNA analysis represents investigators' biggest
break in the decades-old case, which dates back all the way to February of 1957,
when the child was discovered wrapped in a blanket inside a cardboard box and
(04:20):
exhibited evidence of recent and past trauma, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Daniel Outlaw said.
Although they do not have a suspect for whom to blame for this act of crime,
it is believed that the mother had given him up for adoption,
and unknown if the father, who passed away in 2014, ever even knew of his son.
(04:41):
The headstone for which once read America's Unknown Child now bears his name,
and a beautiful testament to the children of God.
Another episode that has brought on some sort of closure since release is the
episode titled Long Island Escorts.
Any true crime fan will remember back to the Gilgo Beach serial killings,
which took place between 1996 and 2011.
(05:04):
In total, 11 bodies were found, and the perpetrator in the case became known
as the Long Island Serial Killer.
One of the victims was even a female toddler.
On May 28, 2020, Jane Doe No.
6 was identified as Valerie Mack, who also went by the name of Melissa Taylor.
This came just three years later after the original release of the episode.
(05:27):
Jane Doe No. 7 was revealed to be Karen Vergata. And in March of 2022,
authorities began to seriously consider a suspect in which they had linked to these murders.
But it wasn't until just over a year ago, in July of 2023.
Rex Andrew Heerman, who was 59 at the time of his arrest, was charged with three
(05:47):
counts of first-degree murder as well as three counts of a lesser charge of second-degree murder.
These were related to the deaths of Melissa Barthlemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Castillo.
Heuermann has two children, and his wife filed for divorce just days after his
arrest, once he became the prime suspect in the killing of the fourth sex worker,
Maureen Brannard Barnes, 25 years old, according to a bail application from
(06:12):
the district attorney's office.
He was an architect, and he had lived much of his life on Long Island.
In an interview you on YouTube, Heuermann said he's worked in Manhattan since 1987.
If you want to learn more about the Gilgo Beach serial killings or to listen
to this episode, which won't include any of these updates, make sure to check it out.
(06:33):
Here's a quick rundown of the other episodes in case you want to check out any of these cases.
Episode 1, Bind, Torture, Kill.
Dennis Rader is an American serial killer who terrorized the Wichita,
Kansas area from 1974 to 1991 and became known as his self-given moniker, BTK.
(06:56):
In total, Rader had been linked to 10 total victims, including the gruesome
murders of the Otero family, which accounted for four of those.
What the episode won't speak to is the latest news, for which Rader had found
himself involved in, the disappearance of missing 16-year-old Cynthia,
called Cindy, Dawn Kenney.
Rader's daughter, Carrie Rawson, has helped in the case and said there is mounting
(07:19):
evidence that her father is behind the disappearance of the Oklahoma girl.
In 2004, there were a handful of words identified in the puzzle made by Rader.
Wichita, ta, prowl, fantasies, ruse, servicemen.
But then, upon looking at it again, authorities discovered other words like
(07:39):
Cindy and Kenny and laundromat and several others.
All of these words are directly linked in some way to the teenage girl,
but the case is still under investigation.
Episode 2, Not What It Seems.
This episode, which was originally released in January of 2020,
describes the gruesome and tragic murders in detail and the chaos that Chris
(08:04):
Watts created when he originally told police that his wife, Shanann,
and his beautiful daughters were missing.
But soon the truth would come out, and once convicted, he would write chilling
letters from prison in which he described those deaths of his wife and two children.
In September 2020, Netflix released a documentary, American Murder,
(08:26):
The Family Next Door, which also covers the heinous crimes of this family annihilator.
Episode 4. The Cross-Country Killer. Glenn Edward Rogers is an American convicted serial killer.
He was also convicted of related crimes in Florida and California,
such as armed robbery, grand theft auto, and arson.
While some referred to him as the cross-country killer, he was also dubbed the
(08:50):
Casanova killer by many.
After a crime spree that had begun on September 28th, 1995, Rogers was established
on the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives for his first established murder.
A 2012 documentary entitled My Brother the Serial Killer examined Rogers' crimes.
Episode details accounts from
(09:11):
his brother as well as the life and story of the cross-country killer.
Episode 6, Eyeballs and Prostitutes.
Dallas police had called him the coldest, most depraved killer of women in the city's history.
Throughout his life, Albright had been described by many who knew him as the
portrait of happiness, untroubled and troubling no one.
(09:33):
As a child, Charles spent hours on taxidermy courses, but his favorite part
of the process was placing the eyes.
