Skip to main content
Pink Collar: A True Crime Podcast

Pink Collar: A True Crime Podcast

By Pink Collar Pod

What exactly is pink collar crime? The term was actually coined by Dr. Kathleen Daly to describe embezzlement crimes committed by women. We aim to take pink collar crime a step further, focusing on any and all crimes committed by women.

Each episode, we present cases in which the offender is a woman. We compare the similarities and differences between the cases.

Music: www.patreon.com/josephmcdade/posts
Available on
Apple Podcasts Logo
Castbox Logo
Spotify Logo
Currently playing episode

100. Sabrina Zunich - Groomed to Commit a Gruesome Murder?

Pink Collar: A True Crime PodcastAug 18, 2022

00:00
44:40
107. Darlene Gentry: Convicted of Murdering Her Husband

107. Darlene Gentry: Convicted of Murdering Her Husband

tba

Jan 19, 202350:49
106. Pieper Lewis - Teen Victim of Human Trafficking Ordered to Pay $150,000 to Family of Her Alleged Abuser

106. Pieper Lewis - Teen Victim of Human Trafficking Ordered to Pay $150,000 to Family of Her Alleged Abuser

Pieper Lewis made headlines in November 2022 when she cut off her GPS tracker and fled the Fresh Start Women's Facility in Des Moines, Iowa. Pieper was arrested at the age of 15 for stabbing 37-year-old Zachary Brooks after he allegedly sexually assaulted her multiple times. At the time, Pieper was a runaway and sex trafficking victim. She confessed to killing Zachary and was sentenced to 5 years supervised probation, 1,200 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $150,000 in restitution to his family. Pieper has pleaded not guilty to the escape charge.

https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/pieper-lewis-killed-rapist-sex-trafficking-victims-probation-1234630578/

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/opinion/columnists/rekha-basu/2021/12/03/child-sex-trafficking-teen-guilty-plea-underage-victim-racial-disparity-pieper-lewis/8835758002/

https://rights4girls.org/wp-content/uploads/r4g/2018/09/Racial-Justice-fact-sheet-Sept-2018-Final.pdf

https://www.npr.org/2022/09/14/1122904939/iowa-teenager-pieper-lewis-killed-accused-rapist-ordered-pay-150000

https://theappeal.org/pieper-lewis-how-alternatives-to-incarceration-expand-criminalization/

https://www.cnn.com/2022/11/09/us/pieper-lewis-iowa-teen-custody/index.html

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2022/12/19/pieper-lewis-pleads-not-guilty-to-escape-after-leaving-womens-center-killed-man-said-raped-her/69732348007/

https://people.com/crime/pieper-lewis-sex-trafficking-victim-escapes-custody/

https://www.desmoinesregister.com/story/news/crime-and-courts/2022/11/05/pieper-lewis-iowa-sex-trafficking-victim-escapes-cuts-off-gps-monitor/69622206007/

Jan 05, 202346:07
105. Drugs in a PT Cruiser - Part 3: Jill Easter
Nov 11, 202201:04:21
104: Drugs in a PT Cruiser - Part 2: Introducing the Sex Ninja
Oct 28, 202246:55
103. Drugs in a PT Cruiser: PTA Mom Gone Wild or Wrongly Accused?
Oct 14, 202248:59
102. UPDATES: Sherri Papini, Elizabeth Holmes, Amy Hall, Anna Delvey, and Amy Cooper

102. UPDATES: Sherri Papini, Elizabeth Holmes, Amy Hall, Anna Delvey, and Amy Cooper

Listen for updates on some of our favorite cases! Nathalie shares about Sherri Papini, the woman who was not actually missing. She also gives trial updates for Amy Hall, one half of the anti-making couple that was arrested for assaulting a bakery store owner, and the lawsuit filed by "Central Park Karen", Amy Cooper. Rachel gives an update on the trial of Elizabeth Holmes, infamous CEO of Theranos, and the lawsuit filed by Anna Delvey's ex-friend, Rachel Williams.

Sep 29, 202201:02:03
101. Lacey Spears: Convicted of Murder by Munchausen's

101. Lacey Spears: Convicted of Murder by Munchausen's

tba

Sep 01, 202252:04
100. Sabrina Zunich - Groomed to Commit a Gruesome Murder?
Aug 18, 202244:40
99. Hadiza Bawa-Garba - Physician Charged with Manslaughter

99. Hadiza Bawa-Garba - Physician Charged with Manslaughter

On Friday, February 18th, 2011, six-year-old Jack Adcock was admitted to the hospital by his general practitioner for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. His doctor, Hadiza Bawa-Garba, started him on fluids and requested tests. At the time she had just returned from 13 months of maternity leave and was brand new to the hospital. Her supervisor was a town away and she was covering the role of two other doctors.

