Shows
Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 112: “This is solvable” Silent Silhouette- Who Killed Deborah Sue? by George Jared and Jennifer Bucholtz, Pt 4Investigative journalist and CrimeCon presenter George Jared, co-author of the book Silent Silhouette, sits down for an exclusive interview with Jill. George shares behind-the-scenes insights into how he and Jennifer Bucholtz investigated the now 50-year-old cold case, the murder of Deborah Sue Williamson. Comparing theories, they also delve into the gruesome murder of Rebekah Gould, that George and Jennifer also solved! He also discusses how they applied their expertise gained in the Gould investigation to the case of Deborah Sue Williamson. What is the current status of Deborah's case? How does one go about solving a murder that happened 50 y...2025-01-2245 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 111: “A Matter of Time!” Pt 3 2ndCast- Silent Silhouette Who Killed Deborah Sue? by George Jared and Jennifer BucholtzIn Part 3: George Jared and Jennifer Bucholtz continue their investigation into the 1975 cold case of Deborah Sue Williamson. Deep into this investigation, new witness statements are examined, inconsistencies identified, and surprisingly, downright lies are told, as our authors ask why anyone would lie about the known facts? Now, straight out asking "why?", the responses become more mind-blowing, creating more suspicion as the situation evolves, with a critical witness mysteriously refuses to cooperate. Applying statement analysis and examining the psychological implications of behavior provides greater insight into the motivation of a killer as well as those playing critical roles in thi...2025-01-081h 04Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 110: Mini-Cast- DNA UPDATE- A Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham and Tom McCarthy Part 5Ep 110: Mini-Cast- DNA UPDATE- A Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham and Tom McCarthy Part 5
In this mini-cast update on the West Memphis 3, Jill tells you the exciting news about the new, modern DNA testing, approved by the Arkansas Supreme Court in April 2024! Need an update on the West Memphis 3 case, who murdered 8-year old Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers back in 1993. Happy New Year 2025
Buy A Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham & Tom McCarthy on Amazon- (highly recommended!
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podca...2025-01-0111 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 109: “Shower of Troubles” Silent Silhouette-Who Killed Deborah Sue? by George Jared and Jennifer Bucholtz, Pt 2In Part 2, our authors, George Jared and Jennifer Bucholtz, head to the scene of the crime, the carport, where Deborah Sue Williamson was gruesomely murdered on Aug 24, 1975. There, they see the site through the eyes of the victim AND the killer. Armed with more questions, they continue interview subjects as well as possible suspects, building a case file, larger than that of the Lubbock Police Department's--who also meets with these motivated investigators, with all determined to figure out- Who Killed Deborah Sue? Don’t miss Part 2 of Silent Silhouette.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukah, Good Kwanzaa and Happy New...2024-12-231h 12Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 108: “Anger: More harmful than the Insult that caused it” Pt 1 - Silent Silhouette: Who Killed Deborah Sue? by George Jared and Jennifer Bucholtz, Pt 1Young newlywed Deborah Sue Williamson was living in Lubbock Texas in August 1975. While her husband was at work, Debbie was viciously murdered in the carport of their home. Many suspects were investigated- her husband, her brother, good family friends- but no one was arrested as the case went cold. Then came a break, serial killer Henry Lee Lucas confessed to the murder. The problem was: Lucas lied, and Debbie’s killer remained on the loose. Enter Investigative journalist and true crime author, George Jared, and former Army counterintelligence agent and university professor, Jennifer Bucholtz, who had previously helped to solv...2024-12-121h 02Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 107 – Solving the Murder of Vieng Phovixay- Evil Dwells in West Georgia by Clay BryantBack discussing his latest book, the “most prolific cold case investigator in the United State for single-event homicides,” Chief Clay Bryant is here, chatting w. Jill about his newest book, on the murder of Vieng Phovixay. A young woman, with a harrowing family history, Vieng is poised on the brink of truly living the American Dream, when she suddenly went missing, her family stricken with fear and deep foreboding. Two years later, their beloved daughter and sister’s decomposing body was found. Inexplicably, her case went cold, a bureaucracy ground slowly ahead, justice crushed under its weight—Until Clay Bryant learn...2024-12-0435 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 106: Retired FBI Profiler & Host of The Consult podcast chats with Jill!A very special episode- Host of The Consult- Real FBI Profilers podcast, retired FBI Profiler Julia Cowley is joining Jill! The women speak about a range of topics, from most impactful true crime books and career paths, to analyzing the JonBenet Ramsey case, Julia’s profile and insights into the Golden State Killer Joseph DeAngelo, serial killer Israel Keyes and more—This is not the episode to miss! Dropped early for your enjoyment, Happy Thanksgiving, Murder Bookies! So thankful for you!
Listen to THE CONSULT !
(Btw, Julia’s episode on the JonBenet Ramsey case just ca...2024-11-261h 26Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 105 “Exonerate the West Memphis 3” - An Interview with Dan Stidham, Defense Attorney and co-author of A Harvest of Innocence: The True Story of the West Memphis Murder Case Part 4Episode 105 “Exonerate the West Memphis 3” - An Interview with Dan Stidham, Defense Attorney and co-author of A Harvest of Innocence: The True Story of the West Memphis Murder Case
Part 4: In a heartfelt interview, author Dan Stidham and Jill discuss the inside story of defending the West Memphis Three’s Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin as a young, inexperienced attorney, caught up in mass hysteria. The malignant prosecution that conspired with a biased judge to convict three innocent teenagers for the 3 horrendous murders of 8-year-old boys, left a killer loose in Arkansas. Threatened, attacked, treated as a pariah...2024-11-1456 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 104 “Paradise Imperfect” -Pt 3 2ndCast- A Harvest of Innocence: The Untold Story of the West Memphis Three Murder Case by Dan Stidham and Tom McCarthyHAPPY HALLOWEEN! !
Part 3
In this stunning episode, Jessie Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols languish in prison, as the Paradise Lost films are released, causing the public to become aware of the injustice and wrongful convictions of the West Memphis Three. Claiming ineffective counsel and a violation of Jason and Jessie’s rights, Dan Stidham fights for a new trial, with new attorneys joining the team. Then, out of the blue, Dan receives a shocking call- an Alford Plea has been accepted and the West Memphis Three, after 18 years and 78 days, are released from prison. Stun...2024-10-311h 24Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 103 “Confession Suppression” Pt 2- -A Harvest of Innocence: The Untold Story of the West Memphis Three Murder Case by Dan Stidham and Tom McCarthyPart 2: Preparing for trial, against all odds, defense attorney Dan Stidham gathers world-class experts from a variety of fields, ready to prove his client, Jessie Misskelley, did not kill the 3 boys of West Memphis, wasn't at the crime scene, and his confession should be inadmissible according to the law. But judicial hijinks derail the Defense’s plans as the State repeatedly violates Jessie’s rights. Convicted, a bewildered teenage, Jessie tries to adjust to prison, as Dan vows to never quit until Jessie is out of prison.
Filing appeal after appeal, the court stacks the deck against the def...2024-10-171h 13Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 102 “Righteous Malice” Pt 1 -A Harvest of Innocence: The Untold Story of the West Memphis Three Murder Case by Dan Stidham & Tom McCarthyPart 1: West Memphis, AR May 5, 1993: After riding their bikes around the neighborhood, three 8-year-old Cub Scouts went missing, Found the next day submerged in a drainage ditch in the woods, this heartbreaking triple homicide would ultimately leave 6 families utterly devastated. 30-year-old attorney, Dan Stidham, would agree to take on 16-year-old accused murderer, Jessie Misskelley, as a client, pro bono, working on a plea deal that would spare Jessie the death penalty. This choice that would propel him onto a professional path that would test his dedication to his client, his decision to become a lawyer, and his faith, while tra...2024-10-031h 07Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 101 “She Who Fights Monsters” 2ndCast- In My DNA: My Career Investigating Your Worst Nightmares Pt 3 by Lindsey WadePart 3: Now a homicide detective, Lindsey continues to change the system as she investigates the Bundy serial murder case, kidnappings, serial rapes, and murders. And all the while, she continued to work the unsolved 1986 Jennifer Bastian case. When a huge breakthrough occurs, it throws the Bastian and Michella Welch cases into new scrutiny- exposing the monsters, that were hidden in the shadows.
