Murderland Chicago: A Deep Dish of Death

Jonathan Sanchez Leos and Meridith Halsey

An exploration of how Chicago has created some of the most notorious serial killers and murders in America. Unpacking the "socio" in "sociopath," Jonathan Sanchez Leos and Meridith Halsey investigate how the ecological urban landscape of Chicago provided the perfect background for some of the most heinous crimes ever.

  1. 12/31/2024

    23: Englewood Part III

    This is the part 3 of our 3-parter on the south side neighborhood of Englewood, which harbored 3 active serials killers at the same time in the 1990s. This episode focuses on the the police torture that led to an unknowable number of false confessions, the ongoing legacy of that torture, and how it contributed to the difficulty in identifying and prosecuting the murderers who were killing women in Englewood throughout the 1990s. TW: Police brutality, torture, forced confessions, sexual assault, murder Research sources include: Clarno, Andy, et al. Imperial Policing: Weaponized Data in Carceral Chicago. University of Minnesota Press, 2024. Facts and Fictions About Serial Killers | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201907/facts-and-fictions-about-serial-killers. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024. Peres, Judy: "Trial Begins for Geralds in Engelwood Slayings" Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418426962/8C243852CCA41A0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers Mills, Steve and Wilson, Terry. “State Says It Convicted The Wrong Serial Killer” Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2011, https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/newspapers/state-says-convicted-wrong-serial-killer/docview/419124122/sem-2?accountid=303 Possley, Maurice. “Rape Victim Tells of Attack in Englewood Strangler Trial” Chicago Tribune, 05 Nov. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418482281/8298720921094831PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers Exoneree, Center on Wrongful Convictions: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/exonerations/il/hubert-geralds-jr.html. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024. Hubert Geralds, Jr. - National Registry of Exonerations. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3795. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024. Terry, Don. “In a Chicago Neighborhood Overrun With Crime, a Serial Killer Almost Walks Away.” The New York Times, 26 June 1995. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/26/us/in-a-chicago-neighborhood-overrun-with-crime-a-serial-killer-almost-walks-away.html. Roberts, Sam. “Jon Burge, 70, Ex-Commander in Chicago Police Torture Cases, Dies.” The New York Times, 20 Sept. 2018. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/obituaries/jon-burge-dead.html. Swartz, Tracy. “Chicago Serial Killer Andre Crawford Back in the Spotlight 4 Years After His Death.” Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2021, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/2511951706/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/2?accountid=303&sourcetype=Blogs,%20Podcasts,%20&%20Websites Marshall, Andrew. "DNA Leads Police to Chicago mass-killer suspect." The Independent, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/311647560/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/3?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers “Chicago Police Charge Man.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/261034599/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/4?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers “Man Admits Serial Killings, Police Say.” The New York Times, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/431372834/EAEBAD8401C341D0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers Sabrina L Miller and Terry Wilson, Tribune Staff Writers Tribune staff writers Evan Osnos, Noreen Ahmed. "Suspect Glad he's Caught, Cops Say Taped Confessions, DNA Help Make Case." Chicago Tribune, Feb 01 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/419082971/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/6?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers# Follow us on Instagram @deepdishofdeath_podcast Find us on BlueSky @deepdishofdeath.bsky.social Email us at deepdishofdeath@gmail.com

