Pink Collar: A True Crime Podcast
By Pink Collar Pod
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
Pink Collar: A True Crime PodcastDec 24, 2020
107. Darlene Gentry: Convicted of Murdering Her Husband
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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://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://people.com/crime/pieper-lewis-sex-trafficking-victim-escapes-custody/
105. Drugs in a PT Cruiser - Part 3: Jill Easter
Listen now for our final installment in the Kelli Peters story! We talk about the arrest of Jill and Kent Easter, the trials, and the Dr. Phil episode.
Rachel's Sources:
https://www.latimes.com/projects/la-me-framed/
Dr. Phil episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C69Hs8BCbBg
104: Drugs in a PT Cruiser - Part 2: Introducing the Sex Ninja
This week, we cover part 2 of the not so perfect crime. The police have continued their investigation into the Easter family. They secured two search warrants, one for Kent's office and one for the Easter home. Unfortunately for them, it is quite challenging to investigate married lawyers. They had to be careful about attorney-client privilege AND spousal privilege.
Meanwhile, the cops discovered Jill had been having an affair with a firefighter who she called her, "sex ninja." Listen now for the full story!
Rachel's Source:
103. Drugs in a PT Cruiser: PTA Mom Gone Wild or Wrongly Accused?
Kelli Peters was a volunteer director for the after school program at Plaza Vista School in Irvine, California. Kelli had chosen Irvine for her family because it was so safe. One day while working at the school, a 911 call came in to the police station reporting a dangerous driver in the Plaza Vista parking lot. The caller identified the driver as Kelli. Upon further investigation, it turned out Kelli was already inside the school at the time of the call. When the cop called to the scene searched her car, he found a large bag of marijuana and smaller bags of assorted pills. Kelli, of course, denied the drugs were hers. Even though this is not an uncommon response when caught with drugs, the cop believed her. But who would have wanted to accuse Kelli, PTA president and respected member of the community, of being a drug dealer? Listen now for part one of this truly stranger than fiction case.
Rachel's Source:
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.
101. Lacey Spears: Convicted of Murder by Munchausen's
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100. Sabrina Zunich - Groomed to Commit a Gruesome Murder?
youtu.be/yrhBmcKS_-w
www.oxygen.com/snapped-behind-bars/crime-news/snapped-behind-bars-what-to-know-about-sabrina-zunich-case
heavy.com/news/lisa-knoefel-murder/
www.oxygen.com/snapped-behind-bars/crime-news/sabrina-zunich-gives-prison-interview-after-murdering-foster-mom
thecinemaholic.com/where-is-sabrina-zunich-now/
heavy.com/news/sabrina-zunich-today/
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
98. "The American Plan" - Mass Incarceration of Women for...Sex...?
coming soon.
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! --
“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://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Privately_made_firearm
https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/nancy-crampton-brophy-gets-life-daniel-brophy-murder
https://www.scribd.com/document/459211185/Nancy-Lee-Crampton-Brophy-Bail-Denial
96. Sherra Wright-Robinson - The Murder of NBA Star Lorenzen Wright
coming soon...
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/
95. Evelyn "Billie" Frechette: Crime Doesn't Pay
John Dillinger, leader of the Dillenger gang, was a gangster during the Great Depression. John was born in a farm town in Indiana and began causing trouble in early childhood. After a dishonorable discharge from the Navy, John made his way to Indiana and was arrested after robbing a grocery store. He was convicted and sentenced to 10 to 20 years in the Indiana State Prison. While incarcerated, he made friends with other law breakers and formed the Dillenger gang. After his release he would go on to rob 24 banks, four police stations, and kill a police officer, leading law enforcement on a wild goose chase. While evading arrest, John stayed with Evelyn “Billie” Frechette. Although Billie was never directly involved with his crime, she was pursued by the FBI and arrested for harboring a fugitive, Listen now to hear the rest of Billie’s story!