Around 7PM that night, Jack's parents gave him his medication for high blood pressure, just as they would have at home. Jack went into cardiac arrest and a team immediately started to resuscitate him. However, the electronic health records system was down that day, causing Dr. Bawa-Garba to confuse Jack for a different patient that had occupied his room earlier with orders for a DNR. They resumed life saving efforts but it was too late, Jack was pronounced dead at 9:20 PM that evening.

Dr. Bawa-Garba was charged and convicted with manslaughter by gross negligence. She was also banned from practicing medicine. The medical community was shocked and outraged. Dr. Bawa-Garba was able to appeal the decision and reduce the ban to one year, but the manslaughter conviction remained. Listen now for the full story!

https://mediadiversified.org/2018/02/08/racism-blame-and-the-nhs/Rachel’s SourcesWhen We Do Harm by Danielle Ofri, MDhttps://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/atrioventricular-canal-defect/diagnosis-treatment/treatment/txc-20361532#:~:text=Surgery%20to%20correct%20atrioventricular%20canal,heart's%20lining%20grows%20over%20them.https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/gastroenteritishttps://thehealthcareblog.com/blog/2018/01/30/to-err-is-homicide-in-britain-the-case-of-dr-hadiza-bawa-garba/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-leicestershire-45177024https://www.bbc.com/news/health-43610949

Aug 11, 202250:37
98. "The American Plan" - Mass Incarceration of Women for...Sex...?

98. "The American Plan" - Mass Incarceration of Women for...Sex...?

coming soon.

Jul 28, 202233:19
97. Nancy Crampton Brophy: The "How to Murder Your Husband" Author Convicted of... Murdering Her Husband

97. Nancy Crampton Brophy: The "How to Murder Your Husband" Author Convicted of... Murdering Her Husband

You may be familiar with Nancy Crampton-Brophy, who was convicted of killing her husband, Daniel Brophy. Daniel, a teacher a culinary institute in Oregon, was found shot to death in June of 2018. Investigators looked into his wife, a romantic suspense writer. Nancy had written a blog post in 2011 titled, “How to Murder Your Husband.” Her recent search history showed she looked up information about ghost guns and had even gone as far as purchasing a ghost gun kit. Nancy argued it was just research but the prosecutors told another story. Listen now for more details! --


https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/09/12/novelist-who-wrote-about-how-to-murder-your-husband-charged-with-murdering-her-husband/

“How to Murder Your Husband” Blog Post by Nancy Crampton Brophy: https://archive.ph/D1s2X

https://www.distractify.com/p/nancy-brophy-now

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/04/06/how-to-murder-husband-trial/

https://www.thedailybeast.com/trial-of-nancy-crampton-brophy-who-wrote-an-essay-entitled-how-to-murder-your-husband-to-start-in-oregon

https://www.thedailybeast.com/nancy-crampton-brophy-murdered-husband-for-dollar15m-payout-oregon-court-docs-say

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privately_made_firearm

https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/nancy-crampton-brophy-gets-life-daniel-brophy-murder

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/-murder-husband-author-sentenced-life-prison-murdering-husband-rcna33339

https://www.scribd.com/document/459211185/Nancy-Lee-Crampton-Brophy-Bail-Denial

Jul 14, 202249:58
96. Sherra Wright-Robinson - The Murder of NBA Star Lorenzen Wright

96. Sherra Wright-Robinson - The Murder of NBA Star Lorenzen Wright

coming soon...

Jul 07, 202201:03:24
Revisiting Couples in Love to Partners in Crime: Jenny Carrier (and Joseph Carrier) & Edith Thompson (and Frederick Bywaters)

Revisiting Couples in Love to Partners in Crime: Jenny Carrier (and Joseph Carrier) & Edith Thompson (and Frederick Bywaters)

The theme for this week’s episode is COUPLES! Nathalie starts off with the controversial case about Edith Thompson and Frederick Bywaters, a couple put on trial and executed for Frederick’s murder of Edith’s husband Percy. Although Edith had nothing to do with the murder, her love letters to Frederick (proof of her affair) were enough to convince the jury that Edith deserved death by hanging. Rachel then tells the story of Jenny and Joseph Carrier. The media described this couple as a modern day Bonnie and Clyde after they were arrested for a month long, multi-state bank robbing spree. The comparison to the most notorious couple in American history is not a fair one, as Jenny and Joseph were struggling with addiction. Rachel discusses how opioid addiction affects the mind and body. We review the importance of early intervention for people who struggle with addiction and discuss harm reduction strategies.