He would go to taxidermy shops and stare at the boxes and boxes full of fake
eyes, owl eyes, eagle eyes, deer eyes, Charles was obsessed.
This episode takes you through the chilling account that happened in the Dallas
(09:56):
Metroplex in the late 80s and early 90s of the crime spree of Charles Albright
and how the seemingly charming and devoted husband,
teacher, and even coach both mutilated and killed a series of prostitutes,
but not before cutting out their eyes and using them as Grizzly trophies.
Albright died in August of 2020 at the West Texas Regional Medical Facility
(10:19):
located in Lubbock, Texas.
He was 87. But with the episode being released in May of that same year,
I wonder if he ever got a chance to listen.
In 2013, on January 11th, the body of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was found
in the most bizarre of circumstances.
(10:40):
Upside down and rolled up in a gym mat at school.
And after just 24 hours of finding Kendrick, law enforcement would rule Johnson's death an accident.
But his family was, and still is not convinced that was the case.
Johnson had one arm stretched above his head and the other around his waist
(11:00):
as though struggling for his shoe, both were tucked down under his knees.
Because nearly an entire day had passed before Kendrick was found and given
that he was in an upside down position, blood had rushed to his head which caused
an increase in swelling to his face.
There is a lot that happens as the parents fight for justice and finding out
(11:22):
the truth about their son.
New evidence, a second coroner's report that ruled Johnson's death not being
caused due to the result of an accident, as well as questionable cover-ups by
police, misplaced organs during transfer and more.
All in which you can hear on the episode. Kendrick Johnson's father,
Kenneth Johnson, said he believes the search for justice is finally making progress in 2024.
(11:51):
Episode 8, Three Murdered Campers.
It would be at Camp Scott in Oklahoma where 140 young girls arrived to a fun-filled
two weeks devoted to Girl Scout camp.
Thunderstorms emerged and hidden in what seemed to be plain sight was a horrific turn of events.
(12:11):
And only 137 girls would return home that year because on June 13,
1977, Camp Scott would have its first day of camp for the season and its last day of camp for history.
As the first camp leader would awake that morning, she was walking to take a
shower when in the distance she saw several items, that in which looked to be
(12:32):
sleeping bags, but it wasn't until a closer look that she would realize what
she was looking at was a deceased little girl.
She couldn't understand or even comprehend, but before she could make sense
of it all, she realized two Two other campers were also missing.
The sun was coming up, and the hope for the next two weeks was only down.
(12:53):
The victims were Lori Lee Farmer, age 8, Doris Denise Milner,
10, and Michelle Heather Gousier, 9.
The girls were all residents of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a suburb of Tulsa.
They were sharing tent number seven in the camp's Kiowa unit,
which was located the furthest from the camp counselor's tent and was also partially
(13:14):
obscured by those camp showers.
There were several different suspects, but there was one who stood out the most.
And following the murders, a 10-month manhunt, one of the largest in Oklahoma
history, would take place.
It was Hart, who was captured in a cabin in the Cookson Hills on April 6, 1978. 78.
During the trial the following year, Hart's attorney claimed he was framed.
(13:38):
In an article from People magazine written in 2023, we learn of the 1989 testing
that was done by FBI of a semen stain found on a pillowcase inside Michelle's sleeping bag.
And while it would be another 20 years before the next development in the case
would occur, sophisticated DNA testing was done.
And those results, although inconclusive, they could and would eliminate other suspects, but not Hart.
(14:04):
And it was enough to convince the police that Hart committed those murders.
And the years following the murders, new theories, new suspects would all emerge.
Over 40 years later, investigators from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation,
along with the current sheriff of Mays County, Mike Reed, while they're still searching for answers.
(14:25):
The episode has a lot of real-time audio, past interviews from those who were
closest to the case, and more.
And you can also visit GirlScoutMurders.com to learn about this case and deep
dive into the evidence against Hart.
Episode 9 and 10, Loft No. 402.
These two episodes are personal to my stepdad, who was first on scene in 2001.
(14:49):
It was at the Adam Hatz Lofts in Dallas, Texas, loft number 402 to be exact,
that he, Richard Jackson, would find the lifeless bodies of liberty and faith.
I encourage everyone to listen to these episodes, and I'll link them directly
in this bio, not only because they are near and dear to my heart,
(15:10):
but also because they describe a testament of faith that Richard Jackson went through.
You can listen to more about this tragic event, hear a firsthand account from
the paramedic on scene, and follow this monster all the way to his execution
date, one in which my stepfather was also able to witness.