    1h 37m
  2. 12/24/2024

    22: Englewood Part II

    This is the part 2 of our 3-parter on the south side neighborhood of Englewood, which harbored 3 active serials killers at the same time in the 1990s. This episode focuses on the similarity of the crimes committed by all three of these killers, and how the conditions in Englewood promoted these similarities. TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, murder Research sources include: Facts and Fictions About Serial Killers | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201907/facts-and-fictions-about-serial-killers. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024. Peres, Judy: "Trial Begins for Geralds in Engelwood Slayings" Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418426962/8C243852CCA41A0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers Mills, Steve and Wilson, Terry. “State Says It Convicted The Wrong Serial Killer” Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2011, https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/newspapers/state-says-convicted-wrong-serial-killer/docview/419124122/sem-2?accountid=303 Possley, Maurice. “Rape Victim Tells of Attack in Englewood Strangler Trial” Chicago Tribune, 05 Nov. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418482281/8298720921094831PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers Exoneree, Center on Wrongful Convictions: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/exonerations/il/hubert-geralds-jr.html. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024. Hubert Geralds, Jr. - National Registry of Exonerations. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3795. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024. Terry, Don. “In a Chicago Neighborhood Overrun With Crime, a Serial Killer Almost Walks Away.” The New York Times, 26 June 1995. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/26/us/in-a-chicago-neighborhood-overrun-with-crime-a-serial-killer-almost-walks-away.html. Roberts, Sam. “Jon Burge, 70, Ex-Commander in Chicago Police Torture Cases, Dies.” The New York Times, 20 Sept. 2018. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/obituaries/jon-burge-dead.html. Swartz, Tracy. “Chicago Serial Killer Andre Crawford Back in the Spotlight 4 Years After His Death.” Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2021, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/2511951706/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/2?accountid=303&sourcetype=Blogs,%20Podcasts,%20&%20Websites Marshall, Andrew. "DNA Leads Police to Chicago mass-killer suspect." The Independent, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/311647560/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/3?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers “Chicago Police Charge Man.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/261034599/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/4?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers “Man Admits Serial Killings, Police Say.” The New York Times, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/431372834/EAEBAD8401C341D0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers Sabrina L Miller and Terry Wilson, Tribune Staff Writers Tribune staff writers Evan Osnos, Noreen Ahmed. "Suspect Glad he's Caught, Cops Say Taped Confessions, DNA Help Make Case." Chicago Tribune, Feb 01 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/419082971/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/6?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers# Follow us on Instagram @deepdishofdeath_podcast Find us on BlueSky @deepdishofdeath.bsky.social Email us at deepdishofdeath@gmail.com

    49 min
  3. 12/17/2024

    21: Englewood Part I

    This is the part 1 of our 3-parter on the south side neighborhood of Englewood, which harbored 3 active serials killers at the same time in the 1990s. This episode focuses on the history of Englewood and how it became a fertile environment for violent serial murder. TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, murder Research sources include: Mello-Klein, Cody. “Why Are There Fewer Serial Killers Now than There Used to Be?” Northeastern Global News, 26 Apr. 2023, https://news.northeastern.edu/2023/04/26/serial-killer-decline/. Facts and Fictions About Serial Killers | Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201907/facts-and-fictions-about-serial-killers. Accessed 5 Sept. 2024. Peres, Judy: "Trial Begins for Geralds in Engelwood Slayings" Chicago Tribune, 30 Oct. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418426962/8C243852CCA41A0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers Mills, Steve and Wilson, Terry. “State Says It Convicted The Wrong Serial Killer” Chicago Tribune, 11 Feb. 2011, https://chipublib.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/newspapers/state-says-convicted-wrong-serial-killer/docview/419124122/sem-2?accountid=303 Possley, Maurice. “Rape Victim Tells of Attack in Englewood Strangler Trial” Chicago Tribune, 05 Nov. 1997, https://www.proquest.com/chicagotribune/docview/418482281/8298720921094831PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers Exoneree, Center on Wrongful Convictions: Northwestern Pritzker School of Law. https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/exonerations/il/hubert-geralds-jr.html. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024. Hubert Geralds, Jr. - National Registry of Exonerations. https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=3795. Accessed 27 Sept. 2024. Terry, Don. “In a Chicago Neighborhood Overrun With Crime, a Serial Killer Almost Walks Away.” The New York Times, 26 June 1995. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/1995/06/26/us/in-a-chicago-neighborhood-overrun-with-crime-a-serial-killer-almost-walks-away.html. Roberts, Sam. “Jon Burge, 70, Ex-Commander in Chicago Police Torture Cases, Dies.” The New York Times, 20 Sept. 2018. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/2018/09/20/obituaries/jon-burge-dead.html. Swartz, Tracy. “Chicago Serial Killer Andre Crawford Back in the Spotlight 4 Years After His Death.” Chicago Tribune, 13 Apr. 2021, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/2511951706/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/2?accountid=303&sourcetype=Blogs,%20Podcasts,%20&%20Websites Marshall, Andrew. "DNA Leads Police to Chicago mass-killer suspect." The Independent, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/311647560/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/3?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers “Chicago Police Charge Man.” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 31 Jan. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/261034599/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/4?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers “Man Admits Serial Killings, Police Say.” The New York Times, 01 Feb. 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/431372834/EAEBAD8401C341D0PQ/1?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers Sabrina L Miller and Terry Wilson, Tribune Staff Writers Tribune staff writers Evan Osnos, Noreen Ahmed. "Suspect Glad he's Caught, Cops Say Taped Confessions, DNA Help Make Case." Chicago Tribune, Feb 01 2000, https://www.proquest.com/globalnews/docview/419082971/1628F5932BC3430EPQ/6?accountid=303&sourcetype=Newspapers# “9 Years of Decline: Expect Chicago to Be No. 4 behind Houston by 2035.” Illinois Policy, 16 May 2024, https://www.illinoispolicy.org/9-years-of-decline-expect-chicago-to-be-no-4-behind-houston-by-2035/. Staff, NBC Chicago. “Chicago’s Population Has Dropped Follow us on Instagram @deepdishofdeath_podcast Find us on BlueSky @deepdishofdeath.bsky.social Email us at deepdishofdeath@gmail.com

