True Crime Brewery

When Palo Alto music teacher Kristine Fitzhugh was found in a pool of coagulated blood at the bottom of her basement stairs, her husband Ken blamed her shoes. That's right, her shoes. He had warned her over and over, he said, that those shoes were dangerous.  She must have stumbled and fallen in them.But it didn’t take long for investigators to question Ken Fitzhugh’s theory.  The position of Kristine's body and her injuries were not consistent with a fall.  And the blood evidence made Ken the primary suspect in her suspicious death.  Blood found in the Fitzhugh’s kitchen suggested that she had been attacked there.  Further inquiries exposed financial problems and an extramarital affair resulting in a pregnancy.Join us at the quiet end for No Accident: The Death of Kristine Fitzhugh.  Ken Fitzhugh denied any involvement in his wife’s death, but inconsistencies in his story and forensic examination results led to his arrest and a dramatic, highly publicized trial.

On the remote island of Palmyra, about 970 nautical miles south of Hawaii, a series of crimes occurred against experienced sailing couple Mac and Muff Graham. A handful of other sailors spent time with the Grahams on the island, but the Grahams were eventually left alone with a desperate young couple: Stephanie Stearns and her fugitive boyfriend Lesley “Buck” Walker. Then the Grahams went missing. Soon afterward, their boat was seen at a busy marina, repainted and in the possession of Stearns and Walker. The logical conclusion was that they had stolen the Graham’s boat and murdered the couple but finding evidence and bringing Stearns and Walker to trial would take years. Join us at the quiet end for Seaworthy: Murder on Palmyra. Learning what it takes to sail the ocean on a small sailboat and survive on a deserted island has been fascinating. At the core of the case is the seaworthiness of Stearns’ and Walkers’ boat. The couple sailed to the island on a rickety boat with inadequate food and supplies.

In 2006, Jeffrey Deskovic’s indictment charging him with the rape and murder of a high school classmate was dismissed on the grounds of actual innocence. Post conviction DNA testing proved his innocence.  It also identified the real killer.When a classmate of 16-year old Jeffrey was found raped and murdered in a local park, he was upset.  The police said his behavior seemed odd. They were suspicious of him because he was late for school the day after the murder and he seemed “overly distraught” about the death of a girl who was not even a close friend.  Jeffrey was questioned at length and eventually manipulated into giving a false confession.Since his release from prison, Jeffrey has earned his law degree and established the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation for Justice, devoting his life to fighting wrongful convictions and helping those exonerated to reclaim their lives.Join us at the quiet end for the story of Jeffrey Deskovic.  Dick was able to be in touch with Mr. Deskovic for an interview recently.  We hope

For today’s episode, we’re diving back into the murky waters of the Lori Vallow Daybell and Chad Daybell case. Last week, we went over the marriages, families, strange religious beliefs, disappearances, and untimely deaths. This week, we’re delving deeper into everything and talking about what has happened since Lori and Chad’s shocking November 2019 wedding.Join us at the quiet end for Doomsday Parents Part Two. There’s still a lot to learn about this case as we await forensic examination results, but there’s a lot already known for us to discuss, debate, and consider.

Normally, when we talk about parents who have a missing child, we’re talking about distressed, loving parents who will do anything to find their child. But in the case of missing children Tylee Ryan and J.J. Vallow, we’re delving into new and unimaginable territory.The lives of J.J. and Tylee’s mother, Lori Vallow, and their stepfather, Chad Daybell, have been suffused by drama and multiple deaths. As more is discovered about the couple’s deranged religious doctrine and ongoing deceit, they are exposed as more evil than righteous or spiritual.Today’s episode is part one in our two-part series Doomsday Parents. As Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow face multiple charges in court, the loved ones of the many lives lost in their wake are left to grieve and try to find a way to move forward. This may very well be the most complicated case we’ve ever researched. Please join us at the quiet end as we delve into this real-life horror story.

Carol Neulander was a mother, a business owner, and the wife of respected Rabbi Fred Neulander. On most Tuesdays, she drove home with the receipts from her popular bakeries, carrying thousands of dollars in her purse. Then came the Tuesday evening when two men showed up at her front door.Join us at the quiet end for The Good Wife: Carol Neulander. While Carol devoted herself to her home, her children, her business, and their temple community, Rabbi Fred Neulander was having sex with other women. But did Fred’s infidelity mean that he was capable of making his wife a target for murder? Forensic evidence was scarce, but a strong circumstantial case would be put together over time.