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, please know that there is help.
(15:33):
Visit www.familyplace.org.
Episode 11, A Slumber Party. On October 1st, 1993, Polly Klass,
who was only 12 years old at the time, was hosting a slumber party with two
of her friends from school.
Her mother Eve and sister Annie slept in another bedroom in the family's three-bedroom home.
(15:54):
It was sometime after 10.30 p.m. that Richard Allen Davis, a career criminal,
would climb through a window and then enter Polly's bedroom.
He was holding only a knife and a bag. gag.
He threatened to slit the throats of Polly and her two friends before forcing
them to lie down in a row on the floor, then gagging them and tying their hands.
(16:15):
He told Polly's classmates he was taking her to collect valuables,
but he would bring her back after he left with Polly.
The other two girls were able to untie themselves and alert Polly's mother,
who then called the police.
It was less than two hours after Polly was abducted.
Davis drove his white Ford Pinto into a ditch or the property owner would alert police.
(16:36):
His car was searched by police, but at the time were unaware of Polly's abduction, so they released him.
Weeks later, on November 27th, that same property owner called police again.
He found red children's knitted tights, he found a sweatshirt,
and a knotted piece of white silky cloth, which was later matched to the cloth used to bound the girls.
(16:58):
Davis was arrested two days later, and he would admit to killing Polly within
the first two hours of her abduction.
It would be nearly a week after the confession that he would lead police to
her decomposing remains, which were hidden under a piece of plywood.
Authorities later linked a palm print found in Polly's bedroom to this convict,
and he also had two strands of hair that were found in carpet fibers in her bedroom.
(17:21):
There's an article from CBS News. It came out just over a month ago,
and it speaks to the recent judgments being made in relation to the death penalty for Davis.
Because of his prior criminal charges, Pauley's case would be the driving force
for California's three strikes law, which passed in 94 and set longer sentences
for repeat offenders like himself.
(17:43):
The Pauley Class Foundation is a Petaluma, California-based national nonprofit
dedicated to the safety of all children, the recovery of missing children,
and public policies that keep children safe in their communities.
And you can learn more about this cause and how you you can help by visiting
polyclass.org. That's K-L-A-A-S dot org.
(18:05):
Bonus episode, Santa murders his family. This episode takes a very direct approach
as a bonus episode, and it's only 18 minutes long.
It's about a father who let his pride get the best of him. He would text his
daughter to let her know he had a surprise for her on Christmas morning.
And it was in the Texas town of Grapevine, many in which people referred to
(18:25):
as Christmas country, that police would arrive on the morning of December 25th.
They would kick open the doors and find the bodies of four women and three men
ranging in age from 15 to 58 years old.
The family had just opened up presents, and amidst the joyful exchange,
the father, who had recently experienced financial and marital problems,
(18:46):
including an unfaithful wife,
well, he would shoot the six victims and then turn the gun on himself.
The killer was wearing a Santa suit.
Episode 12, The Toolbox Killers.
This episode describes the work of Lawrence Bitteker and Roy Norris,
a duo who let their shared fantasies of sexual violence become a reality.
(19:08):
Ice picks, pliers, and screwdrivers, well, they may seem like ordinary tools,
but for these convicted serial murders, they would serve for a much darker purpose.
Because in 1979, the two used the roads of California as their hunting grounds
and relied on the remote areas of the San Gabriel Mountains,
where they brutalized and then killed their victims,
(19:29):
five in total to be exact, all teenage girls just over a five-month period.
Peacock has an original movie out titled The Toolbox Killer.
It describes these brutal attacks from a theatrical standpoint.
And it's been four decades after killing five young women, but Bitteker,
who was 79 and Noor, 72, both died in 2019 of natural causes.
(19:52):
Episode 13, Missing Keys. I am going to give a very brief rundown of this episode,
but I highly suggest that you take a listen for yourself.
Because it was only 12 years ago, that's right, 12 years ago,
that Israel Keys, a devoted businessman,
a loving father, and a dedicated boyfriend, he would sit in a confession room
(20:15):
giving details for 15 hours straight about his his secret life,
that of a methodical serial killer.
According to Keyes, his first planned attack took place in Oregon in 97 or 98,
where he abducted a teenage girl and then raped her.
He intended to murder her, but she convinced him to let her leave.
(20:36):
I wasn't violent enough, Keyes later told investigators, and he made up his
mind that day that he was never going to let that happen again.