    1h 6m
  4. 12/10/2024

    20: Wolf Lake Part II

    This is the part 2 of our 2-parter on Wolf Lake, a southeast side lake that drew the attention of Leopold and Loeb as well as Andrew Urdiales. In this episode we discuss Andrew Urdiales' murderous actions in both SoCal and around Wolf Lake. TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, torture, murder, death penalty Research sources include: "California Kidnapping Survivor Details Brush With Alleged Serial Killer." Inside Edition - YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSPnckPVWMA. Accessed 4 Sept. 2024. “Southeast Side Marsh Is Urban Oasis.” WBEZ Chicago, 15 June 2011, https://www.wbez.org/stories/hegewisch-marsh-oasis-of-nature-in-industrial-southeast-chicago/557bd4fb-2cbd-4121-9b7c-99ca3bfea539. “Hegewisch, Past and Present.” WBEZ Chicago, 5 Apr. 2012, https://www.wbez.org/stories/hegewisch-past-and-present/d64e807f-9505-4639-84e0-8c6399b171bb. “How the American steel industry nearly committed suicide — and not from trade.” The Seattle Times, 13 March 2018, https://www.seattletimes.com/business/economy/how-the-american-steel-industry-nearly-committed-suicide-and-not-from-trade/. Bensman, David, and Mark R. Wilson. “Iron and Steel.” Encyclopedia of Chicago, Chicago History Museum and the Newberry Library, 2005. Encyclopedia of Chicago, https://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/653.html. Degrade, Susan. "Historian documents early days of Hegewisch, Chicago’s ‘most isolated neighborhood.’" Chicago Tribune, 12 January 2024, https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/01/12/historian-documents-early-days-of-hegewisch-chicagos-most-isolated-neighborhood/ Writers, PHIL ROCKROHR and LAURI HARVEY Times Staff. “Testimony Shows Life of Abuse.” Nwitimes.Com, 5 May 2002, https://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/testimony-shows-life-of-abuse/article_66583e13-92e9-5eb0-b558-683a394e6b2b.html. People v. Urdiales, 225 Ill. 2d 354 | Casetext Search + Citator. https://casetext.com/case/people-v-urdiales. Accessed 11 Aug. 2024. Lauri Harvey Keagle. “Families Still Waiting for Serial Killer’s Calif. Trial.” Nwitimes.Com, 6 Sept. 2015, https://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/forum/families-still-waiting-for-serial-killers-calif-trial/article_5deac238-c117-5802-b23e-a54592fb043d.html. Granberry, Michael. “‘The Details, as Much as His Victims, Were the Trophies.’” Los Angeles Times, 14 May 1997. 07/07/2016. Follow us on Instagram @deepdishofdeath_podcast Find us on BlueSky @deepdishofdeath.bsky.social Email us at deepdishofdeath@gmail.com