Sherri Rasmussen had everything going for her.  She was smart, athletic, and beautiful. She graduated high school at age 16, breezed through college, and landed a prestigious job as a hospital director of nursing in her late 20s.In 1985, Sherri married the man of her dreams. Three months later, she was found murdered in her own home. The scene looked like a robbery gone terribly wrong, but after 23 years, DNA evidence pointed to someone who had reason to want Sherri dead, someone who also had the expertise needed to successfully stage the crime scene.Join us at the quiet end for His Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: The Murder of Sherri Rasmussen.  When detectives reexamined Sherri’s cold case file in 2009, DNA testing pointed to a female suspect.  Then detectives came across a report of a woman who had harassed Sherri at her job shortly before the murder, a woman currently working for the LAPD. The burglary theory was dropped, and the case was reinvestigated. The identity of Sherri’s killer was shocking, but Sherri’s fam

In November of 2012, Cari Lea Farver just up and left everything behind: her new boyfriend, her job, and even her son. This was not like Cari, who was a responsible worker, a reliable friend, and a devoted mom. Then an alarming string of texts from Cari’s phone set everyone on edge.Cari’s new boyfriend, Dave Kroupa, was surprised by her abrupt change of heart, but he had only known her for two weeks. After Cari missed her son’s high school graduation and her own father’s funeral, her mother, Nancy, was certain that the person communicating with her by text was not her daughter at all. Join us at the quiet end for Cyberstalked: Cari Lea Farver. As Cari’s family members worried about her, Dave Kroupa believed she was stalking him and his on-again off-again lover, Liz Golyar. Dave and Liz reported break-ins, arson, and death threats, as obscene messages from Cari’s phone and social media accounts poured in. Over a three-year time period, thousands of these messages were received. Not until the past of a s

Law enforcement interrogation is a real skill, but much of it has been questioned in recent years with instances of botched police investigations and false confessions. When police have little forensic evidence, as is the case with many cold cases, witness interviews and suspect interrogations can be crucial in solving a case. But how far should detectives go for a confession?The disappearance of Sheila and Katherine Lyon from a Maryland mall in March 1975 went unsolved until detectives in 2013 came across a six-page statement made by 18-year-old Lloyd Welch back in April of 1975. At the time of the disappearances, Welch had contacted the police to say that he had witnessed the girls’ abduction. Detectives in 1975 dismissed his elaborate story as an attempt to gain attention and play the hero. Thirty-eight years later, new investigators thought that Lloyd could be an actual witness or even the man responsible for abducting the girls.Join us at the quiet end for Secrets & Lies: Solving the Murders of Ka

Heather Elvis was just 20-years old when she disappeared on a Tuesday night just one week before Christmas. Heather was kind and clever. She knew what it was like to work hard and she liked to have fun. She never would have disappeared from her family without explanation.When Heather’s father, Terry, was notified that her car had been abandoned at South Carolina’s picturesque Peachtree Landing, he knew that something was terribly wrong. As a policeman opened her car’s trunk, Terry was terrified of what he would find. Join us at the quiet end for The Disappearance of Heather Elvis. The search for Heather led investigators through hundreds of phone calls and texts, reels of CCTV footage, and into the lives and motivations of one very strange, sinister couple.

Good friends 13-year old Abby Williams and 14-year-old Libby German had a day off from school on Monday, February 13, 2017.  At around noon, they decided to visit a local hiking trail.  But when Libby’s father showed up at 3pm to pick up the girls, they weren’t there. By 5:30pm, the police were called and a search began.The next day, the girls’ bodies were found less than a mile away.  Despite having a video and audio of the suspected killer from Libby’s Snapchat account and two sketches from witnesses in the area, investigators have still not found the man responsible for their murders.Join us at the quiet end for a discussion on the Delphi murders.  Three years have passed since Abby and Libby were killed, but the case remains a mystery in spite of what seems like the best evidence.Anyone with information is requested to contact the Delphi Homicide Tipline at 844-459-5786. All information will be taken and followed up on by investigators. All callers may remain anonymous. Tips can also be submitted online v

Susan Reinert was an English teacher at Upper Merion Area High School in King of Prussia, Pennsylvania, when she began dating fellow English teacher William Bradfield. Bradfield was charismatic. In fact, Susan left her husband to carry on a secret relationship with him. On June 25, 1989, Susan’s naked body was found in her car in a hotel parking lot near Philadelphia's "Main Line” and her two children, Karen and Michael, were nowhere to be found. An investigation by state police and the FBI centered on William Bradfield and the school principal Dr. John Smith, who would be revealed as a sadist with a passion for pornography, illicit drugs, and violence.Join us at the quiet end for Something Wicked. It’s been 30 years since William Bradfield and Dr. John Smith were exposed as cruel and deviant men, but this is a case that never fails to fascinate or invite debate.

Oxnard, California is a town like many towns across the United States. Oxnard has its share of institutional racism and gender hate, but no one would have expected one junior high student to murder another in cold blood. Growing up transgender, biracial, and in an abusive home, Leticia King had many challenges in life. At age 15, Leticia was struggling to find herself. She was identifying as a female and asking her classmates to stop calling her Larry and begin calling her Leticia. Leticia was adopted as a toddler boy. As she reached adolescence, child abuse in her adopted home resulted in placement in a shelter for abused and neglected children. In the shelter, she found a supportive and accepting environment. At school, she was teased, ostracized, and bullied. But Leticia was strong and self-empowered. She refused to hide who she was from her classmates. Some of her peers didn’t like that. One of these peers was 14-year-old Brandon McInerney. Brandon was raised in a home where abuse, illegal drugs,

The story of Tina Fontaine’s life belongs to her and her family, but it parallels many others in Indigenous communities. Her struggle for stability, the promises not kept, and the sexual exploitation she endured meant that Tina experienced more trauma and pain than most people could imagine. Because of situations beyond her control, Tina needed housing, health, and educational services that were not easily accessed. In the last years of her life, poverty, homelessness, and drug use led her into life threatening situations on an almost daily basis. All of this by the time she was 15-years-old. Today, at the quiet end, we’re telling Tina’s story. After all, Tina was just a girl. She was a girl with hopes and dreams, just like our daughters. But Tina was left vulnerable to dangerous predators. Why was no one able or willing to protect or defend her?