Nathalie’s Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edith_Thompson_and_Frederick_Bywaters

http://www.capitalpunishmentuk.org/edith.html

https://murderpedia.org/male.B/b/bywaters-frederick.htm

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/edith-thompson-death-penalty-capital-punishment-hanging-miscarriage-justice-buried-mother-murder-bywaters-younger-lover-husband-grave-a8647636.html

Rachel’s Sources

Opioid Overdose Prevention Toolkit: https://store.samhsa.gov/product/Opioid-Overdose-Prevention-Toolkit/SMA18-4742

https://www.masslive.com/news/2015/09/suspects_identified_in_ludlow.html

https://www.masslive.com/news/2015/09/ludlow_police_investigating_ap.html

https://www.masslive.com/news/2015/09/ludlow_police_receive_warrants.html

https://www.fbi.gov/history/famous-cases/bonnie-and-clyde

https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/heroin

https://www.baltimoresun.com/maryland/harford/aegis/ph-ag-aberdeen-bank-robbery-1021-story.html

https://boston.cbslocal.com/2015/10/20/quincy-couple-wanted-for-bank-robberies-in-several-states/

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3282856/Modern-day-Bonnie-Clyde-wanted-robbing-banks-East-Coast-stolen-Buick-feed-heroin-habit.html

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/10/27/mass-couple-arrested-string-east-coast-bank-heists/UV1YIZT9bH5xdfp3iHGpII/story.html

https://www.phillymag.com/news/2015/10/28/bank-robbers-captured-philadelphia-jenny-carrier/


Jun 23, 202201:13:11
95. Evelyn "Billie" Frechette: Crime Doesn't Pay
Jun 16, 202245:34
94. Kaitlyn Conley: 23 Years for Poisoning Her Ex-Boyfriend's Mother - But Is She Innocent?

94. Kaitlyn Conley: 23 Years for Poisoning Her Ex-Boyfriend's Mother - But Is She Innocent?

Jun 09, 202201:04:21
93. Lana Clayton's Perfect Poison: Eye Drops
Jun 02, 202238:38
Revisiting Murderess Row: Sabella Nitti & Kitty Malm - The Women of CHICAGO

Revisiting Murderess Row: Sabella Nitti & Kitty Malm - The Women of CHICAGO

This week we cover two more cases that helped inspire the musical, Chicago. Nathalie starts with the story of Sabella Nitti, who was accused of murdering her husband, Peter Crudele. Even though the case against her was essentially non-existent, the prosecutor relied heavily on her looks as well as sexism, racism, and stereotypes to convince a jury that she was a murderer. After being found guilty, Sabella's case was taken over by a much more competent group of lawyers. One of her new lawyers was Helen Cirese. Helen not only helped with navigating appeals, but also helped give Sabella a makeover, making her more appealing to her new jury. It turns out a haircut and a wardrobe had a HUGE impact during her new trial.

Next, Rachel tells the story of Kitty Malm, aka the Tiger Woman. Kitty was a young woman who had the misfortune of marrying the wrong man. After her first marriage, Kitty thought she had found a new love after meeting Otto Malm. Otto had a criminal background and soon Kitty was helping him rob shops all around the city. One night, Otto shot and killed a security guard. The authorities started to go after known criminal, Walter Bockelman, and pegged Ethel Beck, a sex worker, as his accomplice. However, perhaps in an attempt to clear his conscience, Otto sort of confessed to the crime. He claimed that he was there, but it was Kitty who killed the security guard. Kitty tried to escape but eventually turned herself in when she was ready to face her fate.

Rachel's Source:

The Wolf Woman by Douglas Perry

Nathalie's Sources:

https://www.librarything.com/character/Isabella+Nitti+Crudelle%2C+%E2%80%9CSabella%E2%80%9D

https://news.wttw.com/2017/06/21/ugly-prey-tells-story-first-woman-sentenced-hang-chicago

https://www.womansday.com/life/a58890/ugly-prey/

https://scandalsandsweets.com/sabella-nitti-saved-by-a-makeover/

https://www.racked.com/2018/1/26/16927682/makeover-death-penalty-sabella-nitti

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/508498/lawyer-who-fought-free-first-woman-sentenced-death-chicago


May 26, 202255:02
92. A Government-Led Kidnapping & Forced Abortion: The Case of Feng Jianmei

92. A Government-Led Kidnapping & Forced Abortion: The Case of Feng Jianmei

Starting in 1979, China enacted a law to limit couples to one child in attempt to control the country’s population. In October of 2011,  Feng Jianmei became pregnant with her second child. There were some exceptions to the one child law. Feng and her husband, Deng Jiyuan, believed they were allowed to have a second child since they had waited 5 years and also lived in a rural area. Local authorities first tried to fine Feng and Deng. They then tried to convince Feng to have an abortion, but she refused. The government tracked Feng down and forced her to have an abortion at 7 months. A photo of Feng and her aborted child went viral, shocking the entire world. China faced scrutiny and would replace their one-child policy with a two-child policy in 2016.

https://www.cnn.com/2022/05/03/politics/oklahoma-heartbeat-act-abortion-governor-stitt-signs/index.html

https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2022/5/6/2096338/-In-Tennessee-Plan-B-by-mail-is-now-a-felony-carrying-a-50k-fine

https://www.newsweek.com/anger-louisiana-abortion-bill-could-see-women-charged-murder-1704069

https://www.businessinsider.com/arizona-gop-senate-candidate-blake-masters-campaigning-against-birth-control-2022-5