Buy Lindsey’s book on Amazon (highly recommended!) or check out the link on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com Sept 2024.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHO...2024-09-191h 15Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 100 “The Monster Inside”- In My DNA: My Career Investigating Your Worst Nightmares Pt 2 by Lindsey WadePart 2: Now in the Special Assault Unit, Det. Lindsey Wade and her partner investigate heartbreaking child abuse cases, violent serial rapist cases, and the kidnapping of 12-year-old Zina Linnik. Connecting the dots across jurisdictions, many perpetrators face justice. Yet, her attention returned again and again to the unsolved murder of Jennifer Bastian, even as other cases are solved with new technological breakthroughs, and changes in procedure, initiated by Det. Lindsey Wade, who holds SVPs accountable for their crimes. What's a SVP? Listen! You know Jill will give you ALL the details!
Buy Lindsey’s book on Amazon (highl...2024-09-051h 07Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 99 “Monsters are real”- In My DNA: My Career Investigating Your Worst Nightmares Pt 1 by Lindsey Wade1986: Growing up in Tacoma, Washington, 11 yr. old Lindsey Jackson (Wade) remembers no longer being allowed to ride her bike, and the fear of walking home from the school bus after two girls were brutally murdered, Michella Welch and Jennifer Bastian.
An adult Lindsey joined the Tacoma Police Dept, honing her investigative skills in patrol, then as a detective in sex crimes, dealing with terrible, frustrating cases, and putting bad guys behind bars, as DNA evidence begins to play a role in investigation. Raw, respectful of the victims and their families, this is Lindsey’s story, poignant, powerful and...2024-08-221h 14Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 98: Safety, Sanctuary, & Sense- Jill chats with P.I., author, and podcaster, Lori Morrison of the Unlovely Truth podcastIt seems every day there are new horrors in the news; our most trusted members of society are abusing our children and trust, stealing our innocence, security & peace of mind. Lori Morrison, retired Private Investigator, host of the Unlovely Truth podcast, is also the author of three books- Kick Fear to the Curb, In God We Trust: Everyone Else Gets a Background Check, and her newest- Reclaiming Sanctuary. She offers real world, sound tips for securing yourself, your family, and the institutions that are part of our lives. And they get into some recent cases that changed our communal pe...2024-08-0854 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 97: ‘Theriocide’- Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar & the End of Horse Racing’s Golden Age Pt 5!In this exclusive interview, Jill chats with author of Broken and animal law attorney, Fred M. Kray, who offers his insights into the motivation of those involved in the injury Alydar sustained in his stall at Calumet Farm. How did he uncover the evidence he discovered? Are coincidences too coincidental? What didn’t Fred include in the book? And ---Fred makes his BIG announcement here!
Oh, what does theriocide mean? ‘The killing of a non-human animal by a human.” Ahhhh! Right?
Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog...2024-08-011h 08Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 96 ‘Legacy’ Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing’s Golden Age by Fred M. Kray, Pt 4Trials are over, as Fred Kray begins his investigation into the suspicious death of Alydar, tracking down reluctant witnesses even as doors slam in his face. Persistent, determined, Fred continues to connect the dots, that may exonerate an innocent man while providing answers to the many questions surrounded the death of the beloved, magnificent race horse, Alydar.
Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com, July 2024.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched! Please go explore! I appreciate you su...2024-07-251h 17Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 95: ‘GILGO”- Special Episode with LISK expert Christine Dana!Jill welcomes guest, Christine Dana, an ‘all things’ Long Island Serial Killer expert! A resident of Long Island, Christine has witnessed Rex Heuermann in court, visited his home, Gilgo Beach, Oak Beach- and she shares all of her insights in the case, including his recent court appearance! This is an important update since The Lost Girls, Ep 24, 25 & 26, plus mini-case episode- “Let the Games Begin” (9/27/21)! #LISK #Gilgo
Rex Heuermann Bail Application – click!
Listen to Christine Dana’s podcast, My True Crime Obsession on Youtube!
Sources, photographs, diagrams, recipes and wine pairings are found on Jill’s blog a...2024-07-1857 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 94: Jurisprudent’: Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing’s Golden Age by Fred M. Kray Pt 3Broken- the story for horse lovers continues!
Alton Stone’s trial continues and proves to be a revelation for what happened in Alydar’s stall that chilly night at Calumet’s stallion barn, in 1990. Verdict in, federal prosecutors are not done, as the trials of disgraced former President of Calumet Farm, JT Lundy, and former Calumet CFO Gary Matthews takes an unconventional turn, as Jill delves into assumptions, lies, and conspiracy theories in the search of the truth!
If you enjoyed the episode, leave a 5 star review! Share with a friend!
Sources...2024-07-1147 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 93 ‘Entanglements’ : Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing’s Golden Age by Fred M. Kray, Pt 2Suspicions that Alydar had been killed for the insurance money have surfaced, as the Blue Grass Kentucky rumor mill churns. By 1998, the feds have a grand jury investigating, with watchman Alton Stone indicted for perjury. As his trial begins, it's clear Prosecutor Julia Tomala isn’t gunning for Stone, but squeezing him to get to the true bad guy.
(Happy 4th America!)
Leave a 5-star review if you support the Murder Shelf Book Club podcast wherever you listen!
Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog a...2024-07-0347 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 92: ‘Salvation’ Broken: The Suspicious Death of Alydar and the End of Horse Racing’s Golden Age by Fred M. Kray, Pt 1Nov. 13, 1990: It was a quiet autumn night at Calumet Farm, of Blue Grass Kentucky, home to some of the most valuable thoroughbred racehorses in the USA. One, Alydar, had settled into his stall, only to be discovered by a nightwatchman, to have broken his leg. What on Earth had happened? Investigations begin, leading to over 30 years of inquiry, examination, and suspicions, as Jill delves into the oldest cold case in American thoroughbred racing- Was it an accident or where nepharious forces at work, conspiring to kill the horse, and why?
Please leave a 5 star review if...2024-06-271h 19Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 90: “Aphrodite in Romulus”- Levi’s Eyes by Aphrodite Jones, Pt 4Bestselling author and true crime superstar, Aphrodite Jones, discusses her new book, Levi’s Eyes with Jill in this exclusive interview! The ladies leave no stone unturned! What did convicted killer, Karl Karlsen tell Aphrodite over two long years!? What kind of monster IS Karl Karlsen? AND from deep within the Karlsen homestead, her conversations with Cindy Karlsen, whose story has never been told before. “The depth of this interview is amazing…glimpsing the evil hidden deep within” – Murder Bookie Patreon Danielle
Crimecon 2024 in Nashville was a few days ago! Aphrodite and I connected in person- which was spectacular...2024-06-051h 17Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 89: “Prior Bad Acts”- Levi’s Eyes by Aphrodite Jones, Pt 3 2ndCastPart 3: As Cindy and Karl separate, suspicions about Karl’s involvement in son Levi’s death grow, leading Cindy to resort to very dangerous methods to stay safe while getting to the truth. Arrested, a murder trial looms over Karl, who protests his innocence. And while justice is delayed, its bittersweet arrival provides solace even as the love of money proves to be the source of all evil.
Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub, April 2024.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast M...2024-05-231h 16Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 88: 'A great python spits kerosene upon the world'- Levi’s Eyes by Aphrodite Jones, Pt 2Part 2: Karl and 2nd wife, Cindy, settle into married life, with son, Alex joining the family. But the bad luck that follows Karl strikes again and again, with more trauma and deaths occurring, leaving soot and sorrow in their wake. Growing pains abound, life presents twists and turns, but tragedy is never far behind, as Cindy begins to wonder- Is all coincidence? (Listen to Part 1- Ep 87- first, this story is complex!)
Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com April 2024.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My ne...2024-05-081h 04Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpi 32 The Potato Masher Murder: 2ndCast- Cecilia’s CurseSee Part 1, Part 2, and Jill's exclusive interview with the author, Ep 30, 31 and 33! January 2021.
In Part 3, 2ndCast: Cecilia’s Curse, Jill wonders if Cecilia Ludwig cursed Mishawaka, Indiana with her dying breath. Explore the bizarre and twisted legacy of Cecilia Ludwig’s murder by husband, Albin Ludwig, the prosecutor, Joseph Talbot and his family, neighbors and friends alike, following the ripples from the stone tossed in the pond across the century. Did Cecilia get justice? Listen and find out!
Sources and show notes for the Potato Masher Murder trilogy are found at www.murd...2024-05-051h 22Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastCrimecon Nashville 2024 Meetup MiniCast!Crimecon Nashville 2024 is happening in one month! Come meet Jill, yack about true crime and delve into our books & cases at Crimeon!
