This week, we're going back in time to a horrific and little covered case: The Wineville Chicken Coop Murders. Be warned, this case is centered around horrific abuse and murder of children, so it may not be for everyone, and as always, there will be no shying away from the details of what happened, so be warned!
This case may not be familiar to you, but there was actually a Hollywood movie made about one part of this case. This movie, The Changeling, was directed by Clint Eastwood and stars Angelina Jolie. Unfortunately, it doesn't cover the full scope of the case as they weren't making a horror film, but it does offer an interesting insight into how the police behaved during these murders. 

Tune in now for the full case, in all its horrific glory!

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This week, we are diving in on one of the most horrific tales we've ever heard or spoke of: The worst mother in the world, Theresa Knorr. This absolute monster of a woman subjected her own children to more abuse than most people can even think about, and when that wasn't enough to satisfy her twisted mind, she eventually turned to murder. 
Besides murdering her own children, this trash bag woman enlisted her other children to help carry out her sick plans, making them accomplices in the deaths of their own siblings - truly, the depths of depravity have no limits in this case. 
We may not have found another halloween case, but we definitely found a story about a real life monster. 



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This week we're kicking off spooky season with a well known Halloween Homicide that took place in Napa, California. Adriane Insogna and Leslie Mazzara were upstairs asleep in their three bedroom house, along with their downstaris roommate, when murderous villain broke into their home, with disastrous results.

The thing that makes this tale so scary is the prolonged search for the killer in an otherwise very safe and peaceful place, and even more, the discovery of the killer's identity, which rocked the entire community. 

Join us for this and more spooky tales all October long! 

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This week, we're diving into a serial killer duo who were rightfully dubbed The Speed Freak Killers. These to drugged out losers assaulted and killed as many as 70 men and women in California's Central Valley betwen the years of 1984 and 1998, before the Sheriff in the area finally decided to put a stop to their reign of terror. 
These two men, Loren Herzog and Wesley Shermantine, were both from upper middle class families, and seemed to have it all. Behind closed doors, though, things were very different, and the traumas suffered by children can often manifest in very bad ways as they grow up. This is a perfect example of that scenario playing out to the worst possible conclusion - over and over again. 

Sources:
https://www.cbsnews.com/sacramento/news/remains-positively-identified-as-speed-freak-killer-victim-chevy-wheeler/

https://www.kcra.com/article/shermantine-victim-others-would-be-alive-had-jury-listened/6395483
https://www.lodinews.com/news/article_56f86df2-18fc-11e4-abe0-10604b9f0f42.html

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We're back this week with the conclusion of the absolutely terrible case of the murder of Kristin Smart. While the conclusion does have some very gratifying moments, unfortunately, it also continues the general vibe of this case - frustration, sadness, and a strong lack of closure.

That being said, there is something wonderful and special about cold cases finally being solved, and possibly none more than this one, as we all knew what happened for 25+ years. Finally seeing that truth to come light, and the killer made to pay for his crimes, does put a little hop in our step, and we hope it does for you too!



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We are BACK, finally! After a nearly five month hiatus, Cindy is back with a doozy of a case! The murder of Kristin Smart is something most Californians of a certain age at least know about, remember, and often mourn, as it was huge news in many communities, especially as it took over 20 years to solve. Cindy dives into this horrific case of a wonderful young woman murdered by a classmate and all but forgotten by negligent police, who bungled the case for over 20 years while her family waited for closure. This case is angering, upsetting, sad, and finally at least somewhat satifsying, thanks in very large part to the work of another podcaster, Chris Lambert, who researched and reported on this case 20+ years after the fact, which in turn brought it back into the spotlight, and finally got the family some answers.

This case will be presented in two parts, with the conclusion available next week. Tune in and enjoy!



