Once Upon a Crime Esther Ludlow

In this month’s series, we’ll look at people who were manipulated into committing murder.  First up, we’ll take a look at a case where a mother pressures her child to kill his father.  That fact alone would make this story truly horrible but it was not the last murder Marie Witte orchestrated.  The next one would be as cold-hearted as it was gruesome.


Sources: 

https://murderpedia.org/female.W/w/witte-hilma.htm 

https://thecinemaholic.com/how-did-paul-witte-die-where-are-eric-witte-and-hilma-marie-witte-now/ 

Snapped: Hilma Marie Witte, Season 31, Episode 19, Oxygen TV, 2022. 
https://www.oxygen.com/snapped/crime-news/hilma-marie-witte-convinced-sons-to-kill-husband-grandmother 

Evil Lives Here: She Made Me Do It, Season 2, Episode 2, HBO MAX,  2017. 

In this special bonus episode of Once Upon a Crime, I speak with Michael Wolraich, the author of a new true crime book, The Bishop and the Butterfly: Murder Politics, and the End of the Jazz Age. 

In 1931, Vivian Gordon’s body was found in a gully in the Bronx’s Van Cortlandt Park. She’d been brutally strangled, her body dumped.  The investigation into her murder would uncover blackmail plots, sex scandals, and corruption at the highest levels of the New York government.  

The Bishop and the Butterfly is a fascinating look into this true-life murder mystery from the Jazz Age. 

For more information about Michael Wolraich’s books and articles, go to www.michaelwolraich.com.  

For a chance to win a copy of The Bishop and the Butterfly go to Once Upon a Crime’s Instagram page - https://www.instagram.com/onceuponacrimepod.  Like the post for this episode and tag two friends in the comments for your chance to win. Good luck! 

Sponsor - Lume - www.LumeDeodorant.com - Use code ONCE for $5 off a Lume Starter Pack.

Links:
https://www.crimecon.com/CC24 Use promo code: ONCE for 10% off your ticket. 

Travel Survey: https://trovatrip.com/host/profiles/esther--fr746 

In this final episode of “Tarnished Hollywood,” I’ll share a story about a promising young actor who ran afoul of the law.  His decision to immerse himself in gang culture at the expense of an acting career would lead to a life sentence in a prison cell and a brutal and bizarre end to his life at the age of 36.

Sources: 
https://chicagodefender.com/how-an-infamous-boyz-n-the-hood-cameo-led-to-real-life-murder/
https://www.thetruecrimedatabase.com/case_file/kevin-roby/

Sponsor: 
www.factormeals.com/once50 and use code once50 to get 50% off your subscription box. 

Amanda Hayes, an actress known for roles on The Sopranos and The Stepford Wives, was convicted of conspiring with her husband, Grant Hayes, to murder Laura Ackerson, his ex-wife and mother of his two children.  The murder  and its cover-up would be one of the most grisly crimes investigators had ever encountered. 

Sources: 
Bitter Remains, author Diane Fanning, Berkley Books, 2016. 

See No Evil: Who killed Laura Ackerson and where are they now? 
ID’s See No Evil: Who killed Laura Ackerson and where are they now? (sportskeeda.com)

Amanda Hayes: Deadly Women - 
https://deadlywomen.fandom.com/wiki/Amanda_Hayes 

Sponsors: 
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Danny Masterson is an American actor best known for his role in That 70’s Show. In 2020, he was charged with raping three women in 2001 and 2003. Masterson and his victims were all members of the Church of Scientology. The church’s policies and threats toward the victims caused a 20-year delay in bringing the crimes to justice.

