Once Upon A Crime

Esther Ludlow

Step into the darker side of history with Once Upon A Crime, a true-crime podcast that delves deep into some of the world’s most gripping cases. Hosted by an expert storyteller, Esther Ludlow, each episode unravels the mysteries behind notorious crimes, exploring the lives of victims, perpetrators, and the intricate details of the investigations that followed. With carefully researched narratives, thematic series, and thoughtful insights, Once Upon A Crime offers listeners a captivating blend of suspense, history, and human psychology. Whether you're a seasoned true-crime fan or just curious about the stories that shaped headlines, Once Upon A Crime promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.

  1. 3 days ago

    Scott Peterson Revisited - Part Two: Esther & Yolanda Reopen the Case

    In Part Two of Scott Peterson Revisited, Esther is joined by her sister Yolanda to take a closer look at the claims now being made on behalf of convicted murderer Scott Peterson. In 2024, the Los Angeles Innocence Project announced that it was investigating Peterson’s claims of actual innocence. The following year, his attorneys filed a habeas corpus petition arguing that new evidence and scientific analysis undermined key elements of the prosecution’s case. A judge rejected those claims in April 2026, but the LA Innocence Project has said it plans to appeal. Now Esther and Yolanda reopen the case for themselves. Together, they examine the major arguments being presented as evidence of Peterson’s innocence: the burglary across the street from the Peterson home, witnesses who claimed they saw Laci walking her dog after Scott left that morning, new theories about where Laci and Conner entered San Francisco Bay, evidence suggesting Laci may have known about Scott’s fishing boat, and questions surrounding when Conner died. They also revisit allegations that investigators developed tunnel vision and ignored evidence that didn’t fit their theory of the crime. What actually caused detectives to focus their attention on Scott? Were other leads adequately investigated? And does the so-called “new evidence” meaningfully change the circumstantial case that led a jury to convict him? More than two decades after Laci and Conner Peterson were murdered, Esther and Yolanda separate what’s new from what has been argued before, challenge each other’s assumptions, and ask the question at the heart of Scott Peterson’s latest bid for freedom: Is there truly new evidence of innocence — or simply a new way of presenting an old defense? Content warning This episode discusses the murder of a pregnant woman and the death of an unborn child. Links to our original episodes: This episode revisits research originally presented in Episodes 71 and 72 of Once Upon a Crime in 2017, along with subsequent court rulings and the claims presented by the Los Angeles Innocence Project in Scott Peterson: The New Evidence. https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep71-the-12-crimes-of-christmas-laci-peterson-part-1/ https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep72-the-12-crimes-of-christmas-laci-peterson-part-2/ Other resources:  People Magazine article (with photos of van, “Laci note” with handwriting comparison, etc.)  https://people.com/pieces-forensic-evidence-could-lead-scott-peterson-freedom-exclusive-12014816?hid=bc2984855ed727914fef22dff40e20764d844358&did=24648672-20260713&utm_source=ppl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=ppl-true-crime_newsletter&utm_content=071326&lctg=bc2984855ed727914fef22dff40e20764d844358&lr_input=f39d77450fcf063cdc7d94fda7ecdf5efd39306fc49121111e7af41f018cc829&campaign=18955543  For Laci: A Mother’s Story of Love, Loss, and Justice, Sharon Rocha, Crown Publishers, 2006.  YouTube: Crime & Justice, “Scott Peterson Case: Lead Detective Dismantles “New Evidence” Claims https://youtu.be/a5qvh_KVvW0?si=hSlZWEh6DcvzcgY_ YouTube: East Idaho News, “Homicide Detective Jon Buehler and legal analyst Beth Karas on the truth about Scott Peterson” https://youtu.be/U8OlJsSdWxM?si=t7mRvJluYIhjv8LB https://www.stanislaus-da.org/pdf/news/2026/press-release-05-12-2026-SPeterson.pdf?fbclid=IwY2xjawTJwBZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZAwzNTA2ODU1MzE3MjgAAR573on0mjwU15IxHrPF2s_dROtgKY4mxWsO_FbqPJzGzGd_qwChWikSZPIFiw_aem_UvmC6ZEk7nqxD9jDoOFt7A Los Angeles Innocence Project Court Filings:  Notice of Motion for DNA Testing, Jan 17, 2024   https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/ev6pivmu5f34w0f4fsj4c/1405-DNA-Motion.pdf?rlkey=3a2im5v5osa1b6jxjb739b3hj&e=1&dl=0 Notice of Motion for Post-Conviction Discovery, Jan 17, 2024 https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/wa5itop6v4mxgx5bdojqc/1054.9-Discovery-Motion_Redacted.pdf?rlkey=api1iepe8sw96utwe2aiy3j1x&e=1&dl=0 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Scott Peterson Revisited - Part Two: Esther & Yolanda Reopen the Case

