Once Upon A Crime | True Crime

Esther Ludlow
  • 5.0 (7)
  • TRUE CRIME
  • UPDATED WEEKLY
Once Upon A Crime | True Crime

Step into the darker side of history with Once Upon A Crime, a true-crime podcast that delves deep into some of the world’s most gripping cases. Hosted by an expert storyteller, Esther Ludlow, each episode unravels the mysteries behind notorious crimes, exploring the lives of victims, perpetrators, and the intricate details of the investigations that followed. With carefully researched narratives, thematic series, and thoughtful insights, Once Upon A Crime offers listeners a captivating blend of suspense, history, and human psychology. Whether you're a seasoned true-crime fan or just curious about the stories that shaped headlines, Once Upon A Crime promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.

  1. 28 JAN

    Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973 - Part 3

    In the early 1970s, the tranquil community of Santa Cruz, California, was shattered by a series of murders committed by two serial killers operating at the same time. Edmund Kemper, known as the "Co-ed Killer," murdered eight individuals, including six young women, his mother, and her friend, between May 1972 and April 1973. Simultaneously, Herbert Mullin embarked on his own killing spree in the same area, further terrorizing the residents. In this final episode of "Murder City," we delve into Santa Cruz's darkest period, exploring how law enforcement apprehended these predators and the chilling twist of their eventual incarceration as cellmates.   Sources: Murray, Emerson, Murder Capital of the World, 2021.  https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/Psyc%20405/serial%20killers/Mullin,%20Herbert.htm  https://crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/weird/mullin/index_1.html  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herbert_Mullin  https://biographs.org/herbert-mullin  https://diva.sfsu.edu/collections/sfbatv/search?q=herbert+mullin&page=1&sort=divadoc_date_dt&dir=desc&facets%5Btags%5D%5B0%5D=herbert+mullin  https://graduateway.com/herbert-mullins-a-case-study-of-a-serial-murderer/  https://crimelibrary.org/serial_killers/weird/mullin/explained_9.html  https://www.sfgate.com/crime/article/santa-cruz-kemper-mullin-frazier-murders-12841990.php  https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/163366300/fred-abbie-perez  https://www.mercurynews.com/2008/06/11/a-modern-day-lumberjack-protecting-life-and-limb/   Sponsors:  Greenlight - Start your risk-free Greenlight trial today at greenlight.com/once Gabb - Get $25 off any device at gabb.com/once  Hungryroot - For a limited time, get 40% off your first box PLUS get a free item in every box for LIFE. Go to hungryroot.com/once and use code ONCE BambooHR - Get the free demo at BambooHR.com/freedemo     Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

    59 min

  2. 21 JAN

    Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973, Part 2

    This month, I’m bringing you the story of three terrifying years that unfolded in Santa Cruz, California. Between 1970 and 1973, a series of murders rocked Santa Cruz, a once-peaceful beach community. Before it was all over, residents would live through unimaginable horrors - a prominent family wiped out in a mass murder by a deranged killer and two serial killers working simultaneously, but separately, in their midst.   In this second part of the series, we’ll pick up the story at the tail end of 1971. John Linley Frazier’s trial had just concluded, and he was sentenced to die. While the courtroom drama played out for one Santa Cruz killer, another was moving into town.   Edmund Emil Kemper III would become one of the most infamous serial killers on record. By the time he arrived in Santa Cruz in 1971, Kemper had already been convicted of a double murder.  Less than a year after his release from prison, he would commit a series of gruesome murders that would forever cast a dark shadow over sunny Santa Cruz.   I’ve taken an unprecedented deep dive into “The Co-ed Killer” to provide details about Kemper’s life and crimes you haven’t heard anywhere else.   This is part two of “Murder City: Santa Cruz, California 1970 to 1973 - Ed Kemper.    Sources: Murray, E. (2020). Murder Capital of the World.  Cheney, M. (1976). The Co-Ed Killer. Goodreads Press.  Edmund Kemper: The Life of the Co-Ed Killer. (2017). Hourly History.    Sponsors:  AquaTru - AquaTru.com enter code ONCE for 20% off any AquaTru water purifier. Rosetta Stone - RosettaStone.com/once to take advantage of a lifetime membership at 50% off. Hers - Start your initial free online visit at forhers.com/once . Hungryroot - hungryroot.com/once and use code ONCE to get 40% off your first box PLUS a free item in every box for LIFE.    Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