Rachel’s Sources:
https://www.news-medical.net/health/Gonorrhea-History.aspx
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herman_Lamm
https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/dillinger-letters-and-laws/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Dillinger
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evelyn_Frechette
http://www.dillingerswomen.com/Evelyn-Trial.html
https://www.wxpr.org/arts-life/2019-07-17/you-know-john-dillinger-but-do-you-know-evelyn-frechette
94. Kaitlyn Conley: 23 Years for Poisoning Her Ex-Boyfriend's Mother - But Is She Innocent?
After discovering toxic levels of a drug used to treat gout in Mary’s blood her death was ruled a homicide. Kaitlyn Conley, who worked at the center and had dated the Yoder’s son Adam on and off, was arrested, charged, and convicted of the murder of Mary Yoder. Nathalie takes us through how things may not be what they seem in this case, listen now for the full story!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkSAS3aYe14
www.ocgov.net/sites/default/files/distatty/EvidenceProsecution/Search%20Warrant%20%28John%20Doe%20%2316228%29.pdf
www.freekaitlynconley.com/
www.uticaod.com/story/news/crime/2021/09/21/kaitlyn-conleys-second-attempt-appeal-manslaughter-charge-denied/5799335001/
thecinemaholic.com/mary-yoder-murder-where-is-kaitlyn-conley-now/
www.wktv.com/archive/court-denies-kaitlyn-conleys-final-attempt-to-appeal-manslaughter-conviction/article_f656d923-8813-50b5-9d95-e12bbf571385.html
www.syracuse.com/crime/2021/03/court-denies-kaitlyn-conleys-appeal-that-she-killed-her-former-boyfriends-mom.html
93. Lana Clayton's Perfect Poison: Eye Drops
On July 21st, 2018, Lana Clayton was spotted running into the road by a motorcyclist. She had found her husband, Steve, collapsed and unresponsive at the bottom of the stairs. The police arrived at the Clayton home along with Steve's nephews. Although the police initially believed Steve had died from a heart attack, there were many red flags during the investigation. Lana was a nurse but had made no attempt to revive her husband. She also denied Steve had a will and pushed for cremation to avoid any tests being run on the body, After Steve's nephews grew suspicious of Lana's behavior, they requested a toxicology report and autopsy, It turns out Steve had tetrahydrozoline, or THZ, present in his system. THZ can be found in eye drops, such as Visine, and can kill someone if consumed. Lana's story quickly began to unravel and soon found herself at the center of the investigation. Listen now to hear the full story!
Rachel's Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/steve-lana-clayton-eyedrop-medication-homicide-48-hours/
https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-lana-clayton-now/
https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/steve-lana-clayton-eyedrops-48-hours/19/
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
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.newsweek.com/anger-louisiana-abortion-bill-could-see-women-charged-murder-1704069
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/One-child_policy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forced_abortion_of_Feng_Jianmei
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/
91. Saundra Adams - A 33-Year-Old Murder Mystery...Solved?
In 1983, 92-year-old World War II veteran, Edmund Schreiber was found strangled to death with his own neckties in his Buffalo home. The case went unsolved for many years, haunting Edmund’s family. The case was reopened by the cold case unit in 2016. New DNA evidence pointed towards Saundra Adams. Saundra was 17 years old at the time of the murder. Her family lived down the street from Edmund. At first, Saundra denied having any involvement in the crime, but she would later pleaded guilty to a lesser charge of manslaughter to avoid going to trial over a charge of second-degree murder. Although the judge determined Saundra was the least culpable out of her accomplices, Saundra was denied youthful offender status.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4861998/Western-NY-librarian-pleads-guilty-death-WWI-veteran.htmlhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blizzard_of_1977https://criminaldefense.1800nynylaw.com/new-york-penal-law-125-25-murder-in-the-second-degree.htmlhttps://criminaldefense.1800nynylaw.com/new-york-penal-law-125-20-manslaughter-in-the-first-degree.htmlhttps://buffalonews.com/news/local/family-of-suspect-in-1983-cold-case-murder-says-she-didn-t-do-it/article_5cb231d1-a727-5cf9-93cc-b8d7b463e176.htmlhttps://www.insideedition.com/25386-librarian-pleads-guilty-in-cold-case-killing-of-wwi-veteran-strangled-with-his-own-neckties
90. Crystal Mason's Voting Conviction for a Ballot that Never Even Counted
In 2016, Crystal Mason cast a provisional ballot for the United States presidential election. She had completed a five-year sentence for tax fraud, but was on federal supervised release. Crystal was not aware that the state of Texas prohibited convicted felons from voting while on parole, probation, or while under supervision. A letter had been sent to her residence…after she had already been incarcerated. Crystal had never seen the letter.