  2. 17 Aug ·  Bonus

    Bonus: Unmasking Scott Peterson

    In this bonus episode of Scott Peterson Revisited, we look beyond the evidence to examine the man at the center of the case. Was Scott Peterson capable of murdering his pregnant wife, Laci, and their unborn son, Conner? We explore Scott’s family history, childhood, relationships, repeated infidelities, and carefully cultivated image as the family’s “Golden Boy” and “Mr. Perfect.” We also consider the patterns of deception and compartmentalization that emerged throughout his life and ask whether they offer clues to how he could commit such a devastating crime—and continue to deny responsibility more than two decades later. Unmasking Scott Peterson examines the man behind the carefully constructed image and asks: What happens when maintaining the mask becomes more important than confronting reality? Content warning This episode discusses the murder of a pregnant woman and the death of an unborn child. Sources and further listening Inside the Mind of Scott Peterson, Keigh Ablow, M.D., St. Martin’s Press, 2005. Till Death Do Us Part: Love, Marriage, and the Mind of the Killer Spouse, Dr. Robi Ludwig and Matt Birkbeck, Atria Books, 2006. When the Husband is the Suspect, F. Lee Bailey with Jean Rabe, A Forge Book, 2008.  Witness for the Prosecution of Scott Peterson, Amber Frey, Regan Books, 2005.  For Laci: A Mother’s Story of Love, Loss, and Justice, Sharon Rocha, Crown Publishers, 2006.  Blood Brother: 33 Reasons My Brother Scott Peterson is Guilty, Anne Bird, Regan Books, 2005.  “Fun and unpredictable, that was the real Laci,” Diana Walsh for The San Francisco Chronicle, May 30, 2004.  “William “Kent” Gains - December 8, 1972 - August 21, 2021, Epilogg.com.  Links to our original episodes:  This episode revisits research originally presented in Episodes 71 and 72 of Once Upon a Crime in 2017.  https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep71-the-12-crimes-of-christmas-laci-peterson-part-1/ https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep72-the-12-crimes-of-christmas-laci-peterson-part-2/ Sponsors:  See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/ Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com  OUAC Merchandise Shop - https://onceuponacrime.dashery.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Bonus: Unmasking Scott Peterson

  3. 10 Aug

    Scott Peterson Revisited: Part One - Separating Fact from Fiction

    Twenty-three years after the murders of Laci Peterson and her unborn son, Conner, the case against Scott Peterson is once again under scrutiny. In January 2024, the Los Angeles Innocence Project announced that it was representing Peterson and investigating his claims of actual innocence. Since then, his attorneys have filed new challenges to his conviction, arguing that previously overlooked evidence and new scientific analysis undermine the prosecution’s case. In July 2026, A&E aired the two-part documentary Scott Peterson: The New Evidence, produced by the Los Angeles Innocence Project, bringing many of these claims back into the national conversation. In Part One of this two-part series, we’ll revisit the case from the beginning and examine the evidence that originally led investigators to focus on Scott Peterson. We review the timeline surrounding Laci’s disappearance on Christmas Eve 2002, Scott’s secret relationship with Amber Frey, the investigation that followed, and the discovery of Laci and Conner’s remains months later near the area where Scott said he had been fishing. We’ll also look at the legal history of the case after Scott’s conviction, including the California Supreme Court’s decision to overturn his death sentence, his resentencing to life without parole, and the more recent efforts by the Los Angeles Innocence Project to reopen the case. Content warning This episode discusses the murder of a pregnant woman and the death of an unborn child. Sources and further listening This episode revisits research originally presented in Episodes 71 and 72 of Once Upon a Crime in 2017, along with subsequent court rulings and the claims presented by the Los Angeles Innocence Project in Scott Peterson: The New Evidence. Links to our original episodes:  https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep71-the-12-crimes-of-christmas-laci-peterson-part-1/ https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/s2-ep72-the-12-crimes-of-christmas-laci-peterson-part-2/ Coming next In Part 2, Esther and her sister, Yolanda, evaluate the new innocence claims one by one and discuss whether any of them materially change the evidence against Scott Peterson. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Scott Peterson Revisited: Part One - Separating Fact from Fiction