Sources:
Your Own Backyard Podcast
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/kristin-smart-verdict-paul-flores-guilty-48-hours/
https://www.ksby.com/news/kristin-smart-case/appeal-asks-court-to-reverse-paul-flores-conviction-for-murder-of-kristin-smart
https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/crime/article312070996.html

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This week, we take a look at a slightly lesser known but still very scary serial killer, Roger Kibbe, the I-5 Strangler. Roger had the typical serial killer upbringing - bad home life, mommy issues, and the inability to express his emotions except through trouble making and violence. The thing that makes this story so unique is just how many times Kibbe slipped through the fingers of detectives, despite his bravado when committing his crimes. It's frustrating to say the least, but makes his capture all the sweeter, when it finally (finally!) happens. 

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Sources:
https://www.amazon.com/Trace-Evidence-Elusive-Serial-Killer/dp/0684807084
https://apnews.com/article/i-5-strangler-killed-in-prison-roger-reece-kibbe-a85c34042c1b466b1562746fc1a84452
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0645493/

This week we conclude the terrible tale of two brothers, both wounded by their childhoods, in very different but equally horrific ways, and both with tragic endings to their adult lives (although one is still very much alive). Part two of this tale focuses on Cary's life after leaving home, and after the death of both his brother and his uncle. 

Cary's life goes very sideways from here, as he finally gives in to his demons, with terrifying and awful results.

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Sources:
https://www.myyosemitepark.com/park/history/yosemite-serial-killer/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/steven-cary-stayner-tale-brothers-horror-heroism/story?id=60529944
https://archive.org/details/iknowmyfirstname0000echo/page/204/mode/2up

This week is part 1 of a two-for-one true crime story, with two horrifying stories from the same ill fated family - the Stayners. We begin our story with the birth of the eldest son, Cary Stayner. Four years later, his younger brother, Steven would be born, causing a rift in the family that never healed. Tragedy struck this familiy time and time again, giving new meaning to the term 'generational trauma'. 

Horrible things happened both to and because of this family, and the shockwaves can be felt to this day. While many podcasts focus on Cary's story, this story will be about both brothers, as their stories can't be told separately without losing out on the gravity of the situations. This is truly one of the saddest, most tragic stories in the history of California true crime, so tune in and get ready for a crazy, terrible tale. 

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Sources:
https://www.myyosemitepark.com/park/history/yosemite-serial-killer/
https://abcnews.go.com/US/steven-cary-stayner-tale-brothers-horror-heroism/story?id=60529944
https://archive.org/details/iknowmyfirstname0000echo/page/204/mode/2up

Sherri Rasmussen was a super accomplished, intelligent, beautiful woman with a fantastic career and brand new marriage when she was brutally murdered inside her home. She was only 29 years old. The case went cold for many years, with virtually no viable leads. Sherri's family always felt they knew who was to blame, but unfortunately, they weren't listened to by police, until over 20 years later when DNA helped the family finally find justice and closure. The solving of the case came after a number of surprising twists and turns, which is why this story is so well known in the true crime community. If you have heard it before, enjoy my retelling, and if you haven't heard it, welcome to this crazy case!

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Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sherri_Rasmussen
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ex-lapd-detective-hid-murder-decades-wont-paroled-reversing-earlier-de-rcna173723
https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=1268118624623688

This week, we're taking a look at an unsolved case - one of the most famous in California, in fact! This came in as a listener request but was definitely something we wanted to do anyway, so we're glad you all asked! 

This story takes place in the remote area of Keddie, California, in what can only be described as a micro community of families living in defunct vacation rental cabins known as the Keddie Cabins. This is where Sue Sharp and her five children lived for a short time before disaster struck. What happened is horrific but also widely agreed upon, yet nobody was ever arrested for the crimes. The killers walked among us for years with no repercussions, and even to this day the case is considered unsolved. Beyond that, the question of why these murders took place is one of much debate, with some wild new theories presented here - so tune in and enjoy! 