Crystal was later convicted for voter fraud and sentenced to five years imprisonment. There are multiple efforts to appeal or overturn the conviction, though none have been successful so far.
https://www.justice.gov/archive/usao/txn/PressRel11/hobbs_mason%20hobbs_tax_ple_pr.html
https://casetext.com/case/mason-v-state-5232066
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loss_of_rights_due_to_criminal_conviction
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2022/01/voter-fraud-myth-election-lie/620846/
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
89. One Finger Too Far: Anna Ayala & the Infamous Wendy's Finger Chili
On March 25th, 2005, Anna Ayala erupted in a scream. She had found a human finger in her Wendy's chili. Throughout this episode, Rachel replaced the word "finger" with "circus peanut" as it is something that is equally disgusting but does not make her feel light headed to talk about. Anna was quick to hire a lawyer, however, many began to question the legitimacy of her claim. Turns out, she had scammed before and was likely scamming again.
She conveniently decided to stop pursuing legal action against Wendy's, but seeing as they had lost an estimated $2.5 million dollars it was clear Anna was not getting off easy. The police began to investigate where this finger had come from. In a weird turn of events it was suspected the finger may have come from an incident where a woman was bitten by a spotted leopard? Listen now to hear the twists and turns on this roller coaster of a case.
ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ on Finger in Chili Again - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6-kxlrwuc8
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anna_Ayala
https://www.snopes.com/fact-check/finger-food/
https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/finger-put-in-wendys-chili-was-cooked-first/
https://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local/wendys-chili-finger-lady-comes-clean/1884507/
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
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.thebalancesmb.com/history-of-chipotle-mexican-grill-3973222
https://bplaw-inc.com/warren-r-paboojian/
https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/punitive_damages
86. Denise Huskins: "Gone Girl HOAX" Goes Too Far
In March of 2015, Aaron Quinn and Denise Huskins were drugged, blindfolded, and tied up by an intruder. Denise was kidnapped and once he was able to get away, Aaron sought the help of the Vallejo Police Department. The police believed Aaron had something to do with her disappearance, but Aaron would not back down. Denise was released two days later near her parents' home in Southern California. Instead of looking for alternative suspects, the police doubled down and continued to accuse Aaron, and now Denise, of faking the kidnapping. Were Aaron and Denise lying? Or was there something the police got horribly wrong? Listen now for all of the answers.
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/
85. "Gone Girl" Gone Wrong - Did Sherry Papini Fake Her Own Kidnapping?
Sherri Papini went for a run on November 2nd, 2016. When her husband, Keith, returned home around 5 PM he immediately grew concerned when their 2 and 4-year-old had not been picked up from daycare. He used Find My iPhone and found Sherri’s phone on the side of the road…but no Sherri.
He reported her missing to the police, kicking off a massive manhunt. Sherri was nowhere to be found. Three long weeks went by when Sherri was found by a motorist badly injured, wrapped in chains, and with a brand burned into her skin. Sherri claimed to have been kidnapped by two Hispanic women, but the more investigators asked the more her story began to unravel.
https://amp.sacbee.com/news/local/crime/article259197843.html
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/claudiakoerner/sherri-papini-arrested-fraud-fbi
https://abcnews.go.com/amp/US/wireStory/judge-woman-charged-faking-kidnapping-leave-jail-83329113
https://www.buzzfeednews.com/amphtml/claudiakoerner/sherri-papini-arrested-fraud-fbi
84. CeCe McDonald vs a Duty to Retreat: One Woman's Defense Against Transphobic & Racist Violence
CeCe McDonald and her friends were approached by Dean Schmitz, his girlfriend, and his ex outside of a bar in June of 2011. Dean shouted racist and transphobic slurs at the group in a threatening manner. CeCe and her friends tried to walk away, but the ex, Molly Flaherty wanted to start a fight. Molly smashed a glass into CeCe’s face, an injury that would later require 11 stitches.
Dean lunged at CeCe, she stabbed him with scissors in order to protect herself. She was arrested and charged with second degree murder. Her case has gained national attention, but she ended up taking a plea deal of 41 months in prison. Since her release, CeCe has become an activist for the black, trans, and LGBTQ+ community.
https://beenhere.org/2021/02/26/cece-mcdonald/
https://youth.gov/youth-topics/lgbtq-youth/homelessness
https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2012/05/cece-mcdonald-transgender-hate-crime-murder/
83. Murder-For-Hire Bankrolled Using... PPP Loans?: Jasmine Martinez & the Murder of LeShonte Jones
On May 3rd, 2021, LeShonte’ Jones and her 3-year-old daughter were gunned down in front of their home in Miami, FL. Security cameras showed a man in a black hoodie and black track pants fleeing the scene in a 2019 Nissan Sentra sedan. They had the killer on camera but it still took the police months to track down their suspect.