As a serial killer, Keyes targeted victims who who happened to cross his path,
rather than sticking to a specific profile.
He often waited to accost people in parks, cemeteries, or even campgrounds.
(20:57):
But possibly the scariest thing about Keyes was his detailed planning.
He would drive cross-country to hide kill kits of murder equipment,
which consisted of guns, ammunition, chemicals for the destruction of bodies, and more.
Oxygen actually has a special, it's called Methods of a Serial Killer.
I just want to play audio from this episode that described the disturbing kill
(21:20):
kits that Keyes would use.
Israel Keyes was one of the most
meticulous serial killers that I've ever come across or even heard of.
And one of the reasons is these kill kits or these caches of gear that he had
stashed away all around the country.
(21:42):
These kill kits indicate to the FBI just how frighteningly calculating a killer Keyes is.
They're also his signature, setting him apart from other serial killers.
Even though he didn't have an identified victim, the planning really started
when he would leave that kit, when he'd bury that kit in that location.
(22:04):
I haven't seen anything like it.
It contains things like duct tape, shovels.
Music.
That you would use to both capture somebody, to hold them, and then to kill
them, and dispose of the body afterwards.
(22:25):
Drano and lye and these sorts of caustic chemical agents were present as well.
Drano was an idea I had in case they were found right away.
I didn't want there to be any DNA on the outside of the bodies.
The other thought I had that it would start the decomposition and they would
break them down a little bit faster.
(22:47):
He mentioned having up to 12 caches stashed in places around the country.
He kind of joked about them and said, everybody loves a buried treasure.
As a kid, I always used to dream that I'd find buried treasure and I figured,
well, I might as well create it.
What these did is enable Israel Keyes to leave Alaska and not check his gun
(23:12):
in the baggage on the airplane.
Plane, not carry any evidence with
him, but go to a place, pick up what he needed, and go do his business.
And then he could destroy it or cash it again, whatever he needed to do.
I've certainly heard of, you know, people hiding things and setting things aside
in terms of planning, but we're talking years sometimes that these things would
(23:34):
sit before he would then come back to them.
Music.
A kit in the Burlington, Essex area when he was on his trip out east in 2009.
This bucket, filled with instruments of death, sits dormant for over two years
(23:55):
as Keyes returns to his daily life in Alaska, knowing that at some point, he'll be back to use it.
This ability to delay gratification, to have a kill kit and then not act on it, was very atypical.
You don't see that kind of patience in people who do this sort of thing.
(24:17):
He probably waited with a great deal of excitement.
Feel free to listen to any of these episodes, but please keep in mind the updates
that have been made and included in this recap episode.
I cannot wait to be a voice again for those who no longer have a voice.
And while not all of the cases have been solved, and while some of them are
(24:38):
still being investigated, and while many questions still remain,
Those that have been given answers give me and I hope that others have some sense of closure.
For case inquiries or if you have an idea for an episode, email me at onlycrimewilltell at gmail.com.
What are you waiting for?
Only Crime Will Tell. This podcast is written, posted, and edited by Ashley Denny.
(25:04):
All audio sources as well as exclusive content and more can be found at onlycrimewilltell.com.
If you're listening on Apple Podcasts and have enjoyed this show,
make sure to subscribe, rate, and review. It really helps the podcast to be found.
Music.
Only Crime Will Tell contains strong language, mature themes,
and depictions of violence that may not be suitable for younger audiences.
Listener discretion is advised.
It is not every day that you decide to start a podcast.
But amidst the big thing that happened in 2020 that shall remain unnamed,
paired with boredom at home, you know, as if I didn't have three boys to take
(00:23):
care of, that's just what I did. I started a podcast.
I spent a lot of time researching, finding cases to speak about,
doing interviews, piecing it all together.
So when I went back to work, my little full-time hobby, it quickly became a side time one.
With the inability to dedicate fully to it, I let it go. Go big or go home, right?
(00:46):
Every so often, I would bring up to someone I met, I used to have a true crime podcast.
And it wasn't until this year that I realized that I really missed being able
to say that I currently had one that I actively recorded.
So I have released a lot of the episodes again and I'm making a promise to at
(01:06):
least myself or maybe even the 12 of you that listen to this that I want to do it again.
I thought it best to recap some of the old episodes in case you don't want to
go through them all before the new ones are released.
So without further ado, I am your host, Leigh Denny, and this is Only Crime Will Tell.
(01:27):
Music.