Sources: 
A Timeline of Danny Masterson’s Controversies, Skyler Caruso for People.com, Sept 7, 2023 https://people.com/tv/danny-masterson-charged-rape-timeline-of-allegations/ 
Danny Masterson’s Long History with the Church of Scientology, Christina Dugan Ramirez for People.com, March 3, 2017. 
https://people.com/celebrity/danny-masterson-history-church-of-scientology/ 
Danny Masterson Used Drugging, Scientology to get Away with Rape, Prosecutor Says, Andrew Dalton, AP News, May 16, 2023 
https://apnews.com/article/danny-masterson-rape-retrial-ecf0ee15fb71ef603dc4ad30ba74f3dd
Danny Masterson was Convicted of Rape. What Happens to Scientology?, Tony Ortega for RollingStone, June 5, 2023. 
https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-features/danny-masterson-rape-conviction-scientology-accountability-1234764377/ 
Two Hollywood stars are accused of rape, but Scientology is also on trial, Diana Dasrath and Corky Siemaszko for NBC News, Sept 7, 2023.
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/two-hollywood-stars-are-accused-rape-scientology-also-trial-rcna54196
Danny Masterson is Sentenced to 30 Years to Life in Prison for Two Rapes, Derrick Bryson Taylor, Livia Albeck-Ripka, and Michael Levenson for The New York Times, Sept 7, 2023. 
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/09/07/arts/television/danny-masterson-rape-trial-sentencing.html#:~:text=Danny%20Masterson%2C%20the%20actor%20best,Judge%20Charlaine%20F.
Danny Masterson Branded a ‘Suppressive Person’ After Being Expelled from the Church of Scientology, Favour Adegoke for TheBlast.com, October 24, 2023. 
https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/danny-masterson-branded-suppressive-person-180002162.html#:~:text=According%20to%20a%20report%2C%20the,growth%20of%20those%20around%20them.
Former members reveal hell of life inside Church of Scientology, 60 Minutes Australia, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Na0EfFTp50
The Untold Story of Danny Masterson, WatchMojo.com, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cPGe120Mlh4
The Most Shocking Revelations from Danny Masterson’s First Trial, Natalie Finn for E News, Sept 7, 2023. 
https://www.eonline.com/news/1350935/the-most-shocking-revelations-from-danny-mastersons-rape-trial

Sponsors: 
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Links: 
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Listen to Marooned - https://visitmarooned.com/ 

...1 historic steam train...
...9 exceptional true crime podcasts...
...9 tales woven with the spirit of Women's Day...
...Will YOU unravel the mysteries aboard?

This International Women's Day, join Shane Waters and Wendy Cee on an unprecedented journey through the heart of England to Crimecon UK in London. Mysteries on the True Crime Express is not just a podcast episode; it's an immersive voyage into the depths of true crime, history, and the indomitable spirit of women.
Aboard this old-world locomotive, you'll encounter the hosts of 9 distinguished true crime podcasts, including Esther Sanchez Ludlow of Once Upon A Crime. Each host presents a captivating story that not only chills the spine but also illuminates the historical essence of Women's Day. From the comfort of Shane and Wendy's compartment to the lively ambiance of the dining car, each tale unfolds in a unique setting on the train, adding layers of intrigue and ambiance to this auditory experience.

So, secure your ticket and settle into your seat...
...but be forewarned...
...the journey ahead is filled with twists and turns.

Podcasts are listed here in order of appearance:
1. Deep Dark Secrets (https://www.deepdarksecretspodcast.com/)
2. The Trail Went Cold (https://www.trailwentcold.com/)
3. The Cult Vault (https://www.cultvaultpodcast.com/)
4. Extinguished (https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/extinguished/id1711608332)
5. Once Upon a Crime (https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/)
6. True Crime and Wine with Sherrilyn Dale
(https://open.spotify.com/show/6zDVtsctjbO1OWeeL3iXXN)
7. Defense Diaries (https://defensediaries.com/)
8. Dip in and Out with Lucy (podcasts)
9. Foul Play: Crime Series (https://www.itsfoulplay.com/)

Join all the shows you heard in this episode at Crimecon UK in London! Go to
Crimecon.co.uk and use code ONCEUPON

Listen to Shane’s other holiday collaborations here: https://www.itsfoulplay.com/collaborations