When they identified Javon Carter as the killer, they found he was contracted by Romiel Robison. The trail didn’t stop there…Romiel was linked to a woman named Jasmine Martinez. This story made headlines as Jasmine was suspected of using PPP loans to hire a killer. We discuss how Shonte’s murder was overshadowed by the flashy headline and discuss shortcomings in the system that could have prevented this tragedy.
https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/three-arrested-in-murder-of-miami-tsa-agent-leshonte-jones?amp
82. Stacey Schoeck's Murder-for-Hire Valentine's Day Plot
Stacey Schoeck made Valentine’s Day plans with her husband and adopted father of her children, Richard. Stacey had a history of rocky relationships; this was her fifth marriage. They planned to exchange romantic cards at a park. Richard showed up to the rendezvous waiting for his wife, but instead met a horrible fate. He was shot in the head and killed.
Luckily, Stacey had a $500,000 insurance policy she stood to gain if Richard died! She participated in interviews with the police and did admit that she was having an affair, but she had NOTHING to do with Richard’s murder. As the police continued to investigate, Stacey’s story started to unravel. Listen now to hear the end of this Valentine’s Day murder.
Sources:
https://truecrimedaily.com/2017/04/26/valentines-day-plot-romantic-rendezvous-results-in-murder/
https://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/austell-woman-gets-life-without-parole-in-2010-slaying/
https://murderpedia.org/female.S/s/schoeck-stacey.htm
https://thecinemaholic.com/where-is-stacey-schoeck-now/
https://anitadurairaj.medium.com/the-valentines-day-murder-of-richard-schoeck-ff5c6fb88087
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.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
81. Rachel Bellesen Survives Her Abuser & the Justice System
Warning: The case we discuss today involves physical and sexual assault.
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/
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
79. The Jury is Out…of Women!
Until the late 20th century, women were frequently not included and also able to to opt of jury duty. There was much confusion after women gained the right to vote….what was their role in the justice system? Should they just stay home and do the dishes? The jury was out!
Listen to this week’s episode where we dive into the history of women in juries. We discuss the influential cases along the way, including the case of Duren v. Missouri featuring pre-Supreme Court RBG and the case of Gwendolyn Hoyt v. Florida.
78. Pregnancy in Prison
Rachel gives us a rundown of pregnancy and maternal health care in prison.
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://populartimelines.com/timeline/Reality-Winner
https://www.theatlantic.com/news/archive/2017/06/who-is-reality-winner/529266/
76. Mask-less Cookie Shop Bandits - Amy Verlee Hall (& Ricki Collin)
In early November, two individuals later identified as Amy Verlee Hall and Ricki Collin, entered the bakery WITHOUT masks, knowing full well they would be asked to leave. They recorded themselves engaging in an altercation with Deidre and eventually leaving the store.
When the cops arrived they showed the video of their protest, fully expecting Deidre to get arrested. Instead, they were charged with assault. Listen now as we breakdown the video and discuss the rights of small businesses during the pandemic.
www.crumbtogether.com/
www.kezi.com/content/news/Overwhelming-COVID-19-cases-in-Douglas-County-among-worst-in-America-575158701.html#.YSVfjM8hBpA.twitter
www.fox13now.com/news/local-news/no-mask-no-service-can-businesses-legally-require-customers-to-wear-masks
oregon.public.law/statutes/ors_161.225
www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOYb_Bqzg2U
www.koin.com/news/crime/2-arrested-in-eugene-cookie-shop-assault-over-masks/
75. Doomsday Cult Tragedy: Lori Vallow Daybell (& Chad Daybell)
Lori had a history of false reporting. Her brother, Alex Cox, attacked her first husband with a taser. Lori remarried but has started up an affair with Chad. Her second husband was then shot and killed by Alex after he filed for divorce, though Alex claimed it was self defense. What was going on with Lori and where did things go so horrible wrong? Listen now for more details on the case!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Killings_of_Tylee_Ryan_and_J._J._Vallow
www.eastidahonews.com/2021/11/the-latest-timeline-in-the-lori-and-chad-daybell-case-nov-12/
www.fox10phoenix.com/tag/crime-publicsafety/missing-persons/vallow
74. Robyn Allen: Oklahoma's Pain to Prison Pipeline
This week, we continue to take a look at crime in Oklahoma. Rachel tells the story of Robyn Allen, who was profiled in the article, “Why Oklahoma has the highest female incarceration rate in the country”, by Allison Herrera. Robyn worked as a cleaner at a hotel when she threw her back out moving a large TV. Robyn was prescribed pain medication and soon found herself addicted.