(02:00):
Would like to talk about the episode that I chose not to re-release.
The episode about the disappearance of Carrie May Parker, a local from Hunt
County who at the time of publishing was still considered missing by her family.
I had done an interview with her daughter that brought up many theories and
she told the story about how her mother going missing affected her and her family's life.
(02:23):
I won't speak to anything that was originally said because in February of 2021,
the Hunt County Sheriff's Office was notified that the search and recovery team
Adventures with a Purpose had located a vehicle in Lake Tawakoni near the causeway of FM 751.
And after the recovery of said vehicle, it was identified as missing person
(02:46):
Carrie Mae Parker's 1980 Buick Skylark that went missing the same day that she did in 1991.
After the recovery, the vehicle was thoroughly searched and no remains were found inside.
It wasn't until October of 2021 that Adventures with a Purpose,
along with the Hunt County Sheriff's Office, returned to FM 751 Causeway to
(03:08):
conduct another search for Parker's remains.
The dive team located human remains in the area where the vehicle was recovered.
The Hunt County Sheriff's Office delivered the remains to the University of
North Texas Health Science Center for Human Identification.
On Tuesday, May 24, 2022, the Hunt County Sheriff's Office received a missing
(03:30):
person's DNA report in reference to Carrie Mae Parker, and it was confirmed
that the remains that were recovered in October were those of Parker.
This was the best possible scenario that could have happened if only only considering
that Carrie was in fact gone.
I hope that this has brought closure to her family and that Carrie rest in peace.
(03:59):
The unnamed child has been given a name, Joseph Augustus Zarelli.
The identification made through DNA analysis represents investigators' biggest
break in the decades-old case, which dates back all the way to February of 1957,
when the child was discovered wrapped in a blanket inside a cardboard box and
(04:20):
exhibited evidence of recent and past trauma, Philadelphia Police Commissioner Daniel Outlaw said.
Although they do not have a suspect for whom to blame for this act of crime,
it is believed that the mother had given him up for adoption,
and unknown if the father, who passed away in 2014, ever even knew of his son.
(04:41):
The headstone for which once read America's Unknown Child now bears his name,
and a beautiful testament to the children of God.
Another episode that has brought on some sort of closure since release is the
episode titled Long Island Escorts.
Any true crime fan will remember back to the Gilgo Beach serial killings,
which took place between 1996 and 2011.
(05:04):
In total, 11 bodies were found, and the perpetrator in the case became known
as the Long Island Serial Killer.
One of the victims was even a female toddler.
On May 28, 2020, Jane Doe No.
6 was identified as Valerie Mack, who also went by the name of Melissa Taylor.
This came just three years later after the original release of the episode.
(05:27):
Jane Doe No. 7 was revealed to be Karen Vergata. And in March of 2022,
authorities began to seriously consider a suspect in which they had linked to these murders.
But it wasn't until just over a year ago, in July of 2023.
Rex Andrew Heerman, who was 59 at the time of his arrest, was charged with three
(05:47):
counts of first-degree murder as well as three counts of a lesser charge of second-degree murder.
These were related to the deaths of Melissa Barthlemy, Megan Waterman, and Amber Castillo.
Heuermann has two children, and his wife filed for divorce just days after his
arrest, once he became the prime suspect in the killing of the fourth sex worker,
Maureen Brannard Barnes, 25 years old, according to a bail application from
(06:12):
the district attorney's office.
He was an architect, and he had lived much of his life on Long Island.
In an interview you on YouTube, Heuermann said he's worked in Manhattan since 1987.
If you want to learn more about the Gilgo Beach serial killings or to listen
to this episode, which won't include any of these updates, make sure to check it out.
(06:33):
Here's a quick rundown of the other episodes in case you want to check out any of these cases.
Episode 1, Bind, Torture, Kill.
Dennis Rader is an American serial killer who terrorized the Wichita,
Kansas area from 1974 to 1991 and became known as his self-given moniker, BTK.
(06:56):
In total, Rader had been linked to 10 total victims, including the gruesome
murders of the Otero family, which accounted for four of those.
What the episode won't speak to is the latest news, for which Rader had found
himself involved in, the disappearance of missing 16-year-old Cynthia,
called Cindy, Dawn Kenney.
Rader's daughter, Carrie Rawson, has helped in the case and said there is mounting
(07:19):
evidence that her father is behind the disappearance of the Oklahoma girl.
In 2004, there were a handful of words identified in the puzzle made by Rader.
Wichita, ta, prowl, fantasies, ruse, servicemen.