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Sources:
https://www.plumasnews.com/keddie-murders-revisited/
https://www.abc10.com/article/news/crime/true-crime/murder-in-cabin-28-keddie-murders-unsolved-california/103-1e3e7671-8c2c-4f4c-abb3-fae3ae07425e

This week we're finishing our terrible tale of the Vampire of Sacramento, Richard Chase. This man was haunted by demons created in his own sick mind, and unfortunately took that out on innocent victims, killing them so he could drink their blood, eat their flesh, and mutilate their bodies. This story goes from bad to worse, so if you thought part one was weird and terrible, get ready for a horrifying finale with an very unsatisfying ending. You've been warned!

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Sources:
https://vault.fbi.gov/richard-chase/Richard%20Chase%20Part%2001%20%28Final%29
https://www.peacocktv.com/watch/asset/tv/worlds-most-evil-killers/6655699059636331112?orig_ref=https://www.google.com/
https://www.amazon.com/Vampire-Sacramento-Blood-Thirsty-Cannibal-Explicit/dp/B08CWJ4S46

This week is another two parter (sorry friends!) This is the horrific, terrible, very sad tale of Richard Chase, otherwise known as the vampire of Sacramento. This man was one of the craziest mass/serial killers of the past 50 years, and it all could have been avoided if he had only been given the mental health care his family knew he desperately needed. Richard was failed by his family, by his doctors, and his victims paid the ultimate price for it.

Tune in now for the first installment of this terrible tale, and be sure to come back next week for part two!

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Sources:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Chase
https://restore-mentalhealth.com/killers-mind-richard-chase/

This week we're covering another well known and completely over the top case - the case of Colleen Stan, otherwise known as the Girl in the Box. This story is a harrowing tale of kidnapping, brainwashing, torture, abuse, and luckily, survival. When Colleen was only 19 years old, she decided to hitchhike to a friends home in Northern California. This choice led to seven and a half years of living as a slave, enduring horrific mental, physical, and emotional abuse, and finally, finding her freedom in a very unexpected way. 

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Sources:
https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Victim-True-Story-Girl/dp/0440204429
https://caselaw.findlaw.com/court/ca-court-of-appeal/1771222.html
https://www.redbluffdailynews.com/2024/08/21/cameron-hooker-trial-pushed-back-again/

This week we're covering a slightly lesser know, yet no less horrible case - the murder of Tom and Jackie Hawks. Tom and Jackie Hawks were two fun loving, young retirees who had set sail around the world in their hard earned and "Well Deserved" yacht before deciding to come back to the main land and regular life so they could spend more time with their first grandchild. The two put their yacht up for sale, told everyone they had a buyer... then disappeared, never to be seen again. 

Tun in now to find out what happened in this twisty tale of betrayal, robbery, and murder. 

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Sources:
https://abcnews.go.com/US/receipt-target-stolen-car-mexico-unsolved-murder-investigation/story?id=68204176
https://orangecoast.com/tag/skylar-deleon
https://nypost.com/2024/09/07/lifestyle/what-happens-when-murder-is-your-job/

Part 2! This week, we are diving into a personal favorite case: the story of Dorothea Puente! This murderous granny lived a wild life before turning her petty crimes up many notches, all the way to serial murder. From humble beginnings in Redlands, CA, all the way to dancing with the Governor and rubbing elbows with California's politically elite, and all the way back down to life in a jail cell, Dorothea Puente's life was anything but boring. It was also immensely evil, tragic, and just plain sad, and we'll be sure to talk all about all those things in this two part case!

Fear not, we will be posting both parts back to back, so no waiting! Part one will outline her life before her murder spree began, while part two jumps right in to the killing, as well as her ridiciulous near escape, and the obvoius conclusion to the story - life in prison!