When her prescription ran out, Robyn started smoking meth and dealing drugs in order to pay for her addiction. She was the sole bread winner for the five adults and child living in her home when she was arrested. Robyn knew she needed to make a change and begged the judge to get her connected with treatment, instead she got 20 years in prison. Listen now as we explore the intricacies of this case and discuss the high rate of women incarcerated in Oklahoma.
Rachel’s Sources:
https://tulsaworld.com/news/gov-mary-fallin-outlines-the-costs-of-oklahomas-high-female-incarceration-rate/article_158bec7d-fe7d-5bce-8238-23cdfebfb131.htmlhttps://theworld.org/stories/2017-10-03/why-oklahomas-female-incarceration-rate-so-highhttps://www.readfrontier.org/stories/sentence-commuted-for-oklahoma-woman-featured-in-reporting-on-female-incarceration-rates/https://www.sentencingproject.org/publications/incarcerated-women-and-girls/https://tulsaworld.com/news/local/education/oklahoma-slips-to-47th-in-nation-on-annual-educational-quality-ranking/article_0053bd86-0819-5cab-8eda-2edcfbff0594.html
73. How Adultery Led to Being the Only Woman on Oklahoma's Death Row: Brenda Andrew
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
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!
71. Ann Lohman aka Madame Restell: The Abortionist of Fifth Ave. - Was she a Wicked Woman or a Last Hope?
www.smithsonianmag.com/history/madame-restell-the-abortionist-of-fifth-avenue-145109198/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madame_Restell
www.mentalfloss.com/article/632682/madame-restell-wickedest-woman-new-york
www.npr.org/2018/01/19/578620266/before-roe-v-wade-the-women-of-jane-provided-abortions-for-the-women-of-chicago
70. Moonshine Mary Wazeniak: Prohibition, Bootlegging, and, of course, Murder!
Rachel’s Sources:
medium.com/creative-science/methanol-in-the-moonshine-b7e38d695717https
69. The Saloon Smashing "Hatchet Granny": 'All Nations Welcome Here Except Carrie'
Carrie became a passionate advocate for the temperance movement. Carrie remarried to David A. Nation, an attorney/minister/newspaper journalist. Carrie also lead protests outside of bars that started with hymns accompanied by a hand organ and escalated to throwing rocks. Carrie would later start bringing her hatchet to her protests, earning her the nickname, “Hatchet Granny”. Listen now for the full story!
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carrie_Nation
www.history.com/this-day-in-history/carry-nation-smashes-bar
PCP Classic Mash-Up: DeAnne Stidham's LulaRoe MLM & Elizabeth Holmes' Theranos Con
68. The 9/11 Disappearance of Sneha Anne Philip
The next morning, Ron learned about the attacks on the World Trade Center and rushed back to their apartment. He quickly reported Sneha as a missing person but her family assumed the worst, that Sneha had somehow found herself at the Twin Towers at the time of the attack. The police began to investigate Sneha’s disappearance, uncovering details about Sneha’s marriage, her issues with drinking, and her recent arrest. Listen now to hear our discussion of the differences in the police reports versus the accounts of Ron and Sneha’s family and what we believe may have happened that day.
Rachel’s Sources
www.nzherald.co.nz/world/sneha-philip-did-doctor-use-cover-of-911-to-disappear/GUGIRAUIBWWKY4YWB4BVNMKW6Y/
www.rediff.com/news/special/snehas-room-has-been-kept-the-same-way-for-the-past-15-years/20160911.htm
nymag.com/news/features/17336/
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disappearance_of_Sneha_Anne_Philip
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.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/
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
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
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!