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_abortion_of_Feng_Jianmei

https://www.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/world/asia/chinese-family-in-forced-abortion-case-still-under-pressure.html

https://www.npr.org/2012/07/05/156211106/after-a-forced-abortion-a-roaring-debate-in-china

https://world.time.com/2012/07/13/china-forced-abortion-victim-awarded-11200-fears-for-life/

https://chrissmith.house.gov/uploadedfiles/2012-07-09_continued_human_rights_attacks_on_families_in_china.pdf

May 19, 202250:17
91. Saundra Adams - A 33-Year-Old Murder Mystery...Solved?
May 12, 202237:48
90. Crystal Mason's Voting Conviction for a Ballot that Never Even Counted
May 05, 202244:21
Melissa Lucio & Christie Michelle Scott - Did These Moms Murder Their Kids?

Melissa Lucio & Christie Michelle Scott - Did These Moms Murder Their Kids?

This week we cover the cases of two women sentenced to death for the crime of filicide. Nathalie discusses the case of Melissa Lucio, subject of the 2020 documentary, The State of Texas vs. Melissa. Melissa was convicted of the abuse and killing of her two-year-old daughter. Melissa was arrested and convicted of murder because of the evidence of abuse…but being responsible for abuse does not necessarily make someone a murderer. While Melissa did admit to some of the abuse, she denied being responsible for her child’s death. Nathalie explores the intricacies of this case and the process of appeals. Rachel then tells the story of Christie Michelle Scott. On August 16th, 2008, Christie’s son Mason was killed in a fire in her home. Christie was distraught…or so it seemed. It turned out that Christie had taken out a new life insurance policy on her son just before his death. She also had been involved in a few home fires before this event. Was Christie a very unlucky woman? Or was there a more sinister explanation? Rachel's Sources https://mycrimelibrary.com/christie-michelle-scott-women-on-death-row/ http://encyclopediaofalabama.org/article/h-2927 https://murderpedia.org/female.S/s/scott-christie.htm https://murderpedia.org/female.W/w/ward-natashay.htm https://www.al.com/news/huntsville/2015/10/former_uah_professor_convicted.html https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franklin_County,_Alabama http://www.doc.state.al.us/facility?loc=5 Nathalie's Sources https://www.texasmonthly.com/arts-entertainment/did-melissa-lucio-the-first-hispanic-woman-on-death-row-in-texas-kill-her-daughter-an-uneven-new-documentary-raises-more-questions-than-answers/ https://www.ca5.uscourts.gov/opinions/pub/16/16-70027-CV0.pdf

Apr 28, 202201:12:01
89. One Finger Too Far: Anna Ayala & the Infamous Wendy's Finger Chili
Apr 21, 202236:15
88. Lindsay Ridgell & Kim Blalock: 2 Women Face the Legal System for Medication Use During Pregnancy

88. Lindsay Ridgell & Kim Blalock: 2 Women Face the Legal System for Medication Use During Pregnancy

This week Nathalie covered two cases related to women caught in the crosshairs of the legal system for using medications during pregnancy. She tells the story of Lindsay Ridgell, a mother from Phoenix. Lindsay suffered from hyperemesis gravidarum during her pregnancy. This condition causes severe vomiting and nausea, and Lindsay had to be hospitalized twice from dehydration before giving birth. Lindsay had treated her condition with medical marijuana, which is legal in the state of Arizona. Lindsay had agreed to wean off the medical marijuana but found it was the only thing that helped her even keep food down. After giving birth, Lindsay was reported to the Department of Child Safety and was told she would be placed on the child abuse registry.

Before getting pregnant, Kim Blalock suffered from arthritis and degenerative disk disease. The year before her pregnancy she experienced surgical complications and a car accident that only worsened her pain. Her pain was managed with a hydrocodone prescription. When she became pregnant she discontinued taking the medication. The entire pregnancy was long and incredibly painful, however, in the last six weeks before her due date the pain became unbearable, prompting Kim to seek medical treatment. Kim had no idea that taking a medication prescribed by her doctors would lead to an investigation by the Department of Human Resources and a possible felony conviction.

https://www.thelily.com/a-mom-was-charged-with-child-neglect-for-using-medical-marijuana-while-pregnant-the-arizona-case-could-set-a-precedent/
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article254240778.html
https://casetext.com/case/ridgell-v-ariz-dept-of-child-safety
https://www.elle.com/culture/a39541235/kim-blalock-took-lawfully-prescribed-pain-killers-during-pregnancyand-was-charged-with-a-felony/?utm_campaign=socialflowTWELM&utm_medium=social-media&utm_source=twitter
https://www.al.com/news/2021/06/alabama-mom-faces-jail-for-filling-doctors-prescription-while-pregnant.html
https://www.al.com/news/2022/02/charge-dropped-against-alabama-woman-who-renewed-pain-pill-prescription-while-pregnant.html

