Madness and Murder

Danielle French

This podcast is comprised of episodes created by myself and students enrolled in my two sections of Freshman Honors Colloquium at Kent State University. Based on their year-long inquiry into psychopathology, media studies, literary and film criticism, rhetoric, dark tourism, and true crime, these groups of students must decide the case they cover, how they prioritize information they've independently gathered and analyzed about their case(s), and how they employ rhetorical appeals to connect with their listeners. They research, write, record, and edit each episode. Join us!

  1. 18/02/2025

    Episode 51: The Case of Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen: Closed or Cold?

    Authors: Norah Weiss and Raygan Hoover    Description: Quoted as “the O.J. Simpson Case of 1910”, Dr. Hawley Harvey Crippen was convicted and hanged for the gruesome murder of his wife, Cora Crippen. A century later new evidence turned the case upside down. Sources: https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-10802059.  https://www.pbs.org/wnet/secrets/hawley-crippen/199/.  http://news.msu.edu/media/documents/2011/01/3cda8882-265b-4282-9eba-a13d880f09a2.pdf. https://www.standard.co.uk/hp/front/was-dr-crippen-really-innocent-we-exam-the-startling-new-evidence-6639308.html. https://www.historytoday.com/archive/execution-dr-crippen. https://www.britannica.com/topic/crime-law. https://thehistorypress.co.uk/article/the-notorious-case-of-dr-crippen/. Crippen, H. H. to Lady Somerset. Borowitz Crime manuscripts. Box 1, Folder 16. Borowitz Collection. Kent State University Libraries. Special Collections and Archives.

    8 min

  2. 18/02/2025

    Episode 50: A Killer Barbecue

    Authors: Maddie VanDamme and Lizzy Spurlock Description: Previously made infamous by the docuseries Dead North, this episode covers the twisted and disturbing case of Chris Regan. Chris disappeared in 2014 from a small secluded town in the thick forests of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. Throughout this episode, we follow the lead detective from Iron River PD, Chief Laura Frizzo, as she untangles the web of obstacles and evidence to find Chris Regan. Since this case has already been solved, we will introduce and discuss the many theories that were once believed until justice was eventually served. "A Killer Barbecue" will have listeners on the edge of their seats, especially when a seemingly friendly neighbor cook-out takes a potentially devastating turn.  Sources: ttps://abcnews.go.com/US/devil-woman-investigators-cracked-2014-murder-michigan-resident/story?id=99869387. https://whatliesbeyond.boards.net/thread/8429/couple-served-murder-victim-barbecue.  Jason Fox, Executive Producer. Dead North. Inzee Entertainment, 2022.

    23 min
  3. Episode 49: Still Wanted: The Zodiac Killer

    18/02/2025

    Episode 49: Still Wanted: The Zodiac Killer

    Author: Willa Sabelko Description: The infamous Zodiac Killer was a serial killer in the Bay Area in the late 1960s who claimed to "like killing people because it's so much fun." There are five confirmed victims, but the killer claimed to have killed 37, and some say it may have been even more. The case has never been solved despite the many arguments made and evidence found against more than one suspect. This episode focuses on the evidence against the police's only named suspect, Arthur Leigh Allen. Since the case is unsolved, victims and their families have never gotten justice, and a killer walked free. Sources: Netflix - "This is the Zodiac Speaking"Links to an external site.  Britannica - Zodiac killer. TODAY.com - Who was Arthur Leigh Allen? New Netflix doc explores the only named Zodiac Killer suspect Collider - The True Story Behind 'This Is the Zodiac Speaking' Will Leave You Unsettled. Business Insider - Netflix's 'This is the Zodiac Speaking' tells the story of the hunt for a serial killer. Here's what happened to murder suspect Arthur Leigh Allen. The Sacramento Bee - Vallejo police have sent Zodiac Killer DNA to a lab. Results could come in weeks. SFGATE (The Examiner Interview) - Author, Web site claim SFPD let Zodiac escape. Oxygen - Here’s What We Know About the Victims of the Still-Unidentified Zodiac Killer.     Music - Scott Buckley.