But then, upon looking at it again, authorities discovered other words like
(07:39):
Cindy and Kenny and laundromat and several others.
All of these words are directly linked in some way to the teenage girl,
but the case is still under investigation.
Episode 2, Not What It Seems.
This episode, which was originally released in January of 2020,
describes the gruesome and tragic murders in detail and the chaos that Chris
(08:04):
Watts created when he originally told police that his wife, Shanann,
and his beautiful daughters were missing.
But soon the truth would come out, and once convicted, he would write chilling
letters from prison in which he described those deaths of his wife and two children.
In September 2020, Netflix released a documentary, American Murder,
(08:26):
The Family Next Door, which also covers the heinous crimes of this family annihilator.
Episode 4. The Cross-Country Killer. Glenn Edward Rogers is an American convicted serial killer.
He was also convicted of related crimes in Florida and California,
such as armed robbery, grand theft auto, and arson.
While some referred to him as the cross-country killer, he was also dubbed the
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Casanova killer by many.
After a crime spree that had begun on September 28th, 1995, Rogers was established
on the FBI's 10 most wanted fugitives for his first established murder.
A 2012 documentary entitled My Brother the Serial Killer examined Rogers' crimes.
Episode details accounts from
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his brother as well as the life and story of the cross-country killer.
Episode 6, Eyeballs and Prostitutes.
Dallas police had called him the coldest, most depraved killer of women in the city's history.
Throughout his life, Albright had been described by many who knew him as the
portrait of happiness, untroubled and troubling no one.
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As a child, Charles spent hours on taxidermy courses, but his favorite part
of the process was placing the eyes.
He would go to taxidermy shops and stare at the boxes and boxes full of fake
eyes, owl eyes, eagle eyes, deer eyes, Charles was obsessed.
This episode takes you through the chilling account that happened in the Dallas
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Metroplex in the late 80s and early 90s of the crime spree of Charles Albright
and how the seemingly charming and devoted husband,
teacher, and even coach both mutilated and killed a series of prostitutes,
but not before cutting out their eyes and using them as Grizzly trophies.
Albright died in August of 2020 at the West Texas Regional Medical Facility
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located in Lubbock, Texas.
He was 87. But with the episode being released in May of that same year,
I wonder if he ever got a chance to listen.
In 2013, on January 11th, the body of 17-year-old Kendrick Johnson was found
in the most bizarre of circumstances.
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Upside down and rolled up in a gym mat at school.
And after just 24 hours of finding Kendrick, law enforcement would rule Johnson's death an accident.
But his family was, and still is not convinced that was the case.
Johnson had one arm stretched above his head and the other around his waist
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as though struggling for his shoe, both were tucked down under his knees.
Because nearly an entire day had passed before Kendrick was found and given
that he was in an upside down position, blood had rushed to his head which caused
an increase in swelling to his face.
There is a lot that happens as the parents fight for justice and finding out
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the truth about their son.
New evidence, a second coroner's report that ruled Johnson's death not being
caused due to the result of an accident, as well as questionable cover-ups by
police, misplaced organs during transfer and more.
All in which you can hear on the episode. Kendrick Johnson's father,
Kenneth Johnson, said he believes the search for justice is finally making progress in 2024.
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Episode 8, Three Murdered Campers.
It would be at Camp Scott in Oklahoma where 140 young girls arrived to a fun-filled
two weeks devoted to Girl Scout camp.
Thunderstorms emerged and hidden in what seemed to be plain sight was a horrific turn of events.
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And only 137 girls would return home that year because on June 13,
1977, Camp Scott would have its first day of camp for the season and its last day of camp for history.
As the first camp leader would awake that morning, she was walking to take a
shower when in the distance she saw several items, that in which looked to be
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sleeping bags, but it wasn't until a closer look that she would realize what
she was looking at was a deceased little girl.
She couldn't understand or even comprehend, but before she could make sense
of it all, she realized two Two other campers were also missing.
The sun was coming up, and the hope for the next two weeks was only down.
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The victims were Lori Lee Farmer, age 8, Doris Denise Milner,
10, and Michelle Heather Gousier, 9.
The girls were all residents of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma, a suburb of Tulsa.
They were sharing tent number seven in the camp's Kiowa unit,
which was located the furthest from the camp counselor's tent and was also partially
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obscured by those camp showers.
There were several different suspects, but there was one who stood out the most.
And following the murders, a 10-month manhunt, one of the largest in Oklahoma
history, would take place.