Apr 14, 202241:53
87. Jeannette Ortiz: Chipotle Gets Grilled - How $600 Accusation Came With an $8 Million Price Tag

87. Jeannette Ortiz: Chipotle Gets Grilled - How $600 Accusation Came With an $8 Million Price Tag

Jeanette Ortiz had been working at the Chipotle across the street from Fresno State for 14 years. She worked 50 hours a week and made $72k a year., not a bad salary for the fast food industry. While this may seem like a lot of money, Jeanette had 9 children to house and feed. She was going through some financial difficulties when she filed a workers' compensation claim in December of 2014. She continued to work through January the following year when she went on medical leave. While she was out, Jeanette was informed by her supervisors she was being fired for stealing. They accused her of taking $636 from the store's safe, but she was not allowed to see the video. Jeanette was adamant she did not take that money, she even had another manager from the store that could vouch for it. It appeared Chipotle may have had other motivations for firing Jeanette, listen now to hear how it played out in the courtroom.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/business/wp/2018/05/14/chipotle-wrongfully-accused-a-manager-of-stealing-636-she-just-won-millions-in-court/

https://www.thebalancesmb.com/history-of-chipotle-mexican-grill-3973222

https://www.businessinsider.com/chipotle-pay-ex-manager-8-million-in-wrongful-termination-case-2018-5

https://bplaw-inc.com/warren-r-paboojian/

https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/punitive_damages

https://www.ttla.com/index.cfm?pg=mcdonaldscoffeecasefacts

https://www.fastcompany.com/90714685/we-are-fast-food-executives-if-our-industry-is-to-survive-workers-need-a-greater-voice

Apr 07, 202241:37
86. Denise Huskins: "Gone Girl HOAX" Goes Too Far
Mar 31, 202239:15
PCP Classic: Jennifer & Sarah Hart: Tragic Case of the Hart family, Child Abuse & Murder-Suicide

PCP Classic: Jennifer & Sarah Hart: Tragic Case of the Hart family, Child Abuse & Murder-Suicide

Nathalie and Rachel teamed up to tackle the case of Jennifer and Sarah Hart. Jennifer and Sarah were two white women who adopted six black children from the foster care system. On their social media, they portrayed themselves as a happy, progressive family. It was shocking to many when the family died as a result of a horrific car wreck. When the police began to investigate, they found a history of child abuse reports. The more they learned, the less the wreck seemed like an accident and more like a way for Jennifer and Sarah to escape the repeated allegations against them. We also discuss how the children ended up in the foster care system, including the story of Dontay Davis. Jennifer and Sarah adopted his siblings, Devonte, Jeremiah, and Ciera, but declined to adopt 9-year-old Dontay because of his "behavioral issues". Dontay felt rejected because he was "bad" and carried the guilt of not being able to be there for his younger siblings. We discuss recent reforms in the foster care system, including some changes we hope to see.

Our sources:

https://www.oregonlive.com/news/erry-2018/09/457f99a9ef7947/inside-the-hart-family-home-po.htmlhttps://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/hart-family-jennifer-hart-sarah-hart-devonte-hart-suv-crash https://newsone.com/3842962/devonte-hart-hannah-hart/ https://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/2018/04/devonte_hart_family_crash_its.html https://newsone.com/3842962/devonte-hart-hannah-hart/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/his-siblings-were-killed-by-their-adoptive-mother-he-was-left-in-foster-care-to-suffer-a-more-common-fate/2019/12/11/f54f793a-d654-11e9-9610-fb56c5522e1c_story.html https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/story-of-harts-foster-child-is-one-of-heartbreak-though-not-the-way-some-might-expect/ https://www.cnn.com/2019/04/06/us/hart-family-crash-inquest-searches/index.html https://theappeal.org/hart-family-fatal-crash-birth-mother-scheurich/ 

Mar 25, 202201:37:10
85. "Gone Girl" Gone Wrong - Did Sherry Papini Fake Her Own Kidnapping?
Mar 10, 202246:35
84. CeCe McDonald vs a Duty to Retreat: One Woman's Defense Against Transphobic & Racist Violence
Mar 03, 202253:02
83. Murder-For-Hire Bankrolled Using... PPP Loans?: Jasmine Martinez & the Murder of LeShonte Jones
Feb 24, 202231:32
82. Stacey Schoeck's Murder-for-Hire Valentine's Day Plot
Feb 17, 202235:29
Revisiting the Million Dollar Mermaid & the Vigilante Mom on a Mission: Annette Kellermann & Miriam Rodriguez

Revisiting the Million Dollar Mermaid & the Vigilante Mom on a Mission: Annette Kellermann & Miriam Rodriguez

Listen, we get it. These are stressful times. Sometimes we need to break up the doom and gloom with some #GOODCRIMES. This week, Rachel tells the story of the Million Dollar Mermaid, Annette Kellermann. Annette was born in Australia in the late 1800's. As a child, she suffered from polio. Her father got her to start swimming as a way to build up her strength. By the time she was a teenager, Annette was winning swimming competitions. She became a famous professional swimmer and film actress. One day when Annette showed up to Revere Beach in Boston, Massachusetts she was arrested for wearing a (gasp) one piece swimsuit?!