11:15ish PM after John Douglas on Friday May 31, 2024, Falls Bar at the hotel!
AND~ Jill is currently featuring the true crime book, Levi’s Eyes by Aphrodite Jones—the bestselling author and true crime maven, who is ALSO at Crimecon. Listen to series and catch Jill’s interview with Aphrodite too!
Listen! https://linktr.ee/murdershelfbookclub.com
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched...2024-05-0202 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 87: “Seventeen Nails”- Levi’s Eyes, by Aphrodite Jones, Pt 1Part 1: Meet the Karlsens, Christina, Karl and their 3 small children. Living in Murphys, California, Christmas 1990 was filled with mistletoe, ribbons and home-made cookies. But the joy was cut short, with tragedy striking. Grieving, the Karlsens move across the country to Romulus, NY, trying to settle into a new life. But back in California, investigators dig into the events of New Year’s Day 1991, where Christina Karlsen lost her life in a devastating fire. With question unanswered, suspicions rise, as Karl moves forward with his life.
Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog...2024-04-251h 08Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 86 2ndCast: "Lesser of Two Evils"- Murder on Elm Street- a true story by Jeremy L. Luberts Pt 3Charged with 1st degree murder, Byron Smith’s trial beings for shooting Nicholas Brady and Haile Kifer to death in his basement on Thanksgiving 2012. Armed with damning evidence, the Prosecution presents its case of calculated revenge, as the Defense presents the Defendant as a fearful man, who only wanted to defend himself against violent intruders. The wheels of justice turn, with some stunning decisions, as debates erupt over the Castle Doctrine vs homicide, with very real consequences for lead investigator, Jeremy L. Luberts. Where is Byron Smith today? Jill updates the case since publication, filling you in on his app...2024-04-111h 01Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 85: “The Mother Lode” Murder on Elm Street- a true story by Jeremy L. Luberts Pt 2In Pt 2, with two teenagers dead, the Byron Smith investigation heats up, focusing on the rash of burglaries that had occurred recently, including those at Smith’s previously, with damning conclusions. Accomplices and witnesses are interviewed, arrests are made, and another search warrant unearths the ‘mother lode’ of evidence that turns this case upside down, causing huge media surge and dividing the town, state and country in this divisive, emotional case of self-defense vs homicidal rage.
Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com, March 2024.
ANNOUNCE...2024-03-271h 06Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 84: “The Deer Stand” - Part I on Murder on Elm Street- a True Story by Jeremy L. LubertsEnjoying a day with the family, Lead Investigator Jeremy Luberts is called into work at the Morrison County Sheriff’s Office to look into a concerning call. Arriving at the Elm Street residence, a retired Byron Smith meets him, telling him two burglars had broken into his house, and he’d defended himself, shooting them. With 2 dead bodies, Jeremy Luberts begins an investigation that would change the small town of Little Falls, Minnesota and spark contentious debate across the country, changing his life forever.
Sources, photos, diagrams, snack & wine pairing information is found on Jill’s blog at www...2024-03-1459 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 83: “Survivor Thriver”- Frozen in Fear: The True Story of Surviving the Shadows of Death by Jane Carson-Sandler Pt 4In Part 4 on Frozen in Fear, Jill chats with our author and survivor of the East Area Rapist, Jane Carson-Sandler. Jane went from being a victim to a ‘Survivor-Thriver’, taking back control over her life, an extraordinary life of service, giving, and caring for others.
You may want to listen to Ep 1 & 2 on Michelle McNamara’s book on the Golden State Killer, I’ll Be Gone in the Dark in conjunction with this trilogy.
Donation Opportunity: Hope Haven of Lowcounty - Child Advocacy & Rape Center,
Beauford, S.C.
S...2024-02-2939 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 82 2ndCast: ‘Sister Survivors” Frozen in Fear: The True Story of Surviving the Shadows of Death by Jane Carson-Sandler, Pt 3Part 3: In this uplifting conclusion of the Frozen in Fear trilogy, the voices of the survivors of the East Area Rapist are raised, allowing us to see how these brave souls overcame adversity, trauma, and worse, taking back control, rejecting fear Updating what’s happened since the 2018 arrest of EAR-the Golden State Killer, Jane Carson-Sandler and her sister survivors reflect on his arrest, and what’s happened since, as they enjoy the best revenge- living productive, satisfying lives.
You may want to listen to Ep 1 & 2 on Michelle McNamara’s book on the Golden State Killer, I’ll Be Gone...2024-02-1540 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 81: Survivors’ Voices” Frozen in Fear- The True Story of Surviving the shadows of Death by Jane Carson-Sandler, Pt 2In Part 2- Struggling to climb out of the dark hole in the aftermath of rape, other challenges test Jane’s resolve and faith as she finds herself in rehab. With more rapes happening, Jane recounts the lessons learned from counselling & her work with other rape victims. And more voices of other EAR rape survivors are heard, sharing the impact he had on their lives, and their decisions to live their lives fully, on their own terms.
You may want to listen to Ep 1 & 2 on Michelle McNamara’s book on the Golden State Killer, I’ll Be Go...2024-02-0157 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 80: “Survival Mode” Frozen in Fear- The True Story of Surviving the Shadows of Death by Jane Carson-Sandler, Pt 1Written by the 5th Victim of the East Area Rapist, Frozen in Fear tells Jane Carson-Sandler’s story of living a normal, fulfilling life in California in 1976- until the day a ski masked intruder, aka E.A.R., broke in and viciously raped her. Surviving, Jane shares how the rape impacted her life, the shame and guilt, loss of self-esteem, and anger, all feelings shared by many of other E.A.R. rape victims. Painful unanswered questions are asked; Who was this guy? Why is he doing this? —And Jill provides some insights into this type of rapist.
...2024-01-1843 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 79 2ndCast- “A Sugar Coated Interview” Pt. 3, Click, Click, Click by Anne Varner and Karen DeVanieHappy New Year 2024!
Part 3: Franklin, Virginia was home to murder victim, Trent Whitley and the authors Anne Varner and Karen DeVanie. These energetic, dedicated ladies are also the hosts of the Sugar-Coated Murder podcast. Karen and Ann chat with Jill about how their book came about, their perseverance and determination to tell Trent’s story, and how they managed to get the insider information on the killers! You won't believe whose advice they rejected and the rush to publish before disaster struck! And, most importantly to them, how did they memorialize Trent Whitley, the 17 year old young man who...2024-01-0444 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 78- “The Guilty Mind” Pt 2 - Click, Click, Click by Anne Varner and Karen DeVaniePart 2: Trent Whitley’s family struggles with his loss and the uncertainty of what happened to their precious son. Certain someone knows something, Delores Whitley makes repeated appeals for that someone to come forward.
Meanwhile, a killer’s life fractures under the weight of the responsibility for killing an innocent classmate. He knows only a confession can save him, but betraying his bloody partner is fraught with peril as paranoia and conspiracy theories plague him. When the truth is finally revealed, disbelief and devastation rock a town. Will there be justice for Raymond Trent Whitley, June 19, 1972 – Feb 23, 1990?
...2023-12-211h 02Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 77 – “Hometown Murder” Pt 1 – Click, Click, Click by Anne Varner and Karen DeVaniePart 1: Blinding flash. BANG- and the target was dead. A missing person report was filed in Franklin, Virginia by anxious parents, searching for their precious teenager. The investigation would follow lead after lead, to no avail. Suspects would emerge, but those responsible would not fall under suspicion, as the frightened family held vigils, offered rewards, and paced with worry, night after night. Why a conspiracy to commit murder? How had 'The Plan' evolved? How did was the target selected? Why did this happen? Join Jill as she delves into the first of the Say My Name series, Click, Click, Click...2023-12-0758 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 76 2nd Cast Pt 3: “Conscience of the King”- Dismembered by Susan Mustafa and Sue IsraelPart 3: With the families engrossed, the prosecution of Sean Vincent Gillis begins, with the Defense committed to saving his life and avoiding the death penalty. With his 40-hour confession, this should be a slam dunk, but it is far from that! Legal maneuvering calls for mistrial, and surprise rulings impact the trial’s progression. Then, the battle of the neuropsychologists begins, as they delve
into Sean’s mental illness. WHY did Sean murder and dismember? Why are cardinal human taboos violated? And, if Sean killed 8 women, who killed the other 50?