    8 min

  4. 18/02/2025

    Episode 48: The Butcher Baker: Crimes Numb the Mind

    Author: Taylor Gerring  Description: In this episode, I will discuss the infamous Alaskan serial killer Robert Hansen, also known as “The Butcher Baker”. This case is filled with fraud, stealing, abductions, murder, and arson. With over 30 victims, some are still unknown and unidentified, which is why I picked this case. Advances in DNA and genealogy make this case still relevant today, and some of the victims have recently been identified even though these disappearances took place from 1972-1984.  Sources:  Who Is Serial Killer Robert Hansen? What To Know About Alaska Murderer | Crime News. SLAYER IN ALASKA WAS JAILED IN OTHER CASES, JUDGE NOTES - The New York Times. https://www.cbsnews.com/news/serial-killer-robert-hansen-victim-identified-robin-pelkey/. https://eds.p.ebscohost.com/eds/detail/detail?vid=5&sid=3f3125f0-d816-4c73-9794-564136cf6ed7%40redis&bdata=JkF1dGhUeXBlPWlwJnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmUmc2NvcGU9c2l0ZQ%3d%3d#AN=Q4KHSON2014082230282074&db=pwh. https://infoweb.newsbank.com/apps/news/document-view?p=AMNEWS&docref=news/14ECA9C5478FDA20. Robert Hansen, convicted serial killer in Alaska, dies at 75 - The Washington Post. You Have Questions - Butcher Baker. https://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/psyc%20405/serial%20killers/hansen,%20robert%20-%20fall,%202005.pdf.

    12 min

  5. 18/02/2025

    Episode 47: The Unlucky Triple Seven: The Events and Effects of Malaysian 370

    Authors: Ben Szalay and Elliott Whiteside Transcript Link. Malaysian Airlines flight 370 diminished confidence in the aviation industry after it’s disappearance.  While many documentaries constructed theories attempting to explain the disappearance, this podcast describes the facts about the crash and the responses from the media, the victims, the aviation industry, and us.  Information used to describe the flight was sourced from the Ministry of Transport Malaysia’s “Factual Information” report of the incident along with many other sources used to explain the flights' reaction which are linked below.  1. Microsoft Word - 1. Cover%2c Contents%2c Objective & Disclaimer%2c Glossary and Abbrev. & Codes Pages-%2827Feb2015%29_FINAL%281608%29.  2. MH370: Families of those on missing flight cannot shake off their grief without answers | AP News.  3. The MH370 families seeking closure, justice and a fresh search | Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 | The Guardian.  4. 'What happened to our loved ones?': Why families of MH370 crash victims are calling for a new search - Times of India.  5. How can jet disappear? In the ocean, it's not hard | AP News.  6.https://youtu.be/Cm1j1fpldkc?feature=shared.  7. MH370: The Plane That Disappeared - Netflix.  8. 10 years on—how MH370 changed flight tracking and aviation safety | Flightradar24 Blog.  9. D-AIPX.  10. Malaysia agrees to resume 'no find, no fee' hunt for flight MH370, 10 years after plane disappeared | AP News.  11. Researchers Create Oceanic Tracking Model to Urge Investigators to Revive Search for Missing Malaysia Airlines Flight | lettersandsciencemag.  12. MH370 mystery finally solved? AI and quantum tech may have cracked the biggest puzzle in aviation history - The Economic Times.  13. 10 years later: New radio wave tech puts MH370 search back on track.  Audio  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lRXYb-eO1ew(time 6:56)