Next, Nathalie tells us the story of Miriam Rodriguez. Miriam's daughter was kidnapped by the cartel. Miriam did everything she could to pay the ransom, including borrowing money from friends and family. Unfortunately, she would never see her daughter alive again. Miriam made it her life's passion to track down the men involved in her daughter's murder. She used fake IDs and disguises to spy on the men, she would then turn them into the police. Miriam helped other families with missing children until she was killed by the cartel on the day Mexico celebrates Mother's Day.

Rachel's Sources:

https://www.encyclopedia.com/women/encyclopedias-almanacs-transcripts-and-maps/kellerman-annette-1886-1975

https://www.boston.com/news/history/2015/07/02/this-womans-one-piece-bathing-suit-got-her-arrested-in-1907

https://www.garnethill.com/threadsbygarnethill/2017/05/12/century-swim-evolution-swimsuit/

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/18081/body-odor-through-ages-brief-history-deodorant

https://www.ishof.org/assets/1907-the-arrest-of-annette-kellerman.pdf

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Million_Dollar_Mermaid

Nathalie's Sources

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/12/13/world/americas/miriam-rodriguez-san-fernando.html

https://www.insider.com/mexico-mother-took-down-the-drug-cartel-who-murdered-her-daughter-2020-12

Feb 03, 202251:18
81. Rachel Bellesen Survives Her Abuser & the Justice System

81. Rachel Bellesen Survives Her Abuser & the Justice System

Warning: The case we discuss today involves physical and sexual assault.

https://www.thehotline.org

If you are in immediate danger, call 911. For anonymous, confidential help 24/7, please call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 (SAFE) or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY).

On the surface, Rachel Bellesen appeared to be a typical mom of two boys. She was 38 years old, had a great job working for the domestic violence shelter in Kalispell, Montana, and was married to the love of her life. However, like many of the women she worked with, Rachel knew what it was like to be caught in the cycle of abuse. She had spent many years in an abusive marriage to her abuser/ex-husband, Jacob Glace.

Rachel got a call on the morning of October 8, 2020 from Jacob threatening to hurt one of her sons after hearing a rumor about his sexual orientation. Jacob said he thought he could “beat the gay” out of his child, Rachel knew this wasn’t an empty threat. She thought she might be able to reason with him if they could meet and talk it over. The conversation quickly turned south and Jacob attacked Rachel. She was forced to shoot him with the gun she kept in her car in order to survive. Rachel had endless support from her community to fight the charge of deliberate homicide. Luckily, she was able to escape an unjust punishment. This, unfortunately, is not always the case for survivors. We discuss the unique privileges in Rachel's case and changes that need to be made in the current system.

Rachel's Source:

https://www.elle.com/culture/a38324294/domestic-violence-survivor-rachel-bellesen/

Jan 27, 202245:58
80. Joan Little: Lethal Self-Defense vs. Sexual Violence, Racism, & Abuse of Power

80. Joan Little: Lethal Self-Defense vs. Sexual Violence, Racism, & Abuse of Power

Coming Soon!


https://www.zinnedproject.org/news/tdih/joan-little-acquitted/
https://www.nytimes.com/1975/04/06/archives/the-joan-little-case-in-a-small-southern-town-the-night-jailer-is.html
https://www.aaihs.org/free-joan-little/
https://crimereads.com/joan-little-and-the-killing-of-a-jailer/
https://www.ncpedia.org/listening-to-history/bethea-shields
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joan_Little

Jan 20, 202201:00:47
79. The Jury is Out…of Women!
Jan 06, 202235:15
78. Pregnancy in Prison

78. Pregnancy in Prison

Rachel gives us a rundown of pregnancy and maternal health care in prison. 

Dec 30, 202131:29
77. United States v. Reality Winner: Espionage in the Name of Love

77. United States v. Reality Winner: Espionage in the Name of Love

"I am not a traitor. I am not a spy. I am somebody who only acted out of love for what this country stands for." - Reality Winner

In 2018, former intelligence specialist for the United States, Reality Winner, was given the longest sentence for unauthorized release of government information. Reality had leaked an intelligence report about Russian interference in the 2016 election. Prior to leaking this information, Reality served in the Air Force and had no criminal record. She had also been facing an eating disorder that she hoped she would get treatment for if she agreed to a plea deal. We discuss the realities of treatment for people who are incarcerated and the lack of options for those who have served in the military.

