The History of Murder

Clare O’Donohue and Margaret Smith
  • 5.0 (16)
  • History
  • Updated Biweekly

Some murders changed history. Some happened because of it.  The History of Murder puts crimes in context - using interviews with historians, actors reading the actual words of those involved, and narration that brings it together for a compelling story in each episode. 

  1. Jul 21

    Escape Route: The Story of the Young Brothers

    Let us know what you think about the episode Route 66 was in its infancy, but it was already used to transport stolen cars from one state to another. Likely the most successful at it were the Young Brothers, who along with other family members, became experts. As a result, they were wanted men. When the police came to arrest them, the shootout would change law enforcement forever.   More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team & Contributors Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue  https://clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Margaret Smith Editor – Jessica Kozdra  https://www.youtube.com/@TheSuperverse/videos Social Media Manager & Design - Mikayla Bogus https://mikayladesign.cargo.site IT Manager - Conor Sweeney The History of Murder Logo - Bernadette Carr https://www.bcarrdesign.com Theme Song “My Carnal Life I Will Lay Down” - Rob Brereton https://robertbrereton.com   Voice of Harry Young - Jon Crowley Voice of Frank Pike - Joe Janes Thanks to The History Museum on the Square and Sean Fitzgibbons https://historymuseumonthesquare.org/ This was truly a team effort, and we’re grateful to everyone who played a part. Help keep us around by ….  Buying Merch  https://buy.thehistoryofmurder.com Joining Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thehistoryofmurder  And Supporting Us Directly https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistoryofmurder

    Escape Route: The Story of the Young Brothers

  2. Jul 7

    Congressman. Killer. Hero. The Story of Dan Sickles

    Let us know what you think about the episode It was a massive story in the year before the Civil War. A sitting US congressman killed the son of an American legend. Why had he done it? And who was really the victim? It wasn't an easy question to answer then - or now. And what happened after the trial is also up for debate.   More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team & Contributors Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue  https://clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Margaret Smith Editor – Ruben Woolcott https://www.rubenwoolcott.com Social Media Manager & Design - Mikayla Bogus https://mikayladesign.cargo.site IT Manager - Conor Sweeney The History of Murder Logo - Bernadette Carr https://www.bcarrdesign.com Theme Song “My Carnal Life I Will Lay Down” - Rob Brereton https://robertbrereton.com   Voice of Daniel Sickles - Jon Crowley Voice of Teresa Sickles - Esther Oh This was truly a team effort, and we’re grateful to everyone who played a part. Help keep us around by ….  Buying Merch  https://buy.thehistoryofmurder.com Joining Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thehistoryofmurder  And Supporting Us Directly https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistoryofmurder

    Congressman. Killer. Hero. The Story of Dan Sickles

  3. Jun 23

    The Bath School Disaster: The Story of the 1st US School Bombing

    Let us know what you think about the episode In 1927, in a small town in Michigan, children and teachers walked into class, celebrating their last day of school before summer break. But within an hour, half of the school was reduced to rubble as dynamite brought down the building. Those inside were trapped under the debris and parents rushed to save their children. The explosion was devastating – but who caused it, and why, threatened to shatter the town. It remains the deadliest act of school violence in U.S. history.  More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team & Contributors Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue  https://clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Margaret Smith Editor – Steph Kelly Social Media Manager & Design - Mikayla Bogus https://mikayladesign.cargo.site IT Manager - Conor Sweeney The History of Murder Logo - Bernadette Carr https://www.bcarrdesign.com Theme Song “My Carnal Life I Will Lay Down” - Rob Brereton https://robertbrereton.com   Voice of Monty Ellsworth: Mitchell Bisschop Interview: Susan Hagerman Bath School Museum https://bathschoolmuseum.org/ This was truly a team effort, and we’re grateful to everyone who played a part. Help keep us around by ….  Buying Merch  https://buy.thehistoryofmurder.com Joining Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thehistoryofmurder  And Supporting Us Directly https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistoryofmurder

    The Bath School Disaster: The Story of the 1st US School Bombing

  4. Jun 9

    The Torso Killer: Eliot Ness' Last Case

    Let us know what you think about the episode On a bridge in Morrison, Colorado, the fate of two men intersected. One man had everything going for him, the other should have. What happened there led to a search, a gruesome discovery and a manhunt through multiple states and two countries. The result wasn’t just the loss of a life, but the destruction of part of the most famous family in Colorado. More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team & Contributors Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue  https://clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Margaret Smith Writer: Kara Amis Thomas https://karaamis.substack.com Editor – Jessica Stokey Social Media Manager & Design - Mikayla Bogus https://mikayladesign.cargo.site IT Manager - Conor Sweeney The History of Murder Logo - Bernadette Carr https://www.bcarrdesign.com Theme Song “My Carnal Life I Will Lay Down” - Rob Brereton https://robertbrereton.com Interview: Philip Jett  https://philipjett.com/   This was truly a team effort, and we’re grateful to everyone who played a part. Help keep us around by ….  Buying Merch  https://buy.thehistoryofmurder.com Joining Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thehistoryofmurder  And Supporting Us Directly https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistoryofmurder #truecrime #history