The family portrayed on social media by Jennifer Hart seemed perfect. She and her wife, Sarah, were a progressive and loving couple with six adopted black children. Pictures on Facebook showed two moms giving their disadvantaged children a better life. Never mind that the pictures looked posed and the children were rail thin.Real life for the Hart children was far from perfect. A trail of abuse followed the family from Minnesota, to Oregon, to Washington, until Jennifer Hart drove the family’s SUV off a California cliff. Join us at the quiet end for The Hart Family Tragedy. This case is a disturbing example of unchecked child abuse, failures in the foster care and adoption system, and a society that doesn’t value children enough to intervene on their behalf. In the final analysis, Jen and Sarah Hart were responsible for the children’s deaths, but that doesn’t mean that there was no way the tragedy could have been prevented.

On December 2, 2010, 24-year-old Phoebe Handsjuk was found dead on the floor of her apartment building’s garbage compactor room. Her death was slow and painful as she bled to death, alone and in pain, on the dirty floor. Now, nearly 10 years have passed, and her family is still searching for answers. This was a strange way to die. How and why Phoebe died that day has become a complex narrative of alcohol and drug abuse, domestic discord, police incompetence, and alleged cover-ups.Join us at the quiet end for Phoebe’s Fall. This is the story of a vibrant but troubled young woman whose violent death has left a veil of sadness, frustration and suspicion over everyone who knew her.

Wendi Mae Davidson excelled in school and succeeded in her career, but her personal life was always a mess.  Wendi had a habit of either choosing the wrong men or sabotaging her relationships.  Unfortunately, her parents enabled her unstable and selfish behavior.After two unplanned pregnancies, Wendi married 24-year old Air Force officer Michael Severance. Mike was a nice guy, less educated than Wendi, but hard-working and responsible.  For a while, it seemed like the marriage could work. Then, just one day before they were due to visit Mike’s family on the other side of the country, Mike vanished.Join us at the quiet end for The Case Against Wendi Mae Davidson.  It would take months for investigators to find Mike, but analysis of Wendi’s internet searches and GPS tracking of her vehicle would lead to her arrest.

In a small, quiet seaside town in 1991, the bodies of young nurse Lesley Howell and police officer, Trevor Buchanan, were found in a car filled with carbon monoxide. Lesley wore headphones playing her favorite Christian music. She was surrounded by family photos. These deaths stunned the community and broke the hearts of family members. What would cause these devout Baptists and parents of young children to take their own lives?Lesley and Trevor did have one common struggle: Their spouses were involved in a lengthy love affair. Both deeply religious, Lesley’s husband Colin played his role as a family man and a well-liked dentist while Hazel Buchanan lived her life as a teacher, a wife and a mother. But they were living a lie.The depravity and hypocrisy of this affair was a painful reality for Lesley and Trevor, but not everyone was convinced that they had resorted to a suicide pact. Not until a surprise confession nearly twenty years later would the horrible truth come to light.Join us at the quiet end f

Maria Cruz was a perfect example of the American dream fulfilled. Growing up in the Philippines, she moved to New York in 1992, received her M.B.A. from Fordham University, and took a job as a senior credit analyst. On Palm Sunday, April 13, 2003, Maria attended mass at St. Malachy’s Church. She stopped by her office that afternoon, excited about an appointment she had later that day for a cosmetic laser procedure.When Maria didn’t show up for work that Monday or Tuesday, everyone agreed that it was not like her to miss work without calling. On Wednesday, the police were called to her apartment, but there was no sign of Maria. It would take months before detectives searched her emails and ran a check on her laser specialist, Dean Faiello, uncovering his lengthy criminal history.Join us at the quiet end for The Pretender. Dean Faiello had looks, intelligence, and charm, but Maria’s disappearance would reveal that he lacked a conscience.

Dale Ewell worked hard to give his children all of the advantages he didn’t have as a child.  His wife, Glee, provided a loving home, staying home with their daughter Tiffany and son Dana, and showering them with attention as well as possessions.Growing up with every advantage, Dana Ewell didn’t appreciate what he was given. He always wanted more.  He didn’t inherit his parents’ strong work ethic, but wanted everything handed to him, all the while acting like he was a successful businessman in his own right.On April 19th, 1992, the Ewell’s home was robbed. Two days later, the housekeeper found the house torn apart, with three dead bodies sprawled across the floors.  Join us at the quiet end for Eight Million Reasons to Kill. We all want to give our children the best things in life, but this may have backfired for Glee and Dale Ewell.