  4. 3 Aug

    Scott Peterson: The Case, the Claims, and the Controversy

    More than twenty years after Laci Peterson's murder captivated the nation, one of America's most infamous true crime cases is back in the spotlight. In this upcoming special two-part series, Once Upon a Crime host Esther Ludlow revisits the case with fan-favorite co-host Yolanda, taking a fresh look at the investigation, the evidence, and the questions that continue to divide the public. Originally covered by the podcast in 2016, this updated series examines what's changed, and why so many people are debating Scott Peterson's guilt once again. The disappearance of eight-months-pregnant Laci Peterson on Christmas Eve 2002 sparked a media frenzy unlike anything seen before. As investigators uncovered Scott Peterson's affair with Amber Frey and his shocking lies about his marriage, public opinion quickly turned. Months later, the bodies of Laci and her unborn son, Conner, were discovered along the shores of the San Francisco Bay, leading to Scott's arrest, conviction, and death sentence. But the story didn't end there. With new legal challenges from Scott Peterson's defense team, renewed attention from the Los Angeles Innocence Project, and recent documentaries reigniting debate, the case has become the subject of fresh scrutiny. Could key evidence have been misunderstood? Were important leads overlooked? Or does the original investigation still point to the same conclusion? Subscribe to Once Upon A Crime so you don't miss this upcoming series. Next episode drops Monday August 10, 2026 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Scott Peterson: The Case, the Claims, and the Controversy

  5. 20 Jul

    Before Bali: The Untold Story of Sheila von Wiese-Mack

    In this episode of Once Upon a Crime, we revisits the murder of Sheila von Wiese Mack through the new book When Lambs Become Wolves by retired Sergeant Rasul T. Freelain, who knew Sheila and her daughter Heather years before the Bali killing.  Freelain recounts how a 2010 theft report led to repeated police contact, revealing escalating child-to-parent violence: Heather’s manipulation, financial fraud, and assaults that included breaking Sheila’s arm and later a brutal attack.  Despite diversion programs, mentoring, probation, and numerous calls for service, Sheila often refused to press charges, focused on saving her family, and ultimately told Freelain, “She’s going to kill me.”  When Lambs Become Wolves. https://www.amazon.com/dp/0809339943?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback Resorting to Murder: The Body in the Suitcase: https://art19.com/shows/once-upon-a-crime/episodes/eef34649-e83a-47cb-a960-5403629b2295 See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    Before Bali: The Untold Story of Sheila von Wiese-Mack

  6. 13 Jul

    The House on New York Street: The Sylvia Likens Case, Part Two

    Part 2 of the Sylvia Likens case examines the heartbreaking final hours of Sylvia Likens, one of the most horrific child abuse and murder cases in American history. On October 26, 1965, after months of unimaginable torture inside a home in Indianapolis, Indiana, 16-year-old Sylvia was carried upstairs for a bath before she was discovered unresponsive. As Gertrude Baniszewski scrambled to cover up the abuse with a fabricated confession letter, investigators immediately recognized the devastating evidence of prolonged torture. Including severe burns, starvation, countless injuries, a fatal subdural hematoma, and the chilling message carved into Sylvia's abdomen. The investigation took a dramatic turn when Sylvia's younger sister, Jenny, courageously told police, "Get me out of here, and I'll tell you everything." Her testimony unraveled Gertrude Baniszewski's lies and led to the arrests of Gertrude, several of her children, and neighborhood teenagers who participated in or witnessed the abuse. Sources: https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/longform/likens-looking-back-indianas-infamous-crime-50-years-later https://www.indystar.com/story/news/history/retroindy/2013/10/24/sylvia-likens/3178393/ House of Evil: The Indiana Torture Slaying - John Dean Torture Mom: A Chilling True Story of Confinement, Mutilation, and Murder - Ryan Green, 2018. The House from Hell: The True Story of Gertrude Baniszewski, Genoveva Ortiz, Sea Vision Publishing, 2024.  https://www.history101.com/sylvia-likens-the-family-she-left-behind/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sylvia_Likens#Gertrude_Baniszewski https://murderpedia.org/female.B/b/baniszewski.htm https://www.history101.com/sylvia-likens-the-family-she-left-behind/ https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/35446-lawyers-book-retraces-indys-infamous-sylvia-likens-murder-case Sponsors:  See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/ Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com  OUAC Merchandise Shop - https://onceuponacrime.dashery.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    The House on New York Street: The Sylvia Likens Case, Part Two

