Housewife of Horrors Housewife of Horrors

This episode is another listener request. Thank you Buzz M. for suggesting this case from the scary stories you grew up listening to about your reclusive neighbor. The time was 1958. The place, South Bend, Indiana. The neighborhood of Rum Village was just your everyday middle American town. Until a string of grizzly murders all happened in the winter of 1958. Police scramble for clues and suspects, while the town is scared and angry. Sights get set on one man whole live at the center of all the murders, Maxwell Marley. Described as the neighborhood nice guy, police focus their investigation strictly on him. Everyone is questioning his guilt because of his survival throughout all the attacks, while others believe in his innocence due to the lack of evidence. Listen along, as I piece together this case of numerous murders from archived newspapers, police files, and neighborhood folklore into a comprehensive timeline. 

In the second part of this episode of Amish Murders, we dive into another three cases of murder, crime, and mental illness. Similar to the last episode, the Amish and Mennonites live their simplistic but deeply religious lifestyles separate from the rest of the modern world. But despite their religious but separate ways, these communities are not immune from the crimes and misfortunes that happen in everyday life. In this episode, we cover three more cases of Amish people going about their daily lives when their lives when life as they know it, is cut short by the hands of those that they loved and trusted.

The Amish community, they live their lives in simplistic but religiously dedicated ways. Separate from the modern world, the Amish hold themselves to a high standard of living. However, they are not exempt from the temptations that life has to offer, for they are just people too. In this first episode of a two part series, we cover three cases of Amish men that gave into their baser instincts and betrayed not only their communities, but the loved ones closest to them. They say that the road to Heaven is paved with good intentions, however for these murderous men, it is paved with self indulgence, narcissism, and blood. 

The time was 1989. The place, New York. Daniel Rakowitz was a twenty-something mentally unstable homeless man. He spent his days selling weed with his rooster and spent his nights sleeping in Tompkins Square Park, until a couple living near by took him in. As many roommate situations go, the living arrangements didn't take long to sour. With the fear of being homeless again lingering over his head, Daniel finds another roommate. This is when Daniel and Monika find each other. He was in his feelings for her, while she just needed another place to stay. This made for a volatile living situation, which resulted in multiple stories and even more rumors as to what really happened to Monika.   

The time was 1983. The place, Bloomington, Illinois. Life was normal for the Hendricks family. Three beautiful children, a happy home, and financial stability; what more could a family ask for. But it would all come to a tragic end when David was away on business and returns home to find his family was brutally murdered. Police focus is where it should be when the investigation initially began, but tunnel vision and numerous discrepancies would take this case astray. Listen along as we discuss the beginnings of this ideal family life, details to the murders, and the multiple trials of laying out David's guilt or innocence.

Located in upstate New York, Dryden is a picturesque small town. However, under the veil of small town beauty, a dark cloud hovers over. For nearly a decade, tragedy and murder has struck its residents over and over. Listen along as we discuss years of murders, suicides, and accidental deaths that has plagued this town and left its residents shaken to their cores.