Source material, show notes...2023-11-221h 11Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 75: “Devil in the Dark”- Pt 2 Dismembered by Susan Mustafa & Sue IsraelIn Part 2, They get it. With over 60 women dead, Baton Rouge Sheriff Offices realize they have a serial killer on the loose! But they’re wrong. There are TWO; the murders of Sean Vincent Gillis are camouflaged by those of Derrick Todd Lee. No one is looking for Sean Gillis. As the victims’ families mourn, the investigation intensified, DNA works its magic, and finally, the police follow the tracks to Sean Gillis door. Arrested, he cannot stop talking, sharing the gruesome details of murder and dismemberment, acting like a child sent to the principal’s office instead of recognizing the gravi...2023-11-0959 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 74: “Wolf in the Fold”- Pt 1 Dismembered by Susan Mustafa and Sue IsraelPart 1: In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a gruesome murder is discovered, with the Sheriff’s office investigating, but the case goes cold. Repeat this over and over, and over as serial killer, Sean Vincent Gillis, kills and mutilates all over the area. An elderly woman and a housewife, he mostly preys largely on sex workers. But--no woman is safe-- the fear real. And he’s NOT the only one! WHO is Sean Vincent Gillis?
Source material, show notes, photographs, maps are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com, Oct. 2023.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murde...2023-10-2659 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 73: “Fell in love and lost her head” 2ndCast- The Death of Amy Robsart: An Elizabethan Mystery by Sarah-Beth Watkins, Part 3Part 3: Now deep into the murder motive, each of the suspects are investigated and the evidence scrutinized fully. Who had a motive and opportunity to commit murder? Who benefitted from the death of Amy Robsart? Given the court verdict, what happened to the suspects? And Jill shares her theory on how Lady Dudley, Amy Robsart died!
2nd cast looks ahead to 1567: Seven year later, Elizabeth I’s cousin, the King-Consort of Scotland, Henry Stuart, Lord Darnley is found strangled to death. Another cousin, Darnley’s wife, Mary, Queen of Scots, begins an inquiry, with a very, very differen...2023-10-121h 14Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastCRIMECON 2023 UPDATE! & Ep 72: “Done to death by slanderous tongues”- The Death of Amy Robsart: An Elizabethan Mystery by Sarah-Beth Watkins Part 2Part 2: Jill discusses Crimecon 2023 in Orlando! Being on Podcast Row, meeting her Murder Bookies and meeting so many in the True Crime community! ~Then, she continues the story of Lady Amy Robsart, found dead at the bottom of the stairs. In every royal court in Europe, and across every town and hamlet in England, the people of England wonder what to believe of their beautiful, young and unmarried Queen, Elizabeth I, whose relationship with Amy’s husband, Robert Dudley, is described widely as “most intimate.” Was Amy’s death an accident or suicide? Where does the 500-yr old evidence take us? Wh...2023-09-281h 08Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 71: “The Original Staircase”- The Death of Amy Robsart: An Elizabethan Mystery by Sarah-Beth Watkins Part 1Part 1: 1560: Tudor England. Amidst rumors of adultery, poisoning divorce, and murder, Lady Amy Dudley, nee Robsart, was found dead at the foot of the stairs. Immediately, suspicion fell upon her husband, Lord Robert Dudley, favorite of the newly ascended Queen of England, Elizabeth I. Had he done away with his wife to marry the Queen? The investigation, interviews, interrogations, and inquest does little to snuff out the speculation and debate—How did Amy Dudley die? Accident, Suicide, or Murder? 500 years later, we are still asking these questions. Join Jill as she combines the two passions of her life- The Tudo...2023-09-1454 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 70: ”The Story Isn’t Over”-Bone Deep- Untangling the Twisted true story of the tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case: Jill speaks with RUSS FARIA!And find Jill on PODCAST ROW AT CRIMECON 2025 DENVER!!! So EXCITED! Use cod murdershelf and save 10% on your badge!
www.crimecon.com/CC25
UPDATE! We met Russ Faria after he was charged with the murder of his wife, Betsy. Wrongfully convicted, Russ spend 3 years in prison, until he was finally exonerated (Ep 40-44). Enter new DA, Mike Wood, who begins investigating the investigators for corruption, determined to right the unbelievable wrongs. In an alleged effort to derail the investigation, former Lincoln County detective, Mike Merkel is implicated, spirally the investigation. Listen to the latest from Russ Far...2023-08-3126 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 69: ”The Sage Speaks with Jill”- An Interview with cold case investigator Chief Clay Bryant Pt 4Part 4: Our author, the "most prolific cold case investigator in the United States for single-event homicides", Chief Clay Bryant chats with Jill, discussing his cold case investigations and a bit on life itself. His common sense and down to earth brilliance shines through, as Clay shares moments that simply take your breath away—What were the odds THAT could have happened? Get the inside story of the next book, on yet another cold case he solved and another killer off the streets. Murder Bookies, do not miss this discussion, it is sincere, poignant, and uplifting!
AND- Announcement: Loo...2023-08-1756 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 68 – 2ndCast“ Alls Well that Ends Well”- The Cold Case Murder of Fred Wilkerson: Untangling the Black Widows Web in West Georgia by Clay Bryant Part IIIPart 3: We see Connie Quedens ensnaring Fred Wilderson in her web, entangling finances, escalating demands, culminating with Fred abruptly vanished, leaving his beloved daughter and son behind. Who had a life insurance policy on Fred? Connie. But nothing tied her to his disappearance. 17 yrs later, Clay Bryant begins to investigate this cold case, and he finds a witness that sets the case on fire! Hear justice arrive in all it’s glory, and the truth of who Connie Quedens is comes out, with many wondering what else she did.
Sources, snack recipe, wine recommendation and show n...2023-08-0359 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 66 “Coin in a wishing well” – Pt 1 Solving the West Georgia Murder of Gwendolyn Moore: A cry from the well by Clay BryantPart 1: Back in 1970, the beaten body of a young wife and mother was lifted from an old well just outside Hogansville, Georgia. The victim, Gwendolyn Moore, had long been married to her violent and abusive husband, Marshall Moore. Yet, mysteriously, this homicide investigation went cold the day Gwendolyn died, with Hogansville Chief of Police, Buddy Bryant, haunted by the case for decades. 32 years later, Buddy Bryant’s son, Clay Bryant, following in his father’s steps, would delve into a new investigation. Would the cold case thaw?
Sources, snack recipe, wine recommendation and show notes are fou...2023-07-061h 02Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 65 2ndCast- ‘Female of the Species’- Pt.3 Death Sentence- The True Story of Velma Barfield’s Life, Crimes and Execution by Jerry BledsoePt 3: What happens when you are on Death Row? How does the appeal process work? What is the human toll? Is it justice? We will follow Velma’s loved ones as they struggle with new revelations and hear from the families of the victims as human endurance is tested. Jill walks you through Velma Barfield’s maze of appeals, arguments for a new trial, and the final emotional outcome. And Jill tells you what she thinks of Velma Barfield, the Death Row Granny (of course she does!)
Sources, show notes, photographs, recipe and drink information are found o...2023-06-221h 10Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 64: ‘Poisoning the waterhole’ – Pt.2 Death Sentence- The True Story of Velma Barfield’s Life, Crimes and Execution by Jerry BledsoeIn Part 2, on trial for premeditated murder, Velma Barfield’s attorney, Bob Jacobson has an uphill battle—she confessed to poisoning Stuart Taylor- and 3 other people. With the defense team facing the “World’s most deadly prosecutor” Joe Freeman Britt, only Velma could explain herself.
Was she too impaired from her drug abuse to understand what she was doing? Would she sway the jurors? Could this risky decision save her life? Or was she a cold-calculating serial killer as the Prosecution presents?
Sources, photographs, recipes and wine pairings are found on Jill’s blog at www.mur...2023-06-081h 09Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 63 ‘Broken Hearts and Hearths’- Death Sentence- The True Story of Velma Barfield’s Life, Crimes and Execution by Jerry Bledsoe Pt 1Part 1: After a childhood of poverty and abuse, 17-year-old Margie Velma Bullard eloped with Senior Thomas Burke while they were both in high school. Building a happy life, they welcomed a son and daughter, becoming a normal American family. That is, until addiction reared its ugliness, triggering a cascade of painful, inexplicable deaths. Why did so many people around Velma die? Then, the world imploded with devastating shock—Velma was arrested for murder, and the investigation would reveal- it wasn’t the only one.