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Sources:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/she-nicknamed-death-house-landlady-112800788.html
https://archive.org/details/bonegardensacram00wood_1/page/210/mode/2up
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/03/25/Accused-mass-killer-got-drugs-from-therapist/1593606805200/
https://casetext.com/case/puente-v-mitchell-2

This week, we are diving into a personal favorite case: the story of Dorothea Puente! This murderous granny lived a wild life before turning her petty crimes up many notches, all the way to serial murder. From humble beginnings in Redlands, CA, all the way to dancing with the Governor and rubbing elbows with California's politically elite, and all the way back down to life in a jail cell, Dorothea Puente's life was anything but boring. It was also immensely evil, tragic, and just plain sad, and we'll be sure to talk all about all those things in this two part case!

Fear not, we will be posting both parts back to back, so no waiting! Part one will outline her life before her murder spree began, while part two jumps right in to the killing, as well as her ridiciulous near escape, and the obvoius conclusion to the story - life in prison!

Join us on instagram: True Crime California

Email case suggestions to: truecrimecaliforniapod@gmail.com

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Sources:
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/she-nicknamed-death-house-landlady-112800788.html
https://archive.org/details/bonegardensacram00wood_1/page/210/mode/2up
https://www.upi.com/Archives/1989/03/25/Accused-mass-killer-got-drugs-from-therapist/1593606805200/
https://casetext.com/case/puente-v-mitchell-2

This week, we look at what can only be described as a devastating case, truly one of the worst out there - The Toolbox Killer. This case again takes place in the 1970's, when multiple young girls were abducted, tortured, sexually assaulted, and killed by two trash bag humans named Larry Bittaker and Roy Norris. These two dirt bags met in prison in a jewerly making class and became fast friends while plotting to terrorize young women and girls when they were released, which happened way too quickly considering their laundry list of past crimes. We'll talk about the making of these monsters, how they met, and the terrible things they did to innocent young women, and please be warned, this is a big trigger warning case, as the facts are very disturbing, and we do include some of the details of these murders in this episode. Listen at your own risk, and be ready to be horrified, angered, and sadened by this absolutely awful case.

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Sources:
https://criminalminds.fandom.com/wiki/Lawrence_Bittaker_and_Roy_Norris
https://law.justia.com/cases/california/supreme-court/3d/48/1046.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lvu63Dqr4E
https://www.tapatalk.com/groups/watchingrobertpickton88015/transcript-of-shirley-lynette-ledford-audio-record-t3312.html

This week, we go back to the 70's for another infamous crime: The Barbecue Murders! This is a classic tale of parricide, but the details muddy the waters a bit when thinking about who is really at fault, and who is really a victim. Sixteen year old Marlene Olive, adopted at birth and never allowed to forget it, doesn't know love, only control. Her boyfriend, Chuck, doesn't think he's deserving of love and does whatever he can to continually earn Marlene's affection, including plotting to kill her parents, Jim and Naomi Olive. But Chuck isn't the only one Marlene draws into her web, and Jim and Naomi may not be the innocent victims you'd expect. Tune in now for a wild tale of family drama that ends in a horrific double murder. 

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Sources:
https://sfpl.bibliocommons.com/v2/record/S93C5198791
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barbecue_murders
https://www.mercurynews.com/2014/07/21/infamous-marin-killer-will-have-court-ordered-parole-hearing-in-september/
https://www.newspapers.com/image/70213152/

This week we are covering a lesser known, but still horrific (and also very interesting) case: the murder of Debbie Dorian. Debbie Dorian was a smart, driven 22 year old college student at Fresno State when her life was cut short by an unidentified attacker. Despite police taking immediate action, her case went cold. 

Just a few years later, a string of sexual assaults began taking place in a nearby town, and when police submitted DNA from one of these attacks to their database, they came up with a suprising match, that lead them on a years long hunt for a very scary man. 

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Sources: 
https://abc30.com/nickey-stane-debbie-dorian-fresno-apartment/14110858/
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/crime/article282478238.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJkjGtsWlDo
https://www.fresnobee.com/news/local/crime/article282478238.html