Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast

Part I: Step into Victorian London, 1888. In the wake of Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee, a shadow looms over Whitechapel as a series of gruesome murders unfolds. Jack the Ripper, a figure of unimaginable horror, terrifies the East End with his shocking brutality, leaving a trail of mutilated bodies that haunt us still! But who were the five tragic victims: Mary Ann "Polly" Nichols, Annie Chapman, Elizabeth Stride, Catherine Eddowe...

Just in time for summer vacation, Jill is thrilled to introduce you to a a must-have true crime book,  Vacations Can Be Murder! This book is the ultimate treasure trove for true crime enthusiasts who know that ‘seeing is believing’. Authored by the talented Dawn M. Barclay, it delves into gripping crime stories, intricate crime scenes, historic courthouses, infamous prisons, and eerie cemetery locations. I...

Part 4: This exclusive interview with Diane Marger Moore, author of 16 Minutes, is a highlight of Jill's podcast! In this heartfelt and honest discussion, Jill and Diane explore the Wise trials and the many obstacles that almost derailed justice. Diane reflects on her 47-year career as a female lawyer in a male-dominated field, discussing her experiences with colleagues who crossed professional boundaries, the challenges of deconst...

Part 3: The defense of William Wise begins by questioning all the known facts about the night Matthew died; the use of an accelerants and the 16-minute timeframe of the fire itself!  Leading to a contentious back-and-forth filled with tension, Defense experts are challenged by the Prosecution. Ultimately, it will be up to the jurors to decide: Is there justice for Baby Matthew? Is William Wise guilty of his murder? Was Michelle Wis...

Part 2: Ready for trial in just three months, Marion County Arson Prosecutor Diane Marger Moore begins the case against William J. Wise for the murder of his 8-week-old son, Matthew Dean Wise. However, progress in the case is derailed by shocking twists and turns that hinder the pursuit of justice for the newborn. Tensions rise as the determination and grit of everyone involved are tested. Will they be able to secure a conviction a...

Part I: Tragically, 8-week-old Matthew Dean Wise perished in a house fire, which occurred when both parents were home.  Prosecutor Diane Marger Moore takes on the case 2 years later, with her team hurrying to locate witnesses, conduct interviews, find documents, and plan a murder trial. Digging into the horrific death, Diane and Detective Leslie VanBuskirk uncover truths that render them speechless in the face of cold-blooded preme...

In this special episode, Dr. Katherine Ramsland, a distinguished Professor of Forensic Psychology at DeSales University and a prolific author of 74 influential books in the fields of crime, forensic science, and investigative crime fiction, engages in a conversation with Jill about her remarkable career. Dr. Ramsland has investigated fascinating cases and conducted significant research, resulting in her...

Part 4: The remarkable series takes an even more thrilling turn as Jill engages in a gripping conversation with acclaimed author and journalist B.R. Bates and Dr. Gerry Cliff, the esteemed commander of the Violent Crime Task Force. Together, they delve into their captivating book, The Baby Doll Serial Killer: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides. Step into the heart of the investigation and explore firsthand accounts from the key figu...

Part 3: In various ports of call throughout the East, the NCIS and the FBI investigate the alleged murders of John Eric Armstrong. Meanwhile, concerns about a rising body count are growing in Michigan and North Carolina, even as Elizabeth Walker concludes her prosecution of Armstrong. Underway is a detailed inquiry into complex psychosocial questions: Why do women engage in prostitution? What led John Eric Armstrong to commit murde...

Episode 114: ‘Savage Truths’ – Pt. 2, The Baby Doll Serial Killer: The John Eric Armstrong Homicides by BR Bates, with Gerald Cliff, Ph.D Part 2

In Dearborn Heights, Michigan, a Good Samaritan reported the discovery of a body in the Rouge River. The victim, a prostitute, had been strangled to death. Who killed the woman in the river? Meanwhile, Detroit’s Violent Crime Task Force is investigating the murders of three women whose bod...

In January 2000, Detroit, Michigan, was known as the 'Murder Capital' of the USA. A calculating killer preyed on vulnerable women along infamous Michigan Avenue, where those struggling with addiction engaged in a perilous game of ‘Russian roulette’, going off alone with clients, eager to pay for sex. Eventually, the bodies of the murdered women were discovered, prompting an investigation that spanned multiple jurisdictions. However...

Investigative journalist and CrimeCon presenter George Jared, co-author of the book Silent Silhouette, sits down for an exclusive interview with Jill. George shares behind-the-scenes insights into how he and Jennifer Bucholtz investigated the now 50-year-old cold case, the murder of Deborah Sue Williamson. Comparing theories, they also delve into the gruesome murder of Rebekah Gould, that George and Jennifer also solved!  He also d...

In Part 3: George Jared and Jennifer Bucholtz continue their investigation into the 1975 cold case of Deborah Sue Williamson. Deep into this investigation, new witness statements are examined, inconsistencies identified, and surprisingly, downright lies are told, as our authors ask why anyone would lie about the known facts?  Now, straight out asking "why?", the responses become more mind-blowing, creating more suspicion as the sit...

Ep 110: Mini-Cast- DNA UPDATE- A Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham and Tom McCarthy Part 5

In this mini-cast update on the West Memphis 3, Jill tells you the exciting news about the new, modern DNA testing, approved by the Arkansas Supreme Court in April 2024!  Need an update on the West Memphis 3 case, who murdered 8-year old Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers back in 1993. Happy New Year 2025

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In Part 2, our authors, George Jared and Jennifer Bucholtz, head to the scene of the crime, the carport, where Deborah Sue Williamson was gruesomely murdered on Aug 24, 1975.  There, they see the site through the eyes of the victim AND the killer. Armed with more questions, they continue interview subjects as well as possible suspects, building a case file, larger than that of the Lubbock Police Department's--who also meets with th...

Young newlywed Deborah Sue Williamson was living in Lubbock Texas in August 1975.  While her husband was at work, Debbie was viciously murdered in the carport of their home.  Many suspects were investigated- her husband, her brother, good family friends- but no one was arrested as the case went cold. Then came a break, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to the murder. The problem was: Lucas lied, and Debbie’s killer remained o...

Back discussing his latest book, the “most prolific cold case investigator in the United State for single-event homicides,” Chief Clay Bryant is here, chatting w. Jill about his newest book, on the murder of Vieng Phovixay.   A young woman, with a harrowing family history, Vieng is poised on the brink of truly living the American Dream, when she suddenly went missing, her family stricken with fear and deep foreboding.  Two years la...

A very special episode- Host of The Consult- Real FBI Profilers podcast, retired FBI Profiler Julia Cowley is joining Jill! The women speak about a range of topics, from most impactful true crime books and career paths, to analyzing the JonBenet Ramsey case, Julia’s profile and insights into the Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo, serial killer Israel Keyes and more—This is not the episode to miss!  Dropped early for your enjoymen...

Episode 105 “Exonerate the West Memphis 3” - An Interview with Dan Stidham, Defense Attorney and co-author of A Harvest of Innocence: The True Story of the West Memphis Murder Case

Part 4: In a heartfelt interview, author Dan Stidham and Jill discuss the inside story of defending the West Memphis Three’s Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin as a young, inexperienced attorney, caught up in mass hysteria.  The malignant prosecution th...