It was Hart, who was captured in a cabin in the Cookson Hills on April 6, 1978. 78.
During the trial the following year, Hart's attorney claimed he was framed.
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In an article from People magazine written in 2023, we learn of the 1989 testing
that was done by FBI of a semen stain found on a pillowcase inside Michelle's sleeping bag.
And while it would be another 20 years before the next development in the case
would occur, sophisticated DNA testing was done.
And those results, although inconclusive, they could and would eliminate other suspects, but not Hart.
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And it was enough to convince the police that Hart committed those murders.
And the years following the murders, new theories, new suspects would all emerge.
Over 40 years later, investigators from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation,
along with the current sheriff of Mays County, Mike Reed, while they're still searching for answers.
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The episode has a lot of real-time audio, past interviews from those who were
closest to the case, and more.
And you can also visit GirlScoutMurders.com to learn about this case and deep
dive into the evidence against Hart.
Episode 9 and 10, Loft No. 402.
These two episodes are personal to my stepdad, who was first on scene in 2001.
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It was at the Adam Hatz Lofts in Dallas, Texas, loft number 402 to be exact,
that he, Richard Jackson, would find the lifeless bodies of liberty and faith.
I encourage everyone to listen to these episodes, and I'll link them directly
in this bio, not only because they are near and dear to my heart,
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but also because they describe a testament of faith that Richard Jackson went through.
You can listen to more about this tragic event, hear a firsthand account from
the paramedic on scene, and follow this monster all the way to his execution
date, one in which my stepfather was also able to witness.
If you or someone you know is experiencing family violence, please know that there is help.
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Visit www.familyplace.org.
Episode 11, A Slumber Party. On October 1st, 1993, Polly Klass,
who was only 12 years old at the time, was hosting a slumber party with two
of her friends from school.
Her mother Eve and sister Annie slept in another bedroom in the family's three-bedroom home.
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It was sometime after 10.30 p.m. that Richard Allen Davis, a career criminal,
would climb through a window and then enter Polly's bedroom.
He was holding only a knife and a bag. gag.
He threatened to slit the throats of Polly and her two friends before forcing
them to lie down in a row on the floor, then gagging them and tying their hands.
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He told Polly's classmates he was taking her to collect valuables,
but he would bring her back after he left with Polly.
The other two girls were able to untie themselves and alert Polly's mother,
who then called the police.
It was less than two hours after Polly was abducted.
Davis drove his white Ford Pinto into a ditch or the property owner would alert police.
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His car was searched by police, but at the time were unaware of Polly's abduction, so they released him.
Weeks later, on November 27th, that same property owner called police again.
He found red children's knitted tights, he found a sweatshirt,
and a knotted piece of white silky cloth, which was later matched to the cloth used to bound the girls.
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Davis was arrested two days later, and he would admit to killing Polly within
the first two hours of her abduction.
It would be nearly a week after the confession that he would lead police to
her decomposing remains, which were hidden under a piece of plywood.
Authorities later linked a palm print found in Polly's bedroom to this convict,
and he also had two strands of hair that were found in carpet fibers in her bedroom.
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There's an article from CBS News. It came out just over a month ago,
and it speaks to the recent judgments being made in relation to the death penalty for Davis.
Because of his prior criminal charges, Pauley's case would be the driving force
for California's three strikes law, which passed in 94 and set longer sentences
for repeat offenders like himself.
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The Pauley Class Foundation is a Petaluma, California-based national nonprofit
dedicated to the safety of all children, the recovery of missing children,
and public policies that keep children safe in their communities.
And you can learn more about this cause and how you you can help by visiting
polyclass.org. That's K-L-A-A-S dot org.
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Bonus episode, Santa murders his family. This episode takes a very direct approach
as a bonus episode, and it's only 18 minutes long.
It's about a father who let his pride get the best of him. He would text his
daughter to let her know he had a surprise for her on Christmas morning.
And it was in the Texas town of Grapevine, many in which people referred to
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as Christmas country, that police would arrive on the morning of December 25th.
They would kick open the doors and find the bodies of four women and three men
ranging in age from 15 to 58 years old.
The family had just opened up presents, and amidst the joyful exchange,
the father, who had recently experienced financial and marital problems,
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including an unfaithful wife,
well, he would shoot the six victims and then turn the gun on himself.
The killer was wearing a Santa suit.
Episode 12, The Toolbox Killers.
This episode describes the work of Lawrence Bitteker and Roy Norris,
a duo who let their shared fantasies of sexual violence become a reality.