    53 min

  3. 14 JAN

    Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973 - Part 1

    In the 1970s, Santa Cruz, California, became known by a title no one else wanted - “Murder City.”  Between 1970 and 1973, a series of murders rocked the once peaceful beach community.  Before it was all over, residents would live through unimaginable horrors - a prominent family wiped out in a mass murder by a deranged killer and not one but two serial killers stalking their streets at the same time.    In this 3-part series, we’ll travel back in time to experience those three terrifying years in Santa Cruz - 1970 to 1973 - beginning with the mass murder of a prominent doctor and his family.  Just as the court was determining the first killer’s fate, another was making Santa Cruz his home and hunting grounds.  His crimes would make him one of the most infamous serial killers on record.     This is part one of “Murder City: Santa Cruz, California, 1970 to 1973.    Sources: Murray, E. (2020). Murder Capital of the World.  Ohta Family Murders in Soquel - Bay Area Television Archive John Linley Frazier | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers John L. Frazier - "LEGENDS" SANTA CRUZ GHOST HUNTERS https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Frazier-2125 https://www.wikiwand.com/en/articles/John_Linley_Frazier  John Linley Frazier - Wikipedia https://crimelibrary.org/notorious_murders/mass/john_frazier/5.html Frazier v. Superior Court, 5 Cal.3d 287 | Casetext Search + Citator https://history.santacruzpl.org/omeka/items/show/102337#?c=0&m=0&s=0&cv=0  John Linley Frazier | Murderpedia, the encyclopedia of murderers   Sponsors:  Air Doctor - www.airdoctorpro.com - Use promo code ONCE to receive up to $300 off.  Lume Whole Body Deodorant - www.lumedeodorant.com - Use code ONCE for 15% off your first purchase. Ancient Nutrition - Visit www.ancientnutrition.com/ONCE for 25% off your first order. Thrive Market - www.thrivemarket.com/onceuponacrime for 30% off your first order plus a FREE $60 gift.    Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

    1 hr

  4. 17/12/2024

    The KKK Christmas Day Bombing

    Harry Tyson Moore and his wife, Harriette, lived a quiet life but raised their voices for the rights of African Americans beginning in the 1930s. They are two unsung heroes of the Civil Rights Movement who became targets of a deadly attack on Christmas Day, 1951.  I’ll share with you this story of extraordinary courage, an unwavering fight for justice, and a shocking and cowardly act that turned a brave couple into martyrs for the civil rights of all Americans.  Sources: The Unsolved Murder of Civil Rights Activist Harry Moore | Smithsonian PBS - Freedom Never Dies: The Story of Harry T. Moore - Florida Terror - The Klan in Florida Microsoft Word - Harry Moore Executive Summary.doc Harry T. Moore: A Timeline of His Accomplishments and His Artifacts The Moores | MooreCulturalComplex https://truecrimediva.com/harry-harriette-moore/  Ku Klux Klan Harriette Vyda Simms Moore (1902-1952) • She died as she lived, for a cause she believed in - Florida Humanities Online - Explore, Read, Watch and Enjoy Florida https://www.history.com/topics/black-history/langston-hughes  https://allthatsinteresting.com/groveland-four  Harry T. and Harriette Moore | NAACP https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/at-christmas-evangeline-moore-thinks-of-her-martyred-parents-and-demands-justice/2011/12/22/gIQAtdcxHP_story.html  https://www.wucf.org/community/themooreproject/the-family/ https://www.heraldtribune.com/story/news/2020/04/21/anderson-uncovering-floridas-mask-law/1314282007/ Sponsors:  Better Help - www.BetterHelp.com/once to get 10% off your first month of online therapy. Uncommon Goods - www.uncommongoods.com/once for 15% off your first gift.  Rosetta Stone - www.rosettastone.com/once for 50% off Rosetta Stone’s Lifetime Membership. Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast Freedom Never Dies: The Story of Harry T. and Harriette V. Moore - https://a.co/d/cLAQ82R Amazon wish list: https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1N480B0FV4R55?ref_=wl_share&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR2DNHVXAqkCDecuRSjuDKGKjL86peHOnKuCkEL1-rr786QJfRbTcqiBwc8_aem_NDtZiP-4K_iUNL-lbbgNZQ