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/reality-winner-60-minutes-video-2021-12-05/

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2017/12/who-is-reality-winner.html

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reality_Winner

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_interference_in_the_2016_United_States_elections

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/14/us/politics/reality-winner-is-released.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/23/us/reality-winner-nsa-sentence.html

https://s3.documentcloud.org/documents/3766950/NSA-Report-on-Russia-Spearphishing.pdf

https://www.rollingstone.com/politics/politics-features/reality-winner-interview-prison-nsa-1261844/

https://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional/timeline-the-events-leading-reality-winner-arrest/dJacvYDk18VXuUVTCzODmM/

https://populartimelines.com/timeline/Reality-Winner

https://www.ajc.com/news/local/what-pluribus-employer-accused-nsa-leaker-reality-winner/fimsHSDc7ZBj561pGkkv0I/

https://www.ajc.com/news/breaking-news/augusta-contractor-charged-with-mishandling-top-secret-materials/VFqwwNvxTBe7w2BxkQaWNM/

https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/06/who-is-reality-winner/529266/

Dec 16, 202147:02
76. Mask-less Cookie Shop Bandits - Amy Verlee Hall (& Ricki Collin)
Dec 09, 202139:19
75. Doomsday Cult Tragedy: Lori Vallow Daybell (& Chad Daybell)
Dec 09, 202101:02:18
74. Robyn Allen: Oklahoma's Pain to Prison Pipeline

74. Robyn Allen: Oklahoma's Pain to Prison Pipeline

Nov 04, 202132:39
73. How Adultery Led to Being the Only Woman on Oklahoma's Death Row: Brenda Andrew
Oct 28, 202158:42
PCP Classic: Child Predators: Sarah Dowson & Mary Kay Letourneau

PCP Classic: Child Predators: Sarah Dowson & Mary Kay Letourneau

This week's episode is a little intense so we are going to include the National Suicide Prevention Hotline (1-800-273-8255) and the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD). If you or someone you love is at immediate risk, please call 911. We recognize the importance of sharing stories and experiences to bring awareness to difficult issues. That being said, this was a tough episode to research and might be a tough one to listen to. This week, Rachel begins with the story of Sarah Dowson, a woman who used blackmail and emotional manipulation to force a teenage boy into a sexual relationship. She convinced his family that he was the father of her child in order to receive child support payments. Nathalie tells the story of Mary Kay Letourneau, a school teacher, who abused her position of power and raped her student. When this case first hit the tabloids, it was hard for society to comprehend a woman being a sexual predator. While media representations of similar cases have started to change for the better, there is still more work to be done.

Rachel's Sources

Suicide: What to do when someone is suicidal https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/suicide/in-depth/suicide/art-20044707 https://blogs.psychcentral.com/wellness/2011/11/manipulated-by-suicide-threats/ https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/married-mum-32-accused-teen-22317417 https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-2004-01-14-0401130368-story.html https://www.basingstokegazette.co.uk/news/18566600.basingstoke-woman-accused-teen-lover-rape-lied-father-child/ https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/histrionic-personality-disorder#1 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Non-molestation_order http://www.hlnycrc.co.uk/what-we-do/rehabilitation-activity-requirement/

Nathalie's Sources

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mary_Kay_Letourneau https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/07/obituaries/mary-kay-letourneau-dead.html https://www.biography.com/news/mary-kay-letourneau-vili-fualaau-wedding-anniversary-scandal https://katu.com/news/local/mary-kay-letourneau-former-student-discuss-relationship https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/infamous-school-teacher-goes-back-to-prisonhttps://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mary-kay-letourneau-marries-former-victim

Oct 21, 202158:35
72. Women’s Rights, Florida, and…Playboy?: The Story of Shirley Wheeler

72. Women’s Rights, Florida, and…Playboy?: The Story of Shirley Wheeler

Why is it always Florida? Today we discuss the case of Shirley Wheeler, the the first woman in Florida ever prosecuted and convicted under an abortion law from the early 19th century. Shirley had an unwanted pregnancy and was encouraged by her doctor to get an abortion for medical reasons. The only problem? Abortions for any reason were illegal in Florida. Shirley found an abortionist and had the procedure. Shirley was hospitalized after she began hemorrhaging during a miscarriage. In the hospital they discovered a catheter that had been inserted to cut off supplies to the fetus. Shirley admitted to visiting an abortionist when she was 3 ½ months pregnant. She was turned into the police and arrested for having the procedure. She believes one of the reasons she was prosecuted by authorities, along with her lifestyle and economic standing, was that she refused to cooperate and name her abortionist, stating it was none of their business. Listen now to hear more about her legal battle including an unlikely partnership with Playboy!

