Thabo Bester: The Facebook Rapist Escape
Convicted murderer and "Facebook Rapist" Thabo Bester faked his death to escape from a maximum security prison. We explore his life on the run and the shocking role of his accomplice, celebrity doctor Nandipha Magudumana.
[Unsolved] The Missing Millionaire: Captain Lowenstein
We are diving into one of the great unsolved mysteries of the Jazz Age, a case so baffling it feels like the plot of a spy novel. This is the story of Captain Alfred Lowenstein, the third-richest man in the world in 1928, a man who owned estates across Europe and brokered deals with kings.
Dr. Sam Sheppard: The Trial Gripped America
In 1954, one of the most sensational murder cases in American history began when Marilyn Sheppard was brutally murdered in her Ohio home. Her husband, respected osteopath Dr. Sam Sheppard (often referred to incorrectly as "Shepherd"), claimed a "bushy-haired intruder" was responsible. Prosecutors, however, were convinced it was a cold-blooded domestic murder.
We dive into the facts of this decades-long fight for justice:
The Crime Scene: We detail the chaotic scene in the Sheppards' home and the initial story told by Dr. Sheppard: that he woke up to a struggle, pursued a mysterious intruder, was knocked unconscious, and awoke to find his wife dead.
The Media Frenzy: The local press became judge, jury, and executioner, constantly publishing sensational, front-page headlines that declared Dr. Sheppard guilty before the trial even began. This relentless media pressure would later be cited as a violation of his rights.
The Trial: Dr. Sheppard was convicted in a highly charged atmosphere. However, his defense never stopped fighting, and 12 years later, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the massive, prejudicial publicity had violated his constitutional right to a fair trial.
The Cultural Impact: The story of the accused doctor and the fugitive hunt became the direct inspiration for the popular 1960s television series and the 1993 movie, The Fugitive.
Join us as we cover the initial investigation, the controversial Supreme Court ruling, the 1966 retrial that finally secured Sam Sheppard's acquittal, and the lingering debate over who truly killed Marilyn Sheppard.
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Belle Gunness: America’s Most Deadly Widow
We are traveling back to the early 1900s to meet one of the most prolific and cold-blooded female serial killers in American history: Belle Gunness. A seemingly respectable widow in La Porte, Indiana, Belle used lonely hearts ads to lure wealthy, unattached men to her farm, promising love and companionship.
[Mystery] Lake Lanier: Georgia's Cursed Waters
We are diving into the unsettling history of one of America's most famous and infamous reservoirs: Lake Lanier in Georgia. This manmade lake is beautiful on the surface, but beneath its murky waters lies a buried past—literally.
Suzanne Morphew: The Mountain Mystery
On Mother’s Day 2020, Suzanne Morphew, a wife and mother battling cancer, allegedly went for a bike ride near her home in the Colorado Mountains and vanished. What began as a missing persons case quickly unraveled into a web of confusing secrets, including an affair, deleted messages, and the shocking discovery of tranquilizer darts.
The Vanishing of Melissa Caddick: A Stylish Sydney Life and a Multi-Million Dollar Ponzi Scheme
She was wealthy, stylish, and appeared to be living the dream life in Sydney, Australia. Then, without a trace, Melissa Caddick vanished. The mystery of her disappearance was only the beginning of a bizarre and captivating scandal that would unravel in the wake of her going missing. This episode dives into the life she projected, the multi-million dollar Ponzi scheme she was allegedly running, and the shocking discovery of a severed, decaying foot that washed up on a beach—which was later identified as belonging to Melissa. Join us as we explore the facts and fun facts of Australia, including the true fate of the con artist who disappeared into thin air.