Sources, photographs, recipes and wine pairings are found on Jill’s blog at...2023-05-251h 00Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 62- “Serendipity and a Serial Killer” - She Married the Green River Serial Killer Pt 4!Part 4: Jill chats with the author of She Married the Green River Killer, Pennie Wood. The women speak of serendipity in forging friendships and healing, while uncovering lost memories from Judith Ridgway’s life that enabling the construct the book. Truth revealed, they delve into the normality of Gary Ridgway’s dual life, the roots of his murderous deviance, and a marriage made in deception. Do not miss the insights, peeling back layers to expose truths, and how one woman survived catastrophic change and betrayal.
Sources, photographs, recipes and wine pairings are found on Jill’s blog at www...2023-05-1052 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 61- 2ndCast, ‘Rebirth: The Renaissance’- She Married the Green River SerialKiller by Pennie Wood, Pt 3.Part 3: Denial shattered forever, Gary Ridgway confesses and is sentenced, enveloping wife Judith with the incomprehensible reality- Her Prince Gary did it. Ridgway best friends, Jim and Linda Bailey share their remembrances; then Gary Ridgway shares, providing disturbing insights. What did he tell Judith, who emerges from the Dark Ages, reborn as she builds a new life, her personal Renaissance.
AND: Who were the young women strangled by the Green River Killer? All 49 are remembered in this trilogy, updating the case with Jill’s analysis of a serial killer.
Sources, photographs, recipes and wine p...2023-04-271h 05Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 60-”The Dark Ages”- She Married the Green River Serial Killer by Pennie Wood Pt 2Part 2: Happily married, Judith Ridgway settles into being the wife of her Prince, Gary Ridgway, nurturing their dogs and cats, her daughters, grandchildren, and Gary’s son. Living the American dream, Judith gardens and Gary works hard and attends union meetings, life is good—until it all abruptly ends: Gary is arrested for killing 48 women. World imploding, with him denying he is the killer, Judith is thrown into years of heartbreak, fear, and dismay. Where there signs she missed? Red Flags? What do you say to your husband, the serial killer? Will Judith survive having her whole world demolished?
...2023-04-1353 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 59–‘The Medieval Era’- She Married the Green River Serial Killer by Pennie Wood Pt 1Part 1: This story begins on the worst day of Judith Ridgway’s life, when detectives came to her home after her husband of 14 year, Gary Leon Ridgway, was arrested. DNA evidence would tie him to victims of the notorious Green River Killer, murdering for over 20 years. Completely shell shocked, Judith goes is in denial. How had she gotten here?
Jill examines Judith’s life, difficult childhood, marriage and children while in the Sea-Tac area of Washington, bodies of strangled women are being discovered at great regularity, terror seizing the region. Then, Judith meets Gary, her Prince, and they b...2023-03-301h 04Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 58 2ndCast -“It is darkest before the dawn”- Last Time We Saw Her by Robert Scott Pt 3Part 3: Convicted in the Natalie Kirov case, Joel Courtney is finally extradited to Oregon to stand trial for the murder of Brooke Wilberger. With no body, Prosecutors knew this was not the easiest case to win. What shenanigans will Courtney pull?
Police and the media begin examining other cases that could possibly be linked to Courtney- Katie Eggleston, Stephanie Condon, Leah Freeman, and Kristin Smart. Was Courtney a serial killer? New, updates on these cases are presented.
Check out Jill's blog for show notes, sources, photographs, and maps at www.murdershelfbookclub.com, February 2023.
2023-03-161h 11Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 57: “Stars cannot shine without darkness.”- Last Time We Saw Her by Robert Scott Pt 2.Part 2: Brooke Wilberger is missing. The eager public cooperates fully, sending in over 4500 tips that need investigating, with critical evidence buried in the pile. Of the number of suspects, the most viable is Sung Koo Kim, a man with an underwear fetish, and a trove of evidence on his computer. But then, a phone call from New Mexico changes everything! There was a similar case in Albuquerque, and a man, Joel Patrick Courtney, had been arrested. He’d recently lived in Beaverton, Oregon, which was interesting, but could they make a case against Joel? The number of dots to be con...2023-03-021h 04Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 56: “The Light That Helps Others”- Last Time We Saw Her by Robert Scott Pt 1Part 1: 19-year-old Brooke Wilberger lit up the room when she walked in. She’d just completed her 1st year at Brigham Young University and coming home to her big LDS family in Veneta, Oregon. May 24, 2004, while cleaning lampposts at the apartment complex her sister managed, Brooke vanished. The resulting investigation would unify the town of Corvallis, Oregon in their determination to find Brooke. The police investigation unfolds as persons of interest are investigated for similar crimes, the very real terror spreading across the area.
Written by Robert Scott, who also authored Shattered Innocent on the Kaycee Dugard kidnap...2023-02-161h 00Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpi 55 2ndCast: 3 “Damnable and Hellish crime”- The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal and the Hunt for America’s first serial killer by Skip Hollandsworth Pt 3Part 3: The murder count continues to rise, as killing spreads to San Antonio, Gainesville, and all the way to London, England, where 5 women are slaughtered. With fallout impacting every aspect of society, devastating secrets are revealed, leading to shocking trials, which have electrifying legal and political consequences for the people of Austin and their leaders that last through the next two centuries. Who is the Midnight Assassin? Jill has a theory- you know she does!
Note: This story is set in the late 19th century and reflects the stereotypes, prejudices, and language of the era.
...2023-02-021h 10Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpi 54: “The Remarkable Ghoul”- The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal and the Hunt for America’s first serial killer by Skip Hollandsworth- Pt 2Part 2: Like phantoms, a killer or killers walks among the people of Austin, Tx. Desperately seeking solutions, blood hounds, private detectives, and the famous Chicago Pinkerton Detective Agency are employed to catch the ‘remarkable ghoul’, who slaughters women, vanishing in the inky darkness. Fear continues to rise as the victims shift from black servant women to white society wives, death the great equalizer. Who is the Midnight Assassin? Can he be stopped?
Note: This story is set in the late 19th century and reflects the stereotypes, prejudices, and language of the era.
Source materia...2023-01-191h 05Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 53: “Ungodly Butchery”- The Midnight Assassin: Panic, Scandal and the Hunt for America’s first serial killer by Skip Hollandsworth-Pt 1Part 1: It is 1884 and Austin, Tx is poised at the precipice of a new Golden Age, shifting from a frontier town to a cosmopolitan city of culture and prosperity. Until a shadow grows, threatening everything as the slaughter of black servant women begins. Terrified, the community demands the murderous gang be caught, but with multiple arrests of suspects, the jail remains empty. Who is the servant woman annihilator? When will the carnage end?
Note: This story is set in the late 19th century and reflects the stereotypes, prejudices, and language of the era.
Source material, re...2023-01-0559 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastUPDATE: Mini-Cast on Russ/Betsy Faria case from BONE DEEP by Bosworth and Schwartz!Merry Christmas, Murder Bookies!
UPDATE on Ep 40-44! This is a very special Christmas mini-cast! We met Russ Faria, convicted of murdering his wife, Betsy Faria in 2011 when we covered the book, Bone Deep by Charles Bosworth and Joel Schwartz, Epi 40-44. Eventually, Russ was exonerated, as the case took a major twist! Now, the case continues to turn once again, with a new announcement by Lincoln County, Missouri Prosecuting Attorney, Mike Wood!
Source material is found on Jill's blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com, May 2022.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murde...2022-12-2307 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 52 2ndCast- A Death in White Bear Lake by Barry Siegel, Pt 3: “Your Loss is our Gain”Part 3: The fate of the five Jurgens kids falls to the court to determine, as another trial that creates the legal foundation of battered child syndrome takes place. This eases the way for murder charges against Lois Jurgens, as family ties and memories are tested. Does justice for Dennis Jurgens happen after 22 years? How has society changed after all this? Has it?
Sources, notes, photographs, links, recipe and drink info are found on Jill’s blog- www.murdershelfbookclub.com, Nov 2022.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched! Please...2022-12-151h 13Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 51- A Death in White Bear Lake by Barry Siegel, Pt 2: ”The Revolution”Part 2: With Lois's mental health deteriorating, a hearing explores the question, should Lois and Harold Jurgens keep custody of their 5-year-old adopted son, Robert after the death of this brother, Dennis. Meanwhile, as more children die, three medical professionals' team up to try to understand why children were being killed by their seemingly loving parents, founding the medical concept of “battered child syndrome” as Lois and Harold adopt again. What could possibly go wrong?