    1h 27m
  5. 12/03/2024

    19: Wolf Lake Part I

    This is the part 1 of our 2-parter on Wolf Lake, a southeast side lake that drew the attention of Leopold and Loeb as well as Andrew Urdiales. We dive into the history of Wolf Lake and the Chicago neighborhood it sits it, Hegewisch. TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, torture, murder Research sources include: “Southeast Side Marsh Is Urban Oasis.” WBEZ Chicago, 15 June 2011, https://www.wbez.org/stories/hegewisch-marsh-oasis-of-nature-in-industrial-southeast-chicago/557bd4fb-2cbd-4121-9b7c-99ca3bfea539. “Hegewisch, Past and Present.” WBEZ Chicago, 5 Apr. 2012, https://www.wbez.org/stories/hegewisch-past-and-present/d64e807f-9505-4639-84e0-8c6399b171bb. “How the American steel industry nearly committed suicide — and not from trade.” The Seattle Times, 13 March 2018, https://www.seattletimes.com/business/economy/how-the-american-steel-industry-nearly-committed-suicide-and-not-from-trade/. Bensman, David, and Mark R. Wilson. “Iron and Steel.” Encyclopedia of Chicago, Chicago History Museum and the Newberry Library, 2005. Encyclopedia of Chicago, https://encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/653.html. Degrade, Susan. "Historian documents early days of Hegewisch, Chicago’s ‘most isolated neighborhood.’" Chicago Tribune, 12 January 2024, https://www.chicagotribune.com/2024/01/12/historian-documents-early-days-of-hegewisch-chicagos-most-isolated-neighborhood/ Writers, PHIL ROCKROHR and LAURI HARVEY Times Staff. “Testimony Shows Life of Abuse.” Nwitimes.Com, 5 May 2002, https://www.nwitimes.com/uncategorized/testimony-shows-life-of-abuse/article_66583e13-92e9-5eb0-b558-683a394e6b2b.html. People v. Urdiales, 225 Ill. 2d 354 | Casetext Search + Citator. https://casetext.com/case/people-v-urdiales. Accessed 11 Aug. 2024. Lauri Harvey Keagle. “Families Still Waiting for Serial Killer’s Calif. Trial.” Nwitimes.Com, 6 Sept. 2015, https://www.nwitimes.com/news/opinion/forum/families-still-waiting-for-serial-killers-calif-trial/article_5deac238-c117-5802-b23e-a54592fb043d.html. Granberry, Michael. “‘The Details, as Much as His Victims, Were the Trophies.’” Los Angeles Times, 14 May 1997. 07/07/2016. Follow us on Instagram @deepdishofdeath_podcast Find us on BlueSky @deepdishofdeath.bsky.social Email us at deepdishofdeath@gmail.com

    1h 1m
  6. 11/26/2024

    18: The L&L Tavern Part II

    This is the part 2 of our series on the L&L Tavern, a notorious dive bar that both John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer patronized. What drew them to the L&L Tavern? What made them feel so comfortable there? Who's drinking there today? TW: Kidnapping, sexual assault, torture, murder, cannibalism, anthropophagy, homophobia Research sources include: “Jeffrey Dahmer’s Life (and Death) in Prison.” Biography, 16 June 2020, https://www.biography.com/crime/jeffrey-dahmer-life-death-prison. “Jeffrey Dahmer: A Timeline of His Murders, Arrests and Death.” Biography, 11 Aug. 2021, https://www.biography.com/crime/jeffrey-dahmer-timeline-murders. Ap. “17 SLAYINGS TIED TO MILWAUKEE MAN.” The New York Times, 26 July 1991. NYTimes.com, https://www.nytimes.com/1991/07/26/us/17-slayings-tied-to-milwaukee-man.html. Waxman, Olivia B. “How Police Caught Jeffrey Dahmer.” TIME, 22 July 2016, https://time.com/4412621/jeffrey-dahmer-cannibal-murderer-25th-anniversary-arrest/. Staff, Newsweek. “Secrets of a Serial Killer.” Newsweek, 2 Feb. 1992, https://www.newsweek.com/secrets-serial-killer-200472. Griffin, Jean Latz. “SUSPECT`S BEHAVIOR RAISED FEW QUESTIONS, CHICAGO BAR PATRONS SAY.” Chicago Tribune, 26 July 1991, https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/07/26/suspects-behavior-raised-few-questions-chicago-bar-patrons-say/. Staff, GoPride com News. “Survivor of Jeffrey Dahmer Charged in Man’s Death.” GoPride Chicago (ChicagoPride.Com), https://chicago.gopride.com/news/article.cfm/articleid/21084724. Accessed 23 June 2024. It’s Hard to Forget Dahmer, but Please Remember His Victims. https://archive.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/125993113.html/. Accessed 23 June 2024. Gottesman, Andrew, and Jodi Wilgoren. “FRIENDS RECALL WARM PERSONALITIES OF 2.” Chicago Tribune, 26 July 1991, https://www.chicagotribune.com/1991/07/26/friends-recall-warm-personalities-of-2/. Backderf, Derf. My Friend Dahmer: A Graphic Novel. Abrams ComicArts, 2012. Follow us on Instagram @deepdishofdeath_podcast Find us on BlueSky @deepdishofdeath.bsky.social Email us at deepdishofdeath@gmail.com

    1 hr
4
out of 5
30 Ratings

About

An exploration of how Chicago has created some of the most notorious serial killers and murders in America. Unpacking the "socio" in "sociopath," Jonathan Sanchez Leos and Meridith Halsey investigate how the ecological urban landscape of Chicago provided the perfect background for some of the most heinous crimes ever.

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