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Ice picks, pliers, and screwdrivers, well, they may seem like ordinary tools,
but for these convicted serial murders, they would serve for a much darker purpose.
Because in 1979, the two used the roads of California as their hunting grounds
and relied on the remote areas of the San Gabriel Mountains,
where they brutalized and then killed their victims,
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five in total to be exact, all teenage girls just over a five-month period.
Peacock has an original movie out titled The Toolbox Killer.
It describes these brutal attacks from a theatrical standpoint.
And it's been four decades after killing five young women, but Bitteker,
who was 79 and Noor, 72, both died in 2019 of natural causes.
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Episode 13, Missing Keys. I am going to give a very brief rundown of this episode,
but I highly suggest that you take a listen for yourself.
Because it was only 12 years ago, that's right, 12 years ago,
that Israel Keys, a devoted businessman,
a loving father, and a dedicated boyfriend, he would sit in a confession room
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giving details for 15 hours straight about his his secret life,
that of a methodical serial killer.
According to Keyes, his first planned attack took place in Oregon in 97 or 98,
where he abducted a teenage girl and then raped her.
He intended to murder her, but she convinced him to let her leave.
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I wasn't violent enough, Keyes later told investigators, and he made up his
mind that day that he was never going to let that happen again.
As a serial killer, Keyes targeted victims who who happened to cross his path,
rather than sticking to a specific profile.
He often waited to accost people in parks, cemeteries, or even campgrounds.
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But possibly the scariest thing about Keyes was his detailed planning.
He would drive cross-country to hide kill kits of murder equipment,
which consisted of guns, ammunition, chemicals for the destruction of bodies, and more.
Oxygen actually has a special, it's called Methods of a Serial Killer.
I just want to play audio from this episode that described the disturbing kill
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kits that Keyes would use.
Israel Keyes was one of the most
meticulous serial killers that I've ever come across or even heard of.
And one of the reasons is these kill kits or these caches of gear that he had
stashed away all around the country.
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These kill kits indicate to the FBI just how frighteningly calculating a killer Keyes is.
They're also his signature, setting him apart from other serial killers.
Even though he didn't have an identified victim, the planning really started
when he would leave that kit, when he'd bury that kit in that location.
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I haven't seen anything like it.
It contains things like duct tape, shovels.
Music.
That you would use to both capture somebody, to hold them, and then to kill
them, and dispose of the body afterwards.
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Drano and lye and these sorts of caustic chemical agents were present as well.
Drano was an idea I had in case they were found right away.
I didn't want there to be any DNA on the outside of the bodies.
The other thought I had that it would start the decomposition and they would
break them down a little bit faster.
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He mentioned having up to 12 caches stashed in places around the country.
He kind of joked about them and said, everybody loves a buried treasure.
As a kid, I always used to dream that I'd find buried treasure and I figured,
well, I might as well create it.
What these did is enable Israel Keyes to leave Alaska and not check his gun
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in the baggage on the airplane.
Plane, not carry any evidence with
him, but go to a place, pick up what he needed, and go do his business.
And then he could destroy it or cash it again, whatever he needed to do.
I've certainly heard of, you know, people hiding things and setting things aside
in terms of planning, but we're talking years sometimes that these things would
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sit before he would then come back to them.
Music.
A kit in the Burlington, Essex area when he was on his trip out east in 2009.
This bucket, filled with instruments of death, sits dormant for over two years
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as Keyes returns to his daily life in Alaska, knowing that at some point, he'll be back to use it.
This ability to delay gratification, to have a kill kit and then not act on it, was very atypical.
You don't see that kind of patience in people who do this sort of thing.
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He probably waited with a great deal of excitement.
Feel free to listen to any of these episodes, but please keep in mind the updates
that have been made and included in this recap episode.
I cannot wait to be a voice again for those who no longer have a voice.
And while not all of the cases have been solved, and while some of them are
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still being investigated, and while many questions still remain,
Those that have been given answers give me and I hope that others have some sense of closure.
For case inquiries or if you have an idea for an episode, email me at onlycrimewilltell at gmail.com.
What are you waiting for?
Only Crime Will Tell. This podcast is written, posted, and edited by Ashley Denny.
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All audio sources as well as exclusive content and more can be found at onlycrimewilltell.com.
If you're listening on Apple Podcasts and have enjoyed this show,
make sure to subscribe, rate, and review. It really helps the podcast to be found.
Music.
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