    34 min

  5. 10/12/2024

    The Life and Crimes of Diddy: Part 2

    Welcome back to our two-part series on the life and crimes of Sean Diddy Combs. In this explosive second installment, I detail Diddy’s meteoric rise in the music industry, uncover the allegations regarding his volatile romantic relationships, and expose a shadowy past filled with violence and legal troubles dating back to the 1990s.   I’ll also shed light on Diddy’s infamous “White Parties” and the scandalous after-parties known as "Freak Offs," which are now at the center of a federal investigation involving racketeering, sex trafficking, and a slew of other allegations that have led to an indictment.   We’ll seek to uncover the possible motivations behind Combs’ risky lifestyle choices. Why Diddy do it? Why did Sean Combs trade the luxuries of fame and fortune for drug-fueled escapades, sexual scandals, and the alleged exploitation of others? What path led Diddy from a billionaire business mogul to the kingpin of an alleged decades-long criminal enterprise?   Join me as I dissect the cracks in Diddy’s polished persona to reveal a narrative far darker than anyone could have imagined.   Sources: https://www.revolt.tv/article/2019-11-02/84365/cant-stop-wont-stop-a-timeline-of-diddys-vast-career-and-accomplishments https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-friends-bad-boy-artists-abuse-violence-1235028178/ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/sean-diddy-combs-controversies-timeline-1234889043/ https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-news/pictures/diddys-different-names-through-the-years-puffy-and-more/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/anafaguy/2024/03/31/why-the-1999-shooting-where-diddy-and-jennifer-lopez-were-arrested-has-new-attention/ https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/entertainment/article/3284652/who-diddys-vietnamese-american-baby-mama-dana-tran-and-she-really-supporting-him-she-gave-birth-sean  https://www.gq.com/story/j-cole-diddy-scuffle-explained-the-off-season https://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-13946547/real-reason-Usher-live-P-Diddy-revealed.html https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sean-diddy-combs-sexual-abuse-minors-buzbee-1235120511/ https://www.tmz.com/2024/09/26/diddy-naked-woman-table-party-resurfaced-pics/      Sponsors:    Lume Whole Body Deodorant - www.lumedeodorant.com - use code ONCE for 15% off your first purchase.   Mochi Health - www.joinmochi.com and use code ONCE to get $40 off.   MeUndies - www.medundies.com/once and use code ONCE for 20% off plus free shipping.    Links:  Once Upon a Crime - Episode 11: The Day the Music Died - Tupac and Biggie - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep11-the-day-the-music-died-chapter-3-tupac-and-biggie/ Once Upon a Crime - Episode 12: The Day the Music Died - Selena - https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s1-ep12-the-day-the-music-died-chapter-4-selena/   Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast   Subscribe to Season 9 of Someone Knows Something: The Christine Harron Case  https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/someone-knows-something/id1089216339

    1h 3m

  6. TRAILER

    Listen Now - Hollywood & Crime: The Cotton Club Murder

    On June 10th, 1983, the decomposing body of a well-dressed man was found in a desolate canyon near Los Angeles. John Doe #94 would soon be identified as missing variety show producer Roy Radin. He'd last been seen after meeting with a mysterious woman in a gold dress. Her name was Lanie Jacobs.   Jacobs and Radin were obsessed with becoming Hollywood movie producers. And when their paths collided, it led them to a tantalizing film deal promising fame and fortune. But then, a twisted script unfolded, plunging them into a million-dollar cocaine and cash heist, a tangled web of lies, and ultimately – murder.   The trail led investigators right to Hollywood's doorstep, linking former golden boy producer Robert Evans to the case and dredging up Radin's own troubled past.   But the case turned ice cold. It would take more than five years of dogged pursuit by the L.A. Sheriff’s Department detectives, a secret undercover witness, and another murder almost 3,000 miles from Hollywood – to unlock the truth.   This is the story of a doomed Hollywood partnership, a grisly murder and the search that stretched across the country for a killer – or killers.   From Wondery, and the team behind the hit series Hollywood & Crime: The Dating Game Killer, The Wonderland Murders, Death of Starlet, and the Execution of Bonny Lee Bakley comes a six part series that dives into the dark side of Hollywood through a shocking murder – fueled by ruthless ambition and desperate dreams. Co-hosted by Tracy Pattin and Josh Lucas.   Listen to Hollywood & Crime: The Cotton Club Murder: Wondery.fm/TCCM_OUAC