Sources, photographs, diagrams, food and drink pairings are found on Jill’s blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com, Nov 2022.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murde...2022-12-011h 05Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 50 A Death in White Bear Lake by Barry Siegel, Pt 1-“All-American City”Part 1: White Bear Lake, a picturesque American town where kids freely ride bikes, play two-square and parents throw neighborhood BBQs—and where 3 ½ year old Dennis Jurgens died on Palm Sunday 1965. WHAT happened? Family members immediately begin whispering “she killed him”, referring to his adoptive mother, Lois Jurgens. Others ask how Lois and Harold Jurgens were ever allowed to adopt a child, let along two! The silence is profound, until as Dennis’ birth mother, Jerry Sherwood, presses police to reinvestigate: What happened to the little boy she never forgot?
Sources, photographs, links, food and drink information for A Death at Whi...2022-11-171h 08Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 49 “Interview with retired FBI Diver, Bobby Chacon” American Predator by Maureen Callahan, Pt 4Part 4: In 2012, serial killer Israel Keyes confessed to investigators he’d disposed of a body in a frozen Lake in Alaska, a dangerous recovery. FBI Agent Bobby Chacon and the underwater forensics team he founded were notified. On the case, Bobby now shares the behind-the-scenes story with Jill of how this occurred, plus insight into the investigation, and much more. Listen in to get the details that left Jill speechless in admiration and appreciation.
Source material for the American Predator series is found on Jill's blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com, Sept 2022.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My ne...2022-11-0342 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpi 48 “Macabre Chitchat” 2ndCast- American Predator by Maureen Callahan Pt 3Part 3: 1996, Colville, Washington, 12 yrs. old Julie Harris went missing, and then, the following year, 12 yrs. old Cassie Emerson--with 18 yrs. old Israel Keyes living nearby. The investigation expands overseas as the police and FBI interview those who knew Keyes. But did anyone know Keyes, who was determined to maintain control over these proceeding, using any and all methods, no matter what the cost was.
Sources, notes, photographs, links are found on Jill’s blog- www.murdershelfbookclub.com Sept 2022.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched! Please go explore! I app...2022-10-201h 02Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpi 47 “Meticulous Methods” American Predator by Maureen Callahan, Pt 2A killer in custody toys with law enforcement, who are desperate to locate missing Samantha Koenig, taking them into unchartered waters. As they begin to unravel the ‘who is’ Israel Keyes, his childhood rearing takes center stage, as the teenage Izy begins to understand, he isn’t like everyone else. Keeping Keyes’s transitory cooperation in finding other victims, scattered across the United States, is a battle, as horror after horror is revealed and victims are identified. Be warned, this is a -difficult- story, tough to hear, but valuable in understanding this meticulous serial killers of the 21st century.
Sou...2022-10-061h 07Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpi 46 ”Killer Thaw” on American Predator by Maureen Callahan, Pt 1Part I: February 2012 in Anchorage, Alaska, a mystery unfolds as a young barista goes missing. Where was Samantha Koenig? The search for the truth takes us to Lufkin, Texas, where an enigmatic suspect, Israel Keyes, begins telling a horrendous tale of violence, rape, and murder at a level never seen before by the FBI profilers.
Sources, notes, photographs, links are found on Jill’s blog- www.murdershelfbookclub.com, Sept 2022. VERY GLAD to be back, Murder Bookies!
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched! Please go explore! I apprecia...2022-09-221h 11Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastA Wilderness of Family Annihilators: Mini-Cast Update The SAID CaseUPDATE #2- Ep 21-23- A Wilderness of Errors: On New Years Day 2008, Amina and Sarah Said were gunned down in the their father's taxi, Sarah calling 911 and saying "My father shot me!". Twelve years later, we have a verdict in his trial. Don't miss the update on this tragic example of a family annihilator, and the fight for justice. From The Wilderness of Error by Errol Morris trilogy, episodes 21, 22 & 23, plus the May 14, 2012 mini-cast update #1.
Sources, photographs, charts, diagrams, food and drink pairings are found on Jill's blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com Feb. 2021.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My...2022-08-1208 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 45: Special Episode - Conversation w. a Murder Bookie!Ep 45: Jill and special guest, one of our own Murder Bookies, Rebecca Rae Catalfu, reflect on Bone Deep and our favorite true crime podcast- the Murder Shelf Book Club! Articulate, insightful, Rebecca and Jill do not hold back as they discuss the case, delve into past book episodes, and what the future holds for Jill's podcast! Fun, pithy, and something not to be missed! ENJOY!
All sources, photographs, links, and show notes are posted on Jill's blog- www.murdershelfbookclub.com
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched! Please go explo...2022-07-2835 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 44: From CrimeCon 22! Bone Deep! The interview w. Russ Faria, Carol McAfee & Mary AndersonPart 5: Recorded at CrimeCon 2022, Jill chats with Russ Faria, fiancée Carol McAfee, and cousin, Mary Anderson, who detail what went on in the background after Betsy Faria’s murder, and how wrongful arrest and conviction impacts a family. Open, honest, passionate, holding nothing back, the conversation just ROLLS!
WHAT can you do to help? Russ, Carol and Mary make some excellent suggestions!
Source material, photographs, show notes, and snack and wine recommendations are on Jill's blog- www.murdershelfbookclub.com, May 2022.
And find Jill on PODCAST ROW AT CRIMECON 2025 DENVER...2022-07-1456 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpi 43- 2nd Cast- Bone Deep: Untangling the Twisted True Story of the Tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case by Charles Bosworth, Jr. & Joel Schwartz Pt 4 ‘Karma is a bitch”Part 4: A free man, Russ Faria moves on with his life, as suspicion is thrown in Pam Hupp’s direction. A twisted plan is unleashed, attempting to prove Russ Faria is a danger to society and certainly to Pam Hupp. Deadly consequences follow, as Louis Gumperberger is killed. Who is Louis and how did he get thrust into Pam Hupp’s orbit? What consequences follow? Will a new Prosecutor see the evidence differently? Where is everyone today? And Jill’s profile of Pam Hupp! Pam Hupp case updates are included!
Source material, photographs, show notes, and snack and wine r...2022-06-301h 44Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 42- Bone Deep: Untangling the Twisted True Story of the Tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case by Charles Bosworth, Jr. & Joel Schwartz Pt 3- “The bell cannot be unrung”In Part 3- The Defense presents its case on why it was impossible for Russ to have murdered Betsy, as the Prosecution presents more and more outrageous theories. A painful, wrongful conviction would trigger appeals, with Russ granted a new trial. Defense attorneys, Joel Schwartz and Nate Swanson remain optimistic that without the evidence prohibitions of the first trial, they would prove Russ did not murder Betsy, AND that there was another viable suspect, with motive and opportunity- Pam Hupp.
Source material, photographs, show notes, and snack and wine recommendations are on Jill's blog- www.murdershelfbookclub.com, M...2022-06-161h 39Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 41- Bone Deep: Untangling the Twisted True Story of the Tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case by Charles Bosworth, Jr. and Joel Schwart Pt 2: ‘Can’t see the Forest thru the Trees”Part 2: With all the details you never knew…The State presents its case against Russell Faria, for the murder of his wife, Betsy. As tension mounts, an inexperienced Judge prohibits the Defense from presenting alternative theories on the killer. Would the airtight alibi hold up? Leading to more questions than answers; what would the Prosecution’s star witness, Pam Hupp say next?
Source material, photographs, show notes, and snack and wine recommendations are on Jill's blog- www.murdershelfbookclub.com, May 2022.
And find Jill on PODCAST ROW AT CRIMECON 2025 DENVER!!! So EXCITED! Use cod murdershelf and save 10...2022-06-021h 26Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEp 40- Bone Deep: Untangling the Twisted True Story of the Tragic Betsy Faria Murder Case by Charles Bosworth, Jr. and Joel Schwartz, ‘Murder Most Foul” Pt 1Part 1: On Dec 27th, 2011, the nightmare began for Russell Faria on returning to his Troy, Missouri home after his weekly game night with friends, finding an unthinkable, grisly scene: His wife, Betsy, lay dead, a knife still lodged in her neck. His horror would only intensify when Russ was arrested for Betsy Faria’s murder. Defense attorney, Joel Schwartz would begin the fight of his life to see justice done and the real killer identified. Bone Deep tells the story recently featured on the NBC limited series, ‘The Thing About Pam’, the twists and turns of which can give one wh...2022-05-191h 32Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastInterview from CrimeCon with Paula Woodward, author of Unsolved: The JonBenét Ramsey Case 25 Years LaterPart 4: From CrimeCon 2022 Las Vegas, Jill sits down with investigative journalist and author of featured book, Unsolved: The JonBenet Ramsey Case 25 Years later, Paula Woodward, to discuss the myths and misinformation about the murder of JonBenét Ramsey Dec 26, 1996. The women examine the facts that counter the myths, the role Boulder PD played in spreading information, and how to raise our voices to move the DNA portion of the case ahead—Please sign the petition at www.change.org/JusticeforJBR ! Let’s get genetic genealogy done on the remaining DNA! It is TIME!
