The History of Murder

Clare O’Donohue and Margaret Smith

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. Burning Hell: The Story of the Sacking of Osceola

    1D AGO

    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

    21 min
  2. Killed By Their Own: The Story of Nazi POWs in American Camps

    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

    43 min
  3. Legend or Killer: The Story of Jesse James

    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

    41 min
  4. Was She a Killer? The Story of Ma Barker

    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

    38 min
  5. Deadly Brew: The Story of the Coors Kidnapping

    MAR 31

    Deadly Brew: The Story of the Coors Kidnapping

    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

    43 min
  6. Ireland's Cause, America's Crime: The Story of Patrick Henry Cronin

    MAR 17

    Ireland's Cause, America's Crime: The Story of Patrick Henry Cronin

    Let us know what you think about the episode A local doctor, known to help anyone who asked, disappeared. The rumors started. Had he run away with a married woman? Gone back to his native Ireland? Or was he a British spy? It soon became public knowledge that he was a member of a secret organization to help bring about Irish independence, and it became clear that there had been some trouble connected to the group. Was he the cause, or was he a victim? #ireland #irish #chicago #stpatricksday More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team & Contributors Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue https://clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Margaret Smith Senior 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 Alexander Sullivan: Mitchell Bisschop Interview: Gillian O'Brien, author of Blood Runs Green: The Murder that Transfixed Gilded Age Chicago 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

    39 min
  7. First Amendment Murder: The Story of Elijah Lovejoy

    MAR 3

    First Amendment Murder: The Story of Elijah Lovejoy

    Let us know what you think about the episode He used his words to persuade, and he died because of them. In 1837, Elijah Lovejoy became a martyr to the first amendment, specifically freedom of the press, because as a newspaper editor, he believed in speaking out on the biggest injustice of his day. But after he was murdered, was there any justice for him? 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 Voice of Elijah Lovejoy: Joe Janes www.joejanes.net Voice of Abraham Lincoln: Randy Duncan 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

    35 min
  8. Hand of Death: The Story of Myrtle Bennett

    FEB 17

    Hand of Death: The Story of Myrtle Bennett

    Let us know what you think about the episode Bridge was a national obsession in 1929, and it was the personal obsession of an upper middle-class woman in Kansas City, Missouri. Myrtle Bennett poured over books about how to improve her game. She played whenever she had the chance. Her husband Jack was her frequent partner, but one night during a game, Myrtle and Jack got into a fight that led to a murder. As tragic as it was, it was the reaction from other bridge players that remains shocking.   More about the show: 🌐 https://thehistoryofmurder.com Team & Contributors Executive Producer- Clare O'Donohue  https://clareodonohue.com Executive Producer - Margaret Smith 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 Myrtle Bennett: Megan Grano Instagram: @meganegrano Voice of James Page: Joe Janes www.joejanes.net Voice of James Reed: Randy Duncan 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

    31 min
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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
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The History of Murder
  • Show Website
    The History of Murder

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