    The Torso Killer: Eliot Ness' Last Case

  5. May 26

    Burning Hell: The Story of the Sacking of Osceola

    Let us know what you think about the episode In September of 1861, Osceola Missouri was burned to the ground, men were killed and homes were plundered. Led by a Kansas senator and aided by a local minister, the raid was theoretically on behalf of the Union cause. But given the actions of the men who rode into town, the question of their true purpose remains. More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team & Contributors Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue  https://clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Margaret Smith Writer - Kara Amis Thomas https://karaamis.substack.com Editor – Steph Kelly https://stephkellyedits.com Social Media Manager & Design - Mikayla Bogus https://mikayladesign.cargo.site IT Manager - Conor Sweeney The History of Murder Logo - Bernadette Carr https://www.bcarrdesign.com Theme Song “My Carnal Life I Will Lay Down” - Rob Brereton https://robertbrereton.com   Voice of Jim Lane - Nick Rowley https://www.njrowley.com Voices of Montgomery/ Britton - Joe Janes https://www.joejanes.net Voice of Mary Emeline Lewis - Kelly Haran This was truly a team effort, and we’re grateful to everyone who played a part. Help keep us around by ….  Buying Merch  https://buy.thehistoryofmurder.com Joining Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thehistoryofmurder  And Supporting Us Directly https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistoryofmurder

    Burning Hell: The Story of the Sacking of Osceola

  6. May 12

    Killed By Their Own: The Story of Nazi POWs in American Camps

    Let us know what you think about the episode During WW2, over 400,000 German and Italian POWs were imprisoned in camps around the United States. The ordinary soldiers were thrilled that they had plenty to eat, could play soccer, put on shows, and work on farms. But those who held onto Nazi doctrine would punish their fellow POWs for what they saw as fraternizing with the enemy. In some cases, that punishment included murder. And when the US military convicted the men, it led to a terrifying showdown with the German government, and a death sentence for 15 American POWs.  Interview: William Geroux Author, The Fifteen: Murder, Retribution & The Forgotten Story of nazi POWs in America More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team & Contributors Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue  https://clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Margaret Smith Editor – Ruben Woolcott https://www.rubenwoolcott.com  Social Media Manager & Design - Mikayla Bogus https://mikayladesign.cargo.site IT Manager - Conor Sweeney The History of Murder Logo - Bernadette Carr https://www.bcarrdesign.com Theme Song “My Carnal Life I Will Lay Down” - Rob Brereton https://robertbrereton.com   Voice of Guenther Oswald: Michael O'Donohue Voice of Walter Beyer: Alex Zurhellen  Voice of Henry Spicer: Joe Janes joejanes.net Voice of "report": Nick Rowley njrowley.com This was truly a team effort, and we’re grateful to everyone who played a part. Help keep us around by ….  Buying Merch  https://buy.thehistoryofmurder.com Joining Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thehistoryofmurder  And Supporting Us Directly https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistoryofmurder

    Killed By Their Own: The Story of Nazi POWs in American Camps

  7. Apr 28

    Legend or Killer: The Story of Jesse James

    Let us know what you think about the episode More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com We’ve all heard of him. But do you know why? There were lots of men who didn’t settle back into their old lives following the Civil War, and some of them turned to the outlaw life, like Jesse and Frank James. But why do we know these names? It’s a surprising answer that likely contributed to Jesse’s death.  Team & Contributors Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue  https://clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Margaret Smith Editor – Jessica Stokey Social Media Manager & Design - Mikayla Bogus https://mikayladesign.cargo.site IT Manager - Conor Sweeney The History of Murder Logo - Bernadette Carr https://www.bcarrdesign.com Theme Song “My Carnal Life I Will Lay Down” - Rob Brereton https://robertbrereton.com   Voice of Jesse James - Nick Rowley                                                  http://njrowley.com/ Voice of John Newman Edwards - Joe Janes www.joejanes.net Interview: Ralph Monaco, author, historian and attorney  This was truly a team effort, and we’re grateful to everyone who played a part. Help keep us around by ….  Buying Merch  https://buy.thehistoryofmurder.com Joining Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thehistoryofmurder

    Legend or Killer: The Story of Jesse James

  8. Apr 14

    Was She a Killer? The Story of Ma Barker

    Let us know what you think about the episode She was the head of a vicious gang of robbers, killers and kidnappers. She was a nice lady who was kind to neighborhood kids. She was a simple woman who enjoyed the finer things and never asked questions about where the money came from. She was a “Karen” who defended her boys to the police, her husband, and anyone who got in her way. So, who was Kate “Ma” Barker and what’s the real story behind the legend? Check out the Ma Barker House: Bradford - Ma Barker House | Ma Barker Gang Hideout | Ocklawaha More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team & Contributors Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue  https://clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Margaret Smith Writer: Kara Amis Thomas https://karaamis.substack.com Editor – Steph Kelly https://stephkellyedits.com Social Media Manager & Design - Mikayla Bogus https://mikayladesign.cargo.site IT Manager - Conor Sweeney The History of Murder Logo - Bernadette Carr https://www.bcarrdesign.com Theme Song “My Carnal Life I Will Lay Down” - Rob Brereton https://robertbrereton.com   Voice of "Ma" Barker: Megan Grano Instagram: @meganegrano Voice of Edward Bremer: David Vaughan Voice of Marion Hannegraf: Clare Smith This was truly a team effort, and we’re grateful to everyone who played a part. Help keep us around by ….  Buying Merch  https://buy.thehistoryofmurder.com Joining Our Patreon https://www.patreon.com/thehistoryofmurder  And Supporting Us Directly https://buymeacoffee.com/thehistoryofmurder

    Was She a Killer? The Story of Ma Barker
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Trailer

5
out of 5
16 Ratings

About

Some murders changed history. Some happened because of it.  The History of Murder puts crimes in context - using interviews with historians, actors reading the actual words of those involved, and narration that brings it together for a compelling story in each episode. 

Information

  • Creator
    Clare O’Donohue and Margaret Smith
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    26
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The History of Murder
  • Show Website
    The History of Murder

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