Sources, photographs, and show notes...2022-05-0528 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 39 2ndCast: Unsolved: The JonBenét Ramsey Case 25 Years Later by Paula Woodward, Pt 3- ‘Crime of the Century’In Pt 3, Paula Woodward’s continues to shatter the myths that have grown up around the JonBenét Ramsey case, exposing the truth. New interviews with John Andrew Ramsey, half-brother of JonBenét, provide us with an update on where the case stands 25 years later. Jill presents her profile of the killer, while delving into another Crime of the Century, the Lindbergh Kidnapping of 1932. The comparison of two terrible crimes committed against two children, who were just beginning their lives is staggering.
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO GET JonBenet's DNA tested by an independent lab!
w...2022-04-271h 03Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 38 Unsolved: The JonBenét Ramsey Case 25 Years Later by Paula Woodward, Pt 2: ‘The Ends Justify the Means’Part 2: Continuing the deep dive into the Ramsey case evidence, taken from police reports and consultations with experts, Jill tells Paula Woodward’s story of the serious divisions between the investigators, and where the –actual-- evidence leads when misinformation leaked by law enforcement is removed from the equation. The staggering truth is revealed and will alter everything you thought you knew about the murder of a 6-year-old girl the day after Christmas, 1996.
PLEASE SIGN THE PETITION TO GET JonBenet's DNA tested by an independent lab!
www.change.org/JusticeforJBRP
All sources, show n...2022-04-141h 04Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 37 Unsolved: The JonBenét Ramsey Case 25 Years Later by Paula Woodward, Pt 1--’Pen is Mightier Than the Sword’-Part 1: Everything we think we know about this case is wrong!
Not just another podcast on the JonBenét Ramsey’s murder, award winning journalist Paula Woodward has compared never seen before law enforcement records with the news report of the day—to a devastating conclusion. Starting on Dec 25, 1996, in Boulder, CO, Paula reveals the horrifying truth, from the botched police investigation to the role of the child beauty pageants and sets the record straight. It left Jill shaken to her core! This disturbing account is a MUST listen, MUST read for any true crime aficionado.
2022-03-311h 06Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 35 ”Tip the Scales” -The Bike Path Killer by Maki Becker & Michael Beebe Pt 2In Pt. 2, the rapist turned serial killer was back, leaving a path of death, grief and devastation. The Bike Path Killer Task Force Investigators would pool their resources, reinterview survivors, and dig through the massive number of tips coming in. They only need "the" one to break the case. Could they find the killer? Would they?
Source material, photographs, show notes and food and drink recommendations are found on Jill's blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com Feb. 2022.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched! Please go explore! I appr...2022-03-021h 12Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 34 ’Runners Beware’, The Bike Path Killer by Maki Becker & Michael Beebe Pt 1Part 1: This true crime book begins with the 2006 brutal murder of Joan Diver of Clarence, N.Y., and escalates at a frightening pace. The complex investigation meanders but it soon becomes apparent that the 12-year hiatus of the Bike Path Rapist turned killer is over- he’s back. Join Jill as she tells the tale of a serial rapist turned serial killer who haunted the Buffalo, NY area for three decades, leaving a trail of victims and bodies.
Source material, recipe and snack information is found on Jill’s blog, www.murdershelfbookclub.com, Feb. 2022.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2...2022-02-171h 13Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 33 An Interview with author The Potato Masher Murder, Gary Sosniecki.This is Part 4:
~FOR SOME BIZARRE UNKNOWN REASON, EP 32 is located between Episodes 87 and 88. No idea! LOL! ~
Bringing her theories to the table, Jill sits down with author, Gary Sosniecki, and probes the investigation into his great-grandmother, Cecilia Ludwig's, murder, asking the hard questions, while digging into the whys of the case.
Source material for The Potato Masher Murder series is found at www.murdershelfbookclub.com, Dec. 2021.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has launched! Please go explore! I appreciate you supporting my true crime...2022-02-0450 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 31 The Potato Masher Murder by Gary Sosniecki, Pt 2- The Wife Killing PrimerPart 2: In this second installment of The Potato Masher Murder, the 1906 murder of Cecilia Ludwig saw the arrest and trial of her husband, Albin Ludwig. The Defense presented a scenario sharply countered by the Prosecution. But would it be enough to convict Albin? Death penalty on the table, jurors would hear the shocking story of suspicion, obsession, a deteriorating marriage, conflict, and abuse that reach a deadly flashpoint. Join Jill as she tells the story of Albin’s trial and the factors that lead to murder by fire.
~FOR SOME BIZARRE UNKNOWN REASON, EP 32 is loc...2022-01-071h 10Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 30: The Potato Masher Murder, by Gary Sosniecki, Pt 1, A Dinner of EmbersPart 1: September 25, 1906, Mishawaka, Indiana, brought a shocking truth; horrified family and neighbors learned that 30-year-old Cecilia Ludwig had been murdered by her husband, Albin Ludwig, and in the most gruesome manner. Who was Cecilia? What drove Albin? How had the marriage deteriorated? Who played a role? Would the prosecution find evidence enough to convict him with early 20th century technology? Join Jill in this deep dive on a family tragedy, hushed up for a century. Written by author, Gary Sosniecki, the great-grandson of victim, Cecilia Henderson Hornburg Ludwig.
This episode explores domestic violence and issues of suicide...2021-12-241h 06Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 29 Trace Evidence 2nd Cast Monsters are a TrialPart 3: The trial of serial killer Roger Reece Kibbe begins, with trace evidence on trial as well and much riding on the testimony of a shaky key witness. Karma comes around for the Roger Kibbe, as Jill updates the Kibbe case, leading to several other homicide investigations. And as in done in 2ndCast, Jill pulls the threads alluded to in the story, that of the poisoned beauty queen and others murdered by serial killer, David Allen Rundle, that spilled into the I-5 investigation. Brace yourself, monsters abound in this episode!
Source material, wine and appetizer suggestions can...2021-09-211h 16Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 28 Trace Evidence by Bruce Henderson Pt 2- Hunting the HunterPart 2: The frustrated detectives hunker down to work what little evidence they have from the bodies of the young women slain by the I-5 strangler. Working closely with the criminalists who provide the forensic science, more bodies are discovered that exhibit the ‘non-functional cutting” ritual unique to this serial killer. Once the killer is identified, how do they get enough evidence to arrest him before he kills again? Join Jill as she tells the story of Detectives Kay Maulsby, Vito Bertocchini, Stan Reed, Pete Rosenquist, Jim Watson, and Lt Ray Biondi as they work the twists and turns hunting the hun...2021-09-021h 41Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 27 Trace Evidence By Bruce Henderson Pt 1- The Elusive KillerPart 1: A gut-twisting behind the scenes police investigation story of the missing women, that triggers a realization that a serial killer is at work. With twists and turns, law enforcement hunts for the elusive killer, who shows no signs of stopping. How many will die, as Lt Ray Biondi, Vito Bertocchini, Pete Rosenquist, Stan Reed, Harry Machen, Bob Bell, and Jim Streeter begin to gather the evidence and work through the suspect list of hundreds? This is Jill’s favorite true crime book—and that’s saying a LOT.
Source material for the Trace Evidence trilogy i...2021-08-191h 25Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 26 2nd Cast - Lost Girls: Mystery Continues Pt 3Part 3: Another terrible murder sends out shockwaves of horror, rocking a family already mourning. Victim advocacy, competing autopsies, and new evidence creates more questions. Arrests, trials, and a search for answers and justice are pursued as the Suffolk County Police Department comes under investigation for corruption. What does this mean for the Long Island serial killer case? Join Jill and find out the latest in this deep dive into sex, drugs, corruption, betrayal, and scandal.
Our sources for the Lost Girls trilogy are on our blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com, June 2021.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murde...2021-07-301h 33Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 25 Lost Girls by Robert Kolker Pt 2- Mystery DeepensPart 2 Mystery Deepens!