  7. 11 Jul

    TRAILER: The House on New York Street, Part 2

    Police arrived at the New York Street house and quickly realized the story didn’t add up. Within hours, Gertrude Baniszewski, her children, and neighborhood teens were arrested in the torture of 16-year-old Sylvia Likens. In court, everyone pointed fingers—mother against children, children against mother. Leaving one question: who was lying? Subscribe and listen to Once Upon a Crime for part two. Episode drops Monday July 13, 2026. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

  8. 6 Jul

    The House on New York Street - The Sylvia Likens Case, Part One

    Some crimes are so shocking that they force us to ask a question that seems impossible to answer. Not 'Who did it?' We know who did it. Not even 'Why?' Though we'll spend this series trying to understand that. The question is this: How did an entire neighborhood watch a teenage girl disappear in plain sight? Over three months in the fall of 1965, dozens of people entered a small house on East New York Street in Indianapolis. Children played there. Teenagers gathered there. Neighbors stopped by. A minister visited. Police responded to the home. A public health nurse knocked on the door. Yet sixteen-year-old Sylvia Likens remained trapped inside…starved and tortured.  By the time anyone finally listened, it was too late. Sources: https://www.indianapolismonthly.com/longform/likens-looking-back-indianas-infamous-crime-50-years-later https://www.indystar.com/story/news/history/retroindy/2013/10/24/sylvia-likens/3178393/ House of Evil: The Indiana Torture Slaying - John Dean Torture Mom: A Chilling True Story of Confinement, Mutilation, and Murder - Ryan Green, 2018. The House from Hell: The True Story of Gertrude Baniszewski, Genoveva Ortiz, Sea Vision Publishing, 2024.  https://www.history101.com/sylvia-likens-the-family-she-left-behind/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Sylvia_Likens#Gertrude_Baniszewski https://murderpedia.org/female.B/b/baniszewski.htm https://www.history101.com/sylvia-likens-the-family-she-left-behind/ https://www.theindianalawyer.com/articles/35446-lawyers-book-retraces-indys-infamous-sylvia-likens-murder-case Sponsors:  See a list of our sponsors and discount codes on our website: https://www.truecrimepodcast.com/sponsors/ Links:  Patreon - www.patreon.com/onceuponacrime  Our Website - www.truecrimepodcast.com  OUAC Merchandise Shop - https://onceuponacrime.dashery.com YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OnceUponACrimePodcast See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

    The House on New York Street - The Sylvia Likens Case, Part One
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Hosts & Guests

About

Step into the darker side of history with Once Upon A Crime, a true-crime podcast that delves deep into some of the world’s most gripping cases. Hosted by an expert storyteller, Esther Ludlow, each episode unravels the mysteries behind notorious crimes, exploring the lives of victims, perpetrators, and the intricate details of the investigations that followed. With carefully researched narratives, thematic series, and thoughtful insights, Once Upon A Crime offers listeners a captivating blend of suspense, history, and human psychology. Whether you're a seasoned true-crime fan or just curious about the stories that shaped headlines, Once Upon A Crime promises to keep you on the edge of your seat.

Information

  • Creator
    Esther Ludlow
  • Years Active
    2016 - 2026
  • Episodes
    425
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Once Upon A Crime Podcast. INC 2016
  • Show Website
    Once Upon A Crime

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