    14 min

  6. 18/02/2025

    Episode 46: The Peoples Temple: The Story of Jonestown

    Authors: Samya and Mia Description: On November 18, 1978, a mass suicide at Jonestown changed nearly one thousand lives. Peoples Temple leader Jim Jones led over 900 members in a mass suicide through the consumption of cyanide-laced punch. We take a deep dive into the Peoples Temple timeline, and the years leading up to the mass suicide. Through the exploration of Jim Jones’ leadership and members' experiences we discover the true conditions of the Peoples Temple. Additionally, we dissect the media’s approach to the coverage of Jonestown from an ethical standpoint. Sources: https://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/mass-suicide-at-jonestown.  https://www.history.com/news/jonestown-jim-jones-mass-murder-suicide.  FBI statement of the jonestown cult including FBI files. https://jonestown.sdsu.edu/?page_id=16973 https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/media/pdf/transcript/Jonestown_transcript.pdf. https://time.com/6120017/jonestown-massacre-survivors/#  https://www.tripadvisor.com/AttractionProductReview-g294078-d32714084-2_Day_Jonestown_Memorial_Tour-Georgetown_Demerara_Mahaica.html#/media/32714084/?albumid=-150&type=ALL_INCLUDING_RESTRICTED&category=-150  Music: “Dark mysterious true crime music - loopable” by Joel Fazhari - Pixabay https://pixabay.com/music/crime-scene-dark-mysterious-true-crime-music-loopable-235870/

    15 min
  7. Episode 45: Amerithrax: The Hunt for a Bioterrorist

    18/02/2025

    Episode 45: Amerithrax: The Hunt for a Bioterrorist

    Authors: Lindsay Klink and Bella Chismar Description: In this episode, we will be discussing the 2001 Anthrax Attacks. The attacks were less than a week after the terrorist attack on 9/11, instilling more fear in Americans. Over 10,000 people were affected by the powder sent with letters containing threats to America. After ten long years of working on this case, the case remains relatively inconclusive, with their only prime suspect taking his life before they could indict him. Join us as we discuss in further detail the specifics of the attacks and investigation into these mysterious letters. Sources: Amerithrax or Anthrax Investigation — FBI FBI Records: The Vault — Amerithrax The United States Department of Justice Anthrax in America: A Chronology and Analysis of the Fall 2001 Attacks Anthrax Fast Facts | CNN Introduction - Review of the Scientific Approaches Used during the FBI’s Investigation of the 2001 Anthrax Letters - NCBI Bookshelf Summary - Review of the Scientific Approaches Used during the FBI’s Investigation of the 2001 Anthrax Letters - NCBI Bookshelf Who Was Bruce Ivins? : NPR Portrait Emerges of Anthrax Suspect’s Troubled Life - The New York Times The anthrax killings: A troubled mind - Los Angeles Times https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/takeaway/segments/5766-audio-timeline-an-anthrax-scare-in-the-aftermath-of-the-sept-11-attacks Music from Powerful Digital Assets & Tools for Video Creators | Artlist

    9 min

  8. 18/02/2025

    Episode 44: Frog Boys of South Korea

    Authors: Sarah Henson & Leah Garrett Description: This podcast talks about the sloppy investigation of the Frog Boys of South Korea. We dive into details about how the police messed with evidence leading to this case still being cold after almost 35 years. We also describe some different theories about what could have really happened to the 5 boys that chilly spring night. Sources: https://www.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B0B6TTZYBJ/ref=atv_dp_share_cu_r  https://www.criminallyintrigued.com/blog/2019/1/6/the-curious-case-of-the-frog-boys https://web.archive.org/web/20160311052735/http:/koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/article.aspx?aid=1909669 https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cnainsider/intrigue-scandal-heartbreak-case-south-korea-missing-frog-boys-774406 Music: Music by Piotr Witowski from Pixabay. Music by Free Sound Server. from Pixabay Music by Sergii Pavkin. from Pixabay.

    8 min
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About

This podcast is comprised of episodes created by myself and students enrolled in my two sections of Freshman Honors Colloquium at Kent State University. Based on their year-long inquiry into psychopathology, media studies, literary and film criticism, rhetoric, dark tourism, and true crime, these groups of students must decide the case they cover, how they prioritize information they've independently gathered and analyzed about their case(s), and how they employ rhetorical appeals to connect with their listeners. They research, write, record, and edit each episode. Join us!

Information

  • Creator
    Danielle French
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    53
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Danielle French
  • Show Website
    Madness and Murder