    5 min

  7. 03/12/2024

    The Life and Crimes of Diddy - Part 1

    American musical producer and entrepreneur Sean “Diddy” Combs was arrested in September  2024 on charges of racketeering, sex trafficking by force, and transportation for purposes of prostitution.  He is currently in federal custody awaiting trial in Brooklyn, New York.  Almost daily, new accusers are coming forward to share additional information about Combs’ alleged history of sexual assault, abuse, and sexual exploitation. In this 2-part series, we’ll dig into Sean Combs’ early life, career, and relationships to answer the question - why Diddy do it?  How did Sean Diddy Combs, a man who seemed to have it all - fame, money, and success - end up in scandal, disgrace, and facing dozens of felony charges and lawsuits?  In this first episode, you’ll learn how the bombshell allegations against Combs came to light. We’ll also examine his childhood and early life to determine what factors contributed to his behavior and alleged criminal activities. We’ll discover that, early on, cracks in the image Diddy presented to the world as a professional businessperson and star marker masked a narcissistic need for control that turned abusive in both his personal and professional lives.  Sources: Timeline: https://www.billboard.com/lists/sean-diddy-combs-allegations-timeline/november-28-2023-diddy-steps-down-as-chairman-from-revolt/ Nov 2023 - Cassie’s statement and lawsuit. https://apnews.com/article/diddy-sean-combs-cassie-lawsuit-e3681f1abbe38c11d829c269c9a89260 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/sean-combs-read-full-indictment-1235103933/  Complete text of lawsuit - https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/diddy-cassie.pdf  https://www.businessinsider.com/sean-diddy-combs-cassie-relationship-timeline-2023-11#september-2019-cassie-marries-alex-fine-9 https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-friends-bad-boy-artists-abuse-violence-1235028178/ https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/diddy-assault-women-college-1235028172/ United States District Court Southern District of New York, United States of American V. Sean Combs, https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/media/1368556/dl Sponsors:  BetterHelp - Visit BetterHelp.com/once to get 10% of your first month of online therapy. Uncommon Goods - For 15% off your next gift, go to  Mint Mobile - Visit MintMobile.com/once to get a new 3-month premium wireless plan for $15 a month.  Air Doctor - AirDoctorPro.com and use promo code ONCE to receive up to $300 off air purifiers.  Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

    54 min

  8. 19/11/2024

    Haunted Homicide - The Old Main Prison Riot

    Over two days in 1980, prisoners at a New Mexico penitentiary, angry at the conditions they experienced inside its walls, rose up against their jailers and wreaked havoc upon officers and inmates alike.  It would be called the bloodiest prison riot in U.S. history.  Over thirty-six hours, thirty-three prisoners were killed, eight guards were brutally assaulted, and hundreds were injured.  The prison would never completely recover from the unprecedented violence that took place. In the years since, the Penitentiary of New Mexico, known as the Old Main Prison, has gained a reputation as one of the most haunted places in the state. After hearing the true story I’m about to tell you, you’ll understand why these traumatized spirits may still be lurking. Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Mexico_State_Penitentiary_riot https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-state-prison-riot-1908/42746860  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BtxL6C_dNKw  Report of the Attorney General on the February 2 and 3, 1980 Riot at the Penitentiary of New Mexico - https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/Digitization/72933NCJRS.pdf New Mexico Corrections Department website - https://www.cd.nm.gov/divisions/corrections-industries/old-main/  https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/devastating-penitentiary-riot-of-1980-changed-new-mexico-and-its-prisons/article_be64a016-31ae-11ea-a754-fb85e49fca77.html  Reports of hauntings at the prison -  https://www.codypolston.com/new-mexico-state-penitentiary-santa-fe-nm-more-witness-accounts-and-ghost-stories/   Sponsors:  Uncommon Goods - For 15% off your next gift, go to uncommongoods.com/once.   Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website -  www.truecrimepodcast.com  YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast

    37 min
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Step into the darker side of history with Once Upon A Crime, a true-crime podcast that delves deep into some of the world’s most gripping cases. Hosted by an expert storyteller, Esther Ludlow, each episode unravels the mysteries behind notorious crimes, exploring the lives of victims, perpetrators, and the intricate details of the investigations that followed. With carefully researched narratives, thematic series, and thoughtful insights, Once Upon A Crime offers listeners a captivating blend of suspense, history, and human psychology. Whether you're a seasoned true-crime fan or just curious about the stories that shaped headlines, Once Upon A Crime promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.

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