With the discovery of 4 bodies on Gilgo Beach, the existence of a serial killer is realized, and the fate of the missing women is known. The families respond very differently, most of all, that of Mari Gilbert, whose daughter, Shannan, is not found with the others, Maureen, Melissa, Megan and Amber. The torturous waiting begins as law enforcement belatedly begins to investigate the murders, as families cope with grief and disappointment, anger, and misunderstandings. Join Jill as she delves into this intimate tale of murder, sex, drugs, endurance, heartache, and families coping with the un...2021-07-041h 18Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastMini-Cast Flame Out, the Story of James L. Blackburn, A Wilderness of Error Pt 5Part 5: From the pinnacle of judicial success, DOJ prosecutor James L Blackburn successfully prosecuted the Jeff MacDonald case, (See Episodes 21, 22, and 23, plus later Said Update), sending Green Beret doctor to jail for life for murdering his wife and two little girls. Now a celebrity judicial hero, Blackburn was on top of the world. For years, he succeeded in all aspects his life, until he utterly blew it up one January 1993 morning. Arrested for embezzlement, forgery, and fraud, the former US attorney was now a felon and sentenced to prison. How did Blackburn go from celebrated prosecutor to jailed felon? H...2021-05-291h 03Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastMini-Cast Update: A Wilderness of Family Annihilators- The Said CaseUPDATE! Part 4: For 12 years the family of Patricia Owens waited for the first wave of justice for her daughters, Amina and Sarah Said. It took that long to capture the girls’ alleged murderer, their father, Yaser Abdel Said. The story doesn’t stop there. Jill takes you through the investigative twists and turns that shattered a family seeking justice in this Episode 23 update (A Wilderness of Errors trilogy!).
Source material for A Wilderness of Family Annihilators episodes is on Jill's blog at www.murdershelfbookclub.com, Feb. 2021.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SH...2021-05-1412 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 23 Pt. 3, 2ndCast A Wilderness of Family Annihilators: 'Slaughter & Baseball'Part 3: Tara and Jill take the plunge into the terror and pure evil of the family annihilator, those men who slaughter their wives, partners, children, even the pets and often, themselves. Mixing the latest psychology with stories pulled from the news reel, they explore the “WHY” of these cases, focusing Chris Watts, John List, Yasser Said, Mesac Damas and others. Did we mention baseball trivia?
Source material for the Wilderness of Error trilogy is on Jill’s blog www.murdershelfbookclub.com, Feb 2021.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 2025: My new Murder Shelf Book Club Podcast MERCH SHOP has laun...2021-05-031h 31Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 22 A Wilderness of Error by Errol Morris Pt 2 Lawyers, Lawsuits, Lunacy and LiesConvicted of murdering his wife Colette and daughters Kimberly and Kristen, Jeffrey MacDonald begins serving his life sentence in 1979. This is only beginning, however, as defense attorneys file appeal after appeal, going to bat repeatedly as they doggedly pursue justice. Hidden evidence, disputed forensics, missing jewelry, disbarred prosecutors, join Tara and Jill as they wind through the twists and turns over 40 years of legal maneuvering, affidavits, surprise recollections, shocking revelations, and appeals to the Supreme Court of the U.S. in the pursuit of truth. Who killed Colette, Kimberly, and Kristen?
Send your comments to jillandtara@murdershelfbookclub.com...2021-04-171h 29Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 21 A Wilderness of Error by Errol Morris Pt 1 -Hippies, Hams, Homicides, & HearsayPart 1: February 16, 1970 Ft. Bragg, NC: Jerked awake from sleep, Capt. Jeff MacDonald is seized upon by murderous hippies, only to find his wife, Collette and daughters, Kimberly 5, and Kristen 2, viciously murdered.
Or had he?
Evidence would convince some that Jeffrey MacDonald murdered his family after a terrible argument went horribly wrong. Convicted, Jill and Tara revisit the evidence, both presented in court and suppressed, in Errol Morris’s book, A Wilderness of Error. In Part 1, we meet the doomed family, Jeff’s in-laws, Army investigators, prosecutors and defense attorneys, and the events that triggered 50 years of horr...2021-02-161h 37Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 20 Pt 4-2ndCast: Gone at Midnight- Cecil Hotel, Haunts, Hallows, and Serial KillersPart 4: Jill and Tara peer into the bleakest blackest corners of the history of the infamous haunted Cecil Hotel of Los Angeles, CA., telling the stories of the strange beginnings, odd endings, Dahlias, dark forces, and the serial killers who called it home, Richard Ramirez, the Night Stalker and Jack Unterweger, the Austrian Ghoul. Who is the Night Stalker, whose rising body count had all of L.A. utterly terrified? Five years later, European imported killer, Jack Unterweger arrives at the Cecil, and the body count begins once more. Why does the Cecil Hotel draw this clientele? Listen in as...2021-01-201h 19Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastBONUS 1st BIRTHDAY EPISODE Interview with author Jake Anderson, Pt 3: Gone at Midnight, the Mysterious Death of Elisa Lam!Part 3: Happy Birthday Murder Shelf Book Club! *Bonus Episode* A year ago, Tara and Jill launched the first episode of the Murder Shelf Book Club! Please enjoy this special bonus episode as we celebrate this milestone! Tara and Jill sit down with Jake Anderson, author of Gone at Midnight, the Mysterious Death of Elisa Lam to discuss delving into body language, backlog of processing rape kits in the USA, botched law enforcement investigations, Jake's motivation, the dire importance of normalizing mental illness as a medical condition, and sojourn on his quest to untangle the urban legends from truth.
2021-01-0839 minMurder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode19 Gone at Midnight the Mysterious Death of Elisa Lam by Jake Anderson, Pt 2--“Paranormpiracy”Part 2--“Paranormpiracy”
The mystery deepens as the conspiracy theories about Elisa Lam’s death spring forth full throttle, as Tara and Jill contend with creepy security guards, altered videos, police corruption, business investments turned malignant, medication cartels, dark entities, demonic influences … Which ones seem the most viable? And, Jake Anderson, suffering his own serious mental health crisis, mirroring Elisa’s own, as he investigates the myriads of possibilities.
Listen in Murder Bookies, as you head into Jake Anderson’s rabbit hole of a tale, and a heartfelt plea for greater understanding of mental health issues in our...2021-01-021h 39Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 18 Gone at Midnight: The Mysterious Death of Elisa Lam by Jake Anderson Pt 1 Strange & UnexplainedPart 1: True crime sleuths recall the last images of Elisa Lam alive in the elevator of Los Angeles' haunted Cecil Hotel, triggering this baffling case from 2013 of the Canadian tourist, found dead days later in the water tanks on top of the building.
What happened? Murder? Suicide? Accident? Supernatural interference? The investigation created more questions than it answered as did the autopsy. Diving deep into the story is author Jake Anderson, who left no stone unturned, as he fought his own demons while slaying Elisa’s. Join Tara and Jill in telling this story, separating the rumors fr...2020-11-161h 46Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 17 Killers of the Flower Moon- Pt 3, 2nd Cast: Finding Kristyn Sue RichersonPart 3: Still in Oklahoma in this Killers of the Flower Moon trilogy, Tara and Jill delve into a 'missing and presumed dead' case from May 25, 2018. Indigenous woman, Kristyn Sue Richerson, 51 years old, from Muskogee, Oklahoma, known as Krash by many, disappeared after attending the Rocklahoma concert with her roommate in Memorial Day weekend. Or did she? What happened to Kristyn? Who were the last to see her? What evidence exists? Who are the suspects? How do we get a killer off the streets?
Can you help hunt a murderer? Want to get him off the streets? Do you...2020-09-291h 36Murder Shelf Book Club PodcastEpisode 16 Killers of the Flower Moon by David Grann Pt 2 'The Reign of Terror'Part 2: Twenty-four Osage Indians have died under mysterious circumstances, casting a shadow across all daily existence in Oklahoma. Terror is commonplace, the fear is all too real. FBI Agent Tom White enters the scene with his team to root out those behind the conspiracy of death. Following the trail of bodies, what he uncovers is deviousness and calculating betrayal. Undercover agents, informants, murderous spouses, explosive experts—the story twists and turns speeding toward its conclusion!
Source material for the Killer of the Flower Moon trilogy is on Jill’s blog www.murdershelfbookclub.com, June 2020.
ANNOUNCEMENT- JAN 20...2020-07-091h 33