Oct 14, 202144:57
71. Ann Lohman aka Madame Restell: The Abortionist of Fifth Ave. - Was she a Wicked Woman or a Last Hope?
Oct 07, 202101:00:08
70. Moonshine Mary Wazeniak: Prohibition, Bootlegging, and, of course, Murder!
Sep 30, 202141:43
69. The Saloon Smashing "Hatchet Granny": 'All Nations Welcome Here Except Carrie'
Sep 23, 202145:42
PCP Classic Mash-Up: DeAnne Stidham's LulaRoe MLM & Elizabeth Holmes' Theranos Con

PCP Classic Mash-Up: DeAnne Stidham's LulaRoe MLM & Elizabeth Holmes' Theranos Con

This week we're mashing up two of our classic cases: DeAnne Stidham's LulaRoe MLM scam & Elizabeth Holmes' Theranos Con. Check our the original episodes for our sources!
Sep 16, 202152:18
68. The 9/11 Disappearance of Sneha Anne Philip
Sep 09, 202141:27
67. Run, Don't Walk... Better Yet, Take the Subway!: Rosie Ruiz

67. Run, Don't Walk... Better Yet, Take the Subway!: Rosie Ruiz

Run, don’t walk, to this week’s episode of Pink Collar! Or take the subway and pretend you ran to this week’s episode. We complete our CHEATERS theme by discussing the story of Rosie Ruiz. Rosie came to the US at a young age and moved around from Florida to Nebraska, eventually ending up in New York City in the 1970s. While there, she submitted a late application to the NYC Marathon claiming to have a fatal brain tumor. The lies didn’t stop there, as Rosie hopped on a subway during the actual race to fake her way to an 11th place finish. With this time she qualified for the Boston Marathon and miraculously appeared to win the female category. Weirdly enough, she didn’t seem to be too sweaty. Also, none of the other runners or spectators remembered seeing Rosie at all throughout the race. Listen now to hear more about Rosie’s story and a discussion about the psychology of pathological lying!

Rachel’s Sources:

Rosie Ruiz:

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/obituaries/2019/08/07/life-apparent-death-rosie-ruiz-shrouded-bit-mystery/SiH65OvRI59uFkIK0012lL/story.html?

https://www.runnersworld.com/advanced/a20798758/rosie-ruiz-tries-to-steal-the-boston-marathon/

https://time.com/3822577/rosie-ruiz-history/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosie_Ruiz

Boston Marathon:

https://www.baa.org/races/boston-marathon/history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boston_Marathon

Katherine Switzer:

https://kathrineswitzer.com/1967-boston-marathon-the-real-story/

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-25/kathrine-switzer-50-years-ago-women-not-allowed-to-run-marathon/8287576

Interval Training:

https://www.sweatelite.co/marathon-specific-training-5-long-interval-sessions-used-by-elites/

Pathological Lying:

https://www.psychiatrictimes.com/view/pathological-lying-symptom-or-disease

https://www.healthline.com/health/pathological-liar#summary

Sep 02, 202149:28
66. Don't Sue over Spilled Coffee? - Stella Liebeck v. McDonald's

66. Don't Sue over Spilled Coffee? - Stella Liebeck v. McDonald's

This week Nathalie kicks off our theme of cheaters! In 1992, 79-year-old Stella Liebeck spilled coffee on herself at a McDonald's drive thru in Albuquerque. Stella then sued McDonald's and was awarded $3 million in punitive damages. Although it wasn't breaking the law, in court of public opinion many have deemed Stella to be a cheater of the system. However, this story isn't quite as it appears. Nathalie takes us through what actually happened the day of the incident. Many believed Stella was irresponsible, that she was driving while drinking coffee and she spilled it on herself. This was not true, Stella was the passenger in a car that wasn't moving at the time of the spill. The coffee was served at a temperature that could cause severe burns in a matter of seconds. Stella didn't even want to take the case to trial, all she wanted was to settle for the cost of her injuries and for lost income. Listen now to hear more about Stella's story!


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Liebeck_v._McDonald%27s_Restaurants

https://www.tortmuseum.org/liebeck-v-mcdonalds/

https://www.caoc.org/?pg=facts

Aug 26, 202144:16
65. Rosa Jimenez's Fight Against a Wrongful Conviction

65. Rosa Jimenez's Fight Against a Wrongful Conviction

This week we bring you part two of our Wrongful Convictions cases. Rachel tells the story of Rosa Jimenez. Rosa was just 19 years old when she was working as a babysitter to support her family. She had a daughter, Brenda, and was pregnant with her second child. On January 30th, 2003, Rosa was helping watch her neighbor's 21 month old son, Bryan Gutierrez. When she was making lunch, she looked over and saw that Bryan's face was blue and he was grasping at his throat. Rosa tried to remove the obstruction and had a neighbor help her call 911. Bryan was rushed to the hospital where doctors took over and removed the wad of paper towels that had become lodged in Bryan's throat. Unfortunately, Bryan had lost too much oxygen and suffered from brain damage. He was placed in hospice and would pass away three months later. Police began to question Rosa and she was later arrested and convicted of murder. Listen now to hear us discuss the investigation and court case!

Aug 19, 202148:39